The Economist on “the dangers of a rising China”
“So far, things have gone remarkably well between America and China. While China has devoted itself to economic growth, American security has focused on Islamic terrorism and war in Iraq and Afghanistan. But the two mistrust each other. China sees America as a waning power that will eventually seek to block its own rise. And America worries about how Chinese nationalism, fuelled by rediscovered economic and military might, will express itself.”
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210 Responses to China Watch
Now on The Trail
Wooo Hooo,.
Since Bush\Cheney War Criminals funded the illegal Wars with borrowed money from China the day will soon come when China owns everything in America.
Thank you Republicans and yes, even some Democrats for selling our country out from underneath us.
Everybody knows.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUfS8LyeUyM&feature=related
“when i was a teen-aged music monger we got the house job at the joint that feller owned on the isle-of-palms…….a beach pavillion…….”
sturge, i kinda picture you there like the cabana boys following ava gardner around playing mariachi in “the night of the iguana”
Maybe, instead of focusing on/fearing China, we should be minding our own store.
China doesn’t control our ability to create jobs, to improve education, to continue R&D of new technology.
Granted, they have unfair economic/currency policies & like to steal our tech. But while we may have to deal with them, they are not in control. We do have options.
And just as much of the rest of the world seems to be more proficient in math & science, Americans are better at thinking outside of the box. That is what made us great, and, it will continue to be our strength.
We need to stop wasting lives, money & focus on Afghanistan. That has done nothing to stop terrorists.
We need to get everyone, even the uber-rich, to pay their fair share of the tax burden. It doesn’t trickle back into the economy at-large. We already know that.
And, we do have to prime the pump. You’ve gotta spend money to make money. Isn’t it better to create a WPA-type jobs program and allow people the dignity to work for their wages, rather than cutting never-ending unemployment checks?
Personally, I think that any group of 1st-graders could manage this country better, and more fairly, than our elected officials.
corey -- Read the article you posted about Helen. She did have a point about the roads; I had no idea it was that segregated. Really sad, but if South Africa found a way, maybe Isreal can find peace one day, too. Providing, of course, the 1st-graders are in charge there, too.
patsi -- Enjoying your soap opera more than you are, I’m sure. Maybe you can nark on her to the disability patrol, so they know she’s faking.
WHERE is c’bob???
where-abouts of Cbob:
********************************************
Been off on the Climate Desk , looks like we need to look into buying :
” Get Well Cards ” by the case.
Posted by: Colorado Bob Author Profile Page | December 2, 2010 11:14 PM
*********************************************
Pat
ha……made me first ones from a tin can and bb’s……….louder’n hell, but there weren’t a ava gardner on the premises……..
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/03/opinion/03krugman.html?_r=1
“Freezing Out Hope”
‘After the Democratic “shellacking” in the midterm elections, everyone wondered how President Obama would respond. Would he show what he was made of? Would he stand firm for the values he believes in, even in the face of political adversity?
On Monday, we got the answer: he announced a pay freeze for federal workers. This was an announcement that had it all. It was transparently cynical; it was trivial in scale, but misguided in direction; and by making the announcement, Mr. Obama effectively conceded the policy argument to the very people who are seeking — successfully, it seems — to destroy him.
So I guess we are, in fact, seeing what Mr. Obama is made of.”
http://theweek.com/bullpen/column/210012/obama-tax-cuts-and-principle
‘Obama, tax cuts, and principle
Obama can’t risk a middle class tax hike that would damage the recovery and hand power to a cynical GOP. So he’ll cave on extending tax cuts to the wealthy instead”
China is a communist state bent on world domination. Besides expanding their military they have developed the method of economic domination. They will own us and our corporations will help them.
Pigs will FLY when China does something good for its people. I recall China and child labor, sweat shops, lead poisoning, etc…
China is a communist state bent on world domination. Besides expanding their military they have developed the method of economic domination. They will own us and our corporations will help them.
Pigs will FLY when China does something good for its people. I recall China and child labor, sweat shops, lead poisoning, etc…
The Chinese will not grow their military to take us over…they are way too cunning for that! We need to take a lesson from them as their approach to the military and national security is more targeted, defensive. It is the offensive countries that pay the big military price. The US is an invading entity.
Oh, and the the Chinese trojan arrived years ago….we can thank Tricky Dick for that!
The Bush Revenge
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-12-02/tax-cut-extension-the-gops-fiscal-time-bomb/?om_rid=Dkp83o&om_mid=_BM$O-dB8WIbaFv
mornin’
blue, you should find this interesting considering the discussion regarding the rise of Indian hiring you mentioned yesterday. it’s a sobering assessment of education in the US and among other things why our companies are hiring from abroad.
http://www.nae.edu/MembersSection/31283/2010AMProgram/26353/35505.aspx
tony, someone should mention to Obama that a 2 or 3 year extension of the tax cuts sets up the ‘can’t argument for the 2012 election that his admin has tax hikes planned in its second term -- which is not a smart move politically IMHO. Seems smarter politically to me to let them expire for everyone if necessary and be able to say he made the hard and unpopular decision in 2010 to avoid further tax hikes after 2012, and has been waiting for Congress to pass a budget that cuts spending and reduces the deficit -- which we know won’t really happen. While we can expect that letting the tax cuts expire will have some impact on the economy, no one, Boner included, has any idea whether that impact will be weak or strong, positive or negative, or what. History tells us that tax hikes increase economic activity and tax cuts depress it -- but whether that is correlational or causative depends on who you ask.
yes…. but…. The USA is a democratic state bent on world domination.
Blue… CBob is busy at newsvine….
http://coloradobob1.newsvine.com/
pogo…’chicken crap’…I really look forward to more bonerisms as he is having a great time on our backs.
http://www.sinodefenceforum.com/
This site is boring to me, but is a serious fodder forum for the military types.
China will fall on its ass as has/will every other centrally managed state. Not to fear.
corey, thanks for linking http://www.freep.com/article/20101202/NEWS02/101202052/1320/Defiant-Helen-Thomas-It-was-worth-it
i liked this quote:
Asked by the Free Press how she would respond to those who say she’s anti-Semitic, Thomas said:
“I’d say I’m a Semite, What are you talking about? Who are you?”
In her speech to about 300 inside a center in Dearborn, Thomas lashed out at the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, saying they were built on lies. And she decried bias against Arabs.
“We all know the Arabs are much maligned. They are automatically terrorists. I was called the Hizballah at the White House, Hamas, and everything else. But I never bowed to those kinds of slurs because I know who I am. I’m an American.”
Good for her, Pat. She should go grab her seat back from the, um, AP.
‘chicken crap’
pot kettle thing?
DADT
I’m confused. What do folks mean when they say they want to serve openly gay? Do they want to have a different haircut? Wear different socks?
The whole purpose of ‘uniform’ is to get rid of the individual idiosyncrasies that keep people from doing things the sergeant’s (Army’s) way.
If they want the ability to say don’t fuck with me, I’m gay and proud of it, most of their mates would probably say that’s cool and go about their business.
yep, patd. Another comedian serving the public. Boner is such a wit and chicken crap, too. He would have made a great member of the Rat Pack. Smoking cigs, drinking hard alcohol and having a tan.
‘cept, Boner is no Dean Martin.
Unemployment Rises to 9.8% as U.S. Adds Just 39,000 Jobs
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-03/u-s-added-39-000-jobs-in-november-unemployment-rose-to-9-8-.html
Jack, figures need to be compared with similar periods, to wit imminent change of leadership with kooks about to take control of the House.
Just finished a decent outside walk--perhaps half a mile. Cold here--about 40deg, but beautiful. Only took one percocet this morning. Must be on the mend. Maybe I can try driving later today.
And where would we find such a similar period,
Maybe sometime in the decade prior to the civil war?
I think the interesting thing about the number is how badly the “expert” estimates missed the mark. Folks were looking at a 150,000 gain with a range of 100,000 to 200,000. Boy did they miss that one.
Jack
Flatus, I think they just want to be able to serve without being fired if their status is known. All the talk about dress, mannerisms and the like is ‘can’t claptrap IMHO. DADT was supposed to be a mechanism to allow gay servicemembers to serve -- it’s been turned on its head and is used as a mechanism to get rid o f them.
And now for comic relief.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/01/kentucky-creationist-theme-park_n_790283.html
I heard about this on the news yesterday. I don’t find it a particularly troubling C-S separation isue, although it clearly presents one, but I do find it to be an interesting concept -- supposedly the Ark is going to have animals (live I presume) in it. It brings back memories of the swine and cattle pavilions at the AL state fair -- I believe one word that fits well is pungent.
Flatus
You may not realize how often anyone who is straight says they are straight in any given day. Maybe it’s a group of family pictures shared, or mentioning going out to dinner, chatting about children, or talking about getting ready for the holidays.
