ThinkFast: December 10, 2008
ThinkFast: December 10, 2008
Bank of America has agreed to extend a loan to Republic Windows and Doors so that it can pay its workers. Since Friday, 250 laid-off employees have been staging a sit-in at the shuttered Chicago factory, protesting the fact that the company gave them just three days notice of the plant’s closing.
A tentative agreement between President Bush and congressional Democrats would give a $15 billion loan to the Big Three as early as next week and allow Bush to immediately appoint a “car czar” to oversee the bailout. Congress could revoke the funds if the companies failed to cut costs and restructure debt by March 31. So far, Democrats have kept a provision requiring automakers to drop lawsuits opposing California’s strict emissions limits, but the White House says the rule could kill the deal.
Former Clinton administration EPA chief Carol Browner is expected to “take a new White House position as head of environmental, energy, climate and related matters.” Progressive reformers have advocated the creation of a “National Energy Advisor” to coordinate government resources in transforming our nation to a low-carbon economy.
The House Ethics Committee voted to expand its investigation into Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) to “examine his role in preserving a tax loophole for an oil drilling company whose chief executive pledged $1 million to a City College of New York project” that will bear Rangel’s name. Rangel insisted yesterday he will not step down.
Yesterday, New Jersey’s 13-member Civil Union Review Commission unanimously concluded that state legislators “should allow gay couples to marry, setting up what could be a spirited debate over whether the state should be the first to allow gay marriage by passing a law, rather than by court mandate.” The panel included both liberal advocates and a self-described “pro-life Republican.”
The Iowa Supreme Court is now hearing “a case that could make Iowa the first Midwestern state to legalize same-sex marriage.” The legal core of the case, Varnum v. Brien, “is whether the state’s 10-year-old law defining a ‘valid’ marriage as only ‘between a male and female’ violates the Iowa Constitution’s guarantees of equal treatment and due process.”
963,000,000: The number of people who are facing a hunger crisis in the world, according to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization. “The ongoing financial and economic crisis could tip even more people into hunger and poverty,” the FAO added.
“A lawyer for former Gov. Don Siegelman of Alabama urged a federal appeals court panel on Tuesday to overturn Mr. Siegelman’s 2006 bribery conviction” but the justices seemed unlikely to overturn the conviction. If the court rules against Siegelman, “he faces a return to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence of seven years and four months.”
A new study by the New America Foundation “places the United States at the top of the list of the world’s leading arms-selling nations in 2007, accounting for more than 45 percent of all global weapons transfers.” The Bush administration “signed arms sales agreements…worth more than $32 billion last year, including with one or more parties involved in 20 of the world’s 27 major conflicts.”
British troops will begin withdrawing from Iraq in March after regional elections in southern Iraq, and the troop levels will fall to 300-400 by June, according to the Ministry of Defense. “A U.S. brigade will replace the British force at Basra airport.”
And finally: Washington, DC jewelers are breaking out the inauguration “bling.” The DC Examiner has some photos of pieces here.
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It is good to see Carol Browner going back into some sort of official position related to environmental protection. It is, however, murky as to whether this will stand above the EPA or separate from it. Will it be a cabinet position? I haven’t seen anything really explaining it.
December 10th, 2008 at 9:12 amIn the Siegelman case, who appointed the judges to the specific Appeals Court? Is it one of those decisions that is going to back the repug prosecution no matter what the facts are?
December 10th, 2008 at 9:16 amHow long before the dems buckle to the demand that the auto makers be allowed to continue the lawsuits to drop the emission standards?
December 10th, 2008 at 9:20 amThe Bush administration “signed arms sales agreements…worth more than $32 billion last year, including with one or more parties involved in 20 of the world’s 27 major conflicts.
This IS the Bush legacy…sell arms rather than diplomacy, sign statements rather than work with Congress, weaken existing protections & regulations; you name the agency, and bail out financial corporate terrorists while holding them to no oversight or accountability.
