Jack & Jill Politics

Star Spangled Banner -- The Dells

Our unique brand of patriotism -- the accompanying photographs are particularly striking.

Yes, they were.

Thanks for that Link...I enjoyed that.

rikyrah: I'm a little LATE. Sorry. :>)

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2009; Day -14 On His "JOURNEY TO JANUARY 20, 2009!" It's soooo close!! :>) :>)

1. HEADLINE(s):

a) HIS SCHEDULE: Tuesday Jan. 6, 2009

All Times Eastern8:00 AM
9:00 AM

Congress meets to tally up the votes of the Electoral College.
9:52 AM

Obama arrives at his DC transition office.
10:00 AM
11:00 AM
11:30 AM

Obama holds a meeting with his top advisers on the budget outlook. More...

Participants include: Rahm Emanuel, Chief of Staff-designate; Timothy Geithner, Treasury Secretary-designate; Peter Orszag, Director-designate, Office of Management and Budget; Rob Nabors, Deputy Director-designate, Office of Management and Budget; Christina Romer, Director-designate, Council of Economic Advisors and Lawrence Summers, Director-designate, National Economic Council.
12:00 PM
1:00 PM
2:00 PM
3:00 PM
4:00 PM
4:25 PM

Obama leaves the transition office and arrives at the Hay Adams Hotel a few minutes later.

b) Obama warns of trillion-dollar deficits

-elect Barack Obama said Tuesday that $1 trillion deficits could last for “years to come” as he sought to make the case for budget reforms amid an economy in peril.

Obama’s warning came as he met for the second consecutive day in Washington with his top economic officials, this time in a session devoted to fixing the budget process.

“Peter Orszag now forecasts that, at the current course and speed, a trillion-dollar deficit will be here before we even start the next budget,” Obama said, alluding to his nominee to head the Office of Management and Budget.

The president-elect suggested that such 16-figure deficits could last “for years to come, even with the economic recovery that we are working on at this point.”

Obama’s stimulus package is expected to cost upward of $800 billion – putting an even larger hole in a budget deficit that was about $455 billion at the end of the fiscal year last fall.

So, he said, steps must be taken to enact reforms in a process that is seen by both parties as broken.

Obama proposed banning all earmarks, creating an economic recovery oversight board to monitor the stimulus spending, putting online the details of where the money is being spent and even eliminating some unnamed “outmoded programs.”

“We are going to stop talking about government reform, and we're actually going to start executing,” Obama promised, reprising language he used on the campaign trail.

Taking questions from reporters, Obama declined to discuss the budget proposal he’ll send to Capitol Hill, but pledged to avoid fiscal gimmickry and “punting to future administrations the tough choices, but by making some of those tough choices while I'm in office.”

c) Obama deplores civilian deaths in Gaza, Israel

Breaking his silence on the conflict in Gaza, the president-elect deplored the civilian casualties, which have been overwhelmingly on the Palestinian side, after a meeting with fiscal and economic advisors today.

[NOTE: HE DID NOT SPECIFY ONE SIDE OVER THE OTHER!! I WATCHED THAT INTERVIEW!! A poster said the SAME THING. (scroll down.) geez!]

"I’m very concerned with the conflict taking place there," Obama said. "I’m monitoring the situation on a day to day basis.

"The loss of civilian life in Gaza and in Israel is a source of deep concern to me, and after January 20th I’ll have plenty to say about the issue."

Obama said he was "not backing away at all from what I said during the campaign" and that "starting at the beginning of our administration, we’re going to engage effectively and consistently in trying to resolve the conflict in the Middle East."

Obama's emphasis on civilian casualties breaks slightly with the White House line, which has been to blame Hamas first.

c) No earmarks

President-elect Barack Obama said today in a meeting with members of his budget team that he will ban earmarks from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that will soon go before Congress.

The President-elect also said he expects his administration to inherit a budget deficit of up to $1 trillion.

He was joined in the meeting by Peter Orszag, Director-designate, Office of Managment and Budget; Christina Romer, Christina Romer, Director-designate, Council of Economic Advisors and Lawrence Summers, Director-designate, National Economic Council, among others.

