Aparently the Miami Heat is famous for photobombs, and now the team has one for the Library of Congress. Shot is for one of the First Lady’s ‘Let’s Move’ PSAs — complete version at the link.
Between this and the ‘Blue Ivy plays with Sunny‘ pics on Beyonce’s Tumblr, Michelle Obama is looking pretty cool at 50… although I suspect her daughters are still rolling their eyes all Mooooom!, because that is their official job, as teenagers.
***********
Besides dealing with / waiting for the snow, what’s on the agenda for the evening?
Cacti
Another Florida gun owner has chased down and executed a young black male, claims self-defense.
lamh36
I literally just posted this on my FB and twitter feeds.
I want FLOTUS to be my older sister.
LanceThruster
This makes me smile just because it’s so playfully silly. I very much like the First Couple.
Cacti
Added to OP: Florida shooter in this case is African American, and victim is Afro-hispanic.
RaflW
Breaking: Rob Ford, drunk and blathering, part the XXXLVIII.
Ash Can
That video cracked me the hell up. Add photobombing to the ridiculously long list of our First Lady’s talents.
ETA: And I do mean the full-length version. She seems very much at home goofing off with those guys.
maximiliano furtive, formerly known as dr. bloor
Holy hell. I can hear the wingnut heads ‘sploding over this through the howling winds of our latest polar vortex.
Amir Khalid
@Cacti:
In this case, the threat had already passed when the shooter got his gun and began pursuing the trespasser. So “stand your ground” is now to be extended to let Floridians shoot those who are no longer a danger (not actually impossible, I admit) I don’t see how he escapes conviction for murder 2.
I’m not sure if the detail that both shooter and shootee are black means anything here. Law-enforcement racism in America, what I’ve seen of it, seems to come to the fore only when one of the perp/victim parties is white and the other is a person of colour.
Amir Khalid
Balloon-Juice seems to be loading rather slowly right now. Have the server hamsters been fed?
maximiliano furtive, formerly known as dr. bloor
@Amir Khalid: Steve ate them for dinner.
Suffern ACE
@Amir Khalid: it’s all sites here. I think the cold weather is slowing down the electrons. They are now traveling at 45 mph so they don’t skid off the interwebs.
MomSense
I do love the first family! I especially like seeing them enjoy themselves. FSM knows they have earned some time for just having fun.
BTW I miss Ray Allen. He was my favorite celts player.
The Golux
@MomSense:
As a UConn fan, I always felt that the first time Ray looked like he was wearing the right NBA uniform was when he finally arrived in Boston.
lamh36
Already handled!
Secret Service Visits GOP Candidate Who Advocated Obama’s Execution
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/florida-gop-candidate-obama-execution-secret-service
PurpleGirl
It’s been snowing in NYC since this morning. It’s supposed to get heavier overnight. I’m just staying in the living room where it is warmer. I’m watching TV right now but I might do some reading later.
ETA: To be accurate, I’m at the computer and have the TV on in the background.
joel hanes
Have you seen the one in which she greets the US Olympic basketball team ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4LVHkLLMa4
The woman is all class.
MomSense
@The Golux:
Yes!! I loved him in green! I’m happy for him, though. He is a great team player and seems happy where he is.
shelly
Waiting? We’re being snow-bombed right now. Jesus, can we just skip the month of February and go straight on to March?
schrodinger's cat
This gif is making the entire site load extremely slowly.
Tommy
@MomSense: That video just rocks. I mean if it was a Republican I’d find it amazing. That they just had some fun.
BTW: Check this out. All the sports coverage of Sherman, you have this from his team mate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2HD57z4F8E
Maybe the best line I’ve heard in a commercial this year, an NFL player that is deaf says:
MomSense
@joel hanes:
Even the coaches wanted in on the hugs!
Libby's person
A couple of us in Durham NC are planning to host a fundraiser for the NC House Democratic Caucus this spring. We looked at the calendar and found the perfect date for it – April Fools Day!” Seems like the perfect day to raise money to get rid of a few of these clowns. The leader of the NC House Dem Caucus says that they need to end up with a net gain of 5 Democrats in 2014 to break the Republican supermajority and start to bring some sanity back to this state; they’ve figured out which districts to prioritize and have recruited good candidates. We’ll do what we can to help them win!
Vote the Fools Out”, “We Won’t Be Fooled Again”… Any other ideas for theme-related slogans?
