ThinkFast: June 17, 2009
ThinkFast: June 17, 2009
In an interview with Bloomberg, President Obama predicted that the unemployment rate would reach 10 percent by the end of the year. He also defended his regulatory reforms for Wall Street. “Wall Street seems to maybe have a shorter memory about how close we were to the abyss than I would have expected,” Obama said, referring to criticism of the government’s growing role in the economy and markets.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard “has warned online media of a crackdown over their coverage of the country’s election crisis.” It “said through the state news service that Iranian Web sites and bloggers must remove any materials that ‘create tension’ or face legal action.” “Iranian authorities appear to have successfully blocked all access to Facebook, MySpace and Twitter Wednesday morning.”
Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) chided President Obama yesterday for not following the correct protocol in firing the inspector general of AmeriCorps. “The White House has failed to follow the proper procedure in notifying Congress as to the removal,” said McCaskill. The White House responded by releasing a letter offering more detailed reasons for the dismissal.
“The number of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people killed in bias-motivated incidents increased by 28 percent in 2008 compared to a year ago,” according to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs. Last year’s 29 killings was also the highest number recorded since 1999, with the debates over LGBT issues being “possible flash points” that are sparking a “backlash.”
In a 2003 lecture at the Indiana University law school, Judge Sonia Sotomayor expressed skepticism about “the expanded government surveillance powers in the USA Patriot Act. In particular, Sotomayor cited “what she referred to as its broader authority ‘to impose nationwide wiretaps with little judicial supervision‘ and to monitor Internet use in search of terrorists.”
Members of Congress are increasingly concerned about that the NSA’s “recent intercepts of the private telephone calls and e-mail messages of Americans are broader than previously acknowledged.” In an interview with the New York Times, Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) disputed claims that the overreach was inadvertent. “Some actions are so flagrant that they can’t be accidental,” said Holt.
“The CIA is urging the suppression” of portions of a May 2004 inspector general report that describe “in graphic detail how the agency handled its detainees.” The CIA argues “that the material could damage ongoing counterterrorism operations by laying bare sensitive intelligence procedures and methods.” The White House is supposed to to release any additional portions of the report by Friday.
A new report from the State Department finds that “the global economic crisis is boosting the demand for human trafficking because of a growing demand for cheap goods and services. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton writes today in the Washington Post, “The United States is committed to building partnerships with governments and organizations around the world, to finding new and more effective ways to take on the scourge of human trafficking.”
The Hill reports that “centrist House lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are working together privately on healthcare reform” but the talks are so secret that lawmakers interviewed “refused to name other legislators involved.” The group has “been discussing both the policies and politics of moving their middle-of-the-road ideas in a body of Congress usually dominated by liberal or conservative ideology.”
And finally: Tonight is the 48th Annual Roll Call Congressional Baseball Game, and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) expects to be the only woman to suit up. “I’m proud to be representing my gender this year, but the only way I’ll get to play is if the GOP team is 30 runs ahead,” she joked to Roll Call. Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA), “the most notable female player in Congressional baseball history,” won’t be on the field tonight, but instead watching from the stands with her husband and infant son. She said that she’s tried to recruit other women for the game, but hasn’t had any “takers.”
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“centrist House lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are working together privately on healthcare reform
Bend over boys.
“Asked if the administration’s program will be drafted specifically to prevent it from evolving into a single-payer plan, Sebelius says: “I think that’s very much the case, and again, if you want anybody to convince people of that, talk to the single-payer proponents who are furious that the single-payer idea is not part of the discussion.”
http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/sebelius-not-only-it-not-single-payer
June 17th, 2009 at 9:03 amIn a 2003 lecture at the Indiana University law school, Judge Sonia Sotomayor expressed skepticism about “the expanded government surveillance powers in the USA Patriot Act. In particular, Sotomayor cited “what she referred to as its broader authority ‘to impose nationwide wiretaps with little judicial supervision‘ and to monitor Internet use in search of terrorists.”
