h/t to Jed @ Daily Kos, this is an EXCELLENT ad, it really should be on television.
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Saturday, October 24, 2009
Mac vs. PC meets Dems vs. GOP
Fly above all the drama, Fly above all the haters.....
...it's beneath me....way too high to hear you throwin' salt on my name....
Yes, Barack and Michelle this should be your anthem....Yes, indeed....
By Kandi Burgess, yes the one on RHOA (Real Housewives of Atlanta), her cd/ep drops 11/10/09
Music by Singersroom.com | More on Kandi
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The question of the legitimacy of Fox News continues (Video)
My thing on Fox News is this, "I don't watch the station." That is my prerogative, as it is the prerogative for many that do. Should the Obama White House go up against Fox? Yes and no. Yes, when Fox is bogus and incorrect and no, because it is a waste of time in the end. Yes, call Fox out, but it is Fox who put themselves in this box. Just look from their own mouths and what they put on their station. You decide. And after watching, maybe many will understand why the Republican Party will continue to lose with constant rhetoric like this. Elections are won in the middle, not the right or left, the middle. The one who wins the middle, wins the election. Right now, independent voters are turned off by this rhetoric and if it continues the Republican Party will be out of leadership for a long time.
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The citizens of Maine KNOWS that Olympia Snowe is not the President (Video)
The Obama White House is fighting, apparently, if you read tea leaves for that one elusive Republican vote of Olympia Snowe. Why? So, they can say it is a bipartisan bill with ONE REPUBLICAN VOTE. Obama White House, time to get over it. Really, it is. I have decided that the Republicans in congress are not going to vote on JACK for the next 3 years with the name, Obama attached to it. Since the public knows this and we appreciate the Obama White House for wanting to work with Republicans, but since Republicans don't want to work for you, just move on and work for US. It is totally ridiculous to tout any legislation as bipartisan with one Republican vote, we know that and Obama White House, you know that. Move on, make sure a strong, government run public option is available in the health insurance reform bill. If not, well, shoot yourself in the foot. h/t sluggahjells
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President Obama's Weekly Address, October 24, 2009 (Video and Transcript)
Working with Small Business to Drive Recovery
The President restates his commitment to small business as key to economic recovery -- from the Recovery Act to Financial Stability to Health Reform -- and pledges more to come. October 24, 2009.
Transcript
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Friday, October 23, 2009
Throw under the bus time for Creigh Deeds
Creigh Deeds
••
Barack Obama won the elusive State of Virginia for the Democrats, the first time in 44 years on November 4, 2008. I guess Creigh Deeds did not get that memo, thus the cluster fuck that is called his campaign has spiraled out of control.
Yes, cluster fuck.
The Obama Campaign had a road map to win Virginia, remember the Republicans laughed that he could actually win it, but he did. So, common sense would be that whatever road map was used should be the road map that Deeds take, but he did not.
The mandate, populist themes, change that this country embraced is what Deeds should have ran on, but his campaign is like a Democrat running as a Republican-lite from 1996. Again, some of these politicians in the D.C. area don't understand the mood of this country and what people want outside of the beltway. And Deeds disastrous statement of opting Virginia out of the public option was the nail on a coffin already dropping 6 ft under.
There will be a lot of questions about this race, lack of intensity, no enthusiam and why the Deeds Campaign shunned the White House and Barack Obama for that matter. I am sure now, they wished they had not done so, but it appears too late.
So, as we prepare to write Virginia off the map for the Democrats next month and move on, the Obama White House is warranted to throw this campaign under the bus.
Senior administration officials have expressed frustration with how Democrat R. Creigh Deeds has handled his campaign for governor, refusing early offers of strategic advice and failing to reach out to several key constituencies that helped Obama win Virginia in 2008, they say.
Democratic strategists said that over the summer, Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) offered Deeds advice on winning a statewide election. Among other things, Kaine, who is also chairman of the Democratic National Committee, told Deeds that he should lay out more of his own vision and stop attacking Republican Robert F. McDonnell so ferociously. But Deeds did not embrace the advice, according to a national Democratic strategist.
A senior administration official said Deeds badly erred on several fronts, including not doing a better job of coordinating with the White House. "I understood in the beginning why there was some reluctance to run all around the state with Barack Obama," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to speak candidly about the race. "You don't do that in Virginia. But when you consider the African American turnout that they need, and then when you consider as well they've got a huge problem with surge voters, younger voters, we were just a natural for them."
