****
Time: …. Admiral William McRaven speaks respectfully of Bush as Commander in Chief, saying he “made some very, very tough decisions.” About Obama, without a question to prompt him, he waxes lyrical and at length. The planning and decision-making for the bin Laden raid, he volunteers, “was really everything the American public would expect from their national leadership.”
“The President was at all times presidential,” he says. “I would contend he was the smartest guy in the room. He had leadership skills we’d expect from a guy who had 35 years in the military.”
Full article here
****
TPM: …. in a new poll from Public Policy Polling President Obama bests former Mitt Romney 48 percent to 42 and Newt Gingrich 50 to 43 in Virginia … Only 31 percent see Gingrich favorably against 55 percent, and it’s nearly as bad for Romney at 33 - 52.
****
Mediaite
Crikey, Fox really don’t like Romney, do they?
****
****
Jonathan Freedland (The Guardian): Whoever wrote the political rulebook needs to start rewriting it …. in the US Barack Obama is mired in horrible numbers – except for the ones showing him beating all-comers in the election now less than 11 months away. Even though the US economy is slumped in the doldrums, some of the country’s shrewdest commentators make a serious case that Obama could be heading for a landslide victory in 2012.
How to explain such a turnaround? In the United States, at least, there is one compellingly simple, two-word answer: Fox News.
…. it is Fox that is, in effect, picking the party’s nominee to face Obama next November …. If one is to flourish rather than wither in the Fox spotlight, there are several articles of faith to which one must subscribe – from refusing to believe in human-made climate change, and insisting that Christians are an embattled minority in the US, persecuted by a liberal, secular, bi-coastal elite, to believing that government regulation is always wrong, and that any attempt to tax the wealthiest people is immoral. Those who deviate are rapidly branded foreign, socialist or otherwise un-American.
….It was this process that led the former speechwriter David Frum to declare last year: “Republicans originally thought that Fox worked for us – and now we’re discovering we work for Fox.”
…. The extremism, anger, paranoia and sense of victimhood that Fox incubates are all unhealthy for the United States. But it’s inflicting particular damage on the Republican party, which could well lose a winnable election because of its supine relationship to a TV network. It turns out it is not liberals who should fear the Fox – it’s conservatives.
Full article here
White House.gov
First!!!
LOL…you’re fast…I will gladly cede to you my friend!
Better luck next time pal * waves hands in the air in a mocking manner* :)
Please let me first!
:lol:
OH snaps….This is too funny.
Awh…just like a good mom, thanks Chips!!!
Hysterical!!! Um, am I third? LOL ……….Hope I’m not pushing my luck
Nice mishmash, Chips! I’m feeling those Virginia numbers ;-) . We’re gonna lock down this state for PBO (and Tim Kaine) in 2012. No doubt about it.
I sure hope so. I live just across the river and your governor and AG give me nightmares.
Yes, I’ve always viewed President Obama as a very intelligent man. Love him.
Great article about the bin Laden raid from Marc Ambinder from a while back
Key Quote:
After that 2009 incident with Somali pirates—Obama’s first “3 a.m. moment,” to use the famed words of a Hillary Rodham Clinton attack ad in the 2008 presidential primaries—a relationship flourished between the young president who had never worn the uniform and this most elite of forces. Obama invited McRaven to most of his planning meetings on the Afghanistan war. The two men became chummy, according to people who know them. McRaven is a cerebral warrior, himself a DevGru SEAL and the author of a textbook on special operations.
Source: http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine/practicing-with-the-pirates-these-navy-seals-were-ready-for-bin-laden-mission-20110505
But according to the press…the military hates the President, right?
I love having smart people in charge of things.
Thanks LOL for this very interesting article. I concur also PJ about having smart people in charge of things, especially POB and his team. Also, Sec. Robert Gates had some wonderful remarks about serving under POB. I think we are in great company. I loved how Sec. Gates always presented himself with POB.
I also hope that he is enjoying his retirement. Can’t wait to read his book(s) about serving under POB. I like Robert Gates. HZ
NONE OF THE GOP CLOWNS WILL BE ABLE TO DEBATE PBO!..:))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))! NONE…NOTTA’….ZERO!!!!!
Especially on military matters. The only ones that have it Perry and Paul have no chance in Hell or Earth.
Some or all of them think Solyndra’s a country and Libya isn’t in Africa.
I saw the Admiral McRaven quote earlier on Twitter. Having worked as a civilian for the Navy for 30 years and hearing a lot out said by officers of the public’s view, I can assure you no Admiral would make such a statement without meaning it. He would have given the President a very couched compliment - not discernible to the public as being low key or even fake - if he didn’t feel it wholeheartedly. That’s my take.
I’m so glad he said this, and that it’s getting reported.
hmmm … make that *hearing a lot said by officers out of the public’s view*
Add this comment to the stellar 30 minute press conference that the retired general’s did last month, and the GOP must be running scared. President Obama should be proud of winning these military men over - and that’s just through solid, hard work and genuine care and respect for the troops.
On a related note: I don’t question the President’s decisions on Afghanistan and the pace of withdrawal. After seeing how hard he’s worked to care for the troops and veterans, and how sincerely he feels a debt of gratitude for their sacrifices, it’s more evident than ever that he would never put a soldier in harm’s way, if he didn’t have to. I knew this the night he spent greeting the fallen soldiers at Dover all through the cold, windy night - and I know it more now. He’s doing the best he can with the worst situation.
I love your comment, theo. I feel exactly the same.
About that press conference last month… are you talking about General Westley Clark and Richard Danzig ? I saw that one. But if you’re talking about something else, I would love to know some details because I missed it.
I would, as well, theo. Thx.
