ThinkFast: June 23, 2009
ThinkFast: June 23, 2009
This week, Obama and his allies are “launching a public relations blitz to bolster the case for health care reform,” resulting in a “huge burst of health care cheerleading before Congress breaks for the July Fourth recess at the end of the week.” White House aides remain hopeful that “that floor consideration in the Senate and House can be completed next month, as originally planned.”
52 percent: Americans who give President Obama “high marks for his response to the crisis in Iran,” according to a new ABC News/Washington Post poll. Thirty-six percent disapprove of how he is handling the situation. When it comes to Obama’s “handling of foreign affairs in general,” 61 percent approve while 32 percent disapprove.
Iran’s Guardian Council today “ruled out the possibility of nullifying the country’s disputed presidential election that returned hard-liner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power, saying it could find no evidence of any ‘major’ irregularities.” The council’s spokesman said most of the irregularities occurred before the election, “which he suggested were outside the scope of the Guardian Council’s authority.”
After having been reported missing, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford’s whereabouts have been determined. His staff said late Monday that the governor is hiking on the Appalachian Trail. Neither Sanford’s office nor the State Law Enforcement Division had been able to reach Sanford since he left the mansion Thursday in a black Suburban SUV. His last known location was near Atlanta late last week.
At 12:30 PM today, President Obama will hold his fourth domestic press conference “as he seeks to re-focus the political debate amid criticism of his approach to the ongoing protests in Iran and lingering doubts about the state of he economy and the viability of his health care reform proposal.” A senior White House official told The Washington Post that Obama wants to “address the questions directly.”
Senate Republicans announced yesterday that they will “begin formally making their case against the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court on Tuesday with a series of [floor] speeches questioning her involvement in a Puerto Rican civil rights group and her positions on a number of legal issues.”
A new report from the Government Accountability Office has found that “[w]hen people on the government’s terrorist watch list have tried to buy guns or explosives in recent years, the government has let them the vast majority of the time.” Ninety percent of the 963 background checks that matched with terrorist watch list records were allowed to proceed “because the checks revealed no prohibiting information.”
Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad called yesterday “for the establishment of a Palestinian state within two years, a timeline he said is possible if Israel upholds its existing commitments and Palestinians ‘roll up their sleeves.’” “I call upon you all to line up on the project of state-building, good government and proper management so the Palestinian state can be a reality,” said Fayyad.
Census officials have said that married same-sex couples will be counted as such in the 2010 national tally, “reversing an earlier decision made under the Bush administration.” Professor Gary Gates explains the important and valuable ramifications this decision will have.
And finally: On Friday, MSNBC host Rachel Maddow “gained valuable self-knowledge” while tending bar at the after-party of the annual Radio and Television Correspondents’ Association Dinner. When asked what she learned from the night, Maddow replied, “I am the slowest, clumsiest bartender known to mankind. Josey Packard [of Drink in Boston] and the other real bartenders I was working alongside were very nice to me, but it was like they were a NASCAR pit crew and I’d never seen a wrench before.” ThinkProgress attended the event and captured a picture of Maddow bartending here.
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Now why would we need a public-relations blitz for health care reform? The public is all for it–it’s Obama and Congress who are holding things back.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:06 amPalestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad called yesterday “for the establishment of a Palestinian state within two years, a timeline he said is possible if Israel upholds its existing commitments and Palestinians ‘roll up their sleeves.’”
____________
However, due to the ongoing Israeli blockade, Palestinians in Ghaza are suffering a massive sleeve shortage.
Perhaps if they can smuggle some in from Egypt they’ll have some sleeves to roll up.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:07 amWe all know the Watch List actually has very few known or suspected terrorists an/or terrorist associates in it and that most of the names in it simply shouldn’t be in it at all..
BUT , well derrh!!!
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:08 amA new report from the Government Accountability Office has found that “[w]hen people on the government’s terrorist watch list have tried to buy guns or explosives in recent years, the government has let them the vast majority of the time.”
You can’t get on a plane, but you want some semi-automatic firearms, black powder, C4, and a little dynamite?
Well… that’s o.k. (how else will they be able to blow up abortion clinics with people inside or shoot up those liberal churches?)
There are NO such things as “basic human rights”, except the right to arm bears.
Better to have guns and explosives than healthcare.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:09 amThe “blitz” must be for the press and the congress to get on board with health care — the public – 72% is for it.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:11 amThe blitz is necessary in order to pry health care from Congress, when their fists are already clenching wads of cash from insurance lobbyists.
