Opening night convention spotlight on first lady
Photo
First Lady Michelle Obama waves as she appears at the podium for a camera test on the stage at the Democratic National Convention inside Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C., on Monday, Sept. 3, 2012.
CHARLOTTE, NC — In a tight race for the White House, President Barack Obama exhorted college students not to forget him despite difficult times on Tuesday as Democrats shone the spotlight on his wife at the opening of their national convention.
Republicans weren’t alone in pointing out the economic troubles in an election year shadowed by a sluggish recovery and unemployment of 8.3 percent. “It’s tough out there” for many Americans, conceded Elizabeth Warren, running for a Senate seat now in Republican hands in Massachusetts.
Obama, campaigning at Norfolk State University in Virginia, said things will only get worse if Republican Mitt Romney wins the White House this fall, and he told his college-age audience that Election Day apathy was his enemy — and theirs.
Republicans are “counting on you, maybe not to vote for Romney, but they’re counting on you to feel discouraged,” he said. “And they figure if you don’t vote, then big oil will write our energy future, and insurance companies will write our health care plans, and politicians will dictate what a woman can or can’t do when it comes to her own health.”
“They’re counting on you just to accept their version of things,” he said at the final stop of a pre-convention campaign circuit of several of the battleground states likely to settle the race.
Hundreds of miles distant, in another swing state, the Time Warner Cable Arena’s conversion to the Democrats’ made-for-television convention hall was complete. The lectern rested on a blue-carpeted stage, inside a circle of white stars suggestive of the presidential seal.
Opening night speakers included Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, who claimed without any proof last month that Republican challenger Mitt Romney may not have paid income taxes for years despite his wealth.
Romney denied it, and Reid refused to say who had told him otherwise.
Also on the program was a video tribute to the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, hero to many liberals and a career-long advocate of universal health care, which Obama pushed through Congress in 2010.
Equally relevant for 2012, Kennedy defeated Romney in a Senate race in 1994 remembered in part for a face-to-face debate in which the senator ridiculed his opponent as being “multiple choice” on the question of abortion.
Romney favored a woman’s right to an abortion then; he opposes it now.
As was the case with Romney’s convention last week in Tampa, Fla., several TV networks said they would carry only one hour of the Democrats’ proceedings on live television. Obama’s high command reserved the time for the convention keynote speaker, San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro — and the first lady.
To laughter from his Virginia audience, Obama explained why he was ceding the opening-night spotlight to his wife.
“A political convention is “just like a relay, and you start off with the fastest person,” he said.
“So I’m going to be at home and I’m going to be watching it with our girls. And I’m going to try not to let them see their daddy cry, because when Michelle starts talking I start getting all misty.”
Mrs. Obama said before her speech she hoped to “remind people about the values that drive my husband to do what he has done and what he is going to do for the next four years. I am going to take folks back to the man he was before he was president.”
There was no shortage of political calculation behind the program of the convention’s first night — or for any other.
Polls show the first lady is more popular than her husband. With the economy struggling, Robert Gibbs, a campaign surrogate and former White House press secretary, said Mrs. Obama “can really tell the story of his (the president’s) values, his upbringing, what he believes and what he wants to do yet for this country.”
Democratic delegates bestow their nomination on Obama and Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday night, the same night that former President Bill Clinton delivers a prime-time speech aimed at voters disappointed with the results of the past four years yet undecided how to cast their ballots.
Clinton presided over eight years of economic growth as president, and his own opinion poll ratings have risen since he left the presidency 12 years ago, shadowed at the time by his impeachment in connection with a dalliance with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
White men favor Romney over Obama in public and private polls, but a Gallup survey taken in July showed the Clinton was viewed favorably by 63 percent of the same group, and unfavorably by only 32 percent.
Among white non-college graduates, another group where Obama struggles, Clinton drew 58 percent favorable ratings and 36 percent unfavorable in the same poll.
Obama’s acceptance speech caps the convention on Thursday night at the 74,000-seat Bank of America football stadium. Aides kept a wary eye on the weather in a city that has been hit in recent days with strong afternoon rains.
