Morning Open Thread
Good morning.
President Obama and Vice President Biden meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Photo by Pete Souza.
Comments (99) «
Good morning, again.
One for the road....
Jon Voight continues criticism of Obama, Democrats
Academy Award winner rails against Democrats at CineVegas red carpet event
By Melissa Arseniuk
Mon, Jun 15, 2009
Jon Voight may have come to CineVegas Sunday night to accept an award, but that didn’t stop the outspoken actor from sharing some of his partisan political views on the red carpet.
“Right now we’re in a real bad mess,” Voight said when asked about the current state nation’s politics.
“So many things are changing, we don’t realize that we’re losing ground almost every day,” he said.
It’s no secret that the actor is no fan of the President.
“Obama is a person that’s influenced by Marxists,” Voight said. “We’re going to have to pay very close attention (to him).”
“I feel that all of his recommendations have been disastrous to us,” he said.
The opinionated actor’s comments echoed the ones he made last week while making a speech at a Republican fundraiser in Washington, D.C.
“Everything Obama has recommended has turned out to be disastrous,” he said during his June 8 address.
The Academy Award winner, who is the father of actress Angelina Jolie, also called Obama a “false prophet” during the speech and suggested, "Obama really thinks he is a soft-spoken Julius Caesar.”
“He think he's going to conquer the world with his soft-spoken sweet talk,” he said.
Voight spread his criticisms across the upper echelons of the Democratic party Sunday night before the CineVegas Honorees Reception at Rain nightclub at the Palms.
“I’m upset with these guys, they’re thinking of themselves,” he said of the country’s leading Democrats. “Much of this budget is campaigning to get more votes, to keep them in office forever. They’re doing a campaign that’s about their own continuance instead of about the country’s needs.”
“I feel they’ve done an injustice to the country, the way they’ve behaved over the past several years,” he said.
Voight doesn’t have much hope of seeing the kind of change he’s hoping for while Obama is in the Oval Office, Nancy Pelosi heads the House of Representatives, and Nevada’s own Sen. Harry Reid is the Senate Majority Leader.
“Maybe (Obama) will wake up, maybe his team will wake up, but we’ve got people like Nancy Pelosi, (and) Harry Reid from Nevada who have really done us in,” he said.
The 71-year-old star said he’d like the Democrats to “stop right where they are now and turn around and do everything the reverse.”
He thinks the Democrats need a little reverse psychology.
“If they say this, I would say, well, then do that,” he said.
“The country is being eroded,” he said.
Voight concluded his political remarks on the red carpet by urging his fellow Americans to “stop this erosion, be attentive, be a good citizen, be active.”
Jon Voight received the CineVegas Marquee Award for artistic excellence, professional accomplishment and dedication to cinema Sunday night.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/jun/15/jon-voight-continues-criticism-obama-democrats/
Angelina Jolie needs to start looking for homes for her father instead of having more children. The photo accompanying the story says it all.
Voight seems to be using MsSame as inspiration for how to perform as a confused old coot. Bomb, bomb, Iran?
gotta run. later.
Speaking of photos....
I think the one, two punch of Obama and Bidden could soften the hearts of anyone...except maybe John Voight.
The myth of liberal media is dispelled - AGAIN!
Obama: ‘I’ve got one television station that is entirely devoted to attacking my administration.’
During an interview with President Obama that aired on CNBC yesterday, chief Washington correspondent John Harwood said, “When you and I spoke in January, you said — I observed that you hadn’t gotten much bad press. You said it’s coming.” Harwood added that since then, Obama still hasn’t received much critical press and wondered if his administration isn’t being “sufficiently held accountable.” Obama, however, disagreed:
OBAMA: It’s very hard for me to swallow that one. First of all, I’ve got one television station that is entirely devoted to attacking my administration. I mean, you know, that’s a pretty…
HARWOOD: I assume you’re talking about Fox.
OBAMA: Well, that’s a pretty big megaphone. And you’d be hard pressed if you watched the entire day to find a positive story about me on that front.
Seeming to undermine the premise of his question, Harwood said after the interview that Obama has “gotten slapped around pretty good on our network for a while” too.
Trying to fathom the various hatreds of the Republicans these days is always a tricky exercise.
After all, these are people who despise saintly figures like Jimmy Carter. How, exactly, does one go about hating someone like Carter? It's like hating Mother Teresa.
The wingnuts also despise decorated war heroes like John Kerry, John Murtha and Max Cleland. I've never understood how soldiers who fought and bled for their country could be the target of such venom from anyone, either on the Right or the Left.
But it's always been a complete mystery to me why the Republicans would hate someone like Hillary Clinton.
Surely it's clear to anyone outside of the Rush-listening, knuckle-dragging base of the GOP that Hillary is hardly an extreme liberal. In fact, she's quite moderate.It's clear that the real reason the Republicans hate Hillary is that they simply can't stand strong-willed women.
Let's face it: such "uppity" women frighten the Republicans. It's not that the GOP necessarily despise women in general---it's just that the right-wingers want women to stay in their place in society.
Good afternoon, DEMS!
5
peaceman on June 17, 2009 at 02:17 PM
The Pugs hate Hillary because when she was on the Watergate investigative team she found the 'smoking gun' that led to Nixon's resignation. The Pugs were never really interested in getting Bill, they just wanted to ruin Hillary.
That slimeball and multi-adulterer, Henry Hyde, who ran the Clinton impeachment circus, even admitted to ABC7Chicago reporter Andy Shaw that the Clinton impeachment was (his words here) "payback for Nixon".
The Pugs ONLY want things to go back at least as far as the 1950s where women were barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen, and kept their mouths shut the whole time.
Republicans appear to have become, not just the party of 'No' but also the party of 'hate.' They appear to hate anything and anyone who challenges the old-fashioned theory of all white male dominance. In order to feel good about themselves, they need to feel superior to everyone else, especially anyone who is not just like them.
5Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on June 17, 2009 at 02:36 PM
A troll posted that liberals hate palin beccuse she is a woman,like liberals hate anyone but I posted the above just to repute that outrageous statement.
8
peaceman on June 17, 2009 at 02:56 PM
If Failin' is supposed to be such a modern day feminist why was she charging the victims for rape kits? Especially considering that AK is the rape capital of the US?
