Today's edition of quick hits:
* Late this afternoon, the U.N. General Assembly approved an implicit recognition of Palestinian statehood, elevating Palestinians' U.N. observer status from "entity" to "non-member state."
* It was a 62-to-33, bipartisan vote: "Reflecting a war-weary nation, the Senate voted overwhelmingly Thursday for an accelerated withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan after more than a decade of fighting."
* Now that's a picture calling out for a caption contest.
* Syria: "This morning, an entire country was effectively cut off from the Internet. Web traffic in and out of Syria dropped to zero abruptly, a drastic development more than a year into a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives. Cellphone service also appears to be partially down."
* BP: "The United States government has temporarily banned the British oil company BP from new federal contracts, citing the company's 'lack of business integrity.'"
* Housing recovery: "An index measuring the number of Americans who signed contracts to buy homes in October jumped to nearly its highest level in almost six years. Steady job gains and record-low mortgage rates have made home buying more attractive."
* Given Mercury's proximity to the sun, it's amazing how much ice it has.
* Naming Paul Ryan one of the world's top 10 most important "global thinkers" strikes me as an example of profoundly poor judgment. Seriously, Foreign Policy editors, what were you thinking?
* Easily the greatest thing I've seen today: pictures of Vice President Biden going shopping at Costco.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
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Mitt, see that leather chair behind that desk? It's not for sale...
Note Obama's left hand. He's keeping it close to his Derringer just in case. BTW it's extremely rude to have a hand in your pocket when shaking hands, I'm surprised at Obama's insensitivity ;<) But he sure looks relaxed and at home.
"Let's look like we're having a good talk but NEINER NEINER NEINER
Handshake caption:
$10,000 bet?
Racheal
You are simply amazing always giving us the FACTS. Always giving us the Voting Records, not the fast talk, constant looking for the 24 new news cycle. You are the journalist of all time.
Your show last night like every night relative to Susan Rice hit the nail on the head. Bingo! Republicans have decided that they want John Kerry for the Sec. Of State Job, sho they are actually trashing an Outstanding Public Servant, Susan Rice, just to get their boy, Scott Brown back to congress. The funny thing is they think it's afore gone conclusion, I believe the people of MA have had enough Republican Spending on their Personal agendas to last a lifetime and there's no way MA will re-elect Scott Brown. To say the least he's clearly doesn't like women in politics.
It's good to see President Obama stand firm, because we voted for him to stand his ground, go back to the Clinton rates, build roads bridges, education, a blance approach. We fully expect him to follow through. If we must go off the cliff, getting rid of the Bush Tax Cuts, we've paid the wealthy almost $11 trillion dollars in the last 10 years even before, after and in the middle of our Recession.
Republicans hollar DEBT! if they were concerned they would not have been fighting and continue to fight for giving the wealthiest among us $1 Trillion Dollars a year. That goes straight to the DEBT
Republicans have no problem asking the Middle Class and Seniors to Foot the Bill and pay for the mess they made after getting huge Bail outs, and continuing to get Tax Payer Welfare in the form of Subsidies.
We the People spoke so we are waiting for our President to "Keep His Promise" Elections have consequences.
Thank you for getting to the FACTS each and every night and for not participating in the daily exchange of constant guests that have absolutely nothing to add
Most of all thank you for reminding other Journalist that all the folks in congress have "Voting Records" that's what matters, nothing else. That tells us who they are and how they have and will conduct themselves now and in the future.
It just amazes me that other journalists don't talk about Senators and Congressmen/wimen "Voting Records" that must be the ultimate Test!
All the other talking and being dishonest with We the People is unacceptable
You are teaching journalist what Walter Cronkite and other great journalist including Tim Russert meant to us by giving us Real News and Facts
Your Charts and Graphs speak volumes.
Many, if not millions count on you to deliver the Truth, the Facts and we can always count on you to fight for the American People by putting the Truth, the Facts and the Research and those Voting Records out there.
Michigan's Emergency Management law went completely un-noticed by the mainstream
media and it dealt strictly with taking away Democracy in our own country yet not one other journalist thought that was an important story that we should know. They chose to stick with the back and forth, their personal opinions and believe me Americans are tired of that same old song.
Be Blessed
Thank you for being an Extroadinary Journalist, one we can count on to deliver the Truth, the facts, and nothing but the facts.
O.K. Mitt, when your done dusting don't forget to clean the windows and do the carpet. There's a ladder in the closet, Don't worry, if you fall, it's covered by Obama care. Oh, how's Eddie Munster doing?
How badly do you have to beaten to get that smirk off your face.
Mitt "So this is what Government Housing looks like? Where do I apply?"
POTUS, "You already applied and were denied. Now get the Hell out of here!!"
Romney: Good afternoon, Mr. President.
Obama: Can you say that a little louder, Mitt!
Caption contest: "Well thanks for showing me the plans, Mitt. I don't think we'll be needing a stable, but I'll talk to Michelle about it."
Because Obama already has a stable. It's called Capitol Hill, and it's where he keeps all the asses.
"Say Mitt, could you recommend an honest catering service? Michelle and I are thinking of having a few close friends over... And don't forget to pick up a demographically specific gift pack on your way out. Hillary needs your vote in 2016!"
"Alright, one quick picture and then get the hell out of my house."
I consider myself to be a reasonably well-informed person. I read a lot of news. Yet, somehow the sheer magnitude of the Afghanistan War slipped past me. When Rachel was talking about 66,000 Americans in Afghanistan, I thought I heard it wrong. It must have been 6,600. When she said it again, I was confused, thinking maybe the show was getting the numbers wrong. But it turns out I was wildly wrong. The number 66,000 still seems so insane, I can hardly believe it.
Keep smiling... are they still over there?
Sorry Mitt, I am over here...that is an empty chair....
President to Mitt: So Mitt, what did you really think of 50 Shades of Grey?
President Obama to Mitt: "Don't feel bad, you came in second"!
Romney: Maybe if I squeeze hard enough I'll dislocate his pinky.
Obama: Whaddaya know? He matches the rug!
Harry Reid–who during the campaign said there was no way his Senate would work with Mitt Romney if he won the presidency–is now complaining that Republicans are unwilling to work with Barack Obama
But then again many of us know that Senator Harry Reid is a hypocrite as well as being F.O.S.!!!
The Republicans have refused to work with President Obama for the past 4 years. What's new?
Dear nolaughingmatter,
Maybe Harry had a point of NOT WANTING TO SELL OUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE! Thank you for dropping by. Have a nice day.
President Obama to Mitt: "Is that story about the elevator for your cars, for real!
More evidence that once again Senator Harry Reid is a hypocrite as well as being F.O.S.!!!
And speaking of power, this is what Harry Reid had to say back in 2005 about the Republicans’ attempt at eliminating the filibuster for judicial nominees:
Back then Harry Reid was upset with the Republicans for being arrogant and using this arrogance to assume more power (Remember how the Democrats claimed the rights of the minority party must be protected?) yet now he seems to have been seduced by that very same arrogance of power himself.
But it gets even better, this is part of what Harry Reid said back in 2005:
Now that is priceless when looking at the deficits now, isn’t it?
Looks like somebody had a bad day and found a talking point to play wack-a-lib with...you need a hug? :)
American Democracy 101: it takes at least 50% to gain equal rights, but only 47% to get into the White House.
Glad you got to see the office. It was a hard fought campaign.
Mittens: So this is the Oval Office. Gee, it actually looks bigger than in the movies.
Yeah, and what curb did they drag those couches in off of...??? I swear I saw that same couch outside Karl Rove's headquarters on K-Street after the election.