President Obama with Yolanda Renee King, the granddaughter of Rev Martin Luther King, 2013
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Today
1:20 ET: The President and the First Lady participate in a community service project in the Washington, DC area in celebration of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service and in honor of Dr. King’s life and legacy
Thanks! You too!
Was supposed to be doing volunteer work today but hurt my back lifting stuff I shouldn’t have by myself. [guess I’m no longer Woman Woman 😞]
Yeah. Sometimes our brain has to catch up with where we are physically. I often *think* I can do some of the things I did 30 or so years ago… then reality slaps me in the face. [sigh]
While world stock markets hate lower oil prices, it’s not only making life easier for people who drive cars, it’s easing the burden on those who still depend on oil to heat their homes. More money in the pocket of consumers is always bad news for investors.
yup, screw the oil speculators. Lower oil price reduces burden on industry also. But unfortunately, our govt has increased the taxes on oil and we pay more than a dollar for a liter. It’s a cash cow for them.
We paid $1.10 / litre today - cheapest price in so many years - and still way more than it should be. And why I have to listen to coal trucks running up and down the tracks night & day - heading for port & presumably China - when no-one wants coal any more - the stupid of government.
And sadly, states like West Virginia have not planned for a coal free future. People in these states are frightened and angry, blaming ‘Democrats’ for trying to prevent climate catastrophe by cutting back on the coal miners’ livelihood. PBO said in his SOTU that we have to do a better job of transitioning people into alternative energy production. WV is way behind the curve ball on this.
it takes courage and vision …For politicians to help citizens transition from one industry to another…esp if the industry is paying politicians to hold on….denying climate change….refusing to stop subsidizing the oil industry…using fear…and such to keep voters voting against their best interests…
I wish the DEMs were as good at convincing voters to vote for their interests as the GOP is in convincing voters to vote against their own interests…
but for DEMS to do so would take courage and vision as well…to confront their own demons of racism and fear….
Good morning Chips and TODers. Yolanda Renee King is adorable and has the fashion perfect sense of our FLOTUS. Maybe she’s the one who’ll run for president some day.
THAT’S CALLED USING THE PRESIDENT…I DON’T SWALLOW ANY OF IT…THEY WILL DO AND SAY WHAT THEY NEED TO IN ORDER TO GET INTO THE OVAL OFFICE…I PREFER BERNIE…I DON’T IIKE HIS AGE. I MUCH PREFER PBO NOT LEAVING…FINAL ANSWER.
I couldn’t pull myself to watch this debate. I can’t watch anyone commit fratricide. I did watch all 21 debates in 2008, however, because my candidate was in them. Now, all I want is for a Dem to win and stop the right wing dream of taking over the WH and dismantle all the progresses made by POTUS.
But I did hear a snippet about who said bad things about Obama in 2011. That made me laugh because both candidates have said unpleasant things about our POTUS. To be sure, I can forgive someone for “misspeaking”. But I can’t tolerate those Dems who, up until now. are making unpleasant comments about what the POTUS is doing.
I am waiting for general elections debates that need to open the eyes of the American people about how dangerous it will be to elect Il Douche or any of his runner ups. And, I will not contest that my inclination is for HRC to win because in my humble opinion, she has more chances to win than the Socialist from Vermont. Mind you, I will vote for Bernie in a heartbeat should he be the nominee, not because I feel the BERN but because he will be the WALL between wackos and the WH.
I could not have said it any better, NCLB, whomever the Dem candidate is we will have to support because they will be our firewall. On a side note, O’Malley is missing something that I can’t put my finger on. A couple of times last night he seemed to back down when Hillary challenged him.
Martin O’Malley has been my choice up until the last debate. He had been the best supporter of PBO during the last two terms and had put into play many progressive policies in his state while he was governor. The press has totally ignored him. I still like him, but maybe he would be a better VP.
I cannot believe I am saying this since I almost hated this person previously due to dishonesty and campaigning practices, but now I believe I will vote for HRC. I know she panders etc, but I feel we have the best chance of keeping PBO’s accomplishments intact with her winning. I like her take on ACA and gun control.
Bernie is a passionate mostly authentic person, but his record does not bare out support of PBO nor accomplishing legislation to further his own pet beliefs. He might destroy what has been done before realizing he cannot achieve what he wants to do. Anyone hear his campaign manager speak? I was not impressed with him. Also his healthcare plan seemed to be just thrown together. VT found it was too expensive to implement single payer as PBO had said so Bernie just stubbornly going for it anyway reminds me of those on the far left that want everything right now or prefer nothing at all over compromise.
The biggest problem for me now is getting enthused about anyone who follows PBO once our VP bowed out.
NCLB. The bottom line for me is this: Hillary will win the nomination. PBO supports Hillary. He believes that she will, despite some differences, carry on his legacy. PBO will pull out all of his considerable campaigning skills to fight for Hillary. So will FLOTUS, VP Biden and Jill Biden. Hilz is a far better debater than Bernie, who would literally be eaten alive in a general election debate. Plus he has VERY weak support within the Democatic party because he is NOT a Democrat and, unlike Hillary, has contributed zero to downstream candidate. PBO will ask us directly to WORK for, as well as VOTE for Hillary. I, for one will not turn him down. I care too much about my family and the country’s future to risk a Republican presidency.
