ABOUT FIRST READ

First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Bill Clinton: 'Follow Olympia'

Posted: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 2:06 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under:

From NBC's Ken Strickland
When former President Bill Clinton walked into the Capitol this afternoon for luncheon with Senate Democrats, he pushed a healthcare proposal championed by Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe. But based on the context of his comments he was probably more joking and courteous, than serious. 

"I'm gonna tell them Olympia [Snowe] is right. They ought to follow Olympia," he said with a big grin as he walked away. Snowe's proposal would allow a public option to be "triggered" in states only if private companies failed to offer affordable insurance plans.

As was written in First Thoughts this morning, Clinton has strong ties to the Senate centrists who could very well decide the fate of the health-care bill in the Senate. Clinton was governor when Ben Nelson served as governor of Nebraska; Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor just happen to represent Clinton’s home state of Arkansas; and Clinton and Joe Lieberman used to be very close personally and ideologically -- before the Lewinsky scandal. During the 2008 campaign, Clinton seemed to find his stride campaigning in red America -- in places that are similar politically to Arkansas, Nebraska, Indiana, etc. Clinton's at his best when he's giving others political advice, and he excels at framing an argument better than just about anyone on the political stage.


Video
: The Huffington Post's Lawrence O'Donnell discusses how the direct advocacy by former President Clinton affects health reform passage in the Senate .

Clinton had just passed the metal detector at what's called the Senate's "carriage entrance." After Clinton's staff told him he didn't have to walk through the metal detector, he spotted Snowe.

Snowe and Clinton have a long history both inside and outside of Washington. Snowe is the wife of former Maine Gov. John McKernan. Clinton and McKernan crossed paths during their tenures as governors. Snowe and Hillary Clinton crossed paths as governor's wives and later as senators.

Clinton shook Snowe's hand, and there was some faint talk of healthcare as well as his upcoming meeting with Democrats. But after a minute or so, I asked Clinton what his message would be for the Democratic caucus. With his classic smile and laugh, he said simply, "Ask them, 'When I get finished?' "

Before he walked away, he shook Snowe's hand a final time.

"I'm gonna tell them Olympia is right," he said. "They ought to follow Olympia."

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"Clinton's at his best when he's giving others political advice, and he excels at framing an argument better than just about anyone on the political stage."

Yeah, you just keep confounding them with BS and ask questions like what your definition of "IS" is. The lapdog leftist press will do the rest. This is such an easy job.
BILL CLINTON says 'FOLLOW OLYMPIA'.

And while you follow Olympia, I am going to follow some of her interns into the cloakroom. The Secret Service will keep lookout for me.
Yeah, follow the Republican.
BILL CLINTON says 'FOLLOW OLYMPIA'.

And while you follow Olympia, I am going to follow some of her interns into the cloakroom. The Secret Service will keep lookout for me.
WJC Little Rock, AR (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 2:24 PM)

_________
....He said, along with hundered like him that decry bringing up Bush even though he's been out of office for 9 months.......
The media is so liberally biased. After all, the gigantic corporations that own all the media companies are secretly socialist cabals, don't you know? It's true; all those billionaires hate money, and plan to bring down the American system of democratic capitalism that has made them so rich and powerful, so that they can all work in the potato fields with the rest of the lumpenproletariat. Why, just last week, I saw the CEO of Viacom wearing a "CHE" t-shirt! What a hippie!
In times of national tragedy, politics must be set aside!! And when a heartbreaking event occurs in this country, Americans want the President of the United States to address the nation!!  For me, it does not matter the political party of the president; I want the president to speak to the nation!! As a supporter of President Obama, I was deeply disappointed at his reaction, or lack thereof, in responding to the tragedy at Fort Hood.  Hours passed before the president spoke, and when he finally did speak, he did not address the nation, yet only spoke a few sentences while addressing the Tribal Nations Conference.
I despised everything Ronald Reagan stood for; however, I sat at attention when he addressed the nation after the Challenger explosion!! Neither his policies, nor my dislike of him, mattered to me as he delivered a heartfelt address to the nation!! I sat at attention as Bill Clinton addressed the nation after the Oklahoma City bombings!! And while I was a staunch supporter of Bill Clinton, that didn’t matter to me one iota as he spoke to a grieving country!!
America expects its leader to act as both Reagan and Clinton did!!  His presence at today’s memorial service is expected!! However, what I expected last Thursday, as his predecessors did so eloquently when tragedy struck during their presidencies, was for the President of the United States to address the nation!! He didn't!!
We need someone with power and personality to march into the halls of Congress and remind them what's at stake. Polls do matter, and next fall decisions will be made that reflect what Democrats do with health reform in the ensuing weeks. Fortitude and political will now will result in votes then.
First off, former President Clinton would NOT, repeat NOT, address members of the Senate if not asked to do so by the White House!!