“Outside the scope” is one way for the Iranian council to duck the issue of fraud that was the whole purpose for their existence. Nice try. But this settles nothing.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:12 amIran’s Guardian Council today “ruled out the possibility of nullifying the country’s disputed presidential election that returned hard-liner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power, saying it could find no evidence of any “major” irregularities.”
When the people who operate the election ‘machinery’ are the ones who rigged the vote, it is unlikely to expect them to find themselves guilty of fraud… (just look at America in 2000….).
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:13 amWTF
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:13 amHow does a person on a terrorist watch list get a weapon?
Marie Says:
WTF
How does a person on a terrorist watch list get a weapon?
With a credit card or cash, you silly person.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:14 amMarie Says:
WTF
How does a person on a terrorist watch list get a weapon?
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:13 am
_____________
I think the more critical question is why, considering that most of the people on the list were anti-war protestors and peace activists.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:15 ameasy, they drive to get it instead of flying
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:15 amwhere is Another Joe to whine that this post isn’t about the one and only topic that any site should be allowed to discuss?
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:16 amor watchpuppy and his list of spam?
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:17 amchiroptera toasterhead Says:
I think the more critical question is why, considering that most of the people on the list were anti-war protestors and peace activists.
No need to be so pedantic at this hour….
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:19 amTerrorists don’t have rights against illegal searches and seizures, they don’t have the right to a speedy trial, and they don’t have the right that protects them against cruel and unusual punishment. but they do have the right to bear arms…
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:20 amI’m glad President Obama sees the need for a public relations blitz to sell his health care reform. The moneyed interests against it will spare no expense to ensure the status quo is kept, so I hope Obama pulls out all the stops.
It’s vitally important that the lies and spin from the other side are called out for what they are.
People have to realize that having a “bureaucrat standing between you and your doctor” isn’t a threat — particularly when most of us have to deal with some corporate goon whose job it is to deny payment standing between us and our doctors now.
People have to realize that a public plan operates alongside what we have now. It doesn’t replace it.
People have to realize that we are ALREADY footing the bill for uninsured people — and it’s a high price tag. Uninsured people who don’t get regular checkups and preventative testing wind up getting sicker. When they wind up in an emergency room with a preventable condition, we all end up paying for it.
People have to realize that when they say, “I shouldn’t have to pay for somebody else’s health care,” they’re already doing just that. Employers who provide health insurance for their employees adjust the price of their goods and services to pay for that benefit. We pay for somebody else’s health insurance every time we go to the grocery store, every time we stop at Starbuck’s, every time we buy gas, every time we rent a DVD — even every time we turn on a light or make a phone call. If we’re going to pay for other people’s health care anyway, why limit it to just those fortunate enough to be employed at the right place?
So I wish Obama luck on this sales job. He has formidable competition.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:22 amThis week, Obama and his allies are “launching a public relations blitz to bolster the case for health care reform,” resulting in a “huge burst of health care cheerleading before Congress breaks for the July Fourth recess at the end of the week.”
I for one will be BLITZING my Rep, Jay Inslee and both Senators daily for a public plan, and single payer.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:22 amThey’re already tired of me, I intend to make them positively sick of me .
Senate Republicans announced yesterday that they will “begin formally making their case against the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor
The party of “NO” already know that they will accept no proposals or nominations that are not 100% ideologically agreeable to their rigid ideology.
gNOp. Marching on to the tune of obstinante obstructionism at the expense of democracy, decency, morality, and lots of other words ending in “-y”.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:23 amNinety percent of the 963 background checks that matched with terrorist watch list records were allowed to proceed “because the checks revealed no prohibiting information.”
What the hell good is a terrorist watch list if those on the list can buy guns? Is the information too classified to tell anyone without having to kill them?
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:24 amIs Ted Kennedy allowed to fly on airplanes?
Geebutxz,. sumbuddy fix this..!
Yo! Publicans! Make your case against Ms Sotomayor. Make it crystalmethclear to America that you are the party of old white guys. Go ahead. Make our day.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:27 amHow does a person on a terrorist watch list get a weapon?
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:27 am— Something about being an armed militia
RantingTommy Says:
or watchpuppy and his list of spam?
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:17 am
____________
Here, I’ll recreate that experience for ya:
Obama the Anti-Semite Muslim Atheist?
