ThinkFast: December 15, 2008
ThinkFast: December 15, 2008
“Thousands of Iraqis took to the streets Monday to demand the release of a reporter who threw his shoes” at President Bush during a press conference yesterday, praising the journalist as a “hero.” The television station that employs the journalist has also demanded his immediate release, saying it “fear[ed] for his safety.”
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich “has no plans of resigning today or tomorrow,” a spokesperson said yesterday. “He still signs bills as governor, and he wants to see details.”
A loophole in the bailout legislation may allow executives at Wall Street companies to continue to earn large compensation packages. Due to a last-minute change in legislative language sought by the Bush administration, Congress’ efforts to limit pay may prove toothless. “The flimsy executive-compensation restrictions in the original bill are now all but gone,” Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said.
President-elect Obama will announce his energy and environment team — led by Dr. Steven Chu as Secretary of Energy — Monday afternoon at a press conference in Chicago, “continuing a steady roll-out of his Cabinet, which is now nearly complete.” Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO) is the leading contender to be named Interior Secretary.
“The number of reported attacks against LGBT people increased 24 percent in 2007 over 2006″ and is expected to rise again this year after a “rash of attacks” in recent months, according to the New York City Anti-Violence Project.
Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Russ Feingold (D-WI) are teaming up once again, this time to pursue earmark reform. Roll Call reports that while the political climate may be receptive to their efforts, they may meet some resistance if they “look to move the authority for policing earmarks out of Congress, as many reformers have called for.”
Yesterday on ABC’s “This Week,” McCain said that he would not necessarily support Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) if she decided to run for president in the future. “I can’t say something like that. We’ve got some great other young governors. I think you’re going to see the governors assume a greater leadership role in our Republican Party,” he said.
“Widows of war veterans have been wrongfully denied up to millions of dollars in government benefits over the past 12 years due to computer glitches that often resulted in money being seized from the elderly survivors’ bank accounts.”
With unemployment claims “reaching their highest levels in decades, states are running out of money to pay benefits, and some are turning to the federal government for loans or increasing taxes on businesses to make the payments.” Benefits may become insolvent in 30 states over the next few months while funds in Indiana and Michigan have “already dried up.”
And finally: Expecting a tourist bonanza around Jan. 20, the DC Council recently “voted in favor of extending last call to 5 a.m. and allow bars and restaurants to serve food around the clock during inauguration week.” Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Robert Bennett (R-UT) objected in a letter to Mayor Adrian Fenty, however, saying that were “deeply concerned” that the plan “could seriously strain law enforcement resources.” In response, a group of Washingtonians has launched SaveTheParties.com. The petition backing the Council’s change reads: “The people voted overwhelmingly for change, and we want to celebrate that change big-time!”
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“The number of reported attacks against LGBT people increased 24 percent in 2007 over 2006? and is expected to rise again this year after a “rash of attacks” in recent months, according to the New York City Anti-Violence Project.
It seems that every group received a boost on election day except gays and lesbians. I feel terrible for these great Americans.
December 15th, 2008 at 9:09 am“Thousands of Iraqis took to the streets Monday to demand the release of a reporter who threw his shoes” at President Bush during a press conference yesterday, praising the journalist as a “hero.” The television station that employs the journalist has also demanded his immediate release, saying it “fear[ed] for his safety.”
He truly is a hero because it was the only direct payback battered Iraqis could sneak in to-date. Thank you, sir, for flushing the fraternity war criminal president’s legacy-propping scheme down the toilet.
December 15th, 2008 at 9:14 amBUt, But, the “Gays” have been invited to play and march in the inauguration day parade in Washington DC. So….
December 15th, 2008 at 9:14 amhttp://www.ktvu.com/news/18272695/detail.html
We need to KILL THE BANKS.
