On This Day - Pete Souza: “The First Lady is definitely a hugger. Chuck Kennedy captured this moment of her hug with someone in the audience following her remarks in support of the Reach Higher initiative in Atlanta, Georgia.” Sept. 8, 2014
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Today
11:55 EDT: The President welcomes the NCAA Champion Duke Blue Devils Men’s Basketball team, East Room
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On This Day - Pete Souza: “‘How Does Someone Get to Meet the President of the United States?’ Parker McAllen, 13, wrote such a letter to the President, and before long, the President invited Parker and her family to the White House.” Sept. 8, 2014
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MoooOOOooorning!
Morning all. Nice to see so many warm hugs from two of my favorite people. Great way to start the day.
Morning Jackie!!
Good morning JackieG! Congrats on #1.
Good Morning, Everyone :)
In the “olden” days in my home state of New York, the school year began the first day after Labor Day. There was always a little nip in the air on that first morning, as we walked out in our new school clothes and waited for friends so we could go to school together and meet our new teachers. I loved getting new school books and having new notebooks and pencils. Now it’s still hot through the month of September and the only big change is having a grumpy, people-hating Congress return to DC to wreak more havoc on unsuspecting Americans.
I have that same memory, jackieg:) Loved it. ( I was one of “those” kids that always loved school…couldn’t wait to get there!) I hate when Congress is back in session…whinng, self serving idiots that they are.
Morning everyone…school day for me today!
GM DF.
Saw you mention question yesterday that your sis may move to Houston, and RobertaMN recommended north and west suburbs.
Got acquainted a bit with Houston in 1990s via a friend, and the Montrose area (just west of downtown, adjacent to the high-dollar River Oaks area) would be my choice.
Eclectic, bohemian, a little bit funky sprinkled with modern trendiness. Highly recommended.
P.S. jojo is right about summers in Houston — over 100F with similar humidity. Was there in February, and the weather was glorious, though I know they get cold winds from the north during winter :( .
Thanks for this, arapaho! Will send it along to her…
Also, they can check on line for the crime reports in the areas they are interested in. She will be well served in doing some research on crime, housing availability, normal rent or ownership. Just another thought. My mind is a little more coherent today. :-)
Thanks, Roberta…I’ll pass that info along as well:)
G’morning Chips, TOD, lurkers, even amk, and congrats Jackie on#1! Happy Tuesday everyone. :)
Haaaaappy Tuesday to ya, Hopefruit!
Only thing missing is blood dripping from that monsters mouth. DC is a crypto-fascist-xombie. The he dies is a day that can’t come soon enough.
This! I’ll dance in the street when that day comes.
Example of a sociopath with power.
Nutbags. This won’t end well.
http://www.balloon-juice.com/2015/09/08/here-comes-the-judge/
Hey there DF.
These people are Nine Kinds of Crazy.
Morning to you, africa! Honestly, I can’t stand to hear anymore of this psychobabble anymore. We have a country chock full of sick, angry, hateful, ignorant people. Sad.
Yep, Df. The question is whether it was always this nutty and I didn’t realize it or the insanity has escalated in recent years.
I married into the crazy many years ago. Had never heard of the conspiracies and resentments they had cultivated until I got to know my in laws’ extended family. They were listening to Rush before I knew who that was, planning for the end times before I knew what that was, and just generally out there by most people’s standards. For a long time they were on the fringes but now they have come up in the world.
Harassing and trying to intimidate a federal judge? very very bad idea and it definitely won’t end well for them. They are now all under surveillance. seriously dumb phucks
the stupid burns bright and hard with this woman.
………………………..
Energy Secretary Sarah Palin?
09/08/15 08:40 AM—UPDATED 09/08/15 08:50 AM
By Steve Benen
Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump has quite a bit of work to do before he has to worry about cabinet secretaries, but he already has some people in mind for his executive-branch team. In July, for example, Trump was asked whether he’d consider former half-term Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) for his cabinet.
“I’d love that,” he replied. “Because she really is somebody who knows what’s happening and she’s a special person.”
Evidently, the Alaska Republican already has a specific job in mind.
In a freewheeling and strangely self-defeating interview on Sunday, Sarah Palin rallied behind Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump, promoting herself as Trump’s potential secretary of energy even as she pledged to abolish the department.
