President Barack Obama talks with Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications, after delivering a statement on the murder of journalist Jim Foley by the terrorist group ISIL. He spoke at the Edgartown School in Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., Aug. 20, 2014. Photo by Amanda Lucidon
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My statement in support of the Iran nuclear agreement 1.usa.gov/1PmLdqT #IranDeal
—
Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) August 19, 2025****
Matt Viser: Senator Edward Markey Says He Will Back Iran Deal
Senator Edward J. Markey on Wednesday said he would support the Iran nuclear agreement, offering his endorsement on a highly charged issue that has been dividing some Democrats. Markey – a Massachusetts Democrat who took the seat long held by Secretary of State John Kerry, who negotiated the deal – said in a statement provided to the Globe that he believes that the negotiated deal is the best way to ensure Iran doesn’t build a nuclear weapon. “I have concluded that diplomacy remains our best tool to secure a nuclear weapon-free Iran,” Markey said.
“That’s why I intend to support the Iran nuclear agreement when it comes before Congress in September.” “This agreement is far from perfect and carries risks,” he added. “But I believe our negotiators achieved as much as they reasonably could, and that if strictly implemented, this plan can be effective.” Markey is the latest member of the Massachusetts delegation to announce his support for the deal. Earlier this month, Senator Elizabeth Warren, as well as representatives Seth Moulton, Stephen Lynch, and Jim McGovern also announced their support. Representative Michael Capuano has said he is “leaning strongly in favor,” and no member of the all-Democratic delegation has come out against the deal.
More here
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Americans actually like Michelle Obama’s healthier school lunches thkpr.gs/3693064 http://t.co/bjymXQAfq7
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ThinkProgress (@thinkprogress) August 19, 2025****
Sam P.K. Collins: Americans Actually Like Michelle Obama’s Healthier School Lunches
A national poll shows that more than 80 percent of Americans support healthy school meals consisting of more fruit and vegetables and less high calorie and sodium food choices, requirements outlined in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act — a law that authorized the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to set nutritional standards for food sold and distributed in schools and expanded access to healthy lunch to more than 115,000 U.S. children. The survey, conducted by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, debunks the primary argument against the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, one of the central policies at the heart of First Lady Michelle Obama’s effort to address childhood obesity. “Our survey found that people in the U.S. overwhelmingly support strong nutrition standards and believe school meals are healthier and on the right track because of these standards,” La June Montgomery Tabron, president and chief executive of the W. K. Kellogg Foundation,
told the New York Times. If lawmakers reauthorize the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act next month, schools would receive $4.5 billion over the next decade. With time dwindling before it’s set to expire, its supporters and challengers have scrambled to make their case, drawing out a battle that started shortly after its passage and holding nothing back in the process. Since the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act’s inception, the program has expanded, serving more than one million students across the United States not only lunch, but dinner too as part of its after-school snack offerings. The UDSA also rolled out $5 million in grants to fund programs that connect school cafeterias with local farmers. The 2014 grant cycle supported more than 80 projects in 42 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In total, more than $385 million in locally grown produce has entered school buildings across the country.
More here
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Worth a read: @voxdotcom explains what you need to know about "24 days." bit.ly/1ECyzhK #IranDeal. http://t.co/Wka1IQiERo
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The Iran Deal (@TheIranDeal) August 19, 2025What happens when the largest city in the U.S. decides to end veteran homelessness? thkpr.gs/3692689 http://t.co/nMAO53BtQD
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ThinkProgress (@thinkprogress) August 19, 2025****
Can celebs be agents of change in the #blacklivesmatter cause? Yes, says one activist: usat.ly/1LlfRTv (Getty) http://t.co/TJ3dXkOn96
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USA TODAY (@USATODAY) August 19, 2025Together with @CubaTravelServ, we’ll operate the first charter flights between LAX & Havana. aa.com/visitcuba http://t.co/0D6QifZPus
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American Airlines (@AmericanAir) August 18, 2025****
President Barack Obama prepares for a meeting with economic columnists in the Oval Office, Aug. 20, 2013. From left are: Kathryn Ruemmler, Counsel to the President; Communications Director Jennifer Palmieri; Katie Beirne Fallon, Deputy Director of Communications; and Cecilia Muñoz, Director of the Domestic Policy Council. Photo by Pete Souza
President Barack Obama talks with former Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula in the Blue Room prior to a ceremony honoring the 1972 Super Bowl Champion Miami Dolphins at the White House, Aug. 20, 2013. Photo by Pete Souza
President Barack Obama has a foreign leader phone call in the Oval Office, Aug. 20, 2012. Pictured, from left, are: Chief of Staff Jack Lew; Deputy National Security Advisor Denis McDonough; and Steve Simon, Senior Director for Middle East and North Africa. Photo by Pete Souza
Good Morning, Everyone :)
Congrats, Rikyrah! Those little Black babies you posted are irresistibly cute!
