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Previewing Obama’s 8:00 pm ET Oval Office address on the Gulf spill… The president yesterday called the spill “an ongoing assault”… The battleground state of Virginia is on pace to run a budget surplus… But is Afghanistan the next big Washington crisis?... Another poll points to GOP gains this November… Mrs. Angle goes to Washington… Rand Paul and Meg Whitman deal with dirty laundry… Two lessons from Bob Etheridge’s shoving video… And Mitt Romney stumps for Bill McCollum down in Florida.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg
*** Back in primetime: Another back-against-the-wall moment for Barack Obama, another big speech. How many times have we seen him faced with a crisis of some sort -- Jeremiah Wright, health care’s prospects after those summer town halls, and now the BP spill in the Gulf -- and deliver an anticipated speech in response, usually meeting or exceeding expectations? At 8:00 pm ET, Obama gives his first address from the Oval Office after spending his morning in the Gulf (this time Pensacola, FL). In his speech tonight, the president will outline the government's response to the spill, trying to put the best face on what's been the worst environmental disaster in the nation's history. He’ll also try to show he's holding BP accountable, not just for the cleanup but for financial damages. In addition, he’ll discuss the ongoing strategies for containing the leak, decreasing America’s dependence on fossil fuels, and beginning the process of restoring the Gulf’s ecosystem.
*** Confronting an “ongoing assault”: Yet unlike the Wright and health-care situations, the Gulf spill has no end in sight. You could quiet (for a while) Jeremiah Wright, and you could have the congressional math on your side (as was the case in health care). But no one quite knows how to stop the spill. Obama acknowledged this fact yesterday. "It's not just simply one catastrophic event; it’s an ongoing assault.” So his task tonight is a bit different: demonstrate to the public that his administration is doing everything possible to mitigate the spill’s impact, to reimburse Gulf residents, and to hold BP’s feet to the fire.
*** How many times have we said that Obama’s giving a make-or-break speech? But like the past crises Obama has faced, many will cast tonight’s address in make-or-break terms. In fact, here’s how we previewed Obama’s address to Congress in Sept. 2009: “This week is as much a presidential leadership/character test, as it is a debate about health care. How the president takes control of this town this week -- not just health care -- is going to be a tone-setter potentially for how the president runs this town for the rest of his term.” It's just another big moment for a president who has faced plenty of big moments already in his first year and a half on the job.
*** A big economic-political green shoot? Lost in all the focus on the BP spill, as well as last month’s disappointing jobs report, is this pretty important news from the battleground state of Virginia: It’s on pace to post a budget surplus with increased tax revenues. Gov. Bob McDonnell’s (R) office yesterday emailed this yesterday: “With the new numbers in, and on the heels of the first back to back months of increases in general fund revenue collections since March-April 2008, the Commonwealth is now on pace to post a revenue surplus at the conclusion of the fiscal year on June 30.” It’s a reminder that it’s possible in this 24-7 media environment to fixate so much on the trees that you lose sight of the forest.
*** The next big Washington crisis? But here’s a forest story that could be another problem for the Obama administration, especially among anti-war Democrats. Per the Washington Post’s front page, “A series of political and military setbacks in Afghanistan has fed anxiety over the war effort in the past few weeks, shaking supporters of President Obama's counterinsurgency strategy and confirming the pessimism of those who had doubts about it from the start. The concerns, fed largely by unease over military operations in southern Afghanistan that are progressing slower than anticipated, spurred lawmakers to schedule last-minute hearings this week to assess progress on the battlefield and within the Afghan government.” General David Petraeus and Defense Undersecretary Michele Flournoy today testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee, and they will testify on the House side tomorrow.
*** Another positive poll for the GOP: Turning to the midterms, a new NPR poll of 1,200 likely voters in 70 battleground congressional districts -- conducted by Glen Bolger (R) and Stan Greenberg (D) -- shows Republicans with an eight-point generic-ballot edge, 49%-41%. This underscores what we’ve all known: The Democrats are going to lose seats. The question is how many -- 20 or 25 (near the historical average in a president’s first midterm election) or 39 or more (which would make John Boehner the next House speaker)?
*** When the outsiders come inside: Today, Sharron Angle -- Harry Reid’s opponent in November -- comes to Washington for a two-day visit to meet with GOP and conservative leaders. Per the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nevada Sen. John Ensign will introduce her at the Senate GOP’s weekly luncheon, and then she will meet with National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair John Cornyn. But Politico writes that the meetings are more than meet-and-greets. "Angle is coming to Washington for two days of meetings designed to reassure worried Republican leaders that she will not let Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid define her as an eccentric right-wing extremist before her campaign against Reid even gets off the ground." Meanwhile, another prominent GOP outsider candidate -- Rand Paul -- will be coming to D.C. on June 24 for a fundraiser hosted by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
*** Doctor, doctor -- give me the news…: Speaking of Paul, the Kentucky GOP Senate nominee has stayed out of the news -- until yesterday. The AP says Paul, “who touts his career as a Kentucky eye doctor as part of his outsider credentials in his campaign for U.S. Senate, isn’t certified by his profession’s leading group. He tried Monday to bat away questions about it by calling it an attack on his livelihood, saying the scrutiny stems from his challenge of a powerful medical group over a certification policy he thought was unfair. The libertarian-leaning Republican helped create a rival certification group more than a decade ago. He said the group has since recertified several hundred ophthalmologists, despite not being recognized the American Board of Medical Specialties — the governing group for two dozen medical specialty boards.”
*** Dirty laundry day: Rand Paul isn’t the only one dealing with a tough story. In California’s gubernatorial race, the New York Times reports that Meg Whitman (R) once shoved an eBay employee, who was later awarded about $200,000. That eBay employee, though, still works for the firm. The story doesn’t look like a continued problem for the Whitman campaign, but it does highlight that her tenure at eBay is going to receive plenty of additional scrutiny. And speaking of shoving, the Bob Etheridge (D) video drives home these two points: 1) Andrew Breitbart and his protégés learned the biggest lesson from the “Macaca” incident, and 2) politicians have to be prepared that they’ll be ambushed on the right or the left, and must behave better than Etheridge did.
*** More midterm news: In Florida, Mitt Romney will appear at a press availability with Bill McCollum… And in South Carolina, Henry McMaster will endorse Nikki Haley at a news conference at 10:00 am ET in Columbia.
Countdown to UT primary and NC and SC run-offs: 7 days
Countdown to AL run-off: 28 days
Countdown to GA primary: 35 days
Countdown to OK primary: 42 days
Countdown to KS and MO primaries: 49 days
Countdown to CO and CT primaries: 56 days
Countdown to Election Day 2010: 140 days
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I can't believe the comment that Bloomberg (New York) said about us being to hard on BP. WTF?????? Goes to show that Republican's will always chose business over we the people. So sad.
Michael Bloomberg left the Rep. party in 2007 to become an Independent...he no longer represents the Rep party or big business.
Cow chips TRR.
If you REALLY believe OBama is looking out for "the people" you are totally blind.
As far as Bloomberg - he's always been a huge, pseudo-rich koolaid drinker.
As far as BP - they aren't having any issues with paying the bill here - so why are you?
Pat*:
Tut, tut...kind of touchy about you Bil oil aren't ya?
So, how many posters remember George H.W. Bush walking the beaches of Alaska after the Exxon Valdez? [crickets] That's because he didn't. He never so much visited Alaska. He never oversaw the decade long clean up. He never met with Exxon CEO. Simply stated..he did squat diddley! Now, compare that presidential response to Obama and we see our current president acting with stern leadership over the Gulf Oil Gusher. The sad fact is that the deep water oil drilling technology surpassed the deep water oil drilling spill disaster clean up technology. This just makes a line from a Star Trek movie ever more poignant - Just because you can do a thing, doesn't mean you must do that thing!
Why were they drilling in water that deep? I've heard rumors that it's because the enviro-mental patients forced them out that far. If true, they should be partially to blame because a spill in much more shallow water would be easier to plug.
Pat, maybe you should seek help for those delusions of yours.
So G.H.W. Bush did not afford himself of a photo op-what he DID do was waive the Jones act so that we could accept help from other nations; take the ADVICE of the experts he called in, to mitigate the damage; and, most importantly. . .
He Did Not Exploit the disaster for political gain.
Unlike Obama.
Remember no joe, at least 60% of liberal policies are based on "feel good-ism". What's most important is that Obama makes it appear that he feels someone else's pain. He knows that virtually NOBODY in that region voted for him so he probably looks at visiting there as pretty much of a time waster.
