ThinkFast: December 6, 2007
ThinkFast: December 6, 2007
Today, President Bush will announce a freeze on some subprime mortgages in an effort to stop a wave of foreclosures. Bloomberg writes, “Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson’s success in crafting agreement on a five-year fix of subprime mortgage rates owes a debt to an unlikely source: congressional Democrats.” Atrios has more.
The NIE’s conclusion that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program came about after intelligence agencies obtained notes last summer of Iranian military officials complaining “bitterly” about the “decision by their superiors in late 2003 to shut down” a central part of the program.
One in three Americans “want to deny social services, including public schooling and emergency room healthcare,” to undocumented immigrants, according to a LAT/Bloomberg poll. However, 60 percent still favor creating a pathway to citizenship for law-abiding individuals.
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) yesterday took offense at being described as a “puppet” of President Bush by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). Jim Manley, a Reid spokesman, “said it’s understandable that Republicans are sensitive about being associated with Bush.”
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday blocked a Bush administration rule under the “Healthy Forests Initiative” that “allowed logging and burning projects in national forests without first analyzing their effects on the environment.”
“President Bush has sent North Korea’s reclusive leader Kim Jong-il a personal letter, Pyongyang revealed on Thursday, as it faces uncertainty over when and how it will meet nuclear disarmament steps agreed with Washington.”
“Car bombs in Baghdad and three northern Iraqi cities killed at least 22 people and wounded more than 60 others on Wednesday, as Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived for an unannounced visit with senior Iraqi officials.” The wave of killings “accounted for the highest daily death toll in several weeks.”
Gates has “decided against a proposal to shift Marine Corps forces from Iraq to take the lead in American operations in Afghanistan.” Gates told Marine officials that Iraq “remained too volatile to contemplate such a significant change.”
The White House formally nominated Mark Filip, a federal judge in Chicago, for the Justice Department’s No. 2 job on Wednesday, a day after the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman threatened to postpone confirmation hearings until next year.
And finally: Conservatives dream of Reagan on Mount Rushmore. Former ambassador Fred J. Eckert, a staunchly conservative former Republican congressman from New York, has worked to create an image of what Rushmore would look like with Reagan carved into it. The result can be viewed at ReaganRushmore.com. Eckert claims that, “in time,” his fantasy will become reality.
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/iraq/story/22492.html
December 6th, 2007 at 9:04 amGates has “decided against a proposal to shift Marine Corps forces from Iraq to take the lead in American operations in Afghanistan.†Gates told Marine officials that Iraq “remained too volatile to contemplate such a significant change.â€
A case of robbing Peter to pay Paul, you might say. And in this case, we can’t mint any more money without “taxing” the populace. Sounds like you are in a bind Mr. Gates.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:06 amConservatives can dream all they want about Reagan on Mount Rushmore. It will never happen. Not only because Reaganomics forever changed the economic structure of our society negatively, and his legacy is the skyrocketing national debt (although those are good reasons to leave him off), but because geologists have already said that the stability of Mount Rushmore won’t permit any more carvings.
Conservatives should be happy Reagan got a federal building and an airport, which is more than most ex-presidents get.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:08 amThe 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday blocked a Bush administration rule under the “Healthy Forests Initiative†that “allowed logging and burning projects in national forests without first analyzing their effects on the environment.â€
A start–but it doesn’t require that competent impartial people do the analyzing. Some well-connected Bushies will get hired with our tax dollars to “find” the correct results.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:09 amNational Intelligence Estimate for December 5, 2007 – “We estimate w/ a high degree of certainty that the POTUS is a bleepin’ moron from HE-double hockey sticks, and unlikely to one God-damned F-in’ thing right over the remainder of his disasterous term of office.”
December 6th, 2007 at 9:12 amregan on Mt. Rushmore?? In the words of Al Franken on this very subject.. “Get the f–k out!”
December 6th, 2007 at 9:12 amThere is something quite appropriate about Cons wanting to put Reagan’s face on a pile of rocks too unstable to take the strain. Which of the current Presidents do they intend to make over?
Will they then change the name to Mt Do Less?
December 6th, 2007 at 9:14 amI see they got it wrong about Arlan Specter though. He’s not a puppet of Baby Shrub. He’s a puppet of Papa Shrub since the JFK murder and goes backk to the Warren commission.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:17 amif regan deserves a place on mount rushmore, so does charles manson.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:17 aman image of what Rushmore would look like with Reagan carved into it. The result can be viewed at ReaganRushmore.com. Eckert claims that, “in time,†his fantasy will become reality.
Anyone looking for an interesting Photoshop project might try substituting a giant Bubba head for Reagan’s. Now that would be a conservatie’s nightmare.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:17 amRegan on Mt. Rushmore is one more distraction attempt by the reichwingnuts.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:18 amFormer Pres. Reagan on Mt. Rushmore??
The original budget will have to be doubled, it will take three times as long to finish, and halfway through they’ll fire all the workers for asking for reasonable working conditions.
Exactly like the True Reagan legacy!
