ThinkFast: November 27, 2007
ThinkFast: November 27, 2007
While President Bush is attending a Mideast conference in Annapolis this morning, “he won’t remain there for long.” He “plans to head back to the White House after delivering his opening speech to the diplomats and dignitaries at the U.S. Naval Academy.” White House aides said he wasn’t planning to offer new American proposals to resolve the conflict.
The WSJ’s Bret Stephens recalls, when the House Speaker visited Syrian President Bashar Assad back in April, “President Bush denounced her for sending ‘mixed signals’ that ‘lead the Assad government to believe they are part of the mainstream of the international community, when in fact they are a state sponsor of terror.’” Today, Assad will sit with Condoleezza Rice.
At least 1.4 million homeowners will lose their properties to foreclosure in 2008 while “the property value of U.S. homes will fall by $1.2 trillion,” says a new report by the the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the Council for the New American City. The report predicts “deep economic impact from ongoing housing market problems.”
In an attempt to put to rest concerns over his ignorance about FISA reform legislation, Time magazine columnist Joe Klein writes, “I have neither the time nor legal background to figure out who’s right.” Glenn Greenwald responds by noting “the extreme lack of professionalism and corruption required” for Klein to say he “isn’t interested in bothering to find out (and isn’t even capable of determining) if anything he wrote was accurate.”
USA Today’s DeWayne Wikham writes, “While there is still little evidence to suggest that Bush was knowingly involved in this coverup [of the Plame outing], the evidence against Cheney is piling up. … This trail of lies and deception has put Cheney on the same path that led to Nixon’s impeachment.”
“Corporate backers of next year’s Olympic Games in China have done little or nothing to pressure Beijing to use its influence to end the genocide in Darfur,” according to a new report. “The corporate Olympic sponsors are engaged in a form of silent complicity with the Chinese government in its support of the genocide,” the report’s author, Ellen Freudenheim, said.
The lawyer for Brent Wilkes, the contractor convicted of bribing former congressman Randy “Duke” Cunningham, has asked a federal judge to approve subpoenas for journalists from NBC News, AP, and the Wall Street Journal who reported on the scandal. He wants them “to reveal how they obtained secret information relating to the federal investigation.”
The Politico writes of Sen. Trent Lott’s lucrative lobbying career prospects. “A near-certain scenario has him teaming up with his son, lobbyist Chester Lott, founder of Lott & Associates. Another, still fluid, idea is partnering with former Louisiana Democratic Sen. John Breaux, who is said to be mulling a departure from the lobbying powerhouse Patton Boggs.”
And finally: Attention singles! Foreign Policy magazine has put together a list of the “most eligible world leaders.” Topping the list is French president Nicholas Sarkozy, who is “always the center of attention.” Also making the cut: Condoleezza Rice (”the most powerful woman in the world”), Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck (”Prince Charming”), Michelle Bachelet (”tough, smart, and ambitious”), and Hugo Chavez (”a hopeless romantic”).
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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IMPEACH ALREADY! GODDAMN!
November 27th, 2007 at 9:09 amShows how much bush dislikes a peace process. This one is sure to fail at the outset.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:09 amIMPEACH!
November 27th, 2007 at 9:15 am“This trail of lies and deception has put Cheney on the same path that led to Nixon’s impeachment.”
Unfortunately, in order to impeach someone you need 1) the trail of lies and deception, and 2) somebody to care enough to do something about it.
The first point has always been with us. The second point is a bigger problem, since Nancy’s table still looks pretty bare.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:15 amJoe Klein should be ashamed of himself if, indeed, he is a reputable columnist! Sure, he has nothing good to report or say so he’s pretending disinterest. Time to boycott Time Magazine.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:16 amForgive me if I’m not completely ga-ga over the world leader eligibility list. Guess I’m just too picky…
November 27th, 2007 at 9:16 am“Trail of lies and deception has put Cheney on the same path that led to Nixon’s impeachment” - maybe fate will intervene before we can get to impeachment? Anyone hear anything about Cheney’s heart procedure yesterday??
November 27th, 2007 at 9:17 am“While there is still little evidence to suggest that Bush was knowingly involved in this coverup [of the Plame outing], the evidence against Cheney is piling up…
Piling up like a big, steaming pile of crap. That’s our VP. I was actually surprised to hear yesterday’s news that he had a heart.
Here’s hoping the Energizer Bunny forgets your new batteries at Christmas. Dick.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:17 amHe “plans to head back to the White House after delivering his opening speech to the diplomats and dignitaries at the U.S. Naval Academy.â€
————-
November 27th, 2007 at 9:18 amso what is the point of this “conference” agian… This admin has the most inept global policy. This gathering is nothign more than a pittiful charade. Pitty those who will be fooled by it.
#6 Miss Molly: I’m with you! I find the list to be the lesser of several evils at this point. Factor Condi prominently into that list of evils for sure.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:18 am#9 Pitiful charade and last-ditch effort to save his sinking legacy. What has he accomplishing short of zilch?
November 27th, 2007 at 9:19 amPresident Bush seems to be doing all he can to reap the benefits of *appearing* to try and do something about “peace in the Middle East” while not actually doing anything to advance it.
