President Barack Obama's gestures at Nelson Mandela's memorial service in Johannesburg were widely scrutinized on the world's stage Tuesday.
First, Obama shook hands with Cuban President Raul Castro as the U.S. president approached the podium at the soccer stadium to address Mandela's mourners. The brief exchange, captured on video and photographs, sparked an immediate reaction online and on TV, with cable news pundits and Twitter users debating the significance of warmth shown between leaders of countries that have not had formal diplomatic relations since 1959.
[..]
At another point, President Obama posed for a "selfie" from his seat at the memorial with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Denmark's Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt. First lady Michelle Obama[..] did not participate.
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) on Tuesday suggested that President Barack Obama’s handshake with Cuban President Raul Castro was like shaking hands with Adolf Hitler.
[..]
“It gives Raul some propaganda to continue to prop up dictatorial, brutal regime, that’s all it is,” the Arizona Republican insisted. “Why should you shake hands with somebody who’s keeping Americans in prison?”
President Barack Obama's handshake with Cuban President Raul Castro at Nelson Mandela's memorial service was simply a nicety, the White House says, not a sign that the U.S. is considering a further thawing of relations with Cuba.
[..]
Rhodes said Obama shook hands with a number of foreign leaders and none of the exchanges were planned ahead of time: "What people need to remember is that today was about Nelson Mandela," he said. "That's where the president's focus was, not on any political or policy matter."
Quote by Mondobubba:
I guess yesterday was slow news day since there has been a lot of discussion about a handshake and selfie. Jesus.
Quote by Raine:Quote by Mondobubba:
I guess yesterday was slow news day since there has been a lot of discussion about a handshake and selfie. Jesus.
This ws a slow news day:
Yesterday was a hot mess designed to detract from the AMAZING speech the President gave.
Quote by Mondobubba:
Tailgating banned at the Superbowl!
How is one to get to the game then? "You cannot walk to the Super Bowl," Kelly said. So that’s out. You also can’t get dropped off unless you have a parking pass, which sort of defeats the point. The only other options for actually getting to the game are New Jersey Transit and a $50-plus shuttle from nine locations around the region.
Quote by Raine:Well that's one way to kill the fun. and this:Quote by Mondobubba:
Tailgating banned at the Superbowl!
How is one to get to the game then? "You cannot walk to the Super Bowl," Kelly said. So that’s out. You also can’t get dropped off unless you have a parking pass, which sort of defeats the point. The only other options for actually getting to the game are New Jersey Transit and a $50-plus shuttle from nine locations around the region.
Quote by Raine:Well that's one way to kill the fun. and this:Quote by Mondobubba:
Tailgating banned at the Superbowl!
How is one to get to the game then? "You cannot walk to the Super Bowl," Kelly said. So that’s out. You also can’t get dropped off unless you have a parking pass, which sort of defeats the point. The only other options for actually getting to the game are New Jersey Transit and a $50-plus shuttle from nine locations around the region.
Quote by wickedpam:
I don't even like football and I have to wonder what idiot decided NJ in Feb in an open air stadium for the Superbowl.
Quote by TriSec:Quote by wickedpam:
I don't even like football and I have to wonder what idiot decided NJ in Feb in an open air stadium for the Superbowl.
Robert Kraft.
He badly wants to have a Superbowl in Foxboro. He pushed the NJ event through the governing council. If it is a succesful event in a cold-weather, open-air stadium, expect to see Gillette Stadium as your site within 2 years.
If it fails, he won't take the fall for it, and it's back to New Orleans.
Quote by TriSec:Quote by wickedpam:
I don't even like football and I have to wonder what idiot decided NJ in Feb in an open air stadium for the Superbowl.
Robert Kraft.
He badly wants to have a Superbowl in Foxboro. He pushed the NJ event through the governing council. If it is a succesful event in a cold-weather, open-air stadium, expect to see Gillette Stadium as your site within 2 years.
If it fails, he won't take the fall for it, and it's back to New Orleans.
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by TriSec:Quote by wickedpam:
I don't even like football and I have to wonder what idiot decided NJ in Feb in an open air stadium for the Superbowl.
Robert Kraft.
He badly wants to have a Superbowl in Foxboro. He pushed the NJ event through the governing council. If it is a succesful event in a cold-weather, open-air stadium, expect to see Gillette Stadium as your site within 2 years.