Uh-oh… our trolls will soon shift their attacks on judge Sotomayor from “she’s a racist!” to “she’s a terrorist!”
What’s a troll to do when all your its are drained of their power from hysterical overuse?
June 17th, 2009 at 9:12 amHere’s a shout-out to a typical holier-than-thou hypocrite , GOP Senator John Ensign from Nevada …….
Way to cheat on your wife there with a married former campaign staffer while repeatedly voting against same-sex marriage , jackass ………..
June 17th, 2009 at 9:13 amMembers of Congress are increasingly concerned about that the NSA’s “recent intercepts of the private telephone calls and e-mail messages of Americans are broader than previously acknowledged.” In an interview with the New York Times, Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) disputed claims that the overreach was inadvertent. “Some actions are so flagrant that they can’t be accidental,” said Holt.
This is what happens when you allow CIA spooks access to personal information. I’ll bet they’re laughing their asses off in dark rooms as they open American citizen’s e-mails unlawfully.
I recall my Father complaining about the military opening his mail to folks back home during WWII.
I never thought I’d see the day that the same thing occurs to non-military citizens with domestic mail.
Is ‘09 the ‘Year of the Corporations’? They now have more clout on issues of privacy, health care, taxes, finances and more than America’s voters.
June 17th, 2009 at 9:18 amThere may be alot more to this Ensign story. The staffer he was cheating with, her husband was Ensigns chief of staff, who asked for a pay off to keep quite. This is why Ensign went public. This was being reported this morning on the MSM.
June 17th, 2009 at 9:21 amEnsign’s story is eerily familiar. There was another case in the last year or two where a politician turned out to be sleeping with the wife of his chief of staff or something, but I can’t remember who it was . . . anyone?
June 17th, 2009 at 9:25 amSo, Ensign didn’t go public because he had an affair, he went public because he was being blackmailed.
Classy.
June 17th, 2009 at 9:27 amgummble
Are you talking about Gavin Newsome ?
June 17th, 2009 at 9:29 amAt least ensign was commiting the old fashioned adultery. This will be easily forgivable by his male supporters, his wife may have been happy because he wasn’t bothering her, his women supporters will see him as more attractive, and the party leadership will be proud of him. For him, it’s a win-win-win-win situation.
June 17th, 2009 at 9:30 amangels81 Says
June 17th, 2009 at 9:21 am
The staffer he was cheating with, her husband was Ensigns chief of staff, who asked for a pay off to keep quite.
_____________________________________________________________
Doesn’t this make the husband/chief of staff a pimp? Sounds like there’s enough sleaze to go around here.
June 17th, 2009 at 9:34 amgummble-bee-itch Says:
Ensign’s story is eerily familiar. There was another case in the last year or two where a politician turned out to be sleeping with the wife of his chief of staff or something, but I can’t remember who it was . . . anyone?
Hmmm, are you referring to John McCan’t? Vicki, perhaps?
June 17th, 2009 at 9:37 amMembers of Congress are increasingly concerned about that the NSA’s “recent intercepts of the private telephone calls and e-mail messages of Americans are broader than previously acknowledged.” In an interview with the New York Times, Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) disputed claims that the overreach was inadvertent. “Some actions are so flagrant that they can’t be accidental,” said Holt.
Ummm…is it too late to say “I effin’ told you so?
June 17th, 2009 at 9:45 amTonight is the 48th Annual Roll Call Congressional Baseball Game, and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) expects to be the only woman to suit up. “I’m proud to be representing my gender this year, but the only way I’ll get to play is if the GOP team is 30 runs ahead,” she joked to Roll Call.
Gee, that’s too bad — cuz I bet that a Latina woman with Rep. Ros-Lehtinen’s background and experiences could probably play baseball a little better than a white male who didn’t have those experiences…
/snark
June 17th, 2009 at 9:47 amIs ‘09 the ‘Year of the Corporations’? They now have more clout on issues of privacy, health care, taxes, finances and more than America’s voters.