A second administration official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said: "Obama, Kaine and others had drawn a road map to victory in Virginia. Deeds chose another path."
Oh and Mudcat Saunders is pissed.
Washington Post
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Valerie Jarrett sets it straight on Obama's position on the public option (Video)
From morning joe, transcript:
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President Obama Signs Bill to Expand Veteran Benefits (Video)
The President speaks at the signing of a bill that will increase the VA budget, help fund the post 9/11 GI Bill, and dramatically increase funding for veterans health care. President Obama also comments on the disparity of wealth on Wall Street and Main Street and curtailing executive pay from bailout companies. October 22, 2009.
I've always believed that our system of free enterprise works best when it rewards hard work. This is America. We don't disparage wealth; we don't begrudge anybody for doing well. We believe in success. But it does offend our values when executives of big financial firms -- firms that are struggling -- pay themselves huge bonuses, even as they continue to rely on taxpayer assistance to stay afloat.
Vimeo Video
Transcript
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Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) sound absolutely ridiculous comparing the Obama White House to the Nixon White House (Video)
Dick Cheney criticizes Obama "dirthering" on Afghanistan (Video)
This coming from a man who never thought about how winning ANY MIDDLE EAST WAR? Cheney has ZERO credibility. And why the media gives this war nut a podium for his bullshit is beyond me. From Hardball.
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Thursday, October 22, 2009
Senate Republicans sure like the HATE
35 Senate Republicans voted against the defense bill which includes the Matthew Shepard Hate Crime bill. Shepard was a gay college student who was kidnapped and beaten to death in Wyoming. The Shepard Bill has been around the halls of congress for a long time, now it will finally be signed into law by President Obama, but as we continue to see from the Republican Party of NO or the party that is not in charge of anything anymore, any excuse to buck the President will be used, even if it is not to vote on a signature piece of legislation which will make it a federal crime to assault someone on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity. We see, again, where the Senate Republicans stand. This from the ever loving, sympathetic Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA):
Senate Republicans conceded that the Shepard bill swung their votes against the defense package. "The bill includes hate crimes legislation, which I firmly believe is unnecessary, irresponsible, and certainly not germane to this bill," Saxby Chambliss of Georgia said. "There is little evidence that indicates that violent crimes motivated by hate go unpunished in the United States. Every single state has come from laws that prohibit the behavior addressed by hate crimes legislation, including laws against rape, assault and battery."
Sigh, it just continues on.....
Source
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Joe Scarborough, why are you arguing with Lawrence O'Donnell? (Video)
O'Donnell is the one to be weary of, the man has FACTS and undisputable ones at that, but Scarborough continues to try to one up him. Scarborough today, "EPIC FAIL". Yes, I used fail because O'Donnell served it up to Scarborough, who tried to defend the aberration known as Dick Cheney.
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The job outlook, this is just sad
500 applicants for one, $13 an hour job. This is the real reality out here and while some say $13/hour is a decent wage, when you take taxes and benefits out that does not leave much of an income. But those at Goldman Sachs, Wall Street would totally disagree. That is why the 10,000 Dow Jones boom don't mean anything on Main Street. This is our reality, no jobs, no health care insurance, on unemployment, going through any savings we have, worry, stress, and uncertainty for the future. So, yes a $13/hour job is something versus having nothing. But rich folk will never understand that.
When Stacey Ross, C. R. England’s head of corporate recruiting, arrived at her desk at the company’s Salt Lake City headquarters the next Monday, she found about 300 applications in the company’s e-mail inbox. And the fax machine had spit out an inch-and-a-half thick stack of résumés before running out of paper. By the time she pulled the posting off Careerbuilder.com later in the day, she guessed nearly 500 people had applied for the $13-an-hour job. “It was just shocking,” she said. “I had never seen anything so big.”
Ms. Ross had only a limited amount of time to sort through the résumés. While C. R. England has not been immune to the downturn, it has added significantly to its stable of drivers and continued to hire office staff members to support them. Ms. Ross was also trying to fill more than two dozen other positions.
The 34-year-old recruiter decided the fairest approach was simply to start at the beginning, reviewing résumés in the order in which they came in. When she found a desirable candidate, she called to ask a few preliminary questions, before forwarding the name along to Chris Kelsey, the school’s director. When he had a big enough pool to evaluate, she would stop. Anyone she did not get to was simply out of luck.
