ThinkFast: January 23, 2007
ThinkFast: January 23, 2007
Former Vice President Al Gore’s global warming documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” was nominated for an Academy Award this morning for Best Documentary.
Although President Bush “will devote about half of tonight’s 40-minute-plus” State of the Union speech to Iraq and other foreign policy matters, aides say he “will not directly engage in a debate over congressional efforts to block the troop increase.”
29 percent: Percentage of countries who believe the United States is a positive influence in the world, according to a BBC poll of 25 nations. That number is down from 36 percent last year and 40 percent two years ago. An average of 73 percent of the respondents disapprove of the war in Iraq.
“Evidence of Iranian involvement in Iraq’s troubles is limited. U.S. troops have found mortars and antitank mines with Iranian markings dated 2006,” the Los Angeles Times reports. “But there has been little sign of more advanced weaponry crossing the border, and no Iranian agents have been found.”
Iraq is sliding “into the abyss of sectarianism,” U.N. envoy Ashraf Qazi said yesterday “after two car bombs in a Baghdad market killed 88 people.”
The new report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to be released next week will show that “[h]uman-caused global warming is here — visible in the air, water and melting ice — and is destined to get much worse in the future.” “This isn’t a smoking gun; climate is a battalion of intergalactic smoking missiles,” said Andrew Weaver, a study co-author.
The jury has been picked for the Scooter Libby trial. The jury is “not completely representative” of the Washington, DC area, and includes a former Washington Post reporter who once worked for Bob Woodward, “a travel agent who only looks at newspapers for the sudoku puzzles; and a hotel sales agent who described herself a ‘master of all things pop culture, but nothing related to current events.’”
Americans flying to Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean are now required to show their passport when re-entering the country, under new rules going into effect today. Only about a quarter of U.S. citizens hold valid passports and new passports cost almost $100.
“The Director of the Congressional Research Service last week issued a revised agency policy on ‘Interacting with the Media’ that warns CRS analysts about the ‘very real risks’ associated with news media contacts and imposes new restrictions on speaking to the press.” One CRS staffer said the policy “will obviously have a chilling effect on staff.”
And finally: James Madison High School in Brooklyn is pretty much the only school that can boast of three sitting U.S. senators — Sens. Norm Coleman (R-MN), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) — and a current Supreme Court Justice — Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Fellow alumni remember Ginsburg as a “very popular and attractive” cheerleader, but recalled that Coleman “wasn’t the most popular guy.”
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"The abyss of sectarianism" = CIVIL WAR!! Let's call a spade a spade finally.
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:18 amAmericans flying to Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean are now required to show their passport when re-entering the country, under new rules going into effect today. Only about a quarter of U.S. citizens hold valid passports and new passports cost almost $100.
I see two things coming out of this. First, this is the beginning of placing tougher restrictions on travel for US citizens. All fascist countries do this to control the population. Second, as the shouting goes up that this hurts lower income people and places an undue burden on them the neo-cons will re-propose the National ID Card issue and say that this will take care of it all on the governments expense. Then we will all have our "papers" ready for presentation when asked for them.
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:18 amIt's worth pointing out that James Madison is a public high school.
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:18 amAlthough President Bush “will devote about half of tonight’s 40-minute-plus†State of the Union speech to Iraq and other foreign policy matters, aides say he “will not directly engage in a debate over congressional efforts to block the troop increase.â€
Of course he won't. 'Debating' implies facts and logic, and Chimpy isn't on speaking terms with either.
I'm not as interested in Chimpy's address as I am in the Democratic rebuttal...I'm still waiting to hear the magic word 'impeachment' from these clowns. Every day they fail to initiate impeachment proceedings, they are failing the American people that put them in office, and marking themselves as complicit in this administration's crimes.
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:21 am28 percent. President Bush’s approval rating
29 percent: Percentage of countries who believe the United States is a positive influence in the world
Things that make you go.....hhmmmm.......
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:21 amTonight Bush will debate? When did he ever debate? Clearly he had no debating skills in all three debates with Kerry and was intellectually creamed.
