Jack & Jill Politics

Please see THE OLD MAN AND THE STORM a Frontline presentation, on your local PBS stations, Tuesday evening, January 6.

Link to website and to video excerpts here.

New Orleans will return, step by step, inch by inch.

rikyrah: MORE GOSSIP: 'csuse I'm ***shakin' my head**


Palin says she welcomes her first grandchild, Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston, born to Bristol and her fiance' Levi Johnston on December 27.
“We are over the moon with the arrival of this healthy, beautiful baby,” Governor Palin said. “The road ahead for this young couple will not be easy, but nothing worthwhile is ever easy."
"Bristol and Levi are committed to accomplish what millions of other young parents have accomplished, to provide a loving and secure environment for their child. They are both hard workers, they're very strong, and have faith they've made the right decision in setting aside their own interests to make this child their highest priority," the governor said in a statement LifeNews.com obtained.

Sarah Palin; a gradmother at 44


"WE ARE OVER THE MOON . . . . ????

Who talks like that??? Answer: "THE GOV."

Now when I was a child, I remember that "MOON" concept. BUT - - -

Hey Diddle Diddle - Nursery Rhymes

Dija see what jumped over the MOON? :>)

I'm just sayin' . . . . . . .

GreenLady,

I'm just shaking my head! Unfreakingbelievable. I mean...For crying out loud!!!!!!!!!

Justice58: I know! **sigh***

Annnnnnd, again, I note how COLD/IMPERSONAL/DISTANCING her comments are. Hmmmmmm.

I wonder IFFF she has spent much time with her "grandchild"! Hmmmm.

ENOUGH!! For now. On to the "REAL WORLD!" :>) :>)

Sometimes, I just have to laugh at the Governor of Alaska.

The fact that she said that out loud should get her speechwriter fired.

For God's sake, we get it: your daughter didn't abort the baby. Point proven; pro-lifers rejoice. Now, please, for the sake of the country, go away for 2-3 years. I need a break.

</rant>

D: SHE subjects HERSELF to RIDICULE! I just join in on the laughter 2!

***shrug*** :>) :>) ***shakin' my head*** :>)

lol :-))))

AFTERNOON THREAD IS UP

Blogo Could Be Impeached Next Week.

Get out the popcorn. Next week will be lively for sure.

They are not going to get the hearings started by Monday, the first day of the new session of Congress.

This move should have been made when they asked Blago to leave and he broke out into his Jennifer Hudson impersonation when he said "I'm telling you Mofos I'm NOT GOING!"

For Myth- The Inauguration Scheudule

http://www.pic2009.org/pages/schedule/

Thanks GreenLady. i have seen most of the website on it. They just have not announced the time that Obama is kicking off the Opening at the Lincoln Monument. I think that's a better opportunity to get close to him since its free and there are no pimped-out tickets. Just gotta get there early. Just announced a ball on Sunday night at the Smithsonian, where Lincoln had is inaugural ball of course, and the tickets are affordable. Good chance Obama and or Biden will be there. Just wanted to know whether or not JJP was pulling any think together duirng that week?

I'll believe this was an accident when I see pigs skydiving off The Westin in downtown Atlanta:

Think Progress caught a "magic negro" reference during the New Years Eve broadcast on Fox News.
Viewers were allowed to text in messages that scrolled across the bottom in lieu of the news.
One message read:
HAPPY NEW YEAR AND LET'S HOPE THE MAGIC NEGRO DOES A GOOD JOB. LOVE JEN AND JOHN C.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=710_ItlHUXI

You can take the AP's report with a grain of salt...they have frequently been off, but nevertheless:

Officials say the daughter of the late President John F. Kennedy will be the governor's choice to fill the New York Senate seat being vacated by Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Two people close to Gov. David Paterson tell The Associated Press they believe Caroline Kennedy will be his choice, but the governor cautions he's still looking.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/02/caroli...

Does anyone know the time of the Oficial Kickoff Ceremony on the Lincoln Monument on Sunday, January 18?

Will JJP be having any "get-to-gether" during the inauguration week?

I won't be there but I will be watching with my laptop open commenting with the rest of JJP.

Myth: Found THIS - - INAUGURATION EVENTS

Maybe it will lead to other articles. :>) :>)

Over at DKos making a slime, insinuation of Burris naming his kids Burris Jr and Rolanda. Can we get some backup on this site and set the record straight?
Link

Obama's Mama's name is STANLEY

Straight up STANLEY.

How's THAT for ego.

If her Daddy had been Black, he would have at least named her Staniesha.

LOL

Wasn't she named for Obama's grandfather after they found out Toot couldn't have any more kids when she was born?

I knew her name was Stanley Anne Dunham - it said so on Obama's BIRTH CERTIFICATE that the Wingnuts say is illegal.

LOL!

I saw that. At this point, I cannot help but look at this Burris situation through the prisms of race. I can't. to be honest, if Burris would've been a, lets "damaging" his appointment is. We wouldn't be hearing about police officers arresting his ass as if he was a low level drug dealer. Not only that, if Burris would've been a white woman, Harry Reid wouldnt be acting a like he's such a bad ass.

p.s-) so pernicious is this whole thing that I dont even think PE BO would have a problem with Blago's selection if she'd have been a white woman.

Remember my New Year's Eve post? I said the EXACT SAME THING and damned neat got shouted down about how it wasn't about race.

If Reid wasn't screaming about kicking out Lieberman, he should just STHU on this one cause he can't play this without it looking TOTALLY RACIAL.

I meant to say (and for some reason it got deleted!) that if Harris would've been a white woman, we wouldnt be hearing about how "corrupt" or "Tainted" or "Damaging" his appointment is.

They have nothing else to whine about, that's all.

Maybe if POC quit patronizing Kos' website, it would force him and the rest of those supposedly "liberal" posters to face their OWN DAMNED BIGOTRY.

Yeah, I said it. There are liberal BIGOTS that post there and they're getting as bad as STORMFRONT or RED STATE.

I don't bother with them anymore. Watch what they do when Obama screws up - they'll holler for IMPEACHMENT and the offense won't even be a violation of the Constitution.

Carmen Van Kerckhove blog host of http://www.racialicious.com coined the term HIPSTER RACISM that is soooo appropriate amongst the so-called progressives/liberals whatever they want to cll themselves. We need to start setting standards and vetting WHO our ALLIES are. The majority of the posters over there would not pass the smell test!

Of course as you know from my dealings with him "we" are free to do our own thing. There's no exclusion, nothing to address because we all want the "same" things.

Ya know Kos hates diversity - hell, he even hates using the word.

You and I both know why - we confronted their asses about it at Netroots Nation and Donna Edwards wouldn't allow Kos to sprinkle his pixie dust on her victory over Al Wynn.

I've been on Kos' shyt list ever since and since it doesn't pay my bills, I don't give a damn.

Now you know we aren't the 'right' kind of Black women for that crowd! Happy new year the way!

Same to ya. Shoot me an email....lstills@gmail.com

Co-sign. The last thing that we, as enlightened, astute and ciritical-thinking Black folk, can do is to continue to acting as if some so-called liberals are our patriarchs.

If media are so "liberal", why aren't we represented--in front of, and behind the cameras--on nightly news and Sunday morning news shows?

Truth be told, some of these so-called "liberals" would rather have seen a redux of George Bush than to have a Black man with backbone in the White House.

I had to back away from visiting Kos because it has become so depressing!

ditto ... horrible negative sexist racist etc. etc. etc. stuff.

They're turning into the "liberal" equivalent of Red State. I can only take them in small doses, and even then, only certain posters.

