ThinkFast: March 3, 2008
ThinkFast: March 3, 2008
College students nationwide “will begin to see higher costs for loans this spring, while others will be turned away by banks altogether as the credit crisis roiling the U.S. economy spreads.” Over the past decade, student debt levels more than doubled to $19,200.
On CNN yesterday, House Intelligence Chair Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) hinted that a deal is close on surveillance legislation and that it may give “phone companies the retroactive legal protections long sought by President Bush.” “I have an open mind about that,” said Reyes, referring to a Senate bill that includes “blanket immunity” for telecoms.
“President Bush and Senate leaders are signaling no compromise is in the works for nearly two dozen agency-level nominations, including four now-vacant Federal Election Commission seats that shuttered the campaign regulator indefinitely after the new year.” The FEC nominations are held up by controversial nominee Hans Von Spakovsky, who is opposed by Democrats.
A Roll Call review of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense “showed a strong correlation between contributions and earmarks. All but two of the 15 panel members received campaign contributions from at least half of the private entities that received earmarks.”
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) “likes to present himself as the candidate of the ‘Straight Talk Express’ who does not pander to voters or change his positions.” But the record shows that McCain has changed his mind on issues such as the Bush tax cuts, immigration, torture and abortion.
Last Friday, McCain stated that “there’s strong evidence” that thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, is the reason for increased diagnoses of autism in the U.S. — “a position in stark contrast with the view of the medical establishment.” Kevin Drum writes, “It’s just another indication that when it comes to anything outside of the few pet issues he cares about, McCain really can’t be bothered to take an interest.”
As oil prices climb to record highs, “steep gasoline prices and the weak economy are beginning to curb Americans’ gas-guzzling ways. In the past six weeks, the nation’s gasoline consumption has fallen by an average 1.1% from year-earlier levels, according to weekly government data.”
Dmitry Medvedev won Russia’s presidential election in a landslide, giving him a mandate to succeed Vladimir Putin. But a 22-member observer mission from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe cast doubt on the fairness of the vote, stating that there were “flaws” in the results.
The United States used precision missiles to strike a “known terrorist target” in southern Somalia, a U.S. military official said. But Somalian local elders in the town say that four civilians were killed.
And finally: Rep. Thelma Drake (R-VA) can’t get enough of Angelina Jolie. Last week, Jolie wrote a Washington Post op-ed, declaring that the “surge” is working in Iraq. On Friday, Drake sent a letter to Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO), asking him to bring Jolie back to the Hill to testify about what she saw in Iraq. She said that Jolie’s testimony would provide “crucial insight.”
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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Vets Break Silence on War Crimes
SAN FRANCISCO – U.S. veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are planning to descend on Washington from Mar. 13-16 to testify about war crimes they committed or personally witnessed in those countries.
“The war in Iraq is not covered to its potential because of how dangerous it is for reporters to cover it,†said Liam Madden, a former Marine and member of the group Iraq Veterans Against the War. “That’s left a lot of misconceptions in the minds of the American public about what the true nature of military occupation looks like.â€
…Iraq Veterans Against the War is calling the gathering “Winter Soldier,†after a quote from the U.S. revolutionary Thomas Paine, who wrote in 1776: “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.â€
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=41398
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:00 amIraqi scientist gave CIA information that should have prevented war
When Saad Tawfiq watched then-US Secretary of state Colin Powell’s presentation to the U.N. on February 5, 2003, he shed bitter tears as he realized he had risked his life and those of his loved ones for nothing. As one of Saddam Hussein’s…engineers, Tawfiq knew that (he) had shut down his nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs in 1995 – and he had told his handlers in US intelligence just that.
…”When I saw Colin Powell, I started crying – immediately. I knew I had tried and lost,” Tawfiq told AFP…According to Tawfiq, Saddam Hussein gave the order to dismantle Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction programs in 1995…”I was Saddam’s scientist,” Tawfiq declared, with an ironic smile. “In 1991 if you exposed something you were killed. In 1995 if you hid something you were killed!”
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/31180
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:01 amJohn McCain: ‘I’m a conservative liberal Republican who stands boldly on both sides of any issue’.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:10 amDemocracy inaction: elections without regulation, without oversight.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:14 amAnd the Bill of Rights is open for sale to the highest bidder.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:16 amMcCain is exhibiting reasons why he is unfit for the presidency. He has had a full lifetime of experience but at his age, uit is increasingly apparent that he should not be entrusted with being the nation’s leader. He is too easily led; he is too often on both sides of the issues; he contradicts himself, and he represents politics of old. He can’t devote energy and sufficient thought process to issues which he has no interest — he instead relies on talking points from the RNC.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:17 amYou certainly should have something on the Israeli-Palestinian situation currently in progress. There is currently a report on DemocracyNow! from inside Gaza. It seems that Ehud Olmert’s latest statement boils down to “we’ll kill them all rather than talk to them.” So many children killed. The response is out of proportion and targeting civilians.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:19 am#6, agreed, Marie.
While (R)’s are complaining about Obama getting support from Farrakhan, which he did not request & has rejected, McCain’s endorsement by Hagee is only being questioned by the Catholic church.
Hagee is a ‘War Preacher’. All he delivers is fear & smear. Why isn’t Hagee supporting Huckabee? Because Huckabee isn’t for staying in Iraq.
Hagee is a dangerous man. McCain seems to think anyone pro-war is OK.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:21 amAnd the Bill of Rights is open for sale to the highest bidder.
Comment by Briseadh na Faire — March 3, 2008 @ 9:16 am
We knew this outcome was inevitable all along. There’s virtually no coverage of this story by the corporate media. I doubt 1 in 100 Americans know that their right to privacy is about to be eviscerated for at least six years.
When the public finally catches up on what’s happened (in ten years?) I’m sure the corporate media will offer up some lame excuse about how they were fooled and promise not to let it happen again…just like in the run-up to the Iraq War.
Until then conduct all your most personal commmunications with two tin cups and a string.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:23 am‘GiGi goes to Washington’…
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:23 amRep. Thelma Drake (R-VA) can’t get enough of Angelina Jolie.
I like Jolie in her movie. But calling her in as an “expert” on Iraq? lmao
“I need more sex, OK? Before I die I wanna taste everyone in the world.”
— Angelina Jolie
Maybe we should just give her a diplomatic position, LOL
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:24 amAnd the Bill of Rights is open for sale to the highest bidder.