To listen to the news, Carter, Clinton, and now Bush have all “dedicated their remaining months in office to bringing peace to the Middle East”, but as the link above points out, he won’t actually be proposing anything new to achieve that goal. But the media is still lumping his efforts in with a Nobel Peace Prize winner and a man that actually convinced the PM of Israel to shake hands with Arafat.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:19 amBush’s legacy is already written in stone: THE “worst” president (and the most dishonorable and corrupt) president EVER in this country’s history.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:19 amIronic twist (and most devious attempt) to parrot the “peace agenda”
November 27th, 2007 at 9:21 amwhile committing war crimes and waging an illegal invasion and occupation, eh? It’s not flying at all with the people in this country. We all know it’s just another press event/photo op and attempt at “brainwashing” by the Bush crime cabal. Ain’t going to work though.
Anyone hear anything about Cheney’s heart procedure yesterday??
http://www.rawstory.com/ news/ mochila/ Cheney_s_heart_restored_to_normal_r_11262007.html
November 27th, 2007 at 9:22 amHow can you have a peace conference on Palestine without Hamas?
Bush’s arrogance on display once again. Hamas is the duly elected democratic government, and they’re not asked to the dance?
‘Diplomacy. As hard to do as it is to spell.’ -GWB
November 27th, 2007 at 9:22 amHey TP… You missed that Citigroup had to sell even more of itself to Dubai to get out of its current fiscal crisis. Lest anyone believe that “American” companies will put American interests first, check who REALLY owns them.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:22 am“Corporate backers of next year’s Olympic Games in China have done little or nothing to pressure Beijing to use its influence to end the genocide in Darfur”
——————————————————
I don’t honestly expect that corporate backers or anybody else connected with the Olympic Games will give a flying patootie about Darfur or anything else except the Games themselves. It’s rare that anyone (particularly American interests) rocks that boat.
The last time we let politics get in the way of the Games was when Jimmy Carter pulled our team from competing in the Olympics in Moscow due to Soviet involvement in Afghanistan. And remember, he caught h*ll for that.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:23 amWhile President Bush is attending a Mideast conference in Annapolis…
There is something wrong with this picture. Why are we having a “Mideast conference” in the USA? Why have these people flown to the USA to bow at the feet of George Bush. The only thing he is interested in is their oil. He could care less about “peace”.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:25 amBilbo: It baffles the mind since it’s a known PR stunt.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:25 amThis trail of lies and deception has put Cheney on the same path that led to Nixon’s impeachment.â€
Nancy?
November 27th, 2007 at 9:26 am#15 Bob: Thanks for the link (I think :)) Clearly, Cheney doesn’t have long with the type of stress which lying and corruption produces. I’m surprised he didn’t exit stage right due to complications of the procedure to evade impeachment?? Some people will do anything to save face.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:29 amIt’s probably for the better if Bush doesn’t actually do anything at this Mideast conference. Get in on the photo op and get out: the best for everyone involved. No matter what comes from it, you know this administration will take credit for anything remotely resembling an agreement of any sort, and they’ll insist that that was the plan all along.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:29 amThe report predicts “deep economic impact from ongoing housing market problems.â€
No sh|t sherlock. Anyone but the very rich is in financial trouble already. I feel very sorry for all those people who will lose their homes. I heard a segment on Air America the other day about the kind of people who are losing their homes. The predatory lenders were given a free rein by the Bush Administration and their sins are now coming home to roost. They gave numerous examples of the old and infirm and the uneducated being duped into taking these “teaser” loans only to find out months later that they could not afford the payment they had committed to. Add this to the outrageous fees many people were charged for these loans and you have a prescription for disaster.
There are two reasons why this has happened. The first was Alan Greenspan telling everyone to go out and buy a home using the new “creative” loan packages. The second, and most serious, is what lenders are doing with these loans. They package them up and sell them like stocks. So it is the people who buy the loan packages that run the risk of losing, but the risk is small because the loans are so profitable for them, the profit makes up for the foreclosures. Congress should pass a law that a financial institution who makes a home loan can’t sell that loan. That way they will be a lot more picky about who they give home loans to and there will be no incentive for the predatory lenders.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:30 am“At least 1.4 million homeowners will lose their properties to foreclosure in 2008 while “the property value of U.S. homes will fall by $1.2 trillion”
————————————————–
Anybody see this coming? It’s like the S&L scandal all over again. A bunch of greedheads find a way to make some bucks off the gullible, figuring that if they make their windfall and get out before the bubble bursts, they’ll be fine.
And, of course, the wingnut position on these people who got sucked into predatory lending and will lose their houses is “too bad — they should have known better and they deserve what they get.”