Yeah! I did the same thing. I had to up and leave after their latest hissy fit about Rick Warren. SMH!!

I dont know about you, but the liberal bigots irritate me WAY more than the regular ole bigots of stormfront or red state. The ones on stormfront and red state simply amuse me...that pack of idiots on dkos, I'd like to punch.

At least if you go to StormFront or Red State, you can't say you weren't warned. The "liberals" remind me of water moccasins - silent but deadly.

Open bigots are like rattlesnakes - you get a warning before the strike.

The snake analogy referring to bigots - courtesy of my father. LOL

this bears repeating:

"Open bigots are like rattlesnakes - you get a warning before the strike"

By that measure bigoted hypocritical "black liberals" should irritate the most.

Bigoted comments are annoying; however, I'd rather hear what people really think and believe as opposed to P.C. foolishiness.

At least when people say things out loud you get a chance to address them.

shrug.

What "measure" are you using that you're assuming is mine?

i saw a spectrum:
Stormfront
Redstate
DKos
Where's the next logical step?
For me it is close to your position, since you are on this site I'm assume the next step from "liberal" is "black liberal"

Perhaps it's a faulty assumption, nevertheless I think it's interesting.

It is a faulty assumption, and its all yours.

Care to explain your comments then so I can understand your logic?

Pie, are you a troll? Because you keep picking arguments, which don't encourage debating of the issues.

Just saying....

If you really wanted any clarification, you would have asked BEFORE assuming. At this juncture, I dont give a rats azz what you think. Assume on.

So it's dead huh? even though the opinions were so strong? interesting...

I'm asking for clarification now, I'm interested.

Bigoted "Black Liberals", Pie?

Explain your comment, please, because I think you're trying to call people out without looking like you're being bigoted.

This discussion is dead huh?

How being bigoted ?

": a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices ; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance"

Reread Miranda's "measure" why would a specific "bigot" irritate more than any other?

The context seems to suggest that the right assumption is bigoted against black people as an ethnic group. Since there seems to be a spectrum from: Racist (Stormfront) to Conservative (Redstate) to Liberal (Dkos), I'm assuming this has to do with an ideological spectrum that exists.

However, I'm suggesting that there are other groups that make up one's identity -- as such a bigoted statement from a "black liberal" would merit more outrage than a "white liberal," sense that seems to be the rationale -- the closer to one's own positions and groups the more outrage is expressed at the deviance of a particular position.

I'm not calling anyone out in specific -- I call out on a point by point basis and try to avoid ad hominem arguments.

That's why I said "bigoted comments" we all have our own positions and bias.

It doesn't matter where you end up, you are bound to be offended by something.

ITA This campaign has been a MAJOR eye opener for me about so called "liberals". At the end of the day, all we have is each other.

i completely agree. i used to identify as a progressive but after the "progressive" blogosphere's behavior in 2008 i've stopped.

interesting... what sort of behavior?

the routine racism, sexism, elitism and unexamined privilege that's so often tolerated and often encouraged/engaged in.

Was your experience this election different than 2000, and 2004?

I didn't hang out there in 2000 or 2004.

My view of the blogosphere is that civility drops by the way-side.

The larger the community the more likely you are to be offended by something at some point.

Which campaign? Burris?

Punching liberals? Where do I sign up?

D: I know that U R NOT serious, soooooo, Ima give U a :>)

Annnnnd, quiet as it is kept - - - - U have a little "liberal-gene" as evidenced by soma your co-signs.! :>) :>)

MIRROR!?? :>)

Nah, on this one, there's a couple I'd love to punch, but......

(continued below)

It probably wouldn't be poltiically correct...but start with Geraldine Ferraro - if you have problems with hitting a "lady" (and I use the term loosely) - I'll do it.

D,and then all the Pumas will be standing in line and you can play "Roceim, Sockem Robot"

http://www.sfgate.com/blogs/images/sfgate/cultu...

....I will pass on punching any women, though they may deserve it (Gloria Steinem comes to mind).

D: :>) :>)

Why can't Burris name his kids Roland Jr. and Rolanda?

Did John McCain Jr have some kind of complex when he named his son John McCain III?

Did Barack Obama Sr. have some kind of complex when he named his son Barack Obama Jr.?

These Daily Kos clowns who cried and whined all year that it wasn't right when Billary and the Republicans were insinuating something "bad" about Obama because his middle name is "Hussein" are now gonna turn around and insinuate something "bad" about Burris because he named his kids Roland Jr. and Rolanda?

These clowns need to get a life.

But the DKos crowd has NOTHING to say about:

TRACK, TRIG AND TRIPP.

Kos must be whining - so the posters whine in the SAME DAMNED WAY.

So much for independence of personal thought because the DKos crowd doesn't have it and never will.

I guess both McCain's and Obama's dads were egomaniacs since their sons were named after him.

Shoot, we should have retroactively impeached George HW Bush since he named his inept son after himself.

Damn...I sure do know alot of egomaniacs in my own family.....in fact, I know a lot of egomaniacs period.....oh well! The dkos crowd and those that think being a "jr" or being named after a parent is a bad thing can KISS MY GRITS!

By that reasoning, I must have a hell of a lot of egomaniacs in my family, too, because my grandfather was Burdett Stills, Sr; my father was Burdett Stills, JR; my brother is Burdett Stills, III, and his son, my nephew, is Burdett Stills, IV.

According to my nephew, if he has his way when he marries and if he should have a son, that child has already been named. He will be Burdett Stills, V.

I also have five male cousins who are all named after their fathers, and if you holler "Junebug" (country slang for "Junior") at the family reunion picnic, seven heads are going to turn in answer.

I should also say that my grandmother was named Leutisha, and guess what; my cousin and I are both named after her because my mother and her sister-in-law were pregnant with us at the same time, and my grandmother was complaining because there were already three granddaughters NOT NAMED AFTER HER. My mom and her brother agreed if they had girls, one of us would be named after my grandmother.

I got the name first, by thirty days - my uncle kept his promise and named his daughter after my grandmother as well.

Tell the DKos-ters to "bust" that.

I was named for my father's favorite sister, and my mother's closest cousin.

My great-niece was given the middle name of her mother, her great aunt, her great-great aunt, and her great-great-great aunt.

If I have a daughter, one of her names will be Emma, a family name going back 200 years.

These mofos need to STFU.

Laughing about Junebug.

My nieces are ' Sister' and ' Little Sister'.

I also have five male cousins who are all named after their fathers, and if you holler "Junebug" (country slang for "Junior") at the family reunion picnic, seven heads are going to turn in answer.




Ah CPL, You don't miss a beat! LOL!

But, sure you're right! My oldest is named after his father & the list goes on..

I can't tell if you all are playing or serious.

WE'RE NOT PLAYING.

What is the problem with what Roland Burris named his children?

George Foreman has five sons and they're all named GEORGE. I guess if he were running for office, that would be an issue.

Kos' real name is MARKOS MOULITSAS ZUNIGA. And no one's having a cow about THAT.

Roland and Rolanda are named after their FATHER, which in most cultures, is a time-honored tradition.

Oh, WAIT. It's only time-honored traditions WHEN EVERYONE ELSE EXCEPT POC DO IT. My bad.

Here's one article from dkos where they go after the whole naming thing:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/16/186...

Took me hmm. 20 seconds to run a search.

So, does that throw your whole argument into doubt because your evidence is not accurate?

No, it only verifies my claim - they're only doing it because its a BLACK MAN, and if you can't accept that, stop responding to my posts.

They go after Palin in the post...

