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Today:
The President has no scheduled public appearances
12:0: Jay Carney briefs the press
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USA Today: Rain, snow, and heavy winds have forced a change in President Obama’s schedule for Wednesday: No Alabama football. The Crimson Tide, prepared to celebrate their third national championship in four years with another White House ceremony, canceled their flight from Tuscaloosa on Tuesday because of bad weather. Instead, Obama will have a string of private meetings while riding out the storm today.
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Reuters: Private employers added 198,000 jobs in February, the biggest increase in a year and another sign of improvement in the labor market, a report by a payrolls processor showed on Wednesday.
Economists surveyed by Reuters had forecast the ADP National Employment Report would show a gain of 170,000 jobs. January’s private payrolls were revised up to an increase of 215,000 from the previously reported 192,000.
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TPM: President Obama will hold a signing ceremony Thursday for the Violence Against Women Act, which recently passed Congress. He and Vice President Joe Biden, the original author of VAWA in 1994, will make remarks.
They’ll be joined, according to the White House, “by women’s organizations, law enforcement officials, tribal leaders, survivors, advocates and members of Congress.”
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Jonathan Chait: Michael J. Boskin – former George W. Bush economic adviser, Hoover Institute fellow, and staunch advocate of conservative anti-tax doctrine – appears today, as is his wont, in The Wall Street Journal op-ed pages to warn that the Democratic president’s economic policies will lead us to misery.
If you are an investor, Boskin’s doomsaying is a sure sign of a coming bull market. Four years ago, Boskin penned a Journal op-ed whose thesis was captured in the headline, “Obama’s Radicalism Is Killing The Dow.” That was the signal for the Dow to go on a tear, doubling over the next four years…..
One might suppose that Boskin has simply suffered a single unfortunate coincidence. In fact, his career is a mighty testament to the power of enduring, invincible wrongness…..
Full post here
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NYT: With Republican leaders in Congress forswearing budget negotiations over new revenues, President Obama has begun reaching around them to Republican lawmakers with a history of willingness to cut bipartisan deals.
Mr. Obama has invited about a dozen Republican senators out to dinner on Wednesday night, after speaking with several of them by phone in recent days, according to people familiar with the invitation. And next week, according to those people and others who did not want to be identified, he will make a rare foray to Capitol Hill to meet separately with the Republican and Democratic caucuses in both the Democratic-controlled Senate and the Republican-controlled House.
More here
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Washington Post: Some of the gun lobby’s strongest allies are breaking with the National Rifle Association to support proposals that would expand background checks for private firearm sales.
In behind-the-scenes talks with congressional staff members and others, gunmakers, dealers and other Second Amendment advocates have offered support for more instant criminal background checks, buoying the hopes of gun-control supporters, including President Obama, who has put a top priority on extending criminal checks to private sales.
More here
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USA Today: President Obama’s trip to Israel this month is just about set except for one big thing: A new Israeli government. Israel’s Channel 10 is reporting that Obama’s trip may be pushed back if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is unable to form a new coalition government by March 16.
More here
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See here for full infographic – and more here
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TPM: A number of Republican senators Tuesday either didn’t know or wouldn’t say if they consider the Voting Rights Act to be constitutional, even though many of them voted to reauthorize it in 2006 and the Supreme Court is currently considering whether to invalidate a key section of it.
As they entered and exited weekly party luncheons Tuesday afternoon …. Every one of them dodged the questions, some more artfully than others.
“Uh,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, before a long, awkward pause, “I haven’t even thought about it.” He laughed and said, “I’ll leave that to the courts….”
More here
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Make sure you add the Pragmatic Pundit to your daily reading – it’s the blog of our TOD friend FayPax. It’s in the blogroll on the right if you ever need to find the link
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Missed this yesterday:
The First Lady’s interview on Univision’s Primer Impacto airs today – check your listings
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MoooOOooooOOorning!
Hey Everybody!!
Good morning Magpie.
Morning magapie – congratulations on being #1 too!
Look at you, early riser!! Moooooorning Magapie, moooooorning everyone!
Belated congrats Magapie! Did you get my dog videos last night? I can post more.
Or cats and dogs? I love both.
Yes. The toy poodle on two legs was adorable! Less cats would be good, though!
OK!
Good morning. Lots of goodies!
Morning vetivera24 – so many good things to read! Loving this Rise & Shine
Morning Kiwi….! Just checked out Michelle Obama video. wow!
Morning Chips and TOD
Hi! Snowed in. Morning all
REPUBLICANS CALL THE SEQUESTER A ‘VICTORY’ FOR THEM……
Canceled White House tours, not projected job losses, cause uproar
By Steve Benen
————————————–
But even putting that aside, I’m struck by what sequestration-related news congressional Republicans find outrageous — and what sequestration-related news leaves the GOP feeling indifferent.
Jason Linkin’s take rings true.
The pain of cancelling the White House tours is going to felt by a statistically negligible portion of the population, who will simply have to make do with any of the many thousands of other things to do in Washington in the meantime. On the other hand, the real pain of the sequestration is more likely going to come in the form of the 750,000 jobs that the Congressional Budget Office projects will be lost by year’s end, if no deal is made. (And there are offers on the table!)
Quite right. The Congressional Budget Office tells lawmakers sequestration would cost the U.S. economy 750,000 jobs, and it doesn’t stop Republicans from calling the sequester a “victory.”
———————————————
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/03/06/17208820-canceled-white-house-tours-not-projected-job-losses-cause-uproar?lite
So these Republicans are more concern about people not being able to tour the White House, but they don’t care one bit that 750,000 people could lose their jobs.
That’s right, annie
Off to my C.U. gig making the World a better place with………………… LOANS. Have fun!
Morning! Congrats, Magapie…and thank you Chips for highlighting The Pragmatic Pundit! She’s pretty amazing:)
Mooooooorning DF, I’ve been meaning to alert everyone who’s unaware of it to PP’s blog for ages …… but you know my rusty head
All is well! You’re a busy woman:)
Busy doing nothing most of the time, when I should be doing lots, DF!
Good West Coast morning Chipsticks. A lot of reading to do this morning!
MoooooOOOooooOOOOooorning GGail!
Conservative Media Struggles For Credibility, Amid Coverage Of Hookers, Hamas And Hagel
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/05/conservative-media_n_2812517.html
Ha, LH, credibility flew that coop a looooong time ago. How can anyone be credible if their entire stock in trade is lies, lies and more lies. And for Huff Post to dare to call other media “conservative” is just a sick joke! Wonder if Ariana has looked in the mirror lately. I don’t envy her the experience. She sold her credibility along with her soul some many long years ago.
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2013/03/president-obama-works-on-developing.html
President Obama works on developing a common sense caucus
Thanks DF, excellent post by Smartypants as usual. The common sense caucus is our best hope for getting things back to regular order in congress. As I read Smartypants post I was reminded of a SNARKY question that was asked at the WHPC briefing yesterday with Jay Carney. One of the jackals, I think it was CNN who made it know that Lindsey Graham had reported getting a call from President Obama about the grand bargain. The jackal wanted to know if PBO was going on a “CHARM OFFENSIVE”. I wanted to throw a shoe at the tv. But all I could do is yell at the screen No, you jackass what President Obama is doing is called leadership. He is trying to govern and the Republicans have been blocking him at every turn. The press is obsessed with “process” and pays scant attention to “policy”. One side says NO all the time and the other side has to work overtime to get anything done. It was infuriating. President Obama continues to be the only adult in the room but the media just can’t accept that. It’s pathetic.
Let’s hope and pray that there are some Republicans who have some common sense. I am doubting that very much.
G’morning Chips, TOD, lurkers, everyone, and congrats magapie on#1!:)
Morning hopefruit2
Hi everyone – thanks for all the good news Chips – makes for good reading!
Good Morning Chips& TOD
Everyone have a nice day.
Good Morning, Everyone
But but but Paul Ryan squared budgets, 55 years old nope 56 years old or is it 57 years old, vouchers or raising the age after you reach 56 years old, is it balanced a budget after ten years or 40 years, no revenues or closing tax loopholes, lions and tigers and bears….
Shorter Paul Ryan: I have no idea what I’m saying, but I want you to think I do.
The whole much hyped snow storm that was to impede travel and require snow crews from neighboring states has fizzled in our area. After two minutes of light flakes we have nothing but rain. A lot of school kids are really disappointed. This was supposed to be the last gasp of winter and I think it just fell over and expired. Wouldn’t be so annoying if we hadn’t cancelled a planned trip to see relatives. Oh well, we’ll try again another day.
