ThinkFast: January 6, 2009
ThinkFast: January 6, 2009
Yesterday, the Secretary of the Senate rejected Roland Burris’s appointment to the legislative body “because his certificate of appointment was missing the signature of Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White.” White has refused to sign the certificate, siding with Senate leadership in believing that Burris should not be seated. Burris, nevertheless, is heading to Washington and insisting that his appointment is legal.
Despite increased calls for a cease-fire from Europe and warnings from aid organizations of a growing humanitarian crisis, Israel moved its forces deeper into Gaza, toward the southern Khan Younis on Tuesday. Since the fighting began 12 days ago, 590 Palestinians have been killed and 2,500 have been wounded, while 9 Israelis have been killed.
Former Republican congressman Bob Barr states, “In 1996, as a freshman member of the House of Representatives, I wrote the Defense of Marriage Act, better known by its shorthand acronym, DOMA, than its legal title.” But now, he says, “I have come to agree with [Obama] that the law should be repealed.”
Former Florida governor Jeb Bush (R-FL) may decide against running for Senate, the St. Petersburg Times reports this morning. Bush “may conclude after completing his methodical review process that there are other ways he can help rebuild the GOP.”
Speaking for the first time at length about his imprisonment, former Guantanamo Bay detainee Muhammad Saad Iqbal tells the New York Times that he left U.S. custody with a severely infected ear, lower back problems and a dependency “on a cocktail of antibiotics and antidepressants.” Iqbal says the maladies were “the result of a gauntlet of torture, imprisonment and interrogation” that he was put through.
In the coming months, Congress plans to move aggressively against the tobacco industry “by regulating cigarettes, raising per-pack sales taxes and ratifying an international antitobacco treaty.” The measures “are ones that the Bush administration opposed, vetoed or declined to act upon,” but that President-elect Obama supported while in the Senate.
Toyota will be “suspending production at all 12 of its Japan plants for 11 days over February and March,” an “unprecedented” suspension for the top automaker. Data released yesterday also showed that the auto industry “capped off 2008 with its worst sales in 16 years as Americans continued to steer clear of dealerships in December.”
Five Blackwater Worldwide security guards are expected to appear in federal court today “to answer to manslaughter charges in the 2007 shooting deaths of 17 Iraqi civilians in Baghdad.” Prosecutors contend the guards fired on unarmed Iraqis trying to escape while the defendants claim they were under attack “when a car in a State Department convoy they were escorting broke down.”
And finally: Prominent Twitter users — including Britney Spears and President-elect Obama — had their accounts hacked yesterday. Users first noticed the suspicious message “Breaking: Bill O Riley is gay” on the Fox News account. CNN’s Rick Sanchez, another victim of the scheme, later Twittered that he had been at the gym when a fake message from his account went up. Twitter said that it had solved the breach, explaining that “accounts were compromised after a hacker accessed tools the support team uses when a Twitter user can’t remember or wants to reset their login info.”
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The Burris appointment does seem legal. Stupid and arrogant, yes,
January 6th, 2009 at 9:04 ambut legal. Aren’t the Dems just setting themselves up for another unnecessary slapdown? Why waste capital on this?
Once more, Reid has ignored the fights he can (and should win) in favor of picking a fight that he cannot possibly win. Can we get the Sec’y of State in Nevada to erase his signature on Harry’s card?
January 6th, 2009 at 9:07 amGood Morning All
Dead zones imperil Chesapeake crabs
WASHINGTON – Chesapeake Bay’s iconic and profitable blue crabs face suffocation, hunger, and cannibalism as dead zones continue to expand across the estuary, draining oxygen from the water and killing off enough clams and worms to feed 60 million crabs.
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Those oxygen-deprived zones send crabs fleeing into shallower waters, where they turn to cannibalism for lack of food and fall prey to predators.
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sign this petition. It implores the EPA not to delay its Chesapeake cleanup effort from 2010 to 2020.
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More on Dead Zones
Ocean “Dead Zones” Spread: Study
The spread of “dead zones” — areas of oxygen-starved water — “is emerging as a major threat to coastal ecosystems globally,” the scientists wrote in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
January 6th, 2009 at 9:11 am-/-
“Marine organisms are more vulnerable to low oxygen content than currently recognized, with fish and crustaceans being the most vulnerable,” said Raquel Vaquer Suner of the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies in Spain
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Hundreds of millions of people depend on coastal fisheries for food. Crustaceans such as crabs, lobsters and shrimps are less able to escape from low-oxygen waters than fish.