Hillary, just as the President, has long experience with the vicious, immoral, attack dogs of the Right Wing machine. She is a dogged and persistent fighter. Her husband and President Obama are both associated with economic progress. The GOP and media promote Bernie because he would be easier to vote. The President is focused on preserving and extending the gains of his time in office.
ALL of this for each of your comments, taiping1! Hillary has her problems and there are still some areas in which she has yet to gain my trust, but she is a tough and resilient political player who has seen the worst that the GOP can throw her way and come out still standing and swinging. I do not need to be in love with her to vote for her; she is our best hope out of everyone running to lay the next parts of the road forward PBO’s ground breaking achievements to the new American century of progress and equality. Loving PBO and VP Joe as we do is a one-in-a-lifetime thing; we were blessed to be under the sun of their enlightened administration.
I don’t know if Bernie will be eaten alive by the crazies on the right, though I can picture Il Douche taken him with caricature, funny faces, old-age jokes, and definitely calling him a Socialist (communist, Hitler, Stalin, etc) to add more fear to lunatic, mostly-white base. But one thing for sure, IMHO, PBO and HRC are two seasoned politicians who know and understand what is at stake and the need to bridge their divides. PBO will definitely back up HRC and bring his coalition over to her camp.
Bernie is pure, almost like the ultra-conservative of the right. They both want everything their way. Bernie’s platform is good for the average people, but toxic for the reality we live in. He wants to KILL WALL STREET. Really? What about the thousand people working there and related sectors?
Obama gave a little and took some. He knows how to DEAL. (Look at the Iran Deal, the Climate Deal, the Cuba Deal, etc.) Remember his compromise after the first mid-term shellacking? He had to give some to the rethugs to gain some. But Bernie believes that he must go ALL IN socialist on the current political climate. A better approach is COMPROMISE. And I believe HRC understands this subdued and moderate approach better.
Bernie hoping no one but his faithful listen to his stump speech, where he blames PBO for everything. At least Hillary got the memo, and has been consistent on Twitter saying what I want to hear: that PBO made great progress and we must built on it and solidity it.
Bernie wants “revolution”. Seriously, I cringe every time I hear him say that. Because the word makes him feel good, it doesn’t matter if it is a major weapon in the GOP arsenal to deprive us of a Dem POTUS and let this country go to hell in a hand basket.
And it will be used to motivate the already fearful with great effectiveness by the GOP. There are times in history when you can trot that b.s. out and see how far you get - when you have a balanced Congress and an opposition party that isn’t to the right of the Nazis. Not now. It’s dangerous, narcissistic. Shame on Bernie.He could do unimaginable damage to the U.S.& as long as he thinks it’s 1968, he is absolutely right and everyone else is absolutely wrong. He is politically inept and uninterested.
I remember 2007/2008 - PBO well understood that he needed to make the country comfortable with him as POTUS and he achieved it step by step, pointing out his many-faceted abilities and vision. That Bernie doesn’t give a damn is horrific. Check the Michael Cohen I tweeted down on this thread.
My first e-mail this morning was from a devoted Bernie fan telling me that MLK would have understood and supported Bernie. That’s just too much to handle before coffee. Whenever I’m in a group of Democrats, Bernie fans start raising their voices to tell us all how blind we are not to support him. It’s the worst possible persuasion technique.
The way Bernie always sounds like he’s angry and fussing when he speaks makes me feel that he is a hard person to communicate with. Beyond that, his attitude about single payer — all or nothing — makes me wonder about his ability to compromise…a trait that is needed if he truly believes in the process of diplomacy.
SW, Bernie is outright delusional about single player, which he could never bring about even if we had overwhelming Dem majorities in the House and Senate. He also wants to destroy ACA, which is helping millions of people and is far more affordable, palatable and workable within the American health care system than single payer. Hillary understands this because she knows what a monumental achievement ACA is. Hillary does not engage my heart, but my head tells me that working for her is the right thing to do.
If nothing else, being close to her husband’s administration, and having had a role in the Obama administration makes her more realistic about how things get done; that it is a lot more than just saying what should be or how you want it to be.
Hillary does not engage my heart, but my head tells me that working for her is the right thing to do.
*************************
My heart will be in it because i must look at the big picture the way the President does…as you have said in your daily organizing..We are the Change we seek……it is not so much about Hillary as it is about the kind of country that we want to have….
I have reconciled that Sanders is not who i want…O’Malley is not ready…
It will be Hillary that i am supporting in the primary….and will be working in her campaign when it sets up here in PA…
Pf, what I mean by ‘heart” is that no one will engage my heart fully like President Obama, who was, is, and always shall be in a class by himself. Once I start working for Hillary, I will be 100 percent in her corner because I do respect her and appreciate her intelligence. And I will add that’s it’s about damned time we had a female president. In my corner of the universe, the most rapid Bernie supporters are older white males and I can’t help feeling that whiff of misogyny from them that really gets my back up.
yes…i understand what you mean…what i meant is that my heart will be in it…to keep up moving forward…because i feel like you …there will never be another like PBO…and i look forward to his campaigning during the home stretch and for the the time that he resumes his life as “citizen”….he will not go quietly into the night…YES WE CAN
Jackie, they do it on twitter all the time. I can’t go on twitter without some Berniestan breaking balls about how African Americans owe to themselves to vote for Bernie, sickening.
