I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange
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Having some picture issues. Hope none of you mind some of album pictures being used. The bane of those who are self taught. Was doing fine up to a couple or three days ago and then the response to my previous method seemed to have taken wings. Now trying to re-learn. Sure wish he above two were actually mine, but they are not......just web pictures I liked.
Jackie
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Shared on FB by a dear friend. It pretty much says it all, doesn't it?
http://blog.sfgate.com/morford/2014/07/08/the-best-worst-president-ever/
San Francisco Chronicle (SFGate)
The best worst president ever
Posted on Tuesday, July 8 at 6:16pm | By Mark Morford
“Obama is the worst thing to ever happen to this country,” declares the wealthy, rakish, silver-haired Newport Beach white guy to his small group of perfectly tanned 50-something females sitting just a few feet away from us at a stunning restaurant patio overlooking the sun-kissed California coastline, just off of Highway 1, as he sipped his pinot and adjusted his wraparound Ray Bans, flush from the economy’s spectacular recovery that has benefitted his exact demographic most of all, stroking his purebred dog and taking various selfies with their $500 phones, oblivious to the furious swirls of irony and hypocrisy fluttering just above their heads.
I laughed out loud. Couldn’t help it; I had just overheard Mr. Newport Beach say something about how Obamacare is an unmitigated disaster (despite how, of course, it’s not), and if America were to somehow actually develop a health care system similar to, say, Canada’s, that would be the end of America for certain; we’d never recover from such a devastating blow. Or something. And then came the “worst thing to ever happen” quip, and I couldn’t hold back.
The worst ever! Except for the last guy.
They didn’t hear me, of course; the orgasmic thrum of their perfect lives drowned out my chuckle, and as I turned and looked at this beautifully entitled, happy crew from my vantage point only a few feet away but a million light years in perspective, we all shared one of the most spectacular, envied locales in the world and all of us sipped superb regional grape and not a single one of us suffered the slightest personal, social or economic indignity, every first-world need instantly met, every crab cake perfectly formed, the sunshine as flawless as Jesus on toast and no lines at the restroom and lots of free parking for his Lexus SUV.
A few thoughts struck me, all at once. The first was how nice this group all seemed – and of course they probably were – and I imagine if we had all had met under different circumstances and been chatting about, say, the weather or the soul-exploding coastline, I’m sure we would have been fast, easy friends – noting that, if we wanted to remain that way, we’d never talk about politics. Or religion.
Even so, I desperately wanted to ask Mr. Newport Beach what his stock portfolio looked like a mere six or seven years ago, when Bush & Co. ravaged the country and led us into one of the deepest, most brutal social and economic pits in modern history. Did he lose half his net worth? More? Was he worried he couldn’t feed his family or pay his mortgage? Did he lose his house? His job? Did he blame Bush? Clinton? Islam? The gays?
And by the way, how does he like the recovery so far? Which of his three perfect, multimillion-dollar homes was he on his way to, right now?
I also wanted to know, when Bush/Cheney lied to the world, openly violated the tragedy of 9/11 and invaded Iraq, killing tens of thousands, was he furious? What about now, when even Fox News is calling out Cheney and declaring Iraq invasion a colossal mistake, a lie from which we’re still unable to extricate ourselves?
Nevertheless, Obama ended Bush’s disastrous war, just like he said he would, on time and under budget. Does it matter?
And what of Newport’s female companions? I wonder if he knows that upwards of 99 percent of sexually active women have used some form of contraception. Is he in line with the GOP’s recent spate of nasty misogyny and anti-abortion spew? What about the awful SCOTUS Hobby Lobby decision, further bashing women, and Obama’s immediate moves to defend women’s rights? Is he aware? I bet those women are. Or surely, their daughters.
And really, what about the stock market? The Dow dances around record highs, Wall Street snorts rails of finely chopped gold every day, the income gap between the 1% and everyone else is more demeaning than ever and the banks haven’t fundamentally changed in the slightest. Why isn’t Mr. Newport Beach positively orgasmic about the Obama Administration’s generally wealth-favoring policies that made it all happen? Say what you like, but Obama managed to do what nearly all economists and pundits thought impossible back in 2008: reverse the ugliest, GOP-led social and economic tailspin in modern history, and make guys like Mr. Newport richer than ever.
My new friend looked good. Healthy. Fit. Good teeth, thick head of silver hair, that prostate cancer scare a couple years back easily nipped by a few wildly expensive treatments he never paid a dime for. Who did pay for his insurance? His company? Medicare? Did he have any idea what it was like not to be able to afford it, or be offered any in the first place?
