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Subscribe to RSSMark Murray and Domenico Montanaro look back at the highlights of 2011 – the ups and downs in Obama's approval ratings, the fight for the Republican presidential nomination, and the showdown on Capitol Hill.
NBC's Matt Loffman edited this video.
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Mark, Domenico & FR Staff;
Wishing you a Happy, Healthy & Joyous 2012 to you & your families!
Especially you Mark, with that new bundle of joy on the way next month (Luke Russert let the cat out of the bag last week - so don't blame me ;op! lol
The First Read family has had many up & down's in 2011, we celebrated, mourned & comforted each other along the way!
One thing is for sure, 2012 is going to be a wild ride!
A Happy and Prosperous New Year to all on First read and to all that post on the board.
Feisty and Alan and all hear at First read. Have a very Happy New Year . Congratulations Mark.
To the FR staff: Happiest of New Years! Try not to get to rowdy out there in Iowa!
To ALL the posters on FR: Love all of you and a very very very Happy New Year
Humbug, I was only collapsed once. I will try harder next year.
Thanks to one and all for bringing my year to a laughing end.
Is Luke Russert married yet? If not, have I got a niece for him!
Sorry Amy, but I have a niece, too!!! LOL
Happy New Year to each and every one of you. It is because of you that this is such an awesome site to hang out at.
2012 - Obama/Biden - This is the only thing that matters to me right now. They have both worked hard and deserve another term. They are truly what is great about America. Leaders who want to make a difference to those who need it most.
They have not been treated with much respect in our country unfortunately. But they have handled themselves in a truly elegant and mature fashion, and despite it all, they want nothing but to continue their work.
It is only we the people who can help them succeed. That's what 2012 is all about.
We are the change we've been waiting for.
Happy New Year, to the Great First Read Staff!
Is Biden a rich white elitist? What about John Kerry and Nancy Pelosi? What about Barack Obama? More white than black these days?
Ideolog,
I'm giving lessons, in case your interested!
I do believe I hold the First Read record of being collapsed, restored, collapsed again & restored! lol
@phine & Amy, my daughter trumps nieces! ;o)
Thanks for the kind words, everyone. Happy New Year!
(And by the way, we're publishing First Thoughts this weekend -- and next -- so feel free to check in with us for the latest developing news from Iowa, etc.)
Tis a wonderful thing to be so loved Feisty ... so far I've been working on your usage of punctuation ...
((((((((XOX))))))))
Obama's response to Mitt's son about releasing his birth certificate?
Go check out my mug. My birth certificate is on it.
haha!!
I ♥ it!
I have the T-Shirt! lol
And the winner of First Read's 2011 Most Valuable Player?
Feisty Redhead. What EVER would we do without her?
Happy 2012 to you from a former redhead. Now blah blonde cuz of the grey that has been ever present since my 20's.
Pat!! Nice to see you lighten up a bit!!!
Happy New Year, all.
Happy New Year !
Dear Mark, me? Lighten up?
I've been on vacation all week, planning an itinerary for a trip to Russia next summer; I'm going to visit all the Russian Revolution sites. I am even staying at the hotel/town where the Bosheviks lived and planned the assassination of the Tsar and his family.
See, to me this is a real vacation. Can you believe it?
I know, I need help.
But I can't wait for this trip. LoL.
Well, hasn't it been a year? I'm late to wishing all of you, especially our fine hosts at FR all the happiness the new year can bring. Mark, hate to tell you, my friend...new little ones don't like to sleep too much at first, so we will forgive you if you are a bit worse for wear. Congratulations and best wishes to you, your wife, and that lucky little baby, who will have such fine parents.
Been outside in a lovely snow, a couple of inches, nice and warm out (for us) and you can't imagine the delight and excitement of a young collie, who has forgotten that snow exists! He and his best friend Jolie are recovering from winter fun by the fireplace, both getting nice and warm after their adventure.
