President Barack Obama pauses during a meeting to observe a moment of silence in the Oval Office at 9:30 a.m. in remembrance of the 20 children and six adults killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown. Joining the President, from left, are: Director of Communications Dan Pfeiffer; Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett; Chief of Staff Jack Lew; and Pete Rouse, Counselor to the President. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
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Mother Jones (painful to read, but powerful reporting)
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Charles Pierce: The National Rifle Association held a press conference today at which it was determined that there would be no questions asked or answered, but the organization made it quite clear that they would be open to media questions next week, between Christmas and New Year’s. Then they trotted out Wayne LaPierre, who had bats flying out of both ears.
….. For all the hopeful rhetoric expended over the past week about how this might actually be a “tipping point” for the NRA, the organization is as dead set against rational gun laws as it was a week ago Friday.
… They have their plan, and its about more guns, period … Now we know where everybody stands. Clarity is a wonderful thing … [they] made it implicitly clear that they will fight any legislation that comes before the Congress as regards gun control, and that it will work (as always) to undermine the enforcement of that legislation should it become law. The country should realize all of that and move on ahead without them.
Full post here
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Alec MacGillis (TNR): For two decades now, the legend of the National Rifle Association has grown in Washington. They were the most feared lobby of all, as influential and professionally run as the AARP or AIPAC but with the literal firepower behind them to enhance the aura of intimidation. They could get just about everything they wanted…..
But this cloak of power was stripped away today at NRA honcho Wayne LaPierre’s press conference on the Newtown shootings, revealing the NRA as a lobby with no clothes, or at least nothing but a holster strapped to the ankle …. this was the first time many in Washington and across the country had actually focused squarely on him and his organization in a long time, and this newfound focus, combined with the post-Newtown context in which LaPierre was speaking, was enough to make the NRA seem utterly, surreally amateurish and out of touch. You could all but hear the question rising around Washington: We’ve been letting ourselves be led around by these guys?
Full post here
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Adam Serwer (Mother Jones): ….. LaPierre did not note that Columbine High School had an armed guard when two students went on a murderous shooting rampage there in 1999, and that Virginia Tech had an armed police force with its own SWAT team equivalent when one of its students killed 33 people in 2007.
Full post here
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In an open letter to parents, First Lady Michelle Obama offers some ideas for discussing the tragedy in Newtown with children and young people:
Dear parents,
Like every American, Barack and I are absolutely heartbroken about the unspeakable tragedy that occurred last week in Newtown, Connecticut. And like so many of you, our first reactions were not as a President and First Lady, but as a Mom and Dad. We were asking ourselves, what if this had been our town, or our school, or our girls?
And we know that all across the country, it’s not just adults who are asking questions right now – our children are looking for answers as well. Like us, they want to know, why did this happen?
Could it happen again? And as parents, all of us can take the time to hold our kids close and talk with them about the things that truly matter: our love for them, the importance of extending that love to those affected by this tragedy, and how that love truly defines our great American community.
Read the rest of the letter here
*****
Charles Pierce: … Kerry is a good, safe choice for the job. He has made an entire Senate career out of taking on foreign-policy issues that nobody else – except Gary Hart – ever wanted to touch …. Here’s a bit on that from a profile I did back in 2004 (see post)…..
….. This is a man who knows where the bodies have been buried for the past 30 years …. if you’re casting about for a Democratic Secretary Of State from his generation of Democratic politicians, Kerry is the natural choice, even if you find the way he came to be nominated, through the slandering of Susan Rice, distasteful, as I do.
…. the key is the Swift Boats. If some senator brings it up and if the courtier press doesn’t emphasize at every moment that everything that was said about John Kerry and Vietnam in the 2004 presidential campaign was a lie and an embarrassment to American politics and the American media, then we have on our hands yet another case of journalistic malpractice, and we have had enough of those, thank you.
Full post here
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Text of the President’s remarks
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Meanwhile…..
Steve Benen: There’s been quite a bit of economic news this week, and nearly all of it is quite good. Today, for example, we saw very encouraging news on consumer spending, personal income, orders of durable goods, and national jobless rates. The news comes on the heels of revised GDP data, which was also heartening.