Don, while Sanders seems to have the support of the younger age group, tweets that were going back and forth last night indicate that even *they* are ready to move past the rhetoric and want to see the substance. They recognize that Bernie is giving them the “what”, but their confidence is waning because the “how” is not there, or is not sufficient in their eyes. I’ll go back and see if I can find that string.
I try to keep an open mind, but I like him less and less and I am convinced that it would be a disaster for the country if he got the nomination. He is angry, unclear, annoyed when everyone doesn’t see things exactly his way. He still doesn’t give a damn about foreign policy.
Mr. 57 was leaning toward him in the primary. We have a lot of Bernie supporters amongst our friends. But he found him unsettling, rigid, and almost childish last night. And in terms of presentation, Hillary has come so far in the last 7 years.
Oh, and what kind of cheap shot was that to unveil his “single payer plan” a few hours before the debate? Childish and petty.
I read it, and I read Ezra Klein’s initial reaction to it. It was like the fuzzy proposals the GOP comes up with: short on substance, promising the moon, and magic will make it happen. How in the world does he not have a comprehensive plan for single payer? He has spent his entire career saying he would do things differently, and he’s not prepared to tell us how?
Oh, wait - in a twitter conversation about how he’s done nothing to create a progressive Congress, even in VT, I was told by a Bernie follower that he doesn’t need it because his followers will go out into the streets every time he needs it, and Congress will be afraid and surrender.
Seriously, what planet do these people live on? And again, Bernie is going to magically transform the country through “revolution”.
I don’t love Hillary. I don’t trust her to be as progressive as she is on the campaign trail. But she is competent.
GOOD MORNING TOD FAMILY…THE FROZEN ONE HERE…9 DEGREES THIS MORNING AND THE FURNACE IS GETTING TIRED…………….YOU ALL NEED TO LOOK UP THIS VIDEO…MARTIN LUTHER KING..PAUL’S LETTER TO AMERICAN CHRISTIANS…IT IS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT AND I RUN IT OFTEN ON MY FB FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. PLEASE SAY PRAYERS FOR ALL OF OUR HOMELESS WHO ARE EXPOSED TO THESE TEMPS…THE COLD IS REALLY BAD FOR MY BONES…SO IN THE HOUSE TODAY. SO TIRED OF THOSE GETTING A RASH OVER THE IRAN DEAL…SUCH UNGRATEFUL PEOPLE…UNLESS IT HAPPENS TO SOMEONE IN THEIR FAMILY..THEN THE STORY CHANGES!
Sue, please keep yourself well covered and as warm as possible. We had our furnace go out during a cold snap and it was hellish. I’ve never been so cold in my life.
I PRAY THERE IS MUCH THAT CAN BE DONE IN HEALTHCARE FOR THESE EX-PRISONERS…I KNOW PASTOR ABEDINI WAS TORTURED ALOT AND IN ILL HEALTH. CAN’T WAIT TO SEE ALL OF THEM!
For a moment last night I thought I was listening to, Che Guevara, every other word out of Bernie Sanders’ mouth was “revolution.” If the debate had gone on any longer Bernie would have broken out the “Attica” chant.
THERE IS ONLY ONE PRESIDENT MY DEAR…AND HE IS IN THE OVAL OFFICE ALREADY…I SAY KT..BARRRRRRRRRRRRRRR THE DOOR…WE CAN LOCK HIM IN AND SLIDE THE MEALS UNDER THE DOOR!
I don’t think that Sanders realizes how dangerous it is to use such a word (revolution) particularly when there are so many weapons floating around and so many (white) people angry at the government. To add fuel to the fire is inconceivable.
I understand that Bernie’s call is for people to wake up and act as engaged citizens, something POTUS has been saying since he came to the national stage. But by using the word - revolution - over and over as Sanders is doing, coupled with his relentless attacks on Wall Street, and the billionaires, millionaires, etc. he might push some deranged souls to do the unthinkable.
NCLB, that’s one big reason why I want Bernie to be knocked out in the early primaries. His ranting, which has always been annoying, is also dangerous.
And as the centerpiece of his opening statement. It’s all about what makes Bernie feel good - he has no interest in reading the pulse of the country. He terrifies me more and more each day.
Methinks dems (dnc, dicc, obama, nancy, harry et. al.) made major blunder in not grooming the 2nd line leaders. Mebbe Uncle Joe should have been moved to secdef (none of them have been satisfactory any ways and Joe would have been a big improvement) and a young dem should have been made the veep in 2012. Risky? So, what?