She dropped significantly overqualified candidates right away, reasoning that they would leave when the economy improved. Among them was a former I.B.M. business analyst with 18 years experience; a former director of human resources; and someone with a master’s degree and 12 years at Deloitte & Touche, the accounting firm. read more here...
The Democrats will have cover with President Obama, as long as the Republicans continue to come up with zero ideas on anything, but if they do and the public starts to listen and believe, then Houston we have a problem.
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Jobless claims rise, unemployment claims rise
The jobless claims rise, once again. Unemployment is going to be the benchmark for the mid-term elections next year and the Obama Administration knows this.
The number of newly laid-off workers filing claims for jobless benefits rose more than expected last week, after falling in five of the past six weeks, as employers remain reluctant to hire even with the economy showing signs of recovery.
The Labor Department said Thursday that new jobless claims rose to a seasonally adjusted 531,000 last week, from an upwardly revised 520,000 the previous week. Wall Street economists had expected only a slight increase, according to Thomson Reuters.
Economists closely watch initial claims, which are considered a gauge of layoffs and an indication of companies' willingness to hire new workers.
The four-week average of claims, which levels out fluctuations, fell slightly to 532,250, the lowest since mid-January and about 125,000 below the peak for the recession, reached this spring. But claims remain well above the 325,000 that economists say is consistent with a healthy economy.
The number of people continuing to claim benefits did drop for the fifth straight week to 5.9 million, from just over 6 million. The figures on continuing claims lag initial claims by a week.
Many recipients are moving onto extended benefit programs approved by Congress in response to the recession, which began in December 2007 and is the worst since the 1930s. Those extensions add up to 53 weeks of benefits on top of the 26 typically provided by the states.
When those programs are included, the total number of recipients dropped to 8.8 million in the week ending Oct. 3, the latest data available, down about 50,000 from the previous week. That decline is likely due to recipients running out of benefits, rather than finding jobs, economists say.
Many analysts expect the economy grew as much as 3 percent in the July-September quarter, but employers are reluctant to hire as they wait to see if such growth can be maintained.
The unemployment rate rose to 9.8 percent in September from 9.7 percent, the department said earlier this month, as employers cut 263,000 jobs. The recession has eliminated a net total of 7.2 million jobs. read more here....
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President Obama at Gov. Jon Corzine Rally on Republicans, "'Got A Lot of Nerve' To Complain About Their Own Mess" (Video)
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
President Obama Announces New Small Business Lending Initiatives, Landover, MD (Video)
President Obama announces new lending initiatives that will help small businesses have more access to credit during a visit to Metropolitan Archives in Landover, MD. October 21, 2009.
YouTube
Transcript
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Michelle Obama out there doin' the double dutch and hula hoopin' at Healthy Kids Fair (pictures and video)
Makes me want to take my ropes out and do it too!!
U.S. first lady Michelle Obama jumps rope with kids at the White House Healthy Kids Fair on the South Lawn in Washington, October 21, 2009.
First Lady Michelle Obama talks to school children about the importance of exercise and nutrition at the Healthy Kids Fair on the South Lawn at the White House. October 21, 2009. Transcript
The First Lady Hoops
Michelle, you go girl!!!
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A republican senator warning President Obama to not get enemies
Are you laughing? Because, I am.
Really. President Obama has gone out of his REACH to be accomodating to Republicans continuously and have gotten all the crap we saw from that party over the summer. He has bent over backwards to try to be inclusive but the Republicans refuse to work with President Obama and Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) is telling the President, "Don't start an enemies list."
Mr. Alexander, you need to tell that to your own members of your party than the President of the United States. Oh, Mr. Alexander, the public understands and knows that President Obama has tried, but you and your party, not so much.
A top Senate Republican invoked the memory of the scandal-marred Nixon administration on Wednesday to urge President Barack Obama: "Don't start an enemies list."
Senator Lamar Alexander told Reuters he sees the Obama White House adopting an attitude similar to that of the Richard Nixon White House four decades ago, that "everybody is against us and we are going to get them."
Alexander cited as examples the Obama administration threatening to strip the insurance industry of its exemption of federal anti-trust laws, "taking names" of bondholders who opposed the auto bailout, its reported aim to "neuter the U.S. Chamber of Commerce," boycotting Fox News Network and "calling out" of others who oppose it. read more here...