Below are pictures and video from the event.

r) “We have to do things in a new way” (Update: video)
[I hope that this is NOT a DUPLICATE!] :>)


2. Parsons to Commerce? (Tuesday, January 6th, 2009)

Former Time Warner Chairman and CEO is under consideration as possible replacement for Bill Richardson at Commerce.

Parsons, a onetime Ford White House aide and former Dime Bank executive, ran Social Security study group in Bush era.

Parsons officially left Time Warner in December 2008. He was also a member of Obama's Transition Economic Advisory Board.

4. Air Force One-Obama style with pilot snoop dog!!! ENJOY!! :>)

[I hope that this is NOT irreverent.]


MR. PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA!!

LARGE and IN CHARGE!!

EVENING THREAD IS UP

Wow! Nice.....real nice!

icebergslim: YES HE DID! :>) :>) Looka Mr. President-Elect!! :>) :>)

Play "chess!" :>)

The rest of the CNN gang better recognize! Good on SanJay!

WHAAAAA...........................niiiiiiiiiice...........nicely played Mr. President.

I find this appointment startling.

Although, I gotta tell ya..Obama is such a shrewd politician.

I figure he is already reaching out to the Indian American base that Jindal thinks he would have a lock on.

Go Obama!!

I missed this one, Obama in the West Wing

LOVE IT! I'm still a big fan of the West Wing!

iceberg, I just got the best West Wing fix from that clip; totally a West Wing Junkie. Thanks!

This is cool, thanks ice.

BREAKING : SANJAY GUPTA for Surgeon Gen?!
President-elect Barack Obama has offered the job of surgeon general to Sanjay Gupta, the neurosurgeon and correspondent for CNN and CBS, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation.

Gupta has told administration officials that he wants the job, and the final vetting process is under way. He has asked for a few days to figure out the financial and logistical details of moving his family from Atlanta to Washington but is expected to accept the offer.

More

The offer followed a two-hour Chicago meeting in November with Obama, who said that Gupta could be the highest-profile surgeon general in history and would have an expanded role in providing health policy advice, the sources said. Gupta later spoke with Tom Daschle, Obama's White House health czar and nominee for Health and Human Services secretary, and other advisers to the president-elect.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/1/6/1456...

Melinda: WOW!!! :>) WHAT an INSPIRATION!! :>) :>) Whooo! Hoo! :>)

G-R-E-A-T I-D-E-A!! :>) :>)

THANK YOU for SHARING!! :>)

New kid is a girl....Alariya Noelle (or spelling to that effect), due May 21.

God help me.

BWA HA HA HA HA

She's your Princess, and you will be her 'bitch' from the moment she wraps her tiny hand around one of your fingers. I can tell, D. You're gonna be an Old School Daddy. She's gonna be a Daddy's Girl from minute one.

I can't believe you.

You're probably right...I'm already having a problem rationalizing trying to send her off to the military. Not really what I want for her.

Awww! Congrats D!

oh yea - she is not a "kid". She is a "princess pudding pop". "sweet pea", "precious pie" or "pumpkin" not kid. :-)

Or just Allie, in this case. :)

My niece is named Allie!

Trust me Daddy . . . she will be "pumpkin" as soon as you hold her in your arms and she looks into your eyes. :-)

HEY D - My daughters name is Noelle.

Hunter Noelle. :-) Name means heavenly mist or day of birth.

Congratulations!

I'm sure you will be hard at work negotiating with R. Kelly setting up the entertainment for her Sweet 16 Birthday Party.

Okay, I deserved that....LOL.

Just joking...you didn't deserve it.
I just couldn't resist.

You will be the first man she interacts with.
Do a good job, so that when she gets older, she can say with pride:
"That's my Daddy."

Admiral: Major co-sign!! :>)

Oh, and if R.Kelly IS at your daughter's Sweet 16 Birthday Party, I will defer to you to put a cap in his...well, you know what I mean.

ROTFL

Beautiful name! Is it a family name or some other significance to it? Or did you do like my folks and look in a book (which is how a lil black girl born in Alabama got a spanish name).

Thanks....we looked in a book (or more accurately, online); weren't completely sure of a boy/girl the first time around, so we had picked names for both.

D, congratulations, Alariya Noelle is blessed to have a daddy like you.