The President was the youngest person to ever win the Presidency…with many of the old guard of the DNC thinking that the President was interloper because it was not his turn…it would have been hard to groom someone one younger to run in 2016…Notwithstanding the Clinton obstacle….if she had not run…maybe others would have had a chance……
the President had to set up a separate organizational structure in order to win…and as you know 2010 and 2012 were disasters because they ran from the President and his policies…
this time around..the Pres candidates are heeding those disasters and staying somewhat true to the President…
Clinton had floated Secretary Castro as a possible VP candidate…
I didn’t say younger than obama. Some new face, probably in 50’s. I mean PBO got a break when Kerry and Kennedy realized his potential and gave him a big break. If clintons were to throw a tantrum, so be it.
hmmm….i understand what you mean…but this young face would have had to do what PBO did…go outside of the structure…because once again…the DNC is going with Hillary Clinton…
Now it would have been very interesting if the VP had decided to run…not sure how that would have played out…
Spot on, Prettyfoot, the old guard always determined whose time it was to run. President Obama didn’t sit back and wait to be anointed by the old guard, and some in the old guard and the CBC are still up set with him because of that. If President Obama had listened to the old guard and we wouldn’t have the ACA, marriage equality, normalized relations with Cuba and Iran.
“The President was the youngest person to ever win the Presidency….”
Prettyfoot, I think this is not accurate! There were three presidents younger that President Obama who was 47 when he was elected. JFK was 42, Teddy Roosevelt was 43, and Bill Clinton was 45.
amk, as far as grooming goes you either have it or you don’t. You can’t groom greatness, you have to be born with it, President Obama was born with it. Nancy, Harry, and Joe Biden were in Washington for years. And did we get health care passed or marriage equality passed? The answer is no, it took someone that wasn’t groomed by the leaders to get those things passed.
I was thinking the same thing and perhaps Obama thought that primary field would be made up of Clinton, Biden, Deval Patrick and O’Malley, possibly Elizabeth Warren and 3 or 4 others and that would be a good all around list of candidates. So I think it was a really big deal when Deval decided to go into the private sector (Bain Capital wtf!) and Biden made the difficult decision not to run. I wish O’Malley was a legitimate third candidate but he just doesn’t have good instincts in campaigning.
So now we are left with Ms. Political Operative and the Vermont Spittoon.
“perhaps Obama thought that primary field would be made up of Clinton, Biden, Deval Patrick and O’Malley, possibly Elizabeth Warren and 3 or 4 others and that would be a good all around list of candidates. ” and so did I
“So now we are left with Ms. Political Operative and the Vermont Spittoon.” I still can’t believe this BS
Morning everyone…I got to sleep in today because….no school. Missing MLK today. Grateful that AZ finally did the right thing by honoring MLK with a holiday.
Started watching the debate…then sheer exhaustion just took over me. Bernie looked flummoxed after that gun lobby talk…had a mouth full of cotton. Hillary was prepared and competent. O’Malley….I think he’s a very good man and one day I hope he can contribute his goodness for this nation, in a national role. Not time yet.
Good Monday, Chipsticks…TOD Family!!!
GM Chips, swbluega and TOD. Congrats sw.
Gooooood morning to ya, COS!
Good Morning, COS. Thanks and enjoy your day. :-)
Mooooooooorning swbluega!!!
Happy MLK celebration Day.
Congrats SWBluega on your precious medal on this MLK day!
Congrats to COS, 1st runner up who won the precious contest!
Good Morning TODVille! Happy MLK day everyone.
Good Morning, NCLB…thanks. And Happy MLK Day to you as well.
Good Morning and Congrats sw! 😀
Good Morning, neighbor! Stay warm. :-)
Thanks! You too!
Was supposed to be doing volunteer work today but hurt my back lifting stuff I shouldn’t have by myself. [guess I’m no longer Woman Woman 😞]
So the heating pad will keep me plenty warm.
Yeah. Sometimes our brain has to catch up with where we are physically. I often *think* I can do some of the things I did 30 or so years ago… then reality slaps me in the face. [sigh]
Get well soon.
Thanks!
The oil price has fallen below $28 a barrel amid fears the lifting of Western sanctions on Iran could worsen the existing oversupply problem.
Brent crude, used as an international benchmark, fell as low as $27.67 a barrel, its lowest since 2003, before recovering slightly to trade at $28.17.
The price of US crude fell below $29 a barrel to $28.86.
The lifting of the Iran sanctions mean half a million barrels more oil per day could be produced, say analysts.
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-35340893
While world stock markets hate lower oil prices, it’s not only making life easier for people who drive cars, it’s easing the burden on those who still depend on oil to heat their homes. More money in the pocket of consumers is always bad news for investors.
yup, screw the oil speculators. Lower oil price reduces burden on industry also. But unfortunately, our govt has increased the taxes on oil and we pay more than a dollar for a liter. It’s a cash cow for them.
We paid $1.10 / litre today - cheapest price in so many years - and still way more than it should be. And why I have to listen to coal trucks running up and down the tracks night & day - heading for port & presumably China - when no-one wants coal any more - the stupid of government.
99ts, indeed the coal industry might be on its last legs.
And sadly, states like West Virginia have not planned for a coal free future. People in these states are frightened and angry, blaming ‘Democrats’ for trying to prevent climate catastrophe by cutting back on the coal miners’ livelihood. PBO said in his SOTU that we have to do a better job of transitioning people into alternative energy production. WV is way behind the curve ball on this.
