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Read this again, KestrelBrighteyes. Nothing the President of the United States does is without his, or his staff's, approval. Nothing. Let's say it again. Nothing. That includes the handing out of t-shirts at a memorial service. If the staff of the President didn't know about the t-shirts then they should all be fired for not doing their jobs! By the way, the slogan on the t-shirts was something the President said as a candidate during a campaign rally.
Reading the speech in the Oval Office would have taken the crowd out of it altogether. It could have been dignified.
And I believe the topic was brought up days later by the Left. Did anyone notice that the Sudan voted to split the country in half and that looting is the order of the day in Tunisia?
Just to show that I think the President is good at some things, let me commend him for the President Bush tax cuts, the cuts in the payroll tax (if only temporary), and the operations along the Pakistan and Afghanistan border. Let's hear it for the President. Those are positive "point[s] of light to come out of the darkness"!
Remember Benghazi!...Hillary can't. Probably the concussion.
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Bree - Oh good grief.
There was no conspiracy between the University of Arizona and the President to pass out t-shirts.
The President of the United States did not hand out t-shirts.
His staff did not hand out t-shirts.
His staff did not DESIGN t-shirts.
A University student designed the t-shirts.
The t-shirts were planned by the University BEFORE THE PRESIDENT OFFERED TO SPEAK AT THE MEMORIAL.
Are you suggesting that his staff should have sent someone around to take up the t-shirts after the University made the plans? Seriously???
I know that "unity" is a foreign concept to those who spend so much of their time on these threads preaching hatred and divisiveness, but believe it or not, the word, and the concept, was around long before Barack Obama came on the scene.
As for the "United We Thrive" phrase, the President didn't invent that either, and I can't find anywhere it was used in his campaign (so please provide a link to back up your accusation).
I did, however, find it linked to this:
http://www.unitedwethrive.com/index.html
and this:
http://www.unitedwethrive.org/
Are they all in on the "campaign conspiracy" too?
Maybe he used similar words, or words that implied that working together for the betterment of the country is a good thing.
Should we pass out a list of words you can't use on t-shirts to colleges and universities?
Maybe we should ban the color "blue" too.
Because, after all, it does represent Democrats, and Obama used it a lot in his campaign.
And yes, I realize that I'm posting points of absurdity here, because the fact that SOME (not all) people on the right are picking THIS as a point of outrage is totally, unequivocally absurd.
****
Now...let's get back to that conspiracy between the Senator's husband and doctors and the President.
From her doctor:
Jan. 13, 2011, 2 p.m.
Contact: Office of Public Affairs, (520) 694-6000 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (520) 694-6000 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (520) 694-6000 end_of_the_skype_highlighting, pager 7332
The next media briefing update will be held on Friday, Jan. 14, 2011, at 10 a.m. (MST) at Kiewit Auditorium, Arizona Cancer Center, 1515 N. Campbell Ave., Tucson, Ariz., 85724
TUCSON, Ariz.— U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords spontaneously opened her eyes last night while surrounded by friends and continues to show encouraging signs of recovery. She remains in critical condition in the ICU at University Medical Center, where four other patients injured in the Jan. 8 shooting remain in fair condition.
Peter Rhee, MD, MPH, medical director of University Medical Center’s Trauma and Critical Care and professor of surgery at the University of Arizona College of Medicine Department of Surgery, said of the four patients who remain in fair condition at UMC, one will undergo a staged planned surgery today and another will be discharged.
“Everybody is making fantastic forward progress,” said Dr. Rhee.
Though still listed in critical condition, Rep. Giffords also is making major progress.
“As you heard from the President yesterday, it is true, she did have spontaneous eye opening yesterday and she’s becoming more and more alert at this time,” Dr. Rhee said.
G. Michael Lemole Jr., MD, section chief of neurosurgery at the UA Department of Surgery, was in the room when Rep. Giffords opened her eyes while surrounded by friends from the U.S. Congress. He said it was a combination of the unexpected but familiar that may have prompted her to open her eyes and look around.
“That’s important from a scientific or neurosurgical perspective, because it implies that not just those parts of the brain that process commands are there, but the parts of the brain that let us awake from sleeping, our arousal center, those are starting to work spontaneously,” Dr. Lemole said. “She’s starting to become aware of her surroundings and the appropriate context of family and friends. That’s a very important step on her next move forward.”
Dr. Lemole said she continues to spontaneously open her eyes, and that they are just beginning to focus and track.
“We’re just starting to see the signs of her trying to track her gaze to wherever she wants to look,” Dr. Lemole said. “That’s very, very encouraging and reflects on a level of alertness. This is all very encouraging that she continues to do this consistently. One of the most important things in neurological recovery is consistency. We want to see people repeat things over and over again.”
Rep. Giffords began aggressive physical therapy today. While sitting supported on the side of the bed with her legs dangling over the edge, she was able to move both legs on command.
“I have to say this is a major leap forward,” Dr. Lemole said. “This is a major milestone for her. We’re hoping she crosses through many more.”
