Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

The "Mission Accomplished" banner with the Obama logo as the "O's" is FANTASTIC! LOL!

Nice pics......looks like a happy time.....

"a nonjusticiable political question"

beldar, not if he was using his office to over throw a duly elected government and to thwart the will of the people. and, beld, our gracious host's behind is no sorrier than any other msm pundit's. plus your statement is in violation of tm's addled hominy rule. but with our new found "humilty and restraint" we forgive you.

I think perhaps beldar had his conehead on backwards........

Oh my goodness! I love the "Mission Accomplished" banner. Fantastic!

Good morning- Was enjoying reading the mid night post . Oddly, Gordo had suggested that Robert's slip was intentional earlier in the evening. Guess there is really no way to prove his intent, but impeaching him is a nice thought anyways. Wow, beldar is kind of creepy.

A Fredericksburg friend who made the trek via VRE train wrote her impressions of the day and getting to the big event on the Tokoni story website.

http://www.tokoni.com/story/6564/oh-happy-day-part-1.html

Bethyboo- Congratulations!!

conehead, not head........two quite different deals.......one is actually a hat.

The Coneheads was originally a sketch on Saturday Night Live which originated on the January 15, 1977 episode, and starred Dan Aykroyd as father Beldar, Jane Curtin as mother Prymaat, and Laraine Newman as daughter ("Connie").

wiki

sturge, just picking at nits... how can one tell that a cone is on backwards?

patd.......the label goes in back.........lol

"isn't that the same impetus behind Craig's thread about John Roberts? "

I'd like to see Roberts gone under ANY line of reasoning. Can't believe anyone likes this wing nut who will damage this country for decades.

The scary image from yesterday was the falling banks stocks
interesting article from the NYTImes
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/21/business/economy/21bailout.html?hp

It focuses attention on the mortgage issues and slowing down/stopping foreclosures..something the Shrubbians avoided doing.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/big-fat-story/2009-01-15/can-anyone-fix-the-banks

An interesting round up at the Dailybeast

My son goes to a White House reception hosted by our new President this afternoon...he's revved.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/01/20/with_clinton_obama_loses_a_rival_gains_a_valuable_loyalist/

"With Clinton, Obama loses a rival, gains a valuable loyalist"

"Under any scenario, Obama would have to focus heavily on domestic policy, investing time to make sure his big initiatives - the bailout package, the stimulus plan, his healthcare changes - have the backing of Congress and the people. But with Clinton as his chief envoy, he won't have to spend an equal amount of time flattering world leaders and delving into the painstaking details of diplomacy. She is perhaps the best-known and most respected American in the world, after him and her husband, and few world leaders would feel slighted by getting her attention instead of the president's."

The goopers need to turn the page. Get some new faces instead of the frozen face of Mary Matalin yikes

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/20/no-confirmation-vote-for-clinton/

"No Confirmation Vote for Clinton"

"Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s smooth ride to confirmation as secretary of state hit a small bump on Tuesday as one of her Republican colleagues blocked a vote on Mrs. Clinton’s nomination, citing ethical questions arising from donors to her husband’s charitable foundation."

is that a familiar face in one of the photographs with the blue scarf?

like models called "towncars" maybe this one should be called "quiet warm day car"

"The i-MiEV has a top speed of 87mph, can be 80% charged in 20 minutes and has a good range — as long as the headlights, heater and radio aren't on at the same time..."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/jan/20/greentech-travelandtransport

mornin' - for a few minutes, anywho.

OK, let's see Cornyn's donors. I assume none of them are from Texas or anywhere else the laws he passes or objects to affect. In short, I assume all his campaign donors are not U.S. citizens or citizens of any country - like Iraw or Afghanistan - just to name 2, that foreign policy and authorizations for the use of military force that he has voted on in the Senate directly affect. Could look like a conflict of interest. Hypocrite.

KC, I heard this morning on my drive to work that the biggest banks' stocks have fallen almost 80% since the election. Obama's plate is full to overflowing. I hope he sends Dumya a thank you note.

two possible reasons sen cornyn threw a monkey wrench into hrc confirmation:

"Former President Bill Clinton and U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton campaigned with Noriega in Texas late in the race.....
Cornyn, a Texas Supreme Court justice and attorney general before winning his first Senate term in 2002, has expressed an interest in becoming the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the fundraising arm for Senate Republicans."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6095653.html

Pat- the Mitsubishi I-MiEV shows me that the age of the electric car is upon us. Assuming ANY advancements in battery technology over the next few years, marry that with a high efficiency gas or hydrogen engine and we'll be seeing cars that can essentially do it all with very little oil required. I'm getting all excited and such.

good morning gang....
thank god a new page has been turned.....

Bethy..... Congrats on the new baby!