In each case, the numbers aren’t just good, they’re better than nearly anyone expected…..
Full post here
Indeed an incredible day
Contrats, Proud. I want halveses.
Ok I’ll share it is better to give than recieve
Sorry Proud Congrats to U
Thanks
You got that right!
AND IT’S A TIE! My request…anything.
Congrats Proud Farmer!
Fifth…or sixth?????
Yes it has been a day, maybe the First Family can get some rest tonight on their way to Hawaii
Our PBO and his family have just lifted off aboard Air Force 1 . . . . headed to Hawaii
for a few days. Duly elected, and, what seems to be, appointed by [G]od, to lead us, the peoples.
It’s a privilege to be part of this.
Good evening, Sara. Ain’t it grand?!
Hi Meta, dear person.
Yes, it is, like the most exquisite ongoing experience of my life.
I know what I’m seeing here. We’ve stepped into . . . . . well,
it’s appropriate that the Mayan calendar has ended, don’t you think?
It’s time for a new world. AND we have a leader who knows how to
think about that, how to move there, how to give his heart and brains
every single time a new opening arises, or an apparent defeat occurs.
Yes, it’s so grand, AND we get to participate
and share it ~right here~ with each other.
Beautiful!!
You said it all, Sara. Thank you.
And the best news of all……..
Thank you for the wonderful new thread, Chips.
Congrats on 1st Proud.
My pleasure Bob, what an extraordinary day.
Yes, it is Chips.
And, events of the past 8 days make it crystal clear that we better do everything possible over the next 2 weeks to change the nature of the 113th Congress.
#FORWARD
Yes. So far, all I have done is re-tweet your tweets about flipping some R’s to some I’s or some D’s.
Who can persuade these people to stop/consider/re-constitute themselves and their alliances??
Some hearts must open up. You heard the President asking them to reflect on what has happened,
and what’s possible.
Thank you, and Yes, Sara, he delivered the message – this is about what they are supposed to be doing for all the people, not the wealthiest few. Reflect, indeed is what they should be doing.
Ladyhawk has a comment down thread that indicates we will not be wasting our time encouraging Leader Pelosi and other senior Dems to reach out and try to convince 17 Rs to flip.
#FORWARD
That looked like a new leather jacket on President Obama. Pretty nice and silky.
Yes, I think it is. He looks good in it.
He looked VERY good in it. I noticed because at first, I thought it was his Air Force One bomber jacket, but I noticed that it wasn’t as stiff, and was of a lighter fabric than the bomber leather. He looked very good.
Probably a gift from FLOTUS.
I watched the live feed from the link that was provided in the last thread; the first time that I was able to watch live from start to finish or from Bo to AF1 lifting into the skies. Godspeed Mr. President, First Family and all who travel with you. Rest, relax and renew.
Here, here!
Good to hear that Amarlie.
That’s a good place to praise Him right there. Praise the Lord, Amarlie!!! Thank you for your praise report.
This is marabout who used to hang out here. She’s been through a lot in the last year so it’s wonderful to hear this latest scare is gone – just in time for her to celebrate the New Year.
That’s who this is?? PRAISES BE TO GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wonderful news!
This is wonderful news from Hachiko, thanks so much for sharing, meta!
Yes, it’s Hachiko. For some reason, she goes by several names so wasn’t sure what folks here know her by!!
Wasn’t someone stalking her on Twitter or something? I think she said she was changing names then.
that is wonderful
Yay! Hurray!
God is so good. I am so happy for you
So glad to hear that. Enjoy your new lease on life to the max!
Oh Holy Night, the stars are brightly shinning. Great news for you Amarlie. Great news.
Oh, this is tremendous news! I’ve been so worried about this and concerned for her welfare. Now she can move on with a new
lease on life. Thanks so much for sharing this, meta.
Pray they will have a safe trip and a wonderful Christmas. Last night I imagine FLOTUS telling POTUS we are going to Hawaii, I need to get you away from these crazy ass Republicans for afew days.