Magnetic Super-atoms DiscoveredScienceDaily (June 16, 2009) — A team of Virginia Commonwealth University scientists has discovered a ‘magnetic superatom’ – a stable
cluster of atoms that can mimic different elements of the periodic table – that one day may be used to create molecular electronic
devices for the next generation of faster computers with larger memory storage.The newly discovered cluster, consisting of one vanadium and eight cesium atoms, acts like a tiny magnet that can mimic a single manganese atom in magnetic strength while preferentially allowing electrons of specific spin orientation to flow through the surrounding shell of cesium atoms. The findings appear online in the journal
Nature Chemistry.Through an elaborate series of theoretical studies, Shiv N. Khanna, Ph.D., professor in the VCU Department of Physics, together with VCU
postdoctoral associates J. Ulises Reveles, A.C. Reber, and graduate student P. Clayborne, and collaborators at the Naval Research Laboratory in D.C., and the Harish-Chandra Research Institute in Allahabad, India, examined the electronic and magnetic properties of
clusters having one vanadium atom surrounded by multiple cesium atoms.They found that when the cluster had eight cesium atoms it acquired extra stability due to a filled electronic state. An atom is in a
stable configuration when its outermost shell is full. Consequently, when an atom combines with other atoms, it tends to lose or gain valence electrons to acquire a stable configuration.According to Khanna, the new cluster had a magnetic moment of five Bohr magnetons, which is more than twice the value for an iron atom in
a solid iron magnet. A magnetic moment is a measure of the internal magnetism of the cluster. A manganese atom also has a similar magnetic moment and a closed electronic shell of more tightly bound electrons, and Khanna said that the new cluster could be regarded as a mimic of a manganese atom.“An important objective of the discovery was to find what combination of atoms will lead to a species that is stable as we put multiple
units together. The combination of magnetic and conducting attributes was also desirable. Cesium is a good conductor of electricity and hence the superatom combines the benefit of magnetic character along with ease of conduction through its outer skin,” Khanna said.“A combination such as the one we have created here can lead to significant developments in the area of “molecular electronics,” a field where researchers study electric currents through small
molecules. These molecular devices are expected to help make non-volatile data storage, denser integrated devices, higher data processing and other benefits,” he said.Khanna and his team are conducting preliminary studies on molecules composed of two such superatoms and have made some promising observations that may have applications in spintronics. Spintronics is a process using electron spin to synthesize new devices for memory and data processing.
The researchers have also proposed that by combining gold and manganese, one can make other superatoms that have magnetic moment, but will not conduct electricity. These superatoms may have potential biomedical applications such as sensing, imaging and drug delivery.
This research was supported by the U.S. Department of the Army.
I don't suppose y'all will mind a little hometown crowing from those of us in the Commonwealth of VA. Well done, VCU.
Happy 37th birthday to the Watergate break in! The Pugs have always been the scum of the Earth.
NOW it comes out that the NSA has been 'accidentally' intercepting former President Clinton's e-mails and other communications.
NSA analyst ‘improperly accessed’ Bill Clinton’s e-mail through domestic surveillance program.
Take ALL the Pugs and lock them up in Gitmo. Waterboard them until they finger Cheney and Chimpy, then send the whole lot of them to the Hague.
I see one of our resident trolls posted an article as to why people hate Gov. Palin (R-AK). While hate is a strong word, especially where I'm concerned, and since I cannot speak for anyone else, I thought I would put in my own two cents on this issue.
Gov. Palin is intellectually unfit to hold any elected office. Time and time again she has proven she just isn't smart enough to do the job, any elected job with, perhaps, the exception of mayor of Wasilla. Considering how insignificant Wasilla, AK is, it would be a good place for someone like the governor. And if eight years under the Bush 43 Administration wasn't enough to prove to every American voter what happens when you elect an intellectual inferior, then nothing can convince you and you'll vote for the "dumb one" every time because you just ain't smart enough to figure out how dumb you are.
There shouldn't be any other reasons not to vote for her other than she's a Republican with a classic Republican philosphy and she isn't smart enough. The fact that she is the grandmother of a bastard is irrelevant. The fact that she is the mother of a genectically defective infant (i.e. "special needs" child) is irrelevant. The fact that she is great fodder for comedians is irrelevant. Her children are irrelevant. Her husband is irrelevant. What was once their future in-laws, those incarcerated and those that aren't, yet, are irrelevant as well. In fact, if AK voters reelect her, in any capacity other than perhaps a small town mayor, they'll prove to be irrelevant as well.
In closing, the GOP will have multiple tests in 2012. Will they nominate former Gov. Romney (R-MA)? No, the Evangelicals would stay home in November. Will they nominate former Speaker Gingrich? No, he has more political baggage than the Clintons combined. Will they nominate Gov. Jindal (R-LA)? That's about as likely as the GOP nominating an African-American. So that leaves a dark horse candidate or Gov. Palin. I hope they nominate Gov. Palin. I really do. I know what she is. Everyone with a modicum of sense knows what she is. And we won't have to raise hundred of millions of dollars for the campaign. Her ceiling is at 33% nationally. Why? That's the intellectual bottom third of the electorate.
i just had a really great laugh. neil stupudo of faux news is using his whole hour on the tube to whine about how unfair obama is to his station. neil should try groveling and begging....he will still be ignored but it would make for some great laughs....or maybe he can get rush and coltface to come on his show and blather about how mean liberals are....heck i promise i would tune in for the yoks.....dem chickens are home to roost and they are crapping right on uncle ruppies kids heads...hahahahaha
Everyone with a modicum of sense knows what she is. And we won't have to raise hundred of millions of dollars for the campaign. Her ceiling is at 33% nationally. Why? That's the intellectual bottom third of the electorate.
12BobVADemocratHawk on June 17, 2009 at 04:08 PM
Very well said Bob.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Facing a world of diplomatic woes from Iran to North Korea, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton had the opportunity to get some heavyweight advice at a dinner held by eight of her living predecessors.
Tuesday night's private dinner at former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's Washington home gathered top U.S. diplomats from five previous administrations with decades of hands-on experience in some of the most difficult foreign policy crises America has faced.
A spokeswoman for Albright says all but one living former secretary of state attended the event to honor Clinton: Henry Kissinger, George Shultz, James Baker, Lawrence Eagleburger, Warren Christopher, Albright, Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice.The only one missing was Alexander Haig. No details about the conversation or menu were immediately available.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D98SFK2O0&show_article=1
That's the mark of a true leader. When one seeks the counsel of your former advesaries for the betterment of all. Oh, to be a fly on the wall for this one. One second thought, seeing how the POTUS deals with flies, a better analogy is in order.
gregg on June 17, 2009 at 04:14 PM
It still amazes me how FNS can hold a straight face when they say their news coverage is fair and balanced. If they changed their call letters to FNSRNC it would be more accurate.
peaceman on June 17, 2009 at 04:15 PM
Thank you, Peaceman.
This is interesting!
Gallup health care poll: Americans put faith in insurance companies over GOP
Today, House Republicans offered a substance-less alternative to the Democrats’ health care plan. The GOP “plan” comes on the same day that Gallup releases new numbers showing the GOP ranks last when it comes to who the public thinks would get health care reform right. Only 34% of Americans are confident that Republicans in Congress will make the correct decisions, which is less than the insurance companies (35%) and the pharmaceutical companies (40%). The public’s faith in President Obama comes in at 58%, while confidence in Democratic leaders in Congress is at 42%
I swear, I really believe that this woman is badly in need of the help of a mental health professional! Is this any way for any American to be behaving, let alone an elected lawmaker?
Bachmann Boasts About Breaking The Law: I’m Refusing To Fill Out The Census
Next year, the 2010 Census will be sent to every American household, as required by the U.S. Constitution. The far right has issued dire warnings of the Census; on a May 29th episode of Bill Bennett’s radio show, RNC Chairman Michael Steele intoned, “Certainly the collection of this information is going to be part of an ongoing political campaign by this administration.”
In an interview with the Washington Time’s right-wing radio show this morning, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) declared that she would break the law and refuse to answer the Census questions, beyond noting the number of people in her household
Vegas paper gets subpoena to ID online commenters
The Associated Press
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 6:34 PMLAS VEGAS -- A Nevada newspaper says it has been served a federal grand jury subpoena seeking information about readers who posted comments on the paper's Web site.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Tuesday that its editor, Thomas Mitchell, plans to fight the request, which the newspaper received after reporting on a federal tax fraud case against business owner Robert Kahre.