The study said that most scientists had until now reckoned that oxygen levels could fall to 2 milligrams per liter of sea water before the water was considered starved of oxygen.
But many creatures were far more sensitive. Larvae of one type of crab found off eastern Canada and the United States started suffering at oxygen levels of 8.6 mg per liter, just below normal levels.
If Burris is incapable or unwilling to see the political, legal, and practical issues involved in Gov. Blagojevich appointing the next Senator under the current circumstances, then I question his integrity, intelligence, or both. He has done or said nothing to qualm any misgivings or concerns that this appointment could be tainted. He has offered no mechanism for such assurance. He basically is just saying “trust me” and that is far from sufficient in this political climate.
January 6th, 2009 at 9:11 amPlus, everyone knows Billo isn’t gay, he’s a Jerk-off
January 6th, 2009 at 9:11 amVote ThinkProgress best liberal blog!
http://2008.weblogawards.org/polls/best-liberal-blog/
January 6th, 2009 at 9:11 amPlease sign this petition. It implores the EPA not to delay its Chesapeake cleanup effort from 2010 to 2020.
It’s never to early for manners.
January 6th, 2009 at 9:13 amIs Jeb Bush the “the Great White Hope” for Bush=Cheney & Carlyle Group crony capitalist consortia?
January 6th, 2009 at 9:18 amPeople in Illinois may have legitimate issues with Burris’ qualifications, and the governor undoubtedly had cynical reasons for his choice but . . . Burris is obviously the legally-appointed replacement for Barack Obama and neither the State government or the Senate has any business blocking him from taking office.
January 6th, 2009 at 9:22 amVideo: Calif. cop shoots apparently helpless man in the back
Footage captured by camera-phone-wielding Karina Vargas, 19, shows officers had detained several men. Over the proceeding minutes, officers become defensive as groups of yelling youths stand on the periphery and meander past.
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Vargas several times makes attempts to get closer. When her camera focuses on Grant, he is sitting with his back against a wall, surrounded by others in handcuffs. He holds up his hands, apparently speaking with the officers, when they force him to the ground.
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Two officers struggle to turn him over, even as he appears to be strewn across another man’s legs, when suddenly one of the men retrieves his gun from its holster…
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…And put a bullet in his back. The paramilitary police state strikes again… BTW. Are my post too long?
January 6th, 2009 at 9:29 am#11 – gummitch Says:
———————————————————snip “..Burris is obviously the legally-appointed replacement for Barack Obama and neither the State government or the Senate has any business blocking him from taking office.”
January 6th, 2009 at 9:22 am
Unfortunately, the Senate can decide who they allow to be seated. Remember the whole story about then-Sen. Stevens possibly being blocked from returning to the senate had he been re-elected? It’s one of those interesting laws that we never hear about until it’s brought up.
January 6th, 2009 at 9:30 amFormer Florida governor Jeb Bush (R-FL) may decide against running for Senate, the St. Petersburg Times reports this morning. Bush “may conclude after completing his methodical review process that there are other ways he can help rebuild the GOP.”
In other words, he ran the numbers and realized that if he ran for the Senate he would lose. From what I have read, Jeb is even dumber than George, if you can believe that.
January 6th, 2009 at 9:32 amSo Jeb Bush thinks that there are “other ways he can help rebuild the GOP” than running for Senator? Maybe he’s planning on forming that shadow government that he is so hard for:
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/12/01/jeb-on-gop/
Or maybe he realizes that being a Republican AND having the traitorous name “Bush” are more than enough to render him politically impotent. Knowing the Bushes it’s more likely the former than the latter.
January 6th, 2009 at 9:32 amRe: Burris
An old saying is “just because you have the right to do something does not mean it is the right thing to do”. The appointment of Burris was legal, his acceptance is legal, and the exercising of oversight by the Illinois Secretary of State and the U.S. Senate is legal. Now, what is the right thing to do?
January 6th, 2009 at 9:37 amGeorgette Orwell Says:
The Burris appointment does seem legal. Stupid and arrogant, yes, but legal. Aren’t the Dems just setting themselves up for another unnecessary slapdown? Why waste capital on this?
It may be legal, but it’s not right. It would be legal for Blago to appoint himself, or even an ax murderer. But that wouldn’t make it right. That’s part of the reason why the Senate has the right to reject an appointee.