If it was just people who are financially ignorant and suckers for “too good to be true” advertising who are getting hurt, that would be one thing. But when the problem gets to be this big, it will have enough effect on our already fragile economy to affect all of us.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:31 amGlenn Greenwald responds by noting “the extreme lack of professionalism and corruption required†for Klein to say he “isn’t interested in bothering to find out (and isn’t even capable of determining) if anything he wrote was accurate.â€
Greenwald points out that Klein is a snake and an unprofessional journalist. Anyone who listens to what Klein has to say needs a new brain.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:32 amThis trail of lies and deception has put Cheney on the same path that led to Nixon’s impeachment.â€
Good luck with that. The Democrats don’t have the will to impeach either Bush or Chaney. I don’t understand why, but that’s the way it is. I write Nancy Pelosi daily telling her to put impeachment on the table. I suspect that their programmers have written some little program to simply toss my comments, but I will continue to do it. I consider it to be my civic duty.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:33 amRegarding the housing issues, I just wanted to add that the founder of Ameriquest, one of the biggest subprime lenders (now going bankrupt ), was headed by a large Bush supporter who was just named ambassador to the Netherlands. The NOW program on PBS a week or so ago went into great detail and can be viewed on pbs.org, it’s worth watching
November 27th, 2007 at 9:35 amANd who made money off the “S&L scandal?” Hmmm The BUshes and all the other fat cats. They passed laws to bail their asses out, after they had siphoned all the monies out of the S&L’s.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:36 amCorrput greedy motherfu(kers.
Kill them all.
Also making the cut: Condoleezza Rice (â€the most powerful woman in the worldâ€)….
Give me a break. Rice is the most powerful woman in the world. I don’t think so. She is certainly the most corrupt and soulless woman in the world. Who in their right mind would want to date Condi Rice? Yech…
November 27th, 2007 at 9:37 amThere is no reason–none–that impeachment proceedings shouldn’t be on the table and part of the national dialogue right now. Pelosi, et. al, promised to hold this administration to account, and she simply won’t do it. Congress takes vacation after vacation, hoping to run out the clock, all the while whining: “There isn’t time to impeach! We don’t have the votes!” There is ALWAYS time to uphold the Constitution, no matter whether the votes are there or not.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:39 amThis group of Democrats–with their free trade deals, their pandering to corporations, their failure to hold this administration to account–are as bad as the Republicans: rubbertampers and bootlickers. Political animals, that’s all they are.
I was ashamed to call myself a Democrat, and I haven’t regretted switching to unaffiliated one bit.
Really, why are they taking a two-week vacation at Thanksgiving, right before they take a Christmas vacation? They’re federal employees, drawing their salaries from your hard-earned dollars and mine. How insane. If they don’t get to work, the important work won’t get done. That’s what they’re counting on.
I don’t honestly expect that corporate backers or anybody else connected with the Olympic Games will give a flying patootie about Darfur or anything else except the Games themselves. It’s rare that anyone (particularly American interests) rocks that boat.
Comment by missmolly — November 27, 2007 @ 9:23 am
I also don’t think China can do all that much to end the civil war in Darfur (I don’t consider it a genocide). If anything, we should be pressuring China to take care of it’s own human rights abuses before we pressure China to take care of someone else’s.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:40 amThe United States of America is clinically depressed.
And until ALL of Congress gets a backbone and IMPEACHES THE ENTIRE BUSH CRIME GANG, the Media WAKES THE HELL UP, and the Sheeple become active and starts to really question this almost 8 year power grab by the most corrupt presidency in America’s history :
we will live with this CANCER.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:42 amThe report predicts “deep economic impact from ongoing housing market problems.†. . . .
I’m going to have to take the dissenting opinion on this one. It seems as if we don’t want to take any personal responsibility on this issue. It seems as if everyone wants to blame someone else for their problems. And of course it was those “predatory lenders” standing on that dark street corner peddling their “risky loans”
Psst. Hey kid wanna buy an adjustable rate mortgage? Eh? I’ve got really good rates…
I could only imagine the cries of racism and elitism if 5 years ago banks weren’t making more loans to minorities and poorer people.
While I’m not saying the banks are guilt free (they are taking huge financial losses), I am going to say it is not entirely their fault. As I have mentioned before, the majority of the American people are stupid and they generally behave in a manner consistent with their own stupidity.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:43 amLefttown: Switching one’s voting status to “unaffiliated” IS the only choice left to those of us who recognize the complicity and involvement in the degradation of our government by even the Democrats at this point. It’s up to them to put things “on the table” so to speak so they still wield a great deal of power. They would have us believe otherwise and, instead, shirk the responsibility to the “stonewalling Repukes” which is also true.
The only way to assuage one’s conscience at this point is to speak “Truth to Power” by unaffiliating oneself with these two complicit, diabolical parties which clearly are failing to represent the wishes of the majority of americans at this point.
Besides, once the I’s eclipse the Dems (we’ve already eclipsed the Republicans) in terms of numbers, the power will shift magically back to the people where it belongs.
It’s also a personal “reprieve” to unaffiliate from what we’ve come to know as “two totally corrupt parties” no longer representing the wishes of the people.
Also, I predict that a dark horse will come out and run as an Independent in 08 - it may be Gore/It may be Bloomberg - who will take this country by storm by that point. Certainly if it’s a choice between a CrossDresser (Rudy) and Bush Lite (Clinton), there will be landslide victory.