GM Jackie…
it takes courage and vision …For politicians to help citizens transition from one industry to another…esp if the industry is paying politicians to hold on….denying climate change….refusing to stop subsidizing the oil industry…using fear…and such to keep voters voting against their best interests…
I wish the DEMs were as good at convincing voters to vote for their interests as the GOP is in convincing voters to vote against their own interests…
but for DEMS to do so would take courage and vision as well…to confront their own demons of racism and fear….
Good morning Chips and TODers. Yolanda Renee King is adorable and has the fashion perfect sense of our FLOTUS. Maybe she’s the one who’ll run for president some day.
She’s adorable.
gm TOD - what a glorious lass in the most wonderful dress - not to mention the smile for PBO.
so, who won the debate?
Chuckie - he was so sad because the debate had substance but no infighting.
I think Hillary won.
I do, too, Don.
I didn’t know Hillary and Bernie loved President Obama so much. Last night they were fawning over him like he was the second coming.
THAT’S CALLED USING THE PRESIDENT…I DON’T SWALLOW ANY OF IT…THEY WILL DO AND SAY WHAT THEY NEED TO IN ORDER TO GET INTO THE OVAL OFFICE…I PREFER BERNIE…I DON’T IIKE HIS AGE. I MUCH PREFER PBO NOT LEAVING…FINAL ANSWER.
Don, you make me crack.
I couldn’t pull myself to watch this debate. I can’t watch anyone commit fratricide. I did watch all 21 debates in 2008, however, because my candidate was in them. Now, all I want is for a Dem to win and stop the right wing dream of taking over the WH and dismantle all the progresses made by POTUS.
But I did hear a snippet about who said bad things about Obama in 2011. That made me laugh because both candidates have said unpleasant things about our POTUS. To be sure, I can forgive someone for “misspeaking”. But I can’t tolerate those Dems who, up until now. are making unpleasant comments about what the POTUS is doing.
I am waiting for general elections debates that need to open the eyes of the American people about how dangerous it will be to elect Il Douche or any of his runner ups. And, I will not contest that my inclination is for HRC to win because in my humble opinion, she has more chances to win than the Socialist from Vermont. Mind you, I will vote for Bernie in a heartbeat should he be the nominee, not because I feel the BERN but because he will be the WALL between wackos and the WH.
I could not have said it any better, NCLB, whomever the Dem candidate is we will have to support because they will be our firewall. On a side note, O’Malley is missing something that I can’t put my finger on. A couple of times last night he seemed to back down when Hillary challenged him.
i think O’Malley is not ready for Prime Time….
He knows he can only go so far at this point. Just make a decent showing and maybe get a cabinet seat.
Martin O’Malley has been my choice up until the last debate. He had been the best supporter of PBO during the last two terms and had put into play many progressive policies in his state while he was governor. The press has totally ignored him. I still like him, but maybe he would be a better VP.
I cannot believe I am saying this since I almost hated this person previously due to dishonesty and campaigning practices, but now I believe I will vote for HRC. I know she panders etc, but I feel we have the best chance of keeping PBO’s accomplishments intact with her winning. I like her take on ACA and gun control.
Bernie is a passionate mostly authentic person, but his record does not bare out support of PBO nor accomplishing legislation to further his own pet beliefs. He might destroy what has been done before realizing he cannot achieve what he wants to do. Anyone hear his campaign manager speak? I was not impressed with him. Also his healthcare plan seemed to be just thrown together. VT found it was too expensive to implement single payer as PBO had said so Bernie just stubbornly going for it anyway reminds me of those on the far left that want everything right now or prefer nothing at all over compromise.
The biggest problem for me now is getting enthused about anyone who follows PBO once our VP bowed out.
NCLB. The bottom line for me is this: Hillary will win the nomination. PBO supports Hillary. He believes that she will, despite some differences, carry on his legacy. PBO will pull out all of his considerable campaigning skills to fight for Hillary. So will FLOTUS, VP Biden and Jill Biden. Hilz is a far better debater than Bernie, who would literally be eaten alive in a general election debate. Plus he has VERY weak support within the Democatic party because he is NOT a Democrat and, unlike Hillary, has contributed zero to downstream candidate. PBO will ask us directly to WORK for, as well as VOTE for Hillary. I, for one will not turn him down. I care too much about my family and the country’s future to risk a Republican presidency.
Hillary, just as the President, has long experience with the vicious, immoral, attack dogs of the Right Wing machine. She is a dogged and persistent fighter. Her husband and President Obama are both associated with economic progress. The GOP and media promote Bernie because he would be easier to vote. The President is focused on preserving and extending the gains of his time in office.
GOP attack dogs will take Bernie down easily. He doesn’t have the resilience and grit to fight back, his health care plan is a joke.
ALL of this for each of your comments, taiping1! Hillary has her problems and there are still some areas in which she has yet to gain my trust, but she is a tough and resilient political player who has seen the worst that the GOP can throw her way and come out still standing and swinging. I do not need to be in love with her to vote for her; she is our best hope out of everyone running to lay the next parts of the road forward PBO’s ground breaking achievements to the new American century of progress and equality. Loving PBO and VP Joe as we do is a one-in-a-lifetime thing; we were blessed to be under the sun of their enlightened administration.
