ThinkFast: November 17, 2009
ThinkFast: November 17, 2009
With the federal deficit at “a record $1.4 trillion,” a plan for reducing long-term deficits will be “a key component” of President Obama’s State of the Union address. “It is foremost on his mind and the mind of the economic team,” White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said yesterday.
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York — then led by current Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner — “gave up much of its power” and overpaid AIG’s banking clients to “tear up their contracts” during last fall’s bailout, according to a new report from the special inspector general for the TARP. The report faults the NY Fed for failing to secure a good deal for taxpayers.
Though a new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows that Americans are “deeply divided” over President Obama’s health care reform proposal, “Americans continue to support key elements of the legislation, including a mandate that employers provide health insurance to their workers and access to a government-sponsored insurance plan for those people without insurance.”
For its cover photo on Sarah Palin, Newsweek elected to recycle a picture taken by Runner’s World depicting the former governor in her jogging outfit. Palin has released a statement blasting the photo. “The out-of-context Newsweek approach is sexist and oh-so-expected by now,” she said.
After gaining access to the once secret underground nuclear enrichment plant in Qom, IAEA inspectors “voiced strong suspicions” that Iran is concealing other nuclear facilities. The IAEA report appeared “highly skeptical” that Iran did not construct other facilities in case its main centers of fuel production were bombed.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) “escaped another censure” yesterday after his chief of staff agreed to “meet with disgruntled Berkeley County Republicans.” The county Republicans tabled a resolution to censure Graham until January, “but the consensus was the censure would resurface if they’re not happy after talking with Graham.”
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) “will try to block the Obama administration’s first nominee to the federal bench, retaliation for Democratic filibusters to Bush’s choices for federal bench in the previous eight years.” However, his “tactic is likely to fail, as Sen. Dick Lugar (R-IN) has expressed his support for the nominee.”
The Department of Agriculture reported yesterday that “the number of Americans who lived in households that lacked consistent access to adequate food soared last year, to 49 million, the highest since the government began tracking what it calls ‘food insecurity’ 14 years ago.” “These numbers are a wake-up call for the country,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
And finally: When asked about the current fights within the Republican Party, former Republican Utah governor and current U.S. ambassador to China Jon Huntsman responded, “It’s a good time to be in Beijing.”
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Palin has released a statement blasting the photo.
Sarah, if you didn’t want a magazine to publish a photo of you in a jogging suit, why did you stand in front of a magazine photographer wearing a jogging suit and pose for pictures?
Oh, right, because you’re a “real American” who doesn’t think about the “consequences” of her “actions”. Carry on!
November 17th, 2009 at 9:07 am49 million households lack consistent access to adequate food.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:10 amWhat a fcking disgrace.
With the federal deficit at “a record $1.4 trillion,” a plan for reducing long-term deficits will be “a key component” of President Obama’s State of the Union address. “It is foremost on his mind and the mind of the economic team,” White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said yesterday.
Well then feel free to raise taxes on those who have disproportionately benefited from the horrible economic policies of the last 30 years!!
November 17th, 2009 at 9:10 amRuh oh! :O
November 17th, 2009 at 9:10 amThe Federal Reserve system needs to be stripped of it’s power to create money out of thin air, and be forced to subject it’s practices to Congressional oversight. Geithner won’t retire when he leaves the Treasury, he’ll sit on the board of one or more of those firms he helped make whole through AIG.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:11 amWait a minuter here!
November 17th, 2009 at 9:12 amHow can it be “sexist” when YOU chose to be photographed?
And how does an out of context photo verify this accusation?
Bailin, Failin’ Palin should just be happy that her eight sex tapes haven’t been discovered yet.
Poor Christianist Carrie Prejean — the other airhead former beauty pageant contestant in the news these days — is twisting in the wind.
Sarah Qualyin’s day is coming.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:13 amYes, Sarah Palin, of course. We totally believe you when you say it’s out of context. Because coming out with guns blazing over a quasi-sexy photo you approved back when it was taken is oh-so-classy.