Count me in as well theo67. Would love to read or see the information.HZ
Somebody please tell me what happens if you’re first. Do you get a “naughty mat”, wedgie, or cocoa butter? ;-)
All of the above. And then I think you get first in line to get first again. Or something like that!
Yardarm, how could you not know this is the prize?
:lol:
Ha! Go spank the monkey Chips and use a snake to do it. :lol:
I have to admit - I don’t know what all this “snake” business is, but based on the context, I probably am better off staying uninformed on this one… :)
And you know it theo67. Chips is tryin’ to bust my chops about a statement i made a few days ago. (I ain’t backing-up Chips). ;-)
No, no, yardarm, you means you’re not backing DOWN.
Although I’m hazy on what you said a few days ago that chips was busting your chops about.
Hey Yardarm, ‘Chips The Chops-Buster’ has a ring about it!! :lol:
Does it now. It’s yours if you can handle it. Just be careful what you ask for. ;-)
During Obama’08, if you were first @bo.com, you had to donate to someone downline…
What do you prefer??? :) I’m guessing the cocoa butter :)
You betcha as long as i can get a booty with stretch marks to go with it.:-D
Did I have you pegged, or what sailor! I knew it! :)
WHO, ME? What’d i do? ;-)
Axelrod did good on Hardball!
He always does. PBO has only smart exceptional people working for him.
So true, Bill. That is another reason why he will win. He knows how to accept help from other smart and gifted people like himself.
And they all really respect and love him. I’m sure of it.
It’s amazing to me that Americans have allowed Rupert Murdoch to come to this country and circumvent our democracy by way of Fox News.
It’s fear of the others. Others being minorities, people who don’t have Jesus fishes on their cars, people who believe in science, people who are more educated, etc. The thing that bugs me is that Gretchen Carlson (the blonde from the morning show) is a trained violinist that graduated from Standford..but she plays dumb so her audience can relate to her. Jon Stewart had a vicious take down of her a year or so ago. She didn’t know what the word “czar” or “ignoramus” meant. So she had to “google” it live on air. Google the word ignoramus. A Standford Grad.
I know Ppl who watch this crap daily, they utter phrases and one sentence talking points like programmed robots.
Scary!
I’ve decided that Gretchen may be able to read music, but that doesn’t mean she can read anything else, and more importantly, actually think.
Gretchen did indeed graduate from Stanford after studying abroad at Oxford, but Michele Bachmann was one of her babysitters in childhood, so maybe that explains a lot. She’s good at playing stupid and nasty. Hope it comes back to bite her!
Completely concur with your comment LOL. It’s fear of the other and those who watch FOX have fed into that BS that they even regard their neighbor as the other because they don’t look like them or have evolved beliefs. It’s just a shame.
Not just this country.
Wouldn’t it be ironic if FOX was the very entity that brought them all crashing down? I feel a titanic shift about to happen. People are going to believe their eyes, not lies.
2010 was a blip. 2012 will be the battleground, and I think the GOP will be decimated.
We are SO on the same page:)
Closing quote from a GQ report on the Obama campaign operations in Chicago:
I remember when you said this right after the election, LL. You said this was the Tea Party’s high water mark and it would downhill all the way. Your predictions are coming true.
Fairfax , Arlington and Alexandria Virginia are the keys to winning that state.
And they will be busing us here in MD there every single weekend starting around March next year. :)
If you’re saying Marylanders will be bussed here (to Virginia) to whip us up, you may not have to do that. We are firing up on all cylinders over here already, and have been coming together for the past 6 months. I’ve already done some voter registration, canvassing and working the subway platforms to get the 10,000 signatures needed to get the President on the Virginia ballot. So we’re gearing up.
Donna, come to PA. We’ve got a big dead center in the middle of the state and need all the help we can get. Philadelphia is often late to wake up, but when they deliver they go big time. But you’ve got to beg for every vote in the T.
Actually they did bus us to Philly in 2008. I didn’t go but my cousin and her best girlfriend went a couple of Saturdays just before the election so I guess (since we are solid blue here in MD) that they’ll be doing the same next year. You may look up Jackie and I’ll be there :)
Lautenberg isn’t the first Democrat to use the theme of Christmas to lash-out at House Republicans’ tax cut bill this week. On Tuesday Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) accused the GOP of pushing legislation that would poison more than 8,000 people to death as a Christmas gift to Americans.
“They have attached a poison pill — literally, colleagues — because it will kill 8,100 more people more than would have otherwise been killed from pollution,” said Boxer, referring to the same industrial boiler provision that Lautenberg ripped.
“They attach that to the payroll tax cut,” said Boxer, the chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. “So have that for a Christmas gift.”
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/199465-dem-senator-americans-should-tell-their-kids-to-hide-from-gop-scrooges-
GOP scrooges.
Good for Barbara Boxer!
Barbara Boxer is a great senator. She was speaking about some of these issues today on the Senate floor. She is small, but she is a fighter and great supporter of POB. Love her.HZ
Interesting article, except I would disagree with the “winnable election”. I honestly don’t think they ever really had a chance of beating him unless they cheat.
And they WILL cheat, so we can’t let our guard down.
And they WILL cheat, so we can’t let our guard down.
Worth saying again!!!
Sometimes I think he is talking through in his head: winnable election, for the GOP? Are you really seeing what is going on over here, or just watching Fox, the station you so want to expose? I agree with you, AnitaW, I usually find the foreign opinion is a broader perspective, but that line really had me scratching my head.
Usual gnashing of teeth over at TPM over Dems considering their options to extend the payroll tax and avoid a govt shutdown. All I have to offer is this comparison:
2008: 130 million Americans voted
2010: 80 million Americans voted
You get the govt for which you neglect to vote.