Comment by Briseadh na Faire — March 3, 2008 @ 9:16 am
“With Liberty and Justice for *All…….
*Offer not available in all areas. Prices subject to change without notice.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:27 amAnybody else having a lot of trouble with this one?
http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_rob_kall_080302_ricin_man_identified.htm
There are more questions than anwers on this one. EMT’s never noticed animals in the first place? Ricin vials not found in the first search? Read the whole article. This whole thing stinks …
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:30 am“we’ll kill them all rather than talk to them.†So many children killed. The response is out of proportion and targeting civilians.
Comment by BearCountry — March 3, 2008 @ 9:19 am
Hamas doesn’t even recognize the existence of Israel. How exactly should Israel engage in negotiations with an adversary who will not even acknowledge they exist?
Should also note Hamas is firing rockets into Israeli cities – not at military targets – but at cities with Israeli civilians in them. Why is it that it is acceptable for Hamas to target Israeli civilians but when Israel attacks Hamas they are “targeting civilians”
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:30 amRegarding the House caving on telcom immunity, write Nancy Pelosi an e-mail today and tell her to, for once, do the right thing and stand up to Bully Boy Bush.
http://speaker.gov/contact/
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:34 amGG- AP-Ipsos 2/22-2/25 Obama= 51%
McCain= 44%
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/general_election_mccain_vs_obama-225.html
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:35 amA Roll Call review of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense “showed a strong correlation between contributions and earmarks. All but two of the 15 panel members received campaign contributions from at least half of the private entities that received earmarks.â€
***********************************************
File this one under “Gee…YA THINK?!?!?” Talk about stating the obvious — plain old-fashioned common sense could (and should) have told them this a long time ago. (Then again, I think most people will agree that common sense actually isn’t all that common — and in Washington, it seems to be virtually nonexistent even at the best of times.) What do these people think campaign contributions are?!? Most people in our capitalistic society don’t simply give out money without expecting anything in return — so naturally, they make political contributions in the hope if not the expectation that the politician will be more inclined to support their proposals and may very well withdraw their support if this doesn’t happen. Viewed from this perspective, political contributions aren’t all far removed from legalized bribery.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:36 am“President Bush and Senate leaders are signaling no compromise is in the works for nearly two dozen agency-level nominations, including four now-vacant Federal Election Commission seats that shuttered the campaign regulator indefinitely after the new year.â€
That’s fine by me. I am fine with the Senate not approving any of Bush’s nominations until he is out of office. That way there will be a lot less people Obama will have to get rid of when he takes office. He can just put his own people into those positions.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:36 amRegarding the House caving on telcom immunity, write Nancy Pelosi an e-mail today and tell her to, for once, do the right thing and stand up to Bully Boy Bush.
http://speaker.gov/contact/
Comment by bilbobaggins — March 3, 2008 @ 9:34 am
Ask her is she needs a Table too.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:36 amWARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
HERE IT COMES:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23438264/
The Dems are going to roll over and take it up the butt over telecom immunity.
Why am I not surprised?
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:42 amRon Paul & Dennis Kucinich Way Ahead for Reelection
By Eric Garris, Antiwar.com
Polls released yesterday and today show that Antiwar congressmen Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich are well ahead in their reelection campaigns. Both polls were conducted by Public Policy Polling.
Ron Paul leads his only GOP opponent, Chris Peden, 63-30%. He has no Democratic Party opponent.
Dennis Kucinich leads his Democratic opponents with 55%, over 29% for Joe Cimperman. Three other candidates register 5% or lower.
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/31474
** There’s no law against posting a little good news?
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:42 amThanks 2 million, I appreciate it. I think we all need a little. =)
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:44 amThe Dems are going to roll over and take it up the butt over telecom immunity.
Why am I not surprised?
Comment by Fritz — March 3, 2008 @ 9:42 am
Actually, the are not taking it themselves, they are authorizing the rape of every American, whether we consent or not.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:44 amkeep dreaming, gg! keep digging deep for the occasional poll that gets it all wrong; we know you’ll be the one to hope and wish, against all odds.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:45 amNancy buys the (successful) repub talking point that if we hold them accountable for their grave wrongdoing, we’re a herd of loons.
Inventor of IOKIYAR, Grandpa Reagan.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:45 amWARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
HERE IT COMES:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23438264/
The Dems are going to roll over and take it up the butt over telecom immunity.
Why am I not surprised?
Comment by Fritz — March 3, 2008 @ 9:42 am
I believe the new (and improved) Protect America Act will have a life of either 4 or 6 years. This would put it out of reach of President Hillary or Obama.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:46 amWhat do Dems have to gain by giving blanket immunity to Telcoms?
Has this come full circle, where Bushlickers have something on legislators via wiretapping that they threaten to release?
We suspect this began well before 9/11, but only came to light because the Feds weren’t paying their Telcom bills.
Why isn’t this as big of news as the campaigns? And why aren’t the candidates all over this issue?
Hmmm…
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:46 amAs has been pointed out, the response is totally out of proportion to the actual problem. The Israeli government would not recognize the Hamas government when it was elected in a vote. The Israeli government is giving the Palestinians a choice, be fenced in a starve to death, be bombed by unobstracted aircraft, or totally and abjectly accept the little that we are willing to give you to barely survive.
Backdoor diplomacy should have be used. All of the bluster and threats would be for home consumption. There was no talking to Arafat for many years. There has been no real attempt to solve any of the problems except by military force. This constant attacking the Palestinians does not strengthen Abbas, but weakens him. If the whole point is to force chaos in the territory so that continued killing can be maintained, then Israel is doing a good job.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:47 amShould also note Hamas is firing rockets into Israeli cities – not at military targets – but at cities with Israeli civilians in them. Why is it that it is acceptable for Hamas to target Israeli civilians but when Israel attacks Hamas they are “targeting civiliansâ€
Comment by dim wit
Sorry dim wit, there is enough blame to go around for both sides in this situation. Israel IS NOT always right and the Palestinians ARE NOT always right. Funny thing, though, all those rockets that Hamas is firing into Israel are not making the news. The deaths of 100’s of Israeli children is not making the news? Why is there a new blackout on these things?