Also, blocking nominees, AIG overpaid – not surprising.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:13 amHey, I hear John Ziegler drooled all over…uh…I mean, reviewed Palin’s book.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:15 amFor its cover photo on Sarah Palin, Newsweek elected to recycle a picture taken by Runner’s World depicting the former governor in her jogging outfit. Palin has released a statement blasting the photo. “The out-of-context Newsweek approach is sexist and oh-so-expected by now,” she said.
Who wants a President that constantly whines about the media. Stop acting like a F-ing victim Palin. Americans aren’t big fans of whiners that constantly make excuses and blame others for their inability to succeed.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:15 amDamn you, TP. Logged me out before I could post my comment.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:20 amtom,
November 17th, 2009 at 9:21 amI also heard solo artist Carrie Prejean explain that it wasn’t a “sex” tape.
Huh?
Psuedo-(c)hristians crack me the fck up, especially with their justifications of select things!
Sarah’s Circus reminds me how similar her & Pawlenty are…
Both are quitters.
Sarah & Timmy both quit governing about the same time. Timmy refused to work with the State legislature, proceeded to use ‘unallotment’ to cut budget allotments to children & the disabled and is now being sued for what many view as illegal methods of cutting the State budget.
Now that Timmy is running for President, he’s MIA as Governor, just like Sarah was in Alaska.
Both are liars.
Sarah just makes up shit as she goes. Timmy is a better liar, & bears close scrutiny. Last night’s post below shows how he’s done a 180 on climate change to appeal to teabaggers.
Both crave media attention.
The smiles, high fives and charismatic poses for photo ops are treasured by these two. Nothing makes their day brighter than to be seen on National TV, regardless of the message.
Both are considered ‘new Republicans’.
When you peel back the layers of staged speeches and tired, old messages, however, you still have 2 people with questionable credentials trying to gain the highest office in the land.
Both will stage Presidential campaigns.
But…neither one has the money needed to do that right, so they whore themselves to the highest corporate bidders.
Both are like Rice Krispies. They have a lot of ’snap, crackle & pop’, but once you chew through the outer layer, there’s nothing but air inside.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:21 amSo, Sarah objects to the photo she posed for in Newsweek? I guess she objects to the fact she is the GOP pin-up gal? Sorry Sarah, you have been that all along. That’s right. You are the wet dream of the old, aging, white farts of the decrepit GOP. No offense, but EEww…
November 17th, 2009 at 9:21 amPalin has released a statement blasting the photo.
Attention you ignorant s l u t:
IF YOU CAN’T STAND THE HEAT, GET THE HELL OUT OF THE KITCHEN.
What a pathetic, whiny little b*tch.
Of all the character traits needed to succeed in public life, controlling one’s image and the messages associated with said are paramount.
EPIC FAIL, you stupid wh0re.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:23 amHey rapid Vote Down troll:
November 17th, 2009 at 9:23 amI’m here ready to discuss and debate.
Are you?
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
For its cover photo on Sarah Palin, Newsweek elected to recycle a picture taken by Runner’s World depicting the former governor in her jogging outfit. Palin has released a statement blasting the photo. “The out-of-context Newsweek approach is sexist and oh-so-expected by now,” she said.
_____________________________________________________________
As much as it pains me to admit it, Sarah actually has a point. And not necessarily on the top of her head.
The picture was taken by Runner’s World to accompany a short article in that magazine about Palin’s commitment to physical fitness. When that photo is used in a context having nothing to do with running or physical fitness, it becomes cheesecake. If this was done to me, I’d be angry, too.
That said, I find it somewhat disingenuous for Palin to be complaining about sexism when she clearly didn’t mind playing the whole “babe” role during her veep campaign.
Oh, and another thing — why is she posing proudly beside an American flag treated in a disrespectful manner? Personally, I find this to be the most bothersome thing about the whole photograph. Why is it that the jingoists tend to make flags into clothing, use them as decorative “throws”, make them into seat covers, etc., while shouting about how proud they are of it?
