Saturday Roundup: Rudy!
* Good read: Attorney General Eric Holder speaks out about what went into his wrenching and controversial decision to try Khalid Sheik Mohammad in a New York court.
* Will the choice of a courtroom just blocks from the attacks be opposed by KSM’s lawyers?
* Rudy Giuliani caught acting the role of lead KSM prosecutor in front of his bathroom mirror. (Okay, not really, but close.)
* Media rush to give Rudy a platform to remind us of his 9/11 heroism and his ongoing, single-handed resistance to terrorists that already attacked his city.
* Senator Bob Casey, anti-abortion stalwart, may oppose the Stupak amendment, suggesting movement in the Senate against including such restrictive language.
* That leaves Ben Nelson as the leading obstacle, but Senate leadership sources say they think they can win him over.
* Andrew Malcolm begs Drudge for a link with piece on Obama bowing to Japanese emperor: “How low will he go?”
* Conservative bloggers keep up the assault on Obama’s willingness to show respect to foreign leaders in their own countries.
* Obama to Congress: Don’t politicize the Fort Hood shooting.
* Gallup: Approval of Congress at levels rivaling 2006 and 1994, the last two times control flipped. But: Approval rose with the passage of the House Dem health care bill.
* And Joe Lieberman offered Sarah Palin extensive support and encouragement during Campaign 2008, and she’s grateful to him for it. He urged her to “be yourself.”
What else is happening?
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I was just remarking on Obama’s request to Congress to delay the investigation.
It’s smart.
” Senator Bob Casey, anti-abortion stalwart, may oppose the Stupak amendment, suggesting movement in the Senate against including such restrictive language.”
The Stupak Amendment is illegal. You can’t restrict a constitutionally protected right like that, IMO.
What is the matter with President Obama. Why can he not learn proper international protocol, and just hold a foreign leader’s hand, like our great former guru of protocol, George W. Bush, did with the Saudi Prince.
Well, Liam, he could always throw up all over the ambassador, like Poppy did.
That Holder link was great Greg. I’ve been asking questions about this and it answered at least some of them, thanks. Sounds like he made a well thought out, measured decision with lots of input from numerous experts.
“I’ll just have to take my lumps, to the extent those are set in my way,” Holder told reporters. “But I think if people will, in a neutral and detached way, look at the decision that I have made today, understand the reasons why I made those decisions, and try to do something that’s rare in Washington — leave the politics out of it and focus on what’s in the best interest of this country — I think the criticism will be relatively muted.
“Having said that, I’m sure we’ll hear a lot of criticism.”
I give the old man a pass on that one. He got sick. It could happen to anyone.
On the other hand, when is President Obama going to learn the International Protocol standard of trying to walk out through a locked door. That was a classic facial expression, worthy of a foiled again Daffy Duck.
“On the other hand, when is President Obama going to learn the International Protocol standard of trying to walk out through a locked door. That was a classic facial expression, worthy of a foiled again Daffy Duck.”
LOL!!!! Man that’s a beautiful piece of videotape with Command Coocoo walking into that door.
@Insimca,
Eric Holder was interviewed on yesterday’s PBS News Hour. You should be able to watch it online at the PBS site. It will allow you to gauge his demeanor, as he answered the questions.
“It could happen to anyone.”
Dude, if Obama did that, or Michelle? We’d NEVER hear the end of it.
OOOPS.
I discovered a huge International Diplomatic Protocol Faux Pax by President Obama:
He completely neglected to give the Empress of Japan a vigorous shoulders massage.
Andy
I couldn’t really find anything too definitive comparing mandates vs. no mandates. It’s funny there don’t seem to be many polls on it really either.
The idea is that mandating insurance will increase the likelihood of universal coverage as well as lowering costs for everyone by bringing more healthy individuals into the pool.
Of course what is debated is how harshly to penalize folks who still won’t buy insurance and how to make sure everyone can afford the insurance they’re being told to buy. They gave a lot of breaks in the lower income brackets and to struggling small businesses.
A lot of us following the PO debate closely believed that the only way to sell mandates was to offer a PO in the exchange so the insurance companies would not just overly benefit from the increased quantity pool and not have the incentive to lower premium prices at the same time. The only way to incentivize insurance companies to lower prices is through competition.
“The only way to incentivize insurance companies to lower prices is through competition.”