For all of those who despise the former president, no matter what end of the political spectrum you are on, one thing is clear, when Bill Clinton speaks, people listen!!

Former President Bill Clinton continues to frustrate the right wingers, just as he did for eight years as president!! Probably the most gifted politician of my lifetime, he'll most likely be successful in swaying hesitant democrats to vote in favor of HCR!! And again, he is there at the request of the White House, to include President Obama!!

I've always been grateful Bill Clinton is a member of the Democratic Party, and I continue to laugh at the right wing, who continues to be frustrated by the greatest politician, and most brilliant orator, of my lifetime!!

Thank you, Bill Clinton!!
Just a thought on recent evnts and trend's. I have heard a lot of talk and threats back and forth in the last several weeks about how the President should do this and that and he is letting so and so down. I think that we are forgetting that thier are 3 branches of Government and yes politics are local. The Legislative branch seems to have set it self up with it's complicated rules and off the books head counts so that it doesn't have to stand up and create a record that can either used for against it's members when it comes time for the local voter's to decide who's side they are on. How can we make an informed decission if they are upheld in avoiding the decision. The Presidency should not be reguarded as imperial as it was during Bush/Cheney and Reagan/Bush. If the President frames the parameters as is his duty(and this one has done it pretty well) why should the Legislative branch be allowed to hide behind this or that so as not to have to stand up and answer for it back home. Seems to me that we don't need term limits so much as we need bill limits. Put it out there for 180 days and then make everybody stand up and say yea or nay. If the folks in each district or state don't like the position then we are free to find someone else to express our views.And don't tell me that isn't enough time because each of these gentleman has an overpaid staff that probaly needs something to do to keep them out of the bars and trouble at night. Glad to see you Anita been wondering where you were
Eagle 1776 (boy scouts)

You are crazy.

You accuse ME of not knowing what is in the Pelosi Bill when no one read the stimulus but voted YES. Same with the Health Care Bill.

You are daft. Typical liberal whackjob. No brains.
I despised everything Ronald Reagan stood for;
Pam, San Pedro, California (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 2:43

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

EVERYTHING?

Please restore the Soviet Union and lets REBUILD the Berlin Wall. We need gutless presidents like Obama to apologize for America and fear our enemies. The world was so much better under Jimmy Carter, please bring back those good ol days Barack.  

And when you can't get it done yourself, beg for Bill Clinton's help.  Amazing, just amazing.  
That's NOT the IDEAL solution

But, the Public Option with Triggers is acceptable
If it gets us HCR

If we get this passed, we can Amend the process after Obama's SMASHING 2015 re-election victory

When the Democratic candidates beat all those 'Tea Bag approved' GOP candidates

We might even amend after the 2010 elections when we pick up the Florida Senate seat of Mel Martinez and another seat in Missouri

GET IT PASSED

It WON'T be PERFECT, but it'll do !!!


Bill, Fairfax, VA: '...No one is arguing that our progeny deserve a perfect world.  Those of us with a brain are arguing that as a matter of intergenerational equity it is unconscionable to saddle our kids and grandkids with the burden of a suffocating debt.  Which, of course, is exactly what we're doing as we speak.  And the leftist vision of HCR just makes it worse...'