Over and over again, straight people practically yell it from the rooftops, but it’s “normal” so they don’t notice. The desire is for equality as a human being not broadcasting your bedroom activities. It isn’t about sexual preference. It is about sharing the totality of your life with others without it meaning that you lose your chosen career.
Pogo
More right wing hypocrisy: They are opposed to tax dollars being used for a public museum that displays privately funded art about the homosexual experience, but they see nothing wrong about tax dollars being used to promote the creationist myths. Idiots!!
The Obama administration, Republicans and conservatives must be over joyed. Record corporate profits and reduced corporate tax rate. The economy has recovered. What’s that little noise about Job Growth?
I love listening to the Wall Street Cheerleaders on TV, those poor jobs numbers must be a mistake. The economy has recovered because Corporations are doing great. As of 10:26 Dow was down $17.06 and crude oil is up to $88.06. Wall Street doesn’t care about Jobs!
New jobs data shows Obama’s utter and total failure in growing the Economy for the middle class. Job growth slows to 39,000 added and unemployment rate jumps to 9.8 percent. Temporary help services and health care continued to add jobs over the month, this does not stimulate economic growth.
The GDP data release last Friday showed that the 2010, seasonally adjusted at annual rates, Corporations reported record profits of $1.6855 Trillion. The effect Federal Corporate Tax Rate was 19.24 percent. Federal Corporate Tax Income was down $109 billion when compared to the record income for 2006 of $428 billion with an effect Federal Corporate Tax Rate of 26.62 percent. The 2009 effect Federal Corporate Tax Rate in 2009 was a low of 14.66 percent. Love corporate subsidies and loopholes. The Obama administration has provided more tax brakes for corporation than Bush43.
“Just finished a decent outside walk--perhaps half a mile.”
flatus, today the mile tomorrow the marathon.
that stroll must have been extra sweet considering the alternative you might have faced just a few days ago.
Pit, amazing isn’t it? Considering the figures you mention, based on the arguments the ‘can’ts are making about the tax cut extensions, the economy should be roaring.
And now, for more humor.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/01/anderson-cooper-demolishes-birther_n_790696.html
Anderson Cooper shreds Leo Berman’s birther BS. I normally don’t think Andy is much of a heavyweight, but I may be changing my mind.
“It ain’t a nice road but at the end of the day, you don’t expect someone to nick your snowman, you know what I mean?”
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-11908583
blimey, what’s this world coming to.
jamie, I know, I know. Drives ya nuts, doesn’t it? David Brooks (of all people) was engaged in a talk in the AEI forum yesterday and gave his take on the problem with ‘can’ts these days.
“And my problem with the Republican Party right now, including Paul, is that if you offered them 80-20, they say no. If you offered them 90-10, they’d say no. If you offered them 99-1 they’d say no. And that’s because we’ve substituted governance for brokerism, for rigidity that Ronald Regan didn’t have.
“And to me, this rigidity comes from this polarizing world view that they’re a bunch of socialists over there. You know, again, I’ve spent a lot of time with the president. I’ve spent a lot of time with the people around him. They’re liberals! … But they’re not idiots. And they’re not Europeans, and they don’t want to be a European welfare state. … It’s American liberalism, and it’s not inflexible.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/03/david-brooks-republicans_n_791281.html
This is David Brooks, fuhchrissake.
“China to tighten its monetary policy next year
The decision by the Politburo to shift to a ‘prudent’ monetary policy signals a likely slowdown of the world’s second-largest economy in coming months as China acts to combat inflation and moderate its growth.”
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-china-monetary-policy-20101204,0,502507.story
“A Chinese high-speed train set another world speed record during a test run Friday, breaking its own record set just two months ago. The Chinese Ministry of Railways calls the feat “a major achievement of China’s technology innovation,” but doubts linger over just how much of China’s bullet-train technology can be described as its own…….
……..Foreign high-speed train producers who taught China how to make bullet trains disagree. Most executives at those companies shy away from commenting on China’s high-speed technology out of fear of offending the country’s government, but a few who are willing to talk say that while China has succeeded in making the bullet trains go faster, the fundamental technology behind those trains remains more or less identical to the technology foreign companies provided originally half a decade ago.”
http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2010/12/03/chinese-train-breaks-speed-record-again/
compare that to this:
“With the exception of the Amtrak-owned-and-maintained Northeast Corridor (between Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.), and some services in Pennsylvania and around Chicago, Amtrak services are substantially slower, less reliable, and less frequent than those of virtually every other developed nation in the world.”
http://wikitravel.org/en/Rail_travel_in_the_United_States
pogo
Cooper has become outstanding at his job in his questioning of late…too bad CNN around his neck is a bad thing…used to be good. I think it is time for a new network — I know I’m ready.
http://blogs.cqrollcall.com/trailmix/2010/12/china-watch.html#comment-322935
OMG! PatD — what a grand concept…and I can see it as well!!!!
Blue — re: the hospital drama…here is what I just emailed my son:
My sob sister roommate with her disability scam is OOL! (OUT OF LUCK!!!)
NO disability for her! Doc just said she goes back to work in a couple of weeks. YEEHAH!!!
She is now moaning and crying over her dashed hopes.
And I am still going to stab the white trash bitch to death very soon.
Unless, of course, they actually DO release me today as they have now promised.
http://blogs.cqrollcall.com/trailmix/2010/12/china-watch.html#comment-322959
Jamie — this is a brilliant post — had not thought about how many times we announce our sexuality. But we sure do, don’t we….
“Maybe I can try driving later today.”
Flatus.. is that driving a car or driving Stinky crazy…
well…. I wanna go to the creation amusement park as long as they have a ride where I can dress like a caveman and sit on a brontosaurus….
BW…. hear! hear! YES…. a new network…. it’s news…
the BS is challenged…. and no Wolf Blitzer types please.
Sounds like your death panel service won’t be needed for your roommate. Here’s hoping you need to call that cab, Patsi, and soon. Bursitis as a basis for disability? Puhlease -- I got it, you got it (or will get it), all god’s chillun will get it. I got two words for her (well, an acronym and a word) -- RICE & Ibuprofen.
I realized how much we heterosexuals take the little stuff for granted years ago when I had gay friends tell me they’d just like to be able to sit next to each other in the movie theater.
Pat
China is stealing European rail tech and are exporting it as their own.
For high speed rail to work it needs its own deicated track and for most parts of the US there would not be enough passenger traffic to make it pay.
That is why right now you see most efforts concentrating in the east coast, Great Lakes and California.
The rest of us get to take the mega bus. It is faster/cheaper.
Jack
The GOP is going to drive people like David Brooks away if not careful….
Patsi
Good news about your pending release.
Now be good and quit worrying everybody.
Jack
“The GOP is going to drive people like David Brooks away if not careful”
Where to? There are not that many places that will put up with his level of idiocy. George Will too for that matter.
Jack
It sees through you and it isn’t good according to some.
http://www.naturalnews.com/files/TSA_Naked_Body_Scanners.pdf
http://blogs.cqrollcall.com/trailmix/2010/12/china-watch.html#comment-322978
Well, you’ve got a point there….
“The GOP is going to drive people like David Brooks away if not careful….”
Brooks is and has always been a RINO, a Rockefeller type Republican, and his departure would not be missed.
Well, my pit bull knocked me over & the bossman wouldn’t pay -
Hang tough, girl.
just to get some money, in this hospital bed I lay.
I moan when folks come near me & my dog, he ain’t no killa -
but I’ll have bigger problems if Pastsi smothers me with a pilla.
Set that to music!
Blue…..
ROTFLMAO!! you missed your calling there, girl…
Truth, who couldn’t see that letter coming from someone? And it may be raising legitimate concerns. Even if it does I expect it will have little, if any, effect on TSA. Haven’t you heard -- anything that is done in the name of air safety is AOK.
Or, as some call her, Patsi (sorry for the typo).
A group New Year’s resolution proposal: Buy as locally as possible, whenever possible, even on Chinese New Year.
Legally, there may be times when some have to bow to China, but does anyone really think that we wouldn’t put up a fight if their presence was more pervasive/invasive? Plus, the rest of the world has nothing to gain from total, Chinese dominance. I’m sure they love the energy we are expending in Afghanistan & Iraq, but do you think Chinese control in those Muslim countries woud be well-received?
Can’t figure out why anyone was surprised by the 9.8% unemployment figure released this morning. Just drive around and look at all the empty stores in numerous strip shopping centers. Food banks going empty, rescue missions completely filled. A looming $3000 increase in taxes for those making $50,000, awaits those next year if Congress doesn’t act. And that is just for starters.
Somethings can get real ugly very fast and there is nothing that can stop it once it starts.
http://tinyurl.com/A-storm-is-coming
” A looming $3000 increase in taxes for those making $50,000, awaits those next year, if Republicans don’t quit blocking things”
There fixed your typo
Jack
Blue
Some good comments on China today.
