Jack & Jill Politics

rikyrah: IT'S OFFICIAL!!: :>)

Official Inauguration Poster Released By Obama Team: Exclusive

The Barack Obama Inaugural Committee is releasing an official inauguration poster playing off past themes and marking the history of January 20th in a uniquely Obama fashion.

Designed by famed street artist Shepard Fairey, the print, created especially for the 2009 Inauguration, boldly declares "BE THE CHANGE."

t is the next step in the branding of the presidency -- a development that is not unique to Obama but one that he has used better than any other politician in recent memory.

Fairey's initial design -- a guerrilla style, dark-colored portrait of the then-candidate -- proved to be a political and cultural phenomenon during the campaign. The current edition plays heavily off those themes and it seems likely to be a major symbol during the inauguration festivities. The image will be available on buttons, lapel pins, stickers and t-shirts.

The poster will officially be released tomorrow on the Inaugural Committee's online store.

Mr. President-Elect Barack Hussein Obama! Large and IN CHARGE!

rikyrah: Mr. P-EO is still in HEAVY NEGOTIATIONS!:

Obama Vows To Continue Fight To Keep Blackberry

Amid all the action leading up to Obama's inauguration it is easy to forget that there is still an issue very close to the President-Elect's heart that has yet to be resolved: that of the fate of his BlackBerry.

Speaking with CNBC Wednesday, Obama explained that he is still fighting to hold onto the device despite the sea of lawyers who have warned him against keeping it.

I'm still clinging to my BlackBerry. They're going to pry it out of my hands.[...]

I don't know that I'll win, but I'm still--I'm still fighting it. And--but here's the point I was making, I guess, is that it's not just the flow of information. I mean, I can get somebody to print out clips for me, and I can read newspapers. What it has to do with is having mechanisms where you are interacting with people who are outside of the White House in a meaningful way. And I've got to look for every opportunity to do that--ways that aren't scripted, ways that aren't controlled, ways where, you know, people aren't just complimenting you or standing up when you enter into a room, ways of staying grounded.

Isn't this just adorable? :>) :>) BUT. he is SERIOUS!! :>) :>)

rikyrah: Recently, I said that mcancient hadn't been heard from. Speak his name and here he is.

McCain Repeats Palin's Attack On Fruit Fly Research

[NOTE: Soooo, you wonder where her angst against "FRUIT FLIES" came from?]

John McCain reached back into the presidential campaign on Wednesday to pull out a scientific critique that had first been made by his running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, when she ridiculed funding for fruit fly research. In a late-October speech, Palin noted that the research was going on in "Paris, France" and added "I kid you not."

On Wednesday, McCain himself grabbed for the fruit-fly swatter at a press conference to unveil his new anti-earmark legislation.

After a long takedown of research into lobsters by the University of Maine that involves a "Lobster Cam," McCain, a Senator from Arizona, turned on the fruit flies, saying, "also, there's one in Paris that -- yes -- $212,000 for Olive Fruit Fly research in Paris, France."

During the campaign, Palin's criticism of fruit-fly research was heavily attacked by the scientific community, which argued that fruit flies, because of their brief life-spans, make up a cornerstone of scientific and medical research. In 1933, Thomas Hunt Morgan won a Nobel Prize for his work with fruit flies, which showed how genes are passed on through chromosomes. [She didn't learn this in any of those 5 colleges!]

Palin was considered at the time to have been scientifically freelancing, but McCain's comments today indicate that the objection to fruit-fly research came from the top.

The specific earmark in question was requested by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.). The money was for a lab set up by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Europe to study emerging threats from insects. "The Olive Fruit Fly has infested thousands of California olive groves and is the single largest threat to the U.S. olive and olive oil industries," said Thompson. "The research facility is located in France because Mediterranean countries like France have dealt with the Olive Fruit Fly for decades, while California has only been exposed since the 1990s."

He, apparently, didn't understand the significance of this branch of scientific research, EITHER!

