ThinkFast: March 7, 2008
ThinkFast: March 7, 2008
“Employers slashed jobs by 63,000 in February, the most in five years, the starkest sign yet the country is heading dangerously toward recession or is in one already. The Labor Department’s report, released Friday, also showed that the nation’s unemployment rate dipped to 4.8 percent as hundreds of thousands of people…left the civilian labor force.”
A new National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq is scheduled to be completed this month. But intelligence officials “have not decided whether to make its key judgments public” and “lean toward a return to the traditional practice of keeping such documents secret.”
“A House committee will question three Wall Street executives later today over compensation awards reaching hundreds of millions of dollars while shareholders bear the brunt of billions in writedowns from subprime mortgages.”
Alleging that the White House “made apparently false and misleading statements in court about the White House e-mail controversy,” CREW asked a federal judge yesterday “to demand an explanation” about “testimony at a congressional hearing last week” that is inconsistent with “what the White House told a federal court in January.”
In a new book, former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias says that a former protege of President Bush told him that he was fired for political reasons. “Iglesias recalls Texas U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton telling him shortly after he was ousted. ‘If I were you, I’d just go quietly.‘”
Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA) recently introduced an earmark moratorium bill, but House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-WI) says Kingston “privately told him he was in favor of earmarks.” “You know, David, I am really for earmarks,” Obey said Kingston told him. Kingston confirmed the conversation.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) signaled yesterday “that she is ready to fall back on the strategy of ‘ping-ponging’ alternatives” on the FISA bill between the House and the Senate. The two chambers have been unable to reach consensus on immunity for telecommunications companies.
U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker “plans to leave Baghdad as early as January,” and retire from the foreign service, “not long after the top military commander, Gen. David H. Petraeus, is expected to rotate out of Iraq.”
The U.S. is seeking the extradition of suspected Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, dubbed the “Merchant of Death.” U.S. government contractors reportedly paid “Bout-controlled firms roughly $60 million to fly supplies into Iraq in support of the U.S. war effort.” The military gave “Bout’s pilots millions of dollars in free airplane fuel.”
And finally: On his recent visit to the White House, John McCain ditched an opportunity to enjoy fine gourmet and instead ate a hot dog. “[President Bush] said he was having a hot dog, so I had a hot dog,” McCain said. The LA Times explains that a typical day for McCain “includes doughnuts in the morning, followed by an afternoon Coke-and-candy-bar snack.”
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
Three severed feet found on Canadian beaches
A severed right foot has been found on a beach in western Canada - the third such find in the last six months.
The latest foot, still wearing a trainer, was washed up on Valdes Island, a tiny, isolated community in British Columbia…Local police are calling it one of the most bizarre cases in recent memory, but are unclear whether any foul play is involved.
The previous two feet, both right and wearing size 12 (US) trainers, washed ashore on Gabriola and Jedediah Islands, less than 40 miles from Valdes, in August of last year. DNA samples have been taken from all three feet, but so far the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have been unable to match them to anyone in their databases.
“It is unusual,” RCMP spokeswoman Const. Annie Linteau told the Times Colonist. “We are in the preliminary stages of this particular investigation, and of course we will not enter into speculation.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ news/ main.jhtml?xml=/ news/ 2008/ 03/ 04/ wfeet104.xml
March 7th, 2008 at 9:08 am“A House committee will question three Wall Street executives later today over compensation awards reaching hundreds of millions of dollars while shareholders bear the brunt of billions in writedowns from subprime mortgages.â€
And that’s where it will end. No action, just questions. Just talk. No consequences.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:08 amUS Plotted To Overthrow Hamas After Election Victory
The Bush administration, caught out by the rise of Hamas, embarked on a secret project for the armed overthrow of the Islamist government in Gaza, it emerged yesterday.
Vanity Fair reports in its April edition that President George Bush and…Condoleezza Rice, signed off on a plan for the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, to remove the Hamas authorities in Gaza. The plan called for Washington’s allies in the region to funnel arms and salaries to Fatah fighters who would lead a rising against Hamas.
But the project was controversial even within the administration, the magazine reports. “There were severe fissures among neoconservatives over this,†David Wurmser, a former Middle East adviser to the vice-president, Dick Cheney, told the magazine. “We were ripping each other to pieces.â€
…The Bush administration plan sought to undo the results of elections in the West Bank and Gaza in January 2006 which…saw Hamas win a majority of seats in the Palestinian legislature. The project was approved by Bush, Rice, and Elliott Abrams, the hawkish deputy national security adviser.
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/03/04/7450/
March 7th, 2008 at 9:09 amLooks like McStain would last about 6 weeks as president, with that diet. Fortunately, he’ll never be president.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:10 amLabor Department says employers slashed jobs by 63,000 in February, the most since March ‘03. Unemployment rate dipped to 4.8 percent
Two serious lows, both within the Dumbya’s reign of stupidity.
Mission Accomplished.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:12 amgood morning, snarkers
A Tale of 2 snarks
snarking usa
the Little Old Snark from Pasadena
Great Snarktations
:-)
March 7th, 2008 at 9:12 amA new National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq is scheduled to be completed this month. But, intelligence officials “have not decided whether to make its key judgments public†and “lean toward a return to the traditional practice of keeping such documents secret.â€
Hmmmm. I smell a leak coming…
March 7th, 2008 at 9:14 amPaving the way for the “Twinkie Defense”.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:16 amAnd finally: On his recent visit to the White House, John McCain ditched an opportunity to enjoy fine gourmet and instead ate a hot dog. “[President Bush] said he was having a hot dog, so I had a hot dog,†McCain said. The LA Times explains that a typical day for McCain “includes doughnuts in the morning, followed by an afternoon Coke-and-candy-bar snack.
McCain better pick his VP soon–and that person had better appeal to the independents… At this rate a massive coronary might be any day now.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:17 amComment by Uncle Ho — March 7, 2008 @ 9:12 am
Uncle Ho, please go get yourself a cup of coffee, take a few deep breaths and come back. Your input is too valuable to waste on silliness.
If you really feel the need to go berzerk, try to hang on until TP posts a completely stupid and frivolous thread, which you may trash. Let’s save this one for rational posts.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:18 amI was - until your stinky ass came into the room. Thanks.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:19 amThe Democrats have been in control of Congress for 428 days. Are you better off now than you were 428 days ago?
Comment by good_golly — March 7, 2008 @ 9:17 am
yes
March 7th, 2008 at 9:20 am#9…The flock of chickens coming home to roost is eight years long. But oh sweet kool-aid!
March 7th, 2008 at 9:21 amThe Bush administration, caught out by the rise of Hamas, embarked on a secret project for the armed overthrow of the Islamist government in Gaza, it emerged yesterday.