I sipped my rosé, took a deep breath, enjoyed the magnificent landscape as one final, predominant thought swam into view: how? How can there be such a radical disconnect between Mr. Newport’s engorged portfolio, his fantastic insurance plan, low mortgage rate and grotesque corporate privilege – most of it born of the past six years – and Obama’s overall policy successes? Does he consider it all just a fluke? Dumb luck? Is he drunk on Limbaugh and Fox News, unable to see actual facts?
Look here, Newport: Since Obama took office, corporate profits are way up. So is business investment, job growth (moderately), retail sales, manufacturing (well, barely). Want to buy another house? Interest rates are fantastic. The housing crisis has largely subsided, and home foreclosures are way down. Also, people are buying lots of new cars, and there’s a fully recovered auto industry ready to meet all demand.
Did he know federal discretionary spending is well below average? Or that the poverty rate has stabilized? And the stock market is, as mentioned, breaking records, benefitting rich white dudes more than ever?
Of course, it’s all pretty shaky. Flawed and imbalanced and could give out at any second – but that’s just the nature of the excruciatingly complex, unstable world economy these days. And while corporations are raking it in, workers are seeing less and less of their fair share. There are still myriad problems, and Obama’s policies are far from perfect. No party’s ever are. Regardless, given the impossible economic hell-pit Obama was left with, it’s unlikely any president could have possibly done better.
Clearly I’m missing something, a huge bed of terrifying data to prove all these respectable charts and graphs wrong. But where is it? I’ve heard Mr. Newport Beach’s bizarre lament a thousand times, but I’ve yet to see a solid batch of evidence that proves Obama’s outright failure, or the nation’s savage decline. I see a blip about food stamps, I see a few weak economic signs here and there, but mostly, since 2009, it all’s been somewhere between timidly and shockingly positive. Did God smite us for gay marriage? Did the abortion factories, death panels and Nazi Kenyan socialist brain-washing farms steal my very soul? Hard to tell with all this perfect sunshine in my eyes.
The bottom line seems obvious: Much to the GOP’s bitter revulsion, it turns out a calm, intellectual black man really can run an entire country – certainly far better than an inarticulate Texas bumbler, and even in the face of what is easily the most obstructionist, hateful, acidic and often downright racist Congress in modern memory. Quite an achievement, really. (My emphasis added - and pointing out the right's racism doesn't mean 'playing the race card' - it means pointing out the racism that oozes out of the pores of the rightwingers every time they snarl President Obama's name.)
It’s curious, no? The unmitigated hate for Obama comes from the right, but the real disappointment comes from the left. It’s we liberals who seem to have the most legitimate gripes with a man we all thought would be far more radical and revolutionary. From the NSA to drone warfare to a shocking lack of transparency, a shameless kowtowing to Wall Street, a lack of serious education reform and barely a blip about the environment (until very recently) – Obama has been a far more mixed bag for the left than anyone wants to admit.
But right now, that seems like quibbling. To hear Mr. Newport Beach tell it, my president is a downright monster. Who cares if he ended the war, saved the economy, restored America’s stature in the world, nailed Osama bin Laden, invested billions in clean energy, partially reformed what is still the most expensive, least effective health care system in the industrialized world, or made the rich even richer? The guy’s the worst thing to ever happen to America. I mean, obviously. Now who wants more wine?
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RL, spot on.
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More outrage - and wasted taxpayer dollars. Instead of doing something about jobs or doing something about the refugee crisis, we have THIS ass-clown trying not only to violate someone's Constitutional rights, but to have her arrested for exercising them. Can you imagine the uproar if a Democratic Congressman introduced a resolution to have Dumbya arrested for war crimes (which can absolutely be proven)?
While Republicans Sue Obama For Abusing Power, They Are Trying To Arrest and Jail Lois LernerBy: Jason Easley Friday, July, 11th, 2014, 9:22 am
Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX) has introduced a resolution that is calling for the House of Representatives to have Lois Lerner arrested.
The resolution states, “Resolved, That the Speaker issue his warrant, directed to the Sergeant-at-Arms, or his deputy, commanding him to arrest and take into custody forthwith, wherever to be found, the body of Lois G. Lerner, and bring her to the bar of the House without delay to answer to the charge of contempt of its authority, breach of its privileges, and gross and wanton insult to the integrity of its proceedings, and in the meantime keep the body of Lerner in his custody in the common jail of the District of Columbia, subject to the further order of the House. While in custody, Lerner shall enjoy no special privileges beyond those extended to her fellow inmates, shall not access any computer or telephone, and shall not be visited by anyone other than her counsel, clergy, physician, or family.”