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:49 amShould also note Hamas is firing rockets into Israeli cities – not at military targets – but at cities with Israeli civilians in them. Why is it that it is acceptable for Hamas to target Israeli civilians but when Israel attacks Hamas they are “targeting civiliansâ€
Comment by dim wit — March 3, 2008 @ 9:30 am
Hamas uses Qassam firecrackers and launches them blindly over a wall. They’ve killed all of seven Israelis in the last decade.
Israel uses heat-seeking missiles fired from fighter jets or, increasingly, unmanned drones. They strike with deadly precision and extrajudicially kill whoever they aim to assassinate and at least a dozen innocent bystanders. These attacks have killed hundreds of Palestinians in the past eight years.
See the difference?
And Hamas has said on MANY occasions that it’s willing to recognize Israel if Israel would only come to the negotiating table. Israel refuses to negotiate.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:49 amAnyone catch the 60min report on health care? A short video clip can be found here. It is unbelievable that we are 3rd world when it comes to health care. We have to either get insurers out of the picture or just give us all what our “representatives” in congress get.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:49 amGigi is starting her work week by cherry-picking data? No one could have predicted that.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:50 amDennis Kucinich leads his Democratic opponents with 55%, over 29% for Joe Cimperman. Three other candidates register 5% or lower.
This is very good news. We need Dennis Kucinich, frequently one of the only voices of reason in the House.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:51 amIf the Democrats have to cave to Bush on telcom immunity, at least they can word it that they will receive immunity for any spying they have done AFTER 911. That will do two things. The first is to call Bush’s bluff and the second will be to leave open the possibility of lawsuits once Obama takes office and does a complete investigation of who, what, when, where, why and how they spied on us.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:53 amEven if the moronic troll wasn’t cherry-picking data, all that says is how 1000+ people across the nation will vote. It doesn’t take into affect the fact that Democrats are out-voting the Republicans 3 to 4 to 1. With a turnout like that on election day, there is no way that the Republicans will win and there is no way they will get away with trying to steal the election.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:54 amShould also note Hamas is firing rockets into Israeli cities – not at military targets – but at cities with Israeli civilians in them. Why is it that it is acceptable for Hamas to target Israeli civilians but when Israel attacks Hamas they are “targeting civiliansâ€
Comment by dim wit
those poor Israelies can’t keep thier ghetto under control……..
modern well equiped army from a country of well fed israelies vs population of starving palestinians with rocks and sticks……who had their land stolen from them……..I’m pulling for the underdog dim wit. I would add that they are kept starving by the Israelies as the world stands by and watches.
Most of the world as well as myself view the Israelies as the aggressors and oppressors here dim wit. Not the Palestinians. One persons terrorist is another persons freedom fighter. Just my opinion and I would not have said anything except you took up for Israel.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:55 amIf the Democrats have to cave to Bush on telcom immunity, at least they can word it that they will receive immunity for any spying they have done AFTER 911.
Comment by bilbobaggins — March 3, 2008 @ 9:53 am
No, if they cave on immunity, we can all start singing about “the day Democracy died”. We are no longer a free country.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:55 amComment by Bluedahlia — March 3, 2008 @ 9:49 am
That’s right. I figure that if citizens gain access to the same health plans members of congress receive, that will force private insurers to shape up or ship out. Could be a driver of better quality in the markets, as goverment helps assure in other areas.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:55 amAssociated Press-Ipsos poll conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs. Feb. 22-24, 2008. N=1,011 adults nationwide. MoE ± 3.1.
“If the election for president were held today and the candidates were [see below], for whom would you vote?” If neither or unsure: “Well, do you lean more toward [see below]?” Names rotated
McCain (R) 41
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:55 amObama (D) 51
Neither (vol.) 6
Unsure 2
Anyone catch the 60min report on health care? A short video clip can be found here.
Comment by Bluedahlia — March 3, 2008 @ 9:49 am
Yes I saw it. Prior to it I was watching C-Span 3 Book review. They had David Cay Johnston on. He talked very sensibly why For-Profit, Insurance provided Healthcare cannot succeed. He didn’t single out Hillary or Obama’s plan. I wish everyone saw both these pieces in the same order I did. The 60 Minutes piece laid out the problem in tragic detail. David Cay Johnston gave us the solution.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:56 amI believe the new (and improved) Protect America Act will have a life of either 4 or 6 years. This would put it out of reach of President Hillary or Obama.
I am not sure what you mean by putting it “out of reach” of a democratic president. If Congress passes this law there is nothing to stop a new Congress from passing a law nullifying the old law or a new law that reverses the old law.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:57 amWill Hillary bow out gracefully if Obama wins Texas & Ohio?
We need Hillary in the Senate. Let’s hope she can accept that fact so Obama can get on with the real challenge of defeating McCain.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:01 amComment by RUCerious — March 3, 2008 @ 9:55 am
Turnout will be the decisive factor in the general election. Democrats are charged up to roust the thugs and there are a lot of new voters inspired by Obama’s candidacy. The Republicans? They’re going to have a candidate that few of them really like and if they get distracted on Election Day by, oh, a new haircut or a shiny penny on the sidewalk, they’re not going to bother to vote.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:01 amWe suspect this began well before 9/11, but only came to light because the Feds weren’t paying their Telcom bills.
Comment by Zimzone — March 3, 2008 @ 9:46 am
According to Joe Naccio, former CEO of Qwest Communications this started well BEFORE 9/11.
The government asked to use Qwest’s facilites to hook up a Big Brother Machine. He declined knowing it was illegal.
He then lost billions of dollars in promised government contracts. Knowing this would hurt his company he started selling shares of his stock. The government then nabbed him for insider trading.
When he tried to defend himself at this trial he was forbidden from presenting any of this information, national security issues was the reason.
AT&T and Verizon played along.
This warrantless spying program has nothing to do with terrorists. It’s simply v.2 of Total Awareness.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:02 amWhat can the democrats be thinking?
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:02 amIf the cave is in again, the democrats will be handing bush the legecy that he so wants and would rightfully never achieve. That of being the republican who gets things done while in the minority, and by whatever deceitful means. Democrat credibility is washed away with the outgoing tide and bush laughs all the way to Southern Methodist where he will shame the democrats for lifetimes, and rightfully so.
If Congress passes this law there is nothing to stop a new Congress from passing a law nullifying the old law or a new law that reverses the old law.
Comment by bilbobaggins — March 3, 2008 @ 9:57 am
What you say is probably correct. However, it’s mighty difficult to overturn a freshly passed law. There will be ENORMOUS forces at work to prevent it.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:06 amgood_golly – regarding the poll results you posted, you missed the “margin of error” issue. In addition, 9% are “undecided.” You obviously don’t make a living being a data analyst.
