What goes through my my mind when I read the news with my morning coffee. …Or for the Simon's Rockers in the group, this is my response journal.
Republicans gather at former plantation to discuss minority outreach | The Raw Story
“What better place for today’s GOP to hold strategy sessions titled, ‘Successful communication with minorities and women,’ than on the grounds of a former plantation in the south?”
?!!!!
Obama gives unexpected nod to climate as second term priority | Reuters
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!
Analysis: In speech, Obama pushes activist government and takes on far right – chicagotribune.com
Hope. It was great campaigning but effectively empty nonsense.
NH voter. I’m not supporting anyone unless they have given me a lot of reason to do so I won’t go all the way to belief but you know? I’m optimistic about what this man can do if he keeps this up. Huh, that snuck up on me! There it is though, I do have hope for the next four years.
Confident Obama lays out battle plan as he launches second term | Reuters
Yep, to everything the article says.
I was swimming against the tream of popular sentiment four years ago. Four years ago today I was more ebullient about a Democrat winning than I was full of hope for Obama’s promise of change.
It seems I am going against the grain of convential thought again. I am lot more hopeful about this term than I ever was about the last one. I have a lot more confidence in a seasoned, second term President Obama to get the job done and fight the good fight than I did President-Elect Obama.
Greying-haired Obama is more likable and less holier than thou too. Voters love it when other human appear human, in small controlled doses. It works.
Inauguration 2013: Vice President Biden Delivers Remarks at Heroes Ball | Video – ABC News
Loved watching Joe ham it up today. The talking heads were chattering about Biden’s plans for 2016.
The Vice President seems so free and easy and he is just a delight to watch in action. It struck me as I watch him run over to the ropes and hug children that perhaps he wouldn’t be able to be so free and easy if he was the President.
I like off-the-cuff, having fun Joe. He’s a capable statesman and an asset to the administration. He’s like Gore, except engaging and likable.
I’m not sure I want to see the Vice President run and have all of that filter on him. I’d rather see him continue to be an elder statesman. Perhaps help secure an vulnerable Senate seat near a large military installation. I felt terrible thinking it because I like the Vice President so much. It’s not that he’s not Presidential, it’s the fact that the opposition knows no shame and Biden is best when he can be off-the-cuff.
I’d love to see the Vice President his career of public service in elected office. Because I’ve grown to like and admire Biden, I want Joe in a position where he can be free to Joe.
Impeccable.
Well played.
Looks like it was genuinely enjoyed by you both too.
Striking all the right notes here.
Shows a lot of thought about creating that image. Brilliant.
Barack brought the Lincoln and MLK Bible
Daaaaang, bringing it all to the table with you, eh? I like it.
Perfect notes to strike with all of the specific copies of the Bibles today.
Biden sworn in on his family Bible
Subtle Catholic shout-out. Nice.
Presidential inauguration 2013 Pictures – CBS News
They look great.
Almost a updated, more tailored version of Westerbergian attire.
Mixed with some early sixties. Actually forget Heathers, it’s very heavy on the early sixties. Very retro shapes but modern lines and accessories.
hmmmm. Comes together well, looks great, sets the right backdrop. I’m realizing I’ve come to expect that out of the Obamas. Hmmmm. Kudos.
Presidential inauguration 2013 Pictures – CBS News
Given the girls’ antics in the viewing box later on I wonder if the kissy-face was coached. Hmmm. Little things count when constructing an image. All for it. A tightly sealed and polished persona is what will work best to insulate the family and set the right backdrop for the President’s political persona.
Sen. Schumer Opens Inaugural – ABC News
To paraphrase how one ABC correspondent put it, he really did look like a happy father at his kid’s Bar Mitzvah. Schumer was having a blast!
Presidential inauguration 2013 Pictures – CBS News
This picture is perfect for history books.
Presidential inauguration 2013 Pictures – CBS News
This picture makes me happy.
CBS political director urges Obama to ‘go for the throat’ of GOP to cement legacy | Fox News
Hey look! Faux is spreading Network News’ narrative instead of the other way around!
A speech that shows how Obama has changed
“Obama’s first presidential campaign, and his first inaugural address, were about moving America past our old arguments. His second presidential campaign, and his second inaugural address, were about winning those arguments.”
What’s that? Do we have what could be a leader, someone who gets things done in the (White) House?
Time will tell but could be. Could be.
You were given the job so you can fight the good fight. So, now that you have hopefully put down the hubris and naivete, go fight!
Obama’s Progressive Second Inaugural Address — Daily Intelligencer
“His second was given over almost entirely to ends rather than means.”
Yeah, baby! Hot air is hot air. Let the effectiveness begin.
Obama’s Second Inaugural Address: Defining His First Term And His Legacy | The New Republic
hmmmm.
take away? “Stated that way, these ideas may seem relatively uncontroversial.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJHdBB3YX9k
Thanks BHO. Striking the right notes earlier today and now. Really proud of you right now.
Proud of you, and proud of having you as my President.
…I’ll still get all sorts of vitriolic on you when you piss me off but I feel pretty good about what I saw today. From your speech, to the Episcopalian Reverend Luis Leon giving the Benediction, to you staying and watching the entire parade, you hit the right notes. Thank you.
Coming from the Edwards camp and having exercised my privilege as a NH voter to watch the campaigns from their inceptions, I had my doubts about your support and realistic goals for civil rights, the middle class, education, and the environment to name but a few. Don’t get me started on your general election found love of civil discourse after the tone of the primary. No really, it hurts to roll my eyes that much.
