Congrats, UT! Couldn’t see the press conference at work, but it doesn’t surprise me if the jackals were up to their usual nonsense. I managed to catch a few minutes of the President in the car on NPR, and then they switched to talking to “experts” when he went in for questions. What I heard of the President’s statement was encouraging and he clearly means business.
Just saw the ABC clip of Jake the a**hole question to PBO (didn’t see the actual press conference).
President Obama was so classy in his response; I can’t think of anyone else who could remain so calm yet steely firm in his direct answer.
What drives me nuts is that the MSM take it as a given that:
1) Lobbyists are the guiding light of DC (hence their “reporting” on whatever drivel comes out of Grover Norquist’s mouth, NRA, etc.)
2) Therefore, the NRA will prevail (and don’t investigate that the NRA is as powerful as the all-knowing Wizard of Oz). The NRA’s power relies on on cowards in the Congress and Senate and the media reporting how all-powerful it is.
Since the Newton massacre, the MSM has been in lockstep by saying “nothing happened after other horrific massacres, so it’ll be the same as before because of the NRA, etc.”
It’s as if they didn’t hear President Obama say on Sunday “This is our first task, caring for our children. It’s our first job. If we don’t get that right, we don’t get anything right. That’s how, as a society, we will be judged.”
I watch the press conf. and I knew when POTUS called on Jake Tapper, Tapper was going to try to be nasty, and he did and POTUS answer the weasel Tapper like only someone with class and dignity could. I missed Boehner press conf. on purpose.
They are only there to make themselves feel better, and to rile the President. That’s what you do when you do not like somebody, but have to work with them, you try to make life miserable. At least, that is what Teenagers do.
Dear @JoeBiden @vj44 Just so you know, the disrespect for our President by goons like Tapper, Todd & other #NEWSTAINERS must be condemned.— Bobfr (@Our4thEstate) December 19, 2012
Jay Carney just corrected Chuck Todd in real time…
.@chucktodd That's incorrect. POTUS said: "And when you add interest, then it's more than a trillion dollars IN SPENDING CUTS."— Jay Carney (EOP) (@PressSec) December 19, 2012
Dear @PressSec @whitehouse Suggest after today that you disband the WHPC & hold daily Q&A via Twitter & FB with real journalists & citizens.— Bobfr (@Our4thEstate) December 19, 2012
Bob, I totally agree with you and Sara. These pseudo journalists, like Jake Tapper, are scum. They have no interest in truthfully informing the American people. All they are interested in is in denigrating President Obama. They serve absolutely no purpose and should be either disbanded or totally ignored.
Bobfr and Sara, thanks so much for your comments here and on Twitter concerning this very issue. I was so upset yesterday after seeing how rude these people in the WHPC were to Jay, that I called the WH and expressed my concerns for this type of continued disresepct to the office of the President because Mr. Jay Carney represents the voice of the President of the United States when he comes out there.
1. Disrespect to the President
2. Disrespect to the Press Sec. who is trying to answer in a manner that represent the POTUS.
Then I wrote to Jay and to the President’s office. I am sick and tired of this type of disrespect. I do believe that those of us who are here for the total purpose of supporting the president should set the standards for his second term that we will watch and remind these jackals that we Will Not Take Their Mess this Term. Plain an simple.
So thanks so much for putting this out there on Twitter and let us let the entire nation know that we are listening and watching how they are trying to continue to disrespect President Obama for another four years. Not going to happen.HZ
Idiots like Jake Tapper are the ones who distract from addressing serious issues. “Where have you been?” REALLY??? I emailed meredith.nettles@abc.com as told when I called ABC News phone number 202-222-7200.
These haters act like it is PBO’s fault nothing has been done on gun control. They show unwarranted disdain to PBO instead of having real disdain for the NRA that pushes these unnecessary gun sales. I have never been this pissed off and we all know these reporters have benn doing this for the last 4 years. WE NEED TO LET HIS BOSSES KNOW THAT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!
I urge everyone on this post and them some to call his boss at ABC Washington D.C. bureau. The number is 202-222-7200 or email her assistant at meredith.nettles@abc.com. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH FROM THIS PRICK!
I finally got the chance to watch the whole thing, LB, and Tapper’s comments at the end sent me off. Wrote an e-mail to Meredith Nettles telling her that it did not reflect well on ABC to have an insolent boor representing them at the White House. She wrote back
immediately that she would send the complaint to Tapper’s superiors. I’m sure that instead of reprimands, he’ll get attaboys from the asses at ABC.
I sent the email. I watched the Presser and was absolutely livid. Twitter blew up with comments about how disrespectful Tapper was and said to revoke his White House Press Pass.
I emailed Meredith Nettles this morning about Jake Tapper’s disrespectful question to PBO of “Where were you?” I got the info on the previous blog post. She replied immediately that it would be forwarded to the proper channel. My post asked that they place someone in the WH press that will ask questions appropriately without disrespect. I said he shamed ABC with his behavior.
His boss name is Robin Sproud(?) her assist is Meredith Nettles (202) 222-7200, just as TW4Obama posted above you. Meredith is going to recommend you send her an e-mail with the complaint and she will get it to JakeJackass boss.
Thank you TheWorld4Obama. I called and emailed. Thanks for your beautiful work on this. This is how we stop this mess. Stay on their behinds. This is one of the many ways we can and should be helping POB. I will continue to do so. Thanks so much TheWorld4Obama. HZ
It’s bothering me that we are focusing more on the ABC Jackass than we are on the comforting words President Obama spoke regarding debt negotiations.
Was I wrong? I thought PBO re-stated his principles that revenue would come from the wealthiest among us and the spending cuts would not be allowed to harm seniosr, disabled people and others in need.
It’s not that we’re focusing more on Tapper, Vicki, it’s just that we can’t sit quietly by when as ass like that disrespects the president. The president’s remarks were clear and calming on all fronts. He’s in charge, he knows exactly what’s going on and he’s not going to hurt anyone who needs help. He’s also not going to stand for more nonsense.
Wow, Chips, you never cease to amaze me. Soooo quick!
I was lost in the Rise and Shine thread as I was watching the press conference and I too was furious at Tapper. I’m happy to see that you all feel the same thing. I just read your comments in the previous thread ( not easy to keep the pace lol).
I know my comment is redundant but I want to add my voice…
Jake Tapper to the president on the gun issue: “where have you been?”. What a jerk, what a jerk. Where has HE been in the last four years? Hasn’t he noticed how INSANE the workload of this president has been, how HISTORIC his accomplishments are, how the republicans have made every legislative battle longer and more difficult than necessary ( debt ceiling anyone?). .?? Maybe there is legitimacy for a journalist to ask the president why he didn’t work on the gun issue, but to be so disrespectful, so condescending in the words and the tone… I’m fuming…. And you could sense that the president didn’t like it either. For the record, I think that in addition to the workload of the first term, the reason why the president didn’t launch any initiative on the gun issue is because he knew there was NO political will on the Hill to deal with this. But he was frustrated, as has been reported in a couple of articles this week. Sadly, it took the murder of twenty little children to skake the political class (and the population) to the core so he can finally tackle the problem.
Does anyone ever hold congress responsible. Anyone of them could have offered a proposal. I am sure if legislation which passed both houses came across his desk he would have signed it in a heartbeat.
This is one more reason why our media is fucked up.
.@chucktodd That's incorrect. POTUS said: "And when you add interest, then it's more than a trillion dollars IN SPENDING CUTS."— Jay Carney (EOP) (@PressSec) December 19, 2012
I watched the entire press conf. and POTUS indeed said that when you add interest that’s more in spending cuts. So does it surprise anyone that Chuck Todd is a bold face liar.
Your reputation for being a d-bag is well known. Today's WH performance will feature prominently on your d-bag highlight reel. .@jaketapper— Edwina (@NJedwina) December 19, 2012
People are also missing the point that Boehner has to present a plan to meet’s President Obama’s satisfaction, not Grover’s satisfaction. Grover is nobody, in the grand (and not so grand) scheme of things.
This is my email to that prick Tapper’s boss at ABC News/Washington D.C. Bureau. The assistant actually emailed me back saying she will make sure it gets to the appropriapte person. Hopefully she means it. I encourage everyone to call or email the Washington bureau. The phone number is 202-222-7200 or email meredith.nettles@abc.com. This cannot stand any longer. The 4th estate MUST be held to account!
I just watched the press conference from the WH with the President and Vice President. The last question was from your WH correspondent Jake Tapper. I have never witnessed such disrespect and lack of journalistic integrity as what he just pulled. His disdain for this President is not new, but this time he has crossed the line. If that is how he chooses to participate during what is supposed to be his job, then maybe he needs a new job. His question about the shooting in Connecticut and then asking the President of the United States “where he has been” was so over the top and out of line, I don’t think I have ever seen anything like it. I hope that Ms. Sprouls at minimum sits him down and finds out exactly what his problem is and puts in place a corrective action disciplinary plan or removes him from this assignment at the White House during the 2nd term of President Obama. Our 4th estate has failed this country during the past 4 years and the disdain for the first African American President by your correspondent Tapper cannot be tolerated any longer. It does your news organization nor this country any good to have journalists on air who obviously have their own agenda and day after day exhibit it from the press room or from the south lawn, which Tapper does repeatedly.
It is my hope that in the coming weeks I will see a headline that reads “Jack Tapper reassigned from WH correspondent position”. He is a disgrace to your organization, to journalism and to this country.
Wonderful, LB. When I get time, I will do the same and let somebody have it. I do not tweet, so my effort will take a bit. These people show not only their disdane but are small and petty, knowing they will never match PBO’s greatness, and that is what disturbs so many. I’ m sure we have all regretted not doing certain things in life, and especially as we age, but Jake should have decided better in the past if he ever aspired to greatness. Too late for the fucking creep now.
I just sent this e-mail to JakeJackass’s boss Robin Sprouls:
“In today’s White House press briefing, your irresponsible employee Jake Tapper disrespected the President of the United States Barack Obama in such away that he needs to be reassigned or resign. He has constantly shown disdain toward President Obama, but today he went overboard.
I hope to see within the next 24 hours a public message from Ms. Robin Sprouls that says Jake Tapper has be reassigned or resigned”
As you no doubt have received complaints against your employee, Jake Tapper, I need only to add my name to the abhorrence of someone so totally disdainful of President Obama who, at every turn, attempts to engage your employee in intelligent banter, but Tapper isn’t buying. ABC used to be known for integrity in its standards, so this continual disrespect of a sitting president of the United States, and the office itself, should not be something ABC should condone. I ask also that Tapper (he will not get the dignity of Mr. from me as he acts more as a child would) be reprimanded at the least, with a forewarning of more scholarly reporting in the future.
Tapper gets off on this behavior. He sees it as some mission of his to get under the president’s skin and act adversarial. He sees that as his job or something.
Well done LB4Obama. You expressed so well everything I felt after watching this press conference. A presidential press conference should be about eliciting information from the President and not about gotcha u question that show utter disrespect of a duly elected President of the United States. Jake Tapper is not an objective journalist. He is an anti Obama propagandist.
WIN. RT @BlackCanseco: Greatest. GunControl Quote Ever: "The British are not coming. We don't need all these guns."—@repjohnlewis— Nerdy Wonka (@NerdyWonka) December 19, 2012
All during the campaign, President Obama said repeatedly that in order to get our financial house in order it would take painful steps from both sides of the aisle. He always said this.
I knew then that few heard him. This backlash against him is what I have feared. What I don’t understand is what alternative positions are available to him.
Are his critics on the left offering any alternative ideas for him, or are they just angry that we are compromising on anything.
Normally, I take comfort in reading Benen, Carpenter, or checking out where the AARP stands. Even these don’t seem to be supporting the President, this time, specifically about the possibility of chained CPI. EVerybody seems to feel that he is compromising too soon and too much.
(By the way, KOS described PBO’s news conference as “painfully bad”. So much for all the glowing support during the campaign.)
I knew this was coming, but I was hoping for more support from him. Ironically, Krugman came closest to supporting him, though guardedly.
How are you thinking about this, TOD family? I sure could use some perspective.
I think one of the reasons the chained CPI for SS is under attack is that SS has nothing to do with either the deficit or the debt. It contributes to neither. That and the fact that it would cut SS benefits, even if not by a lot at the beginning. Of course, they are coming out to complain about soemthing that has not even been publicly proposed.
I enjoy Carpenter, but on this issue he is being somewhat knee jerk reflexive. At least some of his regular commenters are somewhat calling him out on it.
BTW, I must admit that if SS were tied to the chained CPI, i would not be a happy camper either. I would still support PBO to the hilt though.
I won’t be either, but there is nothing that he can do, short of not budging at all, which will satisfy the left.
Is that what they want, for him not to budge? Is that a viable option?
My take, simply, is that these fair-weather so-called supporters fall on ideology, not the man himself. His beliefs just happen to be closer to theirs, but that in itself does not spell agreement. Also, there are just too many people who, to me, seem to hold strong opinions, but they are in fact greedy grifters looking to hitch their wagons to any meme that causes dissension, because controversy is more saleable to a public infatuated with sensationalism and spectacle. THEY ARE NOT SERIOUS !
Eve, you can expect nothing else from KOS and his opinion is utterly irrelevant. I don’t respect it and I certainly don’t care what he thinks. Sites like KOS get a lot of hits during the election so they all get on board to be part of the race. I stopped going to that site in 2010, but occasionally during the election, I would look in to see what was happening in different states. Now that the site has reverted to its old bad behavior, I’m off for good. Move On, was doing its small part during the election and I would from time to time see what they were about. Now they’ve started the old whining and I told them I was sick of it and to take me off their list and never again send me another e-mail. People who leap to judge what the president is doing have no idea how to negotiate, know squat about timing and don’t balance the concessions the president wrings from the other side against the ones he gives. PBO will make sure that the poorest and most vulnerable will not get hurt if we go the chain CPI route. I trust him and always have. When everyone said the president caved disgracefully on the debt ceiling crisis of 2010, he actually walked away from the table with most of the cream. Try to tune it out, Eve. Embrace your family and put your faith in the president. He won’t let us down.
@jaketapper What has PBO done? Saved Detroit, Killed OBL, Ended Iraq war, Affordable care act, Equal pay, Stabilized financial industry ETC— Edwina (@NJedwina) December 19, 2012
But when the black guy is in power, it's never enough, amirite? High five from Fox News which just makes @jaketapper's day.— Edwina (@NJedwina) December 19, 2012
The question from Jake “The Snarl” Tapper was dripping with sarcasm, contempt and disrespect for President Obama. As so many people are saying, the question should be WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN JAKE?? Apparently, you have been so busy carrying water for the GOP that you just didn’t notice what President Obama has been doing. In addition to lacking any journalistic integrity, Jake has come down with a severe case of selective amnesia. It’s long past due that he joined Ed Henry at Fox.
President Obama reminded Jake Tapper that he hasn’t been on vacation sitting on his thumbs for four years. President Obama’s list of accomplishments is enormous. And he did all of that without any help from the DO NOTHING Republicans in congress. They have put party over country from day one. They surrendered their judgment to the NRA, Grover Norquist and Big Oil. PBO couldn’t get them to act on the American Jobs Act so what makes Jake think they would have done anything about gun control regulations. And let’s not forget about the meeting they held on the night of President Obama’s inauguration where they made a pact not to work with him. Thankfully, their governing strategy of obstructing, delaying, filibustering, sabotaging and hostage taking has been rejected by the American people. And there in lies the root of Jake Tapper’s disdain for President Obama.
“Is there a gun where your child plays?” Asking this simple question is an important step every parent can take to help their kids stay safe.