But, realistically, a unitary president who will not debate or discuss, is clearly rejecting the concept of "oversight" by the legislative branch. The SINGULAR remedy for this unwillingness to even discuss what he is doing, no less be "told" what to do by another branch of the government in charge with his own oversight, is impeachment.
He makes his own case for impeachment every day with what he says and does. How long will it take this congress to wake up and realize that either he is mentally compromised or deludes himself into believing that he is the Supreme Dictator of this country? Perhaps both??
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:23 amAlthough President Bush “will devote about half of tonight’s 40-minute-plus†State of the Union speech to Iraq and other foreign policy matters, aides say he “will not directly engage in a debate over congressional efforts to block the troop increase.â€
Correct me if I'm wrong, but is it actually possible to have a debate by one's self?
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:32 amIraq is sliding “into the abyss of sectarianism,†U.N. envoy Ashraf Qazi said yesterday “after two car bombs in a Baghdad market killed 88 people.â€
Civil War, for f*ck's sake. Just call it what it is.
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:33 amFormer House speaker Newt Gingrich “jump-started his new political group†— American Solutions for Winning the Future — “with a check for $1 million from†Las Vegas Sands Corp. Chairman Sheldon G. Adelson. Gingrich’s group is “courting conservatives†with ideas such as private accounts for Social Security and “patriotic education†in public schools.
Hasn't it pretty much been established now that all these attempts to create "private accounts for Social Security" are just an underhanded way of trying to dismantle and destroy Social Security (something conservatives have been trying to do since it was created 70 years ago)? When are they going to let go?
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:34 amThe new report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to be released next week will show that “[h]uman-caused global warming is here — visible in the air, water and melting ice — and is destined to get much worse in the future.†“This isn’t a smoking gun; climate is a battalion of intergalactic smoking missiles,†said Andrew Weaver, a study co-author.
Now I understand! Why didn't you put it that way before? Geez...
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:35 amJames Madison High School in Brooklyn is pretty much the only school that can boast of three sitting U.S. senators — Sens. Norm Coleman (R-MN), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) — and a current Supreme Court Justice — Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Fellow alumni remember Ginsburg as a “very popular and attractive†cheerleader, but recalled that Coleman “wasn’t the most popular guy.â€
No, that would be his dad...
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:36 amTP, I love the pictures you've been using of GWB waving bye-bye.
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:37 amIf the Democrats truly care about the troops, then Senator Jim Webb, in his rebuttal to Bush's SOTU speech tonight, will be demanding that those troops be removed from that slaughterhouse and returned to this country as soon as possible. It will be all the more amazing considering that Webb is a Vietnam veteran and that he should surely recognize that Iraq has become just as much as a quagmire as Vietnam had been. It is simply amazing that the Democrats are unwilling to speak with a unified voice on this subject. Bring the troops home- safely- now.
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:39 am"Former Vice President Al Gore’s global warming documentary “An Inconvenient Truth†was nominated for an Acadamy Award this morning for Best Documentary."
Run, Al, Run!
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:49 amHey! Something new on the ThinkFast!
Former Vice President Al Gore’s global warming documentary “An Inconvenient Truth†was nominated for an Acadamy Award this morning for Best Documentary.
Congratulations, Al!
TP, there must be a better picture of Al Gore somewhere on earth.
