News Bites + Open Thread
By Leslie on January 14, 2008 at 9:00 PM in Uncategorized
• A Federal Appeals court rules that former Guantanamo inmates aren’t persons. [If you torture a non-person is it still torture?]
• National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell is drawing up plans for cyberspace spying that would make the current debate on warrantless wiretaps look like a “walk in the park,” according to an interview published in the New Yorker’s print edition today. [Who would've thought McConnell would make me feel nostalgic for the good ole warrantless wiretap days.]
• The South Pole is melting…. The continent has about 90% of the world’s ice. If and when Antarctica melts, sea levels will rise about 200 feet. [Coastal cities, such as Miami and NYC, will be especially vulnera...blub, blub.]
• Things aren’t going well in Afghanistan: The Taliban hit a 5-star hotel in Kabul, killing 6. The Pentagon is planning on sending an additional 3,000 US Marines. [Wonder where they'll get the troops from?]
(Release: November 13)
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I only want to say, I used to be this common, complacent accoutant. I raised myself, politically, my biological Dad was a racist, Republican, (no offense intended, just descriptive lines here) that couldn’t even admit that he was not only German but Irish. Found that out just before my Grandmother died.
I wouldn’t trust the Government if my life depended on it. Gosh That’s what folks in NO did, how many dead? That’s what got us into Iraq, how many Americans dead? How many Iraqis displaced(2-4 million) ? How many Iraqis dead since the beginning of this action?
We already know they have broken the law at the FBI by spying illegally.
WHY SHOULD I TRUST YOU NOW!!!!
I KNOW I HAVE STUPID TATOOED ON MY FOREHEAD!!
Gee, guess that “All men are created equal” crap is dead.
Thanks NeoCons.
I much prefer the God is dead era.
Maybe Guantanamo detainees ought to call the ASPCA? Not kidding. If the courts won’t recognize them as human beings, then what does that make them and who can they call? Even animals have rights.
FISA is due up in the Senate next week. The simple fact is they are already doing this. The only difference is it will give these twigs a “legal” frame work AND immunity, forwards and backwards and get this…no one will ever gain standing to challenge a “state secret”.
so add that to the Pelican Brief
Is it next week? I thought the Senate voted on FISA/telecom immunity this week? Wonder what excuse the Senate will use to grant the telecoms immunity…. Since the telecoms are in it for the money, not national security.
They will be in next week according to the calender.
Dodd?
Thanks to my new favorite news show — BBCAmerica’s BBC World News America — I’ve been following Greenpeace’s efforts to disrupt the Japanese whaling fleet’s slaughter of whales for, you know, “scientific purposes.” BBC has had a reporter ON BOARD the Greenpeace ship. Today, they disrupted a Japanese whaling boat.
But today’s report revealed that the Japanese get their ship refueled at sea, while the Greenpeace folks have to go to a port for refueling, so the Japanese are waiting for the Greenpeacers to go away, and then they’ll head south for more slaughter.
God I love BBC. Can you imagine NBC or ABC or CBS or CNN or MSNBC putting a reporter on a Greenpeace ship and featuring this story? For one thing, with all their cutbacks in news staffing, they probably haven’t the staff to do the job. Then there’s that they probably don’t know or care about the story.
God I want that jewelry.
Tell you what Susan…if you get a friend to buy some of my jewelry, you’ll get a free piece of gold jewelry. [It'll be 22k, which is almost pure gold and you shouldn't be allergic to it]. Deal?
Deal! It’s just so pretty. Don’t know how you do it — it’s distinctive and original looking, but also classic enough that it could be worn by most anyone and for decades. It’s “keeper” jewelry.
Gov’t sues for access as it plans fence.
A fence can work two ways. “Escape from New York” or ?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080115/ap_on_go_ot/border_fence
Marines? Kadena, Okinawa, any of 700+ other bases worldwide in 130+ countries, dependencies and strange arrangements of lines on a piece of paper.
Nothing like war-profiteering pigs getting away with it to set the bile flowing.