As to China and Muslims they have their own Muslim problems and I suspect that China will be having problems holding their empire together in the future. There is a lot of uneven developement in China.
Jack
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2010/12/obamabiden-is-in-afghanistan/1
I hope he brought K’s meds.
Interesting typo in the last paragraph of the above article about Obama’s visit.
Instead, high wins — above 45 mph — low clouds, and poor visibility are keeping Obama at Bagram.
(Posted by David Jackson)
Indeed high winds! It is about high wins!
TIR
Interesting pictures but they look a little to good to be true but then again it may be the effect of the camera rather than the being there perspective.
Looking a little more closely at Sedat’s letter -- three things jump out at me. The first is his reference to himself in the second paragraph is in the third person. I’m always skeptical when the person on whose stationery something is written is referred to as if he is someone else. The next thing that jumps out is the “Nobel Laureate” reference to Elizabeth Blackburn -- as if being married to her somehow lends credibility to the letter -- which brings up the third thing that jumps out at me -- she did not join in the letter. Oh, and that letter was written in April -- some reason it’s just now making the rounds? Increased use of the machines is prolly the reason given.
http://blogs.cqrollcall.com/trailmix/2010/12/china-watch.html#comment-322959
Jamie, I don’t think that’s being realistic or fair. Consider this. There are no openly gay role models in the service right now. The behaviors you describe such as reactions to significant others, etc must be learned behaviors by straight barracks mates. Likewise, if a gay recruit has lived largely within gay circles, that individual’s life style may vary significantly from that of the straight room mate he’s tossed in with. In other words, there’s learning involved on both sides of the equation.
That’s why I used the old military term uniform meaning uniformity or doing it the Army way. I know when I lived in the barracks, if you had family or loved ones pictures to display, they were hung inside one’s wall locker. That standard was uniformly applied.
There are times when I really love the way Gene Robinson puts things.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/02/AR2010120204560.html
This is one of those times.
I dunno, Flatus. Maybe I don’t take your meaning. Taking the position that there are no openly gay role models in the military and that learning has to occur on both sides strikes me as an argument that DADT can never be repealed and that will never happen until it is -- being that openly gay service members are subject to discharge under its provisions and the learning that would take place could occur only if openly gay service members were allowed to serve without fear of discharge. That would call for a repeal of DADT or a suspension of the discharge provisions in it, which Obama has said he will not do.
SAME TIME TOMORROW
What my brain cancer did during my chemo vacation
http://seanholton.wordpress.com/2010/12/03/what-my-brain-cancer-did-during-my-chemo-vacation/
Yes, Pogo, it is my position that there are no openly gay role models currently serving. Still, I think it can be done.
I suggest that each service recruit maybe 1000 new troops, mixed gay and straight, mixed sex, all volunteers for a trial project, to see how things work out.
There are bound to be rough edges, but if the military could make co-ed basic training work, then they should be able to make this work.
Flatus
Isn’t it what te Army does best? Bringing people of different cultures together and forgeing them into a unit?
I suspect that the average recruit will find it has more in common with the average gay recruit than the country youth will have with the innercity youth. Now there is a culture clash. But those problems have been handled from since the formation of the Army.
Jack
Yes, I agree totally, Jack. Let the Army apply age old Army customs to the task and they will have a happily functional unit before they know it.
http://blogs.cqrollcall.com/trailmix/2010/12/china-watch.html#comment-322972
RR
My favorite quote for the day was
“Creationism is the Devil’s plot to make Christians look stupid.”
http://blogs.cqrollcall.com/trailmix/2010/12/china-watch.html#comment-322993
Flatus
The one part of the testimony on DADT that I truly found amusing was one of the military types saying that while he knew there were many gays and lesbians in the military and that he knew for a fact that he had served with them for the whole of his career, he estimated that there were many more lesbians than gay.
IOW, the nervous Nellies are the men. Straight women are not afraid of lesbian women and they often truly enjoy the company of gay men. Neither are any kind of threat.
Straight men OTOH unless they have been truly exposed to gay men in their regular lives are just plain quaking in their boots. They just KNOW that someone they don’t want is going to lust after them or at least look over the merchandise in a shower.
Well welcome to a woman’s world. Stop looking at my boobs, the eyes are up here.
The military is truly quite simple. Absolutely nothing would change. If one service member assaults another service member in any way whatsoever, that is a violation of the military code of conduct. It doesn’t matter whether it is men now assaulting women or in the future if a male assaults a male … Out you go!
“a RINO, a Rockefeller type Republican”
tir, what? rocky was a real republican when the new guys were wearing white sheets and calling themselves democrats.
wonder if “fraternization” will take on a deeper meaning than it does now in the fraternization policy of the very services.
http://www.defense.gov/specials/fraternization/
lol funny, a wiki leaked cable from Kazakhstan,
“The Ambassador asked if the corruption and infighting are worse now than before. Idenov paused, thought, and then replied, “No, not really. It’s business as usual.” Idenov brushed off a question if the current maneuverings are part of a succession struggle. “Of course not. It’s too early for that. As it’s always been, it’s about big money. Capitalism — you call it market economy — means huge money. Listen, almost everyone at the top is confused. They’re confused by their Soviet mentality. They’re confused by the corrupt excesses of capitalism. ‘If GOLDMAN Sachs executives can make $50 million a year and then run America’s economy in Washington, what’s so different about what we do?’ they ask.””
http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2010/12/wikileak-gs-quote-of-the-day/
Craig, in your own way, you are giving out truth whichis badly needed, and also putting a boot to your party, the GOP party, that has gotten us in this mess.
Pat the services like to define fraternization as relationships between officers and enlisted people. I like broadening it to include anyone who has a supervisory relationship over another person that ‘blossoms’ into a romantic relationship.
In my view, romantic relationships between juniors and seniors in the same chain of command should be forbidden. They have a corrosive effect on discipline. I see no difference if the relationship should be hetero- or homosexual.
patd
I truly find this whole DADT testimony hilarious. I am 66 years old. When I was 15 all the kids hung out after school at “The House of Ivy”. It was a mixed crowd of gay bi and straight. During the day it was hamburgers, cokes and french fries and at night it switched over to liquor and became a gay cruising area.
Now it was California and it was Hollywood so we were probably ahead of our teen counterparts elsewhere, and maybe more open about such things, Still you would think at some point in the past half century everyone would have figured out that people are people and most of us are absolutely no threat to the rest of us and that all but the truly twisted understand the word “NO”.
Outside of the bedroom, there are simply no differences. Some we will like and some we won’t, but it won’t be because of whom we choose to cherish.
http://blogs.cqrollcall.com/trailmix/2010/12/china-watch.html#comment-323003
pat -- that’s all part of that moving the middle to the right thing. His nephew is a moderate dem in may respects. The middle must have attracted Rockefellers.
Speaking of China -
The price of 100 percent grade-B white rice rose to $567 a metric ton from $551 the previous week, said Pisanu Sangyoo, an official at the association.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-02/thai-rice-price-surges-to-ninth-month-high-on-year-end-demand.html
Rice prices may triple in 18 months as supplies dwindle and demand increases, Ed Peter, the chief executive officer of Duxton Asset Management Pte., said this week.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-02/wheat-jumps-to-four-month-high-rice-gains-as-weather-threatens-to-crops.html
Remember when the NYT use to publish the pictures of our military men and women killed in Iraq and Afghanistan? I wasn’t aware that some many have died since Obama took office. Maybe they should start that process again. These figures are just for Afghanistan.
http://www.icasualties.org/oef/
Remember when the NYT use to publish the pictures of our military men and women killed in Iraq and Afghanistan? I wasn’t aware that some many have died since Obama took office. Maybe they should start that process again. These figures are just for Afghanistan.
http://www.icasualties.org/oef/
I’m watching C-Span now. Why don’t they have the senior enlisted advisers of the separate services available to testify--especially the Army and USMC.
I question whether their opinions mirror those of their bosses.
Hillary puts an end to speculation … Sec State will be her last Public position
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g1wzFxPDw43E4ekLxwYvrQgar71w?docId=37aeb0aea67a45c8a95c7a76978ee91b
Flatus
There have been polls run on the general military population and the younger they are, just as in the general population, the more they find DADT rediculous. It is the older people who are holding it in place.
The Marines are more resistant than the other services, but they tend to draw their population from the south and most conservative of the population.
Of course one might suspect that with those uniforms that somebody is lying to somebody
The problem with Democrats is that they really really don’t want to be mean. Republicans have absolutely no compunctions against being vile and visciousx
Dick Cavett has a new book “Talk Show” Just bought it. Review to follow once read, but do you really need one?
The old guy overdid it and is worn out. Demain c’il vous plait.