NINETY PER CENT of our 'inter generational debt' from 1776 to 2008 was generated by the 'Three Stooges of National Debt' Ronald Reagan, George Bush and Baby Bush

How do you explain that the last three Republican ran up such COLOSSAL DEBTS ??
What does that say about Republicans ?
What does that say about 'Conservatism' ??

Apparently, Obama's genius is to get Conservatives thinking about the National Debt (excuse me, Inter generational Debt) for the first time in 30 years !!

Bravo, Mr President

Do you in any way see how HYPOCRITICAL you look ??
Do you in any way see how PHONY you look after remaining silent about debt during the last three Republican Administrations ?

That debt was generated, in part by Baby Bush’s Tax Cuts
Did you approve those tax cuts ?
Bush once said his constituency was the ‘haves and the have mores’
THAT’S who got the tax cuts !!
Not a peep from Conservatives about deficits

He said, along with hundered like him that decry bringing up Bush even though he's been out of office for 9 months.......
Buzz (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 2:32 PM)

Spot on, Buzz!! They want to run from Bush; for eight years all we heard was, "It's all Bill Clinton's fault," which we still hear today, nearly 17 years after he took office!! Yet mention the FACT that the mess we are in now, both domestically and internationally, is a direct result of Bush's disastrous policies, and we get, "can't do that"!!

I find it laughable, personally!!
So why don't senators have to pass through the metal detectors? The congress has practially allowed strip searches of the rest of us on busy public streets but they are excluded from even basic security screenings. Interesting.
JT from Washington....

As a good American, I would like to drop you off on any military base in the US and ask you to repeat what you said. What they would do to you would be well deserved but would be pointless because I probably will have already done it.

It's common for lefties to make excuses for murderers. We expect that from you. But to make excuses for terrorists and cheer them on is inexcusable. It will be interesting to see how many of your fellow lefties will condemn what you said. Do all real Americans and leave now.
Trouble in Paradisre ??

From Washington Monthly:

'... The latest Public Policy Polling survey in Maine shows a plurality of Maine Republicans (46%) disapproving of the job Sen. Olympia Snowe (R) is doing. Perhaps more important, if Snowe were to face a more conservative primary challenger, Maine Republicans would vote against Snowe, 59% to 31%...'

It's TIME to pull a Specter, Olympia
Come join the 'inclusive' Democratic Party, Olympia
You don't need no ticket, you vote for HCR !!


Music to MY ears !!

"If they don't want us with them, we're going to work against them."

GREAT Job so far, Dede !!


'...QUOTE OF THE DAY....
The Washington Post ran a terrific piece today on Dede Scozzafava and the events that led her to drop out of the congressional race in New York's 23rd, and soon after, endorse her Democratic opponent. Of particular interest was the disappointment she feels about high-profile members of her own party endorsing Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman.

"How can Sarah Palin come out and endorse someone who can't answer some basic questions," Scozzafava asked. "Do these people even know who they are endorsing?"

Well, on the first question, since Sarah Palin can't answer some basic questions either, I suspect Hoffman's ignorance didn't bother her much. On the second question, it's likely that Palin, Pawlenty, and others had no idea who they were endorsing, but figured, "If Glenn Beck and the GOP base are excited about him, that's good enough for us."

Scozzafava also noted the larger effort to purge the GOP of moderates.

"There is a lot of us who consider ourselves Republicans, of the Party of Lincoln," she said. "If they don't want us with them, we're going to work against them."...'


Leave that sinking ship
The asylum inmates have staged a mutiny
It's just Nuts and Crazies in charge now
Chel Sea, NY NY.  What is it with that republican VP named Cheney and his equally obsessed daughter out there constantly railing against Pres Obama?  Why doesn't he just GO AWAY.  Cheney and Bush were the biggest liars of all time, they lied us into an unnecessary war costing nearly $1 trillion of unfunded money; they lied about torture, they took away habias corpus for Americans, they locked up innocent people in Gitmo in their rush to judgement against anyone who looked suspicious.  What have Cheney and Bush done lately for the people?  Bush is out there giving motivational speeches; Cheney is out there trying to change history by altering truth which is available in video and written form and he's hoping no one will notice.  Clinton and Carter both have done extensive humanitarian work.  You don't have to like their politics or them but they are doing good work for many which is far more than most former GOP presidents have done.
Jody, Iowa