That’s the only “free market” solution, I agree. Therefore, it ought to make the free market advocates happy instead of mad. But you know, nobody REALLY believes in a “free” market.
Thanks Liam, I’ll watch it. I’m understanding Holder’s position, I’m not understanding the objections coming from the right. I know it’s the never ending entrenched philosophies vs. what I consider to be pragmatism, but considering this is a 9/11 case, seems like there would be more support.
“, I’m not understanding the objections coming from the right”
Makes no sense. As was said more than once yesterday, usually criminal trials are held in the jurisdiction where the crime occurred.
So all the foofawra is rather strange to me.
@Insimca,
That just goes to prove that you are mentally stable. If the day ever comes, that those Right Wingers start to make sense to you; seek professional help immediately.
President George W. Bush reacts to finding a locked door:
http://www.manlyrash.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/428daffy.jpg
The only person who should be complaining about the venue for the KSM trial is KSM’s lawyer.
IF I were the lawyer I’d file a motion for a change of venue on the argument that KSM can’t get a fair trial in Manhattan.
I don’t agree, I’m just sayin = that’s who ought to be complaining.
Of course they will object to the venue. The problem is that there is probably no place in the entire country that would provide a less aware of the 9/11 attacks panel, unless you were to try him before an all Amish jury.
“unless you were to try him before an all Amish jury.”
I agree. YOu have to understand, I’m not sayin I agree with that argument, I’m just sayin the only complaining should be coming from the defense,not the ratwing, who should be ecstatic that KSM is being tried and that it is happening just blocks from the attack site -that’s not a favorable venue for the defense – it rocks, for the prosecution.
I don’t get the ratwing complaining at all.
lmsinca
Thanks for the mandate info.
Here’s a nice way to start the weekend! From Americablog:
“Remember how health insurance reform was going to be wrapped up before the August recess? We’re halfway through November and the Senate hasn’t even produced its bill. Every day that goes by increases the pressure to just pass “something.” Rahm Emanuel and Jim Messina let Max Baucus and the Blue Dogs slow down the whole process over the summer and into the fall. Now, we’re going to see Senators and House members start panicking — and I do mean panicking — about their reelection. Let’s see how that impacts not only health insurance reform, but the rest of the progressive agenda.”
“Americablog:”
Yeah, that sounds like Americablog.
If you saw and enjoyed the Glenn Beck parody by Stewart and want another laugh this morning watch this one.
Have a good Saturday all.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/13/glenn-beck-parodies-of-al_n_355872.html?slidenumber=AymG9jhl%2BDE%3D#slide_image
The tidal wave implementation of jobs going overseas due to busisnesses having to pay high health care premiums for their employees, will only continue until there will be no businesses left to operate because premiums are sky high — this insurance monopoly is sort of like paying the mafia in order to operate!
If health care does not pass, it will reveal that the U.S. Congress does not have enough strength or right intentions to pass a healthcare bill that will benefit the people of the United States finally, control health care costs for both businesses and individuals — that Insurance Companies and Pharmacies have more power over these legislators than the people who have sent them to Congress! It is always like pulling teeth for these legislators to do something beneficial for the people — example: increasing unemployment benefits and raising the mimimum wage to a living wage and even that falls far short! I have faith that a bill will pass — that it is the people’s time now and not the corporations and insuarnce companies…
Also, Why do the GOP fear the terrorists being tried in open court in New York? I think they are greatly angered that this is something they did not do — try the terrorists anywhere! However, these terrorists are not military and should not be tried as such. The GOP remind me of bullies who pretend to be tough but are really afraid.
“this insurance monopoly is sort of like paying the mafia in order to operate! ”
It’s not “sorta” to me – it IS.
And Angellight, I think you’re correct about what it bothering the ratwing – they don’t want a trial at all – they are all with Bill Kristol – just execute the ******* already.
Yeah, Bill = let’s undo close to 300 years of the only criminal justice system on earth that was founded on the principle of “innocent until prove guilty.”
That’s the crux of it. They’ve already pronounced him guilty.
The foofawra is that if Holder said Gitmo military tribunals for everyone, the right would have gone nuts. The party of no, the party of if, and or but, the party of how dare you?, the party of fear. The Grand Old Paranoiacs.
Maybe he should have swung behind his wife and given her a back rub.
