ThinkFast: December 7, 2006
ThinkFast: December 7, 2006
Hours after the release of the Iraq Study Group, President Bush and some of the most vocal Capitol Hill backers of the Iraq war gathered for what an insider described as a group therapy session. “The hawks who met with Bush included his pal Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), California Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA)…and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).”
President Bush “may not be in much of a hurry to accept [ISG co-chairman Jim] Baker’s ideas about [Iraq] — or much else. Asked if Baker would help implement the report, a spokesman for Mr. Bush said, ‘Jim Baker can go back to his day job.‘”
In a USA Today interview, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin “accused the federal government Wednesday of abandoning its legal obligation to help his city recover from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.”
“The Bush administration is considering doing away with health standards that cut lead from gasoline, widely regarded as one of the nation’s biggest clean-air accomplishments,” the AP reports. “Battery makers, lead smelters, refiners all have lobbied the administration to do away with the Clean Air Act limits.”
President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair will meet today to “consider the future course in Iraq.” Like the ISG report, “Blair is expected to urge Bush to embrace a wider Middle East peace policy to help resolve the Iraq crisis.”
New NASA satellite data reveals that warmer ocean waters are shrinking the vital base of the ocean food web. “The data show a significant link between warmer water either from the El Nino weather phenomenon or global warming and reduced production of phytoplankton of the world’s oceans.”
Affordable housing opportunities have continued to dwindle this year, according to local housing officials in a survey by the National League of Cities. “Three-fourths of those surveyed say housing costs are significantly limiting home ownership opportunities for lower-income residents and young families.”
“House Republicans opposed to abortion rights failed Wednesday in their bid to pass a controversial measure that would have required women seeking abortions to be informed that some fetuses feel pain.”
Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) ended his tenure as chairman of the environment committee yesterday “with a final hearing aimed at spanking the press for its coverage of climate change.” One of Inhofe’s invited witnesses proclaimed, “We sit here scared to death of something that really doesn’t exist.” Incoming chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) pushed back: “Attacking the press doesn’t make the truth go away.”
And finally: At yesterday’s press conference, several Iraq Study Group members “struggled for gravitas.” Former senator Alan Simpson “passed around his copy of the report for his colleagues to autograph, ‘just like a high school annual.’” Meanwhile, Lawrence Eagleburger “doodled”: “first something resembling a sailboat, then a grocery cart, then finally a tyrannosaurus on wheels.”
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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“Blair is expected to urge Bush to embrace a wider Middle East peace policy to help resolve the Iraq crisis.â€
Blair: So?
Bush: No.
Blair: Come on!
Bush: No.
2 hours of silence.
December 7th, 2006 at 9:04 amWhat Ray Nagin needs to realize down there in the Big Easy is that the election is OVER until 2008! We’s all sad and everything about what happened and all, but now that them Demmycrats has used Preznit Bush Jr.’s passionate and caring response to the victims of the hurricane — most of which was Trent Lott, as I recall — to convince America that the Preznit hates minorities… well, the Demmycrats got no further use for him or his city… until 2008. If it’s still there. Which it may be. We’ll see.
December 7th, 2006 at 9:07 amBush Co will proceed heedlessly.
The only good to come from all this will be the disrepute of the Republican Party for a generation.
December 7th, 2006 at 9:07 am“Blair is expected to urge Bush to embrace a wider Middle East peace policy to help resolve the Iraq crisis.â€
Bush’s idea of a wider peace plan would be to attack Iran, attack Syria, attack…. I think Bush needs to get narrower and narrower and narrower until we can turn him sideways and not see him, ever again.
Mr. Bush said, ‘Jim Baker can go back to his day job.‘â€
Kind of sounds like the same snippy, arrogant approach Bush had about Jim Webb’s son in Iraq.
Lawrence Eagleburger “doodledâ€
Don’t be too critical on this one. Some people, myself included, pay attention better when they also doodle.
December 7th, 2006 at 9:11 amDon’t blame Eagleburger… from the Post article:
Eagleburger said after the event that when the group met with Bush, “I don’t recall, seriously, that he asked any questions.”
Three words: Worst President Ever.
December 7th, 2006 at 9:16 am“That is not to say that air emissions of lead should be uncontrolled, or that no steps should be taken to address public health concerns arising from lead use,” the Battery Council International said. “But many other regulatory vehicles exist for meeting these concerns.”
Besides, you know, terrorists breathe. Do we want them to breathe clean air?