About 1/3 of homes with kids have guns, many left unlocked or loaded. Just talking to your child about the dangers of firearms is not enough. Children are naturally curious. If a gun is accessible in someone’s home, there is a good chance a child will find it and play with it. Countless tragedies have occurred when kids found guns that parents thought were well hidden or safely stored.
ASK was created in collaboration with the American Academy of Pediatrics.
When my children were little, I taught them never to stay in a room if there was something that looked like a gun, to just immediately leave the room even if they were pretty sure it was a toy. I told them police can’t always tell the difference, so they surely wouldn’t be able to. I told them to blame they fussy mother if someone gave them a hard time and to call home if they felt unsafe. I had a first grade student whose one little cousin killed her brother as they were playing with a gun in a relatives home. I’ll never forget her coming to school the next day and trying to get her through that.
I read yesterday that the relative of the CEO of the company that manufactures the Bushmaster lives in CT near the elementary school where the tradgety hit. This morning I heard that this town, because it is rural, is very “pro” gun.
Have you read of Ann Currys’ #26Acts? Today I acted on her idea, While buying Ice melt, I donated to the “Wild Spirit Horse Rescue”, then looking at snow following here and and 21 out side, gathered up Wool Coat, wool pants and money in my change jar and drove down to the Womens Resource Center& dropped off. So sad, in line for food were the very old down to the very young. Just standing in the snow waiting for what liitle they may receive. My donations were dedicated to the Newtown children. Peace and Forward
I really liked the president’s responses on the fiscal cliff negociations. However, as I was watching him, I had this sinking feeling that it would make the republicans dig in their heels. President Obama talks like the father who asks his children to behave in a more reasonable way. But republicans have the psychological maturity of disturbed teenagers. Usually, when a parent tries to REASON with a teenager out of control, the teenager reacts in getting even more stubborn.
I hope I’m wrong, but I think the republicans will make all sorts of drama and there won’t be any deal before Jan 1st. Maybe they will come to their senses very early in january, but the next weeks won’t be smooth and they’ll do everything to completely ruin the president’s Christmas vacation. Of that I’m sure.
I think the Republicans have already dug in their heels and will make all sorts of drama. I think that was inevitable no matter what he said or how he approached.
My impression of the conference was that President Obama laid out pretty clearly that: he was willing to compromise – they were not.
he was willing to work in the best interests of the country -they were not
he was acting like a grown-up – they were not
he had won the election – they had not
He knew that the Newtown tragedy put things in perspective – they did not
The majority of the country agreed with him on gun control – not them
The majority of the country agreed with him on fiscal cliff/debt ceiling – not them
I also thought it was great when he called them out for making it their goal to stymie him and he was well aware of it.
The final days of any campaign can alter the psyches of even the most experienced political pros. At some point, there is nothing to do but wait. Members of Obama’s team responded in the only rational way available to them — by acting irrationally. They turned neckties into magic charms and facial hair into a talisman and compulsively repeated past behaviors so as not to jinx what seemed to be working. In Boca Raton, Fla., before the last debate, they dispatched advance staff to find a greasy-spoon diner because they had eaten at a similar joint before the second debate, on New York’s Long Island. They sent senior strategist David Axelrod a photograph of the tie he had to find to wear on election night: the same one he wore in 2008. Several staffers on Air Force One stopped shaving, like big-league hitters in the playoffs. Even the President succumbed, playing basketball on Election Day at the same court he played on before winning in 2008.
It’s great to see that the Prez ignored Ed Henry. That should always be the case, because he is not a real journalist. And I almost agree to disband this press briefing business since there are so many fake journalists in there. Horse race MSM is almost as bad for our country as GOP and Fox agit/prop media. I think when Gibbs was there, even world nut daily was sitting in there. I just couldn’t believe that. WND is so obviously not real news or journalism.
Samuel Knight has this post at Political Animal entitled, “Expect Off-topic Questions When You’re Inaccessible”. You will love the comments, four at this time. Each is better than the last. Knight has a few loose teeth.
Interesting article about Pete Souza’s place in history.
How Pete Souza became President Obama’s secret weapon
You probably have never heard of Pete Souza.
But, Souza, the White House official photographer, plays an absolutely critical — and often under-estimated — role in the shaping of “Barack Obama”, the image of the president presented to the public.
And, in an election in which Obama’s likability seemed to trump policy concerns that many voters held about him, it’s not an exaggeration to say that Souza was a major cog in the machine that got the incumbent re-elected.
“When these eight years are done, Pete will be its most important illustrator,” said Robert Gibbs, who served as White House press secretary in Obama’s first term.
Two Souza photos make clear his importance as the prime teller of the Obama narrative to the public.
The first is of President Obama in the Situation Room watching the operation that led to the killing of Osama bin-Laden.
The second is of President Obama in a lighter moment, “caught” in a spiderweb thrown by a child dressed as a Spiderman.
The first image, which the White House distributed far and wide via its Flickr feed, paints Obama as a serious and engaged commander-in-chief — someone who understands the gravity of the mission and the lives at risk. (The photo has been viewed on Flicker almost 2.7 million times.)
The second image, which Obama tweeted from his Twitter account (24.6 million followers) this morning, shows a side of the president the average person (or reporter or non-White House photographer) never gets to see — and a side that is hugely appealing to lots and lots of people. (Kids are like kryptonite for partisanship — particularly kids dressed in Halloween costumes.)
At home with a bad cold today. Watching MSNBC… Apparently the confirmation of Chuck Hagel won’t be smooth. I suspect that the arms lobby and the warmongers within the republican party want to derail that nomination. In short, there are some very poweful forces within the military industrial complex who are pushing very hard for an attack on Iran. They have been pushing FOR YEARS. They know that they don’t have an ally in Hagel. So it’s no surprise the war against his nomination is already beginning.
On another note, Hillary is going to take some heat for the report on the failures at the State Department. However, she has so many allies in the Beltway she will be protected. Watch the kid treatment of her in the next weeks, as opposed to how Susan Rice has been treated. (For the record I don’t necessarily fault Hillary for what happened; I’m just angry that the treatment you receive on the Hill and in the press depends on how many “friends” you have. )
On another note, Hillary is going to take some heat for the report on the failures at the State Department. However, she has so many allies in the Beltway she will be protected. Watch the kid treatment of her in the next weeks, as opposed to how Susan Rice has been treated. (For the record I don’t necessarily fault Hillary for what happened; I’m just angry that the treatment you receive on the Hill and in the press depends on how many “friends” you have. )
Well, then they’re very stupid. Hagel or no Hagel, the President is the one who decides where and when to deploy the US military – that’s why he’s the Commander in Chief. Congress can declare war, but as far as I know, it’s the President who actually deploys the troops. Tell me if I’m wrong?
THIS RT @RollinOnARiver I'm sorry a Dem saying PBO has no spine and wishes he could've voted 4 some1 else has got to go. Gone zap block.— Liberal Librarian (@Lib_Librarian) December 19, 2012
So totally proud of PBO today! He is such a class act, and he has the patience of a saint. Jake Tapper isn’t worthy to kiss his feet. I, too emailed his boss. I am pumped about the future of PBOs gun violence initiative and I think, as many have said we are witnessing history in the making, the kind of history we can all tell our grandchildren about one day. I admire PBO’s courage, especially in his statement about examining a culture that embraces and glorifies violence. Changing that culture may prove to be the biggest challenge in this battle. Back to work now, have a great day folks!
I heard PBO’s announcement on my local all-news radio @knx1070 (CBS affiliate). They ended coverage once the reporter questions began, but the news anchors said their take away from the President’s statement was that he was reaching out to the American people to make the much-needed changes.
PBO:
“Ultimately, if this effort is to succeed, it’s going to require the help of the American people.”
With twitter warriors like @Our4thEstate (BobFR) and OFA’s mobilization team, the MSM won’t know what hit them. Hopefully they’ll be irrelevant and doing actual useful work by 2014 (instead of sitting on their fat asses and criticizing everything PBO says or doesn’t say).
one more thing our president has on his mind and heart:
‘ U.S. officials say President Barack Obama phoned the Army secretary late Tuesday night to expressing concerns over arrests and the discovery of problems with background checks at an Army day care center.
The Pentagon is reviewing hiring procedures at military day care centers, schools, youth centers and other facilities where children are present, after revelations that some employees at the Fort Myer, Va., day care center had criminal records. Pentagon leaders were angry that it took months for the Army to disclose the problems to top officials and the public. ‘
maybe the first family will be arriving in hawaii this weekend!!
‘ Coast Guard law enforcement officers will enforce a temporary security zone in Kailua Bay beginning as early as Dec. 21, 2012. The temporary security zone is necessary to ensure the safety of the President of the United States and his official party. ‘
Just found out from people on Twitter I’m in this NY Times article about Pres. Obama’s press briefing and the frustration with the D.C. Press Corps regarding their foolish questions. I’m a celebritaaay! (in my own mind) Chipsticks, from now on, you can only get to me through my agent.
At News Conference, Reporters Skip Past Gun Control and Face Instant Criticism
The harshest judges of those in news media are often others in the news media, and, with the benefit of Twitter, that intrajournalistic watchdog role can be performed simultaneously with the journalism being criticized.
Case in point was the White House news conference on Wednesday afternoon, when President Obama made a forceful announcement in response to the massacre of children last week in Newtown, Conn. He said he was directing Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to lead an effort “to come up with a set of concrete proposals” about dealing with gun violence that he would submit to Congress no later than January.
Mr. Obama answered. Then came the next question, again about the so-called “fiscal cliff”: “What is your next move?” Then: “You mentioned the $700,000, $800,000 — are you willing to move on income level?” And so on, for at least 15 minutes, before a question about gun violence was finally asked, by David Jackson of USA Today.
Media watchers on Twitter — mainly other members of the media and some whose job it is to watch it, quickly seized on the questions as a sign that the Washington press corps was out of step with the national agenda.
t wasn’t long, however, before the criticism spread throughout the wider Twitterverse and became a meme in itself. People proposed, tongue in cheek, other topics for questions in lieu of gun control under the hashtag #DCPressQuestions.
If we have to pay you a fee, or negotiate with your agent, so be it if we get information like this! Thanks for sharing …. so maybe some of the more “ethical” press is turning on their own? Hallelujah! We could hope this would be the case and continue until we have we have some journalists with manners asking questions of the President of the United States!
I am so happy that someone pointed this out. It seemed a little heartless for this reporter to totally ignore the gun control issue and the aftermath in CT.
Oh my goodness, why LOOK WHO IT IS!!! Squeeee!!!!!
Ummm, Miss UT, I know you get this all the time, but may I have your autograph PLEASE? Oh, of course, you can finish your dinner first! I’m terribly sorry!
Okay, now whenever you’re ready, that’s “D – U – D – E – double-T – E”!
Absolutely Amazing! The WH press corp. is a disgrace. Thankfully, more and more Americans no longer depend on the MSM for real and accurate information.
Just last Thursday I wrote here in the Susan Rice thread about how the DC Permagov smarting from their preferred candidate losing in Nov, are hellbent on taking out revenge on Pres Obama in thwarting his cabinet choices.
Once again they have hit a twofer: Chuck Hagel & Hillary Clinton. The Israel lobby is amassing opposition to a possible Hagel Sec of Defense nomination because Netanyahu’s boys and girls don’t want a Hagel confirmation to coincide with Bibi’s reelection coronation bid next month. Why? Cuz it would mean that PBO will stand up to Bibi full scale with a Hagel road-block to any tantrums Bibi might throw. But more importantly the Permagov knows it cannot control Pentagon cuts if Hagel is confirmed as he has bucked the lemmings’ conventional wisdom since Bush’s Iraq disaster. So just like Susan Rice, Permagov doesn’ want anybody who has an independent streak. Since they couldn’t beat him at the ballot box, they want to destroy and render Pres. Obama’s 2nd term a lame duck even before he’s re-inaugurated. Boehner’s fiscal cliff madness is part of this scheme. As Permagov dick-sucker Mike Allen said this afternoon, all that these piranhas want is to “bring Pres Obama to his knees”.
I also said last Thursday, that Hillary may have thought she got Ambassador Susan Rice to take the bullet for her and that she was now darling of the Permagov. But like clockwork, these beasts having gorged on Amb Rice, will now destroy Hillary before she can even think of a 2016 run. They will savage her. And the seemingly irreproachable Mullen Benghazi report is intended to dismantle every single positive that came from the Libya policy. The Permagov did not profit materially from Libya so they will destroy any virtue arising from it, plus break Hillary’s legs in the process. This is intended to clear the way for a 2016 Republican presidential candidate who can claim the mantle of coming in to “restore American global leadership”.
John Kerry better watch out on how he’s made a pawn in these Benghazi hearings. They’ll play him then tear him apart limb for limb when his usefulness to them is over.
I sincerely doubt they’re going to go after Kerry. They want that seat vacant and having Kerry as SOS is a small price to pay to get a shot at filling his seat with a Republican.
I wonder why Republicans think they have a sot at winning the vacant Senate seat in MA if Kerry becomes the SoS? Elizabeth Warren, running for the first time in her life, trounced Scott Brown. Surely, Democrats will field a candidate who will be as capable as Warren in articulating the issues that the people of MA care about. This notion that Brown would some how be guaranteed a win in MA is ridiculous.
Did you all see pic #123 in those Pete Souza images posted today on Time, Lightbox. It shows a much younger pic of Malia taking a picture of President Obama as he is about to head off for the inaugural balls. I have never seen that image before. I think it shows how she is proud of her father and how new to that White House situation she is. I am guessing she no longer takes a pic of him every time he gets dressed up for an important occasion! Such a sweet pic it is. Even the President looks younger and maybe not so accustomed to wearing a tuxedo.
Infuriating that “Jake the Snake” is getting pats on the back from his feckless, lazy MSM colleagues while this slides under the MSM’s radar:
Civilian analysts gained Petraeus’s ear while he was commander in Afghanistan
Fred and Kim Kagan used access to top military leader to press for changes in the U.S. war plan.
“Frederick and Kimberly Kagan, a husband-and-wife team of hawkish military analysts, put their jobs at influential Washington think tanks on hold for almost a year to work for Gen. David H. Petraeus when he was the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan.
more to come.”
If we want to talk about the past, how about starting with the MSM’s mutual love affair with Petraeus, a peacock of general, who loved the perks and adoration. Don’t think Petraeus was putting “country first” these past few years.
I don’t know which clip I’ve played the most, President Obama singing “ Lets stay together” or the clip of President Obama handing Jake Tapper his ass.
@JeffersonObama @pollbuster 51 seconds. He tanked the market in 51 seconds. Hope his bartender spits in his drink tonight.— Liberal Librarian (@Lib_Librarian) December 19, 2012
This veteran is “blinded” by the FoxNews. It is the wealthy loving GOP who wants to cut their benefits. President Obama has done more for veterans than any president in our recent history. I am sure he voted for Robme/Lyin and just think where he’d be with them as President and VP.
Hello TODers. I have spent much time here the last five days but felt unable to post. The shootings last Friday hit me in a way I never thought a public event could. I was devastated, far more so than after 9/11. I have pondered why and only touched on some things. Being the grandparent of a beautiful 5 year old girl certainly was a major factor. And living in a state that worships this violent culture–but spending most of my life in a relatively peaceful Minnesota–was another. I started emailing and calling the offices of the despicable Cornyn, Hutchinson, Perry and Hagen on Friday and that will continue. But I really needed to process this. My heartfelt thanks to all of you who posted during these days as your messages really helped. And special thanks to Yardarm and Bob for your music offerings. They soothed my soul at a time it badly needed it. Chips, as always you rock and keep so many of us sane!