Thanks, W. Just like the rest of your life, you phucked the whole thing up.
December 10th, 2008 at 9:22 am… Civil Union Review Commission…
it’s inevitable, folks…
did anyone see Boston Legal on monday? denny crance and alan shore got married!!! it was great!
also, jon stewart took on huckabee last night about this subject… jon got the best of that one, as expected…
December 10th, 2008 at 9:25 am“Bank of America has agreed to extend a loan to Republic Windows and Doors…”
Whooopis,
Everyone is all atwitter that the scum-sucking banks have allowed the scum-sucking corporation to geta riduculously high-interest (anything ABOVE the cost of the money is HIGH interest in my eyes) loan to only prolong the agony that these workers will eventually feel. Ok, they got their 60 day notice. Everyone happy.
Whoopie
REPEAL THE FEDERAL RESEVE ACT
The printer of the “money” should loan DIRECTLY to the USER of the money. No scum-sucking middle-men to siphon off the true wealth of nation.
KILL THE BANKS just like Andrew Jackson’s tomb says.
December 10th, 2008 at 9:27 am“The Bush administration “signed arms sales agreements…worth more than $32 billion last year, including with one or more parties involved in 20 of the world’s 27 major conflicts.”
Meanwhile, former Soviet and Warsaw Pact nations sell off all their old weapons to the African continent, setting up the next theater of conflict capitalism.
December 10th, 2008 at 9:27 ambtw – in case you’re wondering – NO, denny and alan are NOT gay… just best friends who love each other… they had to go to court because a gay advocate association sued them because they weren’t gay and their union would make a “sham” of gay marriage… it was quite interesting, the arguments of each side – of course, alan was his usual winning self…
December 10th, 2008 at 9:31 amNo! No to any form of bailout whatsoever.
December 10th, 2008 at 9:33 amLet them fail.
Where is the outrage?
The money’s got to come from somewhere and it aint gonna come from me.
Bank of America has agreed to extend a loan to Republic Windows and Doors so that it can pay its workers.
Nothing like bad publicity to get a corporation to do the right thing.
December 10th, 2008 at 9:36 amIt’s trickle-down economics at its best.
December 10th, 2008 at 9:37 amGay Marriage Ban Inspires New Wave of Activists
New York Times – 2 hours ago
Matt Palazzolo, center, is among a new generation of advocates who were shaken out of their apathy by the voters’ passage of Proposition 8 in California.
Video: Calling in ‘Gay’ to Work Latest Form of Protest AssociatedPress
Some Houstonians ‘calling in gay’ Houston Chronicle
Seattle Times – Los Angeles Times – Deseret News – Salt Lake Tribune
all 503 news articles »
http://news.google.com/?ncl=1278839238&hl=en&topic=n
ha!
December 10th, 2008 at 9:38 amMath Gains Reported for US Students
December 10th, 2008 at 9:40 amNew York Times – 18 hours ago
By SAM DILLON American fourth and eighth grade students made solid achievement gains in math in recent years and in two states showed spectacular progress, according to an international survey of student achievement, released Tuesday.
Science Exam Shows Plateau in US Performance Washington Post
Minnesota students now world-class in math and science Minneapolis Star Tribune
Wall Street Journal – USA Today – United Press International – The Associated Press
all 438 news articles »
http://news.google.com/?ncl=1278917101&hl=en&topic=t
“The ongoing financial and economic crisis could tip even more people into hunger and poverty,” the FAO added.
Heck of a job Bush. The man obviously has no conscience. If he did, he would be eating a gun….well with Bush it would probably be more like taking a bottle of sleeping pills.