Nope, it is more The Year They Came Out of the Closet. It would be real nice if it was also The Year the Public Finally Woke Up.
June 17th, 2009 at 9:47 amFirst: I wish the citizens of the USA would have exhibited the same outrage at our stolen election as the Iranian people are showing in their country.
Second and perhaps more sadly: Iran is a theocracy. They can masquerade as a pseudo-democracy but a bad election is no election and the Ayatollah still calls the shots from sidelines.
Hmmmm, come to think about it, moon bat pat and his fanatics would love turn the USA into a theocracy.
June 17th, 2009 at 9:48 amMCMetal Says:
Here’s a shout-out to a typical holier-than-thou hypocrite , GOP Senator John Ensign from Nevada …….
Way to cheat on your wife there with a married former campaign staffer while repeatedly voting against same-sex marriage , jackass ………..
Buttt, it was all them dang gays weakening the institution of marriage that made him cheat on his wife.
June 17th, 2009 at 9:51 am“Wall Street seems to maybe have a shorter memory about how close we were to the abyss than I would have expected,” Obama said
No, they remember how you are willing to throw bundles of money at them with no strings attached when they screw up. They like the set up they have, privatized profit and socialized losses.
June 17th, 2009 at 9:56 amBobwurst Says:
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MCMetal Says:
Here’s a shout-out to a typical holier-than-thou hypocrite , GOP Senator John Ensign from Nevada …….
Way to cheat on your wife there with a married former campaign staffer while repeatedly voting against same-sex marriage , jackass ………..
Buttt, it was all them dang gays weakening the institution of marriage that made him cheat on his wife.
June 17th, 2009 at 9:51 am
Because bedding women other than his wife proves he’s really hetero through-and-through ?
I believe that proves he’s a hypocrite and an imbecile , and not much else……..
June 17th, 2009 at 9:57 amEnsign is also a Promise Keeper, you know, the moral majority Christian mens club, and was also vocal in calling for Clinton to step down after Lewinski because, according to Ensign, “He has no credibility left.”
Will Ensign step down? Did he subject his wife to the cameras like Larry Craig and David Vitter?
PEACE
June 17th, 2009 at 9:57 amIran’s Revolutionary Guard “has warned online media of a crackdown over their coverage of the country’s election crisis.” It “said through the state news service that Iranian Web sites and bloggers must remove any materials that ‘create tension’ or face legal action.” “Iranian authorities appear to have successfully blocked all access to Facebook, MySpace and Twitter Wednesday morning.”
There’s a reason tea kettles are made with a mechanism to allow steam to escape, otherwise the kettle will explode. The ruling party of the Shah tried to also completely suppress the people; the result was the 1979 Revolution in Iran. I think we may be witnessing history here. The Supreme Ruler, Ali Khamenei, is calling on the protestors to unite behind the ruling mullahs, despite their anger. His interest is maintaining the real power behind the throne and I believe he’ll go as far as withdrawing his support completely from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad eventually in order to do so. Here’s an interesting story today from the NYT.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/17/world/middleeast/17tehran.html?hpw
June 17th, 2009 at 10:00 amOMG! DID YOU SEE IT?!!!
it was SO distressing! … what kind of person did we elect???
he really WILL hurt a fly!!!
(it WAS awesome, not?)
June 17th, 2009 at 10:06 am“The number of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people killed in bias-motivated incidents increased…”
look for more after CBS Sunday Morning rebroadcast of a segment about a town in colorado:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/07/sunday/main4423154.shtml
i sure hope not… the townspeople seem aware and protective…
June 17th, 2009 at 10:10 amBobwurst says: Buttt, it was all them dang gays weakening the institution of marriage that made him cheat on his wife.
McMetal says: Because bedding women other than his wife proves he’s really hetero through-and-through ? I believe that proves he’s a hypocrite and an imbecile , and not much else……..