It was such a pleasure to see PBO named Time’s person of the year again. He needs support from every corner he can get it with the battles ahead. I am ready to get back in the fight but must admit I have even less patience with the Repubs than I did before. From my perspective, they have immeasurably damaged this country on so many fronts in the last 30 years. But very slowly, the tide seems to be turning. I only hope that PBO’s focus on the violence overwhelming us will be another front. I can’t leave this ridiculous state without leaving those precious grandbabies so I will remain here but I have little tolerance for the idiocy coming out of the mouths of some of these politicians. It will be an interesting four years! And yes I have sent an email to ABC advising them they have lost my patronage until their reporters begin showing respect for the President.
‘ This morning most of the world woke up to discover that Time has selected President Obama as its 85th annual Person of the Year. In North Korea, however, the state news agency is reporting that Time’s pick is actually its young supreme leader, Kim Jong-Un. “The U.S. magazine The Time selected the dear respected Kim Jong Un as ‘man of 2012.’” reads the official report. ‘
Boeher says House will pass Plan B tomorrow. Then up to Pres to ask Senate to pass or be responsibile for largest tax hike in US history.— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) December 19, 2012
And we have not even gotten to the deb limit yet. Leverage?
I think plan B was the ONLY plan of the republicans since the beginning. I don’t know what the president and democrats can do. This battle can only be won if the population stays behind the President. Unfortunately, people are not informed well and the media treats the republicans as if they were a responsible party in the negociations. Moreover, it’s Christmas time and you won’t have thousands of people descending in the streets. Gosh, what is the solution? You just can’t have a bunch of extremists derailing american governance over and over again!
I saw a comment on a blog today comparing the republicans to the secessionnists in the South pre-civil war. I thought the comparison was accurate.
their plan ‘a’ was elect robmey, take over the senate, and then destroy america while lining their pockets and their friends’ pockets. exactly what robmey did as a take-over vulture capital exec. they had no other plan, because that’s what they’re in government for–that and nothing else. they deplore, despise, denigrate, and destroy government, except when it lets them take all the money from all the people all the time.
I don’t think it’s about greed for the majority of them. It is about ideology, aboit delusion. The majority of them BELIEVE the crap they’re pushing. They BELIEVE that a smaller government would lead to a better society. They BELIEVE that cutting taxes at the top leads to prosperity. Despite years and years of evidence to the contrary. Many of them don’t understand a thing about how the economy functions. Some of the lunatics in the House don’t even understand the simple concept of “demand” in the economy, and it’s just an example.
I’ll agree though that some of the people at the top are in for the money. Politicians like Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney. And of course the big bankers and the CEOs who support the republican party, and make money all around the world so they don’t give a damn if their fellow americans are suffering and if the middle class is destroyed.
Replying to myself…. I think President Obama won’t have the choice to adress the nation prime time before the end of the year. He can’t let the republicans use their leverage in the House to force the government to go with their policies, against the will of a majority of americans.
We are faced with a very stark illustration of the distorsion within the american electoral system. The republicans lost the WhIte House, the Senate; they also lost the popular vote for the House. Their policies on taxes and deficits are rejected by a majority of americans. And yet, they have the legislative power to prevent Washington from enacting the policies that America has voted for.
I’d say comparing them to the Taliban is accurate as well. Religious fanatics who think women and others who are not like them must be ruled and dominated.
No, cause everyone knows this is a gimmick. What are they saying here they want to raise taxes, and not cut spending? Does not make sense and no one is going to buy it.
The feckless, lazy MSM (including “Jake the Snake”) and polling firms have dismissed gun violence during the last 4 years and relied on the NRA to tell them what Americans think about military-style assault weapons.
“62% support a ban on semi-automatic assault guns according to a new CNN poll.”
Unfortunately ABC is the only channel my mother gets and she semi watches their evening news. I can’t stand Diane Sawyer or Jake the Snake in fact I have cable and don’t watch any of them. I have stopped watching Ed Shultz and Rachel Madcow since they are Obama bashing again.
Be skeptical if you want, but Obama just showed us what presidential leadership on guns should look like: wapo.st/T7Ip5o— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) December 19, 2012
I have just finished watching and listening to the president’s comments (thanks for the video), but I stopped the tape and came here to comment when I heard, in disbelief, that the first question was about the fiscal cliff and not about what the president’s comments. Who are these fools; what is their purpose? he ignored the reason for which PBO held the press conference to ask this? My God, these people are unbelievable. A sea change in American life is on its way and he ignores it? WTF?!
This just happened. Jake Tapper is pathetic. I think Chuck Todd needs to go back to journalism school, but one thing I will give him credit for is that he doesn’t block you for disagreeing with him. You have to really really really be vile to him before he blocks you and people have called him names, told him he’s a liar and disagreed with him on his reporting and he does not hit the block button. Sometimes (in my experience) he’ll engage with you. Jake Tapper is not like that. You cite a newspaper article or whatever to point out to Jake Tapper that he called something wrong or that his coverage wasn’t 100% truthful, he’ll block you and then tweet crap about you knowing that you can’t respond because he blocked you. It’s hilariously childishly pathetic.
Aw, look, @jaketapper is trolling for mentions of his name on Twitter, yet has a bunch of us BLOCKED so we can't respond. Cute.— The Toast (@TheToast2012) December 19, 2012
I was blocked by Jake Tapper awhile back (a little over 2 years ago). And for something very, very trivial. Even Mark Knoller (who I mostly can’t stand) does not block and occasionally has responded to my comments/questions.
I just watched the clip of Jake Tapper and imho really don’t see what you guys are talking about. The person who is the president should never get a pass on anything that’s in his power to control or lead on and doesn’t. If it was a Republican president in the same circumstances, I would have wanted an answer to “why now?” I want the press to ask tough questions. That was a tough question because we (and POTUS) wish he had led on it prior to now. I think that was a fair question even WITH the fact that President Obama has had a million priorities including 2 wars and a financial collapse.
But we all know that it was a political reality that he would not have been reelected had he come out with ANY type of anti-gun policy. I mean, let’s be honest, it isn’t like he couldn’t have prioritized it in 2011 or 2012 since the wars and financial collapse were not pressing daily priorities.
It is a very sad reality that POTUS actually would have led on this issue in 2009 if it wasn’t a political nightmare for both he and other Democrats. But that doesn’t mean any one should get a pass on the question. imho.
I saw just the clip of it not at whitehouse.gov so it had the split screen showing Tapper and POTUS and he was nodding as POTUS was answering. I will watch it again – maybe I’m wrong.
In this “Anna Karenina” six minute clip the director, Joe Wright, says: “Just as the Russian aristocracy of the 19th century could be described as living upon a stage, our story unfolds in a dilapidated theater.” “living upon a stage” & “dilapidated theater” seems apt for what’s going on in Washington DC right now.
So, using this as an analogy, having a “contemptuous tone” seems to be part of a WHPC script/narrative marshalled against the President (and by extension, We The People). It’s tiresome when you consider all the problems we’re facing. A Regency England character also expressed this, talking about performing publically in front of the servants. The press are constantly highlighting the President’s failure in political etiquette, as if that were somehow more pertinent and important than the major issues at hand facing this country today. The press appears trivial because of where they appear to be operating from. And it’s not from what was traditionally understood as, The Fourth Estate. It’s soap opera. The “political play” (how it’s staged and performed) is more important than real problems and real people.
a respectful conversation, a thoughtful interview, a question that actually has the goal of a considered reply– that’s what is expected of journalists who are so highly regarded that they are positoned to ask questions of the president of the united states. those reporters know better than most what the president has been doing for the past 4 years, what he has endured, what he has achieved. they represent all of us in these exchanges, and we demand that they honor the sacrifices of the person who is shouldering the burden of the presidency. he is human, they are human. when they behave like jackals on prey, they demean us all.
I don’t think that is a tough question. That is veiled disrespect at least. We have been seeing this from Jake the Snake Tapper for the last 4 years and he needs to stop talking to PBO like that. “Where have you been?” He could have asked that question in many different ways if what he was alluding to was that PBO had not done enough so far on gun control but we all know what he meant and it is to insult PBO
I get totally irritated with people who try to excuse disrespectful crap like this with bogus assertions that suggest that we disapprove of ‘journalists’ asking ‘tough questions’ or that we would be supportive of such disrespect ‘if this were a republican president’…
Jake Tapper has been completely missing in action with regard to confronting the GOP on their decision to destroy this country just to destroy this President…
I’m going to push back on this because you’re leading with a very false premise. Jake Tapper did not frame his question in a respectful manner and his colleagues who are on Twitter recognized that. He rudely asked the president “Where Have You Been?” implying Pres. Obama had been lazy and not doing anything since he took office in Jan. 2009. When Pres. Obama walked into office, gun violence was not on anyone’s top 10 list including Jake Tapper whom you defend. Jake Tapper has never written an in-depth article about gun control, reasonable gun safety measures and gun policy. Jake Tapper has never interviewed and asked congress members why they let the assault weapon ban expire in 2004 (2004 when Pres. Obama was NOT president), Jake Tapper has never conducted any in-depth press coverage or news documentary about gun safety. Yet he has the gall to rudely ask Pres. Obama “Where Have You Been?”
When Pres. Obama walked into office, we were looking into the abyss of a great depression that would make the depression under FDR look like child’s play, we had an automobile industry on the brink of collapse, we were fighting two wars that were grossly mishandled, he had a healthcare law to pass, the LGBT community was breathing down his neck to immediately repeal DADT, the science community was breathing down his neck to do something about stem cell research, the Latino community was breathing down his neck to do something about immigration reform. Unions were breathing down his neck. Wall Street reform was being clamored for by everyone.
The shooting that occurred in 2009 was in Fort Hood so you can’t tell him to tell military people that they shouldn’t be armed on their bases. The next shooting occurred in 2011 and by then the GOP controlled the House of Reps. Please outline how he could have gotten gun control policies passed in the rabid teabagger controlled House? Before taking Jake Tapper’s side, outline how he could have done anything comprehensive about gun control when he was fighting tooth and nail for a debt ceiling deal, fighting tooth and nail so that the GOP wouldn’t shut down Govt. over defunding of Planned Parenthood, when he was fighting the GOP so that we wouldn’t get a downgrade? When he was fighting the GOP for more stimulative policies so that the GDP and economy would keep on thriving?
Before you take Jake Taper’s side, outline in comprehensive fact driven steps how Pres. Obama could have pursued gun legislation when Egypt was having a huge unprecedented revolution? Outline how Pres. Obama could have pursued gun control laws when Gaddafi was about to wipe out 300,000 of his own people in Benghazi? Outline how Pres. Obama could pursue gun safety laws when Tunisia, Syria, Sudan etc. were undergoing wave after wave of revolutions? Outline how Pres. Obama was supposed to pursue gun control measures when he was leading a covert and dangerous mission to bring justice to OBL?
I could go on and on and on and on. So please, before you accept Jake Tapper’s rude, insulting, and demeaning question to Pres. Obama, think about what I’ve written and realize that on any given day Pres. Obama is dealing with a plethora of domestic and international issues that we will never be privy to.
Yes, there were several ways that Tapper could have phrased the question. Tapper should also be aware that PBO has several times said he supported reinstatement of the assault weapon ban. Tapper could have said, for example, “Mr. President, I know you have in the past indicated support for the assault weapons plan, yet there never seemed to be a direct push on the part of this administration to follow through on that. Can you explain why that might have been?”
That is a legitimate question and is phrased in a respectful way. Although I have not seen the tape, based upon my reading here and elsewhere, it was the tone, almost accusatory, that his question was asked in that creates the furor.
I agree with that assessment Japa – in watching it a third time the rest of it was standard reporter style questioning but the tone wasn’t good. It does definitely look different on a split screen.
The fairweather supporters of our President who think that defending this sort of crap by someone like Jake Tapper who has been consistent in his assholery, somehow makes them appear rational, above the rancour and ‘not completely in the tank for President Obama’…
Whenever one reads familiar tripe like this, red flags go up…
‘…The person who is the president should never get a pass on anything that’s in his power to control or lead on and doesn’t. If it was a Republican president in the same circumstances, I would have wanted an answer to “why now?” I want the press to ask tough questions. That was a tough question because we (and POTUS) wish he had led on it prior to now. I think that was a fair question even WITH the fact that President Obama has had a million priorities including 2 wars and a financial collapse…’
Be careful to be so quick to judge. Chipsticks knows I am a very very loyal supporter of President Obama and spent many weekends canvassing all over Iowa and Wisconsin. Just because I viewed this exchange differently doesn’t give you the right to call me a fair weather supporter.
The President directly answered Jake’s contemptuous question: “Where were you the last 4 years?”
The question I have for Jake is where was he when the Assault Weapons ban expired in 2004, after Columbine.
Also, upthread I posted a WaPo article on how Petraeus took his marching orders on Afghan surge from husband and wife neo-con team.
If Petraeus hadn’t been caught having an affair, the MSM (especially Jake) would still be worshiping the ground Petraeus walks on.
The ones with the cushy jobs are lazy and aren’t challenged to do investigative reporting. They whine at length about all sorts of inconsequential matters and don’t suffer any consequences for their laziness.
In my opinion it was not an honest question it was a “look at me I so important” question. “Where have you been, Mr. President?” He was not MIA on this issue. Everytime this type of tragdety happened in the past the President indicated we need to do something about the gun laws and ban on these weapons. The minority in the house and senate filibustered everything. It was MORE important to fix this economy, get ACA passed, and he did all that wilth a hostile minority party. The President is not king and change things on his own. WE THE PEOPLE did not say a peek when all these other killings happened. WE THE PEOPLE unfortunately needed something as appauling as 20 six yr olds getting murdered right before Christmas to WAKE THE “F” UP. The question isn’t Where have you been Mr. President, it’s WHERE HAVE WE”VE BEEN? The day that this President was elected and on inauguration day, the RW pundits said the President was coming for peoples guns and he wasn’t. 2009 there was such a run on guns and bullets there was a shortage of bullets and the rwnj’s said the President was purposely doing this. Where was the media when the ban on these weapons expired under Bush/Cheney? NO one in the media asked Bush/Cheney when people shot up schools, malls, restaurants, etc.,
I am sorry, but you have a tendency to defend these unethical media people. There is nothing wrong with asking the President tough but truthful questions. But a WH reporter must not be in the business of asking gotcha questions which also disrespects the President. The President already honestly acknowledged that the government (Congress, Executive, Courts) have not done enough in the area of gun control. You blame the President for not leading on this issue but you fail to acknowledge that from day one of his presidency the NRA and other gun advocates repeatedly accused of him of wanting to confiscate their guns in order to impose a socialist dictatorship. I don’t recall either you, or the other emoprogs coming to his defense. I also don’t recall you highlighting gun control as the number one problem the President had to address. Now, all of a sudden, you joining these unethical reporters, who never once asked the President about gun control, in bashing the President. So, imho, I don’t think that your joining in the bashing the President should get a pass either.
President Obama says that a mentally unstable person should not be able get his hands on a weapon of war! Oh well there goes the Teaparty!— DL Hughley (@RealDlHughley) December 19, 2012
Tebaggers are not necessarily criminally insane. Criminally willful? You bet. Fatuously bat poop? No doubt. Filled with crude and cruel behavior, absolutely.
I deeply admired Peter Jennings. But I've lost all respect for ABC. Showing so much disrespect to the Office of the President is shameful.— gwendolyn davidson (@northanger) December 19, 2012
Enough about Tapper. Time to change the mode. Get a hankie out.