December 7th, 2006 at 9:18 amMr. Bush said, ‘Jim Baker can go back to his day job.’
December 7th, 2006 at 9:22 amNow that Daddy brought in his group to help the Chimperor out of a fine mess, he should appreciate Mr. Baker’s input.
Surprised?
I didn’t think so.
Bush Baby doesn’t play well with others.
Bush Baby doesn’t like to be told what to do.
Bush Baby thought this was all over 2 years ago, & wants it to just go away.
Sorry, Bushie. It’s not going away.
The only thing going away is the people you appointed.
They’re running as fast as they can.
They may end up in jail.
That just may be where you see them again.
This game’s no fun anymore! I want my power back! Now!
When are we going to label this war “Bush’s War” rather than the Iraq war?
December 7th, 2006 at 9:26 amWe should start using this name everytime we refer to the conflict om Iraq with the hope that by the time this man leaves office, the war is widely referred to as “Bush’s War” as a means of establishing his legacy. This man is a fool and we should make sure that he, and those behind him such as Karl Rove, are remembered as such. Hopefully our country will never be burdened with the likes of him again.
Hmmmm, the “Iraq Study Group” recommended sending more troops. This should give pro-war Dems the cover they need to side with Repubs on heightening the US involvement in the war.
December 7th, 2006 at 9:26 amPresident Bush “may not be in much of a hurry to accept [ISG co-chairman Jim] Baker’s ideas about [Iraq] — or much else. Asked if Baker would help implement the report, a spokesman for Mr. Bush said, ‘Jim Baker can go back to his day job.‘â€
Bless his heart. I believe GWB is having what the ladies in the South call a “hissy fit.”
December 7th, 2006 at 9:26 amPresident Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair will meet today to “consider the future course in Iraq.†Like the ISG report, “Blair is expected to urge Bush to embrace a wider Middle East peace policy to help resolve the Iraq crisis.â€
And GWB will pat Tony B on the head, and tell the poodle to run along…
December 7th, 2006 at 9:28 amSen. James Inhofe (R-OK) ended his tenure as chairman of the environment committee yesterday “with a final hearing aimed at spanking the press for its coverage of climate change.â€
No Inhofe will have more time for spanking it.
December 7th, 2006 at 9:29 amRegarding lead emmissions:
A program initiated under a Democrat worked so well that the Republicans now want to scrap it.
Deregulating air quality standards will not increase jobs, but it will increase profits, both for the polluters and for the health care industry.
December 7th, 2006 at 9:31 amI haven’ t been able to find out exactly who the “spokesman for the pResident” was that made the “day job” comment…. anybody know anything?
December 7th, 2006 at 9:32 amPanel: U.S. Underreported Iraq Violence
U.S. military and intelligence officials have systematically underreported the violence in Iraq in order to suit the Bush administration’s policy goals, the bipartisan Iraq Study Group said.
In its report on ways to improve the U.S. approach to stabilizing Iraq, the group recommended Wednesday that the director of national intelligence and the secretary of defense make changes in the collection of data about violence to provide a more accurate picture.
The panel pointed to one day last July when U.S. officials reported 93 attacks or significant acts of violence. “Yet a careful review of the reports for that single day brought to light 1,100 acts of violence,” it said.
“The standard for recording attacks acts as a filter to keep events out of reports and databases.” It said, for example, that a murder of an Iraqi is not necessarily counted as an attack, and a roadside bomb or a rocket or mortar attack that doesn’t hurt U.S. personnel doesn’t count, either. Also, if the source of a sectarian attack is not determined, that assault is not added to the database of violence incidents.
something else we all knew – so how many have really died
December 7th, 2006 at 9:34 amLieberman, McCain, Harman, and Bush: “bipartisan” group therapy. What a bunch of irrelevant jokers. Tell each other how wonderful and important you are, guys, and give each other a medal.
December 7th, 2006 at 9:42 amBy the way, if I hear the word “bipartisan” one more time, I’m going to puke. “Bipartisan” is a buzzword for “same old, same old.”
Inbread Redneck,
We already know it’s extremely bad over there, and now we find out it’s actually unbelievably horrifyingly bad over there.
I’ve said this before: Every time I picture George W. Bush, he is dripping blood head to toe.
December 7th, 2006 at 9:42 am“accused the federal government Wednesday of abandoning its legal obligation to help his city recover from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.â€
Is there an actual legal obligation?
Also, happy Infamy Day. Take a minute today to remember their sacrifice.