“I think a lot about the Department of Energy, because energy is my baby: oil and gas and minerals, those things that God has dumped on this part of the Earth for mankind’s use instead of us relying on unfriendly foreign nations,” she told CNN’s Jake Tapper in an interview that aired Sunday on “State of the Union.”
Palin added, in the same interview, “I think a lot about Department of Energy. And if I were head of that, I would get rid of it.”
In other words, Palin wants to be the Energy Secretary, so that she could play a direct role in eliminating the Department of Energy. She wants to get the job, in order to walk away from the job – which, if nothing else, would fit nicely into Palin’s career pattern. (The New Yorker’s Ryan Lizza joked over the weekend, “Palin is the only politician who takes jobs strictly so she can resign from them.”)
But that’s not the funny part, at least not all of it, anyway. The broader problem is that Palin says she “thinks a lot about the Department of Energy,” but not quite enough to know what the Department of Energy actually does.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/energy-secretary-sarah-palin
Stupid as stupid does. YIKES.
I was thinking the other day what a perfect match are Palin & Trump. Very deserving of one another.
trump twit / tundra twit 2016.
murkkka defined.
This is kind of interesting!
http://www.businessinsider.com/animated-map-states-vote-every-presidential-elections-2015-7
Happy Tuesday TODers.
Heeeeeya Chips!!!
Heyyyyyyyyyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Africaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Good morning Ms. Chips, Danny and TOD family, I hope all is well with everyone this lovely Tuesday morning. Congrats Jackie, on being first this morning.
I’ve been lurking a lot TODer’s, because my mom has taken seriously ill and I’ve been caring for her.
To all, I hope you have an absolute marvelous goodtime today. TGIF <3 <3 <3
Thank God that President Obama is still the President of The United States of America. ⭐🏆 ⭐🏆 ⭐🏆
Ranman, I am so sorry about your mom’s illness. It’s an act of great love to take care of someone in ill health and I admire you for all you do to support your mother. I hope and pray she gets better soon. Bless you both.
Ranman, sorry to hear your Mom is ill. I’m praying for you both.
{{{ranman}}} so sorry to hear about your mom. Thinking of you both.
praying for the best ….for you and your mom…((huggs))
Ranman so sorry to hear about your mother. Take care. Hugs!
Best wishes and very best of care for your Mom, ranman.
prayers for you and you family
{{{{Ranman11 <3 Mom}}}}
I’m sorry your mom is so ill, and it’s great that you are taking care of her. I’ll keep you both in my thoughts and prayers.
Good morning, TOD! Moving slow this morning; have fifty million things to do and zero energy. My goal is to get showered, dressed and out the door for my infusion… It’s hard being a “Type A,” slowed by illness! LOL @ “Life 101”
Hel-llllooo TODobots! Happy Tuesday to you all!
BRB - off to rough out my own ‘How Does Someone Get to Meet the President of the United States?’ letter…. and to plan my wardrobe.
“Your Prayers Have Been Answered” - ‘Black Jesus’ Has Been Resurrected … Again
By Tambay A. Obenson | Shadow and Act
September 3, 2025 at 3:47PM
The “Black Jesus” Facebook page published the above photo about half-an-hour ago, with the caption “Your prayers have been answered,” suggesting the obvious.
A year ago, Adult Swim did order a second season of its then new Aaron McGruder series, “Black Jesus,” but given how long it’s been since that announcement, many fans apparently wondered if it was indeed returning for a second season. And it looks like it will be, so you can rest easy now.
In season 1 (and I assume also in the upcoming season 2) McGruder’s live-action “Jesus” finds the son of God living in present day Compton, CA, on a daily mission to spread love and kindness throughout the neighborhood, with the help of his small but loyal group of downtrodden followers.
Newcomer Gerald “Slink” Johnson stars as “Black Jesus.”
http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/your-prayers-have-been-answered-black-jesus-has-been-resurrected-again-20150903
http://www.businessinsider.com/obama-has-plenty-of-reasons-to-smile-2015-9
Cheney’s Iran lie exposed in dramatic fashion
09/08/15 08:00 AM
facebook twitter save share group 17
By Steve Benen
Former Vice President Dick Cheney is scheduled to speak today at a D.C. think tank, delivering remarks intended to condemn the international nuclear agreement with Iran. If an ignominious exchange over the weekend was evidence of his expertise, however, Cheney might want to reschedule, brush up on the details, and rethink his approach.