Feisty and IR, is the party on at the Dew Drop Inn? Plan on making some homemade pizzas for all of you, the dough is rising as we speak, and I wish you could smell the sauce simmering!
To my old friends, your concern about this nation is heartening. Keep on writing, and again, thank you for welcoming me into your lives. To my new friends, left or right, so glad to be getting to know you.
To the far right wing, things are not always doom and gloom, look for the good in the coming year.
Going back out to play. Have a happy New Year everyone.
A very happy New Year to you Pat, and I can't wait to hear about your trip!
Pat,
You're making me *blush*
Reading your comments, inspired me to take the plunge & hit submit, way back when! ;o)
Can't wait to see you on St. Patty's Day - the hotel is arranged, I'll e-mail you the link!
Happy New Year my dear friend!
Congratulations to Mark Murray and his wife! A bundle of joy coming in 2012.
Happy New Year! You, too, PacemParabellum, you could use some cheer. BTW, you can disagree all you want, it's First Read, differing opinions are welcome and you can be a grumpy, gloomy gus, too.
Feisty, I thought you were coming to Mexico to help with the wedding on St Patrick's day?
There was quite an article written yesterday about the Professional Left, who are just as bad as the Karl Roves and Chris Christies of the world. And the people who are being hurt by all this disingenuous nonstop bullying is the American worker. Cenk is now telling Democrats to vote against President Obama in Iowa. The PL are up to their usual holier than thou BS, which is the cornerstone of the new elitist Democratic Party. And I can only hope that the American people will see through all this BS. Cable is hurting America. And the pundits are being paid millions of dollars to do it.
Our current Democratic Party has lost its way because of disgruntled rich white media princes and princesses. They are elitists. And couldn't connect with a real democrat if their life depended on it.
Their beef right now? President Obama doesn't connect TO THEM. And tell me why, we the American voter, should care about that? It's like we're invisible. They don't give a **** about people who want news. The pundits are just mad because they thought President Obama would be what they hated about GWB - a dictator - only a left leaning dictator.
Cenk Uygur, along with the likes of Arianna Huffington and Ed Schultz, all former virulent neocons, sought to tap into the low information end of Progressive voters - young people and disaffected Left Coastal unreconstructed middle class types who yearned to be hippies again (or even for the first time) who either had forgotten how to think critically along the way or who had never learned. Suffice it to say, these people knew nothing and understood little about the way the government functioned.
Let's see, during the course of the past three years, Cenk's been the man who has called the President a "moron," who has written opinion pieces where he openly derided the President as being stupid, who openly equated the President as being on what he perceived as the same idiot level as George Bush for what Cenk reckoned as the President's "betrayal" of all the public sector protesters in Wisconsin.
When MSNBC showed a rare glimmer of common sense and kicked Cenk's backside out the door of 30 Rock, he took to the airwaves, from Current to CNN, whining that it was "Obama's fault" that he was sacked.
For these people, everything is always "Obama's fault."
It was because of the incessant, unrelenting and unwonted criticism of the President (and, by extension somewhat, of the Democratic party) made by Cenk and others of his unprincipled ilk, that low-information Progressive voters - and others accustomed to instant gratification, stayed away from the polls in 2010, even cheering the defeat of most of the Blue Dog contingent in the House, never thinking past their second brain cell that these Blue Dog Democrats were replaced with the worst sort of Tea Party Republicans, whose low intellect rivalled their own and whose tail would wag the Congressional dog.
Thanks to Cenk ("Obama is a moron") Uygur, Ed ("Don't vote") Schultz and the Queen of Medialand Arianna ("Obama just isn't that into the middle class") Huffington, we now have the Do-Nothing Congress with the lowest approval ratings in history and the ability to achieve nothing on a stick.
But then ... that's all Obama's fault.
----
Whoos Left?
The article was brought to our attention over @ The Obama Diary.
************************
Dear Journalists and PLeft:
By Paul Rogat Loeb Did you know Obama’s health care bill contained a $20 billion a year tax on the richest Americans? I didn’t until I stumbled onto a mention of this the other day, although writing about politics is my life and I knew enough to be angry at the gutting of a national public option.
