Lisa: blessings to your daughter on her new life! So exciting!

Feisty, it has been a week, hasn't it, so much packed into it that it might be a week and a half. What oh what have we learned? Not sure what we have learned but pretty sure that the Komen Foundation may have found out that when you say you are an advocate for women's health and that your goal is to eradicate breast cancer, anti choice politics has NO place in the administration of your duties. HUGE PR problem, and I don't think they have fixed it yet. I am also not sure that they have backed down on their war against women, if you parse Brinker's statement carefully, she only assures us that current funding will be honored, and equivocates on future funding. Until they fire teanut Karen Handel, I imagine that there will be some sleight of hand in the middle of the night, the anti choicers hoping that we won't notice. But, to assure them that we will be vigilant, Feisty, lets hit G-10 on the jukebox, Connie Francis singing Who's Crying Now, and dedicate this verse to the aforementioned Karen "cry me a freaking river" Handel"

Right to the end, just like a friend

I tried to warn you somehow

You had your way, and now you must pay

I'm glad that you're sorry now!

Time to head to the dear old Dew Drop Inn, where the company is good, and the talk better. Feisty, I am sure that IR is busy setting things up for folks, see you there.

My thanks to my hosts, and Mark, are you getting pretty good at diapering that new little one?

Have a good weekend everyone!

Feisty, it has been a week, hasn't it,

It sure has NDD - perfect choice with G-10! See you over @ the DDI!

Speaking of a wild week, I am going to take the liberty and re-post Jody's excellent; 'And That's the Way it Was..'

Jody, Iowa

"And that's the way it is..." this week.

Two more of WI Governor Scott Walker's staffers, who worked directly for him when he was County Administrator, were arrested late last week and charged with illegal campaigning. 25 feet from Walker's office they were allegedly running a secret, internal campaign complete with special encoding equipment. One will plead guilty and cooperate with authorities. Even if the recall fails, WI may rid itself of this guy.

105,000 Maine voters signed petitions to put gay marriage up for a second vote. Three years ago ME lawmakers passed and signed gay marriage into law. Opponents forced a vote and overturned the law 53-47%. Wonder if the Mormon Church donated as much money to that "charity" as they did in California for Prop 8.

Newt Gingrich said that he was so stunned by Romney's performance at last Thursday's debate that all he could do was look at his feet. Newt claims to be brilliant but the secret is out, cheat-sheet notes on his shoes but he forgot his glasses.

Saturday, St. Louis held the first Welcome Home Parade to mark the end of the Iraq War. Amazing what happens when two friends decide to take action, meet with the mayor, organize and hold a parade. Well done, St. Louis!

Five additional and current employees of Rupert Murdock's The Sun, Great Britain, were arrested and charged with suspicion of bribing police. Walker and Murdock are performing a duet, we've got trouble, right here in River City, trouble that starts with T and rhymes with....

It's a great day when Miss Peggy and Kermit the Frog remind us that FOX isn't news nor is it fair and balanced.

RNC Chair Reince Priebus jumped the shark by comparing President Obama to the captain of the Costa Concordia who deserted his ship and passengers, many dead and some still missing. Former RNC Chair Michael Steele called it "unfortunate", an understatement of the truth. With his comments, Priebus joined a long line of GOP politicians whose comments and actions disrespect the Office of the President. President Obama has more integrity in his little finger than Priebus can ever hope to have in his entire body.

The Odd Couple on the campaign trail was Newt Gingrich and Herman Cain; then again, birds of a feather flock together.

Interesting poll numbers this week. The GOP candidates have higher unfavorable numbers than favorable, highly unusual considering they are not the incumbent. 4 in 10 FL GOP voters want another choice. 55% say President Obama understands their problems, only 39% think Romney does. Bet Mitt's numbers fell even further this week.

The Bill Gates Foundation gave $750 million to the global fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. Not all multi-millionaires stash their cash in Switzerland, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands.

At the Lincoln Day Dinner in West Palm Beach, GOP Rep Allen West told liberals to "get the hell out of the United States." Jim Manley's tweeted response, "you first...(expletive deleted)" sums up West nicely.

Michele Bachmann said the Tea Party in DC has been a force for good preventing redistribution of wealth and socialist practices. Bachmann's family was the proud recipient of many "socialist practices" in the form of farm subsidies, money for foster children, and money to her husband's clinic. Could not help wondering why the interviewer didn't ask about that.

Newt declared that "every time we nominate a moderate, we lose." I thought Reagan and Bush 41 won!

