ThinkFast: October 7, 2009
ThinkFast: October 7, 2009
Five constitutional experts told the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday “that President Obama’s extensive use of policy ‘czars’ is legal — as long as the officials do not overstep their authority.” Their “practical authority…is not legal authority, and as long as the distinction is rigorously maintained there will be no legal problem,” said University of Virginia law professor John Harrison.
President Obama told Congressional leaders yesterday that “he would not substantially reduce American forces in Afghanistan or shift the mission to just hunting terrorists there.” He is also “undecided about the major troop buildup proposed by his commanding general.” White House officials said Obama wants to “dispense with the straw man argument that this is about either doubling down or leaving Afghanistan.”
A new Pew poll has found that 61 percent of Americans would support military action to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Only 24 percent said it is more important to avoid military action, even if it means that Iran develops such weapons.
Top House Democrats slammed health insurers yesterday “who claim that domestic violence is a pre-existing condition that can be used to deny coverage to battered women.” The lawmakers “pledged to incorporate a ban on the practice in the health care reform legislation winding its way through Congress.” “That will all be gone,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who called the practice discrimination.
A proposal by Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) to supplant a robust national public health insurance option with health-insurance plans run by state governments is gaining momentum. “The Delaware Democrat’s plan won praise from some in his party Tuesday as a way of bridging differences among them.”
Attorney General Eric Holder admitted yesterday that it will be “difficult” to close Guantanamo Bay before President Obama’s January 2010 deadline. “As important as when Guantanamo is closed is that it is closed right,” responded ACLU National Security Project director Jameel Jaffer. “In a democracy, there is no room for a system of detention that allows human beings to be imprisoned indefinitely without charge or trial.”
The head of Mexico’s climate delegation said today that the U.S. is a “stumbling block” in U.N. climate change talks. “I think that they are in an uncomfortable position since they cannot put on the table any figures unless the Congress process is clearer,” said Fernando Tudela, Mexico’s lead climate negotiator.
D.C. Councilman David Catania introduced a bill that would allow same-sex couples to marry in the nation’s capital, “a measure that even opponents acknowledged seems almost unstoppable.” Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), the ranking Republican on the House subcommittee overseeing D.C. issues, said he “would like to try to stop” the legislation, but doesn’t think he has the votes to do so.
The Associated Press is considering “whether to sell news stories to some online customers exclusively for a certain period, perhaps half an hour.” AP chief executive Tom Curley complained that sites such as Google “have reaped a fortune off their articles, photos and video without fairly compensating news organizations that produce the material.”
And finally: You’re not going to be able to see former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay tango and samba on “Dancing with the Stars” anymore. The Hammer has been struggling with stress fractures in both his feet, but has insisted that the show will go on: “What’s a little pain when we can party?” However, last night during the live results show, DeLay quit. “If you can’t practice you’ll make a fool out of yourself out here, and I don’t want to do that to Cheryl,” he said, referring to his dance partner. View his announcement here.
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aww, poor little Tom Delay, his widdle feet hurt
maybe he should have thought about getting in shape before he attempted to dance and DID make a fool out of himself (although, to be honest, he had quite a head start in that regard due to his record in congress)
October 7th, 2009 at 9:03 amBut what about Obama’s manufacturing czar? It’s just so Nazi-like to have a manufacturing czar!
Wait…you mean George Bush is the president who named a manufacturing czar?
But what about Obama’s AIDS czar?! Socialistic!
That was Bush, too? Never mind…
http://www.political-buzz.com/
October 7th, 2009 at 9:03 amTop House Democrats slammed health insurers yesterday “who claim that domestic violence is a pre-existing condition…
– - Wouldn’t that mean marriage is a pre-existing condition? So why can’t gays marry? Wait, maybe they already are. I need coffee….
October 7th, 2009 at 9:07 amWhat do Tom DeLay & Sarah Palin have in common?
a.) Huge egos
b.) Political shills
c.) Both quitters
d.) All of the above
October 7th, 2009 at 9:09 amA new Pew poll has found that 61 percent of Americans would support military action to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Sigh, first there’s the fact that military action alone will only at most delay Iran developing a nuclear weapon, as well as giving them concrete evidence why they might want one.