CU – You are partly correct. In addition they are out there because that is where many of the reservoirs of oil are located and because they have only recently developed the technology to drill that deep.
Shell Oil just completed a well in the Gulf at 8000 feet to the sea bed (1.5 miles down).
NoJo -
Exactly HOW did President Obama exploit this disaster for political gain? It has been a constant pain in his side since the whole thing started.
And his appearance on the Gulf Coast is a photo-op? The main reason he went there is because the MSM has been screaming at him to go - else it's his "Katrina".
CU ~ Please point me to the environmentalists who pushed BP to drill in water that deep. And then point me to the environmentalists that pushed BP to ignore so many safety features in order to save time and money. And then point me to who profited by this well. And then I think we'll know whom we should really point at.
Bush could not exploit the Alaska spill politically, because he was always backed by big oil, thats also why he never visited, he felt no need to draw attention to it.
No Jo, you mean like all of those on the right currently exploiting this for political gain!
will you people ever get past Bush. OMG.............move on! At least we knew in Bush he wasn't a fraud like this guy is. He's the enemy within. And don't kid yourself, the spill is an inconvenience for him. He'll use it of course for his Cap & Tax crap, but he's really not interested. He just wants to stay on the fast-track to destruction of the country.
no joe, no bo, nj
Pat, maybe you should seek help for those delusions of yours.
So G.H.W. Bush did not afford himself of a photo op-what he DID do was waive the Jones act so that we could accept help from other nations; take the ADVICE of the experts he called in, to mitigate the damage; and, most importantly. . .
He Did Not Exploit the disaster for political gain.
Unlike Obama.
No Jo you have got to be kidding, political gain, lets look at what happened in alaska, the captian of that ship was drunk, and this is why that tanker ran a ground. no human error or miscaculation just as my grand ma use to say, the blind staggers!!!! if he had not went down there as many times as he has you would be frying the president, but i will say this, George Bush never went to New Orleans for a photo opt, he was smart enough to let old people die of due to lack of water and more dies because of lack of leadership.
you right Bush 43 did not go to New orleans he let his BOY in charge of FEMA take care of everything, so if i have to choose, i would rather have the president see for him self in stead of doing what bush 43 did!!!!
AnnieRich:
I see that the trolls are out and I don't recall feeding you! How in the hell do you think that we CAN forget about BUSH? Oh I'm sure you'd like that wouldn't you? Who the hell do you THINK is REALLY responsible for this cluster F were in?
IT WAS AND IS BUSH. Get use to, get with it and get over the fact that he SCREWED YOU and US.
You gotta be a complete nut case if you think that Bush had anything to do with the current oil spill problem. Read the news and you will have a much better handle of the facts.
Justice for all:
Where is the JUSTICE? Or is it YOUR brand of Justice only? BUSH IS responsible for this disaster. All he did in this Nation is DUMP and move. He's left pile after pile of chit for someone else to clean up.
Obama hasn't met anyone from BP either.
Anita's still in the "Blame Bush" phase. Grow up - it's Obama's mess now.
Paging Doctor Mo... Paging Doctor Larry... Paging Doctor Curley...
Thanks for joining us... every blog needs a 'stooge'!
Doctor Larry:
I'm glad that you're not my doctor because you just misdiagnosed this aliment. I'm not the only person of the persuasion that Bush is too BLAME for this DISASTER. Who overturned his Poppy's ban on off-shore drilling while taunting it as being safe? Who lied and said that we had the technology to clean-up spills? Who pressured Congress on July 14, 2008 to lift the ban? Who attempted to sell leases in our pristine parks and national landmarks?
Sorry Doctor! You just got a malpractice suit filed against you on behalf of this taxpayer.
We should blame President Obama for starting two wars, tanking the economy, making enemies around the world, the floodings in TN, AK, etc, Turkey causing trouble in the Middle East, deregulations of all major industries, the big one that will level parts of California, putting Sarah Palin on the world stage, high unemployment, and the bad economy befalling our allies.
In the less than two years in office he did all of the these and by snapping his fingers, make all the above go away.
Me think the good Lord would only be welcome here if identified himself as a Republican.
President Bush Did not waste tax payers money walking a beach in Alaska,Instead he had qualified capable people handle the problem. You want proof? Look at the beaches. Hussein obama has made a lot of promises but what has he really done.
Anita - The Deepwater Horizon did not start drilling this well until February 2010. How in the hell could this be Bush's fault. Please clean your brown nose!
Bloomberg a republican? A RINO, maybe. A republican would never claim that the Times Square Bomber was probably upset about the helath care bill.
Yes CU Bloomberg is a Republican, as much as you nuts won't acept anyone who doesn't walk lock step with Limbaugh and Fox.
Mo:
Bloomberg is not a frikken Republican. You spout more BS on here than anyone else. He is a damn RINO.
You need to stay in your lane, you little wuss.
Yes itm Bloomberg is a Republican as much as you don't want to believe it. BTW: just what is a rino? Is it someone who doesn't agree with you, Fox and Limbaugh?
Just as a DINO is someone who doesn't agree with you, Feisty, or Obama.
Dilemma of the Tea Party:
Let’s start with Sharron Angle: She was and still is an Oathkeeper, but now she wants to keep her oaths (whatever that means). She is paranoid about fluoride in the water (an old John Birch talking point of the 70’s). She opposes social security. The more she talks the crazier she sounds and the only thing the Republicans can do is let her spout nonsense. There is no separation between conservatives and ultra conservatives.
Then we have Rand Paul, an ophthalmologist…but not a board certified eye doctor. Just wondering, has he billed Medicaid for practicing outpatient laser surgery? I think you have to be board certified to bill Medicaid and Medicare. Wonder how he got around fraudulent billing? He’s against big government, social security, Medicare and Medicaid, but I bet he wasn’t bashful when it comes to billing. Democratic strategists in Ky…hope you are listening.
Last, but not least, Rick Barber who wants to impeach the President and bear arms against the government. There isn’t much space between sedition and being a traitor. He might say his ad is a spoof, but I’m more likely to think all three of these candidates are a spoof.
The Tea Party dilemma is that when they express their 19th century ideas, they reveal how out of touch they really are. Their solution is to stay away from mainstream media. That’s what Palin did after she was picked as a V-P by McCain. But that’s all right; they still have Fox to cover their craziness.
Well, Ron, then let's start with Barack Obama;
he was and still is a Marxist, (by his own admission-read his books); he's paranoid about criticism, (read the books about the election); he intends to turn America into a European style socialist country-again, by his own admission-
he never even sat for the Bar exam, could not attain tenure despite being given two more chances than any other candidate, and has a predilection for pomposity.
The Democrats' dilemma is that, when they express their 20th century ideas, they reveal how out of touch they really are-a record number of voters in the recent Gallup poll believe that Democrats are too liberal.
I suppose that is why Obama avoids the media, until his feet are really held to the fire.
AllBlow... this begs the question...
Do you just make this sh!t up as you go?
Why don't you ever provide a link or some proof to back up your paranoid ramblings?
Ron- Indiana,
You are totally correct, I for one am appalled about Rand paul, one thing for sure I would never do or never let a family member of mine do is have surgery of any kind by a surgeon who is not board certified. Anyone else out there practicing medicine is just a "doc in the box" waiting for an offer from an insurance company to work their programs in ways that deny patients the care they really need. When you are not board certified it means you are not intelligent enough to pass their written and oral exams. This tells me that rand paul is not very intelligent at all and has no business practicing medicine. I have worked in health care for over 25 years, trust me on this, you can not have faith in any surgeon who is not certified by the board of medicine/surgery they practice! I would not trust my eyesight or health to one and I sure would not trust my senate representation to one who dismisses this board certification.
no joe - Yesterday I answered your question from Friday but you did not answer my question. To repeat:
I do not worship President Obama. I agree with about 75% of his policies and I agreed with about 40% of President George Bush’s policies. So where do your percentages fall? If you don’t agree with any of the Obama administration’s policies then you are a hater and that, as you say, is sad and dangerous.
Fiesty-read the comments. I referred to Obama's books, the books about the campaign, and an article in the Washington Post that was published in August of 2008-a puff piece, based on the way it was written, but the information was THERE. Well, almost all of it-I know that Obama was given two more bites at the tenure apple at U of C than anyone else because I happen to know people who teach there-almost everyone gets one shot, then they are gone.
Out of curiousity, why don't you ask Ron for HIS links. I don't even know what an 'oathkeeper' is, and I have a hard time figuring out how he knows Angle is paranoid about flouride.