November 17th, 2009 at 9:30 amAnd all the while, we have a hot dog eating contest pitting a Japanese national against a black bear. Our sense of priorities and moral compass leaves something to be desired.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:30 amPerhaps Caribou Barbie would have preferred that the Newsweek photo show her in one of her multi-thousand dollar designer suits paid for by the McSame campaign?
It’s a good thing she’s so active on Twitter, because she’s the biggest TWIT around…
November 17th, 2009 at 9:33 amI also heard solo artist Carrie Prejean explain that it wasn’t a “sex” tape
Well, that excuse may have worked if there was only one tape. But, now, another seven tapes have surfaced. She’ll have to come up with a new story.
And it turns out that she was 20 when she wrote, directed, taped and starred in her performances — not 17 as she claimed.
That’s the only difference between Prejean and Quaylin. Carrie has been caught in her lies; Sarah hasn’t yet (in any consequential way).
November 17th, 2009 at 9:33 am18. Missmolly,
Yeah, I can’t help but think Newsweek could’ve found a less polarizing picture of Palin (the media’s taken enough photos of her…). Hell, even a picture of her standing in front of the turkey shredder might have been an improvement.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:33 amAwesome. I think it would be great if more focus were put on reducing the deficits. I hope there are plans for responsible spending cuts (could start with military spending) and a reasonable tax revenue plan.
The problem with the Palin picture is not sexism (she looks like she’s going out for a jog). The problem is she has her elbow resting on the flag.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:38 ammissmolly,
I do see where you are coming from, but my question is if this pic, out of context, is so demeaning and sexist, why pose for it in the first place?
Couldn’t she have just told the photographer and magazine that because of her ’standards’, she would prefer to be photographed in a non sexy and non airbrushed way?
November 17th, 2009 at 9:38 amThe corporate media are preparing us for “President” Palin.
I no longer subscribe to any magazines or newspapers.
I am so fed up with all the white-wing crap they all publish, uncritically and without reflection.
It’s all for the white-wingers these days.
Let the white-wingers buy the “journalistic” crap, not me.
The white-wingers are perfectly welcome to pay the bloated salaries of the chatterers, not me.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:38 amI’m a little confused . . . Oprah’s interview yesterday seemed incomplete somehow. Does that mean that the talent, swimsuit and evening gown competition will be aired on Baba Wawa’s portion of the “Palin Pageant” today?
November 17th, 2009 at 9:39 amjust wondering if they air brush her waisted, looks pretty thin.
and you would think she say i dont like the flag part.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:42 amSen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) “will try to block the Obama administration’s first nominee to the federal bench, a retaliation for Democratic filibusters to Bush’s choices for federal bench in the previous eight years.”
The nominee, he said, fits the fungible “extraordinary circumstance” standard he requires for filibusters, originally established by the bipartisan Gang of 14.
I would urge Harry Reid and Patrick Leahy to remind Jeffy that the “gang of fourteen” no longer exists, and their standards were a result of the “nuclear option”. Then ask if he would like if we resurrected the “nuclear option” just for him. I sincerely doubt there will be another “gang of fourteen”, with the climate of obstructionism practiced by the minority party, setting record after record with unprecented amounts of holds and filibuster threats.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:44 amHey beano breath:
How’s that ultimate privacy doing for you now that no one can read you stupid post?
Just a little tidbit, from the Terms and Conditions for posting on ThinkProgress:
Use the Blog for your personal use only. Posting entries solely to promote your own projects are not allowed.
Mucking foron!
November 17th, 2009 at 9:46 am10. Mr Bungle,
I’d like to agree with you. But for some reason, the ultraconservative crowd loves the person who gives a story of being treated unfairly. Look at how Rush plays that violin continuously.
