98 Responses to “Jazz Legend Arturo Sandoval Performs at the 2013 Medal of Freedom Awards”
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Fiiiiiiiiiiirst!
:cool:
Congrats on 1st oh fearless leader!!!!
BTW, I appear to have been de-spamblocked :)
And, then there’s this …
We Are The Force
Bob!!!!!! You’re not in spam!!! Did you hear back from Akismet??
Nope. Just got out of a bunch of meetings and posted a couple of thank yous in the previous thread and, whata’ya know, they appeared!! :)
Pheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew!!!!!
In_deed, my friend!!!! :)
Evening, Bob. I’ve been busy so let me personally congratulate you on your tireless effort via filibuster reform……..must be gratifying to have finally gotten some movement. I’m really happy for you!
BTW, I contacted Akismet 3 weeks ago…….. still waiting for a response :(
Thank you, LP. What is certainly gratifying is how so many Americans are increasingly aware of the destruction the GOP is doing and how they are achieving it. It will take all of us who are devoted to our Democracy to recognize the consequences of not maintaining the Presidency and Majority control in the Senate (at a minimum) and the House (preferably). That’s why I prepared the tweet message - further down in this thread.
It is truly ALL on EACH of US.
We have no excuses if we do not vote and do everything we can to ensure EVERYONE Votes.
Have no idea if Akismet will ever respond, but at least they lifted the spam block!!
Not to mention the ACA rep had much more to do than wait on the pleasure of someone who already has healthcare - it seems the election of PBO has caused the GOP to collectively lose its brain - there is not a sane one left.
According to an unclassified assessment shared by a senior Israeli officer, military intelligence is focused on the implications of a potential compromise between Iran and the P5+1 (the US, Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany)……
In the background briefing with foreign journalists, which covered a wide range of Middle East hotspots, the intelligence officer said Iran was one of several countries that could buck the general turmoil across the region. “We see a bit of a possibility, although it’s quite problematic, of more … stability,” said the officer, who spoke on the basis of anonymity. But that is dependent on the success of negotiations “over the nuclear project, but more than that, over the relief of the sanctions on the Iranian economy,” he said
Wow.
oh boy, i’ve been waiting to see this. thanks!
A pleasure!
The Senate’s vote to change the rules for approving executive-branch and most judicial nominees could mean that four high-profile jobs are filled by the end of the year (see calendar here http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/executive_calendar/xcalv.pdf ), with dozens more nominees poised for faster confirmation.
That list of hold-ups is sickening. But I’m glad they’re moving forward!
Gawker mercilessly mocks Ron Fournier…..Exposed: Obama Image Machine Won’t Let Press Take Flattering Photos
…….But it gets even more upsetting: When the Obama family adopted Bo, media photographers were allowed to take pictures of the dog. Not so when Sunny arrived. This photo was taken by the official White House photographer – a small sign of how far the White House is moving to push independent photographers out of the picture. How will democracy survive without independent photos of the second White House dog?
Pete Souza ends the night trolling these fools :)
Bill Richardson back in the news today.
And yesterday, Navajo Code Talkers were honored with Congressional Award:
The Obama administration has ordered a reassessment of the government’s process for granting security clearances and a top-to-bottom review of each of the nearly five million people who are currently authorized to see classified information in the United States. In a memo dated Oct. 31, and cited at a Senate hearing Wednesday, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper raised his concerns about the some 4.9 million security clearances currently active in the U.S., including 1.4 million “Top Secret” clearances…….
Today was SWEET!!
Thanks, Bobfr!! All of TOD are fierce champions for PBO! You are my Twitter inspiration!
Very kind of you Judith. We’ve got a great TEAM for sure!!!!
Yes, great team.
We have a great team Judith, thank you.
NICE!!!!!!!!
That’s so awesome - congrats Judith!! :) :)
So glad you heard back from Jon Carson. Sweet!
