On This Day: First Lady Michelle Obama attends the commencement ceremony at George Washington University on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Sunday, May 16, 2010. Mrs. Obama delivered the commencement address after students made good on her challenge to do 100,000 hours of service in exchange for a graduation speech (Photo by Samantha Appleton)
Good morning Chips and early risers. The speech fee of 100,000 hours of community service is the best ever! Imagine if every public person asked that of their audience! We are drowning in torrential rains today, which I wish we could share with California–especially San Diego. Hope our TOD friends and family there are okay. Have a good one.
The yung’uns, 18 to 25 year olds, turned up huge and voted for this rightward shift in the economic sense (jobs, jobs, jobs) and not the religious sense. Of course, they, along with the rest of voters, were also totally disgusted with mind boggling corruption under congress party’s 10-year rule and humiliated them with their worst ever defeat. The dynasty politics of congress party has been brought to an end finally. Kudos to our voters for that.
Voters have given a huge mandate to bjp. Now let’s see if mr modi is up to the task without yielding to the religious nutsos base, who did bring him to power with their vigorous ground game. It’s gonna be a tough balancing act and I for one, will give him the time and the opportunity, and see what he does with this mandate.
Well, AMK, I hope it works out for the best. I don’t know what a right wing agenda is regarding jobs because in the US that just translates into tax breaks for the rich, as you know. It would be a tragedy if India moves socially far right. For the sake of Indian women and minorities, I pray that does not happen. When is your daughter coming home?
modi represents big business totally. His gujarat model of development was based on many sops to big business houses – huge tracts of land given away at throw-away prices, tax breaks, fuck the environment attitude, monopolistic power holding etc. As noted in the above analysis, his model wasn’t that great when compared to other states but he was able to sell it to the youth. His state model will not work at the federal level since many state govts are very independent, even the states, where his own party is running the govt.
They were making a big noise about getting rid of income-tax altogether as an election propaganda. That won’t happen either.
But moving socially right is impossible in diverse India. The laws, statutes and the courts will not allow it.
I’m certainly hoping for the best for you and your country. But look how moving to the religious right worked out in this country. The GOP cannot shake these nut jobs and have given over to them completely to stay in power. Now they ARE the GOP lock, stock and barrel. I hope that is not in the cards for India.
That’s not gonna happen. As I said, this was a huge backlash against corruption and was for (somewhat naive) belief that modi will work economic miracles. This vote was not for turning the country religiously right or to the 19th century. Modi is smart enough to know it.
I am too hoping for the best for my country since the alternatives to modi are not attractive at all.
AMK, thanks for this on-the-ground background overview. I hope all turns out well for India, because we all benefit from very prosperous 21st century Nations. Thanks again>>
Rather like in my world amk – it is a party being voted out – as much as one being voted in. It is usually the young ones (25-40) who have jobs that vote for the RW in my world – the younger unemployed don’t credit them with job creation.
It will be interesting to see how India copes with such a change.
Hf, the extra good news about this is that housing creates jobs for construction workers and everyone who sells appliances, carpeting or furniture. All those ancillary industries get jump started when construction goes up. More jobs, happier people, except for Republicans.
Now we should Raise the minimum wage and more money in system will accelerate the already growing ecomomy.
Unemployment is down. The deficit is cut in half. Housing starts are up. The Obama Economy.
Will we see these headlines on the news?????
I see that “Mother Nature” is trending on Twitter. Not sure why but I’m guessing it has something to do with the nasty weather in the DC area and much of the East Coast in general. Meanwhile, the 30-million Teabag March (#OperationSpring) is scheduled for today – in DC, amid flash flood warnings. I wish them good luck!
Hf, please reserve your good luck to Mr. G, who is driving to DC today to help our daughter with a project. He’s going to be going through multiple torrential areas, but he’s determined to go.
Good Friday morning everyone:) So. Is this nutbag Friday gonna be one for the record books? I swear you just have to mock the shit out of these lunatics. It’s frightening to know that so many walk among us….that there are THAT many stupid, ignorant, hateful people in our midst. They all just need to die out. I mean it. Really.
From what I was reading elsewhere – their insurrection is well against the law and punishable by up to 20 years in prison – sometimes I wish they would just be arrested and face the consequences of their stupid.
SPEAKING OF DESERTFLOWER…MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE CALIFORNIA MEN’S COLONY SP IN SAN LUIS OBISPO IS STARVING ITS PRISONERS DUE TO BUDGET CUTS ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER PRISONS. THIS IS INHUMANE AND NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH ASAP!