How does this verify your claim?

Because if some soul hadn't bothered to point out the names of Palin's kids, to indicate the hypocracy of going after Roland Burris for naming his kids after him, and not highlighting Palin's idiocy.

The fact is, what Roland named his kids had nothing to do with being appointed to fill Obama's seat and those posts indicated the DKosters had nothing else to argue except to go personal.

Your first paragraph isn't clear to me, are you saying Dkosers did not highlight Palin's "flaws" or that they did question her on the basis of naming her kids?

They were going to harp about Burris until Palin's idiocy was pointed out.

Their hypocracy was showing.

So, you think they supported Palin?

I read it as Dkosers don't like either and will engage in pettiness like everywhere else on the blogosphere.

And that has to do with his blackness?

Yes, it does, because if he were white, DKosters wouldn't be having this discussion.

That's why it's being discussed here - the DOUBLE STANDARD again.

Sure wouldn't. If Blogo had chosen, say...Schakowsky, there would be no problem, would there?

Actually, Schakowsky would have been a problem too, because she's a white female progressive.

They want a Blue Dog in that seat if its' going to remain Democratic.

Palin was white, disliked and her kids names were made fun of by Dkosers and late night comedians alike ...

Point taken, but are you trying to say the DKosters were being equal opportunity to go after what Burris named his children when they called him an "egomaniac"?

I'm not sure which politicians, public intellectuals or celebs are not "egomaniacs."

Just like folks going after Beyonce v. J. Hudson, on this site.

The ego is often a juicy target for folks we dislike.

by folks I mean your comment specifically --

I hope she does, that would be wonderful.

She was soooo good. I had made it inside Invesco just in time to hear her and I felt the goosebumps. She really puts her heart and soul into her singing. She's one of the few I can feel. I look forward to her getting older because once she moves away from the trendy (crappy to me) songs she can work with really good writers or work on her songwriting craft if she's so inclined and get better quality songs. She'll always have a career.

Count me as one of those people who is not really a fan of Beyonce's singing. I mean I like her, but I think of her as a latter day Whitney Houston, ya know before Whitney went back to her "hood roots". Now we all know Whitney can blow, but when she first started out, it was watered down pop music at it's finest. You know Whitney could blow, but she obviously had not embraced here hoodness yet. I find later day Whitney the best (yes I mean heroin addicted, tripped out, I love me some Bobby, Whitney). Beyonce is more of a hip hop pop princess.

I find that I like singer with more feeling to there voice, even if they do not have the greatest range. What makes Mary J Blige a great singer is that you could feel her when she sung. The same way Aretha Franklin could sing "Ain't No Way..." and "Mr Feelgood" with passion, that's what Mary J does. Beyonce just seems to sing with no real passion. I think that is one of the reasons why her "Deanna" in "Dreamsgirls" didn't blow anyone away. It was fluff. It was basically, Beyonce, playing Diana Ross, playing Beyonce, playing Deanna.

Anyway, Beyonce needs to find that passion, and I'm sorry, but her marriage to Jay-Z ain't doing it either.

Seriously, can anyone name a song by Beyonce or Destiny's Child that will stand the test of time like Aretha's "Do Right Man". I can't think of any. Can ya'll?

icebergslim: This would be a nice "pick-me-up" for her. God Bless her. :>)

That's why Beyonce is whining - SHE WANTED THIS GIG.

But her lack of sympathy for Jennifer Hudson's tragedy is the reason why she's not going to be a part of history - SERVES THAT NO TALENT HEIFER RIGHT.

I thought it was always Hudson's spot to turn down.....?

Beyonce's already done it. That wouldn't be anything worth watching.

Yep, there was talks of her singing at the inauguration before the tragedy struck. After her performance at the DNC, who in their right mind wouldn't want to have her do it one mo time? That girl can BLOW.

Well, if she can't do it, there's always.....

Never mind.

Who? (just curious)

New Year's Resolution:

I dare not mention R. Kelly's involvement in the inaugural again.

Ha! Well if he wasn't a pedophile, I'd bet his "Inaugural" single would be #1 on the charts right this second.....he's a sicko, but he's a talented songwriting sicko.

...followed by Jeezy/Nas' "My President is Black."

Speaking of, if I see one more person in the shirt, they're getting punched.

Now I've seen all of those tees before except the I Luv Michelle Obama one for guys....now that I likes! Any guy seen wearing that one will automatically get the CORRECT cell number! LOL

Well, give me the wrong one, since I'm still looking for a "I voted for McCain" shirt that doesn't say "I voted for McCain-Palin."

D, if you do that you are going to jail.,... I am going to start selling fish plates to get your bail money together. I am calling my girl that gets the styrofoam plates for cheap. LOL

Be honest, I might get shot before making it to jail. LOL

Will the back say "Don't Lynch me Bro?"

That's hilarious!!

And a good idea...

CPL, Ouch!

Happy New Year to ya!

Happy New Year, Spirit.

Tamron Hall has become my favorite news anchor.

That's all.

You can have her.

pjamma: I like her 2!! :>)

really? I think she is the cutest but not very hard hitting. I am gonna have to check her out again.

JJai, Taron Hall is attractive, but don't l get misled by her cuteness.

Tamron Hall can bring it! Here's a video clip of December 30, 2008 to back it up:

http://www.wowowow.com/post/msnbc-tamron-hall-m...

*******************************************************************
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamron_Hall

spirit: Watched it!!! She "brought it!!" Whooooo! Hooo! :>) :>)

GreenLadyHere: You and D, taught me how to hyperlink. Can you please please tell me what I doing wrong (directly below). Your humble student.

True Dat!!!! GLH.

Tamron: Let's just wrap this segment up, before I open up a GIANORMOUS can of WHOOP AZZZZZ on ya! LOL!

During the Rev. Wright "controversy" Tamron stated on air that she had attended the church on several occasions and did not hear anything inflammatory. She also talked about the important service the church provided the community.

Alexander: Annnnnnnnd, THIS ONE 2 - - MSNBC TAMRON HALL PLAYS UP OBAMA & PLAYS DOWN HILLARY

EVEN DURING the PRIMARY!! Listen to the END! :>) :>)

Go Girl!! :>) :>)

Here's the link. Tamron educates Chris Matthews.

< a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPTTWtLocwg">MSNBC Anchor: "I used To Go To Rev. Wright's Church ""

Or, even better:

How to Link

Alexander: "WHAT D SAID!!" :>) :>)

Annnnnnd, "WHAT CAROLINAGIRL - - MY MENTOR! :>) SAID!" :>) :>)

Try this website:

HTML Clinic

This helped me w/ my hyperlinks. Hope it helps you Alexander.

1. Drop the space between the < and the a,

2. End the tag with < / a > (again, with the spaces removed).

MSNBC Anchor: "I used To Go To Rev. Wright's Church

You did warn me about the spaces. Thanks again.

Great video Alexander!

If people are having trouble with the link above try http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPTTWtLocwg

Following up on my post from a couple of days about about the Ideas for Change competition ... Baratunde's idea wound up in a three-way tied for third place in Global Warming. He had also submitted it in Energy, where it's #2 ... not sure whether they'll combine these. Either way, though, it's in the finals. [So is mine: "Get FISA right, repeal the PATRIOT Act, and restore our civil liberties" was #2 in Criminal Justice.]

The second round of voting starts on January 5 and so now's a good time to think about how to promote the ideas ...

I'm curious: what would you replace the PATRIOT Act with?

How about the sections which invade the rights to privacy and civil liberties. Any nation spying on its own citizens has become the F word.