Maybe he 'knows' it the same way he 'knows' that Mitch Daniels will not run in 2012-despite the fact that he is holding fundraisers and meeting in D.C with groups that could support him.
Yes Feisty no joe all blow does make sh!t up as he goes, but that's what he's learned from Limbaugh and Fox.
No Jo: I read, pay attention to detail, listen to a wide variety of people. I attempt to comment based on fact. If you want to learn about oathkeepers, check the internet. It's a group that the tea baggers cling to.
All right, Dennis, I'll play-just this once:
recently, Obama signed an order that gave visitation rights to same sex couples when one is hospitalized. I am in adament agreement with that policy.
On Bush, you will be surprised to know that my percentage of agreement was about the same as yours-but we probably agreed with different policies.
I disagree with bail-outs, corporate takeovers, a stimulous plan that stimulates nothing but the deficit, his HCR, and the way he is running the war in Afghanistan. I disapprove of his priorities, his inability to handle any crisis at the time it is happening, (he seems to prefer to wait until he is good and ready to address it)-
and, guess what? I am an American voter who pays taxes, and have an absolute right to my opinion, which, by the way, is shared with greater and greater majorities.
It just took them longer to catch on.
NoJo,
I reread your comment and still cannot find the WA Post reference... anyway... I too have read his books and the books about the campaign and did not come away with the same conclusion!
Then again you're the one who's constantly crowing about the President either resigning or turning the country into a 'European' Style Socialist country... so I stand by my assessment of your lack of facts!
Dennis did you hear anything that no joe all blow agreed with President Obama on? All I read was everything he disagreed with. So where's the 40% of agreement? Oh that's what I thought, another lie form no joe all blow.
Feisty,
First thanks for the invite yesterday. No Jo, All Blow's logic is unique. By his standards if there is anybody out there that has read the bible are they GOD?????? Just because you read something does not mean you are of the same cloth. Educated people do read material that is contra to their views to learn and understand.
Maybe No Jo should do the same (assumes he can read in the first place)
no joe, did you read the Weekly Standard piece on Mitch Daniels? That guy is outstanding.
Elizabeth: I did, he is, and I am excited to have him as the Republican candidate in '12. He has spent his time taming Indiana's deficit, empowering the taxpayers, and attracting jobs to the state. He will be the best thing to happen to the Republicans nationally in a long, long time.
And he will wipe the floor, electorally speaking, with Obama.
You're welcome Retired! I can think of quite a few adjectives to describe AllBlow... but I gotta admit 'unique' wasn't one of them :0)
Ps: NoJo is a 'she'! But don't tell anyone okay? ;0)
No Jo: President Obama is not a Marxist. He governs from the center. Only those on the far right wing see the center as left.
With all due respect, Ron, it is obvious that you know little or nothing about economics.
Obama touts himself as a Keynesian, ( which is, my friend, a socialist economic theory), but even Keynes did not advocate the takeover of industries.
Do a side-by-side comparison of what was done with GM and Chrysler, and Marx' economic theory.
The mistake that you and many others on both sides of the debate make is in misunderstanding the terms of the debate.
We are talking about economic theories and policies, you are hearing name-calling.
You can't get your answers from Wikipedia. You need to do some actual study of economic texts, and some actual study of the results of the application of these theories. If you do, you will change your mind about more than one politician.
WOW no joe all blow, if Mich Daniels is the best thing to happen to the Republicans in a long time you nuts are in more trouble than I thought. The wingnuts are in for a blood bath come 2010 and 2012. You can take that to the bank no joe all blow.
Mo:
Instead of spouting your usual BS., Dispute what he just said with FACTS. You can't because what he said is absolutely true.
No jo I graduated from a pretty good institution of higher learning about 35 years ago with a degree in Business ad. and Economics. Practicing those principals for the last 35 years I have managed to keep body and soul together rather nicely. That being said my question is where did you come up with those economic theory ideas because they bear absolutely positively no relationship to the truth in any way shape or form.From who's warped sense of reality did those spring from?
Do tell itm, what facts did no joe all blow state? We'll be waiting, but not holding are breath.
no joe, no bo, nj
With all due respect, Ron, it is obvious that you know little or nothing about economics.
Obama touts himself as a Keynesian, ( which is, my friend, a socialist economic theory), but even Keynes did not advocate the takeover of industries.
Do a side-by-side comparison of what was done with GM and Chrysler, and Marx' economic theory.
No, jo last time i checked Obama touts him self as a american, if you read his first book, he never found the attachment with his father, his upbringing was all from his mothers family, he did not see his fathers family untill he had finished law school as a grown man, yes he saw his father from time to time but his father was killed in a auto accident when i think he was 12 or so.
no jo your post are getting more and more out there and i wish you would bring creadable comments here instead of you FOX watching theories, Please.
also Jimmy carter bailed out chrylser 30 years ago i guess his is a marsit, roosevent bailed the banks out in the 30s i guess he is too.
IR-I don't know where you went to school, but, let me assure you, I know what I'm talking about.
I have advanced degrees to prove it-in economics.
In most degree programs with which I am familiar, Business Administration degrees DO require courses in econ 101 and 102-that is, introduction to macro and micro, just as engineering degrees require one or both courses.
The problem is taking these courses as degree requirements outside of a major,as instructors select that material they deem most important for the students' majors. In my husband's case, his course on macro was limited to the chapters on money and banking. (His degrees are in chemical engineering-and yes, I mean degrees, as in three. Figure it out.)
Econ majors take more indepth coursework, and we do more study of various economic thories and the causes and consequences of their application.
Believe me, there is not an economist out there who does not understand Keynesian economics to be socialism-in fact, Keynes devised his theory based on that fundamental of his belief system.
That you did not know this is the fault of your instructors. That you don't know the difference between socialism and Marxism is likewise the fault of your instructors.
However, not being well versed on a topic does not render it untrue.
no joe, no bo, nj
IR-I don't know where you went to school, but, let me assure you, I know what I'm talking about.
I have advanced degrees to prove it-in economics.
as my grand ma who graduated from college in 1934 said that some of the smartest people with all there degrees, can be some of the dumbest people because like you they don't have common since. this is you. you come up with all these polls and opinions with out any common since.
OBAMA WAS IN THE "NEW" PARTY (GOOGLE IT), nad won a state seat in Il in the mid 90's.
Marxists murdered over 400,000,000 people last century-- Pol Pot, Stalin, Mao, etc
Co-founded in 1992 by Daniel Cantor (a former staffer for Jesse Jackson's 1988 presidential campaign) and Joel Rogers (a sociology and law professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison), the New Party was a Marxist political coalition whose objective was to endorse and elect leftist public officials -- most often Democrats. The New Party’s short-term objective was to move the Democratic Party leftward, thereby setting the stage for the eventual rise of new Marxist third party.
Most New Party members hailed from the Democratic Socialists of America and the militant organization ACORN. The party’s Chicago chapter also included a large contingent from the Committees of Correspondence, a Marxist coalition of former Maoists, Trotskyists, and Communist Party USA members.
The New Party's modus operandi included the political strategy of “electoral fusion,” where it would nominate, for various political offices, candidates from other parties (usually Democrats), thereby enabling each of those candidates to occupy more than one ballot line in the voting booth. By so doing, the New Party often was able to influence candidates' platforms. (Fusion of this type is permitted in seven states -- Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Mississippi, New York, South Carolina, and Vermont -- but is common only in New York.)
Though Illinois was not one of the states that permitted electoral fusion, in 1995 Barack Obama nonetheless sought the New Party’s endorsement for his 1996 state senate run. He was successful in obtaining that endorsement, and he used a number of New Party volunteers as campaign workers. By 1996, Obama had become a member of the New Party.
In 1996, three of the four candidates endorsed by the New Party won their electoral primaries. The three victors included Barack Obama (in the 13th State Senate District), Danny Davis (in the 7th Congressional District), and Patricia Martin, who won the race for Judge in the 7th Subcircuit Court. All four candidates attended an April 11, 1996 New Party membership meeting to express their gratitude for the party’s support.
no joe,
You have an advanced degree (whatever that is) in Economics and your husband has 3 degrees? Your lies just keep getting bigger and better.........
sis-ever hear of a Bachelor of Science, (or Arts, depending on the major), Masters degree, and Ph.D.?
I didn't think so.
They don't give them in fifth grade.
It is troubling news about Afghanistan and I think not getting the attention it deserves because of the oil spill. Whatever bad news Petreus gives Congress should probably be multiplied by a factor of at least 10 to get to the truth of how bad things are and the likelihood of success.