No, it was the gay marriage that weakened the institution of holy, white marriage with it’s pink aura.
Think of gay marriage as cotton candy, pretty and pink and cloud-like, and when it comes into contact with traditional marriage which is like the enamel on a well flossed set of bright white teeth. A traditional marriage is like a set of teeth, both need constant vigilance in order to keep them strong, You need to clean both, three times a day, and after snacks, you need to floss regularly (and with an approved floss) and then along comes a big wad of cotton candy BAM! before you know it, you have cavities in your marriage. We’re all just lucky Ensign caught the decay before he was trolling for s random butt sex in the men’s room at MPLS International Airport…
June 17th, 2009 at 10:11 amHaving an affair with the wife of an employee, while separated from his own wife and only coming clean because he was threatened with blackmail.
With rah rah support like this, is it any wonder marriage is in trouble?
June 17th, 2009 at 10:11 amBobwurst Says:
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We’re all just lucky Ensign caught the decay before he was trolling for s random butt sex in the men’s room at MPLS International Airport…
June 17th, 2009 at 10:11 am
Ensign is one of the Republicans that insisted that Craig resign/step down ……..How ironic and typically hypocritical ; let’s see if Johnny boy follows his own advice.
I’m betting against it……..
June 17th, 2009 at 10:17 am#3 McMetal
June 17th, 2009 at 10:22 amI understand that Ensign had an affair with an aide, whose husband also worked for Ensign. They have both since left his employ — BUT it was the cuckolded spouse who supposedly went to Ensign with blackmail — so Ensign had to come forward. Ensign was one of the “self-righteous” who at one time refused to be alone in a car with a female.
Hahahahahahaha. These sex-obsessed, repressed, hypocrites are all the same — put them in a bag, shake it up, pour them out and you can’t tell one from another.
OOps, I see a few of you have already reported on the blackmail/Ensign part — sorry, I should have read all the posts first.
June 17th, 2009 at 10:23 amEnsign is one of the Republicans that insisted that Craig resign/step down ……..How ironic and typically hypocritical ; let’s see if Johnny boy follows his own advice.
I’m betting against it……..
He also came out strongly against Clinton’s sexual diversions…
Decrying what you are is rule one in the republican playbook.
June 17th, 2009 at 10:24 amBush accusing others of hating our freedoms
Bush questioning Kerry’s war record
you get the picture…
I saw the interview this morn where President Obama nailed a fly that was annoying him.
June 17th, 2009 at 10:28 amCue in the false outrage by the reich-wingnuts for his cruelty to animals.
Wow — out of 29 comments so far this morning, 17 are about Ensign and 2 about “the fly.” “Look, something shiny!” Jeez.
June 17th, 2009 at 10:33 amMCMetal Says:
gummble
Are you talking about Gavin Newsome ?
Got it! He’s the guy and apparently none the worse for the affair. Still the mayor of SF and it looks like he’s in the running for governor. He was shtupping the wife of his campaign manager.
June 17th, 2009 at 10:36 amwinddancer Says:
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Wow — out of 29 comments so far this morning, 17 are about Ensign and 2 about “the fly.” “Look, something shiny!” Jeez.
June 17th, 2009 at 10:33 am
And what did you post about ?
Iran ?
Yeah , straighten out their election after our own 2000 and 2004 presidential election results were fraudulent ……..Sheesh
June 17th, 2009 at 10:38 amgummble-bee-itch Says:
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MCMetal Says:
gummble
Are you talking about Gavin Newsome ?
Got it! He’s the guy and apparently none the worse for the affair. Still the mayor of SF and it looks like he’s in the running for governor. He was shtupping the wife of his campaign manager.
June 17th, 2009 at 10:36 am
Newsome had that affair during the divorce of his 1st wife , a FAUX news talking head…….