December 7th, 2006 at 9:43 amNew NASA satellite data reveals that warmer ocean waters are shrinking the vital base of the ocean food web. “The data show a significant link between warmer water either from the El Nino weather phenomenon or global warming and reduced production of phytoplankton of the world’s oceans.â€
Do you hear that? It’s the warning bell ringing steadily, loudly, insistently — pay attention!
December 7th, 2006 at 9:43 amHours after the release of the Iraq Study Group, President Bush and some of the most vocal Capitol Hill backers of the Iraq war gathered for what an insider described as a group therapy session.
Yeah, they gathered the only people left in this country who are still stupid enough to support this war.
If you supported this war: shut up. Being wrong about everything doesn’t make you “serious,” it makes you useless.
Go flip burgers or something, it’s all you’re good for.
December 7th, 2006 at 9:45 am.
“House Republicans opposed to abortion rights failed Wednesday in their bid to pass a controversial measure that would have required women seeking abortions to be informed that some fetuses feel pain.â€
Good. Now get lost…
December 7th, 2006 at 9:46 amSen. James Inhofe (R-OK) ended his tenure as chairman of the environment committee yesterday…
WHILE A TORNADO HIT LONDON.
Ignorant, drooling, superstitious freak, you’re like Comical Ali declaring that there’s no global climate change while the biosphere hemorhages around you.
There’s another ignorant Republican who needs to shut up and stop wasting our time. Nothing that comes out of his mouth is worth a damn.
December 7th, 2006 at 9:47 am.
The data show a significant link between warmer water either from the El Nino weather phenomenon or global warming
Isn’t El Nino localized, where as global warming is world wide, so you should be able to tell if it’s El Nino or Global warming by the total area of the ocean that is affected by the temperature/phytoplankton changes?
December 7th, 2006 at 9:48 amPresident Bush “may not be in much of a hurry to accept [ISG co-chairman Jim] Baker’s ideas about [Iraq] — or much else. Asked if Baker would help implement the report, a spokesman for Mr. Bush said, ‘Jim Baker can go back to his day job.‘â€
Thank you for your candor, sir. It’s so comforting to know that the dumbest president in U.S. history will continue to ignore the advice of those former cabinet members, congressmen, military leaders, and foreign policy experts from around the world who know infinitely more about what he’s supposed to be doing than he could ever hope to in a thousand lifetimes.
The biggest baby in the U.S. is going to threaten us with a horrible tantrum if we try to straighten out the mess he’s created. Cut his mike and get his pathetic, spoiled brat, crybaby ass out of there.
December 7th, 2006 at 9:49 amFrom the BBC site:
December 7th, 2006 at 9:51 amThe prime minister of Israel, Olmert, has rejected the Iraq Study Groups reccommendation that Israel resume talks with Syria regarding the Israeli/Arab conflict.
Check Sen. Joseph Lieberman’s phone records for an exact time line of these developements.
Who wants to bet there will be a McCain-Lieberman ticket in 2008.
December 7th, 2006 at 9:54 am“The Bush administration is considering doing away with health standards that cut lead from gasoline, widely regarded as one of the nation’s biggest clean-air accomplishments,â€
What, YOU can’t breath lead you PUSSY??! Breathin’ a little lead will toughen you up! You know who thinks you can’t breath lead? The TERRORISTS! Are you with them or with us LEAD Breathin’ Americans?
December 7th, 2006 at 9:54 am‘I’ll flee the country as soon as the US leaves’
December 7th, 2006 at 9:57 amonce the US military pulls back in Iraq, he should leave the country if he wants to survive. “As soon as it happens, I will quit my job and live outside Iraq,â€
Isn’t El Nino localized, where as global warming is world wide, so you should be able to tell if it’s El Nino or Global warming by the total area of the ocean that is affected by the temperature/phytoplankton changes?
Comment by squegeeboo
I would guess that measurements could be taken before during and after the El Nino effect happens and the data would show the growth rate of the phytoplankton in the area that was affected. BUt that’s just a guess since I am not a scientist in that field of study.
December 7th, 2006 at 9:57 amBy all means, please, put a little lead in your life.
December 7th, 2006 at 10:01 amHasten the end of another Western Empire.
The lead water pipes of the Romans helped end that one, I imagine breathing it will work just as well to end the Empire of Conspicuous Consumption.
dlet
I would guess that measurements could be taken before during and after the El Nino effect happens
Apparently if I had taken the time to RTFA I wouldn’t have had to ask, because that ‘or’ wasn’t because they weren’t sure if it was El Nino or Warming, but more of an inclusive or, saying that they both hurt plankton.