Santa & Sarah
Three years ago, a little boy and his grandmother came to see Santa at
the Mayfair Mall in Wisconsin. The child climbed up on his lap,
holding a picture of a little girl. “Who is this?” asked Santa,
smiling. “Your friend?” Your sister?
“Yes, Santa,” he replied. “My sister, Sarah, who is very sick,” he said sadly.
Santa glanced over at the grandmother who was waiting nearby, and saw
her dabbing her eyes with a tissue.
“She wanted to come with me to see you, oh, so very much, Santa!”
The child exclaimed. “She misses you,” he added softly.
Santa tried to be cheerful and encouraged a smile to the boy’s face,
asking him what he wanted Santa to bring him for Christmas. When they
finished their visit, the Grandmother came over to help the
Child off his lap, and started to say something to Santa, but halted.
“What is it?” Santa asked warmly.
“Well, I know it’s really too much to ask you, Santa, but …” the old
woman began, shooing her grandson over to one of Santa’s elves to
collect the little gift which Santa gave all his young visitors.
“The girl in the photograph .. My granddaughter .. well, you see ..
she has leukemia and isn’t expected to make it even through the
Holidays,” she said through tear-filled eyes. “Is there any way, Santa
…. any possible way that you could come see Sarah? That’s all she’s
asked for, for Christmas, is to see Santa.”
Santa blinked and swallowed hard and told the woman to leave
information with his elves as to where Sarah was, and he would see
what he could do. Santa thought of little else the rest of that
afternoon. He knew what he had to do. “What if it were MY child lying
in that Hospital bed, dying,” he thought with a sinking heart, “this
is the Least I can do.”
When Santa finished visiting with all the boys and girls that evening,
he retrieved from his helper the name of the hospital where Sarah was
staying. He asked the assistant location manager how to get to
Children’s Hospital.
“Why?” Rick asked, with a puzzled look on his face.
Santa relayed to him the conversation with Sarah’s grandmother earlier
that day. “C’mon …. I’ll take you there,” Rick said softly.
Rick drove them to the hospital and came inside with Santa.
They found out which room Sarah was in. A pale Rick said he would wait
out in the hall.
Santa quietly peeked into the room through the half-closed door and
saw little Sarah on the bed. The room was full of what appeared to be
her family; there was the Grandmother and the girl’s brother he had
met earlier that day.
A woman whom he guessed was Sarah’s mother stood by the bed, gently
pushing Sarah’s thin hair off her forehead.
And another woman who he discovered later was Sarah’s aunt, sat in a
chair near the bed with weary, sad look on her face. They were talking
quietly, and Santa could sense the warmth and closeness of the family,
and their love and concern for Sarah.
Taking a deep breath, and forcing a smile on his face, Santa entered
the room, bellowing a hearty, “Ho, ho, ho!”
“Santa!” shrieked little Sarah weakly, as she tried to escape her bed
to run to him, IV tubes in tact.
Santa rushed to her side and gave her a warm hug. A child the tender
age of his own son — 9 years old — gazed up at him with wonder and
excitement. Her skin was pale and her short tresses bore telltale bald
patches from the effects of chemotherapy. But all he saw when he
looked at her was a pair of huge, blue eyes.
His heart melted, and he had to force himself to choke back tears.
Though his eyes were riveted upon Sarah’s face, he could hear the
gasps and quiet sobbing of the women in the room. As he and Sarah
began talking, the family crept quietly to the bedside one by one,
squeezing Santa’s shoulder or his hand gratefully, whispering “thank
you” as they gazed sincerely at him with shining eyes.
Santa and Sarah talked and talked, and she told him excitedly all the
toys she wanted for Christmas, assuring him she’d been a very good
girl that year.
As their time together dwindled, Santa felt led in his spirit to pray
for Sarah, and asked for permission from the girl’s mother. She nodded
in agreement and the entire family circled around Sarah’s bed, holding
hands. Santa looked intensely at Sarah and asked her if she believed in angels.
“Oh , yes, Santa … I do!” she exclaimed.
“Well, I’m going to ask that angels watch over you, “he said.
Laying one hand on the child’s head, Santa closed his eyes and prayed.
He asked that God touch little Sarah, and heal her body from this disease.
He asked that angels minister to her, watch and keep her. And when he
finished praying, still with eyes closed, he started singing softly,
“Silent Night, Holy Night – all is calm, all is bright.”
The family joined in, still holding hands, smiling at Sarah, and
crying tears of hope, tears of joy for this moment, as Sarah beamed at
them all.
When the song ended, Santa sat on the side of the bed again and held
Sarah’s frail, small hands in his own.
“Now, Sarah,” he said authoritatively, “you have a job to do, and that
is to concentrate on getting well. I want you to have fun playing with
your friends this summer, and I expect to see you at my house at
Mayfair Mall this time next year!”
He knew it was risky proclaiming that, to this little girl who had
terminal cancer, but he “had” to.
He had to give her the greatest gift he could — not dolls or games or
toys — but the gift of HOPE.
“Yes, Santa!” Sarah exclaimed, her eyes bright.
He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead and left the room.
Out in the hall, the minute Santa’s eyes met Rick’s, a look passed
between them and they wept unashamed. Sarah’s mother and grandmother
slipped out of the room quickly and rushed to Santa’s side to thank
him.
“My only child is the same age as Sarah,” he explained quietly.
“This is the least I could do.” They nodded with understanding and hugged him.
One year later, Santa Mark was again back on the set in Milwaukee for
his six-week, seasonal job which he so loves to do. Several weeks went
by and then one day a child came u p to sit on his lap.
“Hi, Santa! Remember me?!”
“Of course, I do,” Santa proclaimed (as he always does), smiling down at her.
After all, the secret to being a “good” Santa is to always make each
child feel as if they are the “only” child in the world at that
moment.
“You came to see me in the hospital last year!” Santa’s jaw dropped.
Tears immediately sprang in his eyes, and he grabbed this little
miracle and held her to his chest. “Sarah!” he exclaimed. He scarcely
recognized her, for her hair was long and silky and her cheeks were
rosy — much different from the little girl he had visited just a year
before. He looked over and saw Sarah’s mother and grandmother in the
sidelines smiling and waving and wiping their eyes.
That was the best Christmas ever for Santa Claus.
He had witnessed –and been blessed to be instrumental in bringing
about — this miracle of hope. This precious little child was healed.
Cancer-free. Alive and well.
He silently looked up to Heaven and humbly whispered, “Thank You
Father. ‘ Tis a very, Merry Christmas!”
If you believe in miracles you will pass this on. I did!!
LIFE IS GOD’S GIFT TO YOU … HOW YOU LIVE IT IS YOUR
GIFT TO GOD, YOURSELF AND LOVED ONES.
God is truly a loving God and miracles do happen!
He gave us the greatest and most perfect gift of all.
Tears. Thank you and bless you, friend. This story is even more poignant for me having lost a 4 year old grandson to cancer. Christmas is always difficult for our family, especially our daughter. Walker was able to come home from the hospital (following his first surgery) on Christmas morning (2007). He lived four more months. Though this CT shooting would have been devastating to me regardless, because of the time of year and the ages and having lost a grandson, it has been extremely difficult for me to deal with.
Here is my email to eredith.nettles@abc.com who was asking people to email their complaints about Jake Tapper
Dear Mrs. Nettles,
I just finished watching President Barack Obama’s Press Conference and your reporter covering the White House, Jake Tapper, was seen by the whole world asking the President a question in a very disrespectful way about gun control: asking the POTUS “where have you been??”.
I think that question, his tone and demeanor are very disrespectful of the office of POTUS. I am sure he could have asked that question in a better way.
He constantly does this when he talks to this President and he must stop and your organization needs to remove him from that position and have someone else do that job while he does something else for ABC.
He has shown time ans time again that he cannot address this President with respect and he participates in making the White House Press Corps, a laughing stock around the world.
Thank you for your feedback on this matter.
Best Regards,
She answered back as follows: “I will make sure this gets to the appropriate person.”
This is way too much disrespect to just let it slide by. If Jake Tapper cannot behave like the professional reporter he is supposed to be then ABC needs to send someone else to represent them in the WH Press Corps.
‘ (The Borowitz Report)—In an extraordinary gesture of recognition for a losing Presidential nominee, Time magazine today named former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney Man of the Year 1912.
In a press release explaining its decision, Time’s editorial board wrote, “Even though his quest for the Presidency was unsuccessful, Mr. Romney’s ideas about foreign policy, taxation, wealth inequality, and women’s rights typified the year 1912 as no one else has.”
In giving Mr. Romney the nod, Time said that he beat out such other candidates for Man of the Year 1912 as Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, and Edward Smith, captain of the Titanic.
“It was very close between Romney and the Titanic guy, but we gave it to Romney because it took him slightly longer to sink,” Time wrote.
Mr. Romney could not be reached for comment, a spokesman said, because he was travelling around the world visiting his money.’
"So Jake, this is how many votes I got, and this is how many Willard got. Now: please proceed." http://t.co/5wiXvrDT— The Obama Diary (@TheObamaDiary) December 19, 2012
Thank you Yardarm – and no, I didn’t need help with that shippy language!!
belay |ˈbiːleɪ, bɪˈleɪ|
verb [ with obj. ]
1 fix (a running rope) round a cleat, rock, pin, or other object, to secure it.
• secure (a climber) with a belayed rope: he belayed his partner across the ice.
2 [ usu. in imperative ] Nautical slang stop; desist from: ‘Belay that, mister. Man your post.’.
And that is why there is a struggle again to get this deal done. They’re so bitter and envious of this president—–I bet the fact that his approval poll numbers are zooming also just burns them up. I am furious with Boehner and the Repubs. There has never been a more belligerant, indecent, disgusting and antagonistic bunch in Congress—-ever. I detest them all.
Asked a House GOP source if Boehner's Plan B signals chaos or a carefully orchestrated strategy. "Oh, it's chaos."— Molly Ball (@mollyesque) December 19, 2012
Guys, you have totally got to check out this picture. It has to do with the video that went viral today about an eagle supposedly lifting and dropping a kid.
So…. I just talked to Meredith Nettles, it was fun.
I called and got her once (I didn’t know it was her) she transferred me to audience relations, which is a huge phone tree where I ended up being given a list of news shows I could give feedback on. I hung up and called the number again. This time I told her that i was flustered because Jake Tapper doesn’t have his own show, he is the WH correspondent.
I said his behavior was beneath the integrity of a reporter, that it did not help move the issue of gun control forward and did not help solve the problem. I also said, where was ABC news in doing stories on gun laws in this country, or stories comparing our rate of death by guns to other countries, where was the expose on the NRA?
She apologized, and she said she was just an assistant and there was nothing she could do. I said, you will be a busy assistant because your name, phone and email are on a very popular blog and you are about to hear from lots of people.
So – tomorrow we need to hit her again. After all as members of this very popular blog we need to keep Meredith busy tomorrow.
PS – I also emailed her.
It is nice to have time to raise a ruckus – this is much easier than calling Republicans in Nevada and trying to talk sense to them.
Oh did you hear Rep. Barney Frank talking about that two bit weasel Mayor Bloomberg on Rev. Al show. In 2004 when the ban on the assault weapon expired and Bloomberg were giving money to Republicans, Rep. Frank said he don’t recall Bloomberg telling Tom Delay anything about extending the assault ban.
Barney Frank called out that hypocrite Bloomberg by asking where was he in 2004 when the GOP in congress let the ban on assault weapons expire, while Bloomberg happily donated to and endorsed his fellow GOPers in their run for congress seats.
And Bloomberg has the dam nerve to try to lay the blame for no gun control at the feet of President Obama. As I’ve stated before I don’t like the Mayor.
Anniebella, Bloomberg is a hypocrite of the worst kind. He, along with the NRA, strongly supported Scott Brown against Elizabeth Warren. Not once did Bloomberg criticize Brown’s opposition to gun control; by the way, neither did any of the MSM people like Jake Tapper. May be it was because gun control was not a major issue in 2012, especially in the MA senate contest. In the 2012, the NRA. raised tons of money to defeat President Obama and Democrats like Elizabeth Warren because they accused them of wanting to take away their guns. Does any one remember these holier than thou progressives coming out to strongly oppose the NRA and champion strict gun control laws? But now all of a sudden the absence of strict gun control laws is all President Obama’s fault. So says Bloomberg. So says Jake Tapper. And, so says the holier than thou Progressives.
The People’s View
Pres. Obama is a class act. I would’ve been visibly steamed.
Congrats, UT! Couldn’t see the press conference at work, but it doesn’t surprise me if the jackals were up to their usual nonsense. I managed to catch a few minutes of the President in the car on NPR, and then they switched to talking to “experts” when he went in for questions. What I heard of the President’s statement was encouraging and he clearly means business.
Agree 100%.
Just saw the ABC clip of Jake the a**hole question to PBO (didn’t see the actual press conference).
President Obama was so classy in his response; I can’t think of anyone else who could remain so calm yet steely firm in his direct answer.
What drives me nuts is that the MSM take it as a given that:
1) Lobbyists are the guiding light of DC (hence their “reporting” on whatever drivel comes out of Grover Norquist’s mouth, NRA, etc.)
2) Therefore, the NRA will prevail (and don’t investigate that the NRA is as powerful as the all-knowing Wizard of Oz). The NRA’s power relies on on cowards in the Congress and Senate and the media reporting how all-powerful it is.
Since the Newton massacre, the MSM has been in lockstep by saying “nothing happened after other horrific massacres, so it’ll be the same as before because of the NRA, etc.”
It’s as if they didn’t hear President Obama say on Sunday “This is our first task, caring for our children. It’s our first job. If we don’t get that right, we don’t get anything right. That’s how, as a society, we will be judged.”
Just sickening.
I watch the press conf. and I knew when POTUS called on Jake Tapper, Tapper was going to try to be nasty, and he did and POTUS answer the weasel Tapper like only someone with class and dignity could. I missed Boehner press conf. on purpose.
Didn’t miss anything. He made one statement. What was that?
I agree, UT!Many of those so called WH reporters are total scum. Jack Tapper is the worst of them.
Today’s shaping up to be a good day!
Hey family…
TOP 10 TODAY!
UT…This is why President Obama is the president. Me?? I would blew up with the first question. As soon as the reporter muttered the word, ‘betrayed’.
They are only there to make themselves feel better, and to rile the President. That’s what you do when you do not like somebody, but have to work with them, you try to make life miserable. At least, that is what Teenagers do.
StayingSteady4PHB, I didn’t like that either.
Hey, everyone. Cold and wet, rain mixed with snow for us today. Chipsticks, you are fabulous, you know!
Jay Carney just corrected Chuck Todd in real time…
Thank you, Bobfr. In my mind, PBO and his staff should no longer show up for this kind of crap.
It’s abusive.
Let’s disband the WHPC. Like NOW.
How ~dare~ Jake Tapper ask the President of the United States where he’s been.
Yes, total disrespect for our President and yes, the WHPC should be disbanded!
Bob, I totally agree with you and Sara. These pseudo journalists, like Jake Tapper, are scum. They have no interest in truthfully informing the American people. All they are interested in is in denigrating President Obama. They serve absolutely no purpose and should be either disbanded or totally ignored.
I’m still seething about it Sara, as I said before, the contempt is just outrageous. How dare he – x 1,000,000,000
Bobfr and Sara, thanks so much for your comments here and on Twitter concerning this very issue. I was so upset yesterday after seeing how rude these people in the WHPC were to Jay, that I called the WH and expressed my concerns for this type of continued disresepct to the office of the President because Mr. Jay Carney represents the voice of the President of the United States when he comes out there.
