Saturday, January 17, 2009
This is the impact of Barack Obama....
So, many people are coming to Washington, D.C., so many with private jets that Dulles Airport has to close one of their runways just to PARK THE JETS. for real.
President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration has already attracted the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Shakira to Washington. The four days of festivities also will bring so many private jets that airport authorities are closing a runway to park them.
The 9,400-foot runway at Washington Dulles International, one of three major airports serving the capital, closed at 5 p.m. yesterday to allow as many as 100 small planes to park there beginning today, said Tara Hamilton, a spokeswoman for the airport operator.
Hamilton’s Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is expecting 500 small jets to land at Dulles between yesterday and Jan. 21. That would set a record, topping the 300 the airport accommodated for President George W. Bush’s 2004 inaugural, Hamilton said.
Again, when was the LAST TIME, that we, Americans had this much anticipation, excitement? Again, I don't remember the last time, but I will remember this FIRST TIME.
Source
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Eric Holder's Confirmation Hearing Transcript for Attorney General, Day One, January 15, 2009
Full Day One transcript of Holder's Senate Confirmation Hearing for Attorney General under the Obama Administration.
Link, here.
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Whistle Stop Tour: Delaware, The Obamas and Bidens (pictures)
Obamas in Philadelphia to start the whistle stop tour, pics
Obama's Speech in Philadelphia, PA, Video
Obama, Biden Speech in Delaware
photos are being loaded from delaware, keep refreshing
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The Obamas starting the Whistle Stop Tour in Philadelphia (pictures)
Today is Michelle Obama's 45th Birthday!!!
Obama, Biden pictures in Delaware
Obama's Speech in Philadelphia, PA, January 17, 2008
update photos throughtout the day, next stop delaware to pick up the biden family
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Man arrested for assassination attempt on Obama in chat room
Really, big brother is listening, roving, watching, looking more than ever to protect Barack Obama and his family. This nut job needs to stop taking stupid pills.
According to an Affidavit filed by Special Agent Kelly Adcox with the United States Secret Service, Christopher posted the following on the Web site www.alien-earth.org on Jan. 11, 2009:
ok we have 6 days until my Presidential Assasination.
Yes, I have decided I will assasinate Barack Obama. It's really nothing personal about the man. He speaks well, has a loving although controlling wife and two cute daughters. But I know it's for the country's own good that I do this. And I'm not racist either, my family is a little, but isn't all Italian and european families? I mean how many times have you heard the word (racial slur) in the comforts of your home? I have a lot, and it really bothered me and I would confront them about it. No, it's not because I'm racist that I will kill Barack, it's because I can no longer allow the Jewish parasites to bully their way into making the American people submit to their evil ways. How many of you Obama supporters are now disappointed after some of his arm-twisted Jewish appointee decisions??? Make's you think he's not really in charge(which he isn't). No it's the same old, same old filthy (expletive) (racial slur) who are poisoning America, who have murdered thousands of innocent lives on 9-11-01, and are thinking that they are going to get away with it again.
Barack, I view more as a sacrificial lamb, but the sacrifice MUST take place. He had good intentions, but like the Steve Taylor song goes, "a politician next door, swore, he'd set the Washington arena on fire, thinks he'll gladiate them, but they're gonna make him a liar."
So, I'm stuck here in Mississippi, and I'll need bus fare or some way of getting to Washington. I don't own a gun, so maybe someone can give me one. And I'll need a leak in the secret service to get a close up shot, somewhere close to the podium, since I've never fired a gun, so I need to get an easy shot off. Wattdysay fellas? Any help?
You all know we can't live with the jewscum anylonger, dont cha? You got a better solution? I'm all ears.
Stevie
This is unpleasant, I get that, but this is real and there are folks out there LIKE THIS.
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Obama Weekly Radio Address, January 17, 2009 (Video & Transcript)
About the inauguration.............
Transcript
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Beyonce to sing "At Last" for the Obamas First Dance
"At Last", a classic....
Beyonce will sing for Barack and Michelle Obama's first dance on inauguration night - and she's chosen a fitting tune to welcome the first black President into office.
While the Presidential Inaugural Committee had hoped to keep the song under wraps, the singer spilled the beans, telling Entertainment Tonight, "To sing 'At Last' while [the Obamas] have their first dance is a dream come true."
A representative for Beyonce confirmed the song choice Friday.
Source
Here is the Etta James classic, sung by Beyonce from the movie, "Cadillac Records" at Fashion Rocks 2008
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Obama opening up the White House
Barack Obama plans to open his White House doors to the public on his first full day of his presidency, Jan. 21.
Obama aides on Friday announced plans to have an open house at his new home at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. The idea is to keep Obama's administration the "most open and accessible" in history by inviting hundreds of supporters inside and encouraging them to stay involved.
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Friday, January 16, 2009
This is so correct....Hood Rules of the Inauguration...
and this is applicable for EVERYONE.....
This weekend will be a historic even for African Americans, hundreds of thousands of African Americans will convene on Washington DC, chocolate city, to celebrate the first inauguration of a black president.
Not only will Obama be showcased to the country and the world but so will the African Americans who come to support him. While the vast majority of African Americans will come to peacefully and respectfully celebrate Barack Obama’s extraordinary achievement we must do all in our power to make sure that we are represented as the intelligent, loving brave people we are. We can not let a few bad apples spoil the celebration.
This is not the Greekfest, Homecoming, or All Star Weekend. Your favorite sports team didn’t just won the championship, this is a turning point in American history. Here are some of the rules that we should follow in order to make this a sucessfull inauguration for Obama and African Americans
1. No fighting. If someone steps on your 200 dollar new Barack Obama dunks, let it slide. If you step on someone’s shoes, apologize. If you see your cousin Kenny who owes you a hundred bucks and has been ducking you, don’t confront him, you’ll see him later. Now is not the time. Any fights involving blacks will be blown out of proportion by the media, we don’t need to sully the image of black people.
Read the rest, here.
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Malia Obama keepin' it honest...
For Barack Obama's historic Inaugural Address:
"And then we go and look at...Lincoln's second inaugural'' etched on the wall of the memorial, Obama said, recounting his daughters' remarks to him. "And Sasha looks up, and she says, 'Boy, that's a long speech. Do you have to give one of those?' I said, 'Actually, that one's pretty short. Mine may even be a little longer.'
"At which point, then Malia turns to me and says, 'First African-American president. Better be good.''
Kids are scathing, uncarish and completely honest.
And Obama, it better be good.
Article, here.
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Tiger in da house......
As in speaking Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial, part of the Obama Inaugural Gala....
Tiger Woods, who has tried to stay out of politics during his ascent to one of the world's most famous athletes, has accepted an invitation to speak at the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday as part of President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration festivities.
Woods posted a short statement on his Web site to say he would speak at "We Are One," a concert and celebration that will be broadcast live on HBO and feature entertainers such as Beyonce, U2, Stevie Wonder and Garth Brooks, along with appearances by Denzel Washington and Martin Luther King III.
"I am honored that I was invited to this historic event and look forward to participating in Sunday's festivities," Woods said.
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Obama, Biden Whistle Stops Begin the Inaugural Gala
The Obamas, Bidens are coming to Washington, D.C., though they are already technically there.
Starting off the "Official Inaugural Gala", will be the Train Trip, Saturday, January 17, 2008. The Obamas will board in Philadelphia, pick up the Bidens in Delaware, stop in Baltimore for an event and it ends with the arrival of the PEOTUS and VPEOTUS.