I see that tir is salivating to see more American soldiers killed, just so that obama will look bad.
obama looks bad simply because he’s a republican.
If he were a Dem, he’d look pretty good, in the polls and on the battlefield. But, he a lousy republican and republicans are always too busy making money as war profiteers to work for victory. They get more no bid contracts when the American people are afraid we’re losing. That’s probably why republicans throw the fights.
I agree whole-heartedly with Flatus re the effect of a totally centralized government. China is in a position to harm us, but China is vulnerable, also. I hear people talking re China and Russia over-taking us. I think I understand their fears, but I think people forget the problems they have. They are large land masses and nowhere near the infrastructure they need, it seems to me. Granted I’m no expert but find it hard to believe they have kept up with civil needs.
I also think they have real problems with minority populations because they haven’t realized that they are drains on their national energy and mentality. We were not a good colonial power and didn’t mind recognizing it, but these two ancient states are still so stuck in the past, they won’t catch on for years. They may need some of the resources of their ‘satellites’
but they could resolve that if they weren’t so devoted to strong arm tactics and force and thuggery.
In re David Brooks, I love what he said and hope O reads it. I believe conservative politics are very necessary, in order to keep us from going overboard.
Liberal politics are also necessary to keep us from atrophying. I just enhoy liberalism more. But the new repubs see absolutely nothing worth while with liberalism -- they admit no value to anything liberal, and therefore I see their attitudes as deadly to life.
That’s all from me, and I hope no gets a heart attack from disagreement from my opinions.
republicans haven’t won a war since the century before last.
They did train and arm osama bin ladin’s al qaeda terrorists.
They did refuse to put locks on airline cockpits.
They did let osama bin ladin escape from Tora Bora.
Is there a connection ? Or is it just an eerie co-incidence ?
red Chinese are in the catbird seat because they have lousy infrastructure where they want to have lousy infrastructure. The Tibetans, Mongolians, Uigurs, and Hmong don’t get transportation, phones, ‘puters, hot water, flush toilets, or soap. That stuff is all for the Master Race, the Han people -- Air Yams of East Asia.
Btw, during the babybush Admin, redChina became a net exporter of food to the hungry masses of the US. Now we have millions of hungry people, and the commies have surplus food to sell us. Nice going, all you republicans.
Tell us why reaganomics is such a failure.
Been watching what’s going on on Australia , buy flour you’ll be glad you did.
Zoe Lofgren says, “We need a higher standard….” Nonsense. Charlie didn’t meet the standard we already have. But, he is still a pargon of virtue compared to tom delay, scooter libby, randy cunningham, ted stevens, mark foley, and don sherwood.
EXTREME weather is threatening to push the economy into reverse amid fears rain and drought will wipe up to $6 billion off bumper grain harvests.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/rain-swamps-rural-recovery/story-fn59niix-1225965431782
I see what you’re sayin’. XR, but still think it’s a drawback for them, not just for their captive people. That’s where the centralization of power comes in. It was always a problem for the soviets; when the seat of power is too far from the people they want to control, it will have problems.Napoleon’s supply sines were too long and therefore weak and vulverable.
The old world way of dealing with defeated people made problems after wwI, and it made problems for Russia to the point where they are still oudated in many ways. China has been growing a lot of food for a long time, but we won’t even buy a lot of it -- it’s not safe. They don’t have standards, and that’s not modern. They’re still using night soil for fertilizer.
Anyway, that’s how I see it -- all opinion. I can’t quote
any articles. It’s just my own thoughts.
hard to beat apple pie.
nappy’s sojers got pitchforked all the way home…………
nappy, on the other hand, dress up like a old woman and he jump on his camel name clyde and ride………
Century Note!
the whole time I was mongering that stringed instrument tonight their were 2 of the tv’s in the joint trained on Fox News and Fox had a show on about the deaf of john lennon and they kept switching back and forth from john lennon and the beatles and yoko to that cretinous mark the-little-shit chapman……..it was disconcerting………he took the catcher in the rye and put bullets into lennon……what the fuck is it with people like that?
I’d like to show him what vultures eat.
ha……reminds me of the old VIC cartoons………..
well, maybe it wasn’t vic……can’t find a representative of those old esquire cartoons of the guys crawling thru the desert wth the buzzards commenting to each other………
Roll call formation in five minutes!
aha…..VIP………Virgil Partch
I still think Barbara Tuchman’s work is instructional in re China. Update her thoughts to include the independent India and Pakistan and all the other Stans around China. Of course the change in status of the former USSR needs be considered as does the potential for an alliance of the US, ROK, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. And, should China have eyes on Russian or Mongolian territory, then I can see landing rights for the U.S. in Siberia. Lots of possibilities. Not at all rosy for China.
Oh, Sturg, I did catch your mention of the Hon Mr Rivers. He did help me in 70--kept me from being sent for a seventh short tour in a row. He and his people were tenacious.
river
seante special saturday vote on house tax cut bill
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ibl7GjtxjlrhRANKDpkOG89iuDYQ?docId=f7be70c7778348c699ddb50f57350e06
“Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn appears to have been the Republican who objected to a Democratic proposal to hold four votes Friday on tax cuts — a move that prompted Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to schedule a rare Saturday voting session.
Senators and aides grumbling about coming to Capitol Hill on Saturday morning for a vote are pinning the blame on Coburn….”
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/45935.html
I don’t recall where I saw VIP’s work--just that it was always a treat. I was totally unaware of his background. The wiki article on him is good:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgil_Partch
http://blogs.cqrollcall.com/trailmix/2010/12/china-watch.html#comment-323020
Very good reading! Thanks to all!
Jamie, damn you are brilliant! Flatus, you too! Enjoy you all so much. I had the most wonderful conversation on the phone with Sea last evening, fabulous fun lady.
X,
Wish Obama was a real Democrat, sadly there are so few these days….
Craig,
……have been talking off and on about China for over a year.! This is a good thread, and about time. Better late than ever.
One of the few ways that the U. S. will be involved in anything militarily with China is to defend the small islands to the east of Japan:
Japan’s small East China Sea islands from “hostile” forces that seized the island and installed anti-aircraft missiles. Ships from the US Seventh Fleet, including the aircraft carrier
USS George Washington will take part.
China may claim them saying that they have been part of China a lot longer than the claims that Japan might have…..they will say that they have been fishing these waters way before Japan…which will be true…but they also fished other islands that they recognize as Japans………
Known as the Miyako Channel, this stretch of water is fast becoming one of the world’s most sensitive maritime flashpoints, along with the Strait of Malacca, the Strait of Hormuz or the Taiwan Strait. It may be even more sensitive than the Taiwan Strait, since the US and other navies avoid passing through it unless they are trying to be deliberately provocative.
On the other hand, the Miyako Channel and nearby waters are where the US, Chinese and Japanese navies grind against one another, sometimes almost literally. In April, a Chinese flotilla passed through the channel on the way to open sea. It was shadowed by Japanese destroyers, which in turn were buzzed by Chinese helicopters, prompting Tokyo to make a formal protest about the harassment of its ships.
Any conflict with China over Japanese possessions in the East China Sea would inevitably draw in the United States. Article 5 of the mutual security treaty obliges the US to defend “territories under the administration of Japan”. That applies to the chain of islands (though it is less clear about the disputed Senkaku.)
Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara claims that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told him that Washington considered the Senkaku as being covered by the defense treaty.
Tony the Baloney,
We are having the first “snow storms” today want some?
Solar
http://blogs.cqrollcall.com/trailmix/2010/12/china-watch.html#comment-323044
Cold here, mid 60′s, froze my ass on those windows yesterday. Sunny though, mostly always sunny here and that i like!
Solar,
Nah, i’ll pass but thanks.
If we are going to talk about Ol’ Boney, might as well let Knopfler and Harris have their say on the subject.
Done With Bonaparte
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdfsv95sy1U
Senate voting on the tax cut amendments. Of course the Pugs will make sure they punch America in the nose one more time just to get in shape for the beating they will give us next year.
Who is the judge the Senate is impeaching on Tuesday and why?
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/12/03/why-obama-needs-to-reclaim-his-convictions.html
“Carpe Diem
Why Obama needs to seize the opportunity to reclaim his convictions and reenergize the Democratic base.”
“The problem is that Democrats aren’t unified, and Obama lacks the 60 votes in the Senate to break a filibuster, so if he stands his ground, he’s likely to lose. During the campaign, Obama would look out at the huge crowds clamoring to see him and muse to aides that people were projecting too much on this guy named Obama, and he would wonder whether he could possibly be that guy. An adviser who worked on the campaign e-mailed me recently about his disappointment with Obama, saying that the president is ill-equipped psychologically for what it would take to be a hero, namely to slay a dragon: “He can’t slay anything, sadly, except the legacy of FDR.””