We have until 3 Jan 2013 to convince Senator Reid and Senate Dems that substantial filibuster reform is enacted at the start of the 113th Congress. We have the same deadline to convince Leader Pelosi and House Dems that the single most important thing they could do for America is convince at least 17 Rs to switch affiliation to either Dem or Independents who’d caucus exclusively with Dems until 2014 mid-term elections. I hope many of you will strive to convey your support of these two essential elements to achieving an ability to govern as opposed to remaining hostages of the #GOPTaliban – because that is exactly what we’ve been since 20Jan2009 and they’ve made it clear they have no intention of changing.
Thank you TOD community.
#FORWARD
You are absolutely right, Bobfr! I have re-tweeted your message and sent my own to Boehner. Hope the Obamas actually get some R&R in Hawaii away from the madding crowd in DC.
Thank you Judith!!!
John Harwood @JohnJHarwood
—————————————–
GOP House member on his colleagues: “I blame most of this on a bloc of about 50 members who have the political judgment God gave a goose”
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LH – this is exactly the reason I think Leader Pelosi and other senior House Dems have a high probability of flipping at least 17 Rs – if they focus on it and realize that millions of Americans get the significant positive impact doing so would have on Congress performing.
Bobfr, can we figure out who’s in the “bloc of about 50 members who have the political judgment God gave a goose”?
And then focus our energies not on them but on the remainder of the R’s. Some ‘targeted sharing’, huh? We don’t
need to be knocking on the doors of those who are dinosaurs. Who are the ~others~? Maybe John Harwood would
help us. I think I will write to him, yeah.
So it seems that John Harwood is a journalist for CNBC, and he’s quoting a Congressman, unnamed.
I have written Leader Pelosi and asked for her to provide a list of those we should lobby, but given the nature of the situation I’ll be surprised if she reveals those most likely to switch – the ramifications of that being public info are obvious. So, in lieu of that info the one thing we can do – and it would be great if OFA, etc., were to get behind it – is to have as many Americans as possible signal to her that we are aware that the single act that would transform the 113th is if 17 Rs defected, voted for her as Speaker and then caucused with the Dems.
Have tweeted both David Axelrod and Jim Messina to encourage them to be supportive.
I do not know enough about House R’s to know which ones to approach but if anyone thinks particular Rs might be worth the effort to convince, I’d happily write and call them.
Thank you.
TheAction says to use the Dashboard call tool to call persuadable Republicans’ constituents as the most effective way to leverage pressure. I have called constituents of Greg Walden in Oregon (Boehner’s right-hand man) who is the only Republican from OR in Congress. The OFA (now TheAction) team members have had several events at his Bend office like “Where’s Walden” and giving the staff chocolate kisses with tags that say kiss your tax cut goodbye if they let us go over the cliff. Join TheAction and find out where your local events are taking place.
Thank you Judith. Will check in with them, for sure!
I appreciate these particulars. I know you’ll let us know if you hear from Rep Nancy Pelosi. I will write my
Representative David Price [NC] and ask him which Republicans he thinks would be good for ‘targeted sharing’.
Yes, I’ll do that now, see if I can find out where he is, I know some people in Chapel Hill who known him. We can
get up close and personal about this, is how I see it. Calling people forth in new ways.
Please let me know, Sara, if he has any specific suggestions and I’ll happily contact each of them. Am going to tweet him, as well!
Enjoy and recharge for battle with the dysfunction waiting for you when you return after Xmas Mr. President.
So much warm affection for our First Family.
FLOTUS ran up those steps! I think she could take her husband in a footrace.
It looked like a race to me PJ! You know the way my mother freaks when PBO runs up or down AF1 steps …. I am NOT going to break it to her that Michelle is doing the same. It would ruin her Christmas
I was screaming at the TV – ” Slow down – don’t do this to us! Not both of you now!”
She was ready to get gone and on the way to Hawaii!!! Don’t blame her. They have been through too much the last twelve months.
I just don’t want them to trip and bust a lip. As long as it’s a one time deal (and I can’t blame her for wanting to get on the way to their Hawaii vacation), then I can forgive her this one time. But, if she starts running down those stairs on a regular basis, I fear my heart won’t take it!
Theo? Are you my mother???
I might just be channeling her… in this one thing.
Hello Ma!!!
Warning: The role comes with mandatory spankings for any offspring at the slightest provocation…
It’s the behaving that gets the spankings…
Bye first family!
