On This Day - Pete Souza: “The First Lady and I both spotted the President standing under the mistletoe and she moved in to grab a kiss from him following a dinner for Combatant Commanders and military leadership at Blair House in Washington, D.C.” Dec. 3, 2014
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel Is Throwing Anyone Within Arm’s Reach Under the Bus
He’s determined that someone else will go down for the city’s mishandling of the Laquan McDonald shooting.
BY CHARLES P. PIERCE
DEC 3, 2025 @ 10:28 AM
Over the past two decades or so, I’ve decided that there is no more inexcusable a figure in our national politics than Rahm Emanuel, who is, for the moment, the mayor of Chicago, but also someone who, throughout his entire career, has made it quite clear that he believes political power derives from being as much of a dick as possible to the people who ostensibly are on your side. He is angry and profane, but he also remains utterly graceless and completely without charm. He alienated enough people while he was working for Bill Clinton that his tenure in the White House was shorter than it would have been otherwise. In 2006, when Howard Dean’s 50-state strategy delivered the Democratic Party a whopping victory in the midterm elections, he climbed over the people who did the real work to claim credit for the landslide. (And he succeeded: he is what passes in the political elite for a “tough guy” because he says “fuck” a lot. Google “Rahm Emanuel 2006” sometime.)
He was insufferable as a member of the House of Representatives, where the standards are designed by the Constitution to be pretty damned high. His hiring as White House chief-of-staff was probably the worst personnel mistake the Obama Administration made in its early days. As mayor of Chicago, he’s managed to be so horrible to the city’s public school teachers that a couple of them went on hunger strike. He got re-elected because he strategically has not been a dick to anyone who would contribute a fat check to his campaigns. Now, though, he has his ass in a crack because the Chicago Police Department is running amok (again), and it looks like Emanuel put his re-election prospects ahead of telling the parents of Laquan McDonald how their son came to get shot 16 times by a Chicago patrolman.
Wasn’t it Rahm Emanuel that coined the phrase, and I’m paraphrasing here, “never let a tragedy go to waste.” You would have thought that after working for President Obama we would have learned how to do the right thing.
Although Rahm Emanuel deserves the scorn that is being heaped upon him…..he has plenty of company at the top…like the GOPCongress and their DEM allies who could not see it to pass background checks and ban assault weapons after a terrorist gunned down 20/ 5-6 year old children in a classroom….who even refused to meet with the parents of the children who were killed…of the instigators of the truther movement who say that Sandy Hook never happened and who continue to this day to harass the parents who lost their children that day….
SOON: President Obama delivers a statement from the Oval Office at the White House regarding yesterday’s deadly shootings in San Bernardino, California. http://www.msnbc.com/shift/watch/live-pres-obama-on-california-shootings-578627139964
Ta-Nehisi Coates Shares Early Concept Art for His Black Panther Comic + Writing Process
By Tambay A. Obenson | Shadow and Act
December 2, 2025 at 6:52PM
In September, it was announced that Ta-Nehisi Coates will be penning a Black Panther comic book issue for Marvel - news that was met with much excitement from fans of the superhero, fans of Coates (even if they weren’t fans of Black Panther), and really just about everybody else it seemed. It was the kind of announcement that was almost universally welcomed, and I assume many are thus looking forward to seeing what Coates brings to the comic book franchise.
You’ll be tickled to learn that, today, in a piece on The Atlantic titled “Conceptualizing the Black Panther,” Coates shares his early ideas for the upcoming comic, including a look at illustrator Brian Stelfreeze’s art for the series, which I embedded below.
‘Pressure Point’ - Sidney Poitier’s Overlooked “Roots of Racism” Drama - Coming to Blu-Ray/DVD in Feb.
By Sergio | Shadow and Act
December 2, 2025 at 12:45PM
Like a lot of actors from the Golden Age of Hollywood, Sidney Poitier’s movie career is made of popular hits, some box office flops, a really bad film here and there, and, from time to time, some little-known, overlooked or forgotten films that deserve a second or even a third look.
One of those films is the 1962 drama “Pressure Point,” produced by Stanley Kramer, who later went on to direct one of Poitier’s most popular films, such as “The Defiant Ones” and “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.” “Pressure Point” was directed by the truly unique Hubert Cornfield, the son of a movie studio executive, who was a close friend of the French directors of the New Wave of the 1960’s, such as François Truffaut and Jean-Luc Goddard. Cornfield directed only six films in his career, from the mid-1950’s to late 1960’s, of which “Pressure Point,” and his very strange 1969 thriller, “Night of the Following Day” with Marlon Brando, are his two best films. He later directed a lot of French TV during the 1970’s before leaving directing for good.
But “Pressure Point” is truly something else. Very unusual and quite daring for its time, the film actually is just as relevant today as when it came out, and perhaps even more so. A lot of films have dealt with racism, but what films you can name that focus on the causes of it?