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:49 amJust sayin'
There is no escape from the Iraqi crisis for years to come. It will remain the core of the American politics and daily lives . It is because we got ourselves into something we underestimated due to lack of understanding of the whole dimension of the Iraqi internal problems. All neighboring countries knew what will happen if Saddam was toppled. But we chose to listen to a group of defectors like Chalabi and others...we miscalculated. We still yet to face the city of Kirkuk problem..that alone can trigger larger and bigger problems than we have already on our hands. Kirkuk has over 30-35% of all Iraqi oil produced. The Kurds want to claim it as their future capital. The city has just about every ethnic groups in Iraq ,the Sunni Arabs,Shiat Arabs,the Turkoman,the Assyrians,the Christians non Aassyrians...The Iraqi Constitution called for a census to take place in March...before decision is made ..The Kurds are now accused of moving hundreds of thousands of Kurds to the city before the census is taken in March. Arabs are unhappy about the Kurds move. Turkey promised it will never allow an independet Kurdish state with Kirkuk as its capital. Turkey threatend to invade north Iraq before this happens.also to protect the Turkoman minority . The Arabs,Sunni and Shaite will fight to Keep Kirkuk as an Iraqi city. Iran will not allow an indpendent Kurdistan,so is Syria and Turkey because these three countries do not want to see future troubles inside their borders due to the fact that these 3 countries have Kurdish minorities inside their countries. Kurds are waging war already inside Turkey for independence from Iraq.. In the next few months Kirkuk could be another big mess on our hands. Turkey is becoming imaptient with the Kurds...and they said they will do whatever to stop the Kurds. Kurds are armed very well with over 50,000 Peshmerga army,but so is Turkey.... None of these fighting factions think in terms of democracy..every group is trying to secure themselves a bigger piece of the Iraqi pie. And the secterianism war continues from worse to worst. Political solutions should be the aim rather than the guns solutions. Iraq is like a chair with broken legs...unless the legs are fixed,there is no chance of sitting on that chair and have peace of mind...the legs were broken..now how to fix them? who fixes them? remains to be seen...and that chair is useless until it is fixed,fixing three legs will not do....that is why a political solution must be found and found fast.
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:50 amComment by Zooey — January 23, 2007 @ 9:32 am
Yes, but only if one is a Master Debater.
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:55 amWhat, Me Debate?
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:55 am"Second, as the shouting goes up that this hurts lower income people and places an undue burden on them "
Comment by dlet
Is this really a problem? Do lower income people really travel to Mexico and Canada much? Seriously.
Now, there does need to be some kind of waiver school organized function or something. But if you can send your kid to Cancun for spring break, you can buy them a passport.
"This isn’t a smoking gun; climate is a battalion of intergalactic smoking missiles,†said Andrew Weaver, a study co-author.
so, humans are not the ONLY cause? Damn, seems like I have heard that before.
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:56 am“Former Vice President Al Gore’s global warming documentary “An Inconvenient Truth†was nominated for an Acadamy Award this morning for Best Documentary.â€
So, if Al doesn't win, is he going to say someone stole the Acadamy Award from him?
Just askin'...
January 23rd, 2007 at 9:58 amWhat nefarious purpose for a passport to travel to Mexico and Canada and the Caribbean.
How does this fit in with the slow but determined effort to combine all of North America into one country?
Is this a step toward having everyone identified with proper "papers?"
Call me cynical, but I question everything, trust nothing on its face, a trait I have developed since Bush came to power.
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:00 amIs this really a problem? Do lower income people really travel to Mexico and Canada much? Seriously.
Comment by hacker bob
Think about how many Americans there are with relatives in Mexico and ask yourself that question again. Personally I think getting a passport for just under $100 and have it good for ten years isn't that bad of a deal. I'm just saying people will bring it up as an issue.
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:02 amSo, if Al doesn’t win, is he going to say someone stole the Acadamy Award from him?
Comment by hacker bob
Only if Bush wins with his "Where's the WMDs?" home documentary.
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:03 am#16:
I must disagree with you. "WE" didn't choose to listen to anyone. Bushco was determined to attack Iraq before they entered the WH. This was a war of choice. As for the outcome, that was predicted by multiple sources. The ONLY way Iraq had remained stable for years was due to the strong, ruthless dictatorship.
If Americans do not choose a leadership in 2008 that has the willingness to focus on what Americans need and not what BIG business needs and remove troops from Iraq and shut down the multiple bases. Let us not forget, the underlying reasons for this "war" are two.
1. Secure the oil fields for America interests.
2. Build permanent military bases in order to threaten middle eastern counties with which we disagree. (Keeping control of the flow of oil to the USA.)
This means that the neo-cons must have a president who will continue to support their game regardless of the failed military efforts to "secure the peace."
