Today, Republicans are expected to ask Clinton whether the administration withheld documents or witnesses from Congress or investigators, and about the lack of progress investigating the deaths of Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, diplomat Sean Smith and CIA contractors Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods (R.I.P.).

House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.) said he appreciated Clinton’s willingness to testify. “It is important to learn all we can about what happened in Benghazi because at the end of the day, it could happen again,” Royce said in a statement. “After all, al-Qaeda and associated groups plan to attack over and over again, as we saw most recently in Algeria.”

One senior State Department manager resigned and three others were disciplined. Those targeted were well below Clinton and her senior aides, and some Republicans are expected to question whether blame went high enough up the bureaucratic ladder.

.

Hey, Republicans, Don’t bully her. She is a pit-bull.

World leaders have given the president congratulations for speaking about climate change in his Inaugural Address.

Just as JFK passed the torch to a new generation, President Obama has passed the torch to a new century.

Embrace it.

No budget, no pay!!!!!!!!!!!!

Really???? Why are some of the ideas that some Republicans always thought of also happen to be unconstitutional?

.

But, it’s time for Congress to finally pass a budget. The first in 4 years? Where has Congress been? A joke.

Steve Benen yesterday had an interesting article about a spending surge under President Obama, that didn't in fact ever happen.

But policy prescriptions and Keynesian economics notwithstanding, the facts are the facts: every time Republicans whine incessantly about President Obama spending like there's no tomorrow, they're simply wrong.

What's more, Bloomberg News published a fascinating item today providing some useful historical context: "Federal outlays over the past three years grew at their slowest pace since 1953-56, when Dwight D. Eisenhower was president."

Robert Reischauer, a former director of the CBO, told Bloomberg that other than the Recovery Act, which was temporary stimulus spending, discretionary spending over the last few years "has been quite modest and is scheduled to go to levels we haven't experienced in modern times."

The conservative case has it backwards. The right wants to focus on debt reduction when we should be focused on jobs, and the right believes out-of-control spending is soaring when it's actually stalled.

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/01/22/16644364-the-spending-surge-that-didnt-happen?lite

None of the folks in Washington deserve to have pay. Where are the pink slips? We The People would have gotten them a LONG time ago.

The nomination for CIA director thinks that ' too much freedom is possible' and has acceptance for government censorship?

Where does the insanity stop?

Well, 2 "good guys with guns" (in their own minds they are, you know that) felt threatened and exercised their Second Amendment rights with innocent bystanders in the crossfire. http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/national/lone-star-college-shooting-shots-fired-at-houston-school

Who would have thought that would happen? Anyone with half a brain, that's who.

It's far from an isolated event as you can see here, where there they attempt to collect the name and location of every victim of a shooting starting with Newtown. http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/crime/2012/12/gun_death_tally_every_american_gun_death_since_newtown_sandy_hook_shooting.html

Your dreams of gloriously "watering the tree of Liberty with the blood of patriots and tyrants" end where my dream of being able to go to a campus, walk through a mall, or sit in a movie theater without becoming "collateral damage" begins. I don't care what you think on that subject.

Dear Mr. President, please do not buy into the Repugs debt extension plan to kick the can down the road. They have no fire power left so the plan is just to not face reality and pass the debt on and on and on. Call their bluff. They'll fold.

And who is this idiot LaPierre? Get this nut off the TV Screen. He has no idea what he's talking about. Did you hear his speech? Pathetic.

Hillary, don’t forget to mention the following:

House Republicans had consciously voted to reduce the funds allocated to the State Department for embassy security since winning the majority in 2010.

Oh and Hillary, PS. you don't have to mention that more Dems voted against the allocation of funds than did the GOP.

But, it’s time for Congress to finally pass a budget. The first in 4 years? Where has Congress been? A joke.

I may be mistaken but is not the onus on the POTUS to present one prior to the House voting on it?

I've noticed that Paul Ryan is the most animated when he talks about cutting the deficit by reducing the amount seniors get for Medicare, and it occurs to me, how odd it is what excites Republicans is saving the government money - so it can go back, I guess, to the people who need it the least. That is their ideology in a nutshell. I've heard it said Ryan wants to "save" Medicare and Social Security, and that's why he wants to shift the cost back to seniors, which doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I understand that changes have to be made, but I trust Democrats, who make it clear their first priority is healthcare for those who need it, over Republicans, who mention "saving" Medicare, as an after thought.

Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman has approved a revised route for the Keystone XL pipeline, one that supporters say will avoid the most ecologically sensitive regions of his state.

So, Joe, we SHOULD NOT listen to the Governor of Nebraska when he opposes the original route for Keystone XL but now we SHOULD listen to him when he approves the revised route?

Thanks for clearing that up.

The GNOP sure enjoys holding, meetings, retreats & sleepovers these days...

Shame they are about as organized as a WalMart $5.00 DVD bin!

Watching them cling to their 2010 victories is especially amusing given the smack down they took in 2012... lol

Always having to live in the past is not a healthy way to go through life! ;o)

Budget

The job of passing a budget resolution is not the president's. That responsibility falls to Congress, and even then the president doesn't sign it. The president has no role in passing a budget. The president can cajole Congress about passing a budget and advocate for positions and funding levels, but in the end, Congress approves the budget resolution for their own purposes. That's the difference between this and other claims we've rated which blamed Congress for inaction on the budget.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/apr/06/mitt-romney/romney-says-obama-failed-pass-budget/

In the United States Congress, a budget resolution is part of the United States budget process. It is in the form of a concurrent resolution passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate but is not presented to the President and does not have the force of law. It sets out the congressional budget.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budget_resolution

http://budget.house.gov/budgetprocess/

This just in…..

From the article above:

Here’s the bad news for the GOP: According to the most recent NBC/WSJ poll, the party’s unfavorable rating (49%) is at its highest point since 2008.

Have you RW numb chucks heard this?

Courtesy of US Today

STOCKS UP 85% IN OBAMA’S 1^ST TERM – Returns top 4 predecessors’

Obama + 85%

Clinton + 79.2%

G.H.W. Bush + 51.2%

Ronald Reagan + 30.1%

G.W. Bush – 12.4%

Don’t cha just love Capitalism, Joe?

We now interrupt this program to bring you the following message:

“A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business.”
Henry Ford

Salud

Here's the question: If you can't believe a Republican, who can you believe? Well the answer is: Anyone who IS NOT a Republican.

Remember when Republicans were going on and on and on and on about how our very rich and very noble job creators were just scared to death because of all the uncertainty. Well here's the Republican answer to removing that uncertainty. Raise the debt ceiling for three months.

Help me out on this. If a ten-year tax cut made job creators feel uncertain, how does the prospect of an infantile Republican majority playing games with the debt ceiling every three months create a climate of certainty and security.

The ignore feature seems to be working again, but not being a Republican, I actually have a memory. Yes, the Albanian idiot's post was out for all to see, yesterday. Hey what the hell. You look. You look at train wrecks and car crashes, right? So, he tells us about his wealth, how his life is a veritable whirlwind of success, and he ends by telling us, "Life is good."

Four years of "life is good", salmon, filet mignon, Sam Adams beer, vacations, and he hates everything Democrat and Obama. I'm looking for a rational explanation.

Still waiting for the GOPers to apologize for their outrageous comments doubting Mrs. Clinton's serious illness. I doubt any of the disrespectful conspiracy theory declarers will have the courage to admit they were wrong. Cowards are bold only while standing in the shaddows.

"What a Difference a Day Makes." It was as predictable as winter in Iowa that in less than 24 hours, the GOP and conservatives would appear to have come unhinged and seem even more angry. Who would think they would find fault with the words in our Declaration of Independence, "We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal."

We know conservatives cannot tell us exactly what is wrong with the liberal truths our founding fathers wrote into our Constitution so they rant and rage against the person speaking the words many of them do not really believe, or rather feel those words are cut in stone never to be altered with the changing times. Conservatives living in a world that no longer exists must always, always find something to fear; and then they tell who to blame for their fear. Liberal thinking is why this country fought a revolution to rid us of a king. Conservatives seek always to preserve what is as it is, yet progress does not cooperate. Change comes with or without them.

Hey Dennis you seem to have forgotten this little part of your "story" from your very own source.

The President, in accordance with to the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, must submit a budget to Congress each year. In its current form, federal budget legislation law (31 U.S.C. 1105(a)) specifies that the President submit a budget between the first Monday in January and the first Monday in February.

If he doesn't submit, how can they vote on it. Selective definition spewing I see.

Pigotry said,

"Good luck Hillary"

Pig... you don't need luck to tell the truth!!

Unless you have something to hide.... hmmm

Remember "the truth will set you free"!!

He has submitted a budget every year. He said he would be late this years due to the cliff dealings earlier this month but he will submitt it as he must by law.

Owning and using a gun should be like owning and driving a car. Regulate, training, register and license.

Simple!

I tire of hearing about LaPierre, a merchant of instruments of death!

The unnecessary carnage of innocents continues......his 'good guy' 'bad guy' anology trivializes a very serious issue!

I'm sickened again by the carnage in Albuquerque....a teen murders his parents and three siblings.

This must be curtailed!

Four years of "life is good", salmon, filet mignon, Sam Adams beer, vacations, and he hates everything Democrat and Obama. I'm looking for a rational explanation.

A "rational explanation"? You won't get one. He's not called the Albanian Idiot for nothing. . . .

"...independent study criticized Clinton’s State Department “for a lack of seasoned security personnel and for relying on untested local militias to safeguard the compound,” the New York Times reported at the time."

===============================

A somewhat off-topic comment, but I wonder if the majority of today's GOP would use the description above to describe US public safety being at risk if "..a lack of seasoned security personnel and for relying on untested local militias to safeguard..." as a counter argument against the NRA's push?

Obviously, I know the answer to that question. But at face value, I find it interesting they seem to embrace the concept when applied to Benghazi that the local militia did no good in their very specific task of protection, but somehow that same type of 'untested militia' in this Country if equipped with guns all of a sudden fits the bill as the end all beat all of solutions and the ultimate deterrent against violence.

It's a little shell game being played by the Republicans concerning the budget. Here are the facts.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/05/house-and-senate-unanimously-reject-obama-budgets-or-do-they/

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/apr/06/mitt-romney/romney-says-obama-failed-pass-budget/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/16/senate-budget-jeff-sessions_n_1522643.html

Here’s the bad news for the GOP: According to the most recent NBC/WSJ poll, the party’s unfavorable rating (49%) is at its highest point since 2008.