Gov Chris Christie said "The fact of the matter is, I think people would have been happy to have a referendum on civil rights rather than fighting and dying in the streets in the South." Blissful ignorance must run rampant on the right--blacks would have had to fight and die in the streets in the South just to get a referendum on the ballot let alone have a hope that it would be passed by the Jim Crow crowd.

Mitt Romney, "I'm a tough guy, really I am....I have lots of money and I know how to use it." Lordy, lordy, he sounds just like Donald Trump.

Newt Gingrich vowed to ban embryonic stem-cell research. Didn't Newt say Nancy Reagan passed him the Reagan torch?

Romney won Florida. Gingrich vowed to continue the fight as did Santorum and Paul. GOP strategist Steve Schmidt expects total war in the GOP. 3rd party candidate or a split in the GOP?

The Susan G. Komen Foundation de-funded Planned Parenthood. Odd, of the 700 or so grants Komen funds, only Planned Parenthood was cut off even though others were under investigation. Nice job, Komen, throw the most vulnerable women and men under the bus and claim it wasn't political. Judging from the public backlash and the media blitz of Komen spokespeople out on damage control, it's not working--people recognize "pious baloney" when they hear it.

After President Obama sang a few bars of "Let's Stay Together", sales of Al Green tunes increased 490%. After Mitt Romney sang "America the Beautiful", street vendors hit the jackpot by selling patriotic ear plugs outside Mitt's rallies.

Indiana passed a Right to Work law thus guaranteeing that wages for all Indianans will decline by 3.2%. Gov Daniels signed it immediately hoping to avoid the "civil war" he previously said would occur, back when he was against such a law. Didn't take long for the "civil war" Daniels feared to begin as thousands of citizens marched straight to Super Bowl Village. Daniels, another politician who is incredibly tone deaf--even to his own warnings; and just another ALEC shill.

Iowa's GOP Chair, Matt Strawn, will resign Feb 10. He came under fire for poor handling of the GOP caucus but his reason for resigning, "It is only because the Iowa GOP has returned as a strong and relevant voice in Iowa politics that I am no able to evaluate all the competing priorities in my personal, business and political life." Short version, "they made me do it."

Leon Panetta announced that the US and other international forces aim to end their Afghanistan combat role in mid 2013 and switch to training and advising Afghan forces through 2014. Republicans immediately hit the airways with the usual nonsense that announcing a date certain aids the enemies. No, announcing an exit date puts Karzai and his government on notice to get their act together, sink or swim; we're not staying forever.

Mitt Romney wins the "Gilded Foot" Award, "I'm not concerned about the very poor..." In or out of context, it just rings like a cracked bell.

Later Romney defended his comment with "...wealthy people are fine. But my focus in the campaign is on the middle class...middle income families..." Bet Mitt's nose grew. His tax plan provides more tax cuts for the rich and raised taxes on "middle income" families as for the poor--collateral damage.

Beyond Romney's inability to remotely sound compassionate is compounded because what republicans objected to was Romney saying he would "fix" the safety nets if needed. Now we know why Romney lacks compassion, it is simply missing from the GOPTP genetic code.

Gingrich went after Romney's "poor people" remark with "....I am fed up with politicians in either party pitting Americans against each other...I am concerned about all the American people." Gingrich is right, Romney is pitting the middle class against the poor. The audacity of Newt is that he and the GOP pit American against American with every word they utter demonizing union workers, public sector workers, food stamps for the poor, every time they call the unemployed lazy or refer to the poor as stray animals yet they call raising taxes on multi-millionaires "class warfare". It is Newt who would fire "union janitors" and replace them with "poor children" paid minimum wage to scrub floors and clean toilets in their schools while their wealthier peers were studying and doing their homework.

"Gas Land" director Josh Fox was arrested at Capitol Hill Wednesday for trying to film a public subcommittee hearing, which he has done before, about hydraulic fracturing. The GOP didn't like the idea of someone recording gas industry officials selling their goods while GOP politicians dismissed scientists and the EPA.

Indiana State democrats figured out how to fight extreme legislation their republican counterparts support. A GOPer introduced a bill to allow schools to teach creationism. Democrats amended it to include that if schools teach creationism, they must teach all forms of it including but not limited to Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism. The bill passed but democrats doubt any schools will be teaching creationism. "Where there's a will, there's a way". Cheers, Indiana democrats!

Rick Santorum said "government should not try to limit drug costs." Price gouging the very sick and elderly is fine, it's just the price we pay for that free-market thingy.

At Wednesday's Alfalfa Dinner, President Obama told John Boehner he was glad to see he still had his seat since Eric Cantor wanted it. Devoid of humor, Speaker Boehner huffed and puffed Thurs morning to remind everyone that he, Eric, and the GOP caucus are a team. Psssst, Speaker Boehner, President Obama was warning you to watch your back.