a link that will make your ovaries ache and say,
” I want one”
LOL
https://twitter.com/Lilblackbabies
Good West Coast morning NW & TOD family.
Congrats rikyrah on First 😊
Good Morning NW and TOD.
… but initial claims remain at very low levels that indicate the labor market is still improving.
Brought over:
http://www.kpho.com/story/29838796/ashley-madison-leak-linked-to-arizona-government-military-emails
The massive leaked data trove from the cheating website Ashley Madison appears to be legitimate, several security analysts said. What’s more, we found dozens of the accounts were registered to Arizona government and military email domains.
Among the breached accounts were 11 registered to @azcorrections.gov, the domain for the Arizona Department of Corrections. Five accounts were registered to emails at the City of Phoenix’s domain, @phoenix.gov. Five accounts were linked to variations of Maricopa County’s domain, @maricopa.gov. There also were accounts linked to domains from the cities of Scottsdale and Tempe.
In all, some 15,000 Ashley Madison accounts were registered to .gov or .mil domains, suggesting thousands of government employees and public servants may have used their work emails to sign up for the extramarital dating website.
HA! I can assure you ( because this is AZ) that many of these “wanna be cheaters” are also they can…YET! this is all fine because they were putting one over on the big, bad, gumit…you know the type:) AND they’re holier than thou….passing judgement on everyone else….all the time…part of me wishes they’d publish the real names…..instead, they’re wasting taxpayer money doing this mess at work…the irony.
Oh… this is going to get real pretty quick.
Josh Dugger had two accounts on that site……
Just heard on my local news that the White House has the largest number of accounts.
Who believes that? I think Congress may have a quantity, but hard to believe the WH.
Congress, I believe. The WH, no.
Me too DF.
I haven’t heard that GGail.
Annieb, I sometimes think a story is slanted based on the person who writes the news report.
No one believes that
Just wondering how dumb do you have to be to register on a sex site with your work email address?
First job I ever had you could be fired for making a “personal” phone call! I never used a work email for anything other than work - everything was archived - really didn’t want personal discussions on there.
Exactly! Never a lot of personal internet stuff, either.
I’ve seen so much disgusting bull crap from the right wing haters about the healthy lunch program. It’s nice to see that Americans like the healthy lunch program.
Interesting report on Kellogg Foundation survey about healthy meals for schools. How about that, people like the First Lady’s effort to bring healthy meals to children.
Thanks NW for bringing this to our attention.
You’re welcome, GGail.
GGail , I agree with you about NW posting this because as I said the right wing haters have had a darn fit. I remember the talk about the Navy had decided to stop serving fried food, and some Navy men wanted to blame the First Lady Obama and she had nothing to do with that decision. A white First Lady and they would be all for kids eating healthy.
Yup!
RE: 3rd to last picture… the pres sure seems to have a problem appointing women! wasn’t that some line someone tossed out there awhile back?
Had the same thought, kid kanga. PBO is probably the most pro-women president in US history.
Morning. I find it interesting that the height of the silly season-late summer in the year before a presidential election with Republican clowns getting loonier by the minute- is occurring while our President is on vacation. He’s recouping his energy and honing his strategies while playing the ‘rope a dope’ game with the GOP nutcases. When the President is back in the White House making news and giving very quotable press conferences, the stage is going to be a little bit more confining for the lunatics. Remember that the vast majority of Americans are only vaguely tuning in and are more concerned with enjoying the last remaining days of summer and getting kids back to school. People may say they support lunatic 1 over lunatic 2, but it’s a long, long way from the time that anyone has to actually make a decision in front of a voting machine. And the world’s foremost political genius is still biding his time on the golf course.