I asked a dozen other friends, half of whom work in health care or health care policy and most of whom are fellow political junkies. None of them knew either. If those who follow these issues intensely don’t know about something that all of us would cheer as a step toward getting the wealthiest to pay their fair share, most American voters sure aren’t going to know either.
The tax supports Medicare and low-income health care subsidies. Beginning in 2013, it will bring in $210 billion over 10 years by charging households that make over $250,000 a year 3.8% on everything over that amount. The provision also applies to investment and dividend income, a key precedent toward ensuring that billionaires pay at least the same share of taxes as self-employed carpenters. It got some modest coverage when it passed, and accountants certainly know about it. But the rest of us don’t, and that makes me mad.
************************
Sure, let's all us Democrats vote against President Obama in Iowa. Because we never get good stories so we must assume President Obama hasn't done anything.
That's what the PL and cableworld want you to believe. And it's working.
All I see is Iowa is a bunch of white people. Can't wait for President Obama to begin campaigning. His audience is diverse and is a fuller picture of America today.
btw, Muslims boycotted Bloomberg's breakfast. Gee, I wonder why.
Bottom Line: If the PL speaks negatively of President Obama long enough, then the voters are certainly going to assume it is he who is spreading hate. And he isn't. But the voters don't know that. All the PL is saying is vote against Obama.
Republican voters, you are lucky. Your media world aren't backstabbers who take hissy fits every other day. Our party has become a party of rich white elitists (ex-neocons) who wouldn't think of trying to connect with the working class and their issues.
We've been overtaken by people who have no business calling themselves Democrats. It is they who will destroy our party.
My one criticism Pat is that you might have first told me to pour a large Scotch.
Thanks for writing this.
Wishing all of the PL's great success in destroying the Democrat Party! They will help in bringing the USA a Happy New Year in late 2012. "If you voted for Obama to prove you're not a racist, then you must vote against him to prove you are not a fool ! " To "Feisty" and her sycophant followers : Enjoy your mutual admiration society. You are the greatest bunch of nitwits on the Vine. Feisty must sit in front of her computer continuously in order to be the first commenter so often, just looking to mock anyone who doesn't follow her flawed ideology. Snide attempts at humour don't make a person wise. Cheers !
P_P— ... enjoy your useless little neo-con war, but try to do it peacefully somewhere else. Thanks.
Pat, thanks for saying it!
FOX News has done great harm to the republican party; the Ariana Huffington's and Cenk Ughers do equal harm to the democratic party--both far left and right are divisive. I watched Cenk Ugher for a short time; he was obnoxious and no doubt I wasn't the only one who could not listen to his ridiculous, whining blather because MSNBC showed him the door quickly. Nothing disgusts me more than listening to the left whine because they didn't get exactly what they wanted or things weren't done by our President they way they thought he should handle something.
I have noticed that Ariana Huffington no longer appears on MSNBC and neither does Pat Buchanan--it's about time both were sent packing because neither brought anything worthwhile to any discussion.
Ideologyspoilseverything.... , wow! Your response just proves what I'm saying is true ! Ha, ha, ha ! "If you desire peace, you must prepare for war." I am not a neo-con and I am not at war. Why should I have to go away just because I don't agree with your narrow-minded little clique ? Your bunch seems to enjoy the Scotch a little too much. :) Cheers
PacemParabellum
Si vis bellum para pacem. and cheers to you!
Pat,
You are always railing for the middle class, but what has Obama done for the middle class in 3 years?
Americans wanted the President to focus on jobs - Obama passed Obamacare, the greatest jobs killing legislation probably in history. His own CBO, using his assumptions, even projects it will cost over 800,000 jobs!
More Americans are without health insurance than were before it was passed. More Americans are out of work than before it was passed. More Americans are on food stamps than anytime in history. More American are at poverty levels than ever before.