No precedent for this perversion of justice:
Case against Lockheed Martin dies because justices own oil.
http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/california-supreme-courts-financial/n20080113122909990002
So much for W’s peace trip to the Middle East.
Beurit bombing. American embassy car was the target.
Israel kills eighteen in Gaza today.
Blame Iran!!!
Have been a BBC junkie for years. Can’t imagine the news world without it.
Here is a great article on Bush’s trip to the ME called
THE END OF THE ROAD FOR GEORGE BUSH
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080113_the_end_of_the_road_for_george_w_bush/
I wonder what they told him?
President Bush, center, listens to Franciscan priests as they overlook the Sea of Galilee in the ancient village of Capernaum, Israel.
Like Nixon and Kissenger?
Well as long as it’s an open thread,
http://chinamatters.blogspot.com/2008/01/with-pakistan-in-middle-of-burgeoning.html
Seems Pakistan is going to have a unity government afterall it just won’t be including the Feudal Bhutto Party.
A neutral Pakistan now there is a delightful thought.
6.6 billion people in the world, 2.4 billion in China and India combined, and China and India are making nicey nice big time. Imagine what the world will be like when those 2.4 billion attain the energy consumption, resource consumption and wealth generation of oh say Great Britain. China will reabsorb its wayward province formosa within the next 5 years, nice little fillup to what will be the world’s largest economy.
Yes. BBC World News America did a story on India and China last night — amazing how many of the world’s people those two countries contain. Sadly, I got a phone call from a friend during the story, and I can’t report much but it seemed to be about BORDER tensions between the two giants.
Funny you should ask:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/14/content_7422114.htm
China and India are determined to solve their border issue.
When it is solved, China has no remaining land border issues, having made niceynice with Russia, Vietnam, Nepal and the Central Asian states already.
On the ocean rock issues with Japan and Vietnam, they are being worked on.
The South Pole is melting…. The continent has about 90% of the world’s ice. If and when Antarctica melts, sea levels will rise about 200 feet. [Coastal cities, such as Miami and NYC, will be especially vulnera…blub, blub
Well if I were Dutch I’d be thinking there is going to be a new emerging market for Dike systems worldwide..
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Still Can’t get over the Colts losing Sunday..
oh the pain..
The only time I hear about the Dutch on American television is when there’s a story about the Natalie Holloway murder.
Didn’t know the Colts lost, HH. That is a shocker. Watched them earlier in the season when they played so well against the Patriots…. good team. It happens.
(After the Hawks lost Saturday, i tuned out the rest of the weekend. They got outplayed. The Packers deserved to win that game. That one play that Favre made — keeping himself on his feet while being tackled and tossing the football underhand (like a softball) was so beautiful to watch, that I just HAD to root for them in that play. It’s always a joy to see a game played well and great decisions made in a split-second, even if it’s the other team.)
Susan: My Sis was in last week from LaConner Washington and I watched the Seahawks game with her.. OUCH!
I felt her pain..the next day she got to feel my pain.
A whole lot of pain around here..
Dutch investments are always interesting to watch
http://ideas.repec.org/p/dgr/umamer/1998004.html
The extensive and expensive barrier the Dutch built in their SW delta region was for storm surges. It helps prevent widespread flooding when the tides and a storm coincide to suddenly raise water levels. The gradual increase of ’sea level’ will have to be handled the old fashioned way: higher dikes.
WTF is the Appeals Court doing? “…torture is a foreseeable consequence of the military’s detention of suspected enemy combatants.” Human beings are not persons in the eye of the law? WTF are we then?
The neocon/christian right/nationalist political coalition continue to make this a much more dangerous world.
Edwards closing in even though corporate media ignoring him.
http://firedoglake.com/2008/01/15/is-an-edwards-surprise-looming-in-n
evada/#comments
the comments to this piece are fun to read
Kathleen, i was looking at the graphs at TPM Election Central. Noticed that Edwards is moving up in South Carolina. WTG.