The underlying challenge for the failed former V.P. is the degree to which his own Iran policy failed spectacularly. Iran didn’t have a meaningful nuclear weapons program until Tehran developed one – during the Bush/Cheney administration. At the time, in response to Iran’s nuclear program, the Bush/Cheney administration did nothing – except, of course, strengthen Iran’s regional power by invading Iraq.
With this in mind, Fox News’ Chris Wallace reminded Cheney over the weekend that Iran “went from zero known [nuclear] centrifuges in operation to more than 5,000.” The Republican’s response was extraordinary.
The Fox News host flashed that data on screen so no one could miss it, and added: “So in fairness, didn’t you leave – the Bush-Cheney administration – leave President Obama with a mess?”
“Well, I don’t think of it that way,” Cheney countered. […] “But the centrifuges went from zero to 5,000,” Wallace pressed.
“Well, they may well have gone but that happened on Obama’s watch, not on our watch,” Cheney replied.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/cheneys-iran-lie-exposed-dramatic-fashion
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/09/08/republicans-engage-treason-undermine-president-climate-change.html
They pull this crap once again because they got away with it the first time they pulled this crap! They paid no price for the #47 Traitors sending a letter to a foreign govt, so now they’re trying this again!! I honestly can’t stand these assholes… they need to go.
From the comments:
“If a political party does not have its foundation in the determination to advance a cause that is right and that is moral, then it is not a political party; it is merely a conspiracy to seize power.”
―Dwight D. Eisenhower
What the Republicans have become.
Perfect quote. Eisenhower called it as he saw it. He would be appalled by the modern day incarnation of the Republican Party, which is nothing but a giant conspiracy to seize power at any cost.
Agreed. They have lost their way.
Obama turns the ‘lame duck’ narrative on its head
09/04/15 01:22 PM—UPDATED 09/04/15 01:54 PM
By Steve Benen
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman will meet with President Obama today, and as Politico put it, the Saudi king will meet with a U.S. leader “with a swagger in his step.”
Nearly four months after he skipped President Barack Obama’s high-profile Camp David summit, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman will arrive at the White House to find a strengthened Obama and less leeway to influence U.S. policy toward Iran.
The elderly Arab monarch’s White House visit Friday comes just days after Obama secured the Senate votes he needs for the Iran nuclear deal to survive Congress.
Senate support for the diplomatic solution is still growing – in addition to the three new endorsements yesterday, Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) announced his backing for the policy this morning. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) announced his opposition around the same time, but as a practical matter, his siding with the far-right on the issue won’t change the outcome.
Under the circumstances, it’s tough to blame the president for having “a swagger in his step,” not just because he’s overcome the Saudis’ skepticism about the international agreement, but also because Obama has had quite a bit of success lately.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/obama-turns-the-lame-duck-narrative-its-head
Good for him, but I doubt, if he’s a good guy, he’ll be alive by the end of the season.
…………………
Stephen Rider Cast to Play District Attorney Blake Tower for Season 2 of ‘Daredevil’
By Tambay A. Obenson | Shadow and Act
September 4, 2025 at 1:10PM
Actor Stephen Rider has been cast to play New York City District Attorney Blake Tower in the second season of Marvel’s Netflix Daredevil series, according to Deadline.
According to the Marvel wiki, Blake Tower ran against the incumbent Foggy Nelson for the District Attorney’s office in New York City. Blake has also been an ally to Matt Murdock (Daredevil) at times, sharing information with him to help capture many of the city’s notorious criminals including the Jester, Mind-Wave and the Purple Man.
http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/stephen-rider-cast-to-play-district-attorney-blake-tower-for-season-2-of-daredevl-20150904
I know I might be the only person that this makes happy, but Amazon Prime has put DYNASTY in their list of shows. ….
tee hee hee
:lol: Your guilty pleasure is revealed, rikyrah!
GM TODville.