This^^^
For me, the “entertainment” factor of the GOP candidates…especially their current front-runner… is starting to cross the line into scary.
I was listening to Trump’s press conference/town hall meeting on yesterday and cannot understand how the media can report his outrageous comments as if he is presenting serious and feasible solutions; as if everything he says is completely factual. The Trump is being Trump mantra is no more acceptable than saying “boys will be boys”/”kids will be kids.” I am of the notion that if you have to keep telling people how good you are, you must not be *that* good. Yet, Trump’s sentences are punctuated by, “I am wonderful,” “I am great,” “I am smart” “I am brilliant,”… and what seems to be his favorite…”I am rich.” As I said, the outrageousness has become less entertaining and is crossing into scary; not to mention that his constant self-aggrandizing is a turn-off.
When he openly admitted — bragged — that he took advantage of laws that allowed him to claim bankruptcy, thus cheating creditors out of money and resulting in people losing their jobs, I couldn’t believe that instead of causing indignation, it seemed to heighten the admiration towards him (or people just ignored that comment).
And the other candidates are following suit, if for no other reason to get face-time. And there’s still more than a year of this to contend with. Can we survive it?
Jennifer Palmieri is the worst Director of Communications in front of a camera I have ever seen. They need to keep her off camera.
Toby Ziegler come to life in female form :-D
It scares me that the campaign is this inept. She’s horrible.
It’s what happens when your frame of reference for life is Entitlement.
One of the things I was watching for is if Hillary had learned any lessons from 2008. Apparently not. She’s been running for POTUS professionally since Bill left office. She should know how to do this, and let the people who do know have the freedom to do it right. Being disorganized is no longer “cute” or “youthful”. She’s 68 years old, for God’s sake. Act like a grown-up, understand that campaigns need to be slick, organized and be ready to frame properly and quickly what is thrown at you. The campaign has been marginally better than 2008, but not enough.
I mentioned seeing her video yesterday and I was actually totally shocked at how bad she is. Like maybe “losing your job” bad. But that was the first time I’ve seen her on camera so I may be entirely wrong about her but she was very ill-prepared to handle the subject. I felt bad for her.
G’morning Nerdy, TOD, lurkers, even amk, and congrats rikyrah on #1 :)
Happy Thursday everyone, and thanks Nerdy for yet another amazing R & S roundup!
:)
So cool and wondrous…( would be nice to just be on the ISS for a short time…just to see things like this)
http://www.dailydot.com/geek/international-space-station-red-sprite-lightning-storm-photo/
Good Morning TOD Family. Hope our Chips, Danny, & PBO are enjoying their vacays.
Everyone have a wonderful day. :)
Good day TOD …. Congrats on 1st rikyrah :)
Excellent R&S, NW!! Thank you!!!
Seem like UK don’t have any problem with that Iran Deal.
Yup!
You’re welcome, Bob.
When you spew out hate what else do you think you will inspire, love. In 2007 when Senator Barack Obama announced he was running for President, he wasn’t given a chance to win and if he said the things Donald Trump is saying the media would rip into him and the right wing haters, I can only imagine what they would have said. When Sen. Obama ran, he and Michelle Obama had to be very very very careful what they said.
Reminds me of who inspired the attack on Gabby Giffords - I will never forget that one - they do not pay the price for the hatred they incite.
GOOD MORNING TOD FAMILY….I’M SURE MY RIGHT WIINGERS ON MY FB HAVE A RASH THIS MORNING…I GAVE THEM A DOSE OF GOD’S IMMIGRATION POLICY…HE LOVES ALL PEOPLE!…:)
“Police said two brothers from South Boston ambushed the 58-year-old as he slept outside of a Dorchester MBTA stop, and targeted him because he is Hispanic. One of the brothers said he was inspired in part by GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump.
SKIP
Trump, told of the alleged assault, said “it would be a shame . . . I will say that people who are following me are very passionate. They love this country and they want this country to be great again. They are passionate.”