December 10th, 2008 at 9:43 amJay Leno to prime time: Why NBC is doing it
Entertainment Weekly – 2 hours ago
Everyone knew the face of late-night TV would change when Jay Leno left The Tonight Show, but prime time as well? On Dec. 9, NBC announced that the reigning king of late night will stay put at the network by hosting an untitled new gabfest at 10 pm …
why? because they’re cheap?
not sure how i feel about that… leno not a favorite…
December 10th, 2008 at 9:44 amand i worry about his politics… will he be fair and honest?
If the court rules against Siegelman, “he faces a return to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence of seven years and four months.”
If that happens, one of the first things Obama should do would be to pardon Siegelman. If a right wing court thinks it’s OK to railroad someone into jail, then we need to do something about it. Hopefully 8 years of an Obama presidency will bring balance into the courts.
December 10th, 2008 at 9:45 amBritish troops will begin withdrawing from Iraq in March
I thought they had already withdrawn their troops. This is the longest “withdrawal” of troops I have ever seen.
December 10th, 2008 at 9:47 amvinylspear Says:
No! No to any form of bailout whatsoever.
Let them fail.
Where is the outrage?
The money’s got to come from somewhere and it aint gonna come from me.
It’s nice to know what a compassionate human being you are. You don’t seem to care that the failure of our auto industry would mean the demise of 3 million plus jobs in this country and would undoubtedly throw us into a Depression.
Unless you are fabulously wealthy, the failure of the auto industry is going to hurt to too.
December 10th, 2008 at 9:49 amthis is no surprise…
Cancer to Surpass Heart Disease as World’s Leading Killer
Washington Post – 17 hours ago
By Steven Reinberg TUESDAY, Dec. 9 (HealthDay News) — By 2010, cancer will be the leading killer in the world, surpassing heart disease, causing more deaths than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined.
sometimes i wonder…
December 10th, 2008 at 9:49 amvinylspear Says:
Where is the outrage?
My outrage is reserved for the trillions of dollars the Feds have GIVEN to banks and financial institutions.
Where is your outrage about that?
December 10th, 2008 at 9:51 amHopefully 8 years of an Obama presidency will bring balance into the courts.
Likely he’s gonna get only 4 years, and he’ll have to get nominee through a hostile Congress full of Bush- and Blue-dawgs.
The USofA will NEVER shake off the enduring corruption bestowed upon it by the Bushevistas…Even in the unlikely event that one of the Opus Dei-ists on the SCROTUS gets “called home to Jaysus.”
December 10th, 2008 at 9:52 amRich nations plan “great escape” on climate: China
December 10th, 2008 at 9:52 amReuters – 1 hour ago
By Gabriela Baczynska and Gerard Wynn POZNAN, Poland (Reuters) – Some rich countries are planning a “great escape” from promises to fight climate change as recession bites and a deadline nears to agree a new treaty, China’s climate ambassador Yu …
Poznan climate talks: what’s the forecast? CNN International
Despite fury, US advanced on climate change: US delegate Space Daily
BBC News – Inter Press Service – Bloomberg – AHN
all 860 news articles »
http://news.google.com/?ncl=1278653103&hl=en&topic=h
katy Says:
this is no surprise…
Cancer to Surpass Heart Disease as World’s Leading Killer
Washington Post – 17 hours ago
By Steven Reinberg TUESDAY, Dec. 9 (HealthDay News) — By 2010, cancer will be the leading killer in the world, surpassing heart disease, causing more deaths than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined.
sometimes i wonder…
Katy, increasing cancer rates are the inevitqable consequence of all the environmental pollutants and mutagens we require to maintain our “life-style.”
You’ll notice, probably, that the majority of clinical work is done to fine “cures,’ not to isolate and prevent causes?
That’s because we cannot live as we do–any of it–without submersing ourselves in chemical baths that totally Phuque Up our biological systems.
December 10th, 2008 at 9:54 amDespite fury, US advanced on climate change: US delegate
POZNAN, Poland, Dec 10 (AFP) Dec 10, 2008
Global warming rivals the Iraq War as the policy for which George W. Bush has been most savaged, with critics accusing him of braking or even sabotaging efforts to tackle climate change.