OSH... from your posting last night..... I understand how you feel about this blog.... just when I think it can't get any loonier... 3 posts later it does.... and for me, it's mostly amusing....

does anyone really think this Congress is capable of impeaching anybody.....
I don't.....

YES!.... the new season of Lost starts tonight!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugural-images.html#comment-191772

Again - Where is Nancy, Harry, Chris and Barney???

It continues to be a Sad day when we continue to build dependance on the Federal Government.

Living in a State and community that prepares for such disasters - so having common understanding - this one is a loser for all.

Also such a narrow blinded scope - Quick lets chase the ice truck !!! the winds are only at 70 MPH....

As Barack has stated - we must build indivivual responsibility - that applies not only to the person but the community and state.....

pat, re: Cornyn - SFW re: Noriega? Clinton endorsing the Dem candidate in TZ? magine that. It isn't DAniel Noriega fuhchrissakes. Obviously Cornyn is interested in the same old bullshit politics rather than transparency in government. As I said - hypocrite.

Laughs....kinda hard to take Craig seriously.....It's like he suffers from some kind of weird schizophrenic blog seizure every now and then........maybe its an inside the the beltway affliction.....

Clear Channel is cutting 1800 jobs. I'd like to make some suggestions

Clear Channel is scum. The company's role in the lynching of the Dixie Chicks was reprehensible.

Ping....
as the pundits on CNN were criticizing Obama's speech for not having any memorable line, I remarked to my friend that he did use quite a few times a memorable word..... responsibility....

and considering how the last administration took no responsibility for any of it's actions..... it was refreshing to hear that word come from Obama's lips....

Question...
What timing was it that Biden declared that President Barack will be tested from a terror attack - somewhere?

CNN Pundits.... MSNBC... Pundits? is that what they are??

We do not need memorable phrase or words... after all as President Barack would say - Words just Words.

I am with you - well in some ways... that his speech was just Right.

Pogo,
I'm interested.....given you're post........ who in the Senate is allowed to question without being characterized as a hypocrite.....

Should they all just recuse themselves because they have accepted political donations.....heck why even bother having confirmation hearings.....

I understand this whole two party thing is a bore.....and tedious.....have a better idea?????

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugural-images.html#comment-191764

It seems to me in the interest of the economy that as long as someone is making an attempt to send something on their house payment, even if they are on unemployment, that there should be a hiatus of sorts until property values stabilize. If doesn't help the market for so many people to be totally upside down and as a result dropping the values of everyone's home.

Throwing people out of their houses, ruining credit, forcing them into public housing etc. does not serve the long term prospects. Once the crises has moderated, the loans can be redone and the people either assisted in selling their property or staying in their homes.

Ping - his prediction was that it would happen - can't remember when. I hope Obama's response is a departure from the dark precedent set by Dumya and the dark lord and is not to start 2 wars and finish none, strip us oof more liberty, and torture folks willy nilly.

Renee - yes, responsibility - the critics could be right, after all it certainly was not a word Dumya could remember.

Patsi, I agree re: Clearchannel - fugum.

Well, folks, the road is calling me to it. Another cold, crisp (for a change at least it's sunny) day in WV. But for now, conversion to a road warrior. Everyone have a good one, and we'll see you later.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugural-images.html#comment-191791

Jamie.. Fully agree - Gosh I thought that was the purpose of the TARP?
Lets get to the truth and facts - OK - Bush and the Sec Treasury - all changing....

I am still on the war path for Chris, Nancy, Barney and Harry - They know exactly what happened and allowed without being transparent and truthfull. They need to follow along and add the term "Former" to their titles

Anyone heard any word on when the wiretapping program ends.....will that be an executive order or congressional action?

jax, anyone in the Senate can question - but it doesn't immunize the members for criticizing if they are not willing to have the same ethical standards applied to themselves - which of course is one definition of a hypocrite. Cornyn's picture is next to the defnition in Webster's.

Now I do gotta go.

Pogo...
it wasn't the critics who said it was a memorable word.... it was me....

I had every intention to blow off my library trustee meeting last night.... after listening to Obama's speech.... I thought , he's right... and responsibility starts with each individual...... so I went to my meeting....

turns out it was a good thing..... the meeting was short.... but we all lingered to swap stories about the ice storm..... we started to laugh at some of them.... next thing we were all laughing so hard at any little thing we were all wiping tears from our eyes..... I think we all needed the release.....

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugural-images.html#comment-191794

jax. The word is it is not ending, that as President Obama understand the real danger he may have some dramatic statements - but will keep this most valued tool to use against enemy's of the state

RR,
I couldn't agree more....Personal responsibility is a big pet-peeve of mine....unfortunately I think we're going to be disappointed when we see it applied to gov't.