Rep. Stockman defended his scheme, “Asking the Justice Department to prosecute Lois Lerner for admittedly illegal activity is a joke. The Obama administration will not prosecute the Obama administration. How much longer will the House allow itself to be mocked? It is up to this House to uphold the rule of law and hold accountable those who illegally targeted American citizens for simply having different ideas than the President.”
The IRS didn’t just target Republicans, and Lois Lerner wasn’t some puppet of the Obama administration. Reality has never been a Republican strong suit, but calling for the arrest and detention of a private citizen is flat out scary. The irony here is that Republicans are suing for abusing his power while they are trying to arrest and detain American citizens.
Somebody is definitely abusing their power, but it isn’t President Obama. The Republican majority in the House has regularly abused its investigative and budgetary powers. Now, they are trying to take it to a whole new level by jailing private citizens. The Republican controlled House isn’t just bad for the country. It has become dangerous to liberty.
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So, go ahead. Piss off a Rethug Congressman and see if he tries to have you arrested.
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RL....both pieces.....extremely incredible. Both just seem to make me think --- do any of these people know what common sense looks and feels like. They are all little puppets who just continue to spew forth such idiocy and as the second article mentioned....mock the system that they swore to uphold.
Just really appear as so highly delusional......and I do think a good portion of them are really scared. They are tossing about nearly anything, hoping something will stick. They alienate so many and don't seem to understand that if you choose to dance....you'll have to pay the fiddler. They hide behind ( many of them ) what they perceive as "Christian" values, but it is a very transparent guise and it really isn't working.
In the end....I do think almost all of the common sense has left the building and won't be coming back.
Jackie
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Hi Gals!Hope everyone is having a great TGIF. I've been busy this morning walking the dogs and mowing three of the fields. It was nice and cool out. The grass was still wet, but I didn't care ... needed to get it done before it got too dang hot. Going to wash the car and do some chores ... wish I had some work come in. I would much rather be working for a few $'s than mowing!
Libby ... Newport Beach Guy made me laugh and made me mad at the same time. He doesn't have a clue because he is fat and happy and it matters not to him that the poor are struggling. Who wouldn't want to be sitting on the Newport Beach coast sipping a nice glass of wine, eating great food! I'm sure there are lots of kids who are hungry and would love to be there too. Newport Beach Guy is a typical white guy from Orange County, Los Angeles. Home of John Wayne and white fat cat republicans.
Well .. enough of my rant ... need to wash the car while it's still in the shade.
hugs,
Bren
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O.M.G. I just stepped on a two foot black snake. Scared the living daylights out of me. I didn't see it until after I had stepped on it. I just missed stepping on his stupid head. He was under my gazebo (a favorite place for black snakes) and I was reaching for the hose I had left there when I stepped on him. I let out a scream that the neighbors down the road could hear! Oh well .. poor little snake, I bet I scared him to pieces too.
I wish Sunny was around .. she loves little garden snakes. Speaking of her ... does anyone know how to reach her? I would like to write her.hugs,
Bren
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You got: The Magician
You
make the impossible happen. You See things (with a capital S),
everything from people's true colors to the obscure Easter eggs hidden
in cult TV shows. Others see magic where you see the invisible matrix of
how it works. -
You got: The Hermit
Educated and stoic, you are confident in your beliefs and choices. You welcome change and complications, sure that you can overcome them. Occasionally, you need alone time to recharge and think about everything.
Blue ... I got the Hermit. How did you get the picture of the Tarot card to post? I have a set of cards and a book with instructions on how to read the cards. Think I'll check out the Hermit.
I also have a set of Runes and a wonderful companion book to go with them. Sometimes I'll get them out and see what happens just for fun!
hugs,
Bren
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Bren, I just copied and pasted. It's spot on for me.
Sounds like fun.
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Now I'm waiting for my free psychic reading, but gotta go watch DOOL first.
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The High Priestess
You radiate the divine and the natural. You are intuitive in your beliefs and choices. You are a blessing - even if you come in disguise from time to time.
Well, that was fun and it does sound like some accuracy is going on.
Jackie
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For fun:
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The Magician for me.
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Something I couldn't resist:
Any idiot could do a photo-op..........and obviously they do. Real men forget the picture opportunities and go to work. First class panderers.
Jackie
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http://prospect.org/article/can-reformicons-save-republican-party# Interesting article I ran across which was and is basically a new conservative party which could save the Rethugs....but that would mean leaning far right and somehow going back to the center at the fortuitous time. With the Tehadists shouting it down....it just won't happen.
Jackie
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I got The Fool. Probably spot on.
