Jack & Jill Politics

'First Granny' Marian Robinson To Join Family In White House: Confirmed

I was wondering about this the other day.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/09/first-...

rikyrah: Well, THIS case took a long enough time to get to the SUPREME COURT:

Court will hear reverse discrimination case (January 11, 2009 )

The Supreme Court on Friday stepped into a reverse discrimination lawsuit over a city’s decision to scrap a promotion exam for firefighters because too few minorities scored high enough to move up in rank.

Nineteen white firefighters and one Hispanic firefighter sued New Haven, Conn., in 2004. They said they would have been promoted if the city hadn’t thrown out the results of two tests for lieutenant and captain because minorities generally did poorly on the exams.

New Haven officials claimed the exams were unfair to minority firefighters and the city faced potential discrimination lawsuits if it went ahead with the promotions.

Scores on the exams indicated that no blacks would be promoted. Fourteen of the top 15 candidates for lieutenant and captain were white, based on scores.

A trial judge dismissed the lawsuit and a three-judge panel of the New York-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal. But then six judges on the appeals court issued an unusual opinion asking the Supreme Court to take the case.

It will be argued in April.

The consolidated cases are Ricci v. DeStefano, 07-1428, and Ricci v. DeStefano, 08-328.
I don't know anything about "firefighter exams", BUT, I would "axe" "WHYCOME" ALL candidates are NOT equally prepared for the exam via some prep course??[Like SAT prep courses, for example.] OR, is that done?

Just askin'. . . . . .

Important Principles Behind Burris Seating
by State Rep Mark Cohen Dem PA [Subscribe]
Sat Jan 10, 2009 at 09:07:37 PM PST

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/1/11/0737/46...

rikyrah: VOTE TALLY: 62% YES ABSOLUTELY. 20% no absolutely.

Thanks for this information. :>) :>) I like INTERACTIVE posts. :>)

Obama Forgot To Ask For Money In Today’s Email

LOL.

Damn pumas won't pay for Hillary. Eighteen million.


Yeah, right.

My poor Panthers. The only thing soothing my pain is this tall cup of Patron Margarita on ice. :-( My liver is going to hate me. tee hee

Aww...Just behave. mmmkkk!

So sorry, carolinagirl. 33-13! :-((

And speaking of liver, here's ne of my favorites lines from Normie on "Cheers"

Woody: "Hey, Mr. Peterson, Jack Frost nipping at your nose?"
Norm: "Yeah, now let's get Joe Beer nipping at my liver."

HA!

/Chris Matthews

Seriously, though. That was a good line. LOL.

rikyrah: A WORD on Vice-President-Elect Biden:

Biden Arrives in Afghanistan to Discuss the War

KABUL, Afghanistan — Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. landed here on Saturday for talks with American and Afghan leaders about the war, which the incoming Obama administration has promised to make a priority.

Mr. Biden and Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, met Gen. David D. McKiernan, the top commander here, and William B. Wood, the American ambassador, before a visit with American troops. They met later with President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan.

“Thank you, I mean it sincerely,” a statement from the international security force in Afghanistan quoted Mr. Biden as saying to American troops. “It’s a big, big deal what you’re doing here.”

Mr. Biden’s visit to Kabul, the Afghan capital, followed a stopover in Islamabad, Pakistan, where he met with President Asif Ali Zardari and other top Pakistani officials.

Together, Afghanistan and Pakistan are certain to pose some of the toughest foreign policy choices for the incoming administration. The security situation in Afghanistan has markedly deteriorated because of the resurgent Taliban movement, which was removed from power here in the American invasion in 2001. In Pakistan, a nuclear-armed country, an array of increasingly lethal Islamist movements have begun to threaten the state itself.

Neither Mr. Biden nor President-elect Barack Obama has spelled out precisely how he intends to deal with Afghanistan, but both have said that the war effort suffered when resources were diverted to Iraq.