Same here. Wind and some rain. I want a blizzard, followed by a two week hard freeze; my allergies are killing me!
i feel like you can tell what the real agenda is by how the message is coded in mainstream news. for instance, yesterday the new york times had a jackie calmes story (always a reliable republican talking point vehicle/illogical obama basher) where she’s talking about the $4T in budget cuts that have already begun (!!), yet the whole thing has this tone and ends with doom and gloom since “entitlements” are not touched, and that’s it in a nutshell. no amount of cutting is acceptable to these vile liars unless the social safety net is destroyed because mitt rmoney and the koch brothers need even more money before they can “trickle it down” on us. they’re getting everything they say they want with massive budget cutting, probably the biggest cutting in American history, but not good enough in their minds and jackie calmes still will carry republican water until the real target gets hit – the social safety net.
i guess that’s one little silver lining from all this pain and suffering republicans are attempting to inflict on middle income people…the onion is getting further peeled to show what republicans are really after, and their marketing lies aren’t going to work as well any more.
meanwhile, mitt rmoney and his privileged spawn and all their friends have to sacrifice little to nothing as all their loopholes still exist and cayman island scams are in full effect still, and of course the stock market is soaring which greatly boosts their incomes. it’s full-scale war on the middle class and poor (really has been since ronnie reagan), but we will never see people such as jackie calmes point that out. “it’s poor people’s fault” is the mainstream media’s default starting point to every issue, despite any objective analysis of historical data proving that it’s the exact opposite.
I agree about GOP not being happy until the middle-class sacrifice is complete.
The destruction of the low income class has mostly been accomplished. To repeat from my post yesterday:
Dow reaches all-time high!
NYC shelter overnight population tops 50,000 for first time.
Repeal The Sequester. Now. Soon.
This has always been the target, 44–reversing the New Deal so that government money goes to rich people not the working stiffs. All that garbage about PBO not leading was about his not giving up so-called entitlements in his Sequester proposals. Nothing he offers will be good enough unless he offers drastic, life shattering cuts to SS and Medicare. Doesn’t matter whether he offered to shave some benefits for SS or talked about means testing for well-to-do retirees on Medicare– they don’t want compromise, they want it all. They’re happy about the Sequester because they think it shows how tough they are and that it will somehow magically force PBO to give them what they want and then they can blame all the resulting pain on him, just like they’re trying to pin the sequester blame on him. They have always underestimated our president and the level of support and confidence we have in him. Even two landslide elections weren’t enough to convince them.
That’s why you have Paul Ryan coming out with his little fan dance on Medicare. He wants to make the R’s believe that he would be the magic answer to their prayers if they nominate him as the GOP standard bearer in 2016. Romney’s whole purpose was to sign the bills that would cancel the New Deal and leave tens of millions of Americans without a safety net or support in their retirement, so Ryan, the savior, is stepping forward. The good news is that the more blatant they become with their real purpose, the more turned off people will be. They are writing the Democratic ads for 2014 and 2016.
yes, im hoping you are correct about 2014 and beyond. it’s amazing to see the avalanche of nonsense in “the news” though as they try to provide cover for the big republican scam. enough people do seem to be breaking free from the fever though…we did get 4 more years after all, didn’t we! forward!!
It all depends on us, 44. We have to keep reaching out to people with the truth, especially some of the low information voters in our community. AND we have to convince people that voting is important even if Barack Obama is not on the ballot. We had one Latina in our area who registered Republican because she thought that was the president’s party. I wanted to scream because it shows just how much work we have to do to educate people. I also learned that many Latinos just voted for the president because they were afraid that voting DEM would cancel their vote for president. That’s why there were so many fewer votes for down ticket Dems. The learning curve is really high.
Darrell Issa being mocked on twitter.
Darrell Issa Verified account @DarrellIssa
Woke up to a little bit of snow this morning. #dc #snowquester @ United States Capitol Building http://instagr.am/p/WhLRI9sYaJ/
===
Erik Rush @erikrush
@DarrellIssa Is snow allowed to fall during #sequestration ?
===
Larry Thornton @LarryThornton1
@DarrellIssa Darrel; What is that Big ole building used for? Hostage holding center? Seems all residents are mutes’. BENGHAZL!! ARREST OBAMA
Good Morning TOD!!
Well, the weather outside is frightful
My Chicago TOD’ers you can have your snow back now!
Excellent Rise and Shine Ms Chips.
I’m gonna put in a few hours today here at work and then I’m going HOME!
Have a great O’Day Everyone.
Don’t want it back. Got enough here as it is. And to think in January lamenting the lack of snow. Yesterday was bad enough.
Donna be safe. I’m working from home today.
Enough snow in Chicago, thank you very much. Over 9 inches that my 73 year old husband and I shoveled throughout the day. Very heavy, very wet snow.
Gotta say, I expected more from Rahm on city services. Snow removal sucks, and I’ve been without street lights on the major street that I live on for four days.
Bush’s best subject
By Steve Benen
Wed Mar 6, 2013 8:00 AM EST.
Just to close the loop on Jeb Bush’s immigration controversy, the former Florida governor has spent the last couple of days crawling out of a ditch he put himself in, and it appears he’s almost out. It’s still unclear, however, how the Republican managed to screw up this badly in the first place.
To briefly recap, Bush, an active participant in the larger debate over immigration reform, endorsed a pathway to citizenship as recently as six weeks ago. On Monday, with the release of his new book, Bush took the opposite position, saying he now opposes citizenship. Yesterday morning, Bush told MSNBC his position is complicated, but he’s open to the possibility of a pathway to citizenship. Later in the day, he told CNN he can support “both a path to legalization or a path to citizenship.”
What in the world is going on with this guy? By lunchtime yesterday, Bush’s new line was that he was thrown off by his publishing deadline.
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/03/06/17208544-bushs-best-subject?lite
How is he “almost out” of the ditch he put himself in? Jeb showed he is not a serious thinker and nothing but an opportunist.
It’s G.W.’s Brother, Watch Out America.
G.W. lied us into Iraq. Please don’t let Jeb lie us into Iran. No more Bushes.
Loved The Last Word video. Fox Business Network and CNBC are a complete waste of time and probably detrimental to one’s financial well being if relying on them to make financial decisions. Also, the commemtators are all horrible, boorish Neanderthals.
Most of my right wing acquaintances stopped sending my right wing garbage emails, but I received one last night that was a take off on “Margaritaville” called “Obamaville” and how disastrous the economy is under PBO. The rwnj’s are so oblivious to reality they send such mindless tripe on the day the DOW hits an all time high.
maybe send them this chart of jobs created by presidential term (kind of joking since i know what they’ll say already…congress run by dems, yadda, yadda…)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jobs_created_during_U.S._presidential_terms#Job_creation_by_term
there’s a column “created (sept).” it’s really out-of-date with president obama, and even with that and INCLUDING barack’s first 6 months where the economy was losing 850K each month, and INCLUDING teebagger governors firing government workers in droves across the country, president obama’s job creation number is double all 12 YEARS of bush presidencies (1-HW, and 2-W terms). with last year and this year’s numbers so far, i bet the number is many times higher right now.
damn, in 4 years of carter we had 8M million jobs created, compared to the 1.7M created during 12 YEARS of bushes. and of course bill clinton has the biggest job creation number by far. yet “the news” still to this day portrays republicans as fiscally responsible and democrats as reckless with money, which is why your right wing acquaintances repeat the lies. craziness!
I think Jon Stewart took them down in ’08, didn’t he? Never have listened to them. We should have learned the lesson with Enron and in ’08, but did we?
i see last month’s jobs report is revised UP yet again. seems to happen almost every time now.
Jack Welch alert.
Big business should’ve happy, but every time I see them
On tv, they ate miserable. Calling for more spending cuts now, more tax cuts now. Meanwhile, there profits are through the Roof.
#Agenda
Barack Obama put a stake in the heart of the Southern Strategy.
he won the Presidency without needing ONE SOUTHERN STATE.
Willard won 61% of the White vote – and got his ass handed to him.
that voter suppression shyt? people took it seriously and PERSONALLY. they STILL don’t get how viceral it was to Black folk.
……………………………………………………………..
America Has Passed Them By
by BooMan
Tue Mar 5th, 2013 at 11:19:02 AM EST
It is possible that Judicial Watch founder Larry Klayman is totally insane. But, if he wasn’t writing this stuff, someone else would have to do it because it is an integral and necessary component of the conservative strategy. First, let’s look at what Klayman is saying. He’s arguing that President Obama wants to turn conservatives into “the new niggers.” He says that the president’s effort to add revenue to the government’s coffers is his way of seeking reparations for slavery. He says that Obama’s reelection was fraudulent. He says that Obama hates white people despite being half-white himself. He says that the president has “provoked [a] burgeoning race war.” And then there is this:
Put Obama’s Muslim identification, his anti-Semitism and his pounding of rich whites together and you have a certified, and highly dangerous Black Muslim in The White House – ala (pun intended) Malcolm X, Elijah Mohammed and Louis Farrakhan.
Most of this kind of crazy talk has died down now that the election is over. This is because these ideas were disseminated to maximize the racial polarization of the country so that the Republicans could increase their share of the white vote rather than compete for votes among non-whites.
Keep this in mind when you see Newt Gingrich say, “No Republican pollster thought you could get 87 percent turnout in Milwaukee.”
http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2013/3/5/11192/57300
It still is very emotional for all AA to go through this crap.
When I was 4 years old, I used to see Cops spraying AA with Fire hoses.
I thought to myself, WTF is going on?
This fighting for rights is imperative, everybody should have their rights.