Attempting to paint Barack Obama with the Nixon paint brush is very broad indeed, so broad that it reeks on the ridiculous side. The whole Republican agenda would be valued and warranted if they had any "new ideas", something that they have been very vacant of. Through this health care debate we have gotten nothing but "I want America back", Obama = Hitler, "Don't take my Medicare", bithers, teabaggers, right wingers, but Mr. Alexander has been silent through out all of this. But now, he wants relevance and want to remind President Obama not to get enemies?
Good luck on that one, Mr. Alexander. Mr. Obama already has enemies and the bulk of them we saw on display all summer long, from your party.
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Democrats moving to strip insurance industry of their coveted anti-trust exemption
This is hard ball being played here.
President Obama was so incensed by the insurance companies, 24th hour bogus report on any change in health care insurance reform will bring increased premiums, that the President warned this industry that removal of the anti-trust exemption should happen.
Well, movement is happening that it DOES HAPPEN.
A House committee has voted to strip the health insurance industry of its exemption from federal antitrust laws as senators announced plans to take the same step.
The moves Wednesday signaled a growing determination by Democrats to punish the insurance industry for its criticism of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul agenda. The House Judiciary Committee voted 20 to 9 to repeal a 1940s law that exempted the health insurance industry from federal controls over certain antitrust violations including price-fixing.
Lawmakers said they wanted to include the legislation in a larger health care overhaul bill taking shape in the House. In the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid announced plans to repeal the antitrust exemption as part of its health care legislation.
bold emphasis is mine
Good to see Leader Reid making the an integral part of the health care overhaul. About damn time.
Source
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Parents of child denied health insurance because she is underweight on the Today Show (Video)
Again, we are supposed to continue to deal with insurance companies who can deny you because they WANT TO? REFORM is needed and coming soon.
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Republicans in congress halting unemployment expansion
Is anyone surprised at this? I am not, sorry, I am not. After this summer of all the idiots, sorry many were that, what is the next trick bag.
The stalling of legislation to expand unemployment insurance (UI) has little to do with the benefit itself. First, there’s a push to attach an extended homebuyer tax credit to the bill — something the Obama administration is wary of.
But also there’s this: Republicans are hoping to attach a number of amendments related to ACORN and immigration — provisions that have delayed floor action on the UI bill indefinitely, according to the offices of both Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
The agreement ends after that.
The Republican amendments include at least two provisions related to ACORN; one related to the E-Verify program; one to pay for the UI benefits with unspent stimulus money; and one providing tax relief.
Reid’s office says the amendments are unrelated and therefore have no place in the debate over jobless benefits. “These are tactics that Republicans have used in the past to delay,” a Reid aide said. “It seems as if they aren’t negotiating in good faith on this.”
If the Republicans want to deal with ACORN, do it in a separate bill. Folks are hurting out here, there are NO JOBS, unemployment is teetering at 10% and the Republicans want to play around with this? Please. Republicans in congress, you have millions of unemployed constituents in your districts and states, get it together.
Source
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Greenspan, Rubin, Summers the financial meltldown: The Warning (Video)
A much watch video about the lack of regulation on the unregulated derivatives market, what made the financial meltdown on Wall Street. And all these smart, in the know men walked away scott free and some are now advising the Obama Administration.
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President Obama's memo to Wall Street during NY fundraiser (Video)
The financial industry joining the White House on financial reform? Folks, you think health care is a fight? The money is already flowing HEAVY through the halls of congress on NO CHANGE after the disastrous irresponsibility of Wall Street. In other words, the rich folks want to remain, RICH. It was Wall Street, the banking industry that paid so much money for deregulation it happened. Does it mean every time Wall Street 'eff up that we, the taxpayer are supposed to bail these rich crooks out? Hell to the naw, on that one, from me, but we saw what happened with Bush and Obama. This industry needs to be regulated and heavy. I don't want another dime going to these crooks. This is the industry that believes heavily in the free market and capitalism, yet they came running to the very government that they despise to save them. After what has happened, regulate them to the mo-fo hilt.
And if you don't get it? Watch the PBS Frontline: The Warning. After watching this you will scratch your head and ask, "Why are the same people who KNEW this was happening are still around? Like in the Obama Administration?"
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Tuesday, October 20, 2009
President Obama Bestows Presidential Unit Citation on the Blackhorse Regiment (Video)
U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during a recognition ceremony to honor Troop A, First Squadron, 11th Armored Combat Regiment of the U.S. Army, recipients of the Presidential Unit Citation for actions in Vietnam, at the White House in Washington October 20, 2009.