But more largely, how many friggin’ wars are enough at one time? What the hell is wrong with America? Christian nation my butt.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:09 amA democrat always oversteps his constitutional authority!
Take another step in the dining room, go ahead – whoops, overstepped!
October 7th, 2009 at 9:11 amWhite House officials said Obama wants to “dispense with the straw man argument that this is about either doubling down or leaving Afghanistan.”
This isn’t a straw man fallacy. It is another logical reasoning fallacy known as the false dilemma, that there are only two viable alternatives.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:12 amIf pre-existing condition denials in general are banned by new regulations, why do we need specific language for domestic violence?
October 7th, 2009 at 9:14 amWe are a christian nation, as you can read in our Newer Testament ™ from the good folks at Conservapedia.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:14 amThe problem lies in who they poll. If you click on the link at the bottom of the page you will see that they polled on average like this:
23% republican 34% democrat 37% independent
this works out to them polling 34% democrat and 60% republican
see how this works?
October 7th, 2009 at 9:18 amBush had an aids czar? Who was that, the overseer of all personal assistants in the U.S.?
What a constitutional magic wand, Obami should take note!
October 7th, 2009 at 9:18 amI would love to see health insurance reps testify in front of Congress (specifically, Kucinich) on how they consider domestic violence to be a “pre-existing condition” and why they’ll deny coverage to victims of spousal abuse.
I admire Carper’s proposal. It does seem to be genuinely extending an olive branch for the sake of trying to get the will of the people of his state across. Still, it’s ultimately doomed. You’ll see CA, MA, NJ, NY, VT, NH, ME, HI, OR, WA, IA, RI, CT, DE, MD with strong public options, a few swing states like PA, OH, MI and so on with limited public options….and states like TX, MS, GA, SC that will punitively strip existing welfare programs out of spite, claiming they are “pork” and that the state needs “independence” and “tax relief”. Coincidently, those are also the states that would most benefit from more government regulation and a strong welfare net.
Gay marriage in DC…it’s a step in the right direction. I’m still hoping we see a vote on the Respect for Marriage Act either late this year or early next; it has the votes to pass the House, though might not pass a cloture vote in the Senate.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:18 amLet’s once and for all call this “czar” issue what it is: sheer hypocrisy! George W Bush had many czars and nary a peep out of the wing nut hypocrites. Quit justifying “czars” and just lay bear this constant hypocrisy and wing nut double standards!!!!!
October 7th, 2009 at 9:19 amHey, Sen. Carper. It’s called Medicaid.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:21 amwell that’s a nice way to start the day…
October 7th, 2009 at 9:25 amthanks for that header pic, TP…
At least President Obama’s policy czars are publicly presented, and actually competent for the posts they are assigned to.
Dufous’ czars were cardboard cutouts on display in the lobby, just like him.
The actual policy czars for Bush were rarely seen as they scurried through the foliage in front of Cheney’s bunker.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:26 amI like George W. Bush’s sneering grin. I want that back.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:27 amI agree, katy.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:27 amThanks TP.
Carper already lost his chance to do the right thing.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:27 amAnd it’s not so much that Delay quit. The stoopid part was him gettin’ all macho and braggy and all “What’s a little pain?” And then having to try to tough it out, because he opened his big yap. Good riddance.
And it will cover all citizens in the state instead of just some…..you can’t just throw a blanket over it and try to pretend it already exists.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:27 amI like that idea, state-run public options. It’s somewhat stronger than co-ops, but my beloved insurance cos. would still make short work of things. Go for it!
October 7th, 2009 at 9:31 amDeLay quit. “If you can’t practice you’ll make a fool out of yourself out here, and I don’t want to do that to Cheryl,” he said, referring to his dance partner.
and late Cheryl was hear saying THANK GOD ALMIGHTY yes yes>>>>>>>>>
October 7th, 2009 at 9:32 amDoes DeLay think he can quit in the middle of the trial?