“In head-to-head contests, the poll found, McCain leads Clinton by 6 percentage points (46% to 40%) and Obama by 2 points (44% to 42%). Neither lead is commanding given that the survey, conducted Feb. 21-25, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.”
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-poll27feb27,0,5452138.story
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:10 amToaster, would you please tell me if Palestines are launching rockets into what is LEGALLY Palestine territory taken by Israel? It’s a sincere question.
Dim wit, Israel doesn’t want peace, don’t you get it?
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:15 amwell, THIS is getting mighty sticky…
Colombia says FARC documents show Correa ties
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:19 amReuters – 37 minutes ago
By Patrick Markey BOGOTA, March 2 (Reuters) – Colombia said on Sunday documents found in a camp in Ecuador where Colombian troops killed a top guerrilla boss showed ties between the FARC rebels and Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa, including contacts …
Chavez Warns of War With Colombia The Associated Press
Chavez Orders Tanks to Colombia Border, Raises Risks (Update2) Bloomberg
what it’s all about: “insult”…
US Iraq troops ‘insult to region’
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:22 amBBC News – 25 minutes ago
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said the presence of foreign forces in Iraq is a humiliation and an insult to the region.
Iranian leader: ‘Foreigners’ must leave Iraq CNN International
Iran and Iraq: A Healthy Friendship Washington Post
Wrong gigi, Republicans were staying home in droves before the race was settled. There is a reason for that. The whole slate of Republicans was a bucketfull of suck. And I don’t see Republicans coming out and being all that enthusiastic about McCain. Face it…it isn’t your year.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:22 amDim wit, Israel doesn’t want peace, don’t you get it?
Comment by Juan C. — March 3, 2008 @ 10:15 am
This from Glenn Greenwald of Salon dot com:
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:23 am
uh oh…
Buffett will not back $800 bln in muni bonds: CNBC
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:24 amReuters – 3 hours ago
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Warren Buffett on Monday told CNBC he is no longer offering to guarantee $800 million of municipal bonds backed by MBIA Inc (MBI.
Buffett: US economy essentially in a recession USA Today
Warren Buffett withdraws bond re-insurance plan International Herald Tribune
2Million, just as BushCo is not following the wishes of the US electorate, the Likudniks are not following the wishes of Israelis.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:26 amgigi, sorry, Obama didn’t get the Rezko discount so your little smear is BS.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:27 amYes it is difficult to get enough of Angelina Jolie. You can barely see her if she turns sideways.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:29 amkaty,
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:29 amMy husband was talking about that yesterday. The US will use Colombia as their front man for their new war. Then they can come to Columbia’s rescue when they start a war with Venezuela.
about the israeli/hamas “struggles”,
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:29 ami’ve read several reports that mention the hamas use of weapons from
IRAN… sure seems that israel really wants an excuse for war with iran…
why would that be?
#14 – and the beat goes on
Yes, this is particularly curious in that days have passed now and there is still insufficient coverage, much less answers, to this story.
It is worth noting, that we can be spied on via phones and cameras everywhere, but finding lethal chemicals such as this one, is mysteriously underinvestigated and underreported.
Sort of like the anthrax story of 2001 — there are still many questions in that unresolved mystery.
Is it any wonder that we don’t believe anything we hear from our government?
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:30 amthen you’re gonna love this view, fortruth:
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/03/02/open-thread-735/
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:32 amToaster, would you please tell me if Palestines are launching rockets into what is LEGALLY Palestine territory taken by Israel? It’s a sincere question.
Comment by Juan C. — March 3, 2008 @ 10:15 am
They’re usually launching rockets into Sderot, which is a town established in 1951 – it was not a Palestinian town prior to the nakba. But it is on the Israeli side of the 1949 Green Line.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:32 am2Million, just as BushCo is not following the wishes of the US electorate, the Likudniks are not following the wishes of Israelis.
Comment by Sabyen91 — March 3, 2008 @ 10:26 am
Exactly. Israel is being guided by a far-right wing, radical ideology. Most Israelis are moderate.
I don’t want to occupy and bomb innocent Iraqis. I’m sure most Israelis feel that way about Palestinians.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:34 amSo should Israel just be destroyed? Is that it?
I’m not sure if any of you have actually looked at a map, but Gaza borders Egypt, the Golan Heights borders Syria, and the West Bank borders Jordan. To suggest Israel is the only one to blame for the condition of the Palestinians is to ignore the Palestinians other neighbors.
And I know its real popular to say Israel “stole” this land, but it was a spoil of war. They won it and took possesion. Its not as if they just invaded these areas. If you really want to talk about stolen land, I guess we’ll all need to start packing our bags because I think the Cherokee, Mohawk, Iroquois, and countless other tribes might have a problem with our current residence in their land. Then again, we do let them have casinos…
And to be clear, I’m not necessarily supporting Israel. However, its pretty clear why they act the way they do. The jews have a pretty shitty history of getting pissed on, abused, and exterminated. Israel is a small country in an area with a lot angry neighbors and one of the only ways they
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:37 amIf Congress passes this law there is nothing to stop a new Congress from passing a law nullifying the old law or a new law that reverses the old law.
Comment by bilbobaggins — March 3, 2008 @ 9:57 am
Very few laws once passed ever get repealed. If this anti-constitutional monster passes, this will just prove that neither Party has the interests of the citizens of their country at heart. Unless you can write a big enough check.
let me repeat, if it passes, Neither Party has our interests at heart.
We are toast.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:37 amMy husband was talking about that yesterday. The US will use Colombia as their front man for their new war. Then they can come to Columbia’s rescue when they start a war with Venezuela.
Comment by Bluedahlia — March 3, 2008 @ 10:29 am
Then you’ll want to read this piece proving (1) Venezuela IS a democracy, not a dictatorship (2) Hillary is now repeating the Republican talking point that Venezuela is a Dictatorship..I assume this is the defacto position of all DLC ?
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/02/28/7349/
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:38 ami dunno… maybe they’re ALL fookin’ crazy…
Inspired by God, Hamas fighters battle on
Reuters – 33 minutes ago
By Nidal al-Mughrabi GAZA, March 3 (Reuters) – Abu Mohammed picked up his rifle, said farewell to his wife and six children and went out to face the Israeli tanks, helicopter gunships and missile-firing airborne drones.