The President bestows the Presidential Unit Citation on the Alpha Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry -- known as the Blackhorse Regiment. October 20, 2009.
Vimeo Video
Transcript
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President Obama and Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki Address the Press (Video)
The President sits down with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to discuss issues concerning the relationship between the United States and Iraq, and how that relationship will progress. After their meeting, the leaders briefed the press. October 20, 2009.
Transcript
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These Wall Street Big Bonuses are BAD NEWS
Yay, Whoop-de-dooo, the Dow Jones hit 10,000!!! Yay!!! The fat cat, thieves, company rapers have replenished their cash!!!! Yay!!!
That is the problem.
The average Joe and Joesetta don't give a mickey-fick about the Dow Jones hitting 10,000 points, THEY DON'T, but they understand that the rich people on Wall Street got over AGAIN.
That is the real problem.
Former President George W. Bush and current President Barack Obama forged ahead by bailing these crooked banks and Wall Street out with the tax payers dollars. We sat back this time last year and saw the bonuses out of this world, thanks to us, the tax payers making it so. Now we have to deal with this again?
The Obama Administration can talk all day and all night until the cows come home about Wall Street and greed, but until they fully are BEHIND regulatory measures to change what has happened to banking and this crooked industry, it will continue to be talk. And the public does understand the rich raking it up with a 10,000 Dow Jones and unemployment at 10%. Yeah, they get that picture fully.
It may be hard to believe but there was a time, almost 25 years ago, when Wall Street and Main Street weren't so far apart -- at least when it came to the average worker's salary and the average financial industry employee's annual bonus.
Back in 1985, the average annual salary for all workers across the country was actually a bit higher than the average bonus ($19,000 to $13,970). (Note: these numbers are not adjusted for inflation)
How times have changed - while the average bonus soared almost 14 times higher (by 2006), the average salary has essentially been stagnant sine the mid-1980s.
Though bonuses slipped sharply in 2008 amid the financial crisis, they're rebounding this year and Wall Street firms are set to pay out record amounts to their employees. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner recently told reporters that banks will be making "significant changes" to the way they pay their employees, and called bonuses being paid out by bailed-out firms "deeply offensive." read more here...
Well, Geithner said significant changes would be made when all this went down early in the year, and as we see it the game still remains the SAME with the banking industry.
Again, until the Obama Administration is for real about real banking regulatory changes, it is just words going in one ear and out the other.
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Toddler denied health insurance because she is underweight
Totally, ridiculous and the insurance companies wants us not to have competition for shit like this? Last week, the 4 month old baby was too fat, this week a toddler is too small, WTF????
The parents of a two-year-old girl in Colorado are unable to attain health insurance for their daughter because the insurer, United Healthcare Golden Rule, claims she is too small. In a letter sent to the family of the child, Aislin Bates, United Healthcare Golden Rule writes, "we are unable to provide coverage for Aislin because her height and weight do not meet our company standards." According to a Colorado news station, Aislin weighed six pounds, six ounces at birth, and now weighs 22 pounds.
When Robert Bates, the girl's father, left his former job to start his own business, he was forced to seek out his own health insurance, and enrolled his family in an insurance plan with United Healthcare Golden Rule. "It took me by surprise," Bates told ABC 7 in Denver. "I didn't think that her size was that abnormal and that it was something that you'd consider to be unhealthy." As ABC 7 reports:
A spokeswoman for United Healthcare Golden Rule said 89 percent of the people who apply for insurance get it. Ellen Laden, the company's public relations director, told the station that most insurers have their own propriety height and weight guidelines.
"Ours are based on several medical sources, including the Centers for Disease Control, and are well within industry standards," she said. read more here...
And both cases the fat baby and skinny toddler are in Colorado. Lastly, these insurance companies denying people based on WHAT FACTS? The ones grabbed out of their @$$es???
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Oprah got Palin
Sarah Palin will give Oprah Winfrey an exclusive interview in corelation with her upcoming book, "Going Rogue".
I don't expect nothing new, but honest questions by Oprah. Yes, Oprah is bigger than FOX NEWS.
Sarah Palin is going to sit down with Oprah Winfrey.
Harpo Productions announced Tuesday that the former governor of Alaska and Republican vice presidential candidate will appear on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” on Monday, Nov. 16.
According to Harpo, the interview will be Palin’s first about her new book, “Going Rogue: An American Life,” and it will be the first time Palin and Winfrey will meet.