“The party of no, the party of if, and or but, the party of how dare you?, the party of fear. The Grand Old Paranoiacs.”
“The Party of Perpetual Persecution”
They’re always victimized by every breath we take.
I grew up going to an O.L.P.H., so I think it should be
Our Party of Perpetual Persecution.
“Our Party of Perpetual Persecution.”
I love it.
Did you really go to a church called that?
I think my fave has always been the church my best shildhood friend and her family attended – constantly: The Freeway Church of Christ.
IT was named that because it was next to the freeway and the Church of Christ in its strictest form doesn’t’ believe in naming churches for Jesus or god and I can’t remember why now.
And speaking of having grown up Catholic, Kathleen – I went to Vacation Bible School just one time with my friend (my parents were not Texans and they were on a level of sophistication that was rare in small towns in Texas (I guess it still is – she despised fundamentalist, evangelical protestanism; she ended up a high church Episcopalian until she lost her religion; she didn’t like me going to that church with my friend;) I will never forget what the “teacher” of that class told us.
I was only about 6 or 7 when this happened. We were making some kind of handkerchief dolls and she was telling us that the Catholic Church was evil and priests adnormal beause they wear skirts, and on and on and on.
We were little bitty kids, but that blew my hair back, just the same. I’ve never forgotten it.
They also don’t believe in having musical instruments in church, or in dancing in or out of church and a lot of other stuff. My friend’s family hated my family so much!
LOL
OLPH stands for Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
Or Our Lady of Perpetual Responsibility, as Garrison Keillor has it.
God, it must have been lonely for your parents, especially your mother.
I went to Catholic school 2nd-6th grades, and they never told us Protestants were EVIL (Kennedy was already President, so we were on a roll), but that they did not have the gift of faith (true faith) like we did. We were born with it, or it could come to you, probably via the Holy Ghost (as styled then). The nuns told us that Catholics really had the express lane to heaven, but that there might be a few good Protestants up there, like George Washington and Abe Lincoln. Also, the Protestant Reformation was called the Protestant Revolution, and it was nasty, heretical, blasphemous, etc. Oddly, we never talked about the Jews, except in the context of Jesus’s life and death, I guess because they weren’t an existential threat to us. Protestantism was. More like Yankees-Red Sox, maybe.
I ended up married to a PK (Presbyterian), and we’ve both given up on org religion. I did drag my two sons through the motions, but now the RC combines First Communion and Confirmation. That was a mistake because before they could keep you there through age 12. My last day at Mass, other than for a rite, was the day after my younger son made his communion and was confirmed. I’m so done with them, but I do feel an odd loyalty and affection. My husband and I are going to Rome for the first time next April, and I can’t wait to see the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, etc.
Oh, and I grew up in the guitar Mass era, so that was cool.
Yeah, he and the first lady were so respectful of Queen Elizabeth: an ipod with Obama’s speeches and a too-familiar pat on the back.
And it sure makes us look good in the world to have the AG guaranteeing the outcome of “the trial of the century”. Yeah, that’s due process. And this after Comrade Obama’s people explained how the POTUS will use “post-aquittal detention powers”.
And why was this decision by Holder “wrenching”? I thought this was a clear-cut move for “truth, justice, and the American Way” (although I don’t know how he would know about any of those things).
Hugo, you are spot on! That Muslim Usurper should know that proper etiquette requires tongue!
http://www.hermes-press.com/bush_kiss.jpg
And back rubs!
http://wwwimage.cbsnews.com/images/2006/07/21/image1825087g.jpg
If only we could get OUR country back!
ugh, all posts about rethuglican noise and conservadems and turncoat slime liebermann.
Holder’s is the only one worth reading.
“especially your mother.
”
God you’re perceptive. It was – she hated it.
“I ended up married to a PK (Presbyterian),”
I swear to god we were separated at birth – Mr. Tena is Presby and he’s pretty much given up, too.
Tena, when I was in HS, we moved from Northern NJ (near NYC) to a town near the Jersey Shore, also near Lakehurst NAS. My mom was still a stay-at-home mom at that point. Except for taking up tennis, she hated every minute of it. And my Dad traveled for business a lot.
This was the early 70s. They were at some sort of party and one of the men made an accidental rhyme. So my mom said, oh, you’re a regular Rod McKuen. Affectionately. No one knew who she meant. She said, you know, the poet. And they all rolled their eyes and chortled, oh, the poooo-et. As if she was a pretentious, name-dropping snob.