Republicans did their best to rain on Obama’s convention, whatever the weather.
Vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan spoke in Westlake, Ohio, standing behind a lectern bearing a sign that read “Are you better off?”
It was one more jab at Obama’s economic record, and at the Democrats’ inability to answer the question directly in a round of television interviews on Sunday.
They have since settled on an answer — Yes.
But Republicans didn’t stop with the sign on their stage.
They released a web video that interspersed images of Obama and the economy’s weak performance with slightly out-of-focus video clips of former President Jimmy Carter discussing the nation’s economic woes when sat in the Oval Office more than 30 years ago.
Sep 7, 2012 at 10:01 a.m.
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tthompson - The numbers are accurate, the comparison valid (10% pays 70%).
Sep 6, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
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petepuma: If only running a gov't were as easy as buying dinner. How come you didn't mention what percentage of wealth that 10% hold?? Referencing the 70% number and asking how much more should we ask them to pay is silly. No one person is paying 70%. To my knowledge the president will be asking the top tier to pay 3% more. Correct me if I'm wrong on that number please. Your post is using several dif't thought processes to try and convey one.
Sep 6, 2012 at 3:45 p.m.
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mjoseph and yada. Constantly posting opinions from left wing web sites as fact is getting....how should I say... REAL OLD.
So my question is, what are you trying to accomplish?
just wonderin'.
Sep 6, 2012 at 2:20 p.m.
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>>>He wants to lower taxes for middle class, while having the wealthy pay a little more - just what most Americans say is needed.<<<
Ok, let's look at this. Currently the top 10% pay 70% of the total taxes. Should they pay more? If so, what's the number...80%, 90%? At what point will the left deem that "fairness" has been achieved?
By comparison, consider this. 10 people go to dinner, order the same meals, and spend a total of $300. If we use the current tax code as our guide, one person would be obligated to pay $210 of the total bill. Is that person paying enough? Should he/she pay more?
The next time you Lefties go out to dinner, try ramming that down your dinner companions throats and see how it plays out.
Sep 6, 2012 at 11:56 a.m.
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totellthetruth,
I can tell you went to the Donald Trump School of Economics and Birtherism.
Sep 6, 2012 at 10:03 a.m.
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President Obama’s recent achievements:
Got us out of the worst recession since the Great Depression.
Ended the unnecessary war in Iraq.
Helped to save the American auto industry.
Helped to create more than 4 million jobs in America.
His leadership led to the capture and death of Osama bin Laden
He wants to lower taxes for middle class, while having the wealthy pay a little more - just what most Americans say is needed.
And, Mitt Romney’s achievements:
While at Bain Capital, he created thousands of jobs, got richer, and tore apart many good companies that left former employees uninsured and out of jobs.
He wants to take America back to the failed economic policies of President George Bush.
He enriched himself considerably by opening Swiss, Bermudan and other foreign bank accounts to bet against America, and he has ultimate control over these accounts, as his 1994 TV interview proves.
He is a friend to billionaires who are supporting him with their unlimited Super PAC donations, so that, if elected, ordinary Americans will be forced to pay higher taxes, while Mitt’s rich friends will pay almost nothing.
Vote for Obama-Biden:
America can’t go back to the 1920s.
Sep 6, 2012 at 10 a.m.
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Paul Ryan Lies and Hypocrisy Watch – Sept,6 2012
http://blogs.denverpost.com/opinion/2012...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/05...
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2012/0...
http://gawker.com/5940781/is-paul-ryan-l...
Voters can’t trust lyin Paul Ryan!
Even Fox News says he lies, a lot!
Sep 5, 2012 at 3:43 p.m.
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Pet -- I agree -- I feel this will be a landslide vote against the Obama agenda and lack of leadership. I was shocked he was ever elected in the 1st place. The only reason he was elected was the lack of personality in McCain. He was dry he cracked.
Sep 5, 2012 at 3:28 p.m.
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mjoesph.......If you consider the Republicans desire to make Obama a one-term president "sick and twisted", then you must really be disgusted with the Democrats who represent our state. They did everything in their power to get Walker out before his term was even up! You have to agree with that assessment....no??