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:04 amThink about how many Americans there are with relatives in Mexico and ask yourself that question again. Personally I think getting a passport for just under $100 and have it good for ten years isn’t that bad of a deal. I’m just saying people will bring it up as an issue.
Comment by dlet
If you can afford to go to Mexico frequently, you should be able to afford $100 every 10 years.
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:05 amThe wingnut screech-monkeys are going to go into meltdown when they see the Oscar nominees. In particular, "best documentary feature"...
Deliver Us From Evil - Catholic Church pedophilia.
An Inconvenient Truth - Global warming
Iraq In Fragments - Iraq clusterf*ck
Jesus Camp - Christian fundamentalism
My Country, My Country - Iraq clusterf*ck again
Apart from documentaries about abortion and stem-cell research, we've pretty much blanketed every GOP hot-button political issue.
Complaints about Hollywood's librul bias starting in 5...4...3...2...
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:07 amCuz you know, Mexico is one of the most expensive countries in the world behind Norway and Japan... /sarc
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:09 amComment by Juan C
Travel costs money. Mexico is cheap. Getting there is not always so cheap.
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:13 amYes, but only if one is a Master Debater.
Comment by Briseadh na Faire
Did you stutter...?
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:15 amTravel costs money. Mexico is cheap. Getting there is not always so cheap.
Comment by hacker bob
still...come on.
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:17 am"Former Vice President Al Gore’s global warming documentary"
...is a pack of lies.
http://www.cei.org/pages/ait_response.cfm
No wonder the HOLLYWOOD LIBRULS nominated it.
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:17 amComplaints about Hollywood’s librul bias starting in 5…4…3…2…
Comment by Dumb_Fox
“Former Vice President Al Gore’s global warming documentaryâ€
…is a pack of lies.
No wonder the HOLLYWOOD LIBRULS nominated it.
Comment by Random Rightie
Good call, Dumb Fox. Exactly 10 minutes...
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:20 amJuan, Look at it this war, maybe it will slow the mass migration of drunk high school and college students into the "South of the Border" Paradise every spring.
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:21 amThis means that the neo-cons must have a president who will continue to support their game regardless of the failed military efforts to “secure the peace.â€
Comment by SouthWest Bob
in my limited point of view about US presidents, all of them (Dems and Reps) follow the same foreign policy you just mentioned. US foreign policy hardly change within the two party visions. So, I dont know how many presidents have made or encouraged an undefendible war to accomplish those two points except from FDRoosevelt and maybe Kennedy...
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:22 amAl Gore, I find what you say offensive and it should not be allowed to be broadcast or displayed in public./sarcasm>
Remember the PMRC Bitch.
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:24 am#33 should read "Look at it this WAY
Sorry, fat fingers today.
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:25 amViews on U.S. Drop Sharply In Worldwide Opinion Poll
LONDON, Jan. 23 -- Global opinion of U.S. foreign policy has sharply deteriorated in the past two years, according to a BBC poll released on the eve of President Bush's annual State of the Union address.
Nearly three-quarters of those polled in 25 countries disapprove of U.S. policies toward Iraq, and more than two-thirds said the U.S. military presence in the Middle East does more harm than good. Nearly half of those polled in Europe, Africa, Asia, South America and the Middle East said the United States is now playing a mainly negative role in the world.
But us many millions are wrong and Bush is right also let me tell you we also think president Bush and gang should be Impeached and Jailed with his poodle
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:27 amHey, I'm off for the day. It's 35 degrees in Idaho, with a high forecast of 38 -- it's a frickin' heat wave! Play rough when you have to.
SOTU tonight! I hope TP live blogs it....
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:27 amSorry, fat fingers today.
Comment by hacker bob
Or your subconscious expressing... ;)
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:29 amOnly about a quarter of U.S. citizens hold valid passports
Good your NOT really welcome anywhere in the world stay at home in utopia land
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:30 am**spits**
**polishes badge**
Thanks Zooey.
Ps. Here comes the cavalry:
http://newsbusters.org/node/10320
Grab the popcorn. This is just getting started.