Comment by 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda — March 7, 2008 @ 9:09 am
It emerged in the U.S., anyway. Palestinians have suspected this for a year already.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:22 amBlue Dog Democrats May Give Bush Victory on Spying
…In what appears to be a calculated political maneuver, a plan has been proposed that would break the bill into two parts, allowing Democrats who are opposed to the immunity provision to vote against it without actually killing the bill.
The plan, floated on February 29 by an unnamed “senior Democratic aide,” would separate the part of the bill that expands spy powers from the section that grants retroactive legal immunity for companies involved in surveillance…The unnamed aide said, the plan would “allow Democrats to register their objections to the immunity provision,” according to The Los Angeles Times report.
If the bill is split into two pieces, conservative Blue Dog Democrats in the House could join with Republicans to pass the immunity provision, handing the Bush administration a victory while providing political cover for progressive Democrats and the Democratic leadership.
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/030608R.shtml
March 7th, 2008 at 9:22 amPaul hints presidential campaign will end soon
YA THINK??????
He can tear up his membership card in the Republican Party too.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:22 amThe Democrats have been in control of Congress for 428 days. Are you better off now than you were 428 days ago?
Comment by good_golly — March 7, 2008 @ 9:17 am
Hell yeah. I’m 428 days closer to the end of the Bush regime than I was 428 days ago.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:24 amWhat did we miss?
Well, Hillary is at it again. She has given another couple of speeches where she says that only she and McCain have the experience to be Commander in Chief. She also went so far as to highly praise McCain for what a “brave and honorable” man he is.
What in the hell is she trying to do? I heard a possible answer yesterday. She knows that she can’t win, so she is going to make sure that Barak Obama doesn’t win either. Why? Because she thinks that a McCain presidency would be a one term presidency and she would be poised to take it the next time. Whereas an Obama presidency would probably run 8 years.
I have a question for all the Hillary fans out there. Can you please tell her just exactly what all that vast experience is that she thinks makes her more suitable to be Commander in Chief? While you are at it, please tell us what she has done to prove that she is ready to answer the phone at 3:00 a.m.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:25 amBut intelligence officials “have not decided whether to make its key judgments public†and “lean toward a return to the traditional practice of keeping such documents secret.â€
Well, that must mean that the NIE is not favorable to the administration. You can bet the farm that if it was, they would be releasing it in a hot minute.\
March 7th, 2008 at 9:27 am“A House committee will question three Wall Street executives later today over compensation awards reaching hundreds of millions of dollars while shareholders bear the brunt of billions in writedowns from subprime mortgages.â€
Why do they bother doing things like this? Nothing will come from it.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:28 amOf course, we are in a recession right now. It is a natural part of the economic cycle. The sooner it starts, the sooner we will emerge from it. All the debate and denial is unproductive. It will be rough and rocky for the rest of the year probably but a recovery will follow.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:29 amhe was fired for political reasons. “Iglesias recalls Texas U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton telling him shortly after he was ousted. ‘If I were you, I’d just go quietly.‘â€
This has been apparent for quite some time. Unfortunately it looks like no one is going to be held accountable for it.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:29 ammissmolly; sorry about that. Now, I return to form.
When I read that McCain imitated Bush with the hot dog, my first thought was the old addage:
McCain see, Mcain do.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:29 amA special election to fill Hastert’s seat in Illinois is Saturday — so far the Democrat (Foster) is ahead of the Rethug (Oberweiss) in polls.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:30 amEven the newspapers don’t like the rethug - not that the rich repugs who populate the district would care.
Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA) recently introduced an earmark moratorium bill, but House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-WI) says Kingston “privately told him he was in favor of earmarks.â€
Another example of the hypocrisy of the Republicans.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:30 amThe Democrats have been in control of Congress for 428 days. Are you better off now than you were 428 days ago?
Comment by good_golly — March 7, 2008 @ 9:17 am
Actually, there are a number of Americans who will say yes — the ones working in minimum wage jobs, for example.
But that aside, the “control” the Democrats have is a little like being in control of a vehicle stuck in heavy traffic at an accident scene. They only have a razor-thin majority, leaving them vulnerable to obstruction at every turn by the Republicans — complicated by a president and vice-president who have apparently rewritten the constitution to say they are free to ignore the legislative branch of government completely.
I predict the improvements will be a lot easier to see after the elections this year — when we increase the Democratic majority in both houses of Congress and have a Democrat in the White House.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:30 amThe Democrats have been in control of Congress for 428 days. Are you better off now than you were 428 days ago?
Comment by mcgigi
March 7th, 2008 at 9:30 amYes.
They didn’t rubber stamp chimpy’s immunity scam.
They have kept the worst of his nazi judge nominations off the bench
They have finally filed charges of comtempt against miers and bartlett
3 CEOs made $460 million - House panel
House oversight committee prepares to investigate why executives at companies battered by the mortgage crisis were awarded big payouts.
LINK
March 7th, 2008 at 9:32 amSnark Wars
Snarks of the Carribean
Snark Royale
Field of Snarks
Snark Impossible
March 7th, 2008 at 9:32 amRe: FISA On Wednesday, House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) issued a statement blasting Democrats for not bringing the bill to the floor. Boehner accused the Democrats of playing politics with a key national security issue.
Looks like Nancy is going to cave again. Why should she send it back to the Senate to try to get a “get out of jail free” card. All she needs to to is to announce that there will be no further negotiations on the bill until such time as the Republicans participate in working out a compromise. She needs to point out daily that the White House and the Republicans are refusing to participate in negotiations.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:34 amCan you please tell her just exactly what all that vast experience is that she thinks makes her more suitable to be Commander in Chief?
Comment by Bilbo Hussein Baggins — March 7, 2008 @ 9:25 am
“Experience” is code for “knowing how to play the Washington game.” Which she learned through trial and (mostly) error the first time she tried to make health care a national issue. She understands the back-stabbing, incestuous, insular, bipolar, self-perpetuating world of the Washington political-corporate-lobbyist-thinktank machine. She knows it, she’s lived it, she’s been a part of it.
And that is exactly why I like Barack Hussein Obama. He hasn’t (yet) been corrupted by it (too much). The machine needs a major overhaul, because right now it is destroying this country.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:34 amOf course, we are in a recession right now. It is a natural part of the economic cycle. The sooner it starts, the sooner we will emerge from it. All the debate and denial is unproductive. It will be rough and rocky for the rest of the year probably but a recovery will follow.
Comment by tom
This assumes that economic cycles are “natural” economies are socially constructed relationships and as such are susecptible to maniuplation by the powers that be. Due to a combination of incomptence and greed we are stuck with a huge debt, sky rocketing energy costs, a shrinking job market and an adminstration that sees no problem sending jobs over seas-either real jobs as in the pentagon plane deall, or virtual jobs as in KBRs accounting scam that allows them to rake in huge profits in Iraq and not pay a damn penny in taxes.