December 6th, 2007 at 9:19 amWant to put a question to Karl Rove? 10.30-11.00am ET tomorrow, he’s online here:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/324c05e6-9f45-11dc-8031-0000779fd2ac.html
December 6th, 2007 at 9:21 amOne in three Americans “want to deny social services, including public schooling and emergency room healthcare,â€
What have we become as a nation. It’s ok for these people to mow our lawns, babysit our kids and do dirty nasty jobs no one in this country will do, but it’s not ok for them to get emergency healthcare.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:23 amAs art can be the product of both positive and negative space, I like to think that Reagan is already an appropo part of Mr. Rushmore.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:23 amWow, so early and yet I’ve already filled my quota of mindnumbingly stupid news with the Reagan/Rushmore thing.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:24 amWhen they carve a mountain to resemble dead presidents’ asses, they can put Reagan’s face on that one.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:27 am“President Bush has sent North Korea’s reclusive leader Kim Jong-il a personal letter, Pyongyang revealed on Thursday, as it faces uncertainty over when and how it will meet nuclear disarmament steps agreed with Washington.â€
I still don’t understand why we can have nuclear weapons and North Korea and Iran can’t. Is it just because we don’t like their leaders and their politics? Well, there are lots of countries out there who don’t like our leader or our politics, but you don’t hear them telling us we can’t have nuclear weapons. My theory is that it is because we are the world’s bully.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:29 am“On the eve of a planned speech by Mitt Romney to discuss his Mormon faith comes a new scientific poll that found Americans are more biased against Mormons than they are against black people or women.”
December 6th, 2007 at 9:29 amI’d agree to renaming New Orleans New Reagan in honor of his contributions to the disadvantaged of this country.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:30 amGates told Marine officials that Iraq “remained too volatile to contemplate such a significant change.â€
So, Afghanistan is exploding and needs the troops, but Gates is leaving them in Iraq. I wonder why. Could it be because if he takes them out of Iraq, things might get dicey there again? Could it be because our military is stretched so thin we can’t be in both of those places at one time? Are we just giving Afghanistan back to the Taliban?
December 6th, 2007 at 9:31 amComment by cold_hard_left — December 6, 2007 @ 9:22 am
Well, damn, that makes the whole shebang worthwhile!
And prolly makes fer a good excuse ta bomb Iran!!!
December 6th, 2007 at 9:31 amCHL forgets how many senior Al Qaeda leaders there are. Remember, they are everywhere–thousands and thousands of them–under your bed. in your closets. Maybe even in the stall next to you at the airport. CHL–you might be an Al Qaeda “lover” and not even know it!
December 6th, 2007 at 9:32 amgeologists have already said that the stability of Mount Rushmore won’t permit any more carvings.
Comment by missmolly — December 6, 2007 @ 9:08 am
Don’t forget, geologists are scientists and can’t be trusted.
Personally I’d rather see a statue of W pissing on the Constitution.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:32 amYou actually believe this? You actually think that there were 40 Al-Qaeda leaders in Iraq? I doubt there are 40 Al-Qaeda members in Iraq.
In Iraq, every dead male over 12 years of age, killed by American forces is labeled Al-Qaeda. With all of those killed by sectarian violence or US Forces, or having left the country as refugees, there must not be many of them left.
You’re an idiot.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:34 amSecurity concerns raised as China fills U.S. medicine chest
By Tim Johnson | McClatchy Newspapers
China’s booming pharmaceutical industry has doubled exports to the United States in the past five years, undercutting competitors and making American consumers reliant on the safety of Chinese factories and captive to any disruptions in Sino-U.S. commerce.
First our toys and now our Medicine. This is truly scary. China owns us thanks to Bush.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:35 amCompare and contrast the history of the three groups, and you’ll understand why.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:36 am“Samarra shows the limits of the U.S. surge, which has brought a modicum of calm to cities such as Fallujah, Baghdad and Ramadi. No additional troops have been sent here, no Sunni leader is stepping forward to rally his forces against foreign fighters, and there are no promises to rebuild.”
December 6th, 2007 at 9:41 am…
“But without the additional resources that have been thrown into other cities, there’s little to show for its efforts so far. The rejuvenation in other Iraqi cities has eluded Samarra, and there’s no clear force in charge. Residents charge that the national police, some of them sent here by Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki, are arresting them for no reason and taking away their weapons.”
Conservatives should be happy Reagan got a federal building and an airport, which is more than most ex-presidents get.
Comment by missmolly — December 6, 2007 @ 9:08 am
It’s actually not a federal building – it’s a private building on Pennsylvania Avenue where the government rents office space. Which is an even more fitting Reagan tribute.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:43 amAre we just giving Afghanistan back to the Taliban?
Comment by bilbobaggins — December 6, 2007 @ 9:31 am
Looks like it. Then Cheney and UNOCAL can resume their negotiations over the oil pipeline from the Caspian Sea.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:45 amSen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) yesterday took offense at being described as a “puppet†of President Bush by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV).
—
Spectar went on to clarify that he is only a puppet of big business and lobbyists.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:49 amOne in three want to deny . . . MEANS two in three do NOT want to deny services! That’s the story! Beyond the human and moral reasons, there are pragmatic reasons such as public health, etc., that demand services be provided lest we all suffer in the long run. Be a mensch, be a Christian, get over the divisive biogtry that those who would divide and rule by it wish to foist on us.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:51 amReagan. Rushmore? Here’s just two reason why he shouldn’t be honored in such a way.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:52 amThe S&L scandal was the largest theft in the history of the world and US tax payers are who was robbed. Deregulated under the Reagan/Bush administration and restrictions eased on the industry so much that abuse and misuse of funds became easy, rampant, and went unchecked.