The subpoena seeks the identities and personal information about people who posted comments on the story. The newspaper said prosecutors told the judge in the case that some comments hinted at acts of violence and the subpoena was issued out of concern for jurors' safety.
Mitchell said anonymous speech is "a fundamental and historic part of this country." The newspaper would consider cooperating if specific crimes or real threats were presented, he said.
The newspaper said the subpoena bears the name of U.S. Assistant District Attorney J. Gregory Damm, a lawyer on the Justice Department team that is prosecuting Kahre and others on charges including income tax evasion, fraud and criminal conspiracy.
Grand jury proceedings are secret, and the subpoena is not a public record.
A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney for Nevada declined to comment.
The newspaper said it received the subpoena June 2, a week after its story describing the government's case against Kahre, a Las Vegas construction company executive accused of paying contractors with gold and silver U.S. coins based on the precious metal value of the coins but using the much lower face value of the coins for tax purposes. Kahre and the other defendants have pleaded not guilty.
The story drew nearly 175 online comments by Monday night, most in support of Kahre and critical of the government and jurors and attorneys in the case.
One commentator said: "The sad thing is there are 12 dummies on the jury who will convict him. They should be hung along with the feds."
Another called Damm a "socialist, fascist Mormon" and a "Nazi moron."...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/16/AR2009061601923_pf.html
If you threaten to kill someone online, you deserve to be outed in the interest of public welfare. The editor is incorrect in his assertion that "anonymous speech is a fundamental and historic part of this country". Free speech is fundamental, not anonymous speech. If you couldn't stand up in a room of strangers and say exactly what you post here, or anywhere else for that matter, then you have no business posting it, IMHO.
10
BobVADemocratHawk on June 17, 2009 at 03:19 PM
Afternoon Bob,
I really like articles about scientific achievements. I wonder if these superatoms would exhibit superconducting properties.
what a bunch of hyopcrits - as usual GOPPERS!
From HuffPO
MediaWATCH: Palin Defenders Trash Letterman's "Bastard" Child, "Slut" Wife
Johne on June 17, 2009 at 05:05 PM
I doubt if it would exhibit superconducting properties however, it does exhibit regular electrical conducting properties.
Afternoon Marymac,
I would take ten Lettermans with his wife and child to one of palins little s**ts. These people are flaming aholes.
Bob,
There are people who are still working on cold fusion. There are still a lot of naysayers out there.
marymac_memphis on June 17, 2009 at 04:55 PM
The people of MN6 would be crazy to re-elect Rep. Bachman (R-MN) in 2010. It shouldn't cost the DCCC too much to blanket the district with mailers of all of her hare-brained statements. Of course, considering how the GOP thinks, they'd probably nominate a Palin \ Bachman ticket for 2012.
18
marymac_memphis on June 17, 2009 at 04:55 PM
Howdy, Mary. Let Bachman break the law. She just announced her premeditated intentions for all to hear, and as such can be tossed out of the House on her ear for encouraging people to also break the law.
Oh,
White Sox (BOO!) 4
Cubs (YAY!) 1
(final)
Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on June 17, 2009 at 05:42 PM
I swear, I don't know how the people of her district re-elected Bachmann last year. She is an 'accident waiting to happen!'
Johne on June 17, 2009 at 05:35 PM
Me too! (and I don't particularly care for Letterman!!!)
Obama unveils broad financial oversight plan
Obama blames current financial crisis on ‘a culture of irresponsibility’WASHINGTON (AP)- President Barack Obama proposed sweeping new “rules of the road” for the nation’s financial system Wednesday, casting the changes as a critically important response to the economic crisis and the greatest regulatory transformation since the Great Depression.
Obama blamed the financial crisis on “a culture of irresponsibility” that he said had taken root from Wall Street to Washington to Main Street, and he said regulations crafted to deal with the depression of the 1930s had been “overwhelmed by the speed, scope and sophistication of a 21st century global economy.”
The Obama plan would give new powers to the Federal Reserve to oversee the entire financial system and would also create a new consumer protection agency to guard against credit and other abuses that played a big role in the current crisis.
Unveiling his proposal before an East Room audience, Obama blamed the financial crisis on “a culture of irresponsibility” and outdated financial rules that were created in the wake of the Great Depression of the 1930s but had been “overwhelmed by the speed, scope and sophistication of a 21st century global economy.”
The Obama plan would give the Federal Reserve new powers to oversee the entire financial system, hoping that the central bank will be able deal with the kinds of problems that were allowed to build to such an extent that they ended up overwhelming the system last year, resulting in the collapse of some of America’s largest financial institutions.
The Obama proposal would also create a new consumer protection agency to guard against the kind of mortgage and other credit abuses that played a major role in the current crisis.
Two lawmakers whose committees will play a major role said they would move quickly.
“We’ll have it done this year,” Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, said after Obama’s address.
“Absolutely,” agreed Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. He joked that the White House had “threatened us with a severe chastening if we don’t.”...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31403945/ns/business-stocks_and_economy/
Come on, Mr. President, let's keep it simple here. Have one department keep an eye on everything dealing the Wall St. money worshippers. Quite frankly, I think it ought to be under the DOJ so when one of these fat cats try to get over again, and they will try to get over again, it will be only a walk down the hall and maybe an elevator ride to get a subpoena and\or arrest warrant. Keep it simple Mr. President.
,blockquote>Can Obama Win Back the Gay Community?
Holly Bailey
In what initially looked like a big deal for the gay community, the White House put out word last night that President Obama will sign a “memo” today to extend benefits to same sex partners of federal workers. Early reports suggested those benefits would include the right to health insurance, which, if true, would have gone far in soothing some of the tension between the White House and gay rights activists, who have accused Obama of breaking campaign promises to promote equality for gays and lesbians. But the president's move today likely won't be as far reaching as some had hoped.
While we still don’t know exactly what Obama will sign—he’s scheduled to sign the memo and talk to reporters at 5:45 this afternoon—it appears that whatever he does won’t go as far as providing health benefits. That’s because under the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, the federal government cannot provide health insurance to same sex partners. And that’s where it gets very touchy. During the campaign, Obama vowed to repeal DOMA, calling it “abhorrent” and “unfair.” But last week the Obama Justice Department filed a legal brief in federal court defending DOMA against a lawsuit that claims the act is unconstitutional. In fact, in legal terms, the Obama aides equated same sex marriage to incest, a move that horrified gay rights groups including the Human Rights Campaign. Coupled with Obama’s silence on another campaign promise—his pledge to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in the military—several high-profile gay activists announced they would boycott a DNC fundraiser scheduled for next week featuring Vice President Joe Biden and several gay and lesbian members of Congress, including Barney Frank and Tammy Baldwin. All the bad publicity prompted the White House to schedule Obama’s announcement today, though an administration official insisted to Newsweek that the “memo” had been in the works all along.
