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Blogs Eric Reads
GOP Rep. Thought Calls from Obama Were Pranks
Remember when a couple of Canadians prank called Sarah Palin and pretended to be Nicholas Sarkozy? Well, that sure worried Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen who hung up on calls Barack Obama and Rahm Emanuel because she thought they were pranks too:
According to Ros-Lehtinen’s flack Alex Cruz, the congresswoman received the call on her cell phone from a Chicago-based number and an aide informed her that Obama wanted to speak to her. When Obama introduced himself, Ros-Lehtinen cut him off and said, “I’m sorry but I think this is a joke from one of the South Florida radio stations known for these pranks.” Then she hung up.
Moments later, Obama tried again, this time through his soon-to-be chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel.
“Ileana, I cannot believe you hung up on the President-Elect,” Emanuel said. And then–yes, you know what’s coming–she hung up on Emanuel saying she “didn’t believe the call was legitimate.”
A short time later, Ros-Lehtinen received an urgent call from Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.), the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, who informed her that she indeed hung up on Obama.
So, Obama tried again and this time he was successful. (Phew!)
“It is very funny that you have twice hung up on me,” Obama said. Ros Lehtinen responded by telling Obama that radio stations in South Florida always make these sorts of jokes. Obama said similar pranksters reside in Chi-town.
Update: Haha, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen just put out a press release in which she spells the names of President-Elect “Barak” Obama and Chief of Staff-designate Rahm “Emmanuel” incorrectly.
Update 2: Bonus lulz!
Florida Republicans are a very special breed of morons. They will pay you $20 to give you a blowjob in the bathroom, they will keep you up at all hours on the Instant Message Blonker if they think you are a hot pimply teen, and they will hang up on you if you are the President-elect. Florida Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen got a call from Barack Obama and hung up on him, twice, because if she learned one thing from Sarah Palin it’s that world leaders will never call Republicans in earnest.
Happy Obama Day!
It’s the second Monday in November in Perry County, Alabama:
In Perry County, where residents voted overwhelmingly for Mr. Obama on Election Day, members of the county commission decided to set aside the second Monday in November as “Barack Obama Day.”
And it won’t be a holiday in name only. Each year on Obama Day, the county will close down its offices and all of its workers — about 40 of them — will get the day off, with pay.
…
“Perry County is not in such dire straights” that it cannot afford the holiday, [county commissioner Albert Turner Jr.] said, adding: “This holiday will remind people at least one time a year that we do have hope to overcome obstacles in our lives that people say are insurmountable.”
Bush for Senate, and more
- John Cole helps Republicans understand why Obama won. Hint: it’s because of all the things Republicans screwed up. (Balloon Juice)
- Jeb Bush, who has kept a pretty low profile after leaving office as his brother destroyed the world over the past few years, is thinking about running for Senate to replace retiring Republican Mel Martinez. The former governor is still pretty popular, but I can’t imagine most people will want to put “Bush for Senate” stickers on their cars. (Politico)
- The Vatican has announced that it opposes a UN resolution that would encourage nations to decriminalize homosexuality. They use the Christian bigot stock answer that the resolution would prevent the Church from opposing same-sex marriage, but, of course, the resolution has nothing to do with gay marriage but rather condemns countries that imprison or kill homosexuals. “Sanctity of life” is apparently for heteros only. (Times of London)
- Here’s your health tip of the day: a Missouri man died of rabies this weekend, the state’s first rabies death since 1959, after being bitten by an infected animal and not seeking proper medical attention. If you get bitten by any wild animal, whether or not it appears rabid, make sure to check with a doctor. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Economists: Recession Began December 2007
And it’s been downhill ever since:
The U.S. economy entered a recession in December 2007, a committee of economists at the private National Bureau of Economic Research said Monday. The economy reached a peak in December and has been declining since, according to the business cycle dating committee of the NBER.
Still, the wingnuts will contintue to blame (not officially President yet) Obama and absolve (still-President) Bush. Graaah socialism!!
Obama Gives Thanks
Good morning.
Nearly 150 years ago, in one of the darkest years of our nation’s history, President Abraham Lincoln set aside the last Thursday in November as a day of Thanksgiving. America was split by Civil War. But Lincoln said in his first Thanksgiving decree that difficult times made it even more appropriate for our blessings to be — and I quote — “gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people.”
