ThinkFast: January 13, 2009
ThinkFast: January 13, 2009
“Bowing to widespread Democratic skepticism, President-elect Barack Obama will drop his bid” to offer a $3,000-per-job business tax credit in his stimulus proposal. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) had called the tax cuts an ineffective “trickle-down” measure, and Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) said he’d prefer to invest in infrastructure and energy, the “kinds of things that much more directly, much more rapidly and much more certainly create a real job.”
According to the UN, “[g]rowing numbers of Palestinians are fleeing their homes for makeshift shelters in schools, office buildings and a park as the Israeli Army continues to press its military campaign deeper into Gaza City.” Nearly 30,000 people are living in UN-sponsored schools and 60,000 have fled to the houses of relatives.
A Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington report has found that “17 of 24 former Bush Cabinet members have taken positions with at least 119 companies, including 65 firms that lobby the government and 40 that lobby the agencies they headed.” The group’s executive director said the report shows these officials “made a mint on the backs of American taxpayers.”
Congress plans to quickly pass a bill to “provide health insurance to millions of low-income children” through the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. The bill will also “restore health insurance benefits to legal immigrants under 21.” Bush vetoed similar legislation last year denying health coverage to four million children.
In her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee this morning, Secretary of State nominee Hillary Clinton will urge making diplomacy “the vanguard of foreign policy.” She will promise to “renew America’s leadership through diplomacy that enhances our security, advances our interests, and reflects our values.”
The Wall Street journal reports that CEO firings are on the rise. “A deepening labor market downturn that cost 524,000 Americans their jobs last month is even swelling the jobless rate for chief executives.”
Should he be confirmed, Treasury Secretary-designate Timothy Geithner plans to “bring along as a counselor Gene B. Sperling,” who will offer advice on “issues related to the annual budget, taxes and the domestic entitlement programs.” Sperling served on and then directed the National Economic Counsel during the Clinton administration and is now a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress.
Obama has reportedly chosen Julius Genachowski to head the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The top issues facing Genachowski — a technology executive and former FCC official — are the expansion of Internet access, improving emergency wireless communications, and the switchover to digital television.
Obama has also chosen Bill Corr, executive director of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, to be Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services. Corr was previously chief of staff for HHS Secretary Donna Shalala and chief counsel and policy director for former senator Tom Daschle.
And finally: On Friday, CIA director Michael Hayden dropped by “Journopalooza,” an “all-out musical assault at the National Press Club” between four D.C. bands composed of journalists. Participants included the Washington Independent’s Spencer Ackerman, Washington Post cartoonist Tom Toles, and McClatchy’s Jonathan Landay. When asked if he would be doing any dancing, Hayden told one reporter, “If you were to see me dance, you would say freedom of expression isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
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I shouldn’t, but Joe the Dumber’s latest from Israel is magnificently stupid.
January 13th, 2009 at 9:07 amHow refreshing to see somebody that will be in the Whitehouse who is not a stubborn idiot. Somebody that is willing to listen to others points of view and actually adopt those views when the have merit. The contrast could not be more stark.
January 13th, 2009 at 9:12 amRepublicans seem to be very bad for children. The infant mortality rate started to go up under Bush II for the first time in 40 years. This after achieving its lowest level in U.S. history under Bill Clinton.
January 13th, 2009 at 9:16 amOff topic a bit, but how about that classy President of ours refusing to call on Helen Thomas in his last press conference.
January 13th, 2009 at 9:16 amThe first person Obama should call on, and give an exclusive to should be Helen. Just o focus the differentiation between him and Dnkledoofus.
January 13th, 2009 at 9:19 amI wonder what unemployment compensation is for a CEO? Oh wait, never mind. They are getting fired.
Can you spell about damn time?
January 13th, 2009 at 9:22 amGood. That was a stupid proposal. No smart business owner is going to hire someone based on a $3000 tax credit. They hire people that add value regardless of tax incentives.
January 13th, 2009 at 9:25 amIf I were Bush I wouldn’t call on one her either. I mean seriously, she might ask a real question. The horror.
