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Hi. Bye.
Another clicky day?
zzzzz
Grr. I’m currently defrosting my nose after taking the Danster for a ramble.
Congratulations, AMK. We are getting heavy rain here, but nothing like your torrents. Hope all is well in Chennai now.
Yaya Toure has been voted the BBC African Footballer of the Year 2015.
The 32-year-old Ivory Coast midfielder becomes only the third player, after Nigerians Nwankwo Kanu and Jay-Jay Okocha, to receive the honour twice.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/35062487
Good morning TOD!
Congrats amk :)
Yup ….
#Hope4ALL
Iran was never on the Visa waiver program……. This is confusing. Here are the countries that are .
Andorra
France
Liechtenstein
San Marino
Australia
Germany
Lithuania
Singapore
Austria
Greece
Luxembourg
Slovakia
Belgium
Hungary
Monaco
Slovenia
Brunei
Iceland
Netherlands
South Korea
Czech Republic
Ireland
New Zealand
Spain
Denmark
Italy
Norway
Sweden
Estonia
Japan
Portugal
Switzerland
Finland
Latvia
Republic of Malta
Taiwan
Chile
**United Kingdom-British citizens only with the unrestricted right of permanent abode in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1550/~/visa-waiver-program-%28vwp%29-countries
NO African Countries….how do you get on the via waiver program
When you have Le Pen …..
…. yup, it’s really, really bad ….
bbl ….
LIVE NOW: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi - http://www.cbsnews.com/liveFeed/widget.shtml
Good morning all of TODville. I saw yesterday someone mention that we should post good news daily, I so agree. I’ll start today with my local news. Last night I went to an early fundraiser for my MT legislator, Bryce Bennett. He started in politics as a very young man, 21. This will be his last election for the legislator, we have term limits. I am so hopeful he will then run for the Senate against our Daines. Bryce restores my hope that there are many honest, hard working, compassionate, young people getting into politics. He has worked hard on voting rights, medicare expansion, and LGBT rights. I do believe he will be someone to watch. He has a facebook page.
Mt, this morning I suggested we try bringing a little bit of good news here every day as an antidote to all the bile and hate we’re hearing every day from Republican candidates. Thanks for this story.
Thank you Jackiegrumbacher for suggesting this. I do believe we need to hear these stories. It is so frustrating to hear all the craziness going on in the world.
Good morning Marilyn, last night I posted “good news” here. You can read the Mayor full Statement on my FB, I shared it. Great to have a woman Mayor who is probably Republican to take a stand for the Constitution. It is about Gillette bringing in Syrian refugees.
Of course it came with bitter comments. For thanking her though I got called a traitor. Only one guy was outrageously bigoted. I didn’t stick around to read the comments but will later.
I swear, the people who turn their backs on refugees have a stockpile of guns. Money poorly spent. Did you know an ak47 costs over $1400? Ridiculous!
http://theobamadiary.com/2015/12/10/the-presidents-day-79/
Way to go CarolMae, I missed it last night and on FB. I’ll go check it out.
Bravo CarolMae!
Don’t read the hurtful comments. They are written by sad, scared, ignorant, people.
True, very true.
And joe thinks that’s a compliment. Ugh.
Christie sinks in New Jersey, soars in New Hampshire
12/11/15 08:42 AM—UPDATED 12/11/15 09:00 AM
By Steve Benen
If the race for the Republican presidential nomination were decided by GOP voters in New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie (R) would be in serious trouble. The latest Rutgers poll, published yesterday, shows the scandal-plagued governor’s approval rating sinking to just 33% in his home state – an all-time low. Only 14% of New Jersey Republicans support Christie’s presidential bid.
Three hundred miles to the north, however, the governor is in far better shape. A new WBUR poll of New Hampshire Republicans was released this morning, and take a look at who’s suddenly in second place.
1. Donald Trump: 27% (up from 23% in a WBUR poll in November)
2. Chris Christie: 12% (up from 6%)
3. Marco Rubio: 11% (down from 13%)
4. Ted Cruz: 10% (up from 8%)
5. Jeb Bush: 8% (up from 7%)
6. John Kasich: 7% (unchanged)
7. Ben Carson: 6% (down from 13%)
The remaining candidates were each at 3% or lower.