This week, the American people came together with family and friends to carry on this distinctly American tradition. We gave thanks for loved ones and for our lasting pride in our communities and our country. We took comfort in good memories while looking forward to the promise of change.
But this Thanksgiving also takes place at a time of great trial for our people.
Across the country, there were empty seats at the table, as brave Americans continue to serve in harm’s way from the mountains of Afghanistan to the deserts of Iraq. We honor and give thanks for their sacrifice, and stand by the families who endure their absence with such dignity and resolve.
At home, we face an economic crisis of historic proportions. More and more Americans are worried about losing a job or making their mortgage payment. Workers are wondering if next month’s paycheck will pay next month’s bills. Retirees are watching their savings disappear, and students are struggling with the cost of tuition.
It’s going to take bold and immediate action to confront this crisis. That’s why I’m committed to forging a new beginning from the moment I take office as President of the United States. Earlier this week, I announced my economic team. This talented and dedicated group is already hard at work crafting an Economic Recovery Plan that will create or save 2.5 million new jobs, while making the investments we need to fuel long-term economic growth and stability.
But this Thanksgiving, we are reminded that the renewal of our economy won’t come from policies and plans alone — it will take the hard work, innovation, service, and strength of the American people.
I have seen this strength firsthand over many months — in workers who are ready to power new industries, and farmers and scientists who can tap new sources of energy; in teachers who stay late after school, and parents who put in that extra hour reading to their kids; in young Americans enlisting in a time of war, seniors who volunteer their time, and service programs that bring hope to the hopeless.
It is a testament to our national character that so many Americans took time out this Thanksgiving to help feed the hungry and care for the needy. On Wednesday, I visited a food bank at Saint Columbanus Parish in Chicago. There — as in so many communities across America — folks pitched in time and resources to give a lift to their neighbors in need. It is this spirit that binds us together as one American family — the belief that we rise and fall as one people; that we want that American Dream not just for ourselves, but for each other.
That’s the spirit we must summon as we make a new beginning for our nation. Times are tough. There are difficult months ahead. But we can renew our nation the same way that we have in the many years since Lincoln’s first Thanksgiving: by coming together to overcome adversity; by reaching for — and working for — new horizons of opportunity for all Americans.
So this weekend — with one heart, and one voice, the American people can give thanks that a new and brighter day is yet to come.
Thanksgiving
Remember back when everyone was speculating that white women wouldn’t vote for Obama or hispanics wouldn’t vote for Obama or Jews wouldn’t vote for Obama?
I’m thankful that everyone who thought that was wrong.
1058
- Oh, Sarah Palin. No matter how hard she tries, she just can’t stop the never-ending stream of ethics violations. Some Alaskan dude (not the First Dude, maybe Fourth Dude or Fifth Dude?) has filed an ethics complaint against Palin for conducting interviews about her vice presidentail run and future electoral prospects while in the governor’s office, where Alaskan taxpayers pay to keep the lights on. Alaska Republicans: very corrupt or extremely corrupt? (Anchorage Daily News)
- Well what do you know, turns out Barack isn’t a Muslim after all! A new al-Qaida tape says that Barack Obama’s plan to move troops out of Iraq to Afghanistan will fail. Ayman al-Zawahri, al-Qaida’s number two guy, then goes on to call Obama, Colin Powell, and Condoleezza Rice ”house Negroes,” a term which was first used by actual black Muslim Malcolm X. (Voice of America)
- Barack Obama has chosen Peter Orszag to head the Office of Management and Budget. Nobody would ever care about Orszag or the OMB except that Orszag OMGOMGOMG worked for Bill Clinton. Apparently, appointing Democrats who actually know what they’re doing isn’t change we can believe in, or some nonsense. People, listen: the morons have been running the country for the past eight years. Let’s get some people who actually know stuff in power. (CNN)
- Oopsie! An astronaut on a spacewalk accidentally dropped a toolbox. Except by “dropped” I mean “allowed to float off into the infinite reaches of space.” Fortunately, NASA sent them with an extra spacewrench, or whatever it was, so they can keep fixing the space station. (Slashdot)
BHO vs. BCS
Now this would be change I can believe in:
Kroft: We get along fine. I have one last question. As president of the United States, what can you do, or what do you plan to do, about getting a college football playoff for the national championship?
Mr. Obama: This is important. Look, excuse me for a second.
Michelle Obama: Please. Don’t mind me.