As in FASCIST.

(and here I thought, in 2009, you and I weren't gonna argue)

You know what I'm going to say to that....and I know what you-and everyone else here-will say in response.

You realize there are some elements in the world who are just waiting for the PATRIOT Act to be repealed by executive order, so that they can come after the US while we're trying to get our collective heads out, right? You alright with that?

Cause I'm not.

Now, I'll concede that the PATRIOT Act should have some sort of provision that allows it to be suspended when no longer needed. But doing away with it entirely isn't-I don't think-the best course of action, especially since it's had some effect in keeping us safe.

I said modify if not outright rescinding of it.

We are going to argue - GET USED TO IT. Especially when you base your positions on inherently ReThug talking points.

<<<adopts Amazon-like stance with hands on hips>>>

You can stand how you want, damnit, I'll stare you right back down.

Fine, I wouldn't want to apply a beat down ANY OTHER WAY.

Northern VA, right?

I'll see you soon. ;)

I'll be waiting for ya...

lol

You're hilarious!

In general I wouldn't. For the specific sections that are worthwhile, new legislation -- that Congresspeople actually read and debate before voting on.

I'm confused.

The (your?) statement is ""Get FISA right, repeal the PATRIOT Act, and restore our civil liberties."

But it seems like you don't actually want to repeal the PATRIOT Act; seems like you'd just rather they read it first.

Where am I wrong?

I'm not sure why you think I don't want to repeal it. I even said I wouldn't replace most of it.

More information here in Turning the page on FISA.

Ok, you wouldn't replace it. Missed that the first time.

So, with that said....you know there's an inherent risk that comes with that, right?

While it changes the risk profile it's in a positive direction: repealing the PATRIOT Act and using resources currently being wasted on security theater and bulk surveillance (like on active-duty military's conversation with their families) on something more productive would decrease the risk of terrorist activities.

Also there's a different kind of risk that's introduced by things like National Security Letters that enforce gag orders, and the way the FAA eliminates the possibility of audit. Bruce Schneier made some excellent points about this in the recent Wall Street Journal article. At this system level this increases the possibility of collective blind spots and so is also a major security risk.

What you and Jon fail to realize is that FISA didn't need to be modified or replaced. For over the 30 years of its existance, the FISA courts have only rejected FIVE requests for surveillance and that's out of over 50, 000 requests the court received.

FISA was developed to restore the nation's confidence in the government as a result of Richard Nixon's spying on people and saying he had the legitimate authority to do so because he was the POTUS and the Constititution didn't apply to him (sound Familiar?)

Why did it need to be changed or modified? Because the current Administration wanted to do away with the actual FISA court, and thereby free them to do whatever the hell they wanted in terms of spying on whomever they wanted, WITHOUT THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO DO SO.

That's why FISA needs to be repealed. I'm surprised you don't see it for yourselves.

Don't we have Dick Cheney to thank for all of this. He was pissed about having to adhere to standards during the Nixon administration and immediately went to work tearing EVERYTHING down after the Rethugs installed Shrub on his throne? Only thing is, he went way overboard and they destroyed the country.

All too true. He only used Dubya to do the dirty work.

Agreed for the most part; at the end of my post I linked to Deborah Pierce's "Brief history of FISA" has good references for all of this. I do agree with D below that technology changes since 1978 have introduced some "technical defects" into the law that need to be fixed to get back to the original intent (and that July's shoddy amendment doesn't fully address them). However you're totally right that the Bush Administration and their Republican and Blue Dog allies in Congress used this along with a false sense of urgency from August's "deadline" to ram through absolutely horrible legislation.

It's important to distinguish between repealing FISA as a whole and repealing last July's amendment and the 2001 extensions emedded in the Patriot Act. Also in the short term there are a bunch of things that Obama and Holder can do if they choose -- my post links to docments from EFF, ACLU, CDT, andthe Liberty and Security coalition. There was no way I could get this all in the title though so I just went with "get FISA right".

Jon, ITA; the technological advances is the only reason to modify FISA - otherwise the legislation was already good enough for what the Bush Adminstration wanted.

They didn't want to have to justify their reasons in a court of law, and I don't understand why D can't see that.

Thing is, I do see it.

Here's my thing: were the PATRIOT Act and the Terrorist Surveillance Program extreme reactions to 9/11? Yes.

Did they help? Probably; most Americans didn't really care/notice the programs until the fine print started getting read out loud.

Are they necessary forever? Of course not.

If there's no reason to further modify FISA or keep the TSP/PATRIOT Act, then by all means, they can go.

But someone-namely, the Obama Administration-had better be damned sure they're no longer needed, and be ready to explain why.

CPL, we are in violent agreement here. The technical issues could have been fixed with very minor and localized changes. At it's core this is about the Nixon-inspired "Article II"/unitary executive theory, mass surveillance of Americans, and immunity from the rule of law.

Bush trying to circumvent the law because he knows his reason for trying to authorize those surveillances he wanted to do would have forced the FISA court to deny him his request (probably his request would have been the 6th one denied).

The Bush modifications to FISA still don't completely take into account advances in technology since the law was first written.

The ability to collect intelligence on foreign entities and intelligence agencies-however that's done-IS the responsibility of the government.

And since no one can definitively show that it's been used for sport-what you're trying to reduce it to-why get rid of it, again?

Children of A lesser God: The rape of a young black girl (trigger warning) but very powerful.

Which race has the most beautiful women:A beauty poll where once again black women are found lacking while white women are held up as the paradigm of beauty.

woman: I went on my "Field Trip" and made a post! :>)

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ! Wha'? ***blinkin' eyes***

I'm TIRED of "POLLS" like this which are "divisive" almost by definition!! WHEW!!

Annnnnnnd, IT'S "purported" PURPOSE!!???

Nevermind!!

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

YOUR ANALYSIS - - - - -SO ON POINT!!" THANK YOU!! :>) :>)

You're so on it! I'm so tired of the black woman being abused. Just f-ing tired of it!

Great post! Even though it breaks my heart.

I bet that poll didn't ask how many white men like black women.

<<<side eye>>>

Ha! I know you're right!

I swear to Gawd...

We really want to go there, do we? OK. Lip collagen, botox, booty lifts, tannning booths.........Who are these WHTIE WOMEN trying to emulate?

As GreenLadyHere says: "I'M THA...RUGH!"

spirit: Tha-rough - - I tell you!! :>) :>)

An odd compliment:

You write good stuff. Above my level of comprehension, but still good.

Thanks I appreciate that

Why would the "ranking" of "beautiful" women shock you?
Do you think that it would line up according to % of the ethnicity of the visitors?

e.g. I'm hispanic so i say hispanic women look best.

Interestingly according to the creator of the poll "native american," "mixed" "hispanic" and "middle eastern" are "races."

YOu are assuming that it is according to the ethnicity of its visters. Just because someone ma be Latin@ does not mean that they would vote that way. Whiteness is hegemonic and therefore any poll that includes them would naturally place them in a position of dominance. The idea is to critique the idea that white is always pure and good.

So, we are to take offense b/c other people do not find black women to be the most beautiful? I'm struggling to find the relevance of a non-scientific, hazy methodology Internet poll.

How would you choose to judge beauty? Further, you disregard the assumption of folks voting inline with ethnicity, then you use an equally strained assumption (in regard to the poll) to explain the results.

You have strong points with the analysis of standards of beauty; however, the poll is pretty shaky.