Amen! The majority of the complainers didn’t bother taking their behinds to the polls last year.
I cannot understand that. Our family lives in upper red-as-red Utah and we have NEVER missed an election in 48 years, no matter how hopeless it was to vote at all. What excuse did these losers have — was it to “teach Obama a lesson”? THAT certainly turned out well.
My mother became a citizen at 70 just so that she could vote. People have NO excuse. You have no idea how much that negligence pisses me off.
Don’t tell the emoprogs. They will get nasty on you.
I love that can I borrow that?
Please do.
True, but at the same time this potential decision does not reflect well on the President. When it is time for him to hit the campaign trail he will have to sell that this was a good compromise. People are upset, and Dems bending for the Republicans again is not something that people who voted in 2008 and 2010 will want to hear.
But the thing is, people didn’t vote in 2010, which is why we have the cockup we have now. They were expecting a Messianic revelation, and instead got the usual hard slogging of political work, which upset their notions. So they stayed home—aided and abetted by the “liberal” blogosphere which demanded purity over achievement—and now we have, well, Speaker Boehner, two words which should’ve never been joined together. If voters don’t want to keep getting handed shit sandwiches, they had better come out in 2012 for PBO and strong Dem majorities in both Houses.
And just so everyone knows, I’m not at all happy about this turn of events. But that’s what happens when the electorate, both through action and inaction, puts into power a political party that has no interest in governing, or working for the greater common good. They’re pure bastards, the lot of them.
THESE!
Co-sign. LL that is a well thought out, well-written assessment of the hell brought to us by misplaced message sending and business-as-usual voting patterns.
Democrats showed up at roughly the same numbers that they did during previous midterms. The problem with that turnout level from our side is that Fox-influenced seniors showed up in higher numbers than they had in previous midterms. The relative indifference from our side, handed the majority of state legislatures over to a tea party-flavored GOP.
No one will remember this if the tax cuts get passed. Especially if the way they pay for it doesn’t cut from social programs.
Love your gravatar, very enterprising and studious look. Very telling observation. So many people don’t’ think mid-telling elections are that important. However, in times past it would have been deemed treasonous to be so obstructionist. People don’t have any excuses, but I think it’s worth noting the subversionary tactics that are being implemented to deter people from voting. In the Midwest, I know the Right did research and found that the poor, elderly, and usually Left leaning voters heavily relied on party-line voting. You go in the booth punch Democrat and leave. Now every office must be voted on, some ballots are quite long. This is just one example. People are actively working to undermine participation, in a country where political apathy is already rampant and some of the most heavily contested election may get 50% participation - it’s unconsciousable and revolting.
Pete Souza is releasing new official First Family portrait tomorrow at noon. Can’t wait for that.
ooh cool.
Thanks Jessica for the heads up. I can’t wait.
Thanks Jessica. Wonder if Bo will be included in this one? Can’t wait.
Don’t think so. No mention of Bo in Pete Souza’s tweet. That would have been awesome though. I wish they had shot it in the spring and have taken it in the Rose or Jackie Kennedy garden but if not the Yellow Room is one of my favorites.
Oh I hope Bo’s in it, he’s part of the family!!! I love my little Bo-Bo!!! I’ll really haz a sad tomorrow if the new photo is unveiled without Bo-Bo in it. :(
I am with you Lisa. I love my Bo. It would be very nice to have Bo included, but I am sure the decision will make us happy.HZ
I cannot wait either. How exciting!
That’ll be nice. Souza is very hard working, I’m sure his job is not easy. He is certainly a gifted photographer, but I wonder about his background. The girls have grown so much.
Did you watch that National Geographic/PBS documentary, “the President’s Photographer”? It was brilliant - and gave a little background on Pete Souza and a lot o behind-the-scenes of the Obama Administration.
http://video.pbs.org/video/1672209202/
I missed that documentary, thanks for the heads up Theo.
It is excellent, DreamChaser57. It would be an excellent gift for anyone interested in photography, and Presidents’ photographers in our history. Beautiful documentary. I gave several as gifts to dear friends.HZ
What do you mean, DreamChaser57? Background?HZ
PBO IS THE SMARTEST MAN IN THE ROOM. ALWAYS!
I do believe deep down inside the souls of FOX news members they know none of their candidates are leading PBO among the American people……..and you know what it’s eating them alive :lol:…..nice.
Spot on!!
NBC news is continuing their Newt take down again tonight. And making a big push for Ron Paul. Had multitudes of good things to say about Paul, aired his anti-war message, said college students are attracted to his candidacy—gee, I wonder why—-and saying he has a good chance to overtake Gingrich in Iowa and is a great 3rd party candidate. NBC is just desperate for a horse race—-of any kind. It looks like they’ve given up on Romney, Newt loses big to Obama so they’re squelching that candidacy, and they’re seeing a glimmer of hope with Paul now.
Except Paul loses even more hugely to PBO, and the actual campaign hasn’t even started.
Paul polls horribly out of Iowa and NH - they’re pushing Paul to kill the Gingrich campaign, knowing full well that Romney will destroy Paul in SCarolina and Florida and have the nomination sewed up by Feb 1st. Paul is a joke who would lose 70-30 in the General.
Maybe I’m too cynical, but could they push Ron PAUL in the hope that he will attract a significan part of the youth vote ? Many young people only know about his anti-war and his anti federal-reserve message.
Could be. Anything’s possible!
Twitter is very ugly now with PL speculations that has sent people into a frenzy. I wonder why we don’t wait for the last word and decision made by the President whether he is going to sign pending bills in Congress. Sigh.
