ThinkFast: January 27, 2009
ThinkFast: January 27, 2009
Some of the nation’s largest and most sturdy employers “announced plans yesterday to slash more than 55,000 jobs.” The cuts “extended to companies that were once considered bright spots in the U.S. economy, such as construction equipment maker Caterpillar (20,000 jobs cut), pharmaceutical giant Pfizer (19,500), Sprint Nextel (8,000), Home Depot (7,000), Texas Instruments (3,400), and GM (2,000).
Roughly two-thirds of the spending and tax cuts in the House stimulus plan will “flow into the economy by the end of fiscal 2010, producing a ‘noticeable impact on economic growth and employment,’” the Congressional Budget Office said yesterday in its “first cost estimate” of the plan. Citing the CBO, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said the plan will help create jobs while making responsible investments for the future.
In “his first formal television interview as president,” Barack Obama told the Arabic satellite TV network Al-Arabiya yesterday that his “job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy.” “And my job is to communicate to the American people that the Muslim world is filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives,” said Obama.
Yesterday, the Supreme Court ruled that employees “fired after cooperating in sexual harassment investigations may sue for retaliation.” The case involved three women who participated in a Tennessee school system’s internal investigation into the possible misconduct of an employee relations director. The three women were fired for speaking out; the perpetrator was not.
Yesterday, over 2,000 government employees involved in foreign policy issues “signed a letter delivered to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton…calling on the government to give equal benefits to same-sex partners.” While the Bush administration resisted such efforts, “Clinton, during her confirmation hearings, indicated a greater willingness to explore the issue.”
Late last week, the BBC refused to air an appeal from a charity group seeking to send aid to Gaza. The decision, which the BBC “defiantly reaffirmed” on Monday, has caused heated protests in Britain and spurred more than 11,000 complaints to the network. The appeal was created by some of Britain’s most respected aid groups, including Oxfam and the Red Cross.
Detroit slammed President Obama’s move yesterday toward approving of California’s auto emissions standards, saying the regulations “would basically kill the industry.” David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research, warned, “It would have a devastating effect on everybody, and not just the domestics.”
The White House was hit with an email “server outage” yesterday. The Washington Post explains, “Instead of BlackBerrys, everyone used cellphones” and the press office relied on a loudspeaker and photocopies to distribute releases. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs quipped, “I haven’t had a less stressful day in five years.”
Yesterday, the House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed Karl Rove a second time. The committee is seeking to learn about Rove’s suspected role in U.S. attorney scandal. Rove’s attorney commented, “It’s generally agreed that former presidents retain executive privilege as to matters occurring during their term.”
And finally: How do you spell “Barack Obama”? Well, it depends on which website you visit. The site gooseGrade.com released a study finding that at least 60 million web pages misspell Obama’s first name. Roll Call took a look at federal lawmakers’ websites at least five members have used “Barak,” including Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) in a statement congratulating Obama on his election victory. At least four have used “Barrack.”
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“And my job is to communicate to the American people that the Muslim world is filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives,” said Obama.
Add this to the list of incredibly difficult challenges inherited from George W Bush.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:07 amRove has been subpoenaed once more. When KKKarl gives the Judiciary committee his middle finger, Conyers will once again write letter #? expressing his disappointment.
#$&&#$@**#*$*#*($)((@&*^&* Conyers, Pelosi, GROW A PAIR!
January 27th, 2009 at 9:09 amIf you don’t get it, you don’t get it! Detroit doesn’t get it. For forty years Detroit has misread the tea leaves and held the view that they can tell people what they want (a lot like the past administration), while market share at home and abroad declined. They have been and, apparently, will continue to be their own worst enemies!
January 27th, 2009 at 9:09 amDetroit slammed President Obama’s move yesterday toward approving of California’s auto emissions standards, saying the regulations “would basically kill the industry.”
Well then, what are we actually supposed to get for our money? If the Domestic manufacturers want our money, to enable them to transition to more fuel-efficient cars, they are going to have to accept OUR rules.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:11 amDetroit slammed President Obama’s approving the California auto emissions standards.