Trump’s 27% is the strongest support any Republican candidate has had in any WBUR poll conducted this year, suggesting his support in the Granite State is actually getting stronger.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/christie-sinks-new-jersey-soars-new-hampshire
Wow, rikyrah, just look at Jeb Bush, soaring up from 7 to 8 percent. And how many millions did it take to get that one percent increase?
G’day me Hearties….
EXCLUSIVE: Video shows customer hit worker, break glass in NYC restaurant as he rails against Muslims; man kicks woman, calls her ‘trash’ in separate crime
December 10, 2015, 5:01 PM
A customer at a Herald Square restaurant burst into an anti-Muslim tirade, slapping one worker than busting glass partitions with a chair while a Muslim woman in Brooklyn was kicked by a man who called her trash, police sources said.
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/exclusive-man-blasts-muslims-hits-worker-nyc-eatery-article-1.2462061
And this is the season of “Peace on Earth. Good Will Toward Men.” If you feed enough poison to ignorant people they’re going to act out in ugly ways. Hope that many scenes of Christmas Future for this man take place in a prison cell.
Honestly, rikyrah, Cruz’s face could be used as a diet aid. One look at it and it puts you off your feed for the day. He quite literally turns my stomach.
INDEED…EVERY TIME I SEE HIS FACEI NEED AN AIRLINE BAGGY!…COULD YOU IMAGINE THAT ON A DOLLAR BILL? I COULD IMAGINE IT IN THE BOTTOM OF MY CATS’ LITTERBOX!
Ted Cruz is one of the crazies that the GOP power brokers hate. I don’t see Dems sitting at home to allow this nutter with access to the WH, picking SCOTUS, are being CiC. I see PBO and even MO as well as the Biden’s GOTV to make sure he does not get elected if he somehow gets the nomination over DT.
GOP panic leads to ‘contested convention’ chatter
12/11/15 09:23 AM—UPDATED 12/11/15 09:25 AM
By Steve Benen
We’re still 51 days away from Iowa Republicans participating in the first presidential nominating contest of the cycle, but party insiders are already weighing the possibility of convention chaos in July. The Washington Post reported late yesterday.
Republican officials and leading figures in the party’s establishment are preparing for the possibility of a brokered convention as businessman Donald Trump continues to sit atop the polls in the GOP presidential race.
More than 20 of them convened Monday near the Capitol for a dinner held by Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, and the prospect of Trump nearing next year’s nominating convention in Cleveland with a significant number of delegates dominated the discussion, according to five people familiar with the meeting.
The article explained that “several longtime Republican power brokers” have begun to see a convention floor fight as “a real possibility,” and they’re urging party officials to begin “laying the groundwork” now for an effort to derail Trump in the summer.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/gop-panic-leads-contested-convention-chatter
Gee, maybe if GOP leadership had not stoked all of this b.s., they wouldn’t be in this mess. Maybe if they had been the least bit truthful, and at least demanded of their minions that they show the duly elected POTUS the least bit of respect, the country would be safe. What the hell did they think was going to happen?
THEY DON’T KNOW HOW TO THINK…ALL THEY KNOW IS GREED,HATRED,SELF CONSUMPTION AND RACISM…HELL WILL NOT BE KIND!
“More than 20 of them convened Monday near the Capitol for a dinner held by Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, and the prospect of Trump nearing next year’s nominating convention in Cleveland with a significant number of delegates dominated the discussion, according to five people familiar with the meeting.”
If I’m not mistaken a group of Republicans got together and plotted the down fall of President Obama on the night of his swearing is as President, and look how well it worked out for them.
My Nickelby’s surgery is done. They got the entire mass, which was sent out for testing (we’ll know what it is in a week). Three stitches at the rim of his eye but no damage to the eye itself. Antibiotics, eye solution, watch him like a hawk. But it’s over, thank God. Thanks to everyone for keeping that sweet guy in your thoughts and prayers. Going to try to do a tweet with a photo so you guys can see how adorable he is!
am so relieved for you. Nickelby sounds like a hero dog. hope you can relax for a little bit.