It's only bad news for the GOPers who are in touch with reality, if there are any.

I've heard it said Ryan wants to "save" Medicare and Social Security, and that's why he wants to shift the cost back to seniors, which doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

Making sense has never mattered. Remember "destroying the village in order to save it"? Some things never change.

FR:

What’s more, the 2014 midterm season looks potentially bright for the GOP, given the Democratic Senate seats that are up next year and given that the Obama coalition of voters isn’t as likely to participate in elections when the president’s name isn’t at the top of the ticket.

And given that the Republicans have gerrymandered so badly that it's virtually impossible for Democrats to win the House, no matter how disgusted the voters are with tea bag Republicans. Why is it that all these insightful analyses by beltway types always ignore that critical factor, which is the ONLY factor that the Republicans still control the House after getting less votes than Democrats in the 2012 election?

Sometimes I think the media ignores these things deliberately in order to preserve the False Equivalency. There's some stuff that Republicans do that's so rotten that it simply cannot be mentioned without underscoring the lack of any real equivalency between the Republicans' constant attempts to overthrow democracy and anything the Democrats have done.

The GOP has been hijacked by christian savages for decades. Now there are less of them, with little chance to regain. They can regroup all they want, but unless they shake off the evangelical fleas, they are done forever.

Feisty, I still find it funny Republicans had to be told that their strategy of putting tax cuts for the wealthy ahead of protecting our nation's credit rating, did not play well across the country.

Gee, you think? They had to huddle at a retreat to learn that threatening our economic recovery is not making them popular? What world do Congressional Republicans live in?

Hillary shouldn't be in front of this committee today.

Obama should.

I don't know what Svengali-like power this guy has. But, he gets everyone around him, along with the media, to fall on their swords, cover up for, and take responsibility for his screw-ups.

Eventually, this guy is going to have to stand up and take responsibility for his own mistakes. The only question is; when will that day come?

Gee, you think? They had to huddle at a retreat to learn that threatening our economic recovery is not making them popular?

Ames,

As evidenced last fall, they pay absolutely NO attention to accurate polling!

I say, let them carry on, I wouldn't mind seeing Turdblossom go "nucular" again on NewsforDumbFux! lmao

The GOP has been hijacked by christian savages for decades

I would say the opposite, that this country's Christianity has been hijacked by extremist, hateful right-wing zealots. There is nothing genuinely "Christian" about the GOP today.

If truly Christian principles prevailed, this country would have universalized healthcare years ago and created a social safety net worthy of Christ himself. The poor wouldn't be getting poorer. Food stamps wouldn't be a dirty term. Social programs, not the military, would be the sacred cow of our budget.

Sometimes it seems as if the "Christian" right followed Attila the Hun and not Christ himself.

ZMan2012

Hillary shouldn't be ion front of this committee today.

Obama should.

I don't know what Svengali-like power this guy has. But, he gets everyone around him, along with the media, to fall on their swords, cover up for, and take responsibility for his screw-ups.

Eventually, this guy has t stand up and take responsibility for his own mistakes.

What, exactly was Obama's "mistake" regarding Benghazi? Was it as bad as the well-documented mistake that Bush made when ignored repeated warnings of an impending Al Qaeda attack on the US prior to 9/11, a mistake that resulted in the deaths of 3,000 Americans? If so, please provide the emails and memos and testimony of witnesses to support your serious allegations.

I don't know what Svengali-like power this guy has.

Here's a clue for you, ZMan: Barack Obama is in his second term as President of the United States of America.

He doesn't run our embassies personally. But you knew that.

The irony of republicans like Paul Ryan whining about the debt and deficit is that the GOP willingly created it the debt and deficits President Obama inherited from the hawks. Now those stalwarts of fiscal responsibility believe that senior citizens should pay for the GOP's failure. Paul Ryan voted for every single unfunded spending piece of legislation passed from 2001-2008; he never once said: hold on, we can't keep spending like this, we need to pay for these things--not once. And neither did the rest of the loud-mouthed GOPer critics.

It is outrageous to listen to the likes of wealthy CEOs, and folks like Maria Bartaroma declare that raising the eligibility age for social security and medicare for seniors to 70 "makes sense". Those people sit at desks earning hundreds of thousands and often millions of dollars per year. That's fine, that's great for them that they had the ability and the education to get where they are, but they do not stand at a machine 8-10 hrs per day, or lift 50-70 lb boxes, or kneel and climb ladders to build or remodel a home. They do not climb telephone or electrical poles to repair them in all sorts of weather. They do not work outside in the heat, the cold, the dust, the rain, the snow delivering the mail. Yet these powerful people declare that anyone should be happy to work until they are 70. Well, put Maria Bartaroma and the CEOs at an mail processing company for a month; and then let them walk the mail carriers route for another month, then let them work at Walmart for a month; then another at FedEx or UPS sorting boxes and delivering them; then they can try their hands at building a home or putting on a roof or installing flooring. Let them work at manual labor for a year, then and only then can they have their opinion that it "makes sense" to raise the eligibility age to 70.

The irony of republicans like Paul Ryan whining about the debt and deficit is that the GOP willingly created it the debt and deficits President Obama inherited from the hawks.

The reality we need to face is that most in the GOP do not have the gray matter to follow simple logic through to a conclusion, and that those who do are ruthless power-mongers, intent only on self-interest.

NRA Chief Gun Nut Wayne LaPierre:

Absolutes do exist.

Except for absolute zero temperature, no they don't. No right is absolute. Freedom of religion is not absolute because rituals involving human sacrifice are banned. Freedom of speech isn't absolute because you cannot yell "fire" in a crowded theater. And not even the freedom to bear arms is absolute, either. Wayne LaPierre cannot carry his shootin' iron onto a commercial airliner, because the FAA is more concerned about some idiot's gun going off accidentally and depressurizing the cabin than it is about a heroic "good guy" having a gun fight with a "bad guy" terrorist inflight.

A note on the Benghazi hearings...

With the exception of Richard Clarke during the 911 commission, no one took any responsibility for the MASSIVE and endemic failures that took place on 9/11. I remember watching an icy faced Condalezza Rice blame and deflect on the Bush administration's errors, and they were Legion.

Hillary is answering the questions, admitting her part in a failing at the consulate. The Bush people never admitted they did anything wrong. Hypocrisy at its finest for these Republican senators some who believe that Clinton was faking a life threatening concussion and clot.

Ask your questions, make note of the mistakes, fix the issues. Let us hope that after these talks that it doesn't take Congress five to six years to implement solutions, like when the GOP Congress stonewalled the 911 commission suggestions. It took a newly mandated Dem House majority to sheperd those suggestions through Congress in 2007.

Talk - our President HAS submitted a budget each year he's been in office. Look it up!

Houston - you beat me to it. Isn't it amazing that the small minds on this site want the President up in front of a committee because of the tragedy that took 4 good Americans lives but didn't call for the same when Bush's ignoring warnings took over 3,000?

Am I the only one who notices the eery similarities between Yosemite Sam and Wayne La Pierre or even Ted Nugent?

I say, I say, they're "hopping" mad - while shooting themselves in their own feet, right?

bwaaaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahahahahaha

David Wanker: Your obsession with my posts is Hillaryous!!!!!

I only hope they keep you awake at night tossing and turning.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Life is good.

Enjoy.

(or, if you are a lefty liberal, at least try to be less miserable)

But of course, not even the freedom to bear arms is absolute, either. Wayne LaPierre cannot carry his shootin' iron onto a commercial airliner, because the FAA is more concerned about some idiot's gun going off accidentally and depressurizing the cabin than it is about a heroic "good guy" having a gun fight with a "bad guy" terrorist inflight.

Why, I have to wonder, aren't the gun nuts all up in arms over their lack of right to conceal and carry on airplanes? I mean, think about it. We are never in a more vulnerable situation than that.

How could they defend themselves? Ask the heroes of Flight 93.

Clara - "they're hopping mad - while shooting themselves in their own feet." Yeah, but they're all armed to the teeth to do it!

oh kaybeetoys - please don't bring that up. The last thing I want to do is be on an airplane with some NRA idiot who's eager to show what a "big" man he is!

I hope that everyone is or will watch the hearing today. The division continues, and it is despicable. The Democrats are praising Hillary, and the majority of questions are about funding. Republicans, well they are going for the jugular.

Its so obvious that it is insulting.

Amy, it takes two and I hold both Republicans and Democrats for our downgraded credit rating.

You want to talk about huddling together, watch Hillary Clinton testimony.

I got cut off before I could finish my thought. The patriots who brought down the hijackers on Flight 93 were armed with two things the gun nuts can never possess: knowledge and courage.

[But the American Petroleum Institute praised the action and said it should clear the way for Obama to approve the pipeline.]

Sorry Albany Joe, not gonna happen. The pipeline (parts of which are already being constructed in Texas) in this region will eventually be approved, just not along it's current route which STILL takes it through the Ogallala Aquifer. This aquifer is approximately 170,000 square miles, roughly the same area of dead space between your ears, apparently.

[The pipeline would bring Canadian crude oil to refineries in Texas, an action that supporters say would aid North American energy independence.]

Great talking point Joey, but that is bull@!$%#. It will be sold on the open market and you know it.

The Governor also stated in another article that he has "assurances" from XL that they will be responsible for the clean up of any spills.

The last time that "assurance" was given, we all know how well that turned out.

p.s. Sam Adams beer is really Jim Koch's urine. Life is good...enjoy!

Thanks to those who beat me to the punch in pointing out the Second Amendment is NOT absolute, never has been. It doesn't give you the right to ANY weapon you desire...never has. It doesn't give you the right to carry and use that weapon ANY place you desire...never has.

The Second Amendment is no more absolute than any of our other rights. It has ALWAYS BEEN subject to reasonable restrictions designed to protect the rights and safety of others. None of our rights are absolute, in that they have the potential to infringe on the rights of others. That is the reality of civilization.

FR: Boehner said, per a source in the room. Technically, today’s vote is to SUSPEND the debt limit rather than RAISE it.

No it isn't. It's...

Another Political Stunt Designed To Get The Right Wing Radicals Out Of The Latest Corner That They Have Painted Themselves Into.

http://www.politicususa.com/fooled-eric-cantors-desperate-bogus-offer-raise-debt-ceiling.html

Republicans Set Up Democrats for a Giant Win if They Refuse to Pay Congress

http://www.politicususa.com/republicans-set-democrats-giant-win-refuse-pay-congress.html

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It may feel right to the Republican Stooges over in the House; but it's wrong; very wrong

...the party’s effort to improve upon what went wrong in the last election -- will discuss its research.