You should check out these sites
http://whitewomensuck.blogspot.com
http://whitemenforblackwomen.blogspot.com

Well dang Harry!! what about Hermoine or Jenny Weasley?? Dang! lol

Any disco queens here?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXDHzs4--6s

BAB: Heeeee-eeeey!! **hands in the air** **gettin' my dance on***

Annnnnnnnnnd, re-payin' the FAVOR - - -


Boogie wonderland - Earth Wind and Fire

ENJOY!! :>) :>)

Hope everyone had a nice New Years! This is off topic, but has anyone seen this website where a black woman is looking for a husband? I checked out her site, wow, she is taking action. Guess I should stop complaining. LOL!

http://www.52weeks2findhim.com/index.html

Islandgirl,

A belated Happy Birthday! Hope it was fun!

islandgirl550: Heeeey! HAPPY NEW YEAR!! :>) :>)

SAW her - - Neenie? :>) She will probably get more responses with her "15 minutes of fame" spot on TV. :>) :>)

I bet she will. Good luck to her. I am going to keep checking in to see if she finds anybody.

it's fascinating....

Hey, islandgirl. Hope you had a wonderful Birthday.

Looks like Ms. N has her fav 4 on the field in her search for Mr. right. lol!

Five things I learned from visiting with Prince: From album plans to thoughts on Prop. 8

1. He did not vote for Proposition 8. In fact, he didn't vote at all.

There is more

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2008...

Prince. Thass ma boy, there. Met homeboy back in 1979 when he wasn't NObody.

Nonfeasance. It is a word we should become familiar w/. We lived it these last 8 yrs under the Bush administration and was the basis of his governance.
This link to WAPO is a reflection of the many jobs that need feasance, i.e. attention to detail we have come to expect from PE Obama. They are also the secondary jobs that will allow the Democratic Party to build an executive cadre or nomenklature for 2012 cabinet positions.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/ar...

rikyrah You commented on the Ukraine/Europe gas ruckus the other day. A good place to follow energy policy and ideas is: the oil drum.com

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/01/illinois...

If Burris shows up on the Senate floor Tuesday to be sworn in, he'll be barred from coming in.

However, if BLAGO shows up Tuesday, they MUST let him in as sitting governors have Senate floor priviledges.

Part of me HOPES Blago shows up. If they let him in and let him walk around the Senate floor, isn't that a tacit acknowledgment that he's still in charge in IL?

And if he's still in charge in IL...............................?

Town: YEP! saw this/posted - on Countdown 19. :>)

I said that the article read like a "real 'SMACKDOWN'" appears to B inevitable! :>)

Got my "JJP popcorn"/green tea annnnnnnnd easy chair!! :>) :>)

Part of me feels bad for Burris for being caught in the middle of all this. Seems like he is (would be/would have been?) capable of doing a good job.

Part of me feels he's an idiot for accepting the appointment in the first place.

Burris is probably like "Dude. I'm 71. This is my last shot. I'm taking it and I don't give f* what anyone has to say about it."

Seriously, it's a no-lose situation for Burris because if things work out for him, he's a US Senator. if they don't, he goes back to do what he was doing this time last week: chillin'.

The clowns on Daily Kos are screaming that Burris should be thrown off the floor because he "has no rights to be there because he hasn't been sworn in." By that logic, Mark Warner, Mark Begich, the Udalls, the lady who beat Liddy Dole, etc. don't "have any rights either" because until the swearing in, they won't have been sworn in either.

I hope Burris does show up and there's a nice scuffle between Capitol Police and a tiny 71 year old man. I also hope Blago shows up just to see what those mofos will do. LOL LOL LOL!!!

Man, if Reid has people throw Burris out on Monday, this is going to be one hot mess.

A hot mess Reid could have avoided if he'd kept his yap shut. He always flaps his yap and either caves in or does nothing to back it up.

I'm wondering how he's made it as a boxer all those years in Nevada.

Additionally, the DailyKos crowd goes along with whatever pixie dust Kos sprinkles along the way. Today, they support Reid; how quickly they forget how loud they were calling for Reid's head on a plate because he didn't punish Joe Lieberman for campaigning against Obama.

The DailyKos Crowd is EQUALLY capable of DOUBLE STANDARDS themselves.

Girl, one good whiff of their "liberal" entitlement vapors for me was enough.

Yes!

I hope Blago swaggers into D.C. with Mr. Burris next week just to keep this from looking like a complete NEGRO mess.

Yeah, I wanna see the drama! lol

But this has to play out as Chicago political hardball - not as black folk showcasing a racial grievance.

If Blago is a true KISS MY ENTIRE @SS gangsta , he'll accompany Mr. Burris to the Hill.

I hope Congressman Rush stays out of this. PUHLEEZE!!

Nah mean???

:: stuffs mouth with popcorn :::

Pass that bucket, Denise - I'm co signing on how this needs to play out as Chi-town Style politics as opposed to race politics, too.

Denise!

I agree!

If Blago is a true KISS MY ENTIRE @SS gangsta , he'll accompany Mr. Burris to the Hill.


That's what I'm talking 'bout!

Town,

A nice scuffle, huh? LOL

I'm with Town.

They have no rights legally to do this.

So, let's get it on...LOL

"The Thrill On The Hill"

And if I'm on the volunteer PIC committee, I might have a front-row seat for this shyt.

CPL: -Errr, -ummm Did you REQUEST this??:

Hank Ballard : Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go ( 1960 )

ENJOY!!!! :>) :>)

Exactly!

I'm just sayin...they best to realize that yep, Blago played the Big Joker...game OVER. Now shuffle the deck, re-deal and start a new game - and this time don't make jokers wild.

a tiny 71 year old BLACK man.

I was just about to add in the black part myself. What are they going to do get a firehose and some dogs and remind him of his childhood?

See, I didn't want to say the "black" part, but yes, it will be a PR disaster to have MSNBC, Faux, CNN, etc. continuously looping the Capitol police hustling this tiny old black man out the door on the TV 24-7...and then somebody (coff, *Faux*) will have old footage of water hoses being turned on black people.

And then if Blago shows up and they just let him casually stroll around the Senate floor?

LMAO

Fake Noise won't even show the video if it comes to big gangsta Capitol Hill Po-Po throwing a 71-year-old man out of the Senate Chambers.

Someone needs to ask Harry Reid if he really wants to start off the Congressional session with this hot mess publicity?

I agree. But Harry Reid has been nothing but hot air so far. But we shall see how this plays out...

Town: ORRRR, a "dog" will be let loose JUST ta "follow him around!" :>) :>)

What a "scene!" :>) :>) :>)

Green Lady, Burris might befriend that dog and turn it against its masters. LOL

CPL: That would be SCENE #2 :>) :>)

Annnnnnd, he would NAME the canine - - - -

THE THIRD! :>) :>)

Let 'em show up with those German Shepherds to turn loose on Burris and see who looks more like the fool.

Hint - Not Burris. LOL

CPL: LOL!!! :>)

Actually, I'm believin' that there will be NO canines.

In, fact, the article stated that the POLICE would NOT take any actions, except to "bring in" the SECURITY.

In any case - - - stayin' tuned to - - - -

"AS THE SENATE TURNS. . . ."

AS THE "SENATE" TURNS

"Brought to you by "Alpo Dog Food", and featuring that famous rock group "GUNS & HOSES"! :>)

O.K. I'm tha-rough!! :>) :>)

OMG!! I just wrote my comment right above and then scrolled down read yours and you mentioned firehoses too...lol!!

lol

The stage has been set, costumes have been fitted, lines rehearsed..........lights.......cameras...............ACTION!!

ROTFLMBAO!!! Damn, this just might get a Tony Award.