How beautiful! Congrats!

But I thought you were going to name her Barackariya or Obamariya

Oh well...guess you changed your mind.

Texas Girl,

I like Barackariya.

Heck, I couldn't even name my own daughter. Someone else did! It's a French name!

LOL!!! I can't even pronounce those.

Aww...Congrats D!

Alariya is a beautiful name!

Thanks.....of course, I didn't come up with it. :)

D & Mrs. D: C-O-N-G-R-A-T-U-L-A-T-I-O-N-S!!!

Rock a bye baby
Take GOOD care during these next 5 months!! :>)

God Bless ALL. :>)

Thanks, and we will....though all I know about raising girls is that, at some point, you need a weapon...else they run into someone like you when you were growing up.

D: :>) :>) The Mrs. will assist you. Annnnnnnd, no doubt, the "little one" will be JUST as "wonderful" as the Mrs.!! TRUST! :>) :>)

Are Jack and Jill actually black enough to run a website claiming to be a "black bourgeoisie perspective on U.S. politics"?

I'm white, and am labeled a "Troll" here. I see the terms "Uncle Tom" and "House Negro" being directed against black Americans who don't agree with Liberal dogma here. Who determines which black Americans are "authentic" enough or "black" enough?

I recall Obama being accused of not being "authentic" enough or "black" enough, even by members of this board, when he first started running. How was he finally able to be certified as being "authentic" enough and "black" enough? Did Jack and Jill have to take the same tests and/or requirements, or did they just appoint themselves as being "authentic" enough and "black" enough?

You're not a troll because your white. You're a troll because you are just trying to disrupt the peace and community that exists here- even among dissenters. D is not a troll. You are. Any way, where have you been? I haven't seen any posting by you since your ass was handed to you in November.

I think the question (about black authenticity) you pose is a valid one except that expecting a cut and dry answer is showing your whiteness.

At the end of the day its not about a person's identity. Its about their capacity to understand the issues that effect Black people in America. The Black people for example who chose not to "see race" are not able to advocate for issues effecting Black people. What I gleam from the assertion "real Black people" albeit not effectively communicated. So at the heart of Bobby Rush's comments is advocacy.

And is the condescension REALLY necessary? Ask questions if you want to know the answer, but for real showing up and being an a-hole for no reason is not necessary. Why should you expect to greeted with anything but negativity with that elitist without foundation attitude? No one cares you are white or if your perspective is different that the majority of people on this site. Trolls disrupt the peace for the sheer pleasure of eliciting a negative reaction. How could you expect to get anything but negativity? Oh woe is me? GTFOH.

evita: Your FIRST point was VERY WELL TAKEN. It was also addressed in the "article."

Here's a question: What does it mean to be authentically white?

Consider our economic meltdown. A bunch of white men were at the helm of government and private companies, now brought to their knees by shoddy dealings. Nobody would suggest that the new archetype for the white male is somebody who shouldn't be in charge of our kids' piggy banks, let alone facets of a national economy.

But whenever there is a grim statistic about a black man, it's too often used to reaffirm all the negative stereotypes. Sadly, for some, that becomes what's authentic.

What's encouraging is that it appears Americans are beginning to see beyond what it means for a black person to be "black enough" or "white enough." Maybe more of us are starting to examine people on an individual basis. Maybe.

Annnnnnd, back to YOUR LAST POINTS - - - WELL SAID!! Thank you!! :>)

evita: SPEAK TRUTH!! Co-sign on ALL points!! :>)

ROTFLOL. -- interesting questions, although you probably won't get them all answered.

---
"I'm white, and am labeled a "Troll" here." -- In my experience, that's a correlation, on any message board or discussion if you are outside the dominant view you might be attacked as a "troll."

Also, there are very real "trolls" who do try to be disruptive, so people do have legitimate questions about the importance of answering potentially devisive questions.

--I'll jot down a few of my thoughts.

"Who determines which black Americans are "authentic" enough or "black" enough?" -- There is not enough time in the day to address that question; however, on the Internet in particular it is interesting to examine -- I'd have no idea about your ethnic background unless you bring it up. I could care less what your background happens to be, it doesn't make your evidence or argument any weaker.