Weather in DC yesterday looked spectacular.
DF — replied to you upthread re: Houston.
Got it! Thanks. love:)
DenaliFruitfly @sherifffruitfly
Dear Obama people: good job.
They were wrong. ALL of them - from hillary people to mccain to mitt to uberprogressives
We were right. :)
Morning chuckle…
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/donald-trump-military-school
Donald Trump believes that because he attended a military high school, he has an understanding of what it is like to be in the military, despite deferring the Vietnam War draft for medical reasons.
“My number was so incredible and it was a very high draft number. Anyway so I never had to do that, but I felt that I was in the military in the true sense because I dealt with those people,” Trump told Michael D’Antonio, the author of the forthcoming book “Never Enough: Donald Trump and the Pursuit of Success,” according to a preview in the New York Times.
Trump attended the New York Military Academy from eighth grade through the end of high school where he participated in military drills and encountered some instructors who had served in the military, according to the Times.
He told D’Antonio that at the academy, he got “more training militarily than a lot of the guys that go into the military.”
Ok. I’m sure that military school was “just like being in Vietnam”…What a smack in the face to those that actually went..
He was sent there for discipline after being thrown out of his elite prep school for bullying.
Yep that’s just what I tweeted out
Oh for the love of God: spoiled rich boys get sent to military school because no one else can educate or socialize them.
More training than those in the military? Trump is truly a special kind of idiot. Unfortunately, there are millions of Americans who would put him in the WH, and he’s dense enough to think adulation equals his ability to do the job.
Serious problems here, people. serious.
fucking megalomaniac.
Trailer: Nelson George’s Misty Copeland Doc - A Ballerina’s Tale’ (Out Oct 14)
By Tambay A. Obenson | Shadow and Act
September 4, 2025 at 2:34PM
Sundance Selects acquired U.S. rights to Nelson George’s documentary, “A Ballerina’s Tale” - a film about one of the most notable and trailblazing figures in the ballet world, Misty Copeland- and will release the film in theaters and on VOD on October 14.
Directed and written by George, the film made its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year.
Produced by Leslie Norville and executive produced by Dorria L. Ball, Ingrid Graham and Copeland, the film provides a behind-the-curtain look at the daily life of Copeland, the first African American female soloist at New York’s American Ballet Theatre (ABT) in two decades. On June 30, 2015, Copeland became the first African American woman to be promoted to principal dancer in ABT’s 75-year history.
http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/trailer-nelson-georges-misty-copeland-doc-a-ballerinas-tale-out-oct-14-20150904
Stephen and George Clooney? Yahoo!!
You feeling a little hot under the collar? :-)
Yay! DVR is set! :-) I’ve been following all of the online content on the website and YouTube channel and now it’s finally time for the actual show! On his last podcast Stephen said, “See you in the suit” Can’t wait. Wonder what the winner of Stephen’s Omaze contest is going to ask Jeb! ha ha…
Can’t wait either, looooooooooooove him!
Me too. He’s such a good-hearted man! Have a lovely morning Chips! I’m on my way out to teach a yoga class :-)
Mine is too!
Gooooooood Morninggggg….everyoneee….
Manchin is a NO
this Nuclear Deal has revealed all the Dems for who they are…..
Of course he does. Cannot stand
Manchin is a no ?
Color me shocked…!
I expected it, but I was holding out some hope. He is a special kind of jackass.
Mr. 57 starts watching c-span early in the morning and can ruin my day. Today, it was that “Dems and GOP” both say Biden is just a “career politician” and that’s going to doom him. Okay - what exactly is Sanders? Except if the Dems weren’t all exactly like him, he wouldn’t play in their sandbox. Until now, when it suits him.
Career politician? And Hillary and all the GOP characters? smh
As you guys know, I am politics-obsessed, but I need an hour in the morning to gird my loins for coming to work for the sociopath, and I don’t need the c-span b.s. Every jackass moron who calls in - Mr. 57 has to tell be about. It’s maddening.
Hush.
Time for the ‘Yes, dear. Really? Hmmm.’ mumble?
Have a good work day in spite of the c-span start and despite the boss. Think - at day’s end it’ll be one day closer to retirement and one less working for him.