Video: Israeli attacks continue in Gaza – 03 Mar 08 AlJazeeraEnglish
Israel pulls out of Gaza leaving 110 dead Times Online
the whole world is fookin’ crazy…
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:39 am“I think it’s realistic that that could happen during the trial,†said Zach Fardon, a former Chicago federal prosecutor who was part of the team that convicted former Illinois Gov. George Ryan on corruption charges.
http://www.abcnews.go.com/ Blotter/ story?id=4377680&page=1
Comment by good_golly
Best bit of ironic, unintentional humor today, I’ll bet — and the day’s still young!
Congrats.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:42 amAnyone catch the 60min report on health care? A short video clip can be found here.
Comment by Bluedahlia — March 3, 2008 @ 9:49 am
Yes I saw it. Prior to it I was watching C-Span 3 Book review. They had David Cay Johnston on. He talked very sensibly why For-Profit, Insurance provided Healthcare cannot succeed. He didn’t single out Hillary or Obama’s plan. I wish everyone saw both these pieces in the same order I did. The 60 Minutes piece laid out the problem in tragic detail. David Cay Johnston gave us the solution.
Comment by 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda — March 3, 2008 @ 9:56 am
I have a background in healthcare that spans close to 35 years, including working for a company that did strategic planning and marketing for health care organizations. I’ve been around since the earliest days of “managed care,” which was touted as “cost containment.” NOT! Competition is NOT the answer in health care; it drives UP cost. Health care organizations should be non-profit only (and out of the stock market), pharmaceutical companies should be nationalized (worked for one of the largest in the world for 15 years), and we should be organizing toward single-payor in this country.
I saw both the 60 Minutes program and David Cay Johnston’s presentation as well. He’s right…and the 60 Minutes segment is the proof of how WRONG our health care system is.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:43 ambig guns now…
Advocacy groups bash Comcast’s “technical-sounding nonsense”
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:43 amArs Technica – 43 minutes ago
By Nate Anderson | Published: March 03, 2008 – 08:11AM CT The Electronic Frontier Foundation and Free Press, two of the biggest backers of the FCC’s investigation into Comcast’s traffic management practices, late last week filed reply comments with the …
Farm may host FCC debate Stanford Daily
Comcast Backed By NBC, Viacom In Network Neutrality Dispute CNNMoney.com
Amen impeach, profit should NOT be a consideration when it comes to saving lives.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:45 ambut it was a spoil of war. They won it and took possesion. Its not as if they just invaded these areas.
Comment by dim wit
Look at your own statement dim wit. They were armed by us. They didn’t do it on their own. Palestinians were driven from theier homes where they had lived for 3000 years. Why do you think parts of it are called “occupied territory”
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:45 amVery few laws once passed ever get repealed. If this anti-constitutional monster passes, this will just prove that neither Party has the interests of the citizens of their country at heart. Unless you can write a big enough check.
let me repeat, if it passes, Neither Party has our interests at heart.
We are toast.
Comment by Wayne — March 3, 2008 @ 10:37 am
The corporate media wants the PAA to pass because the telcos are some of their largest advertisers. The telcos want the PAA to pass because the liabilities could be in the HUNDREDS of BILLIONS of $$$. The Republicans want to the PAA to pass because it’d expose them to criminal prosecution. These three powerful forces will not be denied.
Only WE THE PEOPLE could stop this. But most don’t know anything about any of this. The opposition, in reality, is a few hundred thousand people. We’d need at least 100x’s this number to win this fight. And they know this.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:46 amthat 60minutes health care piece brought me to tears…
it’s so hard to fathom the depths this country has sunk…
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:46 amSo should Israel just be destroyed? Is that it?
I’m not sure if any of you have actually looked at a map, but Gaza borders Egypt, the Golan Heights borders Syria, and the West Bank borders Jordan. To suggest Israel is the only one to blame for the condition of the Palestinians is to ignore the Palestinians other neighbors.
Comment by dim wit — March 3, 2008 @ 10:37 am
To clarify, Ghaza was once part of Egypt, the West Bank was once part of Jordan, and the Golan Heights was once part of Syria before Israel illegally conquered this land and made double refugees of many of the Palestinians who had already fled to these areas during the ethnic cleansing of Israel in 1948.
Now you do have a point – Palestinian refugees do have a difficult situation, particularly in Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt. They speak a different dialect and have a different culture and face serious discrimination in these other Arab countries. They are being used as a political football – Israel’s neighbors for the most part refuse to absorb these refugees because of the havoc this popuation influx would wreak on their economies and because this would remove the pressure on Israel to take back these refugees.
And the “spoils of war” argument is also interesting. Under the Hague conventions and other tenets of international law, israel as an occupying power has a responsibility to care for the legal, social, and economic needs of the people they’ve conquered. Building settlements on Palestinian land and preventing commerce and putting up roadblocks and building the Apartheid Wall are all gross violations of this responsibility.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:47 amSubprime, debt still largest US econ threat-poll
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:48 amGuardian – 10 hours ago
WASHINGTON, March 3 (Reuters) – The combined punch of subprime mortgage defaults and heavy debt remains the biggest risk to the health of the US economy, a panel of business economists said on Monday.
I saw both the 60 Minutes program and David Cay Johnston’s presentation as well. He’s right…and the 60 Minutes segment is the proof of how WRONG our health care system is.
Comment by impeachcheneythenbush — March 3, 2008 @ 10:43 am
Whoever controls the media controls the country. Period. You’re not allowed to discuss single-payer healthcare on a corporate owned network. Dennis Kucinich tried and he was eliminated. David Cay Johnston was able to discuss it on C-Span 3. Unfortunately, only you and I were watching.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:50 amSo should Israel just be destroyed? Is that it?
Comment by dim wit
You’re pretty radical…
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:50 am2 million, I meant Israel govt doesn’t want peace. Should have made the clarification.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:51 amthere is little reason for Republicans to vote in the primaries
Comment by good_golly — March 3, 2008 @ 10:19 am
Umm, hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but the aforementioned ratio of Democratic to Republican voters was established well before McCain was the presumptive nominee. But you knew that, didn’t you.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:52 am2Million, I was just saying how we think the Colombia/Venezuela thing will play out. I was not implying that I think it will be a good thing. Quite to the contrary, actually.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:54 amdim wit
The injustices incurred by Israel in Palestine are at the heart of why we are in Iraq. Those injustices have fanned the flames of hatred and violence for the 50 years since Israel became a nation.