However, the short answer is that no entity can determine authenticity, and ad hominem makes for weak evidence.

People attacked me for questioning the motto of the site too, given the initial usage of "black bourgeoisie" by E. Franklin Frazier. (Hint -- his usage is not positive!).

I'd just find a way to keep inserting yourself into the mix and know as long as you have strong arguments based on real evidence "authenticity" should be the least of people's concerns.

The reality is that people like you don't care one wit about Black sociology. You're simply resentful that you cannot agitate, shame, guilt, or otherwise manipulate Black folk who are your intellectual superiors.

People like you think that you can arrive on the scene, declare your whiteness, and presume to take charge because you're simply an innocent, naive, well-meaning white person who's trying to offer some common sense; after all, we simple-minded, intellectually-challenged Black folk are obviously starved for it.

But when you begrudgingly realize that you're outwitted and cerebrally out-matched by Black folks with brains, you do the only thing that a white person of your ilk can do: you assume the position of innocent victim.

Sorry, but you ain't innocent here. So don't expect to be conferred any sense of empowerment because of it. You're simply someone who was foolish enough to believe that you could roll up into our house and act like we didn't see you coming.

Fool.

indeed!

Dap! I have the first aid kit handy, RonnieB

nice

Ouch! (Fist bump).

LOL!

Kapow....right in the kisser!

RonnieB: MAJOR CO-SIGN!! WELL SAID!! :>)

I couldn't have said it better.

Well. RonnieB, I guess you set that record straight!

And your point is?

No, you didn't. I can't believe you asked that question.

I see where this is going to go, and it's not going to go well for you.

Hate to go all Obama on you, but this isn't the Karmi I know. You're on a ledge by yourself on this one.

Going Obama on me...sheesh!

Maybe I didn't state my question correctly...I'll try again: What does it mean to be authentically black?

Why?

You wanna pass?

Discussions are also opportunities to educate. I am going to take for granted that you are sincere and not trying to be hurtful. I thnk "authentic" is the point that you want clarified. Just know that you will get as many perspectives from as many people as there are on this earth who are black if you are truly looking for a definition of "authentically black". We may all have different definitions of it based on our life's experiences but there are common threads of discrimination and racism solely based on the color of our skin that ALL black people experience that define these terms for us. You might want to believe that Obama is not "authentically black" because of his cultural upbringing being non-black. But believe you me, the treatment he received, the judgement he endured, even the sole searching that he went through trying to dicipher "why" he was being judged by the color of his skin and not the content of his character, permanently etched into his psyche that he was authentically, irreputably a black man in America. Case closed. Don' ask no more about this issue because you are inciting emotions that don't need to be conjured up. We trying to be happy people going into this inauguration. Leave this open wound alone Karmi.

Tell it.....

Okay, that's better. You might actually get some responses that way, than a whole lot of attacks.

You know I like you, but you were well on your way under the bus with that one.

I'll wait to see what other people say before I chime in; gotta go see what kind of kid I'm having.

"Hate to go all Obama on you, but this isn't the Karmi I know."

lol

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Karmi - Happy New Year to you too.

Ditto, Val, and thanks!

This must be the JD that Janet loves...LOL

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jermaine-dupri/le...

Jermaine D: "So please, let Obama continue to stay in his lane. Let the man drive!"

Co-signing, Brotha.

I didn't know Jermaine Dupri was a HuffPost poster. Not that it was ever particularly low, but my like for the guy just went up.

Just got this from my email service; Kwame Kilpatrick's aide, Christine Beatty has been sentenced to 120 days in jail for obstruction of justice.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/D/DETROIT_...

Video emerges of police officer shooting subway rider in the back.

On MSNBC News now. looking for the video on the web. haven't found it yet.

It's on youtube. Also CBS5.com. Also my blog.

It's posted in last night's open thread.

Richardson, Obama Teams Trade Blame

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/ar...

Levi Johnston quits oil field job
PUBLIC SCRUTINY: Rules say he needs diploma for apprenticeship.

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/643519.html

val: Saw this article yesterday 2. Soooo, I went on my "Field Trip" to MUDFLATS to get his/their take on this matter.