Research? Try POLL READING 101!

Great points, Mickey. At least 7 northern states have existing refineries and are reasonable places where the coal tar could be refined for reshipment.

Given that, why MUST the pipeline go to Houston? What does Houston have that they don't have in, say, Wyoming?

A seaport.

SeekingSanity

oh kaybeetoys - please don't bring that up. The last thing I want to do is be on an airplane with some NRA idiot who's eager to show what a "big" man he is!

That reminds me: During "Gun Appreciation Day" last Saturday, five people were injured at three different gun shows when a gun went off accidentally. I don't like the thought of these morons even walking down the same street I am, let alone being on the same airplane.

He has submitted a budget every year. He said he would be late this years due to the cliff dealings earlier this month but he will submitt it as he must by law.

Why, yes, yes he has. And yes, yes he will. But NO, the Republican majority will not act on it. Instaed, they will draft their own budget, one they know has no chance of passing the Senate. And, then, just as they have in the past, they will blame Obama for not passing a budget (which is not his job) and they will blame the Senate for refusing to vote on what hey knew was an unpassable bill in the first place. And, interspersed with all of this will be the same claims that the Democratic party is the party of blame!

Enough! 2014 is coming... vote out a Republican!

Excellent point about the retirement age. There are many who are ignorant to the idea that some jobs have a great physical toll on people. It is not that they do not want to work anymore, there comes a point where they physically can't.

As to politics, I am waiting for the "crazy" to come out of the conservatives. Many here would probably tell me to keep dreaming, but I am seeing it happen very slowly. If the economy settles over the next few years and housing markets pick up I feel many of them will stop complaining. As for now, it still does not seem possible to be able to have an honest conversation about the nation's future between the two sides. I find many Republicans to be still looking for every excuse to say why the President is doing an awful job despite so much evidence of the contrary.

You know it's bad when a lot of them are now left saying "I don't know why everyone likes this guy". It is because there is a recovery taking place, and as slow as it may be, people's lives are improving. Around where I live college graduates are getting jobs. They can see what is coming in the future. 2007-8 left us in a situation where we lost our ability to trust in our leadership and that is understood, but to fight against progress due to fear is not an acceptable excuse. I believe once the Republicans lose all this hate & fear rhetoric, we will really start to see things improve.

I kind of like our President too, but as I have said many times no one party/mindset has all the answers. If we want to do it right it will have to do it together.

Sam Adams beer is really Jim Koch's urine. Life is good...enjoy!

Don't worry Mickey, the Idiot from Albany drinks it with a wedge of lime to wipe away the aftertaste!

Poor little critter is running on fumes...

“With all due respect, the fact is we had four dead Americans,” she said with her voice rising. “Was it because of a protest or was it because a guy goes out for a walk one night and decided to go kill some Americans? What difference, at this point, does it make? It is our job to figure out what happened and do everything we can to prevent it from ever happening again, Senator.”

“I saw first-hand what Ambassador Thomas Pickering and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen called ‘timely’ and ‘exceptional’ coordination. No delays in decision-making,” she said. “No denials of support from Washington or from the military. And I want to echo the Review Board’s praise for the valor and courage of our people on the ground — especially the security professionals in Benghazi and Tripoli. The Board said our response saved American lives in real time – and it did.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/clinton-benghazi-testimony-86611_Page2.html#ixzz2Iod8P4I1

-------------------------------------------------------------

Presented without comment...and none is really needed, is it?

The Messiah's 2012 budget rejected by the senate 97-0, his brilliant 2013 budget was even better at 99-0. Oh, will you Idiots ever get it! That is before we go bankrupt!

The Messiah? Only you quasi-Christian wackos think Obama is omnipotent.

geo - don't you every tire of looking like a blithering fool? Your constant use of the "messiah" word makes you pathetic and shows you don't have the intelligence of a 2 year old. Grow up or just go away! You're tiring and look more pitiful with each and every bit of ignorance you post!

There is an old 1990 law that has mandated 'lowest price' for embassy protection, instead of the best protection with a bid. This old law is also partially responsible - in addition to the GOP house that voted down better protection in the last 2 years. Hillary is not responsible.

Hey DF, Was she pointing her finger and pounding her fist on the table as she spoke?

She is a Clinton after all.

Once and for all...

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50139553n

WCA-

I understand the need to assuage your feelings of Clinton envy, but it just makes you look petty in this case.

She was brilliant and straightforward, because after all she is a Clinton...

EEngineer has come here with clear proof - you know, evidence - that we can balance our federal budget by taxing the rich. Period. We can balance it. No red ink. No deficit. No adding to the debt.

He has also just explained about the President's budget proposals.

Clear facts. He is not the only one who has done this. He does however, join the ranks of people who bring facts to this forum and are routinely ignored by right-wing idiots.

The House of Representatives is charged by the law of the land - The U.S. Constitution - with the responsibility for producing a budget. That's the law. What they have done - as EEngineer just explained - is to produce budgets that will not pass the smell test in the Senate.

Never does the right wing refute those points. NEVER.

White Collar Auto,

So you where watching Hillary, I see. What did you think of the questions from the democrats? It was more like a fan appreciation day for Hillary day.

What a joke this hearing was.

DW,

Regardless of what the House sent the Senate, isn't it the Senate responsibility to at least address it, and than counter?

Thet-

Was that your VERY FIRST Senate hearing or just being disingenuous for the sake of being disingenuous?

Is Bob Corker a DEMOCRAT too?

ZMan2012

Hillary shouldn't be in front of this committee today.

Obama should.

I don't know what Svengali-like power this guy has. But, he gets everyone around him, along with the media, to fall on their swords, cover up for, and take responsibility for his screw-ups.

Eventually, this guy is going to have to stand up and take responsibility for his own mistakes. The only question is; when will that day come?

==========

A - Presidents don't testify to the Senate in Committee Hearings...and if you believe President Obama should be...please refresh us on Nixon, Reagan, Clinton, Bush 43 etc..

B - To your last sentence, I'm not quite certain what presentation you are referring to where the Admin is pressing that 'all things went as planned'..that nothing failed...that nothing abnormal happened.

C - For a person so bent on folks taking responsibility..your inability to speak of the Congress as a whole, let alone the chaotic mess the House GOP is, seems more than telling

Mickey, You ripping off the boss, one of those 'Phd's' you run with? Not leading by example. tisk tisk.

Life is GOOD but must suck for you to hate the 'bourgeois' LOL...

OUCH

Fully 67 percent of all Americans in a new Washington Post-ABC News poll now express favorable views of the outgoing secretary of state, a record high in the survey for Clinton, albeit by a single percentage point. By contrast, just 19 percent of people said they approved of the way Congress was doing its job in a Post-ABC poll released last week.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2013/01/23/hillary-clinton-testifying-before-congress-on-libya-attack/

------------------------------------------------------------------

And she will be viewed even more favorably and the Congress even less so after today...

Excerpts from the RNC discussion:

Preibus: Hello everyone. I'll be frank here. It doesn't look good for us. We've lost the majority of Americans on taxes, and we're losing them on guns too. For some reason, our straw man attacks against a fictional communist/fascist Obama agenda which are utterly detached from reality aren't working and people are actually embracing the idea of legitimate reforms to solve national problems instead.

We've already lost on taxes, and that was our signature issue. We've lost America on immigration. We've lost America on foreign policy, somehow turning even the political gift horse of Benghazi into a gaffe-fest on our side. We've lost women, non-whites, the young, and the growing irreligious demographics. Our power base is increasingly being isolated to a few deep south states and some sparsely populated states in the upper-mountain-west, and our grip on the south is actually getting weaker.

Worst of all, the economy continues to recover from the great recession, which will convince people that the Democrats know what they are doing economically and that we don't, just because Democratic presidents tend to oversee economic growth, and Republican presidents tend to oversee recessions. Our unfavorable ratings are at an all time high. The party, as currently constituted, has little to no shot of a popular national majority any time in the near future.

Preibus: I have here a series of proposals for your consideration to bring the party back to relevance on the national stage. Proposal 1. Return to the principles of fiscal conservatism, favoring a balanced plan for deficit reduction that does not threaten the economic recovery or insist on tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans over all else.

RNC: Nay!

Preibus: OK, proposal 2. Identify areas for bipartisan compromise and cooperation to prove that we are not just being absolute obstructionists for the sake of politics.

RNC: Nay!

Preibus: Proposal 3. Embrace science and adopt forward-looking policies on important issues like health, the environment, and climate, while rejecting anti-scientific policies like teaching creationism in the classroom.

RNC: [Riotous laughter]. No, really. Nay.

Preibus: Proposal 4. Develop a coherent foreign policy rather than presenting jingoistic, neo-conservative militarism and apocalyptic rhetoric or the isolationist viewpoints of Ron Paul as the only options.

RNC: Nay! Also, bomb Iran! And France too!

Preibus: Proposal 5. Tamp down on the more xenophobic, patriarchal, fundamentalist elements of the party in order to embrace immigration reform, women's issues, and to appeal to the increasing number of non-Christians in the country or anyone else who doesn't like having morality legislated to them in a manner that infringes on their constitutional rights.

RNC: Nay! Burn the heretic! No RINOs!

Preibus: At least stop saying offensively stupid things about rape?

RNC: [murmurs] Fine, whatever. Unless somebody asks us about it.

Preibus: Well, we're out of ideas, then.

RNC: Hey, remember that time we won, even though we got fewer votes? We did it again in the House this year. Maybe we can just find a way to rig the system to make that happen again. Every year. Forever. Then we can impose whatever unpopular policies we want, solely for the benefit of the small minority of our wealthiest contributors and staunchest supporters. Now that's our idea of liberty!

Seeking Insanity - Why did ALL the Democrats vote against The Chosen Ones budget? Or, would this be to ignorant of a question to ask? Or, better yet, are you to ignorant to answer!

Nathan - well done!

geo - you ignorant pompous ass! He proposed a budget. It was then doctored to include garbage so it was voted down. However, it is then up to the Congress to make adjustments and put forth a budget they can pass. Oh, wait, they didn't even try!

Talking about security funding...don't forget to mention that you can re-allocate personnel from other embassies...I'm certain that the French embassy or some other ally nation has more personnel than required... those resources could have been re-allocated...

Joe ..