[NOTE: THIS is the part that I was going to comment on. (Sorry 'bout the grammar) :>)]

At the request of General McKiernan, the Bush administration already has decided to send more than 20,000 additional troops, who will arrive over the course of 2009. The new troops, plus an additional combat brigade that has just begun to arrive, will join the roughly 68,000 troops already on the ground, of which about 32,000 are American.

Last year, 294 servicemen and women were killed in Afghanistan, making it the deadliest year here since the war began. Of those, 155 were Americans, which also was the highest total of the war. Five American soldiers were killed in bomb attacks here on Thursday and Friday.

Before departing, Mr. Biden shook hands with General McKiernan and said, “I’m looking forward to working with you.”

Mr. President-Elect Obama WILL B ready with a RESPONSE/PLAN on DAY 1- - January 20, 2009 about this situation., BECAUSE HE PLANS!!! :>)

MR. PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA! LEADERSHIP!!

rikyrah: More INAUGURATION DAY PLANS:

Obama Will Eat Like Lincoln on Inauguration Day

January 10, 2009 11:41 AM

On Inauguration Day, not only will President-elect Obama be sworn in using the Bible that was used to swear in President Abraham Lincoln, he will dine like Lincoln as well.

The luncheon that will be served in Congress's Statuary Hall to the president-elect and vice president-elect and their families -- as well as congressional leaders, justices of the Supreme Court and pending members of the Obama Cabinet -- will be modeled after foods that Lincoln ate and enjoyed.

The first course will even be served on replicas of the china picked out by then-first lady Mary Todd Lincoln at the beginning of her husband's term in office.

The luncheon is being put together by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, which has chosen as its theme "A New Birth of Freedom," celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of President Abraham Lincoln on Feb. 12.

Mr. Obama has often invoked Mr. Lincoln on the campaign trail, from his candidacy announcement in Springfield, Ill., where Lincoln once toiled as a state legislator, to the 16th president's "team of rivals" in his Cabinet, which Mr. Obama has replicated by putting three former Democratic presidential primary opponents in his, to his pick of Bible for the swearing-in.

On the Saturday before his inauguration, Mr. Obama will also travel by train to Washington, D.C., starting in the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia, where that other lanky Illinoisan spoke while traveling from Springfield, Ill., in 1861. On the Sunday before his swearing-in, Mr. Obama will hold a rally at the Lincoln Memorial.

Lincoln-y enough for ya?

The luncheon's appetizer will be seafood stew in puff pastry -- scallops, shrimp, lobster -- served as a nod to the 16th president's love of stewed and scalloped oysters.

The main course -- duck breast with sour-cherry chutney and herb-roasted pheasant served with molasses sweet potatoes and winter vegetables -- is a nod to the root vegetables and wild game that Mr. Lincoln favored growing up on the frontier in Kentucky and Indiana.

The apple cinnamon sponge cake dessert is a nod to Mr. Lincoln's love of apples and apple cake.

The full menu was released by the Inaugural Committee on Friday, which also released the recipes for the meals should one want to try them at home.

Design Cuisine, is the Arlington, Va., caterer hired to create the meals for the Inaugural Luncheon.

BON APETITE! to all!! :>) :>)

Ok, Im salivating..........YUMMY!

spirit: Me 2! :>)

Rikyrah: Could you please use the pic of President Obama holding the pretty little black girl in the pink sweater for the open thread tomorrow?

Here it is again. If you scroll down to the end you'll see the video of it
too.

http://community.livejournal.com/obama_daily/16...

Found the pic. Won't be in the Open Thread tomorrow. But, probably Monday

Sorry, I stepped away from the computer for a while. He took it today at the chili place in D.C. I saw it on icebergslim's blog. That baby was so cute.

Please point me in the direction of the picture. When did this happen? Where did you see it?

I spent the afternoon at a community center with 5 of the 8th graders that I mentor.

They'e 13 year old Black girls who attend a school where if they don't make it there, they'll either end up preggers, jail, or dead. They call it the "school of last resort." I hate that term!

I took a stack of various magazine, supplies of glue, poster boards, crayons, pens, notepads and markers.We made dream collages.