Indeed, privately, White House aides have been giving the wink and nudge treatment to the gay community for weeks, saying that Obama still believes everything he said in the campaign but he’s had to deal with other pressing issues. (Btw, that sounds a lot like what Obama has said about abortion.) But is that enough to keep the LGBT community on board with Obama? It’s unclear. The reaction to Obama’s “memo” has been pretty lukewarm so far. HRC, in a statement, described it merely as a “first brick.” But everybody is watching very closely to see what Obama will actually say. Will he repeat his vow to repeal DOMA in spite of last week's legal brief? That's one rumor going around today, though White House aides won't comment. Meanwhile, David Mixner, a prominent gay rights activist who campaigned for Obama, says he's still boycotting the fundraiser next week—unless he hears Obama say something amazing today. “I feel betrayed,” he told Newsweek in an interview this morning. “People are really angry.” He said it’s not enough for Obama and his aides to hint that they’ll do more for the gay community in the future. “We heard that during the Clinton years,” Mixner said. “Too many pressing issues? That’s code for never.”
Dina Fine Maron contributed reporting.
The GLBT community needs to realize that this is a late, second term agenda item for political purposes. Now before all the GLBT supporters start bashing me, let me state for the record I'm in favor of civil unions that give the exact same benefits as marriage does under Federal law. Once the baby boomers are out of the picture, gay marriage will be a cinch in passing in all fifty states with the exception of UT.
This needs to be left to the states for now. If CA's Prop 8 wasn't a clear enough signal that the electorate isn't there yet then I don't know what is. We are still a nation of law contrary to what the Bush 43 Administration practiced. There are currently six states that allow gay marriage, MA, IA, NH, VT, ME, and CT. NY recognizes these states' gay marriage and MD has granted a some rights. That number is sure to grow.
But that means there are forty-two other states where gay marriage is illegal. RI and NM have no laws one way or the other. Quite frankly, I don't want to let the GOP get a foothold in most of those states because of this issue. VA, my homestate, passed a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage by a two to one margin. We just got VA blue again after forty-four years. Let's not hand the Old Dominion, and other states like NC, PA, FL, IN, CO, and others back to the GOP over this.
I understand the GLBT community is passionate about this. If I were gay, I would be too. But do you really want to risk the Republicans getting back into office? Do you honestly think your concerns will be given a second thought in a GOP controlled White House or Congress? Was it the last time?
In closing, the GLBT community needs to settle down. Your time is nigh. You have six states now in which you can go and live your lives happily ever after. Seven if you count NY. Withdraw your support from the Democratic Party and you'll be forced back into the closet for decades to come.
Unshackled insight of Liberty, upon Freedom’s might
Spreading inner potentials upon inspirational height,
Exponential growth germinating spirits interior flight
From a cesspool blight, into blooming enlightenment.
Core of birthrights Democracy, never surrendered again,
Whigs patriot action stature - Declaration of Independence.
Saying “Nuts” to Tory CorPolitical capitulation, but gaining
Civil Liberties Free Speech elocution in Free Will credence.
Souls press-of-sail currents motivating inspired minds
Writing American billowing canvas Free Speech winds,
Riding our God Bless Made in America spirited findings,
In questioning full spectrum searches, with “Truth” binding.
America must never wither upon Tory mandated silence,
Where secrecy uses prefabricated facts of deceit, in silent
Manipulation to intimidated civilians og patriot conformity.
Instead “We the people” must vent blossom vibration enormity.
John Ensign resigns leadership post
By MANU RAJU | 6/17/09 11:40 AM EDT
Updated: 6/17/09 5:00 PM EDT
Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) has resigned as the chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee, quitting his leadership post the day after he announced he had an extramarital affair.
“He’s accepted responsibility for his actions and apologized to his family and constituents,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a statement provided to POLITICO. “He offered, and I accepted, his resignation as chairman of the Policy Committee.”
The swift movement by Republicans – with Ensign’s consent – to clear him out of Senate leadership is a sign that the party wants nothing to do with another sex scandal as it tries to slow down the massive Obama agenda and focus on health care, energy and other pressing issues. Ensign has said he will remain focused on his Senate duties representing Nevada, but his days as a rising star in GOP politics are clearly done.
“One thing is for sure, he cannot go any further in Senate leadership, or higher in electoral politics now,” said one Republican Senate aide.
The most likely candidate to replace Ensign at the no. 4 spot in Senate leadership is Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), also considered a rising Republican star, who currently serves as vice chairman of the Republican Conference and has already expressed interest in Ensign’s Policy Committee chairmanship, according to GOP Senate aides. Thune has had an eye on higher Senate leadership spots, and has an edge for the policy chairman spot but other more junior Republicans may make a run at Ensign’s old position...
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/23841.html
Well, it looks like Sen. Ensign (R-NV) met RJSNJ, and others, halfway on that resignation demand. Now will he run for re-election? We'll have to wait at least two more years for the answer to that question. He comes up again in 2012.
NRSC paid son of woman in Ensign affair
By JOHN BRESNAHAN | 6/17/09 5:11 PM EDTThe son of the couple at the center of the sex scandal that has engulfed Sen. John Ensign was being paid by National Republican Senatorial Committee in 2008 at the same time his mother was having an affair with the Nevada Republican.
Both Doug and Cynthia Hampton were already working in senior positions for Ensign when their son Brandon Hampton was hired to do “research policy consulting” for the NRSC in March 2008.
The younger Hampton, 19, was paid $5,400 before he left the Ensign office in August last year, Federal Election Commission records show.
That means during March and April 2008, three members of the Hampton family were working for Ensign. Both Doug and Cynthia Hampton stopped working for Ensign at the end of April 2008.
According to people familiar with the matter, Ensign’s affair with Hampton took place between December 2007 and August 2008.
A trusted political aide, Cynthia Hampton served as the treasurer for both Ensign’s reelection campaign and for his leadership fund, Battle Born PAC. She received $10,620 through the Battle Born PAC during January to April 2008 – a pay rate that was far higher during that four-month period than the $11,767 she received from the committee during all of 2007.
Cynthia Hampton was also paid $11, 912 by Ensign’s reelection campaign between Jan. 2007 and April 2008, with her monthly salary doubling later in the year...
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/23844.html
And then the other shoe dropped in the Sen. Ensign affair. Former Gov. Spitzer (D-NY) was on the verge of impeachment when he resigned over paying for sex. President Clinton was impeached and later exonerated over lying about his affair. RJSNJ was correct. Now its time for Sen. Ensign to resign. Hypocrisy is not tolerated in the United States.
I see one of our resident trolls posted an article as to why people hate Gov. Palin (R-AK). While hate is a strong word, especially where I'm concerned, and since I cannot speak for anyone else, I thought I would put in my own two cents on this issue.
Gov. Palin is intellectually unfit to hold any elected office. Time and time again she has proven she just isn't smart enough to do the job, any elected job with, perhaps, the exception of mayor of Wasilla. Considering how insignificant Wasilla, AK is, it would be a good place for someone like the governor. And if eight years under the Bush 43 Administration wasn't enough to prove to every American voter what happens when you elect an intellectual inferior, then nothing can convince you and you'll vote for the "dumb one" every time because you just ain't smart enough to figure out how dumb you are.
There shouldn't be any other reasons not to vote for her other than she's a Republican with a classic Republican philosphy and she isn't smart enough. The fact that she is the grandmother of a bastard is irrelevant. The fact that she is the mother of a genectically defective infant (i.e. "special needs" child) is irrelevant. The fact that she is great fodder for comedians is irrelevant. Her children are irrelevant. Her husband is irrelevant. What was once their future in-laws, those incarcerated and those that aren't, yet, are irrelevant as well. In fact, if AK voters reelect her, in any capacity other than perhaps a small town mayor, they'll prove to be irrelevant as well.