Screw them. Here’s JeffersonObama:
Hopefully the White House aides come out and clear this up tonight. POTUS just issued a veto threat, so him potentially going back on what he said needs to be cleared up and explained. Harry Reid needs to explain why he might drop the surtax too.
It’s hard for Democrats to continue to talk about millionairs and billionairs paying their fair share, then they end up not having too.
I asked you and Jovie on the last thread how you would get Repubs to do that which they don’t want to do. I’m interested in your ideas. What would you do if you were Reid or PBO?
I personally could not answer what I would do in these circumstances, except to fight to keep the government running at all costs. That to me is more important than any short-term political gains. I’m just glad that it’s President Obama making the judgment call and not President McCain or :shock: President Palin!
Govt shuts down, the economy tanks. That’s the stark math.
Thanks for responding but I was trying to get a response from the two commenters who act as though the Dems and PBO are somehow to blame for a problem created by the 2010 elections.
PBO and the Dems, will almost always get the short end of the stick because they actually do care. Unfortunately for them and us they are dealing with elected sociopaths who don’t care. It’s like King Solomon and the two mothers claiming the same child. It was the real mother who was willing to give her child away rather than see it split in half. The other mother could care less. That’s what we’re dealing with here so we should never begrudge the decisions of PBO, Reid and the Dems because those of us who did not vote created this environment.
It shouldn’t have to be that way. This is one time I think that democrats in Congress really have to stand their grounds and not give in to the republicans.
So what does that mean? Maybe you don’t understand what a sociopath is or you have nothing to lose if the worse were to happen.
Make it plain L3. Make it plain.
They won’t answer L3 because they are shit-stirrers!!!
Like clockwork they come out to whip up angst and rage and hand wringing!!! Always arm-chair quarterbacking the most brilliant President ever as they sit behind their anonymity on the internet throwing out crap with zero answers on how they would deal with the issues at hand!!!
L3 - Very well said. Thank you for shining that light.
Where did you hear about the veto threat? Huzzah if true.
the veto wasn’t about the surtax it was about the Keystone pipeline and other poison pills. If Senate Dems can find another way to pay for the cuts he will sign it.
From what I understand you are talking about two different bills and vetoes.
Britt, maybe you might want to tweet the Whitehouse and Leader Reid. Might help to clear things up for you.HZ
New Reuters/Ipsos poll.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/14/us-usa-campaign-poll-idUSTRE7BD0AI20111214
The mad up-and-down of the polls and front runners says more about the loosely-wired Republican electorate than the hapless candidates themselves.
Exactly Joan!!!
Just saw a holiday pick of POTUS, FLOTUS and Bo on Extra … wow! Talk about beautiful!
CTGirl, How can I see that picture you are talking about?
It will be in People magazine on Friday but I am hoping we will see it on their website tomorrow. I saw the pic on Extra today.
Via Al Giordano, I love this quote from Bob Dylan:
““You know, I’ve never been in TIME Magazine, and yet this hall is filled twice, you know, I’ve never been in TIME magazine, I don’t need TIME magazine and… the people that buy my records and listen to me don’t necessarily read TIME Magazine. You know the audience that subscribe to TIME Magazine, the audience of people that want to know what’s happening in the world week by week, the people that work during the day and can read it, its small, alright and it’s concise and there’s pictures in it, you know? It’s a certain class of people, its a class of people that take the magazine seriously, I mean sure I can read it, you know, I read it, I get it on the airplanes but I don’t take it seriously. If I want to find out anything, I’m not gonna read TIME magazine, I’m not gonna read Newsweek, I’m not gunna read any of these magazines, I mean cause they just got to much to lose by printing the truth.”
– Bob Dylan, Don’t Look Back”
You know, that was brilliant when he finally got to the point, you know? :)
:) :) :)
Well brillience takes time. Time, Newsweek, MSM, they would lose too much money, rating and prestige by telling the truth.
First I see a bobble head on Fox blast Romney on his $10,000 bet with Perry, reasoning that it would make him appear insensitive to struggling middle and working classes, and then in the next breath he says a payroll tax cut would be bad for the middle class. A few days later they show a unemployment chart where 9.0% is lower than 8.6%, and now this Iowa caucus chart where they show Obama’s image in place Mitt Romney/s. Is this one of the methods they use to brainwash their viewers? The GOP are looking more, and more like the Communist Party each day.
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama arrive on the South Lawn of the White House following their trip to Fort Bragg, N.C., Dec. 14, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
The glamour couple walks ahead, grabbing a private moment, while Secret Service keeps a respectful distance. Gives ya chills.
Beautiful picture of POTUS and FLOTUS.
Chips - That’s almost the BEST photo you’ve ever given us, among a gazillion best photos. Next to the RAIN photo. Thank you.
Such a great image! So special!
More from Al Giordano on Time naming “The Protester” as the person of the year:
“This is really idiotic and shows the depths to which commercial media will reach to try and co-opt trends and ideas. The suggestion that all “protesters” are somehow the same thing - not taking into account that some are more than protesters and win their battles for change, while others are *only* protesters and therefore lose theirs - is an attempt to tell readers that protests themselves are “changing the world” (in the Time editor’s words), while masking that it’s not the protests, stupid, it’s the hard work of organizing real movements that the media doesn’t report…”
Could you leave a link for these quotes? I’d like to read the whole article but can’t find it.
It’s from his facebook page
no link, it’s from Al’s FB page. It may be on The Field website too, but I didn’t look
Sorry
Really, really like Al Giordano.
He’s right. But “The Organizer” isn’t as sexy.
This latest pending government shutdown BS is why I am ticked off at the emoprogs and PL who told Dems and liberals not to vote last November. Now they’re whining that “Spineless Reid/Obama will cave/capitulate again.”