Re: oil spill: I can't even watch the pictures of the wild life dying from this disaster. It is also frustrating that we haven't made progress in energy policy. That is an indictment of all of our politicians and the big oil lobbyists who pay them off. I am very satisfied with the President's response---agree with Pat that he is on top of this & demonstrating the leadership we elected him for.
‘Head Games’
When I’m given the choice of looking forward or backwards… I tend to choose forward.
Having said that, given the catastrophe in our Gulf and the MSM coverage I got to thinking about where the hell were these anchors/pundits when the American people were lied into an unfunded war? I mean ‘oil’ was involved with that as well!
I have cut back dramatically on the cable chatter as once semi reasonable pundits have officially gone off the deep end!
But it appears to have ‘bled’ over to what I considered mainstream media as in NBC. As I was leaving the house this morning in a span of about 15 minutes on The Today Show I heard the following ‘snippets’ in regards to HOW these so-called experts THINK the President should be handling the crisis and tonight’s address!
Ann Courie = apparently
Matt Lauer = theatrics
Chuck Todd = cheerleader
Why aren’t they reporting on the corner cutting that BP did leading up to this disaster that cost 11 men their lives? Or the fact that there’s a very real possibility that they may NOT be able to stop this?
Not ‘sexy’ enough for them? Eh… much easier to participate in the Presidential ‘pile on I guess!
I want facts… I’m more than capable of forming my own opinion!
Amen! Well said Feisty
Don't give us this "disaster that cost 11 men their lives" garbage. The more astute among us remember clearly that your initial reaction to the explosion was one of gloating. I believe your exact quote was "how's that drill-baby-drill working out for ya", followed by the standard "LOL"...or maybe "LMAO". To you, this whole thing is really nothing more than a victory for liberals and their anti-drilling/corporate campaign.
Actually, Feisty-
There's been extensive coverage of BP's bad behavior. It's just that you've been momentarily stunned by the mainstream media's sudden willingness to similarly criticize the Obama Administration's role in the spill.
That role includes the permitting and oversight of the Deepwater Horizon/BP rig and project by MMS and the Interior Department...agencies led by Obama appointees (or their appointees.) It includes the Administration's effort to prepare for and then cleanup the oil it knew, for weeks, was coming. It includes every facet of the Administration's response to the disaster.
Those are facts you're looking for, Feisty...
Maybe like the mainstream media...at some point you'll begin to see them as well.
I totally agree, Feisty.
I find myself watching less and less as well - every time I do, I end up screaming at my TV.
I have also noticed that no one except the WH has reported on exactly what steps have been taken since the spill started, unless it involves a conflict between the WH and someone else. It's hard to counter the argument that "They're not doing enough" when no one seems to know just what has been done.
MSM reporters seem almost gleeful when anyone else criticizes the President, leading to another "make or break" moment.
We know CU, your not interested in the 11 men who lost their lives, your only interested in taking up for BP and the big oil. To you mens lives don't mean anything, it's just save the oil companies.
False. I think BP needs to pay for every dime of this and I don't care if it runs them out of business. They were careless for sure. But like Ted Kennedy killing a woman, it was an "accident".
Bravo, CU!
Excellent summation Red!
Thanks a bunch Ron, Anita, Ginger & Mark!
Feisty,
What, are you asking them to talk about real facts? How would that play in their ratings? These people, some of them I used to admire, have somehow gone around the bend.
I think that it is hilarious that you guys are complaining about the media coverage. You said it yourselves, when the media was pro administration you couldn't get enough. But now that they criticize the admin, you turn it off.
So what it's only fair and objective coverage when you agree with it?
There doesn't seem to be any doubt that the Kennedys were womanizers, right from the get go. Being married with children didn't seem to make much of a difference. That's the way it has always been for spoiled rich people. Their father Joe set some pretty bad examples for them.
FDR had a girlfriend early on in his marriage to Eleanor. It's what they do.
For those who criticize Ted for the car accident, I certainly understand it. As a female, I was pretty appalled by the accident myself. But it was an accident. Doesn't make it go away, but it was an accident. Ted for some reason was able to survive it politically. I'm guessing because he was JFK and Bobby's youngest brother, both whom at the time had been assassinated. (Bobby only a year before this car accident).
But Ted could never get elected President because of it. So he was able to use his time in the Senate to do some remarkable things. My best moment - when he stood there pounding his fist - DO NOT GO INTO IRAQ!
Right on Pat,
Lets not forget that Eishenhour had a women actually living down the hall from him and his first lady, right in the executive residence, and so did George H.W. Bush. Plus ronald regan left his real family for Nancy and their unborn child and John Mccain walked off and left a wife who was recovering from a terrible accident in order to marry his currently very wealth wife. Unfortunately, womanizing and sex scandles are an equal opportunity employer.
Now my big question is: What are we teaching our daughters? I taught mine that you are to have absolutely nothing to do with another woman's husband, if they lie to you and say they are not married and you find out differently you apoligize to the wife and tell the guy to kiss off, never to have contact with either again. There has to be some responsibility for the women who do this, these guys don't commit adultry alone, and the responsbility of women every where is to just say no to married men.
Exactly HOW MANY of your claims can be backed up by evidence and/or facts? And how many are just rumors that have been floating around in Washington gossip circles for God knows how long?
Hi, Pat - Off topic, but yesterday (I think) you were talking about a book you'd been reading with a lot of interesting little stories about little-known things that have happened over the years with various Presidents, like the one you mentioned about Gerald Ford dancing with Queen Elizabeth to "The Lady Is A Tramp" - could you pass along the title and/or author? I have a friend who's always looking for fun ways to teach her grand-daughters more history, and we think they'd really enjoy this. Thanks!
Hi JoAnne, the author's name is C. Brian Kelly. He writes the most wonderful books, with each story approximately 5 or 6 pages. Each book has over 100 different stories. I have read in the last month or so:
The Best Little Stories From:
The American Revolution
the Civil War
WWII
The Wild West (my favorite) and
the White House.
He is a tremendous writer, full of information and sometimes very funny events. The Wild West one I thought was phenomenal. I learned a great deal about the Expedition of Lewis & Clark, the frontier, the trek out west for those wanting their own land, the homesteaders, the Gold Rush, the Cowboys, Indians, the buffalo, the railroad. And since I'll be traveling to our National Parks next year, I'm learning all I can about the west.
Just terrific reading and I highly highly recommend for both children & adults.
However, everyone who throws up the Kopechne matter, and also brings up Jimmy Carter's presidency as a weak presidency, or Reagan's slobbering followers - over and over, just try to pull from all these wonders from the past to prove their points. However, the ones who do bring up all these anti-democrat reflections are the same ones who say "when will you get over Bush and his administration". You know, no joe, CU, they didn't just this year put that rig out there. It's been there a while, long before your main punching bag was in office. Where was Bush? President Obama has had to do nothing but clean up the messes of that administration.
And by the way, who cares about all that crap you keep spouting? Who cares about tenure? Who cares about when he passed the bar?
Who f'n cares? I read the same books you have read as your "sources". I didn't come away with the same crap you did so what does it matter? We actually have real problems that the country should be trying to solve, rather than try to knock out your political nemesis.
You are absolutely correct, Feisty!! WELL SAID!
I posted this comment on Daily Kos and I want to share it here as well:
What possible reason would the President of the United States have to NOT do everything he could to remediate this ongoing disaster [in the Gulf of Mexico]?
So it stands to reason that if something is not happening, there is a reason it is not happening.
The simple fact is that even if skimmer ships from other countries were or are dispatched, they cannot suck up enough oil to counteract what is coming out and will continue to come out until August.
Period.
Even if half as much oil was coming out they couldn't.
And once they suck up the oil, they are going to have to stop and unload it somewhere.
The truth is that we could bring every skimmer ship on the face of the earth today to the Gulf of Mexico, and if they had left 15 minutes after that rig blew up, they would not be able to suck up enough oil to stop it all.
The simple fact is that the reason the Obama Administration did not take time out to "war game" what might happen in a potential oil spill is because they were "war gaming" two actual wars, trying to avert a financial collapse, trying to pass health care reform, and battling renegade terrorists at home and abroad.
All within the first year of being elected.
Now we are told that it is the President's fault that he did not "wargame" the worst-case-spill scenarios and develop a fleet of supertankers to be standing ready at the coastline in case the worst happened?
It is now President Obama's responsibility to have a worst-case-scenario plan for every private business, foreign or domestic, just in case?
Seriously?
But I'm drinking the koolaid?
It is true that more can be done . . . more can always be done.
But in life you cannot do it all, you have to make choices.
The initial focus was on stopping the leak, and several attempts were made.
They did not work.