January 13th, 2009 at 9:27 am“Bowing to widespread Democratic skepticism, President-elect Barack Obama will drop his bid” to offer a $3,000-per-job business tax credit in his stimulus proposal.
What a treat. A President who actually listens to what other people have to say and is not opposed to changing his mind.
January 13th, 2009 at 9:31 amHas Obama chosen his FBI director yet?
January 13th, 2009 at 9:34 amPresident elect Barack Obama met with Mexican President Calderon. I thought there was only one President at a time on matters of foreign affairs?
Gaza Day 18
January 13th, 2009 at 9:35 amraynman Says:
Off topic a bit, but how about that classy President of ours refusing to call on Helen Thomas in his last press conference.
Actually he’s just a silly little man. He’s scared spitless of Helen Thomas.
January 13th, 2009 at 9:36 amI wonder what unemployment compensation is for a CEO?
Depends on the the value of the stock which was given in lieu of pay plus the retirement pension accounts, but they sure as hell won’t be heading to the unemployment office, if that’s what you think.
They don’t NEED to.
January 13th, 2009 at 9:37 amI thought there was only one President at a time on matters of foreign affairs?
Gaza Day 18
You’ve got to be more patient.
Our newly elected, secret “radical muslim” will be soon be wearing his keffiyeh 24/7, waving an assault rifle overhead and screaming for the blood of the Z i o n i s t ‘ s.
At least that’s what I’m guessing will occur, based on the rightwing’s endless assertions leading up to the election.
January 13th, 2009 at 9:42 amDynamo Says:
I see iceman/fireball had to change its spamming name again. Lets help the slug do it again.
Flagging.
January 13th, 2009 at 9:51 amThe Chicago Tribune did a piece on Obama’s Israel ties. It came out December 12, several weeks prior to the Gaza incursion.
Barack Obama: The first Jewish president?Chicago circle nurtured him all the way to the top
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-obama-jews-wrapdec12,0,1483597.story
January 13th, 2009 at 10:08 amDynamo Says:
Nobody disagrees that passing an economic stimulus package is the top priority for the incoming Obama administration and the new Congress. Then what? Tighter emissions standards for cars? Easing the rules on organizing for labor unions? Universal health care? Ending the wars? Net neutrality?
January 13th, 2009 at 9:45 am
__________
All of the above, hopefully…
January 13th, 2009 at 10:09 amDynamo Says:
——————————————————————————–
NAACP criticizes use of ‘plantation-like’ Trail Maids in Inaugural Parade
They’re part of a long standing tradition that will soon become a part of Presidential history.
…
Is anyone under the age of 50 outraged by this? I think we can chalk this up in the ‘old folk paranoia’ category; or, as my good friend coined, ‘Bobby Rush Syndrome’.
January 13th, 2009 at 10:10 amSOTD,
My highly-honed skills of selective reading found this from your link:
Having gained the trust of mainstream American Jews, one question now is whether Obama will be the president to finally deliver a decent settlement for the Israelis and Palestinians.
“I think he’s going to try. We’ve had presidents whose hearts were in the right place—Clinton and Carter,” Mikva said. “But Barack Obama really has a way of bringing people together.”
James Zogby, director of the Arab American Institute, a Washington lobby, said Arab-Americans also were optimistic that Obama was uniquely positioned to achieve a breakthrough.
“He gets it. He really gets it,” Zogby said of Obama’s understanding of the core issues. “He believes in reconciling diverse communities.”
Hardly a scary thought.
January 13th, 2009 at 10:15 amHow long before Joe the Plumber joins the professional wrestling circiut? Seriously. I give him six months. He’ll have a plunger he pulls out when the ref is distracted and he’ll shove it into the face of the evil liberal.
January 13th, 2009 at 10:19 amas my good friend coined, ‘Bobby Rush Syndrome’
In your case, I would call it “too stupid to understand you’ll never know what it’s like to be a black American” and therefore, have no legitimate leg to prop your racist argument up on.