This looks like the guy. Story is three months old, but they must be finalizing the vote before the end of the session.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/sep/13/senate-open-impeachment-trial-against-judge/
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/04/opinion/04sat1.html?_r=1&ref=opinion
“Inside the Beltway: A Deficit of Purpose”
“A sense of resolve and a clear purpose should not be partisan commodities, yet, in Washington, only the Republicans seem to have them. They know exactly what they want and pursue it with ruthless efficiency: preserve all the Bush-era tax cuts, no matter the cost, and make sure President Obama gets nothing done.
In the last few weeks, Republicans have blocked or vowed to kill: an extension of jobless benefits; the first real arms reduction treaty with the Russians in nearly a decade; the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell”; and, most significantly for the nation’s financial future, the expiration of unnecessary and expensive tax cuts for the rich.
Where has the president been through all this, as the sand runs out on a Congress with two Democratic majorities? He has issued a few mild statements and urged everyone to work together, when everyone knows the Republicans will refuse.”
Deng Xiaoping, architect of modern China, cautioned against letting things “left over from history” interfere with China’s economic development and modernization……..
I believe that he is correct. They now realize that they followed isolationism way to much……due to Religion…..while the West modernized, ….the sciences were ignored…..but they caught up with us now. or are catching up.!
While they are buying for their future….we are destroying ours….we are in way too many wars….have way too many military bases around the world, and depend on the military complex for way too much employment….they see this…and will wait us out.!
Meanwhile they will be in India, Pakistan, and the other stans….making deals….for thier energy needs…..Pipe lines in with India, while we surround Iran for their energy resources….while we spend our $ for our own terrorist, t hey will spend money giving very little money it all going…..
But once again, our Military Corps, will love it….they will sell even more weapons for them to keep us busy…..
And China is now our bestes buddy, we need them for the loans that they give us…….The British, are not our best buddies now…..all very confusing no?
But is all points to what Russia, China, Venezuela does…they will keep us guessing, and very busy……
Solar
Patsi,
Don’t do it; U don’t look good in stripes.!
while we spend our $ for our own terrorist, t hey will spend money giving very little money it all going…..
Keeping it all going that should read.
Both amendments failed as predicted. Would some millionaire please send me a bottle of champagne for New Years
Mitch McConnell is still an Ass.
Friend just sent me this Mother Jones article on population from last summer. Great reading
http://motherjones.com/environment/2010/05/population-growth-india-vatican
What China learned during the cold war was that the USSR lost it when t hey started to spend dollar per dollar, missel per missel wit h the United States…..they
So in the past 30 years….. China has tried to avoid conflicts, attributing the strategy earlier to Deng Xiaoping’s theory of “tao guang yang hui” (“hide capacity, bide time”) or later to Zheng Bijian’s theory of “peaceful development”.
Now, with US$2.5 trillion in reserves, the second-largest industrial capacity in the world, a 10% gross domestic product (GDP) growth a year, and one of the largest trade balance sheets, China is simply “invading” neighbors with its capital and goods.
In this it is also enjoying the poor challenge coming from America, mired knee/deep in t he epic economic crisis that our two party system manged to screw up……..we need to stop voting for the favorite team…..before it’s too late.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Dr. John Hagline was the answer for us in the 80′s ….where is there another one like him….to save our asses.
NPR in
October 10, 1996
, “‘John Haglin, a Harvard trained physicist. The party is running candidates for office in 48 states, and Haglin is on the ballot in 45. The Natural Law Party emphasizes education, preventive medicine, organic farming, and alternate forms of energy. It also is pro-growth and supports a flat tax and a balanced budget.”….This was truly a grass roots effort…..we missed that one by a mile.!!!
I see that we keep saying that we don’t understand how people keep voting against their own interest………..mmmmm that is interesting…….one side votes against thier own interest, while the other one votes for what……..the middle class has dwindled down under both partys imo.!!! …Go Team, Yeay Team……..We are all to blame for the Tea Party, for the Palins, for them all……….but its fun to blame the other side for all things bad…………..
Last one maybe,
XR. like Patsi says “yer killin me” now you are calling Obama a republican Ha.! This was obvious from the start to some of us…
What? with all the give a ways to the corps, the unlimited funding and lying about the wars, the neglect of the economy, ( on purpose imo. more young people enlist when its bad no?)……etc, etc…..
XR, about the Jesus dude……yes he always looked hungry….don’t understand that…but very interesting….all I can say is that beggars work just as hard to eat on a daily bases….but it beats working as a carpenter for some……they don’t get to see the country side ….if they are stuck at home all the time…
And he did have his magic water container in Cana that turned water into wine……he was a great salesman at weddings, turning water into wine.
They did not even know that it was a magic container, it had two chambers. Fill one with wine just before the show starts……fill the other chamber with water while everyone is watching….put your thumb over the water chamber…….and walla…..wine appears…..bet it wasn’t enough for the whole party…..did they clink the wine glasses during that time??
Solar
Poor Australia -
Locust swarms cross Murray River, heading to Melbourne
The voracious insects crossed the Murray River, south of Swan Hill, yesterday in swarms stretching up to 25km wide, according to the Department of Primary Industries.
Melbourne residents are being warned the locust swarms on the way that could ruin gardens, damage cars and disrupt road and, potentially, air traffic.
The biggest swarm was six times the size of the previously biggest swarm to hit Victoria this year and was seen on Thursday around Hay and Conargo in NSW.
Experts have predicted locusts – with numbers estimated in the trillions – to migrate to Melbourne this month, with the possibility they will swarm.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ news/ victoria/ locust-swarms-cross-murray-river-heading-to-melbourne/ story-e6frf7kx-1225965738694
http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/12/04/sherrod-brown-obamas-nafta-style-korea-trade-deal-a-dangerous-mistake/
Sherrod Brown: Obama’s NAFTA-Style Korea Trade Deal A “Dangerous Mistake”
Tiger Woods opens up a five-shot lead after 3 rounds at Thousand Oaks
Looks like Tiger’s back, at least this week. Maybe he’s got a new babe
WJ, a friend sent me that article on vigilantism in OK. That author was traveling with some rough hombres in some pretty rugged parts in Indian Country. The type of places you don’t venture unless you’re with someone who knows someone.
As far as taking the law in one’s hands, isn’t that a sign of the times with less and less monies for law enforcement, aka big govt.
http://gay.americablog.com/2010/12/elated-mccain-kisses-generals-at-dadt.html
“Elated McCain kisses generals at DADT hearing”
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1210/45964.html
“Chuck Schumer exerts new power in tax fight”
cbob,
you need me to do anything with that picture, or can you lift it from the blog……….
Has anybody been keeping a tally of how many times
Obama has been “disappointed”? How much disappointment can this man stand? On the other hand, I’m sure he doesn’t realize that he’s not the only one who’s disappointed. How about the people who believed in him and those changes he talked about?
I’d also like to take the opportunity to remark that I think Axelrod is the one who’s keeping Obama from seeing reality. He’s just too soft-spoken and super reasonable.
Patient has some ability to move his bad hip, and has some inabilty to tolerate noise. His mother took some of her homemade soup for him today as his diet is now normal. He really likes the physical therapy -- unlike his aunt.
Hi Bethy,
Glad to hear about your nephew. i hope things progress fast for him!
“How about the people who believed in him and those changes he talked about?’
Agreed, people like my niece. I never believed in the “Hope and Change’ BS. I voted for Obama out of my own self interests. I care about the Supreme Court and a woman’s right to choose and then gay rights. I did have huge hopes because of the Dem majority but Obama squandered that. Now were left with a weakened Dem President. I hope somehow he grows a spine and starts fighting otherwise maybe President Palin???
Tony, how’s it going? Hope your season is shaping up..
I have to say I’m shocked Craig stepped aside from the Great Assangic Debate…..
>>>>> do have this gem for you Craig regarding Assange. It says so much doesn’t it, though Ralph always had a tender moment when he reunited lost souls…
>>>>>>> http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/85/Actioncomics127.jpg
Now how could everyone miss this?
Bob…here is a great idea which you can donate the money from….(well, there might be copyright problems but…)
Put Ledgers make up over Assange’s face.
“When I say that you and your girlfriend was nothing personal, you know that I’m telling the truth. It’s the schemers that put you where you are. You were a schemer, you had plans, and look where that got you. I just did what I do best. I took your little plan and I turned it on itself. Look what I did to this city with a few drums of gas and a couple of bullets. Hmmm? You know… You know what I’ve noticed? Nobody panics when things go “according to plan.” Even if the plan is horrifying! If, tomorrow, I tell the press that, like, a gang banger will get shot, or a truckload of soldiers will be blown up, nobody panics, because it’s all “part of the plan.” But when I say that one little old mayor will die, well then everyone loses their minds! Introduce a little anarchy. Upset the established order, and everything becomes chaos. I’m an agent of chaos. Oh, and you know the thing about chaos? It’s fair! ”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larry-womack/wikileaks-splits-the-blog_b_791963.html
….things are busy as the temp drops, how bout you Tony? Watch, they’ll be gays in the military soon. Obama with the troops more than symbolic. They might be the most realistic branch of government……
Rangel just said he didn’t have sex with little kids…..that was said as some kind of defense to reporters. Tis the season to be jolly…
I wasn’t kidding Bob….
