ThinkFast: September 23, 2009
ThinkFast: September 23, 2009
President Obama “is exploring alternatives to a major troop increase in Afghanistan,” including a plan advocated by Vice President Biden “to scale back American forces and focus more on rooting out Al Qaeda.” Despite launching a new strategy in March, the review comes amid deteriorating conditions, the recent disputed elections, and Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s dire report.
The Obama administration is set to announce a new policy “making it much more difficult for the government to claim that it is protecting state secrets when it hides details of sensitive national security strategies.” Agencies must now convince the Justice Department “that the release of sensitive information would present significant harm to ‘national defense or foreign relations.’”
At the UN today, President Obama “plans to deliver a stern speech to the leaders of the world’s nations,” challenging them “to live up to their responsibilities even as he acknowledges that the United States has also fallen short on many fronts.” “Those who used to chastise America for acting alone in the world cannot now stand by and wait for America to solve the world’s problems alone,” Obama will say.
Sarah Palin made her Asian debut with a speech in Hong Kong, in which she spoke as “someone from Main Street U.S.A.” At the event, which was closed to the press, Palin blamed the government for the current financial crisis. “We got into this mess because of government interference in the first place,” she said, adding, “We’re not interested in government fixes, we’re interested in freedom.”
The Seattle Times reports that there will be only one reporter allowed at the “Welcome Home Glenn Beck” event in Mount Vernon, Washington. The Fox News host is attending the sold-out event to raise money for Mount Vernon’s historic Lincoln Theater and will also receive the key to the city from the mayor of Mount Vernon.
The House voted 331-83 yesterday to extend unemployment benefits “in hard-hit states through the end of the year.” Approximately 314,000 people were set to exhaust their benefits this month. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has promised that the Senate will take up the legislation “very, very quickly.”
The Massachusetts Senate voted approved a bill yesterday that will allow Gov. Deval Patrick (D) to “appoint an interim successor to Edward M. Kennedy, paving the way for the appointment of a new US senator as early as tomorrow.” The House approved a similar measure five days earlier and “both chambers are planning to give a final procedural endorsement to the measure and to send it to the governor’s desk today.”
Former Florida Sen. Mel Martinez (R), who quit his job with a year remaining in his term, has landed at a major international law firm. DLA Piper announced that it hired Martinez “to advise clients on a range of issues.” The former senator will be banned from lobbying for two years per congressional rules.
The Washington Times reports that conservative and business groups are “launching fresh challenges aimed at derailing President Obama’s nominees.” Emboldened by the ouster of green jobs adviser Van Jones, Obama’s opponents are now targeting David Michaels, the president’s pick to head the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
And finally: Who’s the chattiest member of Congress? That would be Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), who spoke 257,274 words last session. According to a new website, Congress Speaks, California was the most loquacious state, and some of the most common words were “California,” “country,” and “Iraq.”
Follow ThinkProgress on Twitter.
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
The Obama administration is set to announce a new policy “making it much more difficult for the government to claim that it is protecting state secrets when it hides details of sensitive national security strategies.”
You mean “cuz we said so” isn’t enough anymore?
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:02 amFor one thing, the Republicans in the Senate are doing their best to hamstring America every step of the way…
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:11 amFirst link is broken
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:12 am“… we’re interested in freedom FRIES.”
“We’re interested in freedom…” What the Hell is THAT supposed to mean, Sarah? Is it something you can see from your kitchen windows?
When are these idiots going to quit the the vague, hyperbolic nonsense and TRY to say something meaningful?
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:13 amI’m working on my own report at the moment, but so far, the best course of action is a COMPLETE change in strategy, focusing more on winning over the locals so that they reject the Taliban so the risk of them allowing their return is minimized.
Going back all the way to the American Revolution of 1776, you can’t defeat an insurgency (us) via a foreign invading military force.
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:15 amIf only the doggone government hadn’t have regulated the banks during the great depression, we wouldn’t be in the mess we are today. And fer proof, fer proof, just look at what happened when we took some regulations off…we had the biggest housing boom ever. Even people who couldn’t afford to make the payments were becoming homeowners. You betcha!
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:16 amHaving Sarah Palin give a speech to you is like having Bush read a book to you…you won’t understand either.
By the way, President Obama has now kept the U.S. safe from terrorist attacks longer than Bush /Cheney did.
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:20 amFrom above:
So this idiot travels to a foreign country to bad mouth America.