January 13th, 2009 at 10:19 amIsraeli ‘democracy’ in action.
Israel bans Arab parties from coming election
Jan 12th, 2009 | JERUSALEM — Israel on Monday banned Arab political parties from running in next month’s parliamentary elections, drawing accusations of racism by an Arab lawmaker who said he would challenge the decision in the country’s Supreme Court.
January 13th, 2009 at 10:20 am—
The problem with Congress solving problems is that there is no interest in solutions that don’t make each member look good. Look at what they have done to us in the past eight years. I hope Obama starts to employ “down the middle” experts to advise and frame legislation to begin solving the many problems left by bush/cheney, otherwise in four years we’ll be in the same mess as today.
At some point, legislation must be created that is in the National Interest and not Congress members’ interest.
January 13th, 2009 at 10:22 amDNFP Says:
——————————————————————————–
as my good friend coined, ‘Bobby Rush Syndrome’
In your case, I would call it “too stupid to understand you’ll never know what it’s like to be a black American” and therefore, have no legitimate leg to prop your racist argument up on.
—
It may be a factor of my youth and ignorance then. I am African American. I’ll look more into this but from what I have seen so far I don’t see the cause for outrage.
January 13th, 2009 at 10:23 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
Has Obama chosen his FBI director yet?
The FBI director has a ten year term, and Robert Mueller has decided to stay on.
January 13th, 2009 at 10:27 amstateofthedivision Says “I hate Obama and I am not going to like anything he does, ever, period”
January 13th, 2009 at 10:29 amDynamo
African Americans still regularly receive the short end of the stick, regardless of BET (what a stupid argument, a f ucking channel). And thanks to George Bush’s corrupt appointees, agencies like the EEOC have been weakened in their ability to serve others. And if you think that his ability to weaken the influence of non-governmental organizations is non-existent, take a look at the lowest union membership rate — correlating with the decline in wages. Everything George Bush touches turns to shit.
You are a psychopath tool. Until your next handle, you are flagged. Go f uck yourself.
January 13th, 2009 at 10:36 amDynamo Says
You can STFU you piece of filth. These organization are the direct result of centuries of brutality and oppression. Ethnic organizations only exist where people are shut out of society. They have to pull together and fight for the most basic measures of dignity and respect; things you take from granted every day of your life.
FLAGGED
January 13th, 2009 at 10:36 amExpanding Facilities Get Relief From EPA
By Juliet Eilperin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, January 13, 2009; Page A02
The Environmental Protection Agency issued a new rule yesterday that will make it easier for industrial plants, refineries and paper mills to expand operations without applying for new pollution permits under the Clean Air Act.
The rule, part of the Bush administration’s ongoing effort to revamp a pollution-control program known as New Source Review, says that when expanding or modernizing plants calculate their emissions to determine whether they need to install new control measures, they are not required to include emissions from unrelated activities at the same plant.
LINK
I guess I’m just more interested in what the sitting President is continuing to destroy as opposed to huffing-gas-bags and practicing weak prescience.
January 13th, 2009 at 10:37 amEasing the rules on organizing for labor unions? Universal health care? Ending the wars? Net neutrality?
Health care for the ENTIRE UNIVERSE? OH GOD!
January 13th, 2009 at 10:38 amIn her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee this morning…
I woke up this morning to the soothing tones of John Kerry droning on about diplomacy, but then I had to get up. He sounded like he was rested and ready to get his Kerry on. Is he still giving that opening speech, or has he paused yet?
.
Dynamo Says:
NAACP criticizes use of ‘plantation-like’ Trail Maids in Inaugural Parade
I agree that it’s silly to criticize historical fashion just because your region has a shameful history. But this hardly counts as a “kerfluffle.”
.
Dynamo Says:
Far-left lunatic agenda for Obama
Nobody disagrees that passing an economic stimulus package is the top priority for the incoming Obama administration and the new Congress. Then what? Tighter emissions standards for cars? Easing the rules on organizing for labor unions? Universal health care? Ending the wars? Net neutrality?
Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes. And I’m not even “far” left. None of these are anything any decent and reasonable person could oppose.
.
bronzbootz Says:
Israeli ‘democracy’ in action.
Israel bans Arab parties from coming election
You’d think that stripping the “they’re the only democracy in the area” argument from the American chickenhawks might not be such a good idea for them…
January 13th, 2009 at 10:38 amWhat a horrible life African Americans live in this awful country
No thanks to racist d o u c h e b a g s like yourself.
January 13th, 2009 at 10:38 amDumb Fox the Average Golfer Says:
_____________________________________
You know as dumb as that is.
January 13th, 2009 at 10:39 amI’ll bet that he’ll get his own show this year or radio broadcast for the conservatives.
It may be a factor of my youth and ignorance then. I am African American.
We’re only buying one-of-three, the ignorant part.
Fcuking lying sack of shit, such a good little Republican!
January 13th, 2009 at 10:39 amut oh, Dynamo has been drinking red Kool Aid with his Captain Crunch again.
January 13th, 2009 at 10:42 amDynamo Says:
What’s next on the NAACP ban list, Cotton fields and whips? Got to keep the race baiting alive or they will be out of the job.
____________
Couple of alternatives for Alabama…
Perhaps they could have a couple of dozen “same family marriages” couples marching along… ya know, brothers and sisters, first cousins…
Or perhaps a Creationist float… Noah’s Ark, w/ baby dinos mingling w/ the other animals??? Either one would represent contemporary Alabaman values quite well, huh?
January 13th, 2009 at 11:00 amDynamo Says:
January 13th, 2009 at 11:00 amWhat experience do to speak from? With all the programs and organizations for racists how do manage to breathe without them?
What experience do to speak from? With all the programs and organizations for blacks how do they not get a fair shake at anything?
Princeton professor Dr. Devah Pager
Ms. Pager sent pairs of young, well-groomed, well-spoken college men with identical r´sum´s to apply for 350 advertised entry-level jobs in Milwaukee. The only difference was that one said he had served an 18-month prison sentence for cocaine possession. Two teams were black, two white.
A telephone survey of the same employers followed. For her black testers, the callback rate was 5 percent if they had a criminal record and 14 percent if they did not. For whites, it was 17 percent with a criminal record and 34 percent without.
“I expected there to be an effect of race, but I did not expect it to swamp the results as it did,” Ms. Pager said. “It really was a surprise.”
January 13th, 2009 at 11:04 am—
… 17 of 24 former Bush Cabinet members have taken positions with at least 119 companies…
talk about spreading yourself too thin…
how does that even happen?
January 13th, 2009 at 11:22 amraynman Says:
Off topic a bit, but how about that classy President of ours refusing to call on Helen Thomas in his last press conference.
via C&L:
Since Bush snubbed Helen Thomas like a classless heel on his last presser, C&L’s Prairie Sunshine writes:
May Helen Thomas get the first question on the first day that President Obama stands at that podium in the White House Press Room.
pass it on…
January 13th, 2009 at 11:25 amRacists are really losing it now, certainly at least partially because they see how much more professional and potentially effective Obama is handling the position than any of their choices ever did or would.
It’s freaking them out, so they’re looking for some kind of validation… from behind the klan hood of anonymity that the internet offers them.
January 13th, 2009 at 11:25 amkaty Says:
how does that even happen?
________
Prolly sitting on the boards of directors, katy.
Not a real job. Meet once a month, collect a “stipend”.
Prolly recruited for their “expertise” and “connections”. I feel slightly sorry for the companies hoping to get their money’s worth from those inbred cretins.
January 13th, 2009 at 11:26 amDid you even read the article you linked to?
First of all the Tribune is the Republican paper. Second of all you act like it’s a crime for him to associate with Jewish people in Chicago. 99% of them have never been to Israel. As somebody whose parents were both born in Chicago I am sick of you people from small towns acting like people in big cities should pick and choose who they associate with based on what makes you happy. You’re no different than Sarah Palin talking about how he associated with terrorists. You act more like a regular right wing troll every day except your antisemitic and they’re not.