DF, their children are killing each other with unsecured guns at an alarming rate, so maybe the numbers will diminish at both ends of the age curve. Hate to be so cynical, but these people are awful!
Hi yardarm. Enjoy your Friday. On the poet’s theme – I am a Robbie Burns fan (sometimes needing a translator). My favorite – my Dad used to read it to my Mom – it was “their poem”
O my Luve is like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June;
O my Luve is like the melody
That’s sweetly played in tune.
So fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry.
Cummings Issues Statement on New Issa Subpoena on Benghazi
May 15, 2014
Washington, D.C. (May 15, 2014)—Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, issued the following statement in response to a new subpoena issued today by Chairman Darrell Issa to compel Secretary of State John Kerry to appear before the Committee on May 29, 2014:
“I do not understand what the House Republicans are doing on Benghazi, and apparently they don’t either. Just one week after Speaker Boehner said he wanted a single select committee conducting this investigation, Chairman Issa issued a new subpoena today for Secretary Kerry to testify before the Oversight Committee. I don’t know if this is Chairman Issa’s attempt to reinsert himself into this investigation after the Speaker removed him, but this looks more and more like the ‘sideshow’ and ‘circus’ Speaker Boehner said he would not tolerate. The House Republicans can’t get their story straight, and they continue to conduct political fundraising off the murders of four brave Americans—contrary to the pleas of Rep. Gowdy, their own pick for Select Committee Chairman.”
It’s proof that John Boehner is a sorry speaker, he has no power over that crazy racists group of his. We should have a million man, woman march to over throw the House.
Have I mentioned lately how much I hate this WINTER? When I left my house today I was driving through SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t care if it isn’t going to stick or that it is already stopping. I don’t want to see SNOW again until November. It was warmer in Juneau, Alaska today than in Chicago.
And the West Coast is getting broiled and fried. Something is truly wrong here.
Better late than never:) They finally figured out how PBO works these kinds of issues through…with success…only been in office and done this how many times before?? They really ARE dense, aren’t they? PBO just doesn’t fit the mold.
“The official US position has been to threaten broader sanctions that seem unlikely to get the European support necessary to make them hurt, while arguing that Russia’s actions will be so self-defeating that the problem would just sort itself out.
It sounded silly, a shrug of a policy. And maybe it even was. But it also turns out to be working surprisingly well. Russian President Vladimir Putin has over-reached in Ukraine, creating problems for himself so bad that they may force him down as or more effectively than plausible American actions alone might have (although they helped). Putin is hanging himself by his own rope.”
—————————
Why on earth did it “sound silly”. Sounded sane to me. This is an anti war President – a man of peace – much needed in our world.
So how many years does it take – and how many pundits will ever admit – President Obama and his administration know what they are doing with their world vision. The pundits and the fools in congress have much to thank him for.
On the last Wednesday in January, the RotaCare Tacoma free clinic in Washington state put away the chairs in the university janitor’s lunchroom where it had made its home and closed its doors for the last time.
The clinic, served by volunteer physicians and registered nurses, had carried 150 patients at any given time to serve the uninsured population in this city of about 200,000. But after Obamacare took full effect in January, and this clinic completed its drive to enroll all of its patients in coverage, it didn’t have anyone left to serve.
So they shut down at the end of January, the first month that health coverage under Obamacare kicked in. The people who worked there don’t seem too torn up about it.
“It happened very quickly. We had to start telling our providers not to come because we didn’t have enough patients,” Mary Hoagland-Scher, a Tacoma family practitioner who served as the clinic’s medical director, told TPM. “It just dried up. Poof.”
That makes RotaCare Tacoma an unusual case, but not an entirely unique one. Free clinic directors in Iowa and Ohio said they haven’t seen anything like it on a systematic level. But there is the story of a free clinic in Medina, Ark., which closed in April after seeing its number dwindle from 300 to 80 to three as people obtained coverage through Obamacare in the first three months of 2014.
“Our services won’t be needed anymore,” the director told a local newspaper.
Bless them for all the volunteer service they have given over the years, they have earned a break. Bet they all head off to find some other way to donate their time, training and experience.
THE STATES OF CALIFORNIA,TEXAS,ARIZONA AND MANY OUT WEST ARE LOADED WITH ALQAEDA….WHEN IS ANYONE GOING TO GET IT?…THEY START FIRES IN AN EFFORT TO DRAIN OUR RESOURCES AND THEY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB OF IT. THEY ENTER THRU MEXICO OR CANADA AND CHANGE THEIR NAMES TO MEICAN NAMES…FRANKLY, THEY ARE EVERYWHERE!