The only reason the governor in Nebraska is jumping on this now is because of the President's inaugural speech stating that climate change is an issue that needs to be addressed and moved off the back burner. Producing oil from tar sands is one of the dirtiest, foulest was to obtain a fuel source and one that creates more damage to the environment than any type of benefit.

http://www.foe.org/projects/climate-and-energy/tar-sands/keystone-xl-pipeline

I lot of us choose NOT to be ostriches. Apparently not you.

geo,

Democrats disputed that it was actually the president's plan, arguing that the slim amendment didn't actually match Mr. Obama's budget document, which ran thousands of pages. But Republicans said they used all of the president's numbers in the proposal, so it faithfully represented his plan. Numbers with no verbiage to support areas of spending … no one would vote for such a budget.

http://hotair.com/archives/2012/05/16/99-0-senate-votes-down-obamas-budget-unanimously-again/

House vote on the Ryan Budget: 235 – 193

No Dems voted for Ryan's budget and 4 Republicans voted "No" and you wonder why it failed to pass in the Senate 57 to 40 with 5 Republicans voting against it.

http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/votes/112/house/1/277

Why did Senate Republicans vote against the House passed Ryan budget?

JK1963 - and that should be something that is discussed very seriously as they move through this process. But, the idea of "blaming" someone is typical GOP. Again, they weren't too bothered with the over 20 killed in attacks during the Bush administration. Oh, wait, they just really don't care unless a Democrat is President - forgot!

I'm certain that the French embassy or some other ally nation has more personnel than required...

The above illustrates whey Conservatives fail the most basic test of fiscal responsibility. They're always "certain" that the money for something exists someplace else. They can't tell us where...quite to the contrary it's apparently not their job to even KNOW where...but they're "certain."

As far as I can tell with my ear to the ground, the most accurate recent attempt to re-brand and re-package the remains of the core of the republican party were the KKK flyers in plastic baggies delivered to homes in Georgia. Everything else is just window dressing.

These pathetic "RNC & serfs" tweakers will always remember 2009-2017 as a "dark" time in America... No matter what. It's embedded in the thick mud at the bottom of their ever-shallowing gene pool.

I was going to call on the party as a "hole" to self deport since they are nothing more or less than miscreants lording over a dwindling supply of "merkins willingly subjugated by miscreants... But watching them edged slowly toward the door with that "what? i'm not invited?" look on all their faces is just too precious not to savor.

Four years of "life is good", salmon, filet mignon, Sam Adams beer, vacations, and he hates everything Democrat and Obama. I'm looking for a rational explanation.

Here is something that the liberals just don't understand...

There are actually people out there, who even though they personally benefit from some of the current political policies, don't approve of those policies because those people are focused on the greater good of the nation, its future, and the future of it's children.

Liberals simply cannot fathom this.

They ask "How can you speak out against something that personally benefits you?"

They label political opposition as ignorant, stupid, racist, etc. etc. etc.

They think as selfish children, focused only on their own, personal satisfaction and gain.

For this reason, the two sides will likely never come together. Sad. :O(

Feisty -

I love your new avatar!

Democrats forget about the confusion in their party after the Contract With America defeat, or both Gore and Kerry getting trounced. What rose from the ashes was an ultra left wing liberal Democratic Party determined to spend more, tax more, and expand the government along with the populations dependency. So it really should come as no surprise that after a loss the Republicans are regrouping. This is all just part of the cycle of Washington, and no matter who wins the American people will ultimately lose. Washington has spent decades talking about the problems facing this nation, and today they are still just talking about them. Sorry about mentioning events that took place before the Bush years, since that is when most history begins and ends for liberals.

[Mickey, You ripping off the boss, one of those 'Phd's' you run with? Not leading by example. tisk tisk.]

Nahh, not taking after you at all. I have the day off today. I have accrued WAAAAAY too much vacation time over the last 30 or so years, and if I don't use it I lose it. Well, I don't lose it, really. I just get a big fat check for anything over 400 hours.

And you?

[Life is GOOD but must suck for you to hate the 'bourgeois' LOL...]

Actually, it does kinda suck. I had to break it to the wife that I won't be retiring this year as I was asked to stay on for another 3-5 years or so to oversee a project. She is NOT happy. But thanks for your concern.

And you? Why does life suck so much for you? Because you've become the hypocritical guttersnipe you hate so much or because Obama wants to take your guns? What's the faux outrage du jour caesar?

[OUCH]

Still haven't learned to keep those fingers out of the fan blades, huh...

I love your new avatar!

Thanks Suzq!

It's in honor of the two "DemoCats" who call my house their forever home! ☺

Not to mention, our President is one cool cat himself! lol

SeekingSanity

geo - you ignorant pompous ass! He proposed a budget. It was then doctored to include garbage so it was voted down. However, it is then up to the Congress to make adjustments and put forth a budget they can pass. Oh, wait, they didn't even try!

Speaking of pompous asses....

Hey Insanity,

The HoR DID pass a budget (actually, multiple budgets) which was then forwarded to the Senate, where good old Harry sat on it.

He would not amend it or vote on it...

His options were

1. Bring it to the Senate floor for a vote to ratify
2. Amend it, then bring it to the Senate floor for a vote to ratify (and if passed then send it back to the HoR for their vote)
3. Propose his own budget, then bring it to the Senate floor for a vote to ratify (and if passed then send it back to the HoR for their vote)

He did NONE OF THESE!

He did NOTHING! He just sat on it. So it died.

What a useless POS he is! And the president should have put his boot up Harry's a$$ for that... but no... he just sat there too!

What a joke!

Of course, in your mind it is all the House Republican's fault!

HAHAHAAH! Fool!

:OP

Poor, Poor Mr Obama, I did not know all these terrible things happen in politics. So how did Reagan, Both Bush's, and Clinton, all work with the other side to get a budget done? So, Obama being incompetent, can not work with the other side! This is the only conclusion you can come up with! Stop making excuses and get a FUC&ING budget passed! You pathetic PANDERER! And your tribe of excuse makers!

Sure DF. Whatever you say.

The Democrats new battle cry:

"What difference Does It Make?"

There are actually people out there, who even though they personally benefit from some of the current political policies, don't approve of those policies because those people are focused on the greater good of the nation, its future, and the future of it's children.

Yeah, we're called Liberals.

Try reading FDR's Four Freedoms speech.

Try reading JFK's inaugural address.

Try reading Barack Obama's second inaugural from way back earlier this week.

Was Teddy Roosevelt looking for personal gain when he started trust busting? No, he was a member of an old money family.

Was LBJ looking for personal gain when he signed the Civil Rights Act? No, he famously observed "we've given up the White House for at least a generation."

I have nothing to gain personally from wanting a strong educational system...my children are raised. I have nothing to gain personally from equal opportunity guarantees...I'm neither a minority nor a woman. I have nothing to gain personally from immigration reform...my grandparents were born in this country. I have nothing to gain personally from gay marriage...I'm straight.

So I thank you for your fandom of all things Liberal. I knew we could count on you.

Gee John B...

You sure are a super-Patriot! Way to go man!

Unfortunately, I quoted one of the left-wing loons on this site... and it is obvious from their statement that my post hits the mark.

As a matter of fact, I could have quoted that same sentiment from any one of a number of left-wing loons here at FR. They ask that question all the time...

"How can you speak out against something that personally benefits you?"

You see... they are really in this for any and everything THEY CAN GET!

You can't hide it.

lol..WCA (What did I do to deserve this delightful SOFTBALL?)

And what is...

..."whatever you say" the battle cry of?

You're gonna have a long time to snipe at her, my guess is around 8 years, starting in January 2016...

(Three weeks to pitchers and catchers....)

SOTB,

[The HoR DID pass a budget (actually, multiple budgets) which was then forwarded to the Senate, where good old Harry sat on it.]

Not true … it failed to pass in the Senate 57 to 40 with 5 Republicans voting against it.

http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/votes/112/house/1/277

Why did Senate Republicans vote against the House passed Ryan budget?

Clara KCMO

Am I the only one who notices the eery similarities between Yosemite Sam and Wayne La Pierre or even Ted Nugent?

I say, I say, they're "hopping" mad - while shooting themselves in their own feet, right?

bwaaaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Clara,

Both Huston and Seeking Sanity beat me to the punch.

Republican are so trivial. Instead of cancelling their pay for the debt ceiling; why don't we just cancel the Republicans in the House. Wait probably we won't have to. They'll cancel themselves going around their fruitcake gun constituents.

LOL , Gun enthusiasts showed their appreciation for guns by shooting one another.

Craaaazzzzy

Hillary “What difference at this point does it make?”

There we have it in a nut shell.

I have the day off today. I have accrued WAAAAAY too much vacation time over the last 30 or so years, and if I don't use it I lose it.

sure ya did.

I had to break it to the wife that I won't be retiring this year as I was asked to stay on for another 3-5 years or so to oversee a project.

Ya Kinda had you pegged for the God Complex type. Good the alternative would have been budding psychopath prone to narcisstic rage. But im sure they 'asked' you to stay on to over see a 'project'. Riiiiiight.

Because you've become the hypocritical guttersnipe you hate so much or because Obama wants to take your guns? What's the faux outrage du jour caesar?

Yes indeed. I found a city of brick and left it in Marble. You pontificate for a 'leader' that found a nation in Marble and leaves it in mud. Guttersiping indeed. Enjoy your circular logic and reasoning. Let me know when you're done chasing your tail...TOUCHE'

PS Obama cant take my guns even though he tries. its that skewed intepretation of the 2nd Amendment. face it, you got PWNED

EEngineer has come here with clear proof - you know, evidence - that we can balance our federal budget by taxing the rich. Period. We can balance it. No red ink. No deficit. No adding to the debt.

But--but-- facts? Who needs those pesky things?! They are nothing more than flies to the GOP.

"When the Congressional Research Service produces a report that shows zero correlation between low income-tax rates for the wealthy, on the one hand, and improved performance of the national economy, on the other- thus undermining one of the central G.O.P. arguments two months before the election- the reaction of Senate Republicans is to force withdrawal of the report. "The Truth" is seen simply as one more topic for debate- a development that is itself a destabilizing force to contend with."

Todd S. Purdum, Vanity Fair, Feb. 2013

So SOTB you admit to using a quote out of context.

You're nothing if not predictable.

JOHNSON: Again, we were misled there was supposedly protests and something spraying out of that, assault spraying out of that. That was easily ascertained that was not the fact and the American people could have known that within days and didn't know that.

CLINTON: With all due respect, the fact is we had four dead Americans! Was it because of a protest or was it because of guys out for a walk one night decided to go kill some Americans?! What difference at this point does it make?! It is our job to figure out what happened and do everything we can to prevent it from ever happening again.