So even two hours down the Garden State Parkway from where we were from (which, mind you, was just a middle class suburb, not Ridgewood or Summit or anything fancy) it was like landing on the moon.
God, the Presbyterians are a bastion of liberal thought and progressivism, compared to the Church (the one true Church). But I do have infinite respect for Catholic social justice warriors, Dorothy Day, et al.
“My husband and I are going to Rome for the first time next April, and I can’t wait to see the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, etc.”
O Kathleen! I went the first time 3 years ago – you will be stunned by the Sistine Chapel. IT was as close to a religious experience as I’ve ever had and it confirmed my secular humanism for me with glory! And I was in there with 85 Japanese tourists and another 58 Americans.
I am dying to drag Mr. Tena back to Italy. I fell for it totally.
I was not that interested in cathedrals, more in ruins, but we got the religious tour in Rome, for some reason. The last day there I didn’t feel good, it was hot, and when they told us we were going to Santa Maria Maggiore I started grumbling to myself. Then we got there and I went inside. I lost it completely – it has a coffered ceiling completely covered with golf leaf from gold brought back from the New World and at the end of the altar there is the original Byzantine mosaic on gold tiles and I burst into tears when I saw it.
But I did that in front of the Venus of Urbino in Venice, the Fra Filippo Lippis in Florence, etc. I studied Renaissance Art History for a year in undergrad and that was my first time to see those things outside of books.
I’m dying to go back. You will not believe the Michelangelo mosaics in St.Peter’s – you won’t. Rome is amazing. Italy is wonderful. I think you’ll love it.
Tena, thanks, I will definitely put Santa Maria Maggiore on the list.
I have actually been to Italy once before, in 1989, but not enough, never enough. And with a girlfriend, my husband couldn’t go and we went over for another friend’s wedding. The trip included 3 nights Venice, 3 nights Florence, and one amazing night in Portofino. We sat up on the terrace of the Hotel Splendido and watched Valentino’s yacht turn on it’s twinkling lights.
The friend I traveled with was a, you guessed it, Presby, from Mississippi (we were NYers at that point). She also didn’t want to do the cathedral thing, the “Catholic” thing. We went into Saint Mark’s and sat ourselves down, and shortly thereafter a group of wholesome American college kids came strolling along. Then they arranged themselves in a group, I thought for a pic. A man came out and raised his hand and they started singing in Italian. We both started crying, it was unbelievable. She stopped feeling Protestant guilt and just went with it.
If you like ruins you absolutely have to see Pompei right outside of Naples. There’s lots to do around that area also. The towns of Amalfi and Positano are right on the other side of the peninsula from Pompei, about an 1 1/2 hour drive tops. The drive its self is awesome. Also, from the pier at Mergellina in Naples, you can take ferry trips to the islands of Ischia and Capri.
Plus, the best part about the Naples area is the pizza. Best in the world, hands down.
Just whatever you do, hold onto your camera and keep your wallet in your front pocket.
Of course, I’m partial to Naples since my moms from there.
“Plus, the best part about the Naples area is the pizza. Best in the world, hands down.
Just whatever you do, hold onto your camera and keep your wallet in your front pocket. ”
Wear your purse across your body, and keep it fastened and do not put it down anywhere.
I made the mistake in Pompeii of approaching two guys on a Vespa who pulled up to the curb and motioned for a light. They grabbed the lighter and took off – which was nothing. They could have grabbed my purse.
Watch yourself, and have a great time.
Ahh, so you saw Pompeii. Pretty cool place eh? I still can’t get over the first time I was walking through a little passage way and ended up in that mini amphitheater.
Walking through the old home walls still standing was cool too. Did you see anything else down in that area?
mike from A – I’ve been told the ruins in the city of Naples are awesome. They excavated the market and left it so you can walk in it. And I’m dying to really see Pompeii because the tour company shamefully cheated us on time there and I saw almost nothing – and I’ve wanted to see it since I was a kid.
And Herculaneum! It’s even more stunning, I’ve been told.
I could move to Italy if they’d let you and if it was remotely affordable.
I want to go back to Venice with Mr. Tena so much and I worry about Venice a lot. That is one of the most magic places I’ve ever seen or been in.
