ThinkFast: February 11, 2009
ThinkFast: February 11, 2009
Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he was ordering a review of the ban on media photographs of flag-draped coffins of U.S. soldiers returning to Dover Air Force base. “[T]he more honor we can accord these fallen heroes, the better,” Gates said yesterday. “I think that looking at it again makes all kinds of sense,” he said, adding that he was “pretty open to whatever the results of this review may be.”
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said yesterday that he is “definitely running for reelection in 2010 and has begun using criticism of the $838 billion federal economic stimulus plan as a platform to raise money.” “The economic challenges currently confronting our nation are immense and unfortunately, the Democrats in Congress propose addressing these challenges through increased spending,” McCain wrote in an e-mail to supporters.
Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) is facing criticism after disclosing sensitive information on Twitter about his delegation’s recent trip to Iraq. The Pentagon is now “reviewing its communications with lawmakers traveling to war zones following a senior member’s disclosures about a delegation trip to Iraq and Afghanistan.”
U.S Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, who prosecuted Scooter Libby and brought charges against Rod Blagojevich, “will be staying in his job in the Obama administration, even though he was appointed to the position by President George W. Bush.” Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) recommended that Attorney General Eric Holder keep Fitzgerald.
Gov. Jon Huntsman (R-UT) backs a proposal that would give same-sex couples the right to civil unions in the state. “Huntsman is the most popular governor in state history and is increasingly speaking out on moderate issues such as global warming that make many conservatives in the state cringe. For Huntsman, there is little political risk because he has pledged not to seek a third term.”
Israel’s centrist Kadima Party, led by Tzipi Livni, and the right-wing Likud Party, led by Bibi Netanyahu, are still “locked in a tight battle for leadership on Wednesday,” which leaves “unclear the shape of the next Israeli government.” President Shimon Peres must decide whether to call on Livni or Netanyahu to form a government.
Yesterday in a closed-door meeting with Democrats, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced that lawmakers would be forgoing their annual pay raises for the coming year. The decision is expected to extend to senators as well.
“House Democrats voted down an attempt on Tuesday to remove Representative Charles B. Rangel of New York as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee during a continuing ethics investigation.” The House ethics committee also voted to reauthorize a bipartisan subcommittee to investigate Rangel’s failure to pay some of his taxes and his use of four rent-controlled apartments in Harlem, including one for a campaign office.
Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg has resigned, under “intense pressure” in the Troopergate scandal. State legislators were angry at his attempt to “quash legislative subpoenas” in last year’s investigation into whether Gov. Sarah Palin (R) abused her power by pressing for the firing of her former brother-in-law, an Alaska state trooper.
And finally: Yesterday, legendary country music singer Dolly Parton had the “usually sedate crowd” at the National Press Club “cracking up with her self-deprecating humor and one-liners, including a few on politics.” Parton, who was in town for her role as an ambassador for Great Smoky Mountains National Park said, “Somebody said to me, ‘Well, you know what — you’ve got such a big mouth and you know how to talk to people, did you ever think about running for president?’ … I said, ‘I think we’ve had enough boobs in the White House, but hopefully [President] Obama ain’t gonna be one of them.’”
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Gov. Jon Huntsman (R-UT) backs a proposal that would give same-sex couples the right to civil unions in the state. “Huntsman is the most popular governor in state history and is increasingly speaking out on moderate issues such as global warming that make many conservatives in the state cringe. For Huntsman, there is little political risk because he has pledged not to seek a third term.”
Well, that’s not going to make the Mormons happy. Seems there is a wee bit of sanity in UT.
February 11th, 2009 at 9:05 amSen. John McCain (R-AZ) said yesterday that he is “definitely running for reelection in 2010 and has begun using criticism of the $838 billion federal economic stimulus plan as a platform to raise money.”
The Republicans have made it perfectly clear that they want no part of Obama’s bipartisanship – they want to be in complete and total control of raping America to death.
We need to continue fighting this battle. As long as we have the American people willing to vote for the Democrats, we can eventually marginalize these thugs – but it won’t be easy.
February 11th, 2009 at 9:08 amIt would have been unseemly for politicians to accept a pay raise in this current environment.
February 11th, 2009 at 9:09 amI am surprised that they recognized so.
McCain says: “The economic challenges currently confronting our nation are immense and unfortunately, the Democrats in Congress propose addressing these challenges through increased spending,” McCain wrote in an e-mail to supporters.
I’m hoping the people in AZ see the hypocrisy in this statement. Where was McCain when Bush and the Republicant’s were spending like drunken sailors. And what do we have to show for all that spending? A ruined economy and a ruined nation.