THAT was predictable.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:12 amRe: Unka Karl’s subpoena- he dodged the pre ‘09 ones by asserting “absolute immunity” from testifying, not exec. privilege, his absolute immunity claim Conyers noted yesterday was & is Absolute BS. Conyers/HJC also want Rover’s info on the Don Siegelman prosecution & general politicization of DoJ.
Should be an interesting couple week watching Turdblossom & “Gold Bars” Luskin, his lawyer do the twist&turn while they try to blow off this latest subpoena.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:14 amDetroit slammed President Obama’s move yesterday toward approving of California’s auto emissions standards, saying the regulations “would basically kill the industry.”
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I seem to recall Detroit saying pretty much the same thing when the government threatened to require them to put air bags in all their cars. Heck, they probably said it when they were required to put in seat belts. And head rests. And when California first required extra pollution controls on all cars sold there.
Yet they always manage to come through. Sometimes it’s because the government makes the requirements anyway, and sometimes it’s because the Japanese start making the necessary modifications to their cars and the American public buy those instead, causing the Americans to have to play catch-up.
Sorry — we no longer buy the myth that the auto industry will be killed every time they’re required to produce better cars. Having to pour some of those profits (or bailout money) back into R&D isn’t fatal. We do know that the AMERICAN auto industry will die a slow death if it doesn’t keep up with the rest of the world. “Business as usual” for the Big Three is a recipe for extinction.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:17 amRoughly two-thirds of the spending and tax cuts in the House stimulus plan will “flow into the economy by the end of fiscal 2010, producing a ‘noticeable impact on economic growth and employment,’” the Congressional Budget Office said yesterday
I’d like to see a distinction drawn by the CBO between tax cuts and spending. It’s impossible to predict accurately the effect of tax cuts.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:17 am‘Kill the industry?”
January 27th, 2009 at 9:18 amUm–don’t look now, but I think you did that all by yourselves…
Dumb Fox the Average Golfer Says
January 27th, 2009 at 9:07 am
Add this to the list of incredibly difficult challenges inherited from George W Bush.
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And it wouldn’t be such an incredibly difficult challenge if we hadn’t had eight years of BushCo and Fox Noise fanning the flames of discord. Now it’s going to be like putting out a major California wildfire instead of dousing a small campfire.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:21 amDetroit slammed President Obama’s move yesterday toward approving of California’s auto emissions standards, saying the regulations “would basically kill the industry.”
Didn’t Chrysler sign a deal last week with Fiat to access its fuel-efficiency expertise?
Seems they did…
January 27th, 2009 at 9:23 amDavid Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research, warned, “It would have a devastating effect on everybody, and not just the domestics.”
Sooo, we’re going to go back to horses? We’ll all get StarTrek transporters? People are going to buy cars dumass. If this has the same effect on all the auto makers, domestic and foreign, What’s the problem? Other than having to do something for your handout, there is no problem.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:24 amDetroit slammed President Obama’s move… regulations “would basically kill the industry.”
They said the same thing when the people decided they didn’t want lead in their air.
Remember, these are the same guys who took forty years to accept radial tires. Troglodytes.
As a condition for receiving monies, Congress should demand that engineers, not accountants and PR flacks, be in charge of management.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:24 amThe site gooseGrade.com released a study finding that at least 60 million web pages misspell Obama’s first name.
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I can understand that the average cheeto-stained basement blogger could misspell Obama’s name (as well as many other words), but shouldn’t we hold our lawmakers to a higher standard?
January 27th, 2009 at 9:24 amRove’s attorney commented, “It’s generally agreed that former presidents retain executive privilege as to matters occurring during their term.”
Generally agreed? No one agreed that Executive Priviledge covered breaking the law! Rove better show up this time. As to whether asserting Executive Priviledge results in Contempt of Congress charges, that’s up to Conyers, after the fact!
January 27th, 2009 at 9:26 amDetroit has depended on advertising to convince people to purchase their SUVs because SUVs have a high profit margin.
They are just pickup trucks with enclosed beds and, instead of R&D into handling and fuel efficiency, they just stuck a lot of gadgets in them to attract low-information types that fall for that type of advertising.