In closing, the GOP will have multiple tests in 2012. Will they nominate former Gov. Romney (R-MA)? No, the Evangelicals would stay home in November. Will they nominate former Speaker Gingrich? No, he has more political baggage than the Clintons combined. Will they nominate Gov. Jindal (R-LA)? That's about as likely as the GOP nominating an African-American. So that leaves a dark horse candidate or Gov. Palin. I hope they nominate Gov. Palin. I really do. I know what she is. Everyone with a modicum of sense knows what she is. And we won't have to raise hundred of millions of dollars for the campaign. Her ceiling is at 33% nationally. Why? That's the intellectual bottom third of the electorate.
BobVADemocratHawk on June 17, 2009 at 06:54 PM
Well said Bob, well said.
I would add that Falin' Palin has lied time and time again to the American People. It seems to me that on key issues, she has lied more than she has spoken truth. (Remember the whopper "I told Congress thanks but no thanks!) Then there are the hypocritcal issues, especially when she decided that she was 'in charge' of deciding who was a "real" American and who wasn't. When she 'declared' me 'not a real American' simply because I live in a city and not a rural area, it made my blood boil. There is little worse than a lying, 'holier than thou', autocratic, authoritarian conservative hypocrit!
33
BobVADemocratHawk on June 17, 2009 at 06:44 PM
That whole Ensign thing fell apart when he was allegedly being extorted. Rumors are flying that both the the husband and wife were targeting Ensign and his wife for affairs and swinging parties (bi etc.) because they are in hock up to their eyeballs due to the housing market collapse.
Here are a few pics of their palatial mansion in Las Vegas:
There are some that prefer 18th century living and standards to those of modern standards by the looks of their posts and their rationale. While they are certainly entitled to their opinion, no matter how misguided it may be, to assume that Gov. Palin enjoys more support than President Obama requires a willing suspension of disbelief. President Obama's current approval rating is still above 60%.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/president_obama_job_approval-1044.html
60% of voters recognize that Gov. Palin is still dumb as a box of rocks. See you in 2012.
I suppose it would be possible to be a bigger A-hole, idiot than this guy, but I really don't know how! What an evil warmonger!
Rep. Rohrabacher: Obama Is A ‘Cream Puff’ For Not Interfering In Iran
Yesterday, President Obama explained his relative public silence with regard to the situation in Iran, saying, “It’s not productive, given the history of U.S.-Iranian relations, to be seen as meddling, the U.S. president meddling in Iranian elections.” Later in the day, on Radio America’s Dateline Washington, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) responded to Obama’s measured statements on Iran by calling him a “cream puff” and predicting that under Obama’s leadership “things” will get “very bad, very quickly”:
DATELINE: What is the best way to approach this? … President Obama though says that we don’t want to take sides too publicly because then the ruling regime there could use us as the straw man to beat back this public uprising. How do you read this?
ROHRABACHER: Well I think that Mr. Obama, if he continues to have these types of attitudes, we’re going to see things get very bad, very quickly. Already the North Koreans have challenged him and realized that he’s a cream puff, if that is what he is indeed going to be as a President.… [N]ow if the Mullahs in Iran are permitted to just roll over opposition something like Tienanmen square, we will have missed a great opportunity.
Later in the interview, Rohrabacher said that he had distributed a video to the people of Iran that declared “we’re with them, be courageous, don’t let this moment go by” and that Ronald Reagan “always knew that — at the very least — we should be vocally supportive of all those people who are oppressed.”
Rohrabacher’s view of Obama’s actions on Iran is not shared by some of his Republican colleagues in Congress or even some conservative commentators. Indeed, as Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) said on CBS’s Early Show yesterday, “I think for the moment our position is to allow the Iranians to work out their situation.” Likewise, Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) told Politico that Obama should “absolutely not” be more forceful on Iran. Pat Buchanan wrote on the conservative TownHall.com that “[t]he Obama policy of extending an open hand to Iran is working and ought not be abandoned because of the grim events in Tehran.”
But perhaps the most compelling endorsement of the Obama administration’s reaction to the election crisis in Iran came from Morehead Kennedy, who was held hostage for 444 days by Iranian revolutions while serving as acting head of the U.S. Embassy’s economic section in Tehran in 1979. In an interview with the Daily Beast, Kennedy “praised Joe Biden’s reaction to the protesters Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press, in which the vice president cast doubt on the election results but shied away from a more pronounced condemnation.” “It’s very counterproductive to interfere in someone else’s election. I think the best thing the U.S. can do is shut up,” he said.
UpdateMatt Yglesias writes, "[P]eople who work full-time, all-the-time on the difficult issues of democracy, human rights, and humanitarianism are much less interested in tough talk and posturing than are political pundits who like to parachute into situations and start demanding maximalist rhetoric."
Evening DPD,
That house is the house of a STAFFER no less. I heard today that a lot of the staffers are lobbyists. How does a lowly staffer afford a million dollar home? That's bullshit.
Being paid by corporations as a lobbyist and collecting our dime should be illegal as hell. Screw that.
This ensign is a typical corrupt republican pigasaurus.
Then they have the nerve to deny the American people health care. Screw them.
I demand an investigation of all members of Congress. We must set limits on staffers pay and prohibit them from serving two masters. Screw them.
Good night fellow Americans. Keep the Faith and keep the faith. Yes we can, yes we will, and yes we did!
Do staffers get free cadillac health care as well?
That would be a double slap in the face of the American people.
Republicans are such hypocrites.
Doobie, Bob: I wonder if Ensign plans to resign?
I found this over on Think Progress:
FLASHBACK: Ensign Called On Clinton To Resign After Admitting Affair — ‘He Has No Credibility Left’
The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza reports that Sen. John Ensign (R-NV), a member of GOP leadership and a potential candidate for president in 2012, will hold a press conference later today in which he will acknowledge having an extramarital affair “with a campaign staffer who was married to an employee in Ensign’s Senate office.” Ensign flew back to Las Vegas to make the public announcement.
Since his election to the Senate in 2000, Ensign has been a leading conservative voice who demanded the resignation of former Idaho Sen. Larry Craig in September 2007. Ensign called Craig a “disgrace” after he was arrested in June 2007 in an airport men’s restroom on disorderly conduct charges. But when Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) acknowledged having an affair, Ensign didn’t call on him to resign.
Ensign has also been an ardent opponent of gay marriage. In Feb. 2004, Ensign announced his support for an amendment to the Constitution that would have defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman. Ensign said the amendment, which ultimately failed, was necessary to protect “the institution of marriage“:
“Sadly, the effort to redefine marriage against the wishes of a majority of the people is, with help from activist judges, succeeding,” Ensign said. “In order to defend the institution of marriage, uphold the rights of individual states, and maintain the will of the people, I believe we are compelled to amend our country’s constitution.”
“The effort to pass a constitutional amendment reaffirming marriage as being between a man and a woman only is being undertaken strictly as a defense of marriage against the attempt to redefine it and, in the process, weaken it,” Ensign said. “Marriage is an extremely important institution in this country and protecting it is, in my mind, worth the extraordinary step of amending our constitution.”