Bilbo: The economy is tanking - yesterday the market was down 200+ points. We know the impending doom which is coming our way thanks to this capricious and unaccountable group of criminals running this country. The sub-prime situation has tarnished our reputation economically and the dollar is dropping daily. The US has become a toxic, vulgar country in the eyes of the international community. Bush et al need to be brought to justice before this country is totally destroyed by them.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:46 amAs I have mentioned before, the majority of the American people are stupid and they generally behave in a manner consistent with their own stupidity.
Comment by dim wit — November 27, 2007 @ 9:43 am
They did re-appoint Bush, after all. You do have a point.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:47 amIf you want the power restored to THE PEOPLE, then register as Independent today. The “swing voters” will be the bloc of individuals who actually will select our next President. Join the POWER FORCE today by disemcumbering yourself of the complicit sensation which accompanies supporting a two party system which is clearly, and perhaps irrevocably “broken”.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:48 amMornin’ Toaster! Perhaps more accurately it would be: That americans sat back while Bush hacked the voting machines in Ohio to secure another term of office??
November 27th, 2007 at 9:49 am“While there is still little evidence to suggest that Bush was knowingly involved in this coverup [of the Plame outing], the evidence against Cheney is piling up.”
Who works for who here? Bush is responsible for the actions of his adminstation. period. bush either needs to procecute those who are responsible or own that responsibitly himself.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:50 amFree Your Conscience Today: Register Independent/Unaffiliated and restore the power to The People once again. It’s the only tool left in american’s toolbox at this point.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:50 amWhile I’m not saying the banks are guilt free (they are taking huge financial losses), I am going to say it is not entirely their fault. As I have mentioned before, the majority of the American people are stupid and they generally behave in a manner consistent with their own stupidity.
Comment by dim wit
You certainly do live up to your moniker dim wit. You are correct, though, that there are a lot of stupid people in this country. They are the stupid people who believe that their government and corporate America wouldn’t lie to them for financial gain. Many of the people who took out those sub-prime loans were lied to by the lenders. You think this is OK and it is the fault of the borrower that they didn’t read all the fine print legalese in the documents they signed and understand what they were saying? Did you read every single word on the papers you signed when you bought your house (if you even own one)? And you think it was Aunt Bertha’s fault that a predatory lender convinced her to take out one of these loans. You know, Aunt Bertha who is in her late 80’s, has a hearing aid and doesn’t understand much of what is said to her?
What these predatory lenders did was criminal, plain and simple. And they are mostly getting bailed out by our government while the people are losing their homes.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:52 amBobwurst: Wasn’t this country founded on the premise that the boss is equally culpable under the law as the underling? This is what made this country great at one time - the buck stopping at the top which means the desk of GWB. The complicity of doing nothing to bring this man to justice is what’s baffling to me. What are they doing to the minds of americans to keep them so blaze and disinterested?
November 27th, 2007 at 9:52 amBlase
November 27th, 2007 at 9:53 amI know there are theories about mind control experiments such as MK Ultra.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:53 amIf you want the power restored to THE PEOPLE, then register as Independent today. Veritas
And when you register Independent, send an e-mail to the DNC and the DLC and let them know what you have done and why. That’s what I did. I will re-register as a Democrat to vote in the primaries and then unregister again after the primaries. Somehow no longer being registered as a Democrat has taken a great weight off my back. And I agree that if more Democrats were to do this, it would send a very loud message to the leaders in the party, one they could not ignore.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:54 amBilbo: DimWit doesn’t have the first clue about self-respect and honesty so it’s like trying to convince a prostitute that she needs to get off the street for her own good. This sub-prime screwjob which the lenders “knowingly” did to ruin our own people economically as well as the countries to whom they were bundled (like China who practially owns us already???) will be part of our undoing. You KNOW these countries will get even - sooner or later for us screwing them financially.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:56 amI can see it now, Cheney leaves very soon due to bad heart, bush’s pick for the next pres becomes VP and pardons all around. That is of course unless immunity hasnt already been buried into some previous law. They are going to get away with it and in plain view because ultimately democrats don’t have any kind of real back bone.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:56 amVeritas
Don’t just register independent. Registering independent and then voting for one of the big two just means you don’t get any say at all in the primaries.
If you really believe both candidates to suck, vote independent.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:56 amSub-primegate will be one of the final coffins in the destruction of this country.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:56 amIt’s not true that the Democrats in Congress have been caving to the administration. In fact, the opposite is true:
“President Bush’s success rating in the Democratic-controlled House has fallen this year to a half-century low, and he prevailed on only 14 percent of the 76 roll call votes on which he took a clear position.