SarahT
@PurpleGirl: What, no panic shopping ? Judging by the crowds @ my local Met Foods, you’d think we were in for a storm so apocalyptic that…Wait, what ? Noooooooo ! http://gothamist.com/2014/01/21/listen_up_for_thundersnow.php
Mnemosyne
@lamh36:
Can we say what he called for? He called for a frickin’ lynching. He said, Let’s arrest him and hang him. That’s a lynching. Full goddamned stop.
GregB
@lamh36:
Tyranny! Obama sent in his goons!
shelly
I read his non-apology apology (all the rage these days) where he says he’s sorry if people were offended by what he said.
burnspbesq
It’s 3:13 p.m. here, a bit early to be thinking about evening activities.
In case you missed it when it dropped yesterday, here is Sean Wilentz’ TNR piece on Eddie, Greenie, and Julian.
http://www.newrepublic.com/article/116253/edward-snowden-glenn-greenwald-julian-assange-what-they-believe
lamh36
@Amir Khalid: this is what Zimmerman trial has wrought. More people aware of “stand ur ground” defense & willing to use it
MomSense
@Tommy:
That is a great video and even though it is an ad for a battery-trust the power within is good advice. I also love that he says people kept telling him what he couldn’t do but because he was deaf he couldn’t hear them. I know the you are a rock star uncle so I know you appreciate how important it is not to load up our kids with fear and worry and limitation. That video has some great messages.
Violet
@Libby’s person: Well, there’s “A Fool and His Money Are Soon Parted” but I don’t think that’ll work for you.
SarahT
@lamh36: Every day for the last 5 years I’ve said a silent & heartfelt “thank you” to the Secret Service.
Tommy
@shelly: Amazing, in not a good way. My parents live not that far from me near IN. I don’t think most folks know this, I didn’t. Not that long ago an entire town was set-up for the KKK. A horrible town. Crosses still get burned not that far from me. The only good thing is the law comes down hard on these folks. Not something that is acceptable.
burnspbesq
@Libby’s person:
“Coach Smith Wouldn’t Approve.” Which has the added benefit of being true.
MomSense
@burnspbesq:
Oh you’ve done it now. ;)
SarahT
@burnspbesq: Nothing new but very useful to have the info in one place
lamh36
Well, well, well, “Diaper Dave” Vitter is running for Governor of Lousiana and it’s possible he could win? Now let a Black Democratic candidate for Governor in Louisiana with David Vitter’s history try to run…the predominantly Republican state voters wouldn’t even let him get past a primary…ugh. I love the South, but ugh can’t stand Southern politics!
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/vitter-launches-gubernatorial-campaign
Rob_in_Hawaii
Gonna be in the 60s here tonight. That’s C-O-L-D for island folks! Brrrrr!
jeffreyw
Alas, something spooked Katie and now she will not come to us. She’s loose again outside. She was doing so well off leash and all of a sudden we are back to trying to catch her. Cold out, too.
Ash Can
@lamh36: I wonder how many times the words “stupid,” “fucking stupid,” and “shit for brains” were uttered during that little meeting.
Plantsmantx
@lamh36:
I did a Twitter search on this guy’s name, and guess what? No one has called him a “ni**er”. It’s hard not to notice the lack of real outrage over what this guy said compared to what Richard Sherman said.
rda909
@Mnemosyne: Oh quit playing the “lynching card!11!” /sarahpalin
bemused
@lamh36:
I don’t know what it says about the state of our country or me that I was momentarily surprised that he actually got a visit.
Tommy
@MomSense: I like to think I am the “rock star uncle.” Her parents and my parents are really the “cool” people in the room and if I didn’t convey what they did, well I wouldn’t be allowed to be around her.
There is a story I like to tell. There is a III at the end of my name. Since 1886 we’ve not had a daughter born on my side of the family. Ponder that for a few …..
I doubt I will have kids. My brother, well only Katie. If somebody tells her she can’t be anything she wants to be you will have to deal with us (my parents, her parents, me). I recall sitting in her room and she asked me my favorite color. I said purple. She, and she is four, said purple was a girl color. I went on, and later her parents hopped in, to tell her no color was a girl or boy color.
We were/are so anal that she doesn’t think this or that is a “girl” thing.
Mnemosyne
@shelly:
Ironically, he fits right in with some of our “left-wing” trolls here. My first reaction was, I didn’t realize mclaren was running for office in Florida!