I wonder if a lot of it is a connection with the ultra-fundamentalist crowd who takes unfair oppresion as a sign of being favored by God.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:46 amLet’s listen to Thomas Jefferson and make banks solely a repository for money, instead of a money making organization reaping benefits from an invisible currency called interest. Maybe then we will curtail inflation. Let’s stop the Iraq war and invest the hundreds of billions of dollars wasted into a universal health care policy. Let’s don’t forget that humanity is the most important organization on Earth, not government or big business. When we get people in office who care more about humanity than themselves maybe then we will have real change.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:47 am21. tom,
to cite an old adage on porn – I might not be able to define it, but I sure know it when I see it.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:47 amSince the lion’s share of the deficit is the result of two wars the quickest way to begin reducing the deficit is to bring the troops home and plug those two gaping money maws.
We will still have to deal with all the expenses of re-integrating our military personnel back into society but at least the money will be spent on American citizens on American soil.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:47 amSeriously. Where are you gonna find 7 Republicans willing to work with Democrats on…anything? I count Snowe, Collins, Lugar, Voinivich, and possibly Bond. Two moderates, one sane guy, and two retiring in 2010.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:50 amSen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) “escaped another censure” yesterday after his chief of staff agreed to “meet with disgruntled Berkeley County Republicans.” The county Republicans tabled a resolution to censure Graham until January, “but the consensus was the censure would resurface if they’re not happy after talking with Graham.”
Oh, I get it — Sen. Graham only represents repuglicans in South Carolina, not all of the citizens…so when he says or does something that’s out of step with his teabagging right-wing lunatic fringe bosses, they threaten him with censure…
How silly of Sen. Graham to think that he was elected to serve all of the citizens of South Carolina rather than just the screeching minority…
November 17th, 2009 at 9:51 amDRxJ says
November 17th, 2009 at 9:38 am
missmolly,
I do see where you are coming from, but my question is if this pic, out of context, is so demeaning and sexist, why pose for it in the first place?
Couldn’t she have just told the photographer and magazine that because of her ’standards’, she would prefer to be photographed in a non sexy and non airbrushed way?
_____________________________________________________________
I agree that the pose could have been a little less “come hither” and still be appropriate for a running magazine (perhaps a shot of her actually running?). I was coming at the situation from a perspective of clothing choice rather than the fetching pose. And let’s face it — most people run in shorts. If it was an article about her enthusiasm for swimming and her endorsement of it as great exercise, it would make perfect sense for her to be photographed in a Speedo one-piece. But such a photo wouldn’t be necessarily appropriate for an article about her political life in a magazine not devoted to that sport.
Unless, of course, the magazine was attempting to highlight the uncomfortable truth that Palin’s value to the GOP is as a “babe”, which is probably their point. Which is probably why she’s a bit ticked off. But, as I pointed out in my previous post, she can’t be willing to play the babe and then get indignant when called on it.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:52 amPalin has that made up “I’m a conservative” look. Way too much like a stepford wife. There is no photo that would change that.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:53 amThe repiggies refuse to acknowledge the burden of two wars on the budget.
They seem to think that Jesus just gives them buckets of cash to promote “democracy” throughout the Middle East.
By the way, not only is Sarah Palin air-brushed, but all the holy roller repiggies and teabaggers have attitudes and slogans which are “air-brushed” by the corporate media, all owned by neo-cons and neo-con sympathizers.
Cancel any subscriptions you may have to this junk, and let the holy rollers and the teabaggers pay for all the crap.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:53 amWomen have had and will continue to have great difficulty reconciling their need to appear beautiful and desirable with their disdain for horny men, media and all the “sexist” machinations of society.
So in summary, it’s okay to be your sexiest (sorry, but in running gear, I’m just not seeing it) as long as no one else acknowledges it.
And in this case, she looks like a regular soccer mom (nothing sexy about that), but decides to whine about her portrayal anyway. Has anyone but the Caribou Bimbo complained about Newsweek’s photo selections?
And you wonder why men find most women behavior “confounding”?
November 17th, 2009 at 9:55 amA drunken 19 year old Brownsville, Texas man went door to door trying to sell pot, until he knocked on the door of the apartment of a police sergeant. He was also carrying a gun, and was inside a “drug and weapons-free zone” near the University of Texas campus there.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:59 amTalk about stupid! Everything’s bigger in Texas, even the idiots!