As RM said last night, they said 30 MILLION people would come to DC…that’s 1 in 10 people! I think most of us have to go to work today:) I hope they are embarrassed and humiliated before the end of the day.
😕
Yay it’s the weekend! Morning, Chips!
And it’s actually Friday, MomSense – unless it’s Saturday?
I guess it is Friday since I have to work.
Good morning Obama Diaristas
Mooooooorning vetivera24!
Morning Chips
Good morning Chips and early risers. The speech fee of 100,000 hours of community service is the best ever! Imagine if every public person asked that of their audience! We are drowning in torrential rains today, which I wish we could share with California–especially San Diego. Hope our TOD friends and family there are okay. Have a good one.
Morning Jackie! Ugh, your weather sounds horrible – keep safe and dry!
Good Morning Ms. Chips! Good Morning everyone! Have a fantastic day everybody
Gooooooood morning Linda!!
Good morning Ms. Chips, Danny and TOD family. I hope all is well with everyone this lovely Friday morning. TGIF
GooooOOOooOOOooOOOooood moooOOOoooOOOOOooooOOoooorning RanMan!!! Happy Friday to ya!
G’morning Chips & TOD!! Have a wonderful Friday everyone🙂
gm hf – I was wondering about that as well. Be entertaining if they get flooded out and need a little government help.
LOL – very entertaining indeed!🙂
Your friend Mr Knoller actually has some newsworthy/interesting tweets this am in DC. You must be a good influence on his behavior🙂
Big day today. Indians voted for a single party rule after 30 years. And they give the mandate to the right wing party by shovels.
From 2 seats in 1984 to 280+ seats in 2014 is a remarkable achievement indeed to the bjp party.
This analysis captures the why’s behind this win rather well.
http://www.ndtv.com/elections/article/cheat-sheet/election-results-2014-5-factors-that-helped-bjp-and-narendra-modi-win-the-election-525560?curl=1400242248
The yung’uns, 18 to 25 year olds, turned up huge and voted for this rightward shift in the economic sense (jobs, jobs, jobs) and not the religious sense. Of course, they, along with the rest of voters, were also totally disgusted with mind boggling corruption under congress party’s 10-year rule and humiliated them with their worst ever defeat. The dynasty politics of congress party has been brought to an end finally. Kudos to our voters for that.
Voters have given a huge mandate to bjp. Now let’s see if mr modi is up to the task without yielding to the religious nutsos base, who did bring him to power with their vigorous ground game. It’s gonna be a tough balancing act and I for one, will give him the time and the opportunity, and see what he does with this mandate.
Best wishes, mr modi.
Well, AMK, I hope it works out for the best. I don’t know what a right wing agenda is regarding jobs because in the US that just translates into tax breaks for the rich, as you know. It would be a tragedy if India moves socially far right. For the sake of Indian women and minorities, I pray that does not happen. When is your daughter coming home?
modi represents big business totally. His gujarat model of development was based on many sops to big business houses – huge tracts of land given away at throw-away prices, tax breaks, fuck the environment attitude, monopolistic power holding etc. As noted in the above analysis, his model wasn’t that great when compared to other states but he was able to sell it to the youth. His state model will not work at the federal level since many state govts are very independent, even the states, where his own party is running the govt.
They were making a big noise about getting rid of income-tax altogether as an election propaganda. That won’t happen either.
But moving socially right is impossible in diverse India. The laws, statutes and the courts will not allow it.
I’m certainly hoping for the best for you and your country. But look how moving to the religious right worked out in this country. The GOP cannot shake these nut jobs and have given over to them completely to stay in power. Now they ARE the GOP lock, stock and barrel. I hope that is not in the cards for India.
That’s not gonna happen. As I said, this was a huge backlash against corruption and was for (somewhat naive) belief that modi will work economic miracles. This vote was not for turning the country religiously right or to the 19th century. Modi is smart enough to know it.
I am too hoping for the best for my country since the alternatives to modi are not attractive at all.
That’s great to hear. Please keep us posted on how things develop. We need more global stability, to say the least.
AMK, thanks for this on-the-ground background overview. I hope all turns out well for India, because we all benefit from very prosperous 21st century Nations. Thanks again>>
Thanks Ranman. Inclusive development is the only way the world has to move on, especially given the population surge.
Rather like in my world amk – it is a party being voted out – as much as one being voted in. It is usually the young ones (25-40) who have jobs that vote for the RW in my world – the younger unemployed don’t credit them with job creation.
It will be interesting to see how India copes with such a change.
Here both the unemployed (a huge no.) and the well employed youth voted for modi. Pocket book issue. One can understand.