What a useless tool.
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:20 amThe GOP fighting to remove David Michaels. Well, that proves it: The Republicans are fighting in favour of nuclear waste.
Obama’s speech to the UN should be pretty damn impressive. He may even be able to win over a few new allies (here’s looking at you, [random Central American/South American/Southeast Asian country that we meddled in during the 70s and 80s])
And, I guess I can’t say it often enough…
Go Sen. Dukakis!
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:23 am5.
Right on! Every invading force that’s tried to conquer Afghanistan has made the same, crucial mistake: it’s about winning hearts and minds, not senseless pillaging (Mongols), aerial attacks (Britain), scorched earth tactics (Soviets), or all of the above (America/NATO).
If we hadn’t invaded in ‘01, the Northern Alliance would likely still have overthrown the Taliban (slowed, admittedly, by the assassination of Massoud). When we leave, the Taliban will likely take back large swaths of the country, until the moderates repel them. And so on. And so on.
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:29 amre: Caribou Barbie Diva speech in Hong Kong.
Did she say that she could see Alaska from there?
snark
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:32 amEnnuiDivine says:
And, I guess I can’t say it often enough…
Go Sen. Dukakis!
Ah, those were the days.
That SNL skit with the Bush/Dukakis debate done by Dana Carney and Jon Lovitz will go down as one of the funniest.
“I can’t believe I’m losing to this guy.”
If Dukakis comes back for a few months as a fill-in, it will be good to have him back.
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:34 amThe Seattle Times reports that there will be only one reporter allowed at the “Welcome Home Glenn Beck” event in Mount Vernon, Washington. The Fox News host is attending the sold-out event to raise money for Mount Vernon’s historic Lincoln Theater and will also receive the key to the city from the mayor of Mount Vernon.
I think we all know it’s a pretty safe bet that the “one reporter” will be a FOX employee…
Sarah Palin made her Asian debut with a speech in Hong Kong, in which she spoke as “someone from Main Street U.S.A.” At the event, which was closed to the press, Palin blamed the government for the current financial crisis. “We got into this mess because of government interference in the first place,” she said, adding, “We’re not interested in government fixes, we’re interested in freedom.”
Like I said yesterday about Gingrich, Palin’s speech was textbook neoconservative. Instead of citing facts and using logic to support your argument, make frequent reference to emotionally-loaded (and yet conveniently amorphous) abstract concepts like “freedom” which observation suggests have a way of evoking a strong and almost instinctive visceral response in many human beings. This is helpful because the audience will be inclined to assume that you define these concepts in exactly the same way that you do (regardless of whether this is true or not) and the predisposition of most human beings to cognitive bias will as a result encourage them to approve of whatever you have to say — even if you have no actual facts to back up your argument and no concrete proposals to offer.
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:34 amDana Carvey.
And with that, I get more coffee.
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:35 am“We got into this mess because of government interference in the first place,” she said, adding, “We’re not interested in government fixes, we’re interested in freedom.” – S. Palin
Her first assertion a flat out lie! How, exactly how, did the government cause the housing bubble? And, how, exactly how, did the government cause Lehman Bros. to fail?
The second statement about freedom is just vapid nonsense. What, exactly what, freedom is she talking about?
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:38 amThe Seattle Times reports that there will be only one reporter allowed at the “Welcome Home Glenn Beck” event in Mount Vernon, Washington. The Fox News host is attending the sold-out event to raise money for Mount Vernon’s historic Lincoln Theater and will also receive the key to the city from the mayor of Mount Vernon.
And by all accounts local, the good folk of Mt. Vernon are none to happy to see this asswipe fouling their community…
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:38 am“We got into this mess because of government interference in the first place,” she said, adding, “We’re not interested in government fixes, we’re interested in freedom.”
Is she really preaching a return to warlords in China?
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:39 am“…even as he acknowledges that the United States has also fallen short on many fronts.”
_____________________________________________________________
Cue all the trolls and wingnuts claiming the POTUS is being an un-American traitor by admitting we’ve screwed up a few times…
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:39 am“We got into this mess because of government interference in the first place,” she said, adding, “We’re not interested in government fixes, we’re interested in freedom.” – S. Palin
Yeah, the government deregulated the criminals and loosed them upon the consuming public.
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:40 amShe’s interested only in freedom of corporatocracy to fleece the sheeple.