Palin’s book was No. 4 on Amazon.com’s best-seller list on Tuesday. It’s slated to be released Tuesday, Nov. 17, the day after Palin’s interview with Winfrey.
Source
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This is the reason that Fox News is not a credible news organization (Video)
Again, who cares about Glenn, Bill and that crazy bunch, when it comes down to reporting the news, this organization CONTINUES to distort, omit or lie about the facts. Ten worst examples below and many more.
And the Republican Party KNOWS this.
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Much Ado About Nothing....Obama in New York for a DNC fundraiser (Video)
The cable chatter sounds stupid about this New York fundraiser that President Obama is attending this evening. Again, politics and money, two bed fellows, the oil and water, one is nothing without the other. Again, much ado about nothing.
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Wow, White House concerned for the First Lady to visit South Carolina
This should be an EMBARRASSMENT for the State of South Carolina. Again, all this racist attitudes rising and it is, don't say it is not, when the Secret Service is overwhelmed in just protecting the President, that it does not exist. Racism is alive and well in the United States of America, by some. h/t to Daily Kos
Let's get this straight: The White House has allowed first lady Michelle Obama to tool around Moscow, the Czech Republic and even Ghana in the past year, but officials are a little worried about her coming to South Carolina.
They consider the atmosphere here too dangerous.
Just when it seemed the summer of shame was over, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn dropped this bombshell on The Post and Courier's Yvonne Wenger on Friday. Clyburn says the White House is wary of bringing the first lady to the state because of the attitude of some of its residents.
Even if they are overreacting, or if Clyburn is overstating the case, it's embarrassing.
If security professionals, who apparently have reservations, actually believe it is too dangerous for the first family to visit a U.S. state, then we have dropped below the status of a Third World country.
It makes us look like buffoons, racists and backwater morons.
A loudmouthed minority of Neanderthals and sore losers have so poisoned the national discourse with their racist rantings, crude jokes and veiled threats that they have sullied South Carolina's reputation more than any governor, congressman or senator could ever imagine. read more here....
South Carolina has enough problems, the name is Mark Sanford and his hypocrisy. Michelle Obama has deep roots in the South Carolina community, she should be welcomed, but it just takes a few to put fear in the air. The way some folk act in 2009, you would think this is 1954 and this is a continued stigma on the South, which for many is just wrong.
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Race to watch next year: Arlen Specter and Joe Sestak
I still don't know why Obama/Biden got involved with Specter switching parties.
Well, yes, I do. Arlen Specter has been Joe Biden's friend for years, but how this went down just don't feel right with Democratic voters.
The switcheroo of Specter is documented, he was a Democrat in the 60's (he has done this before) and switched parties to the Republicans. Now, for the senate vote sake and a very tough Republican primary coming up, he was convinced to switch back to the Democratic Party with plenty of Obama covering.
I don't care about anyone switching parties for whatever the reasons, but Specter outright said he was switching because of the possibility of losing in the Republican Primary. See, the Republicans are fighting amongst themselves on who is more conservative, which means the right winged fringe have out weighed the moderates in the Republican Party.
“I’m not prepared to have my 29-year record in the United States Senate decided by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate, not prepared to have that record decided by that jury,” Mr. Specter declared in a rather defiant tone at a press conference Tuesday afternoon.
And the polls are continuing to show Congressman Joe Sestak closing the gap on Specter. Remember, Specter must get through the Democratic Primary, the same dilemma that Hillary Clinton faced with Barack Obama. Yes, President Obama can swope in and say, "Vote for a know quantity, Arlen Specter", but Pennsylvanians already know this quantity and the Republicans don't like him and the Democrats don't like being told that they must vote for a turn coat Republican. That is Specter's dilemma.
Barack Obama and Ed Rendell were delighted when they convinced Sen. Arlen Specter to switch parties earlier this year. But now that coup falls into the category of "be careful what you wish for," because the president and the governor of Pennyslvania have a problem on their hands: Arlen Specter. Here's the problem: Specter is up for re-election next year, and he was promised the full campaign backing of Obama and Rendell--not just in the general election but in the primary next May, if there was one. Well, there is one, and it is shaping up as a fierce one, against Rep. Joe Sestak, who represents the Philly suburbs. Specter, a notoriously tough and nasty campaigner, will expect his two big backers to support him to the hilt. And Specter, a 79-year-old cancer survivor with enough fortitude for the three of them, has leverage: he's the "60th vote" in the Senate. Read one way, Specter has no choice but to support Obama down the line; read another, Specter has the power, should things get ugly, to snarl the president's legislative agenda.