***shakin' my head*** WHEW!! :>)

rikyrah: 3 more P-EO HEADLINE(s):

1. Obama Says He Will Seek to Overhaul Retiree Spending

WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama said Wednesday that overhauling Social Security and Medicare would be “a central part” of his administration’s efforts to contain federal spending, signaling for the first time that he would wade into the thorny politics of entitlement programs.

[NOTE: This is the part that I missed commenting on.]

As the Congressional Budget Office projected a record $1.2 trillion budget deficit for this year even before the costs of the nearly $800 billion economic stimulus package being taken up by the House and the Senate, Mr. Obama stepped up his effort to reassure lawmakers and the financial markets that he plans a vigorous effort to keep the government’s finances from deteriorating further.

Speaking at a news conference in Washington, he provided no details of his approach to rein in Social Security and Medicare, which are projected to consume a growing share of government spending as the baby boom generation ages into retirement over the next two decades. But he said he would have more to say about the issue when he unveiled a budget next month.

Should he follow through with a serious effort to cut back the rates of growth of the two programs, he would be opening up a potentially risky battle that neither party has shown much stomach for. The programs have proved almost sacrosanct in political terms, even as they threaten to grow so large as to be unsustainable in the long run. President Bush failed in his effort to overhaul Social Security, and Medicare only grew larger during his administration with the addition of prescription drug coverage for retirees.

Mr. Obama also promised a more intensive effort to weed inefficient and bloated programs out of the federal budget in the short run, creating a White House position to “scour this budget, line by line, eliminating what we don’t need, or what doesn’t work, and improving the things that do.” He named Nancy Killefer to the post, called chief performance officer.

THERE IS MORE.

[NOTE: This article has a lot of significant videos of today!! Good stuff! :>)]


2. Obama to Sell Stimulus in Major Economic Speech Thursday

The president-elect will deliver remarks at 11 am ET at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

He's set to make his case for urgent action on his American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan to help the ailing economy.

Plus: Obama will also hold a closed door-meeting with the Senate Finance Committee Thursday to hash out the details of his plan.

3. Obama, Kaine to Hold Presser Thursday (Wednesday, January 7th, 2009)

The president-elect is expected to meet with the newly tapped Democratic National Committee Chair Thursday in Washington, D.C.

They'll hold a media availability from the DNC offices at 3:30 pm ET.

As I've stated B4, this PRESIDENT-ELECT WORKS! ALL DAY LONG!! :>)

HE IS A - MA - ZING!! America annnnnnd the WORLD is FORTUNATE to have his LEADERSHIP!! GOD BLESS HIM!! :>)

Obama Cabinet Confirmation Hearings Schedules

C-SPAN TIVO TIME!!!

icebergslim: -Er -ummmm -uh--- What's a TIVO? :>) :>)

O.K. I've heard of them; BUT I haven't quite hit that part of the 21st Century!! :>) :>)

Oh GreenLady, you are so cute. You really should get one. I love mine and I"m not beholden to the TV when programs are on.

island550: OoooKaaay! :>) Ima try my best ta "STEP" a little further into the 21st Century! :>) :>)

T.D. Jakes is on Larry King, pimping his new movie and talking about Obama.

T.D. Jakes' performance on election night left me questioning his motives.

I just don't like the man. At all.

What did he do?

He kept praising McCain and suggesting that he would do better than anyone thought, and everytime he said it, the host announced a major state going to Barack.

First Pennsylvania. Then Ohio.

Each time, his face cracked and he had to amend his comments.

That's why he's on Larry King.

Exactly. CNN COON NETWORK NEWS!

Jakes was totally on board with the Faith-based intiative programs, putting $$$$ in his pocket. I don't think his motives are pure. Anyone can put on a backwards collar and say that he/she is a servant of God.

Thats right. He was (is) definitely a Bushman.

When MSM were trying to derail Obama's Campaign with Rev Wright clips, I won't forget I called the Potter's House and aked if T.D. Jakes would step up for Rev Wright as a black minister and someone at the Church stated....T.D. Jakes didn't want to get involved. Gasp!!