The administration kept the looming crisis from the American people as Bush Senior prepared for election. (Bush Two now has his own banking crisis, hmmmm).
U.S. hostages in Iran were held captive longer so that Reagan would get the credit for their release, rather than Carter, 22 minutes after Reagan was inaugurated.
Personally I’d rather see a statue of W pissing on the Constitution.
Comment by dim wit
That statue should be a fountain, DW. The pissing action shouldn’t be set in stone, but rather it should be a dynamic and ever-shifting process, just like Bush’s rationale for doing it.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:53 amFrom Bloomberg – “While Democrats endorsed the Paulson’s effort to stem a wave of foreclosures on adjustable-rate loans resetting higher, some conservatives blasted the administration for breaking its commitment to free markets.”
OK, I know I’m wasting my time writing this because republicans don’t actually want to analyze this, they just want what they want. The mortgage crisis is not the result of OVER-regulation of the industry. Free markets only work to the extent that the vendor wants to help the consumer, either because the vendor is acting in good faith, it’s good for the bottom line or because regulations help keep them in line – sort of like stop signs on the road. One reason for regulation is that average consumers cannot become experts on all things they have to make decisions on, so that makes it easy for a crooked vendor to take advantage. We have seen the results time and again when profit driven companies make their own rules. Who doesn’t get that? Oh, right, Grover Norquist doesn’t.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:54 am“U.S. hostages in Iran were held captive longer so that Reagan would get the credit for their release, rather than Carter, 22 minutes after Reagan was inaugurated.”
What did we used to call people in the old west who sold weapons to the Indians?
Ronald Reagan: the Last Commanchero.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:55 amHill Democrats Explore New Strategy on Iraq
Facing increasing evidence of military progress in Iraq, some Democratic congressional leaders are eyeing a shift in legislative strategy that would abandon a link between $50 billion in additional war funding sought by President Bush to a timetable for withdrawal of U.S. troops. Instead, they would tie the measure to political advances by the Iraqi government.
goes like this
if you give us your Oil we will stay or go , whichever you want but give us your Oil
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/04/AR2007120402216_pf.html
December 6th, 2007 at 9:56 am#13 – Comment by cold_hard_left — December 6, 2007 @ 9:22 am
Here’s the actual article:
“The U.S. military said 40 senior al Qaeda figures had been killed or captured in November but the appearance of a British hostage in a video aired on Arabic-language al Arabiya channel underscored the continuing threat of violence.”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071204/ts_nm/iraq_dc;_ylt=AivbRXgz_qrncDo3k7brm1EDW7oF?loc=interstitialskip
For some reason, CHL doesn’t like to give links to his sources. Makes one wonder why. . . . . .
December 6th, 2007 at 9:56 amThere is something quite appropriate about Cons wanting to put Reagan’s face on a pile of rocks too unstable to take the strain. Which of the current Presidents do they intend to make over?
Will they then change the name to Mt Do Less?
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — December 6, 2007 @ 9:14 am
How about Reagan’s Brokeback Mountain? A tribute to cowboys, Hollywood, repressed homosexuality, and a massive pile of crap for the next generation to clean up.
December 6th, 2007 at 9:58 am31st dec 07
Un mandate for troops to expire now get OUT of Iraq
IRAQ WANTS FULL SOVEREIGNTY , TODAY NOW NOT NEXT YEAR IN 09
December 6th, 2007 at 9:58 amBe a mensch, be a Christian, get over the divisive biogtry that those who would divide and rule by it wish to foist on us.
Comment by Doc Rock — December 6, 2007 @ 9:51 am
It’d be nice. Unfortunately, the bigotry is on the rise. Hate crimes against Hispanics is up 35% in the last four years:
http://www.splcenter.org/intel/news/item.jsp?site_area=1&aid=292
December 6th, 2007 at 10:00 am“The U.S. military said 40 senior al Qaeda figures had been killed or captured in November but the appearance of a British hostage in a video aired on Arabic-language al Arabiya channel underscored the continuing threat of violence.â€
I guess CHL isn’t old enough to remember the military’s way of inflating enemy body counts during Vietnam.
December 6th, 2007 at 10:00 am“…most Arab papers today are headlining the surprising and controversial performance of Iranian President Ahmednejad at the GCC Summit meeting in Doha – described in most as the first Iranian President to address the GCC since it was formed in 1981.
December 6th, 2007 at 10:01 am…
“…the main significance of Ahmednejad’s appearance is the appearance itself, and what it might signify about the future of the containment/confrontation strategy, not any concrete or immediate results from his proposals. “
CHL may be cold (or think he is), but he (as he would admit) is not Left, and I’d wager he hasn’t been hard since a couple of years ago, when he hit puberty.
December 6th, 2007 at 10:02 amComment by Menehune — December 6, 2007 @ 9:53 am
oh yes. a fountain. even better.
December 6th, 2007 at 10:05 amBush is quite fool if he wants to declare a new war to a country towards which he has economic interests. Did we forgot the terms of the Iraq war? Or that oone of Afghanistan?
http://kassandraproject.wordpress.com/2007/11/30/iraq-invasion-the-oil-interests-of-usa/
It’s time to change something :’(
December 6th, 2007 at 10:08 am“One in three Americans “want to deny social services, including public schooling and emergency room healthcare,†to undocumented immigrants… 60 percent still favor creating a pathway to citizenship for law-abiding individuals.”