If it fails, he won't take the fall for it, and it's back to New Orleans.
what's a Foxboro and where is Gillette Stadium?
Just seems like a really stupid idea if you ask me.
Bruno Druchen says the unidentified man seen around the world on television next to leaders such as President Obama "was moving his hands around but there was no meaning in what he used his hands for."
Delphin Hlungwane, of the Deaf Association of South Africa, tells CBS News the interpreter isn't registered with the association or the South African Translator's Institute.
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by TriSec:Quote by wickedpam:
I don't even like football and I have to wonder what idiot decided NJ in Feb in an open air stadium for the Superbowl.
Robert Kraft.
He badly wants to have a Superbowl in Foxboro. He pushed the NJ event through the governing council. If it is a succesful event in a cold-weather, open-air stadium, expect to see Gillette Stadium as your site within 2 years.
If it fails, he won't take the fall for it, and it's back to New Orleans.
what's a Foxboro and where is Gillette Stadium?
Just seems like a really stupid idea if you ask me.
Foxboro is a town in Massachusetts. Gillette Stadium is located there. It is the home of the Patriots.
But in a Congress that measures success in how few days its incompetence results in a government shutdown, the Ryan-Murray deal marks a legislative high-water mark.
Indeed, Ryan has succeeded where his party’s official leadership has failed since taking control of the House three years ago: Speaker John Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, all of whom are master politicians, have tried, and failed, to cut agreements large and small to avoid another round of legislating by crisis.
Quote by Raine:
I still predict Paul Ryan will be named speaker of the house. Especially after reading this piece.But in a Congress that measures success in how few days its incompetence results in a government shutdown, the Ryan-Murray deal marks a legislative high-water mark.
Indeed, Ryan has succeeded where his party’s official leadership has failed since taking control of the House three years ago: Speaker John Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, all of whom are master politicians, have tried, and failed, to cut agreements large and small to avoid another round of legislating by crisis.
Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Raine:
I still predict Paul Ryan will be named speaker of the house. Especially after reading this piece.But in a Congress that measures success in how few days its incompetence results in a government shutdown, the Ryan-Murray deal marks a legislative high-water mark.
Indeed, Ryan has succeeded where his party’s official leadership has failed since taking control of the House three years ago: Speaker John Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, all of whom are master politicians, have tried, and failed, to cut agreements large and small to avoid another round of legislating by crisis.
We were talking about this last night on the IRC.. Ryan's positioning himself as someone who can actually make deals & get things done, which goes right at Boehner (and Cantor who's pulling the strings). He's also started 'renouncing teh crazy' in recent weeks. I think he's laying the groundwork for a serious run at the Speaker's position, should the GOP retain control of the House.
Quote by Raine:Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Raine:
I still predict Paul Ryan will be named speaker of the house. Especially after reading this piece.But in a Congress that measures success in how few days its incompetence results in a government shutdown, the Ryan-Murray deal marks a legislative high-water mark.
Indeed, Ryan has succeeded where his party’s official leadership has failed since taking control of the House three years ago: Speaker John Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, all of whom are master politicians, have tried, and failed, to cut agreements large and small to avoid another round of legislating by crisis.
We were talking about this last night on the IRC.. Ryan's positioning himself as someone who can actually make deals & get things done, which goes right at Boehner (and Cantor who's pulling the strings). He's also started 'renouncing teh crazy' in recent weeks. I think he's laying the groundwork for a serious run at the Speaker's position, should the GOP retain control of the House.
I can't stand the snake -- but I agree. I could see him try to get the speakership in January tho -- ( a Coup as it were) with hopes of a Presidential Run in 2016.
Quote by Mondobubba:
Speaking of the handshake with Castro (that commie), how many communist countries are left?
Quote by Raine:5, according to this.Quote by Mondobubba:
Speaking of the handshake with Castro (that commie), how many communist countries are left?
Quote by Raine:5, according to this.Quote by Mondobubba:
Speaking of the handshake with Castro (that commie), how many communist countries are left?
Quote by TriSec:
Say gang, have I mentioned that I don't have to drive roofing nails into my ears with a sledgehammer this season?
I've had a number of post-thanksgiving shifts on the sales floor, and it's no accident.
PAUL MCCARTNEY IS NOT ON THE MUSIC LOOP THIS YEAR!!!