“So far this year, Democrats have backed the majority position of their caucus 91 percent of the time on average on such votes. That marks the highest Democratic unity score in 51 years.”
http://www.democraticunderground.com/ discuss/ duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1728952&mesg_id=1728952
http://public.cq.com/ docs/ cqt/ news110-000002576765.html
Don’t let the media rhetoric fool you. The Democrats have acquitted themselves quite well–especially given their bare majority in both houses, and a relentlessly obstructionist Republican minority.
this 110th Congress has had more roll call votes this year than any
November 27th, 2007 at 9:57 amother Congress in history, almost doubling the number under the previous Congress overseen by Boehner
and House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL):
The House last week held its 943rd roll call vote of the year, breaking the previous
record of 942 votes, a mark set in 1978. The vote was on a procedural motion related to a
mortgage foreclosure bill. When the House adjourned on Oct. 4 for the long weekend, the
chamber had reached 948 roll call votes, putting Democrats on pace to easily eclipse 1,000
votes on the House floor in 2007.
Last year, the Republican controlled House held 543 votes, and for historical comparison,
the last time there was a shift in power in Congress, Republicans held 885 roll call votes in
1995. The Senate, which has held 363 votes this year, isn’t on pace to break any
records, but has already surpassed the 2006 Senate mark of 279 votes.
Much of the lack of progress can be traced back to obstructionism by conservatives. Approximately “1 in
6 roll-call votes in the Senate this year have been cloture votes,†noted a JulyMcClatchy report. “If this
pace of blocking legislation continues, this 110th Congress will be on track to roughly triple the previous
record number of cloture votes.â€
It’s interesting that Boehner is criticizing the 110th Congress as doing nothing. After all, the House, under
his leadership, met for just 101 days during the second session of the 109th Congress, setting the record
“for the fewest days in session in one year since the end ofWorld War II.â€
#48 Bruce: Amen to that! This is precisely why there is absolutely NO candidate out there which any intelligent, patriotic voter CAN possibly vote for. They’re all “damaged goods” at this point. I just can’t wait to see whom will spring from the Independent ranks soon. The air of anticipation is getting pretty thick right now.
November 27th, 2007 at 9:58 amYou certainly do live up to your moniker dim wit.
Comment by bilbobaggins — November 27, 2007 @ 9:52 am
Thanks!!
November 27th, 2007 at 9:58 amPerry: Unfortunately, their accomplishments are pretty paltry when compared with the true crimes they should be outing and bringing to the table for discussion. We all know they hold the power to bring things up for decision which is beginning to get out via the media. Sure, the obsructionist Republicans are a bona fide problem; however, what about all of the “Faux Democrats” who have voted on critical issues in concert with their Republican buddies? What about those votes? These Democratic shapeshifters have screwed the people by their votes. What can you say about that besides nothing?
It plays well to say that the Dems have been handicapped by a small majority in both House and Senate but the theory, unfortunately, doesn’t hold water when you consider the high numbers of Dems voting pro Republican these days. It also doesn’t hold water to use the hackneyed expression that it’s the “obstructionist Republicans” at fault when the decision to bring something up or not rests with the Democratic majority. Both of these excuses may play well but not with people who do their homework - sorry. I wish I could agree with you but the voting records of the Dems in Congress tell a different tale.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:02 amPerry: Why aren’t the Dems investigating the Sibel Edmonds case? Why aren’t the Dems putting Cheney impeachment on the table? Why did the Dem Leader, Pelosi, consistently insist that Bush’s impeachment “is not on the table”? How dare her abrogate her oath of office in this way!
Why isn’t the investigation of Cheney’s secret oil meetings being pursued? These are some of the real questions Dems need to be asking and investigating.
Why do both the Dems and Repubs know the depleted uranium story and are still not insisting on a congressional investigation??
November 27th, 2007 at 10:05 amLets see what did you miss .
November 27th, 2007 at 10:06 amAmerican teacher in Sudan to receive 40 lashes for naming somthing in her students class Muhammad. They said it volilates some dark age rule they have.
Why are the Dems stonewalling when they know that Bush based the Iraq War on lies and bogus information? Why are the Dems not bringing justice for the treasonous outing of a definitely covert CIA agent named Valerie Plame? I wish I could agree that the Dems are doing all that they can do to restore justice to this corrupt government of ours, but it’s simply NOT TRUE.
Give them all the bird! Vote For a Third!
November 27th, 2007 at 10:07 amRudd promises apology to Aborigines
Australia’s prime minister-elect has said he will issue a “real, meaningful and substantive” apology to the country’s Aborigine population over past injustices.
Kevin Rudd, whose Labor party scored a sweeping victory in last weekend’s elections, said on Tuesday the formal apology would follow consultations with Aboriginal leaders.
“It is really important to get it right,” he said, adding that the apology would be issued soon after the new parliament first meets next year.
http://english.aljazeera.net/ NR/ exeres/ EE94C382-4E22-4915-A1A1-477DD91303C0.htm
HOW NICE
November 27th, 2007 at 10:07 amAs I have mentioned before, the majority of the American people are stupid and they generally behave in a manner consistent with their own stupidity.
Comment by dim wit — November 27, 2007 @ 9:43 am
I agree that there are a lot of stupid people in this country, and there will probably always be. And while I don’t agree that stupid people must be protected from themselves at all times, I DO believe that there should be a reasonable safety net in place to keep soulless charlatans from victimizing the poor for fun and profit.