Affordable? It’s not so bad if you don’t live in a city. But yeah, you can’t just move there. VISA’s can be a pain if you can’t afford to pay off city officials.
Here’s a picture of that city Amalfi I snapped last time I was there I mentioned.
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs028.snc3/11533_1250472390255_1482866363_30701366_912088_n.jpg
Here’s a pic of one of those petrified persons in Pompeii.
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs008.snc3/11533_1250472830266_1482866363_30701376_5325657_n.jpg
My moms still in Naples and I go back every other year to visit her when she heads to a town called Cesenatico for the summer.
Affordable? It’s not so bad if you don’t live in a city. But yeah, you can’t just move there. VISA’s can be a pain if you can’t afford to pay off city officials.
Here’s a picture of that city Amalfi I snapped last time I was there I mentioned.
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs028.snc3/11533_1250472390255_1482866363_30701366_912088_n.jpg
My moms still in Naples and I go back every other year to visit her when she heads to a town called Cesenatico for the summer.
“My moms still in Naples and I go back every other year to visit her when she heads to a town called Cesenatico for the summer.”
You are so lucky!
I got the best of both worlds. Mom Italian, wife is Irish. We rotate between the two every year.
O Jeez Mike! That picture is incredible!
That whole country is just a treasure – everywhere. The people are treasures = I love them. I just really fell hopelessly in love with Italy.
Mike, what a photo! Is your mom a Neapolitan? If so, can’t you easily get dual citizenship? I would, just for the travel/working flexibility.
Unfortunately, no time for Naples/Pompeii/Amalfi Coast this time. We’re aiming for a half-day at the ruins at Ostia Antica, close to Rome.
Mike – Ireland is the only other European country I’ve seen and I fell for it, too. Totally.
You really ARE lucky. You have some excellent karma.
I do too really – I live here and in Taos.
Here’s one from Pompeii I have online.
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs008.snc3/11533_1250472830266_1482866363_30701376_5325657_n.jpg
The thing with Italy. The place is the size of Florida and there are so many absolutely amazing historical places. Having been there so many times and having lived there for a number of years I couldn’t even begin to describe half of what I’ve seen.
Gotta scadaddle for now…cheers.
Kathleen-
“Guitar Mass” Oh gawd! I remember that when I was a kid: the young “hippy” couple singing with acoustic guitar. I swear they sang George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord” once. Probably w/o the Hare Krishna part, however…
Wow, someone else remembers that. Cool…
Quitter Palin called out for lying in her book.
Nicole Wallace says that what Palin says in her book, about the Couric interview, is completely false.
“CNN) –A former top adviser and spokeswoman to John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign is pushing back against comments reportedly made by Sarah Palin in her new book.
Nicolle Wallace tells CNN that Palin’s account of an ill-fated interview with CBS’s Katie Couric during the 2008 presidential campaign is not true.
In excerpts of her new book “Going Rouge: An American Life” that were obtained by other organizations, including the conservative website Drudge report, the former Alaska Governor and former Republican vice presidential nominee discusses her interview with Couric.
“From the beginning, Nicolle [Wallace] pushed for Katie Couric and the CBS Evening News. The campaign’s general strategy involved coming out with a network anchor, someone they felt had treated John well on the trail thus far. My suggestion was that we be consistent with that strategy and start talking to outlets like FOX and the Wall Street Journal. I really didn’t have a say in which press I was going to talk to, but for some reason Nicolle seemed compelled to get me on the Katie bandwagon,” writes Palin, according to excerpts obtained before Tuesday’s release date for the highly anticipated book.
Related video: Palin book blitz begins
Drudge report says it obtained a portion of the book in which Palin claims McCain campaign adviser Nicolle Wallace pushed for the now famous Katie Couric interview because the CBS anchor needed a self-esteem “boost.”
“‘She just has such low self-esteem,’ Nicolle said. She added that Katie was going through a tough time, ‘She just feels she can’t trust anybody.’ Nicolle had left her gig at CBS just a few months earlier to hook up with the McCain campaign,” continues Palin in the excerpt.
Contacted by CNN, Wallace denied the gist and specifics of Palin’s account of the Couric interview, which aired at the end of September 2008.
Palin and Wallace do agree that the Couric interview didn’t go well.
“I knew it wasn’t a good interview,” Palin tells Oprah Winfrey, in excerpts of an interview that is scheduled to run Monday, one day before Palin’s book officially releases.