In 1998, while running for Nevada’s Senate seat against Harry Reid, Ensign called on President Clinton to resign in light of his admitted affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky:
“I came to that conclusion recently, and frankly it’s because of what he put his whole Cabinet through and what he has put the country through,” Ensign said Thursday, becoming the first member of the Nevada delegation to call for Clinton to quit. “He has no credibility left.”
How much “credibility” does Ensign have left?
UpdateMore quotes from Ensign:
“I believe that marriage should be defined as that between one man and one woman. You want to do what is ideal for children and all of the studies show that the ideal for children is to be in a household with a father and a mother.” [4/19/09]
“Mr. President, I rise today to speak on a topic that is very important. That is the preservation of the most important structure in our society.” [7/13/04]
"There's too many people that paint with a broad brush that we're all corrupt, we're all amoral. … And having these kinds of things happen, whether it's a Republican or Democratic senator — we certainly have had plenty of Democratic scandals in the past — we need people who are in office who will hold themselves to a little higher standard." [10/18/07]
And that prick ensign wants to run for president. What a f**king laugh. Who the hell does he think he is?
He leaned on Bill Clinton for his affair. He critized craig for his arrest. Then he confesses an affair and expects the American people to believe he is the king of family values. What a f**king laugh.
What is it about republicans. They are either pedophiles marrying young women or they are philandering hypocrites. These people disgust me.
This is pure entertainment:
Analysis: Ensign affair a shock GOP didn't need
By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer 1 hr 32 mins ago
WASHINGTON – It's just about the last thing the beleaguered Republican Party needed: a Christian conservative with national aspirations admitting to an extramarital affair with an ex-staffer.
Add Nevada Sen. John Ensign's infidelity admission to an ever-growing list of woes for the out-of-power GOP.
One senator's predicament hardly condemns an entire party. But the episode is an unwelcome distraction as the Republicans, their ranks shrinking, seek a turnaround after disastrous losses in consecutive national elections.
Since President Barack Obama took office, Republicans have struggled to counter his popularity and the Democrats' command of Congress.
The GOP's new national chairman, Michael Steele, got off to a rocky start. Moderate Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter defected to the Democrats. And Democrat Al Franken is favored to eventually be declared the winner of the disputed Minnesota Senate race over incumbent GOP Sen. Norm Coleman.
Now this.
"Last year I had an affair. I violated the vows of my marriage. It is the worst thing I have ever done in my life," Ensign said Tuesday at a hastily arranged news conference in Sin City itself, Las Vegas.
He didn't name the woman, but Cindy Hampton came forward later to say through an attorney that she regretted Ensign's decision to "air this very personal matter." Federal records showed that she was on his political payroll and received a promotion and a pay raise around the time he said the affair began in late 2007.
There also was a report of a previous affair, in 2002, an indication that the drip, drip of dalliance details may only just be beginning.
On Wednesday, as fellow senators remained mum, Ensign resigned his leadership post. The skilled communicator and proven fundraiser was the chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, the No. 4 Senate Republican.
Until his admission, Ensign was trying to raise his national profile. Popular in Nevada though virtually unknown elsewhere, he recently flirted with a 2012 presidential run, visiting the early voting state of Iowa and refusing to tamp down speculation of a bid.
Those dreams now seem dead.
49marymac_memphis on June 17, 2009 at 08:03 PM
Marymac,
Ensign is really just one more repelican caught with his "hand" in the "till".
wink wink, nod, nod,
Do staffers get free cadillac health care as well?
45Johne on June 17, 2009 at 07:40 PM
Johne,
Well I don't know about cadillac health care, but some obviously do get some special treatment from the repelicans...
Danks delivers for Sox in crosstown opener
http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=cws
Oh... DPD is not going to be happy...
Now I guess the only hope for the Pugs in 2012 is Joe Scumbucket, if he can explain away that dead intern who accidentally fell backwards several times and kept hitting her head against the underside of an IBM typewriter.
Hi Chicago, Johne.
John - I find their 'brand' of politics disgusting and I am throughly entertained when one of the 'holier than thou' bunch who that think that they are somehow qualified to tell everyone else how to live their lives and who run on the "Vote for me because I am so much more moral than a democrat" platform gets caught in a web of hyprocrisy!
55Doo-Bee-Doo-Bee-Doo on June 17, 2009 at 08:17 PM
DPD,
You don't believe the Gee-Ooh-Pee can "pull out" of this downward spiral? Even with the help of Newt Gingrich, Rush Limbaugh and DICK Cheney?
57marymac_memphis on June 17, 2009 at 08:19 PM
Marymac,
You are so right. Ensign would have kept this a secret except it appears she was trying to blackmail him. You and I both know, that if she was pregnant, and he had the choice of
A)keeping it secret and having the child aborted so he could keep his job or
B) going public and losing his job,
He would choose A.
Repelicans ARE hypocrites.
Chicago:
I'm a little bit old-school in that I liked it better when people's personal lives were just that and politicians from both sides of the aisle had the sense to not run on some fake morality platform. The Grinch and his 'indictment' of President Clinton crossed that line and since that time, it seems like every politician's personal lives are fair game. Falin' Palin put her family right in the 'cross hairs' of the press and the public and then threw a fit when they became the butt of jokes. It's one of the many reasons that I have zero respect for her as a person, much less as an elected official.
President Obama was right about this one. mcloser was badmouthing him for not speaking out. What a loser.
Iran accuses the US of meddling in election crisis
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_IRAN_ELECTION?SITE=CASON&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
60marymac_memphis on June 17, 2009 at 08:40 PM
Marymac,
I'm with you. The government should stay out of our private lives. Some decisions should be between doctors and their patients. The Clinton witch hunt was wrong. People in politics should be judged by how well they represent their constituents. But the witch hunt happened, and here we are.
But the witch hunt happened, and here we are.
65
Chicago on June 17, 2009 at 08:56 PM
Exactly! I am firmly of the belief that is one of the main reasons people are turning away from the Republican Party - the embarrasing hyprocrisy. That and the fact that it is populated with idiots like the two stupid trolls that we have here. They alone are enough to run off everyone with an I.Q. that exceeds the double digits.
bachman is a pissant.
And she's a complete idiot. Not just a partial idiot. A complete and utter fool.
I think McLame wants to "bomb Iran".
No surpise there. We are so lucky we did not elect that angry old senile codger as our president.
Has anyone seen the latest (within the last 12 hours) of what is happening in Iran? I haven't seen anything since early this morning. I have forgotten, what is the time difference again? Is it 9 hours ahead EDT?
I saw where the soccer (European Futbol) team wore green to support Mousavi. That is quite literally taking their lives in their hands to 'protest' in that way; but, with the popularity of soccer in Iran, who knows!
Johne:
Bachman not only admitted she intended to commit a crime, she encouraged others to commit the same crime! The proof is in her own statements, I posted them earlier today on this blog!
Marymac,
cheney admitted a war crime but no one seems to see fit to investigate and prosecute.
Johne on June 17, 2009 at 09:41 PM
Wouldn't it be wonderful to see him behind bars!?!
cheney admitted a war crime but no one seems to see fit to investigate and prosecute.