June 17th, 2009 at 10:40 amMCMetal Says:
winddancer Says:
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Wow — out of 29 comments so far this morning, 17 are about Ensign and 2 about “the fly.” “Look, something shiny!” Jeez.
June 17th, 2009 at 10:33 am
And what did you post about ?
Iran ?
Yeah , straighten out their election after our own 2000 and 2004 presidential election results were fraudulent ……..Sheesh
I said nothing about Iran straightening out their election. After our own elections of 2002 and 2004, the U.S. has little standing to criticize other countries’ elections. My comment was about the dissention in the country, which is not just about the election, but what the people see as a completely corrupt governmental/ruling system, and that it may give rise to another revolution.
June 17th, 2009 at 10:47 amIf I may weigh in on the Ensign affair.
I will continue to criticize him for his hypocrisy. What I am getting sick and tired of is the constant barrage by the media (and us) for information of the infidelity of others. WHO CARES? And, WHY DO WE NEED TO KNOW??
There are circumstances that we as outsiders are not privy to, and should not have such luxury.
The whole Clinton fiasco started this mess, and it continues to snow ball.
First, we are humans, driven by a sexual nature. Some can control their urges, some can’t. I will not judge either, as I’m only concerned about my wife and I, not others.
Second, some view marriage as a legal bond, and that’s all. They are free to do whatever they like. Again, I don’t judge.
Third, I have a friend, whose wife’s libido has so drastically dropped after two kids, she has given the green light for him to potentially dilly dally somewhere else, as long as she never knows about it. I don’t judge.
I think, we as a society (left and right) need to get out and stay out of others bedrooms. Whatever a couple (or more) decide to engage in, and as long as it involves cooperation and NOT underage children, leave it be!!!
Infidelity and adultery carry undeniable scars and pain, which is intensified under the media lights.
Forgiveness and recovery should be done in private, and not printed under every newspaper’s headline.
And I’m tired of the tit for tat (pun not intended) criticism, like pointing the finger at Edwards when Ensign is mentioned.
Both men should be left alone!
Both wives should be left alone!
Both mistresses should be left alone!
Sorry, I’m off my soap box now. I am not defending Ensign, or what he has done. And his hypocrisy does deserve the wrath. It’s his private life, that needs to be kept…PRIVATE!
June 17th, 2009 at 10:48 amwinddancer Says:
Wow — out of 29 comments so far this morning, 17 are about Ensign and 2 about “the fly.” “Look, something shiny!” Jeez.
good thing it’s the morning OPEN THREAD, huh…
but i have heard enough about ensign… he will slide, of course…
June 17th, 2009 at 10:49 amwinddancer Says:
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I said nothing about Iran straightening out their election. After our own elections of 2002 and 2004, the U.S. has little standing to criticize other countries’ elections. My comment was about the dissention in the country, which is not just about the election, but what the people see as a completely corrupt governmental/ruling system, and that it may give rise to another revolution.
June 17th, 2009 at 10:47 am
Their last revolution in ‘79 worked out real well , didn’t it ?
June 17th, 2009 at 10:50 amDRxJ Says:
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June 17th, 2009 at 10:48 am
When you deny civil rights to Americans like Ensign has done by claiming that marriage is “sacred” and is only to be between a man and a woman , his conduct/behavior should be open to any and all scrutiny ……..
June 17th, 2009 at 10:54 amCheers for McCaskill, this is positive change. In 8 years of the Bush administration, there was scant criticism of Bush from Republicans. When something is done wrong, or requires greater scrutiny, I want Democrats to step up and not ‘fear’ bad publicity to another party member. It’s this type of entitled mentality that has lead to fringe Republicans complaining about ‘blame America first’ when one suggests doing something better. Let the Democratic Party always be open to continual improvement.
June 17th, 2009 at 10:54 amMCMetal,
June 17th, 2009 at 10:58 amPoint taken.