Thanks Chipsticks. I’ve had a crazy year end at work (so I have been barely able to follow all the craziness in DC) and am leaving on vacation tomorrow but taking time tonight to catch up on the news at “The Obama Diary”, the best place for news!
Thanks again for keeping up on all that’s been happening; and the most important events like POTUS and family headed to Hawaii. Aloha and Merry Christmas everyone!
Have a wonderful holiday vacation!
Merry Christmas, forus50!
Thanks meta and Pamela – a wonderful Christmas to you too. Very difficult for all of us to understand the tragedy and sadness in Newtown but it’s important to share love and friendship with family and friends as we all need to heal with that love and sharing.
Merry Xmas forus50 – enjoy your time off and peek in and check out what’s happening every now and then.
What a day (and week) indeed!!!
Mele Kalikimaka Mr. President!
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2012/12/mele-kalikimaka-mr-president.html
Glad the First Family is on their way to Hawaii
So am I rikyrah. I was watching Ed show and he and Karen Finnley brought up about the politicians leaving Washington with no deal, I turn it because there should have been a deal and there would have been one if it wasn’t for Speaker Boehner and the Republicans.
What a yr. 2012 have been a yr. of success for the re-election of President Obama and the tragedies that shoke our states with hurricanes and innocent lives . We must never forget that we are one country that will stand together as a nation . No one knows the future of devastation , but if we pray together things will change for the better. Each parent should teach their children how to pray in the home during meals and at bed time. Before they walk out to the bus stop, car pool or traveling to school you should pray together . Praying with your child. Teach them how to say a silent pray when they get in there classroom . What you do in secret God will reward you openly. Training a child in the right way and when they are old they will not depart from God . Let’s not leave prayer up to the church , other family member or school . Prayer starts in the home just as every thing else . Amen
AMEN. Thanks, Carolyn. Well said.
Amen.
Our President is a praying man. His wife prays. I truly believe Mrs. Robinson teaches the girls the same moral values as she and her late husband taught Craig and FLOTUS. Our President quotes Scripture often.
Let us continue to pray fervently for this blessed family.
No thanks. Not necessary. Not a church blog.
Beautiful advice Carolyn.
Shakey went to a psychiatrist. “Doc,” he said, “I’ve got trouble. Every time I get into bed, I think there’s somebody under it. I get under the bed, I think there’s somebody on top of it. Top, under, top, under. “You gotta help me, I’m going crazy!”
“Just put yourself in my hands for two years,” said the shrink. “Come to me three times a week, and I’ll cure your fears.”
“How much do you charge?”
“A hundred dollars per visit.”
“I’ll sleep on it,” said Shakey.
Six months later the doctor met Shakey on the street. “Why didn’t you ever come to see me again?” asked the psychiatrist.
“For a hundred buck’s a visit? A bartender cured me for ten dollars.”
“Is that so! How?”
“He told me to cut the legs off the bed!”
Hi ya Chips. Hols started yet ?
Not yet Amk, working a bit tomorrow and most of Sunday, stuff I could have done a week ago, and have all my Christmas shopping still to do. But that still puts me ahead of last year. I’m seriously impressed with myself
How about you? Swigging holiday port yet?
What kinda monster boss you work for that makes you sweat the weekend before xmas? I would like to meet him and learn how he does that.
I closed the year y’day with a big half mil order. I am entitled to that port, dammit. (But I can’t, because I have a worser boss than you – the wifey unit).
You two. {shakes head}
Well, I met him at that do I was at yesterday and he said, “so, you have all your work done and you’ve freed a week for yourself?” “Ha, yeah, of course,” I replied.
Hey you, congrats on your half mil order. But as my Granny would have said, what happened the other half mil?
what happened the other half mil?
wimmin/smh
LOLz!!