We began the activity with 30 minutes of quiet reflection. I asked them what they wanted to create in their lives for the new year. What are their goals, wishes,desires. write them down. They were asked not to place any limitatons as to what they wanted, just let it flow.

Then I asked them to pick and cut out magazine images and written captions that spoke to them and place them on the poster board.

It's enery to note the shift in energy of the room as they began the activity. There was total silence, as they scanned the magazines, cut, glued, drew, wrote, and dreamed!

The girls were excited about the project , and when they were through, they couldn't wait to share it with each other. They had such pride and I sensed the sacredness of the moment.

One girl's collage had a picture of a nuclear family standing in front of the family car in a nice clean, green neighborhood. Off to the side of the family was a picture of a black girl in a graduation cap and gown.

Another girl had a picture of Stanford College, Harvard, and Spelman. On the bottom she had a picture of a shiney black BMW! In the middle of the poster she had books of every genre.

And another had picture of a black women in a suit sitting behind desk; and there were pics of airline travel and destinations afar. They all were given the opportunity to talk about their goals and dreams.

It was important for them to give voice to them too. We all said we'd hold the vision of the dreams with each other and we discussed why it is impotant to be careful with whom we share our dreams. I thnk this is a wonderful way to serve our youth. It cost pennies, and it is priceless when it comes to helping our Black youth to dream big and manifest the life they want and deserve.

Thanks for letting me share.

Spirit,

That is so inspiring! So many of our kids need someone like you to help them dream. In order to reach a goal...it starts with a dream!

spirit: Applause

WHAT a GREAT COMMUNITY SERVICE YOU perform!! :>)

Those students are truly BLESSED!! :>)

We Are Blessed (Mighty Clouds Of Joy)

God Bless YOU as YOU continue in this endeavor! :>)

Thank YOU for sharing.

Also, thank YOU for being there for them. Our children need you.

I don't have words to express the pure "preciousness" of that moment. I appreciate your endeavor to help these girls expand their expectations of themselves. Many Blessings!

Thanks Y'all I'ts It's a gift to serve in this way.

Letting them show you their dreams allowed them to dream.

And we all know what can happen when we start with a dream.

Thank you and I hold a vision of those girls achieving their dreams.

Well said!

rikyrah: By looking at HIS SCHEDULE, we can see that HE works on the WEEKENDS 2. THIS is an EXAMPLE for the REQUEST that he made of CONGRESS - - -WEEKENDS 2!! :>)

Saturday Jan. 10, 2009

All Times Eastern7:00 AM
8:00 AM

Obama gives his weekly radio address.

FULL STORY
9:00 AM
10:00 AM
11:00 AM
11:40 AM

Obama films an interview segment with George Stephanopoulos, to be aired Sunday.
12:00 PM
12:55 PM

Obama and Washington, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty arrive for lunch at the 50-year-old Washington fast food institution, Ben's Chili Bowl.
1:00 PM
2:00 PM
3:00 PM
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
6:00 PM
7:00 PM
7:12 PM

Barack, Michelle, Malia and Sasha Obama visit the Lincoln Memorial. They climb the steps, go inside, and enter the monument's underground exhibit.

He WORKS!! :>)

rikyrah: COMPLETING THE CIRCLE:

Another Lincoln Moment for Obama

Barack Obama set out on the path to the White House by announcing his candidacy on the steps of the statehouse in Springfield, Ill., the first of many allusions to Abraham Lincoln during his campaign and transition to the presidency.

On Saturday, he again connected with Lincoln’s legacy, this time stopping by the Lincoln Memorial with his wife and two daughters, to the surprise of tourists and the small pool of reporters who have been trailing him.

Mr. Obama has been largely hunkered down with his family in the Hay-Adams hotel or in his transition office, but twice on Saturday ventured out into cold, damp Washington. Earlier in the day, he had stopped by Ben’s Chili Bowl for a half-smoke with Washington’s mayor, Adrian Fenty, before taping an interview with George Stephanopoulos. He then returned to the hotel.