How is any of that “natural”?
Bobhusseinwurst
March 7th, 2008 at 9:36 amBilbo; Has Kingston found his flag lapel pin yet?
March 7th, 2008 at 9:36 amThe Democrats have been in control of Congress for 428 days. Are you better off now than you were 428 days ago?
Comment by good_golly
The Republicans have been in control of the government for 7 years now. Are we better off now than we were 7 years ago?
March 7th, 2008 at 9:36 amComment by Bilbo Hussein Baggins — March 7, 2008 @ 9:25 am
Amen, Bilbo — that crapola from Billary is exactly what’s bugging me about her right now. The 3am phone call commercial, the “not to my knowledge” answer to the question of whether or not Obama is a Muslim (as if that mattered) — those I can just flick off my shoulder. But her new tack — consistently saying over the last 2 days that she’d rather McBush win the election than Obama — now that’s showing her true colors here… And now it turns out that it was actually the Clinton campaign that reassured the Canadians about her waffling on NAFTA?
It’s all about Billary at this point — she’s turned into a 6-year-old brat, who if she can’t get her way she’ll hold her breath and stamp her feet until she does get her way. Sad thing is, it sounds like Howard Dean and the rest of the DNC leadership are trying to figure out a way to let her get her way here — I wouldn’t doubt that they’re trying to talk Obama into taking the VP spot on a Billary-headed ticket.
Billary, thy name is Lieberman…
~Abu al-Kelb Hussein
March 7th, 2008 at 9:37 amNight of the Living Snark
Snarkablanca
Snark Fiction
Resivour Snarks
and of course: Attack From Planet Snark!
BobHusseinwurst
March 7th, 2008 at 9:38 amWhat is wrong with the Clinton campaign? Why is she giving McCain ammunition to use against Demmocrats — she is like a Lieberman democrat.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:39 amIf she can’t win, she won’t let Obama win either?! She prefers her “friend” McCain?!
Obama asks about her tax returns and they say he is like Ken Starr —
She has connections to Tony Reczko, but she pounces and leads the press to Obama’s purchasing a house next door to him.
She is no more qualified in experience to be president than Laura Bush or Barbara Bush - married to someone important doesn’t make you equal.
She has begun a very dirty and Karl-Rove-like campaign — I have had enough!
She may force Obama to throw a little mud, and he may have to do so in self-defense, but it would be better if the press were to ignore her I-am-a-victim- whining and ask her just what ARE her qualifications?
The 3am phone call commercial, the “not to my knowledge†answer to the question of whether or not Obama is a Muslim (as if that mattered) — those I can just flick off my shoulder.
Comment by The Dogfather — March 7, 2008 @ 9:37 am
On the other hand, the 3am phone call commercial has been a gold mine for late-night political satirists. Colbert had a very funny bit on The Wørd last night…
March 7th, 2008 at 9:40 ambobwurst, I agree that GDumbya’s follies will affect the depth and duration of the recession and that gives me great pause. Quite apart from that, though, I do think we need to be careful not to panic about going through a period of adjustment.
After the recession is over, there will be a lot of work to be done. GDumbya has dug a deep hole for the next president and Congress to climb out of. No doubt about that.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:42 amIt appears that the NAFTA story which seemed to temporarily derail the Obama campaign last week is FALSE.
A conversation was held, but not as reported.
Canada has apologized and is investigating.
It was CLINTON’S campaign who actually said that what she says on the campaign trail is not what she believes, according to the Canadians.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:42 amComment by Marie — March 7, 2008 @ 9:39 am
Marie, I think you’ve captured the sentiments of many of us progressive-minded folks, who ordinarily would support any Democrat but are now having second thoughts about Billary because of her recent display of Rovian tendencies. It’s becoming pretty clear that while McSame would be Bush v2.0, Billary would probably be Bush v1.1.
~Abu al-Kelb Hussein
March 7th, 2008 at 9:42 amBilbo; Has Kingston found his flag lapel pin yet?
Comment by Uncle Ho
None of the Repukes have. Take a look at any Republican’s picture and notice how many of them are wearing a flag pin.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:42 am“Iglesias recalls Texas U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton telling him shortly after he was ousted. ‘If I were you, I’d just go quietly.‘â€
—————————————————
With the unspoken implication being, “Ve haff vays of making you go quietly,” no doubt.
With a number of fired U.S. Attorneys speaking out about the circumstances surrounding their terminations, any reasonable person sees that this whole affair either stinks to high heaven. The only alternative is an absurd scenario where all the fired attorneys got together and planned an elaborate scheme to smear the White House in retaliation.
At least Nancy and company are pursuing contempt citations against those allegedly responsible. If that hits a dead end, I sincerely hope they have the brass to use inherent contempt.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:43 amColbert had a very funny bit on The Wørd last night… Comment by toasterhead — March 7, 2008 @ 9:40 am
Yeah, I saw that — priceless. I think it’s still too bad the Colbert/Stewart or Stewart/Colbert ticket wasn’t on our ballot in Virginia this year…
~Abu al-Kelb Hussein
March 7th, 2008 at 9:44 amAnd for a little change of pace”
Joe Snarkerman
Dick Snarkey
Denny Snarkert
Tom Desnark
John McSnark
Condisnarka Rice
General Pasnarkus
Gee. This is really therapeutic.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:45 amt appears that the NAFTA story which seemed to temporarily derail the Obama campaign last week is FALSE.
A conversation was held, but not as reported.
Canada has apologized and is investigating.
It was CLINTON’S campaign who actually said that what she says on the campaign trail is not what she believes, according to the Canadians.
Comment by Marie
And it was the advertisement that Clinton put out in Ohio lying about Obama on this issue that was partly responsible for her win in Ohio. I wonder how the people of Ohio feel today knowing that they were duped by Clinton?
March 7th, 2008 at 9:45 amNone of the Repukes have. Take a look at any Republican’s picture and notice how many of them are wearing a flag pin.
Comment by Bilbo Hussein Baggins — March 7, 2008 @ 9:42 am
And because of them, a poor factory worker in Guangdong Province isn’t getting her $.09/hr paycheck this week. For shame, Republicans!
- Hussein Toasterhead
March 7th, 2008 at 9:46 amAlleging that the White House “made apparently false and misleading statements in court about the White House e-mail controversy,†CREW asked a federal judge yesterday “to demand an explanation†about “testimony at a congressional hearing last week†that is inconsistent with “what the White House told a federal court in January.â€
When lying about the lies you told is compounded by years of the same, it’s damn hard to remember which lie you told last.
