ThinkFast: February 28, 2008
ThinkFast: February 28, 2008
A Marine regiment is heading to Iraq for its fifth tour. Yesterday, the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment based at Twentynine Palms, California, reportedly became the first Marine Corps unit to be deployed a record five times. Sixty percent of the unit will be going to Iraq for the first time.
Bush administration officials tout private Medicare plans as having extra benefits and low costs. A new Government Accountability Office report, however, finds that these plans “often cost beneficiaries more than the traditional government-run Medicare program.”
Speaking before the House Financial Services Committee yesterday, Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke admitted that the U.S. economic situation “has become distinctly less favorable” since last summer. He still refused to say that the economy was heading toward a recession, but acknowledged his forecast may be overly optimistic.
This next year, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) will serve as John McCain’s point man on Capitol Hill. “There ain’t going to be a lot of ‘bringing us together’ between now and November,” Graham said. “There’s going to be a lot of jockeying for political advantage. It’s sad, but true.”
If elected president, McCain would the first president born outside the 50 states to take the presidential oath of office. Having been born in the Panama Canal Zone, McCain’s candidacy is “reviving a musty debate” about whether a “natural-born citizen” who can hold the nation’s highest office.
Despite great strides made in the past four decades toward expanding a black middle class and producing black political leaders in the U.S., a new study released today concludes that African-Americans still lag behind whites “significantly in income, education and other measures of well-being.”
House conservatives, long divided over a proposed earmark moratorium, are “conceding that they do not have support for the idea from their colleagues, even among most of the members of the 103-member Republican Study Committee.” “The votes aren’t there,” said Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX).
Iraq’s presidential council rejected a plan for new provincial elections, sending the bill back to parliament for reworking — “a major setback to U.S.-backed efforts to promote national reconciliation.” The ruling came despite a reported last-minute telephone call by Vice President Cheney to the body.
And finally: Some bipartisan cooperation in Congress. Roll Call reports that both parties are “rallying to a common cause and introducing a bipartisan bill designating July 26, 2008, as ‘National Day of the Cowboy.’ The legislation, which Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) introduced Feb. 13, honors the ‘pioneering men and women, known as cowboys.’” Giffords’s spokesman noted, “Who can disagree about the importance of cowboys?”
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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The Foundations for Permanent War
…Sadly, Democratic Presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have not co-sponsored a new bill, introduced by Representative Barbara Lee, preventing construction or maintenance of permanent military bases in Iraq. Obama and Clinton have been rather vague in terms of their plans for Iraq.
Congress’s 2008 Iraq spending bill included a requirement prohibiting any plans for permanent bases without Congressional approval; however, neither Clinton nor Obama even bothered to vote on this important bill, as they appeared more interested in campaigning than actively opposing the war.
Either candidate could have voted against the bill and expressed their commitment to cutting off funding for the war, or they could have voted in favor of funding for 2008, while at the very least supporting the bill’s prohibition on permanent bases. Their refusal to support a funding cut off or a prohibition on bases raises serious questions their “anti-war” status…
http://www.counterpunch.org/dimaggio02252008.html
February 28th, 2008 at 9:00 amFeed The World? We Are Fighting a Losing Battle, UN Admits
The United Nations warned yesterday that it no longer has enough money to keep global malnutrition at bay this year in the face of a dramatic upward surge in world commodity prices, which have created a “new face of hungerâ€.
…The shortfall…comes at a time when populations,…who had thought themselves secure in their food supply are now unable to afford basic foodstuffs. Afghanistan has recently added an extra 2.5 million people to the number it says are at risk of malnutrition...“This is the new face of hunger,†Sheeran said. “There is food on shelves but people are priced out of the market.â€
…The impact has been felt around the world. Food riots have broken out in Morocco, Yemen, Mexico, Guinea, Mauritania, Senegal and Uzbekistan. Pakistan has reintroduced rationing for the first time in two decades. Russia has frozen the price of milk, bread, eggs and cooking oil for six months…
…Much of the blame has been put on the transfer of land and grains to the production of biofuel. But its impact has been outweighed by the sharp growth in demand from a new middle class in China and India for meat and other foods, which were previously viewed as luxuries…
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/02/26/7304/
February 28th, 2008 at 9:00 amAnd finally: Some bipartisan cooperation in Congress. Roll Call reports that both parties are “rallying to a common cause and introducing a bipartisan bill designating July 26, 2008, as ‘National Day of the Cowboy.’ The legislation, which Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) introduced Feb. 13, honors the ‘pioneering men and women, known as cowboys.’†Giffords’s spokesman noted, “Who can disagree about the importance of cowboys?â€
Well, at least Congress is getting some REAL work done… (/sarc)
February 28th, 2008 at 9:04 am“There ain’t going to be a lot of ‘bringing us together’ between now and November,†Graham said.
