Sunday brunch and your morning news at The Confluence: July 5, 2009

Posted on July 5, 2009 by Stateofdisbelief

mimosa-l

The sound and fury of the fireworks has faded, and your tummy may be recovering from backyard barbeque syndrome, but the news goes on. Pull up a chair and sooth your soul with one of Rico’s delicious Mimosas. So what if it’s still early…we won’t tell; and the scrumptious brunch buffet awaits a visit whenever you’re feeling up to it.

I’m sorry to say that you won’t find anything news here about Sanford or Michael Jackson (ok, I lied. There is just one tiny link for MJ downpost), but hopefully there’s something here for everybody. 

National & World News

That lunatic Kim Jong-il from Korea continues to launch missiles in our direction:

North Korea fired several short-range missiles toward the Sea of Japan on Saturday, an act that the U.S. watched closely and South Korea called provocative.

Pyongyang fired seven short-range missiles in less than seven hours, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said.

The missiles were apparently Scud-type, estimated to have a range of about 500 kilometers (310 miles), according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.

South Korean intelligence estimates that North Korea has about 700 such missiles in its arsenal.

Hey KJ-I, why don’t you focus on this worthy project and stop being a maniacal and dangerous ass? It certainly seems more fitted to your personality.

Sunday Talk-Show Round-up

Apparently they’re going to let Biden out of his crate to gaffe it up with George Stephanopolus on ABC’s “This Week;” and if you want to hear a gasbag republican whine about healthcare reform you can always try to catch Chuck Grassley on CBS; but other than that (and not even that quite frankly) there’s really no good reason not to hit that snooze button 12 more times.

Healthcare

Obama wants us to sit down and shut up and stop complaining about “Moderate Dems” who are pushing back on the public option.

President Obama, strategizing yesterday with congressional leaders about health-care reform, complained that liberal advocacy groups ought to drop their attacks on Democratic lawmakers and devote their energy to promoting passage of comprehensive legislation.

In a pre-holiday call with half a dozen top House and Senate Democrats, Obama expressed his concern over advertisements and online campaigns targeting moderate Democrats, whom they criticize for not being fully devoted to “true” health-care reform.

SNIP

In recent weeks, liberal bloggers and grass-roots groups such as MoveOn.org, Democracy for America, Service Employees International Union and Progressive Change Campaign Committee have targeted Democratic Sens. Ben Nelson (Neb.), Mary Landrieu (La.), Arlen Specter (Pa.), Ron Wyden (Ore.) and Dianne Feinstein (Calif.).

A fundraising video produced by Democracy for America suggests Landrieu is a “sellout” because she has received $1.6 million in campaign contributions from the health-care industry and has yet to endorse the concept of a government-run health insurance plan to compete against the private companies. The public-option concept, which Obama supports, has become a litmus test for many pro-reform activists who accuse the insurance industry of failing to deliver affordable, accessible care.

While Baucus is continuing to “negotiate savings” among the healthcare provider industries

Three major hospital associations are nearing a deal with the White House and Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) to provide more than $150 billion in savings to pay for a health care overhaul, three sources close to the process said Thursday.

snip

The groups involved in the talks include the American Hospital Association, Catholic Health Association, and the Federation of American Hospitals, which is led by Chip Kahn, who helped bury health care reform in 1993-94 with his “Harry and Louise” ads.

The frightening thing is that the last time Baucus got excited about cutting costs he was taking the scissors to subsidies for the poorest of our citizens. Gee…can’t wait to find out what he’s really up to this time.

Oh well, at least one Senate Committee is in favor of a public option and against taxing health benefits — Now about that fine print…

Economic News

Goldman Sachs continues to take over our economic infrastructure with the NYSE’s move to eliminate transparency and obfuscate their trading actions.

Oh my…Just what *will* the SEC do Scarlett? Let’s see…who was that candidate that received almost a cool million from G.S.?? Buehller? Bueller? Anyone? Oh right – Him

Tax Bill Appeals Take Rising Toll on Governments

Homeowners across the country are challenging their property tax bills in droves as the value of their homes drop, threatening local governments with another big drain on their budgets.

The requests are coming in record numbers, from owners of $10 million estates and one-bedroom bungalows, from residents of the high-tax enclaves surrounding New York City, and from taxpayers in the Rust Belt and states like Arizona, Florida and California, where whole towns have been devastated by the housing bust.