Four days of official inauguration activities will get underway tomorrow as President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. embark on their train ride from Philadelphia to Washington.
••Whistle Stop Train Tour
In the final leg of the President-elect’s incredible journey to Washington, D.C., he’ll be doing a Whistle Stop Train Tour, starting in Philadelphia, the city where our democracy was born.
10:05 a.m. - Philadelphia, PA
The President-elect will hold an event in Philadelphia, PA before boarding a train headed toward Washington, D.C. Tickets are required for the event and have been distributed to the public.
1:00 p.m. - Wilmington, DE
The President-elect will stop for a public event with the Vice President-elect in the back of the Wilmington Train Station, 100 South French Street. Doors open at 9:30 a.m.
4:15 p.m. - Baltimore, MD
The President-elect and Vice President-elect will make their last stop in Baltimore for another public event at the War Memorial Plaza, 101 N. Gay St., Baltimore, MD. Doors open at 1:00 p.m.
Heads up, Union Station arrival in Washington, D.C. is closed to the public.
Tomorrow's day-long whistle-stop tour starts off several big events that mix history, Hollywood and humanity. It is a tribute to President Abraham Lincoln, another former Illinois senator who rode the rails to his inauguration.
In Baltmore, the crowd expectation is 20,000. It will be televised live on television. In fact, C-SPAN is your best friend. The coverage of the whole Obama Weekend Inaugural Gala will be televised, as well on all the cable networks.
All I can write is this, I don't remember this much excitement EVER in my lifetime for a new president.
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change.gov, weekend schedule
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Movin' On Up (Video)
I had to chuckle at this....Weezy is clappin' with pride in the sky above....
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More White House Staff Announcements
Today, President-elect Barack Obama announced the following White House staff: Danielle Crutchfield, Director of Scheduling for the President; Marvin Nicholson, Trip Director for the President; Emmett Beliveau, Director of Advance; and Patrick Dillon, Deputy Director of Political Affairs.
Bios here.
Mrs. Michelle Obama today announced the following staff for the First Lady’s Office: David Medina as Deputy Chief of Staff, Jocelyn Frye as Director of Policy and Projects, Trooper Sanders as Deputy Director of Policy and Projects, Franny Starkey Sanguin as Director of Scheduling and Advance, Jennifer Goodman as Deputy Director of Scheduling and Events, Dana M. Lewis as Personal Aide, Kristen Jarvis as Special Assistant for Scheduling and Traveling Aide, Tyler Lechtenberg as Director of Correspondence, Ebs Burnough as Deputy Social Secretary, Joe Reinstein as Deputy Social Secretary, Sally Armbruster as Staff Assistant to the Social Secretary, Joe Boswell as Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff, and Natalie Bookey as Staff Assistant.
“We are continuing to build a strong and experienced team and I couldn’t be more pleased with the smart, energetic and dedicated individuals that we are bringing into our office,” said Mrs. Michelle Obama. “I look forward to working with this talented group next week.”
Bios here.
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Russia to Obama, "Holla...."
Russia wants to work with Obama. But remember this:
On Wednesday, when many world leaders hailed President-elect Barack Obama's victory in the polls, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev wasn't quite as effusive. He announced that he might station missiles in the western Russian region of Kaliningrad and point them at a U.S. missile defense system planned for Eastern Europe.
Now Russia is stepping in line, as the rest of the world, to greet but more importantly look forward to working with the United States. This still meets with having eyes behind your head. I don't expect Obama to have an international laughing meltdown as Bush on Putin:
I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy. We had a very good dialogue. I was able to get a sense of his soul; a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country.
Negotiating for the common good is one thing, but no leader with the reputation that Putin has should be trusted, nor should the "puppet" President Dmitry Medvedev, Putin's lackey.
The truth of the matter is this, the Iraq War took so much energy and time from the Bush Administration, that the rest of the world went unnoticed. In other words, any agreements, trust, diplomacy we had with everyone else just fell flat, this includes Russia.
Lavrov says Russia seeks continuity in relations, noting with a chuckle, however, they should not resemble those that were practiced in recent years, because they were unsatisfactory. Instead, he would like to see a continuity of principles that Moscow and Washington agreed upon at a high level.
It is time that we are pro-active in diplomacy talks with all these countries, instead of reactive when something happens. Like the debacle in Georgia, the current strife between Israel and Hamas, problems with North Korea, etc.
It is time to get that jet ready for Secretary of State Clinton, she has a lot of work to do.
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Circuit City, Outta Here
Bad news, but don't think Circuit City is the only giant retailer to close its doors for good, more will come.
Bankrupt Circuit City Stores Inc., the nation's second-biggest consumer electronics retailer, said Friday it failed to find a buyer and will liquidate its 567 U.S. stores. The closures could send another 30,000 people into the ranks of the unemployed.
"This is the only possible path for our company," James A. Marcum, acting chief executive, said in a statement. "We are extremely disappointed by this outcome."
The company had been seeking a buyer or a deal to refinance its debt, but the hobbled credit market and consumer worries proved insurmountable.
I have bought many things from Circuit City, but the thought of 30K people on the unemployment rolls is devastating.
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When the checks stop coming in
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The Vatican is stuck in the 20th Century mode
I had to read this article, twice, "Less gay behavior in seminaries, Vatican says.
The problem with this analogy is that the Vatican, Catholic Church allowed and HID pedophiles. Period.
Vatican let's not get this twisted, ok? Gay Americans, most, just as heterosexuals are not looking for children/minors to have sex with, but pedophiles ARE. The definition of a pedophile is this:
pe⋅do⋅phile
/ˈpidəˌfaɪl/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [pee-duh-fahyl] Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun Psychiatry.
an adult who is sexually attracted to young children.
From the above definition, ALONE, equates that the roving priests who were sexually assaulting children during their tenure were and are pedophiles. And this means that the Vatican has a very hard time in understanding the difference of pedophilia and homosexuality.
A Vatican office that evaluated U.S. Roman Catholic seminaries in response to the clergy sex abuse scandal concluded that administrators have been effective in stopping "homosexual behavior" in the schools although the agency said the problem still exists.
Did the Catholic Church ever stand back and question this, "Why is it that every time I move a priest, he is caught again with a CHILD?" The Vatican can't answer this basic question because the institution is too busy trying to blame anything or anyone on behavior from pedophile priests they had under their watch.
I was raised Catholic, I am not a practicing one. I went to Catholic schools through elementary, high school and part of my college years. I have broken with the church on many issues, including sex education, birth control, and issues with women being priests, but the sex scandal for me was it. Now the real outrage is this passage:
The Vatican also directed evaluators to look for "evidence of homosexuality" in the schools.
This statement is supposed to make many feel better, trust the Vatican to police their own, as in priests in training. My take, the statement reads like a pre-lynching. And what is the Vatican going to do? And what is the definition of "evidence of homosexuality"? Is there a litmus test there, or is this an "opinion" test? Sigh.
See for me, the Vatican, the mouthpiece of the Catholic Church, is the last organization to speak on any authority when it comes to homosexuality, because they don't understand it. To throw the "homosexuality" phase around so easily and blame their pedophile priests on this lifestyle is denial of the utmost. These priests were criminals in their order and was hid repeatedly in other communities only to assault another child/children. This behavior has nothing to do with homosexuality, but being a manipulative, stone cold criminal, period.