January 6th, 2009 at 9:38 amDr. Hussein Matt Says:
Actually, there is a “problem” with Burris’ selection. Apparently the paperwork for his nomination has not been signed by the Secretary of State.
The signature has been deliberately withheld because the state Democratic party is unhappy with Blago. Burris is suing to force the signature. And, again, Burris was appointed by the governor of the state of Illinois in a perfectly legal process, tainted or not.
January 6th, 2009 at 9:38 amJeb rebuild the GOP?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!
January 6th, 2009 at 9:38 amBush “may conclude after completing his methodical review process that there are other ways he can help rebuild the GOP.”
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I suspect that the best way Jeb can help rebuild the GOP is by butting out. It’s true that Jeb isn’t his brother, but unfortunately, having the name of “Bush” isn’t going to help take the party in the direction it needs to go. It would be like having some guy with the unfortunate name of Stalin attempt to rebuild Russia and restore its credibility.
January 6th, 2009 at 9:38 amYou don’t suppose that Jeb’s study of the senate race would include the various scandals he has been linked to? The one that readily comes to mind is the bankruptcy of the broker who controlled the State of Florida Education Fund’s investments, leaving school districts to flounder around to try to finish the school year 2 years ago.
January 6th, 2009 at 9:39 ami recall it wasn’t too long ago that TP would avoid any stories about the israeli bullies rather than show them in any bad light…
thanks for changing that tune, faiz…
January 6th, 2009 at 9:40 amgummitch Says:
Burris is obviously the legally-appointed replacement for Barack Obama and neither the State government or the Senate has any business blocking him from taking office.
Would you say the same if Burris had been convicted of corruption or some other crime? I know he hasn’t, but he has proven himself to be an opportunist with zero morals and ethics. Why would you want someone like that appointed to a Democratic Senate seat?
January 6th, 2009 at 9:40 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
Would you say the same if Burris had been convicted of corruption or some other crime? I know he hasn’t, but he has proven himself to be an opportunist with zero morals and ethics. Why would you want someone like that appointed to a Democratic Senate seat?
I didn’t say I “want” him appointed. I said he has been legally appointed to the seat and there is no legitimate reason why he shouldn’t get it. The Senate, in particular, has better things to do with their time and all this is going to do is legitimize Republican efforts to block Al Franken from taking his seat.
January 6th, 2009 at 9:49 amJeb would have to give up those cush private sector appointments:
Lehman Brothers Private Equity adviser (now NIM)
Tenet Healthcare Board of Directors
CNL Bancshares Board
Rayonier Board of Directors
Brand Bush should be Tainted Tylenol. Jeb’s running for anything would show the shallowness of our national leadership bench.
January 6th, 2009 at 9:54 amnot covered here this morning, but i had this thought about leon panetta as CIA chief and feinstein’s objection to that – i said to self, if SHE’s against it, i think i would be glad to have him there…
this morning on TODAY, rachel MADDOW affirmed my thoughts… panetta is not a part of the former crowd who allowed the mistakes to happen in the first place – that’s a good thing.
January 6th, 2009 at 9:56 amWow. Reid is pretty tough with the appearance of impropriety in his own party. Too bad he’s utterly spineless in regards to real republican impropriety. Do a low key investigation of Burris, and if its found that he did something illegal to get the appointment, then expel him. Otherwise, his appointment is legitimate. It amazes me that that terms like “leader” actually apply to people like reid and the spineless peloposi..
January 6th, 2009 at 9:59 am> i said to self, if SHE’s against it, i think i
> would be glad to have him there…
yep, pretty much my sentiment…if feinstein the withered war profiteering hag(check her hubbys investments) and bush enabler is against panetta, he starts with a plus in my book..
January 6th, 2009 at 10:02 amsome good Dkos blogs on the Panetta/Feinstein thing..
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/1/5/214838/3952/811/680589
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/1/6/1655/94728/802/680582
January 6th, 2009 at 10:04 amI don’t see that there is a legal avenue for preventing Burris from taking the Senate seat.
January 6th, 2009 at 10:04 amBlagojevich is the governor – under investigation, yes – but allegations and hearsay at this time – as governor, he needed to fill the open seat and he appointed Burris. Burris is not a bad guy, and will probably be an acceptable senator for the next two years.
Blagojevich is probably corrupt, he has been derelict in his gubernatorial duties for years, and he created an awkward situation for Reid and the Dems but their own poor judgment exacerbated the matter — but what Blagojevich did was perfectly legal. When other governors and senators are under investigation, they continue working.