Its my Hanukkah gift…
later all.
Tony, if you chat with Craig, could you point him to that Action Comic pic?…
It really IS a gem…..given Assange and his Truth or Consequences….
Thanks…
Hello Max,
So nice to see you here! I’m good, how are you? Happy Hanukkah!
Glad I checked back in on my I-phone. Been missing you, come back
around more often. If we get gays in the Military it will be a miracle
especially with the likes of cranky ancient McCain. Hope you and Sue
have the best of Holidays! I mean it, get here more often!
Glad you dropped in Max. Happy Hanukkah
Experts have predicted locusts – with numbers estimated in the trillions – to migrate to Melbourne this month,
Posted by: Colorado Bob Author Profile Page | December 4, 2010 1:14 PM
—————
Go read that story folks, we’ve never see trillions of bugs fly into a city this size. This is real Bible stuff.
Max-
I have a full plate sport.
Remember that heat in Russia this summer ?
Russian Permafrost Melt -- BBC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKyRHDFKEXQ
Russia has 60% of it’s landmass that this will happen to. Listen to that Russia biologist , he says we’re screwed.
“…Axelrod is the one who’s keeping Obama from seeing reality. He’s just too soft-spoken and super reasonable.”
bethy, remind you of anyone? in the early days, the dick also spoke softly, measuredly and sounded so sensible….lulling all into the lala land of neo-cons. it was too late by the time we processed what he actually was saying and woke up to what he had wrought.
we seem to be living these days an updated form of the startrek next gen episode “the game”
(for you who don’t remember it)
http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/The_Game_(episode)
panda breakthrough
http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9225000/9225918.stm
What rats do on a sinking ship.
http://tinyurl.com/22uxbnf
This is laugh-out loud funny;
“Sen. Mary L. Landrieu, Louisiana Democrat, lashed out at Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, on the Senate floor, saying she didn’t know how Democrats were supposed to negotiate with him after the Kentucky Republican said before the elections that his top priority is to see Mr. Obama defeated in 2012.”
Well does Landrieu believe that McConnell should help Obama get reelected? Alert to Sen. Lanrieu, we R’s would have wanted him out yesterday, but that would mean stumbling, bumbling, foot in mouth Biden would then become president. A new day is dawning in DC, you better get use to it as more is on its way.
Seems a certain right wing nut (TIR) who posts here occasionally, just to turn the screw on the Liberals he hates so, is off his meds, go find them will you!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/sunday-roundup_155_b_792074.html
“Sunday Roundup”
‘On Friday, President Obama spent four hours in Afghanistan, assuring the troops that they’re winning the war against the Taliban. Unfortunately, that wasn’t his only disconnect from reality. In a week in which the latest unemployment numbers proved that hopes of a recovery are wishful thinking, in which Congress refused to extend emergency unemployment benefits for 2 million of the long-term unemployed, and in which nearly 27 million Americans are out of work or underemployed, the conversation in Washington is all about the deficit and extending tax cuts for the nation’s wealthiest two percent. And the White House promoted and enabled this disconnect when, months ago, it set up a Deficit Commission instead of a Jobs Commission. Welcome to the fierce lack of urgency of maybe some day but not now. ”
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/12/03/demint-military-against-dadt/
“DeMint Falsely Claims ‘The Military Is Telling Us’ Repealing DADT Is ‘Not A Good Idea’”
http://theweek.com/article/index/210052/should-the-glee-kids-graduate
Here’s a piece for any ‘Glee” fans here!
“Should the ‘Glee’ kids graduate?
High school typically lasts just four years… except on television. How will Fox’s musical hit deal with a cast that can’t stay forever young?”
http://www.politico.com/blogs/politicolive/
“Hatch sees 2-year tax cut extenstion, Wyden 1-year’
“But Hatch said anything less than two years would guarantee snarlling and bickering in Washington over the issue for the rest of President Barack Obama’s first term. “To do it without putting it beyond the next presidential election, means were going to have nothing but catfights between now and then,” Hatch warned.”
If Obama and the Dems believe giving into these Republican thugs will help them get b-partisan things done the next 2 years well then they are just plain STUPID!!!
the nature and state of our political system insures that everybody gets a turn to crow and turn the screws………
http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/12/04/white-house-celebrates-wal-mart-phrma-att-riaa-support-for-nafta-2-0-in-korea/
“White House Celebrates Wal-Mart, PhRMA, AT&T, RIAA Support for NAFTA 2.0 in Korea”
http://blogs.cqrollcall.com/trailmix/2010/12/china-watch.html#comment-323084
Yep Sturge,
So true and i get the chance to turn the screw right back! Ah, America…
a nation of screw drivers with plenty of loose screws……….
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/opinion/05dowd.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=a212
“Listen to McCain (Mrs.)’
“In yet another ludicrous bit of goal-post shifting, McCain said it wasn’t enough that the top two leaders of the military, and many of the troops, favored repeal. Now he wants to hold 13 hearings and solicit the views of senior enlisted personnel around the world, even though, as the Army chief, Gen. George Casey Jr., dryly informed the panel, the military is not a democracy. The five service chiefs agreed that, if asked, they could successfully carry out the changes.
It’s unclear why McCain is being so stubborn and stalling, particularly when those closest to him — his wife, his daughter and his cloakroom buddy Joe Lieberman — have all boldly spoken out on behalf of gays in the military.
It seems a sore point at home: Meghan McCain said the topic would be off-limits at Thanksgiving. And Lieberman, following an indignant McCain on the panel Thursday, asserted, “It’s just wrong and un-American to discriminate against people based on their sexual orientation.”
http://blogs.cqrollcall.com/trailmix/2010/12/china-watch.html#comment-323087
Sturge,
I lov you!! You have me laughing so much i scared my doggie little Jessie..
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/opinion/05rich.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=a212
‘All the President’s Captors’
“THOSE desperate to decipher the baffling Obama presidency could do worse than consult an article titled “Understanding Stockholm Syndrome” in the online archive of The F.B.I. Law Enforcement Bulletin. It explains that hostage takers are most successful at winning a victim’s loyalty if they temper their brutality with a bogus show of kindness. Soon enough, the hostage will start concentrating on his captors’ “good side” and develop psychological characteristics to please them — “dependency; lack of initiative; and an inability to act, decide or think.”
This dynamic was acted out — yet again — in President Obama’s latest and perhaps most humiliating attempt to placate his Republican captors in Washington. No sooner did he invite the G.O.P.’s Congressional leaders to a post-election White House summit meeting than they countered his hospitality with a slap — postponing the date for two weeks because of “scheduling conflicts.” But they were kind enough to reschedule, and that was enough to get Obama to concentrate once more on his captors’ good side.”
So the great Military of The United States Of America who is fighting against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban is so scared of having a gay person fighting along side them because they might look at their junk.
Yes, the Military is more afraid of Gays then the Terrorist we are fighting in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq.
We should all thank God that those Terrorist are not Gay because we would lose and be taken over by the Gays.
What a bunch of P***ies are Military turned out to be.
Afraid of serving with gay people they shake in their boots at the very thought.
Were the only country in the World who will not allow gays to serve openly in the Military.
Who can argue that we are not a Fascist, Theocratic Country run by Corporations and The American Christian Talilban.
http://blogs.cqrollcall.com/trailmix/2010/12/china-watch.html#comment-323091
AP,
Yep its so silly!
McCain has showed himself to be a nasty homophobe, never liked him but wow what a little man!
Wow, that Frank Rich piece has me wanting to shake some sense into President Obama, my god i just don’t get him???
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/opinion/05friedman.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=a212
“The Big American Leak’
O.K. I admit it. I enjoy reading other people’s mail as much as the next guy, so going through the WikiLeaks cables has made for some fascinating reading. What’s between the lines in those cables, though, is another matter. It is a rather sobering message. America is leaking power.
Let’s start, though, with what’s in the cables. I think I’ve figured it out: Saudi Arabia and its Arab neighbors want the U.S. to decapitate the Iranian regime and destroy its nuclear facilities so they can celebrate in private this triumph over the hated Persians, while publicly joining with their people in the streets in burning Uncle Sam in effigy, after we carry out such an attack on Iran — which will make the Arab people furious at us. The reason the Arab people will be furious at us, even though many of them don’t like the Persians either, is because they dislike their own unelected leaders even more and protesting against the Americans, who help to keep their leaders in power, is a way of sticking it to both of us.