Give Nickelby pats and hugs! Glad it’s over and hope that’s the end of it!
Thanks 57 for letting us know that Nickelby has come through the surgery. Pamper him so he will be well real soon <3
57, I’m so happy for you and Nickleby. Hope you both can rest easy tonight.
Thanks for the WellRpt! Sure you’re relieved. Will continue to keep you and your fur babies in my thoughts and prayers.
For those feeling glum it may help if you remember some of the things the Obama Administration is working on right now.
For example—SOS Kerry is in Paris and I’m sure we all hope to see him help bring the Climate Conference to a successful conclusion. (Which the SOS can add to his series of Hits. Including bringing the Iran Nuclear deal to a resounding finish and raising the flag at our new Embassy in Havana.) Best SOS Ever, in my humble opinion.
Also—according to Sylvia Burwell, the ACA enrollment has exceeded that of last year already—won’t see much about that in the msm.
PBO is said to be very close to an announcement on closing the terrorist gun loophole.
A plan to close Guantanamo Bay, rumored to have been announced a few weeks ago, has been delayed a bit. But I am confident we will see it when the President feels the time is right.
Now, that is just off the top of my head—plenty more I don’t know about, I’m certain.
So, cheer up.
it is not ISIL and Trump only.
Vicki - thanks for that list of good news!
Good news and that’s what we need to keep speaking about.
Does anyone know the status of pending confirmations? I got a feeling there are a few that are still open and could be useful in our current situation.
There was some coverage about all of the impending confirmations being indefinitely delayed by the various committee chairs and GOP leadership.
One of the few ways the GOP can stymie POTUS. It doesn’t surprise me that they are doing this.
After all—they couldn’t stop the Iran deal. Or the Opening up of Cuba. Plus, plus , plus
Whatever they Can do to sabotage PBO, they Will do.
Another example of OHM being ahead of love for America.
From a TPM Prime member: “I’m in the camp of “We’re winning the war with ISIS” because, with a small amount of resources applied against ISIS for less than 2 years, the caliphate is collapsing. Now more people than ever are pissed at ISIS and even Turkey has to toe a rhetorical line. But there are no US banners waving in this US fight against ISIS. No glorious footage of Marines storming beaches. True, from afar we see some bombs being dropped, but that isn’t enough to get the Administration any kudos. Not enough Hollywood. So, effective public policy, effective military policy, but poor domestic politics policy. That is Obama’s problem and it is a poor job in defining goals and explaining policy. But I like the calibrated response so far. I only have a fear that we’ll see all the good go down the drain if our friends the Kurds and our “friend” Turkey, turn on each other. The Turks shooting down the Russian plane on the flimsiest of excuses doesn’t make me feel good about being formally allied to them at this time in these circumstances.”
Friday to Hawaii. :)
I am so glad PBO and family plys his administration can go on their holiday vacations with no gop drama. I pray that there is no catastrophic events this December to ruin there’s and all world’s Xmas and New Year.
Say What?!
“And that’s okay because the ones that don’t like Trump aren’t even here legally and they can’t vote, so it doesn’t really matter, right? And I understand their point of view. They’re—they do not want to be asked to leave right?”
-A top Trump aide told Yahoo that Latinos who don’t like Trump are illegal immigrants who can’t vote anyway.
Let them go on believing that, Yardarm. Every Latino I know is a voter and they will move heaven and earth to come out against Trump. Our challenge is to tar every other R candidate with the Trump poison so that Latino voters understand that all Republicans share Trump’s views.
I disagree……Our biggest challenge is to do DWS’s job and get Dems out to vote!
Cruz is mining data from FB about voters…. Unsuspecting FB users! Story is at Daily Beast.
As much as it pains me…I agree with Chuckles.
MightyPamela on December 11, 2025 at 11:36 am
Uh! Birthday festivities have made me remiss: the New Moon conjunction took place this morning 12/11/2015. 19.03 Sagittarius. 5:29 am EST 2:29 am PST. There you have it – and MP enjoyed a most wonderful Solar Return yesterday. Thanking all for the well wishes, love, Light and prayer! I feel a very fine year moving in. (Despite the nasty efforts of the GOP to disintegrate all life on Planet
Earth) (They will fail miserably)
* of course I posted this just after the new thread opened, but, oh well, so what!! Here is the breaking news! <3 back after eye doctor - :bear:
<3
Happy late Birthday, MP. I am sorry I missed your day. Hope you had a lovely celebration. And thank you for always posting the moon information!!!!