I don’t believe it. So much of this is designed to remove President Obama’s safety net so the GOP terrorists can put him in harm’s way. They can change anything they want after Jan. 21st, 12:01 pm. as long as it doesn’t put President Obama’s post presidential security at risk.
Instead of interviewing people who have been traumatized, why don’t the news shows really sweat the politicians about why they haven’t done something about banning high powered weapons.
Hello TOD on a Thursday AM from MN.
Congrats to all the Gold :star: winners, starting with this page and 2/3 posts back.
12-03-15
WH Presser with Josh “The Voice” Earnest LIVE, starting momentarily ;)
White House.gov
Back later
G’morning Chips & TOD!
Thanks Chips for the heads-up. :)
THANKS…GOT IT!
they look adorable :)
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel Is Throwing Anyone Within Arm’s Reach Under the Bus
He’s determined that someone else will go down for the city’s mishandling of the Laquan McDonald shooting.
BY CHARLES P. PIERCE
DEC 3, 2025 @ 10:28 AM
Over the past two decades or so, I’ve decided that there is no more inexcusable a figure in our national politics than Rahm Emanuel, who is, for the moment, the mayor of Chicago, but also someone who, throughout his entire career, has made it quite clear that he believes political power derives from being as much of a dick as possible to the people who ostensibly are on your side. He is angry and profane, but he also remains utterly graceless and completely without charm. He alienated enough people while he was working for Bill Clinton that his tenure in the White House was shorter than it would have been otherwise. In 2006, when Howard Dean’s 50-state strategy delivered the Democratic Party a whopping victory in the midterm elections, he climbed over the people who did the real work to claim credit for the landslide. (And he succeeded: he is what passes in the political elite for a “tough guy” because he says “fuck” a lot. Google “Rahm Emanuel 2006” sometime.)
He was insufferable as a member of the House of Representatives, where the standards are designed by the Constitution to be pretty damned high. His hiring as White House chief-of-staff was probably the worst personnel mistake the Obama Administration made in its early days. As mayor of Chicago, he’s managed to be so horrible to the city’s public school teachers that a couple of them went on hunger strike. He got re-elected because he strategically has not been a dick to anyone who would contribute a fat check to his campaigns. Now, though, he has his ass in a crack because the Chicago Police Department is running amok (again), and it looks like Emanuel put his re-election prospects ahead of telling the parents of Laquan McDonald how their son came to get shot 16 times by a Chicago patrolman.
http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a40161/rahm-emanuel-laquan-mcdonald/
Wasn’t it Rahm Emanuel that coined the phrase, and I’m paraphrasing here, “never let a tragedy go to waste.” You would have thought that after working for President Obama we would have learned how to do the right thing.
Although Rahm Emanuel deserves the scorn that is being heaped upon him…..he has plenty of company at the top…like the GOPCongress and their DEM allies who could not see it to pass background checks and ban assault weapons after a terrorist gunned down 20/ 5-6 year old children in a classroom….who even refused to meet with the parents of the children who were killed…of the instigators of the truther movement who say that Sandy Hook never happened and who continue to this day to harass the parents who lost their children that day….
The people of Beverly Hills and other affluent areas are not cutting back yet no amount of fines is a deterrent.
SOON: President Obama delivers a statement from the Oval Office at the White House regarding yesterday’s deadly shootings in San Bernardino, California. http://www.msnbc.com/shift/watch/live-pres-obama-on-california-shootings-578627139964
Ta-Nehisi Coates Shares Early Concept Art for His Black Panther Comic + Writing Process
By Tambay A. Obenson | Shadow and Act
December 2, 2025 at 6:52PM
In September, it was announced that Ta-Nehisi Coates will be penning a Black Panther comic book issue for Marvel - news that was met with much excitement from fans of the superhero, fans of Coates (even if they weren’t fans of Black Panther), and really just about everybody else it seemed. It was the kind of announcement that was almost universally welcomed, and I assume many are thus looking forward to seeing what Coates brings to the comic book franchise.
You’ll be tickled to learn that, today, in a piece on The Atlantic titled “Conceptualizing the Black Panther,” Coates shares his early ideas for the upcoming comic, including a look at illustrator Brian Stelfreeze’s art for the series, which I embedded below.
http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/ta-nehisi-coates-shares-early-concept-art-for-his-black-panther-comic-20151202
Have the President made his speech yet?
Yes.
i missed it…
Me to prettyfoot58.