Lucky for us, they’re professionals. /snark
G’morn’n, Uncle Snark!
March 7th, 2008 at 9:47 amIs McWar going to release his medical records?
I hope the age issue is brought up in this campaign. McBomb is too damn old to be prez.
Period.
(other than the fact this he is a neoCON/religious right suck-up and warmonger, he has a viscous temper)
March 7th, 2008 at 9:48 amComment by Marie — March 7, 2008 @ 9:30 am
Oberweiss is running some pretty comical ads up in these parts. One of them criticizes Foster for saying he would throw money at every problem, but the same ad then criticizes him for wanting to cut funding for the Iraq war. It makes you wonder if someone even bothered editing it.
Another of his ads actually tries to position Oberweis as the “candidate of change” even though he represents the satus quo.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:48 amShe may force Obama to throw a little mud, and he may have to do so in self-defense, but it would be better if the press were to ignore her I-am-a-victim- whining and ask her just what ARE her qualifications?
Comment by Marie
I so agree. At every campaign event Obama needs to say “She says she is more experienced in international affairs, can someone please ask her what that experience is?”
March 7th, 2008 at 9:48 am“[President Bush] said he was having a hot dog, so I had a hot dog,†McCain said.
—————————————————-
And the transformation of the former independent thinker into a Bushbot is now complete. For years, Bush has been Cheney’s windup doll — what does this make McCain?
March 7th, 2008 at 9:49 amBilbo, do you think that the majority of voters in Ohio have heard this retraction? I doubt it — it’s not a mainstream issue any more - the damage has been done. Clinton’s “mission accomplished” for the week.
Think of Hillary’s defense of her daughter and read this quote from McCain regarding Chelsea — why does Hillary admire him?
“Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno.”
March 7th, 2008 at 9:50 amJohn McCain, at GOP fundraiser.
Is McWar going to release his medical records?
I hope the age issue is brought up in this campaign. McBomb is too damn old to be prez.
Period.
(other than the fact this he is a neoCON/religious right suck-up and warmonger, he has a viscous temper)
Comment by Kay
I disagree. I know a couple of people his age who are more than young enough to run for President. The problem is that he is not fit either in mind or body. That does come with age, but age is not the primary issue here. McCain needs to release his medical records and his tax returns. He is refusing to do both. What does he have to hide?
March 7th, 2008 at 9:50 amAnd the transformation of the former independent thinker into a Bushbot is now complete. For years, Bush has been Cheney’s windup doll — what does this make McCain?
Comment by missmolly — March 7, 2008 @ 9:49 am
Cheney’s ticket to a third term as VP?
March 7th, 2008 at 9:52 amdim wit: I believe you are a Hillary supporter. Do you want to tell us what all this “vast international experience” is that Hillary has? Do you want to tell us how she has been vetted and tested to be able to handle the 3 am call?
March 7th, 2008 at 9:52 am“Bout-controlled firms roughly $60 million to fly supplies into Iraq in support of the U.S. war effort.â€
Gee, I wonder what could have happened to all those missing weapons and money that the State Dept can’t account for. Sounds like the US wants to extridite him to maybe shut him up permanently before he has a chance to talk about his dealings with the US.
re FISA: “The two chambers have been unable to reach consensus on immunity for telecommunications companies.”
Bonerboy and his lackies have allready stated publicly that there will be NO COMPROMISING with the Democrats before the elections this year so if I were Pelosi I would state that this issue is too important to play games with a party that has no intention of working in good faith for a compromise and will be shelved until after the elections at which time hopefully the Republicans will more willing to work toward a mutual solution. It’s been weeks now since it expired and a long list of experts claim that all the needed tools are allready in place for surveillance and the Administration has admitted that the telecoms are ALL cooperating so what’s the effing rush? I say shelve it until the dems have the leverage they need. This is why Bush is so desperate to resolve the issue asap because he knows that the more time that passes, the less likely immunity will be approved.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:53 amBilbo, do you think that the majority of voters in Ohio have heard this retraction? I doubt it — it’s not a mainstream issue any more - the damage has been done. Clinton’s “mission accomplished†for the week.
Probably not. They are probably typical Americans who get all their news from the Tvee. And if it’s not on the Tvee, then it must not be relevant. That’s why the obscene political advertisements work so well. It’s catapulting the propaganda right into your living room.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:55 amthis is a repost…
after more news of hillary’s thin skin hypocrisy, i am determined
to call her out on her self-serving wreckless behavior…
seems hillary clinton would prefer mcSAME as president
over another democrat, especially if it’s barack obama…
if she can’t have it, then obama can’t have it…
how in-fu(king-credible is that? … i would never have thought…
but, from now on, i think all good democratic citizens should shout:
SHAME ON YOU, HILLARY CLINTON!
SHAME ON YOU.
STOP THE BULL SH!T RIGHT NOW.
… because you DO act like a “MONSTER”…
- Hussein Katy
March 7th, 2008 at 9:59 amThe Democrats have been in control of Congress for 428 days. Are you better off now than you were 428 days ago?
Comment by good_golly — March 7, 2008 @ 9:17 am
another lie. the fascists of the GOP are in control, through their treasonous signing statements and bullshit obstacles. Dems are not in control, or we woiuld be better off. Until there are virtually no Republicans in government, the USA is but a dream.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:59 amMore cheney/haliburton legacy sleaze: discussed at Emptywheel.Firedoglake.com blog.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:05 amit’s gonna be hard times now… dividend checks may be affected…
Carlyle Group Scorched by Mortgage Fund’s Stumble (Update1)
March 7th, 2008 at 10:05 amBloomberg - 1 hour ago
By Edward Evans March 7 (Bloomberg) — The collapse of the subprime- mortgage market has engulfed Carlyle Group, the world’s second- biggest leveraged-buyout firm by assets.
Carlyle Capital in default to lender United Press International
More Trouble at Carlyle Capital The Associated Press
#19
She was co-president for 8 years, and if and when she is elected she will still have Bill as her adviser.
She’s tough as nails, which some find unappealing, while Obama is inspiring, but without solid experience, which some find troubling.
With Obama we get Michelle.
Dems are split on these two excellent candidates. Bashing either candidate is bashing a large constituency.
Bashing each other is pointless.
Pointing out strengths and weaknesses of each candidate is healthy.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:05 am#38 Marie
What is wrong with the Clinton campaign? Why is she giving McCain ammunition to use against Demmocrats — she is like a Lieberman democrat.
If she can’t win, she won’t let Obama win either?! She prefers her “friend†McCain?!
Last night Olbermann joked she is trying for McCain’s VP spot. Funny? Not really if you think about it.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:05 amI love that picture TP! Good one! No jobs out there? LOL!!