The AA vote was 13% in 08, 15% in 12.
If they do this Repeal of voting rights Act, I bet AA find a way to vote into the 20% range for 2016.
Those who never would vote, and would otherwise still be eligible, will now have incentive.
This to will backfire.
Completely spot on Jovie.
I agree with you Jovie. Voter suppression schemes in 2012 woke up a great many people-especially young people-in the African and Latino communities
I was just wondering why is it so important for the pollsters to ask Republicans if they believe President Obama is a Socialists. Why don’t they ask that 89% who think POTUS want to turn America in to a Socialists country, if they are racists? Ask them how many of them voted against POTUS because he was black.
Wonder where the stock market would be if 100% of Republicans thought PBO was a socialist?
And why don’t they ask if Republicans are Fascists. What’s good for the goose and all…. I know what I would answer.
It was visceral to all!
Good Morning Magapie & Vetivera! Can’t lift my head so high this morning as it’s a bit heavy.
Good job though!
Morning Ms Chips, you sure kept your promise for lots of alleys and avenues for me to run down this morning! Upshot is I’m now already waaay behind. Thanks for the familiar feeling.
Good early Thursday Morning, 99ts – you are hopefully sleeping even as I think of you!
Morning/Afternoon to all other TODobots & TOD-lurkers!
Finally, Morning Dudette, missed running into you the last couple of days. Oh, and it’s been a while since I’ve done a shout-out to Fred & CJ!
Morning vc!
Morning VC ! Take it easy.
The Morning Plum: Obama urges Republicans to take Yes for an answer
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/03/06/the-morning-plum-obama-urges-republicans-to-take-yes-for-an-answer/
Good Morning Chipsticks, TODers…Everyone! Hope those of you hit by the snowstorm are staying warm and dry and have no property damage.
If you have a few minutes today,, pls encourage friends and family to get back to OFA & to call law makers. We need to be heard louder
Washington Post: Some of the gun lobby’s strongest allies are breaking with the National Rifle Association to support proposals that would expand background checks for private firearm sales.
In behind-the-scenes talks with congressional staff members and others, gunmakers, dealers and other Second Amendment advocates have offered support for more instant criminal background checks, buoying the hopes of gun-control supporters, including President Obama, who has put a top priority on extending criminal checks to private sales.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/gun-advocates-divided-over-background-checks/2013/03/05/2eee5136-84f2-11e2-9d71-f0feafdd1394_story.html?hpid=z1
I like this divide and conquer strategy Pres. Obama and VP Biden and others are applying to the gun lobby in other to make sure there are better laws in place to save even one more precious life.
I also like the divide and conquer strategy of courting other republicans by bypassing the weak leadership because it seems the real power lies with the GOP caucus and not Boehner. If one watches closely, one sees that Pres. Obama is trying to do what Clinton failed at accomplishing. Building a new wave of Democrats that aren’t afraid to fight for equality, justice, fairness, and a better more efficient government and for lack of a better word crushing the republicans (the GOP is certainly doing 99% of the job by aiding in their own destruction). He’s building a coalition amongst the old, young, women, men, people of various races and ethnicities and even grabbing some sane republicans along for the ride. When he accomplishes what he has set out to do, the Obama coalition will be formidable indeed. 2008 and 2012 were just the beginning.
UT, PBO works strategically, as you’ve often pointed out. He knows what’s he’s building and he works quietly and relentlessly toward that goal. The jackasses in Congress who lurch from one crisis to another, believing in a mythic world in which they are strong and powerful, can’t begin to understand, let alone match, the president’s vision and strategic brilliance.
Any questions??
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2013/03/06/1679451/oreilly-colmes-medicare/
During the segment, Colmes pointed out that Obama had proposed $2 in spending cuts for every $1 in revenue raises, and that Obama had named Medicare as a specific program where he could reduce spending. O’Reilly ignored Colmes’s comments and began yelling, insisting that Obama wouldn’t approve of any spending cuts, and that Colmes couldn’t name a single “specific” area where Obama had approved of reducing spending:
O’REILLY: There is nothing put forth, nothing. [...]
COLMES: I disagree with what is being said here. He has offered $2.50 in tax cuts for every dollar.
O’REILLY: That’s not–
COLMES: Yes, he has. Cuts in Medicare. Offered cuts to entitlements.
O’REILLY: That’s not specific. He has to say here are the programs that are going to go down. Here is how we are going to reform Medicare and Social Security. and the man refuses to do it. [...]
COLMES: What do you want to yell for?
O’REILLY: Because you are lying. you are lying.
COLMES: Don’t call me a liar. Don’t you sit there and call me a liar. [...] I’m not lying. We can have a disagreement without you calling me a liar. That’s not necessary.
O’REILLY: You are lying here… where is the proof.. give me one program he would cut.
COLMES: He would cut medicare and medicaid offered cuts to those programs.
O’REILLY: That’s not a specific program.
************ ” He has to say here are the programs that are going to go down. “*************************************** BOOM.
Medicare and Medicaid are not specific programs ?
What a raving, ranting lunatic O’Reilly is…..
Bill O once told a non-believer that the fact the ocean tides went in and went out proved there was a God.
Df, O’Reilly and his ilk prove the truism that when you have nothing to say, you shout louder. The R’s have no policy but destruction and hatred of the president, so they scream, hurl insults and bang their fists. Then they go home thinking they’re tough guys when they actually just proved themselves to be empty-headed asses. Interesting that this guy invited a very weak figure like Colmes to take his abuse. I’m sure it made him feel very manly, I have never in my life watched an O’Reilly show and if forced to choose between root canal and watching him, I’d run to the dentist.
Morning everybody.
Just read this on twitter. It’s so sad.
Valerie Harper Diagnosed With Terminal Brain Cancer: accesshollywood.com/_article_76465
Sorry to hear that about Valerie Harper. I’ll always remember her as Mary’s neighbor on the Mary Tyler Moore Show.
So sad…..I always related to Valerie Harper’s character “Rhoda” eventhough I longed to be like “Mary”. The Mary Tyler Moore show infludenced me more than any show since “That Girl” of wanting to be an independent single working woman. Prayers to Ms Harper.
Bookmark!
http://www.gopsequester.com/
Hay there is FLOTUS again. Hip Hip Hurray.
Good morning everyone! I had about twenty minutes and couldn’t think of a better way to use it than to drop in and get my mind straight.
I feel like a little wide-eyed kid on a Christmas morning. When I saw my name it brought tears to my eyes…and I ain’t no punk! 
I am more grateful than I can say to be a part of such a thoughtful, dedicated group. Thank you Chips…thank you to everyone of you. You’re the best!! xoxoxo
Love your insights, Fay! I will definitely be reading your cite every day. I read your post naming the people that got killed in the Alabama March for Freedom. Thank you so much for this piece.
FayPax, so sorry, only saw your comment now – you are MORE than welcome, your blog is just fantastic, it’s on my list of daily-reads! Keep up the outstanding work!
This is so COOL! Bravo/brava to those kids
Oh, that is really gorgeous. Thanks and good morning, hf.
Mornin’ meta – beautiful, isn’t it?
Moooooooorrningggg, Chipstar and TODville!!
I’m always overwhelmed by the accumulation of news and opinion you bring to us. It’s like we all share one big long breakfast table with big pots of coffee and tea and news spread out all along the length. We all pull up a chair and gratefully dig in. Thank you. You’re the best. Even when you’re crazy busy. Especially.
Has anyone ever done any handwriting analysis on PBO’s signature? It’s so distinctive and elegant with big flowing round sweeps. Sigh.
And that guy sitting at the bar yakking about socialism looks like Boehner!
Has anyone ever done any handwriting analysis on PBO’s signature? It’s so distinctive and elegant with big flowing round sweeps. Sigh.
Wouldn’t you just love to have one of those pens ? They are ” Cross Townsends ” They usually cost over $100.00 each .
Oooh, lovely detail. Thanks, Linda.
Indeed, there have been many analyses of our President’s handwriting. Most of them I see on the Googles are quite positive…Here’s an example – comparing PBO’s handwriting with Willard’s.
http://www.learngraphology.com/Graphology_Analysis_Obama_vs._Romney(1).pdf
Meta here are some more observations of our PBO’s beautiful handwriting under various circumstances:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/scm039/barack-obamas-handwriting-is-stunning-4fo6
Good morning TOD and Chips. The First Lady’s remarks for the 3rd Anniversary of Let’s Move was so motivating and positive I shared it with my family and friends. When the news of the day gets me down I will replay it. Stay positive and unite, we can do this for our country and fellow Americans.
President Obama is headed to lunch with Senate Republicans — but not until a week from Thursday, when he’ll join the caucus’s weekly lunch meeting.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement Wednesday that the president will join the March 14 lunch in the Capitol. A meeting with House Republicans is also in the works, though it hasn’t been scheduled yet, according to House Speaker John Boehner’s office.
The meetings come after especially intense complaints in recent weeks that Obama has done little to reach out to Hill Republicans.
“Senate Republicans welcome the president to the Capitol. And I appreciate he took my recommendation to hear from all of my members,” McConnell said in his statement.