Dick Cheney and his daughter have the right to free speech, and the right to defend themselves from scurrilous attacks by the Obama administration and the socialist whackos of the Democratic party. Unlike Clinton, they are not lobbying the Congress to have the federal government do a hostile takeover of the Health Care industry. The Cheney's are setting the record straight from the lies the Democrats are telling about them.

Clinton, and Carter are the ones that need to just go away. Carter can deal with the one sliver of good he's ever done and manage his Habitat for Humanity organization. Everything else about Carter you can stick where the sun doesn't shine. Same goes for the liar Clinton who can go on any talk show he pleases and wave his finger at anyone that has the audacity to question any of his lies. Carter was the worst President in a century for both the domestic and foreign polices. Clinton was right behind Carter and ignored the rising threat of Islamic fascism, and we see the results of that negligence to this day. In addition Clinton lied repeatable, not only to his family, but to the American people. Instead of doing the job he was elected to, Clinton spent his time cruising the intern pool. Now he wants to lobby Congress to vote for his failed health care legislation from 1993. Good thing there are some strong Democrats in the Senate that disagree with ability of the government to run health care when it can't even restrain it's own spending. $1.8 trillion dollars in deficit spending, and Obama and company are angry at the lack of cost restraints for the health care industry?!! Give us all a break! Obama, Carter, and Clinton, all big spenders, all big government types. Clinton once said "The era of big government is over!", yet he defends this cheap trick Obama who says "Government is the only answer". Democrats are all the same, a bunch of cheats, a bunch of liars.

We don't want no stinking reform. The system works for most of us now since we don't have to actually pay for it.

I've always said there will be no real reform until enough mostly white middle and upper class folks start feeling the true cost of their care rather than the modest co premiums, copays and deductibles most of you have to bear now. Just wait until it costs each of you 12-15000 a year out of your pockets then you'll stop thwarting reforms. You betcha
That Bill. What a joke[ster]!
Pam

You seemed to have left out President Bush's speech after the 9/11 tragedy. He was a little late for Katrina too, as was Obama for this tragedy.

Are you SURE you're putting politics aside?
Pam; Obama did an outstanding job of responding to the tragedy at Fort Hood.  I don't know how you could interpret his "proactive" response to it as anything less.  So often people call into left leaning talk shows asking "please help me understand, I am a liberal afterall," and then start repeating the right wing talking points over and over.  Is that what you are doing?  To cowardly to tell who you really are and willing to lie your way into someones consciousness?

Try calling a right leaning talk show and see if they'll even let you on the air.  I've actually seen on TV and heard on the radio to same liars pretending to be left leaning on a right leaning show and going "gee golly,,, I was wrong all along,,, thanks for educationg me."

Cartoons thinking adults will believe they are real.

Sad

What's happening to First Read??
Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 11:17 AM)
_______________

As much as things change…they still remain the same!Just the usual suspects trolling around here!  

As you can see they’re still convinced you & I are the same person!  With the exception of a certain phony Democrat that drops in from time to time…

Then there’s Dick who’s found another liberal lady to bash! I’m beginning to think that his wife kicks his ass regularly… that’s why he so fond of coming here to prove what a woman hater he is!

Decent competition is in short supply around here!

Oh and Bill in Fairfax, VA has finally figured out how to cut and paste!  lol lol lol Even if he’s STILL got a severe case of the ‘selective memory syndrome’!

Come around more often when you have time… We still haven’t heard from Eric either!!!
"Obama is actually polling to see how popular/unpopular he'll be if he sends the troops McChrystal requested"

Kara Williams, Iowa

---------------------------------

I don't suppose it occurred to you that Obama is trying to gauge public opinion over whether or not WE want to send additional troops into harm's way or not?

Perhaps you should take that into consideration.

