February 2010 archive

Open Hearing SJC on OPR

Leahy’s Senate Committee… Live Webcast LINK

Guess I missed most of it. Oh well. Marcy is livebloggin it over at FDL.

Eh

Short version of Obama’s real message from the Health Care Summit:

“We made our back door deals, with Big Pharma, with private hospitals (which means no public option), with Republicans, with ConservaDems.

Now we’re going to have a public conversation to let you know how stupid and mean the Republicans are.

Now that we’ve taken off the table what most Americans are in favor of, and kept in what most Americans don’t want, we’ll allow “the people” to make up their own minds.”

And then there’s all the noise and racket from the OFA’ers saying “pass the bill!  pass the bill!  We’ll fix it later!”

OFA is the DLC.  OFA does not exist to advocate good policy but to support Obama’s plans.  OFA will not revisit health care reform.  OFA will gear up to support whatever is next on Obama’s agenda.

And the same thing will happen again and again, with each issue, immigration, national security, the economy, education.  We’ll be told that legislation is ugly and messy and hooray!  At least Dems are better than Republicans!  As the back door deals go on and on, and once again no one listens to the people.

And Obama speaks of transparency.  Yep, we get transparency only after all the back door deals have been made, and that “transparency” is nothing but public relations.  Plouffe is now there to make sure of it.

I don’t think it takes a genius to debate Republicans and come off looking pretty good.

I’d sure like to see Obama publicly speak and debate with the Left.  I don’t think he’d find it as easy to come off looking pretty good.

So of course that will not happen.

Folks are hurting.  They’re losing their jobs, their homes, their health.  I don’t think Plouffe is going to find it so easy to spin Obama’s “accomplishments” in the face of real suffering of the middle class.  I doubt most of those folks even watched the Health Care Summit.

But hey, “we’re better than the Republicans!”

Off With Their Heads! {added edit}

I will be working (at home) today providing an assist to my Teacher (Musician) husband as he prepares to start what he refers to as his “War Room”… i.e. job hunting. He is still employed, but, word is getting around and all the staff at his school are brushing up their resumes.

Photobucket

When I read this headline (& story) at Common Dreams, I just guffawed. I admit I don’t really quite know how to guffaw but I think I just did.

Obama’s Idea of Education Reform? Fire All the Teachers

Central Falls {Rhode Island} Thrust into School Reform Forefront

snip snip snip to the end:

As of Wednesday morning, 88 teachers, along with the high school’s administrative team, faced their own uncertainty. All 93 were sent letters of termination.

Energy Smart Tom speaks directly … must read comments

Representative Tom Perriello (D-VA-5) was one of the first candidates to make the Energy Smart list.  Yesterday, not for the first time, he provided a clear statement as to why he merited and continues to merit a prominent position in the ‘must support’ list for anyone concerned about fostering a prosperous and secure America future.  

Interviewed by David Roberts, Grist, Perriello spoke strongly about the imperative for better energy policy, including the necessity of putting a price on carbon.  While too many in the Commonwealth are flaunting their anti-science syndrome credentials, Perriello is speaking forthrightly and directly. His narrow victory in 2008 has him in the Republican cross hairs for defeat this November but Perriello doesn’t speak directly — he speaks with great integrity and from principle.   That characteristic, of having the courage of convictions and being able to speak coherently about them, goes a long way with voters who might disagree in a specific case but who respect a clear-speaking politician with principles.  

And, Tom’s words about the Senate-House relationship — his direct and strong words — merit attention, echoing, and applause.