Sep 5, 2012 at 3:16 p.m.
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>>>Republicans and their white male elephant politics are going to get SMOKED in November:)
<<<
Prepare for disappointment. Just like the Walker Recall, the silent majority will march to the polls in droves on November 6th and deliver the left ANOTHER resounding defeat.
Sep 5, 2012 at 1:57 p.m.
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Republican Leaders, including Paul Ryan, Began Planning Obama’s Political Demise
on January 20, 2009, the Night of Obama’s Inauguration
http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-08-......
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/25......
-draper-anti-obama-campaign_n_1452899.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0E_lQoYb......
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr......
Romney-Ryan: Working AGAINST America!
Sick and twisted!
Sep 5, 2012 at 12:52 p.m.
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Eagle1, voting for one person is not going to change the world. Even if Gary Johnson would be miraculously voted in to office, he would still need to work with both houses of Congress as well as the Dems and Repubs.
The President isn't the king.
Regardless of who is President, I'm fairly certain the attitudes of people will worsen, and if Obama wins another term I fully expect the social right wingers to completely lose their minds. I'd vote for Obama just to see that.
Sep 5, 2012 at 10:57 a.m.
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We know Why_Think, Poobah has posted those quotes many many many times.
And the purpose is?
Sep 5, 2012 at 10:52 a.m.
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Username @9:53am, I think you confirmed (re-enforced) Lar80's statement @8:06am.
Sep 5, 2012 at 10:39 a.m.
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OK
.
"""Romney disclosed that he became committed to legalized abortion after a relative died during an illegal abortion. .... “It is since that time that my family will not force our beliefs on that matter,” He said the abortion made him see “that regardless of one’s beliefs about choice, you would hope it would be safe and legal.” """
.
Romney supported the Brady Bill, assault weapons bans and Massachusetts' very strict gun control law.
.
-- "I have a gun of my own."
(Not true. He was talking about a gun one of his grown sons own.)
-- "I've been a hunter pretty much my entire life."
(He hunted once at 15, and a second time in his late 50s.)
-- "I saw my father march with Martin Luther King."
(No, they never marched together. They were both in Michigan at the same time once, but Mitt was in France on his mission.)
-- "My father and I marched with Martin Luther King Jr. through the streets of Detroit."
(even more false...)
Sep 5, 2012 at 10:39 a.m.
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lar80,
You really want to get into quotes made in the past.
.
YOUR candidate is Mitt Romney...
.
"""In October 2002, campaigning for governorship of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney said he would “preserve and protect” a woman’s right to choose. He now describes himself as opposing abortion. """
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""" “[the] United States House of Representatives voted for a bill that was identical to what I proposed. They voted to provide surplus embryos from in vitro fertilization processes being used for research and experimentation. That’s what I said I support.” ""
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"""“I never said I was pro-choice, but my position was effectively pro-choice. """
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"""“On a personal basis, I don’t favor abortion,” he said. “However, as governor of the commonwealth, I will protect a woman’s right to choose .... """
.
Would you like to keep going?
.
Sep 5, 2012 at 8:06 a.m.
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Spunkmeyer said:
.
"Spunkmeyer
I wonder how much poverty & joblessness we'd have without freedom of choice & free birth control... hmmmm."
.
There you have it...... Kill children so you can have "yours"... Poor people? Let's just thin down he herd by extermination so we won't have any..
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Not enough jobs? Let's abort some children so that they won't put pressure on Ol Spunkmeyer... I would hate to see him have to actually work or compete for his daily bread.
.
This is the Democrat mindset. Frightening when their logic is put to light.
Sep 5, 2012 at 7:36 a.m.
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Yada why do you only insist on honesty from the guys you don't support? Romney and Ryan are full of it I agree, but Obama has had a serious issue with the truth and fulfilling promises as well. The reason we are in this mess is because 80% of you just bow down and blindly support your party regardless of what they say or do. That has to stop. I have 5 top issues and there is absolutely no difference between Romney or Obama, yet I am told I need to pick one of them or I am wasting my vote. I would say voting for continued failure is the biggest waste you can commit. I guess you partisans will just never get it.