Good West Coast morning Chipsticks & TOD family.
Friday is finally here. Yea!
Hf, the extra good news about this is that housing creates jobs for construction workers and everyone who sells appliances, carpeting or furniture. All those ancillary industries get jump started when construction goes up. More jobs, happier people, except for Republicans.
Now we should Raise the minimum wage and more money in system will accelerate the already growing ecomomy.
Unemployment is down. The deficit is cut in half. Housing starts are up. The Obama Economy.
Will we see these headlines on the news?????
I see that “Mother Nature” is trending on Twitter. Not sure why but I’m guessing it has something to do with the nasty weather in the DC area and much of the East Coast in general. Meanwhile, the 30-million Teabag March (#OperationSpring) is scheduled for today – in DC, amid flash flood warnings. I wish them good luck!
Hf, please reserve your good luck to Mr. G, who is driving to DC today to help our daughter with a project. He’s going to be going through multiple torrential areas, but he’s determined to go.
I wish Mr. G all the best for today with the driving and weather. He has a very noble agenda, unlike those referenced in my original post.
Safe travels to Mr G!
Must be God’s way of saying “Stay the hell out and don’t waste my time…or the people’s time, IDIOTS!”” Build an ark for yourselves and get the f out!
IRONY attends the GOP once again!! LOLzzzzz!!
🙂🙂🙂 Mother Nature is such an O’bot!
Hhhaaahahahaaaaaa!!
Good Friday morning everyone:) So. Is this nutbag Friday gonna be one for the record books? I swear you just have to mock the shit out of these lunatics. It’s frightening to know that so many walk among us….that there are THAT many stupid, ignorant, hateful people in our midst. They all just need to die out. I mean it. Really.
From what I was reading elsewhere – their insurrection is well against the law and punishable by up to 20 years in prison – sometimes I wish they would just be arrested and face the consequences of their stupid.
We have TONS of private prisons that would love to have the business:) Such idiots.
Opps…forgot to say morning, 99ts!
GM df – almost midnight here – officially the weekend🙂
SPEAKING OF DESERTFLOWER…MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE CALIFORNIA MEN’S COLONY SP IN SAN LUIS OBISPO IS STARVING ITS PRISONERS DUE TO BUDGET CUTS ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER PRISONS. THIS IS INHUMANE AND NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH ASAP!
DF, their children are killing each other with unsecured guns at an alarming rate, so maybe the numbers will diminish at both ends of the age curve. Hate to be so cynical, but these people are awful!
G’day you lot. TGIF and it’s POETS day.
Hi yardarm. Enjoy your Friday. On the poet’s theme – I am a Robbie Burns fan (sometimes needing a translator). My favorite – my Dad used to read it to my Mom – it was “their poem”
O my Luve is like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June;
O my Luve is like the melody
That’s sweetly played in tune.
So fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry.
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/173068
Beautiful poem but my view is “P*ssOnEverythingTomorrow’sSaturday”! 😆
Cummings Issues Statement on New Issa Subpoena on Benghazi
May 15, 2014
Washington, D.C. (May 15, 2014)—Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, issued the following statement in response to a new subpoena issued today by Chairman Darrell Issa to compel Secretary of State John Kerry to appear before the Committee on May 29, 2014:
“I do not understand what the House Republicans are doing on Benghazi, and apparently they don’t either. Just one week after Speaker Boehner said he wanted a single select committee conducting this investigation, Chairman Issa issued a new subpoena today for Secretary Kerry to testify before the Oversight Committee. I don’t know if this is Chairman Issa’s attempt to reinsert himself into this investigation after the Speaker removed him, but this looks more and more like the ‘sideshow’ and ‘circus’ Speaker Boehner said he would not tolerate. The House Republicans can’t get their story straight, and they continue to conduct political fundraising off the murders of four brave Americans—contrary to the pleas of Rep. Gowdy, their own pick for Select Committee Chairman.”
– See more at: http://democrats.oversight.house.gov/press-releases/cummings-issues-statement-on-new-issa-subpoena-on-benghazi/#sthash.ODlNDQ4r.dpuf
It’s proof that John Boehner is a sorry speaker, he has no power over that crazy racists group of his. We should have a million man, woman march to over throw the House.
Have I mentioned lately how much I hate this WINTER? When I left my house today I was driving through SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t care if it isn’t going to stick or that it is already stopping. I don’t want to see SNOW again until November. It was warmer in Juneau, Alaska today than in Chicago.
And the West Coast is getting broiled and fried. Something is truly wrong here.
SNOW????? In the middle of May???? OMG. Hey, but there’s no such thing as climate change!!
