Good morning, C2ers! This morning, we're very happy to announce an addition to our team of contributors, the very sharp, very well-informed JCM. He'll be helping us keep you up to speed on the day's news, and offering his own take on it as he's so inspired. Please give him a round of applause.Running Bare may be along to give you his perspective on this morning's headlines if he's not up to his lips in code - we'll see. In any case, please feel free to hash it all out on this thread. How about that suddenly sue-happy ACORN? How about those eleven nations whose representatives walked out on Ahmadinejad's speech at the U.N.? Talk it all out and offer your scoops over a piping hot cup of joe.
Well, it was good to see ten nations join Canada on the walk out. Haven't read the news on that yet and will go looking in a second.
ReplyDelete/think I will see about some science news to post as well.
YAY, JCM! :-)
ReplyDeletew00t!
From yesterday's BotW:
ReplyDeleteYesterday afternoon, we received an email from Victoria Hutter of National Endowment for the Arts' Office of Communication. The message consisted of a statement from NEA chairman Rocco Landesman intended "to clarify the issues concerning an August conference call in which an NEA employee participated," and which we wrote about Monday.
Politico's Ben Smith has posted the statement in full here; the gist of it is that the "NEA employee" acted without authorization in organizing the call, which was "not a means to promote any legislative agenda," although the employee used some "language" that was "unfortunately, not appropriate."
What we found peculiar about the statement, however, was its punctiliousness in referring to the NEA man involved. His name is Yosi Sergant, but you wouldn't know it from the Landesman statement, which refers to him only as an "employee" (twice) and as "the former NEA Director of Communications" (three times). The statement also asserts: "This employee has been relieved of his duties as director of communications."
Wow, Yosi Sergant must really be persona non grata at the NEA! Well, not exactly. We wrote back to Hutter, and the following email exchange--quoted in full--ensued:
Taranto: Thanks. What happened to "the former NEA Director of Communications"? I've read that he was reassigned, but what was he reassigned to?
Hutter: James: He remains in the communications office but that's all the information I have. Thanks.
Taranto: This is very confusing. You are telling me he works in your office but you have no idea what he does or what his title is, other than that it is no longer director of communications?
We sent Hutter that last reply today at 11:13 a.m. ET, and at this writing we have not received an answer.
The day after his inauguration, President Obama said this:
The way to make government responsible is to hold it accountable. And the way to make government accountable is to make it transparent, so that the American people can know exactly what decisions are being made, how they're being made, and whether their interests are being well served.
Here's how Obama-era "transparency" works in practice: A government agency is caught in a scandal. The chairman of the agency issues a statement blaming the scandal on an unnamed "employee," who, the chairman asserts, "has been relieved of his duties." The statement omits the fact that the offending employee still works for the same agency, in the same office, as he did before. When a journalist inquires about this, he is told by a colleague in that very same office--the communications office!--that she knows nothing about his new assignment.
It's hard to imagine government being more evasive and opaque.
Oldest child is not in the house this morning. It is infinitely more peaceful and quiet.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, everytime I get up to do something, my chair is filled with a child. They're as bad as the cats.
Global Warming Worst Case Scenario?
ReplyDeleteOoops. Maybe not
Of course we all know that it is an unquestioned fact. Only flat-earthers, young earth creationists, and other assorted conservatives would doubt the scientific consensus.
Hmmmm. I appear to be in here on my own ...
ReplyDeleteIf you blog alone do you get hair on your finger tips? Or just acne?
ReplyDeleteWell, well, well. I guess I'm not surprised.
ReplyDeleteBurlington NJ school children sing about Dear Leader
This has to be seen to be believed
I'd rather not look, Hunnish Maiden.
ReplyDeleteWhen cocks are outlawed, only outlaws will have cocks
ReplyDeleteOooooobama
ReplyDeleteHe's got plans for lots of hopey-change
He will tax your beer
But don't you fear
When the economy starts acting strange.
Oooooobama
He's articulate, well-dressed and groomed
We will soon have peace
If we lick the crease
When Islamists show us the full moon.
Lucius! :-)
ReplyDeleteIf you blog alone do you get hair on your finger tips? Or just acne?
Hair on your acne.
/...speaking from experience
I suppose "Nair" helps with that.
ReplyDeleteGood morning C2ers. Mostly lurking today, while I get some work done. I hope everyone is well. :)))
ReplyDeleteWow, this is pretty cool. Huge hoard of Anglo-Saxon treasure found.
ReplyDelete/going to look for some pics.
//got busy there hence the delay.
Good Morning {all y'all}
ReplyDeleteI've had a hectic morning thus far. Came into work and flipped over my desk calendar to see that I had a doctor's appointment at 8:00a.m. (it was 5 til) in a town 23 miles away. Hop in the car and get to the office in record time. Thought it was strange that there were not many cars in the parking lot, but went inside and was told that the doctor was not in and they had tried to call me but my phone was disconnected. Ended up, they had two numbers for me, neither of which was my number. I think they owe me a free visit and a trip to the sample closet.