1. Disrespect to the President
2. Disrespect to the Press Sec. who is trying to answer in a manner that represent the POTUS.
Then I wrote to Jay and to the President’s office. I am sick and tired of this type of disrespect. I do believe that those of us who are here for the total purpose of supporting the president should set the standards for his second term that we will watch and remind these jackals that we Will Not Take Their Mess this Term. Plain an simple.
So thanks so much for putting this out there on Twitter and let us let the entire nation know that we are listening and watching how they are trying to continue to disrespect President Obama for another four years. Not going to happen.HZ
Thanks HZ….I think I will do the same!
I am at work so didn’t see this but I can imagine. WHPC sounds like they’re up to their usual sub par, ahem, journalism
This is the best Jake Tapper could do about gun control. He should be laughed out of the room.
Idiots like Jake Tapper are the ones who distract from addressing serious issues. “Where have you been?” REALLY??? I emailed meredith.nettles@abc.com as told when I called ABC News phone number 202-222-7200.
These haters act like it is PBO’s fault nothing has been done on gun control. They show unwarranted disdain to PBO instead of having real disdain for the NRA that pushes these unnecessary gun sales. I have never been this pissed off and we all know these reporters have benn doing this for the last 4 years. WE NEED TO LET HIS BOSSES KNOW THAT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!
Who does he work for? Have you got a phone number? I’d like to call them up.
I urge everyone on this post and them some to call his boss at ABC Washington D.C. bureau. The number is 202-222-7200 or email her assistant at meredith.nettles@abc.com. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH FROM THIS PRICK!
I finally got the chance to watch the whole thing, LB, and Tapper’s comments at the end sent me off. Wrote an e-mail to Meredith Nettles telling her that it did not reflect well on ABC to have an insolent boor representing them at the White House. She wrote back
immediately that she would send the complaint to Tapper’s superiors. I’m sure that instead of reprimands, he’ll get attaboys from the asses at ABC.
I sent the email. I watched the Presser and was absolutely livid. Twitter blew up with comments about how disrespectful Tapper was and said to revoke his White House Press Pass.
I emailed Meredith Nettles this morning about Jake Tapper’s disrespectful question to PBO of “Where were you?” I got the info on the previous blog post. She replied immediately that it would be forwarded to the proper channel. My post asked that they place someone in the WH press that will ask questions appropriately without disrespect. I said he shamed ABC with his behavior.
His boss name is Robin Sproud(?) her assist is Meredith Nettles (202) 222-7200, just as TW4Obama posted above you. Meredith is going to recommend you send her an e-mail with the complaint and she will get it to JakeJackass boss.
Thanks for providing the link, Theworld4Obama. I sent an email to Meredith about Tapper’s his inappropriate question to the President.
Thank you TheWorld4Obama. I called and emailed. Thanks for your beautiful work on this. This is how we stop this mess. Stay on their behinds. This is one of the many ways we can and should be helping POB. I will continue to do so. Thanks so much TheWorld4Obama. HZ
It’s bothering me that we are focusing more on the ABC Jackass than we are on the comforting words President Obama spoke regarding debt negotiations.
Was I wrong? I thought PBO re-stated his principles that revenue would come from the wealthiest among us and the spending cuts would not be allowed to harm seniosr, disabled people and others in need.
It’s not that we’re focusing more on Tapper, Vicki, it’s just that we can’t sit quietly by when as ass like that disrespects the president. The president’s remarks were clear and calming on all fronts. He’s in charge, he knows exactly what’s going on and he’s not going to hurt anyone who needs help. He’s also not going to stand for more nonsense.
OK, Jackie. I can’t stand any disrespect towards the President, either. As I mentioned on the last thread.
Wow, Chips, you never cease to amaze me. Soooo quick!
I was lost in the Rise and Shine thread as I was watching the press conference and I too was furious at Tapper. I’m happy to see that you all feel the same thing. I just read your comments in the previous thread ( not easy to keep the pace lol).
I know my comment is redundant but I want to add my voice…
Jake Tapper to the president on the gun issue: “where have you been?”. What a jerk, what a jerk. Where has HE been in the last four years? Hasn’t he noticed how INSANE the workload of this president has been, how HISTORIC his accomplishments are, how the republicans have made every legislative battle longer and more difficult than necessary ( debt ceiling anyone?). .?? Maybe there is legitimacy for a journalist to ask the president why he didn’t work on the gun issue, but to be so disrespectful, so condescending in the words and the tone… I’m fuming…. And you could sense that the president didn’t like it either. For the record, I think that in addition to the workload of the first term, the reason why the president didn’t launch any initiative on the gun issue is because he knew there was NO political will on the Hill to deal with this. But he was frustrated, as has been reported in a couple of articles this week. Sadly, it took the murder of twenty little children to skake the political class (and the population) to the core so he can finally tackle the problem.
Does anyone ever hold congress responsible. Anyone of them could have offered a proposal. I am sure if legislation which passed both houses came across his desk he would have signed it in a heartbeat.
The media doesn’t blame Congress. It’s all the black guy’s fault.
This is one more reason why our media is fucked up.
I watched the entire press conf. and POTUS indeed said that when you add interest that’s more in spending cuts. So does it surprise anyone that Chuck Todd is a bold face liar.
“where was chuck todd” during the Presser today? I heard the President say exactly what Carney tweeted to the twit Chuckie.
LOLGOP @LOLGOP
————————————
People are missing a key thing about Boehner’s ‘Plan B.’ It only temporarily ends tax breaks for a million+. That’s why Grover buys it.
————————————-
People are also missing the point that Boehner has to present a plan to meet’s President Obama’s satisfaction, not Grover’s satisfaction. Grover is nobody, in the grand (and not so grand) scheme of things.
I never understood how a weasel like Grover ever got to be so powerful.
Because the people who are beholden to him only see power in money – not in doing good or being honorable.
This is my email to that prick Tapper’s boss at ABC News/Washington D.C. Bureau. The assistant actually emailed me back saying she will make sure it gets to the appropriapte person. Hopefully she means it. I encourage everyone to call or email the Washington bureau. The phone number is 202-222-7200 or email meredith.nettles@abc.com. This cannot stand any longer. The 4th estate MUST be held to account!
I just watched the press conference from the WH with the President and Vice President. The last question was from your WH correspondent Jake Tapper. I have never witnessed such disrespect and lack of journalistic integrity as what he just pulled. His disdain for this President is not new, but this time he has crossed the line. If that is how he chooses to participate during what is supposed to be his job, then maybe he needs a new job. His question about the shooting in Connecticut and then asking the President of the United States “where he has been” was so over the top and out of line, I don’t think I have ever seen anything like it. I hope that Ms. Sprouls at minimum sits him down and finds out exactly what his problem is and puts in place a corrective action disciplinary plan or removes him from this assignment at the White House during the 2nd term of President Obama. Our 4th estate has failed this country during the past 4 years and the disdain for the first African American President by your correspondent Tapper cannot be tolerated any longer. It does your news organization nor this country any good to have journalists on air who obviously have their own agenda and day after day exhibit it from the press room or from the south lawn, which Tapper does repeatedly.
It is my hope that in the coming weeks I will see a headline that reads “Jack Tapper reassigned from WH correspondent position”. He is a disgrace to your organization, to journalism and to this country.
Thank you for your consideration.
LB
Naples, FL
Excellent email.
So well stated. Thanks for this. On to write mine.
Wonderful, LB. When I get time, I will do the same and let somebody have it. I do not tweet, so my effort will take a bit. These people show not only their disdane but are small and petty, knowing they will never match PBO’s greatness, and that is what disturbs so many. I’ m sure we have all regretted not doing certain things in life, and especially as we age, but Jake should have decided better in the past if he ever aspired to greatness. Too late for the fucking creep now.
LB4, excellent e-mail. I made a call and will be sending an e-mail.
I just sent this e-mail to JakeJackass’s boss Robin Sprouls:
“In today’s White House press briefing, your irresponsible employee Jake Tapper disrespected the President of the United States Barack Obama in such away that he needs to be reassigned or resign. He has constantly shown disdain toward President Obama, but today he went overboard.
I hope to see within the next 24 hours a public message from Ms. Robin Sprouls that says Jake Tapper has be reassigned or resigned”
–
Respectfully Submitted
My email:
Good day,
As you no doubt have received complaints against your employee, Jake Tapper, I need only to add my name to the abhorrence of someone so totally disdainful of President Obama who, at every turn, attempts to engage your employee in intelligent banter, but Tapper isn’t buying. ABC used to be known for integrity in its standards, so this continual disrespect of a sitting president of the United States, and the office itself, should not be something ABC should condone. I ask also that Tapper (he will not get the dignity of Mr. from me as he acts more as a child would) be reprimanded at the least, with a forewarning of more scholarly reporting in the future.
Thank you for listening.
Tapper gets off on this behavior. He sees it as some mission of his to get under the president’s skin and act adversarial. He sees that as his job or something.
Just emailed my thoughts.
Well done LB4Obama. You expressed so well everything I felt after watching this press conference. A presidential press conference should be about eliciting information from the President and not about gotcha u question that show utter disrespect of a duly elected President of the United States. Jake Tapper is not an objective journalist. He is an anti Obama propagandist.
The half term governor is an authority on Paul Revere’s ride. We need her insights.
P.S. With the United States stupidity over guns….the British don’t f***king want us!
Congressman John Lewis is a National Treasure!
All during the campaign, President Obama said repeatedly that in order to get our financial house in order it would take painful steps from both sides of the aisle. He always said this.
I knew then that few heard him. This backlash against him is what I have feared. What I don’t understand is what alternative positions are available to him.
Are his critics on the left offering any alternative ideas for him, or are they just angry that we are compromising on anything.
Normally, I take comfort in reading Benen, Carpenter, or checking out where the AARP stands. Even these don’t seem to be supporting the President, this time, specifically about the possibility of chained CPI. EVerybody seems to feel that he is compromising too soon and too much.
(By the way, KOS described PBO’s news conference as “painfully bad”. So much for all the glowing support during the campaign.)
I knew this was coming, but I was hoping for more support from him. Ironically, Krugman came closest to supporting him, though guardedly.
How are you thinking about this, TOD family? I sure could use some perspective.
I think one of the reasons the chained CPI for SS is under attack is that SS has nothing to do with either the deficit or the debt. It contributes to neither. That and the fact that it would cut SS benefits, even if not by a lot at the beginning. Of course, they are coming out to complain about soemthing that has not even been publicly proposed.
I enjoy Carpenter, but on this issue he is being somewhat knee jerk reflexive. At least some of his regular commenters are somewhat calling him out on it.
BTW, I must admit that if SS were tied to the chained CPI, i would not be a happy camper either. I would still support PBO to the hilt though.
I won’t be either, but there is nothing that he can do, short of not budging at all, which will satisfy the left.
Is that what they want, for him not to budge? Is that a viable option?
My take, simply, is that these fair-weather so-called supporters fall on ideology, not the man himself. His beliefs just happen to be closer to theirs, but that in itself does not spell agreement. Also, there are just too many people who, to me, seem to hold strong opinions, but they are in fact greedy grifters looking to hitch their wagons to any meme that causes dissension, because controversy is more saleable to a public infatuated with sensationalism and spectacle. THEY ARE NOT SERIOUS !
Yes, I agree. But, I sure would like to hear them offer some substantive options, instead of starting all these fires.
Eve, you can expect nothing else from KOS and his opinion is utterly irrelevant. I don’t respect it and I certainly don’t care what he thinks. Sites like KOS get a lot of hits during the election so they all get on board to be part of the race. I stopped going to that site in 2010, but occasionally during the election, I would look in to see what was happening in different states. Now that the site has reverted to its old bad behavior, I’m off for good. Move On, was doing its small part during the election and I would from time to time see what they were about. Now they’ve started the old whining and I told them I was sick of it and to take me off their list and never again send me another e-mail. People who leap to judge what the president is doing have no idea how to negotiate, know squat about timing and don’t balance the concessions the president wrings from the other side against the ones he gives. PBO will make sure that the poorest and most vulnerable will not get hurt if we go the chain CPI route. I trust him and always have. When everyone said the president caved disgracefully on the debt ceiling crisis of 2010, he actually walked away from the table with most of the cream. Try to tune it out, Eve. Embrace your family and put your faith in the president. He won’t let us down.
So my Twitter TL is mercillessly mocking Orange Man. I bet he’ll be hitting the bars hard tonight.
please share if any warrant re-tweeting!
Edwina, I like your style
thanks so much
I’ll second that! Way to go E3!
These are wonderful tweets, Edwina!
Great tweet Edwina…
DADT, Student Loan Reform, etc
The question from Jake “The Snarl” Tapper was dripping with sarcasm, contempt and disrespect for President Obama. As so many people are saying, the question should be WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN JAKE?? Apparently, you have been so busy carrying water for the GOP that you just didn’t notice what President Obama has been doing. In addition to lacking any journalistic integrity, Jake has come down with a severe case of selective amnesia. It’s long past due that he joined Ed Henry at Fox.
President Obama reminded Jake Tapper that he hasn’t been on vacation sitting on his thumbs for four years. President Obama’s list of accomplishments is enormous. And he did all of that without any help from the DO NOTHING Republicans in congress. They have put party over country from day one. They surrendered their judgment to the NRA, Grover Norquist and Big Oil. PBO couldn’t get them to act on the American Jobs Act so what makes Jake think they would have done anything about gun control regulations. And let’s not forget about the meeting they held on the night of President Obama’s inauguration where they made a pact not to work with him. Thankfully, their governing strategy of obstructing, delaying, filibustering, sabotaging and hostage taking has been rejected by the American people. And there in lies the root of Jake Tapper’s disdain for President Obama.
He’s just the kind you’d like to have jumped after work !!
He should indeed be at Fox.
CONNECTICUT MOMS AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE ACTION PLAN
http://www.ctmomsonline.com/ct-moms-against-gun-violence/
ASK (ASKING SAVES KIDS)
———————————————-
“Is there a gun where your child plays?” Asking this simple question is an important step every parent can take to help their kids stay safe.
About 1/3 of homes with kids have guns, many left unlocked or loaded. Just talking to your child about the dangers of firearms is not enough. Children are naturally curious. If a gun is accessible in someone’s home, there is a good chance a child will find it and play with it. Countless tragedies have occurred when kids found guns that parents thought were well hidden or safely stored.
ASK was created in collaboration with the American Academy of Pediatrics.
—————————————————
http://www.cpyv.org/programs/ask/parents/what-is-the-ask-campaign/
When my children were little, I taught them never to stay in a room if there was something that looked like a gun, to just immediately leave the room even if they were pretty sure it was a toy. I told them police can’t always tell the difference, so they surely wouldn’t be able to. I told them to blame they fussy mother if someone gave them a hard time and to call home if they felt unsafe. I had a first grade student whose one little cousin killed her brother as they were playing with a gun in a relatives home. I’ll never forget her coming to school the next day and trying to get her through that.
I read yesterday that the relative of the CEO of the company that manufactures the Bushmaster lives in CT near the elementary school where the tradgety hit. This morning I heard that this town, because it is rural, is very “pro” gun.
Have you read of Ann Currys’ #26Acts? Today I acted on her idea, While buying Ice melt, I donated to the “Wild Spirit Horse Rescue”, then looking at snow following here and and 21 out side, gathered up Wool Coat, wool pants and money in my change jar and drove down to the Womens Resource Center& dropped off. So sad, in line for food were the very old down to the very young. Just standing in the snow waiting for what liitle they may receive. My donations were dedicated to the Newtown children. Peace and Forward
Bless you Inga. Building on that one kind act can save millions from despair. Will check it out.