Yes We Can
We BE The Media
Yes WE MUST
so it seems for the time being that ron fournier has been tasked by the major media owners to start the daily false talking point to denigrate president obama. it seems almost daily now, doesn’t it, that there’s a new one from him? it’s always something meaningless and completely hypocritical when comparing to republicans, yet all the other outlets happily spread it without question each day. notice how a guy with a long history of getting called out for his republican bias keeps getting a bigger and bigger bullhorn to spew the talking points? no amount of insanity will hurt you as long as you toe the republican themes-
“In one email, Rove asked, “How does our country continue to produce men and women like this?” Fournier responded: “The Lord creates men and women like this all over the world. But only the great and free countries allow them to flourish. Keep up the fight.”” (they’re talking about known liberal, pat tillman)
http://mediamatters.org/research/2008/07/22/the-ap-has-a-ron-fournier-problem/144113
and there’s so much more. going through his articles during the bush-2 reign of terror (literally), makes you want to hurl with how fournier salivates over any republican, while he does this to democrats —
“Fournier noted that Al Gore got unfairly tagged during the 2000 presidential campaign for having claimed to have invented the Internet. Fournier patiently set the record straight, noting that Gore “never said he invented the Internet,” that “his mistake was to place himself more centrally than warranted at the creation of the technology,” and that “such nuance was lost on people who voted against him in 2000.”
Silly voters. But how on earth did they come to the false conclusion that Gore ever claimed to have invented the Internet? Answer: By reading Ron Fournier.
“He [Gore] claimed credit for inventing the Internet, and comics had a punch line for months.” [November 13, 2025]
“Gore, who once claimed to have invented the Internet, e-mailed Bush and said Democrats won’t air TV ads purchased with unlimited, unregulated donations called ‘soft money’ unless Republicans do so first.” [March 15, 2025]
nothing will ever happen to him other than get promoted, no matter how much he’s exposed for the fraud that he is.
Sweeeeeeeeet!
When we grow up we are going to get married and become President and First Lady of the United States. Hurray! Hurray! Hurray!
That’s the best, Chips!
The US state of Alabama has granted posthumous pardons to three black teenagers wrongly accused of raping two white girls on a train in 1931.
Treatment of the youths known as the Scottsboro Boys - nine in all - helped spark the US Civil Rights movement.
The boys were convicted by all-white juries.
Eight were sentenced to death but none were ever executed. Five of the boys’ convictions were overturned, and a sixth was pardoned in 1976.
The decision by an Alabama parole board is the last chapter in a case that came to symbolise racial injustice in America’s deep south, says the BBC’s Jane O’Brien.
“While we could not take back what happened to the Scottsboro Boys 80 years ago, we found a way to make it right moving forward,” said Alabama Governor Robert Bentley. “The Scottsboro Boys have finally received justice.”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25046096
Wow. There are no words.
And now white feminists are trolling Michele Obama for finally doing something “worthy”, re: education. It’s the lead story on Politico’s Friday magazine. I shan’t link, but goddamit, how she doesn’t tell people to go fuck themselves every damn day is an example of how good a person she is. (Oh, they’re saying that her work for wounded soldiers is “matronly”. Assholes.)
Oh, and according to the article, Miley Cyrus is a feminist icon. Yes. That.
What a shitty article! Michelle Cottle needs to get a life.
Cottle is a regular on Rev. Al. What is her problem?
Rev Al is contracted by MSNBC to have certain people as guest pundits on his show. And some of these people do not always have PBO’s best interests, even though they claim to be “liberals”. I can think of a few - Ed Rendell being one such individual.
Who? Creeps like those rude Code Pink so-called feminists who interrupted a fundraiser Michelle headlined?
Article in Politco Mag for tomorrow. The country’s first black FLOTUS doesn’t do things according to the dictates of the feminist establishment.
I will not read the article.
The country’s first black FLOTUS is her own woman. She knows what to do & how to do it - which the feminist establishment cannot duplicate - ever.
I just got through your first sentence and I wanted to reply “Fuck everyone!”
But I shall keep my thoughts to myself, because Mrs. Obama will be in the history books and those so-called feminists will be long forgotten. (One of the key principles to feminism is that each individual woman can choose for herself how to use her own life, which obviously this group of wannabes has forgotten.)
I’m sick to death of all of this jealousy-based bizarre stuff.
Well, that made me smile!
I am pleased to report that I was called for a donation by the DNC today and I told the caller that I will not make any more donations to them until the Senators and Representatives supported the President. I specifically named Mary Landrieu, Kay Hagan, and Diane Feinstein speaking against the President’s signature health care law. The lady said she totally understood.
I got a letter from Kay Hagan asking for a donation, and I email her and told her that I would not send a cent to any Democrat who does not fully support the ACA (Obamacare). Any one who is trying to derail or damage the ACA. And I told her I want to see her fight just as hard for those 30-40 millions Americans who have no health insurance as she is for the ones with the junk policies.
Well done!
Good for you. I got the impression that the lady on the phone had heard it before. Hope they get the messaage.
Well done!
