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WilliamPitt
WilliamPitt's Journal
WilliamPitt's Journal
November 28, 2012
"...and to Band-aid the economy with binge spending." <--- should be inserted at the end of Linus' monologue
Isn't there anyone who understands what Christmas is all about?!?!?!?
"...and to Band-aid the economy with binge spending." <--- should be inserted at the end of Linus' monologue
November 27, 2012
By Mark Karlin
BuzzFlash
NBC reports today that "GOP senators not satisfied with Rice explanation of Benghazi aftermath", and after a "candid" meeting with Ambassador Rice, McCain claims that he is "significantly troubled" with her answers.
BuzzFlash has been around for 12 years, and we remember quite well that when Condi Rice was George W. Bush's National Security Advisor, both she and Bush ignored warnings of possible impending Al Qaeda hijackings in the US. This, we remind you, was prior to the fateful day of 9/11, in which more than 3000 people died in the attacks on the Twin Towers.
For a while after 9/11, Bush and Rice denied receiving any alerts. Then, after months passed and a pre-September 11th CIA intelligence briefing was disclosed that warned Al Qaeda was determined to strike in the US, Bush and Rice changed their tune by parsing their responses to indicate that they were never informed of hijackings that would be flown into buildings. This became the so-called rationale for their not doing anything to prevent the attacks -- nothing at all.
The unearthed memo, which was the most sensational made public (while other warnings were revealed even in the relatively whitewashed 9/11 hearings), was dated August 6, 2001. It was the daily presidential intelligence briefing and was seen by both Bush (who blew off the CIA liaison who presented it to him at Bush's ranch in Texas) and Rice.
The rest: http://www.truth-out.org/buzzflash/commentary/item/17659-gop-senators-embraced-condi-rice-as-secretary-of-state-after-she-ignored-9-11-warnings-but-pummel-susan-rice
GOP Senators Embraced SecState Condi Rice After She Ignored 9/11 Warnings, But Pummel Susan Rice
GOP Senators Embraced Condi Rice as Secretary of State After She Ignored 9/11 Warnings, But Pummel Susan RiceBy Mark Karlin
BuzzFlash
NBC reports today that "GOP senators not satisfied with Rice explanation of Benghazi aftermath", and after a "candid" meeting with Ambassador Rice, McCain claims that he is "significantly troubled" with her answers.
BuzzFlash has been around for 12 years, and we remember quite well that when Condi Rice was George W. Bush's National Security Advisor, both she and Bush ignored warnings of possible impending Al Qaeda hijackings in the US. This, we remind you, was prior to the fateful day of 9/11, in which more than 3000 people died in the attacks on the Twin Towers.
For a while after 9/11, Bush and Rice denied receiving any alerts. Then, after months passed and a pre-September 11th CIA intelligence briefing was disclosed that warned Al Qaeda was determined to strike in the US, Bush and Rice changed their tune by parsing their responses to indicate that they were never informed of hijackings that would be flown into buildings. This became the so-called rationale for their not doing anything to prevent the attacks -- nothing at all.
The unearthed memo, which was the most sensational made public (while other warnings were revealed even in the relatively whitewashed 9/11 hearings), was dated August 6, 2001. It was the daily presidential intelligence briefing and was seen by both Bush (who blew off the CIA liaison who presented it to him at Bush's ranch in Texas) and Rice.
The rest: http://www.truth-out.org/buzzflash/commentary/item/17659-gop-senators-embraced-condi-rice-as-secretary-of-state-after-she-ignored-9-11-warnings-but-pummel-susan-rice
November 27, 2012
by Shivana Jorawar, National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum
November 27, 2012
For days now, I’ve been putting myself in Savita Halappanavar’s shoes. I’m expecting. Seventeen weeks in, piercing pain sends me to the hospital. For three days, I’m miscarrying. There’s no hope for my child and my own health is fading. For three days, I’m in physical agony and doctors refuse my pleas to terminate the pregnancy to save my life. The child won’t survive, but there is a "heartbeat" and doctors fear terminating will violate my country’s laws. The unthinkable happens.
