As one of his first acts in office, Obama ordered a freeze on new or proposed regulations by the Bush administration at all government agencies and departments.

Very impressed by this transition team. Great logistical planning done in a short period of time that enabled them to hit the ground running.

Photos: Obama inauguration viewed from space

Wow, looks like a mass of ants crawling on anthills.

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fletc3her Says:

I respect both Senator Kennedy and Senator Byrd, but I think the honorable thing for both of them to do would be to resign. I know that it is difficult to let go and being Senator is not a physically demanding job. But, when you can’t attend a banquet without requiring medical help it raises questions about whether you will be able to attend hearings and to do all the meetings and reading required to make good decisions.

To be fair, they had been up and out in the cold for a long time before that. I sort of would like to agree, but two things hold me back: one, that’s completely up to their home state’s voters, and two: if Jesse Helms got to stick around 20 years past when he was technically embalmed, then I get to keep Kennedy, dammit.

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stateofthedivision Says:

Noam Chomsky of MIT was interviewed on Gaza:

I need to check out some of his books, because every time I hear him speak, I’m like “that guy is waaaay overrated.” He must write real good.

Or, Israel is simply applying the Bush doctrine. I remember talking with a friend the night Bush gave his “if you harbor a terrorist, then you are a terrorist” speech. Wondering what would happen if other nations should apply this strange, preemptive doctrine.

About a week later, the Israeli ambassador to the UN eloquently used the Bush doctrine to say that Israel was justified in anything it wanted to do.

One rule of ethics is whether a decision is universalizable. What would happen if others applied it. Bush Doctrine justifies my blowing my neighbor away because they left their lawn sprinkler on.

January 21st, 2009 at 11:42 am
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Hopefully “indictcheneythenbush” isn’t taken…

Professor Neal Katyal of Georgetown University, who successfully argued the landmark detainee rights case Hamdan v. Rumsfeld before the Supreme Court, will serve as Obama’s deputy solicitor general, the Legal Times blog reports

“Christians” may be correct after all…there may actually be a “god”!

I, for one, am delighted that, in Texas, the village has finally reacquired its idiot.

This kind of b.s. is exactly why I watch important events on C-Span. Oh yeah..and I’m happy to say that I can now change my screen name. Thank Heavens!

fletc3her Says:
I respect both Senator Kennedy and Senator Byrd, but I think the honorable thing for both of them to do would be to resign. I know that it is difficult to let go and being Senator is not a physically demanding job. But, when you can’t attend a banquet without requiring medical help it raises questions about whether you will be able to attend hearings and to do all the meetings and reading required to make good decisions.

I would rather have Ted Kennedy making decisions from bed than anyone who would take his place.

I’m betting that the White House maid who cleans the bathroom off the Oval Office will be pleasantly surprised to find that this president actually flushes the toilet after himself every time!
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I wonder if Obama will continue the, uh, “tradition” of hauling a Presidential porta-potty around w/ him as he travels the world. Or perhaps it will turn up on eBay now, right next to Sarah Palin’s jet-for-sale…

http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/5802

He also spoke at the university on the same topic:

http://web.mit.edu/cis/eventposter_011309_chomsky.html

The Dow Jones industrial average lost 4 percent of its value yesterday, falling below 8,000, while Nasdaq and the S&P 500-stock index both plunged more than 5 percent.” The drop came “as fresh evidence mounted that the industry’s problems are larger than previously understood

The bush/gop recession marches on.

Israel

Ensure a Strong U.S.-Israel Partnership: Barack Obama and Joe Biden strongly support the U.S.-Israel relationship, and believe that our first and incontrovertible commitment in the Middle East must be to the security of Israel, America’s strongest ally in the region. They support this closeness, and have stated that the United States will never distance itself from Israel.

Support Israel’s Right to Self Defense: During the July 2006 Lebanon war, Barack Obama stood up strongly for Israel’s right to defend itself from Hezbollah raids and rocket attacks, cosponsoring a Senate resolution against Iran and Syria’s involvement in the war, and insisting that Israel should not be pressured into a ceasefire that did not deal with the threat of Hezbollah missiles. He and Joe Biden believe strongly in Israel’s right to protect its citizens.

Support Foreign Assistance to Israel: Barack Obama and Joe Biden have consistently supported foreign assistance to Israel. They defend and support the annual foreign aid package that involves both military and economic assistance to Israel and have advocated increased foreign aid budgets to ensure that these funding priorities are met. They have called for continuing U.S. cooperation with Israel in the development of missile defense systems.