Sarah Palin News

SarahPalin_01

Is she planning a 2012 presidential run?

Is she going after the media? (h/t to sam) It sure looks like it! This is from an official statement from Sarah Palin’s attorney:

To the extent several websites, most notably liberal Alaska blogger Shannyn Moore, are now claiming as “fact” that Governor Palin resigned because she is “under federal investigation” for embezzlement or other criminal wrongdoing, we will be exploring legal options this week to address such defamation. This is to provide notice to Ms. Moore, and those who re-publish the defamation, such as Huffington Post, MSNBC, the New York Times and The Washington Post, that the Palins will not allow them to propagate defamatory material without answering to this in a court of law. The Alaska Constitution protects the right of free speech, while simultaneously holding those “responsible for the abuse of that right.”

Was she just tired of all the B.S.?

Maybe…

Is she leaving politics altogether? (not likely) or is she freeing herself from the constraints holding her back in order to become the face of the Republican Party?

Is she doing all of the above or anything she wants?

and will this confirmation by the FBI that she’s NOT under investigation be enough for those with terminal PDS?  Nah…I’m betting no.  (h/t to Ralphb and myiq2xu)

And What are the people of Alaska thinking?

Her vice presidential run — and the circus of Troopergate — changed her life and changed the political landscape in Alaska. Relations with the Legislature, never ideal, grew worse. She was often described by lawmakers as “disengaged.” She seemed to keep looking south even after returning north in November, and she was a more fierce partisan of the Republican right.

Yet there were highlights for Alaska too — most recently the decision by Exxon to cooperate with TransCanada to make a gas pipeline work. That partnership wasn’t made by the state but was encouraged by Palin’s gas line team, and is an example of the kind of heavy lifting that could have taken any lame-duck quality out the governor’s last 17 months in office.

Sarah Palin is a charismatic leader with a devoted national following and ambition to match. So there’s no surprise if she sees a future for herself beyond Alaska.

But we thought she’d finish her work on the home front first. She hasn’t made clear why she won’t.

Plus – Lt Governor Parnell proclaims that “Palin is Alaska’s ‘greatest gift’ to U.S….”

And here’s one other opinion from the beautiful state of Alaska

The Environment

Care about the environment? Then it’s time to rethink your meat consumption habits

Swine Flu

The Swine Flu is just not going to go away quietly

WHO warns swine flu ‘unstoppable’

The UN’s top health official has opened a forum in Mexico on combating swine flu by saying that the spread of the virus worldwide is now unstoppable.

snip

“As we see today, with well over 100 countries reporting cases, once a fully fit pandemic virus emerges, its further international spread is unstoppable,” Dr Chan said in her opening remarks.

She stressed that the overwhelming majority of patients experienced mild symptoms and made a full recovery within a week, often in the absence of any form of medical treatment.

The exceptions, she said, were pregnant women and people with underlying health problems, who were at higher risk from complications from the virus and should be monitored if they fell ill.

Arts & Leisure

Michael Jackson

I promise, this is the only Michael Jackson link I’m providing today (Ok, I’m feeling just a bit sorry for him since he was knocked off the top news story rung Friday).

“Thriller” with Legos — enjoy

Female artist perspective 

Canadian Artist Daphne Odjig

Born 1919 – Still Living

Daphne [Odjig] was born in Wikwemikong, on Manitoulin Island, Ontario. Coming from a native background – Potawatomi and Odawa – she was proud of the art and culture of her ancestors. Her artistic side ran in the family, with a grandfather who was into carving, sketching and painting and a father who painted and was a talented musician, the apple did not fall far from the tree.

 Vacation Fun

Looking for a thrill this vacation? Why not go to Chicago and scare the beejeebus out of yourself and your children with this horrifying view?

Don’t Look Down: Terrifying View from Glass-Box balcony jutting out from skyscraper’s 103rd Floor.

No. Thank. You.

In honor of Independence Day

Can you pass the “Citizenship Test?”

Sports

Those Williams’ sisters are so competitive…but only one can win

Serena beats sister Venus at Wimbledon

Serena Williams can stomach her sister’s name emblazoned all over the singles trophy, she even shrugged off getting the smaller room in their rented house, but she put her foot down on Saturday to snatch the Wimbledon title. Her emphatic 7-6 6-2 victory over 29-year-old Venus to capture an 11th grand slam singles title on Independence Day will not make any classic Wimbledon compilation DVDs, but it was razor-sharp, ruthless and too hot for her elder sibling.