This has been the Republican strategy since 1999! Why is Sen. Graham only admiting this now?
February 28th, 2008 at 9:08 am#3 Fritz: I posted this last night on another thread. Thought you’d see the relevance.
Off topic: Can you believe this shit?! The DOJ is going to investigate Roger Clemens testimony before Congress about his alleged use of steroids and HGH. Wow! I’m so impressed! Our country is bankrupt, run by criminals, for criminals, has a president that doesn’t know up from down and has lied so many times his nose should weigh 10,000 pounds, a vice president that has never been right about anything, government corruption on an unprecedented scale and they have time to investigate a baseball player?!!! OUR JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS ABOUT 100,000 MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO INVESTIGATE RIGHT NOW AND THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE HORRIFIC CRIMES OF ROGER CLEMENS?!!! In the grand scheme of things steroids and human growth hormone in baseball is so far down the list I can honestly say I don’t give a shit. Amazing, simply amazing.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:12 amIn the grand scheme of things steroids and human growth hormone in baseball is so far down the list I can honestly say I don’t give a shit. Amazing, simply amazing.
Comment by Mr. Evil — February 28, 2008 @ 9:12 am
True. The Patriots videotaping their opponents is far, FAR, more important.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:13 amIt’s about time Congress honored cowboys, yee ha! We’ve got a fake cowboy in the White House and a cowboy foreign policy, so this seems entirely appropriate. We’ve also apparently got yet another idiot in Arizona who believes that “pioneering men and women” were known as cowboys. For a little balance, it’s a Democrat.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:14 am“McCain’s candidacy is “reviving a musty debate†about whether is “natural-born citizen†who can hold the nation’s highest office.”
———————————————-
This is a rather silly “debate” IMO. George W. Romney (Mitt’s dad) ran for president in 1968, and he was born to American parents in a Mormon colony in Mexico.
I think “natural born” should mean being an American citizen at birth — regardless of what patch of earth your mother happened to be on when you popped out.
There are plenty of valid reasons to oppose McCain for president, but this isn’t one of them.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:14 amNational Day of the Cowboy. Just another end-around to fawn all over Ronald Reagan because he rode a horse as if he were a real cowboy. Sort of like someone else we know, isn’t it.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:16 amA marine regiment is headed to Iraq for its fifth tour.
Q. How many tours does it take to break an army?
February 28th, 2008 at 9:18 am“The votes aren’t there,†said Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX).
Swearing off earmarks is like an entire office swearing off coffee. It’s an addiction. And it’s not gonna happen until the employer fires everybody and hires only non-coffee drinkers. Which is what we need to do if this becomes important to us.
Right now, the problem of earmarks isn’t as high on the Americans’ list of priorities as the war in Iraq, the cost of health care, or the economy in general. But if earmarking gets much more out of control, it WILL be an issue, and Americans may opt to elect only “non-coffee drinkers.”
February 28th, 2008 at 9:19 amI think “natural born†should mean being an American citizen at birth — regardless of what patch of earth your mother happened to be on when you popped out.
There are plenty of valid reasons to oppose McCain for president, but this isn’t one of them.