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Hillary Clinton Farewell to Senate Speech (Video)
This from January 15, 2009
Part One
Part Two
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Americans Believe in Obama
Another poll handing the Obama Team a good feeling to march onward with their agenda.
The USAToday/Gallup states, "Americans believe Obama will deliver despite down times."
Again, with all the distractions from Illinois, the debacle of the senate with the Burris appointment, and some hiccups in the transition, many Americans want Obama to continue full steam ahead and start fixing the mess that the Bush Administration has created in this country.
Americans are as down as they've been in decades about the state of the country and its polarized politics, even as they express soaring confidence that Barack Obama will be able to turn things around.
Iraq War was a major issue for many Americans but now it is only the economy.
Withdrawing most U.S. combat troops from Iraq, Obama's signature issue when he launched his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, ranks only sixth.
At the start of the campaign, Bonita Collins, 63, of Hornell, N.Y., supported Obama largely because of his pledge to end the war. "I'm from the Vietnam era," she says. "I was a peacenik then and I'm a peacenik now and that matters to me."
These days, though, Collins is more concerned about the faltering economy. She retired just three weeks ago from her job managing a home for the developmentally disabled. "Especially now that I'm retired, I'm concerned about that," she says.
The numbers for Barack Obama coming from all these recent polls is something George W. Bush NEVER had, which is good will from the American public. Also, remember though the Republicans have attempted to run around here stating this country is center/right, that is wrong. Barack Obama won the 2008 election with a resounding number, which means a MANDATE. The American public expects him to tackle the economy and all these other issues that he outlined during the campaign.
The towering ratings Obama receives from most Americans will give him political capital as he tries to pass his proposals, including a mammoth economic stimulus package that he says will cost about $850 billion. Those high hopes could give way to disenchantment, however, when problems erupt or promises are delayed — something Obama already has warned Americans to expect.
Obama has a tall task ahead of him, this country has been left in the worst shape ever. Not since FDR has the public's confidence in government and the real time realities that many are living have been so low.
And President George W. Bush? He is leaving office in disgrace, that is disgrace if you look at the poll numbers. He has the lowest approval ratings of any president ever. And good riddance to him.
Polling Numbers
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Beyonce to sing for The Obamas First Dance
Beyonce will sing the first song that Barack and Michelle Obama will dance to.
The Presidential Inaugural Committee isn't saying. "It is our hope that we can keep the song secret until the moment," said spokeswoman Linda Douglass.
Beyonce is part of the star-studded lineup at the official Neighborhood Ball that will be televised on ABC, along with her husband Jay-Z, will.i.am, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, Shakira, Sting, Faith Hill, Mary J. Blige, Stevie Wonder and Maroon 5.
The Presidential Inaugural Committee said Thursday that presenters at the ball will include Denzel Washington, Jessica Alba, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ray Romano, Jamie Foxx, Queen Latifah and Kate Walsh.
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Thursday, January 15, 2009
President George W. Bush's Final Farewell or Goodbye to the Nation (video)
President George W. Bush, still in denial of how he destroyed this country economically, crippled the military purposely, ruined our international standing out right and destroyed this country's confidence in handing anything over to HIS party again, for decades to come. The Bush Administration was a disaster to the end. Here is a perfect send off for our president, here.
Transcript
Chris Matthews on Bush
Bush's Popularity Reaches Historic Lows
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Obama Won: Senate approved the rest of the bailout money
Congress laid the foundation for President-elect Barack Obama's economic recovery plan on Thursday with remarkable speed, clearing the way for a new infusion of bailout cash for the financial industry while majority Democrats proposed spending increases and tax cuts totaling a whopping $825 billion.
Two days after Obama personally lobbied for release of $350 billion in bailout funds, the Senate narrowly turned aside a bid to block the money.
Across the Capitol, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. said, "Immediate job creation and then continuing job creation" were the twin goals of the separate stimulus legislation. It recommends tax cuts for businesses and individuals while pouring money into areas such as health care, education, energy and highway construction.
She and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., have pledged to have the economic stimulus bill ready for Obama's signature by mid-February.
Both houses debated Obama's call to release another $350 billion from the financial bailout package, but the vote that mattered most was in the Senate. Despite bipartisan anger over the Bush administration's handling of the program to date, Democratic allies of the incoming president prevailed on a vote of 52-42 that will permit the release of funds within days of Obama's inauguration.
Now, all eyes will be looked on Obama for transparency and accountability to where this money is going, how it will be used and who or whom will get the funds.
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Foreclosures up 81%.....Staggering.....
What is happening? Many folks, some who have lost jobs and even some who have not are leaving these homes.
Remember that fake equity many thought they had when they purchased their homes? Well, their mortgage payments cost more than what the house is actually worth.
Wake up call, for real.
More than 2.3 million American homeowners faced foreclosure proceedings last year, an 81 percent increase from 2007, with the worst yet to come as consumers grapple with layoffs, shrinking investment portfolios and falling home prices.
Nationwide, more than 860,000 properties were actually repossessed by lenders, more than double the 2007 level, according to RealtyTrac, a foreclosure listing firm based in Irvine, Calif., which compiled the figures.
States heavy hit are California, Nevada, Arizona and Florida. California homes were always overpriced, but many got caught up in the fake equity meme, plus that Writers Strike in Hollywood is still being felt, many in those swanky homes walked away from them due to no salaries. And the reality is that California has a high unemployment rate at 8.4% and rising, not good news.
Nevada was a real boom state for some time now, many communities were built with the population growing, the casino industry was solid. Well, not now.
In one of the more ominous signs of Las Vegas' crumbling housing market, foreclosures nearly tripled in 2008 from the previous year, Sacramento, Calif.-based Foreclosures.com reported Wednesday.
Lenders took back 31,416 homes in Clark County during the year, compared with 11,509 in 2007. Preforeclosure filings nearly doubled to 67,314 from 33,953 during the period. It's by far the highest numbers since Foreclosures.com began tracking the information.
[snip]
Nevada was No. 8 in the nation with 37,043 foreclosures, far behind California (260,709), Florida (107,833) and Texas (70,037). However, Nevada had the highest foreclosure rate at 4.99 percent.
Since the country is going through massive job losses, wages slashed, who has money for Las Vegas? So, that means that the easy jobs to get at the casinos are not so easy anymore. It means that many have lost jobs, hours cut to the bone and these home owners can not afford to keep up mortgage payments.
Florida was always a quagmire. My father lives there and since he retired, moved, built his home, survived Hurricane Ivan, he wished he was back in Chicago. Why? The home owners insurance is so expensive, some folks are paying MORE for insurance than their actual mortgage payments. For many this state is becoming too, expensive to live in.
Florida also is a tourist state, much like Nevada, when the country is hurting so is Florida. It means that many with these jobs are laid off, hours cut, wages cut, etc. It means mortgages for these workers homes can not be paid. It is a vicious circle. Florida is number two in foreclosures.
Nationally, 3.2 million foreclosures were filed in 2008, an 81 percent increase from 2007 and a 225 percent increase from 2006. Nevada had the nation's highest foreclosure rate, and Florida was second with one in 22 of its houses and condominiums falling into foreclosure last year.
The question is this, "Has the foreclosure of homes stablized?"
Still, foreclosures — which keep breaking records going back 30 years, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association — are likely to remain well above normal levels for years to come, and that will continue to keep home prices from rebounding.
In other words, expect record number of foreclosures for 2009 and possibly going into 2010.