February 11th, 2009 at 9:10 amMarie Says: I am surprised that they recognized so.
Wonder what triggered it? They are usually oblivious to the rest of us, even when they are claiming to be inacting legislation on our behalf…
February 11th, 2009 at 9:14 amSen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) recommended that Attorney General Eric Holder keep Fitzgerald.
I’m not sure I agree with that. I think that Obama needs to start with a clean slate of US attorneys.
I still think that Fitzgerald was a stooge for Bush and is probably a loyal Republican’t still. The fact that the only person he prosecuted in the Plame affair tells me that he made a deal with Bush. Also, I had a thought the other day. Imagine if Fitzgerald hadn’t jumped the gun with Blago. I’m thinking that Blago would have made an appointment that would have been a lot less off-the-wall than Burris.
February 11th, 2009 at 9:14 amAlaska Attorney General Talis Colberg has resigned, under “intense pressure” in the Troopergate scandal.
I hope that they also prosecute him for Obstruction of Justice as a message to the next AJ Palin appoints that there is a limit to what they can do do please their Governor.
Alaska really needs to make this position an elected rather than appointed position. There’s way too much conflict of interest between the Governor who appoints the AJ and the AJ.
February 11th, 2009 at 9:18 amGood morning, campers.
McCain is going to run for re-election.
Well, Insane McCain, how’s that the fundementals of our economy are strong working out these days?
snark
Lift the ban on photographing the return of our dead and wounded returning from war. The people have a right to know the cost of folly. That cost can not be seen under the cover of night and in secret.
February 11th, 2009 at 9:26 amAnother great McCain political strategy. “Vote for me. I did everything I could to ruin chances to turn the economy around.”
February 11th, 2009 at 9:34 amMichael Moore is making a new movie – on the current economic crisis. Yay! Some actual journalism will be taking place.
Email him at bailout@michaelemoore.com if you have anything to contribute.
February 11th, 2009 at 9:35 amAfter watching McCain’s repeated fumbles and stumbles regarding the economy during his campaign, it’s really hard to listen to his bloviations.
February 11th, 2009 at 9:40 amCan he remember what state he’s running for reelection in?
I hope that before the end of the year, Obama has rid his administration of the Bush holdovers. I do not trust them, nor their failed policies and ideas.
February 11th, 2009 at 9:41 amAlso, those Bush appointees to positions buried in government who cannot be terminated — what kind of deal is that? Those lifetime positions should last no longer than the lifetime of the adminsitration that appointed them. Rumors are strong that these lifetime employees are implanted strategically in order to thwart Obama’s administration.
We have all seen ample evidence now of the rethugs opinion of bipartisanship – they don’t believe in it!
February 11th, 2009 at 9:42 amMcCain is a two-faced opportunist – he has demonstrated as much in his personal life as in his political life.
I hope the people of Arizona can recognize him for what he is.
good morning Uncle Ho (and everyone).
On the ‘photos of the fallen’ what is there to review? The British for example never has such ban. Soldiers’ homecomings deserve deserve respectful recognition.
The ban on recording their return has been disrespectful to the soldiers and their families, and to the general public.
These men and women died doing their duty, whether they agreed with the ‘mission’ or not, their ultimate mission was to serve and risk their lives according to the oaths of responsibility to which they swore.
And frankly it’s even more important that they and their families are accorded all the ceremony and recognition we can given how badly they have been screwed-over in having been misdirected by Bush and his Generals and frequently under-equipped,undermined by the contractors and mercenaries.
The ban also denies their brothers and sisters in arms THEIR due as well.
February 11th, 2009 at 9:46 amOh and the British have no such ban. Are we not made of the same stuff?
February 11th, 2009 at 9:48 amDr Hussein Matt…
Make that Republican Conservatim… and IMHO though it should be dead, it is still alive and still wields power.
We can see this in its continued dominance in the media, in the passage of Prop 8 in California (which is supposed to be so damn liberal), in the compromises (or rather amputations) of the new Stimulus package.
Until the GOP makes a change in its leadership and its base, or essentially is replaced, it is still very much alive and it isn’t even on the defensive.
February 11th, 2009 at 9:56 am5th estate; I can’t speak for British policy, I’m an American.
I thought it was shameful the way Bush tried to cover up the costs of the war.
Tax cuts, keep the $$$ costs of the war off the books by supplemental funding, and hiding the dead & wounded behind a veil of “privacy”. The whole pattern was to hide the costs from the public, so as to not undermine support for the war. Remember when Paul Wolfowitz said that Iraqi oil would pay for the war? Our costs, we were told would be about $50B, peanuts, chump change, they said. Or how General Shinseki was shown the door after he said it would take several hundered thousand troops?