At 7:03 p.m., according to the pool report, the Obamas left the Hay-Adams and got into their motorcade for a short ride to the Lincoln Memorial. The family climbed the steps of the monument and at one point Mr. Obama seemed to pause in front of Lincoln’s statue, the report said.

The family then ducked into the monument’s underground exhibit and, after 25 minutes of touring, got back into their cars and went back to the hotel for the night.

Though Mr. Obama’s presence in Washington has closed roads and blocked off parking spots, the visit did not appear to disturb the monument’s operations.

Mr. Obama, who like Lincoln represented Illinois, has been drawing parallels between himself and the 16th president throughout the campaign, and even more so since elected. When he takes the oath of office in 10 days, he will re-enter Washington by the same route that Lincoln came to town for his inauguration in 1861, by train from Philadelphia. And he will take his oath on the same Bible that Lincoln used.

And it’s clear that Mr. Obama was a fan of Doris Kearns Goodwin’s account of Lincoln’s election and the assembly of his cabinet, “Team of Rivals.” He picked formal rivals as his running mate and secretary of state and has created a Cabinet that includes some idelological cross-currents.

This GESTURE is so VERY TOUCHING!! ***tears***

I can imagine their thoughts as they COMPLETED THAT "ELECTION" CIRCLE!

GOD BLESS THEM! :>)

Grenlady, this post is soooo touching. I appreciate how it captures the importance of the symbology of Lincoln for PEO & America and the completion of cycles.

spirit: Ya know sometimes [IMHO] it is important to rest one's brain in contemplative thought! Just so CALMING! :>)

That's what THIS article does 4 me. :>) :>)

Spirit & Carolinagirl,

Y'all know I'm only kidding!

(Hugs)

rikyrah: ***pant. . . .pant*** *** thomp. . . . thomp*** ***pound. . pound***

***YES . . . ...YES*** ****swipe***

Those are the sounds of me RUNNING BACK TO THE STORE TO RETRIEVE THAT BALL GOWN! :>) :>)

O.K.! O.K! ***calmly placing it into a frame***

I received my COMMEMORATIVE ANNOUNCEMENT 2- day!! :>) :>)

***click. . click. . click. . .*** Those of the sounds of me TEXTING Mr. President-Elect Obama on his BLACKBERRY to let him/family that I will be there! :>) :>)

On THE REAL: I will NOT be attending. :>) :>) BUT I truly appreciate [unexpectedly] the COMMEMORATIVE. :>) :>)

Annnnnd, I will be sending an e-mail to the Inauguration Committee to THANK THEM for this COMMEMORATIVE/HISTORICAL DOCUMENT. :>) :>)

Mr. PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA! LEADERSHIP!!

Yeah!!!!!! Congrats Greenlady. You know you gonna be representin. :-)))))

spirit: Thank you. BUT, I'll be sittin in front of my TV - - "yellin' and cryin'" :>) :>)

You'll still be representin!!!! :-0

spirit: Best I can!! :>) :>)

Me too. I'll have to record it so I can watch it again & again! Yay!

Justice58: Sooooo, we'll share that "JJP-POPCORN" and "GREEN TEA" 4 sure!! :>) :>)

Congrats on your invitation!


I wanna go.........

Waaaaaahhhhhhhhh.....

Justice58: Ohhhhh! IFFF I thought that this document could getcha in, I'd send it 2 ya! Sorry. :>)

BUT, the consolation prize is to get the "JJP-POPCORN" annnnd the "GREEN TEA" and the "remote control" and a comfortable chair, 'cause it's gonna B A Loooooong "SPECIAL DAY!" :>) :>)

We've Come This Far By Faith (Auburn University Gospel Choir)

ENJOY!!! :>) :>) God Bless!

Thanks, GreenLady!

It was good!

Never-Before-Seen 1996 Interview With Obamas About Their Marriage

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/01...

Its also on the huffington post

Thanks so much. What I love is the consistency about them.

