stafford

Oakville, truer words were never written. For the life of me I don't know how Joe expects the President to find "common ground" with the House Republicans when they refuse every and all offers. Joe didn't like the comedy bits speech made by the President (hello, kettle calling the pot) and the fact that he called out the Repubs on their BS (my words not his). I'm sure if the President went back to Congress and had a more civil tone everything would be hunky dory (snark). I've been doing some thinking about Congresses failure to do their job with this President in office and I think the hidden cause is that there are no more (or limited) earmarks. I know earmarks are considered unsavory but how the hell do you think Presidents Johnson, Kennedy, Nixon, Clinton and Bush One got the other party to vote for a bill? They held up a favorite public works project or put it on the table in exchange for a vote. A Congressperson was judged back home on how many tax dollars they brought back to their district. Now the only negotiating power the President or Speaker has is to appeal to their sense of duty (and that doesn't get you re-elected). Were their abuses...yes, but I believe they were a small percentage of the earmarks. You can't negotiate if you have nothing to offer in exchange. I'd sure like to know how many earmarks Congressman Joe brought home during his tenure. Does anyone actually believe that the Voting Rights Bill or the Fair Housing Act would have passed without promises made for earmarks (or Johnson's threats to destroy them)? I remember in years past when my congressman would come home on recess and announce a new project in the community (a public swimming pool, new waste water treatment plant, new railroad crossing signals, etc). Now all they come home with is condemnation of the other party and the country sits around waiting for another bridge to collapse. Harry Reed and John Boehner cannot offer their delegation anything for a vote and therefor have no real power. I had to laugh during the segment on the book "Executive Presence" (dressing and talking for success for women). Mika was wearing a long sleeve top (someone obviously clued her in on the topic) so she could knowingly nod her approval and utter disgust with FLIP FLOPS...like wearing a $1,000 pair of Fuck Me heels in a tight sleeveless sheath laying across a table with her leg up in the air gives her gravitas? Please. The author of the book acknowledged that casual Fridays are the bane of women because if they dress like men (kakhis and a golf shirt) they are asked to do menial tasks on that day. And what's up with Mika calling out her daughter (the Intern) for throwing stuff at her mother this morning (at least I thought I heard Mika saying that)? I guess Mika is projecting the public humiliation her father uses on her. I feel so sorry for Mika's daughters. Yup a good public scolding always works with your kids. So I guess "knowing your worth" allows her to chastise her daughter on TV. I'm not saying that her daughter acted appropriately (I'm sure she didn't) but maybe, just maybe her daughter should find another intership...you know, one where Mommy doesn't get to hand you a job and then bitch about you on national TV.

Eliot, I agree that it was refreshing to hear Barnacle blame McCain. I only wish Cackles was there to put a different spin on it...who am I kidding? I absolutely hate hearing her rationalizations why this President is soooo bad for the country. teddysmom, I'm sorry I missed Rachel's segment on the utter bullshit the Republicans are spewing. I'm glad someone is taking notice. I also don't understand why the President not visiting the border is such a cause célèbre but frankly I don't see why he doesn't just visit the border? I realize it's a mess and a terrible situation but it is NOT Katrina but you are right teddysmom that the Repubs keep reloading no matter what the facts are. I thought the President asking for $3.5 billion for this issue is brilliant and will stick the Repubs in a no win situation. Does anyone really think the Republican base gives a shit about these children (well except for the Bush's)? Poor Jeb, stating that the parents are performing an act of love threw him under the bus (with Sarah Palin driving it). And while I'm ranting I was so surprised yesterday when Joe called out Christie for not meeting with the Sandy Hook parents. Of course Mika was torn between her two dads...should she love Joe or Christie? I wanted to transcribe her intros this week because they are so terrible. She babbles on (often contradicting herself) while trying to be "fair" but can't seem to hold an opinion or thought. She is insufferable. Okay rant over!

Can someone please explain to me why the media is giving Sarah Palin any play and her outrageous calls to impeach the President? Way Too Early ran her Facebook video which is a shameless self promoting effort to what...be on The View? Why does anything she says warrant any press? I think it's well established that she is an idiot. Her "record" on supporting Tea Party candidates is almost a sure bet that candidate will loose yet the media plays it up. It's like an interview with Ann Coulter or Kim Kardashian--only done to stir the pot. What John Boehner's promise to sue the President isn't getting enough traction so let's impeach him? How can these people live with themselves as they grub around for the lowest common denominator voter? How can the press give it any air time? And to be very clear I do believe that this is another racist attempt to de-legitimize an African American president. Jesus Christ, if George W. Bush wasn't impeached for lying to us about WMD's and sending us to WAR what are the charges against this President...he has a Republican Party that vowed to oppose everything he did and put this country on lock down? I've gotten to the point where I hate the media as much as the right wing nut jobs because they give a prominate voice to the blow hearts that would rather the United States fail every damn day than govern and solve problems. Man I woke up in a bad mood when I flip on the TV and there is Sarah Palin spewing garbage and the media is treating it as an actual news story.