The Republic of Stupidity says:
When are these idiots going to quit the the vague, hyperbolic nonsense and TRY to say something meaningful?
_______________
Excuse me… I can answer my own question here… and the answer is NEVER… because “the lovely Sarah” would actually have be able to “think” and “put at least two complete sentences together at the same time”… and that Ain’t Gonna Happen…
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:40 amObama challenged world leaders “to live up to their responsibilities,” while “Palin blamed the government for the current financial crisis.”
Who’s the one doing the apology tour, again?
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:41 am12.
I remember seeing clips from that one. Funny, but can’t top ‘92 (Ross Perot being too short to see over the podium) or ‘00 (Please sum up your campaign in one word. Gov. Bush? “Strategery!” Vice President Gore? “Lockbox!”)
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:44 amOnce he receives the key to Mt. Vernon, Glenn Blech will promptly lock the city up tight & inform the citizens they may only watch his show on ClusterFox or they will have to move.
Freedumb on the March!
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:44 amwhaaa???
Democrats Question Baucus’s $80B Deal With Drug Makers
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:50 amWashington Post – Ceci Connolly, Shailagh Murray – ?37 minutes ago?
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) faced an early test of his leadership Wednesday after fellow Democrats challenged the $80 billion deal he struck with drug makers to help pay …
Video: Fmr CBO Director on Health Bill Costs Fox Business
Fifty-one votes for health care? USA Today
Wall Street Journal – Bloomberg – The Associated Press – Wall Street Journal (blog)
all 2,128 news articles »
http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1&ncl=dJWFYmGrtG_sMbMr2s49W6n68gScM&topic=m
EnnuiDivine says:
12.
I remember seeing clips from that one. Funny, but can’t top ‘92 (Ross Perot being too short to see over the podium) or ‘00 (Please sum up your campaign in one word. Gov. Bush? “Strategery!” Vice President Gore? “Lockbox!”)
All good choices, but let’s not forget that Lovitz’s Dukakis had to operate a lift to get him to the right height for the debate. That was the original “Too Short for Prime Time TV” joke.
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:52 amPat Pomery says:
Backpedal much, nobama?
__________
What a pointless, silly comment.
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:59 amThere’s a new battle cry in Mt Vernon WA.
Change the Locks!@!
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:59 amconfusing headline/story… and, how would they know anyway…?
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:01 amMany Americans don’t want their coverage to be upended
USA Today – Mimi Hall – ?10 hours ago?
Only two in 10 Americans say their health insurance coverage and the quality of the health care they receive will improve if a bill passes Congress this year, despite President Obama’s promises to improve the system for those …
Video: Let the People Reform Health Care Fox Business
The National Review: The First Lady And Health Care NPR
North County Times – Forbes – The University of Alabama Crimson White – Nevada Appeal
all 404 news articles »
http://news.google.com/news/more?pz=1&ncl=d-XEBj2DTe7jjFM2eEcQpIPIhl1NM&topic=m
Hi Pat Pomery:
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:02 amIt’s okay. You have a new name. There is no need to be so scared.
I suppose he told the world he was gonna like everything at the same time he announced he was the messiah? Where do they get this weird crap? Oh yea I forgot, they make it up…
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:03 amYeah, this one can’t even form a thought which has any meaning whatsoever. I wonder how it remembers to breath, eat, and go to the bathroom?
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:04 amPom Pom likes to vote us down, I see.
Pom Pom likes Palin; they’re both cheerleaders who grew up in the backseat of the Varsity bus.
Pom Pom misses his Bush more than his Pom Poms.
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:04 amshoeless says:
I wonder how it remembers to breath, eat, and go to the bathroom?
for the latter, I suspect, in it’s food bowl on the floor.
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:06 amPat Pomery 2003 graduating class of Centre for Individual Studies – Campbellford Campus in Campbellford, ON is on Classmates.com.
Patty, is that you?
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:08 amHey Pat, did you notice something different about President Obama? No, I am not talking about the fact that he is a real leader, intelligent, inspires confidence and respect and can string words together in a way that makes sense. That’s different than the last clown, but there’s just something “different” about him.
Oh yeah! He’s black! Bet you didn’t notice huh?
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:09 amthe mel martinez story reminded me of something i heard on countdown yesterday… odonnel was interviewing penn gillette about tom dalay dancing, he asked WHY would he do it?…
gillette then asked how much a rep makes in salary, and odonnel answered it was 100+k/year and gillette said that the show pays them that much PER DAY …
priorities!