Former Tennessee Titans Quarterback Steve McNair found dead

Former NFL quarterback Steve McNair, who led the famous Tennessee Titans drive that came a yard short of forcing overtime in the 2000 Super Bowl, was found dead Saturday with multiple gunshot wounds, including one to the head.

Plus

Lance is back in the Tour de France…but can he do it again?

The Funny Pages and the Oddest News of the Day

and finally…

  • Just what the heck is that *thing* growing in the sewers of North Carolina? Man…they should pay better attention to whatever they’re eating! (Warning…this is a 5 star ick! Not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach.  You’ve been warned.)

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123 Responses

  2. Stateofdisbelief, on July 5th, 2009 at 8:09 am Said:

    A quick perusal of lefty blogs reveals that people are none too pleased with Obama’s “sit down and shut up about healthcare” announcement.

    • bostonboomer, on July 5th, 2009 at 8:15 am Said:

      Which lefty blogs? Links or tips?

      • Stateofdisbelief, on July 5th, 2009 at 8:20 am Said:

        over at memeorandum theres a whole list of them, starting with the HuffPo

        • Stateofdisbelief, on July 5th, 2009 at 10:30 am Said:

          she’s captured the essense of his condescending, finger-wagging, lecture style.

        • WMCB, on July 5th, 2009 at 12:38 pm Said:

          Some of the comments are hilarious. The most popular is the “good cop/bad cop theory, in which Obama is still playing 42nd dimension chess while winning at pinochle with his left small toe, and advancing a viable Theory Of Everything in his subconscious sleep-mutterings.

          See, Obama is sending a signal when he tells the Left to knock off the criticism re: single payer or the public option. He REALLY wants single payer, but he is (wink wink, nod nod) schmoozing the right as part of his job as “good cop”, while sending the left a secret signal to actually STEP UP their righteous anger as the “bad cop”. He is doing this on purpose (how brilliant!) because it is the way that the corporatist right is going to be blindsided by this devious good cop/bad cop routine. He obviously secretly wants the left to do the OPPOSITE of what he is publicly telling them to do, because he is so freaking scary smart and chock full ‘o strategems.

          IOW, Obama is manifestly “on our side”, on the side of all things progressive and true and just – even when he isn’t.

          These people are fucking DELUSIONAL in the worst sort of way. I’ve heard more logic from a battered woman, when she earnestly laid out all the reasons why the pig who was beating her regularly really, really loved her – he was just a complicated man who had unusual ways of expressing it.

          • RalphB, on July 5th, 2009 at 1:29 pm Said:

            I cant read those delusional asses anymore. It just depresses me that the human race is failing so fast.

    • NewOrleans, on July 5th, 2009 at 3:35 pm Said:

      “A quick perusal of lefty blogs reveals that people are none too pleased with Obama’s “sit down and shut up about healthcare” announcement.”

      They’ll whine and blabber on a bit about it and then go back and do what they do best – bend over and ask him to do it to them one more time.

  3. bostonboomer, on July 5th, 2009 at 8:37 am Said:

    Washington Post on Palin: just as I suspected, and I don’t blame her!

    This spring, as Palin was weighing whether to run for reelection in 2010, she turned to John P. Coale, a prominent Washington lawyer. He had helped her establish a political action committee and has become her political consigliere of sorts.

    “She asked me, ‘Well, what do you think all this is? Why are all these people attacking me?’ ” Coale said. “I said to her: ‘Look, that’s what happens. They did it to Hillary [Rodham Clinton], and Hillary just pushed through it. It’s not going to really stop. . . . You just have to ignore it and move on.’ ”

    But, Coale added, “she couldn’t ignore the hits on the kids. She said, ‘It brought out the mama grizzly in me.’ She acted like a mother grizzly bear when her cubs were being attacked.”

    • Stateofdisbelief, on July 5th, 2009 at 8:48 am Said:

      Yep, that’s what I said on the “speculation” thread. And if it is in fact why she resigned, or at least part of the reason and not because she wants to run in 2012, people should stop projecting their own hopes and dreams on her and respect the courage it took to do what she did on behalf of her family.

      I can totally understand where she’s coming from if that is the case.

    • sam, on July 5th, 2009 at 10:16 am Said:

      Isn’t Coale Greta’s (of On the Record) husband?