Sep 5, 2012 at 6:41 a.m.
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Well, Good Morning Fedup, nurses get you up early this morning ? Oh Nurse, a bowl of mush for Mr Fedup please.
Sep 5, 2012 at 6:18 a.m.
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Why Ryan & Romney Will NOT Get My Vote!
1. Truth & honesty are important and since Ryan is unable to figure out fact from fiction as shown during his VP speech - Best to stay far far away from this Re-FIB-lican. The Ryan GM comment was so wrong that you have to wonder: 1. Did Ryan write his own speech? OR 2. Did a staff speech writer do it for him and Ryan just went along with a totally fabricated story - as were MANY of the others he said during the speech & after.
"Paul Ryan And The Post Convention Speech"
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/arch...
2. "Paul Ryan REPEATS Auto Bailout, Medicare Lies"
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/robe...
3. The Ryan Information OFTEN comes from the KOCH Brothers...
http://www.politicususa.com/policy-wonk-...
4. The MARATHON time - He blames his incorrect time on a back injury - no kidding - he actually stated that later.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/201...
5. Paul Ryan MOSTLY FALSE claims
http://www.politifact.com/personalities/...
6. Paul Ryan FALSE claims.
http://www.politifact.com/personalities/...
7. Paul Ryan -->PANTS ON FIRE!!!!
http://www.politifact.com/personalities/...
AND ----> R o m n e y...
"Top TEN Reasons Not To Vote For Mitt Romney"
http://www.makingpages.org/politics/romn...
Sep 5, 2012 at 5:50 a.m.
Sep 5, 2012 at 2:15 a.m.
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Why Mitt Romney will get my vote.
1. As a child my parents insisted if I wanted something I had to work for it. (mowing lawns delivering newspapers getting a job.)
2. abortion is murder.
3. I am a single man with a living wage. I am tired of watching people with 3 kids not getting married but still living with the father so they can get free health care. Pay zero taxes and get refunds of thousands of dollars.
4. If Obama is elected I only see it getting worse on the first three. If Romney is elected at least there might."I stress might" be some hope that these will change.
5. The life of Julia as portrayed by the Obama campaign is against everything I was taught or believe in by (should I say it) my parents.
Sep 5, 2012 at 1:54 a.m.
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Got to watch the speeches. Wow! What a talk down to the American people. Mrs. Obama did not measure up to Ann Romney by a yard stick. Ted Kennedy is dead, was a lifetime politician and had a checkered past. If that is the answer to Eastwood, I'll take Eastwood's poor performance over a dead Kennedy.
God is now one word in the Dems platform. One word.
Now get ready for the next 3 days of abortion right speeches. jmo
Ask me for 4 more years to get the job done?! Seriously?? Go back and fix Chicago. The murders every weekend, the teachers possible strike...and on and on
Or go listen and follow Dick Durbin (Sen from IL). So far left he is "going the wrong way"
Where are all the 95% of blacks that supported Obama (understandably so) the first time? Still hoping for free gas and house payments?
$16 Trillion and counting. I'd still let Paul Ryan balance my checkbook than Obama. Peace
Sep 5, 2012 at 12:41 a.m.
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I wonder how much poverty & joblessness we'd have without freedom of choice & free birth control... hmmmm.
Sep 5, 2012 at 12:31 a.m.
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To honor Ted Kennedy, I'll share a quote he made in 1971... Before the Democratic party made him change is view:
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"While the deep concern of a woman bearing an unwanted child merits consideration and sympathy, it is my personal feeling that the legalization of abortion on demand is not in accordance with the value which our civilization places on human life. Wanted or unwanted, I believe that human life, even at its earliest stages, has certain rights which must be recognized – the right to be born, the right to love, the right to grow old."
Sep 4, 2012 at 11:54 p.m.