Chips I love last minute shopping and since I’m going out of town I had to finish mine up today but would have preferred to be out there this coming Monday. Well, I’m not entirely done but mostly…
Anyway, my favorite part of shopping is buying books. I went yesterday and got some really cool ones including: “Barack Obama” by David Manariss for by brother, “The Glass Castle” by Jeanette Walls for my sister-in-law, and “It’s Head Came Off by Accident” by Muffy Mead-Ferro for my sister. That last one looks a bit questionable but it’s actually perfect for a sister who grew up on the big family farm with me. The description is in the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0762780649
I wanted to buy the climate change book “An Optimists Tour of the Future” that LL had recommended but they didn’t have it in stock. (One drawback to last minute gift shopping…). Oh and of course I had to buy a book for myself for the Amtrak train ride from Chicago to Milwaukee so I got the book “Coco Chanel – An Intimate Life” by Lisa Chaney.
Nothing better than good books, good wine, lots of snow and good conversation with some fellow Obama relatives in Appleton Wisconsin for the next 4 days!
Sounds like great fun!
You’re lucky to have a real bookstore. They are mostly gone in my city.
Making a note of your recommendations right now Forus! My only problem is I have a bunch of youngsters to buy for too, and while they like books if that was all I got them, I’d most probably have to have them surgically removed from, you know, on Christmas morning.
Oh gosh, I really treasure the books my aunts got me years and years ago and am reminded of them when I open the jacket cover and see their handwritten Christmas greeting to me with their signature and year they gave it to me. A lifetime treasure.
Me too Forus, love treasures like that. They love books too, they devour them (!), but you know young people – huh! – they like crash-bang-thuddy-jingle-jingle things too!
I hear ya. Enjoy the last minute shopping!!
That made me chuckle hard. very funny
I am sooooooooo happy our First Family has left for Hawaii….TOGETHER! I hope they get the rest and restoration they need and richly deserve.
A woman finds a genie’s lamp. The Genie comes out and says, “You may have three wishes, but your husband will get ten times more than what you wished for.”
The woman agrees. Her first wish was that she would be the most beautiful woman in the world. “You realize,” the Genie said, “that your husband will be ten times more beautiful than you, and more women will gawk at him?”
“That’s okay,” says the woman, “He’ll only look at me because I will be the most beautiful women.” So the wish is granted.
Her second wish was that she would be the richest woman in the world. “You know your husband will be ten times richer, right?” the Genie asks.
“That’s okay. What’s mine is his and what’s his is mine,” replied the woman. So the wish is granted.
Then the woman pauses just for a second and sez she wishes that she had a mild heart attack.
wimmin/smh
Very cruel… but very smart woman…
Just finally had a chance to listen to President Obama’s eulogy for Daniel Inouye – so touching, so beautiful. I don’t know how he manages to find the right words on so many occasions. It was just lovely.
The whole service was really beautiful.
Heads up: HGTV will be airing “White House Christmas 2012″ in about a half hour, at 9pm.
I just love Michelle Obama. She is so excited with the Xmas decorations and the people putting in the hard work. It must be so surreal to have other people decorating your home so elaborately for the holidays then you come home and they take it all down. I hope one day I’ll get into decorating for Xmas again.
Did you guys see PBO’s face when Psy started singing Gnagnam Style’? He loved it. I would have like to see PBO dance it. Hahahahahahahahahahhahhahahahahahahaha!!!
In one of the interviews he did recently, he mentioned that he loves the “Gangnam Style” video – his kids think it’s corny.
I watch Psy video for the first time and I agree with the girls on this one.
FLOTUS talked about how family and friends do this talent show, some can read a poem, sing, dance, whatever talent they want to do. You think POTUS might do that gnagnam dance. Or he will only do it for FLOTUS.
Hee, hee
A guy goes to the supermarket and notices a beautiful blond woman wave at him and says: “Hello!”
He’s rather taken aback, because he can’t place where he knows her from. So he says,: “Do you Know me?”
To which she replies: “I think you’re the father of one of my kids.”
Now his mind travels back to the only time he has ever been unfaithful to his wife and says: “My God, are you the stripper from my bachelor party that got me so excited I had to have you right there on the pool table with all my buddies spraying whip cream on us?”
She looks into his eyes and calmly says: “No, actually I’m your son’s maths teacher!”
Happy Holidays TOD’ers. Eat that pox news.
Yikes!
I promise to be Jean Valjean from the new year.
Ha!
amk, I’m on to you. You’re recycling your 2010 blonde jokes now.