I was through!

I've always been pretty wary of him, but was never really sure why. What did he do on election night? I don't remember seeing him on TV that night.

He was a Bush Supporter, if not mistaken, but many AA preachers got caught up in the Bush Admin and their "grant program for churches around this country". In return many of these "preachers" pushed Bush and the conservative lingo in the pulpit. Did not say Bush by name, but Bush did not net 10% of the AA vote in 2004 without doing something.

rikyrah: THANKS! Just got in! :>)

OMG,

Saw this on CNN: www.cutethingsfallingasleep.org
check our sleepy kitty

that's check out "sleepy kitty"

Aww that was cute.

lamh31: OMG!!! 8 words: AB- SO- LUTE- LY A- DOR - A --BLE!! :>) :>)

MSKITTY! MSKITTY! You gotta see this!! :>) :>)

Thanks lamh31! :>) :>)

Blagojevich the strategist
By BEN SMITH | 1/7/09 7:53 PM EST

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17193...

Move over David Plouffe. The cleverest Democratic campaign manager of the new year appears to be none other than Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

In a season of troubled "rollouts" – think Sarah Palin and Caroline Kennedy – Roland Burris's has been all but flawless. He arrived December 30 with no warning, and his allies played – to the discomfort of many Democrats – what was perhaps his strongest political card, race, without shame.

In the days that followed, Burris has accomplished his key goals, calling Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's bluff and putting his own apparently distinguished visage at the center of the story.

"They have done a great job with the rollout," said Chris Lehane, a Democratic consultant and former aide to President Bill Clinton. "The single smartest step was making sure that Burris – not Blagojevich – became the star actor in this narrative."

I Want to Play Poker with Harry Reid
By: Jane Hamsher Wednesday January 7, 2009 7:00 am

http://firedoglake.com/2009/01/07/i-want-to-pla...

excerpt:

Blago laughs out loud. This is amateur night in Dixieland. He leaks to the press that he spoke with Reid before the election, and that Reid didn't think any of the African American candidates vying for the seat were "electable," while Tammy Duckworth was. He stirs up the potential jury pool and makes Reid look like an idiot -- the day before Reid is set to appear on Meet the Press.

Reid looks like a cat in a room full of rocking chairs on Meet the Press. Nobody knows how much Fitz has (not even Fitz, who is still trying to transcribe his tapes) or how much he'll need to reveal to prove his case, so Reid says he "doesn't remember" his conversation with Blago, but calls Blago a liar anyway. When asked if he supported Jesse Jackson Jr. for the Senate seat, he says he would support JJJ. And admits that there's "room to negotiate" on Burris.

Burris appears at the Senate on Tuesday. Gets turned away. Could Reid look any worse?

Yes!

Obama stares down DiFi, appoints Panetta to the CIA, and the NYT breaks the story before she's told (but Ron Wyden already knows). DiFi's fuming.

Despite having been one of the 50 Senators who signed Reid's letter saying Burris would never be seated, she announces that as the outgoing head of the Rules Committee she thinks the Senate has no choice but to seat him. (Good timing, because Charlie Rangel is already complaining about the Rules Committee dragging its feet, and Jesse White is complaining that Reid made him the fall guy.)

Reid can't hold his own caucus in line. Blames Rahm. Gives interview saying "I don't work for Barack Obama."

Smooth.

WaPo: "Burris Backs Reid Into a Corner."

A seventy-one year old dude who hasn't held office for 14 years, appointed by a crook, takes the Senate Majority Leader to the cleaners.


lol

I love that article, rikyrah.

Reid is a weasel. He needs to go sit down somewhere and be quiet. Politics is above him.

Me too. The author called it just like it happened. Blago was not playing with them. This political season has been anything but boring; I can't wait to see what happens next.

Reid is a wuss! He got played!

If memory serves, everybody that was showing their ass during the primaries has been played - all but one - and I hope she's next.

Me too!

Me too! I'm so hoping she's next.

