Sleep tight, kids.
Showing posts with label President Obama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label President Obama. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Saturday, June 16, 2012
The President's Full Statement On Immigration
June 16th, 2012
The full transcript of POTUS' remarks is below the video.
Transcript via the NY Times:
The full transcript of POTUS' remarks is below the video.
Transcript via the NY Times:
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Regarding Alice Stewart
Feb 21st, 2012
Of course she didn't mean to call President Obama's positions on environmental issues "radical Islamic" policies.
So fucking what?
That she slipped so casually in her role as Santorum's National Press Secretary speaks volumes regarding what is acceptable when that camp is behind closed doors.
Of course she didn't mean to call President Obama's positions on environmental issues "radical Islamic" policies.
So fucking what?
That she slipped so casually in her role as Santorum's National Press Secretary speaks volumes regarding what is acceptable when that camp is behind closed doors.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Obama's Numbers Are Up
Dec 27th, 2011
For the first time since July, Gallup's daily Presidential approval polling has Obama's positives outweighing the negatives, 47% to 45%. A couple of other prominent polls put the approval number slightly higher. It seems fairly obvious that the payroll tax cut fiasco has helped his position.
For the first time since July, Gallup's daily Presidential approval polling has Obama's positives outweighing the negatives, 47% to 45%. A couple of other prominent polls put the approval number slightly higher. It seems fairly obvious that the payroll tax cut fiasco has helped his position.
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| Screenshot - original, interactive version available at Gallup |
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Will Obama Veto S1867? cont...
Dec 1st, 2011
William Rivers Pitt wonders is not confident and wonders if we've simply gone too far to turn back and if any President could possibly be principled enough in this climate to do the right thing:
"The dreary fact of the matter is that the slash-and-burn attitude taken towards the US Constitution by the Bush administration did such tremendous damage to the most basic underpinnings of this society that it was widely feared there would be no going back. After all, any politician who has gotten to the point where the office of the President is even a possibility is a politician absolutely drenched in hubris, ego, and a desire for personal power. It cannot be any other way; there are no angels flying in that rarefied atmosphere of American politics, and my rule of thumb for many years now has been that a politician most people have heard of is, to one degree or another, an utter and complete bastard, for only utter and complete bastards have the will and ruthlessness to achieve such heights...and when it comes to presidents and serious presidential contenders, multiply that by a factor of ten. I've met a great many of them on too many campaign trails, and trust me, almost none of them are people you'd like to be stuck in an elevator with, much less allow them to run the country."
William Rivers Pitt wonders is not confident and wonders if we've simply gone too far to turn back and if any President could possibly be principled enough in this climate to do the right thing:
"The dreary fact of the matter is that the slash-and-burn attitude taken towards the US Constitution by the Bush administration did such tremendous damage to the most basic underpinnings of this society that it was widely feared there would be no going back. After all, any politician who has gotten to the point where the office of the President is even a possibility is a politician absolutely drenched in hubris, ego, and a desire for personal power. It cannot be any other way; there are no angels flying in that rarefied atmosphere of American politics, and my rule of thumb for many years now has been that a politician most people have heard of is, to one degree or another, an utter and complete bastard, for only utter and complete bastards have the will and ruthlessness to achieve such heights...and when it comes to presidents and serious presidential contenders, multiply that by a factor of ten. I've met a great many of them on too many campaign trails, and trust me, almost none of them are people you'd like to be stuck in an elevator with, much less allow them to run the country."
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Relative American Inequality
Sept 20th, 2011
Max Fisher has written a spirited defense of the so-called "Buffett Rule" in the plan President Obama outlined yesterday.
"Obama's "Buffett rule" is a response to a number of U.S. economic issues (as well as some relevant political openings) related to the recession. One of the most severe is income inequality -- the gaps between wealthy, super-wealthy, and everyone else -- a serious, long-worsening problem that makes the recession more painful and recovery more difficult. To get a sense of just how bad our income inequality has become, it's worth taking a look at how we stack up to the rest of the world.
Viewed comparatively, U.S. income inequality is even worse than you might expect. Perfect comparisons across the world's hundred-plus economies would be impossible -- standards of living, the price of staples, social services, and other variables all mean that relative poverty feels very different from one country to another. But, in absolute terms, the gulf between rich and poor is still telling. Income inequality can be measured and compared using something called the Gini coefficient, a century-old formula that measures national economies on a scale from 0.00 to 0.50, with 0.50 being the most unequal. The Gini coefficient is reliable enough that the CIA world factbook uses it."