There is text accompanying the Runner’s World photo:
Does anyone seriously want this person running any government at all? Awesome? Dude? “mean comments”?
Can we get a grownup in here?
November 17th, 2009 at 10:04 amLooks like Glenda needs to take some of her own advice: you have to judge someone by the people they associate with.
November 17th, 2009 at 10:05 amEnnuiDivine at 9:50 am,
In addition, some of the “gang” retired already, but I was talking about participants from the Dem side. Once their power to obstruct is as useless as the Dem’s was until 2007, they’ll be more interested in a deal. An additional bonus to the “nuclear option”, it makes Lieberman totally expendable, which he should be!
November 17th, 2009 at 10:06 amMapleStreet says: to cite an old adage on porn – I might not be able to define it, but I sure know it when I see it.
Not just an old adage, Maple Street; this was in Justice Stewart’s concurring opinion in the Supreme Court’s decision in Jacobellis v. Ohio in 1964 — “I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced within that shorthand description [of "pornography"]; and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it….”
November 17th, 2009 at 10:07 amBefore Bush, this used to be the “hunger index” but that brought about images of starving children in America. Since America is the best country in the world, we cannot possibly have starving children – they must merely be “food insecure.”
Note, please, that this is 49 million households. The number of hungry people in America is thus more likely between 98 million to 123 million, assuming only 2 to 2.5 people per household.
Now, let’s take a fresh look at the health care issue:
So, the number of Americans without health insurance is less than 45.7 million, but the number of Americans without adequate food supplies is more than twice that.
Teabaggers argue we are a Christian Nation. Someone once said, “When I was hungry, ye fed me; when I was sick, ye cared for me.” Yet teabaggers would rather secede from the Union than have their tax dollars go to feeding the hungry and caring for the sick. Their leaders are calling for a taxpayer revolt, an insurrection, a civil war over the issue of health care reform, all in the name of Christ.
It may well come to Americans who don’t want their tax dollars to care for the sick and hungry killing Americans who do. This is the new face of Conservatism; the new face of Christianity.
November 17th, 2009 at 10:09 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Oh Twajie,
November 17th, 2009 at 10:16 amYou’re so dang cute, in a pseudo-Latin gansta lord wannabee way!
Someone’s watching waaaaaay too much FoxNews.
November 17th, 2009 at 10:16 amLEAVE SARAH ALONE!!!! YOU’RE LUCKY SHE EVEN PERFORMS FOR YOU!!! LEAVE HER ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU BASTARDS!!!!!! SHE’S BETTER THAN ALL OF YOU!!!!!
Heheheh. Sorry. I couldn’t help myself. The call of the snark was irresistible. ;o)
November 17th, 2009 at 10:25 amSarah was wearing those same short shorts in an Oprah segment where cameras were following her and her kid to her workout at the gym. Very few women where those kind of shorts to my gym. Not even the ones that run for an hour on the treadmill or the track. And she wore them walking down the driveway and getting in her truck etc. In Alaska I doubt it’s too hot for warmup pants.
November 17th, 2009 at 10:36 amThe best snark I have ever read! Here is a poster’s description of Quaylin from another website:
‘Pissy premenopausal shrew in glasses shaped to make her face less disturbing’
November 17th, 2009 at 10:41 amExclusive: Jobs ‘Saved or Created’ in Congressional Districts That Don’t Exist
Here’s a stimulus success story: In Arizona’s 15th congressional district, 30 jobs have been saved or created with just $761,420 in federal stimulus spending. At least that’s what the Web site set up by the Obama administration to track the $787 billion stimulus says.
Share
Discrepancies on government web site call into question stimulus spending.
There’s one problem, though: There is no 15th congressional district in Arizona; the state has only eight districts.
SPIEGEL: Obama Has Failed the World on Climate Change; Lied to Europeans
US President Barack Obama came to office promising hope and change. But on climate change, he has followed in the footsteps of his predecessor George W. Bush. Now, should the climate summit in Copenhagen fail, the blame will lie squarely with Obama.