Now the focus shifts and the reality of the situation shifts.
All the backseat driving is fun, but it doesn't actually get us anywhere.
The reality is there is no and was no good, perfect, or easy solution.
Pretending that there is an easy solution that is not being used is just a coping mechanism to deal with the horrific reality and the unbearable sadness of the situation.
It is one of the stages of grief on our collective way to accepting the gravity of what has happened.
Nashville, excellent diary. I hope you received some positive feedback.
I don't understand your post. Are you saying there was a reason for just doing nothing about the cleanup? There was a reason for telling the Dutch "no thanks"? Most things we do in life are not going to be 100% effective but we do them to keep ahead of the game. We run the sweeper on a regular basis knowing full well we are not getting every single bit of dust. We just don't want it to get ankle high before we start. I am not being a smart pants but I really do not understand your post. At some point we are going to be in the aftermath of this mess and into the cleanup phase so why were we waiting? I will agree with the point that there is no easy solution but we have to start somewhere.
Nash:
I applaud your analysis! It is really very sad to see the MSM go to such lengths to make the President look bad for the sake of ratings!
If they have any sense at all they can't possibly believe that the President is so dumb that he would invite all of this criticism. For sport? What?
I was horrified to hear Ariana Huffington say on Mornin' Joe on Monday that the President deserved the criticism for not responding quickly enough after the spill. She then went on to castigate him for not doing enough BEFORE the spill to prevent it from happening.
To paraphrase Fareed Zakaria..."have we gone crazy?"
Excellent posting Nash.
I have products in my home that state clearly (if I read all the guarantees) that if the product fails and I try to fix it myself or take it to an "unauthorized" dealer for repair, the guarantee will be null and void. So I can only assume that BP is operating much the same "hands off" manner. If we "mess it up" then they aren't responsible so we have to be vey careful that proper steps are taken so that BP pays for the mess they created.
Diane:
I couldn't agree with you more. The Republicans want President Obama to rush and assume a leadership role in the Gulf, when in essence they sold out Government's intervention when Bush gave the authority to his oil cronies.
Pundits are also saying that President Obama should have rushed to re-regulate the industry that is interconnected to the financial industry-- and we all know what's going on with that task. What many fail to understand is that our government (congress) MUST obtain in writing the fact that BP will PAY for this oil disaster or we the people will be stuck with paying for it.
I commend President Obama for standing firm on this issue. Can you also believe the fact that those that are crying for assistance still refuse to allow a six month moratorium on drilling? It will take at least six months to check for safety measures and get laws into place that have been dismantled in order to protect those same people's livelihoods from further disasters such as this one.
Don't you just feel terrible for Maureen Dowd, Chuck Todd, and the rest of the media elite, the big bad old President is being mean to them. He insists on kicking over their sand castles of exaggeration, and fabrication, and on top of that he refuses to have them over for barbecue ( maybe his level of tolerance for bs is not as great as Bidens ) Who does he think he is? a republican!!
Bingo Patrick!
It certainly appears that they feel 'snubbed'! It obviously never occurred to them that it's their own fault! Those giant EGO'S sure do bruise easily!
And being the 'professionals' that they are they've resorted to whining and pouting!
Seriously Chuck Todd... did you really go there and call President Obama nothing more than a cheerleader?
Patrick:
You do recall that President Obama "spoke" about the "Talking Heads". I recall Chris Matthews mentioning it and I suppose they THINK that PRESIDENT OBAMA shouldn't have scolded the ALMIGHTY press. What they're doing is childish and extremely unprofessional. In their RUSH to tear him down they managed to cause GREAT harm to the coastal economy...that is traditionally RED territory...
Believe it or not, Maine is poised to become a national leader in wind power technology. Some very savvy entrepenuers and, yes, state government leaders, are capitalizing on technology Maine developed for boat bulding, and turning it to advancing wind power technology. Eat our dust, you other states! (Sorry, I had to put that in, its embarrassing having Vactionland printed on your license plate.) Maine rules!
PS I forgot to point out, once again, Meet The Press left Libby Mitchell off of its "Year of the Woman" montage on Sunday. Libby Mitchell (D) won the Democratic gubernatorial primary last Tuersday and will face a Tea Party Republican in November. Libby beat a packed field of well qualified men. Cause she had the most experience. (Actually I voted for Rowe, but this is unity week.)
For a President who wasn't an insider when he was elected, it has been a difficult road for him to make this Presidency his own. It has been one catastrophe after another. Most of those who voted for him wanted someone from the outside. He is not a Bush, a Kennedy, a Clinton, a Romney. He's not from a rich nor politically well connected family. He has had no time for a learning curve that WE ARE ALL EXTENDED.
He's been treated pretty disgustingly actually. Anyone who wants to be honest can see he is intelligent and hard working. He's dealing with progressives who have just about run out of patience, yet he is dealing with a Congress that for the most part, didn't and still don't care what he wants to move this country forward. The media need stories. About him. Constantly.
Yet he appears confident, strong, above the fray of inside the beltway nonsense. They don't like it. They never have, going back centuries. And progressives? They want progress. It's understandable. Most of us do. But I realized that large parts of this country have no idea what government can do for them. They just don't so they go with the candidate who says that government is the problem. And that's a problem.
Funny though, whenever I see him in the Gulf, people seem to genuinely like and respect him. Of course this is the Gulf, not DC. Big difference.
Pat:
You've echoed my sentiments beautifully and it's disturbing. Our Nation has experienced catastrophe after catastrophe that was caused and left by the last administration; and even in the face of all of our national problems; President Obama was managed to accomplish historical achievements that have been over shadowed by an "ungrateful" corporate driven media that has done NOTHING for the morale of citizens of this nation-- but have sought to undermine us. It's as though he's being punished for being elected as President...
Very nice post Pat....I always like to read postings from those that actually SUPPORT OUR PRESIDENT.
His plate is running over with problems to solve....he needs our support!
Vermont Girl,
I agree. Nice to se somebody from Vermont.
FR--A series of political and military setbacks in Afghanistan has fed anxiety over the war effort in the past few weeks, shaking supporters of President Obama's counterinsurgency strategy and confirming the pessimism of those who had doubts about it from the start. The concerns, fed largely by unease over military operations in southern Afghanistan that are progressing slower than anticipated, spurred lawmakers to schedule last-minute hearings this week to assess progress on the battlefield and within the Afghan government.”
As I watched Richard Engel on last night on the front lines with our servicemen in Afghanistan; I couldn't help but remember "Peter Jennings" as he cover the Vietnam war. It wasn't as striking in comparisons to what we were witnessing then.
I recall seeing bodies burning in the street and rapid fire at journalist. My reason for speaking on such is simply to remind many that "there is nothing new under the sun". I'm sure that there are some on this blog that recall the same memories of watching the Vietnam war being broadcast into our homes because that coverage invoked protest against the war. That war can in NO way compare to the war in Afghanistan and we MUST remember that.
Do I see a pattern being repeted here? Prehaps. There is no war without causlauties and we must remain villigent in the face of adversity. A soilders story is a story that can't be measured in the press, they need our support-- not our disdain...God bless our servicemen, women and their families and God bless America.
Until I get an answer, I will ask the question again:
Why do republicans hate America?
We don't. We love America. We think that America has been the greatest nation on earth since it's founding. We think America has been great for ALL of it's 234 years. Warts and all. Speaking for me: I am proud to be American 24/7/365, unlike many here who have gone on record as saying that they were only proud when Obama was elected (I believe someone named Michelle said something similar around that time). Anyone who is only proud and who only loves this country when their man is in the WH?...Well, that says a lot about them.
It's not republicans who burn the American flag at their protests and carry the flag of the enemy. It's not repubs who take the other sides viewpoint during wartime.
How right you are CU the Republican'ts are too busy stapling tea bags to their foreheads and waving their guns around while screaming 'I want my country back' and keep your 'socialist' hands off my Social Security!
Thanks for reminding us!
Pat, I don't think R's really hate America. I think they hate anyone who is not "like them" and they hate "change".
They see themselves becoming the minority, it petrifies them, they lash out. The diverse population they see scares the **** out of them.
Just my observation...I married into a family of very conservative Republicans. What is this like? LOOOOONELY!! But I proudly have my Obama sticker on my car and will take any one of them on in discussion of any political topic. (no...Thanksgiving is sometimes NOT fun)
Because there are so many people who are not white, there are too many gays, to many unions, and not nearly enough guns.
"I have never been prouder" was the quote. You must have missed the "er" part. Remedial english is recommended.
we REPS love America and hate imposters and frauds such as we have in the WH.