December 6th, 2007 at 10:09 amPerhaps, we should include U.S. born in that criteria for citizenship.
“key Taliban-held town in southern Afghanistan is expected to fall to British troops and the national army within a matter of days. Nato aircraft have dropped leaflets warning of an imminent assault on Musa Qala in the north of Helmand province.”
Comment by cold_hard_left
That’s good. But Iraq is still a quagmire, and we’re spending $8 billion a month there, with no discernable political progress. Care to post something that puts this in a good light?
December 6th, 2007 at 10:12 amSenator A . Specter is mad for being called ‘puppet’ of Bush…oh oh oh…I hope someone beat him when his re election time comes in 2010.
He will be 80 years old by 2010.
December 6th, 2007 at 10:12 am“CHL may be cold (or think he is), but he (as he would admit) is not Left, and I’d wager he hasn’t been hard since a couple of years ago, when he hit puberty.”
I would like to publicly apologize for this comment. I did _not_ mean to imply that CHL is _not_ an old, frustrated, perma-flaccid, crabby, money-grubbing, violence-loving *ssh*t.
December 6th, 2007 at 10:17 amPersonally I’d rather see a statue of W pissing on the Constitution.
Comment by dim wit — December 6, 2007 @ 9:32 am
I would prefer Bush urinals so we could piss on him!
December 6th, 2007 at 10:23 amA government mandated fix to the sub prime mortgage mess and Bush is going to sign it? So much for letting the markets work. See how quickly conservatives drop their most cherished principles when their cherished principles don’t respond in a politically beneficial manner.
Reagan on Rushmore is a joke. Regan is a great president for republicans, he was an absolute political animal who was only slightly better than Bush at covering his tracks. He got busted committing major crimes and yet republicans still lionize him, why? Because he was able to lead them out of the minority wilderness they had inhabited for half a century.
#3 their goal is to do what Stalin did in his life time…have something named after Reagan in every state, country and municipality in the country. Of course Stalin got his shit renamed as soon as they got rid of him. I would imagine Reagan will lose some of his namesakes once his presidential records get unsealed.
#18 it’s because their leaders are unstable, ummm unlike ours…maybe?
The whole issue of how often we are killing or capturing key alqueda leaders absolutely reminds me of Vietnam. There we would kill one VC and three villagers. When the report got sent up to battalion it would miraculously become 15 VC and am officer. at brigade level the count would be 45 and a VC regional commander. By the time it made it through the channels and we heard it on the news the 30 second firefight would be major combat with upwards of 100 killed including important VC organizers and we would say that operations in the area were crippled. At least that’s the way Hackworth described it so I imagine with this administrations penchant for stretching the truth that we probably killed 40 civilians, two actual fighters and imprisoned everyone in the area.
December 6th, 2007 at 10:23 amA key Taliban-held town in southern Afghanistan is expected to fall to British troops and the national army within a matter of days. Nato aircraft have dropped leaflets warning of an imminent assault on Musa Qala in the north of Helmand province.
Of course it’s “expected” that the town will fall. The British are the favorites in this game–probably six-touchdown favorites–and they get to use as many guys in the game as they want. Read the next line where it says this hasn’t happened yet–the assault is imminent.
December 6th, 2007 at 10:24 am“One in three Americans “want to deny social services, including public schooling and emergency room healthcare,†to undocumented immigrants, according to a LAT/Bloomberg poll. However, 60 percent still favor creating a pathway to citizenship for law-abiding individuals.”
To rewrite this: “66% of Americans do NOT want to deny social services to undocumented workers. However, 40 percent are opposed to creating a pathway to citizenship for law-abiding individuals.
I have thought for a long time that this whole “illegal immigration” thing is a red herring; that is, something created to distract us from the failure of our government to truly protect us (including from economic harm from outsourcing and many of our so-called free trade agreements, failure to maintain our infrastructure, the cost of the military/industrial complex, the incompetence and corruption of the Dept. of Homeland Security and so many other examples). That 3 or 4 people out of every 10 have bought into this b.s. continually amazes me. The American people have been so dumbed down over the last few decades, it’s pathetic.
December 6th, 2007 at 10:27 amWhy the media is covering Romney religious speech? They are treating him as a president? !! First, he did not win anything,
December 6th, 2007 at 10:32 amsecondly…he should deliver his speech to his religious buddies,using religious networks . Why major networks like MSNBC ?
Why MSNBC spending half of their day talking about Romeny’s faith speech.
What’s this has to do with Presidency /Executive’s leadership…News medai let themselves be the tools of this madness about religion and presidency.
Presidency is not linked in any way to religion in and Constitutional duties of any president.
What did we miss?
_____________________
“Three U.S. soldiers were killed and another wounded in a “complex attack” involving a roadside bomb and small arms fire north of Baghdad, the U.S. military said on Thursday.
On Wednesday, a military statement put the death toll at two and two others wounded in the attack that took place on Tuesday when the troops were conducting operations Salahudin province.
The latest statement raised the death toll to three after one of the wounded soldiers died Wednesday of his fatal wounds sustained in the attack.