This is the primary to watch.
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Monday, October 19, 2009
In case you missed it: PBS Frontline - Obama's War (Video)
More information here. Full video, below.
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The public WANTS a public option, why does congress not get it?
I can answer this question on MANY levels, but it first comes to the tune of money. The money is flowing through congress as never before, especially the senate. Even all these moderate, conservative democratic senators are from states that WANT this in the final bill, but are towing the insurance line. So, what is the big deal?
They are scared or scurred to go against the insurance industry. This industry has most of these politicians bought and sold. Don't think that these senators are not being threatened, yes to the tune of, "If you vote for a public option, kiss your D.C. cocktail career, good-bye. We will run ads to support the candidate running against you in the primary and general and will run you out of your elected seat." Please, don't think this is not happening. And God forbid any of these Democratic Senators losing their spot at the next D.C. cocktail party!!
Look at all these POOR STATES, most in the South and these warped minded Democratic Senators are talking like they are Republicans, even though the polling states that their constituents want the public option. Case and point, Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) answered her constituents questions on line and they hammered her about the public option and why she is not going to support it, some to the tune that if she does not then she will not get their vote.
"We are terribly disappointed that you have caved in to the insurance industry and failed to support the public option for health care. It may very well affect our vote for you in the next election," Ray and Judy told her on the chat, which is posted online.
"Unfortunately the insurance companies opposed the bill I supported in the Finance Committee. There are many ways to provide greater options and choices to individuals, including non-profits, a state plan, and a co-op plan," Lincoln wrote back.
But that wasn't the last word. Lincoln got six more questions along the same lines.
Stan Wilson asked, "Again why are you opposed to a public option or everyone having the same health care options that you have?"
"That is exactly what I am for," Lincoln argued. "I am for expanding health care options for everyone just like the options that I and 8 million other federal employees have. Today the state of Arkansas has one or two options for customers. My goal is to expand that to dozens of choices."
"Nathan - Rogers" asked, "As long as hospitals and insurance company executive are paid based on the profits their companies make, how can we expect the focus to be on the patient without a public option?"
"We're changing that by changing the rules for insurance," was her response.
Next up was Jesse Barr of Winslow, AR, who blared: "Competition is the ONLY way to make the insurance corporations change their behavior!"
"I share your views," Lincoln said. "Providing competition and choice is the best way to make insurance companies change their behavior and be more competitive. It is also the best way to provide more affordable choices for people. Changing the rules is the first step towards forcing the competition."
Senator Lincoln has flipped and flopped all year on the public option, now it is winding down and crunch time. She is up for re-election next year and her record is dismal, in my view, but her constituents are heated about her voting for a public option. Ms. Lincoln has taken big money from the insurance industry, so which way do you think she is going to vote? My bet, her campaign coffers, then I will publicly support ANY Democrat who will run against her in her primary. That is how weak of a candidate and elected official she is.
Lastly, I can not harp on this enough, the United States Congress has the best medical insurance in this country, the type that Candidate Obama said the American Public deserves. If this is so, then why is this so hard for Democrats to understand what the public wants? Money and power is a bitch, it is this combination that can make or break you, we will soon find out for these Democrats in the Senate, which way their wind will blow. And the Republicans? Who cares? They were never going to vote for any health reform ANYWAY.
Here is the ABC/Washington Post new poll on the public supporting a public option.
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New Obama Sudan Policy (Video)
From Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton:
Read statements by President Obama, Secretary Clinton and public strategy documents, here.
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Is Harry Reid strong enough? (Video)
This is a powerful ad by a swing voters in Nevada. Reid, I hope you are listening.
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New marijuana policy by Obama Administration
I agree, but you decide...
The Obama administration will not seek to arrest medical marijuana users and suppliers as long as they conform to state laws, under new policy guidelines to be sent to federal prosecutors Monday.
Two Justice Department officials described the new policy to The Associated Press, saying prosecutors will be told it is not a good use of their time to arrest people who use or provide medical marijuana in strict compliance with state laws.
The new policy is a significant departure from the Bush administration, which insisted it would continue to enforce federal anti-pot laws regardless of state codes.
Fourteen states allow some use of marijuana for medical purposes: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.