TRUE to FORM - - "snarky/sarcasm" abounds! :>) :>)

Levi Johnston is Off the Slope. (You Can’t Fire Him, He Quits!)



Well, it’s been an interesting day for the Johnston family. This morning Sherry Johnston was arraigned on six felony counts of possessing and dealing OxyContin, and now this.

Amid a swirl of accusations that had the media, and the blogosphere all a-twitter, Levi Johnston “quit” his electrical apprenticeship job on the North Slope. After conservative pundit Dan Fagan, wrote a column in the Anchorage Daily News stating that Johnston had the job despite the lack of a high school diploma, and accused the governor of playing a part in the nepotism that got him the job, everything hit the fan.

Johnston’s father, Keith Johnston, said in a telephone interview that his son decided to resign today and return home to work on his education.

[NOTE: Wasn't it last week that "The. Gov" said - rather vigorously- that Levi was working on his diploma? Guess THEY didn't communicate to get their "STORIES" straight. Hmmmmmm]


“He felt it was the best thing to do to kind of calm the waters, so to speak,” the elder Johnston said.

Keith Johnston also said the governor had nothing to do with getting Levi Johnston the oil field job. Keith Johnston said his own position as an ASRC construction engineer accounts for any help his son received in landing work.

Palin, in an interview today, denied helping Levi Johnston get the job and called Fagan’s column “a political pot shot taken at me.”

Fagan said federal rules require apprentices to have a high school diploma. Federal rules actually don’t require that, but ASRC rules do, the company said today.

Soooo, let me get this straight. The Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) has a rule that you have to have a high school diploma. Levi Johnston does not have a high school diploma. And he thinks it’s best that he leave “to calm the waters”. Are we to believe that ASRC would have let him stay on and suffered the media wrath, and that this is a grand gesture on Johnston’s part?

I believe the correct slant on this is that Levi Johnston was basically fired, and Keith Johnston is guilty of pulling strings to get his son a job that violates the standard to which everyone else in this state is held accountable, and ASRC went along with it. And Levi Johnston, Keith Johnston, and ASRC all got caught.

So let's look at the "FAMILY TREE":
1. The "kinda" "matriarch": 6 colleges in 5 years; incites RACIAL divisiveness at rallies; $150,000+ "wardrobe" ["But I gave them back." Suuuuure! ***WINK**]; "un-qualified for VP"; LOST!!; Troopergate; Bridge to NOWHERE advocate; major prevaricator; [waitin' for more :>)]

2. The "kinda" patriarch: snowboarder ***shrug**; co-GOV.; NOT much else

3. "Mother" Johnston: Drug [Oxy-Cotin] dealer/user

4. Bristol: high school drop-out; un-wed & a mother; ??

5. Levi: high school drop-out; un-wed & a father; un-employed; not qualified for apprenticeship program;

So much for VETTIN' - - - huh "mcancient"?? Notice that he hasn't been asked to comment on these events! :>) :>)

I'm THA-ROUGH! :>) :>)

Oh dear lord, GreenLady, you really broke this down and added it up. This is looking more and more Vice Presidential now.

I can't imagine how the McCai/Palin ticket lost their bid for the WHITE HOUSE.

spirit: LOL! :>)

Heey! I just mentioned YOUR name in reference to startin' me on a train of thought about SHRUB LEAVING office :>) :>) Annnnnnd, I thought of another one [albeit LONG!]

To wit:

Make like a fraternity/sorority at a HBCU annnnnnnd STEP!! :>) ***shakin' my head***

I just watched "Stomp The Yard" [DVD] yesterday. :>) :>) ***stompin'***

ROTFLMAO!! Step & Stomp. It's comical theater at its best with 'SnoHo and her All American Norman Rockwell family

Running around in Needless Markup outfits and couldn't even construct coherent sentences. Shakin my head, just shakin my head!!!

As for the requirement of a high school diploma to be in the apprenticeship program, Keith Johnston said, "It's just something that slipped through the cracks."

Must have been a crack the size of the Grand Canyon.

Nate: LOL! :>)

HAH!

Yeah....i remember when I thought I had my high school diploma but didnt....yeah.....just slipped through the cracks!!

He can always sell hillbilly heroin:

"My mom's not just my mom, she's also my supplier!"