The Arab nations orginally wanted to get rid of Israel and we helped them defend themselves……
It is what has happened since that has been a tragedy, not just for them but for the whole world. Israel has treated the Palestenians much as you describe the way Jews had been treated historically. They are still doing it today and they (Israel) seem to indicate that nothing short of the destruction of Palistine is acceptable. This is Israels choice not the Palestininans.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:55 amComment by Fred — March 3, 2008 @ 10:45 am
just to be clear, are speaking of the UN mandate which create Israel or the results of the 6-day war?
Comment by toasterhead — March 3, 2008 @ 10:47 am
Israel holds on to Gaza & the West Bank for strategic reasons. At first it was militarily, now they are bargaining chips. Israel has shown a willingness to concede this land (they have destroyed their own settlements) and the wall is not incredibly surprising – we here in America want to build a wall to keep our friendly neighbors the Mexicans out – are you really surprised the Israelis want to keep the Palestinians out?
As for the Golan Heights, Syria remains an agressor towards Israel. Israel would be mindless to cede the Golan Heights at this point.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:57 amComment by good_golly — March 3, 2008 @ 10:25 am
Any editorial written by Robert Novak is immediately suspect. The man is a traitor.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:59 amYou’re pretty radical…
Comment by Juan C. — March 3, 2008 @ 10:50 am
WTF?
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:01 amare you really surprised the Israelis want to keep the Palestinians out?
Comment by dim wit — March 3, 2008 @ 10:57 am
The walls are to keep them in. Israel has done a good job of recreating the old Nazi Ghettos, ironically.
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:01 amWTF?
Comment by dim wit
Yeah, I thought that myself.
Who said or implied that Israel should be destroyed? Come on…
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:04 amComment by Wayne — March 3, 2008 @ 11:01 am
Again, you willingly choose to ignore the Palestinians other neighbors.
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:05 amFor more on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict go to
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:05 amFiredoglake.com to get a deeper look at the current situation.
Israel holds on to Gaza & the West Bank for strategic reasons. At first it was militarily, now they are bargaining chips. Israel has shown a willingness to concede this land (they have destroyed their own settlements) and the wall is not incredibly surprising – we here in America want to build a wall to keep our friendly neighbors the Mexicans out – are you really surprised the Israelis want to keep the Palestinians out?
Comment by dim wit — March 3, 2008 @ 10:57 am
They’re not destroying the illegal settlements in the West Bank. They may have stated a willingness to concede a handful of settlements, but they’re certainly not following through.
And the wall comparison is not entirely accurate. The Apartheid Wall would not be such a problem if it were built on the Green Line border between Israel and the West Bank. It’s not. It’s being built well into Palestinian territory, often running right through Palestininan villages and farms. It cuts off family members from each other, it cuts off villagers from schools and hospitals, and it makes it physically impossible to build an economically and politically viable Palestinian state.
The latter seems to be the true purpose of the Wall, not security.
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:06 amAs for the Golan Heights, Syria remains an agressor towards Israel. Israel would be mindless to cede the Golan Heights at this point.
Comment by dim wit — March 3, 2008 @ 10:57 am
That’s true – like that time Syria dropped bombs on Israel last year. Remember?
Oh wait – it was the other way around. My bad.
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:08 amIsraelie conservatives do not want peace with Palestine. They will assasinate thier own leaders to keep that from happening..see Yitzhak Rabin who along with Yaasar Aarafat won a nobel peace prize for attempting to solve the violence between the two nations. 1994
Yitzhak Rabin was assasinated in 1995 by Yigal Amir, a right-wing Israeli radical who had strenuously opposed Rabin’s signing of the Oslo Accords.
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:08 amIsrael holds on to Gaza & the West Bank for strategic reasons. At first it was militarily, now they are bargaining chips.
Comment by dim wit
Bargaining chips??? So that’s the new name for are starving Palestinians.
I agree that this is not a black and white discussion, but you can not seriously compared all the human rights and international law violations of Israel with those of Palestine.
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:08 amComment by Juan C. — March 3, 2008 @ 11:04 am
Fred said:
“modern well equiped army from a country of well fed israelies vs population of starving palestinians with rocks and sticks……who had their land stolen from them……..I’m pulling for the underdog dim wit. I would add that they are kept starving by the Israelies as the world stands by and watches.
Most of the world as well as myself view the Israelies as the aggressors and oppressors here dim wit. Not the Palestinians. One persons terrorist is another persons freedom fighter.”
even you made a blanket statement implying all Israeli’s are warmongerers (though I noted you amended this to just the Israeli gov’t)
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:12 amAgain, you willingly choose to ignore the Palestinians other neighbors.
Comment by dim wit — March 3, 2008 @ 11:05 am
And you are willfully blind to the crimes perpetrated on the Palestinians. You sound like a troll defending Bush, IMHO.
The middle east situation is not black and white, and wrongs are done on both sides. None of the wrongs make a right.
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:12 amToaster do you know a serious source of info about Israel-Palestine conflict unbiased (if any)?
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:12 amOn another topic:
Colombia just said Correa, Ecuador’s president was involved with FARC. THis is very convenient, one would think. First, Colombia goes into Ecuador’s land on a flagrant violation of international law but then Correa works with FARC…yep.
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:15 ameven you made a blanket statement implying all Israeli’s are warmongerers (though I noted you amended this to just the Israeli gov’t)
Comment by dim wit
I am not an anti-semite dim wit……I am refering specifically to the Israelie government….many Jew agree with me as well as the UN….there are over 150 UN Santions agains Israel which have not been addressed because the US interferes on behalf of Israel.
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:16 ameven you made a blanket statement implying all Israeli’s are warmongerers (though I noted you amended this to just the Israeli gov’t)
Comment by dim wit
And the question remains: Who said Israel should be destroyed?
I say US is a warmonger, terrorist state…and is that the same that saying it should be destroyed? Nope.
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:19 amAnd you are willfully blind to the crimes perpetrated on the Palestinians. You sound like a troll defending Bush, IMHO.
The middle east situation is not black and white, and wrongs are done on both sides. None of the wrongs make a right.