Some of us didn’t fall for it and bought small, fast, well-handling vehicles that are much safer because they are much less likely to be in an accident.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:26 ampharmaceutical giant Pfizer (19,500), Can someone please explain how on the same day 19,500 job are lost and the same company announces a merger that will cost over 60 billion? I just don’t get how that works.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:28 amI am probably not alone in believing that the misspellings on Congressional websites are intentional.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:28 amRove’s attorney commented, “It’s generally agreed that former presidents retain executive privilege as to matters occurring during their term.”
‘It’s generally agreed that anyone ignoring subpoenas will be put in jail’, bozo.
It’s time to put KKKarl away. He jumped ship to get a leg up in TV. This bag of shit is making tons of money by playing the ‘hate card’ daily.
Retain executive privilege forever? Are you kidding? Well, we’ll see about that. Even Conyers may find some balls now.
KKKarl, I want to see you roasted like the fat pig you are…
January 27th, 2009 at 9:29 amCould you imagine Bush on al-Arabiya? haha
And kissing Saudi royals doesn’t count for tolerance.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:30 amThey died the day they killed the electric car.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:31 am“I haven’t had a less stressful day in five years.”
Press Secretary Robert Gibbs
Those of you who have listened to the gentleman may appreciate the trus quote:
“I, UH, haven’t, UH, had a less, UH, UH, stressful day in, UH, five, UH, years.”
I suggest he join the Toastmasters.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:32 amRoughly two-thirds of the spending and tax cuts in the House stimulus plan will “flow into the economy by the end of fiscal 2010, producing a ‘noticeable impact on economic growth and employment,’” the Congressional Budget Office said yesterday in its “first cost estimate” of the plan.
And yet the conservatives, including the Wall Street Journal are still quoting that mythical CBO study that said none of what is in the stimulus package would flow into our economy until 2010.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:35 amYesterday, the Supreme Court ruled that employees “fired after cooperating in sexual harassment investigations may sue for retaliation.”
I’m betting the vote was 5-4 though. I am so looking forward to being able to replace some of the right wing Justices.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:38 amOpen letter to Ford: What about all those cars you make for the European market?
Frankly, if the American auto industry is not interested in creating fuel-efficient cars for the American market, so we can get off our dependency on Foreign Oil, then the industry deserves to go the way of the dinosaur. If the American Auto Industry lacks the innovation of foreign auto makers, then the FREE MARKET will dictate its demise.
You come to us, the taxpayers, to help you continue to make cars we don’t want to buy, and you complain that if we, through our government, force you to make cars we want and need, you will close up shop?
Then by all means, close up shop and quit trying to make us taxpayers pay for your lack of business acumen!
January 27th, 2009 at 9:39 amYesterday, over 2,000 government employees involved in foreign policy issues “signed a letter delivered to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton…calling on the government to give equal benefits to same-sex partners.”
Would this be for just State Department employees? I think that Obama needs to institute a “Domestic Partners” law that covers all government employees.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:40 amYesterday, the Supreme Court ruled that employees “fired after cooperating in sexual harassment investigations may sue for retaliation.”
I’m betting the vote was 5-4 though. I am so looking forward to being able to replace some of the right wing Justices.
It was 7-2. I don’t know the actual breakdown.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:41 amUncle Ho Says: Rove has been subpoenaed once more. When KKKarl gives the Judiciary committee his middle finger, Conyers will once again write letter #? expressing his disappointment.
#$&&#$@**#*$*#*($)((@&*^&* Conyers, Pelosi, GROW A PAIR!
I think Conyers has at least two. :-) These guys aren’t stupid. They wouldn’t have issued a second subpoena unless they were prepared to enforce it. Letting Rove give them the finger twice would do untold damage to the reputation and perceived power of Congress. Plus, if congress had tried to compel Rove’s appearance and testimony while Bush was in office the White House would have claimed executive privilege and ordered him not to appear or not to answer questions. This White House isn’t likely to do that.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:41 amclusterphuck: FLAGGED FOR AD SPAMMING!
January 27th, 2009 at 9:41 amLate last week, the BBC refused to air an appeal from a charity group seeking to send aid to Gaza.
Well now, that’s disgusting. I had always admired the BBC but it looks like that admiration is now tarnished. I also find it puzzling since the BBC reported pretty objectively on the conflict in Gaza. That was the first place I read that the Israeli’s were actually who broke the truce not the Palestinians.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:42 amDetroit slammed President Obama’s move yesterday toward approving of California’s auto emissions standards, saying the regulations “would basically kill the industry.”