@Rob_in_Hawaii:
I think you guys are also getting hit with the drought conditions that are hitting the rest of us on the West Coast.
lamh36
Has anyone bothered to check on Joe Scarborough after this news about the former Va guv McDonnell! Wasn’t he another one of Morning Joe’s GOP Guv crushes? If Christie is indicted for anything, someone will need to be on suicide watch!
Bob McDonnell, Wife Charged In Gifts Case
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/bob-mcdonnell-charged
Amir Khalid
@jeffreyw:
Oh dear. I remember how long it took you to catch Katie the last time she got loose. I hope she (and you) will be all right in this cold weather.
lamh36
Drip…Drip…Drip…, we’ll have to see if the US AG agrees?
Experts: Enough evidence to pursue Hoboken mayor’s claims against Christie administration
ranchandsyrup
Will FLOTUS be called a thug? The word was used over 600 times yesterday when referring to Richard Sherman.
Seems like the wrong word to me to use. *shrug*
Tommy
@Amir Khalid: Well the only thing I have to say is animals used to be animals before we brought them into our homes. The lady that lives behind me got a rabbit. This large area it lives. For a few days it was -10 here and -45 with the wind chill. I wondered if the little guy made it. Oh he did. I recall cooking dinner, looking out at her backyard, and there was a bunny hopping around :).
kindness
I love Michelle. If only she would run. The combination of her and Hillary in a race would drive the rightwingnutz out of their minds….what little they have that is.
Cacti
@Amir Khalid:
His defense doesn’t sound all that different from Zimmerman’s, in that he grabbed his gun and went to see what the now dead guy was up to. He says that his house had been recently burglarized, he suspected the other guy might have been responsible, and that when he confronted the the now dead guy, there was a scuffle and dead guy tried to take his gun away from him.
There’s no duty to retreat under SYG.
I don’t see him becoming the unofficial mascot of Fox News, though.
Mandalay
@lamh36: Mr. and Mrs. McDonnell are toast. The charges include “False Statements” and “Obstruction of Official Proceeding”.
PsiFighter37
Former VA governor Bob McDonnell got his sorry ass indicted (along with his wife). Basically sounds like he was broke as shit and pimped the hell out of a campaign donor to cover a lot of costs. Hope he likes the clink…and hope Terry Mac doesn’t follow his example.
It makes me wonder how Nathan Deal (current governor of Georgia) hasn’t gotten his ass indicted yet. If I recall, he was in the same situation and did pretty much the same shit when he was in Congress.
Also, too, I’m drinking a Double Bastard Ale from Stone with my medium-spiced chicken biryani. Life is good when you’re not outside freezing your ass off in the snow.
WaterGirl
@jeffreyw: Could you rig up some kind of shelter on the porch or something so even if she won’t come to you she can at least get out of the elements?
Comrade Mary
OH HAI here’s a video of a drunk/stoned Rob Ford pretending to be black in a Toronto Steak Queen. And here’s the hoser to Jamaican to English translation.
Cacti
@ranchandsyrup:
As you know, what they really mean is “black guy that I don’t like”.
What they really want to call him is no longer socially acceptable.
But I do expect Peyton Manning to be promoted to the new champion of anglo-saxon virtue, who must vanquish the African villain.
Yatsuno
@Amir Khalid: While I was out with my brother, I was getting 504 errors every now and again like the page wasn’t there. But it was only when I aimed for the top story or for the main page itself. As always, I blame FYWP.
ranchandsyrup
@Cacti: The internalization of the Southern Stategery is 200% complete. It’s not just for politics.
Libby's person
@burnspbesq: I’m in Coach K-land here (I started in Coach Smith world, very many years ago). Coach K wouldn’t approve either, but there might be a bit more ambiguity about exactly what it was he wasn’t approving of…
Mike in NC
Got back today from five days in Tampa Bay, and it seemed flights to Newark and points north were mostly cancelled due to snow.
Driving around central Florida, at times it appeared that every other little strip mall had a gun store.
BethanyAnne
The Vine of that gif has sound :) https://vine.co/v/MBWMEXheMUF
jeffreyw
@WaterGirl: I carried her dog bed out to the garage.