January 13th, 2009 at 11:37 amthis fool thinks we care what his opinion is. He makes racist remarks and then talks about our hivemind mentality.
Too bad these low brows are able to spout thier venom. Intelligent people are able to use deductive reasoning if nothing else to see the obvious destruction caused by this persons thought process.
January 13th, 2009 at 11:39 amWhy do I never hear idiots like you complain about legacy admissions to universities that allow C students like W to get into Yale while honors A students all over the country aren’t allowed in. Why do I never hear you clowns complain about the nepotism that gets children of the wealthy into starting 6 figure jobs and investment firms even if they haven’t finished college.
I know why, because you sh*t kicking hicks don’t know about those things because Rush and O’Reilly don’t tell you about that. Their owners wouldn’t like it. People like you are how the rich get richer and the middle class gets poorer. You don’t even know what you don’t know.
January 13th, 2009 at 11:48 amShayne, of course I read it. I got hope from this part:
Having gained the trust of mainstream American Jews, one question now is whether Obama will be the president to finally deliver a decent settlement for the Israelis and Palestinians.
“I think he’s going to try. We’ve had presidents whose hearts were in the right place—Clinton and Carter,” Mikva said. “But Barack Obama really has a way of bringing people together.”
James Zogby, director of the Arab American Institute, a Washington lobby, said Arab-Americans also were optimistic that Obama was uniquely positioned to achieve a breakthrough.
“He gets it. He really gets it,” Zogby said of Obama’s understanding of the core issues. “He believes in reconciling diverse communities.”
January 13th, 2009 at 11:53 amObviously it’s easy enough for somebody as challenged as you when it involved ignorance and hate. Don’t you have a Klan meeting to attend or something. It’s not like your peer group holds jobs or anything.
January 13th, 2009 at 11:54 amstateofthedivision, sure, now that you’ve been busted you talk about his fairness. It is not illegal for PE Obama to talk to or have Jewish friends. Who do you think was going to vote for him as an Illinois politician, the Irish or Polish populations which are huge. I don’t think so. In Chicago Jews and blacks have always gotten along and it has nothing to do with Israel. Maybe it’s easy to treat Jews like pariahs in the city you live in but it isn’t necessarily a nice thing anywhere. You’re just another troll and I’d ignore you if you weren’t such a blatant racist.
January 13th, 2009 at 11:59 amDynamo Says:
typical troll fallback position when confronted with reality……play the victim.
You never answer reasonable questions so what makes you think we will answer your ignorant ones? What makes you fools think we care what you think?
You have been running OUR lives for 8 years and it has been a disaster…..try running your own life for a change, when you master that maybe you will have learned enough to live with others.
speaking of angry fringe lunatics, bet your life is getting crazy now. I’m like mcdonalds, I’m lovin it.
January 13th, 2009 at 11:59 amHillary is doing a brilliant job today at her confirmation hearing.
January 13th, 2009 at 12:01 pmFred, Dynamo is obviously one of those white trash losers who can’t get a job and rather than admit he is a failure in his own right he blames it on the black man keeping him down. I guess flipping burgers was too challenging for him.
January 13th, 2009 at 12:03 pmShayne % Fred, f uck off. Please ignore my posts.
January 13th, 2009 at 12:03 pmOh it’s not ignorance and hate when you’re talking about black people right. It’s only ignorance and hate when we say it to a poor white boy like you. We could enslave every black person in the country you’d still be a loser. It’s just easier for you to blame somebody else for all your failures instead of taking personal responsibility and admit you’re a good for nothing slacker. Don’t you have to sweep out the double wide or something.
January 13th, 2009 at 12:07 pmI will as soon as you stop flinging your anti-Obama and antisemitic poo all over these threads. I won’t ignore your hate any more than I’ll ignore Limbaugh’s, O’Reilly’s and the rest of the haters. If you want to fit in with the like of Dynamo then that’s where we’ll put you.