From the Article:
However, the satellite first started taking measurements in 1997 when water temperatures were at their warmest due to El Nino. That’s the regular cyclical warming of part of the Pacific Ocean that affects climate worldwide.
After that year, the ocean significantly cooled until 1999 and the phytoplankton crop soared by 2 billion tons during those two years.
December 7th, 2006 at 10:02 amSen. James Inhofe (R-OK) ended his tenure as chairman of the environment committee yesterday “with a final hearing aimed at spanking the press for its coverage of climate change.â€
Last throes. Inhofe cannot stop the belief that global warming is taking place.
December 7th, 2006 at 10:06 am#28, squegeeboo, what does that guy know? He’s just an Iraqi living in the middle of that hell hole. Why should we listen to him?
December 7th, 2006 at 10:06 amJoe L. looks disappointed for Bush. What a good uncle.
December 7th, 2006 at 10:06 amPresident Bush “may not be in much of a hurry to accept [ISG co-chairman Jim] Baker’s ideas about [Iraq] — or much else. Asked if Baker would help implement the report, a spokesman for Mr. Bush said, ‘Jim Baker can go back to his day job.‘â€
That’s pretty bad, I really was hopeful the crybaby would suck it up and listen to his Uncle Jim.
December 7th, 2006 at 10:08 am“House Republicans opposed to abortion rights failed Wednesday in their bid to pass a controversial measure that would have required women seeking abortions to be informed that some fetuses feel pain.â€
Here’s a news flash for the Republican party: Children in the U.S. who go to bed hungry feel pain. People who can’t afford health care on their minimum wage, no-benefits jobs and have to work injured or sick feel pain. People in Iraq who have been dragged out of their houses in the middle of the night and beaten on the basis of unfounded suspicions feel pain. First responders in NYC who were told that the air at ground zero was safe to breathe, even though the EPA knew otherwise, feel pain. Troops and civilians exposed to depleted uranium that’s been scattered by the wind all over Iraq, and their children who are born with profound birth defects, feel pain. Children in Houston, Texas, who are developing asthma from all the pollutants in the air can feel pain. There’s pain all over the place and you can hear about it first hand from the people who are feeling it. So, let’s not micro-focus on the degree to which fetuses might feel pain while you’ve got millions of real live ‘post-born’ human beings suffering for your idiotic mistakes. Start dealing with the real world.
December 7th, 2006 at 10:12 amrobert
He’s just an Iraqi living in the middle of that hell hole. Why should we listen to him?
He prob. doesn’t even have a college degree in politics, how could he know about things like partisan-militia-machine politics.
Caption Contest:
December 7th, 2006 at 10:15 amBush: Just give us your lunch money and we’ll let you go.
#35 ForTruth
That’s pretty bad, I really was hopeful the crybaby would suck it up and listen to his Uncle Jim.
You underestimated his crybabiness. If it would require him to admit he did something wrong, or even imply it in anyway way, he’s not gonna do it.
December 7th, 2006 at 10:21 am‘I’ll flee the country as soon as the US leaves’
once the US military pulls back in Iraq, he should leave the country if he wants to survive. “As soon as it happens, I will quit my job and live outside Iraq,â€
This said by a man that has lived in Iraq all his life. Now he will leave after the US invaded his country and then leaves it in total disarray. But some believe it is the withdrawl that will cause the problem. The problem has already been caused. Thats kind of like blaming your butt for your diahrea after you ate a bowl full of jalapenos.
December 7th, 2006 at 10:21 amSo much for “on the ground” reporting. IT’s easier to draw conclusion for 7000 miles away.
OK, baited me into the caption contest.
December 7th, 2006 at 10:28 amBush:”A girl got a pet goat. She liked to go running with her pet goat….”
I did underestimate his crybabiness. Is there a way to change course, but at the same time have our little crybaby to feel like he saved face?
December 7th, 2006 at 10:28 amThats kind of like blaming your butt for your diahrea after you ate a bowl full of jalapenos.
Comment by dlet
Haven’t laughed that hard in a couple weeks, very good. Why do I feel curious George would blame his butt for a fart?
December 7th, 2006 at 10:30 amdlet
But some believe it is the withdrawl that will cause the problem. The problem has already been caused.
But leaving will exasperate the problem, and possibly create a refugee issue(for the collaborators), at least according to that Iraq.