Finally, what is up with prices rebounding? How the hell can prices rebound when these home prices were inflated from the start? As my mother-in-law, who is a mortgage broker always said, "Your home is only worth, what someone wants to pay for it."
Ain't that the truth.
.....and jobless claims? Bad news....
Source
MSNBC
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This is so true about George W. Bush....
George Bush bought his "ranch" down in Crawford in 1999 shortly before he started running for president. And now that he's done with politics, he is moving out of there as soon as he possibly can. The Bushes have bought a new home in a tony neighborhood (and until recently a whites-only community) in Dallas. So, what happened to retiring down to the ranch?
Well, it's what most of us suspected - all total bullshit. He was never a cowboy. That ranch had nothing on it. No cows, no farming, just a lot of bullshit brush that Bush pretended to clear (for what fucking purpose?). The ranch was always a political gimmick. It was purchased so that Bush could play the role of the Texas cowboy when in fact he has always been the Andover cheerleader.
This is part of the piece by Cenk Uygur, and it is totally on point. I always said, "How can Bush even attempt or play the "working class guy, rancher" when he was born with a trust fund and silver spoon in his mouth?" In fact, when Bush purchased this ranch in 1999, the buzz was that Karl Rove said it would give him the "working class guy image", heading into the presidential run of 2000. And the rumor was always that when Bush left the presidency he would not go back to that ranch. Damn, rumors do come true sometimes.
The sad part is that many Americans fell for this game, put Bush in the category of "the guy to have a beer with", voted him into office (twice), watched as Bush screwed up the country and now these same folks have run away from the Republican Party.
It took all of that for us, we, Americans to wake the hell up from the nightmare of George W. Bush and run to Obama hoping "Yes, WE Can" or in other words, "Anyone but the Republicans and the GOP..." while we watch in realtime as our livelihoods, pensions, money, homes, kids future, American Dreams, slip away from us.
Talk about a damn horror show, that is the past eight years and how the American public fell for the manipulation of a fraud, that is George W. Bush.
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Roland Burris sworn in as the Junior Senator from the State of Illinois
About Time, Thank God, We've Moved On, AMEN....
That Burris drama was too much, finally an end to the drama.
Again, Harry Reid, "Pick the battles you can win, not the ones you will LOSE outright."
Burris was sworn in Thursday by Vice President Dick Cheney and seated without objection or a vote initially promised by Majority Leader Harry Reid. Then the senior senator from Illinois, Dick Durbin, was throwing a reception in Burris' honor.
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Obama in wax at Madame Tussauds, ALREADY
He has not even stepped into office and in wax already at this legendary wax museum. This says a lot, the international community can not WAIT for President Barack H. Obama.
Barack Obama's wax doppelganger has already taken office in Berlin — five days before the real-life Obama takes over in Washington.
Standing between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy at Madame Tussauds' newest museum, the president-elect is shown smiling broadly with his arms crossed across his chest.
I must admit, the artists did a good job putting our PEOTUS in wax. A good resemblance of Barack.
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Obama, Biden tipped over to the Supreme Court
Obama and Biden made a pre-inaugural visit to the Supreme Court.
President-elect Barack Obama paid a visit Wednesday to the Supreme Court and chatted in front of a fireplace with Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., a fellow Harvard law graduate whose confirmation he opposed three years ago.
The two will meet again at noon Tuesday, when the chief justice gives the oath of the office to the incoming president.
Wednesday's meeting was described as a relaxed, get-acquainted session. It included Roberts, seven associate justices and Vice President-elect Joe Biden.
The absence of Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., who was at the court Wednesday morning for arguments in two cases, was a mystery. He has, however, voiced lingering anger over Senate Democrats, including Obama and Biden, who voted against his confirmation three years ago. When walking on Capitol Hill, Alito has said, he crosses to the far side of the street whenever he nears the Senate Office Building.
Alito, needs to get a grip. Politics is politics. It is nothing personal, but business and if he is angry three years later, how can he possibly make constructive interpretations of the law on the court?
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Obamas Move to Blair House (Video)
One step closer to that house across the street....
1651 Pennsylvania Avenue....the address of Blair House.....
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Hillary Clinton Confirmed by Senate Panel: 16-1
The senate panel confirmed Clinton, the next step full senate confirmation and it is apparent that she will sail through with flying colors. Clinton will be at the State Department on Tuesday.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee today recommended confirmation of the nomination of Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York as secretary of state. The vote was 16-1.
The full Senate still must confirm Clinton as President-elect Barack Obama's chief diplomat, but the committee vote is a clear sign that the former first lady should be in place at the State Department by Obama's inauguration on Tuesday.
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Live Video Stream of Eric Holder Senate Confirmation Hearing for Attorney General
Holder was nominated by Barack Obama to be the next Attorney General of the United States of America. Live Streaming below by MSNBC, link here and C-SPAN link here. Listen to it live on NPR.
More information here
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Desiree Rogers: What the Obama Social Secretary Will Do
Interesting article in the upcoming Vogue of the White House Social Secretary, Desiree Rogers. Rogers is a known quantity here in the Chicagoland area, a graduate of Wellesley College, MBA from Harvard Business School, formerly CEO of Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas, Director of the Illinois State Lottery, last position with Allstate Financial as Director of its newly found social networking initiative. Rogers was married to the former John W. Rogers, Jr., both are close friends to the Obamas.
I think one reason besides friendship to the Obamas that Rogers was given this coveted position is her known flair as a flawless entertainer.
Rogers's appointment, in late November, did not come as a surprise to anyone in the Obama inner circle, including Valerie Jarrett, one of her best friends and a senior adviser to the new president. Days before the announcement, Rogers had hosted a small birthday party for Jarrett in Chicago attended by Barack and Michelle Obama, who rejoiced in being able to spend some downtime with a few of their closest pals, including Rogers, after the campaign's long haul. "My party was perfect," Jarrett told The Washington Post later, adding that Rogers "has extraordinary flair and exquisite taste."
Rogers also understands the platform of what the Obamas want to do for the social scene in Washington, D.C. This is not only about dinners, parties but outreach to the D.C. community, one that the Obamas plan to become a part of.
The mandate the Obamas have given her, Rogers said, "is about instilling pride." Her job "is helping people visualize what the Obama presidency is about, the feelings Americans voted for—inclusion, transparency, embracing people you might never otherwise learn about—and also translating the splendor, that sweetness, that comfort of the White House to everyone." She paused and smiled. "Enormous task."
Indeed, in these troubled economic times, how exactly will the Obamas revitalize the White House? "Using the assets already there," Rogers said. "We have to be balanced. People think that being 'social' means hosting a lavish party, but that's not true. We all thrive on social interaction, and we must continue to," despite the economy.
Rogers job is to help Michelle make her job as First Lady, a bit easier. Many are wondering, curious about the new First Lady's vision and I think Rogers and Michelle get it. It is about moving forward, with your directive but remembering the past and working it in. Tall order.
"There is a history and tradition to these events," said Rogers—the Christmas-tree lighting, for example, and the Easter-egg hunt. "Yes, we are about change and about finding a new way, but 'new' doesn't mean that we walk away from history."
Read more, here.
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Wednesday, January 14, 2009
NBC/WSJ Poll: Support Solid for Obama
Wow, I feel like it has been AGES since I wrote about a poll. Remember, when the polls were jumping off everyday? Oh well, next.
The NBC/Wall Street Journal poll has some good news for Obama.