Comment by missmolly — February 28, 2008 @ 9:14 am
And the Canal Zone was territory of the United States from 1903-1979. So he was still technically born on U.S. soil. If Barack Little Beauty Obama had been born two years earlier, he’d have been born outside the United States as well.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:21 amBut if earmarking gets much more out of control, it WILL be an issue, and Americans may opt to elect only “non-coffee drinkers.â€
Comment by missmolly — February 28, 2008 @ 9:19 am
– - -
well the problem is that Americans only want *other* districts to swear off earmarks. As for their own district, they are rightfully entitled to them.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:22 amBut if earmarking gets much more out of control, it WILL be an issue, and Americans may opt to elect only “non-coffee drinkers.â€
Comment by missmolly — February 28, 2008 @ 9:19 am
Let’s not encourage Mitt “Double Guantanamo” Romney to get back in the race. That guy scares me.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:23 amI’d love to see some Generals that got together and finally said to Cheney and Bush, “Enough!” They need to find a Diplomacy for Dummies book and put an end to this debacle once and for all. The troops, no matter how well trained they are, are not machines. They are people and every person has a breaking point.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:23 amThe legislation, which Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) introduced Feb. 13, honors the ‘pioneering men and women, known as cowboys.’†Giffords’s spokesman noted, “Who can disagree about the importance of cowboys?â€
We are now sending troops on their 5th tour to Iraq, the economy is in the tank, Oil Companies are pickpocketing everyone, and the Bush Administration is still a bunch of criminals in need of impeachment and trials. Someone please explain to me why a National Cowboy day takes priority over that?
Or a whether a GAME player took steroids ( did he smake a joint too? Did he inhale? )
No wonder this country is so fooked up.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:24 am“Who can disagree about the importance of cowboys?â€
Unless you’re Native American, we’re all illegal immigrants here…
just like the cowboys.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:26 amThe answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind. The answer is blowin’ in the wind.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:29 amIn the grand scheme of things steroids and human growth hormone in baseball is so far down the list ……
Comment by Mr. Evil — February 28, 2008 @ 9:12 am
&
“National Day of the Cowboy”
- – - -
Doesn’t the beef industry pump our cattle full of antibiotics and growth hormones? I’d imagine if its acceptable to “juice” our cows (and ultimately our dinner), it should be acceptable to juice our baseball players.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:29 amDoesn’t the beef industry pump our cattle full of antibiotics and growth hormones? I’d imagine if its acceptable to “juice†our cows (and ultimately our dinner), it should be acceptable to juice our baseball players.
Comment by dim wit — February 28, 2008 @ 9:29 am
Especially if they’re from Texas.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:31 am“Who can disagree about the importance of cowboys?â€
Unless you’re Native American, we’re all illegal immigrants here…
Comment by Zimzone — February 28, 2008 @ 9:26 am
Maybe that will solve alot of problems, send all the illegal immigrants back to countries their ancestors were kicked out of and leave us Native Americans alone. Look, no more Bush Family… Buh, bye Cheney family…
What do you mean…… Europe won’t take them back?
February 28th, 2008 at 9:32 am18 – and girls are developing breasts earlier, likely linked to hormones in milk.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:32 amWhat do you mean…… Europe won’t take them back? -Wayne
Zing! Good one, Wayne.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:37 amA Marine regiment is heading to Iraq for its fifth tour.
Ok, we have had our boots on the ground in Iraq for 5 years and these guys are going back for their fifth tour. Unless they are only staying in Iraq for a short time each deployment, which we all know is not the case, these poor soldiers have spent the better part of 5 years in Iraq, away from their families. And all for what?
How any General in our armed forces can tolerate this is beyond me.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:39 am18 – and girls are developing breasts earlier, likely linked to hormones in milk.
Comment by Briseadh na Faire — February 28, 2008 @ 9:32 am
And fish who live in the Potomac, downstream from Maryland and Virginia farms, are being born hermaphrodites.
One of these years, Congress is going to need to get serious about agriculture.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:41 amComment by Briseadh na Faire — February 28, 2008 @ 9:32 am
Yes, and the truly ironic part is that I care far more about the health of our cattle than I do about our baseball players.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:42 am“a major setback to U.S.-backed efforts to promote national reconciliation.†The ruling came despite a reported last-minute telephone call by Vice President Cheney to the body.
Hey Dick, now that the shoe’s on the other foot, how does it feel to have someone tell YOU to “go fu(k yourself?”
February 28th, 2008 at 9:43 amThey have to be deployed 4 almost 5 times to get the same number of months in country as people in the army with 2 deployments.