      By the way, I couldn’t help but think that the article read like a thinly disguised hit piece. They spun it negative every chance they got. (I don’t even think they mentioned that the 15 ethics complaints were dismissed, and that’s pretty sleazy.)

      Personally, I support Palin’s decision to do whatever she thinks is best for her and her family. It’s time that people stop looking for a candidate to come to the rescue.

    • Woman Voter, on July 5th, 2009 at 1:45 pm Said:

      In my humble opinion, they did it to protect the doctor and others, but not the scene. Now it will be next to impossible to get any verdict without having to take into account the movers (that moved things and others who entered) etc…leading to reasonable doubt.

      What say you?

  5. Stateofdisbelief, on July 5th, 2009 at 8:51 am Said:

    Boomer — what is your new avatar?

  6. Wonk the Vote, on July 5th, 2009 at 9:32 am Said:

    Apparently they’re going to let Biden out of his crate to gaffe it up with George Stephanopolus on ABC’s “This Week;” and if you want to hear a gasbag republican whine about healthcare reform you can always try to catch Chuck Grassley on CBS; but other than that (and not even that quite frankly) there’s really no good reason not to hit that snooze button 12 more times.

    Funny and true–plus the obligatory panel discussions on just how simultaneously moronic and cunning Palin is.

    • paper doll, on July 5th, 2009 at 10:08 am Said:

      …..plus the obligatory panel discussions on just how simultaneously moronic and cunning Palin is.

      lol! The slick willy- bubba pincer move done to Bill.
      Palin and Bill may not share the same political beliefs, but they sure do suffer the same press tactics.
      With Hill they could never even pretend she was dumb, just evil.

      • Wonk the Vote, on July 5th, 2009 at 10:24 am Said:

        Good point, and I agree somewhat. I think the reflexive “Palin — what a bimbo” stuff says more about the of the cultural and social biases of the person making those claims than it does about Palin. I don’t think Palin is quite the policy wonk that Bill is, though.

        • Wonk the Vote, on July 5th, 2009 at 10:29 am Said:

          Whoops, some extra words got in there. That should read
          “more about the cultural and social biases…”

        • paper doll, on July 5th, 2009 at 10:39 am Said:

          It’s the class thing….the real differences between Bill and Palin are immaterial to them next to their being , in the Village’s view, from the wrong side of the tracks.

      • Benjamin, on July 5th, 2009 at 10:52 am Said:

        I’m not sure about this, but haven’t some people in Alaska been saying that Sarah Palin killed Vince Foster?

    • JoseyJ, on July 5th, 2009 at 11:20 am Said:

      True – George & Gang spent MOST of the panel time on Palin – “The Quitter” and “no way she’ll ever be elected to anything again.”
      Nothing about the media and Obot sites mocking her children!!

      I don’t remember another former or current politician’s children being so methodically crucified.
      Do you?

      • Wonk the Vote, on July 5th, 2009 at 12:27 pm Said:

        Chelsea hasn’t had it easy, especially during her adolescence, but Hillary has been effective in shutting it down on the airwaves at least. Even McCain had to once apologize for making a joke at Chelsea’s expense. “Why is Chelsea so ugly” were typical red meat for conservatives and like knock-knock jokes at that time (and likely continue to be for the most imbecilic on the fringes.)

        • Wonk the Vote, on July 5th, 2009 at 12:32 pm Said:

          And, then of course as an adult, she became too attractive for the morons, so much so that they began to wonder if her parents were making her whore herself out to superdelegates.

  7. britgirls, on July 5th, 2009 at 9:37 am Said:

    Yay! I would still pass the citizenship test. Got 100 %.

    Thanks for the odd news. Always my favorite news these days.

  8. Stateofdisbelief, on July 5th, 2009 at 10:00 am Said:

    Feeling competitive? Why not enter the “World Wife Carrying Contest?”

    http://www.eitb.com/video/en/detail/185808/finland-holds-14th-edition-of-world-wife-carrying-competition/

  9. Stateofdisbelief, on July 5th, 2009 at 10:02 am Said:

    Oh great…George Stephanopolus is having Todd Purdum on this morning’s round table to debate Sarah Palin’s future. That should be stimulating (your gag reflex that is)

    • Wonk the Vote, on July 5th, 2009 at 10:06 am Said:

      At that rate, Snuffleupagus should have rounded out that panel of hacks with Andrew Sullivan and Maureen Dowd.

