Jack & Jill Politics

Opps. sorry

rikyrah: PRESENTING the ONE MAN - "ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE!":

Publishers bet big on 'Obama as hero'

The publishing industry is betting on Barack Obama like no president in decades. Since Election Day alone, more than half a dozen book deals have been signed to exploit Obamania.

Two dozen books in the works range from the serious to the silly. There are retrospective ticktocks on how Obama won office and prospective looks at his first year in the White House. There is a biography on Obama’s father, a compilation of essays on Obama and race, and others tilting toward the celebratory with photographic montages. There are children’s books, of course, and a style guide on Michelle Obama, framing the down-to-earth future first lady as a latter-day Jackie Onassis.

With few exceptions, the books share a tone of celebration and optimism, and a view of Obama as hero. To borrow from the president-elect, perhaps some hope-mongering is afoot. In contrast, President George W. Bush, who reportedly is having difficulty finding a publisher for a book he hopes to write, has been savaged in many recent tomes.

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“No matter what the state of the book industry, or the state of the economy, the idea of the new African American president coming into office is exciting,” said Duggan, who is editing a retrospective on the 2008 campaign by reporters John Heilemann and Mark Halperin.

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The book world’s interest in Obama is just part of a larger Obama industry.

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“There was a period of time when everybody wanted to read everything that was an indictment of Bush, and an indictment of Iraq,” said Ross, the literary agent. “Today it's the opposite narrative. We're betting on the potential of Obama as hero.”

President-Elect Obama! :>) LARGE and IN CHARGE! :>)

rikyrah: Welll, I went on a "Field Trip" to ALASKA and MUDFLATS is continuing to "PLAY WITH" the UN-VETTED ONE:

The Governor of Alaska and the Queen of Georgia.

Tomorrow, Sarah Palin will fly to Georgia to use her influence on behalf of Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss. She will appear at four campaign rallies speaking to thousands of voters on his behalf. The run-off election between Chambliss and his Democratic challenger Jim Martin has become an epic struggle, the outcome of which may decide whether Democrats walk away from this election with a filibuster-proof 60-seat majority in the Senate.

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But, as political candidates, and strategists, and voters often do, we get deep into that dark forest of strategy and we no longer look at the trees. To many, Chambliss is a political pawn in this Senatorial chess game, who has suddenly made it to the other side of the board, and now has all the significance and power of a Queen. To others, including Max Cleland, the man who ran against him last time, he is more than that.

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I have no doubt that our Governor is proud of her son Track, who recently enlisted in the army. She wears her blue star pin, and I’m sure there’s not a day that goes by that she doesn’t wonder about his welfare, and worry about his safety as all mothers would worry about the welfare of the child that first made them a parent. She thinks about the military differently than she used to, because she now has very precious “skin in the game.” So, I wonder. I wonder how it is that she, and so many others including John McCain who have a personal narrative that is touched by war and conflict, can stand next to Saxby Chambliss and see him as nothing but the shiny new Queen in the chess game.

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And while America prepares to witness the most historic Presidential inauguration of our lifetime, and children of every color look at their TV screen at our new first family and think, “Yes, I can” maybe for the first time, we hear again from Senator Chambliss. Here’s what he said about the neck-and-neck race that brought about this run-off election.

“There was a high percentage of minority vote,” Chambliss told Alan Colmes on Fox a couple weeks ago, “but we weren’t able to get enough of our folks out on election day.”

“WE weren’t able to get enough of OUR folks out on election day.” Who is “we”? Who are “our folks”?

During the fall Senate campaign, Chambliss cautioned his followers that “the other folks” are voting. The senator added that the “rush to the polls by African-Americans” has “got our side energized early, they see what is happening.”

In Chambliss’ world it is “our side” vs. the African-Americans. Our folks vs. the minority vote. I am tired of Chambliss’ world. I am tired of racially divisive politics and the words that keep it alive. It was Gandhi who said, “Words become our deeds.” This country has had enough of those words, and those deeds. And this country has had enough of those who support them. This is not a chess game.