Rick -

Democrats forget about the confusion in their party after the Contract With America defeat, or both Gore and Kerry getting trounced.

Wow, revisionist history much? Clinton went on to win a second term after the Contract with America, while Gingrich lost the budget battle and eventually control of the House.

Al Gore WON the popular vote and lost to Bush only after the Supreme Court intervened, hardly a "trouncing". John Kerry lost to GW Bush by a couple of percentage points after being "swift boated", again hardly a "trouncing".

By your definition, President Obama must have opened a 55-gallon drum of whoop-ass on both McCain and Romney.....

What rose from the ashes was an ultra left wing liberal Democratic Party determined to spend more, tax more, and expand the government along with the populations dependency.

That is a total misrepresentation of Democratic policies. President Obama's original agenda did not include having to guide the nation through the disaster of an economy left to him by the "tax cut and spend, deregulate everything" policies of GW Bush and the Republicans.

Face it, the truth is the Democrats moved more to the center while the Republicans moved further to the right. It is no wonder the Democrats have won two election cycles.

Caesar-

You pontificate for a 'leader' that found a nation in Marble and leaves it in mud.

Really? GW Bush left us a "nation in marble"? I would laugh it it wasn't so sad. GW Bush left office with the nation in the ditch, covered not in mud but crap of Republican making.

Our economy was free-falling, we were fighting one unneccessary war and one mismanaged war, and our standing on the world was diminished by his "cowboy diplomacy".

President Obama's policies helped to pull us out of the ditch and put the nation back on the right path.

The operative word in the headline "GOP tries to regroup" is TRIES.

It will be very entertaining to watch just how conservatives try to rebrand themselves to be the new party of inclusion and balance in time for both 2014 and 2016!!!

So far the stunned expressions, handwringing, back-biting, as well as the publicly visible cracks in Party unity have been very indicative of the ongoing, out-of-touch Repugnicant Party.

It's such a pleasure to watch. Serves em right.

I have nothing to gain personally from wanting a strong educational system...my children are raised. I have nothing to gain personally from equal opportunity guarantees...I'm neither a minority nor a woman. I have nothing to gain personally from immigration reform...my grandparents were born in this country. I have nothing to gain personally from gay marriage...I'm straight.

You have outlined, in a nutshell, the difference between a conservative and a progressive, John B.

Conservatives see no greater value in anything that does not immediately and directly benefit them personally. Progressives see further down the road and at a wider angle, and understand that what benefits the least powerful of us benefits all of us in the end.

We do not need what the conservatives seem to need. We progressives understand the value of our liberty and opportunity.

Really? GW Bush left us a "nation in marble"?

no i've actually equated Bush to Obama. You lefty partisans seem to see a vast differences. Besides you stumble over Obama like he is Thulsa Doom.

Caesar-

So you agree that your criticism of President Obama as "a 'leader' that found a nation in Marble and leaves it in mud" was unjustified and inaccurate?

Thanks for admitting your mistake.

There are, in fact, vast differences between GW Bush and Pres. Obama, despite the fact that Obama left many of the Bush policies in place.

.

LBJ - was also heard saying "we'll have those @!$%#s voting for us for the next 200 years" on Air Force 1. His words not mine. Look it up! So keep your head buried in the sand, and research Eisenhower who strongly supported civil rights. And don't forget the Democrats who were strongly against it!

Here SOB, I fixed it for you:

"Here is something that the liberals tighty righties just don't understand...

There are actually people out there, who even though they personally benefit from some of the current political policies, don't approve of those policies because those people policies are focused on the greater good of the nation, its future, and the future of it's children.

Liberals Conservatives simply cannot fathom this.

They ask "How can you speak out against something that personally benefits you?"

They label political opposition as ignorant, stupid, racist, etc. etc. etc.

They think as selfish children, focused only on their own, personal satisfaction and gain.

For this and many other reasons, the two sides will likely never come together. Sad. :O(

Good luck with that one dimensional 'thinking' in our 3-D world. It's REALLY taking you places! lol

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Waves to Beverly! Hey GF! What up? I hear Chicago is FREEZING! Hope you are staying plenty warm! Miss ya'!

So you agree that your criticism of President Obama as "a 'leader' that found a nation in Marble and leaves it in mud" was unjustified and inaccurate?

not at all, he has further perpetuated the erosion. So here to make you feel warm and fuzzy inside, Obama found a Nation in Granite and leaves it in mud.

There are, in fact, vast differences between GW Bush and Pres. Obama, despite the fact that Obama left many of the Bush policies in place.

the same but different. its all superficial however...

Seeking,

And right...we don't hear daily the Bush "lied" blama-a-thon. Don't throw stones if you live in a glass house... I forgot, Demcrats only blame if it's a Republican president...

TNVol,

I see you are the Obama cheerleader...Last I checked, Obama has still in a war in Afghanistan. I love how liberals like to throw accolades at Obama. It's a nice touch from the rabid fan base...

Pigotry said,

"House Republicans had consciously voted to reduce the funds allocated to the State Department for embassy security since winning the majority in 2010."

So did the senate pass this bill and did Obama sign the bill to make this law???

If so, then Obama's hands are the ones with blood on them!!

Let me give you the truth... this bill has not been signed into law!!

Pig...you're a liar, a fake and a fraud!!

Last I checked, Obama has still in a war in Afghanistan.

Do you remember Colin Powell's Pottery Barn Doctrine? "If you break it, you own it."

Do you remember who started the war in Afghanistan?

Use your head for something more than a hatrack, JK.

SickOfTheBickering

.

That is the finest comment you have ever posted. Congratulations!

kaybee,

I know this is over your head, but Congress approved both military operations. Congress year after year approved appropriations for those operations. Obama has the power to end the war, yet he has chosen to keep funding for the war. So by using that same analogy, then the incident in Libya is ALL Obama's fault, right? "If you break it, you own it" is what I think you were trying to convey...

You remind of that commerical years ago..."A mind is a terrible thing to waste..."

There are actually people out there, who even though they personally benefit from some of the current political policies, don't approve of those policies because those people are focused on the greater good of the nation, its future, and the future of it's children.

Hmmm, yeah. a lot like the current group of millionaires who say they should be taxed more. Or the 71% of voters who say that both spending cuts and tax increases should be used to balance the budget.

American voters have spoken. They spoke very clearly in the last election. If Republicans really want to rebrand their party, all they have to do is... wait for it... listen to the voters!

Wow, I am kind of impressed, some actual basis and comments today. But the hate continues to dominate mostly generated by people that have nothing to add to the conversation just hate for the commenter or Obama. I guess that is the only thing a loser can fall back on.

I note that the GOP members questioning Clinton all do so by reading from their tablets. Funny, but the same as here, they don't have a clue except what someone emails to them at their podium. Pretty cool, you don't have to know nuttin' just read the talking point updates as it goes along.

We better help them out at the next election (emphasis on the "out").

BTW, do we pay these congressional people for sitting around doing nothing but spewing hate? Seems there are a number of pretty tough issues they need to be dealing with. I don't hear anyone wanting to solve problems they just want to continue the hate. I know that politicians consider any time on camera to be good for them, even when they are acting stupid and showing us that they ain't doing nothing! I guess any level of disrespect is good because the news will pick it up and run it over and over. Do Americans really love this, hmm it appears of course that we are own worst enemy.

You remind of that commerical years ago..."A mind is a terrible thing to waste..."

Nice try, JK, but you can't insult someone who doesn't give a crap about your opinion of him/her.

And I don't.

Have a nice day. :)

Here is something that the liberals just don't understand...

There are actually people out there, who even though they personally benefit from some of the current political policies, don't approve of those policies because those people are focused on the greater good of the nation, its future, and the future of it's children.

Liberals simply cannot fathom this.

And you are absolutely unable to fathom the fact that the REASON we are liberals is BECAUSE we are focused on the greater good of the nation, its future, the future of our children.

We are liberals because we are focused on the common good, and our country, as opposed to ourselves. That is why we believe in taking responsibility for ourselves, and why we despise the "me and only me" attitude.

They think as selfish children, focused only on their own, personal satisfaction and gain.

For as long as you believe this, you will never be able to understand anything greater than yourself.

Kaybee,

That goes both ways... More often than not,comments from you aren't worth reading for lack of substance...

And oh, have a nice day as well... :)

GOP tries to regroup

LOL.....yea, they need to try something, Because Madame Secretary Clinton tore them a new @!$%# today, and she didn't even get dirty. She looked like a Ninja, in a mystical dance removing republican heads!!!!!!

More often than not,comments from you aren't worth reading for lack of substance...

Put me on 'ignore' then. Why waste your precious time? ;) And mine.

Kay,

Because I get a laugh from your posts... You and your other cohorts would make a great reality show... You would certainly give a show like Teen Mom or Honey Boo-Boo a run for the ratings!

I'm glad we amuse you, JK.

I'd prefer we enlightened you, but it is what it is.

Have a nice evening. Enjoy your lineup of 'reality' shows. Which one is your favorite? Teen Mom? Honey Boo Boo? Life is short and I don't waste my time on that stuff.

Same here...don't watch, but catch the tidbits of those shows on the radio back and forth to work.... It's actually frightening to think that there is an audience for that kind of stuff... I actually prefer more National Geographic shows and the occassional Mike & Molly...

[...Honey Boo-Boo a run for the ratings!]

Heyyyy...didn't Honey Boo Boo get better ratings than the Republican National Convention?

...you betcha!

Mickey,

You should be lucky that the show is so popular...it's one less family that Obama gets to support, right?

...you betcha!!

The Republicans are going to keep Rinse Pubis, --really? Why?

Good Morning Floyd, This is scary!!!

Keep it up, IR. Every damned one of us has to remain involved and active until we can come up with a rational solution to gun violence, and more guns is not the answer.

I am hard-pressed to distinguish between your basic street gang and these "patriots" who are armed for the EXPRESS purpose of overthrowing a government they don't like.

Owning and using a gun should be like owning and driving a car. Regulate, training, register and license.

Simple!

Independent Redneck, Va-

Nice article, IR.

Another horrific shooting in my town this past Saturday.

Disgustingly insane.

Salud

David Walker: "I am hard-pressed to distinguish between your basic street gang and these "patriots" who are armed for the EXPRESS purpose of overthrowing a government they don't like."

I can't remember where I first heard this - for some reason I want to say it was one of Tom Clancy's books? - but it went something like "A gang member is just a punk. And a terrorist is just a punk with a bigger gun".

Or in this case, the "patriots" who would overthrow our government - OUR government - just because of their hatred for one man - are just the punks with MORE bigger guns.