    • bostonboomer, on July 5th, 2009 at 10:12 am Said:

      It figures….

    • meeee2, on July 5th, 2009 at 11:34 am Said:

      Not just stimulating, but probably the most accurate indepth analysis we’ll get…NOT. George and NBC are really kicking the teeth out of their credibility with moves like this.

      George and Dee Dee are good pals from their WH days and a mutual disdain for the Clintons. They all best be very careful what they have to say in case Sarah’s threat to start taking legal action against these loose lipped speculators is real.

  10. Stateofdisbelief, on July 5th, 2009 at 10:05 am Said:

    Oh noes!

    BARACK Obama will have few traffic problems getting to the Kremlin for his first summit with Russian president Dmitri Medvedev on Monday – the Obamamania that has swept much of the rest of the world is absent from Moscow; there will be no adoring crowds to greet him.

    http://news.scotsman.com/world/Obama-assured-of-a-chilly.5429112.jp

    How tragic!

    • DandyTiger, on July 5th, 2009 at 10:07 am Said:

      Ah, I always suspected russians of being r@cist. :-)

    • OldCoastie, on July 5th, 2009 at 10:16 am Said:

      I guess this trip won’t be nearly so fun!

      Wonder how he will do without Hillary at his side?

    • paper doll, on July 5th, 2009 at 10:31 am Said:

      there will be no adoring crowds to greet him.

      If there were rock bands and sausages, like in Berlin, the crowds would be there . It’s actually and smart move on Putin’s part….no crowds makes Obama in a sullen mood from the get go and even more easily rattled

    • Laurie, on July 5th, 2009 at 10:44 am Said:

      They obviously don’t watch CNN in Russia.

    • Woman Voter, on July 5th, 2009 at 2:07 pm Said:

      OK, I just want to know if they will let him give a massive speech like the one in Germany with many, many Russians if he sets up free hot links and Vodka and a Free concert too before the speech. That I would be impressed with and the Russian KGB would be frightened of a WORLD NEW ORDER!

    • foxyladi14, on July 5th, 2009 at 4:23 pm Said:

      bet that makes him cry.lol

  11. paper doll, on July 5th, 2009 at 10:19 am Said:

    Nice round up SOD! Thanks.

    34% of Americans think the war in Iraq is OVER.

    This might be the same 34% who thought we actully found WMDs in Iraq!

  12. Stateofdisbelief, on July 5th, 2009 at 10:27 am Said:

    Wow…the happiest place on earth is a bit somber this morning:

    http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/07/05/u.s.disney.monorail/

    Driver dead

  13. Stateofdisbelief, on July 5th, 2009 at 10:36 am Said:

    Marion Barry’s back in the news — arrested for stalking

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/05/AR2009070501056.html

    • Woman Voter, on July 5th, 2009 at 2:25 pm Said:

      The Washington Post
      Barry, Obama & The Winding Road To Gay Marriage
      http://tiny.cc/IOHNP

      But those same historians will find a dissonant note in this social revolution: What will they make of prominent leaders who rose to power as early advocates for gay rights, but then tempered their views or reversed course just as much of the country was heading the other way? What’s behind these strange turns in the public attitudes of former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry and President Barack Obama?

  14. Laurie, on July 5th, 2009 at 11:00 am Said:

    Thank you for the piece on Daphne Odjig-I had never heard of her before. Very beautiful artist.

  15. Stateofdisbelief, on July 5th, 2009 at 11:02 am Said:

    Everything else gone? Don’t worry, you can put up your “soul” as collateral in Latvia:

    http://www.breitbart.com/detail.php?ch=BNREUTERSODD&catnum=9
    RIGA (Reuters) – Ready to give your soul for a loan in these difficult economic times? In Latvia, where the crisis has raged more than in the rest of the European Union, you can.

    Such a deal is being offered by the Kontora loan company, whose public face is Viktor Mirosiichenko, 34.

    Clients have to sign a contract, with the words “Agreement” in bold letters at the top. The client agrees to the collateral, “that is, my immortal soul.”

    SNIP

    “If they don’t give it back, what can you do? They won’t have a soul, that’s all,” he told Reuters in a basement office, with one desk, a computer and three chairs.

    We must have a few bankrupted Latvians in Congress then…

    • RalphB, on July 5th, 2009 at 11:16 am Said:

      533 must have signed up. I’m leaving out Sanders and Feingold. Make that 534 if we add Obama.