Comment by Tracy2 — March 7, 2008 @ 10:05 am
You failed to notice that the facility is closed, with no lights on or people present. You are still an idiot.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:08 amUS health agencies stand behind safety of vaccines
March 7th, 2008 at 10:09 amUSA Today - 59 minutes ago
By Liz Szabo, USA TODAY Federal health officials restated their belief in the safety of childhood vaccines Thursday, reacting to questions raised by a government settlement with the family of a 9-year-old Georgia girl, who developed neurological …
Analysis: Vaccine Payment No Landmark The Associated Press
Debate Rages Anew on Vaccine-Autism Link ABC News
She was co-president for 8 year
That’s the dumbest statement of the week.
Maybe Laura Bush has enough qualifications, based on your criteria.
LOL.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:09 amI love that picture TP! Good one! No jobs out there? LOL!!
Comment by Tracy2 — March 7, 2008 @ 10:05 am
If you’d read the article, you’d know that the reality is that job losses are far higher than job openings, with the losses in higher-paying sectors and the openings being in lower-paying sectors.
But then I really don’t expect you to know much of anything.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:11 amI wish McWar would have a stroke on live TV.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:12 amBe sure to check out bradblog.com to read about the vote buying scandal in New Mexico. There are several entries.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:12 amComment by Tracy2 — March 7, 2008 @ 10:11 am
Grab a napkin.
You’ve got stupid all over your face.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:13 am“lean toward a return to the traditional practice of keeping such documents secret.â€
Gee, I wonder why they wouldn’t want to shout the progress from the roof tops… Could it be that just maybe there isn’t as much to crow about as the “surge is working” crowd would have us believe?
Things that make you go, Hmmm..
March 7th, 2008 at 10:15 amHey, lets be hyper-critical of what mccain eats!!!!
March 7th, 2008 at 10:16 am“Three severed feet found on Canadian beaches’
Comment by 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda — March 7, 2008 @ 9:08 am
LANDSHARK!!!! ;)
March 7th, 2008 at 10:16 amhey! look what i found at C&L…
On topic, many of us bloggers are following Sully’s lead in taking up the middle name of “Hussein†just for fun. (h/t Uncommon Sense). Signed, Blue Hussein Gal.
http://www.crooksandliars.com/ 2008/ 03/ 06/ open-thread-740/ #comments
- Hussein Katy
March 7th, 2008 at 10:17 amWanted: mccain booster
March 7th, 2008 at 10:18 amIf the requirement of lobbist’ experience evades you, you can always fall back on your grilling experience if you want a job working for my campaign. Might you be a graduate of mc hot dog or hot dog king? Great hourly wages will get you started on a vibrant career. You might even qualify as my future whitehouse chef.
4.8% unemployment!!!! Holy man the sky is falling. What a horribly high rate!
March 7th, 2008 at 10:19 am… John McCain ditched an opportunity to enjoy fine gourmet and instead ate a hot dog. “[President Bush] said he was having a hot dog, so I had a hot dog, 
that was a test, you dolt…
duby was trying to find out just how much of a BOOT LICKER you are…
hey, you passed…
March 7th, 2008 at 10:19 amWho’s hotdog did McBomb eat?
March 7th, 2008 at 10:20 am“Unemployment rate dipped to 4.8 percentâ€
That’s a bad thing?
Comment by Tracy2 — March 7, 2008 @ 10:09 am
It is when the reason for the “dip” is a large number of people “leaving the labor force.”
You may think that “leaving the labor force” means these people have merely lost their jobs. Wrong. It means these people’s unemployment has run out and they still don’t have a job. That takes them out of the statistic, making the number lower.
The unemployment statistic does not count the following people:
1) Jobless people who have run out of unemployment insurance. As long as they are collecting unemployment they are counted, but as soon as it runs out, they are considered “out of the labor force.”
2) People who have taken part-time employment because it’s better than nothing.
3) People who work through temporary agencies, hoping it will lead to a permanent job. These (along with the part-timers) are squeaking by on a small paycheck with no benefits, in most cases.
4) People who are “underemployed” — for example, a professional who is flipping burgers because there are no jobs available in his field of expertise (outsourcing to other countries has created a lot of these).
So when you see an unemployment figure of 4.8%, that just means that 4.8% of the “labor force” is collecting unemployment. It doesn’t give the real picture.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:21 am“Unemployment rate dipped to 4.8 percentâ€
That’s a bad thing?
Comment by Tracy2 — March 7, 2008 @ 10:09 am
A small amount of unemployment is good for the economy sometimes. Economists may disagree about what exactly a “good” unemployment figure is, but they will agree that it’s good for productivity in periods of strong growth. I won’t debate that.
Economists also agree, however, that high unemployment combined with slow economic growth and high inflation is quite bad. It’s called stagflation. Economists are also beginning to worry that it’s exactly where our economy is heading.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:22 amComment by good_golly — March 7, 2008 @ 10:13 am
What’s this? One troll explaining to another that his preconceived notions may not be a simplistic as assumed?
This is a clear breakthrough in troll sociology. Researchers suspect that, based on this evidence, some higher-evolved trolls may even have the capacity to understand and process logical arguments. That theory is preliminary, however, as no actual incidence of such an ability have ever been recorded by science.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:23 amA special election to fill Hastert’s seat in Illinois is Saturday…
Comment by Marie — March 7, 2008 @ 9:30 am
From what I recall of the Ole Wrasling Coach, that must be a pretty seat to fill…
The Peoples’ Islamic Republic of Stupidity…
March 7th, 2008 at 10:23 amThis is a clear breakthrough in troll sociology. Researchers suspect that, based on this evidence, some higher-evolved trolls may even have the capacity to understand and process logical arguments. That theory is preliminary, however, as no actual incidence of such an ability have ever been recorded by science.
Comment by ralph the wonder llama — March 7, 2008 @ 10:23 am
The theory was proposed, I believe, by Professor I. Blind Hussein Squirrel, during research into stopped clocks.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:24 am“Who’s hotdog did McBomb eat?”
Comment by Kay — March 7, 2008 @ 10:20 am
Unconfirmed…seems the gloryhole that Bush had installed in the Oval Office bathroom from back in the Jeff Gannon days is still operational. I think I heard a rumor that Dick Cheney was actually seen smiling on Wednesday, though.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:25 am#87 : and a HUGE FAT seat at that…
March 7th, 2008 at 10:25 amOn topic, many of us bloggers are following Sully’s lead in taking up the middle name of “Hussein†just for fun. (h/t Uncommon Sense). Signed, Blue Hussein Gal.