October 7th, 2009 at 9:32 amNot to defend Delay too much, but Sarah Palin didn’t withdraw due to injury. Stress fractures kill the feet, especially if one was to dance more vigorous dances for a competition.
Still, thank goodness we don’t have to see something as bad as “Wild Thing”. My condolences to Cheryl for getting a partner with two hurt left feet.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:34 amGood for Obama – take some time, make an informed decision. http://www.newsy.com/videos/obama_to_choose_afghanistan_path
October 7th, 2009 at 9:36 amPurple State says:
“Not to defend Delay too much, but Sarah Palin didn’t withdraw due to injury. Stress fractures kill the feet,…”
Palin has stress fractures elsewhere….
October 7th, 2009 at 9:39 amlast night during the live results show, DeLay quit. “If you can’t practice you’ll make a fool out of yourself out here, and I don’t want to do that
Oops; too late.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:43 amFrom the article:
October 7th, 2009 at 9:43 am
Congrats to the MN Twins on a 12 inning win against Detroit last night.
Look out, NYC, here we come!
October 7th, 2009 at 9:45 amthe hammer has been reduced to the nail.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:45 amSo the ‘Czars’ are legit? I guess the GOP has to find another ‘Boogie-man’.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:47 amHow many women won’t report domestic violence for fear of losing that which might be needed to save their lives?
Someone needs to explain to me why any private insurance-for-profit should be allowed to exist.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:53 amAccording to the poll, 28 percent oppose even trying to negotiate with Iran.
Why is it that 28 percent figure always seems to pop up ?
October 7th, 2009 at 9:54 amA new Pew poll has found that 61 percent of Americans would support military action to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
_____________________________________________________________
I suspect that at least some of that 61 percent are yeehaws who just like military action — period. Add to that the threat of another country getting nukes and you get a lot of calls to start dropping bombs, no matter how illogical, unwise, impractical, or ineffective that kind of strategy might be.
The ironic thing is that many of them are enthusiastic supporters of the second amendment (the “cold dead fingers” crowd), but apparently don’t believe the right to bear arms should exist on a global scale.
Perhaps, if we have any posters in here today who are both against gun control here in this country and against other countries developing nuclear weapons, they could explain the dichotomy.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:55 amState Run public options–has a brilliance to it.
October 7th, 2009 at 10:01 amThen all the teabaggers can run to South Carolina so they can keep from getting health care!
Everybody’s happy!
29. Zimzone,
Forget it. Your Twins are too tired and too weak to take down the Yanks. Bwa ha ha.
October 7th, 2009 at 10:01 amGood luck, Zimzone. I’m pulling for the Twinkies. Without Morneau, it will be tough, but I have faith in Minnesota.
Just…please make sure Rep. Bachmann doesn’t throw out the first pitch. She might throw a screwball.
October 7th, 2009 at 10:02 amFred at 9:43 am
Yes I saw that, so the main purpose of highlighting this specific issue is to expose the egregiousness of the insurers on pre-existing condition denials.
“Forty-two states have passed such a prohibition, according to a recent report from the National Women’s Law Center. Idaho, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Wyoming and the District of Columbia have not, however.”
Why am I not surprised the eight states who still allow this are all “Red” states, and I would expect that Dems have tried to ban it in DC and have been blocked by Republicans.
October 7th, 2009 at 10:02 am“If you can’t practice you’ll make a fool out of yourself out here, and I don’t want to do that to Cheryl,” he [DeLay] said, referring to his dance partner.
____________________________________________________________
You know, Tom — Cheryl Burke is a big girl, and knows that dancing with idiots is part of the package she signed on for. It would be impossible to make her look like a fool, as her audience knows better.
We don’t for a second believe that concern about Cheryl is why you’re quitting. But you really only know how to talk like a politician, don’t you?