It was actually a relief not to have Joe or Mika on set this morning when they were discussing the SCOTUS decision in favor of Hobby Lobby and a privately held CORPORATION that can pick and choose what a woman can use as birth control. Poor wittle Cackles had no back up as she described this as a religious freedom issue not a war on women. The entire panel (Mike, Donnie, Willie, and Thomas) seemed dismayed by the ruling but Cackles was quick to point out that Hobby Lobby allowed for 16 other types of birth control (abstenance...rhythm perhaps) and only objected to two types they considered to be objectionable). There was a rather uncomfortable discussion between Thomas and Cackles about the Hobby Lobby allowing Viagra coverage where Thomas had to explain to Cackles the hypocracy of picking and choosing what women can use and what men want and it all involves procreation. Donnie saw this as a win for the Democrats to bring home how ultra conservatives (Repubs) are but Cackles thinks the American public will view this with relief for protecting religious freedom (she's crazy). I think it's a big LOSS for a woman's right to choose and how dare they give religious rights to a corporation. I'm just stunned.

Dagny, I thought the same thing when Donnie shrugged and said the solution was for people to get another job. I couldn't believe it. Talk about Hillary being out of touch these idiots think that full time minimum wage jobs are just there for the taking. I mean the sugarcane workers should have just left the fields for a better job (oh yeah, they were locked in at night and were forced to buy food from the company store that ate up all their wages and made them indentured slaves). I wonder if vasectomies or Viagra are also banned by the Hobby Lobby too? Yup let's let businesses legislate our morality so we women can sit at home with our sister wives and do craft projects. Are they against stem cell procedures too? Where does it stop?

ShuFace88, I assume Mika hates Hillary because she wears pantsuits and sensible shoes...but honestly, I'd really like to know as well. Maybe her book sales exceed Mika's? I don't understand Mika's girl crush on Elizabeth Warren either. It seems to be a zero sum game and that she can't "love" one woman without hating the other woman. It's like her fixation with Christie. I'm assuming Christie flattered her and perhaps Hillary was dismissive with her (who wouldn't?). Okay, the discussion on the Tea Party losses in the Primaries was much more sane than I expected. Even Steve Schmidt seemed pragmatic. I'm assuming it's because the mainstream Republicans that won can now pick off the Democratic opponents whereas the Tea Party candidates would probably lose in the general elections. I'm wondering if Ted Cruz is licking his wounds this morning after the debacle in Oklahoma? I think his guy lost like by 23 points. I may get kicked out of the I hate Joe Club but I liked his take on the Suarez bite incident. Suarez played this past season for his beloved Liverpool team but was sure to go to another team so Joe was actually--dare I say giddy--about him probably being banned (although banned for a few games doesn't seem like enough of a punishment).

Two weeks ago when Eric Cantor lost his Primary race to an extreme Tea Party member the entire MJ discussion centered on how this was a warning sign, sea change, rise of the Tea Party across America and the implications for other mainstream Republican races. Never mind that the total number of voters was only 65,000 in one Congressional District with a disengaged Eric Cantor, nope, this was the bell weather, the proof that America had fundamentally changed and the true grass root conservative candidate would always win. I wonder what today's lesson will be after the Primary results are discussed and if this topic will supersede the "Bite Heard Round the World" at the World Cup? Will the Tea Party losses in Mississippi and Oaklahoma (with endorsements from Ted Cruz and Sarah Palin) tell the panel anything? I can't wait for the prognostication because Joe and his merry men (and I include Cackles in that group) have to twist everything into how this proves the President is feckless, the moderates are dead and the Conservative Republicans will take over the country.

I give all of you guys credit. I just couldn't stick with it today. I tuned in to watch the futball coverage (can you imagine if Joe had interviewed the President that it would have been discussed after the first break?). I saw what Mika was wearing in the interview and I switched channels (I am so shallow). Maybe Mika could pick up the dress for success book? Even the soccer announcers wear suits. So when did a skin tight sheath become the successful woman's uniform...especially after age 45? I remember Mika being horrified a couple of years ago when a college woman's team showed up at the WH with some of the young women wearing flip flops. Yet she wears a skin tight dress with four inch fuck me heels. Believe me, no one is going to know your worth if you are trying desperately to trade on your sexuality.