The name of the deceased soldier is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, the statement added.
The latest death brings the number of U.S. soldiers who have been killed in Iraq to more than 3,886 since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, according to media count based on Pentagon figures.”
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/06/content_7210292.htm
December 6th, 2007 at 10:33 amWhat did we miss?
___________________
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aJhLICr7Z7to&refer=us
AIG May Have Overcharged on War Coverage, Army Says
“Dec. 4 (Bloomberg) — American International Group Inc., the world’s largest insurer, may have overcharged defense contractors for the life and casualty coverage they are required to buy for their workers, according to a U.S. Army audit.
The premiums AIG charged to KBR Inc., the Army’s largest contractor in Iraq, showed “wide swings” that appeared “excessive” before dropping in 2006, the audit said. The premiums, amounting to $284.3 million from 2003 to 2006, “substantially exceeded” the estimated cost of less than $73.1 million in KBR claims for those four years, the audit said.
The rates appear “unreasonably high based on the significant fluctuations and the expected value of claims to be paid,” the Army Audit Agency said in a document obtained by Bloomberg News under the Freedom of Information Act. “These indicators create a heightened risk” that AIG “could have been overcharging.”
The audit, which lawmakers say may trigger congressional probes, is the latest example of government scrutiny of KBR, the largest private contractor in Iraq. The former unit of Halliburton Co. has been the focus of congressional probes and U.S. Army reviews focused on whether the company is managing its work effectively, including a $23 billion contract with the Army for troop support.
Insurance for all U.S. contractors doing business overseas is required by the 1941 Defense Base Act. The government pays the premiums. In many cases, if the injury or death is war-related, insurers will be reimbursed as well for the full cost of benefits, plus 15 percent in administrative fees.”
December 6th, 2007 at 10:35 am#56-Comment by impeachcheneythenbush — December 6, 2007 @ 10:27 am
December 6th, 2007 at 10:38 amDumbed down, is right. Americans want the issues in a few quick, easy to remember phrases so its easy to recall why they’re angry. Easiest to just pick out a race of people and say, “That’s why you’re having the problems you have”.
CHL – if things are going so swimmingly in Afghanistan, why did President Karzai practically BEG for the U.S. to send more troops and money? The fact is, that because of this administration’s neglect of the Afghanistan issue, and invading Iraq, the Taliban are BACK, and Al-Qaeda is moving back in (largely from Pakistan). You know, you can win a battle, but still lose a war? Flawed strategies will always result in ultimate failure.
December 6th, 2007 at 10:39 amEasiest to just pick out a race of people and say, “That’s why you’re having the problems you haveâ€.
Comment by leftcoast — December 6, 2007 @ 10:38 am
Isn’t this how Hitler rose to power?
December 6th, 2007 at 10:40 am#56-Comment by impeachcheneythenbush — December 6, 2007 @ 10:27 am
Dumbed down, is right. Americans want the issues in a few quick, easy to remember phrases so its easy to recall why they’re angry. Easiest to just pick out a race of people and say, “That’s why you’re having the problems you haveâ€.
Comment by leftcoast — December 6, 2007 @ 10:38 am
Yes, rings a bell as well. Germany, 1933.
December 6th, 2007 at 10:41 ammissmolly and impeachcheneythenbush-
December 6th, 2007 at 10:44 ammy point exactly.
One in three Americans “want to deny social services, including public schooling and emergency room healthcare…â€
Will that one American in three be willing to block the door to the emergency room and watch a person die on the pavement outside? When we deny emergency room care, that’s exactly what we’re doing.
December 6th, 2007 at 10:46 amComment by Dumb_Fox — December 6, 2007 @ 9:21 am
I submitted my question for Rove but I doubt it’ll be asked…
December 6th, 2007 at 10:48 amWhat did we miss?
________________
“Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans wrote to the House and Senate committees on Intelligence today, demanding immediate hearings on the whole National Intelligence Estimate matter.”
http://vetvoice.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=217E3052B2A5C34A31BE0AF410E4ED7F?diaryId=198
December 6th, 2007 at 11:04 amWhat did we miss?
________________
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/02/world/middleeast/02baghdad.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
“BAGHDAD, Dec. 1 — Jobless men pay $500 bribes to join the police. Families build houses illegally on government land, carwashes steal water from public pipes, and nearly everything the government buys or sells can now be found on the black market.
Painkillers for cancer (from the Ministry of Health) cost $80 for a few capsules; electricity meters (from the Ministry of Electricity) go for $200 each, and even third-grade textbooks (stolen from the Ministry of Education) must be bought at bookstores for three times what schools once charged.
“Everyone is stealing from the state,†said Adel Adel al-Subihawi, a prominent Shiite tribal leader in Sadr City, throwing up his hands in disgust. “It’s a very large meal, and everyone wants to eat.â€
Corruption and theft are not new to Iraq, and government officials have promised to address the problem. But as Iraqis and American officials assess the effects of this year’s American troop increase, there is a growing sense that, even as security has improved, Iraq has slipped to new depths of lawlessness. “
December 6th, 2007 at 11:06 amOne in three Americans “want to deny social services, including public schooling and emergency room healthcare,†to undocumented immigrants, according to a LAT/Bloomberg poll. However, 60 percent still favor creating a pathway to citizenship for law-abiding individuals.
People can be truly sick f_cks.
