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Saturday Morning Rant On Disrespecting The President [VIDEO]

Jake Tapper

President Obama is really a class act. He has been faced with incredible challenges as the leader of the United States. It was necessary for the President to carefully consider his actions and reactions during his first term in office. To some extent that holds true now but since the President is in his last term, I think he needs to go 'Chris Christie' on some folks when putting them in check. 

Case in point, Jake Tapper of ABC News (he has since moved to CNN). In referring to gun control during a recent press conference, Tapper had the audacity to ask President Obama 'where've you been?' Don't get me wrong, the President checked Tapper and he was still very respectful in his retort. As a matter of fact he was more respectful of Tapper than Tapper was of him. 

 

 

I'd like to have seen President Obama respond something like this, "Dude, where have I been? The real question is why did you ask such a lame-brained question? You know what's transpired in this nation and globally, or at least you should --- you're the media. The next time you have the opportunity to ask a question at a press conference, don't waste my time, nor that of the other folks present. Most important, show some respect, I am your President whether you like it our not."

Now, I know President Obama would not say that, at least not publicly, he's too cool. He's also as shrewd as he is cool so he's really not someone to be messed with. It is the responsibility of Tapper and other correspondents to ask tough questions when necessary but professionals are not expected to be disrespectful when doing so.

A couple of days after the press conference, it was announced that Jake Tapper is moving to CNN and he'll have his own show. It's also my understanding that the deal was cut before Jeff Zucker took over the reins at CNN. 

While President Obama is admired by many, he is also the most disrespected President of the United States by his own countrymen. Many people complained to ABC News about Tapper. More of that needs to be done in the future when our President is disrespected. 

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President Obama on the Newtown Massacre [VIDEO and FULL TRANSCRIPT]

President Obama Doesn't Understand the Economy?

President Obama on the Newtown Massacre [VIDEO and FULL TRANSCRIPT]

 

President Barack Obama delivers solemn message on shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT.

It goes without saying that today is one of those days that we will remember forever. The nation has been saddened by the murders of 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT. Details of the sequence of events are still developing but it appears that the shooter also killed his mother who was a teacher's aide at the school and his brother.

From earlier reports, Newtown was the kind of place that families in citites moved to so their children would grow up in a safe and peaceful environment. How sad. Because of this latest tragedy, there will be discussions on gun control and mental illness. When all is said and done, will anything really be done to make sure a tragedy of this magnitude never occurs again? Let's make sure it does by contacting our elected officials. This. Must. Stop.

President Barack Obama fought back tears as he delivered the speech below regarding the incident. 

 

Here are his full remarks:

 

This afternoon, I spoke with Governor Malloy and FBI Director Mueller. I offered Governor Malloy my condolences on behalf of the nation, and made it clear he will have every single resource that he needs to investigate this heinous crime, care for the victims, counsel their families. 

 We've endured too many of these tragedies in the past few years. And each time I learn the news I react not as a President, but as anybody else would -- as a parent. And that was especially true today. I know there's not a parent in America who doesn't feel the same overwhelming grief that I do. 

 The majority of those who died today were children -- beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old. They had their entire lives ahead of them -- birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own. Among the fallen were also teachers -- men and women who devoted their lives to helping our children fulfill their dreams.

 So our hearts are broken today -- for the parents and grandparents, sisters and brothers of these little children, and for the families of the adults who were lost. Our hearts are broken for the parents of the survivors as well, for as blessed as they are to have their children home tonight, they know that their children's innocence has been torn away from them too early, and there are no words that will ease their pain.

 As a country, we have been through this too many times. Whether it's an elementary school in Newtown, or a shopping mall in Oregon, or a temple in Wisconsin, or a movie theater in Aurora, or a street corner in Chicago -- these neighborhoods are our neighborhoods, and these children are our children. And we're going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics.

 This evening, Michelle and I will do what I know every parent in America will do, which is hug our children a little tighter and we'll tell them that we love them, and we'll remind each other how deeply we love one another. But there are families in Connecticut who cannot do that tonight. And they need all of us right now. In the hard days to come, that community needs us to be at our best as Americans. And I will do everything in my power as President to help.

Because while nothing can fill the space of a lost child or loved one, all of us can extend a hand to those in need -- to remind them that we are there for them, that we are praying for them, that the love they felt for those they lost endures not just in their memories but also in ours. 