Btw, I’ve seen him a lot on “corporate media.” Not nearly as often as Obama and Clinton, of course, but often. Even though the pundits are all writing him off.
I watch almost every night…recently there has been a shift. But not much. Olberman gave him some time. Even this morning on NPR they were ignoring him it was all Obama Clinton until Donna Brazille mentioned that there were still three candidates in the race.
You can go to every clip at NPR’s Morning Edition today (I listen almost every day) and it is all about Obama Clinton…Clinton Obama
http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=3
I believe it was last night on “All Things Considered” that Donna Brazille finally mentioned after the discussion was Obama Clinton Obama Clinton that there were three people in the race.
You can go through every clip here about the race and it is Obama Clinton (you get the picture)
There is a mention of Kate Edwards here…
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/
Susan we must not be listening to or watching the same news programs
Is this some of that corporate media coverage you were referring to? Fair and balanced…oh yeah
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16710815/
White House 2008 rankings: The Democrats
A weekly rating of the presidential candidates
National Journal
These rankings are ordered by likelihood of winning the Democratic Party primary and are based on a number of factors, including organization, money, buzz and polling.
Story continues below
DEMOCRATIC RANKINGS
1. (tie) Hillary Clinton
New York senator Last Ranking: 1
Don’t put away those shovels — just dig her out. We write as the political world tries to figure out precisely how Clinton pulled off this upset. Now, her biggest immediate problem — low cash reserves — will probably be solved by the end of the week. She has the luxury of being able to downplay Nevada and South Carolina if she wishes. There are many pitfalls ahead — she has the same set of problems coming out of New Hampshire that she had going in, but it now seems they can be overcome. She still lacks a clear, concise message or rationale, she still has her husband playing an outsized role, and she has staffers who are now distrustful of each other. And now she has perceived electability issues; she won New Hampshire, but Obama is still seen as more electable.
1. (tie) Barack Obama
Illinois senator Last Ranking: 2
Obama still has money and message on his side. He has hurdles, though: handling the perceived “Bradley effect,” which some are blaming for his New Hampshire loss; proving experience — or at least presidential competence; and reaching out to Democratic professional women. He has the advantage in Nevada and South Carolina, and he probably needs to win both. The “indie” factor favors him for the Feb. 5 states.
3. John Edwards
Former North Carolina senator Last Ranking: 3
Does he really want to be the white guy, playing the white candidate?
Can’t find those graphs
Leslie this one is for you on Guantanamo
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/01/15/joint-
chiefs-chairman-close-guantanamo/
Joint Chiefs Chairman: Close Guantanamo
Thanks Kathleen!
…sea levels will rise about 200 feet.
I usually just quietly slip in and out but…
Although estimates vary, a number for sea level rise that has been used is 20 feet – including in Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth. And this is considered a high number. The article that you linked to mentions an increase in retreat velocity to 200 feet per year for the Quelccaya glacier in the Peruvian Andes.
Dunno? Do they account for both poles melting? The Arctic is sea ice, which shouldn’t raise sea levels. But Antarctica is land ice. The Greenland ice sheet is also melting.
Whatever it is, 20 feet to 200 feet: most of NYC will still be underwater, so will Miami. The White House might be underwater too, which could be a good thing.
Leslie will be shopping for a new boat in the future..
Put’s a new meaning to jersey shores doesn’t it?
A nice little dinghy with a sail mast will do. The Jersey shores…kaput too. We’re probably talking Pennsylvania shores.
And the Filipino Monkey has the Chimp in an uproar.
At least there are pictures of the Chimp actually rattling a saber.
They both speak NEO-CON-ESE
Anyone know the proper name of the sword?
Scott Horton on the “less than human” rap. Good read
http://www.harpers.org/archive/2008/01/hbc-90002135
“Water , Water everywhere, nor any drop to drink.”