I really liked the president’s responses on the fiscal cliff negociations. However, as I was watching him, I had this sinking feeling that it would make the republicans dig in their heels. President Obama talks like the father who asks his children to behave in a more reasonable way. But republicans have the psychological maturity of disturbed teenagers. Usually, when a parent tries to REASON with a teenager out of control, the teenager reacts in getting even more stubborn.
I hope I’m wrong, but I think the republicans will make all sorts of drama and there won’t be any deal before Jan 1st. Maybe they will come to their senses very early in january, but the next weeks won’t be smooth and they’ll do everything to completely ruin the president’s Christmas vacation. Of that I’m sure.
I think the Republicans have already dug in their heels and will make all sorts of drama. I think that was inevitable no matter what he said or how he approached.
My impression of the conference was that President Obama laid out pretty clearly that: he was willing to compromise – they were not.
he was willing to work in the best interests of the country -they were not
he was acting like a grown-up – they were not
he had won the election – they had not
He knew that the Newtown tragedy put things in perspective – they did not
The majority of the country agreed with him on gun control – not them
The majority of the country agreed with him on fiscal cliff/debt ceiling – not them
I also thought it was great when he called them out for making it their goal to stymie him and he was well aware of it.
2012 Person of the Year: Barack Obama, the President
http://poy.time.com/2012/12/19/person-of-the-year-barack-obama/
The final days of any campaign can alter the psyches of even the most experienced political pros. At some point, there is nothing to do but wait. Members of Obama’s team responded in the only rational way available to them — by acting irrationally. They turned neckties into magic charms and facial hair into a talisman and compulsively repeated past behaviors so as not to jinx what seemed to be working. In Boca Raton, Fla., before the last debate, they dispatched advance staff to find a greasy-spoon diner because they had eaten at a similar joint before the second debate, on New York’s Long Island. They sent senior strategist David Axelrod a photograph of the tie he had to find to wear on election night: the same one he wore in 2008. Several staffers on Air Force One stopped shaving, like big-league hitters in the playoffs. Even the President succumbed, playing basketball on Election Day at the same court he played on before winning in 2008.
Love it.
Getting my copy(ies) today!
They are so cute! Definitely buying too
It’s great to see that the Prez ignored Ed Henry. That should always be the case, because he is not a real journalist. And I almost agree to disband this press briefing business since there are so many fake journalists in there. Horse race MSM is almost as bad for our country as GOP and Fox agit/prop media. I think when Gibbs was there, even world nut daily was sitting in there. I just couldn’t believe that. WND is so obviously not real news or journalism.
Ignore Jake Tapper next time.
Samuel Knight has this post at Political Animal entitled, “Expect Off-topic Questions When You’re Inaccessible”. You will love the comments, four at this time. Each is better than the last. Knight has a few loose teeth.
that’s worth checking out. (Summing up today’s WH press corp response: WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!)
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2012_12/expect_off_topic_questions_whe041890.php
I stopped reading when I saw he was a friend of Byron Tau. Good grief.
So sorry, Chips! Bad me
The title and the post…… nope, don’t read. But some of the comments are great! 
Not your fault Northanger!! I’m just being petty, I doubt the wisdom of anyone who would call Byron Tau a friend!
Thank you Chips! {relieved}
Interesting article about Pete Souza’s place in history.
How Pete Souza became President Obama’s secret weapon
You probably have never heard of Pete Souza.
But, Souza, the White House official photographer, plays an absolutely critical — and often under-estimated — role in the shaping of “Barack Obama”, the image of the president presented to the public.
And, in an election in which Obama’s likability seemed to trump policy concerns that many voters held about him, it’s not an exaggeration to say that Souza was a major cog in the machine that got the incumbent re-elected.
“When these eight years are done, Pete will be its most important illustrator,” said Robert Gibbs, who served as White House press secretary in Obama’s first term.
Two Souza photos make clear his importance as the prime teller of the Obama narrative to the public.
The first is of President Obama in the Situation Room watching the operation that led to the killing of Osama bin-Laden.
The second is of President Obama in a lighter moment, “caught” in a spiderweb thrown by a child dressed as a Spiderman.
The first image, which the White House distributed far and wide via its Flickr feed, paints Obama as a serious and engaged commander-in-chief — someone who understands the gravity of the mission and the lives at risk. (The photo has been viewed on Flicker almost 2.7 million times.)
The second image, which Obama tweeted from his Twitter account (24.6 million followers) this morning, shows a side of the president the average person (or reporter or non-White House photographer) never gets to see — and a side that is hugely appealing to lots and lots of people. (Kids are like kryptonite for partisanship — particularly kids dressed in Halloween costumes.)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2012/12/19/pete-souza-president-obamas-secret-weapon/
Pete Souza is a mensch…
I couldn’t name ANY past WH photographers. But I sure know Pete!
At home with a bad cold today. Watching MSNBC… Apparently the confirmation of Chuck Hagel won’t be smooth. I suspect that the arms lobby and the warmongers within the republican party want to derail that nomination. In short, there are some very poweful forces within the military industrial complex who are pushing very hard for an attack on Iran. They have been pushing FOR YEARS. They know that they don’t have an ally in Hagel. So it’s no surprise the war against his nomination is already beginning.
On another note, Hillary is going to take some heat for the report on the failures at the State Department. However, she has so many allies in the Beltway she will be protected. Watch the kid treatment of her in the next weeks, as opposed to how Susan Rice has been treated. (For the record I don’t necessarily fault Hillary for what happened; I’m just angry that the treatment you receive on the Hill and in the press depends on how many “friends” you have. )
Or what color you are!
That’s the hidden TRUTH, Yardarm!
I agree. Well said.
Well, then they’re very stupid. Hagel or no Hagel, the President is the one who decides where and when to deploy the US military – that’s why he’s the Commander in Chief. Congress can declare war, but as far as I know, it’s the President who actually deploys the troops. Tell me if I’m wrong?
I am not sorry I voted for PBO, and I am dam tired of these two bit so call supporters.
So totally proud of PBO today! He is such a class act, and he has the patience of a saint. Jake Tapper isn’t worthy to kiss his feet. I, too emailed his boss. I am pumped about the future of PBOs gun violence initiative and I think, as many have said we are witnessing history in the making, the kind of history we can all tell our grandchildren about one day. I admire PBO’s courage, especially in his statement about examining a culture that embraces and glorifies violence. Changing that culture may prove to be the biggest challenge in this battle. Back to work now, have a great day folks!
I heard PBO’s announcement on my local all-news radio @knx1070 (CBS affiliate). They ended coverage once the reporter questions began, but the news anchors said their take away from the President’s statement was that he was reaching out to the American people to make the much-needed changes.
PBO:
“Ultimately, if this effort is to succeed, it’s going to require the help of the American people.”
With twitter warriors like @Our4thEstate (BobFR) and OFA’s mobilization team, the MSM won’t know what hit them. Hopefully they’ll be irrelevant and doing actual useful work by 2014 (instead of sitting on their fat asses and criticizing everything PBO says or doesn’t say).
Earlier I meant to wish Rita a wonderful journey home to visit her parents, and to say we will miss you, Rita!
one more thing our president has on his mind and heart:
‘ U.S. officials say President Barack Obama phoned the Army secretary late Tuesday night to expressing concerns over arrests and the discovery of problems with background checks at an Army day care center.
The Pentagon is reviewing hiring procedures at military day care centers, schools, youth centers and other facilities where children are present, after revelations that some employees at the Fort Myer, Va., day care center had criminal records. Pentagon leaders were angry that it took months for the Army to disclose the problems to top officials and the public. ‘
http://hosted2.ap.org/NMSAN/81cd4a0d30d142e589a37e5adb2ec62c/Article_2012-12-19-Army%20Day%20Care%20Probes/id-3ca5f72a77f24919a5680a859d06261d
maybe the first family will be arriving in hawaii this weekend!!
‘ Coast Guard law enforcement officers will enforce a temporary security zone in Kailua Bay beginning as early as Dec. 21, 2012. The temporary security zone is necessary to ensure the safety of the President of the United States and his official party. ‘
http://damontucker.com/2012/12/18/coast-guard-crews-to-enforce-kailua-bay-security-zone-during-president-obama-stay/
Good!
Just found out from people on Twitter I’m in this NY Times article about Pres. Obama’s press briefing and the frustration with the D.C. Press Corps regarding their foolish questions. I’m a celebritaaay! (in my own mind) Chipsticks, from now on, you can only get to me through my agent.
At News Conference, Reporters Skip Past Gun Control and Face Instant Criticism
The harshest judges of those in news media are often others in the news media, and, with the benefit of Twitter, that intrajournalistic watchdog role can be performed simultaneously with the journalism being criticized.
Case in point was the White House news conference on Wednesday afternoon, when President Obama made a forceful announcement in response to the massacre of children last week in Newtown, Conn. He said he was directing Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. to lead an effort “to come up with a set of concrete proposals” about dealing with gun violence that he would submit to Congress no later than January.
Mr. Obama answered. Then came the next question, again about the so-called “fiscal cliff”: “What is your next move?” Then: “You mentioned the $700,000, $800,000 — are you willing to move on income level?” And so on, for at least 15 minutes, before a question about gun violence was finally asked, by David Jackson of USA Today.
Media watchers on Twitter — mainly other members of the media and some whose job it is to watch it, quickly seized on the questions as a sign that the Washington press corps was out of step with the national agenda.
http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/19/at-news-conference-reporters-skip-past-gun-control-and-face-instant-criticism/
t wasn’t long, however, before the criticism spread throughout the wider Twitterverse and became a meme in itself. People proposed, tongue in cheek, other topics for questions in lieu of gun control under the hashtag #DCPressQuestions.
If we have to pay you a fee, or negotiate with your agent, so be it if we get information like this! Thanks for sharing …. so maybe some of the more “ethical” press is turning on their own? Hallelujah! We could hope this would be the case and continue until we have we have some journalists with manners asking questions of the President of the United States!
P.S. Thanks for sharing.
CONGRATULATIONS UT!!!!!!!!!
LMAO. “Desperately Seeking Dates” Where do you come up with these lines? I adore your sense of humor. It’s always spot on.
p.s. I shouldn’t be responding directly to you. You should be contacting my agent.
You think I was joking?
I am so happy that someone pointed this out. It seemed a little heartless for this reporter to totally ignore the gun control issue and the aftermath in CT.
I am your agent, right, ut?
My agent does everything to make sure Chelsea CRUSHES Manchester United all the time. You guarantee me that, you’re hired.
p.s. or you know, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate muffins with chocolate chips, brownies with chocolate chips, etc.
Yikes, you might be a bear to work for! I dunno, I might not make the grade….
Oh my goodness, why LOOK WHO IT IS!!! Squeeee!!!!!
Ummm, Miss UT, I know you get this all the time, but may I have your autograph PLEASE? Oh, of course, you can finish your dinner first! I’m terribly sorry!
Okay, now whenever you’re ready, that’s “D – U – D – E – double-T – E”!
Absolutely Amazing! The WH press corp. is a disgrace. Thankfully, more and more Americans no longer depend on the MSM for real and accurate information.
There we go,
Just last Thursday I wrote here in the Susan Rice thread about how the DC Permagov smarting from their preferred candidate losing in Nov, are hellbent on taking out revenge on Pres Obama in thwarting his cabinet choices.
Once again they have hit a twofer: Chuck Hagel & Hillary Clinton. The Israel lobby is amassing opposition to a possible Hagel Sec of Defense nomination because Netanyahu’s boys and girls don’t want a Hagel confirmation to coincide with Bibi’s reelection coronation bid next month. Why? Cuz it would mean that PBO will stand up to Bibi full scale with a Hagel road-block to any tantrums Bibi might throw. But more importantly the Permagov knows it cannot control Pentagon cuts if Hagel is confirmed as he has bucked the lemmings’ conventional wisdom since Bush’s Iraq disaster. So just like Susan Rice, Permagov doesn’ want anybody who has an independent streak. Since they couldn’t beat him at the ballot box, they want to destroy and render Pres. Obama’s 2nd term a lame duck even before he’s re-inaugurated. Boehner’s fiscal cliff madness is part of this scheme. As Permagov dick-sucker Mike Allen said this afternoon, all that these piranhas want is to “bring Pres Obama to his knees”.
I also said last Thursday, that Hillary may have thought she got Ambassador Susan Rice to take the bullet for her and that she was now darling of the Permagov. But like clockwork, these beasts having gorged on Amb Rice, will now destroy Hillary before she can even think of a 2016 run. They will savage her. And the seemingly irreproachable Mullen Benghazi report is intended to dismantle every single positive that came from the Libya policy. The Permagov did not profit materially from Libya so they will destroy any virtue arising from it, plus break Hillary’s legs in the process. This is intended to clear the way for a 2016 Republican presidential candidate who can claim the mantle of coming in to “restore American global leadership”.
John Kerry better watch out on how he’s made a pawn in these Benghazi hearings. They’ll play him then tear him apart limb for limb when his usefulness to them is over.
Very enlightening insights Zizi. Thanks.
I sincerely doubt they’re going to go after Kerry. They want that seat vacant and having Kerry as SOS is a small price to pay to get a shot at filling his seat with a Republican.
I wonder why Republicans think they have a sot at winning the vacant Senate seat in MA if Kerry becomes the SoS? Elizabeth Warren, running for the first time in her life, trounced Scott Brown. Surely, Democrats will field a candidate who will be as capable as Warren in articulating the issues that the people of MA care about. This notion that Brown would some how be guaranteed a win in MA is ridiculous.
Did you all see pic #123 in those Pete Souza images posted today on Time, Lightbox. It shows a much younger pic of Malia taking a picture of President Obama as he is about to head off for the inaugural balls. I have never seen that image before. I think it shows how she is proud of her father and how new to that White House situation she is. I am guessing she no longer takes a pic of him every time he gets dressed up for an important occasion! Such a sweet pic it is. Even the President looks younger and maybe not so accustomed to wearing a tuxedo.
http://lightbox.time.com/2012/10/08/pete-souza-portrait-of-a-presidency/#123
Sweet
Looking forward to the upcoming Inaugural Ball.
Infuriating that “Jake the Snake” is getting pats on the back from his feckless, lazy MSM colleagues while this slides under the MSM’s radar:
Civilian analysts gained Petraeus’s ear while he was commander in Afghanistan
Fred and Kim Kagan used access to top military leader to press for changes in the U.S. war plan.
“Frederick and Kimberly Kagan, a husband-and-wife team of hawkish military analysts, put their jobs at influential Washington think tanks on hold for almost a year to work for Gen. David H. Petraeus when he was the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan.
more to come.”
If we want to talk about the past, how about starting with the MSM’s mutual love affair with Petraeus, a peacock of general, who loved the perks and adoration. Don’t think Petraeus was putting “country first” these past few years.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/civilian-analysts-gained-petraeuss-ear-while-he-was-commander-in-afghanistan/2012/12/18/290c0b50-446a-11e2-8061-253bccfc7532_story.html
I don’t know which clip I’ve played the most, President Obama singing “ Lets stay together” or the clip of President Obama handing Jake Tapper his ass.
You gotta love Matthew Modine. He’s an actor and is an unabashed liberal and he’s been taking on this guy on Twitter and using facts.
This veteran is “blinded” by the FoxNews. It is the wealthy loving GOP who wants to cut their benefits. President Obama has done more for veterans than any president in our recent history. I am sure he voted for Robme/Lyin and just think where he’d be with them as President and VP.
One thing about these Fox Obama haters they will lie rather than say anything good about President Obama.