December 7th, 2006 at 10:31 am#18 “accused the federal government Wednesday of abandoning its legal obligation to help his city recover from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.â€
Is there an actual legal obligation?
Comment by squegeeboo — December 7, 2006 @ 9:43 am
Is the state of Louisiana part of the federation called the United States of America? Are their citizens nationalized as USA citizens? Is New Orleans a city inside or outside of the homeland continental USA? Have or haven’t payed their citizens federal taxes all their life?
December 7th, 2006 at 10:32 amAll right, caption.
Joe:
“Warm your hand up before you grab me there, you disappoint me.”
December 7th, 2006 at 10:32 amFrist just stuck a “kick me” sign on Joe’s back.
December 7th, 2006 at 10:34 am“The Bush administration is considering doing away with health standards that cut lead from gasoline, widely regarded as one of the nation’s biggest clean-air accomplishments,†the AP reports. “Battery makers, lead smelters, refiners all have lobbied the administration to do away with the Clean Air Act limits.â€
The first adversely affected will be the citizens of the states with less environment policy. That is, the red states. What goes around comes around. But hey, you can always blame the leftist treehuggers for your lung cancer.
December 7th, 2006 at 10:36 amEvil Spaniard
Have or haven’t payed their citizens federal taxes all their life?
Unless you can cite an actual law that states the Fed’s have to help(which prob. exists in relationship to FEMA, or declaring a State of Disaster by the president) your argument is moral, not legal.
December 7th, 2006 at 10:39 amCaption:
“George,Bill,how ’bout a group kiss.”
December 7th, 2006 at 10:39 amBut leaving will exasperate the problem, and possibly create a refugee issue(for the collaborators), at least according to that Iraq.
Comment by squegeeboo
An arguement could be made that staying would exasperate the problem by creating a feeling that the occupation forces will never leave and this alone could escalate the fighting in Iraq. Either arguement could be made. What should be done is use what has happened since the invasion, historic instances that are similar and use them to figure what next step to take. I personally have come to the conclusion that involving the neighboring states to take a direct role in the stabilization of Iraq and US removal from Iraq is the way of least chaos. This glorified dream of a democratic Iraq is just that and should not be pursued. Bush’s War has been a blunder from the beginning. Why keep it alive?
December 7th, 2006 at 10:41 amdllet & squeegee,
Ever heard of “Catch-22″?
December 7th, 2006 at 10:43 am#41 ForTruth
I did underestimate his crybabiness. Is there a way to change course, but at the same time have our little crybaby to feel like he saved face?
After listening to Bush and Snow for far too long, I’m confident there will be no end to the bullshit. If they can allow themselves to be forced to do something they didn’t want to do, but be able to tell everyone it was exactly what they wanted to do, and say it in a way that at least they think sounds convincing, it might be possible to get Bush to agree to do what the ISG recommends. But, I just don’t see why anyone needs to put any effort into saving his face. Or his ass. Was that redundant?
December 7th, 2006 at 10:44 amrobert
Ever heard of “Catch-22″?
Nah, I stopped watching after Catch-12, it had been going downhill since 8 anyways.
dlet
December 7th, 2006 at 10:48 amI personally have come to the conclusion that involving the neighboring states to take a direct role in the stabilization of Iraq and US removal from Iraq is the way of least chaos.
Well then hopefully Bush will take the advice of that panel that just finished up, about talking with Syria and Iran to help resolve some Iraqi issues. But thats not realistically going to happen until 2008, either with the change over, or to try and put a nice facade on things for the election cycle.
(Caption contest)
December 7th, 2006 at 10:49 amDubious: Perfect smirk, Joe!
Frisk: You must have been practicing a lot!
#48 Evil Spaniard
Have or haven’t payed their citizens federal taxes all their life?
Unless you can cite an actual law that states the Fed’s have to help(which prob. exists in relationship to FEMA, or declaring a State of Disaster by the president) your argument is moral, not legal.
Comment by squegeeboo — December 7, 2006 @ 10:39 am
Squeegee, people first. In case of doubt, the Prez has enough room to do as he wants. See signing statements and the like. And FEMA is an organization created to answer to emergencies, thus it has the power to have the Prez permission (remember chief of the executive power) quickly to intervene.
I know all the bureaucracy involved in the level stratified government of the USA, but the FEMA was theorethically created to shorten the paths in case of need. And, please, don’t use this to claim to the winds for “smaller” government. A “smaller” or inexistent FEMA would have been as much as ineffective in the hands of Bush or Brownie.