I don’t know if Bernie will be eaten alive by the crazies on the right, though I can picture Il Douche taken him with caricature, funny faces, old-age jokes, and definitely calling him a Socialist (communist, Hitler, Stalin, etc) to add more fear to lunatic, mostly-white base. But one thing for sure, IMHO, PBO and HRC are two seasoned politicians who know and understand what is at stake and the need to bridge their divides. PBO will definitely back up HRC and bring his coalition over to her camp.
Bernie is pure, almost like the ultra-conservative of the right. They both want everything their way. Bernie’s platform is good for the average people, but toxic for the reality we live in. He wants to KILL WALL STREET. Really? What about the thousand people working there and related sectors?
Obama gave a little and took some. He knows how to DEAL. (Look at the Iran Deal, the Climate Deal, the Cuba Deal, etc.) Remember his compromise after the first mid-term shellacking? He had to give some to the rethugs to gain some. But Bernie believes that he must go ALL IN socialist on the current political climate. A better approach is COMPROMISE. And I believe HRC understands this subdued and moderate approach better.
Besides, Bernie is too angry looking.
Bernie hoping no one but his faithful listen to his stump speech, where he blames PBO for everything. At least Hillary got the memo, and has been consistent on Twitter saying what I want to hear: that PBO made great progress and we must built on it and solidity it.
Bernie wants “revolution”. Seriously, I cringe every time I hear him say that. Because the word makes him feel good, it doesn’t matter if it is a major weapon in the GOP arsenal to deprive us of a Dem POTUS and let this country go to hell in a hand basket.
I think Bernie’s “revolution” rhetoric is red meat for the burn-it-down left wingers out there.
And it will be used to motivate the already fearful with great effectiveness by the GOP. There are times in history when you can trot that b.s. out and see how far you get - when you have a balanced Congress and an opposition party that isn’t to the right of the Nazis. Not now. It’s dangerous, narcissistic. Shame on Bernie.He could do unimaginable damage to the U.S.& as long as he thinks it’s 1968, he is absolutely right and everyone else is absolutely wrong. He is politically inept and uninterested.
I remember 2007/2008 - PBO well understood that he needed to make the country comfortable with him as POTUS and he achieved it step by step, pointing out his many-faceted abilities and vision. That Bernie doesn’t give a damn is horrific. Check the Michael Cohen I tweeted down on this thread.
In total agreement with you, 57!
My first e-mail this morning was from a devoted Bernie fan telling me that MLK would have understood and supported Bernie. That’s just too much to handle before coffee. Whenever I’m in a group of Democrats, Bernie fans start raising their voices to tell us all how blind we are not to support him. It’s the worst possible persuasion technique.
The way Bernie always sounds like he’s angry and fussing when he speaks makes me feel that he is a hard person to communicate with. Beyond that, his attitude about single payer — all or nothing — makes me wonder about his ability to compromise…a trait that is needed if he truly believes in the process of diplomacy.
HE’S TOO OLD TO RUN…HIS BODY IS UNDER STRESS…IMAGINE THAT IN THE WHITEHOUSE..HE’S TIRED….SO IS SHE!
NEITHER ONE OF THEM ARE FIT TO RUN AND FACE WHAT IS COMING…NOTTA!
I’M JUST VOTING DEM. BUT NOT AT ALL HAPPY ABOUT WHO IS RUNNING..OBVIOUSLY!
SW, Bernie is outright delusional about single player, which he could never bring about even if we had overwhelming Dem majorities in the House and Senate. He also wants to destroy ACA, which is helping millions of people and is far more affordable, palatable and workable within the American health care system than single payer. Hillary understands this because she knows what a monumental achievement ACA is. Hillary does not engage my heart, but my head tells me that working for her is the right thing to do.
If nothing else, being close to her husband’s administration, and having had a role in the Obama administration makes her more realistic about how things get done; that it is a lot more than just saying what should be or how you want it to be.
Hillary does not engage my heart, but my head tells me that working for her is the right thing to do.
*************************
My heart will be in it because i must look at the big picture the way the President does…as you have said in your daily organizing..We are the Change we seek……it is not so much about Hillary as it is about the kind of country that we want to have….
I have reconciled that Sanders is not who i want…O’Malley is not ready…
It will be Hillary that i am supporting in the primary….and will be working in her campaign when it sets up here in PA…
There will never be a President like President Obama. But I will do everything possible to insure the protection of his legacy.
Pf, what I mean by ‘heart” is that no one will engage my heart fully like President Obama, who was, is, and always shall be in a class by himself. Once I start working for Hillary, I will be 100 percent in her corner because I do respect her and appreciate her intelligence. And I will add that’s it’s about damned time we had a female president. In my corner of the universe, the most rapid Bernie supporters are older white males and I can’t help feeling that whiff of misogyny from them that really gets my back up.
yes…i understand what you mean…what i meant is that my heart will be in it…to keep up moving forward…because i feel like you …there will never be another like PBO…and i look forward to his campaigning during the home stretch and for the the time that he resumes his life as “citizen”….he will not go quietly into the night…YES WE CAN
Jackie, they do it on twitter all the time. I can’t go on twitter without some Berniestan breaking balls about how African Americans owe to themselves to vote for Bernie, sickening.