President Obombo once lived next door to a guy who was friends with a guy who once sat behind a guy on the bus who ranted about the “evil Jews.”
Global warming? More like global NOT warming!
It was cold in Antarctica today. Guess all that “science” ain’t so “science” now, eh? Global warming is just a plot by the Jews and communists to make us play outside!!!!
DEMS SO CORRUPT OMG
Some Democrat you never heard of from some place you never heard of did something unethical as reported by some newspaper you never heard of.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:27 amHere’s to hopin’ Obama can build support for meaningful healthcare reform during this blitz.
In many ways, the future of his administration rests squarely on the success of real change.
He has more than 3 out of 4 Americans supporting what they know of his original plan, so this is do-able.
We can’t listen to the repugs and blue-dogs that tell us “no-can-do” for any variety of make-believe reasons. We cannot let the backwash and faux pundits drive this debate.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:29 amA new report from the Government Accountability Office has found that “[w]hen people on the government’s terrorist watch list have tried to buy guns or explosives in recent years, the government has let them the vast majority of the time.”
__________________________________________________________
And the sad part is that the NRA would probably fight to the death to protect their right to do so.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:30 amRUCeriousMaggot!
It kept people that wrote bad things about dur chimpfurher and the criminal cabal behind his administration on the no-fly list and off airplanes.
Yes – could be a major inconvenience and hassle, but it also made it more difficult for them to spread the word on the criminality.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:30 amAnother Joe Says:
We can’t listen to the repugs and blue-dogs that tell us “no-can-do” for any variety of make-believe reasons. We cannot let the backwash and faux pundits drive this debate.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:29 am
____________
You’re right. “We” can’t. So what are “we” doing about it besides whining about it 24/7 on a liberal blog?
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:31 amchiroptera toasterhead Says
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:27 a
Here, I’ll recreate that experience for ya:
_________________________________________________________
OMG — you nailed it!
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:31 amNinety percent of the 963 background checks that matched with terrorist watch list records were allowed to proceed “because the checks revealed no prohibiting information.”
_____________________________________________________________
Does this mean that the terrorist watch list has a lot of people on it for no valid reason, or does this mean that background checks do a lousy job of screening?
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:32 ambackwash, backwash
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:33 ambackpack, backpack…
toasterhead, I fear watchpuppy will have no need to report for duty now that you’ve made his morning rounds for him.
It was eerie, too.
Someone page watchpuppy and tell him he can take the morning off, have another bowl of Fruity Pebbles if he wants.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:35 amchiroptera toasterhead Says:
Classic.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:35 ammisscoleopteramolly Says:
Does this mean that the terrorist watch list has a lot of people on it for no valid reason, or does this mean that background checks do a lousy job of screening?
Both.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:36 amCageyCreti
And when a nation has a long history of covert operations, toppling regimes in that region and around the world…
And when that country has a media structure that walks in lockstep, “catapulting” the propaganda…
You can’t expect to have any real understanding of what is happening from outside that country – especially if your source of “news” are the same folks that told us the following lies:
*chimpy was “presidential material” and had an honorable service record
*he “won” in 2000
*9/11 was masterminded by an outside terrorist group (it was an inside job)
*Iraq had WMD
*Sadam was part of 9/11 and a grave threat to US
*Economy was “strong” – this is actually what chimpy ran on in 2004 cuz most everything else was a disaster
*dur chimpfurher “won” in 2004
*warrantless spying was about national security and dems had no choice but to capitulate to the most unpopular president in modern US history
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:36 amAnother Joe, that’s a very cogent comment at #23, well observed and stated.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:37 amRachel Maddow should totally auction/raffle her bartending skills for charity. =D
<3 Rachel
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:37 amCensus officials have said that married same-sex couples will be counted as such in the 2010 national tally, “reversing an earlier decision made under the Bush administration.”
____________________________________________________________
The Bush administration supported the conservative viewpoint that gays must be kept invisible. This way, we can pretend they don’t exist.
The census should not be politicized. It should do what it’s intended to do, and that is to count us. As we really are — not what a political faction would like us to be.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:39 amThis makes the data-nerd in me very happy.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:39 amWhy didn’t they think to check the bathroom stalls at the Atlanta airport? They could have just looked to see someone with a wide stance, who was tapping his toe.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:40 amDon’t worry tommy – they will throw you more “red meat” later. I see you are part of the crowd that enjoys that 24/7 backwash bloggin’
Guess to some, it makes them feel better to highlight the most absurd that the “other” guys have to offer instead of looking forward and discussing meaningful change.