I just saw this on abcnews.com. This is a wonderful interview. So inspiring.

dont they make you wanna hate on them lol. if you saw them in the mall and you were sitting down at the food court and they walked by, youd be like mm i bet hes got a white girl, or mm i her hair aint real lol. but in all seriousness i see the love they have for each other and only hope to have something that strong. remind me of my parents. its what we need strong black couples going out into the community and working for us

Black.Love.Is.A. Beautiful.Thing.

oz: MAJOR CO-SIGN on your sentiments about "strong Black couples. . "

LMAO!!! You know you wrong!! LOL!!!!

But yes, I look at them and I see HOPE....all the negativity about black men and women, all the negative images about black love (or lack thereof).....it swells the heart just to finally see the exact opposite of those images right out front and center stage. Their relationship lifts us all up.

i was just reading this on another site. its incredible how much they love each other and support each other. its incredible and how marriages ought to be.

I think I got an invitation to the inauguration. This was totally unexpected.

Micheline: CONGRATULATIONS! Isn't IT LOVELY!! :>)

I got one (a commemorative version), and I'm not going to lie, I totally geeked out about it. I'm definitely keeping it!

KAT: Co-sign on the "geeked out!" :>) :>) CONGRATULATIONS!.

Ok, I'm jealous. :)

Micheline, is it an actual invitation or a commemorative?

Either one is a gift; congrats!

Did it come in a very large envelope with a return address from The Presidential Inaugural Committee?

If so, it is a COMMEMORATIVE invitation.

It is beautiful enough to frame.

You gave enough volunteer hours or money to be a recipient of the invitation.

It will not get you into anything...but it will bring you must pleasure to look upon in the years ahead.

How many volunteer hours did you have to give in order to get one?

It sounds like it's commemorative because I did not request for one and yesI gave enough volunteer hours. I will probably frame it because it's probably the best way to preserve it. All my Obama memorabilia are now in storage. I want to save them for the next generation.

I'm looking for storage containers for my Obama momentos. Can you recommend anything Micheline?

Here's a fabric storage information pdf. to download or you can google "archival fabric storage"

www.mohistory.org/img/unCommonThreadsSite/prese...

Bottom line: plastic bags will cause fabric stress and mold.

I'm so very glad you are preserving these treasures.

Thanks Liz!

Glad to help.

Well right now I have vacuum sealed the t-shirts and other mementos and place them in containers. I'll probably should store them in a place that has climate control.

yall read Bill Cosby slam sean hannity? its on politico ill post the article

Yep....Cos will be on MTP tomorrow...should be interesting.

Me either, he and Dr. Alvin P.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vQ7wQ80Aik

Barack at Ben's Chili Bowl in DC

GO RAVENS!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-))))

The Ravens defense is da TRUTH.

You aint neva lied! AZ Cards are whooping the Carolina Panthers

WTF is up with my Panthers???????!!!!! Ugh!! We look like the Cowboys.

oh dear lord, a trojan condoms commercial

OMG....Delhomme just threw ANOTHER interception...WOW

Saw that! shakin my head. carolnagirl........SORRY

Me too. He looking pretty sad too.

How bout it was his birthday...what a bad birthday he had! oh well!

We look like the Cowboys.


**Gasp** Humpf....And your point is....):

Justice58 you know I got love for you, but NOT for the Cowboys. Hell to nawl.

Look at her yall...

She's so cold!

lol

(hugs ....Carolinagirl)

Ha! Justice58, where you at? Panthers are mimicking your Cowboys!

It's 1/2 time. They're getting their asses chewed out in the locker room now.

Hey,

YALL STOP TALKING BOUT MY COWBOYS...RIGHT.THIS.MINUTE...):

Ha,ha! Ok. I'll stop. You know the RAVENS ARE AFC CAHMPS, right.? >>>>smile<<<<

I see you, Spirit! lol

Dang, Arizona is killing the Panthers!

Yeah, this ain't pretty at ALL......where is Steve Smith? May be time for Delhomme to hang up the cleats.

Whenever they show him on camera....he looks so sad!

The Cards beating the Panthers like a rug...in the Panthers HOUSE.

Well Baltimore, you may have a mayor going to the pokey but the Ravens are in the AFC Championship game!!