Don, while Sanders seems to have the support of the younger age group, tweets that were going back and forth last night indicate that even *they* are ready to move past the rhetoric and want to see the substance. They recognize that Bernie is giving them the “what”, but their confidence is waning because the “how” is not there, or is not sufficient in their eyes. I’ll go back and see if I can find that string.
https://twitter.com/Candi151/status/688923922046279680
I try to keep an open mind, but I like him less and less and I am convinced that it would be a disaster for the country if he got the nomination. He is angry, unclear, annoyed when everyone doesn’t see things exactly his way. He still doesn’t give a damn about foreign policy.
Mr. 57 was leaning toward him in the primary. We have a lot of Bernie supporters amongst our friends. But he found him unsettling, rigid, and almost childish last night. And in terms of presentation, Hillary has come so far in the last 7 years.
Oh, and what kind of cheap shot was that to unveil his “single payer plan” a few hours before the debate? Childish and petty.
I read it, and I read Ezra Klein’s initial reaction to it. It was like the fuzzy proposals the GOP comes up with: short on substance, promising the moon, and magic will make it happen. How in the world does he not have a comprehensive plan for single payer? He has spent his entire career saying he would do things differently, and he’s not prepared to tell us how?
Oh, wait - in a twitter conversation about how he’s done nothing to create a progressive Congress, even in VT, I was told by a Bernie follower that he doesn’t need it because his followers will go out into the streets every time he needs it, and Congress will be afraid and surrender.
Seriously, what planet do these people live on? And again, Bernie is going to magically transform the country through “revolution”.
I don’t love Hillary. I don’t trust her to be as progressive as she is on the campaign trail. But she is competent.
GOOD MORNING TOD FAMILY…THE FROZEN ONE HERE…9 DEGREES THIS MORNING AND THE FURNACE IS GETTING TIRED…………….YOU ALL NEED TO LOOK UP THIS VIDEO…MARTIN LUTHER KING..PAUL’S LETTER TO AMERICAN CHRISTIANS…IT IS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT AND I RUN IT OFTEN ON MY FB FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. PLEASE SAY PRAYERS FOR ALL OF OUR HOMELESS WHO ARE EXPOSED TO THESE TEMPS…THE COLD IS REALLY BAD FOR MY BONES…SO IN THE HOUSE TODAY. SO TIRED OF THOSE GETTING A RASH OVER THE IRAN DEAL…SUCH UNGRATEFUL PEOPLE…UNLESS IT HAPPENS TO SOMEONE IN THEIR FAMILY..THEN THE STORY CHANGES!
Sue, please keep yourself well covered and as warm as possible. We had our furnace go out during a cold snap and it was hellish. I’ve never been so cold in my life.
Gooooood Morning TOD Family!
PRECIOUS…WANT TO TAKE THAT SWEET DEER HOME..I KNOW…GET A BIGGER LITTERBOX!
Good morning TOD!
Congrats swbluega :)
Yes, thank you Switzerland!!
I PRAY THERE IS MUCH THAT CAN BE DONE IN HEALTHCARE FOR THESE EX-PRISONERS…I KNOW PASTOR ABEDINI WAS TORTURED ALOT AND IN ILL HEALTH. CAN’T WAIT TO SEE ALL OF THEM!
A-M-E-N……………………….DON’T I KNOW IT!
AMEN…….
Appears Twitter has crashed ….
bbl … wishing you all a special day of remembrance of MLKJr!
For a moment last night I thought I was listening to, Che Guevara, every other word out of Bernie Sanders’ mouth was “revolution.” If the debate had gone on any longer Bernie would have broken out the “Attica” chant.
THERE IS ONLY ONE PRESIDENT MY DEAR…AND HE IS IN THE OVAL OFFICE ALREADY…I SAY KT..BARRRRRRRRRRRRRRR THE DOOR…WE CAN LOCK HIM IN AND SLIDE THE MEALS UNDER THE DOOR!
I don’t think that Sanders realizes how dangerous it is to use such a word (revolution) particularly when there are so many weapons floating around and so many (white) people angry at the government. To add fuel to the fire is inconceivable.
I understand that Bernie’s call is for people to wake up and act as engaged citizens, something POTUS has been saying since he came to the national stage. But by using the word - revolution - over and over as Sanders is doing, coupled with his relentless attacks on Wall Street, and the billionaires, millionaires, etc. he might push some deranged souls to do the unthinkable.
NCLB, that’s one big reason why I want Bernie to be knocked out in the early primaries. His ranting, which has always been annoying, is also dangerous.
And as the centerpiece of his opening statement. It’s all about what makes Bernie feel good - he has no interest in reading the pulse of the country. He terrifies me more and more each day.
It’s inexcusable that he that politically tone deaf. Unacceptable.