Speaking of reasons to roll your eyes… Yes, Edwards. Yes, I know. Done groaning yet? With 20/20 hindsight I am happy that he didn’t win but proud of my support for that campaign. Edwards was an irresponsible and flawed vessel but I loved his message. His platform blew anything else away in my book. Plus, Elizabeth Edwards was a seriously cool and inspiring woman.
Watching the Obama platform take shape and then become this bloated balloon of promises… Well, I was very happy a Democrat won but still somewhat skeptical about you, Mr. President. I was concerned about your preparedness. I was somewhat skeptical of what appeared to the New Hampshire voter in me to be lip service to the very issues I care most about. I was downright distrustful of your commitment to civil rights.
I understand the additional weight taking on issues that very much involve race puts on a man in your position. I do sympathize on a human level. On a voting citizen who is expecting you to get the job done level? Well… I’m sorry it’s tough on you, but you begged for this; you better rise to the occasion.
I still take a somewhat cynical view of your support for marriage equality and LGBT rights in your first term. It was like a bone you could throw to the Left to shut them up about everything else. It just happened to appease one of the best funded and well organized special interest groups on that side of the aisle as well. If that was what was intended, so be it. Well played. It didn’t convince me of your good intentions on any other issue on the Left but it seemed to signify some game playing strategy being in place and I’m all for that.
We started our new relationship -the President and the voice speaking to no one besides the wind- on the wrong foot. Besides being a treasured shining light beckoning our church to the future it is meant to embody, Gene Robinson is one of my civil rights heroes. I was a wee bit put out that I didn’t get to see him on television in 2009.
It took four years but I can truly say I finally forgive you for slighting the Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson on that day. When I mentioned this development earlier to another one of my civil right heroes, My mom, she pointed out that Gene had long forgiven you. I pointed out to her that Gene is holy, spiritual person and I am simply a human being. I can hold a grudge if I want to. And I did. Until this afternoon. Thank you for everything you did to set a different tone today.
The 2009 slight to my tiny little corner of Christianity, the slight to civil rights, it seemed emblematic of the distrust I had for you. My negativity simmered through strategic complaints about Health Care and exploded at the BP Oil Spill response. (For the record, we’re still not square there. Two words: Environmental Disaster. A few more words: Registered Southern Voters.)
I’m a Democrat. I lean Left on a lot of issues. I wanted to see you do well. I looked and looked and started to see flashes of brilliance in strategy and image positioning as your re-election efforts got going. The way your administration conducted itself in the last few months and weeks before the campaign was encouraging.
You sailed through one of the best examples ever of why liberals and progressives need to keep their traps shut about the Electoral College. I exhaled. Four more years to stock the court and beat back the Right. For the most part, your administration’s behavior since Election Day has been a breath of fresh air.
Today’s ceremony, from beginning to end, was hopefully emblematic of a new phase in your Presidency. I was almost inspired by it. That doesn’t happen very often. Inspiration is high praise that I usually reserve for the Big Dog, #42. (I’m a sucker for someone who plays the game well and gets things done.) Emoting strength and tenacity is a tricky balance. Veer too much into bluster or shrill and it makes one look ineffectual. Balance the two and and you might even be able to project determination and ability like someone who can play the game. It’s a new thing thing for me to even conceive of you pulling this off but today you really came off as someone who knows the game and is prepared to play it well.
If you can’t play the game then you can’t expect to win. Lately you’ve been looking like someone who can play the game. Dare I hope this is being actualized behind the scenes too? High-minded is nice. Effective is much better.
Today I am proud of you, Mr. President. That’s a new phase in our relationship. I won’t say I expect good things but you keep this up and I just might.
~Aloha
I feel like I am watching a high-school station’s coverage of the red carpet at a lesser awards show. Seriously? These people are reporters? All they have is twitter. You know what I have? Twitter. Don’t they have a whole research department? Or at least some intrepid, ambitious and resourceful interns? They definitely have access to the people who put on the parade.
I’m not saying don’t talk about the clothes but really? This is all you can come up with to say?
Dear Network News, do you have any information to share with me that I do not have easy access to myself? How about the parade that is passing in front of the viewing station? You know, the one people tuned in to see.
It really seems like they do not even have a list of the participants. It seems incredible that this information, in the order of appearance, long before the talking heads sat down.
Ironically as I started to type this the “journalists” actually just finished speaking about something that might pass as news or at least information the average viewer might not know. The topic? D.C.’s taxation without representation.
Of course, they did start out the -I won’t say segment because I don’t want to give them too much credit- banter with one of the idiots misrepresenting the facts of the situation. No, you freaking ignoramus. The issued is not that they without representative members of Congress. The issue is that their Representative can’t vote. Important point there boss. You’ve heard of research, right? Is anyone in the production familiar with the concept?!
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Not to call out ABC, I suspect all network news have followed the cable station down the path towards TMZ and Op-Eds and away from actual information today.
Dear Network News, Fuck your programming director and all of their decision-making cohorts network news. Fuck them very much.
That being said, they did have a few strong moments of clarifying and illuminating commentary. They did end on a strong note around 6pm.
(Seriously network news, get your heads out of your asses. If you don’t show us something we can’t easily get on twitter and E! News, why should we tune in????!)
Comments From The Peanut Gallery 