5 times is not as bad as it sounds. They go for 7 months then get 12 back. The Army goes for 15 months and gets twelve back I’ve been deployed twice and the total will be 30 months when I complete this tour. The army is begging for this rotational schedule.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:43 amA new Government Accountability Office report, however, finds that these plans “often cost beneficiaries more than the traditional government-run Medicare program.â€
Of course a “private” Medicare plan is going to cost more. Because it is “private” it is being administered by a company who are in it for nothing other than profit.
Obama has frequently said that if he was starting from scratch, he would design a single payer plan. His health care plan is designed around the realities of the “profit” health care industry. I hope when he becomes President he decides to scrap the “for profit” health care industry and goes for a single payer plan. This plan can hire all the people currently working for the private health care industry to administer the plan. That way the new plan wouldn’t put a lot of people out of work
February 28th, 2008 at 9:44 amIf elected president, McCain would the first president born outside the 50 states to take the presidential oath of office. Having been born in the Panama Canal Zone, McCain’s candidacy is “reviving a musty debate†about whether a “natural-born citizen†who can hold the nation’s highest office.
i thought you had to be born in the USA to be a “natural born” citizen… not in a military base in another country or in mitts case a cult in mexico…..
anyone know more about this? if mexican parents have a kid in the usa, is the kid american or mexican…. if an american set of parents have a kid on a military base somewhere other than the usa, are they american or does their citizenship belong to the country of birth?
would love to know more…
February 28th, 2008 at 9:44 amUnless they are only staying in Iraq for a short time each deployment, which we all know is not the case, these poor soldiers have spent the better part of 5 years in Iraq, away from their families.
Comment by bilbobaggins — February 28, 2008 @ 9:39 am
Remember the “12 months” stateside is “relative” and sometimes military command uses its cosmic powers to compress that time into a few short months……
February 28th, 2008 at 9:44 amwell the problem is that Americans only want *other* districts to swear off earmarks. As for their own district, they are rightfully entitled to them.
Comment by dim wit — February 28, 2008 @ 9:22 am
This probably also explains the low approval ratings for Congress. Everybody likes their OWN representative, the all the rest are charlatans.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:44 amHe still refused to say that the economy was heading toward a recession, but acknowledged his forecast may be overly optimistic.
This only goes to prove that Republicans are genetically incapable of facing reality and telling the truth.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:45 amDoesn’t the beef industry pump our cattle full of antibiotics and growth hormones? I’d imagine if its acceptable to “juice†our cows (and ultimately our dinner), it should be acceptable to juice our baseball players.
Comment by dim wit — February 28, 2008 @ 9:29 am
We’re eating that beef and drinking that milk. In essence, we’re all Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens.
Does this mean Henry Waxman will start taking my calls?
February 28th, 2008 at 9:46 amWARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
I don’t know if this has been posted yet, but CNN TV is broadcasting a spot related to this:
Bush Aired Telecom Amnesty Attack On Congress, Despite Knowing It Was False
The spot says that eavesdropping on terrorists stopped when the Senate version of the bill was not passed. You’ll remember that the Senate version gives the telecoms immunity from prosecution.
I wasn’t able to catch the sponsor yesterday, but I will look again today and post if I can find it.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:48 amWe need to write to CNN and ask why they are airing outright lies.
…a new study released today concludes that African-Americans still lag behind whites “significantly in income, education and other measures of well-being.â€
And I would imagine that this gap has widened even more significantly in the last 7 years.
Any Africam-American who votes Democratic should have their head examined. But, sadly, there are Africam-Americans who buy into the Republican credo of “I got mine and fcuk you”.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:48 amWaxman and Pelosi are on the take too. That’s why nothing important is getting done.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:48 amHouse conservatives, long divided over a proposed earmark moratorium, are “conceding that they do not have support for the idea from their colleagues..
Of course they won’t support a moratorium. The Republicans are way ahead of the Democrats in the amount of pork they get for their states.