Are you with me?
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/12/sunday_open_thread_12.html
The Plumline by Greg Sargent
“Now that Republicans have successfully filibustered Obama’s plan to continue tax cuts for everyone but the wealthiest Americans, it looks like a temporary extension of all the cuts is all but certain. So the only way Dems can walk out of the lame duck session with a genuine victory is to repeal don’t Ask Don’t Tell.
It’s good to see that White House officials are still privately signaling that they want a vote. But it’s anything but assured, obviously.
Getting Republicans to agree to a vote on New START, while hugely important, wouldn’t count as winning something. It has been endorsed by a whole range of GOP foreign policy experts and former officials. It should be a no-brainer. Repealing DADT is the only remaining way this year for Dems to remind their supporters that they are still capable of winning, that there’s a reason to elect Democrats, and that Dems aren’t pathologically predisposed to getting rolled in the name of “compromise.”
Just do it. No nonsense about the calendar. No excuses about GOP obstructionism. Make it happen.”
http://www.salon.com/life/this_week_in_crazy/index.html?story=/news/feature/2010/12/04/this_week_crazy_mccain
“This week in crazy: John McCain
The old maverick invents the weirdest reason yet to oppose the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell”
“John McCain has finally, inexorably stumbled upon the weirdest and most transparently troll-ish reason yet to oppose the repeal of the military’s ban on gay and lesbian service members: The economy sucks.
That’s it. The Senate can’t address a fundamental inequity, because the markets are down.’
President Barack Obama has again proven that he has a jello spine, and possible Stockholm Syndrome.
http://www.cfnews13.com/article/news/2010/december/180093/Obama-says-he-will-consider-permanent-tax-cut-extension-for-all-Americans
Obama says he will consider permanent tax cut extension for all Americans
President Barack Obama has told House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid that he will consider a permanent extension of the cuts for everyone, but only if Republicans include commitments to some Democratic priorities.
Republicans don’t care what they have to do to win.
They will say anything and do anything to get their way
and they are able to do that because they are not held accountable for their own frickin’ words.
“but only if Republicans include commitments to some Democratic priorities.” President Obama (via PIT)
Check please.
“and they are able to do that because they are not held accountable for their own frickin’ words”
Dems politicians are wimps and refuse to hold them accountable. Damn, where are the real Dems????
As usual the only one who did a review of McCain’s multiple and ever changing position on DADT was Jon Stewart
KGC,
So true! The rest of the media still allows McCain credence. Why? Its just pure incompetence on their part.
The main stream media presented each new McCain position as a reasonable evolution --not pointing out the obvious changes and the giant jumping of the shark.
The story is that he never supported even when he did and if had been elected president there probably would have been a gay hunt in the military instead of the pablum and pap that comes out of his mealy mouth.
Why?
The mass media sucks. They are still on the McCain straight talk express…even though that was a myth.
And it is probably that war hero thing too although that only counts if you are a republican. If you are a democrat and a war hero you can be called a skank and a coward and that’s just fine (even when it is a big fat lie)
The main stream media is responsible for Shrub being elected and for Obama because they covered up thing and covered lies they knew where false as if they were true
http://blogs.cqrollcall.com/trailmix/2010/12/china-watch.html#comment-323082
Tony,
I think they should be original is a way TV seldom is but they show has been from the beginning. Let them graduate and then follow them as individuals as they take their Glee experience in different directions. The numbers could still be there as solos, duets, group dream sequences whatever, but it wouldn’t have that 40 years old and still in 12th grade look.
I will never get over the media performance about the Garbage scow liars.
And when it was proven the media sucked instead of manning up they blamed Kerry for letting them be bad.
Give me a frickin’ break.
KGC
Obama caves on everything to the Republicans! He will cave on any and all Democratic priorities.
Maybe Obama wanted to be the first black Republican president
http://blogs.cqrollcall.com/trailmix/2010/12/china-watch.html#comment-323105
Jamie,
Sounds good! Follow them after graduation through life. I also think they could still focus on the Glee club at school as well, bring in new younger kids. Of course the grads role in the show would have to be lessened somewhat. I’m so glad i started watching that show, man it makes me feel good!
http://blogs.cqrollcall.com/trailmix/2010/12/china-watch.html#comment-323108
“Maybe Obama wanted to be the first black Republican president”
KGC,
I’m starting to think my 21 year old niece wasn’t far off the mark. A couple of months ago Ashley who was so big on Obama and really knows nothing about parties or Politics told me she thought Obama was really a Republican! I told her no he’s not, Ashley’s rational was simple, Bush was a bad President and so is Obama, so Obama must be a Republican. Wow, indirectly maybe she’s onto something.
Tony
I was a late adopter as there was a schedule conflict. now we have two DVRs and everything on that night gets recorded or watched.
I hate that network channels put all the truly interesting shows opposite each other because it means that a really great show that might be someone’s second favorite dies while some unopposed junk show stays on for years.
http://blogs.cqrollcall.com/trailmix/2010/12/china-watch.html#comment-323111
Jamie,
Glad you got the second DVR. I did the same thing as well. When ashley moved in a year ago i did it out of self defense and i’ve never been sorry. I’m also glad shows like Rachel’s have multiple showings as sometimes she conflicts with other shows.
Freezing Out Hope -- Paul Krugman
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/03/opinion/03krugman.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Glee
They need to dial Sue back a bit and let the kids graduate and get some new ones…
After BP Oil Spill -- Few signs of life in the Gulf
http://abcnews.go.com/m/screen?id=12305709&pid=248
Moslems report dangerous person in their midst only to find out he is an FBI plant.
Today’s bit of irony
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/04/AR2010120403710.html?sid=ST2010120404317
http://blogs.cqrollcall.com/trailmix/2010/12/china-watch.html#comment-323113
Jamie,
That Krugman piece is an eye-opener as well! Damn, is anyone in the Obama Administration listening as a long list of supporters share the same concerns?? This gives new meaning to the phrase TONE DEAF.
Obama is a dud. Maybe he didn’t detonate because he is so insulated. Maybe he is an empty shell. Maybe his ego exploded prematurely when his numbers tanked.
Who knows? This guy is a dud.
This is Taylor Marsh’s comment regarding the Rich piece and her take on who Obama is..
“I actually think that the Rich piece is the most important article of to end the year, especially considering Rich was bamboozled from the beginning.
Considering he comes from the theatrical side of the spectrum, someone I remember well from my Broadway days, he’s also proved the representative naive quotient among the Believers.
From Rich:
But the real problem is that he’s so indistinct no one across the entire political spectrum knows who he is. A chief executive who repeatedly presents himself as a conciliator, forever searching for the “good side” of all adversaries and convening summits, in the end comes across as weightless, if not AWOL.
This goes to what I wrote about him admitting his Blue Dog Dem status. He won’t even commit to the obvious with distinction and purpose. Obama is a man who always wants an exit chute. He’s a political escape artist or at least longs to be.”
LL
The post on your blog was superlative (thanks c-bob for linking). Rarely do I get intense feeling and visuals from the written word, but my mind’s eye was working overtime. Great description of what I call the ‘self’.’ Master word-smith, very emotional piece for me.
The Keyensian economic model, while far from perfect, has shown far better results that the Voodoo supply-side, trickle-down economic model.
According to the economic data, we are doing GREAT!
The Great Recession ended in June 2009,
Gross domestic product (GDP) is at an all time high and up 4.5% over 2009 and 2.7% above 2008.
Personal consumption is at an all time high and up 3.8% over 2009 and 2.8% above 2008.
Corporations reported record profits and the effective Federal Corporate Tax Rate was 19.2%, not 35%. The 2009 effective Federal Corporate Tax Rate was a low of 14.7% with the 2009 Stimulus’ tax breaks, corporate subsidies and loopholes.
The stock market is back! If you have a good financial advisor, your IRAs, 401Ks and retirement funds should have recovered. The market is at the value it has not seen since September 19, 2008, when the S&P 500 closed at $1,255.08 on its way down from its record high closing of $1,565.15 on October 9, 2007, and on June 13, 2006 when in closed at $1,223.69 on its way up to the record high.
The only thing the Obama administration and his economic team forgot to work on was good jobs for the middle class. His promise when he came in to office was an unemployment rate of no more that 8% if Congress passed his Stimulus plan. They did he didn’t! They say jobs are a lagging economic indicator; Obama has made them Dead upon Arrival (DOA). He and his economic team have created and will be remembered for a jobless recovery.
Purple…let’s not forget the housing debacle. It is an anchor that continues to drag on the economy.
Jobless recovery sez it all ..the ultimate in capitalism no labor costs
“When The Beatles were storming America, Oprah Winfrey had the band’s poster on her bedroom wall, Merle Haggard was free from prison, Jerry Herman was making Broadway sing and Bill T. Jones was not yet a dancer but growing up in a migrant labor camp.