Donald Trump endorsed Mitt Romney because Romney's "not going to allow bad things to continue to happen in this country we all love." Translation, Mitt's going to cut The Donald's taxes even more. Looking at the two of them together on that stage, smiling, it was surreal. Two phonies kissing up to each other: one pretending to be relevant, the other pretending to be human.

Food for thought: President Obama spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast. He spoke of the biblical teachings that we are our brother's keeper, of social justice, of caring for the least among us, an obligation to the poor. One need not be religious to recognize the need for charity and unselfishness. Somewhere over the past 30 years, too many conservatives and republican politicians took faith and made a mockery of it; they twisted the biblical teachings into nothing but anti-abortion and anti-gay as all that matters dumping the obligation to each other along side the road to self-righteousness and greed.

Always worth a second reading, Feisty. Jody, where the heck are you? Have a good weekend.

Here I am! I ended up down below instead of up here. Thank you, Feisty. Looks like the GOP has already provided enough material for next week.

Always worth a second reading, Feisty.

NDD,

It sure is! I keep trying to convince her to send this to the DNC weekly, I might just have to do it myself! lol

People wait every week for Jody's wrap up!

Thank you, Feisty

You're welcome Jody!

Like I told you this morning, it is simply brilliant & deserves recognition! {{{hugs}}}

Ah yes, there you are Jody, I think we can fully expect the GOP to keep you plenty busy. I am waiting for the right wing to start screaming "teleprompter" every time they see Mittens on TV. As in Mittens, you need a teleprompter dude, you keep putting your size 12s into your mouth.

They are going to have to drop that insult, they got far worse going on with Mittens.

Congratulations to Lisa S. daughter and the whole family.

Congratulations to all women everywhere, who are strong in the face of adversity, gentle when giving support, and full of compassion in solidarity with each other.

I see the party has begun at the DDI. IR has the music playing and the champagne is flowing. Cheers!

Have a great weekend everyone! Go Patriots!!

start screaming "teleprompter"

If I'm not mistaken, I think I heard somewhere Romney uses a teleprompter!

Cheers and thanks FR!

Thanks again for the kind words. I see an awkward sentence that I didn't notice in the dark this morning; must not have had enough coffee yet! Hope Clara saw the "Gilded Foot".

Don't Carry, he does; it's when he doesn't use it that the "gilded foot" strikes.

I think in honor of Romney, and the GOPes cold hearts--I'm putting a quarter in the juke box for Three Dog Nights, "Easy to be Hard"

I see an awkward sentence that I didn't notice in the dark this morning;

That's okay - I see where I inserted was instead of is... lol

Whoops!

Been a long week!

Jody -- LOL --Their hypocrisy and silliness on some of these issues is incredible.

Wow, and where did all the conservatives go today......

If Romney uses a teleprompter and we get comments like "...I don't care about the very poor..." all I can say is "YIKES!"

Perhaps someone should teach him to stay on script? lol

Yes,...it's been a fabulous week! I am SO sorry, Pat in Boston; but I have to root for the Giants. Best man in our wedding is a HUGE fan and well,...we were with him the last time they won and it is some fond memories!

Besides, Tom Brady doesn't REALLY need another, does he? What I am looking forward to most are the commercials and the wings from our local bar, The Peanut. I have had wings all over the country and these are the BEST I've ever had. I will bring a couple dozen over to the Dew Drop tonight and you all can be the final judge!

Happy weekend. I still want Komen to lose their Tax Exempt status; but am willing to accept their mea culpa. Now if W would just nut up and give HIS mea culpa,...I could move on from my Blame Bush syndrome. LOL

and in a PRICELESS show of unity - This headline says it all:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/03/jobs-report-unemployment-rate-boehner_n_1252783.html

The Republicans would have to FIRST acknowledge the numbers are good,...prior, of course, to taking credit for them. These jerk wads KNOW they've done nothing to improve America,...so all they have left is to stand there on the sidelines and point out how horrible it STILL is,...while doing nothing, of course.

Are you paying attention, America? Cuz' it doesn't get MORE obvious than this.

Andrew G, that RUG is awful! Good one!

Clara--I'm with you rooting for the Giants. My husband is originally from NYC so the Giants are our second team.

I have not kissed and made up with the Komen Foundation. The situation this week was to me a serious breach of trust and is not mended by a carefully parsed "apology". To me so long as anyone connected with this so-called policy remains affiliated with the organization, my contributions will go elsewhere.

