I’m in North Carolina, no White Christmas for me this year. I’m originally from Velvet’s neck of the woods in North Dakota (Minot). I joined the USMC for 6-years and met my wife here in Wilmington, NC (approx. 50 miles from Camp Lejeune where I was stationed). It’s ridiculously humid here most of the time, but I’ve long since acclimatized.

The one this I do miss is the visual change of seasons, it’s been a rainy Christmas so far, but a good one nonetheless.

Hope you had a great Christmas.

My cup runneth over with Obama right now – it is hard to imagine that we are where we are today.

Where are you located Sandmann? I’m in Little Rock – itsy bit of snow this morning – just a dusting. That’s after 5 inches of rain in 48 hours – good thing it wasn’t colder during that rain. We’ve now set the record for annual rainfall here – by 5 inches 82.5″ – and a week to go. But it is bright and sunny now and I’m getting organized to begin cooking.

Have a great day .

I know you’re not a defeatist, or a pouter, etc. I’m trying to push your buttons and hope you regain the fire I’m used to seeing from you. I respect your perspective, and I count on you to be a reasoned voice around here. I get that your extremely disappointed in Obama’s non-leadership or policy decisions, but do we need to keep on with the ‘Mr. Personality’ type name-calling? All that seems to do is encourage a barrage of substanceless ‘ditto’ posts filled with extra-strength self pity.

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djjl says:
24 December 2009 at 7:04 pm

“As ogenec says – Obama must be MADE to do what he should”.

You don’t say.

Sandmann says:
24 December 2009 at 4:20 pm

Precisely. Demand Obama do it, the financial puppetmasters will then be forced to show their hand. It’s a win-win.

djjl, dinner looks GREAT! Myself I’d substitute Venison for Beef but that’s my preferance.
WE have reservations for a rest. in the city, The Chart House. Never eaten there, looking forward to checking out a supposedly high brow establishment.

Close to bed time, the muppets Christmas charol is on in the other room. Merry, Merry all!

stuffed mushrooms,
beef tenderloin – oh so easy and delicious (and extravagant)
horseradish sauce / bernaise sauce
scalloped potatoes
roasted asparagus
salad w/ homemade vinaigrette
apple tart

Please know, that we eat beef of any type less than once per week, and are meatless at least 2 days per week (hey – I love navy bean soup for breakfast).

I’ll look forward to any recipes in the coming days.

ogenec
Do you have a special recipe from your home country that you could share?

Hey, I haven’t bee4 sitting around pouting and I have never been a defeatest- I don’t know where you’ve been – but I’ve been working hard to secure what I voted for.

It’s just that I had surely thought that I was wrong about Obama – he couldn’t possibly be any worse than what I had originally envisioned him to be. Well, I was wrong and he is worse than I ever dreamed.

BTW, I don’t hem and haw – on line or in person. I also don’t take to defeat. You must not know that there are issues at play that I Find far more important than the Mr Personality President. As ogenec says – Obama must be MADE to do what he should.

Thanks for the assist.

Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas, It’s time to shut my trap and enjoy the evening.

Enter Sandmann, LOL. Once again, you are exactly right. The hard work of campaigning and volunteering comes second only to the harder work of pushing our elected officials to hold fast to their promises.

It has ever been thus. The FDR quote “Now MAKE me do it” is to the same effect. Also, note Bill Clinton’s address at NetRoots, already referenced by lynnette. Re: DOMA, he noted that (a) Republicans were defying him to make it an election issue by vetoing the bill, and (b) the progressives were MIA on the issue.

So there is no need to despair. As with other examples of landmark legislation, the healthcare bill will improve with time. And all the sturm and drang of compromises, death panels, etc. will recede into the farthest recesses of our collective memory.

I’m on record as saying that Obama made a tactical mistake by addressing health care first, instead of focusing on jobs. The scope of the bill has suffered as a result, and he will have to pivot sharply to the jobs issue once this is done. No rest for the weary (or, depending on your perspective, the wicked). But this is a significant achievement. Huge, as Tiger Woods would say. LOL.

Happy Holidays to all. LL, can I claim you as family? Your menu is off the chain!!!

Normally I would agree, but the big money out there (the ones really calling the shots) don’t agree or care who’s in charge of what…they just pay Congress and other elected officials some ‘persuasion loot’ and lo and behold! we lose again.