October 7th, 2009 at 10:03 amPresident Obama told Congressional leaders yesterday that “he would not substantially reduce American forces in Afghanistan or shift the mission to just hunting terrorists there.”
Big mistake. Ask the Brits, and while you’re at it, ask the Russians.
October 7th, 2009 at 10:05 amLet’s see how he feels after another year and 1,500 dead American troops later.
EnnuiDivine says:
29. Zimzone,
Forget it. Your Twins are too tired and too weak to take down the Yanks. Bwa ha ha.
And Minnesota didn’t spend a bazillion dollars to buy a pennant, either.
I tuned in during the sixth(?) inning and both teams made it an exciting finish to the season. Looks like the Dome just won’t let it go, will it?
October 7th, 2009 at 10:14 amEnnuiDivine says:
29. Zimzone,
Forget it. Your Twins are too tired and too weak to take down the Yanks. Bwa ha ha.
gummble-bee-itch says:
And Minnesota didn’t spend a bazillion dollars to buy a pennant, either.
Thanks for your support Purple State & bummble-bee-itch.
EnnuiDivine, you may be right. Of course the NY Skanks chose today as the first game day…classy! The Skanks have a $100 million ‘edge’ on payroll. My biggest fear is they’ll have Rudy Girlianno steal Joe Mauer and hold him hostage during the playoff series…any truth to that rumor?
October 7th, 2009 at 10:26 amSigh, first there’s the fact that military action alone will only at most delay Iran developing a nuclear weapon, as well as giving them concrete evidence why they might want one.
By all means, let’s kill tens of thousands in a failed attempt to keep them from acquiring a nuclear weapon, which then will ultimately be used on us.
Sounds like solid “American Foreign Policy”.
October 7th, 2009 at 10:30 amGo Twinkies!!
October 7th, 2009 at 10:38 amThe Jankees are the best bunch of spoiled brats that money can buy.
Enjoy the stench of white-collar thuggery?
Young fan forced to turn over historic home run ball hit by Phillies star
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (WSVN) — A young fan caught a historic home run ball Thursday night at Landshark Stadium, but she was forced to turn it over to a Philadelphia Phillies employee.
The 12-year-old said she was intimated by a Phillies employee to hand over the ball after she was escorted downstairs by security.
She agreed to hand it over when she was promised a signed Howard ball, not the home run ball, and a meet and greet after the game. But, that never happened. “We were supposedly meeting him but instead the Phillies manager gave it to me and that’s it.”
LINK
October 7th, 2009 at 10:38 ammissmolly, on the poll, I looked at the methodology for the poll and posted it at #10.
October 7th, 2009 at 10:39 amFederal regulators in the Bush administration blocked attempts by state governments to prevent predatory lending practices that resulted in the financial crisis now stalking the American economy, a new study from the University of North Carolina says.
In 2004, the Office of the Currency Comptroller, an obscure regulatory agency tasked with ensuring the fiscal soundness of America’s banks, invoked an 1863 law to give itself the power to override state laws against predatory lending. The OCC told states they could not enforce predatory-lending laws, and all banks would be subject only to less-strict federal laws.
Now, a research paper from UNC-Chapel Hill’s Center for Community Capital shows that those anti-predatory lending laws had actually worked. States that had stricter regulations on issuing mortgages were found to have fewer foreclosures.
October 7th, 2009 at 10:41 amObama is carefully considering all options in Afghanistan, carefullly weighing opinions from all sides, but John McCain, accuses him of being “too leisurely” in his approach.
McCain, like GW Bush, apparently likes the “shoot first and ask questions later” approach becauuse that was so successful?!
We are all anxious for some kind of plan, as well as exit strategy from Afghanistan, but to proceed with a poorly thought out plan would be to repeat the belligerent stupidity of GWBush.