Keep the innocent children out of school, and if they happen to get seriously ill — let ‘em die on the ER threshold.
Would medical professionals actually let this happen…?
December 6th, 2007 at 11:08 amWhat did we miss?
________________
Sunni lawmakers walk out of Iraqi parliament to protest leader’s “house arrest”
The Associated Press
Published: December 1, 2007
BAGHDAD: Lawmakers from parliament’s largest Sunni Arab bloc walked out of Saturday’s session to protest what they called the house arrest of their leader following the discovery of a car bomb near his compound.
U.S. and Iraqi officials said the keys to the vehicle were found on one of Adnan al-Dulaimi’s bodyguards. Al-Dulaimi’s son, Maki al-Maliki, and about 30 other people were arrested Friday.
The political storm over the alleged house arrest of one of Iraq’s most powerful Sunni politicians and the detentions have threatened to inflame sectarian tensions at a time when U.S. officials are pushing Iraqi politicians to take advantage of a recent decline in violence to forge power-sharing agreements among Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/01/africa/ME-GEN-Iraq-Politics.php
December 6th, 2007 at 11:09 amThe one in three who wish to deny services are probably in general the Christian right who follow Bush lock stock and barrel. They for get that Jesus said what ever you do to the least of my brothers, you do unto me… Of course in their insular republicanized view of Christianity people of color are not Jesus brothers because he was white with blue eyes. So that makes it OK.
December 6th, 2007 at 11:12 amWhat did we miss?
________________
Army Officer Sums Up Situation on the Ground in Iraq
by: Brandon Friedman
Fri Nov 30, 2007 at 15:57:42 PM EST
In one simple comment left in this diary, ArmyofOne, an Army officer currently stationed in Iraq, has summed up the situation on the ground there.
This comment should be forwarded throughout the blogosphere and to all American policymakers:
This post will lack my normal level of articulation but this is as close as I can get to the truth of it.
1) There is a problem
2) Government of Iraq (GOI) ask us to fix the problem
3) We tell them to fix it themselves, here is the money
4) Problem remains unfixed
5) We say we will fix the problem, give us the money back
6) They give us 1/3 of the money and say the rest was used to think of a way to fix the problem
7) We fix the problem with our own money
8) There is a problem
Starting to get the picture? Things like this make me a real fan of “Baptism by Fire” for this “Democratically” elected government. As long as we keep doing for them, they have no reason to do it themselves.
http://vetvoice.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=217E3052B2A5C34A31BE0AF410E4ED7F?diaryId=169
December 6th, 2007 at 11:13 amWhat a chuckle, Reagan on Mt Rushmore. To make a realistic remembrance of Mr Regan’s presidency he should be shown nodding off, which he was known to do at inappropriate times.
December 6th, 2007 at 11:20 amConservatives can dream all they want about Reagan on Mount Rushmore. It will never happen.
Comment by missmolly
Well, so far conservatives are getting away with everything they’ve wanted.
December 6th, 2007 at 11:30 am“intelligence agencies obtained notes last summer of Iranian military officials complaining “bitterly†about the “decision by their superiors in late 2003 to shut down†a central part of the program.”
Wonder if that’s really true.
December 6th, 2007 at 11:30 amCould it be a ruse or carefully crafted piece of mis-information in order to delay or confuse our already delayed and confused “intelligence experts”?
Wonder if that’s really true.
Could it be a ruse or carefully crafted piece of mis-information in order to delay or confuse our already delayed and confused “intelligence experts�
Comment by celtic cynic — December 6, 2007 @ 11:30 am
##
Doubtful. Iran has more to gain by making us think they DO have nukes.
December 6th, 2007 at 11:33 amJebus. How about we just create a bust of Ronnie Raygun out of jellybeans?
That would be appropriate – in soooooo very many ways. ;o)
December 6th, 2007 at 11:34 amDo you believe the foreclosure aid from the government is justified?
http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=1228
.
December 6th, 2007 at 11:43 amIt would be easy to keep illegals out of our schools and ERs if we simply keep them out of our nation.
Comment by O. Bigfoot
Good luck.
December 6th, 2007 at 11:46 amComment by O. Bigfoot
Although at first I thought you couldn’t actually be dumber than Sasquatch.
Thanks for changing my mind, cowardly idiot!
December 6th, 2007 at 11:48 am“One in three Americans “want to deny social services, including public schooling and emergency room healthcare,†to undocumented immigrants
###
We’ve sure come a long way from:
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me.
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Can you imagine if we had the same policies during the Irish potato famine?
December 6th, 2007 at 11:48 amCan you imagine if we had the same policies during the Irish potato famine?
Comment by Chris L — December 6, 2007 @ 11:48 am
We did.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know-Nothings
December 6th, 2007 at 11:53 amComment by toasterhead — December 6, 2007 @ 11:53 am
###
Great article. Thank you.
December 6th, 2007 at 12:00 pmMexico and Canada expects a visa or a passport to enter the country and they will ask what your purpose is and how long you will be staying. Why is it racist to expect anyone entering America to have a visa ie. a guest worker visa, or passport and ask what their purpose is to enter ? We need secure borders, both and ports. How can anyone oppose that?
December 6th, 2007 at 12:06 pmComment by toasterhead
America and our history is wrought with hypocrisy.