IR - Keep it coming, Uncle Redneck - you do us proud.

Thanks folks. I'm like an old dog with a new bone. Ain't got teeth enough to eat it whole so I just keep gummin' it for a while

Thanks IR... now I'm really scared! You have to wonder how these gun-nuts who live in the greatest, free-est, most democratic nation on earth can be so paranoid and unhappy.

What exactly do they want that they don't already have?

The dead bodies of countless children would mean nothing to them. NOTHING.

I am hard-pressed to distinguish between your basic street gang and these "patriots" who are armed for the EXPRESS purpose of overthrowing a government they don't like.

The weird thing is that this ragtag group of wannabes believe they're going to go up against one of the best trained, best equipped, most combat-experienced armies in the world--and they're going to win. I mean, do they think the U.S. Marines and SEALS and DELTA Force and the regular Army are just going to put down their arms so these over-the-hill, fat guys in cammies can walk into D.C. and take over?

The weird thing is that this ragtag group of wannabes believe they're going to go up against one of the best trained, best equipped, most combat-experienced armies in the world--and they're going to win.

Yes, that's their fantasy. God help us!

IR - thanks for a good article but you've now really frightened me. The NRA has become a terrorist group and their being cozy with the wild-eyed militia groups proves it. My guess is LaPierre wants to be King. Disgusting piece of filth - too bad we can't deport him!

The weird thing is that this ragtag group of wannabes...

Funny, but true. They actually think that they could win. These Ma and Pa yahoos wouldn't hold up in a sustained fight. They fail to realize that ballots not bullets and the rule of law not the rule of Pa is what keeps tyranny from rising.

An interesting observation, I was watching Monday's coverage of the inaugural at night. MSNBC and CNN were replaying or highlighting portions of the day's highlights. What was Fox showing? Oblivious to the largest story they chose to show a piece on guns. A gun toting, former beauty queen was packing heat. I was somewhat interested until the air head began to speak and tow the NRA line. Hannity on the other hand was comparing racks... of weapons, as she showed the differences in damages that varying guns caused.

Great thoughts this morning IR and I thank you for keeping the spotlight on the issue of guns in our culture. The NRA and the underground, radical culture of the militias has distorted our vision to a point that wouldn't have been recognized several decades ago. The idea that one can take up arms against the duly elected government of these United States was settled in 1865...it's a dead issue. Ultimately these folks have no intention of attacking the government directly. Ultimately what will happen should their mindset continue to thrive is that they will become a threat to THE REST OF US, at which point they will be free to become the authoritarian government they claim to most fear.

LaPierre... sounds suspiciously French, doesn't it?

Hey NRA boys, remember the days of freedom fries, of 'Kerry is a Frenchman'?

Your shoe is on the other foot. ;)

IR - thanks for the article. Living in the West and in a Red for life State, this does not surprise me. I love Sand Point, Idaho - it's just beautiful but the people that live in that town scare the s*t out of me.

Excellent point, Jack about the fat guys in cammies.

For those that haven't seen this ... Utah has it's own special form of crazy.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/01/18/man-shops-at-utah-jcpenney-while-carrying-assault-rifle/

The only good that is coming out of this is now the law-makers are re-examining what they THOUGHT was a good idea about wandering around carrying.

IR, thank you. Excellent article and added thoughts.

It is scary to think that the NRA actually has become a front for anti-government militias. If not a front, it has become the enabler to the anti-government, anti-democracy, militia crowd of radicals. These militias are the very people who should not own a gun, they are paranoid, delusional, anti-Americans. The fact that these people stockpile hundreds of weapons and multi-thousands of rounds of ammunition should make every law abiding, patriotic citizen question just exactly what the NRA stands for these days and if they are members of the NRA, they should seriously question whether or not they really want to be part of it. There are other gun hunting and sport clubs that do not share the extreme views of the NRA leadership. The NRA could not care less about the 2nd amendment, their goal is to sell more guns and more ammunition, nothing more and nothing less.

Layton - the pipe burst! :-( I'm home waiting for the plumber and the rest of the crew! Ugh!

The fact that these people stockpile hundreds of weapons and multi-thousands of rounds of ammunition should make every law abiding, patriotic citizen question just exactly what the NRA stands for these days and if they are members of the NRA, they should seriously question whether or not they really want to be part of it.

There is no question about what the NRA stands for: GREED!

Floyd,

Peace my friend!

Keep them coming, your voice is growing stronger each passing day...

Living in the West and in a Red for life State, this does not surprise me. I love Sand Point, Idaho - it's just beautiful but the people that live in that town scare the s*t out of me.

I totally agree, Layton. The Great American West has been ruined by violent, disturbed wackos.

Why did they have to go and take over so many of the best places? We're forced to avoid some very fine parts just to stay alive these days.

Seeking . . .

Layton - the pipe burst! :-( I'm home waiting for the plumber and the rest of the crew! Ugh!

So sorry! And what a pain in the tush! If it makes you feel a tiny bit better ... .be glad you're not here!

http://www.onenewspage.us/n/US/74vnpi2v8/Utah-cities-named-worst-air-quality-in-the.htm

I'd be up at Sundance where it's warm and sunny if I didn't have to work! :)

Courtesy of Jack in Portsmouth, we have this priceless observation:

"The weird thing is that this ragtag group of wannabes believe they're going to go up against one of the best trained, best equipped, most combat-experienced armies in the world--and they're going to win."

And that, boys and girls, says more that I could in a solid week of trying about why the Republican Party has to go the way of the Whigs, the Cavaliers, and the N.S.D.A.P.

In the current (G.O.P. caused) depression, we need innovative solutions and creative ideas- not magical thinking and pouty, adolescent rebelliousness.

We need a government that's not afraid to make difficult and frequently unpopular desicions (such as, "Taxes are gonna have to go up!"), not one that believes you can manage an industrialized, nuclear-armed superpower by endlessly repeating idiotic, meaningless slogans like "Country First*", or "Believe in America**".

We need a government that can plan for a future that's further ahead than the next election cycle; and we need to inculate and nurture a business culture that believes in planning for the long run, not in killing the goose today and cashing out and hauling ass tomorrow.

We need, as President Obama said in last year's State of the Union, "an America that's built to last"- and the way we get there is to give the "Government for the People, of the People, and by the People"- BACK TO THE PEOPLE!

*But don't let that stop you from accepting money from foreign corporations seeking special treatment and favours, eh John?

**"... but invest your money in Switzerland, the Bahamas, and anywhere else Uncle Sam's writ don't run."

Layton - oh no! I love skiing in Utah! We usually stay in Park City and ski there, Brighton, Solitude, Alta - some of the BEST skiing in the country. I still have to visit Sundance. I plan to do that some fall - before ski season. Looks like a great place to just relax and enjoy nature!

Very well done. Did anyone catch that coward Nugent's comments on Obama honoring the Vietnam troops at the memorial? After he sat in his own feces for days in order to avoid the draft and honorable service, he has the nerve to talk about how anyone else honors the fallen in Vietnam? Seriously, you can't make this stuff up.

Ted Nugent is perfectly suited to be a shill for the GOP and he proves that every day. His parents must be so proud. [/sarcasm]

He is still sitting in his own feces.

Speaking of hoaxes, the newest GOP/TP hoax is Gown-Gate. Ya see, the problem is, the First Lady wore a RED gown for the Inauguration Ball, and according to the right wing, red is the color of commies. Never mind that we have red states, blue states, with red representing the right. We have a red, white, and blue flag. But by golly, when it comes to any one on the left wearing red, it suddenly has new meaning. So now we have Gown-Gate; we continue to trudge through the hoax of Benghazi-Gate; we will continue to hear about the hoax of HillaryFlu-Gate.

For those of you unfamiliar with HillaryFlu-Gate, that is where you intentionally slam your head into a wall until you pass out and leave yourself with a blood-clot or two. The intent is to defer being questioned about Benghazi-gate, with the hope that Gown-Gate will grab the attention of the extreme RED right.

Ya see, the problem is, the First Lady wore a RED gown for the Inauguration Ball, and according to the right wing, red is the color of commies.

Sweet Jaysus!

The very same mental midgets were pissing themselves earlier in the day over her wearing "unAmerican" colors - black & blue!

If you listen to them, brown shirts are the only thing in vogue lately...

Dang, a few months ago, every time you turned around there was Ann Romney in another red dress or suit. I KNEW there was something about her we shouldn't trust!

JoAnne---seems to me Ann wore RED Oscar de la Renta at the GOP convention---that would be a French designer. Shame on Michelle Obama for wearing a gown designed by an immigrant American designer, Jason Wu. The same gentleman who designs a line for Target.

Steeler - yeah, imagine the First Lady supporting an immigrant who came to this country and succeeded! What a horrible idea - how un-American - oh, wait, scratch that. Oh well.

RedDev, just when you think the right can't possibly out-do themselves with a conspiracy theory, they up and find one so completely and ridiculously stupid as Gown-Gate. They really do earn the description "idiots".

SF, yes, Ann Romney wore a lovely red dress to the GOP convention so I guess that makes her a "commie"; and since she is a "commie", the entire Romney family must be "commies" as well.

Oh geez, this is all we got, the color or the designer of a dress. The fact that you, very intelligent women are debating this, boggles the mind.

thetotas -

We didn't start it and we aren't "debating" it, we're just poking a little fun at those who did. But hey, thanks for the "very intelligent women" part - though frankly, the image of RedDev in ANY color dress is what boggles MY mind..... :)

Oh my Dog- does that mean that Stephen Crane was actually a COMMIE?*

And what about Sammy Hagar? Hasn't he been calling himself "The Red Rocker" since his first solo LP, way back about '77? And who was president in '77? Well, it was (cue ominous, conspiratorial music!)- JIMMY CARTER!

We must act immediately! Get some Christian Patriots together and go over to Sammy's house and DEMAND some answers...

... but I wanna get there first, to set up my lawn chair. I TOTALLY have to have a ringside seat for this one. HAR!

(P.S. Say... in Texas, there's a Red River, AND a Colorado River, what means 'red' in SPANISH! Plus the Texas Tech football team is the 'Red Raiders'! We'd better arrest that low-down, God-hatin', flag- dishonourin' Commie Rick Perry too, without DeLay! Unless somebody knows where that pinko skunk is hidin' out these days...)

*Note to Republicans: Author of "The Red Badge of Courage".

thetotas, well tell that to conservatives who started this absurd conspiracy theory about Michelle Obama's red inaugural gown. Meanwhile, we are going to have fun poking at just how completely irrational and ridiculous the right-wing is these days. Sometimes "girls just wanna have fun."