Docudharma Times Friday February 26




Friday’s Headlines:

VA to reopen Gulf War vets’ files

After Canadian gold, cigars and champagne

USA

At health-care summit, Obama tells Republicans he’s eager to move ahead

Toyota crisis puts spotlight on auto electronics

Europe

Now Greece heads for junk status as crisis intensifies

Court throws out David Mills bribery, clearing way for Silvio Berlusconi reprieve

Middle East

Turkish leaders meet to dispel coup plot tensions

Haaretz probe: Dubai assassins’ passport photos were doctored

Asia

Suicide bombers strike in heart of Kabul

Thailand on edge for Thaksin Shinawatra ‘Judgement Day’

Latin America

Mexico puts its drug suspects on parade

Gulf War Syndrome

Real Good News for Our Brother and Sister Veterans of Gulf War I, who like those who served with us in Vietnam, and many before that and after, the Country once again turned their backs and ignored after they returned, will hopefully get what the Country Promises for Service To. Trouble is, again, it’s way to late for those who have already passed on. For us it was Agent Orange and the other defoliants used, Vietnamese and Vets are still suffering from the lasting contamination, as well as PTSD, suffered in great numbers by those who serve especially in our occupations of others. The Country Cheers on War and the funding for but refuses to pony up for the long lasting results of many who are sent!

Muse in the Morning

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
Muse in the Morning


Sighting

(Click on image for larger view)

Zwei…

Yet Another Bombing in Kabul

Media worldwide are publishing photos of a massive suicide bombing yesterday in downtown Kabul, but what’s the difference between looking at those brand new photos, instead of looking at very similar photos of a very similar bombing in Kabul January 16, 2009?

What’s the difference between looking at brand new photos of a bombing in Kabul, instead of very similar photos of a very similar bombing in Kabul July 7, 2008?

What’s the difference between looking at brand new photos of a bombing in Kabul, instead of very similar photos of a very similar bombing in Kabul September 17, 2009?

October 8, 2009?

December 15, 2009?

August 15, 2009?

 

January 18, 2010?

And so on.

Late Night Karaoke

Open Thread

APA will not justify or defend human rights abuses.

Congratulations, American Psychological Association (APA), on re-writing your guidelines to unambiguously not justify or defend violations of human rights.  While a policy of not justifying or defending human rights abuses is not the strongest language possible, APA has unequivocally graduated beyond justifying or defending the ancient black arts of coerced confessions and abject psychological domination brutally secured using physical and psychological crowbars into consciousness.  

I don’t have a lot to say about this except that a profession that professes to excel at understanding the human psyche probably should not have availed itself of that knowledge to inflict expert levels of long-lasting psychological trauma on their fellow humans, or be associated with those who do, regardless of who asked or paid for such services.

I’ll refrain from offering any further sneering congratulations on the nature of these grave lapses in judgment or on the modest language not justifying or defending human rights abuses, and instead offer a heartfelt “thank you” for addressing this oversight at long last, insofar as you have, as well as thanking APA members who withheld their dues and/or support for APA until this policy was unambiguously clarified to not justify or defend human rights abuses.  

Let’s acknowledge this modest, but unambiguous win in the language of policy for all concerned.  Abusers of human rights can no longer use the APA policy to justify or defend themselves.

The newer, unambiguous guidelines (below) go into effect in June, 2010.

The AFA has turned Cowardly 20100225

Well, the American Family Association, that bastion of truth, has stopped taking its own comments from users.  To comment there, now one has to sign up for a Facebook account or your word is not noted, nor can one read other comments.

I am not completely surprised, but I thought that they might be more honest a site, like ‘Dharma and Kos.  But, then again, no.

Under the Radar

A one year extension was quickly passed via voice vote in the Senate minus any protections for the privacy of US citizens because of a threatened filibuster by Republicans. The bill now goes the the house. Let’s see of they have more spine that the Senate and let parts of the Patriot Act slip into the sunset.

Patriot Act Elements Extended

The Senate on Wednesday extended for a year key provisions of the nation’s counterterrorism surveillance law that are scheduled to expire at the end of the month. One provision authorizes court-approved roving wiretaps that permit surveillance on multiple phones. A second allows court-approved seizure of records and property in antiterrorism operations. A third permits surveillance against a noncitizen suspected of engaging in terrorism who may not be part of a recognized terrorist group. In agreeing to pass the bill, Senate Democrats retreated from adding new privacy protections to the USA Patriot Act. The Senate approved the bill on a voice vote with no debate. It now goes to the House.

Will we continue to kiss out 4th Amendment Rights good-bye? Or will the house tell the Senate “forgettabouit”?

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