DRxJ says:
FYI; It was Ronnie (Bonzo) Ray-gun who said Government is not the solution, but the problem and ushered in the deregulation mania which created the dire straights we find ourselves in today.
June 17th, 2009 at 11:08 amGet the Government off our backs he said. What he did not say was, the Government would be going into our bedrooms.
DRxJ Says:
[...]
I have a friend, whose wife’s libido has so drastically dropped
…she has given the green light for him to potentially dilly dally …
and i will assume you got that info from BOTH people…
some alarms went off, especially with “as long as she never knows”…
gives him a big advantage there…
2 kids and a low libido are not a good enough reason to expose yourselves to STDs or worse…
tell your friend to get more acquainted with his own hand, AND
with his wife… she just wants to be more than a receptacle…
just sayin’…
June 17th, 2009 at 11:09 amOne more thing about Ensign’s predicament,
I love the smell of schadenfreude in the morning.
June 17th, 2009 at 11:09 amYes katy, confirmed by both sides. As far as I know, said male friend, who is now Catholic, never indulged in any extra curricular activity. Nor do I need to know.
Again, I am not defending infidelity, or trying to condone it.
I just wish the trials and tribulations of a marriage or partnership could be outside of the media eye.
June 17th, 2009 at 11:19 amDRxJ: Let me see how this works: If this is not reported, how do we know about the hypocrisy? Politicians and other public figures are fair game. That’s the way life is in the human tribe, just like when your mom and mine talked about their neighbors over the back fence.
June 17th, 2009 at 11:30 amHPJoker.
But where does it end?
Did we really need to know of Reverend Jesse Jackson’s affair, after he prayed with the Clinton’s over their problems?
Did we really need to know Bill Cosby’s affair, even though he starred in and produced a family oriented show?
What’s next?
Not allowing a local county Sheriff to serve because we have photographic evidence of him renting porn from the early 90s?
There are time that I wished our gossip needing frenzy could subside.
June 17th, 2009 at 11:39 amAnd it’s not about just infidelity. I really don’t care about Jake and Kate’s problems.
Nor Brittney’s.
Nor Brad and Angelina’s.
But yet, I promise you can’t even pass one local check out lane without the headlines blaring one of the above.
Sorry. JOHN and Kate’s problems.
June 17th, 2009 at 11:40 amI’ve got little patience for a self-righteous preacher for a senator who calls for a sitting president presiding over a robust economy and high approval ratings to resign because there’s “nothing left.” Either he drops all opposition to gay marriage and equal rights or he gets hounded from office. We’ve been dealing with these vultures and their trivial pursuits for too long. All that matters, they ignore. And look at the shape the country’s in for it.
June 17th, 2009 at 11:59 amDRxj sez: Sorry, I’m off my soap box now. I am not defending Ensign, or what he has done. And his hypocrisy does deserve the wrath. It’s his private life, that needs to be kept…PRIVATE!
I beg to differ, DR…whenever anyone enters public life, especially politics, their life is no longer private–especially when they spew hypocritical outraged mewlings about the sexual behavior of other politicians and publically condemn them with righteous indignation. THAT’s what we’re all so outraged about. And while I’m at it, Sarah Palin should be muzzled….she chose to trot out her entire family–with Bristol’s baby daddy– including the Down’s Syndrome baby, on the national stage at the Rethuglican convention for political gain and continued to drag the entire retinue of kids to every possible event, even at 11pm many times, and then is SHOCKED, I tell you, SHOCKED when a late night host makes a crude joke about the 18 year old daughter–the one who’s blitzing the country and pop culture magazines, with baby, babbling about abstinence not working. Well, DUH! Dave Letterman has apologized twice on national TV and Palin is still making political hay a week or more later by dragging in the troops and citing the Second Amendment (incorrectly, I might add–whodda thunkit?). So, don’t get all holier than thou and defend these wretches to everyone…they reap what they sow. Now, I’ll get down off MY soapbox. Peace.
June 17th, 2009 at 12:32 pm