Hello TODers. I have spent much time here the last five days but felt unable to post. The shootings last Friday hit me in a way I never thought a public event could. I was devastated, far more so than after 9/11. I have pondered why and only touched on some things. Being the grandparent of a beautiful 5 year old girl certainly was a major factor. And living in a state that worships this violent culture–but spending most of my life in a relatively peaceful Minnesota–was another. I started emailing and calling the offices of the despicable Cornyn, Hutchinson, Perry and Hagen on Friday and that will continue. But I really needed to process this. My heartfelt thanks to all of you who posted during these days as your messages really helped. And special thanks to Yardarm and Bob for your music offerings. They soothed my soul at a time it badly needed it. Chips, as always you rock and keep so many of us sane!
It was such a pleasure to see PBO named Time’s person of the year again. He needs support from every corner he can get it with the battles ahead. I am ready to get back in the fight but must admit I have even less patience with the Repubs than I did before. From my perspective, they have immeasurably damaged this country on so many fronts in the last 30 years. But very slowly, the tide seems to be turning. I only hope that PBO’s focus on the violence overwhelming us will be another front. I can’t leave this ridiculous state without leaving those precious grandbabies so I will remain here but I have little tolerance for the idiocy coming out of the mouths of some of these politicians. It will be an interesting four years! And yes I have sent an email to ABC advising them they have lost my patronage until their reporters begin showing respect for the President.
Sending you warmth and lots of hugs.
sexiest, too!
‘ This morning most of the world woke up to discover that Time has selected President Obama as its 85th annual Person of the Year. In North Korea, however, the state news agency is reporting that Time’s pick is actually its young supreme leader, Kim Jong-Un. “The U.S. magazine The Time selected the dear respected Kim Jong Un as ‘man of 2012.’” reads the official report. ‘
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2012/12/north-korea-kind-thinks-kim-jong-un-time-person-year/60150/
I bet they watch a lot of Faux Noise and have learned from Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck on truth tellin’.
And we have not even gotten to the deb limit yet. Leverage?
I think plan B was the ONLY plan of the republicans since the beginning. I don’t know what the president and democrats can do. This battle can only be won if the population stays behind the President. Unfortunately, people are not informed well and the media treats the republicans as if they were a responsible party in the negociations. Moreover, it’s Christmas time and you won’t have thousands of people descending in the streets. Gosh, what is the solution? You just can’t have a bunch of extremists derailing american governance over and over again!
I saw a comment on a blog today comparing the republicans to the secessionnists in the South pre-civil war. I thought the comparison was accurate.
their plan ‘a’ was elect robmey, take over the senate, and then destroy america while lining their pockets and their friends’ pockets. exactly what robmey did as a take-over vulture capital exec. they had no other plan, because that’s what they’re in government for–that and nothing else. they deplore, despise, denigrate, and destroy government, except when it lets them take all the money from all the people all the time.
I don’t think it’s about greed for the majority of them. It is about ideology, aboit delusion. The majority of them BELIEVE the crap they’re pushing. They BELIEVE that a smaller government would lead to a better society. They BELIEVE that cutting taxes at the top leads to prosperity. Despite years and years of evidence to the contrary. Many of them don’t understand a thing about how the economy functions. Some of the lunatics in the House don’t even understand the simple concept of “demand” in the economy, and it’s just an example.
I’ll agree though that some of the people at the top are in for the money. Politicians like Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney. And of course the big bankers and the CEOs who support the republican party, and make money all around the world so they don’t give a damn if their fellow americans are suffering and if the middle class is destroyed.
Replying to myself…. I think President Obama won’t have the choice to adress the nation prime time before the end of the year. He can’t let the republicans use their leverage in the House to force the government to go with their policies, against the will of a majority of americans.
We are faced with a very stark illustration of the distorsion within the american electoral system. The republicans lost the WhIte House, the Senate; they also lost the popular vote for the House. Their policies on taxes and deficits are rejected by a majority of americans. And yet, they have the legislative power to prevent Washington from enacting the policies that America has voted for.
I’d say comparing them to the Taliban is accurate as well. Religious fanatics who think women and others who are not like them must be ruled and dominated.
Boehner knows he can take Plan B and shove it up his lying freaking behind. The public is still with the President.
No, cause everyone knows this is a gimmick. What are they saying here they want to raise taxes, and not cut spending? Does not make sense and no one is going to buy it.
The feckless, lazy MSM (including “Jake the Snake”) and polling firms have dismissed gun violence during the last 4 years and relied on the NRA to tell them what Americans think about military-style assault weapons.
“62% support a ban on semi-automatic assault guns according to a new CNN poll.”
PBO never shied away from expressing his opinion that these do not belong in civilian hands and homes. PBO does NOT have have #Romnesia.
Loved that Bill, just perfect.
Unfortunately ABC is the only channel my mother gets and she semi watches their evening news. I can’t stand Diane Sawyer or Jake the Snake in fact I have cable and don’t watch any of them. I have stopped watching Ed Shultz and Rachel Madcow since they are Obama bashing again.
The Seeth has hit the fan & the WHPC Whine Index reached an all-time high today.
I have just finished watching and listening to the president’s comments (thanks for the video), but I stopped the tape and came here to comment when I heard, in disbelief, that the first question was about the fiscal cliff and not about what the president’s comments. Who are these fools; what is their purpose? he ignored the reason for which PBO held the press conference to ask this? My God, these people are unbelievable. A sea change in American life is on its way and he ignores it? WTF?!
This just happened. Jake Tapper is pathetic. I think Chuck Todd needs to go back to journalism school, but one thing I will give him credit for is that he doesn’t block you for disagreeing with him. You have to really really really be vile to him before he blocks you and people have called him names, told him he’s a liar and disagreed with him on his reporting and he does not hit the block button. Sometimes (in my experience) he’ll engage with you. Jake Tapper is not like that. You cite a newspaper article or whatever to point out to Jake Tapper that he called something wrong or that his coverage wasn’t 100% truthful, he’ll block you and then tweet crap about you knowing that you can’t respond because he blocked you. It’s hilariously childishly pathetic.
I was blocked by Jake Tapper awhile back (a little over 2 years ago). And for something very, very trivial. Even Mark Knoller (who I mostly can’t stand) does not block and occasionally has responded to my comments/questions.
I just watched the clip of Jake Tapper and imho really don’t see what you guys are talking about. The person who is the president should never get a pass on anything that’s in his power to control or lead on and doesn’t. If it was a Republican president in the same circumstances, I would have wanted an answer to “why now?” I want the press to ask tough questions. That was a tough question because we (and POTUS) wish he had led on it prior to now. I think that was a fair question even WITH the fact that President Obama has had a million priorities including 2 wars and a financial collapse.
But we all know that it was a political reality that he would not have been reelected had he come out with ANY type of anti-gun policy. I mean, let’s be honest, it isn’t like he couldn’t have prioritized it in 2011 or 2012 since the wars and financial collapse were not pressing daily priorities.
It is a very sad reality that POTUS actually would have led on this issue in 2009 if it wasn’t a political nightmare for both he and other Democrats. But that doesn’t mean any one should get a pass on the question. imho.
Where have you been is the injurious Jake the Jerk Tapper’s form of questioning.
I was always taught that No questions are wrong just the answers. OK. But what about Tone laced in insults?
Believe me, it’s not the question itself we’re having problems with.
It’s like the American Press have created and are deploying their own set of Obama Dog Whistles. Their past actions make them untrustworthy.
I saw just the clip of it not at whitehouse.gov so it had the split screen showing Tapper and POTUS and he was nodding as POTUS was answering. I will watch it again – maybe I’m wrong.
It’s his duty to ask tough questions Forus, no one has a problem with that, it’s his contemptuous tone is the issue.
Hear, hear. The dismissive accusatory tone. The disdain and the obvious wickedness in his demeanor…. that irks me too.
Maybe this will help.
In this “Anna Karenina” six minute clip the director, Joe Wright, says: “Just as the Russian aristocracy of the 19th century could be described as living upon a stage, our story unfolds in a dilapidated theater.” “living upon a stage” & “dilapidated theater” seems apt for what’s going on in Washington DC right now.
So, using this as an analogy, having a “contemptuous tone” seems to be part of a WHPC script/narrative marshalled against the President (and by extension, We The People). It’s tiresome when you consider all the problems we’re facing. A Regency England character also expressed this, talking about performing publically in front of the servants. The press are constantly highlighting the President’s failure in political etiquette, as if that were somehow more pertinent and important than the major issues at hand facing this country today. The press appears trivial because of where they appear to be operating from. And it’s not from what was traditionally understood as, The Fourth Estate. It’s soap opera. The “political play” (how it’s staged and performed) is more important than real problems and real people.
The play is called, “Status Quo”.
a respectful conversation, a thoughtful interview, a question that actually has the goal of a considered reply– that’s what is expected of journalists who are so highly regarded that they are positoned to ask questions of the president of the united states. those reporters know better than most what the president has been doing for the past 4 years, what he has endured, what he has achieved. they represent all of us in these exchanges, and we demand that they honor the sacrifices of the person who is shouldering the burden of the presidency. he is human, they are human. when they behave like jackals on prey, they demean us all.
Well said! “a respectful conversation, a thoughtful interview, a question that actually has the goal of a considered reply”
I don’t think that is a tough question. That is veiled disrespect at least. We have been seeing this from Jake the Snake Tapper for the last 4 years and he needs to stop talking to PBO like that. “Where have you been?” He could have asked that question in many different ways if what he was alluding to was that PBO had not done enough so far on gun control but we all know what he meant and it is to insult PBO
Thank you…
I get totally irritated with people who try to excuse disrespectful crap like this with bogus assertions that suggest that we disapprove of ‘journalists’ asking ‘tough questions’ or that we would be supportive of such disrespect ‘if this were a republican president’…
Jake Tapper has been completely missing in action with regard to confronting the GOP on their decision to destroy this country just to destroy this President…
It was not the content. It was his tone like he was questioning a child. It was disrespectful IMHO!
I’m going to push back on this because you’re leading with a very false premise. Jake Tapper did not frame his question in a respectful manner and his colleagues who are on Twitter recognized that. He rudely asked the president “Where Have You Been?” implying Pres. Obama had been lazy and not doing anything since he took office in Jan. 2009. When Pres. Obama walked into office, gun violence was not on anyone’s top 10 list including Jake Tapper whom you defend. Jake Tapper has never written an in-depth article about gun control, reasonable gun safety measures and gun policy. Jake Tapper has never interviewed and asked congress members why they let the assault weapon ban expire in 2004 (2004 when Pres. Obama was NOT president), Jake Tapper has never conducted any in-depth press coverage or news documentary about gun safety. Yet he has the gall to rudely ask Pres. Obama “Where Have You Been?”
When Pres. Obama walked into office, we were looking into the abyss of a great depression that would make the depression under FDR look like child’s play, we had an automobile industry on the brink of collapse, we were fighting two wars that were grossly mishandled, he had a healthcare law to pass, the LGBT community was breathing down his neck to immediately repeal DADT, the science community was breathing down his neck to do something about stem cell research, the Latino community was breathing down his neck to do something about immigration reform. Unions were breathing down his neck. Wall Street reform was being clamored for by everyone.
The shooting that occurred in 2009 was in Fort Hood so you can’t tell him to tell military people that they shouldn’t be armed on their bases. The next shooting occurred in 2011 and by then the GOP controlled the House of Reps. Please outline how he could have gotten gun control policies passed in the rabid teabagger controlled House? Before taking Jake Tapper’s side, outline how he could have done anything comprehensive about gun control when he was fighting tooth and nail for a debt ceiling deal, fighting tooth and nail so that the GOP wouldn’t shut down Govt. over defunding of Planned Parenthood, when he was fighting the GOP so that we wouldn’t get a downgrade? When he was fighting the GOP for more stimulative policies so that the GDP and economy would keep on thriving?
Before you take Jake Taper’s side, outline in comprehensive fact driven steps how Pres. Obama could have pursued gun legislation when Egypt was having a huge unprecedented revolution? Outline how Pres. Obama could have pursued gun control laws when Gaddafi was about to wipe out 300,000 of his own people in Benghazi? Outline how Pres. Obama could pursue gun safety laws when Tunisia, Syria, Sudan etc. were undergoing wave after wave of revolutions? Outline how Pres. Obama was supposed to pursue gun control measures when he was leading a covert and dangerous mission to bring justice to OBL?
I could go on and on and on and on. So please, before you accept Jake Tapper’s rude, insulting, and demeaning question to Pres. Obama, think about what I’ve written and realize that on any given day Pres. Obama is dealing with a plethora of domestic and international issues that we will never be privy to.
Yes, there were several ways that Tapper could have phrased the question. Tapper should also be aware that PBO has several times said he supported reinstatement of the assault weapon ban. Tapper could have said, for example, “Mr. President, I know you have in the past indicated support for the assault weapons plan, yet there never seemed to be a direct push on the part of this administration to follow through on that. Can you explain why that might have been?”
That is a legitimate question and is phrased in a respectful way. Although I have not seen the tape, based upon my reading here and elsewhere, it was the tone, almost accusatory, that his question was asked in that creates the furor.
I agree with that assessment Japa – in watching it a third time the rest of it was standard reporter style questioning but the tone wasn’t good. It does definitely look different on a split screen.
(I just watched the clip of Jake Tapper and imho really don’t see what you guys are talking about.)
WTF where have you been, Ok I see Obama don’t lead political crap, there was no way obama could have gotten a gun bill through and you know it.
We have them in our midst too…
The fairweather supporters of our President who think that defending this sort of crap by someone like Jake Tapper who has been consistent in his assholery, somehow makes them appear rational, above the rancour and ‘not completely in the tank for President Obama’…
Whenever one reads familiar tripe like this, red flags go up…
‘…The person who is the president should never get a pass on anything that’s in his power to control or lead on and doesn’t. If it was a Republican president in the same circumstances, I would have wanted an answer to “why now?” I want the press to ask tough questions. That was a tough question because we (and POTUS) wish he had led on it prior to now. I think that was a fair question even WITH the fact that President Obama has had a million priorities including 2 wars and a financial collapse…’
Be careful to be so quick to judge. Chipsticks knows I am a very very loyal supporter of President Obama and spent many weekends canvassing all over Iowa and Wisconsin. Just because I viewed this exchange differently doesn’t give you the right to call me a fair weather supporter.
Trust me, I know you very well…
The President directly answered Jake’s contemptuous question: “Where were you the last 4 years?”
The question I have for Jake is where was he when the Assault Weapons ban expired in 2004, after Columbine.
Also, upthread I posted a WaPo article on how Petraeus took his marching orders on Afghan surge from husband and wife neo-con team.
If Petraeus hadn’t been caught having an affair, the MSM (especially Jake) would still be worshiping the ground Petraeus walks on.
The ones with the cushy jobs are lazy and aren’t challenged to do investigative reporting. They whine at length about all sorts of inconsequential matters and don’t suffer any consequences for their laziness.
In my opinion it was not an honest question it was a “look at me I so important” question. “Where have you been, Mr. President?” He was not MIA on this issue. Everytime this type of tragdety happened in the past the President indicated we need to do something about the gun laws and ban on these weapons. The minority in the house and senate filibustered everything. It was MORE important to fix this economy, get ACA passed, and he did all that wilth a hostile minority party. The President is not king and change things on his own. WE THE PEOPLE did not say a peek when all these other killings happened. WE THE PEOPLE unfortunately needed something as appauling as 20 six yr olds getting murdered right before Christmas to WAKE THE “F” UP. The question isn’t Where have you been Mr. President, it’s WHERE HAVE WE”VE BEEN? The day that this President was elected and on inauguration day, the RW pundits said the President was coming for peoples guns and he wasn’t. 2009 there was such a run on guns and bullets there was a shortage of bullets and the rwnj’s said the President was purposely doing this. Where was the media when the ban on these weapons expired under Bush/Cheney? NO one in the media asked Bush/Cheney when people shot up schools, malls, restaurants, etc.,
If Tapper had even added Mr President to the end of his “Where have you been?” that would have changed the tone some. He did not.