Happy Belated Birthday MightyPamela, gad you had a great day and will have a fantastic 2016.
I’m proud of those ladies! WOOT!
It’s been under $2 in my neck of the woods for quite some time!!
Even in some places in Chicagoland.
I know this means ‘average’ price because we’ve been paying under $2.00 for a few weeks. :) :)
California drives up the average. We’ll never be under $2.
The cheapest I’ve seen gas, which is unleaded is $2.69 when oil is at $38 a barrow at one time we would have gas prices under $2 but with the price of land, taxes, fewer oil refiners, etc., I am with you LL, CA will not see gasoline under $2 unless oil is $12 a barrow.
Now, up La Brea before you get to Slauson, I *did* see gas at 2.49. But, yeah, I doubt it’ll get much lower.
I see Costco and Arco have gas under $2.50…..
I got gas yesterday in Pasadena at Arco for $2.53
It’s $1.92 where I gas up in IN.
Got gas in Salem, OR at Costco today for $2.05 today.
uh huh
uh huh
Because he’s not speaking to a SLIVER of the GOP. He’s in the heart and soul of the GOP. THIS is the GOP voter.
…………………
The Daily 202: Focus group shows why Donald Trump is not going anywhere
By James Hohmann
December 10
I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Frank Luntz. “There is no sign of them leaving. He has created or found the magic formula.”
“He” was Donald Trump. “They” were 29 voters from the D.C. metro area who either supported Trump, were considering it, or had once supported Trump and then cooled on the idea. It was not the first Luntz focus group with Trump voters, but over three hours in an Alexandria conference room Wednesday night, he found them hugging their candidate tighter than ever.
The 29 subjects were asked to pick a number between one and 10 to gauge the likelihood that they’d support Trump. At the start of the night, just 10 people said they were at nine or 10. After one hour of mostly negative questions about Trump, 16 said they were that likely to back him. After a barrage of negative ads, the number fell to 15 — and only because an attack on his business record was seen as a potential “killer” in a general election.
But nothing else dented the Republican front-runner. Asked what they liked about Trump, the subjects echoed what he’d said about himself. “He offers things that can’t be bought,” said a middle-aged man named Michael. “He’s not coming from these Monsantos, Kochs or Soros. He doesn’t have any skin he owes to anyone else.”
Asked about Trump’s proposal for a ban on Muslim immigration, 17 of the 29 in the focus group backed it. Several pushed back on the question to say that Trump has only proposed this as a temporary, short-term measure. Several cited the same dubious evidence that Trump does to argue that up to a quarter of Muslims around the world are radicalized.
One big problem for Trump’s opponents: establishment Republicans hold no sway whatsoever with his base. Asked who they’d back in a three-way election between Marco Rubio, Hillary Clinton and an independent Donald Trump, 19 of the 29 said they would still back Trump. When Ted Cruz was swapped into the question, 14 stuck with Trump. Only after being asked to imagine a scenario where that vote would ensure a Clinton victory did the support fall off.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2015/12/10/the-daily-202-focus-group-shows-why-donald-trump-is-not-going-anywhere/
Attacks on Trump just make these voters like him more
By David Weigel December 10 at 6:41 PM
It was the most brutal attack ad run against Donald Trump, and it was tanking. Twenty-nine voters, all of whom supported or used to support Trump, watched retired Air Force Col. Tom Moe not so subtly compare the Republican front-runner to Adolf Hitler.
“You might not care if Donald Trump says he’s going to round up all the Hispanic immigrants, because you’re not one,” Moe said onscreen. “You might not care if Donald Trump wants to suppress journalists, because you’re not one. But think about this: If he keeps going, and he actually becomes president, he might just get around to you.”