I'm trying to figure out why Coachella is a theme for any one year old's birthday party? Oh, yeah I forgot this isn't about the baby it's about outrageous costumes/clothing and the tone deaf mocking of Native American headdresses. Could these people be any more self-centered? Lucky for them E! Is their 24/7 news outlet...self promoting pricks.

Oakville, apparently CBS News' Norah O'Donnell, CNN's Kate Bolduan and Mika each interviewed President Obama this past Friday. Mika's interview will air Monday morning on "Morning Joe. The subject is the White House Summit on Working Families (you know because men can't talk about working "families"). I feel sick to my stomach that Mika gets this type of media play. Forget that Mika is the worst interviewer it really galls me that the WH feels this is a subject for women broadcasters. I'm wondering how many times Mika will bring up "knowing her value"? I don't think I can tolerate watching it. Oh, she will be insufferable for weeks to come (oops, even more insufferable...).

I hate, hate, hate that the 11 year old child competed in the Women's US Open. All the media says everyone's "fallen in love" with the girl"...NOT! I find the inclusion of such a young girl exploitive by the parents, coaches and the media. The LPGA should be ashamed of themselves by trying to boost their numbers by pushing this young girl to compete. Didn't we see the mess it caused with young girls in tennis years ago? Why can't we let children be children instead of using them for media and money?

So was I the only one who saw Fantasia's nip slip? She was falling out of her top. I had to look away.

Mike Meyer's was terrific on the show this morning. The story of his parents enlisting by lying about their age and then serving in the British military in 1940 was so interesting. After Mika tells him how cool he is and how she just loves him (yup she probably has Wayne's World saved on her DVR) she starts lecturing him on drinking poison (a coke). WTF? "You know that's pure sugar?" She couldn't be gracious for one second. Ha, for the first time Joe couldn't compete with Mike's stories of his parents selfless dedication to quashing Facism. Joe had nothing...well except to mock Canadians (Mike was born in Canada) that recall the fact that they pushed further into France then any other force on D-Day (As Joe pointed out "they always say that"). Just be grateful Joe, that the Canadians were ther, okay?

The entire panel found ways of saying that they agreed with Joe except for Chuck Todd. Willie tried a bit at the end to stick up for the parents but it was IMO wishy washy. I agree totally with ShuFace88 that it's easy for Joe to say he'd tell his son to stay there and he'd get him help to get out of there. Really? Joe, mister I've lived everywhere, really? You think these parents have the necessary connections in Congress or the Pentegon that you a former Congressman would have? At most they would have had their Congressperson and possibly two Senators on their side. The kid had already walked away before this incident and was brought back but hey, one call from Joe and his son could have gotten out of there "honorably"? Bullshit. Joe maybe instead of claiming to live everywhere in the U.S. Maybe you ought to try living in the real world where you don't get to trade your celebrity for your kids honorable discharge. Joe kept saying as a Father he would tell his son he was endangering the lives of his unit (which is such horseshit) because Joe can see into the future Conservatives talking points (forget the fact that those men died tragically but not because this guy walked away...but hey, never let the facts get in the way of your outright lies). Look this guy was obviously a mess but the Army didn't see fit to get him help. Hell, I imagine Joe would slap a solider with his white gloves if he dared to be suffering from battle shock in a ward with "true" heros. At least the majority of Americans were outraged over Patton's action and that got him booted from his command. But as ShuFace88 said Joe's son would NEVER enlist to begin with so Joe can pretend to be a good American father and parrot all the conservative outrage. And Mika and Harold Ford (aka please let me keep this gig) agreeing with Joe in the end is such bullshit. My hat is off to Chuck Todd.

I read a Huff Post article I believe was in the NYTs about some right wing "conservative" operative that set up the interviews with the two or three soldiers in his group that called him a deserter and a traitor. The NYTs article said the deaths of the eight soldiers were not directly attributable to searching for this guy. They then listed the brave soldiers that died and the circumstances of their tragic deaths. I don't know why anyone is surprised that the right wing would use this tragic situation to further their narrative that President Obama should be impeached for war crimes. The continually use the death of the Ambassador and the four other Americans killed in Benghazi to suit their narrative. They really have no shame. Should someone remind them of their unilateral support for that cattle grazing nut job out west? Yup, lots of tweets erased and walking back their support. If you get a chance check out The Daily Show's and John Stewart's take on the situation. I'm sorry I can't seem to link anything today. I'm doing this from a mobile device and I can't use the full editor.