The entire Bush clan is a boil on the arse of America – Jeb, probably the one with any brains at all, is wise to just slink away quietly. He should take the whole stinking clan with him. They are all morally corrupt, greedy, culturally ignorant, and self-centered – from Pappy and Babs through their offpsring – and if one were to read of the ancestors of Pa and Ma, it would be apparent that the rotten trees of Bush and Walker have borne equally rotten fruit.
January 6th, 2009 at 10:10 amThe Burris selection may not be “right” in the minds of some, but it is legal – and Burris is not guilty of anything. Dragging this out over weeks and weeks will not improve the matter.
January 6th, 2009 at 10:14 amDoing the right thing would be following the law.
The repugs want a special election – they feel they can get a republican in the office. They should not be able to push aside the constitution because they don’t like the selection by the governor.
Katy Says:
not covered here this morning, but i had this thought about leon panetta as CIA chief and feinstein’s objection to that – i said to self, if SHE’s against it, i think i would be glad to have him there…
Feinstein was/is a bootlicking Bushocrat with allegiance to nothing other than power.
January 6th, 2009 at 10:18 amI know nothing about Burris. I saw the TP post about a rather elaborate tombstone – but hey, that’s his perogative.
But what bothers me is that he seems to be playing out this questionable hand in the public.
I would hope that behind the scenes he is talking with the relevant people, trying to find some effective solution. This would be better for him and better for the dem party.
January 6th, 2009 at 10:20 amWoops! Wrong thread… *face palm*
Im in a slight New Year posting slump.
January 6th, 2009 at 10:21 amWait!!! I was right! Ugh!!! Im done…
Have a good day all…
January 6th, 2009 at 10:23 amAs far as the Burris issue is concerned, it’s simply a matter of constitutional law. Blago made the appointment because he had the power to do so under the 17th Amendment, and the Supreme Court already ruled in McCormak v. Powell, 395 U.S. 486 (1969), that Congress’ power to block a prospective member is limited to determining whether the member meets the criteria set out in the constitution itself — which, in the case of a senator, means he or she must be at least 30 years of age, a citizen of the U.S. for at least 9 years, and a citizen of the state for which he or she was chosen. So long as Burris meets all three criteria, and he does, the Senate cannot block him.
Reid’s current position — that the Illinois Secretary of State failed to sign the certificate of Burris’ appointment — is equally baseless. Signing the certificate is a ministerial act. The Secretary of State does not have the discretion to refuse to sign it.
This isn’t a matter of “right” and “wrong”; it’s a matter of what the law requires. Period. If Reid is willing to disregard the U.S. Constitution and controlling legal precedent, well, he’s not much better than Orval Faubus, if you ask me.
January 6th, 2009 at 10:28 amBilbo, I agree that the Burris situation isn’t right, but *technically* it’s legal. Fighting it puts the Dems in a can’t-win position–as usual. Sigh.
January 6th, 2009 at 10:42 amFive Blackwater Worldwide security guards are expected to appear in federal court today…
Be honest, folks: does this or does this not remind you of the “he’s coming straight at me!” hunting episode from South Park?
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Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
Would you say the same if Burris had been convicted of corruption or some other crime? I know he hasn’t, but he has proven himself to be an opportunist with zero morals and ethics. Why would you want someone like that appointed to a Democratic Senate seat?
Opportunist, yes. Zero morals and ethics? That’s going too far. Maybe not as many as you’d like, but more than a lot. And whether you want him appointed has nothing to do with whether it’s legal.
The Senate can block his seating based on grounds of questionable election certification. No such grounds exist in this case. Which means that blocking him is illegal. And preventing him from entering the building is way illegal.
However, what they can (and if they want to stick to their guns, should) do is seat him and then expel him which they can do for any/no reason on 60 votes. I’m sure some Republicans wouldn’t mind helping out with that one.
Burris may be grandstanding like a circus clown, but the Constitution is still on his side. That’s more important, IMO.
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Former Florida governor Jeb Bush (R-FL) may decide against running for Senate, the St. Petersburg Times reports this morning. Bush “may conclude after completing his methodical review process that there are other ways he can help rebuild the GOP.”
Hey, he isn’t as stupid as Dubya after all. Looks like he smells which way the wind is blowing – step back from elected politics and let some other R’s take those beatings, then crawl back in when things look more favorable down the road.
We’ll be waiting, Jeb.