First off, there have been distracting hiccups for Obama from his senate seat, Bill Richardson, Blago, Illinois political corruption, etc., one thing is for sure, the public is not feeling all these distractions and they want Obama to tackle the economy, create jobs and get us out of this mess.
But the public also is concerned that the stimulus’ price tag might be too expensive and would increase the U.S. deficit.
“They want to do something and want to see it done,” says Democratic pollster Peter D. Hart, who conducted this survey with Republican pollster Bill McInturff. “But what they’re warning [Obama] collectively is — be careful.”
[snip]
Eighty-nine percent support the creation of new jobs through increased production of renewable energy (as well as making public buildings and schools more energy efficient). And 85 percent think it’s a good idea to generate jobs through the repair and construction of roads and bridges.
In addition, 67 percent approve of the the tax cuts in the stimulus plan, and 65 percent agree with the expansion of unemployment insurance and government-assisted health insurance.
[snip]
Also, 66 percent view Obama positively, versus just 14 percent who see him in a negative light. And while 55 percent say they like Obama personally and approve of most of his policies, an additional 22 percent say they like him personally but disapprove of his policies.
While the public is standing behind Obama, they can't WAIT for Bush to just LEAVE.
But while Obama is enjoying that honeymoon, President Bush is exiting with the lowest approval rating for a president leaving office (with the exception of Richard Nixon), according to the NBC News/Wall Street Journal pollsters.
The survey shows Bush’s approval rating at 27 percent. What’s more, only 31 percent view him positively, while 58 percent see him in a negative light.
Source
Poll
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Obama's People
This is a wonderful, interactive portrait of Obama's staff. The staff are those at the White House, advisers, cabinet designees, congress, etc. There is the backstory which is voiced over, and you are allowed to click through viewing the portraits and reading the short bio, with age of each participant. 50 portraits. Totally cool.
Enjoy.
Obama's People
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Steve Jobs takes medical leave of absence from Apple until June
This is a serious blow. Expect Apple to open the markets in the negative territory.
Apple's stock plunged 7 percent.
There has been much speculation about Jobs and his health. Lately, he has looked wain and dropped a lot of weight. Jobs did put a statement out a couple of weeks ago, to stop his medical speculation, that it was a treatable hormone imbalance, but today's statement has everyone a buzz.
"During the past week I have learned that my health-related issues are more complex than I originally thought," he wrote.
Jobs is a cancer survivor, pancreatic, and now the rumors are a buzz. And the cryptic message above to Apple employees will not help the stock.
Even so, the limited amount of medical information in that announcement did little to soothe Wall Street's nerves, and in interviews last week analysts predicted that the health watch would continue.
CNBC’s Jim Goldman reported that the announcement comes a week after sophisticated blood tests revealed new information about Jobs’ health – and that several news organizations, including CNBC, were working on the story.
“The fact is that Apple was sitting on news that the company didn't want to disclose,” said Goldman. “It began to leak out from people who should know.”
I am definitely not for outing in any case, especially when one is battling a medical problem, but Jobs is so associated with Apple, the face of Apple, that this is a big blow.
I hope he recovers, and I hope that the cancer has not returned, but he does deserve the right of privacy with his family to fight whatever the ailment may be.
Source
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Obama Briefing from Biden, Graham on Iraq (Video)
Biden tells Obama Afghanistan war will get worse
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Tom Daschle's Senate Confirmation Hearing Transcript
Transcript of Tom Daschle for Secretary of Health and Human Services, January 8, 2009 for the Obama Administration.
Transcript
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Obama meets the Liberal Media
Since, Obama met last night with the Right, today he met with the Left.
Obama held a meeting with several columnists and liberal commentators this morning, following up on last night's dinner with conservative writers, according to a source with knowledge of the meeting. Some of the writers there today are clearly on the liberal side, while others more moderate.
Here is the group:
9:45 a.m., in the transition office, President-elect Obama, meeting with: the Atlantic's Andrew Sullivan, CNN's Roland Martin, MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, the Washington Post's Gene Robinson, the Boston Globe's Derrick Z. Jackson, the one and only Maureen Dowd, the New York Times's Frank Rich, the Wall Street Journal's Jerry Seib, Atlantic political director Ron Brownstein, USA Today's DeWayne Wickham and columnist E.J. Dionne Jr.
Source
Marc Ambinder
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Geithner's Confirmation Hearing Pushed Back
Timothy Geithner's confirmation hearing is pushed back to Wednesday, January 21, 2009, due to the revelation of Geithner not paying income taxes and some domestic help problems.
The Senate Finance Committee for a second time postponed a hearing for Treasury Secretary-nominee Timothy Geithner following revelations about his failure to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes while working for the International Monetary Fund, among other tax infractions.
Obama Team are defending Geithner for Treasury and understands this was a mistake which Geithner immediately informed them of.
"The President-elect chose Tim Geithner to be his treasury secretary because he's the right person to help lead our economic recovery during these challenging times," Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statement.
"He's dedicated his career to our country and served with honor, intelligence and distinction. That service should not be tarnished by honest mistakes, which, upon learning of them, he quickly addressed."
The delay is prompted by Sens. Jon Kyl and Jim Bunning. Many believe that Geithner will still be confirmed, largely due to his massive knowledge and understanding of the TARP program.
Obama on Geithner
Source
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Obama taps (Ret) Maj. Gen. J. Scott Gration to head NASA
This is a very surprise pick. There has been some drama over at NASA, read it here, but we see Obama is moving full steam ahead, along with some real changes in this department.
President-elect Barack Obama has asked retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Scott Gration, one of his top foreign policy and military advisers during the campaign, to take the helm of NASA, according to a source informed of the selection.
An announcement is expected as soon as Wednesday. If that happens, he would be the first NASA administrator to be announced before the incoming president's inauguration.
Gration is not part of the NASA cult, environment. Another pick, as Leon Panetta to CIA, by Obama who is looking for leadership and management skills.
Gration's lack of space experience should not preclude him from being qualified for the job, said John Logsdon, a space policy expert here.
"There are lots of NASA administrators who have come from other areas without a background in space," he said. "You want a guy who is a leader and can manage a large organization."
Scott Gration on wiki
Source
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Listing of Inaugural Events and Information
Here we go....
SATURDAY, JAN. 17
_ President-elect Barack Obama and his family ride the train from Philadelphia to Washington, stopping in Wilmington, Del., for Vice President-elect Joe Biden and his family. Train will stop in Baltimore for speech before heading south.
_ BET Honors, an awards ceremony, at the Warner Theater.
_ People's Inaugural Gala Celebration at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.
_ Will.i.am "Yes We Did" concert.
_ Concert with Mary J. Blige, Common and Nelly at nightclub Ibiza.
SUNDAY, JAN. 18
_ Obama will kick off inaugural activities with a welcome event on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday afternoon. The event begins at 2:30 p.m. Beyonce, U2, Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Usher, Shakira, Sheryl Crow, Josh Groban and James Taylor are among the musicians scheduled to perform.
_ Presidential Inaugural Luncheon and Fashion Show at the Ritz-Carlton.
_ EMILY's List Inaugural Luncheon with scheduled guests including Cabinet appointees Hillary Rodham Clinton and Janet Napolitano, Sens. Kay Hagan and Jeanne Shaheen, and North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue.
_ African-American Church Inaugural Ball at the Grand Hyatt Washington.
_ 2009 Latino Inaugural Gala with Marc Anthony at Union Station.
