Jack & Jill Politics

I watch Mad Men. Great show.

I guess Oahu didn't pay their electric bill:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/27/hawaii...

EVENING THREAD IS UP

One of the continuing crisis' Obama is dealing w/. This is you state and school district too:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109...

This problem is a classic example of what Barry Ritholtz points out was the Bush administrations real problem, i.e. nonfeasance. Nonfeasance is not when you interrupt correct action to protect criminal behavior but when criminal behavior occurs by not enforcing the laws you already have. Example here:
http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/12/ots-asshat...

This is going to be Bush's true legacy.

PS put his blog on your required reading list under economics.

Stop being modest Craig!
You had:

butternut squash soup
stuffed mushrooms
herb and garlic crusted prime rib
cranberry glazed turkey
butter poached lobster with wine drunk leeks
stuffed peppers
stuffed tomatoes
macaroni and cheese
mashed potatoes
collard greens
Brussels sprouts
red cabbage
cranberry relish
homemade rolls
sweet potato pie
sweet potato pecan pie
mixed berry cobbler
and a caramel pound cake that, "created so much drama in the baking, [you] thought for sure it would be ruined."

BTW, one more thing about the CK interview last night with Dominic Carter. Towards the end of the interview, Dominc repeatedly said that he could not believe that Ms. Kennedy agreed to be interviewed by him without any "pre-existing conditions". Too funny! Preconditions, Dominic, preconditions, bro! LOL!

I like the lady. I want her as my junior senator.

T.

Man, it sure is fun to watch Markos lose his sh*t over the possibility that Caroline Kennedy is appointed as NY's junir senator. Check out his latest whine. Ridiculous, right?

First of all, the lady didn't say what he claimed she said. In fact, the lady completely ignored the question. If that ain't political skills, I don't know what is. And, second, earlier in the month, Ms. Kennedy did indicate a desire to run for the seat if she was not appointed. But, let's say she did in fact mean that she would not run for the seat if not appointed as Morkos thinks she meant, what would be so wrong with that, mmmm? To support an incumbent who, hopefully, is doing a good job and was not intended to be a seat-warmer? Nothing, in my view. Because in my recent memory, a Democratic primary for that Senate seat gives an advantage to the Republicans.

Poor Markos!

T.

Israeli Gaza Strike - 200 Dead,400 Wounded

WTF!?! I guess the Israelis are getting in some "Terroristic" retaliations in these last, waning days of the Bush Administration (a/k/a Thunderdome).

I hope PEO condemns the Israelis for this bull shyt...I hope Obama puts Israel on notice: "Believe what you like, my middle name is "Hussein," and I'm not going to sit idly by while you kill innocent 'Husseins,' women, and children."

In the name of religion many people have been killed and unfortunately many more will probably be killed in the future.

Everyone thinks they are doing God's will

We've seen so much Republican racism this year. Let's not be like the Republicans! There is nothing wrong with Jews who fight back. If Gaza stops launching rockets into Israel, there will be no need for Israel to retaliate.
Obama will fully support Israel's right to defend itself, because Obama really is a good guy. As a Jew, I don't need "protection" from people like McCain. I'll go with a good person like Obama anytime.

Quite frankly I've seen more racism coming out of the Democratic side than the Republicans this year. Seems to me that many liberal white Democrats were just fine with blacks as long as we voted 90% for their white candidates but when we voted 90% for a black candidate blacks were racist and the candidate in particular was just an inadequate black male.

While I do agree that racist comments and images furiously came from the GOP, the Obama campaign also had to duck and dodge racist rants from the DNC as well. Don't get it twisted: racist behavior is not limited to a particular ideology.

Be like the Republicans? Don't Republicans want Israel to lob a few nukes into Gaza so that it will hasten the return of Christ?

Do you honestly believe that today's actions will not lead to more suicide bombings inside Israel?

I'm not against self-defense. But I do believe in a "fair" fight...and commensurate response. Today's action was a huge escalation that will create a murderous rage in the Muslim World.

Obama may be the man to finally bring peace to the Middle East...but he will not achieve that peace by rubber-stamping attacks like the one today. He's not going to tolerate wanton butchery and the needless murder of innocent people.

babyming, would you at least agree that any US President should look at both sides when dealing with this issue of Israel and Palestine? Is Palestine completely innocent? Is Israel completely innocent? Is a life of an Israeli child worth as much as a Palestinean one, and vice versa?

T.