January 6th, 2009 at 10:43 amKerry, Repugs made “pay for play” and K Street ubiquitous inside the beltway. Bush’s Just Us Department ensured their friends got Harry Madoff like treatment. “Don’t look, don’t investigate.”
My fine Repug representative should be under investigation for “pay for play”. Rep. Mike Conaway and the Albertine Brothers have an incredible timeline of earmark endorsements and political donations.
But Bush steers his Just Us Department against the Blue team in his waning days. No surprise.
January 6th, 2009 at 10:52 amHappy Days are when ethical people are in government positions. That means removing big money’s influence.
January 6th, 2009 at 10:55 amJohn Kerry Says: HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN!!
Did you break into someone’s medicine cabinet again?
January 6th, 2009 at 11:01 amOh dear lord of hosts I hope they are able to find a way to ensure that Burris is not seated. We do not need someone so ethically challenged in the Senate right now.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:11 amI should say, we do not need someone *else* so ethically challenged in the Senate right now.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:12 amJohn Kerry…your post makes no sense.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:12 amJohn Kerry,
As much as I’ll regret asking this, I guess someone should, so…
He has the Blago scandal which could ruin him.
How? In what way, exactly? Do you have evidence that Obama did something illegal?
He has the Harry “the Body” racist scandal which could ruin him!
What are you talking about here? Harry “The Body”???
He has the Richardson scandal (ie NO VETTING of Big Daddy R!) which could ruin him!
My understanding is that the Obama team did press Richardson about this, and he brushed them off and said little or nothing. And it was Richardson himself who withdrew the nomination. (He’s a Kissinger tool so I’m not unhappy about his withdrawal.) But, again, in what way will this “ruin” Obama?
He now has this bullshit appointment of ANOTHER Clinton loser (Panetta) who has ABSOLUTELY no experience whatsoever in intelligence so why the hell did he pick him…
Well, he doesn’t need to have intelligence experience to be competent enough to head the department. As long as his Number Two person is competent, he can actually run things and Panetta can be the public face. The fact that he had nothing to do with the CIA’s current use of illegal interrogation methiods is actually a plus.
I reported your comment as abuse, you should know, because you offered nothing of substance. You just come off as ranting and raving against the Clintons (yet again). If you have a worthwhile point to make, then please make it, and we can discuss it from there. If all you have to offer are the ravings of a lunatic mind, then may I suggest you take them to FreeRepublic. They thrive on inanity there.
And have a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:15 amJust a few points to trollKerry:
There is no shred of evidence connecting President Elect Obama to anything illegal in the Illinois Senator story.
“Harry “the Body” racist scandal”? Do you mean Harry Reid and the Democratic Party that helped elect the first black President??
The vetting of Richardson: I feel he was vetted and this issue raised red flags. Politically it was quite shrewd of Obama. He gets points for nominating a hispanic man (Richardson). Richardson’s problems are NOT Obama’s problems.
and finally the nomination of Panetta. Another shrewd political move. It most definately showed us in a hurry just which Blue Dog Dems we need to watch (Feinstein, Rockefeller). If these two aren’t complicite in Bush’s crimes they sure are a bit nervous about the prospect of Panetta looking into their involvement in his many crimes. Non-intel appointments have done quite well in the past and his strict anti-torture stance should shake things up for the positive.
I don’t know John, you haven’t made one valid point but what else is new?
January 6th, 2009 at 11:23 amI googled “Harry ‘the body’” and came up with this. Something Mark Levin is saying about harry Reid, not even important enough to generate a transcript. I’m guessing? that’s what Kerry is ranting about. No mention of racism that I see there, though.
John Kerry, all I can say is if this is all you have to be that angry about, then you’re a lucky guy. Us on the left, we’ve got a lot more substantial things to be enraged over.
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Wayne A. Schneider Says:
I reported your comment as abuse, you should know, because you offered nothing of substance. You just come off as ranting and raving against the Clintons (yet again).
I don’t think that qualifies as abuse. We should cultivate and cherish our trolls; they do liven the place up.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:44 amProud Says:
…but the radical left that elected him loves terrorist…
Nobody loves terrorists, you America-hating traitor.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:45 amG’morning, all—well, almost all. ;o)
Burris has been shown the door in Washington, DC – per the AP. I’m conflicted about this; Blago has the right to make the appointment – he shouldn’t have, but he did. And it’s legal.
I’m kind of thinking that we Democrats have a whole host of much more pressing problems than an interim Senate appointment — even if it was made by that corrupt arsehole Blago….