Don’t worry – it the past week and one half are any indication, you will get you endless posts about marginalized, irrelevant repugs/neocns that do/say something stupid.
Notice how anything of substance about healthcare – if mentioned at all, has been lumped into a “think fast” compilation. Then, the parade of ignorance starts, featuring one insane wingnut after another.
Glad you enjoy the backwash – but many of us prefer a fresh drink.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:40 amtoasterhead,
That may be the most hilarious, and accurate, parody of any troll.
EVER!
Bravo, sir!
Or, should I say BRILLIANT!
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:42 amwow, Another Joe, STILL whining
don’t you EVER get tired of crying and whining and b!tching?
silly little crybaby
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:43 amIt means they give right-wing domestic terrorists a pass, because they are afraid of criticism by the Republican insurgents.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:43 amI agree 23 is a good one. I especially like the thoughtful tone
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:43 amNeither Sanford’s office nor the State Law Enforcement Division had been able to reach Sanford since he left the mansion Thursday in a black Suburban SUV.
Nice that a sitting govenor can just up and walk away from the job, appaerently without telling anyone at all where he was going. I guess he has unlimited discretionary vacation? Did his office even notice that he was missing?
If I didn’t show up for work for a week and did not call anyone at the office to tell them why I wouldn’t be in, I’d have no job.
What makes this @sshat so special?
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:44 amWhat am I doing?
Making sure people see the hypocracy of giving those that could act a free pass and blogging all morning about pat buchanan being photographed under a sign with a typo (and the typo in the post itself telling us awful misspellings are).
I do much more to across diverse communities, but do that “in person”, not anonymously on a board.
Here, just getting some to think about the hypocracy of holding one side to literal standards of truth and letting the other side capitulate constantly to those folks is enough.
But many see it – you don’t and that’s OK. You will see much more about it though.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:44 amSouth Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford’s whereabouts have been determined. His staff said late Monday that the governor is hiking on the Appalachian Trail.
And you can kiss Mr. Sanford’s possible presidential bid GOOD-BYE!
Who wants a president who buckles under pressure and then disappears for days?
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:45 amHave we not learned anything from Bush, and those miserable 8 years?
looks like joe thinks this is the only web site on the internet
he should get out more
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:46 amI like how dbadass totally owned AJ last night
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:47 amAnd he wasn’t even clearing brush.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:47 amFolks with convictions never tire – endless bloggin about the backwash to the exclusion of meaningful dialog about what the folks in the driver’s seat needs to always be called on.
More people understand this than you think, but cheer on the 24/4 backwash coverage if you prefer. Hypocrisy does not play well to the majority of people no matter whether it is down to promote the right or to provide cover for the “opposition”.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:49 amHypocracy = as in govt. by hypocrites? vs. “Democracy” (.e.g.), ‘theocracy’ etc?
Neologisms! I like it.
The purpose of sites like this one is mainly to keep the faithful stoked up, to keep the kool-aid fresh and chill.
Althusser on Institutional State Apparati, and Gramsci on Hegemony explain it all for you.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:50 amAnother Joe Says:
Notice how even when ThinkProgress says something about my pet issue, I don’t stop throwing hissy-fits because they supposedly won’t address my pet issue.
We noticed, honey.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:50 amHiking the Appalachian Trail for four days and no one knows where you are. Right.
It takes me a week to get my shit together for a weeekend hike. And that fop Sanford isn’t the kind of guy who is going to be uncomfortable for four days.
My money’s on a cheap hotel in Atlanta, a ziplock of crystal meth and a 14 year old boy hooker.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:50 amThrow tommy some red meat. Somewhere, someone must have a picture of newt scratching his crotch on camera or something.
Anything fill up the pages that distracts from the folks that matter and the issues that American’s overwhelmingly agree on!
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:50 amI think the “war on drugs” is the biggest issue facing our country. It is what is bankrupting our economy, fomenting disrespect for law, encouraging corrupt police, and financing gangs of criminals.
Fortunately, I don’t feel the need to whine on every single thread of TP and complain that TP is not focusing 100% on this issue.
I’d be as annoying as AJ if I did that.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:51 amkeep telling yourself that tommy…
The post about newt’s crotch will be up for you soon…
Did b@ss ever get that primate stuff off his dirty face?