Can we please get rid of this mofo.

watching maddow's show this idiot giving a standing ovation to Stevens in the Senate. And Reid said Stevens shouldn't go jail.

These old white Dems..........git outta here!

And Rachel revealed him for the lying shill he is regarding Stevens not knowing what he was doing.

Reid is only thinking about re-election in 2010.

The Ill committee charged w/ impeaching Blego has asked for his donor list. These folks have no idea they took a ride on the tiger. If he even publishe his list so many Democratic pols in Ill are going to have the same names on their lists. It's like the tammany hall political carton by Nash.
story here: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601110...

cartoon here: http://www.gothamgazette.com/article/fea/200507...

what poster here said that Blago was taking everyone down with him?

BWA HA HA HA HA

A Donor List?

Oh baby. It's about to get hot up in there. If you think that they ONLY gave to Blago and not every other Democrat and/or high ranking Republican, you're dreaming.

Although, I wasn't the person who said Blago was taking everyone down with him; I did say this:

Yes. I would. Why? Because Blago is willing to rat on whomever to save his own ass! He's not going down without a fight! I believe Blago played his trump card with Burris because of the conversation he had with Reid! Just saying...

The Nominees...
Hillary Clinton
Bill Clinton
David Plouffe
Mark Penn
Rod Blagojevich

...and now, the Academy Award for Best Political Gangsta of 2008-2009 goes to...***drumroll***
Rod___ Blagojevich!

...and I bet his ass beatz all the charges that Fitzgerald throws at him.

Confession: I like Blago. I wish that Blago could trade places with Harry Reid. I'd much rather have a fighter than a limp noodle leading Democrats in the Senate.

Michelle Bernard held it down on Hardball tonight. She was through with Durbin and Reid for being condescending towards Burris.

rikyrah: YES SHE DID!! :>) :>) I wish that she would be "one person" and not subdivided as she became! ***shrug**

I'm still LOL at the thought of Al Franken being a SENATOR.

God Bless America.

Rikyrah..

Have you read Al's book Liars and the Lying Lies they Tell? It is very good. It will give you another whole view of Al. The man is very bright and knows what is going on and has a way with words that is incisive and just cuts to the core.

Pick it up and read it. You will enjoy it.

I know about Al's book. I've followed him for awhile now. I just think it's hilarious. I know it sounds hokey, but this is what I love about this country.

He is hilarious, and it's quite phenomenal when comedians, actors, and body builders become polititcians. Ya gotta love America!

Al's our Senator!

The Truth About Rick Warren

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/...

I wish our P-E didn't have such a blind spot about ministers. Shoulda listened to his mom.

The Truth About Beating A Dead Horse.

Blumenthal is nothing but another gay activist with an agenda. His article is biased.
He is lieing about the condoms. They were destroyed because they were defective, somehow Blumenthal left that out of the article.

Too many folks in journalism are gay activist and gay themselves.

Blumenthal has done a lot good work in exposing evangelicals. Many of whom are racist. I would suggest you read his other works before judging him.

Co-sign, Micheline.

There's science, there is common sense, and there is teaching people to respect their bodies. I don't think that they are divorced from each other.

Blk sista...I know you are not talking about science vs. common sense when it comes to defective condoms.

Do you actually believe that common sense is to use defective condoms when scientifically those defects render them useless.

GEEZ.

I acknowledge that many evangelicals may be racist as they are not supportive of the gay political agenda either. Blumenthal though has an ax to grind.

I am noting that his journalism is biased towards gay activism. His other works may be balanced but this article is certainly not. This article regarding Warren is a continuing crusade within the gay community about Warren.. Evangelicals warrant no more exposure than gays do. It is quite hypocritical for gays to expose anyone.
the gay community also blames blacks for the failure of Prop8 so I really view anything they have to say about other groups as suspect.

tovangar2: The comments are interesting.

I'll say!

I read it. I wouldn't discount everything someone from The Nation says.

I hope Obama is able to talk and make sense into some of this mess regarding AIDS here and in Africa.