They still haven’t learned, have they. It was NOT paying attention to emission standards that has gotten them into this mess in the first place. And why do they care now? They know that any conditions on bailing them out further will contain requirements that they start delivering fuel efficient vehicles.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:43 amboreas Says:
This White House isn’t likely to do that.
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I suspect this will end up being decided by the SCOTUS. When will it finally get there, and how they will… only Dog knows.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:44 amcavjam Says:
I’d like to see a distinction drawn by the CBO between tax cuts and spending. It’s impossible to predict accurately the effect of tax cuts.
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I don’t know about that, cavjam. We’ve just had EIGHT years of BotchCo’s tax cuts and we all know where THAT got us.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:46 amThe White House was hit with an email “server outage” yesterday.
Well, that’s where some of the stimulus money should go. They need to upgrade the technology of the White House something terrible. It scares me to death to think that something really important is going to get screwed up because their technology is so antiquated.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:46 am“It’s generally agreed that former presidents retain executive privilege as to matters occurring during their term.”
I don’t think so Karl. I don’t think that has ever happened where a former employee can declare EP.
When he ignores this subpoena, I hope the Democrats have the balls to send out a Deputy to arrest him and haul his lard ass into the chamber.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:48 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
And yet the conservatives, including the Wall Street Journal are still quoting that mythical CBO study that said none of what is in the stimulus package would flow into our economy until 2010.
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Yeah, but we can all rest assured that something will be flowing down conservatives’ legs non-stop between now and 2010.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:49 amDetroit slammed President Obama’s move yesterday toward approving of California’s auto emissions standards, saying the regulations “would basically kill the industry.”
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Actually, what’s been “killing the industry” is the overwhelming stupidity of Detroit execs. Saaaaay, fellers, how are those gargantuan SUVs selling these days?
January 27th, 2009 at 9:51 amPrety scary. Come on Obama, where is all that change you promised us? Now would be good!
—-
You wouldn’t have come up with this uncreative trite statement just to hawk that center that no one cares about now would you?
Losser-
January 27th, 2009 at 9:51 amBriseadh na Faire Says:
Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
Yesterday, the Supreme Court ruled that employees “fired after cooperating in sexual harassment investigations may sue for retaliation.”
I’m betting the vote was 5-4 though. I am so looking forward to being able to replace some of the right wing Justices.
It was 7-2. I don’t know the actual breakdown.
Weird. I could swear that the article I read said it was 9-0.
If it is 7-2, we certainly know without question who the two are.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:53 amAccording to the LA Times: 9-0
January 27th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says
January 27th, 2009 at 9:40 am
Would this be for just State Department employees? I think that Obama needs to institute a “Domestic Partners” law that covers all government employees.
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I’m sure this would only be for the employees reporting to Hillary directly or indirectly, since she has no influence on domestic policy.
Yes, Obama should institute a policy for domestic partners that takes care of all federal employees, but even better to just legalize gay marriage nationwide, like Canada. This would result in a couple of positive things — ALL married couples (gay and straight) would get all the legal benefits of being married, but gay couples would also get the negatives of being married as well (such as adultery and divorce laws), which would keep the straight couples from crying foul. And second, fundies everywhere would implode.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:56 amLooks like the hypocritcal Christian stereotype is getting another run. Haggard was caught with his finger in Dynamo’s ass.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/01/27/colorado.church.haggard/index.html
January 27th, 2009 at 10:00 amDynamo posts his usual wingnut cut-and-paste offerings
January 27th, 2009 at 9:55 am
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Oh, come on. THIS is the best you can do? A critique of media reporting and a Mad Magazine charicature?
January 27th, 2009 at 10:03 amBearCountry Says:
I am probably not alone in believing that the misspellings on Congressional websites are intentional.
No, that was my first thought. I’m willing to bet the farm that all of the sites are for Republicans. It’s just another way to disrespect our President like calling the Democratic party the Democrat party and calling Obama “Barry” in blog posts.