“We promised the American people that we would cut Washington spending, and the president signed those cuts into law,” he continued. “We have numerous challenges facing the country and Republicans have offered the president serious solutions to shrink Washington spending and grow the economy. And we will have an opportunity to discuss them with the president at the lunch.”
Obama last went to a Senate Republican lunch on May 25, 2010, McConnell’s office said. The call to set up the meeting was made by White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough.
The president has also asked to meet with House Republicans, Boehner chief of staff Mike Sommers said in a Wednesday morning email to members. Obama “has requested the opportunity to visit with our conference sometime next week to discuss various policy matters, and we are currently working to schedule that meeting. More details to follow.”
The last time Obama met with the House Republican conference was in Jan. 2010 at the party retreat in Baltimore, where he accused the GOP of branding his then-unpassed health reform law a “Bolshevik plot.” That meeting was open to the press.-
Why?
They want to go to lunch with him so badly yet when it comes time to work with PBO and do their jobs? Not so much.
OOOoooof, this would kill my appetite. POTUS is such a great leader, putting our the strength of our nation above all else.
Wonder if McCain and Miss Lindsey will sit next to each together.
With a hand on each others Knee?
And occasional loving glances with tender eye-to-eye contact?
LOL!! Now you are just wrong.
Cop a feel when no one is aware.
Ohhhh My!
lol
They are only there for the food… Count the spoons when they leave!
Very, very good points, Pamela!
I can’t see Johnson and Toomey being part of a common sense caucus, but POTUS wouldn’t be meeting with them if they weren’t willing to close some loopholes.
It appears the NY Times can’t get anything right these days.
Here is their list
“Collins
Corker
Grahamm
Portman ( yuk)
Coburn”
I don’t have ANY hope this will help. Republicans say they are willing to talk, they NEVER compromise and then if President Obama offers something new, they move the goal posts. McCain and Graham will keep the others in check. Mark my words.
I understand why President Obama has to do this: he has to demonstrate, once again, that republicans ARE THE PROBLEM. Maybe, just maybe, the DC conventional wisdom will be at least a bit challenged after another episode of republicans saying no to everything ?
Who knows, since the republicans are cowards and afraid to stand up to the RW loons in the house, maybe making a deal with the President will provide cover for them. I’m not going to hold my breath waiting though. Either way it make POTUS look even more reasonable.
What a revolting group. Thank you, Mr. President, for sacrificing so much for us. I do not think there is any force on earth that would get me to have a meal with these loonies.This is an amazing testimony to how much PBO loves his country. Bravo Sir!!
My president, taking one for the team once again. This man truly loves us and this country.
President Obama, please do not trust these Republicans. That is all I have to say.
#FlipAnR
back to meetings … bbl …
Yes We Can
Olympus Falls movie march 22, when the North Koreans attack DC, has Ashley Judd as the First Lady.
Are you going to go see it?
You betcha
Did you guys just hear this? OMG!
LOL “roaming gangs” of what? stray dogs?
I hope his statement shows up on YouTube because it was the height of RWNJ paranoia. Just astonishing.
Not to mention the idea of miss Lindsey with an AR-15 is bizarre to say the least.Hope it does show up on YouTube.
It was so creepy. UGH.
Someone should do a photoshop of him holding an AR-15.
Yes, meta, because, as everyone knows, you can always stop the path of a hurricane with an AK-15. Then if you don’t get the best bed at your local Red Cross shelter, you can always shoot everyone else there and pick your spot. Lindsay Graham–master thinker.
Even after five years, listening to Michelle Obama still has the power to bring me to tears. What an amazing woman!
Please sign up to be a member of Organizing For Action at barackobama.com, not ObamaBiden.com which was part of the campaign. We need all hands on deck for action planning sessions this month!
Kenyan election results reporting “electronic” systems are beyond fucked up. And they dumped 80 million dollars on them. Yet even after 48 hours of polling, no credible final results.
Morning and how are all my O peeps on this great getting up day in the TOD world?!?!?!? I’m in a winter wonderland and it’s so purrrty. The only thing is, that’s only from my window. It looks like @#$!#$# when you’re actually out trying to navigate in it.
Thanks Chips for a mighty fine round-up of stuffs leading the thread.
Howdee, CookeM!
Please, please, please keep your purrrty winter wonderland over in your corner and do NOT let it escape in this direction. Thanks. (Only asking because sometimes you have a tendency to share your pwws and we end up with similar stuff.) Right now I’m perfectly contented with the little white stuff I have on the ground, particularly because the driveway and roadways are wonderfully clear.
I don’t know how to insert images, but thought this cartoon was a good representation about Scalia.
http://political-cartoons.tumblr.com/image/44614182969
NO PBO nominees on DC circuit.
DC Circuit is the most important court….the Republicans want it packed with ” Their People “
This is how Press Secretary Jay Carney opened the WHPC briefing yesterday. He basically said that this problem of cloture votes for judicial nominations needs to be resolved for the sake of our judicial system. How much reporting have you heard about this travesty?? As EJ Dionne wrote last week, the Republican Party madness needs to be exposed to the American people.
Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 3/5/2013
———————————————————-
MR. CARNEY: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for being here in the Brady Briefing Room for your daily briefing. Before I take your questions I have a couple of topics I wanted to raise.
First, tomorrow the United States Senate will hold a cloture vote on the nomination of Caitlin Halligan to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia circuit. It is disappointing that a cloture vote is even necessary for someone as clearly well-qualified as Ms. Halligan, who has bipartisan support from lawyers and law enforcement.
When Republicans filibustered her nomination in 2011, several of them hung their objections not on her qualifications or her judicial philosophy, but on the D.C. circuit workload. In essence, they didn’t object to her as a judge, just that the seat in their minds did not need to be filled. But since then, there has been an additional vacancy on that circuit, leaving the court with four vacancies — 36 percent vacant. In fact, the court has never been this understaffed in its history and the caseload has increased almost 15 percent since 2011.
After 726 days of delay, we strongly urge the Senate support an up or down vote for this well-qualified nominee with credentials from across the political spectrum for a court that is 36-percent vacant.
I have some slides that I hope will turn up. In fact, last night we released an infographic on WhiteHouse.gov showing that Caitlin Halligan is not alone in suffering endless delays for a vote. As you’ll see, 78 percent of President Obama’s circuit court judges have waited more than 100 days for a vote, compared to 15 of President Bush’s nominees.
On the second slide, this obstruction also applies to President Obama’s district court nominees — 42 percent of our district court judges have waited more than 100 days for a vote, compared to eight of President Bush’s nominees.
On slide three, you can see that the average wait time for our judicial nominees to get a vote on the floor of the Senate, both for the circuit court and the district court is three to four times as long as it was under our predecessor.
This is a problem that needs to be resolved for the sake of our judicial system, for the sake of a carrying out of justice in our country in an expedited and deliberate manner. And we have seen some positive signs of late that perhaps the logjam is beginning to break on Capitol Hill when it comes to confirmation of judges, and we certainly hope that the spirit that informs that change, modest as it has been, will inform the vote the Senate takes on Caitlin Halligan.
————————————————————–
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/03/05/press-briefing-press-secretary-jay-carney-352013
Thanks very much, for this, LH. I missed the DPB yesterday. I’m thrilled Jay was prepared to present this information. BRAVO.
There’s another nomination I read about yesterday (sorry, I’m forgetting the name) of a woman who’s been waiting for a vote for a YEAR. It’s beyond outrageous.
excellent report–thanks ladyhawke.
Steve Benen has a good piece on this. It’s important to realize how much we’re losing because we dropped the ball on filibuster reform:
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/03/06/17210958-senate-gop-blocks-another-judicial-nominee?lite
Although Benen says 54-41, although the number in this tweet was what I originally heard.
Some quotes from Benen’s piece:
“Note, Halligan was nominated to serve on the D.C. circuit, widely seen as a first-among-equals at the federal appellate level, and often a stepping stone for the U.S. Supreme Court. With Republicans having stopped this nomination, the President Obama has named exactly zero jurists to this specific federal bench. What’s more, as Joan McCarter explained, the D.C. circuit still has four vacancies — about a third of the bench — which hampers the ability of the court to do its job.
Also keep in mind, the “Gang of 14″ compromise agreed all judicial nominees deserve an up-or-down vote barring “extraordinary circumstances.” With Halligan and Goodwin Liu blocked from the judiciary, it would appear that this compromise is now dead.
After this and the first-ever filibuster of a cabinet nominee last month, it’s pretty easy to make the case that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) needs to revisit the useless reform package agreed to in January.”
There was also talk today from Durbin about revisiting filibuster reform. This IS part of the way to fight Republicans.
GM Chipsticks, TOD….
Is this photo before the shooting? She looks great.
sent you a reply on twitter, not sure if you checked
No, I will. TOD got to long for me.
Lawfare Blog goes bit by bit into exlpain the legal justification PBO has to use lethal force, in any form, on U.S. soil. This for the dittoheads:
From my Inbox:
“Every Wednesday, OFA hosts a policy briefing to make sure you’re up to date on the issues and ready to fight for the President’s agenda in your community.