Looking for father-figures most likely....

This is the s@#$ that has to stop. Check out how the guilty will hide in broad daylight.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/federal-eye/20...

Michelle Obama in white at Oprah's Legends Ball

http://i.abcnews.com/GMA/popup?id=5322917&conte...

The bottom of this dress is too debutante foo-foo for me.

More about the shooting--caught via cellphones--of Oscar Grant by BART cops from S.F. BayView, one of several black weeklies in the Bay Area.

Who was Oscar Grant?

Did BART cop really mistake his gun for a Taser?

Its open season apparently:
http://www.khou.com/news/local/crime/stories/kh...

horrific

Bellaire has some #ing racist bigots to the core! The young man was driving while black!

Driving his parent's ride, parked in his parent's driveway, and was shot in the yard because they "thought the vehicle was stolen".....bullshit, bullshit, bullshit. This was attempted murder.

Merciful God

I pray the Obama Administration addresses racial profiling. I'm dog tired of unarmed innocent black men dying at the hand of police!

HELL NO he didn't mistake his gun for a Taser.

The taser was on the OPPOSITE side.

He shot an unarmed man on the ground IN THE BACK.

He needs to be charged with MURDER

But we know that won't happen. It's interesting to watch the 4 main local stations and how their news directors slant the story. One is definitely leaning more towards calling the cop a "rookie" and untrained - as if that's supposed to be an excuse. Others are talking about the death threats the cop is supposedly getting - whatever!. The funeral was today and they showed lots of segments with men crying on camera saying he was shot for no reason. Of course Mr. Grant's arrest record has been released as well. I knew something was up when BART claimed they weren't recording at the station that evening. Thank goodness for camera phones! The city will have to settle and squash this because tourism is the bulk of income for the City and the shooting is being broadcast around the world. I did a quick search and found blogs in Australia talking about this.

No doubt, the young aborigines are also checking this situation out, too.

Man, the press just protects and protects police, no matter how heinous, insensitive their crimes. I saw one account where the culprit is said to be devastated by what has happened. Yeah, right. A DK diarist had more cellphone video on what occurred, and the cop who shot Oscar looked at his partner as if to say, "Oh, sh*t." And then rolled the poor young man over like he was a sack of nothing.

Didn't even make a call for emergency services or anything. Except try to confiscate everybody's cellphone.

Yall keep your cell phones charged and ready for just this kind of thing. Rodney King's beating caught with a camcorder to this cop murder caught via cell phone. Nothing has changed.

Major Co-Sign!

He's a Murderer!

Yes, he is definitely a risk to society and a menace.
Things like this remind me of the Black Panthers and how they described the police force as nothing but a gang sanctioned by the state. They have all the attributes used to profile a gang...uniform colors, language unique to the group, hostile to those not in the group, and gang mentality when one of theirs is injured. They also lie and coverup to protect gang members.

Based on that Newton said that black folks had a right to arm themselves to protect themselves from the police gang that patrol their neighborhoods.

It was profound rhetoric in the sixties...and the visual of Seale and Newton marching on Sacramento with loaded ammunition and rifles is still a powerful sight to this day. At the time there was no law prohibiting such an act and boy were the white folks pissed when they cited the law!! That it was their legal right to be armed and all those brothers with afros just was such a powerful image to blacks and men but it was terrifying to whites.

This BART shooting was nothing but cold0blooded murder. I wish we could put together a citizens' group for these type mutant beasts where folks could take turns shooting the officer to death in court martial fashion.

That might teach the rest of the police gang members to think twice about shooting our UNARMED fathers, brothers, nephews, uncles & sons and lieing about it.

x

rikyrah: MORE GOWN SELECTIONS for MRS. FIRST LADY-TO-BE!:

INAUGURATION GOWNS

This is INTERACTIVE! YOU can make a CHOICE! ENJOY!!! :>) :>)

FIRST LADY TO-B MICHELLE OBAMA!! :>) :>) Whoo! Hoo! :>) :>)

1. Acra
2. Valvo
3. Lauren

Eww on Valvo.