SKIP
According to State Police, the Leader brothers were on their way home from a Red Sox game when they found the victim sleeping near the John F. Kennedy/UMass stop on the Red Line.
He told police he was awakened by two men urinating on his face. He said they ripped away his blankets and sleeping bag, and started rummaging through his things.
“Next thing . . . he was getting hit in the face and head,” according to the State Police report. “He remembers being punched several times and hit with the metal pole.”
The man was taken to Boston Medical Center, where he remained in fair condition Wednesday afternoon, a hospital spokeswoman said. The police report said he had a broken nose, bruises on his head, and a large bruise across his torso.
The brothers walked away from the scene laughing, a witness told State Police.
smdh!!
Good Morning, Good Afternoon, and Good Evening TODers one and all! :-D
:-D
Cory Booker is a close friend of PBO ? NOT !!!!!!!!
remember how I said that I disliked Booker and so many were reprimanding me on that. I couldn’t figure out why I disliked him, but there was something about the man I intensely distrusted.
I’ll feel vindicated if this is true.
I’m not a fan of Cory Booker. Something about him I do not like or trust.
That money can determine what is “right” is such a sad part of politics in the so called “democratic” nations.
Cory is such a disappointment. He needs to go up in the tree with the Cat.
If he resigns, Fluffy Christie would get to appoint a GOPer in his place, just like he did after Sen Lautenberg(sp) died.
Sen Booker knows what is right. His equivocation from doing the right thing is deeply troubling. If he was against the Iraq war, if he votes No……now for the #IranDeal, then he is going to have a harder time keeping his seat next time around, there is going to be a challenger, perhaps, Ms Bouno……the former State Sen who ran against Christie for Gov in 2013.
So true!
Is Soledad O’Brien talking about CNN?
She’s talking about a Bully……..
It’s also TBT…….when people post pictures and reminiscent.
It could also be about CNN ;) too :)
Some folks you might meet at the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy
Good Morning, Nerdy Wonka…TOD Family!!!
I’ve been mostly lurking and playing catch up in recent weeks. I’m de-lurking to say KUDOS to you NW for your tireless work in hosting and maintaining this site while Chipsticks takes a much deserved vacation. You will have more than earned one yourself by the time she comes back. :-) As usual, I am able to come here, not only to get the non-propagandized version of events, but to also get the news that doesn’t fit the agenda of the mainstream media. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Thanks as well to AMK, LL, LP, ZiZi and Bobfr for your postings and comments. Your contributions are also appreciated and noticed. I know they help to keep me enlightened.
To those of you who have challenges in your lives, you are in my thoughts and I pray for your strength and for a favorable outcome to those challenges. For those of you who have had triumphs/accomplishments, I join you in celebration of these positive and joyful moments.
I hope that everyone has a wonderful day!!!
Thank you so much for this kind and generous commentary, Swbluega.
I wish you the same. :)
Great R & Shine….NW…thank you so much for your diligence…
Jimmy Carter has brain cancer. 4 spots . Will start radiation treatment today.
So…sad.
The right wing love to talk about what a sorry President Jimmy Carter was, but I look at it like this Carter has gone on to help people, Carter has shown the signs of a real Christian more then alot of these right wing conservatives.
He and his wife will put this in the hands of the Almighty. That’s their faith.
thumbs Up!
Totally agree with you, Bella!
Oh my gosh, how horribly sad. May he receive the very best care and treatment and persevere in healing.
Same as Ted Kennedy
It’s a Q poll but food for thought nevertheless:
Joe Biden is running as strong or slightly stronger than Hillary Clinton in prospective general election match-ups against Republicans Donald Trump and Jeb Bush in three big swing states, Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania, according to a new survey that may influence the vice president’s thinking as he considers a run.
The Quinnipiac University swing-state poll released Thursday shows Clinton remaining a formidable candidate for the Democratic nomination: The former secretary of state is still the top choice by far of Democratic voters asked about their primary choices. But it marked the first time this year that Quinnipiac has had Clinton’s share of the primary vote below 50 percent in the three swing states, said the survey’s assistant director, Peter Brown. Her unfavorable ratings were between 54 percent and 55 percent in all three states. The unfavorable ratings for Biden, who is expected to say whether he’ll run by late September, were between 42 percent and 43 percent.