Beginning with slavery:
The land of the free, free to own another human.
Immigration
The land of the free, free to keep out those we don’t like.
IRS
The land of the free, but we’re gonna have to take 35% of your income.
NAFTA and “free trade” pacts
The land of the free, free to watch Globalization take your job and your security away.
And the list goes on. No wonder some societies loathe us, we’re two faced, lying a$$holes, most of the time, in order to GET OUR WAY in the immediate future. No need to plan far ahead.
December 6th, 2007 at 12:06 pmComment by texaslady
Because we as a nation want it cheap and we want it now.
Besides, due to the clusterf*(k at the Passport services, you can enter Canada with only a Drivers License.
Happened to a business assoc. of mine two months ago.
But it is a great system they’ve got in Canada. They even go as far as searching all gov. databases for your criminal records! And they actually have DOGS in their airports sniffing bags radomly throughout.
WFT is wrong with America?
December 6th, 2007 at 12:10 pmComment by O. Bigfoot
You’d love the “Little Cuba” area of Miami, but I’m sure you’ve never ventured outside your back 40…
December 6th, 2007 at 12:17 pmto DNFP – It is called WIFM whats in it for me ? America unfortunately has lost the ethics and morals we once had. You are quite right, everyone, corporations, Walmart, all of us have stopped demanding quality for cheap.
December 6th, 2007 at 12:24 pmWe can still have the workers, but how about demanding our government set up data banks along the borders and speeding up the entry system. People just looking for work will use this door if America would just do it. All the meat plants, and agriculture would get what they want. And we just might be able to help the FBI keep out more of the MS13 gangs.
Secure the borders. Stop illegal occupation of our country. Provide a streamlined, sensible means for people who wish to become U.S. citizens, and wish to swear allegiance to the United States and assimilate into our society, to become those productive citizens. In that order.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — December 6, 2007 @ 12:11 pm
###
Leaving out my own personal opinion (it is extremely controversial on both left and right in regards to immigration), I do see your point. However, such a overhaul like what you mention would need to start with Cuban immigration first, and that is a political pandora’s box that neither side wants to touch.
December 6th, 2007 at 12:27 pm#90 – You need to re read what DNFP said in his comment. He agrees we need stronger border control. He is NOT saying deny anyone immigration. Which you comment also said, so why the angry love it or leave it speech ? How about love it and help it be better?
December 6th, 2007 at 12:28 pm78 – We’d love to redeploy those people to the border Bigfoot, but a bunch of people missing limbs and committing suicide probably won’t work – Besides – the GOP is going to make sure they don’t ever return from the middle east.
All you Mexican haters need to find another hobby. Immigration now is the sa,e as immigration 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 years ago, and in those decades we’ve done just fine.
Leave the molehills alone – find a real mountain to challenge yourselves with.
December 6th, 2007 at 12:29 pmhysterical ninnies.
I see cold hard lump is going to spend his day showing us the kernels of corn he found in the neocons’ droppings…….that’s cute.
December 6th, 2007 at 12:31 pm“What we have now amounts to an invasion of the United States by foreign nationals who have no intention of becoming Americans, but who wish to reclaim parts of the United States and change them into mirror images of their own native nation’s culture, while usurping benefits intended for U.S. citizens, with no intention nor consideration of repayment of same.”
Bigfoot
And we have foreign nationals who use the US as a place to recruit, and arm themselves for terrorist acts in other countries. And sometimes we actually train them to do this – or did you forget?
December 6th, 2007 at 12:32 pmWhy the anger when a comment is made that another country has a better method ? The Netherlands built wonderful levees and wanted to send people here to help New Orleans and Powers that Be said, No we will do without your advice.
December 6th, 2007 at 12:33 pmHey, if another country has a better idea, lets use it.
I’d agree to renaming New Orleans New Reagan in honor of his contributions to the disadvantaged of this country.
Comment by Bobwurst — December 6, 2007 @ 9:30 am
Thanks, but I think we’ll pass on that idea.
December 6th, 2007 at 12:36 pm-95 So anyone wanting a secure border and Ports are racist? Please explain your thinking? My neighbors across the street and down the street are LEGAL immigrants, Brazil, Mexico, Guatelmala, and THEY want secure borders.
December 6th, 2007 at 12:37 pm“The Netherlands built wonderful levees and wanted to send people here to help New Orleans and Powers that Be said, No we will do without your advice.
Hey, if another country has a better idea, lets use it.”
Comment by texaslady
When they mentioned dikes, the Bushies probably thought they were talking about lesbians, and said no thanks, we don’t need no help in that area…
December 6th, 2007 at 12:39 pmHey, if another country has a better idea, lets use it.
Comment by texaslady — December 6, 2007 @ 12:33 pm
I read somewhere that the Dutch visited New Orleans after their 1953(?) flood to see the pumps that were designed by the city engineer, Baldwin Wood. The Dutch weren’t too proud to benefit from our success, and now they have 50 years of success that we shouldn’t be too proud to benefit from.
December 6th, 2007 at 12:47 pmWell this idea if you critize America you should leave just is stupid. Lets realize we have problems and solve them instead burying our heads in the sand and saying we are the best. Nations and people can always learn and become better.
December 6th, 2007 at 12:57 pmOnce the Havemores have completed their destruction of the middle and working classes, we won’t have to worry about immigration – Mexican jobs will pay better than ours, as will those in Canada.