I am amazed that anyone could view this president's actions a self-serving.
D Ray Eugene, OR


===================
Either Obama has a plan, or he doesn't. By the looks of things, he doesn't. Being President is full of tough decisions. No one wants to go to war. No one! But in some cases, it is inevitable. So what does Obama want? To be President? Or to be popular? If he's depending on polls to go to war or not, then lets just vote like they do for American Idol, just text "1" if you want to go to war, and "2" if you want the troops to come home.
Per Politico:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) “illogical" for holding up a veterans care bill Tuesday, criticizing the Oklahoma Republican for supporting war funding while blocking health care funding for veterans.
Coburn, a fiscally conservative Republican, has a hold on the bill, a legislative tactic to prevent its passage. He sent a letter to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), saying that the Caregiver and Veterans Services Act of 2009 needs to be fully debated because it will cost taxpayers more than $3 billion over the next five years. The bill provides funding for families who care for wounded soldiers.
Reid, flanked by a severely injured Iraq War veteran on Tuesday, hinted that Coburn’s tough stance on the cost of legislation was flawed – he supported the war in Iraq, which wasn’t paid for, but opposes the veterans care bill for the same reason.
“(W)here was he when we were spending a trillion dollars on the war in Iraq,” Reid asked. “That wasn’t paid for. I didn’t hear him stopping the bill from going forward at that time. I think he should become more logical and understand we have people who are suffering.”
********

Do any of you Repukes care to discuss this? This is absolutely shameful - I guess Republicans don't support our troops?  
BILL CLINTON says 'FOLLOW OLYMPIA'.
And while you follow Olympia, I am going to follow some of her interns into the cloakroom. The Secret Service will keep lookout for me.
WJC Little Rock, AR

But first they probably have to make sure Foly's needs are taken care of, and make sure Ensign has proper coverage as well, don't you think?

come on now, lets be adults about this, men and women have affairs, (Ronnie and Nancy had a big affair while he was still married to Jane Wyman, which broke up their marriage and somehow people think those two are saints), is it a good thing?  No, is it right?  No, is forgiveness mine or yours to give? No.  God never takes the day off and puts us in charge of forgiveness, something the repugnants fail to remember.
Come on Bill - whip the Senate Democrats into shape, we need this passed asap - the greedy health insurance industry has already made too much money off me this year, it would be nice if it were the last year they raped another family. The repugnants are not going to vote for this bill, or any health bill that deminishes the control the health insurance industry has over our lives, so we have to do it, and no time like the present.
Welcome to the REALITY Based world, Bill-Oh !!

'...actually some polls show that the public option standing by itself is not at all unpopular, but it is kind of popular. ...'

NO ! NO! Let them Eat Cake !!


From Think Progress:

'...Hume Corrects O’Reilly’s False Claim That ‘Folks Don’t Want’ The Public Option: It’s Actually ‘Kind Of Popular’
Last night on Fox News, host Bill O’Reilly and analyst Brit Hume discussed the prospects for the Senate passing a health care reform bill. After struggling with the terminology for the “public option,” O’Reilly ultimately concluded that “all the polls say” that “the folks don’t want it.”

Hume, a regular Fox News misinformer, surprisingly corrected O’Reilly, noting that Americans actually support the public option:

O’REILLY: They call it, you know, the public sector. What is the –

HUME: Public option, you mean?

O’REILLY: Public option, whatever. The folks don’t want it. … But it looks to me like they have maybe 55 votes to pass it. And that means they could be filibustered and never come up for a vote.

HUME: That’s what it looks like right now. The public option, actually some polls show that the public option standing by itself is not at all unpopular, but it is kind of popular. But that depends on how the poll question is raised. … We don’t need to go into all that right now...'


Educating Bill-Oh the Clown
Here's eight of them:

America Coming Together
America Votes
Center for American Progress
Joint Victory Campaign 2004
Media Fund
MoveOn.org
Open Society Institute
Thunder Road Group

Neil R., AZ (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 10:56 AM)

Now give us a link that shows Soro's funding these groups. He may support them, but connect him to the funding. Didn't think you could.
Mo

It's idiots like Mo that give the internet a bad name.
Finally, Bill....I was wondering when you were going to help with "THE BILL" of your lifetime.  Thanks so much for making the effort for us.