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:52 amgrow up Joe, start your own blog, then YOU can pick the topics
of course, no-one will come to listen to you whine, so you have to come here to a successful site to whine
silly little whiner
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:53 amNo other site has made the abrupt about-face from covering progressive issues to the inane and insane.
Enjoy the trivial and inconsequential if you need that “red meat” (though d@ss seems to need a different color of substance from male primates).
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:53 amAnother Joe Says:
Glad you enjoy the backwash – but many of us prefer a fresh drink.
You Do seem to spend a LOT of time here complaining about the “backwash”, which means that you, regardless of your posts, are also partaking of this same backwash.
That said, some of your posts contain thoughtful comments (I agree about @23 above), however the inordinate amount of time spent complaining about the topics of this blog is excessively redundant, and does not serve a useful purpose — your opinion of what SHOULD constitute the subjects of this blog will not alter the actual content of this blog.
The question is not “what are you doing”, as your purpose comes through your comments.
The question is, why are you STILL coming here, as you have made your point repeatedly and practically ubiquitously?
You seem to miss the reasons that all the other people come here to post in your assumptions of what the topics should be.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:53 amshorter Joe: “I can only handle one topic, make TP stop talking about other issues!!!”
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:53 amwe get it, you think this site sux
you should boycott it if you want to be believed
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:54 amStill I wonder why someone that is not satisfied continues to frequent the same bar
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:54 amnanlichi, my money is on the airport bathroom stalls at Atlanta Int’l aeroporte.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:54 amtoasterhead — you made the day!
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:55 amBig multi tasker, cagey, when working it is on my taskbar.
There was a time when this was a great source of news and information.
Now it is only a good source if you want the latest on spelling “grammar” and need pics of buchanan standing under a misspelled sign (that he probably had nothing to do with).
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:55 am(Yawn)
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:56 amAnother day, Another Joe, complaining about his perceived irrelevant topics.
Tommy – Now I can see what we will never see this on the same plane.
Your idea of an “issue” is how to spell grammar and conference and why buchanan was photographed under a sign.
To each his own, man…
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:57 amNo, a Republican would never do such a thing!
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:57 amDoubt that he would have to pick up men in a bathroon now – there is a chimp in TX now with nothing to do.
My bet is he is blowin’ chimpy.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:58 amwrong joe, my idea of a topic is MANY things, not just ONE thing
YOU are a one trick pony
and a pathetic, whiny one at that
PLENTY of threads on this site and many others about health care reform
all you want to do is whine that you don’t get to dictate the topics on this site
you are a whiny little irrelevant b!tch
dismissed
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:59 amI can tell you aren’t a Republican. You forgot the Viagra.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:59 amnanlichi Says:
My money’s on a cheap hotel in Atlanta, a ziplock of crystal meth and a 14 year old boy hooker.
shoeless Says:
No, a Republican would never do such a thing!
But, isn’t that what “clearing brush” is a republican euphamism for? (yeah, bad sentence structure. I’m not fixin’ it…. So there!)
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:59 amWell there are important issues here…
Like whether or not spelling and grammar are now owned by the left or the right.
And if TP didn’t give the marginalized and unknown coverage on the net, no one would know just how meaningless and irrelevant what they say or do is.
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:01 amand joe still cries
poor baby, no power to dictate the topics on blogs
only the power to whine
sad little crybaby
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:02 amBreaking News (from a source that has continually expanded its coverage since launching a blog – TMP):
Gov Sanford will return to his office tomorrow!
Amazingly enough, his staff says they are astounded that anyone noticed he was gone!
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:03 amtime for OFnF on Another Joe
he’s just here to complain about TP, nothing else
it is tiresome, boring, and silly
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:04 amRUCeriousMaggot,
He might have trolled the airport for the companion, then back to the cheap hotel for the debauchery.
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:04 amIran’s Guardian Council today “ruled out the possibility of nullifying the country’s disputed presidential election that returned hard-liner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power, saying it could find no evidence of any ‘major’ irregularities.” The council’s spokesman said most of the irregularities occurred before the election, “which he suggested were outside the scope of the Guardian Council’s authority.”
How convenient for them — but I very much doubt that most of the Iranian people are going to take this lying down. How do you say “civil war” in Farsi, I wonder?
After having been reported missing, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford’s whereabouts have been determined. His staff said late Monday that the governor is hiking on the Appalachian Trail. Neither Sanford’s office nor the State Law Enforcement Division had been able to reach Sanford since he left the mansion Thursday in a black Suburban SUV. His last known location was near Atlanta late last week.