Having a job, being able to properly feed your your family, pay deductibles, etc. is not a health issue?
How has he helped the middle class?
Obama passed Dodd-Frank - 5,230 pages of new banking regulations that just make getting a loan more difficult for individuals, more difficult for the private sector to expand / to hire, while doing nothing to address the reason for the crisis.
Obama has taken care of government employees, yet they represent only 1% of the unemployment.
The price of food is skyrocketing under Obama. How does that help the middle class?
Obama has a war on fossil energy, costing hundreds of thousands jobs while driving the price of gas and heating and cooling through the roof. Who does that hurt more than the middle class?
So what has Obama exactly done for the middle class?
Payroll tax credit - taking money out of the middle class Social Security and giving it to them today so they will vote for him?
How pathetic is that - it is their money - they just get it today instead of tommorrow, and end up with no security in the future.
The wealth gap under Bush was flat - under of Obama it is exploding. What does that tell you?
Really Pat, tell us what Obama has done for the middle class.
Hey, Feisty! Look! Another wannabe trolling for attention! You do manage to attract the fans!
@P P Maybe you're not a neo-con, But you're definitely not the sharpest pencil in the box, Otherwise you wouldn't post here and get it thrown back in your face. :) Have a nice day!
I get such a kick listening to their cries for some of Feisty's attention... lol
PP is a re-reg & the clock is ticking! ;o)
Thank you Jody; the article was extremely long and really nailed it. Ariana Huffington and Pat Buchanan aren't the only ones though. I don't see a "Lean Forward" message when I watch MSNBC except for a few hosts - Lawrence O'Donnell and Rev. Al. I think their instincts are most in line with how I see the Democratic Party. I find both of them to have an impressive background on the way it was, the way it is, and the way we should constantly be moving forward. They lived it. Lawrence's father was a civil rights attorney, so he is someone we should all pay attention to.
I work with someone who knew Lawrence's father and speaks very very highly of him.
Our country has become so diverse and it's what I love about America. But you don't see it on cable tv.
We're not getting a very accurate picture of the Obama Administration. From a "Lean Forward" supposed station. I guess what the article was saying was that the PL doesn't understand nor care to understand anything about real governing. Especially with the Congress President Obama has.
We have allowed the TP to just walk in and take over by constantly berating President Obama.
We either do what we're supposed to do as Democrats, or pack our backs and leave.
btw, I love how Lawrence is asking for donations for desks for children. Americans are really stepping up to the plate on this and I think it's fabulous.
I donated in my daughter (the teacher) name & gave it to her for Christmas!
Of all her gifts, I think that one is her favorite!
bob, and President Obama did all this in 3 years? Completely decimated the middle class? Are you serious? This has been a long drawn out process over many years. Nobody was paying attention.
So don't cry to me. You vote Republican, this is what you get:
Two unpaid for wars. Tax cuts for the rich. Deregulation.
Feisty, that was a truly wonderful gift.
Yea, everything I mentioned related to the last 3 years.
Couldn't challenge or refute anything?
The wealth gap was flat under Bush. Skyrocketing under Obama, but the big wealth gap creator over the last 30 years was Clinton. If Obama gets another 4, he will undoubtably beat Clinton though.
Check the GINI index numbers.
Not crying, simply asking a question you evidently can't answer.
What has Obama done for the middle class - how has he improved their lives?
The cost of the wars over 8 years under Bush was $760 billion - less than 1/2 what Obama overspent this year alone. Obama has overspent by $5 trillion and has not created one new net job - how pathetic?
Tax cuts for the rich generated revenues greater that Clinton's best year!
FACT.
Deregulation?
Bush actually passed more regulation pieces than Obama through the first 32 months!
It just wasn't as capricious and damaging.
Work on an answer Pat, it is pretty good question don't you think?
You will certainly see the question again and again until you do.
Good luck getting through to Pat, bob. This is a person planning a vacation to the revolutionary hotspots in Russia- thrilled about staying in the same hotel where the Bolshevics planned the slaughter of the Tsar and his children.