In excerpts of the book, Palin also writes that she thought there was something peculiar about the way Wallace would talk about her days as White House Communications Director for President George W. Bush.
“I had to trust her experience, as she had dealt with national politics more than I had. But something always struck me as peculiar about the way she recalled her days in the White House, when she was speaking on behalf of President George W. Bush. She didn’t have much to say that was positive about her former boss or the job in general. Whenever I wanted to give a shout-out to the White House’s homeland security efforts after 9/11, we were told we couldn’t do it. I didn’t know if that was Nicolle’s call,” writes Palin, according to the excerpts.
Wallace said Palin’s account is completely false.
“It’s not even like it’s slightly wrong. It’s like I feel totally the opposite. I would never disparage the President. I adored him then and I adore him now.”
Wallace seemed mystified by Palin’s accounts, conceding that there were enough strategy miscalculations during the campaign that Palin “didn’t have to make stuff up.”"
“So even two hours down the Garden State Parkway from where we were from (which, mind you, was just a middle class suburb, not Ridgewood or Summit or anything fancy) it was like landing on the moon.”
The whole country is like that, Kathleen.
Yeah, Liam – I read that.
I think it’s going to be one of my favorite Palin stories – she did the Couric interview out of pity for Katie’s insecurity.
BWAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
“Wallace seemed mystified by Palin’s accounts, conceding that there were enough strategy miscalculations during the campaign that Palin “didn’t have to make stuff up.”"
LOL. Pure comedy.
OK, Ms Tena, I just got back from 48 hours in (kinda) your neck of the woods–Ft Worth–and I have to ask. . . how do you manage to persuade yourself to leave Taos for Texas???
Thank you to those who provided the wonderful descriptions of Italy! I found it to be a much needed distraction. My wife and I have it on our list of places to visit and we can’t wait.
More on the Palin book.
“Campaign manager Steve Schmidt, who emerges as Palin’s nemesis in the advance excerpts that have surfaced from her forthcoming account of the campaign, “Going Rogue,” told POLITICO Saturday that Palin’s charges about him were made up.
“It’s all fiction,” he said. ”
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29504.html
“…in the course of this book, she [Palin{ quotes or alludes to Pascal, Plato, Aristotle, Thomas Paine, Pearl S. Buck, Mark Twain and Melville…” http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/books/15book.html?hp
Pascal?! Can’t wait to hear more. I mean, for ***** sakes.
Wonder when I’ll be able to get a used copy on Amazon. The more that comes out, and the wierd “stories” she’s telling are making it a must read.
My youngest daughter doesn’t follow politics too closely, she’s so busy still in school and working, but she heard my husband and I talking about Palin and said, “didn’t she lose, why is everyone still talking about her?” I told her about the book, she didn’t even know about it and commented “she’s clearly after the money.”
Bernie, thanks for all the great links today. Back to baking cookies.
From the NY Times article:
“In “Going Rogue,” Ms. Palin talks perfunctorily about fiscal responsibility and a muscular foreign policy, and more passionately about the importance of energy independence, but she is quite up front about the fact that much of her appeal lies in her just-folks, “hockey Mom” ordinariness. She pretends no particular familiarity with the Middle East, the Iraq war or Islamic politics — “I knew the history of the conflict,” she writes, “to the extent that most Americans did.” And she argues that “there’s no better training ground for politics than motherhood.””
Sounds like Quitter Palin believes that Octo-Mom is all set to to become our next President. You betcha!!!
“Conservative bloggers keep up the assault on Obama’s willingness to show respect to foreign leaders in their own countries.”
.
What an absolute joke. No other world leader bowed before them. The leader of the free world doesn’t bow before unelected figurehead monarchs who are born into the position.
If Bush had done this, the left would have gone wild. Obama all but prostrated himself in a shameful display and his mindless sycophantic apologists act like those who are pointing out our amateur of a president are in the wrong. You people are absolutely pathetic.
And anyone who thinks Nelson is the only holdout needs to read this article, in which James Carville says it only has 57 at the most:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/13/moderate-democrats-will-determine-if-health-care-bill-gets-to-senate-floor/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_politicalticker+%28Blog%3A+Political+Ticker%29
And let me reiterate: LIAM IS AN IDI….Oh, wait. What I meant to write was I WILL FILIBUSTER THIS THING INTO THE GROUND.