_ Aloha Inaugural Ball, organized by former Obama campaign workers, held at the Wardman Park Marriott Hotel at 7:30 p.m.
MONDAY, JAN. 19
_ National Day of Community Service event: To honor Dr. King's legacy, Obama, Biden and their families, joined by Americans across the country, will participate in activities dedicated to serving others in communities across the Washington, D.C. area.
_ Black Tie & Boots Inaugural Ball, sponsored by the Texas State Society, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center.
_ Green Inaugural Ball at the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture. Ball hosted by former Vice President Al Gore.
_ Huffington Post preinaugural ball at the Newseum.
_ Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball at the Harman Center for the Arts. Hosted by the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, Russell Simmons, LL Cool J, among others.
_ A children's evening concert at the Verizon Center honoring military families. Event hosted by Michelle Obama, who will attend. Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers are among the entertainers.
_ Obama to attend three private dinners to honor former secretary of State Colin Powell, Biden and Sen. John McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, for their public service. Dinners at the Hilton Washington, National Building Museum and Union Station.
TUESDAY, JAN. 20 (INAUGURATION DAY)
Gates to the Inaugural Ceremony open at 8 a.m. The inaugural festivities are scheduled to start at 10 a.m. on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. They will include:
_ Musical selections of The United States Marine Band, followed by the San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus.
_ Sen. Dianne Feinstein provides call to order and welcoming remarks.
_ Invocation by the Rev. Rick Warren.
_ Musical selection of Aretha Franklin.
_ Biden will be sworn into office by Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.
_ Musical selection of John Williams, composer/arranger with Itzhak Perlman, (violin), Yo-Yo Ma (cello), Gabriela Montero (piano) and Anthony McGill (clarinet).
_ Obama will take the Oath of Office, using President Lincoln's Inaugural Bible, administered by Chief Justice John Roberts. Scheduled around noon.
_ Obama gives the inaugural address.
_ Poem by Elizabeth Alexander.
_ Benediction by Rev. Joseph E. Lowery.
_ The National Anthem by The United States Navy Band "Sea Chanters."
After Obama gives inaugural address, he will escort outgoing President George W. Bush to a departure ceremony before attending a luncheon in the Capitol's Statuary Hall.
The 56th Inaugural Parade will then make its way down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House.
Later that day, the Presidential Inaugural Committee will host 10 official inaugural balls:
_ Neighborhood Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center.
_ Obama Home States (Illinois and Hawaii) Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center.
_ Biden Home States (Pennsylvania and Delaware) Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center.
_ Midwest Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center.
_ Mid-Atlantic Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center.
_ Western Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center.
_ Commander in Chief's Ball at the National Building Museum.
_ Southern Inaugural Ball at the National Guard Armory.
_ Eastern Inaugural Ball at Union Station.
_ Youth Inaugural Ball at the Washington Hilton.
Unofficial balls include:
_ Congressional Black Caucus Inaugural Ball at the Capitol Hilton.
_ Creative Coalition Inaugural Ball at the Harman Center for the Arts.
_ Recording Industry Association of America's ball for Feeding America.
_ BET's Inaugural Ball at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
_ Africa on the Potomac inaugural celebration at Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Va.
_ American Music Inaugural Ball at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel.
_ Inaugural Purple Ball at the Fairmont Hotel.
_ Human Rights Campaign's Equality Ball at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel.
_ Inaugural Peace Ball at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum.
_ Impact Film Fund ball.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21
_ The president, vice president and their families will participate in a prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral.
Now this should be PLENTY of information!!!!
Also click on the Inauguration logo to your left and get official information, directly from the website.
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Inaugural Schedule and Calendar of Events
SUNDAY, JANUARY 18
We Are One: Opening Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial, between Constitution Avenue NW and Independence Avenue SW on 23rd Street
Doors open: 8:00 AM EST
Event begins: 2:30 PM EST
MONDAY, JANUARY 19
Kids' Inaugural: We Are The Future
The Verizon Center
Doors open: 5:00 PM EST
Event begins: 7:00 PM EST
TUESDAY, JANUARY 20
The Swearing-In Ceremony
United States Capitol, West Front
Event begins: 11:30 AM EST
Inaugural Luncheon
United States Capitol
Following the swearing-in ceremony, President Barack Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden, and members of their families will attend an inaugural luncheon hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.
Inaugural Parade
Pennsylvania Avenue
Event begins: While there is no official start time for the parade, it traditionally begins around 2:30 PM EST
Full links of Calendar Events, Balls, Galas, Parties surrounding the Inauguration, here.
h/t DemConWatch
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Retail Sales Suck
Well, with the economy in the tank, or in other words, it has been tanking for the whole year, the news and numbers are not good at all.
December’s drop marked a record sixth straight monthly decline.
The Commerce Department said total retail sales fell 2.7 percent to a seasonally adjusted $343.2 billion last month following a revised 2.1 percent drop in November, previously reported as a 1.8 percent decline.
As in the bank bailout, the auto bailout, watch for retail to ask for some relief, but more importantly watch those stores already in Chapter 11 bankruptcy to close for good and other named stores to produce massive layoffs, close chains and join the bankruptcy group.
When people are laid off, lose jobs, compaines close there is no money to sustain the economy. When people who have jobs, are worried about keeping jobs, they close their wallets and pocketbooks on spending.
We have a very tough year ahead of us, it will get worse.
Source
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More information on Michelle Obama's stylist
It was reported that Michelle's long time stylist, Rahni Flowers will help her on Inaugural Day.
Now more information is forthcoming:
Flowers, who with his partner Daryl Wells owns and operates the Van Cleef Hair Studio in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, has been styling Mrs. O’s hair since she graduated from high school. The salon, staffed by multi-cultural stylists, is known for its expertise with African-American hair. Many local television anchor-women of color are also Van Cleef regulars. For years, Flowers has spent approximately two hours a week coiffing Mrs. O’s hair. He is credited with giving her the Jackie-esque flip style she often wore in the beginning of the campaign and also with the straightened bob look she has sported in more recent months.
The 53-year-old Flowers, who also styles Mrs. O’s mother’s hair, will be flying into the District of Columbia on Sunday and is scheduled to do Mrs. O’s hair and makeup for the Inauguration ceremony and the evening balls. We certainly wouldn’t be surprised if he also is recruited to do some styling for Mrs. O’s Monday evening appearance at the “Celebration for America” concert at the Kennedy Center.
Now if we just knew what the Inaugural gown will be and if Maria Pinto is tapped from Chicago to design it?
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Official Presidential Portrait (Video)
Reveald on the Today Show by official White House Photographer, Pete Souza. This portrait will be at all the Federal Offices, Buildings, Embassies, Airports, etc.
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Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Obama: Keep your enemies close
Tonight at George Will's home, Obama wined and dined with conservative journalists:
Obama Tuesday night trekked to the Chevy Chase, Md., home of conservative columnist George F. Will to talk politics and get to know some of his fiercest intellectual adversaries: Charles Krauthammer, William Kristol, Larry Kudlow, David Brooks, Rich Lowry, Peggy Noonan, Michael Barone, and Paul Gigot.
Remember, this is about opening dialogue, finding common ground. There is nothing wrong with talking to anyone, this is how Barack Obama won in November, he reached across the aisle. This country has been divided far too long, for the major hurdles in the country ahead of us, it is all hands on deck. Many on the left may not like this, but Barack Obama was voted into office for CHANGE. This change starts with listening, building a bridge for everyone to cross together, and meaning it. Obama has talked about this ALL THROUGH THE CAMPAIGN.