Frank Luntz, the Republican media consultant who had put together this focus group, watched the dials turn down. On a scale of zero to 100, the ad’s effectiveness never got above 20. It did not help that the ad was produced for Gov. John Kasich (R-Ohio), a presidential candidate no one in the group supported.
“It was too far over the top,” one voter said.
“They use every trick in the book to make him look like the ultimate bad guy,” said another.
“It tried to make Trump look like the new Mussolini,” said one more disgusted voter. “I mean, that ain’t gonna happen.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/attacking-trump-just-makes-these-voters-like-him-more/2015/12/10/2de9edf8-9f44-11e5-a3c5-c77f2cc5a43c_story.html
Let’s see - positive news: we have over 600 RSVPs for the Orange Walk in Portland this Sunday. Wish us a dry afternoon from 1-2.
“It tried to make Trump look like the new Mussolini,” said one more disgusted voter. “I mean, that ain’t gonna happen.”
I don’t think these people have a clue especially if they dig in their heels to like and will vote for DT regardless what he says. I bet if DT said he will put anyone in jail who says anything bad about him no matter who it is, it could be your own family members, THEY WOULD STILL vote for him and like him.
Look at the pictures of all of these people on this trek
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/09/24/world/middleeast/mecca-mina-stampede-hajj-maps.html
these kind of articles drive me crazy. there’s this implied “aw shucks, but he’s such a good guy” behind the whole thing, when nothing could be further from the truth. they did this constantly with r-money and still are to this day with mittens, and now of course with king bush the 3rd. those two have no problem laying of workers by the thousands and would have no problem sending other people’s kids to die in made-up “wars” to enrich themselves and their friends, not to mention the thousands upon thousands of innocent people in the countries they would carpet bomb. these people are vile killers, yet this “reporter” simply promotes this false idea that bush3 is just so smart that he “feels compelled” to answer every question thrown at him. the truth is the exact opposite. and yet for years these same media outlets have suggested president obama dodges interviews, and the republican tools suggest the same now in comments sections everywhere and whenever i have conversations with them.
both these privileged idiots are bumbling stooges. they never talk about all the scandals, and nonsensical policy positions these liars put out. “the news” is trying so hard to rehab the bush name and this article is one of many that we’ll be seeing more and more. i still think he’ll be the nominee despite lagging in polls right now. republican voters have proven to be incredibly wishy-washy and change candidates at the drop of the hat when the media tells them to switch.
Hell TOD on a Cloudy Afternoon.
TGIF
Congrats to all the Au :star: winners since last night.
When is this OK?
1st Amendment Rights gone amok? I say yes!
I just finished listening to Josh’s WH Presser. This was one of the questions asked. I am not really sure of the answer given by Josh. Something to the effect………..the Secret Service, Laws and 1st Amendment.
Laws………
Great!
What I would Give for the POTUS to demand and insist that Congress Gets Zero Xmas Vacation unless the Budget is done and the Funding for eliminating ISIL/Daesh is completed. I called the WH today and left my $0:02 cents.
HOPE
Calling Marco Rubioooooooo……
These are white thugs with GOP government sanctioned permission to terrorize a segment of americans who are not white and christian. They are religious persecutors not patriots.
I love this site.
HOW ABIGAIL FISHER IS ALL THE WORST PARTS OF RON WEASLEY FROM HARRY POTTER
Shamira Ibrahim, 12/11/15
I am pretty big Harry Potter fan.
Not quite on the “Pottermore comments section” level, but I own books three through seven in hardback. When book seven ultimately dropped, I went back and reread the whole series from the beginning. I’ve watched every movie. And I was even an apologist for the first two, which were unapologetically terrible.
For those of you who didn’t follow the series – which, if you didn’t then what the hell is wrong with you? – there were three main characters. Harry, of course, is the titular character. But there were also his two sidekicks: Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley.
http://verysmartbrothas.com/how-abigail-fisher-is-all-the-worst-parts-of-ron-weasley-from-harry-potter/
Chips, have you heard of Michael Londra? He will be in North East, WY this week.
Crikey, never heard of him Carol - and he’s Irish!1!1!1! :-)
Isn’t great yet?
Chat on
http://theobamadiary.com/2015/12/11/welcometocanada/