Comment by katy — March 7, 2008 @ 10:17 am
What’s with C&L always copying us? First they took our 9iu11ani, and now this…
Not that I’m complaining - I think it’s pretty sweet :)
- Hussein Toasterhead
March 7th, 2008 at 10:25 am4.8% unemployment!!!! Holy man the sky is falling. What a horribly high rate!
Comment by Roger_Roger — March 7, 2008 @ 10:19 am
Yeah, and the Dow being poised to dip into the 11,000s is a great indicator of economic health, too. Not to mention the record number of foreclosures, the record levels of government and consumer debt…
Yeah, we’re just fit as a fu(kin’ fiddle.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:25 amComment by katy — March 7, 2008 @ 10:17 am
I’ve been enjoying all of the added “Hussein” middle names.
Glad to see more of it.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:26 amTP could change it’s name to Troll School.
I’m beginning to believe we provide quite an needed service of educating these completely moronic, un-imformed talking points from the hate-filled Right and their lowly trolls.
I don’t expect to be able to teach them math here. On that, they’ll always be lost, and prone to propaganda.
The way the Right likes em. Dumb and gullible.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:26 amBilbo @ 9:42: sorry about the delayed response, but had a rush on the lab.
I can’t stand to look at pix of the fascist pigs without …a) losing my lunch or b) wanting to smash my monitor.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:27 am“Who’s hotdog did McBomb eat?â€
Comment by Kay — March 7, 2008 @ 10:20 am
Unconfirmed…seems the gloryhole that Bush had installed in the Oval Office bathroom from back in the Jeff Gannon days is still operational. I think I heard a rumor that Dick Cheney was actually seen smiling on Wednesday, though.
Comment by A Patriot Acting — March 7, 2008 @ 10:25 am
Ewww. Talk about an early morning gross-out…
– Ralph Hussein Wonder Llama
March 7th, 2008 at 10:27 amWhat did we miss?
The whole NAFTA Obama mess turns out it was actually the Clinton camp…
NAFTA and Canada, Hillary and Obama
It hardly matters now. Ohio is where it mattered for four or five days, and Ohio is done.
But there’s still some movement on the story about assurances to the Canadian government over rhetoric on NAFTA that killed Obama. One story “>out of Toronto today seems to confirm that the conservative Prime Minister’s very conservative chief of staff started the ball rolling by telling reporters that Clinton aides — not Obama — had provided assurances that the rhetoric was hotter than the reality.
A lot of murk on how it shifted to Obama. But there’s also a theory percolating that the story — really, a pretty unusual invasion of domestic politics by a foreign government — was “a bum rap cooked up by Canadian rightwingers” to hurt Obama and produce a long slog that will help the GOP. See here and here.
Posted by John Riley on March 6, 2008 11:12 AM | Permalink
March 7th, 2008 at 10:27 amRadRight @ 10:16;
LANDSNARK!!!!!
Fixed it for you :-)
March 7th, 2008 at 10:28 amI (heart) TP!
love,
March 7th, 2008 at 10:28 amKay Hussein
Comment by Bilbo Hussein Baggins — March 7, 2008 @ 9:52 am
Actually I voted for Obama, but, I support both Hillary and Obama (and Kucinich, and Dodd, and Richardson as well)
However, for whatever reason, it is apparent you find it necessary to highlight divisions among Democrats and then rant over and over about them. You continually seek to divide us as Democrats, which is playing right into the Republicans hands. I have no justification for why you do this, but you do.
As for Hillary being more qualified to answer the phone, I do not necessarily think she is. But, in general, people have the perception that Hillary is more experienced than Obama, so it is only logical she play to this perception.
I have mentioned several times before that, for the most part, the American people are stupid. So the goal becomes how do you get stupid people to vote for you? Well one way is to continually repeat a message: “Hilliary is more experienced, Hillary is more experienced, Hilliary is more experienced” And advertising is one way to do this. And when you set message in someone’s head, you don’t need evidence to back it up.
Its really no different than an advertisement for any other product: Why is Crest toothpaste better than Colgate? Well 4 out of 5 dentists agree that it is. Really? I don’t know if they do or not, but the ad tells me they do.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:30 amSorry Ralph Hussein Wonder Llama. I’ve been at work for several hours allready today. Sometimes I forget that many of you are just now enjoying your morning coffee. Unfortunately this Administration has left a bad taste in many of our mouths lo these past 7 years.
Al Hussein Patriot Acting all Muslim like
March 7th, 2008 at 10:32 amI’m beginning to believe we provide quite an needed service of educating these completely moronic, un-imformed talking points from the hate-filled Right and their lowly trolls.
Comment by DieNowForPeace — March 7, 2008 @ 10:26 am
Agreed, and I think it’s a quite valuable service.
They poot forth snowball questions and tired-ass talking points about the war and torture and Constitutional law and the economy and climate change that we can easily shoot down with facts and reason, for all the world to see.
Except the military.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:32 amEven if your unemployment compensation runs out, you are still considered a part of the total labor force so long as you are still looking for work.
Comment by good_golly — March 7, 2008 @ 10:30 am
And this effort is measured how?
People being paid compensation can be counted. People whose compensation has run out fall out of the equation because they do not, bureaucratically, even exist.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:33 amFriends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your snarks.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:33 am“Well, Hillary is at it again. ”
Comment by Bilbo Hussein Baggins — March 7, 2008 @ 9:25 am
I’m with you Bilbo, It seems that they are content to tear the party apart and her supporters are willing to let her do it.
I fear that once again the Dems will triumphantly snatch defeat from the jaws of what could’ve been our greatest victory.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:34 amWhat ever happened to our color-coded terror “threat” level warnings?
Already went the way of the Mood Ring…
March 7th, 2008 at 10:37 amWhat did we miss?
http://www.businesswire.com/ portal/ site/ google/ ?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080306005694&newsLang=en
I am not surprised by this. I go to the internet first and google anything I question. MSM is the biggest propaganda tool anymore. As a former journalism major I am more than a little disappointed by all of this. I would like to point back to imbedding reporters during the beginning of the Iraq invasion, but it’s been going downhill for a lot longer. Question everything!
Hussein Beat goes on…
March 7th, 2008 at 10:38 amWhat ever happened to our color-coded terror “threat†level warnings?
Already went the way of the Mood Ring…
Comment by DieNowForPeace — March 7, 2008 @ 10:37 am
I’m expecting them to have a glorious comeback around, oh, October or so.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:38 am#110 :I’m expecting them to have a glorious comeback around, oh, October or so
what? Like gas prices, too. Americans are way too stupid.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:39 amOh, guys, here’s a fun little nugget:
Laura Ingraham getting cheesed off because her guest admitted she never listens to talk radio. Listen to the end. What a classy broad.
http://patriotboy.blogspot.com/ 2008/ 03/ mt-ingraham-erupts.html
March 7th, 2008 at 10:40 am“What is wrong with the Clinton campaign? Why is she giving McCain ammunition to use against Demmocrats — she is like a Lieberman democrat.”