Actually, I think that Congress needs to come up with a sensible solution towards earmarks. Not all earmarks are pork. Some go towards very worthwhile projects. I suggest they ban earmarks on any bill except for one earmark bill a year that they pass. There also needs to be full disclosure as to who wants what money for what project.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:51 am“a major setback to U.S.-backed efforts to promote national reconciliation.†The ruling came despite a reported last-minute telephone call by Vice President Cheney to the body.
So, hows that surge working guys? It’s nice to know that the Iraqi parliament can stand up to the bullies in the Bush Administration. Now only if our Congress would take note and do the same.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:53 amBNF; heh, we’re waist deep in the Big Muddy and the Big Fool says to push on
February 28th, 2008 at 9:56 am…a new study released today concludes that African-Americans still lag behind whites “significantly in income, education and other measures of well-being.â€
And I would imagine that this gap has widened even more significantly in the last 7 years.
Any Africam-American who votes Democratic should have their head examined. But, sadly, there are Africam-Americans who buy into the Republican credo of “I got mine and fcuk youâ€.
Comment by bilbobaggins
Do you need some more coffee? but more to the point, I remember seeing a study back in the latter part of the Clinton Administration (those were the days…) that showed that AA’s had, historically, an uneployment rate that is roughlyd double the national rate. So, when the reported rate was 3.5%, during he heyday of bill clinton, the AA rate was 7% This held true during good times and bad. The point of the study was that even though AA’s did better under clinton, they weren’tr really gaining any ground. I wish I had a link to this study but it’s long gone.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:57 amTheir refusal to support a funding cut off or a prohibition on bases raises serious questions their “anti-war†status…
Just because they didn’t vote DOES NOT mean they don’t support a bill. It’s quite likely that they knew that their votes were not needed. If it is not a close vote, there really isn’t any reason for them to hop on a plane, fly home to Washington, vote on the bill, hop back on a plane and fly back to whence they came.
If you are truly interested in finding out what Barak Obama’s position is on permanent bases on Iraq, do a Google search on “obama on permanent bases in iraq” and you will see that he opposes these bases.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:57 am“…a new study released today concludes that African-Americans still lag behind whites “significantly in income, education and other measures of well-being.â€
And I would imagine that this gap has widened even more significantly in the last 7 years.”
Any Africam-American who votes Democratic should have their head examined. But, sadly, there are Africam-Americans who buy into the Republican credo of “I got mine and fcuk youâ€.
Comment by bilbobaggins
”
Do you need some more coffee? but more to the point, I remember seeing a study back in the latter part of the Clinton Administration (those were the days…) that showed that AA’s had, historically, an uneployment rate that is roughlyd double the national rate. So, when the reported rate was 3.5%, during he heyday of bill clinton, the AA rate was 7% This held true during good times and bad. The point of the study was that even though AA’s did better under clinton, they weren’tr really gaining any ground. I wish I had a link to this study but it’s long gone.
February 28th, 2008 at 9:58 amSorry about the double post folks, I guess I’m the one in need of coffee…
February 28th, 2008 at 9:58 amSorry about the double post folks, I guess I’m the one in need of coffee…
Comment by Bobwurst — February 28, 2008 @ 9:58 am
Make mine a double mocha, skip the whipped cream……
February 28th, 2008 at 10:06 amI’ll just have some plain, good old fashioned American Columbian coffee.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:08 amI like to spend my Soros checks on free trade, soy skim double lattes, with a hint of nutmeg. The back seat of my prius is filled with recycled coffee cups. When I get enough of them I’m going to compost them so I can feritlize my heirloom organic tomatoes.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:11 amDid I miss any wingnut chliches?
February 28th, 2008 at 10:11 amOT but Bush is giving a presser on CNN right now, berating Congress for not passing the Protect AT&T Act and the Senate for trying to pass another Iraq Withdrawal bill.
He sure looks like he had him some large size fun last night.
The questions begin now…
February 28th, 2008 at 10:13 am“Do you need some more coffee?”
A proof reader would be more useful.
But I see that congress has embraced their silly side, with the Cowboy Day legislation. I really think they should give National Lollipop Day a second look…
February 28th, 2008 at 10:14 amre 48:
maybe they could just combine the two. We’ve gone too long without honoring the lollypop sucking cowboys that made our country what it is.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:15 amJust because they didn’t vote DOES NOT mean they don’t support a bill. It’s quite likely that they knew that their votes were not needed. If it is not a close vote, there really isn’t any reason for them to hop on a plane, fly home to Washington, vote on the bill, hop back on a plane and fly back to whence they came.