The tragedy that ended Savita’s life put a human face on the abortion issue. People are demonstrating in droves and even the Indian government is pressuring Ireland to change its laws. One demonstrator held a placard reading, “Savita had a heartbeat, too.”
For many of us, the disregard for women’s human rights in the name of religion just became personal. When I see Savita’s face, I can’t help thinking that she looks like me and, like me, was educated and could afford health care—but she still suffered this indefensible fate. Everyone knew the child could not survive, but that Savita could with proper care.
What does it say about a society when it leaves a woman to die in the name of “life?”
The rest: http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/article/2012/11/27/she-had-heartbeat-too%E2%80%94remembering-savita-halappanavar
Savita Had a Heartbeat, Too (re: the woman who died after being denied an abortion)
Savita Had a Heartbeat, Tooby Shivana Jorawar, National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum
November 27, 2012
For days now, I’ve been putting myself in Savita Halappanavar’s shoes. I’m expecting. Seventeen weeks in, piercing pain sends me to the hospital. For three days, I’m miscarrying. There’s no hope for my child and my own health is fading. For three days, I’m in physical agony and doctors refuse my pleas to terminate the pregnancy to save my life. The child won’t survive, but there is a "heartbeat" and doctors fear terminating will violate my country’s laws. The unthinkable happens.
The tragedy that ended Savita’s life put a human face on the abortion issue. People are demonstrating in droves and even the Indian government is pressuring Ireland to change its laws. One demonstrator held a placard reading, “Savita had a heartbeat, too.”
For many of us, the disregard for women’s human rights in the name of religion just became personal. When I see Savita’s face, I can’t help thinking that she looks like me and, like me, was educated and could afford health care—but she still suffered this indefensible fate. Everyone knew the child could not survive, but that Savita could with proper care.
What does it say about a society when it leaves a woman to die in the name of “life?”
The rest: http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/article/2012/11/27/she-had-heartbeat-too%E2%80%94remembering-savita-halappanavar
November 27, 2012
By Michael Lind
Salon
The need for a “grand bargain” involving taxes and entitlements — in the next few years, if not immediately — has moved to the center of discussion in Washington. But it’s the wrong grand bargain — and a very bad deal for Middle America.
According to the conventional wisdom, any grand bargain should be modeled on plans like the Bowles-Simpson plan or the Rivlin-Domenici plan — financing lower tax rates on the rich by closing tax loopholes and cutting Social Security and Medicare. In the aftermath of an election in which the candidates of the rich were trounced at the polls, America’s plutocratic conservatives might be satisfied with merely maintaining existing low tax rates on the rich, while capping loopholes and cutting Social Security and Medicare.
This entire approach should be rejected. It is based on two fallacies — first, that the existing low (or lower) personal income tax rates on the rich promote growth, and second, that America can’t afford Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid in the decades to come. A number of “astroturf” propaganda groups in Washington and elsewhere will be paid tens of millions of dollars in the next few months by the conservative Republican billionaire Pete Peterson and his allies to repeat these fallacies and get Beltway pundits and journalists to parrot them. But endless repetition does not turn fallacies into facts.
America does need long-term reforms to its entitlement system and tax system — but they have nothing to do with the specious reforms peddled by Alan Simpson, Erskine Bowles, Alice Rivlin, Pete Peterson and allied CEOs. In addition to regulating excessive healthcare costs, the United States needs a middle-class welfare state that is bigger, not smaller. It’s the restricted, elitist private welfare state that needs to be cut, not the universal public social insurance system.
The rest: http://www.salon.com/2012/11/27/the_fiscal_cliff_is_a_lie/
The Fiscal Cliff Is a Lie
The Fiscal Cliff Is a LieBy Michael Lind
Salon
The need for a “grand bargain” involving taxes and entitlements — in the next few years, if not immediately — has moved to the center of discussion in Washington. But it’s the wrong grand bargain — and a very bad deal for Middle America.