REPLAY OF PRESIDENT OBAMA’S REMARKS On CA SHOOTING – http://www.cbsnews.com/live/video/pres-obama-issues-statement-on-ca-shooting/
REPLAY OF PRESIDENT OBAMA’S REMARKS On CA SHOOTING – http://www.cbsnews.com/live/video/pres-obama-issues-statement-on-ca-shooting/
ty JER,,,,ty so much….i appreciate what you bring to us here at TOD…it is invaluable
My pleasure, pf.
listening to the President always has a calming influence
JER - awesome JER, our very own JER - we <3 you JER
Thank you!!!!
You are welcome, GGail.
‘Pressure Point’ - Sidney Poitier’s Overlooked “Roots of Racism” Drama - Coming to Blu-Ray/DVD in Feb.
By Sergio | Shadow and Act
December 2, 2025 at 12:45PM
Like a lot of actors from the Golden Age of Hollywood, Sidney Poitier’s movie career is made of popular hits, some box office flops, a really bad film here and there, and, from time to time, some little-known, overlooked or forgotten films that deserve a second or even a third look.
One of those films is the 1962 drama “Pressure Point,” produced by Stanley Kramer, who later went on to direct one of Poitier’s most popular films, such as “The Defiant Ones” and “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.” “Pressure Point” was directed by the truly unique Hubert Cornfield, the son of a movie studio executive, who was a close friend of the French directors of the New Wave of the 1960’s, such as François Truffaut and Jean-Luc Goddard. Cornfield directed only six films in his career, from the mid-1950’s to late 1960’s, of which “Pressure Point,” and his very strange 1969 thriller, “Night of the Following Day” with Marlon Brando, are his two best films. He later directed a lot of French TV during the 1970’s before leaving directing for good.
But “Pressure Point” is truly something else. Very unusual and quite daring for its time, the film actually is just as relevant today as when it came out, and perhaps even more so. A lot of films have dealt with racism, but what films you can name that focus on the causes of it?
http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/sidney-poitiers-overlooked-film-on-the-roots-of-racism-pressure-point-coming-out-on-blu-ray-dvd-in-feb-20151202
Rikyrah….
thank you so much for the info you bring to us at TOD….thank you
REPLAY OF PRESIDENT OBAMA’S REMARKS On CA SHOOTING - http://www.cbsnews.com/live/video/pres-obama-issues-statement-on-ca-shooting/
I wouldn’t have been there either. Unless I could break into pieces.
Annieb, we’re glad you aren’t there - we wouldn’t want you to get arrested for destruction of property :D :D
egg.sack.lee
This is incorrect. @VP was there.
I’m proud of CA Congressman Pete Aguilar (D) and the way he’s been handling the press since the shooting and gun violence.
Yes, indeed, Congressman Aguilar makes me proud that he’s speaking out on behalf of our community.
Thanks JER!
GM TODville.
Thanks JER for posting President Obama’s statement on the #SanBernardinoMassacre.
Here it is in tweetable RT form:
And this…
ISIS loves Donald Trump. So does the racists haters over here, KKK, White Supremacists.
THIS!
dumbya3 hasn’t yet pulled out why?
Hilarious - Go Home JEB!, Go Home!!! and take that damn Bust of Dick with you
eeewww
Hahahahahahaha!!!!!
Look at Cruz….
The $140M Dollar Man…….John Ellis Bush!
Pathetic!
This is not good at all
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/new-breaches-revealed-in-report-that-says-secret-service-is-in-crisis/2015/12/02/f99869ba-9905-11e5-8917-653b65c809eb_story.html?postshare=9741449162711252&tid=ss_tw
Read this earlier today. Damn shame.
I don’t believe it. So much of this is designed to remove President Obama’s safety net so the GOP terrorists can put him in harm’s way. They can change anything they want after Jan. 21st, 12:01 pm. as long as it doesn’t put President Obama’s post presidential security at risk.
Instead of interviewing people who have been traumatized, why don’t the news shows really sweat the politicians about why they haven’t done something about banning high powered weapons.
Stop taking the easy route for a story
Hello TOD on a Thursday AM from MN.
Congrats to all the Gold :star: winners, starting with this page and 2/3 posts back.
12-03-15
WH Presser with Josh “The Voice” Earnest LIVE, starting momentarily ;)
Even when he’s “only” kissing her cheek, the First Lady looks like her eyes are gonna roll back into her head. Ha! Love them.
Chips - This photo was just the ticket for me! Now, I’m all cheered up and NOT gonna think about guns and destruction for a bit. Thank you, sweet one!
:-) And heck, we needed cheering up Jacqueline!
You, as much of the rest of us, I’m sure! <3
The responses on facebook regarding guns today has been nothing short of vomit inducing.
I can’t believe how many people think their gun fetish is more important than people, you know, not getting killed.
New post: http://theobamadiary.com/2015/12/03/the-presidents-statement-on-san-bernardino/
and the latest
Then also
Jon Karl is truly an asre.
Always using NRA and GOPer Talking Points while masquerading as a Journalist? Truly messed up.