Drats. wimmin and their memory
At least you know they’re paying attention to you, amk
“us wimmin” don’t like recycled jokes dammit.
Pres. Obama’s expression when Psy stepped on stage in a red glitter suit for Christmas in Washington was P-R-I-C-E-L-E-S-S.
Dang. Hopefully there will be video at some point because I would so LOVE to see that.
Is it going to be on TV again because I’m so ticked off that I missed it.
Never mind. It’s on again at 1am Central. Time enough for me to get my Christmas cleaning done and then I’ll sleep in late tomorrow.
Miss Ross’s outfit is drama…drama….drama!
Was it fashioned out of drapes from the mansion?!
reminded me of “Glenda, the Good Witch;” however, Ms. Ross still got it going on…
LOL. I told somebody about her dress and that it reminded me of Glenda the Good Witch. How spooly, huh?
Joey, remembering his ’60′s crush on Diana!
Miss Ross look lovely, she is a diva from the old days.
Hard to imagine looking so beautiful at her age!!
Agree meta. I loved her music with the Supremes. Motown music was the best.
Who is on patrol duty in TODville tonight? That person needs to go on twitter and escort Mayoress Chips home……right away. I think she has had too much (delayed reaction from yesterday’s lunch party?) – too much of what I don’t know, but she is stirring up the naughty mat crowd and taking great pleasure in so doing. In fact, I can almost see the devilish gleam in her eyes. Hurry, before they are all thrown out by the bouncer!
Okay, deep breath, I will behave forthwith (is that a word?) Hellooooooo VC!
It could be that the source of both Barack Hussein Obama’s success and his troubles stem from his incredibly inordinate hotness. It’s incalculable.
Hellooo there, Ms Chips! How are you, or shouldn’t I ask? Of course ‘forthwith’ is a word – (ancient) *I* understood it.
I’m forthwithly fab VC, how about yourself?
I just refreshed to answer you, and noticed that the village had acquired a Santobama. When did the decorations go up? Doesn’t matter, we are ready for Christmas, it seems.
I, in truth, am fabulously dazed by the antics of my siblings, whom I’ve been watching with head moving right to left to right, before I finally snapped out of it and ran home for help. It is with a sigh of relief I note that whoever was on duty have brought most of you safely back home before any twitter explosions occurred. Apologies that I stood in my stupor, mouth agape, watching for so long before realizing that I was supposed to act forthwith when family members start to act out in public. Yeah, I know I’ve always been the slow one.
I was led on by bad people VC, I’m back in the safety of my TOD home where I will be as good as gold. Ish.
Yes dear. I do believe some leading was going on (
pats on the shoulder), and though I’m happy you are home safely, I would prefer you not to make wild promises that you can only keep until the next time (the devil whispers in your ear).
Hey, it just occurred to me – was your twitter outburst due to your exuberant relief that the world is not yet over? I totally understand now, though I’m not as relieved since Our Man Flint is trying to retrieve the stuff she bequeathed to me.
“I’m not as relieved since Our Man Flint is trying to retrieve the stuff she bequeathed to me.”
I’m guessing she’s getting her lawyer to draft a letter, be prepared!
Drat! I forgot the lawyer types would still be around, and I hadn’t thought to have her SIGN THEM OVER TO ME. Okay, I’m outta here, playing least in sight till the next doomsday prophecy surfaces.
Our good twitter buddy @HollandTaylor is ramping up for the opening of her play where she stars as the great Ann Richards:
http://www.theannrichardsplay.com/
Priceless!
Hahahaha…
WHOA, check out David Frum’s TL:
https://twitter.com/davidfrum
WHOA is right. The guy is struggling to understand why he’s a Republican.
PERSACKLY.
Flipping heck!!!!
It’s like he had a coupla cocktails and looked in the mirror. With HAAAARRRRSH LIGHTING.
Seriously odd, Meta…. jeez.
He’s flipped out … hope someone saves all of them in case he realizes the exceptional indictment he has just delivered to FoxNews, NRA, GOP, etc …
Yeah, he’s making great points, but the relentlessness of it is making it look like he has flipped – but then again, maybe the relentless makes the argument so powerful?
It’s a bit too trancey, though.