December 7th, 2006 at 10:56 amTornado season in London.
December 7th, 2006 at 10:56 amEvil Spaniard
thus it has the power to have the Prez permission (remember chief of the executive power) quickly to intervene.
Sure it has the power, but is it required to? At what point does it move from being a case that FEMA doesn’t take, to one that they are required, by law, to take?
December 7th, 2006 at 11:01 am#57 Evil Spaniard
thus it has the power to have the Prez permission (remember chief of the executive power) quickly to intervene.
Sure it has the power, but is it required to? At what point does it move from being a case that FEMA doesn’t take, to one that they are required, by law, to take?
Comment by squegeeboo — December 7, 2006 @ 11:01 am
A couple cities and some milions of people isn’t enough for Bush to take the helm?
December 7th, 2006 at 11:04 amThats kind of like blaming your butt for your diahrea after you ate a bowl full of jalapenos.
Comment by dlet
Haven’t laughed that hard in a couple weeks, very good. Why do I feel curious George would blame his butt for a fart?
Comment by ForTruth — December 7, 2006 @ 10:30 am
dubya would surely blame the jalapenos…
December 7th, 2006 at 11:04 amAnd, as I remember, a very similar number of victims was enough for Bush to declare two wars, far costlier than recovery an important city of the USA (capital of State?).
December 7th, 2006 at 11:06 amSqueegy,
Katrina was a natural disaster. There was no question as to whether or not FEMA would “take” the case. Seriously, are you kidding?
December 7th, 2006 at 11:07 am#9 – Mr. Hendler, you need to re-read the report.
http://www.usip.org/isg/iraq_study_group_report/report/1206/iraq_study_group_report.pdf
C. Some Alternative Courses in Iraq
3. More Troops for Iraq
Sustained increases in U.S. troop levels would not solve the fundamental cause of violence in Iraq, which is the absence of national reconciliation. A senior American general told us that adding U.S. troops might temporarily help limit violence in a highly localized area. However, past experience indicates that the violence would simply rekindle as soon as U.S. forces are moved to another area. As another American general told us, if the Iraqi government does not make political progress, “all the troops in the world will not provide security.†Meanwhile, America’s military capacity is stretched thin: we do not have the troops or equipment to make a substantial, sustained increase in our troop presence. Increased deployments to Iraq would also necessarily hamper our ability to provide adequate resources for our efforts in Afghanistan or respond to crises around the world.
December 7th, 2006 at 11:09 amSqueegie is kidding, he’s been kidding a lot this morning.
December 7th, 2006 at 11:10 amEvil Spaniard
(capital of State?)
Baton Rouge.
A couple cities and some milions of people isn’t enough for Bush to take the helm?
December 7th, 2006 at 11:10 amSo still no legal obligation, just moral arguments?
#61 – Not to be contrarian, but doesn’t the President have to declare something a “disaster” before FEMA can be called to action?
Then again, with the record of the current administration, and FEMA’s role under the current administration, I pray we have no more disasters.
Well, to be honest, I pray for a lot of things that don’t come to pass. Maybe I’m doing it wrong? ;-)
December 7th, 2006 at 11:12 amSqueegie is kidding, he’s been kidding a lot this morning.
Comment by ForTruth
I must be concentrating on something else, I can usually tell.
December 7th, 2006 at 11:13 ami didn’t get too far into it this morning before deciding that it was too much of a FREEPER FEST at the mary cheney thread…
December 7th, 2006 at 11:14 amanyone else? … is it worth another look-see?
Evil Spaniard
(capital of State?)
Baton Rouge.
Ah, yes. Also affected by the hurricane, isn’t?
A couple cities and some milions of people isn’t enough for Bush to take the helm?
So still no legal obligation, just moral arguments?
Comment by squegeeboo — December 7, 2006 @ 11:10 am
Wasn’t Bush a person of moral behavior?
December 7th, 2006 at 11:16 am“Jim Baker can go back to his day job.”
I have to say I’m shocked by this remark. This is unbelievably arrogant. Didn’t the President appoint this guy? Isn’t he a trusted family advisor? This administration has lost touch with reality. Not a news flash, I know.
December 7th, 2006 at 11:17 amTo hell with any moral pressures, ay Squeegie?
December 7th, 2006 at 11:18 amI must be concentrating on something else, I can usually tell.
Comment by Zooey
Now why wouldn’t TP get your full attention?