“Joe Biden is running as strong or slightly stronger than Hillary Clinton”
there is no slightly in this case. HRC has announced a loooonnnggg time ago. VPOTUS has not announced at all but is running neck and neck with her?
short version….we are all waiting for Joe Biden. #RidenwithBiden2016
I like your perspective, nospin!
going heavily towards Biden. Hillary is only a default vote if given no choice because although I’m not a huge lover of Hillary, I absolutely LOATH the republican candidates. Hell if Bernie somehow won the nomination I’d vote for him or even O’Malley. Trump as president would be the worse thing to happen and none of the other alternatives are much better.
<3
goood one
gm TOD - enjoy your Thursday
The President said: “We’re going to Mars!” Indeed that is a pretty cool thing to hear! :cool:
uh huh
uh huh
crooks…every last one of them!!
they talk all that bullshyt about ‘fiscal accountability’ when it comes to public schools, but when it comes to charters, they just raise their hands and go ‘ I dunno’.
time and time again, the THIERVERY is shown, and they just shrug the shoulders.
………………………………………..
PA Cyber Charter founder Nick Trombetta indicted on fraud and tax charges
The founder and former CEO of a cyber-charter school that educates
more than 11,000 Pennsylvania students has been indicted by a federal grand jury.
Fifty-eight-year-old Nicholas Trombetta of East Liverpool, Ohio, is accused of siphoning more than $8 million from the school through a network of profit and non-profit companies he controlled.
Trombetta surrendered to authorities Thursday night on the charges announced Friday by federal authorities.
Trombetta allegedly bought a $1 million Florida condominium and houses for his girlfriend and mother, along with nearly $1 million on personal expenses, including groceries.
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/08/pa_cyber_charter_founder_nick.html
Awesome! Somebody, please send this to Trump twitterland :D :D
I’d prefer Trump the chump to leave.
Trump always talks about “Illegal Immigrants”……..His 1st and 3rd wives came to US legally.
When folks pretend otherwise, as this Tweet illustrated, we run into his supporters discounting Legitimate Factually Based Points needed to try to persuade them No to be Ditto Heads any longer.
I get your point, of course. But then again, our side is held to the standard of being truthful all the time, and the other side lies with impugnity. His rabid supporters are never going to be swayed by facts or truth, no matter what. Yes, they will hang on to statements to prove that our side “lies” too, like PBO saying if you like your doctor you can keep it. These maniacs unleashed by the Palinization of American politics and government have decided that the sky is not blue.
I see your point.
But it takes those who KNOW better to right the wrong of those who know not, the willful know it all and the ditto heads.
It is those on our side who are easily scared off……..the Reagan Democrats, the easily shiftable and movable Emoprogs and those who follow the Mob/Popular 24/7 Cable Cyclers…….they help make it harder for the Majority Views to thrive.
Can’t disagree with a single thing you said, Nena. We can’t return truth to politics and governance if we don’t stand firm.
McCaskill and Merkley. We’re at 25, right?
Yet our LameStream media ONLY talks about Schumer and Menendez, Ugh !
I haven’t heard anything about Schumer or Menendez lately. I guess I don’t visit the media sites that focus on those two.
hardly pay attention to what the idiotic media has to say anymore.
Good news. Let’s try peace, not war.
Claire is # 26.
Merkely?
Did I spell it wrong, or are you asking if he came out in favor of the deal? I’ll try to find the tweet. He came out in favor.
Sorry, Vicki. Ed Markey is who I meant.
Thank you for the follow up, 57.
#26 and rising!
Will be a jolly Welcome Back to DC, Mr. President if we surpass the minimum (34) needed to sustain his Veto before he flies home.
Then, on to 41 and a successful filibuster!!!!!
My Senator Jeff Merkley will likely be a yes but has not yet announced his support.
Bob, that’s a great tweet!
Thank you Gail :)
White House mentee heads to Morehouse College
By Hamil R. Harris August 19 at 5:23 PM
Noah McQueen used to spend more time fighting and getting arrested than getting good grades and listening to advice. He changed households and public schools 10 times before he landed at the Maryland Juvenile Justice Cheltenham Youth Center.