Get used to being Canada’s Mexico, folks – that’s what the billionaires have planned for you. Let’s just hope Canada doesn’t build a fence and stock it with armed guards to keep US out of their country – it may be the only decent option in a few years.
December 6th, 2007 at 1:26 pmActually it is getting harder to get into Canada to live already.
TB – What do you have against a secure border and I include Ports as well ?
December 6th, 2007 at 1:38 pmSecure the borders. Stop illegal occupation of our country.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — December 6, 2007 @ 12:11 pm
I hear the “secure the borders!” rallying cry often, but I seldom hear any suggestions on how to do it. People determined to cross the border have managed to scale fences (high ones, too — with barbed wire, even), tunnel underneath, bribe border guards — whatever it takes.
Therefore, I’m sure any suggestions would be appreciated. How would you secure our borders?
December 6th, 2007 at 1:38 pmLet’s secede New Mexico to Mexico. We took it from them in the first place.
Immigrants can get as far as N.M, but have to stay there. Bigfoot can finally get a job, Mexican immigration will stop, and we’ll also get rid of Hoekstra & Wilson at the same time!
I’m just say’n…
December 6th, 2007 at 1:48 pmI think “a secure border” is something we will never actually have – it’s like saying there will be “a vibrant democracy in Iraq a year from now.
I believe lots of money would get spent, and lots of press releases released, and after ten years and 100 billion dollars, Tyson foods would still have a 60 or 70% illegal workforce making McNuggets.
The kind of economics we practice precludes the idea of a “secure border”
I’d be happy if I knew we were searching and scrutinizing all incoming freight at our ports, and they won’t even do that – why? – $$$, and that’s all – Billionaires don’t care whether Long Beach gets blown up, they care about buying vacation homes in Tuscany.
We’ve always had a lot of illegal immigration from Mexico, and only recently has it become a big national headlines issue – why??
-because it’s a big, fat red herring, and a great smokescreen to cover for all the real important crimes the GOP is getting away with.
December 6th, 2007 at 1:52 pm“illegal occupation” Bigfoot?
maybe we should lead by example then , and end our illegal occupation of Iraq.
How did all the Righties simultaneously forget the Golden Rule?????
December 6th, 2007 at 1:54 pm106 I do have ideas – Faster process of guest worker visas, with picture ids and documentation of country of origin. Enter into data bank. Minimal cost to immigrant. Patrol the Borders with Cameras and more Agents. If the entry process were faster more decent imigrants just wanting work would use that instead. The reason so many are walking in is because our system is so lengthy.
All others still crossing illegally should be deported upon catching.
December 6th, 2007 at 1:56 pmTB – We have never had the amount of illegals coming through as the last few years. Growing up on a farm in Iowa migrant workers always were there during crop times and no problems. NO ONE has a problem with those just wanting to work. But others that are coming over like the MS13 gangs, the drug runners are coming as well. If other countries can control their borders we can at least try.
December 6th, 2007 at 2:03 pmI don’t disagree completely, Tlady – I just think there are waaayyy bigger fish that need fryin’ right now, and we’re never going to improve the border situation until they’re fried.
December 6th, 2007 at 2:08 pmMexico is not a poor country they have vast mineral and petroleum deposits however, every leader just uses the money for their own means and cheats the population. But, with the education the children are getting here maybe they will go home one day and take back their country. Either way education for legal or illegals can only benefit America.
December 6th, 2007 at 2:09 pmBetter education for our kids should be a priority as well . Bill Cosby said for Black parents to get involved well that stands for white parents as well. That is right up there with healthcare and getting our Nation back on track financiallly and Internationally.
Anyone talking with kids from 8-12 will be shocked at what is NOT being taught doesn’t matter what economic neighborhood you live in. Check out the food in the cafeteria, we had healthier food 40 years ago than the fat laden garbage being served now.
December 6th, 2007 at 2:15 pmWhat did we miss?
___________________________-
1.5 Billion dollars worth of military equipment in Iraq cannot be located, including cases of RPG’s:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/12/06/iraq/main3584247.shtml
December 6th, 2007 at 3:16 pmOops. Only 1 billion missing.
December 6th, 2007 at 3:17 pmThe report details a massive failure in government procurement revealing little accountability for the billions of dollars spent purchasing military hardware for the Iraqi security forces. For example, according to the report, the military could not account for 12,712 out of 13,508 weapons, including pistols, assault rifles, rocket propelled grenade launchers and machine guns.
And the Reagan legacy comes full circle. We are again arming our enemies – but this time through Bush-league incompetance.
December 6th, 2007 at 3:20 pmOh my – Lump dragged his corn cart over here, too!!!
No one’s buying, Lump – canned corn that hasn’t passed through anyone else’s bowels is still widely available at low prices, so we’re going to stick to that – you can have all of the poopcorn for yourself.
December 6th, 2007 at 3:30 pmI don’t – corn king.
December 6th, 2007 at 3:48 pmbut I’m sure you’ll find a lot of people here who will disagree with me, and take your side.
December 6th, 2007 at 3:48 pmComment by cold_hard_left — December 6, 2007 @ 3:40 pm
No quality conservative would care what a free thinker such as Freud would think.
December 6th, 2007 at 4:07 pm