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:30 am#24..Southwest Bob. I agree with you that the thinking was much earlier than Chalabi..but Chalabi was the source of information needed at the time of preparation for the war. As far as the goals and earlier thinking aimed at Iraq by the NeoCons..you are totally accurate.
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:30 am29 percent: Percentage of countries who believe the United States is a positive influence in the world..... An average of 73 percent of the respondents disapprove of the war in Iraq.
Ungrateful whelps. And after all the blood and money George has wasted to spread democracy to the freedom-loving people of the Middle East.
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:39 amReport: Russia completes delivery of missile defense systems to Iran
MOSCOW, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Russia has completed the delivery of Tor-M1 missile systems to Iran, Itar-Tass news agency reported on Tuesday, citing the head of the state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport.
Russia has fulfilled its contract and "fully completed deliveries of Tor-M1 air defense systems to Iran at the end of December 2006," Rosoboronexport chief Sergei Chemezov was quoted as saying.
Moscow cut a 1-billion-U.S.-dollar deal with Tehran in November 2005 to supply it with the short-range Tor-M1 missiles. Russian officials described the missiles as air defense systems that are used only to bring down aircraft and guided missiles at low altitudes but cannot strike ground targets.
Tor-M1 is capable of simultaneously tracing up to 48 targets and firing at two targets 20 to 6,000 meters high.
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:48 amStupid ass neocons.
Crying in your kool aid over a wonderful, eye-opening documentary.
Looks like he was SPOT ON.
AP
Report has 'smoking gun' on climate
WASHINGTON - Human-caused global warming is here, visible in the air, water and melting ice, and is destined to get much worse in the future, an authoritative global scientific report will warn next week.
Sorry losers, jealous ever?
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:49 amIraq slides into the sludge of an oil heist by Bushco and big oil.
Unless you nationalize big oil.
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:50 am#24 SW Bob
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:51 amDing, Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding,
You are right there! Nail on head, slammin and dunkin.
Tor-M1 is capable of simultaneously tracing up to 48 targets and firing at two targets 20 to 6,000 meters high.
Comment by Jackanory
Damn, that guy Chomsky is never exhausted of saying the truth every single time. Whenever US, or the superpower in turn, threatens a country it will do whatever it can to arm itself contributing to a military climate in the region. Then, US will say: Hey, they are completely confrontative against us. In the case of Iran, thats completely true, but in the case of Nicaragua who sought better trade deals with the Soviet Union, US cried that they were Marxist-Leninist and then invaded... I wish I was Chomsky...
January 23rd, 2007 at 10:59 amI don't understand the fuss over the new passport requirement. It can't be the cost. Some people spend that much on their monthly cable television bill. And what is wrong with asking people to show proof of citizenship when re-entering the country? Why should this requirement be met when returning from Europe, but not from Mexico?
I trust almost nothing this administration does, and am always looking for the nefarious alternative explanation, but there just isn't one here.
January 23rd, 2007 at 11:09 amUngrateful whelps. And after all the blood and money George has wasted to spread democracy to the freedom-loving people of the Middle East.
Right and don't forget the enormous sacrifice of "peace of mind" americans have had to make by watching it on tv. Can you beleive it, the media is complicit in forcing the average american so sacrifice something for this war?
I tell you, if the american civilian population had to actually sacrifice anything for this war, you'd see support bottoming out alot quiicker than it already has...
January 23rd, 2007 at 11:16 amBe very leery of he new tax credit being proposed for medical insurance. (Who am I kidding, be very leery of anything proposed by this administration) This credit is aimed primarily a small business owners who carry their own insurance but it has a more sinister purpose. A few years ago MSA (Medical Savings Accounts) were added to the toy basket of tax breaks. In addition to the MSA and the newly proposed credits there are plans floating around for corporations to lose their deductions for health insurance. In essences the argument proposed is that by giving corporations a tax deduction for health insurance the tax code ends up forcing others who have no health insurance to subsidize those who do.