October 7th, 2009 at 10:46 amOnly unqualified ones like bush’s
October 7th, 2009 at 10:54 amI’m so glad I’m not visiting Honduras. The defining physical characteristic of the adult Honduran man and woman is the hump on their upper backs. As a result their army isn’t very good. I’m working on legislation to ban hump backs from military service. None of this “dodt” crap, just ban ‘em.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:17 amWhich, of course, would also be true of other offices and cabinet positions, like, say, the office the of Vice President or the position of Attorney General. Just sayin’.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:21 amFive constitutional experts told the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday “that President Obama’s extensive use of policy ‘czars’ is legal — as long as the officials do not overstep their authority.”
Did they mention by any chance that Obama has less ‘czar’ positions than Bushdid? Or that the term ‘czar’ is a media-created term that has no basis in their actual job description anyway?
.
Jeffboste says:
Are ‘Czars’ dangerous to our democracy?
No, but pollspam is.
.
DNFP says:
By all means, let’s kill tens of thousands in a failed attempt to keep them from acquiring a nuclear weapon, which then will ultimately be used on us.
More like let’s kill them all to keep them from getting a nuclear weapon which they want to deter somebody trying to kill them all.
It is ridiculous to think that Iran would launch a nuclear weapon on Israel if they got one. Israel has over 110 of them (as Jimmy Carter brilliantly let slip). Iran is not a completely suicidal nation; Islam doesn’t believe in “the Rapture” like our crazy right-wingers do.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:41 amState Run Options for Insurance ??????
Maybe in some states that would work. But, for example, I live in Missouri and wouldn’t anticipate that the state-run option had anything of value.
Remember the move a few years ago where several states tried to dismantle their healthcare plans for the
October 7th, 2009 at 12:14 pmSCHIP (children) ??????
Five constitutional experts told the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday “that President Obama’s extensive use of policy ‘czars’ is legal …
____________________________________________________________
Why are the media pretending that President Obama’s use of policy “czars” is unprecedented? Presidents have been using them for many administrations now, and George W. even used more of them than Obama has.
I suppose next we’ll have experts telling the Senate Judiciary Committee that it’s legal for President Obama to reside in the White House.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:29 pm-
Harbinger of a two-tier (class duopoly) Information Society — those in the real actionable world versus those of later-informed thinking behind the curve, out-dated, outmoded and accordingly effectively irrelevant. Live (and living) versus Pre-recorded (and in suspended animation, ‘news’ for the comatose).
So f’r instance, for Nine-Eleven Op, what? 30 minutes later the hoi polloi and masses in hullabaloo may read ‘a plane hit the Twin Towers — evacuate now’? ‘The place is on fire’/’was on fire’? — Depends on what your definition of ‘is’ is.
The AP A-list and the AP B-list … life in the A-roll and life in the B-roll?
Sort of gives new meaning to the phrase ‘imminent danger.’ “You mean ‘imminent’ now or ‘imminent’ 30 minutes in the past?”
Whoa, we havin’ us some fun with that one.
- –
Years ago I read a Famous Quote attributed to Clark Clifford, renowned WashDC legal-beagle sniffer-pisser. Whoever coined it encapsulated The Village ethic beltway mentality in a single inviolate enduring dictum of powerspeak: There are NO secrets in this town (D.C.), the best you can hope for is a 2-hour head start.
Or, as equivalently given, and concise, by the King of the CIA Geo. H. W. Bush and that/his heritage offspring (Limbaugh, FOX, massmind media mesmerists, et al.) — indubitably the very definition of (central) ‘intelligence’ — Lie First.
… then the second LIAR has the double difficulty of both supplanting your first lie and planting their second lie to grow.
October 7th, 2009 at 2:31 pm61 percent of Americans would support military action to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons
Haven’t they already? http://www.newsy.com/videos/iran_with_new_attitude
October 7th, 2009 at 4:42 pmOh my, Tom Delay just proved that some white men can’t dance. He looked like a wooden board trying with legs dangling from the bottom.
October 7th, 2009 at 4:43 pmWhite House Counsel Gregory Craig defended the Obama administration’s appointments in a letter to Feingold. burun estetigi
October 13th, 2009 at 6:28 amThank you for your sharing.!
October 14th, 2009 at 9:14 am