December 7th, 2006 at 11:20 amForTruth
Squeegie is kidding, he’s been kidding a lot this morning.
To hell with any moral pressures, ay Squeegie?
Actually no, just getting into a semantics argument, even I’m not cold enough to say the Fed’s shouldn’t help out in NO, but the TP comment had said legal obligation, not moral, and I was curious as to what legal obligation the Fed’s weren’t living up to.
December 7th, 2006 at 11:23 amI haven’ t been able to find out exactly who the “spokesman for the pResident†was that made the “day job†comment…. anybody know anything?
Comment by Raven — December 7, 2006 @ 9:32 am
i searched google news with that quote. – only three hits: TP,CBS, and this, worded slightly different -
Asked if Baker would be drafted to help implement the recommendation, the President’s spokesman said, ‘Jim Baker can go back to his day job.’”
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/bulletin/bulletin_061206.htm
vs. ‘a spokesman for the…’
December 7th, 2006 at 11:25 amhow many ’spokesman’(s) does the preznit have? …
and I was curious as to what legal obligation the Fed’s weren’t living up to.
Comment by squegeeboo
How you can be sure there isn’t any? I say there is. I have changed your reality.
I have to say I understand why Bush gets a kick out of doing things this way. It’s so much easier.
December 7th, 2006 at 11:27 amI was curious as to what legal obligation the Fed’s weren’t living up to.
Comment by squegeeboo — December 7, 2006 @ 11:23 am
FEMA | Federal Emergency Management Agency
Agency of the US government tasked with Disaster Mitigation, Preparedness, Response & Recovery planning.
http://www.fema.gov/
got it?
December 7th, 2006 at 11:28 amdlet
How you can be sure there isn’t any?
There prob. is something inside the FEMA charter, or for declaring a state of emergency, like I stated above, I just didn’t feel like hitting up the ol’ Google about it.
I have changed your reality.
Woah. You just blew my mind.
I have to say I understand why Bush gets a kick out of doing things this way. It’s so much easier.
Hard work pays off tomorrow, but procrastination pays off today.
zoo
December 7th, 2006 at 11:30 amI must be concentrating on something else, I can usually tell.
And once again you were right.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, passed unanimously by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1948.
Article 25 states: “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well being of himself and his family” — this is the terminology of 194 remember — “including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to secure that in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood.”
How are these principles upheld in the richest country in the world, with absolutely unparalleled advantages and no excuses for not completely satisfying them? The US has the worst record on poverty in the industrialized world. Tens of millions of people are hungry every night, including millions of children who are suffering from third world levels of disease and malnutrition. In New York City, one of the richest cities in the world, 40 per cent of children live below the poverty line, deprived of minimal conditions that offer some hope for escape from misery, destitution and violence.
December 7th, 2006 at 11:31 amJust out of the FEMA page, Squeguee:
FEMA Mission
DISASTER. It strikes anytime, anywhere. It takes many forms — a hurricane, an earthquake, a tornado, a flood, a fire or a hazardous spill, an act of nature or an act of terrorism. It builds over days or weeks, or hits suddenly, without warning. Every year, millions of Americans face disaster, and its terrifying consequences.
On March 1, 2003, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). FEMA’s continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program.
Is this enough legal for you, Squeguee?
December 7th, 2006 at 11:31 amSqueege,
You could research it, and find the answer.
December 7th, 2006 at 11:33 amPhoto Caption:
December 7th, 2006 at 11:33 amJoe: Thanks, guys, I’ve neve been in the middle of a bipartisan circle jerk before!
Evil Spaniard,
That isn’t good enough for Squeege, he wants the law, not a mission statement. Just sayin’ before he does. I stole his thunder.
December 7th, 2006 at 11:34 amEvil Spaniard
And to think, all you had to do was go into the article, and quote this snippet:
December 7th, 2006 at 11:39 amUnder federal law, he added, the government is obliged to help restore vital infrastructure devastated by the storm, which struck the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29, 2005
Sounds like Naggin wasn’t even talking about the families that need homes rebuilt and the such, but rather getting things like the highways, and municipal services back up and running.
The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life. — Teddy Roosevelt
Just an interesting quote to share.
ForTruth
December 7th, 2006 at 11:44 amYou could research it, and find the answer.
I refer you to the middle of my comment #76
Sounds like Naggin wasn’t even talking about the families that need homes rebuilt and the such, but rather getting things like the highways, and municipal services back up and running.