Comment by bilbobaggins — February 28, 2008 @ 9:57 am
All the more reason the House and Senate need to start allowing Blackberry voting.
After yesterday’s breakdown of the Senate subway, I think my proposal will start getting some legs.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:16 amBush is dancing around the Turkish/Kurdish issue, and pushing an incoherent line, that the PKK is the enemy of the Kurds.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:20 amBarfly, I’m watching this presser and there seems to be a slight delay. The video doesn’t quite match up to the audio. Audio is slightly behind the video. You seeing the same thing?
February 28th, 2008 at 10:23 amBut I see that congress has embraced their silly side, with the Cowboy Day legislation. I really think they should give National Lollipop Day a second look…
Comment by barfly — February 28, 2008 @ 10:14 am
Why not an Indian day? We can even have a live re-enaction of Little Big Horn, and invite Dubya to play the part of Custer……
One can dream….
February 28th, 2008 at 10:24 amThe video doesn’t quite match up to the audio. Audio is slightly behind the video. You seeing the same thing?
Comment by Theresa — February 28, 2008 @ 10:23 am
Bush doing a bad lip-sync again? Quick! Call Milli Vanilli to give him some more lessons
February 28th, 2008 at 10:29 amWhy not an Indian day? We can even have a live re-enaction of Little Big Horn, and invite Dubya to play the part of Custer……
One can dream…. -Wayne
I’m fine with Bush as Custer, but can Cheney be the horse’s ass?
February 28th, 2008 at 10:31 amI was thinking how much cows, baseball players and detainees in Guantanamo/Abu Gharib have in common.
The cows and baseball players both take heavy amounts of steroids, the cows involuntarily.
The cows and detainees were both subject to waterboarding and electric shocks. Both against their will.
The baseball players and detainees both get hearings on their guilt or innocence. The baseball player’s hearings are in public before elected officials. The detainees’ trials are in secret before military tribunals.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:32 amComment by 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda
Is this a math quiz?
Nobody said anything about taking a test…
February 28th, 2008 at 10:36 amStill feeling extra-cranky. Still hating on Republicans. All of ‘em.
They should all be neutered immediately.
Oh, and good morning!
February 28th, 2008 at 10:37 am“The baseball players and detainees both get hearings on their guilt or innocence. The baseball player’s hearings are in public before elected officials. The detainees’ trials are in secret before military tribunals.”
And the cows?
Look down, at your breakfast burrito…
February 28th, 2008 at 10:39 amGood morning, Annie.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:40 amYup, except Lil’ Boots doesn’t actually ride horses… according to Vicente Fox, Dubya’s skeered of ‘em!
February 28th, 2008 at 10:41 amAaagh, watching Bush speak is very difficult the way he stammers and can’t put his thoughts into words that make sense.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:42 amThe boy-king is having another presser — it is increasingly painful to watch this moron speak and attempt to sound rational, much less knowledgeable.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:44 am“The baseball players and detainees both get hearings on their guilt or innocence. The baseball player’s hearings are in public before elected officials. The detainees’ trials are in secret before military tribunals.â€
And the cows?
Look down, at your breakfast burrito…
Actually the cows had a public hearing. Westland Meat President testified before congress yesterday. This is more than the human detainees in Guantanamo will ever get.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:48 amHe just said he’s focused on things like gasoline prices (as opposed to financing his library) while two minutes before he said he didn’t know people were predicting gas would be 4 dollars a gallon.
February 28th, 2008 at 10:50 am“Who can disagree about the importance of cowboys?â€
no one… as long as we all agree that duby AIN’T one…
February 28th, 2008 at 11:15 amthese poor soldiers have spent the better part of 5 years in Iraq, away from their families. And all for what?
Comment by bilbobaggins
Bring Democracy to Iraq. There is no better way to stabilize and pacify a country by invading it. Yep…
February 28th, 2008 at 11:24 amduh, I need coffee.