HA! Found the pictures.
ReplyDelete/slide show, looks cool
Good morning Erik, redstateredneck. Think positive. Tomorrow is Friday.
ReplyDelete/So Happy It's Thursday...
PaladinPhil
ReplyDeleteVery cool!
Altogether now:
ReplyDelete"Barack Huseein Obama
He said that we all must lend a hand
To make this country strong again,
Mmm, Mmm, Mmm!"
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/24/elementary-school-students-reportedly-taught-songs-praising-president-obama/
I can't spell Hussein. Not that I care.
ReplyDeleteLucius, Atilla, red, RB, JCM...all - morning
ReplyDeleteThey're torturing me, Honduras' Manuel Zelaya claims
---It's been 89 days since Manuel Zelaya was booted from power. He's sleeping on chairs, and he claims his throat is sore from toxic gases and ``Israeli mercenaries'' are torturing him with high-frequency radiation.---
...and our Admin is supporting this POS' reinstatement?
Gawd...ElBarfadei..
Question: When you embed a link, does it show up when you press post comment (before you enter the word verification) embedded? I tried to do one and it didn't show up right so I edited and didn't try to embed it.
ReplyDeletered, it should show up embedded.
ReplyDeleteObama quoted Ronald Reagan at the security council meeting on the resolution on ridding the world of nukes. Wonder if Qaddafi still thinks Omama should be president for life considering his deep hatred of Reagan?
ReplyDeleteenuff said:
ReplyDeletered, it should show up embedded.
Well, shit. I gues I gotta work on that!
Gotta make a run to the bank and Wal-Mart. Send out a search party if I don't come back.
ReplyDeleteWhen cocks are outlawed, only outlaws will have cocks.
ReplyDeleteTook me quite awhile to work up the nerve to click on that link.
Morning C2ers,
ReplyDeleteI'm honored to be here and hope I can contribute in a small way to a great start.
I'd also like to ya'll to go do Today In History Thread.
Realwest went on a tear last night and absolutely nailed the current Health Care Bill being rammed down the throats of the American people.
Real Post-1
Real Post-2
Real Post-3
Read Real's posts, call your congresscritters and give 'em the what for!
Jus' a drive by, gotta' go build some hardware be back later.
This is so fucked up in so many ways.
ReplyDeleteSchool kids taught to praise Obama
Erik: Remember those kids doing that pseudo military drill thing? The public school kids singing a song in California I think? When do we call this enemy action by the teachers?
ReplyDeleteErik: Remember those kids doing that pseudo military drill thing? The public school kids singing a song in California I think? When do we call this enemy action by the teachers?
ReplyDeleteIf this shit had happened at my girls school(it wouldn't because they are in a private Catholic school) I would be all over the teachers and school board asses. This may only be one instance but I bet it is happening in other schools too.
I thought the recession was over?
ReplyDeleteHousing Data Halt Early Rally
Good afternoon, all. My internet is a little wonky today but I hope to be able to pop in and out.
ReplyDeleteLucius, a belated happy birthday. You were gone by the time I saw your post yesterday. Hope it was a good one.
JCM, congratulations on becoming a contributor. Your posts are always smart and insightful, and I'm looking forward to seeing you on the main page.
It looks like the Liberal Party won't be forcing an election any time soon. Good news is what I say.
ReplyDelete/as it says in the article we have had way too many federal elections lately.
Good gawd: ---The Obama administration has notified Congress of the State Department's intention to contribute $400,000 to foundations run by Muammar Qaddafi's two children — $200,000 each for daughter Aisha and son Saif. Saif, you may recall, is the son who escorted the Lockerbie terrorist Abdel Baset al-Megrahi home to a hero's welcome in Libya after President Obama sternly "warned" Qaddafi that there was to be no hero's welcome.---
ReplyDeleteGood afternoon doppelganglander.
ReplyDeleteHere's a distressing piece of news
/not directed at you doppel, just doing the two birds one stone approach.
Look out for something that's better then the Segway.
ReplyDelete/all they have to do is make it faster and multi-seasonal.
JCM
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking to realwest's posts from last night. Woot! The man's on fire. They'd make a great editorial (have to take out the more colorful language).
JCM...Da Man!
ReplyDeleteGood morning Patriots.
ReplyDeleteenuff
ReplyDeleteAyesha al-Gaddafi
In 2004 she joined the legal defense team of Saddam Hussein. The charity group Wa Attassimou that came out in defense of Muntadhar al-Zaidi over the shoe-hurling incident is also led by Ayesha.
Nice.