Comment by squegeeboo
Yeah, remember guys, Naggin is the major, therefore, is the government, therefore he is fully responsible for FEMA´s or WH´s inactions.
Besides, we all know how much squeegee cares for all those lazy, black, blue-singing, poor new orleans…
December 7th, 2006 at 11:49 amsafety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life. — Teddy Roosevelt
Great human being that Roosevelt. Just ask Phillipines, Columbia, Panama and why not? Cuba.
December 7th, 2006 at 11:53 am#73… katy….
December 7th, 2006 at 11:54 amThanks, it is all very murky, isn’t it?
He seems to have numerous spokesmen and spokeswomen.
It was the fact that the person was not identified by name, and without the catch-phrase of on condition of anonyminity that caught my eye……
Juan C.
Great human being that Roosevelt.
He sure was, or at least a great American, check this out:
He distrusted wealthy businessmen and dissolved 40 monopolistic corporations as a “trust buster.” He said he wanted to “Regulate trusts, but not destroy them.” His “Square Deal” promised a fair shake for the average citizen, including regulation of railroad rates and pure foods and drugs. As an outdoorsman he promoted the conservation movement, emphasizing efficient use of natural resources. After he started attacking the courts as biased against labor unions
Naggin is the major, therefore, is the government, therefore he is fully responsible for FEMA´s or WH´s inactions.
December 7th, 2006 at 12:02 pmNope, I was just commenting that Naggin’s comment about the Fed’s had nothing to do with moral reasons for helping the poor or what not, but rather with reasons for getting city infrastructure back first.
Squeeg,
December 7th, 2006 at 12:12 pmI agree on certain things about Teddy. He did many a great things for this country and reined in corporations but didn’t castrate them. On the other hand he had imperialistic tendencies that don’t sit well with me. And as a conservationist my hats off to the guy.
Too bad Bush doesn’t have a “day job” that he can go back to. The Texas Rangers are more his speed. Maybe they have another young Sammy Sosa he could give away.
Playing President is way over his head. Way over.
December 7th, 2006 at 12:44 pm#87 squegeeboo
Don’t forget that Teddy also won the Nobel Peace Prize for mediating the end of the Russo-Japanese War…Helped Cuba and Panama win their indepence…Signed the U.S. Pure Food and Drug Act.
December 7th, 2006 at 1:03 pmNotice how the same people who say we have no moral obligation to New Orleans are pretty much the same ones who say we have a moral obligation in Iraq. Interesting. The government builds and maintains a levee system in the US. When the Levee breaks it is the responsibility of the people affected to rescue themselves and rebuild. That seems to be the right wing position when it comes to the poor and black of this country. Now we go to Iraq where our government builds and maintains a war but we can not leave those poor people because we have a moral obligation to help them and rebuild their country. But we have no obligation to rebuild our country.
December 7th, 2006 at 1:07 pmDon’t forget that Teddy also won the Nobel Peace Prize for mediating the end of the Russo-Japanese War…Helped Cuba and Panama win their indepence…Signed the U.S. Pure Food and Drug Act.
Comment by Exley
So Exley is for peaceniks, latinos and bigger government.
December 7th, 2006 at 1:53 pm#51 – robert,
December 7th, 2006 at 1:56 pm“Groundhog Day” better describes the situation in Iraq.
Does anybody know if the 10 people on the IRAQ experts panel were paid for their “work” since they first got together back in whenever.
December 7th, 2006 at 5:29 pmThat’s the kind of job I’d like. Sit around and toss the baloney, go out for lunch and maybe dinner, all at the probable expense of us all taxpayers. And then come up with a bunch of reccos that 10 local citizens coukd arrive at after a one day bull session. What has to be done is to fire half the personnel in gov’t and let them try to find jobs in the private sector,especially that bunch of lemons who advocated our getting into this undeclared war.
AND remember PEARL HARBOR !!!!!
I would chooes McCain over this shyster any day of the week!
http://www.lcrga.com/archive/200010251159.shtml
December 7th, 2006 at 11:43 pmglobal warming? big deal.they are gonna put colonies of humans in
space in about 20 years,and with all the money I made in both
Bush`s terms I expect I will be on that shuttle bus to the sky.
Back to work you govt. mules!!
The more you work the more I make!Keep working for my safety in
about 20 years.I will see ya there!!
Or maybe not if you don`t have enough moolah!
Oh well no matter I do and that is all that counts.
December 8th, 2006 at 1:11 am