Republicans are nervous because they sense that a campaign against Joe Biden could be more difficult than against the Clintons. As for the Clintons supporters, they’re nervous too about a Biden candidacy. Joe Biden has MORE experience than Hillary Clinton; he has been “in the room” with the President for every important decision. Decades in the Senate, legislative accomplishments, years on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, etc. He is MORE qualified than Hillary Clinton is, when you look at his resume.
So if the VP enters the race, brace yourselves for some ugliness from the Clinton campaign.
More: Joe Biden is his own man. I’m pretty sure he is perceived, by the corporate establishment and by the military-industrial-complex, as more independent , more willing to go against the entrenched powers, than Hillary Clinton. The Clintons have spent years cultivating alliances in very, very powerful circles.
Joe Biden would be the true candidate of the people. And “they” know it. No wonder Jill Biden is struggling with the idea of a presidential run. She knows what they would be up against.
I want him to do what’s best for himself and his family, but I get angrier at Bernie every day, and I have a sinking feeling that Hillary can lose this thing. And I just love Joe, I always have.
I can’t even tell you how disgusted I am……
embedded tweet:
i saw this….this is the impact that unchecked Hate Speech can have….yet no one is held accountable for it
It sickens me that these stark raving made idiots are given a full platform to pass on their hatred.
it is not just them…it is the Press…and the GOP and so-called good folks who do not call this for what it is…i read that Operation Rescue…the extremists…picketed outside the home of the judge who passed judgement on Kim Davis…threatening a Federal Judge…if left unchecked who knows what might happen…these people are dangerous….the FBI does not consider these folks domestic terrorists…i think we need to redefine terrorism…
Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely.
Thank you Donald Trump.
#sabr
Is Manchin trying to avoid a filibuster or is he just plain lying?
He’s lying meta. He knows Senator Reid has challenged McConnell to go to a direct, 60 vote and, in return, Dems would not filibuster.
I intend to paint him as a warmonger ….
OK I’m confused with the days - is it Tuesday in your world? We seem to have Colbert on our TV - 1st episode 11.30Pm Wednesday September 9 - which I guess fits with it being on in US on Tuesday evening
And a very early (12.10am) gm from down under
i think that i am going to miss Reid when he is gone…
HI…IT’S SUE DUVALL SMITH IN NEVADA WITH HER BROTHER ON HIS PUTER!ll
Hi Sue. Hope you are enjoying yourself.
Hellooooooooo Sue Duvall Smith in Nevada!!!! :-)
Glad you made it safely. Hope the journey goes well for you.
heyyyyyyyyyy Sueeeeeeee…..greetingssssssss to you
hellooooo, Sue!
Hi Sue! I hope you have a good time in Nevada and it’s great that you have a chance to be with your brother.
:)
I admit I had to read that twice! You’re cleva!
Good Morning BFF and TOD.
I MISS EVERYONE…:)….BUT IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO WORK WITH THESE NATIVE AMERICANS…THEY NEED LOVE…SO AM PRAYING ALL WORKS OUT WELL FOR ME IN MY MEETING WITH THE CHIEF THIS WEEK….WILL BE BACK LATER AND CHECK ON EVERYONE…:XOXOXO!
I know everyone will be riveted on tonight’s quarterfinal match with Venus and Serena. :)
AM HERE SAFE AND SOUND…WE TRAVEL TO THE RESERVATION ON WEDNESDAY……I LOVE THIS DRY HEAT…MUCH BETTER FOR ME…GOING TO SEE HOOVER DAM TODAY AND LAKE MEADE. MY BROTHER’S PTSD THERAPY DOG IS AWESOME…TAKING HIM FOR A SWIM AT MEADE! SENDING LOVE AND BLESSINGS TO ALL….I LOVE MY PRESIDENT…BBL………..
3 more for 41?
Yes, it’s a close call…….
Ukraine is steadily coming under the rule of law ….
Paging a moderator :)
Done! Morning Sir Bob!
We KNOW that, Knoller. Sheesh.
<3
Coming up momentarily:
At his Harford office ? I thought they all go back to DC today.
YES
Yes, yes……
New post
http://theobamadiary.com/2015/09/08/up-next-duke-blue-devils-at-the-white-house/