As ANdrew Jackson tried to do, and he felt he did accomplish because emblazoned on his tombstone is “I KILLED THE BANKS”
The Federal Reserve Act WAS TREAONOUS and needs to be repealed. If the gov can give money willi-nilli like it presently is doing, then it can give money carefully and efficiently (if there were people in charge who actually took their oaths of office seriously and did not come to Washington with the treasonous ronnie raygun mindest that the government is bad and cannot be trusted to provide a core minimum livable set of protections, those fukers need to be hung) THEN you can have the gov loan, money DIRECTLY to people, and cut out the parasitic middleman called BANKS.
FUK THE BANKS.
December 15th, 2008 at 9:19 amHave you tried to change a $20 bill in a bank recently? Its fun. My bank asked for proof of my currently holding an account with them, and they checked it, and would ONLY change a $20 for account holders.
WTF!!!! Legal tender for public and private debts my ass. It is a worthless piece of shit fiat money.
KILL THE BANKS!!!!!
December 15th, 2008 at 9:22 amHey! did you see that Main Stream Media?
December 15th, 2008 at 9:22 amA reporter with Balls!
The increase in attacks on gays is troubling, since it is obviously correlated with the Right’s attacks on gays and gay marriage.
There has also been an increase in hate crimes against Hispanics recently. This is almost certainly collateral damage from Republican campaign techniques.
And now…Ann Coulter with her Jaw Wired Shut:
December 15th, 2008 at 9:30 amhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFhy7S2WFPA
Good morning, campers.
KUDOS to that Iraqi journalist who flung his shoes at Chimpy. Too bad they weren’t hand grenades instead.
December 15th, 2008 at 9:30 amloophole in the bailout legislation may allow executives at Wall Street companies to continue to earn large compensation packages. Due to a last-minute change in legislative language sought by the Bush administration, Congress’ efforts to limit pay may prove toothless. “The flimsy executive-compensation restrictions in the original bill are now all but gone,” Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said.
I’m tired of the worker who guts pigs for $11.00 an hour getting cast aside for the mahogany table-lounging executive wanting millions for being lazy. Where’s the incentive to succeed? Last but not least, why are we paying $169,000 to our senators to do nothing but argue and hold no one accountable? What is this love of protecting CEOs? Are they too arrogant to fail?
December 15th, 2008 at 9:31 amHey! did you see that Main Stream Media?
A reporter with Balls!
When you’ve got basically nothing to lose, you tend to respond more strongly to your inner moral compass.
Not so much the case in the dumb old US and A.
December 15th, 2008 at 9:31 amA caller on my favorite talk show program just called in with an idea for a “million shoe” campaign. Everyone needs to send an old smelly shoe to the shrub for Christmas! Remember to leave your return address off! I am digging through my closet…
December 15th, 2008 at 9:34 amA loophole in the bailout legislation may allow executives at Wall Street companies to continue to earn large compensation packages. Due to a last-minute change in legislative language sought by the Bush administration, Congress’ efforts to limit pay may prove toothless.
Well, color me surprised. I sure do hope when they get around to loaning the auto industry money to stay alive, and require that the line workers make the same salaries as non-union auto workers, they include a requirement that the management at the American auto companies make the same salary as the foreign auto industry management makes. That will be quite a pay cut for the management of the American auto companies.
December 15th, 2008 at 9:35 amSen. Ken Salazar (D-CO) is the leading contender to be named Interior Secretary.
Why is Obama taking another sitting Senator. Colorado does have a Democratic Governor, but do we really want four “appointment” Senators who will be up for reelection in two years?
December 15th, 2008 at 9:37 amSens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Russ Feingold (D-WI) are teaming up once again, this time to pursue earmark reform.
There’s an easy fix for earmarks. Forbid their inclusion in any unrelated bill. Then have one or two “appropriations” bills a year where legislators can ask for money for their state projects. And, they should make the process 100% transparent by posting every earmark bill on the government’s website with full disclosure as to who is sponsoring the earmark.
December 15th, 2008 at 9:40 amDNFP Says:
When you’ve got basically nothing to lose, you tend to respond more strongly to your inner moral compass.