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:10 amI have to question the sanity of ANYONE involved in ANY aspect of business inviting Moose Boogers as a speaker AND listening to her.
(from the NYT article)
WTF!
Well, at least I can agree on that one.
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:10 amThe GOPigs are in life support and if they think another “Southern Strategy” is going to rebirth them (sounds odd, ain’t it) outside of Washington, they should ask the sht flinging Baboon Beck how well his 9/12 farce went.
Pat Pomery says:
Who’s the one doing the apology tour, again?
__________
Sooooooo…
What you’re saying is that “Love means never having to say you’re sorry”?
***sniff… sniff***
(Cue up “The Way We Were…”)
Meeeeeeeeemories… Like the corners of my mind…
I had NO IDEA you were such a romantic, Pat…
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:14 amjohnny dol1ar says:
The GOPigs are in life support and if they think another “Southern Strategy” is going to rebirth them (sounds odd, ain’t it) outside of Washington, they should ask the sht flinging Baboon Beck how well his 9/12 farce went.
Can we call bimbo barbie’s followers REBIRTHERS?
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:17 amPalin is incapable of getting her facts straight – I think it is a genetic disorder.
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:17 amGovernment interference got us into this mess? Excuse me, but it was the lack of interference that got us to where we are today. Deregulation allowed this debacle to occur.
Can we call bimbo barbie’s followers REBIRTHERS?
Wouldn’t Afterbirthers be more apropos? Or maybe Postbirthers, giving us a nice image of what you get when people who are as dumb as a post breed.
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:20 amExit Stage Left says:
Can we call bimbo barbie’s followers REBIRTHERS?
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:17 am
____________
Seconded.
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:20 amRepugs plan to derail as many Obama appointees as possible.
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:20 amThat is not news – they have been at it since January.
OSHA is indeed a likely target — after all, those OSHA requirements for a safer workplace has cost corporations money and that takes a bite out of their profits.
And we all know that profits are the backbone of America. Profits must be protected at all costs.
“Apology tour”.
Didn’t that term go out before “czar” and “ACORN” became the target words on the GOP dossier?
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:22 amDixie,
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:23 amRepugs are making it a habit to travel overseas and bad-mouth the USA. It happens repeatedly nowadays. It used to be considered bad form, if not traitorous. Once upon a time, they reserved their critiques to American soil.
But IOKIYAR.
Sarah Palin made her Asian debut with a speech in Hong Kong, in which she spoke as “someone from Main Street U.S.A.” At the event, which was closed to the press, Palin blamed the government for the current financial crisis.
Whatever happened to not criticizing America when on foreign soil? Oh, never mind IOKIYAR.
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:26 amCan we call bimbo barbie’s followers REBIRTHERS?
Wouldn’t Afterbirthers be more apropos? Or maybe Postbirthers, giving us a nice image of what you get when people who are as dumb as a post breed.
Afterbirthers would be more appropriate, I think. Because the afterbirth is generally considered the placenta that is the structure that supports the growing fetus. Since AK barbie’s followers don’t think for themselves and only provide the life-blood that keeps this monster growing, I think “afterbirthers” are a more than appropriate name for them.
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:30 amPurple State says:
Didn’t that term go out before “czar” and “ACORN” became the target words on the GOP dossier?
_____________
Awww, geez, Purple State… GOOPers are just into recycling, that’s all.
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:31 amIf Sarah Palin had been elected she would have CUT OFF the government interference immediately and told the peasants newly w/o their FDIC insurance and unemployment benefits to enjoy their freedom.
Sarah, I wanted the major financial firms to pick my carcass and the libs deprived us of that!!!!! Freedom is cool. If Sarah had been elected she would have make things more free – for eleced officials to collect checks directly from a choice of corporations, in addition to her salary as veep, directly deposited in her personal bank account. None of that campaign strings attached crap. Campaign funds under sarah would be withdrawable on demand.
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:33 amUh-oh, Sarah broke my Irony Meter, lecturing Chinese communists on “freedom”…
Gad, that woman is stupid.
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:33 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Obama better be “exploring alternatives.” Nobody’s happy about the path the U.S. is taking in Afghanistan. http://www.newsy.com/videos/finding_the_right_path_in_afghanistan
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:33 amYou thought I forgot to mention …..
….
……
……. ACORN!
