Open Thread–11/17/2010

Yesterday I slept late.  My sleep rhythm is still way out of kilter.  I did my Medicare research for the year and decided to keep my current plan.  I caught up with comments, but returned no visits.  My COPD flared up and I had to lay down.  Today is my day to co-facilitate the therapy group, but I’ll have to see how my breathing is.  Unless it’s better than yesterday come morning, I’ll never make it up the hill there, so my schedule in uncertain.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:23 (average 4:34).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Our Petition:

My first attempt at organizing an online petition was a complete failure.  I did not know that the vote for the Senate leadership has already taken place and the Leg Hound won without opposition.  Mea Culpa.  It would not have mattered.  Far more people voted in our local poll than actually signed the petition that I publicized nationally.  We only had 61.  But I look at failure as a learning opportunity.

Short Takes:

From Washington Post: One of President Obama’s top foreign-policy goals suffered a potentially ruinous setback Friday when the Senate’s second-ranking Republican said the U.S. nuclear treaty with Russia should not be considered until next year.

The statement by Sen. Jon Kyl (Ariz.) stunned the White House and Democrats, who scrambled to save the pact.

I don’t think they are actually against the treaty.  My guess is they want the vote with more Republicans in the Senate so they can hold the treaty hostage for something else.  A real Majority Leader would have forced Republicans to vote consideration down, going on the record.

From Bloomberg: The U.S. House of Representatives ethics committee is scheduled to decide tomorrow whether to punish Congressman Charles Rangel, a New York Democrat found guilty of 11 counts of violating House rules.

My best guess is that he’ll get public censure, which is appropriate.  I know it is not fair that Republicans, who commit far worse violations, are not brought up on charges, because Republicans on the committee will not vote against their own, regardless of guilt.  It’s still better that Democrats vote honestly.  Republicans more eggregious conduct does not excuse Rangel.

From CNN: A 25-year-old U.S. Army staff sergeant from Iowa on Tuesday became the first living recipient of the Medal of Honor from the war in Afghanistan.

President Obama awarded the nation’s highest medal of valor to Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta — the kind of soldier who leaves you "just absolutely convinced this is what America’s all about," Obama said at the White House award ceremony. "It just makes you proud."

I hope you will join me in congratulating Staff Sgt. Giunta on his heroism and thanking him for his service.

Cartoon:

Happy hump day!