Lest you think that safety nets make us into a nanny state, look at the ones already in place. Fraud is illegal. Drug pushing is illegal. Loan-sharking and protection rackets are illegal. Yes, we could do away with all the safety nets and just let the buyer beware. The strong would do all right (they always do), and the gullible would wind up broke, in debt, on drugs, and running from somebody.
And, unfortunately, when you make that many people unproductive to society, it has a negative impact on us all.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:07 am54 Why are the Dems stonewalling when they know that Bush based the Iraq War on lies and bogus information?
Have you any idea of the size of such a fine,
1.2 million Iraqis dead
2 million in wheelchairs
1 whole country destroyed
America dont have that sort of money for a fine of that magnitude
America whether democrat or republican cannot assume responsibility for Bushes murdering plight
November 27th, 2007 at 10:11 am2 Dumb Questions RE: Peace Talks:
1) On the AM news I saw a picture of Shrub and the Israeli rep sitting down and talking to cameras. As I didn’t see similar pictures of Shrub with the other folks, doesn’t this slap the other countries in the face and give a rather clear indication of preferential treatment ?
2) So Shrub isn’t even staying for the talks he called. Is he at least leaving a senior level official there to, like, maybe, answer any questions about what the USA could or could not do to help the process along ?
November 27th, 2007 at 10:11 ambilbobaggins
Americans voted for GW Bush twice.
There are Americans who still vote Republican.
You have Americans who accuse liberals of hating the rich, and in their next breath accuse liberals of being the rich.
You have the red states, of which only 4 actually make net contributions towards America’s federal coffers, whining about high taxes.
You have an entire political movement that in one breath claims to be pro-life, and in the next proclaims public healthcare “Socialist.”
You have Americans who actually believeFox News.
These Americans are conservatives, and most Americans self-identify as conservatives. These are the guys the less political population in America wants to throw their lot in with!
Stupid doesn’t even begin to cover some of these guys. Sure, lately Americans have started thinking again, but the outlook isn’t entirely great.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:12 amAbu Dhabi buying 11% of Citibank is being trumpeted as an acheivement! Hooray, the US is selling of its assets in a fire sale! Hooray!
Maybe the Bin Laden family can bail out some banks too.
-GSD
November 27th, 2007 at 10:12 amAs I have mentioned before, the majority of the American people are stupid and they generally behave in a manner consistent with their own stupidity.
I blame vacinations on children, McDonalds and American Patriotisim or mostly Exceptionalism
November 27th, 2007 at 10:13 am54 Why are the Dems stonewalling when they know that Bush based the Iraq War on lies and bogus information?
its called liability , If Iran gets a 10 billion fine for some crap church being blown up in Argentina ( alledgedly)
or
Libiya gets sued (30 billion ) for PAN AM flight ( that they never blew up)
imagine the liability for Iraq
more money than America has…………. Thats the real reason for the democrats thinking or even wanting liability put on their country
November 27th, 2007 at 10:18 amJoe Klein is a Republican mole masquerading as a Democrat. As a journalist he is a pretender, a poseur, just another little man in the Beltway press corps.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:26 am#64 No doubt.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:28 amVerbalkint: Joe Klein is a Republican in Dem clothing. He’s a fraud and a pedestrian, transparent sycophant.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:29 amBruce: I have to take exception with your comment #61 to wit: “americans elected George Bush twice” - Americans did not “elect” George Bush at all. The fact of the matter is that the Supreme Court elected Bush to office in 2000 over the wishes of the people in the popular vote and Kenneth Blackwell, Diebold, and the hackers in Ohio elected Bush for a second term.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:31 am“Chester” Lott. Bwaaaaaaaaaaaa. LOL
November 27th, 2007 at 10:34 amAs for the second part of your comment, Bruce, there’s no doubt that Bush crime cabal has succeeded in the “dumbing down” of americans. Yes, those that still believe what Fox News states also still want to believe in Santa Claus - unfortunately, they’d prefer the romantic “lie” about themselves than the harsh reality and the “truth”. Americans have been brainwashed and the egomaniacal lie about our greatness has been inculcated into the brains of every american from the time they begin the education process, and at home even prior to that.
Unless/until we are willing, as a nation, to believe in our own fallibility and that of our government, then we’re sunk and will remain spiritually unconscious.
When we embrace our personal fallibility it is only then that we can fully accept the truth about our collective “selves”. It works the same for love, in principal, as we all know.
Unless/until we learn to love ourselves (which includes forgiving ourselves for our fallibility), we cannot even begin to love another being.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:35 amVertas,
Cheney was home by last night, resting peacefully and throwing back a few cold ones. His shotgun is freshly cleaned and loaded.
I also was thinking about a statement you made a week or two ago about the karmic reasons GWB is the Prezidunce. I think America has manifested this Administration, it is karmicly necessary, as the vast majority of Americans have become too complacent about their standing on the world stage and our influence on the rest of the world. This has happened to wake people up and get them re-involved in their own country. This individual responsibility has been shirked for too long. The message is wake up, or go down.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:38 ambilbo & molly,
While I generally agree with much of what you have to say, I am beginning to wonder if you two are socialists rather than progressives.