I appreciate the Kors gown. And I don't like Kors. That blue is stunning and it makes her appear so regal.

I'm not a fan of gowns that can look like pants when a woman is walking.

That Calvin Klein dress looked like something some of the ladies would wear on a church sunday with a hat, actually it looks like something gramma ruth would wear.... If gramma was living she'd be 80......+

rorysmomma: Church! U R correct! :>) As long as there is a matching hat!!

BUT, I think that SHE could wear it in the day. :>)

For the actual ceremony that wouldn't be bad.

Valvo, yes in-double-deed!

Acra second.

Ralphie third.

I can see Michelle in the Valvo dress. That fits her to a tee/

That Valvo dress in a deep red or majestic purple would truly set it off.

I love the Valvo dress. Now that I've seen it I can't imagine her in anything else.

Now, for the votes...Reem Acra, Valvo, and De La Renta all top my list.

reem in champagne

1. Valvo
2. Oscar de la Renta
3. Acra

rikyrah: Ima go with:

2 VALVO; 6 Lhuillier 8 Acra 7 de la Renta 4 Klein suit for the day.

Actually, "SHE can wear what eva SHE likes", 'cause SHE will have soooo many activities!! Sooo, ALL of US can get our wish(es). :>) :>)

Did you read about the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball? That is the first ball Michelle and Obama will attend. They will dance their first dance as FirstLady and President at the Neighborhood Ball.

They are truly the people's First Couple!~

whiterosebuddy: OMG!! Thanks for this info. :>) :>)

I cani't wait! :>) :>) Whoooo! Hooo!

-Ummmm: Looks like I have ta wear #6 Lhillier to some event. Nobody picked it soooo, I'll sacrifice and get it!! HAH!! :>)

That #6 was winning the vote when I cast mine. That is the tea length gown. HATED IT!!

whirerosebuddy: The results are fairly even at this point. Ima keep checking. :>) :>)

Here's ANOTHER "WATCH" for me!! :>) :>)

#2 VALVO is WHAT color?? GREEEEEEEN!! Whoo! Hoo! :>)

I vote Reem Acra, PERIOD.

That panther brooch on the shoulder and the Grecian style suits our First Lady to a T.

I only like one - Reem Acra.

That dress is elegance personified..and it has that brooch clasp..so Michelle would probably love it.

Oohhh, that is addictive....

icebergslim: I know. Huh!? :>) :>)

Now GreenLady,

You know that's so wrong..

The Michelle Obama Paper Doll?

BWA HA HA HA

Just what a Michelle-A-Holic like myself needs..

Why you feeding my habit like that?

rikyrah: 'cause - - - - -ummmm -er---- I'on't know!! ***shrug***

'CAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TA DO!! That's IT!! :>) :>)

I would so buy my daughter one. I would also by her a paper Barack. Each time she sees him she says that's Obama, I voted for him.

rorysmomma: What you wanna bet that there will be Barack/Michelle DOLLS! Probably have them NOW! :>) :>)

***whispering*** This is between you & me: Ima get those "DOLLS" for ME! Don't tell! O.K? :>) :>)

I won't buy those coins, but I will buy those dolls.

rorysmomma: VIRTUAL "DAP!" :>) :>)

I really liked Valvo and Klein. I loved Acra too...but the dress that is leading is not that hot to me..the tea length one.

I almost always like de la Renta as well...if that dress was champagne colored it would be perfect. I think that is what Ilked best about Klein...the color.

Valvo was just plain sassy and classy.

She should rock that two-piece suit during the day.

CPL: ABSOLUTELY!! Whooo! Hoo! :>) :>)

IFFF she doesn't, Ima try ta get it m'self!! BWAHAHAHAHA!!!! :>)

My thoughts exactly CPL...that will look good on her as she walks down Penn Ave to the Inauguration...that champagne color is BAD...it just makes chocolate skin POP!