Good observation. That reporter lost relatives for George Bush’s live-action game of battleship. But remember, it doesn’t faze Georgie. Georgie came out of this fine and cracked a joke, so American and Iraqi hunger and bleeding is secondary.
December 15th, 2008 at 9:43 amAlecto Says:
KILL THE BANKS!!!!!
Don’t you have a Credit Union in your area? If you do, join. Credit Unions are great. My CU is in zero financial difficulty and they have only foreclosed on one mortgage in their 40 year history. I am talking to them about refinancing my 6.25% home loan as soon as the interest gets to 5% and they have no problem loaning me the money. All my assets are in my CU and that makes me feel much more secure.
December 15th, 2008 at 9:46 amThe duck was the smartest move of Botch’s presidency. Literally.
December 15th, 2008 at 9:47 am“Widows of war veterans have been wrongfully denied up to millions of dollars in government benefits over the past 12 years due to computer glitches that often resulted in money being seized from the elderly survivors’ bank accounts.”
Short circuiting troll comments…
“Clinton did it too!”
December 15th, 2008 at 9:47 amMissed This!
What about Obama’s promises for ‘open, transparent government?’
Citizens are criticizing Obama’s silence over contacts his aides may have had with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, saying he is breaking promises to bring openness to government
Obama Chief of Staff Emanuel ducks whether he was Blagojevich emissary
President-elect Barack Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, refused to take questions from reporters this morning about whether he was the Obama “advisor” named in the criminal complaint against Gov. Rod Blagojevich
NEW RECORD LOW TEMP IN DENVER
Montana’s -29 easily breaks record
Several places in the state have already shattered daily record lows, and more are expected to be broken as the sub-zero temperatures continue through Sunday night.
December 15th, 2008 at 9:48 amWhite Sulphur Springs reported 29 degrees below zero to the National Weather Service today, stretching way beyond the last daily record low of 17 degrees below zero set in 1922
Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
Don’t you have a Credit Union in your area? If you do, join. Credit Unions are great. My CU is in zero financial difficulty and they have only foreclosed on one mortgage in their 40 year history. I am talking to them about refinancing my 6.25% home loan as soon as the interest gets to 5% and they have no problem loaning me the money. All my assets are in my CU and that makes me feel much more secure.
Very true. The only solvent retail bank I can think of is BB&T.
December 15th, 2008 at 9:48 amThe icething cometh, and the place now has trollstink…
December 15th, 2008 at 9:52 am>NEW RECORD LOW TEMP IN DENVER
Yes….THIS certainly disproves global warming..not like that heat couldnt be travelling from where it normally is in Denver to some other place on the globe.
Moron. Go back to high school and learn better debating skills.
December 15th, 2008 at 10:01 amI’d like to nominate that Iraqi journalist for the Nobel Peace Prize. or, at the very least, The Medal of Freedom.
December 15th, 2008 at 10:01 amICEMAN
Aren’t you so lucky to have resumed your vigorous masturbation. One more troll hurrah before January 20th, and one more mess on the basement floor to clean up.
December 15th, 2008 at 10:04 amHe deserves a Pullitzer as well, Uncle Ho.
December 15th, 2008 at 10:07 am;)
Uncle Ho Says:
Good morning, campers.
KUDOS to that Iraqi journalist who flung his shoes at Chimpy. Too bad they weren’t hand grenades instead.
Good morning, Uncle Ho. Better yet, we should have witnessed his hanging. Imagine the Iraqi reporter above the ceiling, throwing down the the rope and reelin’ it in rodeo style.
December 15th, 2008 at 10:07 amGet Out!
December 15th, 2008 at 10:10 amBush Crime Family
and
The Banksters
Out!
SPECTACULAR IDEA! Google this and you’ll see that this idea is spreading like wildfire.
Mailing Address:
The White House
December 15th, 2008 at 10:21 am1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
All I want for Christmas
December 15th, 2008 at 10:26 amis
my size 10 shoes
my size 10 shoes
my size 10 shoes
Alecto Says
December 15th, 2008 at 9:14 am
BUt, But, the “Gays” have been invited to play and march in the inauguration day parade in Washington DC.