Tommy
@Cacti: This may sound strange to people. I grew up in a military family. Racism just wasn’t allowed. I recall going to college and people called others “nigger” or made a joke about “Jews” and I didn’t understand. I recall hearing a joke and the person was like you realize Jews are cheap right? I was like I didn’t know that, what is a Jew? These are things I wasn’t raised around. I’d learn later a lot of stuff. much of which I didn’t like, but it was possible to be raised not to know these things.
JPL
@jeffreyw: How long has she been loose? Hopefully she returns soon.
MomSense
@PsiFighter37:
In drinking an Arrogant Bastard by Stone sitting by the fire trying to stay warm!
PsiFighter37
@MomSense: I haven’t been able to find any for over a year, but what is really phenomenal is the oaked barrel version of Arrogant Bastard. Probably my favorite beer if you had to ask me outright – that extra flavor really does a number on enhancing an already-biting flavor.
lamh36
Yatsuno
@Cacti:
Well the quarterback for the Seahacks is also of a darkish hue. So you could be right here.
Bonnie
Snow? We have a very lovely day here in the great Pacific Northwest.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@lamh36: Wow. I’d be willing to bet that has more to do with Christie’s self-promoting triangulation against other Republicans than any evidence, but that’s still bad news for the JoeMika-bandwagon.
Mnemosyne
@jeffreyw:
Oh, Katie! Hopefully she’ll realize more quickly this time that living inside a warm house is better than being in the snow.
jeffreyw
@JPL: She’s been out for four or five hours now. She will hang around like she did before, I hope. She was loose for several months early last year. We caught her last spring and she has been out only on a leash until a week ago. She had been coming to us, readily coming into the house. Not sure why she is spooked now. She was frightened this afternoon when a kitteh knocked a lamp from a table, she ran back to “her” room.
Yatsuno
@Bonnie: Not where I am. I’m on the dry side, it’s kind of misting and just above freezing so it stubbornly refuses to turn to snow. All I want is one nice little snowfall. Just a few inches….
Joel
It’s hard to believe that I ever disliked Lebron James.
jeffreyw
She’s back! Mrs J talked her in the front door.
Tommy
@Yatsuno: Coming up on a foot of snow today. In fact I am about to go for a walk in it. Not something I am afraid of. I find snow kind of amazing.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Man, somebody put Red Bull in Tweety’s Jolt Cola tonight. He’s screaming for Christie to be brought up on a RICO case.
PsiFighter37
@Joel: I still think ‘The Decision’ was a piece of crap, and that the fact he needed Superfriends D-Wade and Bosh to win a title is a bit weak. Oh, and some brain-dead Spurs defense at the end of Game 6. And an unlucky Duncan roll-in at the end of Game 7.
MomSense
@PsiFighter37:
My favorite beer although I’m spoiled because we have lots of great beers and I have friends who brew their own- expertly. If you ever find yourself in Maine, we have a little store that is stuffed with incredible beer and wine. Every shelf is just packed and you can barely walk through the aisles it is so full.
PsiFighter37
On another note – I am getting married later this year and would like some impartial feedback. I love a good party as much as anyone, but I can’t do it for 2-3 days anymore. So my generic plan for a bachelor party is to go to LA (specifically, Santa Monica), where we can party it up one night, do a solid brewery tour during 1 day, and fill in the rest of the time with random drinking, hanging out at the beach, and maybe doing something like parasailing.
Thoughts?
Amir Khalid
@lamh36:
Doesn’t Cuccinelli have to be an actual Republican governor himself to demand that Christie resign from chairing the Republican Governors Association? I seem to recall that he didn’t quite manage that.
Suffern ACE
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: he doesn’t do policy. He doesn’t do law. What does he do?
PsiFighter37
@MomSense: If it’s in Portland, let me know – my fiancee and I have talked about going up there for a long weekend at some point (i.e. when the weather is more accommodating)
Yatsuno
@jeffreyw: YAY!!!
@PsiFighter37: I have never gotten into NBA ball. This could be lingering bitterness over the Sonics screwing, but even when the team was still in Seattle, I was mostly indifferent. Maybe it will change is they get a team, but I will be more enthused if the upgrade the T-Birds to NHL.
@PsiFighter37: It’s your party. You get to call all the shots when it comes to this regardless of your best man’s plans. So if that’s what you wanna do then go for it!