That’s the thing, I’d prefer him to sit down and right a powerful article listing all those points, rather than tweeting endlessly – he’ll just be dismissed as having had too many sherrys.
Agree, Chips.
BTW, have written two responses to your comment and they’ve both disappeared in the word press ether …
Sorry Bob, found them and freed them! The old problem, I’m guessing, a word in the comments probably matched part of the name of a banned troll!
Amazing
You didn’t use ‘RomneyRocks’ though, which is a good thing
You guys this is how a grown man breaks from the cult of greed, selfishness and religious fanaticism known as a “conservatism”. It’s painful to watch when done in public. (Or then again as meta speculates it could be just a few too many holiday drinks.
)
It does seem to be a sort of reckoning. A public one.
Folk like Frum are not only watching their entire ‘weltanschauung’ disintegrate they are being forced to realize the inhumanity inherent to it.
meta may well be correct re: ‘too trancey,’ but Frum, Brooks, etc., know they have to invent an empathetic, non-bigoted, non-misogynistic, non-xenophobic, constructive neo-conservative framework, and they’re probably just smart enough to know how big a challenge that will be.
What we have to do is take control of the 113th Congress!
Yes We Can
Frum and his buddies weltanschauung has not only disintegrated but it’s vast inhumanity has been exposed beyond any denial.
meta may be correct re: ‘too trancey’ but they’re stuck with the reality that 30+ years of their race to the bottom for a ‘base’ leaves them with nothing more than an impoverished, fanatical, exceedingly well-armed, tin foil brigade.
Wow, meta, the effort he’s putting into that makes me almost want to like the guy. I couldn’t go any further back (too cringeworthy), but did he say why he’s doing it? I’m guessing he has kids?
There’s this coterie of WH press that are pure vile idiots. Then there’s this outer ring of Bush Years hangers on that seem to be coming apart at the seams at what is happening before our very eyes. Which is to say, the GOP have gone completely and in many cases irretrievably insane. It’s bizarre.
Every word you just wrote was, sadly, truth.
Does candy can expire? I went digging in a pile of stuff in my room and found a big fat juicy candy cane from last year. It didn’t occur to me until I was half way through with it that it’s not the consistency of regular candy cane, instead of hard candy, it’s bendy and chewy and so damned good. Anyway, I finished it and if y’all don’t hear from me tomorrow, please alert the coppers. I’d hate to be one of those women who dies alone in her apartment, festering for days or weeks before a horrible smell sets in and alerts the neighbors that something’s wrong. The only thing missing from that lovely picture are cats and I hate cats. :bleeh:
You’re good – candy cane has a shelf life of 2,500 years. Beyond a Mayan’s dream…
It’s sugar. Bacteria doesn’t have a chance.
According to a news story, if global warming continues, in 20 years the only chance we’ll ever get to see a polar bear is in a zoo. So in other words, nothing is going to change.
The Cow brought up a 1998 homophobic comment Hagel made about some guy he didn’t want to nominate because he was too”aggressively gay.” Hagel recently made a public apology, The Cow’s closing comment? Hagel’s possible nomination not ‘going so well.’
no one is going to hold a 14 going on 15 year old comment against him. Sure it was homophobic and dumb, but that doesn’t make me want to tar and feather him and disagree with him as PBO’s possible choice. Plus, times have changed, the fact that his 15 year old comment hasn’t tainted him or followed him in the last 15 years, pretty much says that a comment like that was likely a product of the culture back then and though wrong, wasn’t a big deal for most people.
I saw that and was disgusted – She is going to hold this comment against him when the times were very different, but we’re all supposed to pretend that she hasn’t disrespected this President (and has blatantly lied about him) time and time again. I support Chuck Hagel.
‘Xactly!
Funny how I felt exactly the same way, after (1) reading this and remembering who actually was The Cow, and (2) seeing that part of her show to know the reference! I don’t like to excuse homophobic comments either and don’t know the whole story, but I think it was an ambassador’s nomination, so maybe he was (I think inappropriately) taking into consideration some other country’s norms (again, not excusing homophobia). You could also be right about how far some folks like Chuck Hagel have come in their maturation process on this issue. Or maybe the guy actually had some “aggressive” record involving how he made his sexuality known? Rachel said the nominee didn’t accept Hagel’s public apology, so the teachable moment for everyone was lost there, as well.