The Wayans or MAD TV couldn't have scripted this better.

File in the "YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS SHYT UP" category.

Exactly. LOL!

The difference between Udall, Begich , etc is that they were elected legitimately. This fool was appointed by a corrupt governor who try to sell the senate seat. Lets face it Burris is an idiot. On top of accepting this assignment he then accuses the senate of being racist. Talk about starting on the wrong foot. Because of this he will probably be an ineffective senator. It's not just rounding up votes but also being able to negotiate. Burris made his choice now he needs to put up and shut up.

Yeah, I've seen you crying on Daily Kos about this.

BURRIS was (s)elected legally as well unless and until proven otherwise. Blago ain't stupid and neither is Burris, so I'm gonna assume with a 99% certainty that this deal is clean and above board, whether Blago personally is or not.

The fact of the matter is Rod Blagojevich is still the governor of IL.

The US Constitution, 17th Amendment states the executive authority (Blago) of the state (IL) has the right to appoint a vacancy to the US Senate (Burris).

Blago has not been indicted, charged or impeached.

The IL Supreme Court DECLINED to strip him of his powers as Governor.

Blago, whether you like it or not, STILL has the authority and yes, the DUTY, to fill vacancies. Which he DID in a legal, lawful manner (unless and until proven otherwise).

All these other shenanigans Reid, Jesse White, etc. are trying to do is really trying to shut down the Constitution to achieve a result they want.

Now you Daily Kos types have been CRYING for the past 50-11 months about Bush & Co. wiping his ass with the Constitution but when Reid does it, it's suddenly OK?

It's NOT Ok.

Reid & the Democrats are just mad that Blago punk'd them on a national level. How the hell is the SENATE gonna tell a state governor how to conduct his business?

Doesn't matter about Candidate 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1. Did Blago sell the Senate seat to Burriss? If not, game over.

This is a dangerous and slippery slope the Democrats want us to co-sign. If Reid pulls this off and shuts down Burris, DON'T BE CRYING on Daily Kos when the Republicans decide "we're not going to seat X Senator from Y state because we "think" the election was "tainted."

Whether the (s)election was "tainted" or not is a brand new qualification the Senate is trying to add to the Constitution.

And where was all this STRENFF during the war vote, or FISA or Lieberman or any of that?

Where was all this concern about "taint" when the Senate gave Ted Stevens a cheering, standing ovation?

Burris is hardly an "idiot." Burris is probably on his way to the US Senate. Why would Burris be concerned about "taint" when you have "tainted" people like Ted Stevens and Larry Craig roaming around the halls of the Senate?

How do we know everything is on the up and up with the Delaware (s)election/appointment? "If you appoint me, then I'll step down in 2010 so Biden's son can shuffle dance his way to the Senate?" Maybe we should investigate that, since you Daily Kos types want to investigate Burris' motives so bad and want to investigate Caroline Kennedy's motives so bad. Investigate that shit right there.

Blago caught y'all with your pants down. He made a LEGAL appointment to the US Senate as was his right to do guaranteed by the IL Constitution and the US Constitution. IL could have had a special election and I'm assuming the Democrats probably would have won since the IL GOP had such stellar choices such as Alan Keyes the last time around. But naw, IL wanted to play games, and Blago checkmated your asses.

Seat Burris, have another Democratic vote and call it a day.

Or don't seat Burris, have a sideshow that drowns Obama and whine when President-elect Jindal or President-elect Palin come to town.

Your choice.

The sideshow won't be any worse than the Cabinet nomination hearings of H.Clinton and E.Holder -- So, I don't buy that part.

Everything of the moment is the "biggest thing ever" then disappears. (Lieberman, Rahm-Blago, JJjr-blago etc.)

The "Law is the Law," and plenty of smart people on both sides have constructed arguments that will be heard in the courts. So, that part is crossed out.

As far as the courts go.. Well in the senate race in MN Republicans and Democrats are already using the courts to settle the matter.

The democrats have strong reasons to use every court method possible -- one is the actually "taint." Two is the politics of allowing Blago to infect the senate agenda -- Democrats LOVE the optics of standing up to one of their own.

Town: WHAT YOU SAID!! :>) :>) Co-sign! :>)

Well I don't see the point of using armed men to shut out the man even though he is an egotistical idiot. Yes the senate Democrats are weak but that does not take away the taint. Just because something is legal doesn't make it right. Blagojevich was following the black letter of the law doesn't mean that he followed the spirit of the law. The Democrats may get away with this by delaying the appointment. Once Blago gets impeached they can vacate the appointment. Quinn will appoint who ever he wants.

Doesn't matter if Blago followed the black letter of the law, disrespected the spirit of the law, etc.

Blagojevich followed the law and made a legal, lawful appointment to the US Senate.

Now the Democrats may "get away" with shutting down Blago & Burris, this is true.

But the Democrats BET NOT cry ever again when the GOP pulls some tricks out of their hats.

I don't want to see any whining at Daily Kos about how John Boehner did this or Mitch McConnell did that. If the Dems succeed in shutting down Burris, I don't want to see any whining from the Daily Kos crowd when the GOP doesn't seat Al Franken, and uses "taint" as the reason why.

Oh, but I know you'll say "The Democrats are in the majority, so they can't muster up the votes."

Well, you keep this trickery up, and the Republicans will remix 1994 on your asses in 2010. And when they try to block "X" Democratic senator from being seated because of "taint," don't cry. Because they'll have this case as a precedent and guess what, they'll be doing it legally too.

This is why I don't get caught up in Democrat = good Republican = bad because to my eyes, they're both just different sides of the same coin.

Again, you CAN NOT point your crusty fingers at Bush, Cheney, etc. and scream they are blowing their boogers on the Constitution but because your guy Reid does it, it's suddenly "okay."

It's not okay.

The US Senate can't come down and tell a sitting governor not to exercise his duties guaranteed by the state and US Constitution. If that's the case, why have state governments at all? Just let the 2 senators from each state conduct state business and abolish governors altogether.

Now, I want Blago to roll down to Capitol Hill Tuesday with Burris and see which one of them gets blocked. If they hustle Burris out but let Blago in, they have tacitly acknowledged that he is still the executive authority of the state of Illinois and still has the priviledges that go along with that. Which includes the right to appoint somebody to fulfill the Senate vacancy.

If being under investigation/impeached means you can't run the government then Bill Clinton should have stepped down in '98 and let Al Gore take over.

I'm sorry but you can't point the finger at Bush when he blows his nose on the Constitution but cheer Reid on when he does it.

Hypocrisy is not a good look for the '09.

And if Obama gets deeply involved in this, it could taint him, too.
All I know is that Obama has released a statement, that's all.

Town, you're good (and correct).

Reid will back down; he always does.

Co-Sign, Admiral!

Franken won through a recount. This fella was appointed.

Roll with it, Town!

Well, if Blago doesn't show up, and Burris is out there on his own, I'm going to question the politlcal acumen of the black folk responsible for setting this up.

Just throwing this out there. We shall see.

co-sign

Go Town!

The Law is the Law!

Town, Booyah! "LAW IS THE LAW" What is it that we don't seem to understand here?

Spirit,

I swear to Gawd! You gotsta have ESP working! lol

Justice58, it's just good ole common sense; and it don't cost nada!

God help me, but I agree with part of this.

(not the President-elect Palin part)

I'm sorry, you can't wag your finger at Bush and say SHAME ON YOU FOR WIPING YOUR ASS ON THE CONSTITUTION but when Harry Reid & the Democrats do it say "Would you like 2-ply or 3?"

Tell it, Town!