He and Bristol just got a $300,000 payday for having a baby. That should last a while in Alaska. Not to mention they could parley this into a reality show followed by paid appearances at Juno and Vegas hot spots and then a book. Knocking up an underage Bristol (or at least agreeing to be the father of this baby wherever it came from) may be the smartest thing he has ever done. He may never work again.

pjamma: LOL!!! :>)

IMHO, they will not know how to control that money in order to make it last!

Annnnnnnd, what "ADULT" assistance do they REALLY have??

This is a SAD story that "The Gov."/Snowboarder should have thought about B4 they became so "politically ambitious!" Oh, it can be done, BUT - not for them.

lolol.

You're on it!

Well...surprise, surprise

If Bristol and'em get that 300 grand for the tripp's baby pics, Levi can buy himself a DE-PLO-MA! Shakin my head!

Johnston, alone in court, pleads not guilty
OXYCONTIN: Judge grants her request for a public defender.


http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/643147.html

Public defender? You mean the Snow Ho wouldn't hook her up?

Hope she at least let's her borrow a nice outfit from her Saks/Neiman Marcus stash. Hmph!

lolol I thought it . . but I didn't say it. lol

Levi & Bristol better hurry up and sign that contract so they can buy moma a new suit. Damn, Oxycontin. That's some nasty, pain killing dope.

Troopers union backs off on allegations
INQUIRY: There were no delays for political reasons in Johnston drug case.
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/643595.html


big surprise there (snark)

New Voices in Congress Will Change the Tone of the Democratic Majority
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/07/us/politics/0...

Israeli Strike Reportedly Hits Refugees at School in Gaza
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/07/world/middlee...

Obama Pitches Stimulus Plan
GOP Asked to Help Design Bill; $300 Billion in Tax Cuts Sought

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/ar...

More on Panetta Chosen As CIA Director
Some Question Intelligence Experience
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/ar...

History will record that, on the first day of the 111th Congress of the United States:

Roland Burris showed up for a job he knew he’d be barred from getting.

Al Franken prepared to show up to claim a seat he hadn’t really won yet.

Joe Biden took the oath of office for a Senate term he had no intention of serving out.

A former congressman with no history in intelligence was tapped to lead the CIA.

A hole loomed in the president-elect’s incoming Cabinet, where a key teammate once stood.

House Democrats stood ready to jettison term limits for their committee chairmen, just when their chairmen had to start worrying about them.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2009/01/the-no...

Hell of a day, huh?

History will record that America became a POST RACIAL County because Barack Hussein Obama became the first Black POTUS . <<<<rolling my eyes>>>>

Double Eye Roll!

The Note's story is always "everything is good for the GOP, while everything is bad for the Dems" . So I would take that post with a grain of salt.

key points are valid though. I ignore the GOP stuff. Nothing wrong with laughing at yourself. :-)

I just started reading this about politics again today (took mental break) and fell off my chair multiple times. Sometimes rolling around laughing and sometimes shaking my head. This post was a bit funny because I initially I thought it was daytime tv drama or some made up reality tv stuff. Then I realized it wasn't. lol Happy New Year!

Here We Go.....

CBS Takes Out "Today's" Trash

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/05/ann-co...

Coulter appeared on CBS's The Early Show where she told anchor Harry Smith that he was her favorite for having her on this morning after The Today Show had canceled her. Smith allowed Coulter to rant, but then pushed her on claims of right-wing victimization and urged her to "take a breath." He also called her "goofy" and "sophomoric." Watch the video:




Whew! Lord Knows...

Coulter re-scheduled for Wednesday:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/05/ann-co...

Nobody owes this broad free publicity. I'd have thoroughly enjoyed it if NBC told her to go kick rocks, or even better, offered her a slot on Later with Carson Daly.

I saw this live but had to turn it off because Ann was so crazy.

Too bad you missed it, she only got crazier! She called Tom Delay...A victim?

Next time, I'm going to have to follow your example and turn her off, she makes my blood pressure rise!

Videos

Malia and Sasha, Boehner, Cantor and Panetta
January 06, 2009 9:52 AM

Here's our Nightline report on President-elect Obama -- and Malia and Sasha Obama's -- Monday.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/01...