The Obama Record: Record unemployment, record deficits, no legislative accomplishments.
“Approval of Congress at levels rivaling 2006 and 1994, the last two times control flipped. But: Approval rose with the passage of the House Dem health care bill.”
Yeah, that is why it rose, sure thing. You know that other poll Gallup did about the majority who don’t think healthcare is the government’s responsibility? Why no mention of that? And why no mention of the Gallup poll, and pretty much every other poll out there indiciating that more American’s are opposed to health care reform than support it? It is amazing the ability the left has to completely ignore polls that contradict their world view.
The Obama Record: Record unemployment, record deficits, no legislative accomplishments.
Uncultured Teabaggers, GOP, and regular criminally educated folks have absolutely no understanding of rudimentary cultural protocols. It is not in their mental capacity to digest such quirks. We are talking about people whose ego won’t permit them to accept reality like an angry impoverished Indian villager whose brain explodes before accepting AIDS is transmitted through sexual intercourse. This is something you cannot expect from a consciously dead person, you just can’t.
Also give a heed to how the entire complex set of issues discussed behind the doors when the two nation met has been ignored in its entirety yet it has been reduced to such picayune of doggerel and a political gossip has given priority. If you like to observe how a mind of a bucolic AM radio w.h.o.r.e operates, take the pieces on “bowing incident” as a token for future references.
“Filibuster” Joe, stick to the filibuster. Really. It’s your strength.
Arzhi, you must be new to this blog. If not then I am surprised by your reaction to “bow gate”. We would we expect nothing less from the teabaggers. To them it has never been about substance only defeat. If you’re new, welcome to the debate!
The Republican Record: Record unemployment, record deficits
But the right wing are masters at creating an alternate reality where their actions are always someone else’s fault.
Some of Republican Bush’s biggest “legislative accomplishments”: Lying US into the Iraq War, demanding tax cuts during a time of multiple wars, and handing corporate-drug-pushers billions of tax payer dollars.
The right wing live in an accountability free world.
Republican Bush should be in jail for any number of things, the war he lied US into, his torture war crimes, his illegal spying on Americans, his theft of taxpayer dollars, his failure to provide enough troops or resources to accomplish the wars he sent them into, amongst other things.
Another twist in the “Going Rogue” saga. The McCain campaign leaking emails to Huffpo.
“The Huffington Post has obtained internal McCain campaign emails — addressed to and by the former vice presidential candidate — that directly contradict or cast serious doubt on several of Palin’s assertions.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/14/mccain-campaign-emails-co_n_358124.html
News Ref, I guess I thought “Filibuster” Joe was just kidding about the Obama record thing. I know he can’t be serious about blaming Obama for record unemployment and record deficits. I know he doesn’t want to go there.
I found this tonight which is pretty interesting. Apparently Wolf is questioning Hasan’s defense attorney and channeling Cheney or something.
“I think it’s safe to say that Wolf Blitzer is no John Adams–perhaps Blitzer is auditioning to fill the yawning void left by Lou Dobbs’s departure from CNN. Blitzer played to the lowest common denominator when he proved how tough he can be by challenging the lawyer who will represent Major Hasan in the Fort Hood murder trial. Blitzer asked the lawyer to “explain to our viewers why you’re doing this.” The lawyer trotted out some tired idea about the importance of a fair trial, that this is one of the rights our troops fight and die to defend, but our valiant Wolf was not deterred from playing to the lynch mob, declaring that Hasan will surely get a much fairer hearing than the 13 people murdered at Fort Hood.
Good point, Wolf. Following his logic (and Bill Kristol’s), why have a trial at all for Hasan? Why not do it the way they used to do in the good old days–just call out a lynch mob and be done with these legal niceties? Sure, lynch mobs sometimes got it wrong, but you can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.”
http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/14666
When right wingers tell the Big Lies they are always serious.
Right winger Joe “2+2=5″ Lie bermann is part of the Republican’s “Ministry of Truth”*.
Without the Lie bermann’s the right wing couldn’t have conned their voters into believing that Hollywood entertainer Ronald Reagan was anything more than a fraud.
Even some rational Republicans recognized Reagan for what he was, it was, after all, Bush 1 who called out Reagan’s fictional economics for what it was: “Voodoo Economics”.