Tells me all I need to know. If that's what you romanticize, there is really no help for you.
I will, however, do everything I can to expose the agenda, so as to prevent such "liberation" in my country.
Happy New Year, bob, and all my intelligent friends. As for the Libs r Us clan- well, all I can say is, you have my deepest pity. Any group of people that spends New Year's Eve in a chat room is simply too pathetic for words.
Hi no joe,
Best reply /point of the whole week.
Happy New Year to you, too!
Hey, gang! Anyone notice no jo and her pathetic jealousy again!
Only poor no jo could attack Pat for visiting a country that millions have visited over the years based on the Tsar Nicholas, an autocrat.
Good no jo. You never fail to hit rock bottom.
HUH?
Then what are you doing here? lol
At least we know what her New Year resolution is NDD... Donna's trying to prove there is a spot lower than rock bottom!
Poor old gal is a poster child for a woman who has NO friends & is so consumed by envy she can not see straight!
Gee... I can't figure out why! lmao!
Some projection going on for sure Feisty. I know I didn't spend my evening in a chat room, and I know all of you have WAY YONDER too much to do.
Got to be jealousy. Those without friends are jealous of those who have them.
Which Donna points out splendidly every day! ;o)
I was perusing through some of last nights comments, seems like 95% of the right wingers have NO life and spent it spewing their hatred...
Kind of sad when you think about it...
Just to let you know, once you start blaming the color of people's skin you lose the argument.
Nobody mention this guy's half blue!
Amy, and don't forget, things didn't turn out well for the half-blue guy either!
LOL Guys
Republican voters, you are lucky. Your media world aren't backstabbers who take hissy fits every other day.
Don't blame the media. All those that you qoute have seen the light. Obama is a disaster and the democrat party is hopelessly lost way way way out in LEFT field.
Here is what they can't take:
Hillary would have been coasting to re election. See, she had enough sense to address the main issue- the economy- and also had the best top level consultant available- her husband, who, himself, was a pretty successful president.
No way they'd go for that. The left absolutely despises the Clinton's- because they are pragmatic, because they face reality when programs do not work, because they are actually capable of compromising for the good of the country.
So, they elected somebody hopelessly inept by wrapping him in a fog of media adulation unseen since Elvis left the building, and are now surprised that, by the way, he's an abject failure.
Get ready for President Romney.
No way they'd go for that. The left absolutely despises the Clinton's-
... and perhaps the left was just not into family accessions to the Presidency. The republicans would dearly love the addition of Jeb Bush to office.
The left does my dear nojo love Hillary.
The left does my dear nojo love Hillary.
Did you sleep through the democrat primary....
The progressives savaged her. It was one of the most sexist displays in modern politics that I can recall.
And nojo you're 1000% correct Hillary would have coasted to reelection and the economy would be in such a better place. Libbies around these parts will never admit it.
With them it's the candidate or the opposition or the weather or...
never the policies
Ideology, that is why no jo hates the President so much. She has never forgiven him for beating Hillary. Doesn't seem healthy to hold that kind of grudge for so long, but there you have it.
Rob ... it's a primary, everyone savages each other ... look what's going on now.
Just in case some of you do not know, I am a Canadian and most of us would have preferred Hillary and quite truthfully because we were tired of guys running the show. We for the most part are very happy with Obama and especially his foreign policy as is much of the rest of the world. The guys on the Right are seen as a return to the big stick and we are tired of it. We are also tired of the Right's constant attempts to deregulate the financial markets and the greed it ferments.
Sorry to burst the right-winger bubbles but Hillary Clinton would have had the same difficulties getting the GOP to help solve problems as President Obama; the right hated her in the 1990's and would be equally hateful today. The discussion of Cenk, Ariana and the far left whiners does not mean democrats have seen the light--those folks would have had the same criticisms, slurs and hissy fits if Hillary Clinton was President or Dennis Kusinich. For the Cenk's and Ariana's of the left--they complain to hear themselves speak.