I have come to the conclusion there is no issue you feel can’t be fixed by some sort of government. I don’t agree with this. I agree we need government and feel government exists for many good reasons, but I don’t think the government needs to tell me how to live my day to day life.
You want “Safety nets?” fine. But I don’t accept that millions of people in America were somehow tricked into their home loans. The market was good. Shit the market was great and everyone wanted a peice of it. I bought my first house with $2000 down. Now I own a $400k home with a mortgage of less than $200k. However, if it appears if it was up to you, I’d still be living in a crappy apartment because the government was there to tell me I wasn’t qualified enough to make those initial mortgage payments on that first home purchase.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:40 amComment by dim wit — November 27, 2007 @ 10:40 am
1) No, I don’t believe that all problems can be (or should be) fixed by government in some form. I believe there should be room for healthy free enterprise, as this is essential to a healthy economy. Squelch that too much, and you wind up like the Soviet Union.
2) I don’t want the government telling me how to live my day to day life, either. And I don’t think I ever said anything close to that in any of my posts.
3) I’m happy that you have a lot of home equity and that you aren’t living in a crappy apartment. And no, I wouldn’t want the government telling you that you can’t take out a loan to buy your first house. What I DO want is the government telling your lending institution they can’t give you a $500,000 mortgage when you make $20,000 a year unless they give you a great many up front disclosures. And I want your lending institution to have to hang onto this loan without selling it to some other sucker, so when you default on it, they’ll have to eat it. This isn’t socialism. It’s just common sense.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:54 amI agree with MissMolly on the loan issue. Yes people should be more informed and not so stupid, but their downfall will effect all of us in some way. It took 2 mins for someone to tell me years ago that ARM mortgages totally suck, and why they suck. I think the TeeVee is behind a lot of ignorance in this country.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:59 ammissmolly,
Sounds like you want a nanny state to hold your hand. If a bank decides that it wants to invest its money in risky subprime loans, then let them. If a potential homeowner decides to take on more debt than they can handle, let them. Did your parents not teach you to stand on your own two feet and accept the consequences for your actions? Why must you always look to the nanny state to solve your problems? Whatever happened to personal accountability?
November 27th, 2007 at 11:01 amWe can cry “impeach” all we want; the House Democratic leadership does not have the intestinal fortitude to do the right thing. Period.
November 27th, 2007 at 11:02 amComment by JT — November 27, 2007 @ 11:01 am
You are completely missing the points I am making in my posts. Are you actually READING them? Or are you responding in a knee-jerk fashion after skimming them for a few keywords?
Let me summarize for you. I don’t want a complete nanny state. Yes, I believe in personal responsibility. Yes, I believe in free enterprise. However, I believe that citizens can and should be protected from overtly misleading sales pitches from swindlers. This does not make me a socialist, and this does not make our society a nanny state.
Your point about a bank wanting to invest its money in risky loans and a potential homeowner taking on more debt than they can handle is valid — if it’s only the bank that fails and only the potential homeowner that winds up homeless and on the streets. This really doesn’t affect you and me.
However, what if you were the one who had to bail out the bank after they run themselves into the ground providing risky loans? As a taxpayer, that’s exactly the position you would be in — just as the taxpayers were when all those S&Ls went bust. And what if you were the one who had to provide for the idiot potential homeowner who lost his home? Guess what — as a taxpayer, you are.
Furthermore, when this kind of failure happens on a trillion-dollar scale, it affects the economy for everyone. Therefore, we ALL have a stake in this nasty business.
Personal accountability is a great thing, and I never claimed otherwise. But there is always room for common sense — and averting economic disaster.
November 27th, 2007 at 11:19 am“Sounds like you want a nanny state to hold your hand. If a bank decides that it wants to invest its money in risky subprime loans, then let them.”
That’s not how we got into this mess. The banks then bundled the loans and sold them as an investment, meaning they weren’t going to be left holding the financial bag, investors (read: chinese investors) would. That’s why the Chinese are now pulling back from the dollar, and why we’re close to a recession.
November 27th, 2007 at 11:21 amHillary is a trap!
http://www.leftopia.blogspot.com
November 27th, 2007 at 11:31 am77 - Awwww, now, MissMolly - don’t you be stoppin’ the robber barons from their bidness of robbin’ and exploitin’ the Amurcan people, you damned whiny nanny-stater, you!
If the Amurcan tax payin’ people are stupid enough to let themselves be robbed blind by the robber barons - I mean the government - then they deserve to be fleeced!
Survival of the riche– I mean FITTEST - baby. Dog eat dog! Poor people are poor because they’re lazy and stupid, and the rich are rich because they’re smart and they deserve it!
November 27th, 2007 at 11:35 am.
.
.
Ew. I’m turning off the sarcasm now. I just threw up a little in my mouth.
Veritas
Bush’s victories weren’t all down to cheating. Almost 50% of America’s voting population voted for him - twice. They are still Americans but eish, they are thick.
November 27th, 2007 at 11:51 amComment by Leftside Annie — November 27, 2007 @ 11:35 am
Brilliant snark, Annie — I always enjoy your posts. Unfortunately, there are too many people who actually believe this “tough talk” diatribe and will happily spout it without the sarc filter.