The Ryme of the Ancient Mariner
Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson, an appointee Bush I
Judge Janice Rogers Brown an appointee Bush II
Judge Randolph was appointed an appointee Bush II
This opinion is related to monetary damages. If the appeals court had been favor of the plaintiff it would have made Rummy and the gang “available” and the 3 judges looked to be mking quite the effort to ensure that did not happen. If the Supremes take the case I dought the question regarding US territories and and “US person” will be addressed.
http://ccrjustice.org/files/Rasul_AppealsCourtDecision_01_08.pdf
Janice Rogers Brown is dangerous.
sure enough!
What is strained about Johnson v. Eisentrager is that the word “convicted” is central. Has anyone been “convicted”? in Gitmo?
Obviously, this will end up in the Supreme Court.
I am not a lawyer but there is a chance that it won’t be taken and the case will stand. I am confused to be thinking that the supremes held in Hamdan that Gitmo is covered as a territory – Possession?
Need a sicko laugh? Both of these had me shaking with laughter
http://satiricalpolitical.com/?p=1378
The Onion op-ed piece that Crooks and Liars links to is over the top…I am warning you..but funny
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2
008/01/14/open-thread-691/#comments
Crooks and Liars
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/01/14/op
en-thread-691/#comments
http://www.theonion.com/content/opinion/i_got_what_america_needs_right
Ok Kathleen ya got me with theonion link. I never knew he had it in him.
LOL, hilarious!
Another try
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/01/14/open-thread-691/#comments
UAE signs military, nuclear deals with France
http://cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com/2008/01/15/uae-signs-military-nuclear-deals-with-france/
I stand corrected, Not the Saudi’s
FBI wants instant access to British identity data.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/humanrights/story/0,,2241005,00.html
you might want to take a look at the polls that the corporate MSM don’t like to talk about…
2008 Democratic Candidate Key Stats
http://www.rasmussenreports.co…..l_election
Here are Rasmussen’s poll numbers:
Obama (47%) Giuliani (37%)
Obama (45%) Huckabee (43%)
Obama (43%) McCain (46%)
Obama (50%) Paul (31%)
Obama (45%) Romney (39%)
Obama (47%) Thompson (40%)
Edwards (44%) Giuliani (44%)
Edwards (49%) Huckabee (37%)
Edwards (46%) McCain (39%)
Edwards (50%) Romney (34%)
Edwards (48%) Thompson (39%)
Clinton (44%) Giuliani (45%)
Clinton (42%) Huckabee (45%)
Clinton (38%) McCain (49%)
Clinton (49%) Paul (37%)
Clinton (43%) Romney (44%)
Clinton (46%) Thompson (44%)
From Firedoglake blog:
First time I have heard of this
Threat To Cut U.S. Aid Opens Rift With Egypt
By Nathan Guttman
Wed. Jan 09, 2008
http://www.forward.com/articles/12443/
This might concern Hillary and opposition hit pieces, (We collect ‘em like campaign buttons) but since Bill Keyes was maiking a point about Hillary and electability, this can be used on any candidate.
Coming to a 527 theater near you!
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CLINTON_MOVIE?SITE=CONGRA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
So the truth hurts?
Bush did not believe the intelligence then and is unable to cherry pick now. Got to wonder what and who informs “his own views”.
.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i6Pipi-FQW3c2eqvNXfi9csfK97A
Tyler Drumheller must have been a man ahead of his times…or someone else was way behind the 8 ball. Or both.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/01/16/terror/main3719506.shtml?source=RSSattr=HOME_3719506
The dog ate the tape!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22685861/
If they HAD been following “best practices” and the laws governing data retention this would not have occured. WH Communications structures are mirrored as close to real time as possible. The email servers for the WH are most certainly are configured in a way that precludes loss of data. Period. Any IT geek knows that data presevation is key to keeping their job. Bottomline is; there is no way this was “accidental”. I guess they had the they had the same geek squad at the RNC as well. With 27/7 NSA skunk works going fullbore, I am sure they have the complete records retained off site.
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KAHILL LIFE FOUNDATION
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Reply only to this ID, cahilljam@gmail.com
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ANTICIPATING YOUR EARLIER COMPLIANCE.
REGARDS AND GOD BLESS,
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