May God bless the memory of the victims and, in the words of Scripture, heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds.

 

The President also issued a proclamation honoring the victims of the tragedy, ordering U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff until sunset on December 18.

 

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President Obama Doesn't Understand the Economy?

President Barack Obama during his days at Harvard Law School.

President Obama is a Harvard educated lawyer and former senator but he doesn’t understand the economy? You’ve got to be kidding me. That's what some Republican business leaders want us to believe. The only people that espouse that are: (1) the American corporate elite who continue to make millions of dollars while millions of American jobs are sent oversees and (2) Americans who just don't want to see the truth.

Observe the presidential campaign ads and follow the campaign donations. Business moguls who started or currently own some of America’s largest businesses are lock step with the infamous Koch brothers in their intent to make Obama a one term President. They need to get President Obama out of that seat because he has not allowed big business leaders to dictate the direction of this nation during his administration and they are mad. Boiling mad. Plain and simple. Although they didn't initially support Mitt Romney, they will because he's one of them.

This presidential campaign is all about the benjamins. As a matter of fact, many of them have been about the benjamins but his time it’s different. In the words of Nino Brown in the movie New Jack City, “The rich get richer and the poor don’t get a @#$% thing.”

 

 

 

 

Democratic Convention Off to a Rousing Start

 

Florida delegation on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention, September 4, 2012, Charlotte, NC.

 

The first night of the Democratic National Convention was awesome, inspiring and electrifying. If this is how the Dems start off, then Thursday evening’s culminating activities should be mind blowing.

You know, sometimes events and people can be so hyped up that it’s humanly impossible to deliver at such a highly anticipated level. Well, that was not the case last night. From First Lady Michelle Obama to San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro to Lily Ledbetter to Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and many others, the first night set the tone.

The Democrats successfully presented a picture of America and the diversity of Americans. The Democratic National Convention did not seem contrived, as did the Republican National Convention. There was a nice mixture of speakers we knew and speakers who were novices to the national spotlight, it all seemed organic.

After all the speeches are completed and President Obama accepts his Party’s nomination Thursday night, the reality is that the Democratic Party has to register voters in spite of what appears to be successful voter suppressive laws. Moreover, they must get voters out to vote. There’s a lot for the Democrats to do. There’s little time in which to do it. 

 

Photo:  Keenan Austin 

We are better than this, America.

 

The shooting death of Trayvon Martin, shootings of blacks in Tulsa and other places and the continuing disrespect of President Barack Obama signal an America I do not wish to return to but it seems never really changed.

 

I remember segregation. I remember segregated beaches, segregated restaurants and segregated schools. I remember economic boycotts, civil rights marches and marches by the Klu Klux Klan. Those were, for the most part, horrible times not just for black people but for all of America.

 

What kind of nation have we become to allow our President to be disrespected, especially by other elected officials? The latest act was committed by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) who called the president 'stupid' on Twitter.

 

Here's the translation:

"Constituents asked why I am not outraged at President Obama's attack on Supreme Court independence. Because American people are not as stupid as this ex-professor of constitutional law."

 

Sure politicians are frequently the brunt of jokes by comedians and targets of political satire but I don't recall any President of the United States being openly disrespected by another elected official the way Sen. Grassley and others have disrespected President Obama. It's shameful. It's treasonous. It's embarrassing. We are better than this, America.

 

 

We Can't Turn Back Now [VIDEO]

Five years ago presidential candidate Barack Hussein Obama ignited a fire in Americans yearning for change in our government. Americans yearning for a better life…better opportunities…jobs…education. Hope. Change.

Unlike any presidential candidate before or since, Obama’s obvious racial difference was not the factor that endeared him to so many.  No, Barack Obama’s American story was the glue that weaved him through the hearts and minds of so many Americans who could identify with the challenges he overcame to attain a comfortable lifestyle in these United States of America.

Now five years later, after a historic victory, this man we know as Barack Hussein Obama, 44th President of the United States of America, remains the same intelligent, dignified, level-headed leader this nation needs. President Obama’s tenure has been met with such vitrol, disrespect and unsuccessful attempts to destroy this nation, it is almost unbelievable. These attempts have not come from outside but from within the leadership of this very nation who claim to be patriots. 