Open invitation to visit:) Today in my world…105. Careful what you wish for:)
meta, thank you for posting that article, I truly enjoy reading it.
did you notice how cute Michelle looked in her pretty blue sweater? Early sign of the fashion plate we see now.
She’s so adorable. Love her smile.
You’re welcome, anniebella.
Opposition leader Narendra Modi has claimed victory for his Hindu nationalist party in India’s general election.
After a decade in power, India’s ruling Congress Party conceded that it is headed to defeat in the world’s largest election.
Modi is a deeply polarizing figure with a reputation as a tough, “can-do” administrator.
Obama’s strategy of letting Putin hang himself is working
http://www.vox.com/2014/5/16/5717674/obamas-plan-to-let-putin-hang-himself-is-working
Better late than never:) They finally figured out how PBO works these kinds of issues through…with success…only been in office and done this how many times before?? They really ARE dense, aren’t they? PBO just doesn’t fit the mold.
“The official US position has been to threaten broader sanctions that seem unlikely to get the European support necessary to make them hurt, while arguing that Russia’s actions will be so self-defeating that the problem would just sort itself out.
It sounded silly, a shrug of a policy. And maybe it even was. But it also turns out to be working surprisingly well. Russian President Vladimir Putin has over-reached in Ukraine, creating problems for himself so bad that they may force him down as or more effectively than plausible American actions alone might have (although they helped). Putin is hanging himself by his own rope.”
—————————
Why on earth did it “sound silly”. Sounded sane to me. This is an anti war President – a man of peace – much needed in our world.
So how many years does it take – and how many pundits will ever admit – President Obama and his administration know what they are doing with their world vision. The pundits and the fools in congress have much to thank him for.
No Break in the War on Voting
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2014_05/no_break_in_the_war_on_voting050365.php#
Check out this map. Another painful result of the 2010 census year election. Incredible.
Great story,,, http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/washington-free-clinic-closed-obamacare
On the last Wednesday in January, the RotaCare Tacoma free clinic in Washington state put away the chairs in the university janitor’s lunchroom where it had made its home and closed its doors for the last time.
The clinic, served by volunteer physicians and registered nurses, had carried 150 patients at any given time to serve the uninsured population in this city of about 200,000. But after Obamacare took full effect in January, and this clinic completed its drive to enroll all of its patients in coverage, it didn’t have anyone left to serve.
So they shut down at the end of January, the first month that health coverage under Obamacare kicked in. The people who worked there don’t seem too torn up about it.
“It happened very quickly. We had to start telling our providers not to come because we didn’t have enough patients,” Mary Hoagland-Scher, a Tacoma family practitioner who served as the clinic’s medical director, told TPM. “It just dried up. Poof.”
That makes RotaCare Tacoma an unusual case, but not an entirely unique one. Free clinic directors in Iowa and Ohio said they haven’t seen anything like it on a systematic level. But there is the story of a free clinic in Medina, Ark., which closed in April after seeing its number dwindle from 300 to 80 to three as people obtained coverage through Obamacare in the first three months of 2014.
“Our services won’t be needed anymore,” the director told a local newspaper.
Bless them for all the volunteer service they have given over the years, they have earned a break. Bet they all head off to find some other way to donate their time, training and experience.
Heh bt, comment eated by spam folder.
There were also suspected arson fires in the North Bay Area last night. WTH?
I would hate if this was all arson. Sick.
THE STATES OF CALIFORNIA,TEXAS,ARIZONA AND MANY OUT WEST ARE LOADED WITH ALQAEDA….WHEN IS ANYONE GOING TO GET IT?…THEY START FIRES IN AN EFFORT TO DRAIN OUR RESOURCES AND THEY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB OF IT. THEY ENTER THRU MEXICO OR CANADA AND CHANGE THEIR NAMES TO MEICAN NAMES…FRANKLY, THEY ARE EVERYWHERE!
THAT’S ‘MEXICAN’
Ummmmmm……no.
In my world there have been arsonists among the fire fighters – they want to be heroes!!
I’ve heard of that….so sad.
Yes, that’s happened here, too. So freakin’ crazy.
Looks like some Dems are FINALLY fact-checking and correcting arch GOP shill – Chuck Todd.
Todd does his research by listening to FoxNews
SNORT…and the nasty weather can only help…
As RM said last night, they said 30 MILLION people would come to DC…that’s 1 in 10 people! I think most of us have to go to work today:) I hope they are embarrassed and humiliated before the end of the day.
Moooooorning!
https://theobamadiary.com/2014/05/16/rise-and-shine-820/