Brain swelling is becoming less of a concern at this point, Dr. Lemole said, but he continues to be vigilant about that as well as pneumonia and blood clots – issues any ICU patient could face. Dr. Rhee said Rep. Giffords’ breathing tube will need to be removed in the next several days and he and Dr. Lemole will determine whether she’s strong enough to breathe on her own or whether a tracheostomy will improve her comfort and care.
“In the assessment, we look at whether or not someone is able to move when we ask them to, we look at whether or not they open their eyes spontaneously and the last piece is what is their verbalization,” Dr. Lemole said. “We can’t assess that with a breathing tube in.”
http://www.azumc.com/
Go here to watch the entire press conference on CNN:
http://mediamatters.org/blog/201101130018
(And yes, Bree, I know you're going to shift the topic and complain about the source. I suggest that you need to go look for the exact same video on the CNN page. Or you can just keep fussing about the t-shirts.)
Throughout the press conference, you'll hear different questions regarding the "when" of her eyes opening (actually, eye, even though the doctor also says "eyes"). IF you watch the entire press conference, you'll the doctor say that what the President says was true, and explaining the difference between what he called "cracking" her eyes in response to stimuli (on Sunday) and what her husband relayed to everyone at the memorial through the President about what happened on Wednesday (which you're calling a lie).
I have to say, the fact that y'all have AGAIN turned what started as a positive thread into "how can we make this about Obama" was no surprise to those of us who read here. You're perfect representatives of the vitriol that passes for debate on the right.
But it really is sad that instead of saying, "Wow, isn't it great that she survived, and is improving!", you are accusing her husband and her doctors of forming a conspiracy to lie about her condition.
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http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/32138
Theme of “Together We Thrive” T-shirt came from Obama’s Organizing for America
By Judi McLeod Friday, January 14, 2011
The “Together We Thrive” T-shirts that starred at Wednesday’s Arizona `Memorial’ originated from Organizing for America (here), a sad fact unearthed by The Drumbeat of Liberty and the Preservation of Freedom editor and Canada Free Press (CFP) columnist Robert Rohlfing.
In the controversy of the pep rally/rock concert style Memorial for those who lost their lives in Saturday’s Arizona tragedy, the mainstream media reported that the “Together We Thrive: Tucson & America” T-shirt given to mourners as they entered McKale Center was the idea of University of Arizona brass, not the Obama administration.
Yet the “Together We Thrive” slogan dates back to a post to Obama’s own Organizing for America in a Feb. 11, 2008 post by self-described “globalist” John Berry IV.
More than passing strange that the Obama campaign message of civility was the same on Feb. 11, 2008 as it was in his Wednesday Memorial speech, and the same one, too carried by the mainstream media in coverage of the Memorial.
this "obama had nothing to do with it" story is falling apart just about as fast as his "she opened her eyes for the first time" story
and there is no way anyone is gonna buy this splitting of hairs when it comes to her opening her eyes
she did it all along since sunday
not for the first time wednesday
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I don't think there was any conspiracy involved, KestrelBighteyes. In fact, I have been arguing against conspiracy. The President of the United States, or his staff, blatantly knew and approved of those t-shirts.
There is no conspiracy. The President knew those t-shirts would be there. It is foolish to say that he did not know that they were going to be there and it is foolish to say that they were not approved by his staff.
Image is everything!
And, yes, I am suggesting that if the President or his staff did not want the t-shirts to be there then the t-shirts would have been removed. Nothing happens at an event without the President's say-so. It was a mistake.
Do you insist that the President does not control his own event. Do you insist that somehow the university is in control and not the President of the United States?
Remember Benghazi!...Hillary can't. Probably the concussion.
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There's a great line in the old ABC-TV sitcom "Taxi"
Louie DePalma (Danny Devito), cab station manager says to Alex Reager (Judd Hirsch) on of his cabbies, "You're grasping at straws Reager"
Judi McLeod of the Canada Free Press you say Barry, hmmmmmm, not even an American news source.....tsk, tsk
Here's the criticism about her so called journalistic "prowess" and the "credibility" of her "coughs" publication ~rme~
Source wikipedia.....
Conservative writer Kevin Michael Grace has described McLeod's writing as that of an "emotionally incontinent ninth grader," [6] while Toronto Star columnist Antonia Zerbisias describes her as "eccentric" and the Canada Free Press as a "whacko news site." [7]
Toronto Life magazine reported that McLeod was harassing city councillor Betty Disero. McLeod had been driving past Disero's home, taking pictures. [7]
McLeod published the home address and photograph of Cathy Crowe, co-founder of the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee, in the CFP along with what Crowe's lawyer deemed defamatory statements. The lawyer alleged that McLeod was encouraging her readers to harass and even physically attack Crowe. [8] The paper also published the home address of anti-poverty activist John Clarke along with a photograph of the house he was renting.