Amir Khalid
@jeffreyw:
Yay Katie!
rikyrah
@lamh36:
Must watch Maddow this evening…
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Suffern ACE: The rage of a disappointed acolyte.
ranchandsyrup
@PsiFighter37: I’m nearby the Stone brewery and tasting room. No sweat to pick you up something and ship if you need as we are there regularly. my nym at the g mail
PsiFighter37
@Yatsuno: Well, I’m taking matters into my own hands because all of my best men are preoccupied (my brother/best man travels the world, so he’s unavailable for most of the time, and my other 3 groomsmen just had a kid, is in law school, and is looking for a job after getting canned a few months ago, in any order you please), and I think it’d be a good mix of laid-back chill, a mix of things I’m interested in (I have a weakness for beers, as you well know), and straight-up partying. Just curious if people think that’s a good idea, or if I need a bit more party rock.
rikyrah
Oprah To Produce MLK Movie “Selma” [VIDEO]
Comments: 0 | Leave A Comment
Jan 21, 2014
By ReBecca Theodore-Vachon
Ava DuVernay’s upcoming “Selma” just got some major star wattage. Oprah Winfrey has signed on as a producer alongside Brad Pitt and Christian Colson.
“Selma” originally had Lee Daniels (“The Butler”) aboard to direct, but Daniels stepped away from the project and DuVernay was brought in. “Selma” will focus on the landmark 1965 march led by Martin Luther King Jr. to protest unjust voting registration regulations against black voters.
On Oprah’s new producing dutes, DuVernay told The Hollywood Reporter, “It’s a subject matter close to her heart. “The producers are behind some of the most forward-thinking movies of last year, and they are all coming together.”
http://blackamericaweb.com/2014/01/21/oprah-to-produce-mlk-movie-selma-video/
MomSense
@PsiFighter37:
Just north of Portland but there are brewery tours. Maine beer company has a brewery in Freeport with tours and tastings. They make some very fine beers.
If you do come up to Maine, I will give you some local spots to visit- great beaches, hikes, romantic spots, restaurants.
rikyrah
DALAYYYY @TheToast2013
Follow
Somewhere in the VA Governor’s mansion all the maids & kitchen staff are doing the dougie over Maureen McDonnell getting charged. #indicted
2:53 PM – 21 Jan 2014
rikyrah
Assembly, Senate merge panels investigating GWB scandal
Tuesday, January 21, 2014 Last updated: Tuesday January 21, 2014, 11:38 AM
BY MICHAEL LINHORST
STATE HOUSE BUREAU
The Senate and Assembly will merge the two panels now investigating the lane closures at the foot of the George Washington Bridge, Democrats announced this morning.
…The new joint committee will retain the Assembly’s special counsel, Reid Schar, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney who prosecuted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. The Senate committee last week did not name a special counsel of its own.
…Each chamber will need to re-vote to give the new committee subpoena power. Assemblyman John Wisniewski, who will co-chair the panel, said subpoenasthe Assembly committee issues last week will remain valid.
…Along with Wisniewski, D-Middlesex, the panel will be co-chaired by Sen. Loretta Weinberg, D-Teaneck.
http://www.northjersey.com/news/Assembly_Senate_merge_panels_investigating_GWB_scandal.html?page=all#sthash.L0QPvWWX.dpuf
Yatsuno
@PsiFighter37: If you wanted, you could throw in a pub or club crawl. LA is known for a really lively nightlife culture. And hey: maybe a celeb will crash it or something. One never knows…
JCJ
@MomSense:
As a fan of the atrocious Milwaukee Bucks I can easily state that I have been missing Ray Allen much longer than you. I am glad that he got a championship in Boston and another in
Miami.
rikyrah
Conservatives: Voting Rights Act fix discriminates against whites
01/21/14 01:00 PM—Updated 01/21/14 06:25 PM
By Zachary Roth
Conservatives insist the congressional effort to strengthen the Voting Rights Act (VRA) unfairly discriminates against white voters. The claim rests on evidence that’s shaky at best—but could still make it harder for the bill to win the Republican support it needs.
The Voting Rights Amendment Act, unveiled Thursday by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, aims to update the formula used to determine which areas of the country must get federal approval before making any changes to their voting rules—a system known as “pre-clearance.” In June, the Supreme Court struck down the law’s existing formula, under which almost all the southern states were covered, ruling that it was out of date.