Tonight, we’ll be talking further about the sequester — and we’ll be joined by special guest Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak. Mayor Rybak will break down what these devastating automatic spending cuts mean at a local level, and why Congress needs to act on a balanced approach to the budget.
After he chats with us, OFA staff will talk through how you can take action over the next few weeks.
Bookmark this page and join us here tonight, Wednesday, March 6th, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time for the livestream:
http://my.barackobama.com/Wednesday-Policy-Briefing
Thanks,
Stephanie Cutter
Organizing for Action
P.S. — If you haven’t already, join more than 340,000 people in adding your name to stand behind President Obama’s plan to reduce the deficit and help the middle class.”
Excellent that OFA is now actively engaged in pushing real issues, post election. Now it’s up to the left to keep engaged in the process or get ‘shellacked’ once again in 2014.
Speaker Bonehead has some problems looming on the horizon, an ex-GOP Rep. Claims he cut a deal w/ him to retire $, and much more
Hell hath no fury like a former Republican colleague scorned. Pass the popcorn.
That sentence is awkwardly phrased but I appreciate the strong, positive sentiment behind it
G’day everyone. Am having one helluva time with notification box.
Yardarm, go to WordPress login page(in a seperate browser)…. Login and go to your reader, you should be able to use the notification there. I will also inform you of new posts, kinda like when a new tweet shows a # of new tweets in your twitter feed.
Rand Paul is ranting on the Senate floor. He really is insane.
At least we know where he is, in case he has to be carried out and locked up somewhere. No joke.
A really good primer to what is happing and what will happen due to climate change
actual, the town hall is happening NOW! hash tag = #StandUpForWomen
Good Morning Everyone
I just called Reichert and Herrara who are Republican Congressional House members. I called as a concerned Washington state citizen and asked them to consider all Washingtonians who were hurt by the sequester and asked them to work with the democrats and whoever else wanted to help our state. I specifically brought up how the cuts would affect Hanford nuclear reservation and the additional health and safety costs which would be incurred by everyone. I brought up University of Washington and the life saving work they have done in cancer research which will be cut back. and finally I said that I live near joint base Lewis/McChord and the cuts to the base will hurt the Pierce County economy. they listened politely and said that they would pass on the message..
TY, Otter, for reporting back. There is great value to these reports, IMO. Thanks also to Linda who organized this initiative. #FORWARD
Picture says it all:
This is not a SNL skit: “The Turtle” may be in more trouble in KY, than thought.
Rand Paul has said he is going to speak on the Senate floor until he no longer is able to speak.
What’s he ranting about?
He is claiming PBO might attack Americans with drones on American soil.
He put a hold on Brennen
(I am against violence and only mean this figuratively but) Maybe we could put a hold on him. A choke hold. Anybody with me?
I vote for taping his mouth to stop him from polluting the Senate.
Oh, I like how you think! I’m in.
As Washington gets socked by a snowstorm and sequester, President Obama begins a new strategy of personal outreach to congressional Republicans.
Tonight Obama will host a dinner party for a small group of 11 GOP senators, aides to several participants confirmed. Among the guests expected at the table are Sens. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, John McCain of Arizona and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire.
After a first term marred by gridlock with Republicans on core fiscal issues, the invite signals a new attempt to break the partisan impasse on taxes and spending cuts. The overture also suggests Obama wants to salvage prospects for his other top agenda items, including an overhaul of the nation’s immigration system and a compromise on gun control.
Administration officials said tonight’s meal will take place at the Jefferson Hotel, just a few blocks from the White House, and will be closed to the press. The list of guests was compiled by Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina at Obama’s request, an official told ABC News.
Meantime, the president has requested separate meetings next week with all House and Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill, officials said. The request was submitted by White House chief of staff Denis McDonough.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-obama-host-republican-senators-dinner-requests-meetings/story?id=18666180
Love it. The masterful President at work. Maybe he’ll put Lyin’ Ryan in the “front row,” again, when he meets with the Rs in the House.
[Mr. President, I wouldn't order anything "too heavy" for dinner with McCain at the table within your view, if ya know what I mean.]
Petty, I know, but I felt good noticing PBO was not hosting them at the White House, but a few blocks away – a moment of unimportant, but gratifying personal satisfaction.
Not petty; I feel he same gratification. PBO knows their M.O. — whine about lack of access; get access; then run to nearest mic talking smack. When they learn to exhibit some common sense and work with him on behalf of the American people, MAYBE, they’ll earn a “small group” or personal invite to the WH.
My glass is always half-full…
I felt the same way; glad that they are not coming to the White House.
Good morning/afternoon, TODville! I like how OFA’s website is now ObamaBIDEN.com – if I’m not mistaken, the Biden addition is new. Go, Joey!
I think it’s sort of confusing. I know the separation is for legal reasons.
My understanding is that the ObamaBiden.com site is for all matters related to the Obama/Biden campaign.
The OFA site is barackobama.com, which is for all matters relating to ACTION on our agenda items.
BUT, I could be wrong about all this!!
Thanks so much, meta. I did scroll up after I wrote that and found a similar explanation. But I did enjoy the “Biden” part for a few minutes! Thx again.
→ OBAMA’S FAULT! ←
Some see Dow headed for 20,000 – The Dow Jones industrial average has barreled to an all-time high, erasing $11 trillion of losses racked up when the financial crisis began five years ago. … Some market optimists wouldn’t be surprised if the Dow broke 15,000 by year’s end. A climb to 20,000 over the next four years seems possible to some…
“The economy is going to improve by the end of the year, …” said Jeremy Siegel, finance professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
He sees a 50-50 chance the Dow could land between 16,000 and 17,000 by year’s end. Hitting 20,000 within the decade isn’t out of the question either, he said. http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-dow-20000-20130306,0,5239265.story?page=1
And yet little children are underfed, living in poverty, all across our country.
Another filibuster of a judicial nominee today for the DC Court of Appeals. Where a decent judge is desperately needed.
Thanks again, Harry Reid.
If we are going to thank Reid (yes, I know it’s snark), I’d like to suggest we ALSO THANK the GOP senators and congresspeople. Just saying
We had a chance at better filibuster reform and we didn’t act. We cannot fix the dismal courts because of Republican filibusters. It’s terrifying.
Reid is bad at his job. I hear told guy was a boxer, a fighter. I want to puke. Only real fighters we have are the women in there. Pelosi, Warren, etc.
I remember once watching a segment on @Lawrence when he was showing that Reid is not ALWAYS bad at his job. In fact, Reid was doing something (reading names for something or other) mundane, yet vital to the ‘smooth’ running of one aspect of the admin. I also have a vague memory of Reid one-upping McConnell on some procedural issue sometime back. IOW, like us he sometimes performs well and sometimes poorly. Sure it hurts when he does the latter, because the poor performances seem to have such an impact, but I have every confidence in President Obama, and at a time when almost everyone thought Harry’s performance dismal I remember the President supported him for re-election. We ‘fight’ in different ways, I think; Harry’s way is obviously not ours. Given a choice between dumping on Harry every time an example crops up that he should have fixed the filibuster, (something he can apparently no longer do) I’m for dumping on the GOPs because they still have the option of change.
Yes, it seems we missed a chance, but focusing only on Reid each time we are reminded of this doesn’t help our side. Repubs are the bigger problem, so let’s send most of our ire their way. We have all miscalculated at one time or another so I say cut Reid some slack since we cannot recapture that time frame. OTH what the Republicans are doing is very deliberate – no miscalculation there – and they should bear the brunt of the negativity IMO.
Fundamentally, you’re right, VC. But the GOP will be the GOP, their mission was first to defeat the Prez. If they fail at that, second mission is to make his 2nd term as useless as possible. You get that done by throwing a monkey wrench into everything Obama. Everything. Knowing this, the Dems and Reid, made it easier for them to do this. I sent money to Reid’s reelection, not cuz I was crazy about him, but I rather have him than that crazy woman. When he screws up like this, he really should be held accountable. He should be fired from leadership. Let another “fighter” a chance.
We will have to agree to disagree. Filibuster reform was critical and it was Harry who went behind closed doors with McConnell and accepted another handshake deal. And right out of the gate, they filibustered Hagel – unprecedented. I would buy your miscalculation after the 2010 Congress, but not after this one. We knew what they would do unless we stopped them. Harry Reid chose to not stop them.
I know people get mad at me when I mention how disappointed I am in Harry over this. I’m less disappointed in him that we couldn’t get comprehensive reform than I am in what I consider his deception that he was going to do it. After the fact, he flat out said he never had any intention of lowering the 60-vote threshold – to maintain the ‘tradition’ of the Senate. But imagine where we would be if there had been decent filibuster reform – we would have at least passed the Democratic version of sequester ‘reform’. We would be placing decent judges on the bench, filling cabinet posts, and at least getting majority bills out of the Senate.
Those Senate ‘traditions’ — let’s see how long they last if, God forbid, Republicans ever get the majority again. The filibuster, as Republicans have used it, will be gone. Just like the Special Prosecutor law was repealed after it was used outrageously by Republicans against Bill Clinton, and we had no such mechanism to use against Bush/Cheney.