Comment by Wayne
Wayne, I think there are many Americans who are willfully ignorant about this issure….I don’t think it is willful in dim wit’s case but more the result of a general attitude in America that has been accepted and encouraged……same as the Iraq war. This is a worthy discussion and need not disintigrate into an argument.
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:22 am2Million, I was just saying how we think the Colombia/Venezuela thing will play out. I was not implying that I think it will be a good thing. Quite to the contrary, actually.
Comment by Bluedahlia — March 3, 2008 @ 10:54 am
I understand.
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:22 amComment by toasterhead — March 3, 2008 @ 11:06 am
Israel has shown a willingness. And no they have not ceded the territory, but Israel has always made the (very reasonable) demand that the Palestinian authorities stop their attacks. If the Israeli’s gave up this land while Hamas (or some other organization) was still actively attacking Israel, without making concessions of their own, Hamas would declare victory. They would say to all their people their attacks have “won” this land from the Israeli’s. There needs to be give and take and I am sorry if no one but I recognizes this.
Israel has successfully and willingly negotiated with Egypt and Jordan and has peace treaties with both of those nations. They are willing to negotiate and I would assume so are the majority of the Palestinian people
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:23 amhey juan – how does this sound to you?
katy,
My husband was talking about that yesterday. The US will use Colombia as their front man for their new war. Then they can come to Columbia’s rescue when they start a war with Venezuela.
Comment by Bluedahlia — March 3, 2008 @ 10:29 am
makes sense to me, but what do i know…
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:25 amNo, dim wit, if they had shown a willingness they wouldn’t sabotage the peace process every single time they sit down at the table. They wouldn’t be building those settlements or that abomination of a wall.
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:27 amAs usual, g_g cherry picks…
Here’s realclearpolitics COMPOSITE average for al the polls they track for this time period.
Poll Date Sample McCain (R) Obama (D) Und Spread
RCP Ave 02/18 – 02/25 - 43.5 47.4 6.8 Obama +3.9
Back to you, g-g…
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:31 amNo, dim wit, if they had shown a willingness they wouldn’t sabotage the peace process every single time they sit down at the table. They wouldn’t be building those settlements or that abomination of a wall.
Comment by Sabyen91
also, how do you explain over 150 UN sanctions agains Israel for human rights abuses while there are none against Palestine?
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:31 amIsrael has shown a willingness.
Comment by dim wit
Sorry and this is nothing personal but LMAO!!!
Remember Arafat’s organization, that was labeled as terrorist: PLO?
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:31 amWell, Israel supported Hezbollah in those times, because it represented a counterforce to PLO…
Well, add Silvestre Reyes to the growing list of Democrats I despise.
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:32 amWell, the times may be a’changin’ in Israel – and I’m all for it:
Israelis show declining zest for military service
By Dion Nissenbaum, McClatchy Newspapers
TEL AVIV, Israel — Throughout Israel’s short, turbulent history, the nation has grown cynical about almost every sector of society but one: its military.
Though the Israeli military has been buffeted by political scandal, castigated for enforcing a 40-year occupation of the Palestinians, and humbled during its 34-day war in 2006 against Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon , most Israelis never seemed to lose faith in their citizen soldiers.
But, under the surface, something has been slowly shifting in Israel as the nation prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary May 14 .
More and more Israelis are avoiding mandatory military service— something long viewed in this country as a proud rite of passage.
Read the rest here:
http://tinyurl.com/2r4gj3
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:34 ammakes sense to me, but what do i know…
Comment by katy
Well, it makes sense. But I don’t think a frontal war is possible, maybe just a low intensity(?) one. The only thing I’m worried about is that people in Ecuador must be really pissed off and in Venezuela they will be in favor of scalating the tension, which favors war, of course. In Colombia I think it is really polarized the opinion of killing the FARC guy and therefore the incursion into Ecuador.
Anything can happen, katy…anything the people allow to happen, that is.
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:38 amComment by good_golly — March 3, 2008 @ 10:19 am
This has everything to do with how few Republicans will vote in the General Election.
There, fixed fer ya. you can thank me later…
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:38 amComment by good_golly — March 3, 2008 @ 10:25 am
Keating 5–Keating 5
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:55 amyou really think “the people” have much say about it, juan?
for some reason, i don’t…
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:57 amGG-”it’s the economy stupid”.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aouttWQi0.U8&refer=home
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:04 pmGG-The economy part II
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Economy.html
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:09 pmGG-Even Faux snooze can’t put lipstick on this pig.
http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/market-overview/article/data-weighs-market-stocks-set-red-open_502128_42.html
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:12 pmyou really think “the people†have much say about it, juan?
for some reason, i don’t…
Comment by katy
Of course I do. People are the enablers in every conflict. Leaders like Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin etc. may decide but they won’t be wielding any sword or flying any jet. All the things happening are made by common people. If those common people decide that they won’t follow orders, those orders won’t be executed, as simple as that.
There is a book of Tolstoi called War and Peace. I haven’t read it all, but I will do.
People tend to forget how powerful are people.
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:15 pmAhh yessss . . the immunity is on it’s way . .
A sure sign that the law no longer applies to the federal government or the corporations and that your democracy is looonnng gooonnne.
Just wait till McBush and Scum-bur-man are installed as the next ‘Team Destroy America’ .
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:17 pm*
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:19 pmhttp://www.crooksandliars.com/
has the 60minutes RAM story up also…
.
juan – you are correct… but, ah, to be young and idealist again…
:-)
try never to lose it…
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:21 pmThose of us with student loans outstanding already know that under Bush, rates have risen from around 3 or 4% to over 7%. Rates were lowered by the Pelosi/Reid contingent, but only for future loans.
My student loan has an interest rate higher than my car loan or mortgage…and it’s almost DOUBLE my credit card rate.
Thanks for the helping hand, Dept. of Education. I would have been better off putting my higher education on my Visa card.
http://newsprism.wordpress.com
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:24 pmBilbo,
Thanks! I just sent her (speaker Pelosi) another letter and will be spendiing most of the day calling the house and urging them to stand up for the constitution.
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:29 pmDictatortot,
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:31 pmI hear you. I am not quite in grad school yet and am trying to keep up on my interest payments so that I don’t end up paying interest on interest when I am done. It is sickening.
try never to lose it…
Comment by katy
I’ll remain idealist for the two of us, but you remain cool and mature among the trolls for the two of us. ;)
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:36 pmdeal.