In an interview last week with msnbc, Center for Equal Opportunity president Roger Clegg argued that the VRA’s pre-clearance system unfairly advantages those claiming discrimination. Clegg’s organization has fought to narrow the application of civil rights laws.
“They don’t like these laws, and so they’ve brought lawsuits, that’s fine,” Clegg said, referring to voting rights advocates. “If they can prove that there’s been racial discrimination they’ll win those lawsuits. Why would the deck be stacked further in their favor?”
Writing last week in National Review, Clegg made an additional argument against the new legislation. Clegg called the bill “color-conscious,” charging that it “offers protections for ‘minority voters’ that it withholds from ‘nonminority’ voters.”
Hans von Spakovsky, a senior fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation and a persistent critic of aggressive enforcement of civil rights laws, has gone further.
“For the first time, [GOP Rep. James] Sensenbrenner’s bill actually says that the protections of this amendment will only apply to racial minority groups, and they defined them in the law, and it specifically excludes white voters,” von Spakovsky told the Washington Times.
He added, “They’re basically giving a ‘get out of jail free’ card to black elected officials in the South, where they can discriminate all they want against white voters.”
The notion that voting-rights advocates and their political supporters are opposed to applying civil rights laws to anti-white discrimination has become an article of faith among many on the right.
In 2010, Christian Adams, a former voting rights lawyer in the Bush Justice Department, charged that the Obama Justice Department’s handling of the New Black Panther case showed that it does not “want whites and Asians, when they are the discriminated-against minority, to be protected under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.” (DoJ ultimately obtained a default judgment against the New Black Panther member seen brandishing a weapon outside a Philadelphia polling place in 2008.)
The charge has as little merit in the case of the new VRA legislation as it did when applied to the Black Panther case. There’s a kernel of truth to the first part of von Spakovsky’s claim, but it’s deeply misleading. And the accusation that the bill would let blacks discriminate against whites with impunity is flat-out false.
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/right-thinks-voting-rights-fix-hurts-whites
lamh36
I don’t know who I love following on twitter more…Cher or the Divine Miss M…Bette Midler.
Laertes
@Mnemosyne:
Yeah, that was my first thought too. But then I read that the speaker is African-American. And I figure my white ass has got no business telling a black man what is or isn’t a lynching.
WaterGirl
@jeffreyw: Oh, yay! So glad she is safe and back with you. Whisper something sweet in her ear from me.
rikyrah
Chris Christie met with VP of developer at center of Hoboken claims in September
By Christopher Baxter/The Star-Ledger
on January 21, 2014 at 4:19 PM, updated January 21, 2014 at 6:05 PM
TRENTON — The head of a major development group at the center of allegations made by the mayor of Hoboken met with Gov. Chris Christie in September during a gala honoring the governor for his work on improving drug treatment.
Christie and his wife, Mary Pat, posed for a photo at the event with
Leslie Smith Jr., an executive vice president of the Rockefeller Group,
the same firm that was seeking to develop three blocks of prime real
estate in the densely populated city.
…State campaign finance records show Smith gave $500 to Christie’s 2009 primary campaign, another $500 to his 2010 inaugural committee and $1,000 in April to his primary campaign for re-election.
http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/chris_christie_met_with_vp_of_development_group_at_center_of_hoboken_claims.html#incart_river_default
rikyrah
‘I have no control over your life’
01/21/14 02:54 PM—Updated 01/21/14 07:25 PM
By Steve Benen
It’s been about three weeks since congressional Republicans allowed federal unemployment benefits to lapse, to the detriment of about 1.3 million Americans. The more time passes, the larger the number of families affected, and the greater the negative impact on the U.S. economy.
Democrats, progressive activists, labor unions, and others haven’t quite given up on an extension. Late last week, as Jacob Fischler reported, “more than a dozen activists, organized by groups including the National Employment Law Project and AFL-CIO, carried two boxes filled with 60,000 petitions each, asking Congress to extend the benefits.” One box was for House Speaker John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) office, the other for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) office.
When they arrived at McConnell’s office, a few activists were permitted to enter and speak directly to the Minority Leader’s spokesperson, Don Stewart. A woman named Wessita McKinley spoke on behalf of the group.
“I’ve served my country, honorable discharge. I’ve done my time. I’ve done everything right,” she said. “College, school, no crime, no record. Pay my taxes. Make sure my daughter went to school.”