MY BIG MOUTH WILL ONLY CLOSE WHEN I’M DEAD…I DON’T UNDERSTAND SILENCE IN THE FACE OF INJUSTICE!..DONNA BRAZILE…SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SOUL!
WOULD YOU BELIEVE RAND PAUL STANDING FOR PBO ON JOE….HE DOES NOT LIKE EVERYONE SAYING “IT’S ALL OBAMA’S FAULT!’
Good for Rand. And that’s a sentence I thought I would never write.
Unless HE says it’s PBO’S fault. Don’t give he any credit because he’ll change his tube like the rest of them.
I’m listening to the intro right now and checked out the play list. Definitely a worthwhile listen. Thanks for sharing.
Methinks dems (dnc, dicc, obama, nancy, harry et. al.) made major blunder in not grooming the 2nd line leaders. Mebbe Uncle Joe should have been moved to secdef (none of them have been satisfactory any ways and Joe would have been a big improvement) and a young dem should have been made the veep in 2012. Risky? So, what?
The President was the youngest person to ever win the Presidency…with many of the old guard of the DNC thinking that the President was interloper because it was not his turn…it would have been hard to groom someone one younger to run in 2016…Notwithstanding the Clinton obstacle….if she had not run…maybe others would have had a chance……
the President had to set up a separate organizational structure in order to win…and as you know 2010 and 2012 were disasters because they ran from the President and his policies…
this time around..the Pres candidates are heeding those disasters and staying somewhat true to the President…
Clinton had floated Secretary Castro as a possible VP candidate…
I didn’t say younger than obama. Some new face, probably in 50’s. I mean PBO got a break when Kerry and Kennedy realized his potential and gave him a big break. If clintons were to throw a tantrum, so be it.
hmmm….i understand what you mean…but this young face would have had to do what PBO did…go outside of the structure…because once again…the DNC is going with Hillary Clinton…
Now it would have been very interesting if the VP had decided to run…not sure how that would have played out…
Spot on, Prettyfoot, the old guard always determined whose time it was to run. President Obama didn’t sit back and wait to be anointed by the old guard, and some in the old guard and the CBC are still up set with him because of that. If President Obama had listened to the old guard and we wouldn’t have the ACA, marriage equality, normalized relations with Cuba and Iran.
Castro would be a perfect choice. Hope she follows through on this.
“The President was the youngest person to ever win the Presidency….”
Prettyfoot, I think this is not accurate! There were three presidents younger that President Obama who was 47 when he was elected. JFK was 42, Teddy Roosevelt was 43, and Bill Clinton was 45.
i stand corrected….ty..:)
amk, as far as grooming goes you either have it or you don’t. You can’t groom greatness, you have to be born with it, President Obama was born with it. Nancy, Harry, and Joe Biden were in Washington for years. And did we get health care passed or marriage equality passed? The answer is no, it took someone that wasn’t groomed by the leaders to get those things passed.
And the Clintons could not get health care done either. It took a Renegade (The SS named him true) to get all of this and more done.
Renegade, Rosebudd, Radiance, and I can’t think of the other code name they gave each member of the Obama family.
Renaissance…….
I was thinking the same thing and perhaps Obama thought that primary field would be made up of Clinton, Biden, Deval Patrick and O’Malley, possibly Elizabeth Warren and 3 or 4 others and that would be a good all around list of candidates. So I think it was a really big deal when Deval decided to go into the private sector (Bain Capital wtf!) and Biden made the difficult decision not to run. I wish O’Malley was a legitimate third candidate but he just doesn’t have good instincts in campaigning.
So now we are left with Ms. Political Operative and the Vermont Spittoon.
yeah, imagine what a bfd that field would have been.
it would have been simply awesomeeeee,,,Wow…just thinking about it..
“perhaps Obama thought that primary field would be made up of Clinton, Biden, Deval Patrick and O’Malley, possibly Elizabeth Warren and 3 or 4 others and that would be a good all around list of candidates. ” and so did I
“So now we are left with Ms. Political Operative and the Vermont Spittoon.” I still can’t believe this BS
“Methinks dems (dnc, dicc, obama, nancy, harry et. al.) made major blunder in not grooming the 2nd line leaders.”
you are too kind amk. I have never seen such a determination for the most epic self inflicted clusterf*ck in my entire life. They deserve the outcome.
LOL. Karma.
Always brilliant, AMK!
Good morning, TODville. Wishing everyone a great MLK day.
UK keeping it real:
It would be epic if they had the guts to pass the ban.
Good Morning, Everyone :)
Hey, is that picture from 50th anniversary of the march on Washington - at the Lincoln Memorial?
Brilliant statement. Short and so true.
Chat away
http://theobamadiary.com/2016/01/18/chat-away-756/
Morning everyone…I got to sleep in today because….no school. Missing MLK today. Grateful that AZ finally did the right thing by honoring MLK with a holiday.
Started watching the debate…then sheer exhaustion just took over me. Bernie looked flummoxed after that gun lobby talk…had a mouth full of cotton. Hillary was prepared and competent. O’Malley….I think he’s a very good man and one day I hope he can contribute his goodness for this nation, in a national role. Not time yet.
My plumber is here….