Hey you very intelligent women debaters .... Good Morning! I have to say, Miss JoAnne, dang good thing the coffee cup wasn't in hand . . .

the image of RedDev in ANY color dress is what boggles MY mind..... :)

Still laughing! ;-)

Now JoAnne - don't you start spreading tranny rumors about me, lest I bring up you sporting that smart little number with boots whilst performing Disco A-GoGo alongside Nancy. And for that, you deserve a Red Badge of Courage.

Poor Totas - poor thing got a bad case of HillaryFlu-Gate, proving repeated banging of the head does indeed, damage the noggin.

Insults is all you have. You got the jest of what I was saying, but you decided to take the easy route insult me.

...without DeLay! Unless somebody knows where that pinko skunk is hidin' out these days...)

Good lord, I thought we had Delayed that name to DeRest by retiring him to some prison for DeFraud. Scary part is he will likely follow in the footsteps of those other fraudulent disgraced House leaders, make a Newtonian comeback, and will soon be hitting the Sunday talk show circuit.

thetotas - we aren't debating it. We are laughing at the idiots on the right who made this an issue. THIS is what the GOP has come to! Total stupidity. And, I'm not ridiculing you - just the conservative right who believes this is anything but total ignorance and hypocritical - considering dear Anne wore red quite often!

but you decided to take the easy route insult me.

*SNAP*

Someone call Charlotte WHAAAAAMBULANCE - her web collapsed! lol

Lighten up for once in your miserable existence!

the image of RedDev in ANY color dress is what boggles MY mind..... :)

Personally, I prefer MY Red Devil in a Blue Dress! ;o)

PS: Wasn't DeLay starring on; "Dancing from behind bars"??

Feisty,

Classy as always.

Classy as always.

Nothing but the BEST for you, my little pet spider!

It is not "Blue States"and "Red States" any more. It is back to "Blue States" and "Grey States" again.

What is it with those tighty-righties and their conspiracy theories. Over on the HillaryFlu-Benghazi gate thread, we now have ProFreedumb developing a new one - Eyeglass-Gate. Apparently, Hillary is so deceptive, she simply dons a pair of eyeglasses which in turn, addles McCain's brain as he attempts to gaze around her new found four-eyes.

Apparently, it worked. McCain simply couldn't stop himself from bloviating his way through a 6 minute long question that made him look, quite frankly, like an udder idiot.

It is not "Blue States"and "Red States" any more. It is back to "Blue States" and "Grey States" again.

Best post of the day. To quote Thomas Grande...Salud!

All I keep thinking about after reading this, is Gawd d***, Nancy Reagan is a commie too!! In all seriousness here, name one first lady who NEVER wore red.

RedDev: "Apparently, it worked. McCain simply couldn't stop himself from bloviating his way through a 6 minute long question that made him look, quite frankly, like an udder idiot."

Hey, I just watched that clip. You mean he actually had a question in there? What was it? My eyes glazed over somewhere around the four-minute mark and I found myself back in my eighth grade English class learning about stream of consciousness and run-on sentences. Methinks Senator McCain was absent that day.....

mayamomma: "In all seriousness here, name one first lady who NEVER wore red."

Pretty sure you could go with Mamie Eisenhower on that one. I toured the Eisenhower Farm out in Gettysburg last year and everything in her part of the house was pink. And I do mean everything. No wonder poor Dwight had to retreat to what was surely the first presidential "man cave".....

Ricardo98

It is not "Blue States"and "Red States" any more. It is back to "Blue States" and "Grey States" again.

Put my name on the Union roster. We'll kick grey a$$ again! ;)

app64, they only use that tactic in defense of things that they support.

Great point. It's a no-win for them. Instead they've already concluded that they just need to sell the same stale, failed policies more effectively.

Chip, so true. The GOP's idea of how to "rebrand" itself is for them to talk softer and nicer about women, rape, immigrants, gays, Latinos, blacks--they don't get that it isn't how softly and nicely they talk but rather their policies that turn off voters. For starters, they can't "rebrand" on women's rights if some of the first pieces of legislation they propose in the House are a personhood amendment so radical that even MS and ND rejected it, or defunding Planned Parenthood, or making unnecesary "ultrasounds" mandatory. As a GOPer put it in 2008, the GOP brand was the equivalent of cheap dog food on the bottom shelf.

All that's left for the GOP is to suppress voting, gerrymander, spend obscene amounts of money, and lie to get into office.

The problem here is that they will just start saying one thing and then get in power and do something completely different...oh, wait.

You are spot on!

Hillary Clinton chewed and spit out the GOPer Senators this morning, and she did it graceously and with dignity. Meanwhile McCain, Rand Paul, Bob Corker looked like talking point speaking, scapegoating fools.

I loved it when SoS Clinton raised her voice in defiance and said flat out, four people are dead, that can't be changed, and the goal of this hearing and the investigation is to find a way to prevent another such tragedy. Not her exact words but you get the idea; she refused to let the GOPers play politics. Cheers, Mrs. Clinton, well done. Now this afternoon she will appear before the House and probably make many of the GOPers there look as foolish and she did some of the GOPer Senators did this morning.

Jody - "and probably make many of the GOPers there look as foolish as she did some of the GOPer Senators this morning." Love Hillary but I believe many people on the street could accomplish this as the GOPers tend to do it to themselves!

Yay Hillary!

Yeah. All you need to do to make many GOP politicians look foolish is to put them in a round room and tell them there's a Koch Brothers contribution in the corner.

"RNC Chair Wants Blue States to Split Electoral Votes Politics, Voting Rights"

Auntie Fascist wants RNC chair to suck a lemon!

Can't win, then change the rules! Hey, take your damn ball and go home!

Assigning electoral votes based on Congressional District victories would be a disaster.

Look at this last election...

President Obama won the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania handily...by over 300,000 votes...over 5 percentage points. However, if you look at the Congressional Districts, because of gerrymandering around Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and the Lehigh Valley, you potentially could have had the electoral vote in Pennsylvania go to Mr. Romney 12-8.

President Obama won the State of Ohio by somewhere around 160,000 votes (don't tell Karl Rove). Assign electoral votes in Ohio by Congressional District and, once again through some wonderfully creative redistricting, Mr. Romney would have won 10 out of 18 electoral votes.

Heck, in North Carolina, President Obama would have won 4 electoral votes despite losing the state.

Now, that might not seem like a big deal to you, but here's the point...

Assign electoral votes at the district level and, thanks to gerrymandering districts, you have now increased the likelihood that a candidate for President can win the electoral vote while losing the popular vote. That's hardly a way to begin the task of governing a nation.

you have now increased the likelihood that a candidate for President can win the electoral vote while losing the popular vote. That's hardly a way to begin the task of governing a nation.

You mean like W did in 2000? Small numbers but still happened. Possibility is already there seems to me.

You mean like W did in 2000? Small numbers but still happened. Possibility is already there seems to me.

Yes, the possiblity already exists. Do we want to increase the possibility?

Chip - they're already targeting new groups - snakes, worms, etc. They can't actually attract decent human beings but they'll take anything they can get.

I was wondering how Preibus could have presided over such an electoral debacle and waste of GOP money and still been re-elected. Now I know---he is targeting states like Pa. to break up our electoral college votes to match the gerrymandered districts. This really scares me and is why we need to work harder than ever in the 2014 elections.

You mean like W did in 2000? Small numbers but still happened. Possibility is already there seems to me.

And we have all seen just how well that worked out for the US. So let's make it easier. Are you NUTS??

This is a tacit admission by the GOP that they can't carry the popular vote. Rather than change their policies to something more acceptable to the voters, they will change the voting rules to gain power again.

Job1, thanks for the latest update on GOP schemes to win. Maybe their motto should be: Why Change when Cheating is Easier; even better Can't Beat 'em, Cheat 'em.

The electoral college is another one of those Constitutional elements that when written made perfect sense but it has long passed its relevancy. Time to rid ourselves of it and go to a majority of votes, wins the election. For one thing, that would mean that every state's votes count, not just the states with the largest number of electoral votes.

Talkto, there will always remain a huge doubt that "W" actually won Florida legitimately. The biggest mistake the republicans made was to perpetuate that doubt by blocking the recounts because all that did was make people even more suspicious that something was rotten in Florida.

The more the GOP pulls the kind of stunts like they tried in Ohio this year, and elsewhere by reducing the number of early voting days and hours, and now this, the more they anger voters and the more they make the GOP look like a bunch of unscrupulous, backroom-scheming crooks.

It's nice to know the GOPTP isn't stuck on complaining that the wrong people are voting, and taking steps to prevent the wrong people from voting.

They're also working to make sure that if they're going to be a minority party the minority can rule.

Wow, no commitment to the democratic process whatsoever, only a thirst for power.

Auntie Fascist

"RNC Chair Wants Blue States to Split Electoral Votes Politics, Voting Rights"

Someone better notify Clint Eastwood stat about another chair that needs a talking-to! ;)

JoAnne - thank you for your wonderful post. Reading it I feel my eyes welling up with tears. This is truly a remarkable time in our history.

I'm struck that we are enjoying it so much and that others, rather than joining in and celebrating this wonderful moment, are doing all they can to tear it down. Too bad they will realize - too late - all they missed by hating. Their loss. But, We The People definitely won!

JoAnne---thanks for sharing the story of your historic day! How wonderful that you were there and found fellowship of other citizens at witnessing history.

I, too, was struck by the President turning to take in the incredible sight of so many people supporting him--I hope the memory of that moment stays with him when the bitterness and hatred are especially bad. Loved the sea of waving flags.

@JoAnne in Penn. Thanks alot! When i got to the part where the President looked back, out over the "We the People", i had to cry tears of joy, once again! Thank you for reminding me! I however, am disabled, and could not be there in person. But, you were right, i was there in spirit!!! I will NEVER forget the look on President Obama's face, when he turned to survey the crowd that had gathered for "HIM"!!! I, like you, felt that connection, even from here in Iowa!!! I love this man, this man who is OUR President!!!! We could not have begged for a better President, than we have in President Obama!!!

Thank you, JoAnne, you have made my day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am a male, by the way, i know we are not supposed to cry, but, i couldn't help it!!!

DfromSpencer -

Thanks, you just made my day as well! And just so you know, we girls just LOVE a man who's man enough to shed a tear or two when the occasion calls for it! Don't ever lose that joy, okay?

DfromSpencer - men who can cry show their strength - it's not a weakness.