Comment by Marie — March 7, 2008 @ 9:39 am
That seems to be the question…
March 7th, 2008 at 10:43 amAnd if the Dems let her have her way it will be a very sad day for our country indeed.
Any word on when the Tracy3 model is supposed to be delivered? The Tracy2 is still spitting out foul exhaust and making weird noises.
– Ralph Hussein Wonder Llama
March 7th, 2008 at 10:44 amAnd if the Dems let her have her way
Then can we all finally admit that our two parties are basically in this for themselves, to hell with you and me.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:44 amAny word on when the Tracy3 model is supposed to be delivered?
Reversing the sex-change might leave some ugly scarring, but what’s needed is necessary.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:46 amThe walls of the house of America are crumbling all around George W. Bush, yet all that chimpanzee can do is shrug, say “gee, I didn’t know that”, and do a tap dance, giving everyone the smirk.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:47 amThe Clinton and Obama forces have asked us to consider who we want answering the phone at the White House at 3 AM. There is little need to speculate. We have a lot of evidence about how they will respond.
Here’s how both responded to the recent Colombia/Ecquador/Venezuela escalation.
http://www.commondreams.org/ archive/ 2008/ 03/ 05/ 7482/ #comment-222687
March 7th, 2008 at 10:47 amI wonder how the people of Ohio feel today knowing that they were duped by Clinton?
Comment by Bilbo Hussein Baggins — March 7, 2008 @ 9:45 am
They should be hanging their collective heads in shame!
March 7th, 2008 at 10:48 amWhen is this country going to grow a set and stop letting people that play the fear card influence them?
Comment by Tracy2
So Scalia’s digging himself another rhetorical hole. Big deal.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:48 amAnd you know it’s closed how? BTW get you sorry ass back to this thread…you miss a lot.
http://thinkprogress.org/ 2008/ 03/ 05/ scalia-tortures-bad-but-not-unconstitutional/ #comment-4291600
Comment by Tracy2 — March 7, 2008 @ 10:38 am
You mean the thread where I just pwned you hard core?
Yeah. That thread. Read it and weep, chumley!
- Hussein Toasterhead
March 7th, 2008 at 10:50 amAfter the Trial of the Century for Crimes Against Humanity,
Chimpy and Darth will be tap dancing all the way to prison with their designer orange jumpsuits and bright shiny shackles.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:51 amAnd what day during the week was this picture taken on and where exactly is the building located?
Comment by Tracy2 — March 7, 2008 @ 10:41 am
One could posit that the use of that particular picture was snarcasm on the part of TP…
March 7th, 2008 at 10:52 amI don’t think that is correct. As I understand it, the unemployment rate represents the number of jobless people as a percentage of the total labor force. If you are neither working nor looking for work, you are not in the labor force. Even if your unemployment compensation runs out, you are still considered a part of the total labor force so long as you are still looking for work.
Comment by good_golly — March 7, 2008 @ 10:30 am
I don’t know how your unemployment offices operate in Florida, but I became more aware of the unemployment process here in North Carolina than I ever wanted to be a couple of years ago when I was out of a job.
While I was collecting unemployment, I was registered with the unemployment office and had access to their job leads and other job seeking tools. One of the conditions of my unemployment was that I had to be actively looking for work (no problem — I HAD to get work or starve), and so I made use of anything they had to offer me. In addition to the unemployment office, I scoured the newspaper and the internet for job ads, registered with temporary and other employment agencies, etc. — anything to find a job.
Thankfully, I finally found employment (through a temp agency) while I was literally on my last week of unemployment. Because I was so close to running out of unemployment, I asked the unemployment people “what happens now?” I was told that statistically, once my unemployment ran out, I was no longer “unemployed” as far as the state was concerned. This meant that I no longer had access to their job hunting tools or anything else they had to offer “unemployed” people.
Of course, I would still be out of a job, NOT collecting unemployment, and still looking for work. Only I wouldn’t be counted in the unemployment statistic because there was really no way to count me.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:52 amI believe you will find your answer here:
http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm
Comment by good_golly — March 7, 2008 @ 10:44 am
I stand corrected. It appears that our government is capable of being more efficient than some people acknowledge.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:53 amHere’s how both responded to the recent Colombia/Ecquador/Venezuela escalation.
http://www.commondreams.org/ archive/ 2008/ 03/ 05/ 7482/ #comment-222687
Comment by 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda — March 7, 2008 @ 10:47 am
No real surprise there. I don’t expect any of them to criticize the Uribe government and their parapolitica death squads at this point in the campaign.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:54 amIt appears that our government is capable of being more efficient than some people acknowledge.
Comment by gummitch — March 7, 2008 @ 10:53 am
Well, they’ve done a spectacular job of running up enormous deficits the last 7 years!
March 7th, 2008 at 10:55 am“She says she is more experienced in international affairs, can someone please ask her what that experience is?â€
Comment by Bilbo Hussein Baggins — March 7, 2008 @ 9:48 am
Funny thing… last night on K.O. he was talking to one of the reporters that is a regular on his show(can’t remember her name) and she said that she was ther for a lot of Hillary’s trips and she mostly had cookies and tea with other heads of states wives!
I think that’s Obama’s line “cookies and tea meetings don’t count as experience when that phone rings in the middle of the night unless the person on the other line is looking for a recipe!”
March 7th, 2008 at 10:55 amOne could posit that the use of that particular picture was snarcasm on the part of TP…
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — March 7, 2008 @ 10:52 am
One could also posit that it’s a graphic and isn’t presented as evidence of the state of the economy. Only the truly pedestrian and dim would demand to know when the photo was taken. “Ah ha! It could have been on a Sunday!”
I’m eagerly looking forward to that upgrade to the troll. This one has shown no evidence of AI.
–gumhusseinmitchalsnark
March 7th, 2008 at 10:56 amI believe you will find your answer here:
http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm
Comment by good_golly — March 7, 2008 @ 10:44 am
I stand corrected. It appears that our government is capable of being more efficient than some people acknowledge.
Comment by gummitch — March 7, 2008 @ 10:53 am
Me, too. Although it would be nice if they are doing these surveys on a regular basis if they would provide some information on the “underemployed” as well.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:57 amWhat ever happened to our color-coded terror “threat†level warnings?
Already went the way of the Mood Ring…
Comment by DieNowForPeace — March 7, 2008 @ 10:37 am
Been in an airport lately? They’re still alive and well.
March 7th, 2008 at 10:58 amI’m eagerly looking forward to that upgrade to the troll. This one has shown no evidence of AI.