Notice how EASILY the "UVO" can SUPPORT someone with RACIST STATEMENTS/THOUGHTS/DEEDS!

Oh! Wait. . . . . . . . . THAT'S WHAT SHE DID TOO!! **sa - lap my forehead**

GreenLadyHere,so, the GOP is using this bitch to go whip up the crazy bigots in Gerogia. They'll never learn.

The GOP is using the F out of Palin! I'm sure there is much snickering behind her back because she'll do anything to get attention.
Dumb b%#%#!

spirit: LOL! :>) To use a phrase that I heard in some reporting - - -

"There is NOT MUCH DAYLIGHT BETWEEN THEM!!" :>) :>)

I'm just sayin' . . . . . . :>)

Obama to nominate Clinton secretary of state Monday- SAY IT AIN'T SO!!!!!

Print By BETH FOUHY, Associated Press Writer Beth Fouhy, Associated Press Writer – 21 mins ago

Democratic officials say President-elect Barack Obama will nominate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to be his secretary of state on Monday.

Obama plans to announce the New York senator as part of his national security team at a press conference in Chicago, the officials said Saturday. They requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly for the transition team.

To clear the way for his wife's nomination, former President Bill Clinton has agreed to disclose the names of every contributor to his foundation. He'll also refuse contributions from foreign governments to the Clinton Global Initiative, his annual charitable conference, and will cease holding C-G-I meetings overseas.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081130/ap_on_go_pr...

If President-elect Obama names Hillary Clinton SoS, it will be an act of tremendous irresponsibility on his part. Irresponsible to the country and to the world to name her to this post.

She is not only unqualified for this position, she has publicly demonstrated that she is ill-qualified: she almost automatically escalates drama where this position should be able to de-escalate when needed, she lies just for her own ego and power desire, and she is not competent to get things done (see: her health care efforts) or manage others (see: her campaign for president).

She will be a danger to this nation and to the world in such a position.

"He must have a reason" will not cut it for me if this information about naming her SoS is true. It would be an act of serious irresponsibility on PE Obama's part if he names such a person to this post.

Luckily for all of them, I have no power and the ones in these high positions will always and forever do whatever they choose to do because .... they have the actual power to do that. This has not changed.

Is this AZ Michelle or a different Michelle?

Craig: The first one.

Okay. I thought so, but I wanted to be sure.

When news of this first leaked, I thought you said something about it that was less hardline.

I agree with this version wholeheartedly.

It's now official and I could throw up.

Barack is making a grave error, unless he knows that she won't be confirmed and he's setting the Clintons off to hang themselves for the world to see. But it still won't reflect well on him.

Craig, I've had something of a shift in perspective overall in the last week or so, so am not surprised if I am more hardline now.

You'll probably see it in the other thread, but I just posted again there about the nomination, and this is what I said:

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I predict she will be confirmed.

I predict she will cause harm in this position.

I hope my predictions are wrong but that is the most likely path I see from here.

I say this because:

I am tired of seeing people all over the place looking for excuses that can explain what I now see as the fact that President-elect Obama has made a huge ugly mistake.

The ongoing dynamic of "this feels so wrong to me but I will reject that sense of what is going on, over and over, because of course PE Obama must know something I don't or must have plans to make this right" is starting to frighten me.

A people (collectively) who respond to wrongness from a leader by trying to find excuses for that wrongness may well be sacrificing their respect for their own sense of what is okay and not-okay.

It doesn't matter who is in charge -- that kind of functional "rule by disorientation" is terrifying to me.

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CPL, WHERE ARE YOU??? Can we have another thread on BILLARY, please?

Please God, Not Hillary!

She will be answering ALL the midnight calls!
Afraid NOT!

Hillary at State? All I can say is #$#$#!

All I can say is why? Please somebody, please tell me why .

I'll never believe it until I hear it directly from President-elect Obama's lips!