November 17th, 2009 at 11:02 amThe Department of Agriculture reported yesterday that “the number of Americans who lived in households that lacked consistent access to adequate food soared last year, to 49 million, the highest since the government began tracking what it calls ‘food insecurity’
I would be one of those households if it were not for hunting. Thankfully my freezer is full due to a couple of recently harvested deer and the opening of rabbit and pheasant season. I hunt on public land and have noticed a serious increase in the number of hunters this year.
November 17th, 2009 at 11:15 amSPERM says:
November 17th, 2009 at 11:44 amSQUIRREL!
stormy is so afraid that Obama is going to succeed.
Get ready to be dissapointed pooch.
November 17th, 2009 at 11:54 amStorm wants you to know that the Germans are very upset with Obama. Storm doesn’t want you to know that Obama’s approval ratings are in the 80’s among Germans.
What else is new.
November 17th, 2009 at 12:48 pmSTORMfront. You ignorant racist pile of dogshit. No one cares what you think. Go pour yourself a nice steaming hot cup of STFU
November 17th, 2009 at 2:43 pmWith the federal deficit at “a record $1.4 trillion,” a plan for reducing long-term deficits will be “a key component” of President Obama’s State of the Union address. “It is foremost on his mind and the mind of the economic team,” White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said yesterday.
Brilliant. Is that how you run your household budget? Max out the credit cards. THEN try to figure out a way to get out from that foolish mess?
November 17th, 2009 at 3:02 pmFred says:
stormy is so afraid that Obama is going to succeed.
Get ready to be dissapointed pooch.
Afraid? No chance Obama will succeed. He is a disaster. In the end, he will make Jimmy Carter look great. Now that is something.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:04 pmThe Department of Agriculture reported yesterday that “the number of Americans who lived in households that lacked consistent access to adequate food soared last year, to 49 million, the highest since the government began tracking what it calls ‘food insecurity’ 14 years ago.” “These numbers are a wake-up call for the country,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
Health studies have shown that you live a longer and healthier life on far fewer calories than Americans eat now. If you can only afford less food, make sure it is good food. So much for that triple checker cheese burger, fries and sody pop.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:08 pmMr.Bungle says:
With the federal deficit at “a record $1.4 trillion,” a plan for reducing long-term deficits will be “a key component” of President Obama’s State of the Union address. “It is foremost on his mind and the mind of the economic team,” White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said yesterday.
Well then feel free to raise taxes on those who have disproportionately benefited from the horrible economic policies of the last 30 years!!
We don’t have to raise taxes. The problem is spending too much. More taxes just means more spending. Congress loves the pork diet.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:10 pmI can’t believe so many liberals would rather bash Sarah than promote feminism. She did not pose for that picture for Newsweek, that picture was for a different publication about fitness and running. There are plenty of reasons to tear her down, her stupidity for one, it is sexist to minimalize her for her looks.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:33 pmSry TP, the only real value of the best of today’s polls, comes from its best ’shock’ value; e.g. when first asked if (we) are going in the right direction, a normal person might think:
…we’re on, or in, some (moving)vehicle together, travelling off to reach some (unnamed)worthy goal;
Following that, the respondant is asked if we are on the ‘track’, and a nomal person might think that the carpet had been yanked from under his, or her feet, because now we must, take a train ride!
Notions of a ’stable’ society have previously hinged upon a common perception, of narrow, technical advances (and retreats?)between economic ‘classes’, defined by successes or achievement, amid individuals and groups; however, the notion of ‘class’ itslf, is highly susceptible to be misrepresented, and misinterpreted.
Other notions of previous, more undeveloped, societies may only be useful, to some per cent, as they have set the course toward democracy. New ideas of: leisure time, ample inventories, widespread distribution, widespread technology, and, commonly held skills, may more facily, and productively replace older technical social notions, of what is, or consitutes the measure of a stable, and peaceful society!
November 18th, 2009 at 7:09 am