–gumhusseinmitchalsnark
Comment by gummitch — March 7, 2008 @ 10:56 am
It’s like everything else the RNC does- they lowball it to the lowest bidder. You get what you pay for… in this case, not much.
The Peoples’ Islamic Republic of Snarkpidity…
March 7th, 2008 at 10:59 amI’m eagerly looking forward to that upgrade to the troll. This one has shown no evidence of AI.
–gumhusseinmitchalsnark
Comment by gummitch — March 7, 2008 @ 10:56 am
AI = Actual Intelligence?
SNARK!
~Hussein Zooey
March 7th, 2008 at 10:59 amBeen in an airport lately? They’re still alive and well.
2 weeks ago. Must have been overshadowed by the cartoon suitcase poster telling me what not to bring on board.
I’m all for having our priorities un-Bush-fcuked.
March 7th, 2008 at 11:01 amNo real surprise there. I don’t expect any of them to criticize the Uribe government and their parapolitica death squads at this point in the campaign.
Comment by toasterhead — March 7, 2008 @ 10:54 am
Hillary parroted right-wing talking points and Obama used carefully measured words to avoid saying anthing. Exactly as I would’ve predicted.
March 7th, 2008 at 11:01 amPointing out strengths and weaknesses of each candidate is healthy.
Comment by nellre — March 7, 2008 @ 10:05 am
True but at this point that’s not what Clinton is doing. She’s lying! and she’s saying she would rather her friend McInsane in office than Obama.
That’s disgusting and makes her a monster intent on winning at the cost of all else!
March 7th, 2008 at 11:03 amAs I understand it, the unemployment rate represents the number of jobless people as a percentage of the total labor force. If you are neither working nor looking for work, you are not in the labor force. Even if your unemployment compensation runs out, you are still considered a part of the total labor force so long as you are still looking for work. Comment by good_golly — March 7, 2008 @ 10:30 am
See, you’re wrong in 2 places in that statement, Gigi: (1) that you actually “understand” anything; and (2) how the unemployment rate reported by the Labor Dept. is actually calculated.
As those in the know have tried to inform you several times here, the unemployment rate is not measured as the percentage of the total work force (i.e., the total number of people who could possibly be working at any time) that is not working. If that were the case, our unemployment rate would actually be far higher, as all of the high school and college students who could be working but actually are not would factor into that number. No — instead, the government’s unemployment rate is calculated by determining the number of people currently eligible for unemployment benefits as a percentage of the currently employed. Thus, when someone’s unemployment benefits run out (typically within 6-12 months of their first becoming eligible), they fall out of the numerator of that equation, and if the denominator (the number of people actually working) doesn’t increase proportionately, the unemployment rate appears to go down. But it’s a false picture, since those who are no longer eligible for unemployment benefits but who are also not yet working are still unemployed, but aren’t in the calculation of the unemployment rate.
There — your lesson in labor statistics for the day. Now go back to drinking your kool-aid, and only come back here when you have something intelligent to offer. (That oughta keep Gigi away for a while, folks…).
~Abu al-Kelb Hussein
March 7th, 2008 at 11:03 amI believe you will find your answer here:
http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm
Comment by good_golly — March 7, 2008 @ 10:44 am
I can link to the presidential oath of office. Doesn’t mean it’s followed.
I can link to the “Don’t ask don’t tell” policy. You know that’s not being followed to the letter. The military can’t afford to lose anyone.
I can link to the AUMF bill but that’s not being adhered to by this administration.
golly, good golly, you want so hard to believe Bush.
March 7th, 2008 at 11:04 amComment by gummitch — March 7, 2008 @ 10:56 am
Comment by Zooey — March 7, 2008 @ 10:59 am
Hookay… let’s keep this “snark” thing under control here this morning.
Apparently there was an “incident” here yesterday. We wouldn’t want things to get out of hand again, would we?
The Peoples’ Islamic Republic of Snarkpidity
March 7th, 2008 at 11:04 am(That oughta keep Gigi away for a while, folks…).
~Abu al-Kelb Hussein
Comment by The Dogfather — March 7, 2008 @ 11:03 am
THAT is wishful thinking…
March 7th, 2008 at 11:06 amWatch Obama get the nom — then McWar taps Hitlary for Veep!
March 7th, 2008 at 11:06 amApparently there was an “incident†here yesterday. We wouldn’t want things to get out of hand again, would we?
The Peoples’ Islamic Republic of Snarkpidity
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — March 7, 2008 @ 11:04 am
You’ve got a lock on the snark, polar bear? :-D
Incident? Do tell…
March 7th, 2008 at 11:08 amComment by good_golly — March 7, 2008 @ 10:44 am
gg, you didn’t give any of your hard $ to these crooks, did you?
http://www.nytimes.com/ 2008/ 03/ 06/ washington/ 06gop.html?_r=2&ei=5088&en=7a88dcd2f2742a49&ex=1362546000&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1204906057-9wIbsGXSVUbGUxmWFJ+K1A
i sure hope not.
March 7th, 2008 at 11:08 amHillary parroted right-wing talking points and Obama used carefully measured words to avoid saying anthing. Exactly as I would’ve predicted.
Comment by 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda — March 7, 2008 @ 11:01 am
I don’t expect any of them to rock the boat right now. They’re taking similar approaches with the Israel/Palestine war. Parroting the usual “Israel has the right to defend herself” talking point with no mention of Israel’s holocaust against Ghaza.
I’m disappointed, but not a bit surprised.
March 7th, 2008 at 11:10 amFixed it for you :-)
Comment by Uncle Ho — March 7, 2008 @ 10:28 am
Thanks Unclo Ho. I almost typed that but I didn’t want to infringe… Plus the thought of SNL skit and the guy in the shark suit almost made me wet myself w/ laughter
March 7th, 2008 at 11:12 amThe Absent-Minded Snarker
March 7th, 2008 at 11:14 amThe Snark
Snarks from Heaven
Dead Men Don’t Wear Snarks
The Snark with Two Brains
The Lonely Snark
¡Three Snarks!
Planes, Trains and Snarks
Dirty Snarky Scoundrels
L.A. Snark
Father of the Snark
Snarkfinger
Snarker by the Dozen
Wild and Crazy Snark?
Incident? Do tell…
Comment by Zooey — March 7, 2008 @ 11:08 am
Well, ah… apparently people went snark-crazy here at one point. Not quite sure how it happened. All of a sudden, everything was snark-this and snark-that. Some of it was even in Latin, and I think there was some French snarking too. Well, someone finally called the police and everyone ran out the door. The place was quite the mess, let me tell you.
I, of course, was an innocent bystander… it was amazing to watch.
March 7th, 2008 at 11:14 amthe monster