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:35 amPat Pomery
You gonna cwy, communist?
cwy for me, wittle baby, cwy!
cwy!
cwy!
WAAH!
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:39 amPalin was so interested n government fixes she qwittered
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:40 amExit Stage Left says:
Can we call bimbo barbie’s followers REBIRTHERS?
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:17 am
I prefer AFTERBIRTHERS. :-D
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:43 amWe are in this mess because of government: irresponsible, incompetent, republican government.
It’s funny how Obama will be chastised for blaming America by the same people who will praise barbie for blaming American government.
Take it from someone who can’t handle working in government, government doesn’t work. That’d be an interesting intro: former governor (quit because of freedom of press), former (losing) VP candidate, former beauty contestant….fututre presidential hopeful for the opposing party….
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:44 amSTORM, I dont think you understand what you think you understand.
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:44 am
Democrats on path to repeat housing disaster
With all the attention paid to the health care battle, ACORN, and the president’s “Full Ginsburg” appearances on five Sunday talk shows, few people noticed a hearing with an exceedingly boring title — “Proposals to Enhance the Community Reinvestment Act”
___________
Siiiiiiiigh… one more time… since you seem to be… uh… “informationally challenged”… the CRA didn’t cause the mortgage crisis.
Is The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) to Blame for the Mortgage Crisis?
In the immortal words of Dean Vernon Wormer…
“Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son.”
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:47 amShorter Sarin: I was a government problem.
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:48 amThe CRA didnt apply to investment banks.
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:49 am“We got into this mess because of government interference in the first place,” according to Palin. First, the obvious: we got into this mess because of government non-interference (as I think all but the trolls here would agree). Second, she wouldn’t give her speech with press present because she would have to “say different things.”
Would those different things include the truth?
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:51 amBy government interference, maybe she is talking about when Republican Phil Gramm interfered by writing the Financial Services Modernization Act, which took away the regulations and allowed this second Republican Great Depression.
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:52 am“Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son,….”
I think he left off “…but it sure feels good.”
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:54 amSave a birfer — chop down a telephone tree
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:59 amI doubt if anyone is going to take Palin seriously because she demonstrates how clueless she is every time she opens her mouth. She is blaming the government for the economic crisis which is the same line Reagan peddled. Palin and Gingrich are going to try and sell that to the voters when in fact, Reagan started the policies of deregulation that created the economic crisis. Somehow, I don’t think that line is going to go over very well because there are many economists that are going to say the opposite.
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:06 amSara Palin says:
“We got into this mess because of government interference in the first place,” she said, adding, “We’re not interested in government fixes, we’re interested in freedom.”
I firmly believe that anyone that proclaims, supports and campaigns on smaller government…less government and too much government already….should not try to get elected and become part of that government. My question to all of these morons is this…”if you think government is too big, too intrusive and too incompetent…why in the hell do you want to become part of it?”….I’ve never understood why anyone running against one of the meat heads that uses this “government bogey man” platform never gets called out for the obvious contradiction…just sayin
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:22 amRE: Palin Speech
Did we get in the financial mess because govt interference forced the poor banks to lend extensively to the subprime market and to also sell Credit Default Swaps ? Or was the problem that the govt didn’t regulate ?
And since when is Wasilla part of “Main Street USA” ? In fact, didn’t Palin run partially on a platform of Alaska being different ? And isn’t “Main Street USA” the name of a Disney attraction ?
(Trivia: Walt Disney modeled his “Main Street” on Marceline, MO where he spent part of his boyhood. You can still visit the tree behind the house where he lived and which was the basis for “So Dear to My Heart”)
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:33 amIf the Republicans are serious about smaller government, they could reduce the size of government by about 40% by quitting and going home.
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:40 amGotta wonder when SarahPariah is going to return triumphantly to all six of her colleges to receive her honorary GEDs.
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:46 amPat Pomery says:
Who’s the one doing the apology tour, again?
obama
Please cite this apology you claim he made. Also, a definition of the word “apology.”
And then after it’s been determined that he didn’t do any such thing, you’ll also need to explain to us what would be so bad about apologizing for all of the awful things we’ve done.
September 23rd, 2009 at 4:14 pmIf one has ever been around the making of sausage, in particular old fashion country sausage, one would know it is not for the faint hearted. vajina daraltma
September 28th, 2009 at 11:50 amThank you for your sharing.!
September 29th, 2009 at 7:11 am