Fiesty Red Head...and you do not want your Social Security back. What gave them the right to use it for "anything and everything" in the first place?
Justice:
Who gave you the Social Security Entitlement Program and Medicare to begin with? What say you? Was it a Republican Party or Democrat? Now do you understand her comment....you all want it both ways don't you? You want SSA and you want Big Government to step in and save the GULF and you don't want Big Government to fix what your "free-market" economics destroyed. When will you people ever learn? The Great Depression was caused by the same economics policies you want now, when the REAL problem is just one thing-- you don't want to pay your fair share of taxes and you're afraid of becoming extinct. You will eventually whether you like it or not you won't be able to stop it no matter what you do.
CU, that is not exactly accurate. I am a black veteran and I can tell you nothing upsets me more than Confederate flags. Many republicans I have met wear and brandish this flag with pride while to me it simply means you, your father, your grandfather and your great grandfather (all of which served in the military in one form of another) are not welcome in the country you have fought for. I love this country but I am not always proud of it. Just like parents love their children but are not always proud of them. The people and the President are America. So, every time I see a picture of our President on a poster board in a less than honorable light it is like the flag is being burnt. That goes for all Presidents past, present and future. I do not always agree with them but I will always respect the office.
patHuntingtonNY , they don't know why, i think they are putting up a smoke screen so people will forget about the last administration, by slaming the curreny one, also if they do happen to agree with president obama they there red neck voters will put them out of office so for them they are choosing to do nothen verses doing what they are sent there to do.
Moron Rant Paul is an unlicensed opthamologist becase he couldn't pass muster with the AMA. So he set up his own fake board just so he and those who shouldn't be certified get falsely certified. Moron Rant Paul is just another tea bagging fraud who should be voted down. We certainly don't need him wrecking our medical system by getting rid of the AMA and allowing quacks like himself to set up their own fake medical boards.
Now we see the dark side of Old Nag Twitwoman as we find out she pushed an EBay employee and that little temper tantrum of hers cost the company 200 grand. What does she think that as governor she can push around the state legislators? You Betcha! Jerry Brown will send this pushy pinhead into political retirement this November.
No, No, not "another" Obama teleprompter recital. Please tell the man to for just once look directly into the camera and to explain what's in his own confused cranium. We all know by now that Obama is proficient at reading a prepared text by his handlers from his ubiquitous teleprompters. The difficulty is that we also know by now that Obama doesn't have the remotest idea as to the intended construct of what he's reading. Greg Neubeck
After 8 years of Bush I think its great that the president can read!
Here we go again, the wingnuts don't have anything to say so they go back to the telepromter talking point. You guys don't think much do you.
You know what Gnue? I will gladly take a President that actually reads, can pronounce, and understand what is presented on the teleprompter before him. For eight agonizing years, I had to cringe every time the last occupant of the Oval Office opened his mouth.
Have you forgotten all the "Bushisms" that were paraded all over the world to document just what an illiterate buffoon the American people had "elected" twice?
I say bring on the teleprompter and an educated person that can actually read the damn thing, keep up with it, and NOT trip over his own freaking language in the process.
Disgusted in PA thank you for giving me the opportunity to pull out the 'Top 25 Bushism's' they're always good for a laugh when the right wing nut jobs want to play the 'teleprompter' card.
Judging from these me... thinks 'W' might have benefited from a teleprompter he could call his own:
Top 25 Bushisms:
'...1. "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."—Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004
2. "I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family."—Greater Nashua, N.H., Chamber of Commerce, Jan. 27, 2000
3. "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?"—Florence, S.C., Jan. 11, 2000
4. "Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB/GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across the country."—Poplar Bluff, Mo., Sept. 6, 2004
5. "Neither in French nor in English nor in Mexican."—declining to answer reporters' questions at the Summit of the Americas, Quebec City, Canada, April 21, 2001
6. "You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test.''—Townsend, Tenn., Feb. 21, 2001
7. "I'm the decider, and I decide what is best. And what's best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain as the secretary of defense."—Washington, D.C., April 18, 2006
8. "See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda."—Greece, N.Y., May 24, 2005
9. "I've heard he's been called Bush's poodle. He's bigger than that."—discussing former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, as quoted by the Sun newspaper, June 27, 2007
10. "And so, General, I want to thank you for your service. And I appreciate the fact that you really snatched defeat out of the jaws of those who are trying to defeat us in Iraq."—meeting with Army Gen. Ray Odierno, Washington, D.C., March 3, 2008
11. "We ought to make the pie higher."—South Carolina Republican debate, Feb. 15, 2000
12. "There's an old saying in Tennessee—I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee—that says, fool me once, shame on—shame on you. Fool me—you can't get fooled again."—Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002
13. "And there is distrust in Washington. I am surprised, frankly, at the amount of distrust that exists in this town. And I'm sorry it's the case, and I'll work hard to try to elevate it."—speaking on National Public Radio, Jan. 29, 2007
14. "We'll let our friends be the peacekeepers and the great country called America will be the pacemakers."—Houston, Sept. 6, 2000
15. "It's important for us to explain to our nation that life is important. It's not only life of babies, but it's life of children living in, you know, the dark dungeons of the Internet."—Arlington Heights, Ill., Oct. 24, 2000
16. "One of the great things about books is sometimes there are some fantastic pictures."—U.S. News & World Report, Jan. 3, 2000
17. "People say, 'How can I help on this war against terror? How can I fight evil?' You can do so by mentoring a child; by going into a shut-in's house and say I love you."—Washington, D.C., Sept. 19, 2002
18. "Well, I think if you say you're going to do something and don't do it, that's trustworthiness."—CNN online chat, Aug. 30, 2000
19. "I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep on the soil of a friend."—on the prospect of visiting Denmark, Washington, D.C., June 29, 2005
20. "I think it's really important for this great state of baseball to reach out to people of all walks of life to make sure that the sport is inclusive. The best way to do it is to convince little kids how to—the beauty of playing baseball."—Washington, D.C., Feb. 13, 2006
21. "Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream."—LaCrosse, Wis., Oct. 18, 2000
"You know, when I campaigned here in 2000, I said, I want to be a war president. No president wants to be a war president, but I am one."—Des Moines, Iowa, Oct. 26, 2006
23. "There's a huge trust. I see it all the time when people come up to me and say, 'I don't want you to let me down again.' "—Boston, Oct. 3, 2000
24. "They misunderestimated me."—Bentonville, Ark., Nov. 6, 2000
25. "I'll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office."—Washington, D.C., May 12, 2008...'
Stupid is as stupid does
and you think Biden is gifted w/his gaffs?
Ummm...
Biden is NOT the POTUS last time I checked... But thanks for playing... we have some lovely parting gifts for you!
I forgot to ask earlier... are you by chance related to Richie Rich?
Fiesty Red Head...you are sadly tainted.
OMG- thanks Feisty. I needed that list- I haven't laughed this hard in quite a while
Red:
Everytime I read that I laugh until I cry! Thanks for posting it because many seem to have forgotten! lol!!!
They are hysterical aren't they? I do find #25 rather troubling though...
Like many others I used to cringe whenever the Moron in Chief opened his mouth - no wonder the right wing nut jobs hate our President so much - he's articulate and speaks English!
Red:
I find ALL of them troubling! lol!!! But that #25 explains it all! lol!!! You just can't make this stuff UP!! LMAO!!!
FR--The Democrats are going to lose seats. The question is how many -- 20 or 25 (near the historical average in a president’s first midterm election) or 39 or more (which would make John Boehner the next House speaker)?
You see...this IS the problem...you are still looking at historical stats in a NEW political climate. I wouldn't and don't put too much stock into statical data that don't include me and the MAJORITY of public sentiment. These polls are nothing more than "smoke and mirrors". The are intended to sway public opinion because they are media driven.
I just KNOW that you all are teasing Boehner's head up with this article.
That is exactly right, guys, there IS a new political climate out there, which make past performance questionable.
You have only to look at the new senator from massachusetts, as well as the new governor in New Jersey, to see that the trends are shifting.
Democrats are going to be DECIMATED this cycle.
Nojoe:
Welcome into by web said the spider to the fly....
The Senator form Massachusetts's is getting his ass waxed and support for him is waning...or are you aware of it? LOL!!
New Jersey has elected someone that they WISH that they can throw back because he's a walking blob of a F up. Now go and come again poll dancer and all blow-- maybe you shouldn't blow so much because it's affecting your ability to think rationally.
no joe
The definition of decimate: Reduce by 10%.
Democrats will love it if that is the extent of loses in November.