February 28th, 2008 at 11:25 amMake mine a double mocha, skip the whipped cream……
Comment by Wayne
What are we? Aristocrats?
I want a good old espresso…
February 28th, 2008 at 11:28 amDid I miss any wingnut chliches?
Comment by Bobwurst — February 28, 2008 @ 10:11 am
the Berkenstocks…
February 28th, 2008 at 11:29 amfingers crossed…
Annan: Kenyan Leaders Strike Coalition Deal
Voice of America – 2 hours ago
By VOA News Former United Nations chief Kofi Annan says Kenya’s political rivals have agreed to form a coalition government in an effort to end the country’s political crisis.
Kenya’s warring political rivals ‘have reached a deal’ Times Online
Kenya’s rival politicians reach agreement CNN International
if this holds, my daughter will want to carry on her plans for a
February 28th, 2008 at 11:38 am2 week study abroad program, in kenya…
i don’t feel any better about THAT though…
a two-fer here:
Turkey Rules Out Timetable
Wall Street Journal – 2 hours ago
AP ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s incursion against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq should be short and focused, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday.
US seeks quick end to Turkey attack Aljazeera.net
Gates to Turkey: Halt Incursion in Iraq The Associated Press
AFP – Monsters and Critics.com – TIME – Washington Post
Israel Continues Airstrikes in Gaza
New York Times – 1 hour ago
By ISABEL KERSHNER JERUSALEM – Israel kept up its airstrikes Thursday against militants in the Gaza Strip, and Hamas continued to fire heavy barrages of rockets at Israel, one day after an Israeli civilian was killed in a rocket attack.
Violence Escalates Along Gaza Border Voice of America
Four youths killed in Gaza strike BBC News
got any more messes to fix, george?
February 28th, 2008 at 11:41 amUS border “virtual fence” to be delayed: report
Reuters – 8 hours ago
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Technical problems have forced the Bush administration to retool a high-tech “virtual fence” along the US-Mexico border and will delay the first phase for at least three years, the Washington Post reported on Thursday.
US unable to judge ‘fence’ Washington Times
‘Virtual Fence’ Along Border To Be Delayed Washington Post
gee… i wonder what prompted that…
February 28th, 2008 at 11:42 amStudy: Spanking may lead to sexual problems later
USA Today – 14 hours ago
By Sharon Jayson, USA TODAY Children whose parents spank them or otherwise inflict physical punishment may be more likely to have sexual problems later, according to research to be presented today to the American Psychological Association.
Study: Spanking causes sexual problems United Press International
Adult Sexual Problems Linked To Childhood Spanking AHN
imagine that…
February 28th, 2008 at 12:42 pmBritain says Prince Harry deployed in Afghanistan
Thu Feb 28, 2008 1:45pm EST
By Luke Baker
LONDON (Reuters) – Prince Harry, third in line to the British throne, has been secretly serving as a combat soldier on the front lines in Afghanistan for 2-1/2 months, the Ministry of Defence said on Thursday.
Following leaks in the international media about his deployment, officials said they were reviewing whether he should remain there, fearing that he could become a target for Taliban militants or other fighters.
Harry, 23, was deployed to Helmand, a dangerous region of southern Afghanistan, in December, seven months after plans to send him to Iraq were scrapped following threats from Iraqi militants to kidnap or kill him.
The army posted him to Afghanistan only after the British and selected members of the international media agreed not to report his presence until he had returned from a scheduled 4-6 month deployment.
That embargo was broken on Thursday after German, Australian and U.S. Web sites reported that he was there.
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http://www.reuters.com/article/newsMaps/idUSL2892100420080228
get him the hell outta there… no one needs any more excuses to
escalate this disaster…
get him out of there.
February 28th, 2008 at 2:07 pmMcCain’s a dick but this is a stupid story. First off, he was born on a military base. Second, both of his parents are American citizens. I could care less if he was born on Mars. He’s a natural born citizen any way you look at it. Now let’s get on with the real issues. Like the fact that he’s abandoning his support for the environment and climate change in exchange for support from republican governors from states with energy interests. I hope Obama goes after him on this.
February 28th, 2008 at 4:26 pm