JoAnne,

Simply beautiful and thank you for sharing. I agree with D above about the "turnback" moment. Even thinking of it brings a lump to my throat.

I hope your knees are feeling better. :)

JoAnne, wonderful account; feel as if I were right there with you despite knowing I was in the warmth of my home but feeling every bit the electricity, the excitement those on the mall did. What a thrill, what a glorious Inaugural Address. Also great pride to know that I and thousands of others worked for months at OFA to help re-elect President Barack Obama; even more proud to realize "Yes, We Did".

DfromSpencer, fellow Iowan, well said.

That moment when President Obama turned to take it all in, to savor the moment was probably my favorite visual that day. I do not recall any President ever doing that but it told me how very much this wonderful man appreciates We the People and appreciated that so many were there to celebrate the moment with him.

leftisfascist -idiot. When you decimate the economy as Bush did, more and more people are in need. So, yes, more people are receiving government assistance than we have had in the past. See, the United States doesn't leave our people out to starve to death - we assist those in need. I realize that is a novel idea for haters like you but it's the way our country works.

We assist those who have fallen on hard times, through no fault of our own. It's the way we do things - not like other countries that litter their streets with the bodies of those less fortunate.

And, we work to see that more jobs are created to get people back to work so those needing assistance lessens. Oh, wait, Democrats do that - Republicans just block everything then call those less fortunate names.

Actually, those less fortunate are people like you who were born with no souls and no compassion. I would hate to be you!

Please notice that Leftisfascist responds with name-calling, usually in the first sentence. I have it on IGNORE, so I cannot see what he says, but I wager the name-calling is flying from him...

Say What - actually he waited for the end to throw out "nutjob" - it appears to be his favorite word - along with left-wing and fascist. I threw out idiot in the first sentence because he is so clueless and so eager to post it!

I am my brother's keeper.

record welfare and food stamps under obama

Well, let's just look at the record, shall we?

Here is a site that graphs the number of Americans on food stamps by year. Data was compiled from United States Department of Agriculture:

Note that the number had decreased under Clinton from a high in 1994 of 27 million to about 17 million in 2000. It took Bush a year to get started but then the numbers started climbing dramatically! By 2009, the year that Bush's disastrous housing policies trashed the American economy, the number had doubled to about 34 million!

Just as George W. Bush doubled our national debt and doubled federal spending he managed to double the number of Americans on food stamps!

Compared to Bush, Obama is a piker. Under Obama food stamp participation has increased from 34% to 47%, a paltry increase of 38%. And Obama has been fighting the Bush Recession and 8% unemployment that was left to him. Bush started with 4% unemployment and a vibrant economy.

Please notice that Leftisfascist responds with name-calling, usually in the first sentence. I have it on IGNORE, so I cannot see what he says, but I wager the name-calling is flying from him...

record welfare; 47 million on food stamps where is the extremely capable part

Always with these statistics. And always ignoring why. How many of that 47 million were gainfully employed when George W. Bush took office but had lost their jobs while or shortly after he left office?

When you can answer that, I will ask you: where was the "extremely capable part" in the last Republican administration? And, given that, why in the hell would we ever want Republicans back in power again?

Say What?-809562......you said:

Quote.....Please notice that Leftisfascist responds with name-calling,.....EndQuote

Agreed. It is usually best to ignore barking dogs (particularly when they are constrained.....and small).

Don't forget, we have to lower taxes for the wealthiest because that is the surest way to create jobs - hasn't happened yet, but some day, reducing taxes for the wealthiest will make the economy boom!

PS and by all means, keep nominating rich guys who brag about how little they pay in taxes. Because voters really admire that in a candidate.

Yea Amy, there's lots more to add to my list. Suggestions welcome.

Please notice that Leftisfascist responds with name-calling, usually in the first sentence. I have it on IGNORE, so I cannot see what he says, but I wager the name-calling is flying from him...

Ed--you forgot to mention how women should be home in the kitchen making dinner. And illegal immigrants should self-deport.

leftisfascist by the way isn't Obama a christian?

Where does it say a man has to be a christian? What does your christianity has to do with anything?

Ed Burke, cheers for that great touch of The Onion humor.

Pissedoffperson How low can the GOP go.

Well they can walk under a belly of a snake. Thats pretty low.

Smitty - they are as low as whale sh*t in the bottom of the ocean. They are so low they could sit on a piece of toilet tissue and still be able to swing their feet back and forth.

SS--- I can't picture the toilet paper and the swinging feet thing, but it does sound like them. I personally think that Republicans smell foul. They smell like either beans left in the fridge a week too long or like a dead animal. Maybe it's a combination of both.

Be my guest, SayWhat.

Please notice that Leftisfascist responds with name-calling, usually in the first sentence. I have it on IGNORE, so I cannot see what he says, but I wager the name-calling is flying from him...

SayWhat - no leftisfascist is just repeating the same obnoxious post over and over and over..... He is like a one-trick pony and no one thought the trick was good the first time!

@Truth...

34 months of job gains, stock markets at 5 year highs...Your statement makes no sense.

Stock Market a barometer of a health economy.... What a Laugh.... Try a new one koolaid drinker.

Ultimately, in other words and as perverse as it may sound a mildly
disappointing economy can be quite good for stocks. High unemployment keeps
labor costs low and corporate profits fat. Low potential returns elsewhere could
encourage money to flow into U.S. stocks. As long as there’s no recession, no
really terrible crisis overseas, and no pickup in inflation, stock prices could
continue to move up – at least for another year or two. Unless stocks get to
levels where they are clearly overvalued – 17,000 or 18,000 on the Dow – it
makes sense for most investors to stick with their long-term portfolio
strategies and not try to outguess the market.

http://business.time.com/2013/01/22/6-reasons-the-stock-market-could-do-surprisingly-well-in-2013/#ixzz2IoeEUcNA

At least as far as the debt, the economy, and jobs are concerned we WON'T be stronger.

...the numbers for Bush's last three months. Between October and November, 597,000 jobs were lost; between November and December, 681,000 were lost; and between December and January, 741,000 were lost.

Under President Obama's leadership, the economy has added private sector jobs for 34 straight months. During this span, 5.8 million private sector jobs have been created.

DJIA Dec 26, 2008 8515
DJIA Jan 23, 2013 13762

Dec 29, 2008 U.S. corporate earnings probably fell for a sixth-straight quarter, the longest streak in at least 20 years, as consumer spending on automobiles, homes and retailers collapsed.

May 11, 2012 Fortune magazine released its ranking of the 500 biggest US corporations Monday, which showed that they received a record-breaking $824 billion in combined profits in 2011, up 16 percent from 2010.

Public debt when George W. Bush took office = $5.7T

Public debt when George W. Bush's last budget expired = $11.9T

We won't be stronger if we ever put Republicans back in charge again!

StateRunMedia: "Stock Market a barometer of a health economy.... What a Laugh.... Try a new one koolaid drinker."

Wow, applauding a great stock market makes someone a "koolaid drinker"? You must not have private stocks, 401K plan......Oh, well. I'm laughing all the way to the bank.

Republican gerrymandering has perverted the intent of the founding fathers to have the House of Representatives as "The People's House," and the federal body that comes closest to the intent of representative government. Because of Republican gerrymandering, Republicans maintain a House majority, while cumulatively being out-voted nationwide by over 1 million votes. In the House, the "minority" has become the "majority."

Same "smoke and mirrors" as the Republican administration that testified to Congress in 2008, that the worst recession since the Great Depression was a small "correction" and that the "economic fundamentals are sound."

Please notice that Leftisfascist responds with name-calling, usually in the first sentence. I have it on IGNORE, so I cannot see what he says, but I wager the name-calling is flying from him...

I don't call falling short of a majority by over one million votes, but still holding a majority of the seats, to be an "insignficant issue." Or, do you approve of "minority rule?"

Democrats in Congress supported the Iraqi invasion because they made the mistake of thinking a U.S. President wouldn't lie to them about intelligence and then point his finger at them for supporting him with: "They had the same information I had." Didn't the idiot understand HE was responsibile for that intelligence?

Marginally understandable trash-talk turns to total gobbly-gook when you are attacked. Get a life.

Please notice that Leftisfascist responds with name-calling, usually in the first sentence. I have it on IGNORE, so I cannot see what he says, but I wager the name-calling is flying from him...

leftisfascist I have a life

What are you doing here than?

Hahaha...you are denying the obstructionism of Senate Republicans and the internal squabbles of House Republicans?

What progressive failure? A recoverying economy? A DOW average now approaching it's prior high? Withdrawal from Iraq and a planned withdrawal from Afghanistan? A reformed health care system? You want to blame the lack of job creation on government? You think government is preventing the private sector from hiring people, so that they will be more dependent on government? Hahaha...that's insane.

The government is doing just fine...and if idiots like yourself would get out of the way, we could ALL do a lot better.

You don't get it do you? You are the fascist in the room. The MAJORITY elected this President TWICE because they support his platform, meaning they DON"T SUPPORT YOURS.

Get used to it.

On Bush...he's irrelevant. He'll go down as the worst American President in the history of the country. That won't bring back the thousands of people who died due to his errors...but he can live with that legacy.

The only reason to discuss him now is to make sure we don't repeat the same errors...in foreign and domestic policy.

McCain has stayed in Congress too long. He's become a caricature of himself. I am listening to the Party-line this morning, in the Benghazi hearing: "The worst tragedy since 9/11."

The worst tragedy since 9/11 was Iraq and sending troops unequipped for the fight, into an unnessary war with a loss of life exceeding the 9/11 attack. Benghazi was certainly a tragedy due primarily to a failure of intelligence. Was it a larger failure than the WMD fiasco? I don't think so.

stone6 - how quickly the far right forgot the more than 20 Americans killed in embassy and consulate attacks during the Bush administration. They didn't even complain when they happened!

Hmmm...I am waiting for a Republican on the Senate Committee investigating Benghazi to demand a rerun of the election.

Hillary made it very clear that since 1977, 67 people at the embassy level had been killed. She is sharp and spot on.

What a great president she will be....tough, bold, dynamic....!

Hillary 2016/2020

Hillary in 2016!! She'll make another great Dem president! And the best part may be watching heads exploding in the Goofy Old Party. Man, I can't wait.

I have him on forget!

Please notice that Leftisfascist responds with name-calling, usually in the first sentence. I have it on IGNORE, so I cannot see what he says, but I wager the name-calling is flying from him...

I looked back at some of his older posts and notice that "LMAO" is another of his rant closings. He must have an indented @$$ from having laughed it off so many times!