The man couldn’t have left a note?? Or at least told someone where he was going? What in the world was he thinking? Even most private citizens — and Sanford is not one — can’t just disappear suddenly for four days with no advance notice or warning without someone taking notice and becoming concerned. It was highly irresponsible for Sanford to take time off without notifying anyone on his staff of his plans and his whereabouts — which seems to have been the case, since the reports state that nobody at his office knew where he had gone and that they had no way to reach him. The fact that his wife didn’t seem too worried about him hints that she may have had some idea where he went — but if she or someone on his staff knew where he was, why was it necessary to involve the state authorities? Maybe Sanford was suffering from stress and felt the need to get away from it all — it happens to the best of us. However, if the average private citizen were to stroll away from his/her job and simply disappear for a day or two without saying anything to anyone — especially these days! — that person would be in serious trouble upon his/her return, and quite rightly so. In fact, they might not have a job anymore when they reappeared! And the average private citizen isn’t responsible for an entire state! (If Sanford had been a Democrat, there’s no doubt in my mind that Republicans would be calling this a dereliction of duty.)
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:05 amone-trick pony is all backwash all the time to the exclusion of news, information, and commentary on the folks that actually can choose to create change or to undermine it.
Maybe to you, campaign slogans like “yes we can” are just chants.
There are others that will hold people that make those claims responsible for matching their actions to their rhetoric to generate votes.
Perhaps to you, hypocracy only matters when it is coming from the right, but that attitude will never maintain and build a national coalition of support.
Some progressives/liberals actually want to see that change and will hold politicians of either part accountable.
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:06 amAJ just whines
same thing every day on every thread
he even whines on threads about his single issue
poor little guy, feeling more irrelevant every day
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:07 amjust a thought… and surely it’s been said before…
but, every time i hear linsthy or mcCREEP or any other R talk about how “we” should stand behind those freedom lovers in iran, i just KNOW they would
be the same bastids who would promote and encourage filling up those “internment camps” that halliburton built if it would come to a people’s
uprising here in the states…
say, in 2000, or 04, or should we get any gumption to fight for the RIGHT
to have health care for ALL…
doncha know…?
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:07 amno one would know just how meaningless and irrelevant what they say or do is.
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:08 am—
Again my question remains why exert so much effort at such a place? Can I please get an answer or do we have to start all over again. This seems a reasonable question or do you not agree?
sorry watchpuppy, your spamming links have already been posted at 22
didn’t Troll Central tell you that you have the morning off?
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:08 amAnd some progressives/liberals actually are able to discuss many different topics of “change”.
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:08 amHere’s an interesting story that is not all backwash:
Democratic lawmakers ask Obama to stop enforcing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
The nation is stronger when we hold our politicians (rep/dem) accountable and here is an example.
Looks like some here want to go back to the days where you either were for the nation’s “decider” or you were against him.
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:09 amAnother Joe Says:
Breaking News (from a source that has continually expanded its coverage since launching a blog – TMP):
I was just about to call you and RT out for getting really tedious, but seriously, why don’t you just go away? Yes, this is a terrible blog and real progressives hate it. So go to another blog. It’s that simple.
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:10 amBluestocking Says:
How can anyone NOT claim that Sanford’s actions weree a dereliction of duty? I mean, REALLY? HOW?
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:11 amMy point exactly – but don’t see how endless posts about how to spell conference, grammar, or what largely discredited repugs have to say, and doing this all day, provides any dialog on change at all.
Exactly my point…
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:11 amhe’s a right winger plant, just here to foment division
no substance whatsoever
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:12 amIt is amazing the the propaganda machine will turn sanford’s abandonment of his family and constituents into some type of a “plus” that indicates he has “character.”
Roughing it out in the Appalachian trails…
Its just another version of the lies about “clearing brush” on the fake ranches ronnie and chimpy owned.
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:13 amAJ LOVES TP
or else he’d quit living here 24/7
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:13 amblotchdog, you are not needed here, as toasterhead parodied you so well.
But alas, you polls are dumber than his parody.
9 out of 10 worry about the stimulus spending.
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:13 amReally?
There’s a shocker.
9 out of 10 worry about flying, doesn’t mean they stop.
9 out of 10 worry about sending their children to college, doesn’t mean they don’t.
9 out of 10 worry about their cholesterol, doesn’t mean the cease to eat at McDonalds occasionally.