I find it very amusing that all the conservatives who have been screaming for 8 years “you have to respect him because he’s our President” all of a sudden change their tunes. If you look up the word Republican in the dictionary you will find the definition “Two faced hypocrites”.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:03 amlast week’s Obamapalooza, which cost roughly the same but drew a fraction of the blow-back.
This is what happens when you’re POPULAR for a reason.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:03 amgummitch Says:
According to the LA Times: 9-0
Whoa…that’s amazing. What is happening to the Conservatives on the SC. Are they all of a sudden getting a conscience?
January 27th, 2009 at 10:04 amNoticed yesterday mcinsane came out against the internet funding expansion..Humm. Wasen’t he for it before he was against it.?..
Another 68,000 job’s lost yesterday according to my local new’s..This bull shit bush hang over is going to take awhile to fix…Intervention and back bone by the dem’s will improve greatly…Time for the dem’s to take a lesson from the reich and play tough instead of caving and giving away to tantrum behavior….P.B.& J
January 27th, 2009 at 10:04 amI wish someone would put together a list of all the things that the car companies whined about and resisted putting in cars until FORCED to by the government. Things like seat belts, safety glass, air bags, catalytic converters, 5 mph bumpers (until Reagan lowered it to 2.5 mph), unleaded gas, 27.5 mpg corporate average fuel economy, etc.
And if the European divisions and partners of American car companies can make fuel efficient cars that sell in Europe, how in the world do they have the nerve to cry about how hard it is to build fuel efficient cars?! I can tell them how to raise fuel economy by several mpg immediately: put smaller engines in the same vehicles. Who needs 200 HP? In 1985 I bought a new Pontiac Firebird, V6 sports car. It had 135 HP. It was a fun, fast car. It got 29 mpg going 80 mph from San Diego to Los Angeles. What the heck is wrong with car companies?!?
January 27th, 2009 at 10:05 amDynamo Says:
A comparison of Obama’s celebration to Bush’s in 2005 is a reminder that the media must guard against the bad habit of not asking questions
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Of course, truly equal treatment would mean the media spends the next 4 years lapping up Obama’s bath water the same way they did Bush’s.
Anybody remember all the critical questioning leading up to our invasion of Iraq under false pretenses?
And what did El Rushbo say the other day? Something about bending over? Nice… and classy too! Or Fox – by week’s end, we were ALREADY UNSAFER!
Great point to make, Dynamo!
January 27th, 2009 at 10:05 ammisshusseinmolly Says:
Yes, Obama should institute a policy for domestic partners that takes care of all federal employees, but even better to just legalize gay marriage nationwide, like Canada.
I agree, but most “Domestic Partner” agreements include unmarried heterosexual couples who are living together. I would like to see it apply not only to gay relationships but also to straight relationships where the couple has chosen not to get married.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:05 am“The Senate acted responsibly to give the Obama administration time to attempt to bring order to a mismanaged process.”
Senate OKs delay of digital TV transition
January 27th, 2009 at 10:07 amDNFP Says:
last week’s Obamapalooza, which cost roughly the same but drew a fraction of the blow-back.
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And FFFFFAAAAARRRR more people…
January 27th, 2009 at 10:07 amThe Republic of Stupidity Says:
boreas Says:
This White House isn’t likely to do that.
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I suspect this will end up being decided by the SCOTUS. When will it finally get there, and how they will… only Dog knows.
It doesn’t even have to go to court if Congress does what would happen to you or I if we ignored a subpoena. They would send out a cop to arrest you and haul you into court. That’s exactly what Congress needs to do.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:10 amDynamo Says:
Hey, MSM: Remember ranting over Bush’s ‘pricey’ inauguration?
A comparison of Obama’s celebration to Bush’s in 2005 is a reminder that the media must guard against the bad habit of not asking questions
It would have been nice, for the sake of consistency and fairness, if the commentariat had leveled a measure of that same attitude at last week’s Obamapalooza, which cost roughly the same but drew a fraction of the blow-back.
As usual, a rightie comparing apples to oranges to make a point. All figures quoted for Bush’s inauguration DID NOT INCLUDE the cost of providing security for the event. This time it was quite expensive because 1) we have a President who needs tighter protections due to the nutjobs out there who would love to assassinate him and 2) No where close to 2.5 million people showed up for Bush’s inaugurations.