And speaking of pressing problems, I’m totally appalled about the actions of the Israelis in Gaza; I’ve most certainly upset a bunch of wingnuts already by opining that Israel’s actions in this situation are worse than the actions of Al Qaeda – if you measure by the number of deaths of innocent civilians. I’m getting to the point where I’m starting to believe that the Israeli government is a terrorist organization.
I also find myself pissed off at the Democrats, who are willing to beat down fellow Democrats (over this Burris appointment) – but when a stupid Repuke looks at ‘em cross-eyed, they tremblingly back down. Ugh.
Grow a set, Harry. Beat up some Republicans for a change.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:47 amWrong, as usual, Proud.
Republicans are the primary reasion that “nothing gets done” in Congress lately, not the Democrats. Under current rules, a single Senator can hold up legislation inderfinitely, which is what Sen Tom Coburn (among others) has done.
And your superficial understanding of our political system is very telling. Obama is absolutely right to stay silent on this issue, but if you were paying close attention, you can tell that he doesn’t agree with Bush. When it comes to foreign policy, America must be seen as speaking with one voice. Until Obama is actually sworn in, he has no legal authority to do anything, and if he were to publicly undermine the current president, that would have disastrous effects on our relationship with opther countries.
And if the “radical left” elected Obama, then there must be a lot more of us than you think. And we do not, no matter how many times you and your ilk say it, “love” terrorists. Just because we’re not the “shoot-first-ask-no-questions-at-all”-types does not mean we are “soft on terrorism”. Does it ever, even once, occur to you people to ask why the terrorists do what they do? I denounce their methods, but their grievances sometimes do have some legitimacy.
But, if your mind, they’re just criminals, then we should send the law enforcement experts after them, not the military.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:48 amJuan Cole posted a clip today of a girl confronting Israelis shooting at some young demonstrators.
link
January 6th, 2009 at 12:05 pmHi John Kerry:
January 6th, 2009 at 12:08 pmDo you like Honey Crisp apples? With or without peanut butter? I prefer without. So when are you gonna stick around for that chat? Seriously if someone were to tell you something as if it was a fact and then run away without defending their statement, would you be inclined to buy what they were selling?
>who has ABSOLUTELY no experience
>whatsoever in intelligence
you mean it wont be like the experienced geniuses who brought us WMD “slam dunks”, “we’ll be greeted with flowers”,”the insurgencey is in the its final throes” “iraqs oil money will pay for its restoration” “we know where saddams WMD is”, “the war wont last more than 6 months at most”
if thats the kind of judgement experience brings you, color me impressed..
yes, all these scandals, and yet he’s still got a incoming approval rating higher than your braindead alzheimersmessiah Ronnie Raygun
January 6th, 2009 at 12:09 pmBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
Burris may be grandstanding like a circus clown, but the Constitution is still on his side. That’s more important, IMO.
The constitution and previous legal opinion is on Burris’ side, like it or not. Look up Powell v. McCormack, 395 U.S. 486 (1969)
Not that this Government has been abiding by law and previous legal precedent over the last 8 years, including the Democratic Leadership.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:09 pmProud can you tell me how to tell a terrorist from a freedom fighter? That always goofs me up…
January 6th, 2009 at 12:09 pmhttp://crooksandliars.com/node/25037
blog roundup – check out RUDE PUNDIT’s take on burris…
January 6th, 2009 at 12:13 pmChocolate Jesus Says:
you mean it wont be like the experienced geniuses who brought us WMD “slam dunks”, “we’ll be greeted with flowers”,”the insurgencey is in the its final throes” “iraqs oil money will pay for its restoration” “we know where saddams WMD is”, “the war wont last more than 6 months at most”
Hey, don’t forget “we’re turning the corner,” “we’re turning the corner,” “we’re turning the corner,” “we’re turning the corner…”
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Dr. Hussein Matt Says:
So, “proud” debunks the myth that this is a “center right” country. Thank you!
Ha ha haah, let’s go on TV and start dropping the phrase “America is a radical-left country” into all discussions…
January 6th, 2009 at 12:32 pmBush wants gate installed on route to new Dallas home
…just like his father, he wants a gate to be installed along a public street to limit access to his neighborhood.
Federal money would pay for the gate, not the city, she said. It’s unclear how residents would use the gate to get to their homes.
The president and his neighbors can thank Bush’s father, former President George H.W. Bush, for making it possible to place a gate across a taxpayer funded street in Texas.