But as right wingers almost always do, once someone is in charge they fall in line like beta-dogs. So Bush 1 fell in line and adopted the “Voodoo Economics” fraud that he initially, rightfully, derided.
And after Republican President Reagan increased the US debt by over 260% (and between Republican Presidents Reagan and Bush 1, they increased the US debt by 400%), the corporate-media-stars told the Big Lie over and over and over again so that to this day Reagan’s debt is referred to as ‘fiscal conservatism’.
* For the teabaggers that don’t know: “Ministry of Truth”, from the book 1984, is the Orwellian propaganda agency that constantly rewrote history.
lmsinca, CNN is in last place maybe they are trying a new approach, Fox style.
Ahh.. SNL nails Dobbs! AND even better suggests bunking KSM with Madoff.
Kelley –
“how do you manage to persuade yourself to leave Taos for Texas???
”
Two word: Mr. Tena.
“But: Approval rose with the passage of the House Dem health care bill.”
What a blatant lie. The interviews for that poll were taken on Nov 5-8. The House Health Care bill was passed very late in the evening on Nov. 7. The huge, huge majority (probably 3/4 or more) of those polled were almost certainly interviewed before that bill was passed, and probably quite a few of those polled on the 8th were unaware of its passage also. But hey, don’t let those facts stop you from trying to lie about it.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/124277/Congress-Approval-Recovers-Independents-Buck-Trend.aspx
Pay close attention to this quote from the linked site:
“The results are from a Gallup poll conducted Nov. 5-8…”
Implying that Congressional Job Approval went up because of passage of that health care bill is pretty f’ing disingenuous.
PS. I am still going to filibuster this bill into the stone age.
Commenter “Lie bermann”: “I am still going to filibuster this [healthcare] bill into the stone age.”
Over 44,000 Americans die every year because of lack of health insurance.
But right wingers are willing to turn their backs on Americans for their corporate-paymasters.
And Joe “Senator from the Corporate State of Aetna” Lie bermann is who he’s always been: A corporate owned right wing closet case who is willing to sell out Americans and America for his short-sighted interests.
This story is quite charming. A Chief IDF Rabbi has it that God is not love but rather that He is murderous hatred…
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1128144.html
Over at the NRO, they’re pretty pumped about the new smack in the center of Broadway “Osama Comes to the Big Apple” musical.
Today’s fun quote…Sean Hannity to Chuck Norris…
“Chuck, you have a terrific column in World Net Daily”
http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/chuck-norris-indulges-violent-elimin
Sullivan takes a quote from Bruce Bartlett, one of the few remaining conservatives whose brain stem remains intact…
“I don’t mean to imply that Europeanization is unambiguously good; only that it’s not unambiguously bad, as virtually all conservatives believe. There are many ways I think we could learn from the Europeans and they from us. One way we can learn from them is how to have a tax system that raises considerably more revenue as a share of the economy than ours does without killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.
At a minimum, I think it’s safe to say that Hayek was wrong about the inevitability of totalitarianism arising from growth in the size of government. The collapse of communism is proof enough of that.”
http://www.forbes.com/2009/11/12/europe-america-taxes-health-opinions-columnists-bruce-bartlett.html
“This story is quite charming. A Chief IDF Rabbi has it that God is not love but rather that He is murderous hatred…”
Bernie – there’s a good book about Israel called: “How Israel Lost” by Richard Ben Cramer. I recommend it.
Cramer is Jewish and his main thesis is that Israel has lost its soul in the fight against the Palestinians and has become a victim of that war in the process because it has eaten up everything else.
I have to laugh at Arianna. For two to three days her ledes have been about Sarah Palin and Going Rogue and she starts her editorial today with: get ready for the Palin press onslaught in the wake of the book’s release.
Well, Arianna – you should know – you are right there. You haven’t shut up about Sarah Palin for one second since the campaign.
Tena
That’s the second recommendation I’ve had for the book. Thanks!
Did y’all read that the first Marijuana cafe has been opened in Portland, Ore?
God I’m thrilled. We’re going to do this – we’re going to legalize before same *** marriage goes legal and I did not expect this. God – quality control and not having to chase drug dealers around – heaven.
And I read this yesterday and reset all my main passwords.
http://www.slate.com/id/2235503/
Sunday roundup coming in minutes.
All, Sunday roundup posted:
http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/political-media/sunday-roundup/