True, but the Cow is definitely going to use this as a basis to disagree with PBO’s foreign policy bc of Hagel’s possible nomination and confirmation.
Oh, yes, she’s chomping at the bit. As soon as I saw “the look” in her eyes, I turned her off. I’m almost embarrassed for all of these people, with their shiny object and single-issue mentality.
I had to think hard. The cow? Then it came to me. Madcow.. that’a how she acts most of the time. That glint tells you it’s time to get the remote.
I remember after the election everybody was ready to kind of ease back, relax and wonder what we would have to talk about. I don’t know about anybody else, but this past week, beginning with Newtown has been as emotional, stressful, fascinating and exhilarating as any time leading up to the election. And it has been great to share the ups and downs with everybody here.
This is true, Japa. First Lady Michelle Obama once said that President Obama promised that they’re life together wouldn’t be boring – we get the benefit of that fulfilled promise, too!
japa – So very true. Each week seems like a month. And this is only the lame-duck session … we have a month to go until the Inauguration (you do the math, not I, on how long that will feel! Ha!).
President Obama will only have two celebratory balls to celebrate his inauguration this time.
http://now.msn.com/obama-cuts-number-of-inaugural-balls-from-ten-to-two?gt1-50501=
Obama/Biden 4 more years!
I like this idea. And the fact that one of the balls will be in all the little venues at the Convention Center means he can go from one venue to the other fairly quickly, with less security risk, and then get home early enough to enjoy a private party with his friends. It’s his last one, after all!
Every ten years, monks in a monastery are allowed to break their vow of silence to speak two words. Ten years go by and it’s one monk’s first chance. He thinks for a second before saying, “Food bad.” Ten years later, he says, “Bed hard.” A decade later, It’s the big day again. He gives the head monk a long stare and says, “I quit.” “I’m not surprised,” says the head monk. “You’ve been complaining ever since you got here.”
That’s cute.
Gawd, the ironic idiocy is bottomless.
From his TL I’m reading that tweet is him being sarcastic and snarky.
Yes, definitely. A lot of people have been doing this all day, including me. Just pointing out the stupidity of the NRA’s “solution” is too easy.
At the busy dental office where I work, one patient was always late. Once, when I called to confirm an appointment, he said, “I’ll be about 15 minutes late. That won’t be a problem, will it?” “No,” I told him. “We just won’t have time to give you the anesthetic.” He arrived early.
That.is.good! Love it.
It’s snowing! It’s snowing!
OMG, I just noticed POTUS put on a Santa hat!!
Yeah!
Just finally got a quiet moment to watch Senator Inouye’s funeral. PBO gave an incredibly touching tribute. The sense of continuity he spoke about, from being a child watching Inouye as a boy to being welcomed by him as a colleage was very nice and really reinforces my perception that he is exactly where he is supposed to be, leading our country. I hope he and his family get the rest and happiness they so deserve on their vacation.
I totally share your sentiments, Rain
It was a beautiful speech Rain, loved when he talked about seeing him on TV when he was on vacation with his family and thinking he didn’t look like what he thought a senator looked like – and the impact that had on him. Just lovely.
New post everyone:
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/12/21/at-last-hawaii-bound/
It isn’t often that the people in my red county do something really awesome, but tonight we did. A group of people organized a candlelight
vigil from one end of the county to the other along the main highway. The location of our group–one of a long list–saw over 50 people gather together to read off the names of the Newtown victims and sing Amazing Grace together. Many drivers honked their support and we all
hugged each other as we sang God Bless America. We didn’t do anything to advance gun safety or control irrational violence, but it was a wonderful gathering together of disparate people bound together by shock and grief. Some blessed thing was at work tonight–some spirit of compassion or Christmas that made our little group one with all the other groups lined up for miles along the highway and it felt right just to be part of it.
that is beautiful, jackie. thank you for telling us about it.
Oh, that’s wonderful, jackie, in so many ways.
I see the President got on the plane and went to Hawaii with his family. This makes my heart glad. May they have a very merry Christmas. Cherish the ones you love.