In May 1993, shortly after Bush left the White House for Houston, the Legislature passed a little-noticed bill that allows cities to restrict access to streets “on which the dwelling of a former president of the United States is located.” The Houston City Council later voted to allow gates at two streets leading to the Bushes’ residence.
LINK
Feel the love? Must be really fun to be so “popular”.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:45 pmDNFP Says:
Bush wants gate installed on route to new Dallas home
Only if we can lock it from the outside.
January 6th, 2009 at 12:56 pmBurris turned away from Senate
The secretary of the Senate on Tuesday turned Roland Burris away from taking the seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.
Blinders not a good look for Burris
After a career of being a cross-appeal candidate, Burris suddenly took on the persona of a black activist.
A day before he was crushed by Daley, Burris had stood on a flatbed truck and compared the city’s mayoral election to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and elections in South Africa.
The loving and caring party caught in yet another scandal ridden incident. How can this keep happening when this parties ideology is so prefect and flawless. HAhahahahHAHAhaha
January 6th, 2009 at 1:01 pmICEMAN Says:
The loving and caring party caught in yet another scandal ridden incident. How can this keep happening when this parties ideology is so prefect and flawless. HAhahahahHAHAhaha
__________
What does “prefect” mean?
BTW, “parties” is the plural of the word.
“Party’s” is what you need there, Li’l Feller.
Other than proving you can’t spell and don’t understand basic grammar, do you have a point to make?
January 6th, 2009 at 1:04 pmThe Republic of Stupidity Says:
——————————————————————————–
ICEMAN Says:
The loving and caring party caught in yet another scandal ridden incident. How can this keep happening when this parties ideology is so prefect and flawless. HAhahahahHAHAhaha
__________
What does “prefect” mean?
BTW, “parties” is the plural of the word.
“Party’s” is what you need there, Li’l Feller.
Other than proving you can’t spell and don’t understand basic grammar, do you have a point to make?
I made it!!
January 6th, 2009 at 1:16 pmHey, icebrain, who ever said progressive ideology was “perfect”? And who ever said its adherents were “flawless”? Let’s take a look at the willingness of progressives to admit their mistakes and change versus the “stay the course” stubborn self-righteousness of the regressives.
You are such a poor excuse for a troll, that the only use I can see for you in the political world is to keep the Republican Kool-Aid cold. “Iceman”, indeed!
January 6th, 2009 at 1:17 pmICEMAN Says:
I made it!!
__________
Proving you can’t spell and don’t understand basic grammar was the point you WANTED to make?
No wonder they call it “Special Ed”… ;-)…
January 6th, 2009 at 1:20 pmIcepoop says: LOOK AT ME!! LOOK AT ME!!! I CAN THROW SH*T AT THE WALL AND DROOL AT THE SAME TIME!!!!
Goody for you, dude.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:20 pmI made it!!
The ice or the Kool-Aid?
January 6th, 2009 at 1:24 pmObama And That Other Ponzi Scheme
As if being linked to one high-profile criminal case weren’t enough, President-elect Barack Obama’s name may soon pop up in another federal prosecution, this one involving a massive Ponzi scheme (no, the other massive Ponzi scheme). In addition to the Rod Blagojevich pay-for-play probe, Obama could figure in the upcoming fraud trial of Norman Hsu, the disgraced Democratic fundraiser
And yet another scandal involving the wonderful all inclusive party. Can we say duped!
Barack Obama, The Restaurant Reviewer unaired video
In this 2001 “lost episode” of Check, Please!, then state senator Obama reviewed Dixie Kitchen and Bait Shop.
Our fearless leader! What a joke.
January 6th, 2009 at 1:26 pmthanks, ickman!
another dining experience i’ll hafta try while in the GREAT city of CHICAGO!
http://www.google.com/search?q=Dixie+Kitchen+and+Bait+Shop&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
January 6th, 2009 at 2:06 pmkaty Says:
——————————————————————————–
thanks, ickman!
another dining experience i’ll hafta try while in the GREAT city of CHICAGO!
I also hear that uhhhhbama roast hot dog weenies using branches from the Oleander bush. You should give it a try sometime.
January 6th, 2009 at 2:17 pmmisshusseinmolly; sadly, there’s been a resurgence
January 6th, 2009 at 3:06 pmof Stalin’s popularity in Russia recently.
Go figure.
I think you mean “roasts” and oleander is more frequently considered to be a small tree rather than a bush but that is sort of semantics…
January 6th, 2009 at 3:40 pmMinnesota, Hell of a Choice!