    • swannyj, on July 5th, 2009 at 12:18 pm Said:

      I was just listening to an interview on fox and had to double check to make sure it was not MSNB. It was with Liz? and she stated she agreed with the MSM’s take on Palin. The interview was shocking, questioning her mental health and alluding to the “FBI” investigation. I wonder if the elite Republican’s have given FOX new talking points? Regardless what Sarah does, I will think she’s NUTS if she continues to work for the Republicans!

      • Wonk the Vote, on July 5th, 2009 at 12:39 pm Said:

        Regardless what Sarah does, I will think she’s NUTS if she continues to work for the Republicans!

        Whatever she does, I hope she doesn’t help that Romney bozo get the GOP nomination in 2012.

  17. Stateofdisbelief, on July 5th, 2009 at 11:12 am Said:

    Don’t mess with Michael Jackson’s obsessive fans:

    Michael Jackson’s death sparks bus brawl
    http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE55Q0B820090627?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews&rpc=22&sp=true
    The unidentified bus driver opined that “Michael Jackson should have been in jail long ago,” prompting Kiernan, 60, to retort that “the world just lost a great musical talent,” the police report said.

    It said the last remark enraged another passenger, Henry Wideman, who started a swearing match with Kiernan, then pulled out a knife and chased Kiernan down the aisle with it.

  18. sam, on July 5th, 2009 at 11:15 am Said:

    Zerohedge (in econ links) has a pretty interesting post up. Looks like the banks are getting a pretty good deal when it comes to using taxpayer funds.

  20. meeee2, on July 5th, 2009 at 11:42 am Said:

    If you’re out wandering, the best entertainment piece is over at Talk Left. Jeralyn started yesterday with the hit post on “House Gate” and followed up with the “I never said anything accusatory” post after the lawyers threatened action against bloggers. The woman is in complete denial and obviously doesn’t see how viciously petty and jealous her non-stop hatred posts against Palin are. She’s got some really vulgar commenters on the topic, as well.

    • Stateofdisbelief, on July 5th, 2009 at 11:44 am Said:

      I’ll bet there were beeping sounds as she backed up. These people couldn’t wait to feast on her carcass until they found out it was just a decoy and she laced it with arsenic.

      Go Sarah…

  21. Stateofdisbelief, on July 5th, 2009 at 11:56 am Said:

    Here’s an ooops…oh crap moment

    http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/574582

  22. insightanalytical, on July 5th, 2009 at 12:21 pm Said:

    It wasn’t al Tea Parties yesterday…the annual Rainbow Gathering of the Living Light was underway, too!

    Sort of like Woodstock,…muddy…

    Only in NM could you demonstrate against out of control government then head on over to the mud and the living light!!

    July 4, 2009: Tea Party in New Mexico Shares Day with Muddy “Rainbow Gathering”

    http://insightanalytical.wordpress.com/2009/07/05/july-4-2009-tea-party-in-new-mexico-shares-day-with-muddy-rainbow-gathering/

  23. afrocity, on July 5th, 2009 at 12:29 pm Said:

    I forget to come by and say Happy 4th yesterday. Sorry Afrocity needed some downtime.

    • Dee, on July 5th, 2009 at 1:13 pm Said:

      ac – always good to see you here…

      Good luck on your run for the state senate.
      Keep us posted.

  24. WMCB, on July 5th, 2009 at 12:42 pm Said:

    Help! Spammy nabbed my blistering comment on Digby’s posters above.

  25. Outis, on July 5th, 2009 at 2:28 pm Said:

    O/T but I just wanted to share some interesting news. My Danish boyfriend told me and I almost cried, then danced: there is hope!

    “Danes have voted to put princesses on an equal footing with princes in the royal line of succession. Nearly complete results on Monday show 77.7 percent of those voting approved the change of the constitution, which gives female heirs to the throne the same rights as male ones.”

    Meaning the first-born child, regardless of whether a boy or girl, will ascend to the throne. The monarchy in Denmark is purely symbolic as in many other countries, but perhaps the rights of women are moving forward if this, the oldest of traditions, can be changed.

    Does that mean there might be a woman POTUS in our lifetimes?

    • Stateofdisbelief, on July 5th, 2009 at 2:52 pm Said:

      Three Cheers for Denmark! Rico…a round of Mimosa’s on me!