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RAF - suggest that you go to the NCO club to unwind. This HAS to be a stressful week for you and wislady. Don't let this get to you. Maybe you could take wislady with you actually. They would have Fact Free & False Faux News on there so you get the full birther truth :)
Sep 4, 2012 at 11:20 p.m.
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I hope you two are included in the new pay version of Gazetteextra...you're too entertaining.
Sep 4, 2012 at 11:20 p.m.
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Time to guess which cable network and "newsperson" stated the following after the first lady's speech...
"There is now no question who the best speechmaker in the history of the first ladyship is, and that is Michelle Obama"
Sep 4, 2012 at 11:17 p.m.
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And you can check them.....
Sep 4, 2012 at 11:16 p.m.
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You won't have to wait too long raf...wis will make up her own truths.
Sep 4, 2012 at 11:12 p.m.
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Can't wait for the truth squad fact checking media over comments stated during the....oh wait. Now that they have tingles up their legs again the fact checkers have the week off.
Sep 4, 2012 at 10:54 p.m.
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Time to start referring to her only as wis...because she has shown she is certainly no lady.
If she wants to see what a real lady looks like, she should have watched the first lady at the convention tonight.
Sep 4, 2012 at 10:51 p.m.
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fordfan
You must not have been watching the "tribute" to Kennedy at the DNC.
Sep 4, 2012 at 10:48 p.m.
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Abortion and free birth control more important than poverty and joblessness!
Classy?
http://www.glittarazzi.com/white-house/1...
Sep 4, 2012 at 10:48 p.m.
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wislady is now digging a hole so she can stoop even lower.
Pathetic.
Sep 4, 2012 at 10:47 p.m.
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Oh man......wislady thinks that Ted Kennedy is on the ballot? Worse than I thought. :)
Sep 4, 2012 at 10:41 p.m.
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schumi
The truth does bite once in a while, doesn't it.
Dems tried to say Romney caused a woman to die, but Kennedy actually DID cause a woman to die.
Sep 4, 2012 at 10:38 p.m.
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MO sounded like she was talking about Ghandi, not BO.
Sep 4, 2012 at 10:38 p.m.
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Convention speakers tonite seem to be in a race to see who came from the poorest station in life.
Sep 4, 2012 at 10:23 p.m.
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fact checks show the lies have been coming in strong and steady from the GOP. . .
Sep 4, 2012 at 9:34 p.m.
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Boy, it's amazing how low the right stoops in their comments. The very same ones who sit on their high horse and condemn others for the very type of comments they are now making.
Bunch a sickening hypocrites.
Sep 4, 2012 at 9:24 p.m.
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Watching the convention tonite I wonder who let in all the people of walmart?
Sep 4, 2012 at 9:06 p.m.
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http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/09/04...
Sep 4, 2012 at 8:16 p.m.
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Lets see, she is unelected and unaccountable yet she is wanting to enact laws governing and restricting food availability. Don't listen to what she says - watch what she does.
Sep 4, 2012 at 8:16 p.m.
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yada - we already know how you dems feel about women. Barefoot and in the kitchen right?
Sep 4, 2012 at 8:14 p.m.
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He didn't drive that car in the river, someone else drove that.
Democrats new slogan. "We belong to Government"
GOP will get miles out of that socialist video. Mr. Obama, Government belongs to US!!!
Sep 4, 2012 at 8:02 p.m.
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Hmmm the truth is disgusting and hateful. How nice. How Democrat.
Sep 4, 2012 at 7:11 p.m.
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You are a disgusting, hateful person wislady. May God have mercy on your soul.
Sep 4, 2012 at 6:57 p.m.
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They had a nice little tribute to Ted Kennedy, but no mention of the woman he killed at Chappaquiddick Island when he drove his Oldsmobile off a wooden bridge.
Sep 4, 2012 at 6:42 p.m.
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When did she take up miming ?
Sep 4, 2012 at 6:37 p.m.
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Mo, Bo & Bela...anyone else...if not - get that kitchen work done...it's getting late. :-)
Sep 4, 2012 at 6:27 p.m.
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The only people who are better off....MO and BO.
Sep 4, 2012 at 6:07 p.m.
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Let the lies begin.
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