Woo hoo! Acorn is going down like a (fill in blank). Treasury IG agrees to investigation.
ReplyDeleteI think it's hilarious that a couple of kids have blown the top off of this corrupt organization.
http://twitter.com/MajoratWH/status/4344732753
"PaladinPhil said...
ReplyDeleteHA! Found the pictures."
Wow, Phil. That's some nice lookin' Anglo-Saxon booty!
From the "I am not naive" file.
ReplyDeleteUN security council passes resolution on nuclear disarmament
Obama, the first US president to preside over a security council session, said the next twelve months would be "absolutely critical" in ensuring whether the resolution would succeed in reversing the spread of nuclear weapons and setting the world along the path of multilateral disarmament.
He said he had no illusions about the difficulties ahead, but he added "there will also be days like today" when the world came together for the common goal of disarmament and countering proliferation.
Simply put his narcissism is a threat to national security, this plan is more likely to bring about conflict than the presence of nuclear weapons.
He had to chair a meeting the Useless Nations inSecurity Clowncil to pander a pie in the sky unicorn ride to a "world without nuclear weapons."
That's the kind of bullcrap that'll get people killed, a lot of people, like millions.
Simple fact.
1900 to Aug. 1945 120 million people died in wars. There were two world wars where major powers engaged in total warfare.
Aug. 1945 to 1990 (to keep both at 45 years) 15 million people died in wars, no major powers engaged in war directly.
The demarcation line was the use of nuclear weapons. The nuclear weapons used directly killed 250,000 people, a horror in the horror of war. But arguably saved 100 million people.
That's the history lesson.
Nuclear weapons are a fact of physics. You can't undo that. A uranium gun type weapon requires only about 50 lbs of U-235 and a hundred pounds of military grade high explosives.
That's the phsyics lesson.
Power mad megalomaniacs will continue to seek the most powerful tools to expand their power. PERIOD. No fanciful notions of Whirled Peas will change that fact. No where in history can you point to nice feelings about someone from stopping conquest.
That human nature lesson.
Obama believes through the power of his personality that he can overturn all of history. History, physics and human nature all say Obama is wrong, naively,incredibly dangerously wrong.
One day after speaking to the UN general assemblyfearless leader drops oil prices.
ReplyDeleteI know Captain Zero will be ably to reduce the nuclear stock piles to zero.
//
I can't believe this. They actually had to make a law and set policy on our National Anthem.
ReplyDelete/been too long I think
//especially after that dick's stunt in New Brunswick last year.
P2: isn't that just swell? For years I didn't get a seasonal flu shot because I have an autoimmune disorder. This year I spoke to my rheumatologist's nurse, who informed me I should get both the seasonal and the H1N1 shots, as long as they're made with killed virus. The seasonal is killed virus; the initial H1N1 is live virus (it's a nasal spray, which are all made with live virus). If the seasonal shot makes me more vulnerable to the H1N1, for which I can't be vaccinated, I should probably forget the whole thing. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
ReplyDeleteSomebody 'splain to me again how to embed a link. I get an error message when I try to do it.
ReplyDeleteredstateredneck,
ReplyDelete<*a* href="url">Link text<*/a*>
Remove asterisks.
Hey Kenneth, dancing around finding links and dealing with work. Almost missed your comment.
ReplyDelete/and I will leave it alone too. ;)
Well -- aren't they special
ReplyDeleteNice to know we're sitting down and talking with these people.
pimf ably=able
ReplyDeleteIt looks like the U.S. and Nasa have some competition brewing in the space market.
ReplyDeleteGonna try one more time!
ReplyDeleteTEST
Finally, success!
ReplyDeleteDopple, I meet with my Rheumy next month. He told me earlier I would receive what shots I could take directly from him. You're correct, no live vaccine for me either. Does that make us anti-vaccers?
ReplyDeleteRA?
So now all one needs to get blocked from a certain site is post somewhere else? What a fucking joke.
ReplyDeleteThe Obama Effect, the one area were he could really claim he stimulated the economy.
ReplyDeleteAmerica armed, but guns not necessarily loaded
Bullet-makers are working around the clock, seven days a week, and still can't keep up with the nation's demand for ammunition.
Shooting ranges, gun dealers and bullet manufacturers say they have never seen such shortages. Bullets, especially for handguns, have been scarce for months because gun enthusiasts are stocking up on ammo, in part because they fear President Barack Obama and the Democratic-controlled Congress will pass antigun legislation — even though nothing specific has been proposed and the president last month signed a law allowing people to carry loaded guns in national parks.
“If you’ve got a gun in your house, I’m not taking it,even if I want to take them away, I don’t have the votes in Congress,’’
Obama
The only reason Obama / Reid / Pelosi haven't acted on this is that it would be a bigger loser for them than health care.
Jorline said...