    • bostonboomer, on July 5th, 2009 at 3:20 pm Said:

      Very exciting, but Denmark is way ahead of us. It depends on how young you are, I guess. I don’t expect to see a women president in my lifetime.

      • Woman Voter, on July 5th, 2009 at 3:29 pm Said:

        Don’t let little Isis hear you, but I too agree and that is why I was so upset with the Democratic Party and not counting Hillary’s Votes (pressuring her to quite and rigging the process) and denying her a Roll Call Vote for POTUS (my voted was thrown down the toilet and I wasn’t even counted as 1/2 a vote) and for VP too. Every other person that ever ran got a Roll Call Vote, except her. :-(

        We Must Divest From Misogyny, Our Very Lives Depend On It!

    • Pips, on July 5th, 2009 at 4:38 pm Said:

      Well, as both our queen’s oldest child, and his oldest child are males, it will take a while before this will have any effect.

      What’s much more fun to discuss is whether our queen’s husband should be called king – as he would like to be. He’s French and never liked having to play second fiddle – or third for that matter, when the crownprince came of age, lol!

    • Pips, on July 5th, 2009 at 4:46 pm Said:

      Actually there was much more to the voting, than just pro or con female succession, which I’m pretty sure we are all in favour of. But are we in favour of monarchy? And should we change the Constitution for just that one subject?

      Not as simple as it seems and I for the first time in my life … voted blank.

  26. RalphB, on July 5th, 2009 at 2:54 pm Said:

    How do you say “oh shit” in Farsi?

    “Saudis give nod to Israeli raid on Iran”

    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6638568.ece

    • Woman Voter, on July 5th, 2009 at 3:21 pm Said:

      Biden: U.S. Won’t Stand in Way of Israel on Iran Nukes
      http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/07/05/biden-wont-stand-way-israel-iran-nukes/

      The vice president says the Jewish nation has to do what’s in its best interest as a sovereign nation, but the U.S. does too, and those two interests may clash if Israel goes after Iran’s nuclear sites.

      • Woman Voter, on July 5th, 2009 at 3:23 pm Said:

        Is Joe Biden stating the US position, and should SoS Hillary R. Clinton be making any such statements if true?

        • RalphB, on July 5th, 2009 at 4:09 pm Said:

          Joe’s just blowing smoke. Truth is the only real leverage we had with Israel about bombing Iran is they needed to use Iraqi airspace to get there easily. We could turn down that usage.

          Now, if Israel really has the OK to fly over Saudi airspace, they don’t need anyhing from us any longer. They can do whatever they want, whenever they want. And they will do what they feel is in their own best interests no matter what.

      • cwaltz, on July 5th, 2009 at 9:17 pm Said:

        BTD nails the inconsistency over at TalkLeft. If we are using the Israel is a soviergn nation argument then wouldn’t that mean they get to choose on their treatment of the West Bank settlements? I mean we can’t really have it both ways. We either believe in using our influence or we don’t.

  27. RalphB, on July 5th, 2009 at 3:08 pm Said:

    trapped by spammy. must have been something I said.

  28. Woman Voter, on July 5th, 2009 at 3:19 pm Said:

    NPR
    Biden predicts more jobs because of stimulus money
    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106280460

    WASHINGTON July 5, 2009, 12:24 pm ET · The Obama administration “misread” the depth of the economic troubles it inherited and still expects more new jobs in the long term as the spending pace from the $787 billion stimulus plan quickens, Vice President Joe Biden said.

  29. Wonk the Vote, on July 5th, 2009 at 3:50 pm Said:

    From Snuffleupagus transcript:

    BIDEN: The truth is, we and everyone else misread the economy.

    That’s okay, Joe. Not everyone can read the economy and the teleprompter correctly at the same time.

  30. RalphB, on July 5th, 2009 at 4:10 pm Said:

    spammy ate one again. don’t know what’s triggering him.

  31. Woman Voter, on July 5th, 2009 at 5:11 pm Said:

    Bomb hits Philippine church-goers

  32. ThinkAgain, on July 5th, 2009 at 5:19 pm Said:

    Is it just me, or do I smell a pattern?

    Run Biden out to tell the truth then spin it so it’s the delivery rather than content that’s an embarrassment to the great pretender?

    • Wonk the Vote, on July 5th, 2009 at 5:41 pm Said:

      Ever since they became running mates, Biden was both a nuisance for Obama and an easy way to deflect things as “oh that’s just Joe being Joe.”

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