For those of you who have not heard of the Gini coefficient before, here is an explanation of how it works based on its metric, the Lorenz curve:
"The Lorenz curve maps the cumulative income share on the vertical axis against the distribution of the population on the horizontal axis. In this example, 40 percent of the population obtains around 20 percent of total income. If each individual had the same income, or total equality, the income distribution curve would be the straight line in the graph – the line of total equality. The Gini coefficient is calculated as the area A divided by the sum of areas A and B. If income is distributed completely equally, then the Lorenz curve and the line of total equality are merged and the Gini coefficient is zero. If one individual receives all the income, the Lorenz curve would pass through the points (0,0), (100,0) and (100,100), and the surfaces A and B would be similar, leading to a value of one for the Gini-coefficient."
As he explains, the map below illustrates the range of income inequality with "the most unequal countries in red and the most equal in green."
Max Fisher has written a spirited defense of the so-called "Buffett Rule" in the plan President Obama outlined yesterday.
"Obama's "Buffett rule" is a response to a number of U.S. economic issues (as well as some relevant political openings) related to the recession. One of the most severe is income inequality -- the gaps between wealthy, super-wealthy, and everyone else -- a serious, long-worsening problem that makes the recession more painful and recovery more difficult. To get a sense of just how bad our income inequality has become, it's worth taking a look at how we stack up to the rest of the world.
Viewed comparatively, U.S. income inequality is even worse than you might expect. Perfect comparisons across the world's hundred-plus economies would be impossible -- standards of living, the price of staples, social services, and other variables all mean that relative poverty feels very different from one country to another. But, in absolute terms, the gulf between rich and poor is still telling. Income inequality can be measured and compared using something called the Gini coefficient, a century-old formula that measures national economies on a scale from 0.00 to 0.50, with 0.50 being the most unequal. The Gini coefficient is reliable enough that the CIA world factbook uses it."
For those of you who have not heard of the Gini coefficient before, here is an explanation of how it works based on its metric, the Lorenz curve:
Fine, you might say. What does all that mean? Fisher shows us with this stark presentation:
As he explains, the map below illustrates the range of income inequality with "the most unequal countries in red and the most equal in green."
Saturday, July 23, 2011
What If?
July 23rd, 2011
What if a Republican President was presiding over a stock market rally such as this one? I believe a currency redesign to accommodate his profile might well be underway.
What if a Republican President was presiding over a stock market rally such as this one? I believe a currency redesign to accommodate his profile might well be underway.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
The Real Enemy Has A Name Now...
May 19th, 2011
Today, David Corn called it like it is. Forget "birtherism." Forget "deatherism." Forget accusations against "B. Hussein Obama" of "socialism." The hard core enemies of this President, nearly to a one, can be described most accurately as devotees to "otherism."
He writes in Mother Jones:
"Birtherism is (was?) fundamentally about delegitimizing Barack Obama—proving him a complete fraud. (It's been hard not to assume there was a racial component to the endeavor.) Yet the birthers, dependent on conspiracy theories, were easily done in by basic facts. Seen as reality-denying extremists, the birthers became a drag upon the GOP; only Donald Trump would embrace them fully—and that hardly turned out well.
Yet otherism continues and thrives. This line of attack is far more in sync with routine political practices. Otherism can be advanced with hints and suggestions. It comes in different guises. It can be gussied up with other questions: Does Obama really believe in America the Experiment, or America the Exceptional? The strategy is to fuel suspicion, not prove a conspiracy. But the goal is the same: to encourage voters to believe Obama is not a real American.
The key audience for otherists, though, is not the general public. Obama, according to the polls, remains popular, even when voters disapprove of his policies or his handling of key matters. But many tea partiers and other conservatives do view Obama as an interloper and harbor deep fears about him and his agenda. GOP presidential contenders and party leaders need to appeal to these sentiments, and some, no doubt, seek to exploit them. Otherism offers a way to do so.
Unlike birtherism, otherism remains quite useful to the Republicans. Not even the adults of the party can resist its ugly temptations."
Today, David Corn called it like it is. Forget "birtherism." Forget "deatherism." Forget accusations against "B. Hussein Obama" of "socialism." The hard core enemies of this President, nearly to a one, can be described most accurately as devotees to "otherism."