Allahu Ackbar!
Quote by TriSec:
Say gang, have I mentioned that I don't have to drive roofing nails into my ears with a sledgehammer this season?
I've had a number of post-thanksgiving shifts on the sales floor, and it's no accident.
PAUL MCCARTNEY IS NOT ON THE MUSIC LOOP THIS YEAR!!!
Allahu Ackbar!
Quote by BobR:
So you really ARE simply having a wonderful Christmas time...
Quote by TriSec:Quote by BobR:
So you really ARE simply having a wonderful Christmas time...
I'll remember that. Someday when you least expect it.
Quote by Mondobubba:
Speaking of commies, guess who this handsome fella is.
Quote by Scoopster:
Once again, Greenwald confirms to everyone that he is a self-absorbed hack.
But he's not the only one - I've seen whiny people (mostly Snowden lovers) commenting all over the place about the TIME Magazine's horrendous decision! HEY DUMBASSES WAKE UP! They gave that up when they switched from an editorial decision based on worldwide newsworthiness to this terrible internet-based popularity contest model several years ago.
That said, the people who actually voted made the right choice this year. Despite the newsworthiness of the Snowden/NSA story (and whether you think he's a hero or traitor for his actions), Pope Francis has had a much wider impact on a global scale this year and will continue to actively have that impact for several years to come, especially if his words lead to tangible action and positive reforms within the Roman Catholic Church.
Quote by livingonli:
Good day, folks. It looks like this coming Superbowl will if anything solidify it as an event by the rich for the rich with the ticket prices and all the regulations for anyone who actually wants to attend the game. The NFL is probably happy with the unwashed masses sticking to watching the game on TV so that they can see the commercials where the network carrying the game now charges $3,000,0000 for a 30-second spot.
And let's face it, China is "communist" in name only with the kind of economic conditions in China today being what communists and Marxists use to attack other regimes for doing.
Quote by Raine:I'm not convinced it's communist in name only.Quote by livingonli:
Good day, folks. It looks like this coming Superbowl will if anything solidify it as an event by the rich for the rich with the ticket prices and all the regulations for anyone who actually wants to attend the game. The NFL is probably happy with the unwashed masses sticking to watching the game on TV so that they can see the commercials where the network carrying the game now charges $3,000,0000 for a 30-second spot.
And let's face it, China is "communist" in name only with the kind of economic conditions in China today being what communists and Marxists use to attack other regimes for doing.
Or maybe I'm not understanding what you mean.
Quote by Raine:
Who's in?
Hell if this gets off the ground, I fell so badly for Skins fans I might kick in a few bucks.
Quote by Raine:
Who's in?
Hell if this gets off the ground, I fell so badly for Skins fans I might kick in a few bucks.
Quote by livingonli:Quote by Raine:I'm not convinced it's communist in name only.Quote by livingonli:
Good day, folks. It looks like this coming Superbowl will if anything solidify it as an event by the rich for the rich with the ticket prices and all the regulations for anyone who actually wants to attend the game. The NFL is probably happy with the unwashed masses sticking to watching the game on TV so that they can see the commercials where the network carrying the game now charges $3,000,0000 for a 30-second spot.
And let's face it, China is "communist" in name only with the kind of economic conditions in China today being what communists and Marxists use to attack other regimes for doing.
Or maybe I'm not understanding what you mean.
Look at China's rep on slave labor and how companies like Wal-Mart use it for cheap labor. In "The Shock Doctrine" Naomi Klein details how China in the 80's began to dismantle elements of Communism to make it more business friendly and how those efforts accelerated after the Tienanmen Square massacre. I think that's why some GOPers have had no problems dealing with the "People's Republic".
Quote by Raine:This is where I think I slightly disagree. They are still quite communist. They made it more business friendly to offshore corporations, yes --Quote by livingonli:Quote by Raine:I'm not convinced it's communist in name only.Quote by livingonli:
Good day, folks. It looks like this coming Superbowl will if anything solidify it as an event by the rich for the rich with the ticket prices and all the regulations for anyone who actually wants to attend the game. The NFL is probably happy with the unwashed masses sticking to watching the game on TV so that they can see the commercials where the network carrying the game now charges $3,000,0000 for a 30-second spot.
And let's face it, China is "communist" in name only with the kind of economic conditions in China today being what communists and Marxists use to attack other regimes for doing.