The dissent comes from folks like you, tommy, that think the spelling of GRAMMAR and CONFERENCE is the salient issue of the day!
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:13 amone-trick-pony = bringing you the news of the meaningless 24/7 when there are actually important things going on.
There was once a time when there threads were full of enriched content and so many links to resources that a person could be well-informed by just scrolling down these threads.
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:15 am(sigh) I knew AJ would never stop at a single reasonable post…
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:15 amAJ is a binary thinker
he can only see 2 choices
to him, either we obsess over a single issue 24/7 or we are totally unconcerned about it
typical right winger
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:15 amRanting Tommy,
I’ve got to agree with you on the “plant” aspect.
It’s been tried before.
AJ is here to disrupt, and disrupt only. The occasional well thought out post is completely erased by the continuous follow ups which try to paint TP as insignificant and unworthy.
The funny part?
It’s high number of posts actually increases the site’s traffic.
Mucking Foron!
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:16 amSo about that answer to that simple question? It makes you look like a fraud when you avoid it. Why not just answer it? Is it because you are not the uber progressive you wish us to believe
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:20 amDon’t tell AJ, but there is a new thread up that has nothing to do with health care!
OMG!
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:21 amwatchdog Says
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:07 am
________________________________________________________
You’re late today. As you can see, Toasterhead has already posted your usual cut-and-paste list of lame talking points. And he did it better than you.
Your contribution is no longer needed. Not that it ever was…
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:22 amAnother Joe Says:
Maybe to you, campaign slogans like “yes we can” are just chants.
There are others that will hold people that make those claims responsible for matching their actions to their rhetoric to generate votes.
O.k. First of all, I think that you will find wide agreement that politicians should be held accountable to their campaign promises. While it does not create an ethical justification, the fact of that matter is that politicians have never been held accountable to their campaign promises.
However, viewing the actions of politicians has shown that the republicans are wrong-headed on just about everything. The democrats are wrong-headed on many things. What will alter this? NOT whining about the topics of a blog, as you do here, and I have yet to see you complain about THE THING that WILL change this problem — campaign finance reform, and conjunct to that lobby reform.
And, finally, you are clinging to a campaign slogan? If that REALLY is your point, you really need to rethink it. A slogan is not policy, nor an actionable promise, nor methodology. A slogan is advertising: marketing. Search for presidential campaign slogans, and make a quick comparison as to their policy effects: “compassionate conservativism”? How is that something to hold someone politically accountable to? “A chicken in every pot”? Really? Didn’t happen. The list goes on, and a few presidential campaign slogans are bizzarre.
Then there’s the other campaign slogans. I’ll present one: “Cool state, hot governor” (I believe that was it — I’m working from memory this morning). How is that actionable policy? It is not — it is marketing. It is a slogan, and many slogans are completley meaningless.
It’s fine to hold the president accountable to his promises of policy, but it is extremely naiive to claim that a slogan IS policy.
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:22 amralph the wonder locust Says:
(sigh) I knew AJ would never stop at a single reasonable post…
I contend that the first three posts were reasonable… then he got his ‘hate TP’ hat on…. and the rest is history…
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:25 amIt is important to give people chances ralph. Everyday is a new day…
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:25 amdbadass Says:
So about that answer to that simple question?
What’s the question?
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:26 amSee 83
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:26 amI actually had hope that his spanking from dbadass last night might have gotten under his skin and he decided to actually participate in a discussion. That hope was quickly dashed when he resumed his whining ways.
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:27 amdbadass Says:
See 83
Oh… THAT question.
WE know the answer, HE knows the answer, but the whole charade is given away if he answers your question.
(Oh, …I think I asked that same quesiton…. … it’s a good question, considering the level of hate he displayes for the site and the posters here. Even IRI and Mighty Aphrodite from long ago did not dipsparge the site quite this way. I think, though, it has to do with motive…. that is the difference….)
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:33 amgummble-bee-itch Says:
i just started reading after my post at 80… but, it occurred to me that maybe the “TMP” name is supposed to be confused with “TPM” – Talking Points Memo…?
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:35 am.
Ya gotta wonder what the “unsatisfied” people think we shoulda done: Nuke Iran? Draft their kids & invade? Give the Ayatollahs a sterner talking to? What sorta fantasy world do these cornpones live in?
Anyways, there’s other stuff that happened.
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:36 am.