I also agree that "The Trigger" is the way to go with this, and let it be on a state by state basis.  Having worked in Healthcare for over six years, I know the providers are so different from state to state.
Mr. Obama is going to be faced with yet another difficult decission when the remains of the healthcare bill reaches his desk. He can sign a bill into law forcing people to be slaves to the insurance industry who will procede to suck the last few bucks away from the working and middle class all the while increasing costs, or he can do the right thing and veto it and demand a single payer plan for all, how do you think he will choose?
Please post my answers:

You criticize others, yet you spew the same venom.  I honestly think we in America need to deal with our own greed and contempt for each other before we destroy ourselves.
Mike, Ohio
-----------------------

The response you made to my comment was useless. The liberation of Afghanastan will not be beneficial to us. Was it beneficial to Russia or any other country that has faught in that country. Get a friggin grip. Go sell that bullshit to someone that’s stupid such as the GOP.  There is no way in hell that we (America) can eradicate every person that “hates” this nation.

The Bush Administration damn near bankrupted this nation with that ideaology. Yet our enemies prevailed. The last administration gave our enemies ample time to regroup, because he didn’t give a damn about the servicemen he left there in the hills to defend themselves with little to no ammunition. I don’t know who the hell you’re trying to fool with your stupid ass comment. Get out your HISTORY BOOK and READ IT.

What are you suggesting??? Murder the Muslims? You people are sick, absolutely sick. What the hell are you? A defense contractor?

BTW, this is my country, it is MY birthright and you…are just a guest here.

Anita from Birmingham --- You just keep doing it.  You blame Bush for not stopping 9/11 and for not stopping this guy in Ft. Hood.  You can't have it both ways.  You must be saying then that 9/11 is Clinton's fault, I assume.  If not, why do you waste your time commenting here and the time of those of us that may think we can actually read something useful here once in a while.
A concerned American, Cincinnati, OH
-------------------------------------

What’s the matter??!! You afraid that I’m telling the truth aren’t you? I am indeed telling the truth. So suck it up and put a stinky sock in it. BTW, your reading something useful means believing and spewing hate and lies such as cluster Fox!
Both Sides Now (Sent Monday, November 09, 2009 5:03 PM)
______________

Is that you Dick?
______________

shut up, red (Sent Monday, November 09, 2009 6:01 PM)
______________

Some one needs to take a long hard look in the mirror…

If it’s possible that you can actually start practicing what you’re not so eloquently ‘preaching’… then you might have an ounce of credibility!  

Until then… eh… not so much!

Thanks for playing though!  

You make OUR jobs so much easier when WE don’t have to point out the Repubiklan hypocrisy!

Sounds like you two could use a *hug*!!! Perhaps a nice cup of hot tea would help?  No?  lol lol lol
"11/10/09 Dodd: New Gov't Powers Could Prevent Economy Crash
WASHINGTON – Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd on Tuesday called for sweeping new government powers to prevent another economic collapse, protect consumers and dismantle failing institutions.

Dodd's 1,100 page-draft would strip the Federal Reserve and other regulators of their powers to regulate banks and hand that job to a single agency. The bill also would take away the Fed's ability to monitor credit cards and mortgages and establish a new "Consumer Financial Protection Agency."


The raw power grab continues. Chris “Countrywide” Dodd wants MORE regulation, BIGGER government. That always solves the problem according to the left. Hell, take all the banks, brokerages and what little manufacturing is left and just nationalize it all. The government is SO honest, SO efficient, SO free from the corruption and greed that plagues private enterprise. Grab it all Uncle Sam.