I think you are definitely justified to be disappointed at Reid. I just wonder if he ever really had the votes because it sure looked like his Senate Dem collegues were bailing on him. I get the feeling Reid took the pulse of his caucus and discovered what he already knew. His fellow Dems (or at least a whole lot of them) like things just as they are.
I don’t think he fought to get the votes (although there are ‘reports’ that he did have the votes but who really knows?). If Reid had wanted filibuster reform, he could have whipped the votes. Durbin was there, expected more serious reform, although he talks the team line. I believe it was Durbin himself who said they had the votes for more serious reform.
If the Majority Leader had wanted to stop this abuse, signaled that he intended to do it, he would have had at least 51 Dem’s to do it.
I’m tired of Dem’s willing to horse trade to dilute what we want and need, but not willing to twist a few Democratic arms to make things better. I never expected to stop Republican filibusters entirely, but Harry led us to believe he was supporting reform with teeth. I know there were a number of senior senators who got pissed that Merkley didn’t play by collegian rules, but that is no reason to not make it harder for Republicans to obstruct.
It’s not a question of me being willing to criticize our own and not focusing my ire at Republicans. From Steve Benen and a good many others, including Durbin, this is an issue that should remain alive. The American people have no idea how much Republicans are destroying basic governance. Why does Boehner think he can get away with saying, “Democrats haven’t passed a plan”, when the truth is that Republicans have filibustered a plan?
VC, I agree with you. This is no time to turn on each other. Besides, the majority of Senate Democrats selected Harry Reid to be their leader. If the failure to get rid of the filibuster is all Harry Reid’s fault then the majority of Senate Democrats are guilty of failing to remove him from leadership. Like you, I get very concerned when we start attacking our own instead of focusing on the real culprits–the unethical Republicans in the Senate. The filibuster has been around for decades, yet it has never been so wantonly abused because members of the minority party have visceral hatred of the President.
FYI- Top rec’d diary on Old Orange BLAMES President Obama for the sequester.
Lots of comments but nowhere near as many rec’s. It’s a piece of crap, and there is some decent pushback. And of course, the usual blithering, whiny nuts as well. I check there once or twice a day. That’s it these days.
I’m expecting the whiny liberals to go all out supporting Rand Paul today, since he’s so concerned that PBO will patrol American streets with drones.
Paul is concerned if someone uses cash at the grocery store PBO might think they are a terrorist and attack them with a drone.
This would be laughable if it weren’t so disturbingly paranoid and inciteful.
This guy is an elected official; a member of our legislative branch – he’s not some random loony radio talk show host, or editor of a tabloid magazine. Can you imagine if Senator Elizabeth Warren or Gillibrand had said something like that about Bush (or any other GOP head of state)?
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/535578_614623081888407_1326394112_n.jpg
I thought the photo would show above:
Fox hired John Kyl….
He also took a job with a law firm waiting to become their lobbyist.
Exact same route as Evan Bayh.
I think it’s time for the Dems to support Claire McCaskill’s bill to cut Congressional salaries while the Sequester cuts vital services to America.
Rand Paul has been filibustering John Brennan for 2 hours. Strom Thurmond would be so proud.
That man is sick and should be jailed for treason, or required to get compulsory treatment at a mental hospital (inpatient).
Isn’t Brennan a Bush holdover? These guys are effing insane.
I couldn’t be MORE revolted by this paranoid freak. This is just pure RMNJ racism. He and people like him are precisely why we need gun control.
UGH. UGH. UGH.
The image of Lindsey Graham clutching an AK-15 (Ar – SOMETHING? Oh, who knows) is hilarious.
Does Graham actually have a family to protect? Just wondering since you guys always seem to imply otherwise.
Well, VC, he has John McCain. And who knows who else might be hiding in his closet.
Nath, I guess even Johnnie McC is worthy of protection.
There must be a poison pill in there somewhere.
Yeah. I’m waiting for it to go to the senate and see what comes of it.
Well, on the face of it, it retains the sequestration but gives military some flexibility on making cuts. Incredible.
Unfortunately, you are probably right. Time to chain our wallets to our wrists, until we know for sure.
Yesterday Reid said they will accept and amend the House bill….so it will have to go back to them
This back and forth between the house and the senate reminds me of some childhood game which I forget.
This is bad because it locks in the Sequestration cuts.
Yes…Lethal Force was just used on Christopher Dorner in CA at Big Bear less than a month ago.
And the guy that held that Boy in a Bunker in Oklahoma.
Yes….
And have they all forgotten about WACO ?
Keith Ellison says him and the progressive Caucus will fight the President tooth and nail for No cuts to social programs.
Well, their goes our House majority in 2014, as it’s the President that will bring People out to vote for these clowns. This is what happened in 2010, when half of the progressive caucus was on tv every day bashing the President.
How did that work out for you Ellison, you Fool?
This people are ignorant to think that there is no room for reform/cuts with social programs. In order for our government to work effectively. There has to be some give and take. It can’t be all for us and nothing for them.
**These people**
THIS.
Maybe Dems are getting tired of the way Repubs are acting but why on earth would they want to start acting like them, too? I’m so sick of this merry-go-round!
House dems are almost as bad, no compromise ever!
It’s self destructive and knee jerk.
Instead, Ellison should be attacking Paul ryans new budget.
I don’t agree that Medicare has to be reformed…at least not now. The Republicans have had the same argument since Medicare was first enacted. In 2003, 4, 5, and 6 they controlled the House, the Senate and the White House. Why didn’t “they” fix it? Instead they expanded it with a prescription drug plan. Job creation would raise revenues, infuse Medicare and Social Security. Medicare isn’t in anymore trouble than it has ever been. Reagan bailed out Social Security, but then they pushed Clinton to reform welfare. They’re full of it.
I wish someone would tweet him that. I’d do it but he blocked me for asking him a question.
Too early to write off the House majority for 2014 because of one statement by one Congressman.
And Bernie sanders and defazio and…
The point is Ellison is chairman of the progressive caucus he speaks for many.
Thus, it’s stupid behavior, and immature.
It’s not that big a deal him saying that. Politicians blow smoke. He’s not the first. If Nancy backs PBO (who by the way hasn’t mentioned cutting anything) Ellison will come around. Just because he’s chairman of that caucus doesn’t mean all the members agree with him. Bernie Sanders? He’s always complaining about stuff PBO hasn’t actually done. No need to take their premature statements as proof Dems won’t win back the House.
Makes it
UVB mire unlikely, they have to be perfect because of gerrymandering.
I have as much use for progressives getting their ‘information’ from dKos as I have for conservatives getting their ‘information’ from RWNJ blogs.
I wish these a**holes would spend more time fighting the republicans. All the complaining about POTUS meeting with gop, yet the dems have been stabbing him in the back for the last 4 years. And of course he is supposed to knock himself out to help them all get reelected.
Link to that please……
IKEA is trying to kill us.
Remind me not to eat lunch a FREAKING FURNITURE STORE.
Frankly, I’m tired of the juvenile behavior…
Rand Paul thinks if you’re walking down the Street and you are from the Future, that a UAV killer drone may strike you dead.
He then said, why should Yoda be attacked by a Drone, and if Yoda has a bad day and can’t use the Force, he may not be able to stop the killer Drone.
Also, he then went onto say, that Sara Connor, John Connors mom, should not be attacked by a killer drone while visiting the Smithsonian.
Or some such garbled nonsense, bouncing all over the place, incoherent and Drunk.
He has Racing thoughts, I am telling you he is Manic right now on the Floor.
Just listen to his disconnected flighty thoughts on this matter.
Holy Shit!
Yup. That’s why I posted above that he needs to be confined in a mental hospital.
But, he will be Rachels fucking hero tonight.
She is also manic!
Their should be group therapy for Libertarian Bi polar individuals in the Beltway.
EPA has drones? defecating cows? Rand is cuckoo cuckoo
More interesting as an issue is that apparently the CIA will be ceding the war-related drone missions to the military .Military has more oversight and accountability.
CIA losing what Rand is fighting so this makes even les sense. Jovie,please explain if you can and want to.
I can only explain Pauls behavior. He needs lithium and depacoate.
That should stabilize him.
POTUS did exactly the RIGHT thing by canceling WH tours.
This is why the GOP is so upset:
It is the GOP way to make sure that any losses are only to the invisible lower classes.
Convenience and $$$ flowing to and between Tourists and the Rich are never to be impeded.
In NYC after a devastating blizzard that left expectant mothers delivering dead babies in the lobbies of their Brooklyn buildings the Mayor said “The City is fine!! Look, the theaters are open!”
During Sandy when little old ladies like me were stranded in their dark cold waterless high rises in lower Manhattan the Mayor was urging the Knicks and Nets to play their scheduled season opener. Fortunately, basketball teams are a lot smarter than Bloomberg, and the game was canceled.
Same thing with the NYC marathon. Only when threatened with demonstrations in the storm soaked Staten island did the tyrant eventually cancel the run.