Well, if you hadn’t allowed Republicans to win last year, “Spinless Reid/Obama” wouldn’t be forced to “cave/capitulate.” They are dealing with the hands they’ve been dealt, and they aren’t very good hands. I’d rather Reid/Obama “cave/capitulate” to keep the government running and take care of over 800,000 government workers than allow Republicans to shut the government down and those government workers suffer… all for political points. If anyone needs to “grow a spine,” it is NOT Obama or Reid, it’s the whining emoprogs who ALWAYS want to throw in the towel when it gets tough! :mad:
+1000%
That’s basically what I’ve been saying on here all afternoon. You get the govt you DON’T vote for.
Yep, here they go again. So tired of them, that’s why we’ll never get single-payer because they give up way to freakin’ easy and let the crazies take over and then constantly complain about the crazies.
nintendowii10, I am right with you on this matter. Because if people had come out to vote in 2010 these Republicans wouldn’t had gotten the advantage in the House that they got. Like you said the ones who should have grown a spine was the ones who didn’t go vote because they rather let the Republicans take control, well you see where that got us don’t you. This President is not out there to score political points, but he is there to try to make people lives better. He cares, the Republicans don’t. Do we want him to be like the Republicans? I’m not satisfied with the way the economy is, Obama hasn’t done what he said he would. So I’m going to send the Dems a message, okay you sent America a message, you allow those crazy radical Republicans to take control of the House. Now you expect Obama to preform miracles.
Also PBO had a HUGE campaign promise made today, and they are all out with Obama /dems are cavers, weak, blah blah. They need to wait for the final decision and announcement by the President.
Just wait for Ed tonight, see what he has to say, oh boy. I can’t wait to see him explode.
To HELL with those emoprogs and their nonstop bitching and whining. Yesterday it was Plan B and how Obama “set women back 100 years.” Today it’s “caver-in-chief.” Tomorrow it will be something else. These people are looking for relevancy because no one pays them attention otherwise.
Exactly. The man cannot win. If he does go along with the veto, they’ll still crap on that and say he was jerking them around and needs to get his messaging straight. He cannot win.
They live to bitch. Like you said, they went berserk a few days ago on Plan B. Now you don’t hear a word about Plan B. It’s like it never happened. They don’t actually care about Plan B. And they don’t actually care about this veto decision. All they wanna do is tear down this President. It’s time we ignore their outbursts because they are meaningless.
The blunt truth is they have never won anything.
Every campaign they have backed has ended up in failure.
Dean - loss
Lamont - loss
Edwards - loss
Halter - loss
Sestek - loss
They’re seriously a bunch of complete miserable failures.
The thing is, if they’re moaning and gnashing of teeth ushers in one of these Republicans into the Oval Office, they won’t lose a thing. Like the President said on 60 Minutes - these reporters (and PL) are part of the 1%. They stand to gain under Republican rule - just like the President.They won’t suffer under the end of Medicare,end of Social Security, end of voting rights, end of freedom for women, end of equality and fair pay. It will be the very Sharia Law that the Repubs are warning the country about. The PL have nothing to lose.
It’s best not to pay them any attention.
I don’t.
Haven’t clicked on their blogs in years.
Even if Dems held the House last year, they’d still be short of the votes needed to overcome the Republican filibuster. It would’ve been great if Democrats added enough seats to have a filibuster proof majority, but it’s very, very, very rare that the party in power adds seats in a midterm year, and that was almost impossible last year given the state of the economy. So the present scenario would’ve likely happened whether or not Democrats turned out in greater numbers. I think the President is motivated by fear that expiration of the payroll tax cut and/or a government shutdown would both harm the economy at a time when the economy is so fragile, and it would hurt him politically. It’s the same logic that went into his decision to extend the Bush tax cuts last December. However, I think that waiting for the Republicans to blink first, even at the risk of a government shutdown, would’ve been worth it. The political winds are at the Democrats’ back. The public is increasingly concerned about income inequality and making the wealthy pay their share. This might be a grand opportunity to make the Republicans pay dearly. Worked for Clinton in 1995-96.
If the middle class taxes go up, if unemployment benefits runs out, if the economy gets worse, who will suffer? I don’t think President Obama is motivated by fear but concern, real concern for the people out there who are already suffering. I get so tired of this cave or blink first B.S. For any bill to pass some kind of deal has to be worked out. I want to hear from President Obama, till then I won’t say too much. You know how we can make the wealthy pay their fair share. 2012 go vote more Democrats in the House and Senate. And re-elect President Obama. The only way the Republicans will pay dearly is to get rid of as many of them in 2012 as we can. Then we won’t have to go through crap like this every time a bill has to be pass. STOP the whinning, stop the complaining, and get prepared to get rid of Boehner and as many of these Republicans as we can get rid of. It does no one any good to sit back complaining about someone caving. Specially if we had come out to vote in 2010 like we should. President Obama told the American voters not to give the keys back to the Republicans. Do you know why I went to vote in 2010? Because I did not want the Republicans to get control of the House or the Senate, that’s why I went to vote in 2010, took my 83 year old neighbor to vote in 2010. Was I satisfied with the way the economy was, no. But I knew we didn’t get into this mess overnight and we wouldn’t get out of it over night. Was I satisfied with everything the President had done, no. Or haven’t done. But to me there was a bigger picture to look at, and that was would things be better if the Republicans get control of either House. We see now what the answer was, don’t we. So when I hear people talk about the Dems caving, I want to know did you vote in 2010? Or did you cave for the Republicans and not vote.