Nice try rightie, but you do not win the prize.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:13 amDynamo:
Check out my favorite parody picture of Bush
http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blbushworry2.htm
I would not be surprised if Obama has that caricature of himself framed and hung in the Oval Office. It’s more a commentary on the challenges he faces than on him.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:18 amThe cuts “extended to companies that were once considered bright spots in the U.S. economy, such as construction equipment maker Caterpillar (20,000 jobs cut), pharmaceutical giant Pfizer (19,500), Sprint Nextel (8,000), Home Depot (7,000), Texas Instruments (3,400), and GM (2,000).
Wait! How is this possible? I mean, we had 8 years. Let me repeat: 8 YEARS, of trickle down economics. Can someone on the right (Dynamut?) please explain how cutting the taxes of the filthy rich would indeed help us all financially? Because, if so, I and the whole state of Michigan ain’t seeing it!
As of the auto industry, a big howdy FCK YOU! (and this coming from a fellow Michigander). Hell, rumor has it that GM may eventually drop Saturn. You know, the company that makes fuel efficient, affordable automobiles?
Get your collective heads out of the oil industries arses!
What? Our president is willing to talk to Muslims about the crisis in the Middle East? And listen to their concerns, their fears? Why, how very president-like. How diplomatic. How human! How very anti-Bush!
Finally, I too have misspelled President Obama’s first name, but I do not work for the government, where it seems that sort of typo would, and should, be easily corrected.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:19 amImagine the fear mongers of the right foaming at the mouth if a Congressman or Representative had misspelled “Goerge” W. Bush.
(sorry for my rant. It’s been awhile since I’ve actually had time to post a thorough post)
Obama didn’t have to wash eggs off the limo after his inauguration.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:21 amI wonder why Dynamo did not finish his cut and paste of what it says about the Mad magazine portrayal of Obama, thusly:
“Mad’s publisher, has announced that the magazine will be published on a quarterly basis instead of monthly, thanks to the economy and the advertising revenue woes afflicting the entire media industry.” (emphasis mine)
January 27th, 2009 at 10:21 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says
January 27th, 2009 at 10:05 am
I agree, but most “Domestic Partner” agreements include unmarried heterosexual couples who are living together. I would like to see it apply not only to gay relationships but also to straight relationships where the couple has chosen not to get married.
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OK, good point. That would certainly be fair, and it would keep the homophobes from whining about gays getting “special privileges”.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:22 amOh PLC, please quit being such a “concern troll”.
(Heavy, major /snark!)
January 27th, 2009 at 10:23 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
It doesn’t even have to go to court if Congress does what would happen to you or I if we ignored a subpoena. They would send out a cop to arrest you and haul you into court. That’s exactly what Congress needs to do.
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I agree completely. The Bushies have made a high art out of blowing off subpoenas. It is truly galling.
Sayeth the NY Times article linked to above: “The case reached the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit after a federal judge rejected Bush’s claim of “absolute immunity.”
I don’t like the idea of this going to the SCOTUS either, but the way I read the Times article, it sure sounds like Rove is going to fight this as long as he can.
Funny… if Porky hasn’t done anything wrong… why is he putting up such a fight?
January 27th, 2009 at 10:24 amOT/request
Does anyone know of a book which details the Republicans’ strategy for rebranding themselves and their ideology post-Nixon? Our county Democratic Club is trying to figure out how to brand the Democratic Party and turn our county from red to blue. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:24 amNevar Says:
Obama didn’t have to wash eggs off the limo after his inauguration.
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Or the Cheney off his own shoe tops…
January 27th, 2009 at 10:25 amDRxJ, thanks for the chuckle!
January 27th, 2009 at 10:27 amAnd when Karl gets in front of the committee he can take the 5th (make mine Bushmills, tyvm) and get cited for contempt of Congress.
I already have a pretty high level of contempt of Congress. Big difference is he can go to jail for it.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:27 amRoughly two-thirds of the spending and tax cuts in the House stimulus plan will “flow into the economy by the end of fiscal 2010, producing a ‘noticeable impact on economic growth and employment.’”"
I await a massive round of retractions and apologies for the media.
.
Yesterday, over 2,000 government employees involved in foreign policy issues “signed a letter delivered to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton…calling on the government to give equal benefits to same-sex partners.”