Outrage, at this point, is not warranted. But getting solutions to help us out of the mess of George W. Bush, is necessary.
TPM
Politco
Source
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Obama's First Gift as POTUS
This gifts will come from Congress representing the American people.
A hand-cut, crystal bowl with the etching of the White House. Made by Lenox.
The $2,500 one-of-a-kind bowl weighs nearly 8 pounds and shows an image of the White House, with cherry trees on each side. As the bowl is rotated, the president's residence can be seen through the trees.
And Joe Biden gets a gift, too.
Joe Biden will receive a similar crystal bowl when he becomes vice president, only his will have an image of the Capitol, with blooming cherry trees.
More information, here.
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Kids Inaugural or Ball will air on The Disney Channel, January 19th
Yes, we got a Kids Inaugural Ball goin' on.
Headlining the event will be Malia and Sasha's favorite band, The Jonas Brothers.
The Jonas Brothers – one of Sasha and Malia's favorite bands – will perform along with Miley Cyrus and her dad Billy Ray, Bow-Wow and Demi Lovato during a kid-friendly show hosted by Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden with special appearances by Rihanna, Usher and Shaquille O'Neal.
This 90 minute concert is to honor military families and will be on the Disney Channel, Monday @ 8PM EST, January 19, 2009.
More information on the Kids Ball and Neighborhood Ball, here.
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Obamas choose a designer for the White House
Micheal S. Smith, Interior Decorator to the stars....
President-elect Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, have chosen Michael S. Smith, a California-based interior decorator, to make the White House feel like home, transition officials said on Tuesday.
Mr. Smith, 44, who will be responsible for decorating the private rooms in the White House where the Obamas will live, prides himself on ”an inventive style of mixing Old World classicism with very contemporary settings,” according to his Web site.
“I look forward to adding our touch to the East Wing and creating a living space where our family feels comfortable, happy and settled,” Mrs. Obama said in a statement on Tuesday. “Michael shares my vision for creating a family friendly feel to our new home and incorporating some new perspectives from some of America’s greatest artists and designers.”
[snip]
Mr. Smith could not be reached for comment. Ms. Needleman said that his clients have included Steven Spielberg and Rupert Murdoch. A native of California, Mr. Smith studied interior design at the Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles.
Meet the Obama Decorator
Source
IHT
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They must defend torture....starts with Joe Scarborough (Video)
I saw this yesterday and I am done with Joe Scarborough. He almost lost it after Obama actually WON, so now here he is on the rah-rah team for torture and keeping Gitmo opened. There is a front page post @ Daily Kos, where the neo-cons are lining up against closing Gitmo.
It is just starting....
....and Joe was not careful with his words, he put out there what he wanted out there, plus showed his EGO and IGNORANCE....
....and Joe, you have been wrong almost everytime about Barack Obama....
....and Joe is a red-necked asswipe......
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Timothy Geither, Treasury Secretary Nominee's Tax Issues
Geithner is Obama's nominee for Treasury Secretary.
Here is what we know:
The Senate Finance Committee is currently holding what's being called an "emergency Senators only meeting."
The committee is discussing nominations.
Tim Geithner, Treasury Secretary nominee, is here with Obama transition officials to discuss a legal issue involving a personal household employee. The specifics have not been disclosed. We are checking on a report that Geithner may have an issue concerning a household worker and the withholding of social security taxes.
Geithner's confirmation hearing before this committee is scheduled for Thursday Jan 15.
That kind of issue unraveled past nominations like Zoe Baird (Clinton) and in a related way Kimba Wood (Clinton). The "emergency" meeting began at 2:30.
More here....
Sources close to the transition say Geithner did not pay some taxes when he worked for the International Monetary Fund. The error was discovered in November 2008, and the taxes have since been repaid.
With regard to the housekeeper, transition officials say Geithner verified legal status when she was hired, but that her papers expired while still employed.
Transition officials also say Geithner initiated the meeting with the committee in an effort to be forthright.
"The President-elect chose Tim Geithner to be his Treasury Secretary because he's the right person to help lead our economic recovery during these challenging times," Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statement. "He's dedicated his career to our country and served with honor, intelligence and distinction. That service should not be tarnished by honest mistakes, which, upon learning of them, he quickly addressed. He made a common mistake on his taxes, and was unaware that his part-time housekeeper's work authorization expired for the last three months of her employment. We hope that the Senate will confirm him with strong bipartisan support so that he can begin the important work of the country."
It appears it is serious but will not derail the nomination.
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) says upon exiting the emergency meeting... "He's [Geithner] been very forthright in relating to us any mistakes...What we talked about has been fully disclosed to the Transition Office."
Stabenow indicates that, in her view, Democrats would be unlikely to withdraw support from Geithner. Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch also indicates he has not seen a reason that would disqualify Geithner.
First Read
AP
Will update as any relevant information becomes available.
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Julius Genachowski to head FCC
Obama has tapped Julius Genachowski to head the FCC.
President-elect Barack Obama plans to nominate Julius Genachowski, Obama's chief campaign technology adviser, as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, according to a number of media reports.
[snip]
During the campaign, Genachowski promoted a detailed technology and innovation plan that supports net neutrality protections, expansion of affordable broadband and media-ownership rules that encourage more diversity.
[snip]
If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Genachowski will take the reigns of the nation's top telecommunications regulatory agency at a time when network neutrality is a hotly debated topic and with the nation facing a Feb. 17 deadline for the digital television transition.
This is an outstanding choice, one who supports broadband expansion, net neutrality.
Read more, here.
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Michelle Obama's hair will be styled by long time stylist, Rahni Flowers
Ok, we got the hair out of the way. Now that dress or gown...............
To make sure that her hair is as meticulously coiffed as Michelle Obama watchers have come to expect, her longtime Chicago hairdresser, Rahni Flowers (right) of Van Cleef Hair Studio on the Gold Coast, is flying in with his blow-dryers and flatirons.
Flowers, who has been styling Obama's hair for 18 years, will arrive in Washington on Sunday for a job that will include styling the new first lady's hair and doing the makeup for her many public appearances, including the swearing-in ceremony, parade and inaugural balls.
On bad hair days, Obama is fond of pulling her hair back in a ponytail and wearing a headband. But when the occasion calls for a more elegant style, as can be expected next week, she often reverts to her reliable standby, the Jackie Kennedy flip.
Chicago Tribune
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Ann Coulter on ABCs The View (Video)
Watch all the clips as the ladies work up to Ann Coulter and discredits her.
Ann Coulter is the last person who should speak about single motherhood, children, parental relationships, period.
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Damn, Blago's Balls (Video)
Hell, ready to laugh??? One thing we can not dispute, Blago has more balls than the whole US Senate. for real.
h/t Andrew Sullivan
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Rahm Emanuel and Josh Bolton
Chief of Staff-designate Rahm Emanuel praised his outgoing counterpart Josh Bolton ahead of a mock disaster response drill Tuesday.
“I cannot thank President Bush as well as Josh enough for their efforts in making sure that this transition is seamless in basically, the handoff to President-elect Obama’s administration,” Emanuel said a news conference.
Source
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Minnesota Senate Seat Catch-Up
Well, let's find out what is going on with this Minnesota Seat.
First, Al Franken asked for the certification so he can be seated, probably for the Inauguration and he was told one word, "No" by the governor and secretary of state.