I don’t see an alternative that will make any real difference, do you? Do you suppose the Better Democrats® everyone is touting won’t be beholden to the same power structure that has our current politicians in their pocket? I wouldn’t count on it, but that’s just my opinion, I’m all ears for a better plan.

I THOUGHT that was what all the rallies and campaigning BEFORE the election was for?! I didn’t REALIZE that you had to keep on campaigning nonstop to get your OWN elected officials to do what they PROMISED they would do while you rallied and worked for them DURING the campaign.
Very inlightening.

“I NEVER could get past “we are the ones we’ve been waiting for.” Clinton was willing to gamble for the important wins for the nation. He wanted the power of the presidency to make a real difference for the better imo. Obama is a political narcissist. imo”

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Wow, you’ve just about hit rock-bottom. Where is the thoughtful, articulate djjl at? I want her back. All of this pouting and defeatist chatter is unbecoming, and very unlike you. Maybe those who are quick to call Obama an empty suit should do a bit of introspection…the left sits about hemming and hawing, yet does nothing to help their own agenda. No rallies, no organization or coalitions coming together. Just sitting around complaining about Obama not doing this or that while doing nothing useful for ourselves is the pot calling the kettle black.

I apologize in advance for my rudeness, feel free to call me an Obamabot who smokes Hopium™ or whatever…I won’t quit.

djjl says:
One can be intellectual and passionate and willing to work for the things in which one believes. I’m waiting for Obama to show me and everyone else that he’s got soemthing in him – or did everything just come too easily?
_________________________________________________________

See that is the problem, people keep “waiting on Obama”. When the guy keep repeating “Your the one’s you’ve been waiting for” he Freaking really meant every word…Scary, I know.

snip

Reagan was a dreamer, Clinton a gambler, Bush Jr. a bully and Obama is simply a planner. He is not a get out in front kind of guy.”

I NEVER could get past “we are the ones we’ve been waiting for.” Clinton was willing to gamble for the important wins for the nation. He wanted the power of the presidency to make a real difference for the better imo. Obama is a political narcissist. imo.

” djjl says:
24 December 2009 at 3:31 pm”

Sure hope you’re not holding your breath waitin thar djjl!

Noe secular – not waiting. I’m just supremely disillusioned that I was right about him. After he was selected the nominee, I just hoped I was wrong about him being an empty suit – although a popular “brand.”

On the public option let every state have the public option except Connecticut, Louisiana and Montana and Nebraska.

See that is the problem, people keep “waiting on Obama”. When the guy keep repeating “Your the one’s you’ve been waiting for” he Freaking really meant every word…Scary, I know. I would suggest people stop waiting on Obama to take any lead. Leadership aka putting his neck out there is not his style and never was if you look at his bio. This guy has planned everything in his career path to a “T” he is not a risk taker but instead a heavy planner to extremes. I think after his second year in office most of the public will catch on to his style of governance. Regan was a dreamer, Clinton a gambler, Bush Jr. a bully and Obama is simply a planner. He is not a get out in front kind of guy.

Precisely. Demand Obama do it, the financial puppetmasters will then be forced to show their hand. It’s a win-win.

Sure hope you’re not holding your breath waitin thar djjl!
Merry, merry, you to imhopless!

Unless the Democratic congress creates a SINGLE PAYER public option

which Obama signs

I will go to the polls and not vote for President, nor Senator or Representative in 2010 and 2012 but vote on county issues only.

I will not leave the Democratic Party but I will merely keep my voting record active.

http://publicoption.democratz.org

http://drugbenefit.democratz.org

But THAT isn’t enough for your sorry ass. “So that newly mandated 14 million American’s above the poverty line will be doing their fair share(?) to afford those old f***s a proper health care system.”
You have to go and piss in that light socket didn ya. Or do you figure(and with your inteligence maybe it IS a fair assumption) that you’ll never LIVE long enough to qualify?
How very repugnantklan of you “SCREW them old fu*kers, I got mine let them find their own!”
You really are a pathetic excuse ain’tcha.
Piece a work.

Beyond that, Merry and happy to you all. and I do me all of you.

LBJ, much more the disagreeable schemer, left a very worthwhile legacy.