ReplyDeleteDopple, I meet with my Rheumy next month. He told me earlier I would receive what shots I could take directly from him. You're correct, no live vaccine for me either. Does that make us anti-vaccers?
And a flat earth luddite Paulain too, from what I gather.
/// (is it really necessary?)
I get loaded whenever I get the chance.
ReplyDeleteenuff
ReplyDeleteThe Obama administration has notified Congress of the State Department's intention to contribute $400,000 to foundations run by Muammar Qaddafi's two children — $200,000 each for daughter Aisha and son Saif.
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?
That should be a thread - and we should start emailing EVERYBODY
Lucius,
ReplyDeleteJust as long as you don't go off half cocked.
Atilla,
ReplyDeleteWhiskey Tango Foxtrot?
Un-freak-ing believable.
JCM -- I only go with a full load.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to find contact info at Fox - and I can't.
ReplyDeleteBibi is really doing a great job at the UN.
ReplyDeleteI've emailed Glenn Reynolds and Brian Faughnan, the editor of the Washington Times blog, The Conservatives.
ReplyDeleteLucius Septimius said...
ReplyDeleteAnd a flat earth luddite Paulain too, from what I gather.
Don't give me that round earth crap!
/
Happy belated B'Day Lucius.
Jorline said...
ReplyDeleteDopple, I meet with my Rheumy next month. He told me earlier I would receive what shots I could take directly from him. You're correct, no live vaccine for me either. Does that make us anti-vaccers?
RA?
Lupus (SLE). My rheumy doesn't do vaccines, so I would go to my primary care physician for that. Or Walgreens, which is actually cheaper than my insurance co-pay.
Thanks dopple, I have RA. The flu season scares the crap out of me because the med lower my immune system.
ReplyDeleteJorline
ReplyDeleteDo you take methotrexate for your RA? My daughter had to take it for a neuroligical condition she has. She was only on it for a couple of months, though.
neurological...can't type
ReplyDeleteHI rsrn. All I take is a Humira shot once every other week now...I was on prednisone and Celebrex before. A friend of mine just got off methotrexate with Embrol.
ReplyDeletePrayers for your daughter my friend.
Jorline
ReplyDeleteShe's done 3 or 4 courses of prednisone. It just wipes her out. She gets all the side effects... moon face, the whole nine yards. Amazingly, she finished college and worked while taking it. She tolerated the methotrexate pretty well. Maybe she'll have a little break and be in remission for a while. Prayers for your RA.
Now We Don't Cry Anymore
ReplyDeleteLieutenant General Abdul Hadi Khalid was the Afghan first deputy minister of the interior for security from May 2006 to late June 2008. Specializing in counter-narcotics, border policing and internal security, he announced the largest drug seizure in history.
[]
Intelligence agencies in Pakistan thought they could use a pliant Taliban to destroy the tribal structure of FATA [Federally Administered Tribal Areas] so they could better control the border with Afghanistan. This was a huge mistake. Once the Taliban had finished their war on the tribal elders, they set their sights further afield in places like Swat and Buner, close to Islamabad. Not only could these agencies not control these Talibs, now they are actively at war with them inside Pakistan. Also there are people here who are sympathetic to the idea of the reunification of Pashtunistan because they view this entire region as historically Afghan territory since the Ghaznavid period [975-1187]. Afghans once ruled Kashmir but it makes no sense to reiterate these types of territorial claims today. Pakistan cannot claim any control over Afghanistan today. They hope to gain control of Indian-occupied Kashmir but seeing as they could not even hold onto Bangladesh, I do not think their territorial aspirations are at all realistic.
[]
Another issue I had to deal with was the starkly differing approaches from within the Western military alliance on how the ANP's training should be conducted and how an Afghan policeman's job should be carried out. The EU [European Union] member states believed the ANP's duties should be restricted to civilian policing like their counterparts in Europe. Some Europeans even said the ANP men should not carry pistols! I told the Europeans that if your police can go to Ghazni with no weapons and come back alive then we would consider disarming our police.
The Americans, for their part, had completely the opposite idea. They saw the ANP as the lesser-armed and prepared "step-brother" of the Afghan National Army [ANA]. The Americans view the ANP as a fellow frontline force in our counter-insurgency war while the Europeans strongly proposed that the ANP be removed from the conflict altogether. The Americans are soldiers that do not understand the fundamentals of policing communities and feel the ANP should be proper security forces. We had Germans who were training our police [the German Police Project Office] at the Kabul Police Academy several years ago but they did not do a good job because they put too many limitations on their mandate. They could train police inside the police academy but not outside of it in real situations.
This is a fascinating interview with insights you won't get from leaked WaPo stories.
RTWT
rsrn
ReplyDeleteI hated the prednisone and the depression it caused. Most pepoles gain weight, I lost 55 pounds...didn't care about eating...strange for a restaurant owner.