They’re so caught up in the “I’m strong, they’re weak” philosophy that they cannot see the obvious. An economy is stronger when the most people participate. By knocking people out of the economic mainstream, it reduces the pie for everybody else. And artificially inflating (and bubble-bursting) a major industry such as housing creates a negative domino effect on everything else.
November 27th, 2007 at 12:01 pmBid to free teddy insult teacher
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7114439.stm
“We don’t have any teddy bears over here, so in Sudan, for us, it is a fierce and dangerous animal” - Dr Khalid al Mubarak, media counsellor, Sudan Embassy
YOU’VE
November 27th, 2007 at 12:32 pmGOT
TO
BE
KIDDING…
Maybe they’d prefer a version of Andres Serrano’s Piss Christ, but with Muhammad in place of Jesus.
Comment by missmolly — November 27, 2007 @ 12:01 pm
Comment by Leftside Annie — November 27, 2007 @ 11:35 am
I really would have loved to see your comments on this situation 5 years ago. I mean you do realize people were pulling equity out of their appreciating homes so that they could spend it in other places? Like on new cars or their kids college educations? You do realize that money was real money that could be spent.
However, now that the hangover is here it can’t be anyone elses fault but the robber barons and their great big scheme to artifically inflate the entire economy.
This has nothing to do with the rich taking advantage of the poor or “i’m strong, you’re weak” It has to do with American greed and stupidity. Its the same reason why we’re in Iraq. Americans generally thought we’d be in and out in a matter of months and oil prices would plummit and we could all go back to buying SUV’s again. Americans were more than willing to ignore the facts and reality of the situation. Its no different with the mortgage crisis. Home buyers WANTED to buy a house. They chose to ignore their ARM because, hell, that rate wasn’t going to adjust for another 5 years and by then, that house was going to worth twice as much.
November 27th, 2007 at 1:00 pm“I have neither the time nor legal background to figure out who’s right.†- Joe Klein.
Then, what are you paid for? If that’s the case, you have neither the time nor the journalism background to hold your current position.
I’m just sayin’.
November 27th, 2007 at 1:01 pmHome buyers WANTED to buy a house.
And why did they? Hell, I want a yacht, could finance one, but I’ll wait for my kids to get through college in about 17 more years.
Those who previously were “not in the proper income bracket” unfortunately, became able to because of ramped-up lending procedures TARGETING first time buyers, who typically have no idea what the hell home ownership or mortgaging really means.
Currently with my third mortgage, I’ve never been duped into the ARM loan. It’s for people who are your typical “$30k” millionare types, who prefer to live with huge amounts of debt and shaky credit.
November 27th, 2007 at 1:06 pmHome buyers WANTED to buy a house.
And criminals would like to buy guns, but are forced to steal them.
We don’t sell to criminals, and we shouldn’t loan to those who cannot afford their over-extended, debt-ridden lifestyles.
November 27th, 2007 at 1:08 pmwe shouldn’t loan to those who cannot afford
But if the financial institution chooses to, it should be at THEIR OWN RISK.
This is turning out to be the S&L debacle all over again - different circumstances and dealings, but same outcome - GOVERNMENT BAILOUT for those who CHOOSE to loan money to people who COULDN’T AFFORD WHAT THEY WANTED.
November 27th, 2007 at 1:11 pmWhile President Bush is attending a Mideast conference in Annapolis this morning, “he won’t remain there for long.†He “plans to head back to the White House after delivering his opening speech to the diplomats and dignitaries at the U.S. Naval Academy.†White House aides said he wasn’t planning to offer new American proposals to resolve the conflict.
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It’s hard to know for certain whether this is a good sign or a bad sign — perhaps it’s a little bit of both. On the one hand, the fact that Bush didn’t stick around for very long after his opening speech only makes it look as though he simply doesn’t care at all about this conference and has no interest in it whatsoever — which may very well be true, but making it that blatantly obvious is insulting and not only suggests a total lack of concern for and faith in the process but also does nothing to bolster our slowly-sagging reputation around the world. On the other hand, perhaps it’s just as well that Bush didn’t stay and didn’t have any suggestions to offer up given that the man manages to muck up so much of what he touches.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:18 pmGreenwald points out that Klein is a snake and an unprofessional journalist. Anyone who listens to what Klein has to say needs a new brain. — Bilbobaggins
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With all due respect, Bilbo…you *do* realize, do you not, that the way your comment is phrased suggests that these people had brains to start with — something which I think may be subject to debate…?
Okay, so maybe they do have brains of some sort…but if appearances are anything to go on, they certainly haven’t been using them. Maybe the answer isn’t replacing something which is defective but simply powering up something which has just been sitting there gathering dust for awhile…
November 27th, 2007 at 10:30 pmOn “Time magazine columnist Joe Klein” —
After I read this my thoughts immediately went to the comments of many “professional” journalists who have recently derided bloggers for their “lack of profession standards” or the idea that you can’t trust what they write.
Those are some professional standards Time Inc. adheres to, eh?
November 27th, 2007 at 10:57 pm