Yesterday I got a lot of personal business done and caught up on a huge email backlog. I’m running short of sleep, because the home services company woke me up at 4:30 PM to tell me they wanted to to deliver my O2, that was marked “must be before 4:00 PM”, at 8:00 PM. I rescheduled to today. When I got back to sleep, UPS woke me up at 7:30 PM to pick up my RMA package that was scheduled “must be before 4:00 PM”. ARGH! It’s a Republican conspiracy! 😉
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today it took me 4:51 (average 5:16). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From MoveOn: What OWS is all about.
Great Presentation!
From Common Dreams: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to rally support in his cabinet for an attack on Iran, according to government sources.
The country’s defence minister Ehud Barak and the foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman are said to be among those backing a pre-emptive strike to neutralise Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
But a narrow majority of ministers currently oppose the move, which could trigger a wave of regional retaliation.
The man is crazy! It would put any hope for peace back years, but I think that what these ideologues want.
From Think Progress: Led by right-wing Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), the House Foreign Affairs Committee today marked up and passed new legislation on U.S.-Iran policies. Amendments to the bill, H.R. 1905, included one that says, “No person employed with the United States Government may contact in an official or unofficial capacity any person that…is an agent, instrumentality, or official of, is affiliated with, or is serving as a representative of the Government of Iran.” The president may request a waiver, but only with 15 days notice and if the contact averts an “unusual and extraordinary threat to the vital national security interests of the United States.”
I believe this bill would be unconstitutional on its face, a violation of the separation of powers. Diplomacy is the purview of the Executive Branch. Congress’ role is the requirement that the Senate ratify any treaties negotiated.
From Countdown: Amendment to Overturn Citizens United
Bernie has it down. I fully support the amendment, even though it does not go far enough.
cartoon:
6 Responses to “Open Thread–11/3/2011”
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4:15 You must be off your game this week, TomCat. Only as far as Jig Zone puzzles, that is.
The presentation about OWS is excellent! No arrests of the real criminals but almost 3,00 protesters arrested for exercising their First Amendment Right. Totally disgusting!
Good one Patty!
Agree!
OWS — It has long been held that numbers don’t lie, and even my cat Primo agrees with the first video. He sat there almost transfixed by it, smacking the screen when the 1%’s numbers came up. Quite funny actually. But it is also interesting to note that Bernie Sanders also made a comment about OWS having a positive effect in moving things. When people become engaged, look out! Anything is possible! Too bad though that the CEOs etc have not been charged and arrested for crimes against the people and the environment.
With the UNESCO vote in favour of Palestine, Israel has basically declared itself the ‘righteous ruler’ of the Middle East. Netanyahu is green lighting further settlements in the occupied territories and considering sanctions against the Palestinian Authority. If that weren’t bad enough, he wants to make a unilateral strike against Iran — a pre-emptive strike — and according to an article I read yesterday or the day before, he wants to enjoin the US into the fight. Because of Israel’s close ties with the US, and the US’s antagonistic relationship with Iran, I would not be surprised if Iran made the US a target of their ire. They are just belligerent enough to do so.
Olbermann/Sanders — Sen Tom Udall “Campaigns should be about the best ideas not the biggest cheque book . . .” and he is so right. The Citizens United SCOTUS decision has to be overturned and big money taken out of elections.
Cartoon — yeh, I guess I was a bit prophetic wasn’t I! This is getting dangerous if I’m starting to read your mind. I had a friend at work who could finish my sentences, and I his. Drove everyone crazy! we were known as the Evil Twins!
That’s what I call a political PussyCat!
I agree, and what till you see how Netanyahu is thanking the administration for the support.
Amen!
And I had made the cartoon hours before i read the comment.
I call him a Political Cativist — he can’t even be easily swayed with treats like his brother and sister.
The Cartoon — this getting spooky! I was probably writing the comment about the time you were making it. So who is reading who’s mind?!
He has nothing whatsoever to do with ant word containing ‘cat’. 😉
Hard telling. To be specific, that was around 7 AM Pacific on Wed. 11/2.