Anita-I live in New Jersey, and, believe me, Christie has majority support. He challenged the NJEA, and he's winning. He challenged the Democratic legislature, and he's winning.
Trust me, we know we elected the right man.
Dennis:
She's just spinning as usual in false hope and delusion.
No Joe:
Do I trust the words of an assassin when they tell me that they aren't there to murder me? NO. I happen to stay on top of politics in New Jersey and I wouldn't judge your political likes by the same standards as the majority of New Jersey residents.
And by we, I'm guessing you mean you no joe all blow, you are not a majority. By the real majority Christie's a big joke. Don't you just love the way no joe all joke troughs majority around, I guess he thinks if he says it enough everybody will believe him. Not.
MO:
She constantly lives in the world according to nojoe just blow smoke up...you know the rest! lol!!
FR--Back in prime-time: He’ll also try to show he's holding BP accountable, not just for the cleanup but for financial damages. In addition, he’ll discuss the ongoing strategies for containing the leak, decreasing America’s dependence on fossil fuels, and beginning the process of restoring the Gulf’s ecosystem.
Ha, ha! You all are still trying to MAKE this crisis a FAILURE of this Administration and we won't allow you all to do that. You keep hammering away at the Eco-system because you know that theses are areas that are Progressives pet peeves; and you're highlighting Afghanastan (the servicemen on the front lines) because you KNOW that this also angers Progressives that aren't in favor of the troops being in Afghanistan anyway.
The PRESS is predictable-- but the question should be is...will PROGRESSIVES fall for the line you're dangling in the water. 1. There is NOTHING that this administration can do at this stage of the game to stop the flow of oil in the Gulf that's affecting our delicate Eco-system that BUSH gave to the oil companies.
Excellent show on last night Rachel Maddow. Keep up the excellent work and you too Keith Olbermann. Rachel presented the facts Progressives...it's up to us to remain logical and stand with our President.
Yesterday, the media through an interview with a local official in the Gulf reported that the President has spoken daily to Gulf governors and other officials since the first day of the disaster. The WH has repeatedly said the Pres has been deeply involved since the beginning. No doubt WH reporters have asked the question but no one bothered to report it. It is frustrating that so little attention has been given to what the President has done and so much attention to his emotions. It is unfair, not just to this President but every other President both past and future--the media helps drive opinion, they should be careful where and how they steer. Most people get small amounts of information on the evening news, internet, or the radio. If what they hear is the media DEBATING whether the President is engaged enough or mostly the last two weeks, was he angry or emotional enough. If that's what people get from their brief exposure to daily events, their view of what and how the President is handling the crisis is incomplete and skewed.
There are many terrific reporters and journalists who ask the tough questions and report actual news. Those brief reports from people on the ground along the Gulf coast or like Richard Engle in Afghanistan should be what we get all the time. It is sad that too many stations spend a couple minutes on the actual news and the rest on opinion, personal analysis or move to the next news item. In their defense, they only have 30 minutes interrupted by plenty of commercials.
I noticed the last couple of days the media's sudden shift away from "presidential anger" to what is actually being done by Pres Obama. Wouldn't it be nice if it stayed with honest substance and not irrelevant fluff.
Candidate and now President Obama has usually been steps ahead of the media's storyline, he really doesn't care much what they chatter about because he stays focused on the job before him. It could be that President Obama is a puzzle to the media because he doesn't play the game the way they want; they just keep trying to put the square piece in the round slot and wondering why it doesn't fit. For the first time in years, I think we have a President who respects the media, responds when necessary but doesn't particularly care what they say about him. Maybe that tendency comes from his bi-racial roots where ignoring those who tried to stereotype him was the best way to succeed.
I look forward to tonight's oval office speech because people deserve to hear the facts from President Obama without a media filter of debate and analysis. Of course, the pre-analysis has been on for two days and the post will continue for at least that. Lots to talk about tomorrow.
At least President Obama has done more for Afghanistan than Bush did.
TRR:
How right you are and especially in light of the fact that Bush left those servicemen station there without ammunition and coverage to go into Iran to fight a war of OILY choice.
True so true!
Anita, please tell us where you got your information, especially the part of no ammunition was left in Afganistan when we went into Iran????
We went into Iran? Do the Iranians know?
Brutus, I don't think so but Anita knows and she is sure Obama is doing a better job. LOL
Did we win? Was it for oil too? No no no, I know we went thier for there vast reserves of ATOMIC energy...... North Korea must be worried now......
Lynn:
You seem to be the only person that's unaware of that fact. Why it was televised on Rachel Maddow's Show with Richard Engel. I know...you;ll probably say that because it wasn't on Fox Entertainment Network that it's farcical...but it's actually a fact.
Now I suggest that you Google Afghanistan Troop withdrawal for you research and also try The Rachel Maddow Show because she actually has video to back it up and troops telling the story. If I'm not mistaken, one of the troops that Richard interviewed was killed by sniper fire.
This speech is a big distraction, a red herring, a deviation from the real issue;
This administration is incompetent, Obama is incompetent.
Quit the "blame game" ......... Solve the problem; STOP the OIL ........................
Is that the best Obama can do, give another speech ??.
Hey Obama, How about capping the well and stopping the oil ? Then figure out who will pay the bill and how much it will cost.
Any idea how that would be done there Woody?
'Cause BP the 'Experts' haven't figured it out yet either.
Some of you people make me soooo tired......
Why have people stopped going to the beaches? Who is responsible for vacationers cancelling trips because they think all the beaches are fouled with oil? The media of course, they will not let facts get in the way of a good story.
When are the American people going to wakeup out of their collective ignorance and discover not only is the Repuklican Party working for the failure of this country, but also in bed with them is the lazy ignorant Media and its enabling Pundits.
From the very beginning of Obama's Presidency, when he had historically high poll numbers, the Media was looking for the slightest negatives to bring those poll numbers down. There was no such Media scrutiny and carping afforded George Bush. In fact, during the first 7years and 6mos. of G.W. Bush's Presidency, the Media was not only negligent in their duty as journalist, they were intimidated by the Administration. This was made clear at the beginning of the Bush Administration, when the Whitehouse completely disrespected and shunned press corp correspondent, Helen Thomas. The Media, rather than taking a collective stand against the Administration, they cowardly excepted this beat-down. Intimidation of the Media, led to an unskeptical/inept press which may have been the primary reason the Bush Adm. got away with the greatest deception in American history, which led to the fiasco in Iraq. Failure of the Media to do its job, has led to the death of over 5,000 soldiers and untold hundreds of thousands of Iraqis. The MAJOR STORY is not the ECONOMY, its not HEALTH CARE, its not the WAR, The real Story is the GROSS MALPRACTICE OF THE COLLECTIVE PRESS. The UTTER FAILURE of this contemporary MEDIA to do it's JOB.
The failure of the Press/Media to do its job has not abated. Their collective handling of the current crisis in the Gulf is another sobering reminder of the utter lack of professional journalism thats sorely needed. Rather than gathering facts and informing the public, this modern-day pack of dogs, masking themselves as journalist, are trying to shape the news and give their unsolicited opinions. Moreover, they will ad nausium quote polls that they themselves have influenced by their unprofessional/incompetant conduct.
During the health care debate, many Americans were easily led to believe that the health care bill contained death-panel provisions. Why was this so? The Media, in their right-wing-inspired though misguided attempt to be "fair and balanced", resorts to weighing what they know to be the TRUTH with a counter thought that they know to be a PROVABLE LIE, and NEVER REPORT the thought to be a LIE. But rather, they let the public make up their own minds as to which thought is to be believed. This is the epitome of press/media INCOMPETENCE and MALPRACTICE. the White House cannot possibly get its message out over the constant Media Malpractice that's being promulgated upon the American people in 24-hour cycles. Whether the subject is the current Gulf Oil Crisis, Health care, Cap and Trade, Climate Change, Budget Deficit, Unemployment, Stimulus, TARP, Iraq, Afghanistan, Political Analysis, Bank Regulatory Legislation, Supreme Court Decisions, Education Reform, etc. This contemporary PRESS/MEDIA HAS FAILED AND CONTINUE TO FAIL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
Moreover, it is just absolutely astounding the utter lack of knowledge the Media has concerning the very issues they report on. Politicians, particularly Rethuglicans, when interviewed by Media, are never held accountable for OBVIOUS lies they tell. The interviewer take every word as truth, yet having very little knowledge before-hand of the subject inquired about. Therefore, the the politician is not subject to immediate accountability for the lie THAT'S being told in the moment. This is because the reporter/anchor/pundit/host are not well informed/prepared themselves when asking the questions. If the Media was to take their individual and collective job seriously, they would educate themselves on the issues before-hand, rather than placating to SELF-AGGRANDIZING FORM, FASHION,and NARCISSISM. The American people want and need THE TRUTH, irregardless to POLITICAL PARTY OR POLITICIAN. FAIR AND BALANCED DOES NOT MEAN, GIVING EQUAL WEIGHT TO A "KNOWN TRUTH" AND A "PROVABLE LIE" AND LEAVING AN UNINFORMED AMERICAN PUBLIC TO DECIDE. When presented with TRUTHFUL FACTS, they will be informed enough to make reasoned/intelligent decisions. Finally, because of the MEDIA, 28 percent of the American people thinks Sarah Palin is qualified to be President of the United States, Barack Obama is not an American citizen, Global Warming does not exit, 70% of the American people believed Iraq caused 9/11, Health care Death Panels Exist, Rethuglicans have a real Health care Plan, etc. In addition, when the Obama Administration tried to timidly hold Fox News (an organization TOTALLY dedicated to DUMBING DOWN ITS VIEWERS) accountable, the collective Press rose up to support Fox. WHY? It appears the collective Media is totally intimidated by the Rethuglican Party's mantra of "Liberal Bias". What a complete duping of the Media.