Hello, yes I agree that any President should look at both sides, and I don't agree with everything that Israel does. I just don't want to see my liberal friends start acting like people at a Sarah Palin rally, pumped up with hate. For the past months, Israel has been saying, "if you keep launching rockets at us, we will retaliate." What is Israel supposed to do, just sit back and take the rockets? Gaza is a separate country, bordered by Israel and Egypt, and I think Israel and Egypt need to work together and encourage the people of Gaza to stop making war and start getting their act together. Maybe Obama can give more aid to Gaza (the US already gives some) and station US troops in Gaza. I'm not familiar with all the details. I do think Israel needs to withdraw from more occupied territory, which it already did in Gaza, but I also think the rocket fire from Gaza really needs to stop. After so much Republican hate, I don't want to see my liberal friends jump all over Israel. But I definitely agree there are 2 sides to this, and it may take a guy as intelligent as Obama to make progress in the Middle East.

For the past months, Israel has been saying, "if you keep launching rockets at us, we will retaliate." What is Israel supposed to do, just sit back and take the rockets?

Today's attacks were very coarse and unsophisticated. This wasn't an eye-for-an-eye, this was an eye-for-a-body. Israel should have more respect for human life and collateral damage than most nation-states.

After so much Republican hate, I don't want to see my liberal friends jump all over Israel.

Where are you coming from with this "Republican" hatred line-of-thinking? Do you have any examples?

I think the comments here at JJP have been very reasonable. I've noticed some comments at Huffington Post and Daily Kos that seem pretty strongly anti-Israel and unfriendly. Anyway, I have my own opinions, but I'm sure we all hope the Middle East quiets down. Personally, I'm looking for work right now, and I'd like to see things get better in 2009, not worse! (Unfortunately, I predict that the Gaza hostilities will go on and on and on for at least a couple of weeks. I'm not happy about that, but I'm guessing that will happen.) But thanks for putting up with my opinions... I'm not religious at all, but being of Jewish ancestry, I can relate to the worries of some Israelis, even while I don't like the "settlers" in the West Bank. And I hope this doesn't further hurt the global economy... personally, I"ve had a hellacious 2008, and I could use a happier 2009.

When people see other people (of another religion) as less than human, then no the lives will not be equal.

Over the past few weeks, Hamas has sent dozens of rockets into Israeli territory. Now the Israelis strike back and kill hundreds. It is all a convoluted mess because each side thinks that God is on their side.

This is terrible:

Suicide hotlines see rise in calls as economy tanks

Layoffs, foreclosures, cutbacks -- there are plenty of grim economic stats out there this holiday season. Here's perhaps the grimmest one of all: Calls to Los Angeles' busiest suicide hotline have soared as much as 60% over the last year.

Mental health experts say the sour economy has turned what usually manifests as seasonal blues into a full-blown crisis.

"I've been doing this for 10 years, and this is the worst I've seen it," said Kita Curry, president of the Didi Hirsch Community Mental Health Center, which along with nine clinics in the Southland operates the region's most frequently called suicide hotline -- (877) 7-CRISIS.

Last year, she said, the hotline got an average of 1,500 calls per month. Now the total routinely tops 2,000 and sometimes runs as high as 2,400.

Likewise, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline says it's getting 35% more calls -- roughly 50,000 a month this year compared with about 37,000 last year.

Inauguration Tree: I am planning to turn my (artificial) Christmas tree into an Inauguration Tree soon. White lights. Red and blue ribbons. Drafting the kids to help me make ornaments out of dough: cookie cutters will shape the dough into Liberty Bell, flag, USA-shape, star....and, of course, an "o" that will be painted like the Obama logo. Maybe a flag on top of the tree.

I want to do *something* in my home to mark this historic event! I can't go to D.C. but I sure can sit in my Texas home, close to my Inauguration Tree, and watch Barack Hussein Obama take the oath of office.

Just thought I would share the idea!

Melinda: What a GREAT IDEA!!! :>) Thanks for STIMULATING THOUGHTS of what could B done in COMMEMORATION of this HISTORIC EVENT!! :>)

IN HONOR of MR. PRESIDENT-ELECT BRACK HUSSEIN OBAMA!! - - - - - -

44th PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!! Whoo! Hoo! :>)

An inauguration tree! What a great idea! I already have a tree with white lights outside my crib. Since all the Christmas season gear is about to be dirt cheap, I'm going to go get some cheap red and blue lights and I may get some chasing lights to make a big "O!"

Thanks for sharing Melinda!

please take pictures and email them to me, so that I can share it with JJP

As a child...

T.

anyone watch Mad Men?