I’m with you, Jackie. My phone has been ringing off the hook from the DNC, and I can’t bring myself to donate anything while Democrats are working against the President - or not working at all. I just can’t do it.
Bottom line from today’s FILIBUSTER REFORM - We MUST ensure DEM Senate Majorities & DEM Presidents for at least the next decade - SCOTUS, Women’s Rights, Medicare, Social Security, Obamacare, Immigration reform, Middle Class JOBS, Sensible Gun Regulation, Reducing the size of the War Industrial Complex, DIPLOMACY over Perpetual War, Stewardship of our Planet, EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL - are ALL at risk, in a heart beat, if the #KOCHSTERS (aka #GOP) regain control.
Would also be helpful to CONTROL THE HOUSE!!
#ItsAllOnUS
#GOTV
Yes We Can
Excellent point! I do want to shame the 39 Demos who for for the Upton bill, but I don’t want them to lose their seats to Teabaggers either. For now, I’m doing what Anniebella suggests and tell them why I’m not donating at this time. That gives them an incentive to change and defend the ACA and our President.
Oops - voted for the Upton bill
Good strategy, Judith. Am doing the same.
It’s worth reading.
Yes, amk. That’s essential reading, for everyone!! Thank you.
I would like to know why that dumbass Boehner signed up for Obamacare today. In doing so, he totally lost one of his stupid talking points. He could have just shopped and waited until the last minute to actually sign up. These elected GOPers are all pretty much a toxic combination of unethical and dumb resulting in unlimited tragedy and stupidity, no?
“These elected GOPers are all pretty much a toxic combination of unethical and dumb resulting in unlimited tragedy and stupidity, no?”
Yep. Perfect synopsis, forus!!!!
That’s truly ‘melt the heart’ imagery, Chips :)
More like ‘eat the heart’, Bob, because he would if he could!
:)
Those eyes…….Ms. Chips, one more picture like that and I am going to the Puppy Pound. You are not making this easy. I know that is Danny Boy, but he looks like a chocolate chip to me with that blanket.
Mr. Bobfr, thank you for your relentless tweeting to help bring about a great day in America! I am just getting in and catching up.
Oh Happy Day! Is truly the song in my heart. I am truly grateful for everyone here who keep on pushing for this country and our President.
Every single time they try to undermine our President, it flips back on them.
“No weapon formed shal prosper.”
I just don’ want his term to end, silly me.
“very single time they try to undermine our President, it flips back on them.
“No weapon formed shal prosper.””
And, LDS, ‘this TEAM’ will never end!!
#FORWARD Together
Amen to that……
Are you starving him ? Looks like you are starving him. OMG, you’re starving him, aren’t you?
:lol: I am, he’s on a diet of table legs at the moment, so he’s fading away!
;)
O Chips, please. /plaintively/ You’re not teaching him to swear, are you?
My teeth hurt from the sugary sweetness of this picture. He’s just adorable!
Moooooorning Theo, he’s a cutie alright, he’s like a walking teddy bear!
All right friends, off to bed, as I have to wake up early to see Stewie off to doggie daycare. Missus has a hospice shift tomorrow. And I want an answer to this question:
Hope all of you read booman’s - ‘The Founding Fathers Didn’t Filibuster’ - http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2013/11/21/212945/20
Am just going to post the highly relevant quote from Federalist Papers #22 by Alexander Hamilton:
“To give a minority a negative upon the majority (which is always the case where more than a majority is requisite to a decision), is, in its tendency, to subject the sense of the greater number to that of the lesser.… The necessity of unanimity in public bodies, or of something approaching towards it, has been founded upon a supposition that it would contribute to security. But its real operation is to embarrass the administration, to destroy the energy of the government, and to substitute the pleasure, caprice, or artifices of an insignificant, turbulent, or corrupt junto, to the regular deliberations and decisions of a respectable majority.
In those emergencies of a nation, in which the goodness or badness, the weakness or strength of its government, is of the greatest importance, there is commonly a necessity for action. The public business must, in some way or other, go forward. If a pertinacious minority can control the opinion of a majority, respecting the best mode of conducting it, the majority, in order that something may be done, must conform to the views of the minority; and thus the sense of the smaller number will overrule that of the greater, and give a tone to the national proceedings.
Hence, tedious delays; continual negotiation and intrigue; contemptible compromises of the public good. And yet, in such a system, it is even happy when such compromises can take place: for upon some occasions things will not admit of accommodation; and then the measures of government must be injuriously suspended, or fatally defeated. It is often, by the impracticability of obtaining the concurrence of the necessary number of votes, kept in a state of inaction. Its situation must always savor of weakness, sometimes border upon anarchy.”