So, Cancel tours?!? Affect tourist money? Oh no. GOP very distressed. Save money by firing some low-paid workers would be their idea.
End the sequester. Now.
Well the reason the GOP is mad because they reward constituents with tickets for these tours.
Exactly. Folks with the means to travel and vacation are not to be deprived. Those folks may be campaign donors.
Cuts are for those who cannot object. Just as taxes, when possible, are to be levied on those who can’t escape them
Rand Paul is one sentence away from telling Americans that the Black president is coming to kill them in their sleep.
With a Ninja Sword!
Question about the President having the power to ‘drone’ American citizens who are threats – how is this any different than the President giving the okay to shoot down a civilian plane?
Tweet that to Paul!
Or, in the case of the last administration, the Vice President would have been the one to give the okay to shoot down a civilian plane.
Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) have joined Paul on the Senate floor.
I bet they wouldn’t have minded US drones if Mitt had won.
Would have been patriotic!
Paul has been joined by Senators Mike Lee and Ted Cruz. Bravo gentlemen.
I bet Rand Paul read Atlas Shrugged to his kids as a bedtime story
Well. That’s a shock. He can read?
Rand Paul needs help.
It is absolutely horrifying that this man is a United States senator.
If they get Liberals to join them, that is goal btw, his nomination is in jeopardy.
So, ITs not without merit.
OT alert…
Oh my God – now the King of Loons, Ted Cruz (although Rand Paul may have won the title with his stunt today) says he’ll block any continuing budget resolution unless it defunds ‘Obamacare’.
I’ve never seen anything like this crop of Republican legislators.
Ron Wyden joined Rand Paul according to TPM. Being against drones is no reason to hold up Brennen’s nomination.
I can’t stand these bastards like Ron Wyden.
Can’t we get him through Social media? Guess I could fire up google.
twitter is telling me now that Wyden has joined the filibuster.
GEEZE.
Wyden is now on the floor saying the CIA has NO authority to use drones inside the US
Wyden is a desperate attention seeker, but this is horrendous behavior. How has he ever gotten re-elected
Thanks to Wyden, the dems just lost the high road on filibuster reform. It was bad enough that we had the first fillibuster in history of a President’s cabinet nominee with Hagel, and now we get 2 filibustered nominees with help from dems. What a disgrace.
THIS.
I thought Wyden supported getting rid of the filibuster? Obviously if he did and is now participating in it he is a shameless hypocrite. Or may be he didn’t and was among those Democrats that prevented getting rid of the filibuster. Fortunately for Wyden, he is loved by the holier than thou progressives and he won’t be vilified by them. Only “weak” and “timid” Harry Reid is entirely to blame for the failure to get rid of the filibuster.
THIS.
Luke Russert is a right wing mouth piece
I notice that to Linda,no one gives a dam how good of a golfer John Boehner is. Maybe he is a good golfer, but he is a awful sorry speaker.
Luke needs to run on home and play with his Wii or something. #HowToStartACareerAsAFoolRightOffTheBat
Eric Boehlert @EricBoehlert
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GOP threatened to filibuster Susan Rice, then filibustered the Hagel and Brennan picks. but press HATES using the word “obstructionist”
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TX Sen Candidate Ted Cruz Spouts Paranoid Fantasy About United Nations/George Soros Conspiracy To Eliminate Golf
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/03/16/446352/tx-sen-candidate-ted-cruz-spouts-paranoid-fantasy-about-united-nationsgeorge-soros-conspiracy-to-eliminate-golf/
Is that idiot Harry Reid going to keep the entire senate there until these fools stop talking, and immediately hold a vote on Brennan?
Schumer needs to take over, Harry is weaker than Boner is!
I guess we are all wondering if and when this will end. Also how will it end
Harry Reid steps down schumer or Reid kicks Republicans asses. Reid goes back to bed!
The end.
I am sorry to say but the claim that Somehow “Schumer(sp)” will some how make Ted Cruz and Rand Paul behave like rational people is pure hogwash!
Filibuster reform advocates: We told you so
By Steve Benen
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Occasionally, it’s worthwhile to add some historical perspective. From 1947 to 1960 — 7 Congresses, spanning 14 years — the Senate held four cloture votes. This Congress has only existed for a couple of months, and it’s already held five cloture votes. It’s only going to get worse.
The Senate wasn’t designed to work this way; it functioned quite well for generations without trying to work this way; and it obviously can’t work this way. It doesn’t need another ineffective hand-shake deal or another “gang”; it needs institutional reforms to fix what’s clearly broken.
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http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/03/06/17212814-filibuster-reform-advocates-we-told-you-so
Filibuster Reform Or Futility
By Ed Kilgore
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Nobody should get their hopes up until Harry Reid has addressed the subject again, but those of us who think the lost opportunity for real, and necessarily unilateral (or if you insist, “nuclear”) filibuster reform was a major blunder for Senate Democrats should be cheered by this report from TPM’s Sahil Kapur:
.
.
But the other thing we’ve learned since Reid’s version of “filibuster reform” took effect is that our friends in the MSM continue to struggle to call a filibuster and filibuster, and instead persist in talking about bills being “voted down” in the Senate because they don’t receive 60 votes. If it takes live demagoguery on the Senate floor to make it obvious what’s going on, making it’s worth the effort. But in any event, progressives should not shut up about filibuster reform until something significant is actually done about it.
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http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_03/filibuster_reform_or_futility043399.php
Why don’t they stay all night if its a filibuster?
That’s what I thought. Maybe the filibusteer has to get home to mommy before dark.
I know! Baby’s
That’s what happens when they send a boy to do a man’s (or woman’s) job!
Have been thinking a lot about Prof Bernard Fall recently. I got to know him during the year before he was killed in Vietnam – 46 years ago. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_B._Fall
He has never been properly recognized or honored – with the exception of Gen Powell’s accurate assessment of what would have happened had either Kennedy or Johnson spent time reading or listening to Prof Fall.
I think our President would not only have known of Prof Fall’s work, had he been President at that time, but he would definitely have listened. Same for SecDef Hagel and SOS Kerry.
#FORWARD
And our courts!
Greg Sargent @ThePlumLineGS
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Central fact of the fiscal fight: Rs won’t get the entitlement cuts they say they want unless they agree to new revenues.
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Drone= straw man to tarnish the President
One smear after another. Swift boating him and he ain’t even running for something.
Rubio has joined Filibuster!
So, outlaw drones take them offline and blame the senators if we get attacked.
Done!
Rachel Maddow gave these Republicans a nice talking point and opportunity to engage in further obstruction. I wonder how she feels now.
No, Republicans Never Intended to Cut Back on Filibusters. Why Do You Ask?
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/03/no-republicans-never-intended-cut-back-filibusters-why-do-you-ask
Thanks to Sen. Harry Reid and all those who didn’t want to go along with changing the filibuster.
Jeb Misses Mount Everest
By Ed Kilgore
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Sure has been a bad week for Jeb Bush. He’s getting pounded from the left and center for releasing a book (apparently written back during the Nativist-Fest of the 2012 GOP presidential nominating contest) on immigration policy that undercuts his supposed protege Marco Rubio, not to mention the efforts of his very own brother. He’s getting pounded from the right for the heretical suggestion that maybe Republicans could support new revenues as part of a budgetary Grand Bargain.
And now he deserves a pounding from every direction for exhibiting ignorance about the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion, per this CNN report (via TPM):
Florida’s former governor Jeb Bush isn’t in alignment with the Sunshine State’s current Republican executive on the issue of accepting federal dollars to expand Medicaid coverage to more lower income residents.
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http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2013_03/jeb_misses_mount_everest043401.php
Cornyn is now on the floor not to be out done by Cruz. He is concerned about a primary in Texas.
A great day for the filibuster, and for filibuster reform
By Ezra Klein
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Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), who led the push for filibuster reform at the beginning of this Congress, also sees an opportunity. “Senate Republicans have demonstrated that they have absolutely no intention of ending their assault on the ability of the U.S. Senate to function,” Merkley told TPM. “Many of my colleagues are absolutely beside themselves with frustration, and that frustration is rapidly turning to fury.”
.
.
2) That said, Wednesday’s filibuster is actually an old-school talkathon — exactly the kind of filibuster Merkley wanted to encourage. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) went down to the floor of the Senate and used his prerogatives as a senator to mount a sustained, public argument against John Brennan’s nomination to lead the CIA. Now Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) is picking up the argument. This is the highest purpose of the filibuster: Allowing a passionate minority to slow down the Senate and make their case to both their colleagues and the American people. If more filibusters went like this, there’d be no reason to demand reform. And if there is reform, it needs to hold open the possibility for filibusters like this.
——————————————–
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/03/06/a-great-day-for-the-filibuster-and-for-filibuster-reform/
“Wednesday’s filibuster is actually an old-school talkathon — exactly the kind of filibuster Merkley wanted to encourage. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) went down to the floor of the Senate and used his prerogatives as a senator to mount a sustained, public argument against John Brennan’s nomination to lead the CIA. Now Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) is picking up the argument. This is the highest purpose of the filibuster: Allowing a passionate minority to slow down the Senate and make their case to both their colleagues and the American people.”