Well I hope the Dems who stayed home, who wanted to TEACH PBO a lesson, are happy now. They let the insane have the keys to the car and are driving them, their family members, and children off the cliff.
Agree, Anniebella. The president is trying to prevent a crisis that would hurt working people and the unemployed. He will do whatever is possible and morally acceptable to him. How many times do we have to go through this before people fully trust him? It’s easy for people to tell someone else they shouldn’t blink when they are not walking in that person’s shoes. Every president has had to compromise-e v e r y o n e o f t h e m-and those who envision a compromise-free savior as president are not living in an adult world.
Chips are you having “naughty mat” thoughts? Or is it just me projecting?
Me?! :shock:
LOL! Well I feel like I’ve seen this video posted at least 4 times already, and I just looked at PBO at that angle in the video still above and felt that someone must be having naughty mat thoughts. Tee hee…. :) :) :)
Does anyone know why some of the soldiers wear a burgundy color beret and others wear the camouflage cap?
Different units? That would be my guess.
Beret come in different color to differentiate units and specialties. All the red and green have jump wings,i think.
I’m Air Force and Army works a little different but camo cap is standard military issued cover and the berets are for the Security Forces/military police (as you call’em cops).
And I just did a little googling and it seems as if the paratroopers were them.
Cool - thanks!
ITS AMAZING HOW THE ORANGE SATAN HAS NO POSTS ON IRAQ!
U mean they still exist?
Exactly. They are less than relevant.
They also had (at least up to the time I checked this morning) NO POSTS on the 2.5 M young people being helped by the ACA.
But all yesterday and before, they were busy agitating about Plan B emergency pregnancy prevention pill “setting women back 100 years” just because girls aged 16 and under require a prescription.
I just checked and there was a front page story about 2.5 million now on health insurance earlier today and a diary about the Admiral talking about POTUS being the smartest guy in the room and one about POTUS welcoming thome the troops. Nothing worth visiting though and that EVIL Joan McCarter is feverishly typing the rumors about caving on the millionaire tax. Something like THAT of course can’t wait for context or validation. I hate that place and I’m mad I even looked. 99% of all Haters dwell there.
I don’t even understand the complaint. The millionaire surtax was never going to pass the GOP controlled House. It was intended as a talking point to blunt the GOP when they whined about “how are you going to pay for the payroll tax extension”.
The Dems only have 191 members in the House. They would need 27 GOP votes to raise taxes. Nobody could really think 27 teabag-knuckledragging republicans would vote to raise taxes. Taxes for the rich is the entire governing principle of the GOP.
THIS. The left bloggers are so dumb that they didn’t realize this and HELP continue beating the drum for fairness and income inequality…we may not get it NOW but that’s what we’re fighting for. That’s all we can do right now. The Dems don’t have the numbers.
Democrats don’t have the numbers, but what is the point of a veto threat, and the push for millionairs to pay more, when Democrats end up walking back that talking point. The President issued a veto threat Monday, then will end up signing a bill with what the Republicans want is odd.
I’m not sure what you’re talking about. The veto threat regarding the defense bill? That’s one thing. The proposal to extend the payroll tax via a surtax on millionaires? That’s another thing.
I believe the proposal to pay for the payroll tax by taxing millionaires was just that - a proposal. That’s where the Dems are at when it comes to this issue. Whether it would get PASSED…that was a different thing. We know we don’t have the numbers, but we have to make sure people know what we WOULD do if we could…and that’s extend middle class tax cuts by surtaxing millionaires. That’s the goal. That’s all we can do right now. Make the contrast stark by saying exactly where we stand on that issue.
Now, turning to the defense bill. I believe a veto threat was issued on this. From what I’m reading, changes have been made that make the bill more palatable for the WH. I think the issue is b.s. and they never should have codified detainee policy the way they did, but it is what it is. Having said that, I think the veto threat was made specifically for certain things, they have been addressed, so the WH will sign it even though the overall bill is not ideal.
Yes, I think you got all that correct.
The veto threat was over the pipeline, not the surtax.
The bill will never-ever be what the republicans want, because they never wanted to extend the payroll tax holiday.
Way OT, but chicas, I was just downtown running errands and buzzing through the shoe department at Macy’s I happened to see a shoe that looked like a cheap knock-off of Mrs. O’s. It was black but not patent leather like Mrs. O’s. The sales clerk said it’s called “Sheryl” and it’s Nine West. Didn’t see any other shoes like that but I didn’t have time to really look. Just FYI!!
Nine west has nice shoes.
Well, I did see some good news on twitter. Limbaugh’s ratings have dropped 30% in last 6 months. Another sign why I’m sensing a change in the wind.
That is certainly a piece of good news tonight.
holy mackerel! will wonders never cease!
Limbaugh’s recent erratic behaviour and over the top, racist, homophobic statements are finally starting to drive away some of his listeners. It was bound to happen. How long can serious people continue to listen to his incoherent rants before realizing that he is full of sh…..crap.
Couldn’t happen to a more deserving piece of filth.
Amen, Carolyn. I have been praying with my prayer warriors for this vile and very wicked man to be brought down. Prayers will be answered.HZ
What the freaking hell is wrong with this moron?
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/12/14/santorum-obama-doesnt-deserve-credit-for-getting-bin-laden/ That was a rhetorical question.
Who cares what he thinks? Totally wasted energy.
Anybody else on the OFA call about the end of the Iraq War? Patrick Murphy, Tammy Duckworth and 2 veterans are going to speak. Call just got started.
OMG, Tammy Duckworth is talking about PBO in such loving, respectful, admirable terms. She’s talking about all those times PBO spent with her at her bedside when she was in Walter Reed. She’s talking about the true concern he had for her instead of just a photo op. She’s talking about how hard he’s worked to go after Al Qaeda and to honor the military. She’s really speaking up for him in such strong terms. She clearly loves him dearly. Very, very moving.