Although blame will be placed elsewhere the primary culprits of the financial meltdown are still in place in congress. ....
GM is now saying they'll run out of money by March.

It's looking more and more like there will be no assumption of responsibility in Washington

Ping,
I understand the usefulness but it's hard to see that it will be allowed to stand....It's one of the primary arguments against the last administration and the basis for many of congresses demands for a prosecution.

As to the kerfluffle over the oath from the last thread, it can be administered by anyone. Maybe Michelle can wake up, grab the family bible from the nightstand next to the bed and say, "Hold up your hand honey" .... "NO! I said hold up your HAND!"

Then they can celebrate all over again before "entering upon the execution of his Office".

Okay major pet peeve about the cable news channels.... Learn when to SHUT UP!!!!! Thank goodness for CSPAN

The NATIONAL Prayer Service is on and Matthews is blathering away totally in love with the sound of his own voice as usual . CNN isn't much better.

They can go for hours on the latest missing blond or obsessing about every detail of the recent "Miracle on the Hudson", but they can't give the nation a one hour, uninterrupted by inanity, coverage of a religious service.

KGC,
Surely they'll all be run out of town by the end of the week.....Laughs

So it’s after 6:00 AM and I haven’t started to write anything when to what my wondering eyes should appear but this gem from MSNBC’s Craig Crawford:

I have been watching dozens of back episodes of Fox Broadcasting’s “24” over the holidays, and so far I haven’t seen rogue U.S. anti-terrorism agent Jack Bauer stop once for a court warrant—not even when he sawed off the head of an informant he was interrogating. Come to think of it, I haven’t heard the Constitution mentioned a single time as Bauer, played by Kiefer Sutherland, repeatedly breaks the rules to thwart terrorist plots.

This is how the President wants us to see the real world. Indeed, George Bush is the Jack Bauer of presidential power. There are no rules in Bush’s world when it comes to the War on Terror—only wimps like the whining bureaucrats on “24” balk at torture, spying, propaganda, whatever it takes.

I guess I am one of those constitutional wimps. Even the reality cop shows get me riled, as we watch the police routinely trample the individual rights of hapless suspects. Maybe we do live in a Jack Bauer world where constitutional liberties take a back seat to stopping killers. But I’d rather live in Patrick Henry’s world: Give me liberty or give me death.

Craig seems very sure of his stance on the wiretapping program back in 2005. Surely he'll demand that it be ended now that we have a new Pres.....Give me Liberty and all that....:)

Oh that's too funny. I love Joe Biden, but he is a Catholic. There's the children's choir singing, "He's Got The Whole World in his hands" and on one side, Bill Clinton rocking out and on the other the Obama's rocking out and the poor Bidens are getting shoulder squeezed in the middle of all that bouncing.

that choir full of children can sure sing!

"They can go for hours on the latest missing blond or obsessing about every detail of the recent "Miracle on the Hudson", but they can't give the nation a one hour, uninterrupted by inanity, coverage of a religious service."

Isn't that the damned truth?

Worse than cable, however....my sister had an appointment she couldn't break yesterday, so she taped the President's speech on her television to watch when she got back. When she left the appointment, she turned on her car radio, flipped around to several stations until she found one where the address was still on.

Suddenly a smarmy and snotty voice came on making fun of what was being said...she thought maybe some idiot had left a microphone on or something. Then she realized that the voice was Rush Limbaugh -- breaking in to make an ugly comment every few sentences.

She's now on a tirade to get Limbaugh fired.

I'm trying to figure out this Guantanamo thing. Apparently they want to move these detainees and any future ones to a new prison to be built on the US mainland.

Of course no-one wants these guys in their backyard.

My only question is this.......Why bring them to our own shores? Does anyone have a reasonable answer?

Patsi,
So she tuned into the Rush Limbaugh show?

jax

Why not spread them out to all the various hard core facilities until they can either be expatriated to their native countries or receive a trial. Why put them all in one place that has to be built at taxpayer cost, particularly since having a single place such as Gitmo that created so much turmoil and became a symbol of injustice.

"Patsi,
So she tuned into the Rush Limbaugh show?"

She didn't know what show it was. She flipped channels hoping to find the speech. But evidently it turned out to be the Limbaugh show.

Jamie,
Think about that for a second. Are you sure that you want these guys to have access to our hardcore prison population to further foment their idealogical extremism?

Wouldn't that be like giving them their own recruiting office? I'm concerned that for the sake of removing a symbol " as you say" we're going to endanger ourselves further in the process.

Many many years ago (two decades as a matter of fact), I would sometimes have to listen to Limbaugh when meetings were held at this restaurant that used to play the program at noon.