Add all these things together and you come up with companies no longer providing health insurance and shifting the cost to the consumer, or tax payer. This may sound far fetched, but like all things republican the sound bites they deliver do not have anything to do with what we ultimately get as citizens. In our country the healthcare system is essentially a question of the haves and have-nots. Our health care system is, contrary to popular republican belief, the major cause of bankruptcy in America. Shifting the cost of health care to the individual has been an item long in the making for republicans. I have been reading about it for several years now in tax publications.
The republican mantra will be personal responsibility, however I believe in a few things. I took this particular job because it had health benefits and I believe it to be part of my pay. I also believe that when you become a society where only those who have money can also have access to good health care, you become a society that on paper, and in rhetoric claims to follow Christ, but in actions has long abandoned Christ. I also believe that if the country had universal health care it would not cost me much at all, so I end up in a close to net zero position. How? I already pay a certain amount for health insurance, I pay a certain amount in medical out of pocket expenses, My company pays for health insurance. Should we all have national health care I think the increase in my taxes, and those of my company would be close to offset by the decrease in our out of pocket expenses and our premiums savings. It may be a simplistic approach, but I'll bet more thought went into my last paragraph than the white house has put into the Iraq War. for clarification: Lots of thought has gone into the political aspect of selling the war, but little thought has gone into the war it's self
January 23rd, 2007 at 11:18 amGood your NOT really welcome anywhere in the world stay at home in utopia land
Comment by Jackanory — January 23, 2007 @ 10:30 am
I have been to Europe eight times since the Iraq war began, with visits to Russia, Germany, Sweden, and France, and have found Europeans to be remarkably restrained and civil. I have not experienced a single instance that could be regarded as anti-American. Europeans for the most part do not bring up the war or Bush out of politeness, and if they do, it is usually more with curiousity than hostility. They are deeply puzzled by the behavior of our country, but understand well enough that governments don't always represent the beliefs of their people. I always sense their relief when I explain that there is widespread opposition to Bush in the U.S., that many Americans are actually horrified by what is happening, and that most Americans are basically good in their hearts but the mainstream media helps the regime to lie and fool the dumb ones.
January 23rd, 2007 at 11:20 amif the american civilian population had to actually sacrifice anything for this war, you’d see support bottoming out alot quiicker than it already has…
Comment by Whitey HermAphrodite —
What we don't see is the mortaging of our children's future in the enormous debt being racked up by the neocon jackanapes.
I did hear a report yesterday about the Chinese intent to "diversify" their foreign currency holdings.
January 23rd, 2007 at 11:23 amUh Oh...
Mark,
You are absolutely right, this health plan is the first step towards screwing the middle and lower class on health care. Krugman has written about how this will look in practice.
Let's also remind everyone that the U.S. spends approximately twice as much on health care as the so-called European welfare states, yet achieves quantifiably worse outcomes by almost any measure (infant mortality, life expectancy, etc.).
January 23rd, 2007 at 11:27 am44 Democrats Refuse to Call for End to Occupation
A group of forty-four "fiscally conservative" Democrats will not call for an end to America's military involvement in Iraq, RAW STORY has learned. Instead, the Blue Dog Coalition of House Democrats will introduce legislation this week focusing on accountability for money the White House wants to spend on the nearly four year long Iraq War.
In a press conference last Friday, Rep. Jane Harman, the California Democrat who was formerly the ranking minority member of the House Intelligence Committee, announced a bill she would sponsor this week on behalf of the Blue Dog Democrats: "Providing for Operation Iraqi Freedom Cost Accountability." The provisions of the bill focus on Congressional oversight of the funds used to pay for operations in Iraq.
The Blue Dogs will not speak out as a group on whether or not to call for an end to the Iraq war. "They will not draft a resolution or course regarding the troops other than one of support for our soldiers in harm’s way," said Jon Niven, Communications Director for Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR), who co-chairs the caucus.
Full story:
January 23rd, 2007 at 11:30 amhttp://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Blue_Dogs_announce_Iraq_plan_no_0122.html
OPEC DUMPING BILLIONS IN U.S. TREASURIES AS OIL TUMBLES
Jan. 22 (Bloomberg) -- OPEC nations are unloading Treasuries at the fastest pace in more than three years as crude oil prices tumble, sending bond yields higher.