I was against the entire enterprise before the 1st shot was fired. I remember all too well my own ‘Vietnam Experience’.
February 11th, 2009 at 10:03 am“The economic challenges currently confronting our nation are immense and unfortunately, the Democrats in Congress propose addressing these challenges through increased spending,” McCain wrote in an e-mail to supporters.
Nobel Laureate economist, Paul Krugman, has declaimed unequivocally many times that the best, most effective way to put a floor under the economy’s free fall is through government spending. And yet, the goofball who said a couple of months ago that the economy’s “fundamentals are strong” disagrees.
Geez!
February 11th, 2009 at 10:07 amwatchdog is that you dynamo? Same old right wing links that prove theorize much and prove nothing.
Do you still believe in the tooth fairy?
February 11th, 2009 at 10:13 ampass. I was REALLY looking forward to sicko, but he botched it so badly that I wont even see this one. Michael Moore means well, but he really needs to get some people on board that understand the issues a lot better than he does.
February 11th, 2009 at 10:13 amwatchdog/dynamo/moronicus maximus
The CATO Institute huh? Privatize EVERYTHING and let the markets figure it out…it has never worked, will never worked, and is a nice Libertarian fantasy.
PETA? Fringe whackos that have more in common with the KKK than they do any Progressive on this site as far as how militant they are regarding their “cause.”
The pre-emptive failure of the Obama administration? You moron, right in the summary of the article it clearly states that “doing too little now is far riskier than doing too much.” Which directly contradicts your lil Cato propaganda pdf.
You can’t even get cogent points together. You swing wildly at topics and never stick around to defend your “positions.”
Awful, just awful.
February 11th, 2009 at 10:15 amFred Says:
watchdog is that you dynamo? Same old right wing links that prove theorize much and prove nothing.
Do you still believe in the tooth fairy?
Isn’t it truly lame how, even as crystal clear as it is, trolls like to switch up their monikers. They aren’t fooling anyone. They don’t have the stylistic dexterity to even stick around and argue their “points” most of the time, so you can forget them creating some other web “persona.”
Watchdog, you’re like a dog that is watching a henhouse AFTER the fox already sauntered in. You are looking the WRONG WAY. Where were you when ole Brush-clearer was decidering? You putz…
February 11th, 2009 at 10:18 amDr. Hussein Matt Says:
“Fox Newser In Kiddie Porn Bust”
Aaron Bruns was overheard saying to his attorney, “Well, that’s the last time I let Bill-O use my computer.”
February 11th, 2009 at 10:22 amI wasn’t able to catch what Geitner was saying regarding the banks yesterday…anyone got any info on that topic?
I’m busy sending out quotes to customers, so I’m not about to go read the news on the intertubes…plus, I figure I’d take more away from any of y’alls commentary.
February 11th, 2009 at 10:24 amI was under the impression that America “did not negotiate with terrorists” So why is president Obama giving these repugnican terrorists so much power??
February 11th, 2009 at 10:28 amCan someone elucidate ?
Uncle Ho.: I remember all too well my own ‘Vietnam Experience’.
Quite so. I suspect this time around there’s a lot more public sympathy for the soldiers ( and I also suspect that some of the antipathy to Vietnam vets was exaggerated by the press at the time, given the general challenges to the ‘Establisment’ in the 60s and 70s).
But the government abandoned the Vets then and the Bush admin has abandoned them in many now–Walter Reed, Nat. Guard memebers losing their jobs etc.
What happens when the approx 150,000 return more-or-less en-masse? And to a country that will still be suffering economic problems (assuming 2010/11)? Will the soldiers get what they deserve?
At least I am encouraged by the recent appointments of Shinseki and Tammy Duckworth to the VA.
February 11th, 2009 at 10:29 amHey! Ari-zoners! Could you please find a dog catcher to run against and beat McIIIrd?
February 11th, 2009 at 10:31 amThanks.
…whether to call on Livni or Netanyahu to form a government.
what is the choice? peace or war?
February 11th, 2009 at 10:34 ami love dolly parton.
February 11th, 2009 at 10:34 amwatchdog Says:
Has Obama’s presidency already failed?
____________
And the mere thought has you creaming in your Depends, huh?
Why do you hate your fellow Americans so?
Obama inherited a simply HORRENDOUS mess that Botch had absolutely no problem not taking ANY responsibility for at all… and all you, and Limbaugh, and what’s left of the GOOP just hope things get even worse, so ya’ll somehow look better by comparison.