Where was Reid's spine for the past years?

I'd kiss you, but that just wouldn't be....conservative.

LOL your wife might not appreciate that either!

She already wants to kill me, anyway.

Probably for being a Republican.

That woman has a good deal of love and patience if she hasn't killed you already.

It's just the pregnancy talking.



I think.

You sure? :)


Just kidding, D!

Nope, so I sleep with one eye open.

:)

Yeah right!
lol

You got her pregnant, right? End of Story!

Well, we called the Maury show, and....

Kidding, of course.

D: Don't worry. It's JUST VIRTUAL!! :>) :>)

You won't lose your "Conservatism"?! [Is that a word??] :>) :>) :>)

Burris won't be responsible for rounding up votes on federal measures and negotiating federal money or grants for Illinois won't be a problem. Dick Durbin is the senior senator and its Barack Obama's homestate....its really not an issue. This is like pageantry when all is said and done. Blago is letting someone where a crown for 2 years and in the process attempting to save his own azz, that's all it amounts too under these circumstances....so everyone might as well, chill and let it ride. In the end, Burris will be the senator unti 2010 - Reid and company need to be working on their "save face" remarks for the impending press conference.

It's not pageantry. Burris would still be senator. Being junior senator doesn't mean Burris is off the hook. Obama was a junior senator but an effective. Same with HRC.

Both elected, and both had higher aspirations. This 71 yr old man does not have such aspirations. This is not EVEN about what he could or would do as a senator, frankly, it has NOTHING to do with that.

Have to agree; black, white, hispanic, or what have you, anyone Blago appointed would be in the same boat.

He's gonna be a warm body until '10, when he'll stand for election and lose in the last, final rejection of Blago.

I agree that anyone appointed by Blago is tainted but why bring race into the mix. It's not worth it.

It's absolutely absurd.

The law is not clear on seating Burris and it is likely to be played all the way through the senate.

As far as the "optics," I think there are also numerous people who seem to think Obama standing up to a song and dance by Bobby Rush, Burris and Blago talking about racial grievence is bad for Obama and the Dems?

Are you serious? This is manna from heaven... either way they win.

Further -- there are already delays in MN, and they'll be plenty of mud thrown in Eric Holder's and Hillary Clinton's nominations.

So, I don't by the "we can only do one thing at a time ruse."

The other interesting part is the element of "spine," which has not yet really been described accurately to me.


An actual democrat who is show to have serious LEGAL and ethical issues clearly comprimises himself and you want every democrat in the county to roll-over. Worse, the primary rationale is the appointment is black.

I agree with you Micheline. There are a lot of race issues in the world and this is not one of them.

Unfortunately, in America RACE will always in the mix.

It just depends on what kind of cake's being baked.

You say that race will always be in the mix but there's a smart way of bringing it and a dumb way. The way Rush and Burris played it was quite dumb.

You'll get no argument from me, there.

People make the decision to bring race into things where it doesn't necessarily belong.

This is one of them.

I absolutely agree. Using "race" as an explicit factor will also make it difficult for black politicians in IL to get past race to win state-wide offices.

The Axelrod model has done well over and over, Deval Patrick (1st black gov of MA), Obama (1st black president) etc...

The Racial Grievance model doesn't work well.

Piepiepie: Co-sign! :>)

co-sign

You can blame Bobby Rush for injecting race in this mix and it was pathetic, to say the least.

As well as Burris and Blago -- that P.C. was ham-fisted "stratergery."

Blago should've waited a couple of days.

"Don't lynch me, bro" would've been a good start to '09.

LOL!

This is almost worth taking a trip over to the Hill next week for.

D: Goooooo! :>) :>)

Annnnnnnd, REPRESENT!! :>) :>)

Can't; the ultrasound appointment.

Damn.

D: FIRST THINGS FIRST! :>) :>)

Virtual HUGS to the MRS! :>) :>)

OKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!

So anyone can hear virtually any benign remark coming out of the mouth of a person who looks of middle eastern descent or muslim faith and that justifies this?? All in the name of security?

WASHINGTON - Officials ordered nine Muslim passengers, including three young children, off an AirTran flight headed to Orlando from Reagan National Airport yesterday afternoon after two other passengers overheard what they thought was a suspicious remark.
Members of the party, all but one of them U.S.-born citizens who were headed to a religious retreat in Florida, were subsequently cleared for travel by FBI agents who characterized the incident as a misunderstanding, an airport official said. But the passengers said AirTran refused to rebook them, and they had to pay for seats on another carrier secured with help from the FBI.
Kashif Irfan, one of the removed passengers, said the incident began about 1 p.m. after his brother, Atif, and his brother's wife wondered aloud about the safest place to sit on an airplane.
"My brother and his wife were discussing some aspect of airport security," Irfan said. "The only thing my brother said was, 'Wow, the jets are right next to my window.' I think they were remarking about safety."
Irfan said he and the others think they were profiled because of their appearance. He said five of the six adults in the party are of South Asian descent, and all six are traditionally Muslim in appearance, with the men wearing beards and the women in headscarves. Irfan, 34, is an anesthesiologist. His brother, 29, is a lawyer. Both live in Alexandria with their families, and both were born in Detroit. They were traveling with their wives, Kashif Irfan's sister-in-law, a friend and Kashif Irfan's three sons, ages 7, 4 and 2.
Full story: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28467263

Not knowing what was actually said-which, in all likelihood, we probably never will-better to err on the side of caution. Seems to me that if they were being profiled because of their appearance, they would've never made it on to the plane to begin with.

They were cleared, so it's an obvious misunderstanding. Some harm, but no true foul.

Why AirTran didn't put them on another plane, I don't know. On the CNN version of this story (cause I just can't trust MSNBC on anything except sports scores), Mr. Irfan says he's not looking for money, but threatens that he might sue.

It will be interesting to see when the suit is settled out of court for an "undisclosed sum" and the public apology, what's done with that money. Since, you know, that's not the point.

Its not "erring" on the side of caution when paranoid nitwits with stereotypical views about people in traditional muslim garb are giving the right to have someone thrown off of a plane because - ON MY GOD! They said something about security!! Its just "erring" on the side of stupidity.

You don't "say something" about security at an airport. You'd think that be common sense, but I know it's on signs in airports for the common-sense impaired as well.

Course, let's be honest here: if it were anyone other than a white person, someone would cry racial profiling. And if it were a white person, it'd be Bush's fault for creating the evil TSA.

Definitely! Hit 'em in the pocketbook!

No, it's not the point that the eventual plaintiffs are offered a monetary judgment. Why does it matter to you?

Makes me wonder why he'd say that. Anyone with good sense knows that as soon as the higher ups from AirTran get back from their vacations, they're going to issue a very public apology.

Why even threaten the suit?

Because if you DON'T threaten to sue, AirTran will not only NOT apologize, they'll do it to somebody else.

True Dat!! The Benjamins are the only language these mofos understand.

Discrimination and bigotry costs when you have to start counting major Benjamins as a result.

Word, CPL, Word.

This is going to turn out to be a flap over some arcane rule at AirTran-that will be done away with in short order-or an employee who decided to be an ass, who might catch the same result.

rikyrah: CALIFORNIAN ALERT!!:

Schwarzenegger's latest budget plan: Deep cuts, large tax hikes, more borrowing

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's staff Wednesday released his most detailed plan yet to tackle the state's staggering budget deficit, calling for deep cuts to state services, hefty tax increases and a large new round of borrowing to close a projected $41.6 billion shortfall through mid-2010.