Biden to Visit Pakistan and Afghanistan As Tensions in Region Flare Up
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/01...

The Real Uglydolls of DC

EXCERPT:

So I am clicking through the papers this morning when I see on the front page of the Chicago Sun Times a headline teaser that catches my eye – "Sasha's dad has cool job, but pals will marvel at Uglydoll". Sasha is my favorite of the two Obama girls, with full cheeks and button eyes that remind me of one of my cousins during their childhood. But its this "Uglydoll" reference that's got my attention, because I've never heard of them before.

Another click and I've got the whole story about the Uglydoll, an accidental toy design that seems to be the rage among the younger children of the well-to-do. I look down the page while I'm reading and there they are, the entire cast of Uglydoll's are all lined up for a photo shoot.

They're cuter than those horrid Bratz dolls.

Did any see the 3 ring circus today in DC? IL people I'm sorry but Roland Burris is making your State look like a laughing stock. I still can't believe one black man let a corrupt White man use him in this manner. This was Blago's whole point, by appointing Burris he's taken all the media attention off himself and put in on Burris who's ego is the size of a 747.

Feinstein should be slapped down for her comments yesterday and Rockerfeller and Bayh need to get called out by Rahm too: hopefully he'll turn back into a pitbull over this.

The fact is that Panetta as chief of staff dealt with EVERY part of goverment and knows the agencies and regulators and their functions like the back of his hand. He's crazy smart and a man with genuine integrity that is clearly present even when you disagree with him. And he's got balls: he resigned from the Nixon adminstration in protest of the Southern Strategy that was so successful. That's when he became a democrat.

Obama needs to send a message to the agency and he needs someone who has his back and knows how to work in a knife fight: because the pentagon folks and intelligence folks are gunning for him. Panetta has dealt with intelligence directly to make decisions, he has the trust of the president, knows how to deliver information, knows the budget, and can reform the agency with no history and no issues or baggage.

He's a smart capable man who has the capabilty to transform an agency that has failed; repeatedly.

The second round of Open for Questions is up -- Vote early, promote often is my take on it from the civil liberties perspective, and Ideas for Change: second-round voting underway! on Pam's House Blend looks at things from the LGBTQ view.

G'morning all. Happy Pre-Inauguration.

I am back in the political groove. I took a break from all things stressfull and am now ready to get back on track. Question - Did Republican Strategist Joe Watkins have a stroke? I just watched him on MSNBC and he looks like the right side of his face was drawn. He either had a stroke or is about to have one. Just checking because I was out of the loop until today.

Val: :>) I think that he just got some "LEFT-ligion!" He's been less critical of Mr. President-Elect Obama, recently! :>)

BUT, Ima keep watchin' him! :>) :>)

oh okay. I didnt care too much for him during the election cycle but he did look a bit sick. .. Thanks Greenlady.

val: Me either! I usta "fuss" at him errytime he spoke!! :>) :>)

Annnnnnd, I really couldn't get his VERY CRITICAL statements! AArrrgggg!

Still don't trust him!! :>)

Breaking News

MSNBC Reporting:


Roland Burris Arrives On Capital Hill To Take Senate Seat

Burris Press Conference coming up shortly...

What an awesome tree! Love those cookies, too.

The PBS NewsHour Blog has a recording of Inauguration Poet, Elizabeth Alexander, reading one of her latest, "American Sublime." I can't say that I understand all of it, but it is lovely to hear: http://tinyurl.com/8na4q9

Also, I recently wrote about a favorite poem by another very talented black poet, Kevin Young: http://tinyurl.com/9nt62b

That tree is so cute! What a great idea! :-)

Agree. Melinda you did a fine job of honoring PEO and his upcoming Inauguration!
Thanks for sharing the creative visuals.

Thanks for not thinking....or at least not *writing*.....that I am a complete nut, who maybe had too much time on her hands right after Christmas....! : )

It's my way of coping with living in a Red State. And the Inauguration Tree will be a nice, festive touch when I have some friends over to watch the great festivities on TV on the 20th!

Even in Texas, there are those of us who celebrate the coming presidency of Barack Hussein Obama.