Why is this a SoS issue? Next thing you know people are going to be petitioning Hillary to deliver health care. Somebody needs to send another round of memos to the Hillraisers to inform them she’s not the President.
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Detroit slammed President Obama’s move yesterday toward approving of California’s auto emissions standards, saying the regulations “would basically kill the industry.”
Waah!
Yeah, because what America really needs right now is oversized trucks that can jump through exploding buildings and dodge wrecking balls while bouncing through mud. Those are the design specs that the average consumer is looking for. Yeah.
If they’ve got no interest in building vehicles that meet our actual needs, they were already on life support anyways. If their only route to survival was creating artificial demand (via advertising) for vehicles that meet no real-world need (a la people commuting in SUV’s), then they were apparently in a permanent vegetative state.
So I guess it’s time to pull the plug.
.
Uncle Ho Says:
Rove has been subpoenaed once more. When KKKarl gives the Judiciary committee his middle finger, Conyers will once again write letter #? expressing his disappointment.
I wanna see Rove go on FAUX News, physically burn his copy of the subpeona on air, and flip Conyers off.
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Roll Call took a look at federal lawmakers’ websites at least five members have used “Barak,” including Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) in a statement congratulating Obama on his election victory. At least four have used “Barrack.”
Yes, these are the people who should hold government positions in which they decide the weighty issues of the day. A vote for Cletus is a vote for grits!
One more time, conservatives: we will stop being elitists when you stop being so goddamn stupid.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:29 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
It’s just another way to disrespect our President like calling the Democratic party the Democrat party and calling Obama “Barry” in blog posts.
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Well… in all fairness, Bilbo… even a high-minded person such as myself… heh.. have called George such names as:
Der Chimpenfuhrer
Herr Brusch
Presidunce Botch
And many, many other, equally colorful names over the years… heh…
January 27th, 2009 at 10:29 am“Roll Call took a look at federal lawmakers’ websites at least five members have used “Barak,” including Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS)”
Do you mean Sen. Sam Brownbak?
January 27th, 2009 at 10:31 amElBruce Says:
I wanna see Rove go on FAUX News, physically burn his copy of the subpeona on air, and flip Conyers off.
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Heh… that would be a defining moment in the history of American jurisprudence, wouldn’t it?
January 27th, 2009 at 10:32 amIs misspelling Barack Obama’s name akin to calling the Democratic party, “Democrat” or otherwise subtly diminishing someone’s importance?
Do people have to pass a stupidity test to hold office? I don’t give them the benefit of the doubt — they are not stupid, just mean-spirited, lazy, greedy, selfish SoBs.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:51 amBilbo, I am sorry for the repeat, I just see that you drew a similar comparison.
At least when Bush came into office, there was a period of time when he was given the respect for the office he held – he destroyed his own reputation and lost respect with his own actions and words.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:55 ammisshusseinmolly Says:
I seem to recall Detroit saying pretty much the same thing when the government threatened to require them to put air bags in all their cars. Heck, they probably said it when they were required to put in seat belts. And head rests. And when California first required extra pollution controls on all cars sold there.
Yet they always manage to come through. Sometimes it’s because the government makes the requirements anyway, and sometimes it’s because the Japanese start making the necessary modifications to their cars and the American public buy those instead, causing the Americans to have to play catch-up.
January 27th, 2009 at 9:17 am
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Exactly. And I don’t buy the argument that it’s too taxing for auto manufacturers to have to modify their designs to comply with differing state regulations.
When American auto manufacturers sell cars to foreign markets, don’t they have to modify the vehicles to meet local requirements? Well, California is the eighth-largest economy in the world. I don’t see why this is any different from selling American cars in Japan or France.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:55 amThe auto industry has been its own worst enemy for some time. They haven’t been innovative AT ALL, and now they are paying the price. One of the great things about the rise of the internet and the speed at which information flows is that it makes it harder for these industries to try and foist their BS on us, because we can fact check their lies better than ever.
While I think the hammer should be brought down HARD on Wall St. for how they’ve looted the coffers without consequence, the Auto Industry needs to realize that by dragging their feet to meet what CONSUMERS WANT, they WON’T BE MAKING SALES…idiots…
January 27th, 2009 at 11:05 amemployers “announced plans yesterday to slash more than 55,000 jobs.”