Oh, meta, I’m so glad you’re reporting all that.
Patrick Murphy said he got chills at PBO’s speech today when he said, “welcome home.” Also went to bat for all the progress he’s made for vets. These speakers are pouring their hearts out. They also thank OFA volunteers for all the work done to re-elect PBO.
One thing they keep returning to is how proud they are of PBO’s commitment to the very essence of the military and the way he’s carried out his duties. Beautiful acknowledgements about how consistent he’s been since he was a Senator.
OK, call’s over. I really learned a lot about Tammy Duckworth. I sure hope she wins her race.
She really contrasted how Bush, Cheney and their people would come through Walter Reed, have their photo taken and leave. The photo would then show up on some newspaper’s front page. She said Senator Obama would come and take a Polaroid, print it out, sign it and then sit down and talk with them sincerely. Ask them how they were doing, what they needed, how to improve the VA. She really bonded with him.
He, after all, is the only community-organizer-in-chief: it’s all about hearing people’s stories and is rooted in caring.
Desertflower, Meta, and taping1 and all of our TOD family, another beautiful couple, Mark Kelly and Gabrielle Giffords book is excellent. They speak of POB in the most loving, and compassionate manner. They tell how POB came to visit Gabby etc. Oh, I better stop before I break down again. Please get the book. It is a beautiful book. Something awful told by Mark and Gabby in such a beautiful manner.
I highly recommend this great read. Courage, honor, honesty compassion, just a great read. HZ
She’s running against dead-beat-dad and loony-toon Joe Walsh
Explanation of Adam Smiths (D-WA) agreement with NDAA
http://www.lawfareblog.com/2011/12/adam-smiths-dear-colleague-letter-on-the-ndaas-detention-provisions/
Why did the Dems even insert all this crap about mandating the FBI or the military to indefinitely detain anyone? I just don’t understand why we have to rewrite how things are done when it comes to fighting terrorists. This is one of those things that I believe warrants an explanation from the president or from someone in his circle. There’s gossip that Levin said he inserted the detainee stuff at the request of the WH. That seems to be bunk, but it’s going around. I just don’t know what to believe with this NDAA bill.
Maybe this might help.
http://tinyurl.com/77luet4
The President has had these powers since 2001, granted by the AUMF. This new bill is basically just codifying it. Section 1031 subsection (d) in particular states: “Nothing in this section is intended to limit or expand the authority of the President or the scope of the Authorization for Use of Military Force”. A veto wouldn’t have really changed anything.
Thank you
14 Dec 2025 07:48 PM
Mitt Romney Is Running Against Himself
Now he’s attacking Gingrich’s wealth. Allahpundit analyzes:
He brought up Newt’s Tiffany expenses not once but twice today, first with CBS and then again during his radio chat with Hannity this afternoon. (Audio here.) At first blush this looks like he’s pulling a tu quoque as damage control following his dopey $10,000 bet offer at the debate on Saturday night, but I don’t think he’s worried much about that. It was tin-eared, and the competition’s bound to tweak him for it, but the election won’t turn on goofy stage theatrics. What’s panicking him, I think, was Gingrich’s attack on Monday about him “bankrupting companies and laying off employees over his years at Bain.” Kennedy used that against Romney in 1994 with great success and the class-warrior-in-chief is going to hammer him relentlessly for it in the general if Mitt makes it that far.
http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2011/12/mitt-romney-is-running-against-himself.html
Chips, please put Rachel’s first segment on this site, Colonel Wilkerson just finished wiping the floor with the Republicans, even to the point of threatening to leave the Republican party!
That’s the first time i’ve really heard him declare himself like that. I’d say he’s a bit p.o’d.
I just saw that and it was EPIC - even saying he might “LEAVE THE PARTY.”
Can I get a FUCK YEAH!!!?
YYEEEEE-AHHHHHH.
Can’t wait to see that. So sick of the PL chewing through every piece of scenery all day every day.
Hi, there was a preacher on Ed as well who also spelled out some strong positions against Gingrich. “I may forgive you but you need to prove yourself, but not as POTUS.
I don’t know what to think of this story at the Miami Herald, but it’s disturbing. A McClatchy news investigation reveals that the Marines inflated the story for Medal of Honor winner, Dakota Meyer. Of course, they tried to bring President Obama into it too, why I have no idea because President Obama would only relate the details as were told him by the Pentagon. But after interviews under oath of those involved, they conclude that Meyer’s story was “untrue, unsubstantiated or exaggerated.” Sad and infuriating, if true.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/14/2546579/marines-promoted-inflated-story.html
Dakota Meyer is suing MAJOR defense contractor BAE for defamation? These guys play for keeps and don’t want to go up against a medal of honor recipient in the court of public opinion.
Not saying the military doesn’t puff up stories that we later learn to be garbage - Lynch and Tillman of course are the most recent famous ones.
He refused to be a part of selling very powerful gear to enemies when U.S. troops didn’t have the same gear themselves. He got fired.
Yeah to Pakistan. The question mark in my reply was a typing mistake.
Big difference between the Army and Marines. Anyway, no sweat off PBO’s nose. He just hangs it on a persons neck. The award decision is not his to make.
Truth and reason don’t matter to some people - if the President’s good name is involved - but you are totally correct, of course.
Bon Soir everyone! Sorry I’ve been quiet today, but I’ve been preoccupied with my newest Naughty Cell Crush:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0035514/
Oh, and LL & the rest of you Chelsea fans - Looks like your Blue Boy Drogba took a pass with our Galaxy (and I think David is going to stay):
http://www.lagalaxy.com/news/2011/12/arena-galaxy-sign-brazilian-midfielder-marcelo-sarvas-0
Oh my goodness.