January 13th, 2009 at 12:09 pmSays the right winger who supports bigotry, corruption and poverty
January 13th, 2009 at 12:12 pmState, I’m with Shayne, I’ll call you every time you post.
You can just ignore it though, right?
January 13th, 2009 at 12:14 pmSure, it’s bigoted when it’s aimed at ignorant white people but when you do it against black people it’s enlightened. You can dish it out but you can’t take it, loser.
January 13th, 2009 at 12:18 pmDynamo Says:
Because the Democrats have completely made your mind up on this subject you will never be able to look at the issue with objective vision.
________________
Brain washed is a lot easier to take when its under the guise of fairness and justice.
________________
That’s seems to be a common problem with lib’s ideology and mentality.
_________________
Gee, Dynamo… silly hyperbole, cliches, and stereotypes? Is this all you have?
January 13th, 2009 at 12:25 pmWell Dynamo also offers an endless supply of monikkers and stupid pictures as well…
January 13th, 2009 at 12:28 pmSince this is the Think Fast thread, I’ll post this here:
Article in today’s SF Chron… “Obama Is Finding Democrats Hard To Herd”…
Quote from Harry Reid used in article: “I do not work FOR Obama. I work WITH him.” (emphasis mine…)
Gee… it’s nice they finally pried Harry’s lips loose from Botch’s keister, so’s he could start talking again, huh?
January 13th, 2009 at 12:29 pmYou’ll have to use smaller words if you want him to answer you. It will take him all dayto look those three up.
January 13th, 2009 at 12:35 pmyea, how ’bout that, tros…
we’ve been beggin’ him for years to get a spine… he picks now to make us think he actually has one…
surely it’s all show… doesn’t want to seem to be too appeasing…
January 13th, 2009 at 12:48 pmShayne Says:
It will take him all day to look those three up.
___________
So my plan is working… heh…
January 13th, 2009 at 12:54 pmkaty Says:
surely it’s all show… doesn’t want to seem to be too appeasing…
___________
Kinda… kinda… amazing… and disgusting, innit, katy?
There’s a wonderful line from the Simpsons that allus comes to mind when Reid is in the headlines.
Mr Burns is telling Smithers about some sort of medical treatments he’s been getting and he says…
“they’ve left more impotent than a NEVADA BOXING COMMISSIONER…”
Every time I see Reid’s picture, I hear Burn’s voice…
January 13th, 2009 at 12:56 pmWelcome to ThinkShanyneFred, TP’s self appointed enforcers
January 13th, 2009 at 2:16 pmClinton rules out negotiations with Hamas
1 hour ago
WASHINGTON (AFP) — US secretary of state Hillary Clinton on Tuesday ruled out negotiations with the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas unless it drops its extremist stance, saying her position is “absolute.”
“On Israel, you cannot negotiate with Hamas until it renounces violence, recognizes Israel and agrees to abide by past agreements. That is just for me an absolute,” Clinton told a Senate confirmation hearing.
“That is the United States government’s position. That is the president-elect’s position,” she said after a senator suggested it is “naive and illogical” to pursue diplomacy with governments opposed to Israel.
For the whole article:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jHxrse1HSFMc4tFdmUrRrgZL1tcA
January 13th, 2009 at 3:31 pmSure stateofthedivision, expressing our opinion is acting as enforcers. It’s so unreasonable for us to defend the man who hasn’t taken office yet.
January 13th, 2009 at 3:34 pmI’ve been watching her all day and what she was basically saying that Hamas has to recognize Israels right to exist. I’m sure you’d prefer the destruction of the entire country and all it’s people. I don’t know what they are going to say to Israel when they are in office but I’m sure you do.
January 13th, 2009 at 3:40 pmOhmert called Bush to control Condi he didn’t call Obama to control Clinton. Maybe you could give it a week.
January 13th, 2009 at 3:45 pmI posted a news article relative to prior TP stories. Put a sock in it, Shayne.
January 13th, 2009 at 5:52 pm