According to the conventional wisdom, any grand bargain should be modeled on plans like the Bowles-Simpson plan or the Rivlin-Domenici plan — financing lower tax rates on the rich by closing tax loopholes and cutting Social Security and Medicare. In the aftermath of an election in which the candidates of the rich were trounced at the polls, America’s plutocratic conservatives might be satisfied with merely maintaining existing low tax rates on the rich, while capping loopholes and cutting Social Security and Medicare.
This entire approach should be rejected. It is based on two fallacies — first, that the existing low (or lower) personal income tax rates on the rich promote growth, and second, that America can’t afford Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid in the decades to come. A number of “astroturf” propaganda groups in Washington and elsewhere will be paid tens of millions of dollars in the next few months by the conservative Republican billionaire Pete Peterson and his allies to repeat these fallacies and get Beltway pundits and journalists to parrot them. But endless repetition does not turn fallacies into facts.
America does need long-term reforms to its entitlement system and tax system — but they have nothing to do with the specious reforms peddled by Alan Simpson, Erskine Bowles, Alice Rivlin, Pete Peterson and allied CEOs. In addition to regulating excessive healthcare costs, the United States needs a middle-class welfare state that is bigger, not smaller. It’s the restricted, elitist private welfare state that needs to be cut, not the universal public social insurance system.
The rest: http://www.salon.com/2012/11/27/the_fiscal_cliff_is_a_lie/
November 27, 2012
"Fanatacism and ignorance is forever busy, and needs feeding."
November 27, 2012
A Tuesday morning seminar on Where The New York Times Is Really Coming From re: the "fiscal cliff"
To wit: The headline of the article below - "Efforts to Curb Social Spending Face Resistance" - suggests that Democrats' victories in the '12 election have emboldened them to not bend or compromise on social programs like SS and Medicare. A good thing, right? A really, really good thing!
Apparently not. Dig the first paragraph: "President Obama’s re-election and Democratic gains in Congress were supposed to make it easier for the party to strike a deal with Republicans to resolve the year-end fiscal crisis by providing new leverage. But they could also make it harder as empowered Democrats, including some elected on liberal platforms, resist significant changes in entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare."
So...winning makes it **more difficult** to get things done? Winning means Republicans (gasp) might not get everything they want? On "entitlement programs" that we've already paid for?
I see you, NY Times and Robert Pear. The Suck is strong with you today.
The story: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/27/us/politics/politics-in-play-over-safety-net-in-deficit-talks.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
November 23, 2012
From the "You Can't Make This Shit Up" files...
"Staffers for Linda McMahon's (R) failed U.S. Senate campaign in Connecticut tell WTNH-TV they were not paid after Election Day. One who complained publicly said he was later handed a check but also got a little something extra in his envelope. Said the campaign worker: 'Basically he handed me a check with a condom in it, told me I was screwed. That's the rudest gesture you can ever do to a person, it's like spitting in a person's face.' His check also bounced."
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/11/22/campaign_worker_got_a_condom_with_his_check.html
Wow. Just wow.
November 22, 2012
(Photo: Gage Skidmore / Flickr)
Thanksgiving in Dystopia
By William Rivers Pitt
Truthout | Op-Ed
Thursday 22 November 2012
LA JOLLA - President-elect Mitt Romney held his first post-election press conference today outside his palatial estate in La Jolla, California to discuss the ongoing violence in Israel and Gaza, the results of the presidential election, and to lay out his plans for what he called the most ambitious "100 Days" blueprint in modern American history. At his side was his wife, Ann, who was resplendent in a $73,000 Gautier dress and a hat made from three live ocelots and the feathers of the last known Utah Godsblood Finch in existence.
Also present was Vice President-elect Paul Ryan, who handed out vouchers for a free turkey sandwich from the local YMCA cafeteria to the large assembly of reporters, all of whom were missing Thanksgiving with their families to be present at the press conference. When a reporter from the San Francisco Chronicle grumbled about the meager offering on such an important holiday, Mr. Ryan replied, "That's the great thing about this country; it's a voucher, and you can choose not to use it. God bless America!"