Looking forward to the celebration at the Dew Drop Inn----I'll be playing "Cry Me A River" to all the Republicans who couldn't bring themselves to respond to the good news on the economy with "Great---we're out of the woods---now let's have a vigorous debate on how to kick the economy into high gear and help out ALL Americans".

Thanks to Mark, Domenico and crew for all your hard work and your patience with us!

To Mark, Domenico and staff......thank you for all your hard work.

I miss the DDi tonight, but send congratulations to Lisa and family.

Its been an interesting week and for Mr Romney and the Komen Foundation not so good done in by their own hands or actions. Too late, that genie is not going back in the bottle.

Everyone have a great Super Bowl Weekend......go Pats in my old hometown.

Feisty, Just got home from a great night, Thanks for the good wishes. Have a good evening and go Giants. bELIieve. Everyone have a great weekend and god bless.

Bob,

Now, admit it, I talked you out of Rubio and pointed you McDonnell. And I was right.

Sorry about the Pats, but the big "mo" as in momentum seems to be with the G Men.

And how about one shout out to the hope of some outstanding Super Bowl commercials!

Giants win in a close one....

Sorry, big Bob lotsanumbers - but you'll never have political 'cred' with me,...

and the pats are going down. in a squeaker.

Phiney, appreciate your sense of humor, enjoy the game!

Oh, snap, Pats lose. Knew it would be a squeaker! Way to Go Eli and the Giants Receivers!

Also revised up were the Nov and Dec numbers by 60,000 jobs. In addition the annual prior year adjustment increased last year up by 165,000 jobs. In total there were over 465,000 jobs added.

The 1.2 million is the unadjusted (seasonal) number, thus not a valid part of the monthly BLS report.

Sam, corruption from the democrats? How dare you! Fast and Furious, Solyndra, obamacare, birth certificates, other 'green project' funding disasters, missing college thesis', missing background info, increasing the debt more than the first 42 presidents combined, manipulating statistics to cover a lie, the 'Food Stamp President, blaming Bush for current bad decisions..... didn't you listen to the esteemed Rev. Jackson today? All of this negative talk against Obama is dangerous... better to attack the Republicans instead! LOL

Yes the Superbowl will be a nice break from the disaster that is happening to the country. I hope to keep off Food Stamps for a while with a Patriot victory Sunday! Then back to reading more lies from our politicians on Monday!

Rub, I also heard a clip of Rev. Jackson's speech today! Is this guy for real? Saying that criticizing Obama will endanger his life? Is this part of Obama's campaign strategy?

....Rev. Jackson's speech today! Is this guy for real? Saying that criticizing Obama will endanger his life?

Robin, wasn't it Jackson himself who said he 'wanted to cut (Obama's) nuts off in 2008? The poor guy can't remember his own words!

Joseph, do us a favor and tell Mitt he needs to choose Bob McDonnell as VP!

Joseph,

The Gop in Nevada give stuff away free!!!

Here in MN at the precinct causus for Democrats, you have to buy all that campaign stuff.

Difference bwteen the 1% and the 99% :0)

Have a great time on Saturday.

Joseph, I'm in Vegas and will be at my precinct at a middle school on El Capitan/Juliani bright and early tomorrow am...... hoping for Christie or Rubio as VP! McDonnell wouldn't be bad either. Lunch at Mekino's at Flamingo and Decatur!

I'm a Packer fan, so don't have much interest in the game... but may put my Obama food stamps on NE! lmao!

Free, I think Joseph E. Parent is playing you! He is just another liberal mis-directing the truth and has no intentions of attending the Nevada Caucus, I'm sure he doesn't live here!

I did go and no... there were no frills... just a bunch of folks who not only want to stop the decay of America, but reverse it. United in a cause to prevent a second term from a guy who has no clue what American wants, American needs! It was very refreshing to be among so many people who feel the same way I do!

Obama will be the one promising things he can never achieve! We don't want t-shirts or gifts... just a chance for real change!

No, Bob it won’t.
Church members do not support the Church’s position against birth control and have not for at least 50 years.

The leadership and some devout members will follow what the leadership says but the large majority will not be swayed.

Hey Bob lots of number, you obviously are not Catholic, because if you were, you'd know that Dennis and Northstar are correct. Those of us who have sat in the pews through all the changes in the Catholic Church from Vatican II and Latin Masses, know few follow church teachings on contraceptives. What do you mean by ethnic Catholics? You appear to be going down a road of which you know not where you thread. Don't, you will be in over your head.

Peggy Noonan in WSJ:

"Obama may have just lost the election"