I will reiterate my earlier comment - If ANYONE thinks that what happened today didn’t place ENORMOUS responsibility on EACH CITIZEN to VOTE, they have ZERO understanding of Democracy. You can whine all you want about outcomes of elections, but if you didn’t vote and your team loses - YOU OWN IT and ALL THE CONSEQUENCES.
Democracy is for ADULTS; Adults who PARTICIPATE.
#ItsAllOnUS
#GOTV
#LandSlideDEMS2014
Yes We Can
Bob, Just wanted to add my appreciation for your awesomeness. You have held steady throughout it all. Yes We Did and Yes We Can!
Yes We Can.
Oh, hell yes, we can!
Thank you Sabreen and LDS.
#FORWARD Together
Yes We Can
bbl … time to prepare some dinner ….
Great collection of rethug hypocrisy by bj commenter handy. Wish I knew how I could convert that into one jpeg for tweeting
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison
“They have gotten away with obstructing by exploiting the filibuster and denying Justice Owen a direct vote. Now, unfortunately, we must take action to ensure President Bush’s nominees are getting the up-or-down vote they deserve.” (4/21/05 statement)
Sen. Orrin Hatch
“…I think we should bind both Democrats and Republicans that presidential nominees for the judiciary deserve an up-and-down vote once they reach the floor…” (Orrin Hatch discusses debate in Senate…, NPR, 5/19/05)
Sen. Jon Kyl
“All we seek is a return to 214 years of tradition in allowing presidential nominees the courtesy of an up-or-down vote.” (Kyl Calls for `Up or Down’ Vote on Judicial Nominees,’ Capitol Hill Press Releases, 5/18/05)
Sen. Rick Santorum
“The time has come for the Senate to reestablish that tradition, to end these destructive judicial filibusters and to give all judicial nominees the up-or-down vote they deserve.” (Should the Senate end Filibusters When Considering Judicial Appointments, Duluth News Tribune, 4/25/05)
Sen. Trent Lott
“…I felt they deserved up-or-down votes. It was not a popular action with my colleagues, but I didn’t think it was right to filibuster judicial nominees then. And it’s not right now.” (Lott Sets the Record Straight on Judicial Confirmation Issue, 4/26/05)
Sen. John Cornyn
“And we need to get a fresh start. And that means, I believe, an up-or-down vote for all presidents’ nominees whether they be Republican or Democrat.” (U.S. Senator John Cornyn Holds a News Conference on Judicial Nominees, CQ Transcriptions, 5/9/05)
Sen. Mitch McConnell
“Let’s get back to the way the Senate operated for over 200 years, up or down votes on the president’s nominee, no matter who the president is, no matter who’s in control of the Senate. That’s the way we need to operate.” (Senators Durbin & McConnell Discuss Issues Facing the Senate, CNN, 5/22/05)
Sen. Jeff Sessions
“This past election in large part hinged, as George Allen said, on a debate over the judiciary and whether or not obstruction was justified. I think the American people sent a clear message and I believe it’s time for this Senate to make sure that judges get an up-or-down vote.” (U.S. Sen. Allen & Other Senate Republicans Hold a Media Availability on the Possibility of a Democrat Filibuster, CQ Transcriptions, 3/15/05)
Sen. Richard Burr
“But denying these patriotic Americans, of both parties, who seek to serve this country an up-or-down vote is simply not fair, and it certainly was not the intention of our Founding Fathers when they designed and created this very institution.” (Sen. Burr Speaks Out on Judicial Nominations, 4/20/05)
Sen. Sam Brownback
“All of the president’s nominees-both now and in the future-deserve a fair up or down vote, regardless of whether some members of the Senate feel they can be filibustered based on whatever they define to be extraordinary circumstances.” (Sen. Brownback Issues Statement on Judicial Nominees, 5/24/05)
Sen. John Thune
“However, I still believe that all judicial nominees with majority support deserve the fairness of an up or down vote on the Senate floor… Something is broken when you can’t get a fair up or down vote, not because of qualifications or character, but because of politics.” (Senators Find Good in Filibuster Agreement, AP, 5/24/05)
Sen. George Allen
“They want Senators to do their jobs and hold a straight up-or-down vote on nominees based on their qualifications, not the baseless negative rhetoric of the left…In summation, Priscilla Owen, Janice Rogers Brown, and all of the President’s nominees, deserve a fair up-or-down vote.” (U.S. Senator George Allen Deliver Remarks on the Senate Floor on Judicial Nominations, CQ Transcriptions, 5/18/05)