84Johne on June 17, 2009 at 09:41 PM
Johne,
Absolutely right. I am so tired of the Democrats being a bunch of spineless, knock-need chicken-sh*ts. The repelicans had the balls to impeach Clinton for having an affair. Yet the Democrats can't get up the back-bone to even investigate Bush and Cheney for war crimes THEY'VE ADMITTED TO IN PUBLIC ON TAPE!
From the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Dear Friend,
Like you, my colleagues and I were deeply saddened by the murder of security guard Stephen Johns at the Holocaust Museum.
It's unfortunate that it sometimes takes a tragic event like this to focus the nation's attention on the very real threat of domestic terrorism. At the Southern Poverty Law Center, we're working hard to track and expose extremists like the anti-Semitic fanatic who lashed out last week. In fact, in the latest issue of our Intelligence Report, we warned about a dangerous resurgence of right-wing extremism since President Obama was elected.
We're also working closely with law enforcement — making sure that officers have the latest intelligence on extremists and training them to combat hate crimes and domestic terrorism. Every day, we get calls from law enforcement officials who want information about extremists in their areas.
In addition to the Holocaust Museum shooting, we've seen the murders of five police officers by extremists in recent months and the assassination of a prominent Kansas physician by an extremist tied to the anti-government militia movement.
These killers may have acted alone, but they were all influenced by the hate movement in America. What's alarming is that this movement is now being aided and abetted by far-right pundits on cable TV and talk radio, who are fanning the flames of hate with their increasingly hysterical rhetoric targeting President Obama, the government, Latino immigrants and others who are not like them. These are the same commentators who ridiculed the recent Department of Homeland Security that predicted the very kind of violent attacks we're now seeing.
We all need to speak out against hate — whether it's in the national media or in our communities. Thursday, we'll be at the National Press Club in Washington for a panel discussion about extremist rhetoric in the media.
We hope the lessons from this latest tragedy won't soon fade from our national consciousness. I can assure you that we will remain vigilant.
Thank you for standing with us and for all you do for the cause of justice.
Sincerely,
J. Richard Cohen, CEO and President
Chicago,
I hope President Obama will move on this investigation. He may be holding off until he gets his legislation and may not want to alienate the neotards in Congress.
faux news should send hannity on a "fact finding" mission to Iran. Maybe he won't come back. HehHehHeh. He should be a man.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
91Johne on June 17, 2009 at 10:02 PM
Hannity ain't no man. The fool agreed to be water-boarded, then chickened out. He's been running like the chicken-sh*t he is ever since. The only "fact-finding" mission he's qualified to go on would be a visual inspection of Rush Limbaugh's colon.
Well, I was feeling rather down before unloading on the stupid troll. Now I'm feeling almost as good as when we (that's we, as in we the people) elected Barack.
Oops, that should have been,
Shouldn't you be "licking" out some toilets or something?
Glad you found a job you're qualified for.
The neotards are such blatant assholes. They released "the republican" budget awhile back with no numbers.
Today they released "the republican" health care plan with no numbers.
Who do these assholes think they are. We all know they are stupid but they have gone way beyond reason in their expectation that we believe them on any issue.
God they are bunch of stupid pricks.
What's this, a question from the mindless tweeb. Harpo, I see you're still as sick as usual, so I assume you've yet to seek professional help. You really should you know, before it's too late, before there's no hope of regaining your sanity. But prehaps you enjoy living your life as every one else's joke.
104Johne on June 17, 2009 at 10:59 PM
Johne,
They are playing to their base. That 20% of people that are so stupid, they don't notice the numbers are missing. You know, those that voted for Bush TWICE!
hello chicago, hello johne.
just dropped in for a shout. catch you guys later.
They just reported on the NY news feed that some search and rescue group cloned their dog. Their dog was an exceptional tracker having found the last person alive in the 9/11 (cheney's) rubble. They cloned six identical dogs because it usually costs $138,000 to clone one.
I wonder when the asshole neotards will clone that asshole raygun.
Evening Boilerman,
Good to hear from you. Do you believe they dedicated a statue of raygun in the Capitol Rotunda a week or so ago. What is wrong with these morons. I think we should have a statue of herbert hoover there too.
When cheney dies they should make a statue of Adolf Hitler and erect that on K Street in Washington.
You know, we haven't heard much lately from darth cheney. I guess he finally realized people were on to his "the best defense is a strong offense" hyperbole to cover his ass and crawled back into his hole. Some people just don't know when to shut up.
Here's another thought. Given that the writing of change is on the wall, the GOP has, as the haven of last resort, officially become the "Oil, Coal, and Gas Party". Such a slimmy ending to such auspicious beginnings. Can they redeem themselves and justify their existence? Probably not.
I see the blog is still acting as silly as always. It would be nice if the powers that be could do something to enhance the online experience of those of us who do not have, nor can even access, broadband. oh well, i guess that's part of the cost of living the genteel country life.
Morning Dems......
The trolls are getting shriller every single day, as they watch America start to succeed under Obama, and they are pissed ! You can SMELL the sour grape, sore loser-itis coming off of them!
I LIKE that they do not LIKE it ! It means we are on the right track after all. They would rather have had old man McCain and another 8 years of sick failure, than see America great again.
Chicago, you should really ignore MN Thomass in the evening. Just hang in, and he passes out at 10 CST each night. He does his little thing, which he thinks indicates some kind of Republican campaigning, and then his wifey comes and grabs him by the ear and drags him out of his wet chair! :)
good morning all (except right wing nutters).
What is it with the right wing nutters hatred of ACORN? This is a good one - Adam Green gets teh Faux News hacks good:
VIDEO: Live from ACORN -- turning the tables on FOX Hotlist
by AdamGreen [Subscribe]
Digg this! Share this on Twitter - VIDEO: Live from ACORN -- turning the tables on FOXTweet this submit to reddit Share This
Wed Jun 17, 2009 at 07:32:19 PM PDT
Cross-posted at OpenLeft.
About 3 months ago, ThinkProgress's Amanda Terkel posted, "I Was Followed, Harassed, And Ambushed By Bill O’Reilly’s Producer" -- detailing an incident that led to this video on FOX.
Today, FOX was up to their little tricks again -- setting up a red carpet outside an ACORN event and ambushing community organizers as they walked in.
Stephanie Taylor and I figured it was time to avenge Amanda Terkel...
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/6/17/743823/-VIDEO:-Live-from-ACORNturning-the-tables-on-FOX
You can see that the FAUX news hacks were visibly upset by someone attacking back!
Battle Brewing On Capitol Hill Over Obama's Proposed Consumer Protection Agency
Consumer groups welcomed President Barack Obama's proposal to create a Consumer Financial Protection Agency as part of his sweeping overhaul of financial regulations on Wednesday. But they worried that the victory could be short lived as the powerful Wall Street lobbies prepare to go to battle to protect their own.
"The financial industry is sharpening its knives, and the question is, will Congress be able to withstand a sustained assault?" asked Travis Plunkett, the legislative director of the Consumer Federation of America.
In anticipation of the confrontation, a coalition of 200 consumer groups announced a day earlier the creation of Americans for Financial Reform, which will fortify their allies in Congress and will work to protect the president's proposal for the new consumer agency.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/17/battle-brewing-on-capitol_n_217088.html
The President has obviously struck a nerve and proposed something that will be good for the people. The reason I know this must be true is that the powerful special interests are already lining up against it!