While little of the proposal was new, it included some striking elements, such as cutting billions of dollars from public school funding and slashing the deduction state taxpayers can claim for their dependents. The plan also arrived a day after the state controller warned tax refunds might have to be paid with IOUs in the spring because California is so short of cash.

In years past, the governor has unveiled his annual budget plan in highly choreographed events before a gaggle of TV cameras. This time he remained on vacation in Sun Valley, Idaho, leaving his finance aides to present the plan on New Year's Eve.

The plan, the governor's third in as many months, has little chance of being adopted and serves more as a statement of his fiscal priorities. It would cut $5 billion from funding for public schools over the next 18 months while imposing a temporary 1.5-cent sales tax increase. Spending on welfare, health care for the poor and aid for the aged, blind and disabled would be cut dramatically.

[There is NO SUCH THING as a TEMPORARY TAX!! It will B with us FOREVA & EVA!]



Despite forswearing more borrowing, Schwarzenegger proposes tapping Wall Street for a nearly $5 billion loan and pledging future lottery proceeds in exchange for an additional $5 billion. But the Wall Street loan may be iffy at best, given the frozen national credit markets and the state's shaky finances, while the lottery plan would have to be approved by voters.

As with the rest of the planet," things are RUFF in these there hills!" :>)

I have been blogging about the movie star crappy Gov since I started my blog this summer. He SUCKS! He has NO LEADERSHIP SKILLS. He was an unqualified white man who used celebrity to railroad an election. Kinda like my Mayor Gavin Newsom using gay marriage to ward off a well-financed recall attempt that was about to be launched against him. There is no way I'm paying 10% sales tax. Even NYS isn't that high and eliminated it for certain types of purchases.

Arh-nuld can't hold up California's budget with his big honking biceps?

He tried to do this another way, through the ballot initiatives when I was in California (living there) and he got punked at the voting booth; especially when the three most powerful labor unions in California punked his ass.

You do NOT piss off the Firefighters Union, The Teachers Union or the California Nurses Association.

Ah-nold found out the HARD WAY. Serves him right for trying to transform into a wingnut ReThug, instead of the moderate he had always been.

CPL: YES! I remember!! TRUE DAT!! :>)

spirit: LOL!!! :>) :>) He didn't larn that in "actin' school!!" :>) :>)

rikyrah: FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2009; DAY -18; On His "JOURNEY TO JANUARY 20, 2009! :>)

1. WORD(s) of the DAY: TRANSITION TRAIL/WORLD CRISES

2. HEADLINE(s):

a) Obama to meet with lawmakers, former presidents

CHICAGO (AP) -- President-elect Barack Obama will meet with congressional leaders to discuss his economic stimulus plan and other legislative issues soon after his arrival in Washington in the coming days.

Obama and his family planned to fly to Washington on Sunday after their holiday vacation in Hawaii and a stopover in Chicago.

The president-elect was to meet with congressional leaders Monday, according to a senior Democratic congressional aide. Obama will meet with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, then join with them in a meeting with GOP leaders, said the aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he had not been authorized to discuss the plans.

Obama was also scheduled to talk with President George W. Bush and former presidents at the White House on Wednesday.

Obama, his wife Michelle, and their children left his native Hawaii on Thursday after a 12-day vacation and flew to Chicago, arriving early Friday. The Obamas planned to go to Washington on Sunday so 7-year-old Sasha and 10-year-old Malia can start school on Monday.

The Obamas aren't set to move into the president-elect's traditional Washington quarters until Jan. 15. In the interim, the first family-in-waiting will stay at the historic Hay-Adams Hotel near the White House.

The Obamas kept a low profile while vacationing on the island of Oahu. Aside from daily trips to the gym and golf courses, the president-elect seldom left his vacation retreat, a rented $9 million home near Honolulu. When he did venture out, it usually was to grab some shave ice, a local treat, go to the zoo or take some other child-friendly excursion.

Michelle Obama similarly remained out of sight, other than the occasional trip to the gym. She did not join Obama and the girls when they went to an aquatic park or to the zoo, nor when he visited the nearby Marine base on Christmas Day.

b) A statement re The Inaugural Poet":

The Inaugural Poet, Adorned

While the fashion world waits on edge to hear whom Michelle Obama is choosing to dress her for Inauguration Day, there is some fashion news on another inaugural front –the West Front of the Capitol, to be exact.

Among those on the West Front with Barack Obama on Jan. 20 will be Elizabeth Alexander, the poet from Yale whom he has selected to read at his swearing-in ceremony.

We had been wondering more about her poem than her attire, given that her mission is more spiritual than temporal, but we nonetheless learned today that Ms. Alexander has chosen b. michael, a couture designer in New York, to create three pieces for her. Or, as a spokesman for b. michael put it, the designer is creating three “looks” for Ms. Alexander

One will be day-time wear for her reading. Another will be a gown for an evening inaugural ball. The third is an outer coat.

The coat will be the most visible, given that much of the world will be watching the swearing-in ceremony (no pressure, b!) and the weather will no doubt call for bundling up.

Mark-Anthony Edwards, a spokesman for b. michael, said he could not disclose the styles or colors that will be created for her. Asked to describe the tone that the designer is striving for, Mr. Edwards wrote in an e-mail:

“It has been said of Elizabeth Alexander her ‘poems bristle with the irresistible quality of a world seen fresh’ and also her ‘instinct for turning her profound cultural vision into one that illuminates universal experience.’ This is b. michael’s inspiration for the tone.”

It is hard to know whether Ms. Alexander’s selection of b. michael will influence the choice of her friend, Michelle Obama, or if it says anything at all about the direction Mrs. Obama might go in.

THERE IS MORE.

THAT'S ALL FOR NOW! :>) :>)

Feeling temporal today- Slide show of b michael couture


http://www.bmichaelusa.com/

spirit: Thanks. :>) I like the "ruffles." :>) :>)

Anyone online.

Go to http://www.wvon.com right now.

Click on LISTEN LIVE in the upper right corner of the website. Absolutely fabulous discussion right now -replay of the Burris nomination.

I am currently watching Jesse White on Fox & Friends. I gotta tell ya, setting aside all the political rhetoric about Blago's arrogance and what he should not have done, there is no LEGAL BASIS for refusing to certify Burris. NONE!

Absolutely NO legal basis. At all.

I said it before..

Either we are a country of LAWS again, or we are not.

Follow the damn law.

May not like it. BUt, it is what it is.

p.s.

Don't get it twisted. >b> None of this has a goddam thing to do with PE Obama.

Denise: ABSOLUTELY!!! NONE!!! :>)

Dang....I missed it....but do you know what song that is that plays on the video on that homepage?

rikyrah: Awwww! Missed it! :>) :>) Sorry! :>)

rikyrah: Found a nice vid on RCA that had been on the news in the summer:

You can vote however you like

Annnnnd, the wiki:

Ron Clark
From Wikipedia,

Ron Clark is an American teacher who has worked with disadvantaged students in rural North Carolina and Harlem, New York City. He is known for his books and multiple teaching awards.

History

The Ron Clark Academy, housed in a renovated red brick warehouse [2], is located in southwest Atlanta, Georgia, and accommodates fifth through eighth grade students. Students are from low wealth to high wealth families. Clark had planned to build the school for ten years before construction began. Along with the proceeds of his two books The Essential 55 and The Excellent 11, Clark raised additional funding for the project which eventually cost over $3.5 million. The academy was established on June 25, 2007. Classes began for students on September 4, 2007.

THERE IS MORE.

God continue to Bless the students/families/staff. :>) Annnd, Ms. Oprah! :>)