I support President Obama today just as I supported him in the 2008 Iowa Caucus--because he is intelligent, deliberative and not a "flame thrower". This liberal was not a Hillary supporter. The idea of Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton and possibly more Clinton drama was a turn off for me fairly or unfairly to her. I think she is an excellent Secretary of State, probably the best in many years. If she had been the 2008 nominee, I would have backed her.
Thanks to our terrific First Read hosts for providing an excellent year of politics for us to debate, argue, discuss; it really has been a topsy turvey year.
Happy New Year, Mark, Domenico and the First Read Staff and to all the First Read posters!
Happy New Year to you, Jody, thanks for bringing Iowa Nice to this blog, not to mention your own special brand of insight, intellect, and smooth writing skills. I bet Peggy Noonan reads you and weeps - because you have talent, and she does not.
Amy, thank you and Happy New Year!
Happy New Year Jody.
I hope you have turned off the tv and radio until Jan 3.
Sorry, there will not be ablizzard next week. I really did pray for one!
Everyone on FR both left and right, have a wonderful weekend
To my friends at the DDi, I toast all of you , goodbye 2011. May 2012 bring each of you a year of life fully lived.
A very happy New Year, Northstar!
I bet Peggy Noonan reads you and weeps - because you have talent, and she does not.
oh man -- I can't even respond to such delusions
Then why did you?
Yep, crazy year.
Just when we thought that Obama couldn't possibly do any worse than he did in 2010, he does even worse in 2011.
Time for that Bozo, and all who bear the dreaded "D" after their names to go.
ABO 2012
Just a terrible year, let's see Osama bin Laden gone along with a bunch of other Al Qaeda leaders; Khaddafy, gone; Libya freed without a single American boot on the ground and not one American dead or wounded; Iraq War ended; economy is improving; unemployment down; has created more jobs in 3 years than Bush did in 8 years; the GOPers in Congress have the respect of about 9% of the people; tax breaks for the middle class and genuine small businesses, etc etc etc. Just a terrible year unless one takes off the right-wing sun glasses.
Wow ! Queen Feisty and her crew have heads that are exploding (too much Scotch ?) ! One can't express honest opinions without being called a neo-con, "re-reg", etc. There is no room in their little vineworld for a difference of opinion. Anyone who may disagree is told to "go away". They may not be "racists", but they are fools. How dare anyone think differently from Her Majesty Feisty? What's in the water in Chicagoland ? Cheers! ABO 2012 !
Oi Fuzzy...ere's one fer ya, mate. "Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear. Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair. Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn't fuzzy, was he? " My daughter's kitten Fuzzie is smarter than you. Please feel free to set your hair on fire if your mistress tells you to. OK, now send it back at me! It is a riot reading the comments. BTW, if you see Feisty, please tell her the "The Village of Roselle" called and they are looking for their ijit. Ta. No hard feelings intended, and Happy New Year!
Yep, all that Bush generated intelligence and years of work finally pinpointed Osama. Then, of course, they had to go ask Obama if it would be alright to kill/capture Osama. What's Obama going to say??/ NO?? He would look like a bigger fool than he already does. I know it's difficult to keep the two names separate. Osama/Obama.
(You know, birds of a feather and all that)
Joseph, a "word to the wise." The Queen and her subjects will "eat you alive" (not). They are a fun lot to check out on occasion for a chuckle. I checked the origin of the word "feisty" . It appears to have been derived from, wait for it.... "a small dog... breaking wind". Pretty accurate, innit ? Please keep up the good work promoting the truth. Cheers !
No, Joey: while I realize that you are blinded with hatred for your black, Democratic President, it was BUSH who refused to give the kill order when the Marines had a chance to get Bin Laden at Tora Bora. Bush, the most incompetent boob ever to be elected by the mentally challenged who voted for him, totally screwed up that operation.
But, thanks for playing.
Check, and Mate ! ndD...R , "re-reg" much? :)