Or maybe I'm not understanding what you mean.
Look at China's rep on slave labor and how companies like Wal-Mart use it for cheap labor. In "The Shock Doctrine" Naomi Klein details how China in the 80's began to dismantle elements of Communism to make it more business friendly and how those efforts accelerated after the Tienanmen Square massacre. I think that's why some GOPers have had no problems dealing with the "People's Republic".
They still control the media, reproductive rights, they have little to no human rights.
They are still communist. And I'll say this, as you alluded to, that the GOP is more than happy to do business and craps a cow that Obama shook hands with castro just shows t how full of shit they are.
Quote by Raine:Quote by Mondobubba:
Number 12. Nuff said.
Wait....
#10. Is that Rob Ford?
Quote by Raine:Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Raine:
I still predict Paul Ryan will be named speaker of the house. Especially after reading this piece.But in a Congress that measures success in how few days its incompetence results in a government shutdown, the Ryan-Murray deal marks a legislative high-water mark.
Indeed, Ryan has succeeded where his party’s official leadership has failed since taking control of the House three years ago: Speaker John Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, all of whom are master politicians, have tried, and failed, to cut agreements large and small to avoid another round of legislating by crisis.
We were talking about this last night on the IRC.. Ryan's positioning himself as someone who can actually make deals & get things done, which goes right at Boehner (and Cantor who's pulling the strings). He's also started 'renouncing teh crazy' in recent weeks. I think he's laying the groundwork for a serious run at the Speaker's position, should the GOP retain control of the House.
I can't stand the snake -- but I agree. I could see him try to get the speakership in January tho -- ( a Coup as it were) with hopes of a Presidential Run in 2016.
WASHINGTON — House Speaker John A. Boehner delivered an uncharacteristically forceful response to conservative groups lining up against the budget compromise announced Tuesday, accusing them of “using†people to advance their own goals rather than the GOP’s.
Speaking with reporters at the Capitol on Wednesday, the Ohio Republican mocked the powerful conservative forces that he said were staking out opposition to the deal even before its full details were public.
“They're using our members and they're using the American people for their own goals,†Boehner charged. “This is ridiculous.
Responding to Boehner’s remarks, the Club for Growth issued a second statement from Chocola.
“We stand with Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Tom Coburn, Rand Paul, members of the Republican Study Committee and every other fiscal conservative who opposes the Ryan-Murray deal,†he said, adding that his organization did not comment until the deal was complete. “We support pro-growth proposals when they are considered by Congress. In our evaluation, this isn’t one of those.â€
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Please keep my great niece Emily, age 3, in your thoughts. Her doctor's visit showed that she lost 4 pounds, so she is under observation at a local children's hospital. (No word on why she lost weight.) She has spent more time in the hospital as a patient than anyone I know.
Quote by Raine:You got it, Will.Quote by Will in Chicago:
Please keep my great niece Emily, age 3, in your thoughts. Her doctor's visit showed that she lost 4 pounds, so she is under observation at a local children's hospital. (No word on why she lost weight.) She has spent more time in the hospital as a patient than anyone I know.
Quote by Raine:
And yes. the club for growth has a spokesman named Chocula.
Quote by Raine:
And yes. the club for growth has a spokesman named Chocula.
Quote by BobR:Quote by Raine:
And yes. the club for growth has a spokesman named Chocula.
Is his first name "Count"?
Quote by Raine:Quote by BobR:Quote by Raine:
And yes. the club for growth has a spokesman named Chocula.
Is his first name "Count"?
I know it's Chocola, but seriously, when we discuss Boehner v Boner -- Why not just go with Chocula?
mmmm... I want cereal...
Quote by livingonli:Quote by Raine:Quote by BobR:Quote by Raine:
And yes. the club for growth has a spokesman named Chocula.
Is his first name "Count"?
I know it's Chocola, but seriously, when we discuss Boehner v Boner -- Why not just go with Chocula?
mmmm... I want cereal...
He probably doesn't stay crunchy in milk.
Quote by Mondobubba:
"On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
A body. Dead. Wrapped in plastic."
Quote by Raine:You are a sick man.Quote by Mondobubba:
"On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
A body. Dead. Wrapped in plastic."
Quote by Mondobubba:
McCauly Culkin's cover band.
They play Velvet's songs, but change all the references to pizza.