Bush didn’t give Obama a recession, Bush gave him a depression.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:07 ammisshusseinmolly Says:
The site gooseGrade.com released a study finding that at least 60 million web pages misspell Obama’s first name.
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I can understand that the average cheeto-stained basement blogger could misspell Obama’s name (as well as many other words), but shouldn’t we hold our lawmakers to a higher standard?
January 27th, 2009 at 9:24 am
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Well, to be fair, the “c” is rather vestigial – an artifact of transliteration. The Arabic spelling of باراك contains no “c” letter either, since Arabic doesn’t have a letter “c.”
I can only assume that Sam Brownback was appealing to his Arabophone constituency
January 27th, 2009 at 11:08 amDr. Hussein Matt Says
January 27th, 2009 at 11:32 am
“It would have been nice, for the sake of consistency and fairness, if the commentariat had leveled a measure of that same attitude at last week’s Obamapalooza, which cost roughly the same but drew a fraction of the blow-back.”
Show us this commentary that happened during herr dubyah’s inauguration? There was barely a whisper compared to the daily whining of the MSM about Obama’s inauguration.
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This “fraction of the blow-back” is based on a search that found 140 negative news stories about the cost of Bush’s 2005 inauguration to 99 negative news stories about Obama’s. Yes, technically that’s a fraction, but it’s quite a large one.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:49 amhussein toasterhead Says
January 27th, 2009 at 10:55 am
Exactly. And I don’t buy the argument that it’s too taxing for auto manufacturers to have to modify their designs to comply with differing state regulations.
When American auto manufacturers sell cars to foreign markets, don’t they have to modify the vehicles to meet local requirements? Well, California is the eighth-largest economy in the world. I don’t see why this is any different from selling American cars in Japan or France.
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Remember also that the auto manufacturers have the option of not selling their car in any state where they don’t meet the requirements. They could easily say, “Fine. If you set your standard at such-and-such, we will not be selling cars in your state.” That would put the ball back in the state’s court, and they would have to decide if they want to weaken their standard to accommodate the American automakers or do without them altogether.
I suspect in the case of California, they are willing to do away with American cars being sold in their state, if push comes to shove. The Big Three know this, which is why they’re screaming. It’s not just a matter of having the most populous state in the country taken away from their market, it’s that they don’t want the other 49 states to see how expendable they are.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:05 pmSuckers!
January 27th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
I’m missing something here. Even if I accept that the prez and vice prez are immune from prosecution for events done during their tenure in the Whitehouse (and admittedly, I don’t see any grounds for that argument):
Where would Rove get constitutional immunity ? Where in the Constitution does it establish an office of Presidential political strategist / toady ?
Does immunity also extend to anyone who has walked through the WH on a tour ?
January 27th, 2009 at 3:06 pmmisshusseinmolly Says:
I suspect in the case of California, they are willing to do away with American cars being sold in their state, if push comes to shove. The Big Three know this, which is why they’re screaming. It’s not just a matter of having the most populous state in the country taken away from their market, it’s that they don’t want the other 49 states to see how expendable they are.
January 27th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
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Isn’t it cute how these auto CEOs are all “free market free market free market” when it comes to regulation, but as soon as an opportunity like for real innovation and competition comes along they’re the first to scream for the government to preserve their market share?
Okay, maybe “cute” isn’t the right word…
January 27th, 2009 at 3:12 pmhttp://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/STUDENTS_EXPELLED?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US
Court: Christian school can expel lesbian students
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — A California appeals court has ruled that a Christian high school can expel students because of an alleged lesbian relationship.
The 4th District Court of Appeal in Riverside on Monday upheld California Lutheran High School’s right as a private, religious organization to exclude students based on sexual orientation.
Two girls sued claiming they were discriminated against after they were expelled from the Wildomar school in 2005. A lower court said the school isn’t bound by the same anti-discrimination laws as a business establishment.
John McKay, attorney for California Lutheran, says the school’s goal is to educate based on Christian principles.
The attorney for the girls could not be immediately reached Tuesday.
January 27th, 2009 at 11:45 pm