I am sorry, but you have a tendency to defend these unethical media people. There is nothing wrong with asking the President tough but truthful questions. But a WH reporter must not be in the business of asking gotcha questions which also disrespects the President. The President already honestly acknowledged that the government (Congress, Executive, Courts) have not done enough in the area of gun control. You blame the President for not leading on this issue but you fail to acknowledge that from day one of his presidency the NRA and other gun advocates repeatedly accused of him of wanting to confiscate their guns in order to impose a socialist dictatorship. I don’t recall either you, or the other emoprogs coming to his defense. I also don’t recall you highlighting gun control as the number one problem the President had to address. Now, all of a sudden, you joining these unethical reporters, who never once asked the President about gun control, in bashing the President. So, imho, I don’t think that your joining in the bashing the President should get a pass either.
yeah, look what happened when shrub and cheney took charge of the u.s. military. adolescent posturing while actual, real people died.
Tebaggers are not necessarily criminally insane. Criminally willful? You bet. Fatuously bat poop? No doubt. Filled with crude and cruel behavior, absolutely.
I am not sure about that. I know some who are borderline!
Thanks for the much needed laugh! and aloha Susanne (who is turning in each night in Hawaii when I’m arising on the East Coast)
aloha susan! you do get up early–keeping those tod lights lit
I tweeted this:
I e-mailed this to ABC
Ms. Nettles,
This is to register my complaint and utter disgust for the disrespectful manner in which Jake Tapper addressed
the President of the United States in today’s press conference.
In addition to registering my complaint, I would also suggest that you get qualified, intelligent people to represent
your organization in these high profile events. Might I further suggest, or rather assert, that Jake Tapper does not
fit the required qualifications.
Please pass on my e-mail to his boss Robin Sproud
I like your phrase “qualified, intelligent people”. There are very few in the WH press corps.
Enough about Tapper. Time to change the mode. Get a hankie out.
Santa & Sarah
Three years ago, a little boy and his grandmother came to see Santa at
the Mayfair Mall in Wisconsin. The child climbed up on his lap,
holding a picture of a little girl. “Who is this?” asked Santa,
smiling. “Your friend?” Your sister?
“Yes, Santa,” he replied. “My sister, Sarah, who is very sick,” he said sadly.
Santa glanced over at the grandmother who was waiting nearby, and saw
her dabbing her eyes with a tissue.
“She wanted to come with me to see you, oh, so very much, Santa!”
The child exclaimed. “She misses you,” he added softly.
Santa tried to be cheerful and encouraged a smile to the boy’s face,
asking him what he wanted Santa to bring him for Christmas. When they
finished their visit, the Grandmother came over to help the
Child off his lap, and started to say something to Santa, but halted.
“What is it?” Santa asked warmly.
“Well, I know it’s really too much to ask you, Santa, but …” the old
woman began, shooing her grandson over to one of Santa’s elves to
collect the little gift which Santa gave all his young visitors.
“The girl in the photograph .. My granddaughter .. well, you see ..
she has leukemia and isn’t expected to make it even through the
Holidays,” she said through tear-filled eyes. “Is there any way, Santa
…. any possible way that you could come see Sarah? That’s all she’s
asked for, for Christmas, is to see Santa.”
Santa blinked and swallowed hard and told the woman to leave
information with his elves as to where Sarah was, and he would see
what he could do. Santa thought of little else the rest of that
afternoon. He knew what he had to do. “What if it were MY child lying
in that Hospital bed, dying,” he thought with a sinking heart, “this
is the Least I can do.”
When Santa finished visiting with all the boys and girls that evening,
he retrieved from his helper the name of the hospital where Sarah was
staying. He asked the assistant location manager how to get to
Children’s Hospital.
“Why?” Rick asked, with a puzzled look on his face.
Santa relayed to him the conversation with Sarah’s grandmother earlier
that day. “C’mon …. I’ll take you there,” Rick said softly.
Rick drove them to the hospital and came inside with Santa.
They found out which room Sarah was in. A pale Rick said he would wait
out in the hall.
Santa quietly peeked into the room through the half-closed door and
saw little Sarah on the bed. The room was full of what appeared to be
her family; there was the Grandmother and the girl’s brother he had
met earlier that day.
A woman whom he guessed was Sarah’s mother stood by the bed, gently
pushing Sarah’s thin hair off her forehead.
And another woman who he discovered later was Sarah’s aunt, sat in a
chair near the bed with weary, sad look on her face. They were talking
quietly, and Santa could sense the warmth and closeness of the family,
and their love and concern for Sarah.
Taking a deep breath, and forcing a smile on his face, Santa entered
the room, bellowing a hearty, “Ho, ho, ho!”
“Santa!” shrieked little Sarah weakly, as she tried to escape her bed
to run to him, IV tubes in tact.
Santa rushed to her side and gave her a warm hug. A child the tender
age of his own son — 9 years old — gazed up at him with wonder and
excitement. Her skin was pale and her short tresses bore telltale bald
patches from the effects of chemotherapy. But all he saw when he
looked at her was a pair of huge, blue eyes.
His heart melted, and he had to force himself to choke back tears.
Though his eyes were riveted upon Sarah’s face, he could hear the
gasps and quiet sobbing of the women in the room. As he and Sarah
began talking, the family crept quietly to the bedside one by one,
squeezing Santa’s shoulder or his hand gratefully, whispering “thank
you” as they gazed sincerely at him with shining eyes.
Santa and Sarah talked and talked, and she told him excitedly all the
toys she wanted for Christmas, assuring him she’d been a very good
girl that year.
As their time together dwindled, Santa felt led in his spirit to pray
for Sarah, and asked for permission from the girl’s mother. She nodded
in agreement and the entire family circled around Sarah’s bed, holding
hands. Santa looked intensely at Sarah and asked her if she believed in angels.
“Oh , yes, Santa … I do!” she exclaimed.
“Well, I’m going to ask that angels watch over you, “he said.
Laying one hand on the child’s head, Santa closed his eyes and prayed.
He asked that God touch little Sarah, and heal her body from this disease.
He asked that angels minister to her, watch and keep her. And when he
finished praying, still with eyes closed, he started singing softly,
“Silent Night, Holy Night – all is calm, all is bright.”
The family joined in, still holding hands, smiling at Sarah, and
crying tears of hope, tears of joy for this moment, as Sarah beamed at
them all.
When the song ended, Santa sat on the side of the bed again and held
Sarah’s frail, small hands in his own.
“Now, Sarah,” he said authoritatively, “you have a job to do, and that
is to concentrate on getting well. I want you to have fun playing with
your friends this summer, and I expect to see you at my house at
Mayfair Mall this time next year!”
He knew it was risky proclaiming that, to this little girl who had
terminal cancer, but he “had” to.
He had to give her the greatest gift he could — not dolls or games or
toys — but the gift of HOPE.
“Yes, Santa!” Sarah exclaimed, her eyes bright.
He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead and left the room.
Out in the hall, the minute Santa’s eyes met Rick’s, a look passed
between them and they wept unashamed. Sarah’s mother and grandmother
slipped out of the room quickly and rushed to Santa’s side to thank
him.
“My only child is the same age as Sarah,” he explained quietly.
“This is the least I could do.” They nodded with understanding and hugged him.
One year later, Santa Mark was again back on the set in Milwaukee for
his six-week, seasonal job which he so loves to do. Several weeks went
by and then one day a child came u p to sit on his lap.
“Hi, Santa! Remember me?!”
“Of course, I do,” Santa proclaimed (as he always does), smiling down at her.
After all, the secret to being a “good” Santa is to always make each
child feel as if they are the “only” child in the world at that
moment.
“You came to see me in the hospital last year!” Santa’s jaw dropped.
Tears immediately sprang in his eyes, and he grabbed this little
miracle and held her to his chest. “Sarah!” he exclaimed. He scarcely
recognized her, for her hair was long and silky and her cheeks were
rosy — much different from the little girl he had visited just a year
before. He looked over and saw Sarah’s mother and grandmother in the
sidelines smiling and waving and wiping their eyes.
That was the best Christmas ever for Santa Claus.
He had witnessed –and been blessed to be instrumental in bringing
about — this miracle of hope. This precious little child was healed.
Cancer-free. Alive and well.
He silently looked up to Heaven and humbly whispered, “Thank You
Father. ‘ Tis a very, Merry Christmas!”
If you believe in miracles you will pass this on. I did!!
LIFE IS GOD’S GIFT TO YOU … HOW YOU LIVE IT IS YOUR
GIFT TO GOD, YOURSELF AND LOVED ONES.
God is truly a loving God and miracles do happen!
He gave us the greatest and most perfect gift of all.
Tears. Thank you and bless you, friend. This story is even more poignant for me having lost a 4 year old grandson to cancer. Christmas is always difficult for our family, especially our daughter. Walker was able to come home from the hospital (following his first surgery) on Christmas morning (2007). He lived four more months. Though this CT shooting would have been devastating to me regardless, because of the time of year and the ages and having lost a grandson, it has been extremely difficult for me to deal with.
I so sorry I stirred up the memories.My heart to yours….
No problem, friend. It is a beautiful and HOPE-FILLED story. Indeed, I couldn’t have gotten this far in my grief without my faith and without HOPE.
Peace be with you.
Here is my email to eredith.nettles@abc.com who was asking people to email their complaints about Jake Tapper
Dear Mrs. Nettles,
I just finished watching President Barack Obama’s Press Conference and your reporter covering the White House, Jake Tapper, was seen by the whole world asking the President a question in a very disrespectful way about gun control: asking the POTUS “where have you been??”.
I think that question, his tone and demeanor are very disrespectful of the office of POTUS. I am sure he could have asked that question in a better way.
He constantly does this when he talks to this President and he must stop and your organization needs to remove him from that position and have someone else do that job while he does something else for ABC.
He has shown time ans time again that he cannot address this President with respect and he participates in making the White House Press Corps, a laughing stock around the world.
Thank you for your feedback on this matter.
Best Regards,
She answered back as follows: “I will make sure this gets to the appropriate person.”
This is way too much disrespect to just let it slide by. If Jake Tapper cannot behave like the professional reporter he is supposed to be then ABC needs to send someone else to represent them in the WH Press Corps.
Good job…
Nice. Asking that Tapper be reassigned is the appropriate response from the people.
correction: meredith.nettles@abc.com
‘ (The Borowitz Report)—In an extraordinary gesture of recognition for a losing Presidential nominee, Time magazine today named former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney Man of the Year 1912.
In a press release explaining its decision, Time’s editorial board wrote, “Even though his quest for the Presidency was unsuccessful, Mr. Romney’s ideas about foreign policy, taxation, wealth inequality, and women’s rights typified the year 1912 as no one else has.”
In giving Mr. Romney the nod, Time said that he beat out such other candidates for Man of the Year 1912 as Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, and Edward Smith, captain of the Titanic.
“It was very close between Romney and the Titanic guy, but we gave it to Romney because it took him slightly longer to sink,” Time wrote.
Mr. Romney could not be reached for comment, a spokesman said, because he was travelling around the world visiting his money.’
Read more: http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/borowitzreport/2012/12/time-names-mitt-romney-man-of-the-year-1912.html#ixzz2FXXq0qdt
That was funny…
I ♥ you, Chips. Nobody does it better. Thanks for this.
Ooooh Tien Le, I’m just a sarky auld cow!!!
Not even! Girlfriend, you are a quick-witted, loving, compassionate (way too patient) goddess. Don’t even go there.
Ah now Tien Le, you’re way way too kind – I am a sarky moo-er
Belay that Admiral. There are no sub par mates on this vessel!
belay |ˈbiːleɪ, bɪˈleɪ|
verb [ with obj. ]
1 fix (a running rope) round a cleat, rock, pin, or other object, to secure it.
• secure (a climber) with a belayed rope: he belayed his partner across the ice.
2 [ usu. in imperative ] Nautical slang stop; desist from: ‘Belay that, mister. Man your post.’.
Very goood! Hand salute. I’ll return to my station.
You’re doing a mighty fine job, shipmate!
LOL.
And that is why there is a struggle again to get this deal done. They’re so bitter and envious of this president—–I bet the fact that his approval poll numbers are zooming also just burns them up. I am furious with Boehner and the Repubs. There has never been a more belligerant, indecent, disgusting and antagonistic bunch in Congress—-ever. I detest them all.
Well Chips, this pic gave me my LOL for today.
Thanks.
Ha, my pleasure COS!!!
I like Pres. Obama’s Jedi Mind Trick.
Guys, you have totally got to check out this picture. It has to do with the video that went viral today about an eagle supposedly lifting and dropping a kid.
Hi All
So…. I just talked to Meredith Nettles, it was fun.
I called and got her once (I didn’t know it was her) she transferred me to audience relations, which is a huge phone tree where I ended up being given a list of news shows I could give feedback on. I hung up and called the number again. This time I told her that i was flustered because Jake Tapper doesn’t have his own show, he is the WH correspondent.
I said his behavior was beneath the integrity of a reporter, that it did not help move the issue of gun control forward and did not help solve the problem. I also said, where was ABC news in doing stories on gun laws in this country, or stories comparing our rate of death by guns to other countries, where was the expose on the NRA?
She apologized, and she said she was just an assistant and there was nothing she could do. I said, you will be a busy assistant because your name, phone and email are on a very popular blog and you are about to hear from lots of people.
So – tomorrow we need to hit her again. After all as members of this very popular blog we need to keep Meredith busy tomorrow.
PS – I also emailed her.
It is nice to have time to raise a ruckus – this is much easier than calling Republicans in Nevada and trying to talk sense to them.
Toodles.
Spoke with Ms Nettles a few hours ago, she was already getting hammered with calls. Left a terse vmail for Jake’s boss – no ambiguity.
Oh did you hear Rep. Barney Frank talking about that two bit weasel Mayor Bloomberg on Rev. Al show. In 2004 when the ban on the assault weapon expired and Bloomberg were giving money to Republicans, Rep. Frank said he don’t recall Bloomberg telling Tom Delay anything about extending the assault ban.
Michael Bloomberg is still giving money to and supporting rabid NRA members to this day Annie…
Michael Bloomberg is an attention seeking fraud…
I sent Ms. Nettles a email also.
Heads up everyone:
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/12/19/heads-up-president-obama-speaks-at-diplomatic-corps-reception/
Barney Frank called out that hypocrite Bloomberg by asking where was he in 2004 when the GOP in congress let the ban on assault weapons expire, while Bloomberg happily donated to and endorsed his fellow GOPers in their run for congress seats.
Thank you Barney Frank,
And Bloomberg has the dam nerve to try to lay the blame for no gun control at the feet of President Obama. As I’ve stated before I don’t like the Mayor.
Anniebella, Bloomberg is a hypocrite of the worst kind. He, along with the NRA, strongly supported Scott Brown against Elizabeth Warren. Not once did Bloomberg criticize Brown’s opposition to gun control; by the way, neither did any of the MSM people like Jake Tapper. May be it was because gun control was not a major issue in 2012, especially in the MA senate contest. In the 2012, the NRA. raised tons of money to defeat President Obama and Democrats like Elizabeth Warren because they accused them of wanting to take away their guns. Does any one remember these holier than thou progressives coming out to strongly oppose the NRA and champion strict gun control laws? But now all of a sudden the absence of strict gun control laws is all President Obama’s fault. So says Bloomberg. So says Jake Tapper. And, so says the holier than thou Progressives.