Now is the time to continue to move America forward with four more years of an Obama presidency. We are on the right track by addressing economic disparity and helping the poor and middle-class among other issues. We can’t turn back now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bill Press on Newt Gingrich: He's Not a Great Debater [VIDEO]

Here is a video of Bill Press guest hosting the Countdown with Keith Olbermann Show. So, a CNN producer warmed up the crowd at the presidential debate in Charleston, SC. encouraging the audience to make as much noise as possible as if the debate was The Jerry Springer Show? Shame on CNN. 

You know it really doesn’t matter who the Republican presidential nominee is, President Obama will clean their clock. 

 

 

President Obama's State of the Union Address 01/24/2012 [VIDEO] [TRANSCRIPT]

President Barack Obama delivered a rousing State of the Union address last night that addressed a myriad of topics from the economy to education to healthcare to bipartianship and Republican obstructionism. When the President mentioned the takedown of Osama bin Laden early in his address, it was apparent that he was in the zone.

Some criticize the President by attacking his gift of public speaking others accuse him of being divisive. That's a shame. The President spoke to the heart of the issues that Americans face every day. He expressed the frustration that Americans feel about government and the partisanship bickering. The President challenged Congress to do their job.

Here are the video and text of the President's speech.

 

Remarks by the President in State of the Union Address

United States Capitol
Washington, D.C.

9:10 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT:  Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans:

Last month, I went to Andrews Air Force Base and welcomed home some of our last troops to serve in Iraq.  Together, we offered a final, proud salute to the colors under which more than a million of our fellow citizens fought -- and several thousand gave their lives.

We gather tonight knowing that this generation of heroes has made the United States safer and more respected around the world.  (Applause.)  For the first time in nine years, there are no Americans fighting in Iraq.  (Applause.)  For the first time in two decades, Osama bin Laden is not a threat to this country.  (Applause.)  Most of al Qaeda’s top lieutenants have been defeated.  The Taliban’s momentum has been broken, and some troops in Afghanistan have begun to come home.

Romney, Wealth and the Presidential Campaign

If you believe many of the pundits of American politics, Willard Mitt Romney will be the 2012 GOP Presidential nominee --- until now.

Romney continues to show who he really is and for whom he will really advocate --- the wealthy. Romney has shown, in several instances, how he is totally out of touch with most Americans of all political affiliations.

He has insulted the American public by basically accusing them of being jealous of him because he's wealthy. He has laughed about firing workers and cavalierly made a $10,000 bet as if it was only $1.

To make matters worse, when pressed about the income taxes he pays, he says he pays around 15 %. He also says he donated his speaking fees, which were "not that much". His reported speaking fees are over $374,000. Wow, this is the favored Republican presidential candidate?

The Democrats should be grateful the Republicans seem to favor Romney. He is no match for President Obama. No doubt Romney will put his foot in his mouth again. When the campaign trail heats up, he will succumb to the pressure and say something so outrageous, it will be difficult, if not impossible, for the GOP to overcome.

Romney is who he is. No amount of campaign spin can change that. He can pretend to be like the average American but he's not and that's apparent in his actions; he seems so uncomfortable sometimes.

Anyhoo, the real question is, do American voters dislike President Obama so much that they will hold their collective noses and vote for a candidate like Mitt Romney who will continue the decimation of the middle-class? That would be masochistic but stranger things have happened in American politics.

A Teacher's Lesson in Voter Suppression in Florida

The reality of the suppressive nature of Florida's voting laws became painfully clear recently to Palm Beach County high school civics teacher Jill Cicciarelli.

What did she do? Well, for starters, she registered 50 of her students to vote without first registering with the state as a "third-party voter registration organization," and the completed registration forms were not turned in within 48 hours.

Such are the obstacles the Republican-dominated Florida Legislature put in place to suppress new voter registration --- and prevent the re-election of President Barack Obama but let me not go there just yet.

Ms. Cicciarelli's name was forwarded to the Florida Secretary of State's Office for engaging in unlawful voter registration. She's also subject to a $50 fine for each late registration, up to $1,000.

Hmmm...What an incredible teaching and learning moment for Jill Cicciarelli and her students. I wonder what they think about our government in action. What say you?