Obama Boost: New Poll Shows 76% Support For Choice Of Public Plan
New poll numbers from NBC/Wall Street Journal produce two major and potentially conflicting story lines when it comes to the Obama administration's efforts for a health care overhaul. On the one hand, the American public overwhelmingly favors a choice between getting insurance coverage either through the private market or a government run option. Indeed, 76 percent of respondents said it was either "extremely" or "quite" important to "give people a choice of both a public plan administered by the federal government and a private plan for their health insurance."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/17/obama-boost-new-poll-show_n_217175.html
Morning Pam and rj,
I am so sick of faux news. When is the owner going to take his long anticipated dirt nap? I understand that his son is a Democrat. The least he could do to show that he is an Aemrican is to fire moody, retire and turn the operation over to his "liberal" son.
Maybe his son could have him committed to a rest home.
I heard a new CBS poll this morning, showing that 57% of Americans like what the Democratic party. Only 28% like what the repukes are doing.
When are the asshole republicans going to get this message. They are there to do what is right for America, not their rich corporate buddies. Are all republicans assholes?
Some federal employees are pissed at President Obama for not giving same-sex couples or just people living together all the rights offered to married couples.
President Obama explained that he could only give them limited relief because the asshole religious freakazoid republicans shoved through the "defense of marriage act".
President Obama is going to ram a repeal through Congress. This defense of marriage act is discriminatory but the republicans think that is just fine.
F**K THEM!!!!!!
I AM SO TIRED OF THE REPUBLICAN ASSHOLES PASSING LAWS THAT LIMIT PEOPLE'S RIGHTS. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE AMERICA AND NOT NAZI GERMANY.
F**K ALL REPUBLICANS!!!!!!
PLEASE GOD, SEND THEM ALL TO HELL TODAY BEFORE THEY DO ANY MORE DAMAGE TO OUR ONCE GREAT NATION!!!!!!!
President Obama needs to roll up that defense of marriage act into a tight roll and shove a copy up every republican ass in congress and while he is at it shove two each up cheney and bush's asses.
Don't forget the crazy glue.
President Obama was right as usual. The iranian government is blaming the US for their troubles and we haven't done anything.
Can you imagine what would have happened if mcprick had been appointed president by scalia. Iran and North Korea would be parking lots for mcprick's cars.
Thank you President Obama for being calm and rational.
We don't need a loose cannon anywhere near our nuclear arsenal.
What do you think phalin would do as president.
She can see North Korea from her house.
t
asshole cheney must have gotten the message to shut his f^^king mouth. Or is he planning another 9/11 attack with his CIA buddies.
rj,
I think it is extremely important to have a public health option no matter how much the right wing extremists piss and moan.
They are no longer welcome in this debate unless they listen to reason and help pass a good health bill. The American people deserve it and will accept no less.
With 76% in support of a public option, it is mandatory that we incorporate one in the bill.
If it doesn't happen then the American people will take to the streets like the people in Iran are doing.
We will have our own tea party similar to the million man march of a few years back.
They are no longer welcome in this debate unless they listen to reason and help pass a good health bill. The American people deserve it and will accept no less.
=============================================
Hi JE, did you see the pathetic crap they came up with as a bill? It was a complete insult to Americans. A 4 page piece of trash that is nothing more than a recycled Nixon plan to provide tax cuts for people purchasing health care plans. Total trash that will make everything worse.
When are the asshole republicans going to get this message. They are there to do what is right for America, not their rich corporate buddies. Are all republicans assholes?
124
Johne on June 18, 2009 at 08:16 AM
=====================================================
JE, the Republicans are all assholes and sociopaths.
Any loss in popularity for Obama is NOT translating into a gain for them. Why should they gain any popularity as they done nothing to help? The party of NO, the party of drug boss limbaugh is still garbage.
obama inherited the wind. there will be ups and downs in the polls. fact is without his interventions we would be in a depression rather than in a recession that may lift slowly but lift all the same over the next year. we can't worry about polls we have more substantive things to worry about and obama is the man for our times.
like this small problem:
Oceans Rising Faster Than UN Forecast, Scientists Say (Update1)
By Alex Morales
June 18 (Bloomberg) -- Polar ice caps are melting faster and oceans are rising more than the United Nations projected just two years ago, 10 universities said in a report suggesting that climate change has been underestimated.
Global sea levels will climb a meter (39 inches) by 2100, 69 percent more than the most dire forecast made in 2007 by the UN’s climate panel, according to the study released today in Brussels. The forecast was based on new findings, including that Greenland’s ice sheet is losing 179 billion tons of ice a year.
“We have to act immediately and we have to act strongly,” Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, director of Germany’s Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, told reporters in the Belgian capital. “Time is clearly running out.”
In six months, negotiators from 192 nations will meet in Copenhagen to broker a new treaty to fight global warming by limiting the release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels and clearing forests.
“A lukewarm agreement” in the Danish capital “is not only inexcusable, it would be reckless,” Schellnhuber said.
Fossil-fuel combustion in the world’s power plants, vehicles and heaters alone released 31.5 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, 1.8 percent more than in 2007, according to calculations from BP Plc data.
‘Rapid and Drastic’
The scientists today portrayed a more ominous scenario than outlined in 2007 by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which likewise blamed humans for global warming. “Rapid and drastic” cuts in the output of heat-trapping gases are needed to avert “serious climate impacts,” the report said.
The report called for coordinated, “rapid and sustained” global efforts to contain rising temperatures. Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen, also in Brussels, told reporters that nations have to reverse the rising trend in emissions of heat-trapping gases.
“We need targets,” Rasmussen said. “All of us are moving toward the same ambitious goals.”
Scientists from institutions including Yale University, the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge compiled the 39-page report from research carried out since 2005, the cutoff date for consideration by the IPCC for its forecasts published in November 2007.
Sea Levels
Ocean levels have been rising by 3.1 millimeters a year since 2000, a rate that’s predicted to grow, according to the study. The projections of sea levels rising by a meter this century compare with the 18 to 59 centimeters (7 to 23 inches) forecast by the IPCC.
“There are indications that rates of sea-level rise are higher than projected, and impacts like Arctic melting are more rapid,” Martin Parry, who supervised part of the UN panel’s 2007 study, said in a telephone interview. He wasn’t involved in writing the new report.
Oceans are warming 50 percent faster than the IPCC predicted and Arctic sea ice is disappearing more rapidly in summer -- exposing darker ocean that absorbs more heat, the study said.
The academics produced the study, “Climate Change -- Global Risks, Challenges and Decisions,” by compiling research submitted to a conference in Copenhagen in March. They also drew from an October 2006 report into the economics of climate change by Nicholas Stern, then the U.K. government’s chief economist.
Doing-Nothing Cost
Stern’s study, which wasn’t included in the IPCC report, said that the cost of avoiding the worst impacts of climate change can be limited to 1 percent of economic output while doing nothing could lead to damage costing as much as 20 percent of the world’s gross domestic product.
“Greater near-term emissions lock us into greater climate change requiring greater costs from climate impacts and more investment in adaptation,” Stern wrote in today’s study. “Furthermore, they lead to a faster rate of climate change with greater challenges for adaptation.”
The University of Copenhagen coordinated the effort by the 10-school International Alliance of Research Universities. Other members include the University of California at Berkeley, Peking University, the Australian National University, ETH Zurich, the National University of Singapore and the University of Tokyo.
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