He writes in Mother Jones:
"Birtherism is (was?) fundamentally about delegitimizing Barack Obama—proving him a complete fraud. (It's been hard not to assume there was a racial component to the endeavor.) Yet the birthers, dependent on conspiracy theories, were easily done in by basic facts. Seen as reality-denying extremists, the birthers became a drag upon the GOP; only Donald Trump would embrace them fully—and that hardly turned out well.
Yet otherism continues and thrives. This line of attack is far more in sync with routine political practices. Otherism can be advanced with hints and suggestions. It comes in different guises. It can be gussied up with other questions: Does Obama really believe in America the Experiment, or America the Exceptional? The strategy is to fuel suspicion, not prove a conspiracy. But the goal is the same: to encourage voters to believe Obama is not a real American.
The key audience for otherists, though, is not the general public. Obama, according to the polls, remains popular, even when voters disapprove of his policies or his handling of key matters. But many tea partiers and other conservatives do view Obama as an interloper and harbor deep fears about him and his agenda. GOP presidential contenders and party leaders need to appeal to these sentiments, and some, no doubt, seek to exploit them. Otherism offers a way to do so.
Unlike birtherism, otherism remains quite useful to the Republicans. Not even the adults of the party can resist its ugly temptations."
Sullivan Notes The Obvious... Again
May 19th, 2011
Well, President Obama gave another important speech to, and about, the Middle East. Sully notes that the reactions to this relatively cautious, generally uneventful and extraordinarily non-specific performance are almost uniformly flat-out-nuts.
"The meme that a speech that said almost nothing new is a "stunning" attack on Israel is countered on the right with an embrace of the speech by neoconservatives. Yeah: you couldn't make this conservative cognitive dissonance up."
Agreed. I am still trying to figure out what it is that right-wing nuts seem to have heard that wasn't actually said. The full text of the President's prepared remarks follow the video. My only real critique of his message is, basically, way to go. Barack Obama said about as much as any sitting President right this minute could possibly say without making the worst, most hopeless place in the world even more horribly unstable.
Well, President Obama gave another important speech to, and about, the Middle East. Sully notes that the reactions to this relatively cautious, generally uneventful and extraordinarily non-specific performance are almost uniformly flat-out-nuts.
"The meme that a speech that said almost nothing new is a "stunning" attack on Israel is countered on the right with an embrace of the speech by neoconservatives. Yeah: you couldn't make this conservative cognitive dissonance up."
Agreed. I am still trying to figure out what it is that right-wing nuts seem to have heard that wasn't actually said. The full text of the President's prepared remarks follow the video. My only real critique of his message is, basically, way to go. Barack Obama said about as much as any sitting President right this minute could possibly say without making the worst, most hopeless place in the world even more horribly unstable.
Monday, May 16, 2011
The OTHER Obama Derangement Syndrome
May 16th, 2011
by F. Grey Parker
Let's face it. We are living through one of those not-so-great American Eras within which collectively confirmed delusion runs rampant. There are obvious examples. Some folks are allowing their fears to be exploited for a buck. Others are huddling together online and repeating untruths to feel better about themselves. There are also subtler and ultimately more dangerous forms of group-think undermining our progress. So it goes in a time of unrest.
by F. Grey Parker
Let's face it. We are living through one of those not-so-great American Eras within which collectively confirmed delusion runs rampant. There are obvious examples. Some folks are allowing their fears to be exploited for a buck. Others are huddling together online and repeating untruths to feel better about themselves. There are also subtler and ultimately more dangerous forms of group-think undermining our progress. So it goes in a time of unrest.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Bill Maher Poses A Question
May 9th, 2011
"30 percent of this country will always vote Republican. I’m just asking why?"
"30 percent of this country will always vote Republican. I’m just asking why?"
Friday, May 6, 2011
To Show Or Not To Show
May 6th, 2011
There are so many reasons not to release the kill photos of Osama Bin Laden. Philip Gourevitch makes his case against it in The New Yorker and observes:
"The main argument for releasing a photograph of the punctured scalp of our enemy is that it will provide proof that bin Laden really is dead. In other words, seeing is believing. But does anyone really believe that any more? Believing is believing. People who want, or need, to believe that bin Laden wasn’t shot dead will have no difficulty believing that a picture of his cadaver is a fake, a simple propaganda trick. The release of Obama’s long-form birth certificate didn’t put an end to birtherism, so why would the release of bin Laden’s autopsy video put an end to deatherism? And why does the White House care to appease the holders of such delusions?"