What a joke! hahahahahahahahah
January 6th, 2009 at 4:31 pmlittle white guy afraid of the black guy,
Where do you find those silly pics?
Closer you almost made it but you forgot that last “a”
January 6th, 2009 at 5:07 pmYOU are a joke ICEPUNK. An ignorant, worthless unfunny, sad and pathetic joke. The real tragedy is that is all you will ever be.
January 6th, 2009 at 5:08 pmAs usual the rightwing idiots here dont know what they are talking about
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081231/ap_on_go_co/illinois_governor_senate_q_a_1
Here are some questions and answers about the power of the Senate to seat Obama’s successor.
Q: What is the Senate’s authority to seat or not seat an appointee like Burris?
A: The Constitution makes the Senate the ultimate arbiter of a senator’s qualification and election when it says, in Article I, Section 5, “Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members …”
In any case, the Senate has final say over whether a governor’s pick should be allowed to serve in the Senate.
Q: On what grounds may the Senate refuse to seat Burris?
A: Technically, the Senate doesn’t need a specific reason; it sets its own standards for who may serve. But in this case, senators have a rule they might cite requiring an appointment be signed both by the governor and by the secretary of state. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White says he will refuse to sign any Blagojevich appointment.
So do you wingnuts EVER know what you are talking about?
January 6th, 2009 at 5:12 pmNo offense, Eugene Debs, but I wouldn’t cite “Yahoo Answers” as a reliable source of the law. Read the Supreme Court’s decision in McCormack v. Powell, 395 U.S. 486 (1969): The power of the Congress to determine whether a prospective member can be seated is limited to determining whether the prospective member meets the “standing qualifications” set out in the Constitution. Burris clearly meets those requirements — take a look at Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution, which spells out the qualifications to serve in the Senate.
Furthermore, the Illinois Secretary of State lacks the legal authority to refuse to certify the governor’s appointment; it is a menial task that does not involve the exercise of discretion. If the Secretary of State refuses to sign the certification documents, a court will compel him to do so.
Look, I don’t like this situation any more than anyone else; but both the Constitution and the controlling Supreme Court authority are clear: Reid is just plain wrong on this issue. It’s too bad that Rod Blagojevich chose to put all of us in this position, but he was well within his constitutional authority to do so. It serves no legitimate purpose to trash the Constitution and defy the Supreme Court just to prove that Blagojevich is a world class jerk.
January 6th, 2009 at 6:24 pmI meant to say, “it is a ministerial task” in the second paragraph, above.
January 6th, 2009 at 6:27 pmOK Dave you make a good well reasoned argument. I keep reading the Senate DOES have final say on its members as per the constitution but if you are citing a SC court the redefines that I guess I could easily be wrong. I have been before and I will be again. I dont really care one way or another. I hate to see Blago get to make the appointment or have the guy serving under such a cloud. On the other hand it isnt like the guy is Newt Gingrich. I am not sure this is even worth a fight. I just thought you were wrong when apparantly I was wrong. Thank you for the well reasoned reply which was more civil than I deserved.
January 6th, 2009 at 6:32 pmNo problem ED, and I wasn’t meaning to call anybody to task.
Believe me, as a long suffering Illinois Democrat, I hate the fact that Blago made the selection; in fact, I hate the fact that Blago makes us all look like a bunch of idiots here in the Land of Lincoln. But such is the case.
Cheers.
January 6th, 2009 at 6:49 pmHi Hippie_Crusher:
January 6th, 2009 at 9:40 pmBeen cruising in your Escalade lately. Lots of folks are jokes to me. Right now you top the list…
Is the Burris item the story you’re complaining about not getting any traffic?
Because that’s this webpage.
Hint: news items are automatically sorted in reverse chronological order.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:27 pmBushCrush, you’d best get cracking on your application to work at SMU’s George W. Bush Library. They need picture books and you can obviously draw.
Maybe you can write My Pet Goat’s Sweet Cheeks by HippieCrusher.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:46 pmHippyLickingPunk the stupidest organic being on the planet thinks he can read my mind and tell me how happy I am when he is clearly so stupid he has to hire six year olds to read the posts for him and type. Better save those tips from asking if your betters want paper or plastic because as ignorant as you are its only a matter of time before you have to hire someone to remind you to breathe. I FLUSH things with more capacity for higher brain function than you will ever have every morning
January 6th, 2009 at 11:55 pm