6) Barber, John. School Board Jungle: "Racists!" shouts the left. "Commies!" the right. Is learning getting lost in the political feuding at the Toronto Board of Education? The Globe and Mail, Toronto Magazine, January 29 1988, p. 28; (ILLUS) "McLeod spends as much time damning conservative trustees who endorse any but the most extreme right-wing positions."
7) No Byline. "The lie (Betty Disero's accusations against Tom Jakobek cost him his job as Budget Chief & turned City Council into a snake pit)" Toronto Life. Toronto: January 1994, (Vol. 28, Iss. 1.) pg. 40
So the sources for this non-issue are Michelle Malcontent (already debunked) and Judi McLeod "incontinent ninth grader", non-US "journalist?"
Pardon me while I yawn, profusely
Love the one you're with 
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Hehe ... that says something about Wikipedia ...
Do you use them as a source, Master Lancelet? Oops! I see that you do.
Remember Benghazi!...Hillary can't. Probably the concussion.
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chuckles at the t-shirt non-issue as it fades away 
As Mick Jagger sang, "Who want's yesterday's paper?"
Love the one you're with
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Barry - You misread the t-shirt. It didn't say "TOGETHER we thrive", it said, "UNITED we thrive."
It was created by a University student, not the White House.
And they were printed up BEFORE it was planned for the President to speak.
Maybe the student was a Ross Perot fan, hence the play on "United we stand!" from Perot's campaign.
Because we all know that any statement of unity at a time of tragedy is automatically a campaign slogan. (/snark)
(Actually the student got it from the "United We Stand" bumper stickers and billboards across the country. That makes as much sense as anything else.)
What would you be complaining about if the students had worn the t-shirts and the President had NOT spoken at the memorial? Oh yes, I forgot - the doctor/husband/President conspiracy.
****
Bree - I'm insisting that the President assumes he's dealing with logical adults who won't look for something nefarious in every single thing that happens anywhere around him.
(Remember the "terrorist fist bump" thing on Fox?)
He still underestimates the level of immaturity and vitriolic hate pouring out of right wing media outlets.
And I'm suggesting that whomever on his staff knew that the University was passing out unity t-shirts assumed, like most of us, that a positive message of unity during a time when a community shattered by such an event was trying to pull together, was a good thing.
You have to realize, most of us don't see a negative motive behind every good thought or deed, and we really don't get the thought processes of those who do. And yes, we laugh at you, but mostly we're just blown away by some of the stuff y'all come up with, and the fact that you regurgitate each and every ridiculous thing that the right wing propaganda machine tells you to think.
Your manufactured outrage is as predictable as the sun coming up in the morning. Whenever I peek on these threads, it's not "I wonder what's the topic of the day?", it's "I wonder what Fox told them to get their panties in a knot about today?"
And you can bet, whatever is today's "OMG!" talking point is, you'll find a way to twist any positive thread to that point.
It's what you do. It's who you are.
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I think that you are right, KestrelBrighteyes, that an operative of the President's staff thought the t-shirts were a good idea for a memorial. I am 100% behind you on that. It was a mistake!
T-shirts for a memorial of the dead. T-shirts ... memorial for the dead ... Sounds like the image you want to project. Logical adults wouldn't find anything nefarious in t-shirts at a memorial service. Those who find it in poor taste probably got an e-mail in the morning. Hey, t-shirts, it might unite the community!
Ghoulish.
Remember Benghazi!...Hillary can't. Probably the concussion.
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*laughin* Oh man, you really are a "doom and gloom" type person, aren't you?
Yes, the University decided "Unity" was a good message. Shame on them. And the President's staff, IF they knew about the t-shirts ahead of time (because, after all, the first question one would think to ask in that situation, after being approved as a guest, is "Are you planning to distribute any t-shirts?") did not step in and tell the University how to run the service they'd planned. The bastards!
And the families of the dead didn't seem to mind, not at all. Watch their faces during the service! They weren't shocked, or awed, or disgusted in the least - what horrible people they must be!
It was only when the right wing noise machine went into motion that people WHO HAD NO CLOSE TIES WITH THE DEAD OR WOUNDED started acting all shocked and pissed - because that's how they were told they were supposed to feel!
I know you don't get it, but some of us, when we go to a memorial or a funeral, tend to think they should be a celebration of the person's life. In the south, we even tell funny stories. And there is laughter. (In fact, my brother and I were talking, and we wouldn't be surprised if my dad and/or at least one or two of my uncles have some sort of practical joke planned after their deaths, maybe even at their funerals - these guys would do just about anything for a laugh.)
You should have been at the memorial service they had at the VFW for my father in law (this was the one after the military service). You'd have been ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED at the irreverence we all showed!
(And I won't shock your sensibilities any more than I already have by telling you some of the suggestions from his buddies and his children for what to do with his ashes - but if you knew him, you'd know that he'd have appreciated the humor.)
Oh, one more thing - take my advice, don't EVER go to a wake - you'd absolutely HATE it!
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