President-elect Romney began the press conference with a short opening statement about the ongoing Middle East crisis. "Israel has no better friend in the world than the United States," he said, "and will have no better friend than President Romney when I am sworn in. What is happening in Israel is important to the security of Israel, and to the people of Israel, the Israelis, who are in Israel, as we all know. A proper resolution to this conflict is important to the security of the United States, as well. Gaza is, of course, Afghanistan's primary route to the sea, and given our war effort there, it is vital that we support our close ally Israel in this time of escalade crisis...I mean to say, escalating crisis."
"Sorry about that," he said, interrupting himself. "One of my sons wrecked our SUV last night, so Ann and I have been shopping for a new one, and 'Escalade' is probably the way we're going to go, so it's kind of stuck in my head."
The mention of his son brought a storm of questions from the assembled reporters about the legal status of Mr. Romney's eldest son, Tagg. The highly publicized election-night incident, in which Tagg Romney punched and kicked an African American reporter from the Associated Press who bore a vague resemblance to President Barack Obama while screaming, "You're the liar, darky! You're the liar, darky!" resulted in the soon-to-be First Son's arrest on assault, battery and hate crimes charges. Waving off the questions with a smile, Mr. Romney said, "Tagg is a good boy, and once Paul Wolfowitz is confirmed as my Attorney General, I am sure we will reach a just and equitable resolution of the matter." The reporter who was assaulted has not regained consciousness, and remains on life support.
The rest: http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/12897-thanksgiving-in-dystopia
Happy Thanksgiving, all.
Thanksgiving in Dystopia
(Photo: Gage Skidmore / Flickr)
Thanksgiving in Dystopia
By William Rivers Pitt
Truthout | Op-Ed
Thursday 22 November 2012
LA JOLLA - President-elect Mitt Romney held his first post-election press conference today outside his palatial estate in La Jolla, California to discuss the ongoing violence in Israel and Gaza, the results of the presidential election, and to lay out his plans for what he called the most ambitious "100 Days" blueprint in modern American history. At his side was his wife, Ann, who was resplendent in a $73,000 Gautier dress and a hat made from three live ocelots and the feathers of the last known Utah Godsblood Finch in existence.
Also present was Vice President-elect Paul Ryan, who handed out vouchers for a free turkey sandwich from the local YMCA cafeteria to the large assembly of reporters, all of whom were missing Thanksgiving with their families to be present at the press conference. When a reporter from the San Francisco Chronicle grumbled about the meager offering on such an important holiday, Mr. Ryan replied, "That's the great thing about this country; it's a voucher, and you can choose not to use it. God bless America!"
President-elect Romney began the press conference with a short opening statement about the ongoing Middle East crisis. "Israel has no better friend in the world than the United States," he said, "and will have no better friend than President Romney when I am sworn in. What is happening in Israel is important to the security of Israel, and to the people of Israel, the Israelis, who are in Israel, as we all know. A proper resolution to this conflict is important to the security of the United States, as well. Gaza is, of course, Afghanistan's primary route to the sea, and given our war effort there, it is vital that we support our close ally Israel in this time of escalade crisis...I mean to say, escalating crisis."
"Sorry about that," he said, interrupting himself. "One of my sons wrecked our SUV last night, so Ann and I have been shopping for a new one, and 'Escalade' is probably the way we're going to go, so it's kind of stuck in my head."
The mention of his son brought a storm of questions from the assembled reporters about the legal status of Mr. Romney's eldest son, Tagg. The highly publicized election-night incident, in which Tagg Romney punched and kicked an African American reporter from the Associated Press who bore a vague resemblance to President Barack Obama while screaming, "You're the liar, darky! You're the liar, darky!" resulted in the soon-to-be First Son's arrest on assault, battery and hate crimes charges. Waving off the questions with a smile, Mr. Romney said, "Tagg is a good boy, and once Paul Wolfowitz is confirmed as my Attorney General, I am sure we will reach a just and equitable resolution of the matter." The reporter who was assaulted has not regained consciousness, and remains on life support.
The rest: http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/12897-thanksgiving-in-dystopia
Happy Thanksgiving, all.
Profile Information
Name: William Rivers PittGender: Male
Hometown: Boston
Member since: 2001
Number of posts: 58,179