New Yok Times
Bill Clinton Is Said to Agree to Release Names of Donors
By PETER BAKER
Published: November 29, 2008

CHICAGO — Former President Bill Clinton has agreed to publicly disclose the names of more than 200,000 donors to his foundation as part of an accord with President-elect Barack Obama clearing the way for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton to become secretary of state, Democrats close to both sides said Saturday.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/washington/30...

well, well, well

Pastor Who Pushed 'God' in Pledge Dies

ALEXANDRIA, Pa. (Nov. 29) - A church official says the clergyman credited with helping to push Congress to insert the phrase "under God" into the Pledge of Allegiance has died in Alexandria, Pa. The Rev. George M. Docherty was 97.

Nancy Taylor, historian for the Huntingdon Presbyterian Church, says Docherty died on Thanksgiving at his home in Alexandria, with his wife, Sue, by his side.
Docherty delivered a sermon saying the pledge should acknowledge God in 1952 at Washington's New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, just blocks from the White House.

On Feb. 7, 1954, he delivered it again after learning that President Dwight Eisenhower would be at the church.

Congress inserted the words a few months later.

rikyrah: SHRUB is AT IT, AGAIN:

Bush Aides Rush to Enact a Safety Rule Obama Opposes

WASHINGTON — The Labor Department is racing to complete a new rule, strenuously opposed by President-elect Barack Obama, that would make it much harder for the government to regulate toxic substances and hazardous chemicals to which workers are exposed on the job.

The rule, which has strong support from business groups, says that in assessing the risk from a particular substance, federal agencies should gather and analyze “industry-by-industry evidence” of employees’ exposure to it during their working lives. The proposal would, in many cases, add a step to the lengthy process of developing standards to protect workers’ health.

Public health officials and labor unions said the rule would delay needed protections for workers, resulting in additional deaths and illnesses.

With the economy tumbling and American troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, President Bush has promised to cooperate with Mr. Obama to make the transition “as smooth as possible.” But that has not stopped his administration from trying, in its final days, to cement in place a diverse array of new regulations.

The Labor Department proposal is one of about 20 highly contentious rules the Bush administration is planning to issue in its final weeks. The rules deal with issues as diverse as abortion, auto safety and the environment. One rule would make it easier to build power plants near national parks and wilderness areas. Another would reduce the role of federal wildlife scientists in deciding whether dams, highways and other projects pose a threat to endangered species.

Mr. Obama and his advisers have already signaled their wariness of last-minute efforts by the Bush administration to embed its policies into the Code of Federal Regulations, a collection of rules having the force of law. The advisers have also said that Mr. Obama plans to look at a number of executive orders issued by Mr. Bush.

A new president can unilaterally reverse executive orders issued by his predecessors, as Mr. Bush and President Bill Clinton did in selected cases. But it is much more difficult for a new president to revoke or alter final regulations put in place by a predecessor. A new administration must solicit public comment and supply “a reasoned analysis” for such changes, as if it were issuing a new rule, the Supreme Court has said.

As a senator and a presidential candidate, Mr. Obama sharply criticized the regulation of workplace hazards by the Bush administration.

In September, Mr. Obama and four other senators introduced a bill that would prohibit the Labor Department from issuing the rule it is now rushing to complete. He also signed a letter urging the department to scrap the proposal, saying it would “create serious obstacles to protecting workers from health hazards on the job.”

Administration officials said such concerns were based on a misunderstanding of the proposal.

THERE IS MORE.

I'll "betcha" that President-Elect Obama utters a "WHEW! and Deep Breaths" erry once and again! :>) :>) HURRY - the NEXT 52 DAYS!! :>)

"OUT, OUT DAMN SHRUB!! [Faux-Shakespeare! :>)]

GLH, Zap this mofo outta here back to crawford. BEGONE DOGGONE IT!!!

spirit: You got that SAME spray - huh!? :>) :>)

Iowa Cafe Swamped With Orders For "Obama Cookie"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/28/iowa-c...

rikyrah: Since I cain't get there, I may try to place an order - somehow!! :>) :>)

Spending Christmas in Iowa; I'll be sure to stop in and sample some "O"cookies.

rikyrah: President-Elect Obama --The crisis in India.