But the chief US delegate at the UN climate talks here, in an interview on Wednesday, said Bush’s administration had shown “an evolution” over two terms and had made practical contributions in shaping the global debate.
Paula Dobriansky, under secretary for democracy and global affairs, told AFP she had no regrets for Bush’s strategy on climate change but argued a better job could have been done in articulating it to the public.
[...]
oh really…
December 10th, 2008 at 9:55 amPaula Dobriansky, under secretary for democracy and global affairs, told AFP she had no regrets for Bush’s strategy on climate change but argued a better job could have been done in articulating it to the public.
[…]
oh really…
December 10th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Ya see, there’s really not a climate problem. It’s just a problem of perception and spin.
December 10th, 2008 at 9:58 amhttp://firedoglake.com/2008/12/09/il-democrats-blagojevich-impeachment-proceedings-starting-immediately/#comment-1753696
Telephone rings.
Blago: Who the f uck could that be?
Wife: No f ucking idea. Answer the f ucking phone.
Blago (picking up phone): Who the f uck is this?
Voice on phone: Hello, Governor, this is the FBI.
Blago: Who the f uck is this? How the f uck did you get this number? You f uck with me and I’ll f ucking f uck you over, you miserable f uck.
Wife: F uck this shit. Hang up on the little f ucking bastard.
Voice on phone: Governor, this is Special Agent ******. You can verify my information with your security detail who have been notified. This is simply to inform you that two agents are en route to place you under arrest and for you to make suitable arrangements to meet them and accompany them back to FBI offices for processing.
Blago: Harris? Is that you? Are you trying to f ucking jerk me around? This isn’t f ucking funny, you f uck. You f ucking don’t steal enough f ucking money for me to play these f ucking games with me.
Voice on phone: Governor, this is not a joke. This is a courtesy call only. Agents should be arriving at your door momentarily.
(Knocking at door)
Blago (to wife): They’re f ucking coming for me.
Wife: F uck, f uck, f uck.
Blago (to himself): I’m so f ucking f ucked.
Version without the profanity:
Telephone rings.
Blago: Hello
December 10th, 2008 at 10:26 amVoice on phone: This is the FBI. I am calling to inform you that agents are on their way to execute an arrest of you.
Blago: Oh, OK.
Wife: Oh dear.
vinylspear Says:
No! No to any form of bailout whatsoever.
Let them fail.
Where is the outrage?
The money’s got to come from somewhere and it aint gonna come from me.
You’re just being snarky this morning, right? RIGHT?
December 10th, 2008 at 10:31 ammcwars – rachel maddow had a great line last night about those recordings… something about how blago was proficient in a language that uses the f-word…
transcript not up yet or i’d post it… funny when rachel said it… http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3719710/#maddow
December 10th, 2008 at 10:37 amMADDOW: In fact, the governor came up with a list of coveted jobs and favors which he considered an appropriate payoff for him for his decision about who would fill that Senate seat. Among these, allegedly, an ambassadorship. We know from the transcripts that the governor is nearly fluent in the language of any country that uses the F-word. …
w00t!
December 10th, 2008 at 11:02 amThanks for the link, katy! If it were any other show I would have only read the one comment @ 11:02 but this is Rachel Maddow, I have to read the whole transcript!
December 10th, 2008 at 11:08 amAUTO BAILOUT AGREEMENT NEAR
Congress and the White house are reportedly near to an agreement to provide the Big 3 automakers with approximately 15 billion in loans to stave off a shutdown. Details remaining to be worked out are centered around the role and authority of a proposed car czar to oversee the industry.
A car czar? Is this like the Iraq war czar, who was appointed one day and never heard from again? The energy czar who reduced our dependence on oil so drastically? Or is it like the drug czar who so successfully waged the war on drugs.
homer http://www.altara.blogspot.com
December 11th, 2008 at 7:48 am