___________________________________________________________
Oh, I guess that makes beating them up OK, then. (heavy snark)
December 15th, 2008 at 10:27 amHell, I’d even give him one of my medals.
December 15th, 2008 at 10:28 am“It snowed somewhere, so that conclusively PROVES that there is no such thing as global warming.” (paraphrase of any con/repug).
And if you smack your face on the frozen pavement you might kickstart a couple of neural connections to accompany the two you currently have.
December 15th, 2008 at 10:33 amThe shoes for Bush idea is a bit funny, and the idea is spreading enough to see something happen. In the early years I had suggested a number of times that people send him a bag of pretzels.
However, I would like to note that this could be negative: lots and lots of unmarked packages heading to the White House, addressed to the president will all require thorough checking, which will take up manpower. Of course, that MIGHT interfere with shredding (but I doubt it — more likely it will interfere with the transition if it interferes at all).
On the positive side, it will help a little in the economy by helping the post office.
On another bad side it will gum up the mail system a little as we enter into the busiest mail time of the year.
I feel a little dizzy….
December 15th, 2008 at 10:39 amPerhaps Obama is trying to take salazar out of the Senate to get rid of a DINO. Does salazar have any real credentials to be SoI?
December 15th, 2008 at 10:47 amOne of the news articles I read this morning commented on the “screaming” and the “heavy trail of blood” on the carpet after the Iraqi security dragged that reporter away…
It really makes me wonder just exactly what they did to that poor man.
December 15th, 2008 at 11:32 amCageyCretin Says:
The shoes for Bush idea is a bit funny, and the idea is spreading enough to see something happen. In the early years I had suggested a number of times that people send him a bag of pretzels.
However, I would like to note that this could be negative: lots and lots of unmarked packages heading to the White House, addressed to the president will all require thorough checking,
Use Baghdad, Iraq as the return address.
December 15th, 2008 at 11:33 amCageyCretin Says:
However, I would like to note that this could be negative: lots and lots of unmarked packages heading to the White House, addressed to the president will all require thorough checking, which will take up manpower. Of course, that MIGHT interfere with shredding (but I doubt it — more likely it will interfere with the transition if it interferes at all).
**The thought of a million shoes being checked by WH security is a funny thing to me. I doubt the mail room is part of the transition. I guess I am pi$$ed off enough not to see a bad side.
December 15th, 2008 at 11:39 amCZ-1 Says:
Use Baghdad, Iraq as the return address.
DOH!!!!!!!! :0
As a kicker add “O.B.L.”.
December 15th, 2008 at 11:40 amAnd the beat goes on Says:
**The thought of a million shoes being checked by WH security is a funny thing to me. I doubt the mail room is part of the transition. I guess I am pi$$ed off enough not to see a bad side.
Yeah, me too, really. Just looking at some other angles. I think the postage money going to the post office is a positive thing. Some post offices are hurting right now, actually.
I still think pretzels would be better, but the shoe is much more relevant when one considers the timing.
December 15th, 2008 at 11:42 amHow do the Republicans & Bush manage to insert so many “last minute” changes into legislation, that always comes a some big surprise by those who voted on it? Do the legislators only receive “cliff” notes of bills, and leave petty details to someone else? How exactly does this all work?
Seems the Democrats have a penchant for passing bills, and then “hoping” the acts will have the desired effect; instead of writing legislation that actually STATES what they claim was intended. Don’t the Democrats have access to lawyers to help them in this endeavor?
December 15th, 2008 at 4:39 pmCageyCretin – love your comments on the shoes both here and in the other threads. May I suggest, though. shoes stuffed with pretzels ?
December 15th, 2008 at 5:19 pmSend shoes.
December 15th, 2008 at 8:38 pmAnd while you’re at it send (separately) a real letter requesting the release of that brave Iraqui. He knew when he did it that he might be signing his death sentence. But he did it to make a point for his principles. We should all be so ballsy.
So send George a letter, and cc it to Obama! “For future reference”…