Chris "Countrywide" Dodd and Barney did such a fine job regulating Fannie and Freddie, hell, give them MORE powers. It could only have a beneficial result.
Dear Pam, San Pedro, California,

I'm sorry you were disappointed in President Obama's reaction to the tragedy at Ft. Hood.  What a better leader he would be, however, if he acted to get us OUT of this unwinable war and stop the tragedy of the killing of our service men & women altogether regardless of the country in which they are killed.
More hypocrisy from the close-minded ideologue!! Keep talking, Carrie; those like you only help those of us that truly believe in equal rights under the law!!

"Former Miss California Carrie Prejean on Tuesday defended a recently surfaced erotic video of her as a youthful indiscretion and questioned whether it could actually be called a “sex tape” since no one else appears in it."

Sit down!!

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/33823079/ns/today-today_people/?GT1=43001
That Olympia, she lets her fuzzy hair down, and oh-la-la, she is my soulmate.
Pam - get over yourself.  It's not about you.  
What a moving ceremony at Ft. Hood.  The speakers and chaplains gave tribute and comfort.  The President's remarks were somber and emotional naming each person with a brief summary of each life; he spoke to those present and to the Nation.  The rendition of Amazing Grace was beautiful; taps sounded the finality of it all.

Today is not the day for partisan bickering nor is it a day to demand more from President Obama; he visited with the families of the fallen before the ceremony and he will be going to the hospitals to visit the injured after; he was where he needed to be.  It is selfish to think that in the chaotic aftermath of the Ft Hood tragedy when the mililtary leaders and troops were in the midst of the crisis, when information available to the WH was as sketchy as it was on the TV screen that the President should have said more, his remarks on that terrible day were appropriate for the circumstances.  This isn't about what each of us thinks is important to hear, it is about what the troops and the families at Ft. Hood needed to hear from President Obama today.

Clinton has a sense of humor--he probably meant that democrats should follow Snowe into the building; he knew the media would run as fast as possible to report his comment and the media fell for it.  My guess is that he's telling blue dogs to get off the dime and quit stalling; he's reminding them that voting against HCR will mean they won't have a job come their next election; he told them voters are tired of Congress doing nothing except bicker; and he told them to vote for cloture so that legislation can be voted on with a majority of 51; and I hope he took Lieberman to the verbal wood shed for a reality check.



 
Dumb and Dumber

Speaker Pelosi did some great work getting this bill through the House. I heard her for months and months promising that there would be a bill with a public option, but I wasn't so sure it would happen.

She's a no-nonsense, hard as nails smart Speaker. The progressives/liberals worked so hard all summer to get the message that we wanted a pubic option.

But it was Nancy Pelosi who delivered. So the Democrats have her. The GOP have the teabaggers, Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck, John Boehner, Michale Steele, Mitch McConnell and the rest of the idiots up on the Hill and in the media.

Funny isn't it how Senator Lieberman goes on Fox Propaganda this past weekend, but refuses to go on Rachel's program. And that's because he's selling out to the insurance industry in his state.

How can anyone in our government sit there with a straight face and lie about such a critical piece of legislation? I hope we've seen the last of him when he comes up for re-election.

U.S. Senate Homeland Security Committe which Lieberman heads. And he says this attack in Texas was a terrorist attack.

How does he know? Does he know this for a fact? Does he have all the evidence to support such a statement?

I doubt it.

Has anyone noticed that Americans are selling out to Murdock and his anti-American statements and have been for years? It happens every single day, just so they can get a paycheck by working on Fox Propaganda. The biggest sell-outs in this country.

They're more concerned with pleasing their Aussie boss than they are with the direction this country is heading. They will let go what Murdock said about the president. Which was about as low as anyone can get for someone in such a position. Just goes to show you money can't buy you class or integrity. It rarely does.

According to reports out today, it looks like all the ex-GWB Administration buddies are going to be making quite a handsome profit in Iraq.
However, what I expected last Thursday, as his predecessors did so eloquently when tragedy struck during their presidencies, was for the President of the United States to address the nation!! He didn't!!