Obama calls Indian prime minister

From CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney
Obama called India Prime Minister Singh Friday night.

(CNN) — President-elect Barack Obama spoke with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh late Friday night, the president-elect's transition team said.

Obama called Singh to express condolences for the victims of the recent terrorist attacks there. He also made clear there is only one U.S. president at a time, the transition team said.

Earlier Friday evening, Obama released a statement on the attacks in India.

Mr. President-Elect Obama has to "introduce himself" to people with whom HE will interact in 52 DAYS! Good for him and his wisdom in this matter! :>)

FOREIGN POLICY EXPERIENCE - ON THE INCREASE!! :>) :>)


P.S. UPDATE: Update: President Bush speaking to reporters today at 12:50 on the South Lawn, said that "Throughout the process we have kept president-elect Obama informed." Full statement here.

rikyrah: This article is a nice tribute.

Barack and Michelle: A more perfect union?
First Couple-to-be could be relationship role models for nation, experts say

It started with the fist bump seen ’round the world. Soon there were stories of rousing family Scrabble battles and date nights, in spite of election mayhem. Then President-elect Barack Obama referred to his wife Michelle as “the love of my life” during his election night victory speech, embracing her tightly and kissing her afterwards, while millions of people worldwide watched.

“They took a moment to face each other, to kiss and hold one another, regardless of the magnitude and spectacle of the night,” said Camille Washington, a Bay Area blogger on Soulbounce.com, a music and culture site. “That says a lot.”

The Obamas represent a welcome change as an openly affectionate and romantic couple for many Americans. Some experts say that the soon-to-be first couple embody the ideal healthy relationship, and that they can stir up love around the country. The New York Daily News even predicted a baby boom attributed to election night friskiness inspired by the Obamas.

“Michelle and Barack are so obviously in love it's actually helping me to believe in love again,” Washington, 25, wrote on her blog.

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“Not only does [Barack Obama] love his wife, he respects her,” said Hendricks. “The model of harmony, shared humor and easy communication that the Obamas reveal really is a new model — if ordinary citizens practiced this each day, our world would transform very quickly in positive directions.”

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Essence magazine editor Mikki Taylor saw this genuine quality in the couple as well when she interviewed the Obamas in their Chicago home for the September issue. “They talk to one another – they sit at the table and discuss what happened at school, what happened with the campaign,” she observed. “They were warm, loving and engaging.”

THERE IS MORE.

ENJOYing ALL the POSITIVE articles about this "SPECIAL FIRST FAMILY!" :>)

God Bless Them. :>)

Warren Buffet is #1 on list of top 10 American philanthropists.

The 10 Top American Givers
by Aili McConnon and Lawrence Delevingne
Thursday, November 27, 2008
provided by BUSINESSWEEK

Many of America's ultra-rich continued to give big donations to charity in 2008, despite the worst financial crisis in decades. In the past year, seven philanthropists gave north of $200 million and nine gave more than $100 million to causes ranging from wilderness preservation to fighting malaria.

Warren Buffett and Bill Gates remain far and away the biggest givers overall, but two of 12 newcomers to the list pledged to give more than $1 billion away: William Barron Hilton, co-chairman of the Hilton hotel chain who pledged late last year to give away 97% of his wealth -- some $1.7 billion -- to his family's humanitarian foundation and Peter G. Peterson, co-founder of the investment firm Blackstone Group, who gave $1 billion this year to establish a foundation that promotes fiscal responsibility. Read their stories -- and those of the 48 other philanthropists on BusinessWeek's list -- here.

http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/arti...

There's always one uncle who drank like a fish, and had bad breath; and an auntie who wore the strangest smelling perfume, but they always gave us love.

This photo of Malia reminds me so much of when I was a little girl. We'd visit our aunties and uncles and whether we wanted to or not, we were expected to greet them and let them hug and peck us on the cheek! Hee,hee! It's wonderful to see the girls experience what true service is all about!

That's exactly what this picture reminds me of....LOL