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:56 pmbilbo, bilbo, bilbo…. Even you should be smart enough to understand that there is little reason for Republicans to vote in the primaries when their nominee is pretty much already decided; while the Democrats still have a lot to fight about with Hillary and Obama in a knock down, drag out, fight to the Convention. This has very little to do with how many Republicans will vote in the General Election.
Comment by good_golly — March 3, 2008 @ 10:19 am
——
Except that this pattern has held out since the very first elections. At least 1.5 Democrats per every Republican voter in the early caucuses and primaries….while Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee were still in the race.
GG, I hope for your sake that you are just trying to say this to demoralize us (not that it’s working, mind you…) If you truly believe this, and things go the way I suspect they’ll go come November, you’ll be screaming impotently, as your masters are told to clean out their desks and are then escorted out of the building by security. I hope you don’t mind if we point at you and laugh while that’s happening.
Remember. In 2006, you thought that you had ‘the Math’. It’s 2008 now, and we’re in the beginning of a second year of what your masters said was impossible, a Democratic House, and what _I_ thought was impossible, a Democratic Senate. The only reason this hasn’t turned the way we hoped it would has been a masterful manipulation of the system in a display of hypocrisy that may well sink your battleship come November. :) You better question any ‘math’ that comes up before then. ;)
March 3rd, 2008 at 12:56 pmYou better question any ‘math’ that comes up before then. ;)
Comment by Jeremy in Denver — March 3, 2008 @ 12:56 pm
She’d be better off moving to North Korea, where they do things her way.
March 3rd, 2008 at 1:00 pmYeah, you know, the easiest way to honestly win the independents, which will be who truly sinks the Republicans?
Marginalize Bush NOW. Turn on the light at the end of the tunnel and force troop reductions and let the Iraqis know that we’re on our way out. Yes, give the Telcoms their immunity in the wake of 9/11, but anything BEFORE 9/11 is fair game. Force Bush to go with FISA. Cut the gravy train to the corps off. Begin investing in science and education again.
They could even take a moderate right path to this. Welfare? Really reform it. Make it so that to earn welfare, you have to go to school and get the grades, then get a job. If you’re on unemployment, open up options to get retrained, but emphasize getting back in the workforce. Right-wing doesn’t have to be inhuman, but it does need to be balanced with care for the individual, with the overriding goal of getting the individual back in the system, contributing to the nation’s wellness. HONESTLY ‘trust but verify’, and when a company violates that trust, stick them and stick them hard. _Use_ the free market to motivate companies to not foul nature and injure consumers, and when companies begin colluding, break that collusion up without mercy.
Good_golly, when your people realize that, the Republican Party may well raise from its ashes sooner rather than later. For now, however, 7 years of Republican policies taken to their extreme, especially 6 years of a compliant legislature controlled by the Republicans, drives many centrists away from your platform…and if the Democrats play their cards right, come November, McCain will be reeling under the blows of “There’ll be more wars” and “I admire Bush” ads released by the Democratic candidate, whoever that is. As much as you would like the election to not be about Bush, honestly?
It will be.
And if you want to be on the winning side, perhaps, if you have any control over your masters at all, you ought to motivate them to divorce themselves from the policies of Bush 43.
Just sayin’…
March 3rd, 2008 at 1:15 pmGuys…regarding the Telecom immunity issue, there is hope….don’t think that the victims lawyers arent going to challenge the constitionality of the immunity law…
http://writ.news.findlaw.com/sebok/20080129.html
The argument that the lawsuits in progress are property that
March 3rd, 2008 at 1:16 pmthe government cannot arbitrarily take without any sort of due process is a compelling one, and as you can see if you read the article, it has supreme court precedent which I believe at least 9th circuit judges will have the integrity to respect. I beleive there are other strong arguments as to why this immunity provision is unconstitional. So even if our cowardly and/or bribed congressmen cave, there IS still hope.
The supremes would screw the constition but if we can get Obama in office I believe he would stop the obstruction before it ever got to them…. Make no mistake, Obama is no saint but if he gets elected I have a feeling there will be some people going to jail in the next 4 years…thats the main reason im rooting for him..
re: Jolie….sweet jesus…whoring herself out to the “surge is working” crowd? I actually expected more from her.. sad…I wonder if shes getting an “aid package” as big as the multimillion dollar payouts those Sunni chieftans who formerly gave aid and comfort to AQI are getting to stop shooting at us. Isnt it ironic, if anyone, dem or repube, suggested we pay ever mexican within 100 miles of the border even one penny a year from american taxpayer coffers, the right wing would be howling like vivisected baboons…..but somehow giving insurgents with american blood on thier hands american money to stop shooting at us is ok…then again, the people running the show these days worry more about single celled embryos destined for the garbage than they do living, breathing, feeling children, so i suppose the perverse irony only makes sense..
March 3rd, 2008 at 1:25 pm2Million, just as BushCo is not following the wishes of the US electorate, the Likudniks are not following the wishes of Israelis.
Comment by Sabyen91 — March 3, 2008 @ 10:26 am
And this is why Ahmadinejad said “the government of Israel should be wiped off the map”. He never said that “Israel” should be wiped off the map. He knows that it is the right wing government of Israel that is causing all the problems in the region.
March 3rd, 2008 at 1:35 pmbilbo, bilbo, bilbo…. Even you should be smart enough to understand that there is little reason for Republicans to vote in the primaries when their nominee is pretty much already decided; while the Democrats still have a lot to fight about with Hillary and Obama in a knock down, drag out, fight to the Convention. This has very little to do with how many Republicans will vote in the General Election.
Comment by good_golly
Sweet little goon_golly lives in such a fantasy world. The Democrats out voting the Republicans started with the first primary and has continued since then. It wasn’t until Romney dropped out that the Republican candidate was known. So I wonder how this moronic troll explains the Democrats out voting the Republicans even when it was a fight in their party? Must have been coincidence, huh.
March 3rd, 2008 at 1:39 pmWhat “evidence” could they possibly have shown these spineless bast%*ds to get them to roll over on immunity? Blackmail is all I can readily bring to mind quickly. If they were doing it, and they were doing it legally, they have nothing to worry about. I have sent so many letters and emails already and look what good it did in the Senate. I will keep trying, but I see this issue as a huge rallying point for progressives everywhere – we can’t keep letting our elected reps roll over our rights to save their sorry *sses!
March 3rd, 2008 at 2:52 pm