C&L is reporting that Barney Frank has introduced a bill to decriminalize marijuana:
“I think John Stuart Mill had it right in the 1850s,” said Congressman Frank, “when he argued that individuals should have the right to do what they want in private, so long as they don’t hurt anyone else. It’s a matter of personal liberty.
Let’s see if our many “right-leaning libertarians” will get on board with Barney (homophobic epithet here) with this measure. Seems like a natural fit for them, right?
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:37 amAnother Joe Says:
There was once a time when [blah blah blah... blah blah blah...] by just scrolling down these threads.
_____________
And yet you deem it a good use of your time to come back here over and over and over and over and over and over again… just to tell us about it… again and again and again…
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:37 amAJ sort of reminds me of Humanist (now there’s a blast from the past), without being as articulate.
Humanist (for those new here) was a very well educated, thoughtful poster (in the beginning) who posted very progressive ideas and comments.
Later, it seemed to become aggressive and attack others for not standing up to the Bush regime.
The classic was when it criticized me for not taking time off of work, and family, to protest. It even chastised me for posting so regularly at TP.
When I countered that he/she do the same, it hee hawed about being from Europe, and not having the time…YADDA YADDA YADDA.
It eventually quit posting.
Will AJ?
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:42 amWe can only hope
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:46 amWow, DRxJ, I’ve been here long enough to recall most of the trolls of yore, but I don’t recall Humanist.
Weird.
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:52 amThe list of concern trolls who have come and gone gets longer as TP continues to exist. Someday, perhaps, we will fondly look back and sort of miss Another Joe just as we occasionally reminisce about Humanist, Bartlebee, Exley, et al.
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:54 amYeah, well, my reminiscences of Bartlebee end as soon as Waynebro shows up.
I do miss Keltoi, though.
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:57 am‘Now why would we need a public-relations blitz for health care reform? The public is all for it–it’s Obama and Congress who are holding things back.’
Ummm….you’re suggesting the guy LOBBYING for health care reform is holding it back?
Or did you mean the Republicans who have been obstructing EVERY policy initiative Obama has made are holding it back?
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:59 amHow can anyone NOT claim that Sanford’s actions weree a dereliction of duty? I mean, REALLY? HOW? — CageyCretin
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With all due respect, CC, I never said that it wasn’t — it should have been clear from the rest of my post that I think it is a dereliction of responsibility (not to mention intelligence and common courtesy), and that most of us would be in serious trouble by now if we’d chosen to do what Sanford did and go swanning off on a last-minute trip without at least notifying our employers. To all appearances, Sanford seems to think that he’s the boss and that he can do anything he likes — but try as he might to deny it or ignore it, there’s still a step above him in the chain of command. His bosses are the citizens of the state of South Carolina!
The point I was trying to make is that if Sanford were a Democrat, the Republicans would no doubt already be up in arms and out in force to publicly vilify Sanford in the national mainstream media. Where are the Democrats??
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:05 amMaybe Gov. Sanford was too busy at a cross burning
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:15 amralph the wonder locust Says:
Yeah, well, my reminiscences of Bartlebee end as soon as Waynebro shows up.
You caught that too, eh?
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:18 amI remember Humanist. May peace be with us all.
I bet Humanist is watching developments in Iran very closely.
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:19 amNo, even they don’t talk to him.
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:21 amUmmmm, that picture is crooked…
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:49 amI’m not sure trolls ever really leave. I think Another Joe is Stateofthedivision. Same level of pomposity,
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:51 amZooey Says:
Ummmm, that picture is crooked…
I NOTICED THAT TOO!
surely it’s the camera angle… but it DOES bother me…
heh…
June 23rd, 2009 at 12:21 pmi remember Humanist also… interesting at first, then it was like having a fundie in your living room… ugh.
June 23rd, 2009 at 12:25 pmBluestocking Says:
How can anyone NOT claim that Sanford’s actions weree a dereliction of duty? I mean, REALLY? HOW? — CageyCretin
**********************************************************
With all due respect, CC, I never said that it wasn’t — it should have been clear from the rest of my post that I think it is a dereliction of responsibility
My apologies if I seemed to be REFUTING your comment — I was actually agreeing with what you said. I did get your points in your comment, and was just speaking on my own.
You were clear. I agree. We are not at odds. And what are the chances you will actually see this? (probably not very high…).
June 24th, 2009 at 7:44 amSesli Chat |
Sesli sohbet
Thanks
June 27th, 2009 at 4:09 pm