Pam, San Pedro, California (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 2:43 PM)

---

Ah, actually he did.  He made a statement, he just didn't bring the country to a halt to do so.  Lighten up francis!
John Clavis, put the kool-aid down. Walk away from the Fox TV and turn your radio off the Druggie Limpballs show. Hey John, Guess who owns the media: Rupert Murdock and Roger Ailes. They are the 2 biggest repuke backers in the world. You have a whole network that attacks liberals, democrats, and the president every moment of every day. Please name one network that attacks and belittles the republican party, the same way Fox News does. Guess what there repuke slappy, if you do not approve of said show does not make it liberal network. Quit listening to the voices in your head. It is just AM hate radio that tells you lies and who to hate. The ignorance you spout is only topped by how easily manipulated you are. I have to laugh at your ignorance but cry at your stupidity. Notice John Clavis has no facts, no information, and no clue. It is sad that people like John repeat lies they are told to repeat and the sad part is, he thinks he is speaking the truth.
OPINION IS NOT FACT EXCEPT IN REBUBLICAN WORLD
NINETY PER CENT of our 'inter generational debt' from 1776 to 2008 was generated by the 'Three Stooges of National Debt' Ronald Reagan, George Bush and Baby Bush

How do you explain that the last three Republican ran up such COLOSSAL DEBTS ??
What does that say about Republicans ?
What does that say about 'Conservatism' ??

don't confuse the faux conservatives here with facts..they can't stand any information not passed to them from dittohead rush or faux news for idiots.

It is also an irony of ironies that the people most hurt by republican policies are republican voters too dumb to know better.
Decent competition is in short supply around here!
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 3:16 PM)


Don't flatter yourself. MSNBC just won't print anti-Obama insults and schoolyard names for Democrats let alone the racist remarks many Obama supporters make. Last time I checked Caucasian was still a race.

Give it a rest Feisty Redhead, your windbag 2 cents on everything is like a broken record. We know everything is George Bush's fault. OK!
Pam from San Pedro, I disagree, President Obama, exudes dignity and respect in my book.  I can't think of another politician that is so sincere in his speech and actions.  With President Obama, you get what you see, no fake in him. A President of the United States,  can't be all things to all people.  The 65 million votes he received are good for 4 years, he has done nothing to discredit himself and he has the right attitude for the job.  I support him and will continue to hope and pray that our country through his leadership continues its upward spiral to full economic recovery.  
I'm wondering how many people, both Lib and Rep, Anita has run off this blog with her foul-mouthed B.S. and stupidity.
The liberals whine: "Obama can't fix everything, he has only been in office for X months!". It was 9 months, soon it will be 10, 11, 12, you get the picture.

People aren't asking that Obama solve every problem. They are asking that he solve 1 problem. And not make as many new problems as he has.
Do any of you Repukes care to discuss this? This is absolutely shameful - I guess Republicans don't support our troops?  
Saint Dick, Dallas, TX


Democrats get so angry when you disagree with them. Wipe the spittle from your chin SD, it makes you look looney.
Both Sides Now (Sent Monday, November 09, 2009 5:03 PM)
______________

Is that you Dick?
______________

shut up, red (Sent Monday, November 09, 2009 6:01 PM)
______________

Some one needs to take a long hard look in the mirror…

If it’s possible that you can actually start practicing what you’re not so eloquently ‘preaching’… then you might have an ounce of credibility!  

Until then… eh… not so much!

Thanks for playing though!  

You make OUR jobs so much easier when WE don’t have to point out the Repubiklan hypocrisy!

Sounds like you two could use a *hug*!!! Perhaps a nice cup of hot tea would help?  No?  lol lol lol
Please restore the Soviet Union and lets REBUILD the Berlin Wall. We need gutless presidents like Obama to apologize for America and fear our enemies. The world was so much better under Jimmy Carter, please bring back those good ol days Barack.  

Groundskeeper Willie’s enemy Seamus (Sent Tuesday, November 10, 2009 2:58 PM)

NEWSFLASH:  The Soviet Union was falling on its own; I have never, and will never, credit Ronald Reagan for it!!

Bill told the Senators: "We are winning!" But I guess that "winning" part Bill is talking about depends on the meaning of the word "are".


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