California is unique among those for the widespread presence of dispensaries -- businesses that sell marijuana and even advertise their services. Colorado also has several dispensaries, and Rhode Island and New Mexico are in the process of licensing providers, according to the Marijuana Policy Project, a group that promotes the decriminalization of marijuana use.
Attorney General Eric Holder said in March that he wanted federal law enforcement officials to pursue those who violate both federal and state law, but it has not been clear how that goal would be put into practice.
A three-page memo spelling out the policy is expected to be sent Monday to federal prosecutors in the 14 states, and also to top officials at the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The memo, the officials said, emphasizes that prosecutors have wide discretion in choosing which cases to pursue, and says it is not a good use of federal manpower to prosecute those who are without a doubt in compliance with state law.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the legal guidance before it is issued. read more here....
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Sunday, October 18, 2009
Secret Service is under strain
This is serious....bat shit crazies out there...
The unprecedented number of death threats against President Obama, a rise in racist hate groups, and a new wave of antigovernment fervor threaten to overwhelm the US Secret Service, according to government officials and reports, raising new questions about the 144-year-old agency’s overall mission.
The Secret Service is tracking a far broader range of possible threats to the nation’s leaders, the officials said, even as it also investigates financial crimes such as counterfeiting as part of its original mandate.
The new demands are leading some officials, both inside and outside the agency, to raise the possibility of the service curtailing or dropping its role in fighting financial crime to focus more on protecting leaders and their families from assassination attempts and thwarting terrorist plots aimed at high-profile events.
“If there were an evaluation of the service’s two missions, it might be determined that it is ineffective . . . to conduct its protection mission and investigate financial crimes,’’ according to a inter nal report issued in August by the Congressional Research Service.
The report, which was provided to the Globe, said such a review should look at how money and staff are allocated, and whether some of the agency’s functions and workers should be transferred to the Treasury Department.
“This is a discussion going on not only in some quarters in Congress, but inside the Secret Service. Should there be a re-look at the mission?’’ said a government official, who like others was not authorized to speak publicly about security matters or reveal details about the number or nature of the threats. read more here....
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President Obama at Points of Light forum at Texas A&M University (Video)
The President attends the Points of Light forum at Texas A&M University. Points of Light is a non-profit organization decided to supporting volunteer-based organizations. The forum was hosted by President and Points of Light founder George H.W. Bush. October 16, 2009.
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President Obama's town hall meeting in New Orleans, LA (full video)
The President holds a town hall at the University of New Orleans to hear directly from the people on the ground about Gulf Coast rebuilding, what is going well and what their concerns are. October 15, 2009.
Vimeo Video
Transcript
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Rahm Emanuel: No troop escalation until assessment of Afghanistan government (Video)
We all know the Afghanistan elections were a fraud, so why would we just blindly send troops to a horrific region and don't know who we are dealing with. My take, we have been at war for eight years, spent BILLIONS, TRILLIONS of dollars with no end in sight or nothing to show for it? We have major domestic problems, but won't even help our own people here? A lot of assessment needs to be made on Afghanistan in a whole. Remember, the Soviets were there for 10 years and got NOTHING in return. When is this ever going to end? Source
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Discrediting Fox News continues, David Axelrod on This Week on ABC (Video)
I don't care about Fox News, as a whole, but their continuous pounding of not reporting facts is a problem. How can you actually believe that this organization is fair and balanced when this organization continues to not report the facts but skew the facts. I am the first, and many know who read this blog, when Obama or his administration is bogus and I don't agree I state so with my reasons. My problems with Fox News has nothing to do with it slanting the conservative bend, it is not reporting the facts and have looney tunes as Glenn Beck as their national spokesman. Big problem. And Murdoch is all about making money, because if this network was serious about reporting the news, Glenn Beck and his antics would not be on Fox News.
And Rahm Emanuel on CNN's State of the Union, about Fox News:
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Balloon Boy story has been determined to be a hoax (Video)
Sorry ass parents, that is all I can say. What is more important to me is these kids on these reality shows, like the train wreck of Jon and Kate plus 8, in which Jon now wants the kids off the tube. Look, when the kid said this was done for the show on CNN, that was a done deal for many on this family. Lastly, how do you keep a child who is obvious sick and throwing up not on one national morning show, but two, because of PUBLICITY? These parents should pay every dime of restitution to the county and federal agencies, period. And cable tv, when are you going to start vetting shit like this on television? You're a culprit in all of this, too.
Source
MSNBC
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