So please people, stop blaming Harry Reid on what Rand Paul and Ron Wyden are doing filibustering John Brennan. Obviously, not even the reformers, wanted to get rid of this talking filibuster. And, as far as Ezra Klein is concerned: “This is the highest purpose of the filibuster.” The fallacy was the belief that going back to the “old-school talkathon” would prevent Republicans from mounting stupid filibusters because they wouldn’t want to appear stupid on television. Somehow people overlooked the reality that there are many republicans in the Senate, like Rand Paul and Ted Cruz, who are totally insane, and are not easily shamed.
Just what the GOP needs — a Bush with Romney’s integrity and immigration plan
By LOLGOP
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To be honest, I’m not exactly sure what Jeb Bush’s immigration reform plan is. And neither is Jeb.
Throughout 2012 and as late as late January of this year, Jeb was saying Republicans shouldn’t oppose a path to citizenship. Then in early March, he promotes a book saying that immigrants who came here without permission as a adults should never have a path to citizenship — unless they go back to their native country and reapply. It’s not exactly the “self-deportation” Mitt Romney advocated but it was close enough to infuriate Romney’s aides.
“Where the hell was this Jeb Bush during the campaign?” a Romney adviser told the Miami Herald.
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http://www.eclectablog.com/2013/03/just-what-the-gop-needs-a-bush-with-romneys-integrity-and-immigration-plan.html
At scene of her shooting, Giffords urges Congress to expand background checks
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/06/17211708-at-scene-of-her-shooting-giffords-urges-congress-to-expand-background-checks?lite
OMFG! I.CAN’T.EVEN!!!!!
Cops: Perp Had Loaded Revolver In Her Vagina
Handgun was found inside Oklahoman during strip search
Well, that’s either some pistol or that’s some um….er…uh…oh never mind.
Where any bullets in the revolver? Ouch !!!!!!!
Probably facing … er … in. Oops.
Now that’s a person who was literally carrying out the 2nd Amendment’s right to “bear arms.”
This reply to Markos is a thing of beauty. I wonder who would be his ideal choices for these two positions. I am guessing Denis Kucinich and Alan Grayson? Unbelievable…..
Thank God for Rev. Al
he’s asking why there is no outrage for 750,000 jobs lost but GOP going crazy over WH tour cancellation.
It’s a sad day in America when #IStandWithRand is the 2nd trending topic on Twitter in the United States. SHAMEFUL.
He is beginning to fade. Now he is reading material criticizing war and drone attacks in general.
Lets fire up #FORWARD
ignore the account that posted this video, but i still can’t believe this paul-pot can even get up each day and slap that rodent on his head after how ridiculous he was this day (or any other day for that matter)
so we have “mr. personal responsibility” telling a random dept. of energy employee “i blame you!” for a toilet he claims doesn’t work well at his home (he’s a proven liar, so the whole story is probably a lie, but whatever). of course he’s talking about a toilet probably long before this woman was ever in that job, but he blames her, not himself naturally. odd, considering we got low-flow toilets a few years ago, researched options in consumer reports and asked around at stores, and got some that are much, much better than any traditional one i’ve seen. sounds like “mr. personal responsibility” didn’t educate himself enough, so of course like any rebpublican, he’s blames other people for their laziness and stupidity. these people are the lowest of low. seriously.
and of course, “the news” will never call this cretin on his bullsheet, while at the exact same time literally make stuff up about president obama to try and knock him down. insanity!
Since when don’t outhouses not work?
May be Rand Paul hates indoor plumbing and wants his outhouse back. But why is he angry at the President and the federal government? I don’t remember Congress enacting a federal law outlawing outhouses.
Maybe he’s trying to figure out how to flush, eh?
What’s that old saying: “you can take a person out of the country but you can’t take the country out of him/her” Or something like that.
just got home from work and going out again but do you guys know that Stephanie Cutter gives a policy briefing every Wednesday night? She’s doing it again tonight and talking about the sequester and it’s affects with none other than the Mayor of Minneapolis R.T. Ryback!
Here’s what Stephanie has to say and the link is in the letter. Hope I can make it back in time for it!
Every Wednesday, OFA hosts a policy briefing to make sure you’re up to date on the issues and ready to fight for the President’s agenda in your community.
Tonight, we’ll be talking further about the sequester — and we’ll be joined by special guest Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak. Mayor Rybak will break down what these devastating automatic spending cuts mean at a local level, and why Congress needs to act on a balanced approach to the budget.
After he chats with us, OFA staff will talk through how you can take action over the next few weeks.
Bookmark this page and join us here tonight, Wednesday, March 6th, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time for the livestream:
http://my.barackobama.com/Wednesday-Policy-Briefing
Thanks,
Stephanie
Stephanie Cutter
Organizing for Action
P.S. — If you haven’t already, join more than 340,000 people in adding your name to stand behind President Obama’s plan to reduce the deficit and help the middle class.
Keith Ellison is pissed off.
#jealous
“Jealous” doesn’t sound like him, that’s for sure! What did I miss?
Good thing I no longer live in DC; if I did, I get one of these and chase punkazz Aqua Buddha all over CapHill…
Dr. Ben Carson is currently on Lou Dobbs giving his opinion on drones. Didn’t know Johns Hopkins University Hospital was involved with drones.
It seems that everyone is an expert on all issues – especially when it comes to criticizing PBO. That doctor needs to spend more time focusing on his patients and the Republicans who don’t care about them, and less time on matters that he’s not qualified to talk about.
Go ahead and speak TRUTH, hopefruit!
Ben Carson, the new Republican Herman Cain.
Where is Chips? Hope she’s just busy.
She’a probably at the PBO invitational din-din.
With the Repubs? Heh!
I wouldn’t doubt it. Might add a bit more sanity to the room, eh?
Hopefruit2, you are on a roll!! Love the hashtag!
Great tweet, hf!
another day, another lesson in republican groupthink.
http://www.treehugger.com/bikes/polluting-bicyclists-should-be-taxed-says-legislator.html
a little taste test of the insanity..
“Also, you claim that is is environmentally friendly to ride a bike. But if I am not mistaken a cyclists [sic] has an increased heart rate and respiration. That means the act of riding a bike results in greater emissions of carbon dioxide from the rider. Since CO2 is deemed a greenhouse gas and a pollutant, bicyclists are actually polluting when they ride.”
The Mad Genius of Rand Paul
from jack & jill politics:
http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2013/03/the-mad-genius-of-rand-paul/
I’m afraid he’s right…
“Paul, by choosing not the Liberal Argument, but the Libertarian one, that the Government can’t Drone people within the US, can’t spy and infringe on the civil liberties of its citizens, enters one of those rare Venn Diagrams that link disparate groups of very committed, vocal, interests. Add in the black helicopter crowd and suddenly there is a constituency, larger than one might first acknowledge, who buys what Paul is selling.
Add to that, the optics of the lone man railing against the System, against the hegemonic powers of one party or both parties. How do you remain an outsider in the midst of the Senate? You take a stand. You refuse to sit and be quiet about an issue of Principle. While I disagree with Paul, while I distrust his motives, the politics of this moment, this cause, this decision… flawless. I have no idea when he’ll stop. If he continues for hours, he’s in Hour 3, or even overnight, the media will begin to cover him. If 30 people engage in a standing filibuster this year no one will care about 2-30. But everyone will remember the first “Mr. Smith goes to Washington” moment of the modern political era.
Like I said — genius.”
Ed’s making a case right now on why drones might come in handy!
Yeah……how about no. All I see is a crazy man who’s probably wearing adult diapers so he can pee for hours on end and run his mouth about nonsense.
Oh yeah, he’s crazy, no doubt. But you can be both crazy AND smart. That’s the dangerously brilliant thing about what he’s doing right now. Liberals who hate both Rand Paul AND Obama will still eat this shit up – and he knows it.
Jon Favreau is kick ass.
I’ve said it before and I will say it again, the media believes that President Obama, because he is black, does not deserve to be treated like any other Presidents. That’s why they consistently refuse to address him in print as President Obama. I think Klein wants to cut down on the SS guarding the President. Rick Klein can’t hide his hatred of the President by pretending to be concerned with cost.
New post:
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/03/06/gabby-giffords-fight-fight-fight/
Hmmm I return and see we’re till a risin’ and a shinin’! Well no matter, it’s time to Zumba. Before I go, please take a second and vote for my kid Kelauni Cook in this contest. For those of you who have already voted, many thanks, and please vote again. For those of you who didn’t know, I’ve been asking for some TOD love to help my kid win her dream job. Just click on the link, then vote in the green “Vote for This Entry” box by clicking on any and all of the social media forums you use. Then if you’d like, please share the link, by copying the URL in the ‘Promote this Video’ box and pasting it on your social media sites. Thanks for all of your support!
http://www.mydestination.com/users/kelauni/bbb#tab
Heard tweety matthews on my way home just beside himself, bloviating about how terrible it was that the dinner was at a hotel and not at the Whitehouse. On and on and on….. WTF??? As if he has any idea and as if it makes a difference. What a knob he can be.
yo ho ho