And God Bless You, Mr. President, and your beautiful, intelligent and lovely wife and family! Thank you,
Sen Wyden and Rep Ryan will unveil their bi-partisan plan to “save medicare” tomorrow. They say they will not create a bill around it because of the political atmosphere, but expect to move on it in 2013. Basically it takes the Ryan approach, but there will be a floating value to the vouchers so seniors would be completely protected and not have to ever pay out of pocket - sounds like hot garbage to me and Wyden is being sucked in by ideologue Paul Ryan and Wyden is taking a big issue off the table that Dems planned on attacking on in 2012. I mean if he recognizes nothing can be moved on until 2013 - why not wait until 2013 to do anything on it - he’s giving Ryan cover and hurting Dems.
STUPID AND DISGUSTING.
WHY? Why or why do Democrats do these hideous things? Why attach oneself to Ryan under any circumstances? Just unfreakinbelievable. I hope they get no traction. UGH.
This is to provide Jon Huntsman cover for endorsing the Ryan plan.
When things are going well for the Dems in congress, they always manger to shoot themselves in the foot. Right now we have a slightly positive wind at our back and no Democrat should be sponsoring anything with Ryan.
As of October, I can say (in my best teafolk voice): Hands off my Medicare, Wyden! How does that sound, Ryan? Creeps.
Also, these dorks know nothing about many seniors, who DO NOT LIKE CHANGE.
When Bush did the prescription drug CHANGE in ’05, it caused an enormous amount of confusion for seniors. Explaining the process to them resulted in an entirely new cottage industry, and a gazillion family members got involved if needed. Not everyone needed help, of course - I’m not saying that. But I used to help my 83-year-old Mother through this stuff then, so I know that CHANGES in Medicare that require seniors to decide on new selections of coverage or whatever are not well received … even if the CHANGES are good. Medicare abuse by doctors and institutions, when that occurs, should be addressed. Do not impact seniors who expected a certain program, were and are familiar with it, and start offering them vouchers and the like. Stupid idea, totally based on greed.
My take.
Cain is on as one of Barbara Walter’s “most fascinating”—-right after the “fascinating” Kardashians. He said he would like to be Sec. of Defense! Walters astutely asked if he wouldn’t have to be more familiar with the countries of the world than he appeared to be during his campaign. And —he blamed the Dems for his demise, not the ladies(said they were all lying), because he said Dems did not want a “smart, articulate, successful black man” to go against Obama. Ay yi yi.
Pathetic.
My sister called me and told me that she thought she heard Cain say that he wanted to be Sec. of Defense, and I told her she heard wrong. Someone should put him in a room and make him watch himself answering the Libya question 100 times. I think that would change his mind. :)
It’s completely unfathomable to me how somehow so ignorant of world affairs thinks he can be Secretary of Defense of the United States. What does he imagine that job to be? A board game where you can buy clues?
He probably feels that he can BS his way through. One cannot sit down and talk to these foreign leaders by Bulls***ing.
uuggh walters. How could she even sit with womanizer and yak about. But then that’s been her schtick for years.
Wasn’t she “the other woman” herself once?
Yes, I believe so, years ago.
Yep. He was an AA Senator from Mass, i think his name was Brooke.
This man is like Palin. So ignorant that he doesn’t realize how ignorant he is.
Most fascinating? How about most laughable?
There seems to be some push polling being conducted now in NH about how people feel about a Jeb Bush candidacy. Seriously!! Can you imagine the desperation of the RW to be trotting out another Bush to run against PBO???????? Too rich.
NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING surprises me about this gang of clowns. They are DESPERATE!
I don’t think folks want to see another Bush anywhere near the White House.
Let them try to run him - he will LOSE.
Still can’t get over that guy who shout at PBO: “Because of you”. Gave me chills.
I listened to the speech but missed that! Approximately how far into the speech did this happen?
Oh, I will need to listen again to try and hear that!
What was this yell is response to? What had PBO said or what was going on?
The Obama administration is expected on Thursday to announce up to $527 million in grants for transportation projects nationwide.
The oversubscribed Tiger program awards money to states and local governments for road, bridge, rail, port and other priority infrastructure projects.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/14/us-usa-infrastructure-tiger-idUSTRE7BD2KN20111214
Altogether now ….
http://theobamadiary.com/2011/12/14/altogether-now-3/
OMG—The Buffoon Trumpster is another of Walter’s “most fascinating”—-first, his penthouse is the ugliest, gaudiest, goldest, glitteriest, most over the top, most in poor taste place I have ever seen in my life. It is not to be believed. Every piece of furniture is gold filigreed, a horrific mess. Does he think he’s King Midas, or what? No wonder the WH turned down his offer to build a wing onto the WH——some gold lined appendage jutting out from the Rose Garden—-yikes. I think that rebuff sent him into birtherism and all his 2 yr. old tantrums against Obama. He’s making outrageous claims, as usual, saying whomever he endorses will win the Repub nomination—-because he’s so all powerful, has influence over millions. He is the biggest joke of all time.
I never thought of Barbara Walters as a serious interviewer even back to the days she coanchored with what’s his name who didn’t like her. She was always over-rated —- Oprah Winfrey is heads above her professionally. I can’t even stand to watch her with all the fawning she does as well as inserting herself into the interview.
This showed up in my TL:
@realDonaldTrump
He says he will spend $1 B to get re-elected: @BarackObama. I can match him-preserving my options.
Like I said, this guy is a demented idiot narcissist who craves attention.