But times have changed.
“Do you need a ride back to the White House?” a presidential aide asked McQueen, 19, as he stood inside Eddie’s Hair Design in Adams Morgan on a recent day.
“No, I have my own car now,” he responded.
McQueen didn’t need a barber; he had a fresh haircut. He was there to work. McQueen was there with Broderick Johnson, head of the White House’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative, to be a role model to students from Marie Reed Elementary School. The initiative was launched last year to improve educational and job opportunities for young men of color.
White House officials, including President Obama, have worked hard to help McQueen. His life changed three years ago, when, as a student at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Upper Marlboro, he began mentoring children at nearby Barack Obama Elementary.
“I get choked up . . . when I think about where I was,” McQueen said as he reflected on a troubled childhood that included several suspensions, arrests and other run-ins with the law.
Now McQueen is a freshman at Morehouse College in Atlanta. He graduated in May from Wise, where he finished with a 3.25 grade-point average even though his freshman and sophomore years were academic disasters.
McQueen came to the attention of the White House because he was part of several mentoring groups. He was selected to participate in My Brother’s Keeper and, in February, the president interviewed McQueen about his life.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/white-house-mentee-heads-to-morehouse-college/2015/08/18/4439435e-3ac9-11e5-b3ac-8a79bc44e5e2_story.html?postshare=2131440074701528
Beaming with pride about the President’s program!!
rikyrah and meta - this story brings tears to my eyes. Reach one…
So proud of him….how great is it that you have President Barack Obama as a reference for your character for the rest of your life.
Well I can’t presume to know what’s in her mind or heart, but if it were me, the answer would be “Hell yeh I’m talking about TeaNN!”
Sorry, don’t know how this got separated. I was replying to Bella’s question about Soleded O’Brien.
The President, First Lady, Malia and Sasha have four more days of vacation. I hope they are enjoying their vacation.School will be opening soon. Senior class for Malia and high school for Sasha.
I love that PBO and his team are starting to post on other platforms like Medium and Tumblr so they will be preserved after they leave the WH.
With this in mind, why does the controversy matter? First, I tend to think it’s noteworthy anytime ideas like these make the transition from the political fringe to the Republican “mainstream.” The far-right idea of challenging birthright citizenship isn’t new, exactly, but the idea of this being embraced by so many GOP presidential candidates is new. It’s relevant evidence of the party’s radicalization.
Most of us know what Ted Cruz is all about. He is a racists tea party person.
I will go and find the tweet now…..GOPers for decades have had a platform of changing the 14th Amendment. The tweet stated in 1996 GOPer Platform.
Last night on the Last Word, L’OD has a great segment on this……dating back 1844 when in NY, it was ruled that a Child of Irish Decent, born in US, never lived here, but 2 months of her life, was deemed a US Citizen. That was years before the 1868 passage of the 14th Amendment.
;)
Was this before or after the Canadian Born denounced his Canadian Birthright?
inorite Nena20409? smh!
This is pathetic:
What is the percentage of unmarried men registered?
I don’t know the number, but I believe it is lower than unregistered unmarried women. The tweet’s emphasis on the unmarried woman’s voter registration because it was such a hard fight to get suffrage for women.
Gotcha, the said point is all American’s voting records are horrible except for the old, scared, and haters.
It boggles the mind. As long as they can get their ballgames and reality TV shows and their cell phones work, they don’t give a damn about anything. It’s a travesty.
THey are all so sweet. look at them in their best dress and being so respectful. This is one of my favorite pcitures of President Obama. It is truly en example #BlackLegacy and #BlackWealth.
Hello TOD.
Congrats to the Gold :star: winners, starting with this post and several posts back.
Excellent post, NW. Thank you.
LOVE IT!
New post.
http://theobamadiary.com/2015/08/20/chat-away-628/
I saw Faux Noise pimping that story on the Fox and Freaks this morning.
Jindal is an arse. Though his family came here legally on a Student Visa……but they did not declare that his mother was pregnant……Hence making Jindal……an “Anchor Baby” too.
But no one else can be pregnant and come to this country to work, for school, etc.