Sen. Chuck Hagel
“I am disappointed that the agreement reached by 14 senators does not guarantee up-or-down votes on all of the president’s nominees…That is a basic principle that should have anchored any agreement.” (Hagel Calls Senators’ Pact Inadequate, Omaha World-Herald, 5/25/05)
Sen. Pete Domenici
“Since the day I came to the U.S. Senate in 1973, I have believed strongly that every nominee deserves an up or down vote. That is why over all these years, I have never once voted to filibuster any nominee, even the ones that I ended up opposing. I am truly saddened that the Senate has reached this point. We should resume our long-standing tradition of giving judicial nominees who reach the floor an up or down vote.” (Sen. Domenici Laments Continued Judicial Filibusters, 5/19/05)
Sen. Charles Grassley
“The current obstruction led by Senate Democratic leaders threatens that balance. Priscilla Owen and Janice Rogers Brown deserve an up or down vote. It’s high time to make sure all judges receive a fair up or down vote on the Senate floor.” (Grassley: Give Judges a Fair Up or Down Vote, CQ, 5/23/05)
Sen. Wayne Allard
“I’d made my position clear. I wanted to have an up- or-down vote on the judges.” (Freshman Salazar Stands with his Seniors, The Denver Post, 5/24/05)
Sens. Larry Craig and Mike Crapo
“We are pleased that three of the President’s judicial nominees will receive fair up-or-down votes – it is about time. However, we continue to stress that the Constitution requires the Senate to hold up-or-down votes on all nominees. We will continue to work to ensure that is the case.” (Craig, Crapo React to Judicial Nominees Deal, 5/25/05)
Sen. Ted Stevens
“I may not have always agreed with a judicial nominee pick, but I’ve never voted against cloture on a judicial nomination. There have been some petitions. And I’ve always agreed that we should allow an up-or-down vote on judicial nominations on the Senate floor. These nominees deserve our vote.” (Press Conference on Judges, Federal News Service, 5/19/05)
Sen. Jim DeMint
“My goal is to confirm highly qualified judges by ensuring timely up-or-down votes for all nominees… Every nominee, no matter if the President is Democrat or Republican, deserves an up-or-down vote,” (Sens. DeMint, Freshman GOP Call for end to Judicial Filibusters, 4/20/05)
Sen. Elizabeth Dole
“I think that it’s very important that we reinstate the tradition, the Senate tradition, of 220 years, throughout the entire history of the United States. We’ve had a system that worked, that, when a nominee on the floor has a clear majority of the senators in favor, that they’re going to get that up-or-down vote.” (Interview with Senator Elizabeth Dole, The Big Story with John Gibson, 4/21/05)
Interesting. It does look like the Dems were often guilty of political malpractice in the Senate in 2005. I’ve never understood the reason for the filibuster AT ALL. Majority should rule and not just on judicial cases. And if the Dems become the minority (God forbid) the rules should apply the same.
Au revoir! I’m feeling hopelessly sleepy.
Thanks again, Chips and Utal for bringing together so much of the day’s important news/perspectives in a readily accessible format.
Sweet dreams, everyone!
Chips - Every time I leave a comment and the page refreshes, it brings me back to your tweet of the faces of the young Barack and the young Michelle. Not sure how you’re magically doing that (Ha!), but I wanted to let you know that it’s most appreciated. They should post your tweet in a frame on the wall in each of the girls’ bedrooms.
lol Bheoner complains about frustrating experience with Obamacare and 45 minutes later he successfully enrolls.
Without any doubt or equivocation dear TODers … #ItsAllOnUS as it should be in any DEMOCRACY …
#GOTV
#LandslideDEMS2014
Yes WE Can
… time for some rest ….
The Italian in me just had to post this before departing ;)
As I go to sleep in the early morning hours of Nov. 22, I remember President John F. Kennedy, who first instilled an awareness of “country” - and our role to protect it - in many of my baby boomer generation. Tonight, I also thank God that we now have President Barack Obama, another true American, in our White House to guide us forward in the 21st Century. President Obama has earned our support, and he has mine. G’night, TOD!
Chips/UT - You may have this already, from the President’s Inaugural Poet:
Morning everyone!
http://theobamadiary.com/2013/11/22/early-bird-chat-81/