Yesterday I zonked out for most of the day. Today I don’t really feel up to posting an extra article, but the subject is too important not to do so. Lynn, would you put it on C2, please? I’m current with replies. I’ll be staying down today.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 4:28 (average 4:25) (ARGH! :-(). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From NY Times: The Pentagon’s decision to end its ban on women in combat is a triumph for equality and common sense. By opening infantry, artillery and other battlefield jobs to all qualified service members regardless of sex, the military is showing that categorical discrimination has no place in a society that honors fairness and equal opportunity.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who overturned the ban this week, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who unanimously urged him to do it, deserve praise for bringing military policy in line with reality. Women have been in the thick of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan for more than a decade. More than 280,000 have been deployed there, thousands have been injured and more than 150 killed. With the rule abolished, such service and sacrifice will no longer be unofficial and unrecognized.
This is a hard one for me. I grew up learning to treat a woman like a lady and, with the rare exceptions, like Palin and Bachmann, who have clearly earned the right to be treated like whores to the Koch Brothers and other billionaires. Respect for women is so deeply ingrained in me, that I can’t help feeling a bit alarmed at the notion of women in combat. Nevertheless, I fully agree with this decision, because what matter’s is not how I feel about exposing women to that danger. What matters is how the women who decide to make that choice feel, especially those with exceptional shoe sizes.
From Huffington Post: Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) introduced legislation Thursday that would ban more than 150 types of assault weapons along with certain high-capacity gun magazines, saying she knows she faces an uphill battle to get her measure through Congress but, with the help of the American public, it can be done.
Feinstein’s bill is far more detailed than the 1994 assault weapons ban that lapsed in 2004. Her bill would stop the sale, manufacture and importation of 158 specifically named military-style firearms and ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. It would also ban an additional group of assault weapons that accept detachable ammunition magazines and have at least one military characteristic — a new provision she said addresses a loophole in the 1994 law.
I fully support this, even though Feinstein is a fool. When Republicans filibuster this bill, as they surely will, I wonder what she will have to say about opposing real filibuster reform.
MSNBC: John Kerry’s place in history.
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We certainly owe Kerry a great debt. My only regret is that he was as boring a Presidential candidate, as he was an exciting antiwar activist.
Cartoon:
12 Responses to “Open Thread–1/25/2013”
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2:57 I let the dogs out!
3:04 Not me! I couldn't jump the fence either!
3:05 No doggie treats for me tonight.
Hmmmm…. Monstered, Size 9d and Crunched.
I'm glad you're getting some rest. Heal, my friend.
NY Times ~ I have felt that women should be able to serve in a combat situation on a voluntary basis. The Israeli military has done this with no adverse consequences for years.
HuffPo ~ It will never fly. You are right in that she is a fool.
MSNBC ~ I liked the way he defended the protester who was escorted out of the Senate hearing yesterday. She was protesting war and the lives lost. You could see that he honestly agreed with her. He will use every diplomatic means at his disposal if confirmed as Secretary of State to ensure a peaceful world.
Cartoon ~ Now the unions are going the way of the dinosaurs as Repulithugs continue to strip them of their rights. Maybe it can still be stopped.
Thanks Patty.
I agree.
Thanks.
I think he will be less inclined to recommend force than Hillary.
I hope so.
Please do rest and recuperate dear TomCat – we need you to get properly well! (And I agree about the filibuster bill).
Thanks Pat.
Puzzle — 3:04 Don't worry TC. It is obvious that the dog is a fool — he likes leashes! Cats are smarter. As a self respecting cat, you were just sitting back watching the dog make a fool of himself! It's all in the perspective.
NY Times — When I was is grade 9 (1965-66), I wanted to join the Canadian Army. In Guidance class, I made a point of saying so and why, but the teacher, a nice man named Art Mann, said that was impossible. I again asked why. He said because there were no facilities for women — no separate quarters etc. My response: "That's ok. I'll share with the men." At that I was told to sit down. In those years, I was willing to do whatever the men did, although Canada was known at the time as a peacekeeping nation. I am glad that women now have that choice in the US armed forces. In one sense, it is too bad that men did not, and do not have that choice, even in an all volunteer force. Look at Israel. The last I heard, both men and women have combat roles. All I say, is the enemy better watch out if the women have PMS!
Huffington Post — Based on the absolutely rabid rhetoric I have been hearing, there is not a snowball's chance in hell that this is going anywhere except into political file 13. Do I support it? Absolutely! But the American image of itself is so wrapped up in guns, common sense cannot prevail, despite saying "from this day forward" and no current weapons would be confiscated.
MSNBC — I learned something new today. I knew that Kerry was in Vietnam in the navy, but I do not recall hearing about his anti war activism. High praise from Nixon indeed — "Extremely effective!" This is probably the only statement that Nixon uttered that I agree with. And I detected a bit of 'fear' in Nixon's voice when talking about John Kerry, or was that my imagination?
Cartoon — I have said for years that union's had their place, particularly during the industrial revolution when conditions were bad for the working person. Today in the US, with all the right to work (what a misnomer!) legislation and tactics coming from the Republican/Teabaggers, I believe there is a new industrial revolution. It's not like the first one with huge technological advances, although there still are some advances. This revolution is more in how we view jobs, work, whatever you want to call it. Corporations have one very myopic view, greed in the form of increasing profits. They have yet to connect the health of their profits with the health and overall wellbeing of their labour force.
True! Dawgs are dumb!
LOL! PMS ans shoes!
Agree.
As horrid as Noxon was, he still stands head ans shoulders over GW.
That's true, but I do not believe they will, unless required.
Although I have been following your blog on Politics Plus, I am glad Lynn and Carrie posted it to Care2. Hope you are feeling better soon. It is past time for women to be able to serve in combat if they so choose. I am glad this decision has been made. I agree with you about Kerry, admire him for what he has done and accomplished, but couldn't stay awake when he was campaigning. He did not help himself in that race.
My grandfathers both fought for the United Mine Workers of America, one of them marched in Washington, the other was at bloody Harlan. The UMWA made it possible for my dad to earn a living wage and be able to feed, clothe, and educate his family of four children. It saddens me to see what has been done to all our unions, not just the UMWA. They protected the worker in a way that no longer happens. A young neighbor of ours, who works for a non-union mine, was badly injured in an accident away from his job. He was off work three months, had no pay check, and had to pay all his own medical expenses because it was a non work related accident. That would have been very different if the UMWA were still a presence in this area.
Thanks Edie. Politics Plus actually is the blog. I agree.
You have a rich family tradition, there. I read an article this morning about how 'right to work (without pay)' is Ruining health care in ND, because injured oil workers without health coverage are overwhelming local hospitals with oil field injuries.