On Sunday, these leading artists who followed divergent paths since the 1960s will join Paul McCartney to receive the Kennedy Center Honors. They’ll hear accolades from President Barack Obama and stars who will perform as part of the nation’s top prize for those who define U.S. culture through the arts.”
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jjIDSrIvCSm7Ln4SoPXmvLlQVqjA?docId=a9724fb695d5435e90e675b54dd3b084
wonder if the pundits will make anything out of hill and bill’s dinner last night for the above glitterati. tea leaf readers in the old days surely would see something afoot in the teacup. well, maybe not a foot…. more like a campaign?
re thread topic via wikileaks
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/be-ready-to-act-on-china-rudd-told-us-20101206-18ljw.html
http://blogs.cqrollcall.com/trailmix/2010/12/china-watch.html#comment-323122
Blonde wino
My last post just scratched the surface. The housing debacle initially created by subprime mortgages and job losses which both created foreclosures and a dramatic decrease in home values and thus personal wealth. Another problem was using the rapidly rising home values as short term piggy banks with mortgage refinancing to get the cash.
I can do a rant and rage on Bill Clinton, Robert Rubin, Lawrence Summers, Alan Greenspan, Tim Geithner, and Ben Bernanke. Bill Clinton should never sponsor NAFTA. Clinton had a 23.3% increase in Private Sector jobs but only 2.5% increase in manufacturing jobs.
Then there are the negative effects of deregulation that started with Bill Clinton, Robert Rubin, Lawrence Summers, and Alan Greenspan. We got Enron, Tyco, WorldCom, etc.
In 1997, with then-Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan, RobertRubin strongly opposed the regulation of derivatives. According to the New York Times, “In November 1999, senior regulators—including Mr. Greenspan and Mr. Rubin—recommended that Congress permanently strip the CFTC of regulatory authority over derivatives.” This advice was accepted by President Clinton and derivatives were kept clear of regulation by the CFTC. They were one of the main causes of the Great Recession!
Clinton Administration’s Treasury Secretary Mr. Summers hailed the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act in 1999 (by repealing key provisions in the 1933 Glass-Steagall Act), “This historic legislation will better enable American companies to compete in the new economy.” Many critics, including President Barack Obama, have suggested the 2007 subprime mortgage financial crisis was caused by the partial repeal of the 1933 Glass-Steagall Act.
During the California energy crisis of 2000, then-Treasury Secretary Summers teamed with Alan Greenspan and Enron executive Kenneth Lay to lecture California Governor Gray Davis on the causes of the crisis, explaining that the problem was excessive government regulation. Under the advice of Kenneth Lay, Summers urged Davis to relax California’s environmental standards in order to reassure the markets.
Many events in Washington, on Wall Street and elsewhere around the country have led to what has been called the most serious financial crisis since the 1930s. But decisions made at a brief meeting on April 28, 2004, explain why the problems could spin out of control. The agency’s failure to follow through on those decisions also explains why Washington regulators did not see what was coming.
On that bright spring afternoon, the five members of the Securities and Exchange Commission met in a basement hearing room to consider an urgent plea by the big investment banks.
They wanted an exemption for their brokerage units from an old regulation that limited the amount of debt they could take on. The exemption would unshackle billions of dollars held in reserve as a cushion against losses on their investments. Those funds could then flow up to the parent company, enabling it to invest in the fast-growing but opaque world of mortgage-backed securities; credit derivatives, a form of insurance for bond holders; and other exotic instruments.
The five investment banks led the charge, including Goldman Sachs, which was headed by Henry M. Paulson Jr. Two years later, he left to become Treasury secretary.
A lone dissenter — a software consultant and expert on risk management — weighed in from Indiana with a two-page letter to warn the commission that the move was a grave mistake. He never heard back from Washington.
One commissioner, Harvey J. Goldschmid, questioned the staff about the consequences of the proposed exemption. It would only be available for the largest firms, he was reassuringly told — those with assets greater than $5 billion.
“We’ve said these are the big guys,” Mr. Goldschmid said, provoking nervous laughter, “but that means if anything goes wrong, it’s going to be an awfully big mess.”
Sorry for the rant! I just lose it on some of the crap in Washington DC.
Hey Rants R Us
And PIT yours are worth reading
Rant Away
out west with:
warren beatty……julie christie……robert altman………leonard cohen……..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iYxrsd59-E
http://blogs.cqrollcall.com/trailmix/2010/12/china-watch.html#comment-323128
PIT,
Glad for your posts or rants! Very informative, thanks.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/05/bill-maher-obama-cnn_n_792223.html
“Bill Maher Calls Obama ‘Wimpy,’ ‘Wussy’ On ‘Fareed Zakaria GPS’ (VIDEO)”
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-20024571-266.html?tag=topStories2
“Level 3: Comcast is strong-arming us”
“In case you didn’t hear it loud and clear the first time, Level 3 is once again accusing Comcast of setting up a toll booth on the Internet in violation of Net neutrality principles.
Earlier this week, Level 3 set off a public relations war with cable and broadband giant Comcast as it described an ongoing commercial dispute between the two companies. To sum it up, Comcast is asking Level 3 to pay a fee for sending additional traffic over the Comcast broadband network. The additional traffic, which will more than double the amount of traffic that Level 3 sends to Comcast, will come as a result of a deal that Level 3 has struck with online video heavyweight Netflix.”
http://gay.americablog.com/
. 3 short pieces on the behind the scenes goings on in an effort to get DADT repealed.
Looks like Luger won’t support repeal of DADT
http://blogs.cqrollcall.com/trailmix/2010/12/china-watch.html#comment-323132
Tony
Since there were no good football games on at 1 PM, I was watching ‘Fareed Zakaria GPS’ while I was on the computer. Bill Maher was just great! I was laughing my you know what off. He is upset at Obama like most of us. He was saying a lot of thing that I see here.
On Luger and DADT, the wisdom of Will Rogers prevails.
Democrats never agree on anything, that’s why they’re Democrats. If they agreed with each other, they would be Republicans.
PIT,
That should probably read, “If they agreed with each other and weren’t close minded and brain dead with knuckles dragging on the ground”, they would be Republicans
http://blogs.cqrollcall.com/trailmix/2010/12/china-watch.html#comment-323136
Jamie,
I am sorry but I have to agree with Will Rogers. I would add that Democrats are easily intimidated and they cave quickly, i.e. jello spine.
An example from 2008. H.R.6304 FISA Amendments Act of 2008 on retroactive immunity for the telecommunications industry. From my e-mails to my Congress people. It is obvious that my recommendations were ignored as they are repeating their mistakes over two years later.
The House of Representatives’ Democratic leadership completely caved in on June 20th and the Senate followed on July 9th to a lame duck President with approval ratings of less than 30 percent and less than 195 days left in office. “I think the White House got a better deal than even they had hoped to get,” said Senator Christopher Bond, the Missouri Republican who led the negotiations. “The lawsuits will be dismissed,” Representative Roy Blunt of Missouri, the No. 2 Republican in the House, predicted with confidence.
I would respectfully suggest that the Democratic leadership attend some good courses on effective negotiations where they may learn the difference between compromise and capitulation.
I also recommend that the leadership develop and disseminate a comprehensive and high quality National Security plan so they can stop jumping at their own shadows when anyone mentions National Security.
Patd, Yeah, Cheney sure likes to keep his voice soft but then it still had a snarl in it. I think Axelrod is the real thing -- he believes the mantra. He apparently saw nothing wrong with Rev Wright,even as a campaign problem. Does anybody else remember the article in Time comparing Axelrod and Mark Penn? the author
(can’t remember who) talked a lot re how kind and pleasant Axelrod was, while Penn was an sob. The picture seems to have been perfect but not enough people saaw it as troubling. Saint Francis was not known for hos political sense, altho the little critters
profited from him.
I hope Bill Maher keeps us the barrage because he seems to be the only one who has nothing to lose by saying what we are all saying. The pols have to be careful, but not Bill.. We have to build up a head of steam to get another candidate ready. I suspect O might not run for a second term and that’s why he’s being such a republican. He’s getting it all out in plain sight
0130 Hours and all’s well. Warren Gamaliel Harding has been elected President and the Boardwalk Empire leader, Nucky Thomson, is happy.
Half-Face was in fine killing form last night, too.
Now we wait for months to find out what happens next.
HBO rules my life.
“I suspect O might not run for a second term and that’s why he’s being such a republican. He’s getting it all out in plain sight.”
bethy, i suspect what you suspect. he’s bored with the present ladder rung and scotus would be a comfy gig sans campaigning. job for life, relatively private, month off every year, free to write books for extra cash and do the lucrative lecture now and then.
only thing left is king of the world. well, maybe god. but then he’s already had a taste of that adoration stuff from the obamatons.
New Thread Above……