Talk about weak…
February 11th, 2009 at 10:35 amRUCerious Says:
Hey! Ari-zoners! Could you please find a dog catcher to run against and beat McIIIrd?
Thanks.
And please quit drinking Bud — switch to real beer and bankrupt Mrs McBud.
February 11th, 2009 at 10:35 amA Patriot Acting Says:
Aaron Bruns was overheard saying to his attorney, “Well, that’s the last time I let Bill-O use my computer.”
_____________
Gee… you’re so quick to judge. How do you know this didn’t involve Glen Beck too? Or Brit Hume? Or Cavuto? Or ALL of them?
February 11th, 2009 at 10:38 amkrystalviews Says:
I was under the impression that America “did not negotiate with terrorists” So why is president Obama giving these repugnican terrorists so much power??
Can someone elucidate ?
____________
Hmmm… that one GOOPer Congresscritter was bragging the other day about being the American Taliban, wasn’t he?
February 11th, 2009 at 10:41 am5th estate says;
Yeah, I really do feel for the poor schmucks serving today. On their 3rd, 4th, or 5th tours. One tour was more than enough for me. I was a naive 18 year kid just out of high school sucked up by the draft. What I saw was a real eye-opener.
I don’t think you could do better than Shinseki and Duckworth at the VA.
February 11th, 2009 at 10:43 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
I still think that Fitzgerald was a stooge for Bush and is probably a loyal Republican’t still. The fact that the only person he prosecuted in the Plame affair tells me that he made a deal with Bush.
i’m of a mind to think he made a deal with his then future wife -
February 11th, 2009 at 10:45 amto stay alive…
katy;
February 11th, 2009 at 10:46 amforgive me here about Dolly Parton.
What coconuts!
did you know?
February 11th, 2009 at 10:47 amheard on stephanie – today is caribou barbie’s birthday…
“Polls show 70 percent of Utah voters oppose civil unions.”
And yet, somehow, Jeff Reynolds of the Sutherland Institute, a conservative think tank in Salt Lake City, concludes that Gov. Huntsman is merely allowing his emotionalism to get the best of him. Overwhelming public opposition, Gov. Huntsman’s personal disapproval of homosexuality…but he’s just being nice.
February 11th, 2009 at 10:47 amuncle ho – imagine the back aches!
she’s still a sweety.
February 11th, 2009 at 10:48 amDefense Secretary Robert Gates said he was ordering a review of the ban on media photographs of flag-draped coffins of U.S. soldiers returning to Dover Air Force base.
… now that the numbers are down to a trickle…
February 11th, 2009 at 10:59 amWell if there is anyone out there who can speak with authority about boobs, its Dolly Parton.
February 11th, 2009 at 11:07 amArizona’s unemployment rate is 7 per cent the highest in history so if McCain gets voted in office again what the people are saying is they really don’t need any help. I do notice McCain with his 7 homes, allowance from his wife, his pay check with that raise and his social security check isn’t having any problems in this recession. Maybe McCain will bring his good friend George W. Bush out to campaign with him.
February 11th, 2009 at 11:17 amTweedster Says:
Isn’t it truly lame how, even as crystal clear as it is, trolls like to switch up their monikers.
isn’t it more likely they switch monikers to avoid the banned status?
February 11th, 2009 at 11:24 amwould be my guess…
*) “definitely running for reelection in 2010….
Frankly, I hope and pray that both McCain and Palin will be running for prez in 2012. The debate would be incredible.
*) Dr. Hussein reports Fox Newser In Kiddie Porn Bust
Any bets on whether Faux News will include this in their newscasts ?
OTOH – Any bets on whether Olbermann will include this ?
*) Alaska AG resigns under pressure for suppressing investigation….
And considering that this was potentially protecting the governor’s family – it is a safe bet that the pressure didn’t come from the governor’s office.
Oh how the “You Betcha” crumbles.
February 11th, 2009 at 12:08 pmRep. Brad Sherman should have his private plane riding privileges revoked. Why didn’t he make these requirements for TARP 1 money?
1. No dividends
2. No stock repurchases
3. No private plane.
I hate it when our elected leaders blame others for what Congress didn’t do.
Greed and ignorance is epidemic in our hallowed halls of government. Add leverage and the same applied to corporate board rooms. America suffers from abysmal leadership.
February 11th, 2009 at 2:46 pmOnly spin can turn a G.I.s government issue flag-draped coffin into a privacy issue. Those identical coffins are anonymous and reveal absolutely nothing personal about our dead soldiers.
February 11th, 2009 at 8:03 pm