“Did the American dream. Got her in college,” McKinley added. “And I’m sitting here struggling. I’m now ready to take a street sweeper job if they would offer it to me. So I’m asking you the million dollar question. What am I supposed to do right now to keep a roof over my head, food in my stomach, clothes on my back, car insurance paid?”
This seems like a pretty reasonable question given the circumstances. Unfortunately, McConnell’s spokesperson didn’t have a great answer.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/i-have-no-control-over-your-life
ruemara
The more I hear about the Sherman kerfluffle, the more I think he’s being attacked for being a black guy not being quiet enough. The guy got shoved in the face while showing good sportsmanship. No one should have to suck that up and play milquetoast for the cameras.
lamh36
Dem New Jersey Mayor: If Christie Ran For President I’d Support Him
New Jersey Dem Mayor Calls Zimmer Accusation ‘Far-Fetched’
Le sigh…dude who asked you? Seems to me someone trying to up his profile maybe?
found this in the comments over at TPM…if true, anyone else NOT surprised Tapper didn’t do full research:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/dem-new-jersey-mayor-if-christie-ran-for-president-i-d-support-him#comment-aHR0cCUzQS8vdGFsa2luZ3BvaW50c21lbW8uY29tL0VDSE8vaXRlbS8xMzkwMzQ4MjU2LTY2OS0yMTU=
catclub
@kindness: “If only she would run.” She clearly has more sense.
bemused
@rikyrah:
Conservatives: Voting Rights Act discriminates against white supremacy.
Anne Laurie
@PsiFighter37: Sounds good, as long as none of your friends are the type to hurt themselves parasailing, cuz having one of the groomsmen in a cast (or the hospital) only sounds like a funny story well after the Wedding Madness.
The Spousal Unit’s friends took him to the most notorious local strip joint — the Golden Banana, noIamnotkidding — but he ‘got bored’ quickly and insisted they move to an all-night mini-golf emporium for the rest of the evening. The one batchelor groomsman was bitterly disappointed, but the other guys said it was fun!
(Of course this was 20 years ago & even then we were middle-aged mundanes, so YMMV. On the other hand, the choice of tech-enabled low-impact group sports choices has exploded since then… )
Cervantes
@PsiFighter37: Congratulations!
Re your bachelor party: do what you want so long as your bride or groom is happy.
Cervantes
@Mnemosyne:
To be precise, that was at least your second reaction.
And has mclaren called for anyone’s unconstitutional extra-judicial make-it-snappy execution?
Anne Laurie
@jeffreyw: Whew! Congratulations to Mrs. JW!
Sounds like Katie remembered, “Hey — I did this wolf-in-the-wild-woods gig already, and it wasn’t nearly so much fun as it sounded… “
Violet
@PsiFighter37: It’s your party. Do whatever you want. Some guys I know had a huge typical bachelor party like in the movies. Some have just hung out with friends at home and played poker. Some did a weekend away, just three or four guys. Same for the girls–different types.
I think it depends on who you are and what you like to do. Your best man will probably have a few surprises up his sleeve anyway. That’s his job.
Violet
Repost due to moderation.
@PsiFighter37: It’s your party. Do whatever you want. Some guys I know had a huge typical bachelor party like in the movies. Some have just hung out with friends at home and played po ker. Some did a weekend away, just three or four guys. Same for the girls–different types.
I think it depends on who you are and what you like to do. Your best man will probably have a few surprises up his sleeve anyway. That’s his job.
charluckles
I truly think one of the things that pisses off so many of the Republicans about President Obama is Michelle. She’s the most fun, the most intelligent, the most athletic etc etc etc First Lady in my life time. Not to mention that that woman is just damn sexy (Please don’t drone me Mr. President). They have no idea how to handle it and it drives them crazy.
Fellatio Alger
@jeffreyw: Thank goodness!
West of the Cascades
Michelle’s older brother Craig was a pretty good basketball player at Princeton and continues to suffer as the coach of the Oregon State Beavers out on this side of the country. Good for the (nee) Robinsons for keeping up the fun of the game!
gogiggs
I hate LeBron James.
I hate anything that portrays him in a positive light.
I boycott any product he endorses.
I have not watched a single minute of the NBA since the decision.
Any time I take the time to think about him, which is only when forcibly reminded of him, I wish for him to suffer an incredibly painful and career-ending injury.
FUCK YOU LEBRON YOU LYING PHONY!
and fuck whoever made me see him here.