Exporters including Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, sold 9.4 percent, or $10.1 billion, of their U.S. government debt securities in the three months ended in November, according to Treasury Department data. Members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries last sold Treasuries for three straight months in June 2003.
Oil producers have surpassed Asian central banks as the largest pool of global savings, accumulating an estimated $500 billion in 2006 alone, according to research by Pacific Investment Management Co. The sales during those three months mark a reversal because OPEC countries have boosted their holdings of U.S. government bonds by 70 percent to $97 billion in the past 17 months, Treasury data show.
...``Lower oil prices mean less inflation pressure, but that doesn't seem to be going on,'' said Stiglitz of Columbia. ``The dollar has been subjected to a great amount of exchange-rate volatility, and it's not a good store of value anymore.''
...China, the second-largest holder of U.S. debt, also is cutting back holdings. The central bank, which owned $346.5 billion of Treasuries as of November, trimmed purchases by 1.7 percent in the first 10 months of 2006, Treasury figures show.
``The Chinese are slowing down their buying, so that leaves a big hole after the oil money,'' said Brenner at Hapoalim Securities.
Full Story:
January 23rd, 2007 at 11:43 amhttp://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=a5_a16pzE3rs&refer=home
29 percent of Americans still think we're a positive influence on the rest of the world?! Are these the same people who voted for Bush?
January 23rd, 2007 at 1:45 pmOops, read the report wrong. 29 percent of countries polled by BBC who still think America is such a good influence on the world. They may be trying to please us, so that we don't invade them.
January 23rd, 2007 at 1:52 pmindicatoto101,
That's the percentage of countries that think the US is a positive influence in the world. Goes to show divorce from reality cuts across cultures.
January 23rd, 2007 at 1:54 pmBut there has been little sign of more advanced weaponry crossing the border, and no Iranian agents have been found.
Are you talking about the need for evidence in order to make sound policy decisions? Or to support a cause?
That will not happen with this administration. Just like with Iraq, Intelligent Design, the abortion debate, embryonic stem cell research, etc., evidence and facts are inconsequential in the Bush cultist's mind when it comes to forming an opinion.
Only about a quarter of U.S. citizens hold valid passports and new passports cost almost $100.
No wonder Americans are so unaware about the rest of the world, and can be so easily duped. Lack of knowldege about the world beyond US borders is breathtaking. Even when it comes to Canada or Mexico.
January 23rd, 2007 at 2:01 pmwalk
January 23rd, 2007 at 3:20 pmTrueblue, worried about the funny I emailed you this morning....After I sent it I remembered miniblue and worried she may use your computer...I won't do that again...Blessings
January 23rd, 2007 at 3:39 pmhey everybody, just a heads up, CNN's pipeline feature is free for today.
Anyways back to work, hopefully it will slow down again soon so I can get back to being a nuisance around here.
January 23rd, 2007 at 3:42 pm#63 - Aww, Squegeeboo, I've always considered you a nuisance no matter where you are! ;-)
Hope all is going well with you! I'm swamped as well, but I force myself to get on TP and become a nuisance. Gotta do my part!
January 23rd, 2007 at 3:47 pmFormer Vice President Al Gore’s global warming documentary “An Inconvenient Truth†was nominated for an Academy Award this morning for Best Documentary.
Yay!
January 23rd, 2007 at 4:33 pm* HISTORY TODAY *
This is the text of President Nixon’s radio and television broadcast…
Good evening. I have asked for this radio and television time tonight for the purpose of announcing that we today have concluded an agreement to end the war and bring peace with honor in Vietnam and in Southeast Asia.
The following statement is being issued at this moment in Washington and Hanoi:
At 12:30 Paris time today [Tuesday], January 23, 1973, the Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam was initialed by Dr. Henry Kissinger on behalf of the United States, and Special Adviser Le Duc Tho on behalf of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
January 23rd, 2007 at 7:27 pm[…]
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