P.S. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A "LIBERAL PRESS", ITS ONLY AN "INEPT PRESS" THAT EXIST.
P.S. I REALLY WISHED "MEET THE PRESS" WOULD REPLACE DAVID GREGORY WITH RACHEL MADDOW. SHE IS ABSOLUTELY MORE INTELLIGENT AND HAS AN ASTUTE ANALYTICAL MIND. THE RETHUGLICANS ARE REALLY INTIMIDATED AND AFRAID OF HER, OR PEHAPS THEY ARE SIMPLY AFRAID OF FACTS GETTING IN THE WAY OF "LIES AND DISTORTIONS".
You can't be serious!
Guess it's a good thing HCR got through, you can get the Cranial Rectal Inversion fixed without any worry of being denied for a pre-existing condition.
Spot on man. Your not alone. The only difference I see now vs. when bush is the current explosion of community driven feedback. facebook, twitter and lastly... here, in forums. It may very well be the demise of the current administration as the same media/republicans have had a hell of a day posting rather dubious information via these mediums.
I agree wholeheartedly. You never hear Chris Matthews or any of the supposed "liberal" media catch the liars in their lies.
CHRIS 844900 - Talk about delusional. The mainstream press, liberal blogs, and Hollywood was so pro-Obama it got the community socialist organizer nobody elected. The reason it didn't take the years you expected to cover Pres Obama's pathetic leadership is because it is so egregiously inept. In fact he still gets mainstream pass for the most part for a messed up economy and gov debt, weakened foriegn policy, and general maliase . It's is his own inept leadership that is bringing hm down. It is only blind progressive liberals such as yourself that still keep him afloat..
milcom:
Get on back into that hole you've been living in the last 10 years. I know it's pretty hard to accept the truth "even when its staring you in the face". President Obama doesn't need us to keep him afloat he's doing that himself. What in your mind made Bush qualified to be President? Please list his attributes if you will....
Anita, "well said"
Come on ppl! More than 50 days into the spill and your all still doing EXACTLY as BP, Obama and the MSM want you to do, focusing on the hole and beat the BP blame game to death rather then focus on solutions and clean up. Geez you mindless libs are like cats mesmerized by a shiny trinket. THINK! The hole will continue to seep, leak or spew until the relief wells are drilled. Do you really think they would quickly plug the hole resulting in them having to walk away from all that oil and the investment put into it? They made sure that the only solution is drilling the so called relief wells. These wells are the only thing that will guarantee access to the oil and continued presence there. Keeping you all consumed with blaming BP deflects your attention away from focusing on what’s really important. It also deflects your attention away from the short comings and failures of the GOV and your messiah. Crisis is this administration’s motto. This administration has consistently leveraged crisis after crisis, both real and imaginary time and time again in order to manipulate their base and to facilitate their agenda. And you are all oh so easy. Are any of you MSNBC puppets capable of independent thought or do Rachael and Keith really have that much control over your daily lives?
I disagree with your basic premise, which is that they want to keep the oil flowing for, I assume, the potential profit. If the hole is plugged, the oil is still there, and the relief wells would then allow access to the (plugged) oil field. I do agree that many on this site (both sides) are locked into the "blame game", but I believe that the administration, BP, the local governments, and anyone else that is directly impacted, is first and foremost, interested in closing off the flow of oil, and then I hope, focused on cleanup, and then preventive measures to reduce the potential of another blowout. If that means retroactive fixes to existing wells, then so be it. If it means drilling relief wells in advance of a problem for existing wells, that's life, let's deal with it.
Yes, the President has had crisis after crisis, but for the most part, that they aren't of his making. As a Republican, I find the blame game to be less than useful regardless of whom is in blame mode, and as an American, I would like to believe that all of us have a vested interest in ending the finger pointing, and working together to end the spill.
Living LA….I really appreciate your constructive feedback. You don’t get a lot of that here.
You must admit, that there would be no need for the relief wells to be drilled had the hole been plugged. And I doubt very much if the world would have agreed to let them dig a new hole and put up another rig, continuing business as usual had the hole been plugged, at least not for many, many, many years. But regardless, you are right about the blame game. It accomplishes nothing and I am frustrated by it all. That’s all anyone on this site cares about. It’s as if no one gives a darn about clean up until the flow is stopped and the blame is settled. It’s ridiculous.
Up to this point the clean up efforts have been more about containment. Two weeks ago I saw 3 practical solutions to cleaning the oil up. One is particular was absolutely amazing – simple, cost effective with astounding results. Because of the network that aired the solutions, the MSM have ignored it. Their still stuck on blame. People pretend to care about the environment and wildlife, but not enough to put aside partisanship and pride in order to make a difference. Lets focus on solutions and cleaning!
They have had multiple experts on about plugging the hole. When the explosion occurred there were cracks and fissures to the shaft, etc. a long way down. Plugging the hole, due to the tremendous pressure at that depth, would cause those cracks and fissures to open up and then there would be no stopping the spill. Sometimes the fastest thing is not the best thing. It's also the same way with nuking it. You have no control over what happens once you've nuked it. It turns the ocean floor to glass around it, however, it also creates a huge convex bubble of air beneath due to the movement of the ocean floor, which would then erupt and the spill would go on as long as there is oil in that particular site.
I don't know about you, but I think I would rather have the experts - even now that the horse is out of the barn - figure out the ramifications of any actions they might take.
Anybody can say anything about how to close it. I suggested that they inch-by-inch over a couple weeks slowly pinch the damn thing shut, which would allow the closing of it not to be one catastrophic clamp, but little by little to alleviate the pressure - but you know what? I don't know a damn thing about oil wells. Do you?
And I guess the other part of what I am hearing you say is that everyone just loves watching it pour out, kill the wildlife, ruin the wetlands, beaches, etc. You have so little faith in your fellow Americans and human beings, including the ones in government. Whether we like it or not, sometimes we need them, and each other. And sometimes we can't fix things quickly. Just look how long it took to get seat belts and the furor that caused years ago. Or higher gas mileage standards. Some day, hopefully, we can look back on these years and see how primitive we were in our thinking. Although I've been waiting for clean energy all my 66 years, so I'll probably not be around to see because as usual only the quick fix will do, don't inconvenience anyone, and just forget about the future.
Politeness, you are correct, is in very short supply here. I try for civil discourse, regardless of whom I'm communicating with, no matter whether I agree or disagree with them. Unfortunately, there are a few (very few) on this site that I cannot respond to, it's not only counterproductive, it generally incites a riot.
What I was trying to say (probably badly) about the relief well, is that each drill site should have not only a production well, but a secondary, relief well, that would allow something like this to be addressed quickly. I'm not an engineer, don't know if it's feasible, don't know if the relief well can be drilled in advance, certainly don't know anything about the oil business, other than I use their products daily, but safety measures, not only for people, but for the site, obviously are missing, and that shortage needs to be rectified.
I probably saw the same show about solutions, and yes, very little discussion here about the relatively novel solutions proposed. One that I thought was interesting used hay to absorb the crude, another used excelsior, which I think is finely shaved aspen wood, and a third had an Asian gentleman with some sort of polymer fabric that strained out the vast majority of the crude, and produced essentially clean water as a result. I read that BP is getting upwards of several thousand suggestions a week, so hopefully, some of these that test out well in very small arena can be fast-tracked for implementation.