You're so welcome! I'm putting together an Obama scrapbook for my future grandchildren; so it's all things Obama in my house.

Melinda, have a wonderful Inauguration celebration and a prosperous and Blessed Happy 2009! :-)

The Mystical Negro and Self Flagellation: Looking at the way whties use blacks to declare themselves non racist and then throw them a bone for a reward.

Sweat: A black woman struggles with her weight.

Sen. Diane Feinstein is throwing a fit because of the nomination of Leon Panetta for CIA Director.I think since she supported the torture policies in the past she might be liable if charges are ever brought and Panetta with no ties to the criminals just might be the guy to clean up the mess.

she did support torture techniques and the wire tapping stuff. she also voted for micheal mulkasy one of i think 20 dem senators who voted for him. She wanted another guy who also supported torture. she can get the hell over herself.

I totally agree. To hell with Diane Feinstein. She has been nothing but a Bush enabler for the past years. She can eat dirt!

So, then.....who would you pick?

Panetta!

Barack Obama is a shrewd politician. He knows what he's doing!

Sorry ass Feinstein voted for confirmation of double sorry ass pro-torture Michael Mukasey. Her pride is hurt because PEO didn't consult her first. She need to stfu!

Co-sign! Giving you a ^5.

Clearly, she is suffering from a case of "Miss Ann Syndrome".

For sure!

They all are going to suffering from Miss Ann and Mr. charlie syndrome......shortly.

Couldn't disagree more.

This isn't about picking someone with no ties to "the criminals;" it's about picking someone with no ties to or background with the intelligence community whatsoever. You can't honestly believe he's the best person for the job.

Were this the first pick in Obama's national security team, I'd be seriously concerned about how serious he was taking things. Doubt he gets confirmed.

Then too, you make a point: if Panetta is just presiding over an agency that's just routing people to prison, maybe he is the best person for the job.

D read this piece by Robert Baer a former CIA field officer.He sums it up best why this is a good pick
Leon Panetta: An Intel Outsider the CIA Needs
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,859...

Deferring to the author's experience, I see his point....and honestly, can't say I disagree (with the exception of his suggestion of doing away with the covert action side).

But there's no one with both the political savvy AND the intelligence background that could do the job? You're telling me no one like that doesn't exist? It just seems really risky to have someone come in to that job behind a learning curve.

God help me, but I'd actually prefer Richard Clarke...and I'm not a fan of his AT ALL.

George H.W. Bush.

Huh?

Well D, if you're gonna question whether or not someone is the best person for the job - its only right that every response to you simply be "George H.W. Bush"

Well, Miranda, if we're going to play games, let's at least play them with the right people, shall we?

D. George H.W. Bush had no intelligence experience when he became CIA director.

Big difference between 1976-1977 and now....

Lets look at the differences.The Soviet Union was our enemy with the capacity to end our world.Red China even with relations just starting was our enemy.The country just got thru with a constitutional crisis with Watergate.Today a terrorist organization while still dangerous are holed up in caves.I see your point we live in much dangerous times today.

Your answer could be sarcastic or serious...so before I really respond, which is it?

It was serious till the last sentence then I just couldn't help myself.

LOL.

And I actually thought the whole thing was serious.

Yes, and those differences make it that much more inportant that the agency be headed up by someone with a fresher, less "inside" perspective.

I'm not worried about the "inside" perspective; I'm concerned about having someone who, post-9/11, has no background in intelliegence whatsoever. That's my problem.

I'm sure Panetta's a capable administrator and manager, but that's not all the job entails.

George H.W. Bush


You can't win this game D.

Its reeeallly interesting to see who is breaking into a sweat over Panetta, isn't it?

Yes it is.....a lot will be revealed abou these folks, a lot sooner than I thought.

Co-sgin, Miranda. He/She who screams the loudest, has the most to hide. Panetta's clearly a threat to some.

Double co-sign. Diane Feinstein masquerades here in Ca as a progressive liberal while being a war hawk. My beef with her is she supports whatever the hell Israel doles out without question. Any questions get you an anti-semitic label.

Yep!

Al Jazeera English Beats Israel's Ban on Reporters in Gaza with Exclusive Coverage

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ahmed-shihabeldin...