The Minnesota law is pretty straight forward.
"Minnesota law is very clear on when a certificate of election can be issued," Ritchie said in a statement. "Neither the governor nor I may sign a certificate of election in the U.S. Senate race until all election contests have reached a final determination. Even if the governor issues a certificate of election prior to the conclusion of the contest phase, I will not sign it."
In the meantime, Justice Alan Page, appointed a bi-partisan panel to review Norm Coleman's election case.
The panel, named Monday by state Supreme Court Justice Alan Page, includes one judge each from Hennepin, Pennington and Stearns counties.
The three may give up the next two months of their lives to deal with the complicated election case filed by Republican Norm Coleman. Coleman's case claims Democrat Al Franken, who ended the two-month Senate recount with a 225-vote lead, won't be ahead once all votes are correctly counted.
The panel's tripartisan background may help assuage partisan fears that politics will drive the next stage of the tough, testy and tight Coleman-Franken fight.
Their speed also may determine how quickly the next senator will be known.
And during all of this, Minnesotans are getting fed up with Coleman dragging this out. Many feel the process of the mandatory recount was fair, honest, and open. Many also feel that Coleman should chuck it up and CONCEDE.
Coleman is asking the court to reverse the count that was performed for all eyes to see. That is a tough pill for Coleman to swallow, because in the end I believe Al Franken will be victorious, as he was at the end of the recount. Coleman will have to deal with losing to a former wrestler and a comedian. That is the fact.
Great diary on all the court filings, here
Franken's Team latest court filing
Source
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Obama Inauguration on the big screen
Wow, this is something.
A total FIRST for any POTUS.
President-elect Barack Obama is on his way to the big screen, thanks to a deal between MSNBC and Screenvision that will put the news channel's inaugural coverage in 27 theaters around the country.
Free tickets are being handed out via MSNBC.com to see the inauguration and parade from 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. ET at the 27 theaters run by 11 exhibitor partners in 21 markets. Midday Tuesday isn't necessarily a big movie time, so it helps to fill the theater -- and boost popcorn and soda sales -- at a time when it's not usually busy.
One thing is a sure hit either in print, magazines or television the name "OBAMA" sells and brings in ratings.
All inaugural information, look to your right, under labels and click on inauguration.
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Condi in the Spin Zone for Bush
I almost spit up my coffee after reading this from AMERICAblog, "Condi: We may look really bad now, but give us 30 years".
The detour, media spin continues from Bush & Company. After yesterday's disastrous presser from President Bush, we now have to read or listen to the drivel from Condolezza Rice.
This is a woman, who at one point, was considered by Rumsfeld and Cheney as a "high priced secretary" at most, even though in the beginning of the Bush Administration she was the National Security Adviser. In other words, she was considered a joke.
Who can forget Condi out whoopin' it up in New York City while the City of New Orleans and its citizens were fighting for its existence. And here is a timeline of how the whole Bush Administration was MIA for many days as citizens of New Orleans were literally dying in the streets. This was happening as we had a President of the United States who was so out of the loop, that his staff had to compile a dvd with news clips of what was really happening in New Orleans.
So, now Condi has the nerve to say, "just give us 30 years?" My God, if we really knew how inept those in charge were in the Bush Administration we would not have given any of them 30 seconds.
In a conversation that stretched to 75 minutes -- and which Rice seemed reluctant to end -- the secretary of state said she was counting the hours until Jan. 20. But she yielded little ground in defense of her record or the administration's performance over the past eight years. After being peppered with questions about regrets, she joked, "Aren't you going to say, 'Aren't you thrilled that . . .?' "
What is more important than current controversies, she argued, slapping the table for emphasis, is how the decisions will look 25 or 30 years from now. "If you get very focused on whether someone thinks your policies are popular, you won't do the right thing," she said.
Arguing that Iraq shows signs of becoming an inclusive state -- it even "declared Christmas a national holiday" -- Rice said that if the country eventually emerges as a democratic, multiethnic state that has friendly ties with the United States, "that will be more important than what anybody thought in 2002 or 2003."
Good-bye, Condi, good riddance.
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Watch Senator Hillary Clinton's Confirmation Hearing, Live Video Streaming
Here is the link and/or video below of the live streaming from MSNBC of Clinton's senate confirmation hearing for Secretary of State under the Obama Administration. Also, another link link for C-SPAN connection. Listen to it from NPR, here. There will be a break for lunch, the live streaming will continue after the lunch break.
Hillary Clinton's Opening Remarks, Text
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The reviews are in for the George W. Bush's final press conference (Video)
Bush getting ripped apart for attempting to change what happened during his administration is just astounding.
AC360, CNN
Campbell Brown, CNN
CNN
Lou Dobbs, CNN
Keith Olbermann, MSNBC
Keith Olbermann, with Richard Wolffe
Hardball, Chris Matthews
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Got enough, yet?
George W. Bush's final press conference was bizarre, defiant, angry, unrealistic, so out of touch that the general public really can not wait for him to LEAVE. Not only does his argument FAIL, but to try to point the blame of the botched job of Katrina on everyone else but his FAILED RESPONSE AS POTUS, was just too much.
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Sony to post 1.1B loss
Sony.
Remember, if you have a Sony, it is the best.
But along with the Sony was a higher sticker price.
Case and point, the LCD, plasma televisions.
The competition is too great now, that you can get a Sharp Aquos which is rated better quality at a cheaper price, than a Sony.
Sony rode the "we are the best" in electronics for a very long time. The cheaper competition from China, Taiwan, India have caught up with Sony and the consumer is looking for the best price point, along with the best quality.
Sony will post a 100 billion yen ($1.1 billion) operating loss this fiscal year through March, its first since 1995, media reports said Tuesday.
The electronics giant has seen sales of its liquid crystal display screens and other products fall, and its bottom line has been hurt by the strong yen, which cuts profits on goods sold abroad, the Nikkei business newspaper and broadcaster NHK reported.
The losses are coming from the company's core electronics division, which has long been a steady source of profits, the reports said. The Nikkei said Sony's operating loss could balloon to as much as 200 billion yen ($2.2 billion).
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Closing Gitmo will probably take longer than a year
Barack Obama has the right on its heel, with the leak of signing a potential executive order to start the process of closing Guantánamo Bay once he ascends to the presidency.
But experts say it is likely to take many months, perhaps as long as a year, to empty the prison that has drawn international criticism since it received its first prisoners seven years ago this week. One transition official said the new administration expected that it would take several months to transfer some of the remaining 248 prisoners to other countries, decide how to try suspects and deal with the many other legal challenges posed by closing the camp.
People who have discussed the issues with transition officials in recent weeks said it appeared that the broad outlines of plans for the detention camp were taking shape. They said transition officials appeared committed to ordering an immediate suspension of the Bush administration’s military commissions system for trying detainees.
The main question of closing Gitmo is this, who is to be released and who is to be tried? Or who can not go home and where is a new home for some of these detainees?
“I thought he was trying to manage expectations of how quickly those detainees who remain can be sorted into two categories: those who will be released and those who will be prosecuted,” Ms. Mendelson said.
Aside from analyzing intelligence and legal filings on each of the remaining detainees, diplomats and legal experts have said the new administration will need to begin an extensive new international effort to resettle as many as 150 or more of the remaining men. Portugal and other European countries have recently broken a long diplomatic standoff, saying they would work with the new administration and might