There are so many reasons not to release the kill photos of Osama Bin Laden. Philip Gourevitch makes his case against it in The New Yorker and observes:
"The main argument for releasing a photograph of the punctured scalp of our enemy is that it will provide proof that bin Laden really is dead. In other words, seeing is believing. But does anyone really believe that any more? Believing is believing. People who want, or need, to believe that bin Laden wasn’t shot dead will have no difficulty believing that a picture of his cadaver is a fake, a simple propaganda trick. The release of Obama’s long-form birth certificate didn’t put an end to birtherism, so why would the release of bin Laden’s autopsy video put an end to deatherism? And why does the White House care to appease the holders of such delusions?"
Mindbogglingly Epic Fail
May 6th, 2011
I don't know how I missed this one earlier in the week. Simply amazing.
I don't know how I missed this one earlier in the week. Simply amazing.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
It Mattered To Us...
May 3rd, 2011
by F. Grey Parker
The news of Osama Bin Laden's death at the hands of U.S. Forces operating deep inside Pakistan may well define us in a way matched only by a certain bad September day nearly 10 years ago.
by F. Grey Parker
The news of Osama Bin Laden's death at the hands of U.S. Forces operating deep inside Pakistan may well define us in a way matched only by a certain bad September day nearly 10 years ago.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Serious Business
May 2nd, 2011
These are the faces of the administration while watching the operation to get Bin Laden unfold live from a world away. Powerful stuff.
These are the faces of the administration while watching the operation to get Bin Laden unfold live from a world away. Powerful stuff.
The un-Official Obama Statement
May 2nd, 2011
You've probably already seen this. It has certainly gone viral. I figured I'd post it anyway.
You've probably already seen this. It has certainly gone viral. I figured I'd post it anyway.
It Was Time Travel
May 2nd, 2011
Satire
The successful elimination of the terrorist Osama Bin Laden by the Obama Administration was just the beginning. There was another bombshell announcement from Washington this afternoon. It was revealed that early this morning President Barack Obama ordered the use of previously secret technology to send former President George W. Bush back in time to give a message of hope to the troops
and Bush himself one more chance.
Papers from the period in 2003 to which he was temporarily returned show that W, true to form, got the message a little wrong. Having taken along the MISSION ACCOMPLISHED banner Secretary Clinton had made yesterday rather than the WE WILL GET BIN LADEN banner he was supposed to display, years of hilarity ensued.
Referring to the WE WILL GET BIN LADEN banner left behind by the former President, President Obama is rumored to have muttered, "What the hell am I supposed to do with this?" When asked if perhaps the former President might be sent back to the past a second time to attempt to undo the damage, President Obama reportedly burst into hysterical laughter which subsided quickly before his asking, "you weren't serious, right? I mean, I try and throw the guy a bone once and look what happens."
Satire
and Bush himself one more chance.
Papers from the period in 2003 to which he was temporarily returned show that W, true to form, got the message a little wrong. Having taken along the MISSION ACCOMPLISHED banner Secretary Clinton had made yesterday rather than the WE WILL GET BIN LADEN banner he was supposed to display, years of hilarity ensued.
Referring to the WE WILL GET BIN LADEN banner left behind by the former President, President Obama is rumored to have muttered, "What the hell am I supposed to do with this?" When asked if perhaps the former President might be sent back to the past a second time to attempt to undo the damage, President Obama reportedly burst into hysterical laughter which subsided quickly before his asking, "you weren't serious, right? I mean, I try and throw the guy a bone once and look what happens."
Epic Fox Fail 2
May 2nd, 2011
Seriously. This stuff only seems to happen on channels tha have anything to do with the Murdoch Device. This one is a doozy.
Seriously. This stuff only seems to happen on channels tha have anything to do with the Murdoch Device. This one is a doozy.
The President's Statement - Complete Transcript
May 2nd, 2011
The following is the complete transcript of President Obama's announcement last night that U.S. forces had killed Osama Bin Laden. The roughly nine minute statement began at 11:35 pm EDT.
"Good evening. Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda, and a terrorist who’s responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children.
The following is the complete transcript of President Obama's announcement last night that U.S. forces had killed Osama Bin Laden. The roughly nine minute statement began at 11:35 pm EDT.
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