Oakville, she has been hyperventilating for the past two days while Joe has been gone. She certainly was channeling Joe this morning when she talked over people, asked and then answered her own questions with, no surprise here, more questions (her questions raised additional questions which in turn raised more questions...but here's the thing she only used the term "more questions" but never really posed a question). I certainly know her value...zip, zilch and zippo. She's an embarrassment to pundits and women everywhere. The apparent "lies" Susan Rice told the past few days has poor wittle Mika confused. Ms. Rice said his health was deteriorating but gosh from the five minute video the Taliban released he looks "fine". Has anybody even suggested that he may be suffering from a mental illness which doesn't show up--Donnie--on a clip of him walking to the helicopter? Yesterday Mika wanted to talk about the optics of the situation...that's so convenient...since they don't have any facts. So let's speculate for hours on what might be happening or NOT. Hey, and while were at it let's roll the John McCain video from a few weeks ago when he said we ought to consider swapping prisoners to get him released. As a Navy Commander said if a sailor falls or jumps off the ship they always go back for them no matter what the intent. I think more questions were raised when people like Mika got a look at the Dad. He has a radical look about him and *sigh* that raises more questions. Clearly this soldier (IMO),had some sort of mental break before he left camp. So finally Mika you can't be a cheerleader for him ("so glad he's back") in one breath and imply with your whole being that he is a deserter and traitor. Why not wait for the facts to come out? Oops, sorry. Facts before speculation and innuendo is not allowed on MJ or even MTP.

That grilled banana with tons of chocolate pieces crammed into a slightly hollowed out banana was the worst looking thing I've ever seen on the FN. The black banana looked so un-appetizing and the glop formed by the chocolate chunks looked like something that should be floating in a toilet. I'm not sure I could watch this show again (my eyes, my eyes). I find her manner off putting and her delivery "shouty" too.

Captin1, my post was deleted immediately after the TWoP closing announcement and I got a stern warning from the moderator because I lightly (or so I thought) criticized Bravo/NBC (I think I said something to the effect that NBC must be spending their money on more orange paint). I think the TWoP Mods were worried about keeping their job until the end of May. In fairness to the Mods the one Mod that gave me a warning did warn us not to criticize the Sponsor networks. I don't envy the moderator's job and I'm very sorry that they lost their jobs. I do think some mods are more strict than others. I've noticed some show forums on Previously TV are locked so I'm assuming some caution still applies to stay on topic and not to attack others views. I hate reading comment sections of other websites when the whole thread is taken up with "You're an idiot" followed by "No, you're an idiot". I'd much rather read "Joe said blah, blah, blah and he's acting like an idiot". I'm sorry you couldn't say your goodbyes. It was sad today when I clicked on TWoP and saw the website closed but I think most of the regulars have joined PTV and I'm grateful we have a place to continue our discussions. Thank you PTV.

Wow, Zayln I couldn't have said it any better (in fact, where were you when my International Studies Professor spent all semester on the absolute truth of the Domino Theory and why we needed to stay in Vietnam Nam or the Commies would have blow us all up?). Of course this was a public state university that has never won a NCAA Football Championship--not an Ivy League school. I was so annoyed when Joe started in on the liberal bias of Universities. From what I can tell Generation X, Y and the Millenniums haven't been overwhelmingly bitten by the "liberal" bug (which probably is biased on my part...I've just been exhausted by having to tell most of my young hires the past ten years that everything they do is terrific and everyone gets a trophy for showing up on time...not all young hires mind you, but a lot of them). Yup, I've turned into the "old" angry adult that doesn't understand why more college graduates are not interested in social justice as a cause. (My apologies to those who are taking up the cause...I just wish more of you lived in my City). Joe really seems to be struggling to find ways to bash the liberals. Maybe it's because of his fight with Fox News that he has to align himself as a conservative and he has to find a way to bring that message home every damn day. I felt bad for Sam Stein who tried to counter Joe's argument. I'm just glad Professor Harold Ford wasn't there to agree with Joe. Cackles basking in the glow of liberal bashing was tough enough.

Oakville, I can't wait!

Elliot owes Val $50,000 in back child support...he should be in jail rather than rehab. He is such a sociopath/self declared victim. The only reason he wants to get back together with Val is so he can skate on child support. As someone up thread said he is an addict that has to blame others for his problems. I did feel bad for his Dad. I thought it was good that he talked to Elliot about Rehab but he should have said you owe it to your kids to be a man and pay your child support rather then putting it up your nose. I doubt Elliot will stay in rehab and I don't think he'll ever pay his child support. In his twisted mind, not fishing will result in him losing his boat and hence his income so he won't have to pay any child support and it will be her fault. What a piece of work.

Dave23, your "Mika Vick" fan is checked in too.