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Just like Bren, I got Hermit (must be because hermits were my very favourite cookie when I was a girl). However, I must confess that I only chose some answers because the real answers weren't offered as a choice.
Beautiful day here in Niagara but heat and humidity are expected, along with the proverbial thunderstorm. Tomatoes are growing like crazy and we are going to have ourselves buckets of raspberries, by the looks of things, thanks to all the rain we've had over the past month or so. Raspberries -- my very favourite fruit!
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Hot and sticky here this morning too.....and could have some rain showers through the day. C4C, I thought of hermit as someone who was basically a loner and didn't enjoy contact with others. Didn't even think of the ( YUM ) cookie. I actually did have to choose the "closest" things to rather than what was really more me. It was fun anyway.
Another great day for White House bashing. JMO.....there are so many who are fearing what comes next....they are falling all over themselves and nothing they do is going to be right. When they have people like Palin 'chumming' the water along with Faux News aiding and abetting, there can't be a "leader" of anything -- too busy chomping on their own and each others tails. What a sad joke. The do-nothing party can do nothing.
Jackie
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We just watched Robocop last night. They did a great satire of Fox News.
C4C...the things I miss most about our old farm are the fresh asparagus and berries. Mmmmmm.
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Morning Guys,Already walked the dogs and raked up a bunch of chestnut leaves. I'll try not to complain about how much I hate those chestnut trees! Too hot to be outside now ... going to hit the 90's today and very humid.
Linda ... That's funny ... we're both Hermits. I think there was only one question where they didn't have my "real" answer. It was a pretty accurate description of me, except for the part about liking change. I do not like change at all, but I'm good about rolling with the punches. Maybe that's what they meant.
The weather up in Niagara sounds lovely. It was so beautiful when we were up there. The little town was lovely and all the hanging flower baskets were so HUGE! Would love to get back up there again some time.Jackie ... We had all that rain on Thursday. Tim is in WI now and says it's raining buckets up there. Checked to see if my little snake was around today and I couldn't find him. I probably really scared him.
Pip ... I have a ton of blackberry bushes growing wild. The berries don't get as big as the ones in the store. My elderly neighbor from down the road came by yesterday. She had gone out in my fields picking blackberries and made a blackberry cobbler and brought me by some ... yum. I don't pick them cause there are too many stickers on those wild bushes. I most love the Anjou pear tree. The sad thing is with the lack of bees and pollenization (sp) going on we haven't had any really good pears for the last two years.
Brigadoon ... What did the tarot card say about the "Fool?" Too lazy to look for my tarot cards and book.
hugs,
Bren
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Tell me this isn't true - don't know how to link it but this is crazy. -
You got: The High Priestess
You radiate the divine and the natural. You are intuitive in your beliefs and choices. You are a blessing - even if you come in disguise from time to time.
In regards to the lovely pictures of Governor Perry and Sean Hannity (and of course, those big guns...) I only hope that no one actually lets them near the trigger. They'll cause an international incident of immense proportions - which Obama would, of course, get blamed for.
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Haha Brig -- So after the Repubs complain that Obama didn't visit the border because he said he wasn't interested in a photo op but is kept totally updated by staff who are at the border, then Perry and Hannity, the useless idiots, go out in their speedboat for a PHOTO OP. Honestly, can they be any MORE stupid? Well, we'll wait and see.
Isn't it time to stop referring to these children as illegal immigrants/aliens, and start calling them what they actually are -- refugees? They're not sneaking across the border; they're actually seeking out border agents and asking for asylum. And all because Congress passed a bill, which George W. Bush signed, allowing refugees from non-contiguous states (meaning NOT Mexico or Canada) to seek asylum from violence in their own Central American countries.
But of course the stupid, like Simple Sarah, suggest that they should all be shipped back to Mexico. Gahhhhh!
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I can't resist ... Hannity and Perry are idiots. The pic of them in their green camo gear was ridiculous. -
I put this in yesterday and just refreshing it today.
Something I couldn't resist:
Any idiot could do a photo-op..........and obviously they do. Real men forget the playing to the masses and get on with the business of finding solutions.
Of course, when you have to incite a bunch of other weird wacko's.....you dream up this kind of idiocy. Their legacy --- these men have no idea how totally inane and pathetic they are going to look when the history on this is written.
I am definitely on board with the refugee versus aliens or immigrants. These people obviously don't and never will be able to "put" themselves in the place of the children or their parents. Excuse my French so to speak but they are not only the worst clowns, but heartless bas***ds too.
Jackie
ETA: And yesterday I did call them first-calss panderers, which they very much are.
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I live for the day when the majority of Americans are part of the sanity, not the Hannity!
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