Mr. Obama: I think any sensible person would say that if you’ve got a bunch of teams who play throughout the season, and many of them have one loss or two losses, there’s no clear decisive winner that we should be creating a playoff system.
Eight teams. That would be three rounds, to determine a national champion. It would it would add three extra weeks to the season. You could trim back on the regular season. I don’t know any serious fan of college football who has disagreed with me on this. So, I’m gonna throw my weight around a little bit. I think it’s the right thing to do.
(This is at the end of the video–about 2:45–after some questions about dogs and Michelle’s mom.)
Hey, if the BCS sucks so much to warrant Congressional investigation, I think the President of the United States can justify taking a little time to set things right.
(via)
A Case of the Mondays
(Sorry if all these bulleted-list posts seems like cop outs. It’s a busy time of the year.)
- The Senate Democratic caucus vote on whether Holy Joe Lieberman keeps his committee chairmanship is coming up soon. Kagro X reminds us that the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has jurisdiction over the District of Columbia, 93% of whose residents voted for Barack Obama, so it would be awfully shitty to let John McCain’s best buddy run the place. Since the Lieberman vote will be done by secret ballot, a fully expect the Democratic Senate majority to cave, just like they’ve been doing for the past couple years. (DailyKos)
- Still-President Bush has the high honor of being the first U.S. President to ever call Libyan dictator Muammar Qadhafi. Bush called Qadhafi to thank him for agreeing to a claims settlement agreement between the two countries. How dare Bush speak with a foreign leader with preconditions! Surrender!! (First Read)
- Right before the election, Barack Obama sent a letter to a bunch of federal employees telling them about change they can believe in. Basically, the letter explains all of the Bush administration policies that Obama would rescind, like outsourcing government work and censoring science. If it’s undoing something George Bush did, I’m for it. (Washington Post)
- Barack Obama met with John McCain today because he wanted to hear McCain call him “Mr. President-Elect” several times to his face. Oh, and they also released the world’s most generic joint statement. Seriously. It’s only two paragraphs long but it uses a lot of words to say absolutely nothing. On the plus side, there’s a hilariously awkward video of the two talking. Look how hard it is for Obama not to gloat. (Ben Smith/YouTube)
- Lots of racist white people are pissed off that we elected a black man to be president. They can’t handle that the rest of us don’t hate minorities as much as they do and they’re getting angry and violent. Obama has already received more death threats than any other president-elect in American history, and I’m willing to bet that some of that can be blamed on the vitriol of Sarah Palin. It’s not going to be an easy four years for President Obama. (Christian Science Monitor/Austin American-Statesman/Federal News Radio)
Weekend Update
Hey, did you miss me?
- Vermont Senators Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders have both publicly called for Sen. Joe Lieberman to step down as the chairman of the Homeland Security. I’m all for it considering how Lieberman just spent the past year and a half running around the country telling everyone that only his BFF John McCain can keep us safe. Unfortunately, the rest of the Senate Democrats are doing what Senate Democrats usually do (i.e. being a bunch of pansies). Incidentally, this pansy-ness is the same reason why millions of schoolchildren think that it takes 60 votes for the Senate to pass a bill. (TPM Election Central)
- Did you know that Rahm Emanuel calls DC “Fucknutsville?” Or that he’s a ballerina? Or that he hates Arby’s? It’s true, as you can see from these witty t-shirts! (RahmFacts.com)
- OMG OMG OMG OMG HILLARY WILL BE SECRETARY OF STATE!!! Or at least that’s what the internets are saying. Personally, I don’t know why she would give up what is basically a Senate seat for life for a job that she can only have for a maximum of eight years. Also, when was the last time a Secretary of State was elected President (since we all know that’s what Hillary’s really after)? (Huffington Post)
- The President’s Weekly Radio Address is going 21st century! From now on, the President of the United States will address the nation each week on YouTube. Barack Obama is aware of all internet traditions. (Change.gov)
- Mark Begich now leads Ted Stevens by over 1,000 votes, but holy crap do Alaskans not know how to count or something? The election was last fricking week and not only are we still waiting for all the votes to be counted but this race could go into an automatic recount! Hopefully we’ll know who the next Senator from Alaska is by 2010. (State of Alaska)
- The only thing that stopped Vladimir Putin from marching all the way to Tbilisi and hanging Georgian President Saakashvili ”by the balls” was that he didn’t want to seem like George W. Bush. Heckuva job, Georgie! (The Times)