I said he was a racist expletive then and he has only gotten worse over time. The worst I heard was a comment about a young black boy who had been painted white by other schoolchildren and Rush commenting, "White? They turned him white? He should have been so lucky!" Then he did one of those laughs, "just joking".

The man is a disgusting effusion of slime.

Patsi,
So Rush was the only station carrying the address....laughs? Kind of ironic ..huh

Jax

Several very dangerous people are kept in solitary with no contact with the other prisoner population. If nothing else there are federal facilities on Army bases across the nation. Somehow a terrorist strike on a location in the middle of a major secured fort doesn't really worry me. Keep them with the gold in Fort Knox.
It isn't worth much these days anyway.

The plan is to build a new prison on some miltary base. Cost will be enormous.

But I think that you are missng my point. It's like bringing a contagious disease into the country. Why do it? Why risk it?

We don't allow you to bring fruit in from a foreign country but the most dangerous terrorists are welcome?????

I'm just looking for some justification.....from anybody...

"Then he did one of those laughs, "just joking".

The "just joking" follow-up is often used to cover BS....

"So Rush was the only station carrying the address....laughs? Kind of ironic ..huh"

Well, it was the first one that she found anyway. Who knows?

We don't allow you to bring fruit in from a foreign country but the most dangerous terrorists are welcome?????

Oh, come on Jax. the most dangerous terrorist would be hardly welcome if they are locked up and the key hidden. Surely even you could see that?

Rush...... And Glenn Beck..
As one that listens to both sides both Rush and Glenn Beck at the National level have been very respectful to President Obama -

Now a few of the others.... I think I am turning them off as they are becoming like KO, MSNBC (sorry craig) and coverage like CNN - ahhhh blaaaaa

Dooty,
No I don't see that. I don't see how anything positive will come from bringing them here....
As I've said.....can anyone offer any justification.....any at all?

I don't consider..."we can't think of anything better" a justification.

Put a GPS tracking chip in the back of their necks & let 'em go...er, re-patriate them...or maybe just put ankle bracelents on them and send them to Bernie Madoff's penthouse.

Why are gas prices going up, again?

Did Aretha steal that hat from Hello Kitty?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugural-images.html#comment-191820

Jax, May I refer you to an old proverb: "Don't trouble trouble until trouble troubles you." That BTW was quoted after 9/11 by Lucianne Goldberg who is about as Conservative as you can get. For years now, Bush and company have tried to seduce us into giving up freedoms and values to buy a little more safety. That is too high a price to pay.

Hell they have had long jail sentences. Let 'em in, turn 'em loose and if they cause trouble, arrest them and toss away the key. They will probably be so glad to be here that they will turn into model American citizens.

Personally...I'm for the repatriation myself......once we've interogated them give them back the gov't of the country that they were captured in and ask for swift justice for their alleged crimes......whatever that entails....

The local Fox affiliate carried W's Texas homecoming to Midland. Huge crowd & he looked relieved to be back among friendly faces.

Faux News seemed to fall in love with the Obama's over the course of the evening.

Thought I was done crying until they danced to Beyonce singing, "At Last." After the 5th ball & the 5th version of that song...I was done.

Jamie,

That's very comforting.....let them immigrate here and after they kill someone in the latest jihad then rearrest and throw away the key........

Bet there's some New Yorkers who might disagree.....

Put them where they had Noriega ???? I think that was his name,,,,,

Jax,

If there is going to be a Jihad murder, I'm sure there are enough home grown willing to do the deed.

I simply refuse to live my life scared of what someone else might do. If that was the standard I lived by, I would have been whimpering, coiled in a fetal position before the age of 20. Forty-five years after that age, there have been completely awful things and completely wonderful things. Life is what it is.

If someone is going to do something horrid, they will do it. Punish the crime not the thought.

Jax

If they weren't American Citizens and their crimes weren't committed on American soil, what American crimes did they commit?

You can't have it both ways. Either we have the right to try them which means bring them to American justice or we don't have the right to try them which means they should be released to their home countries.

Jamie,
Bad things happen all of the time....I don't feel like adding to it by inviting a couple hundred terrorists to move in and hope that they become " model citizens"

But I'll keep your post all the same......something tells me it will be relevant in the future......

What happens to habeas corpus now that Bush is gone?

http://www.aclu.org/safefree/detention/habeastimeline.html

Okay Jax

It just seems to me that you are looking for trouble where none exists (maybe even anticipating so you can feel good about your judgement)

Hang on to it. I can absolutely guarantee that someone like the Oklahoma bombers, or the Anthrax whoever, or the blind shiek, or the environmental bombers, or ....... well you get the idea. The motto for life really should be S*** Happens.

Deal with it when it gets here.

For purposes of this ongoing discussion my take is tath The Bill of Rights and subsequent Amendments to the Constitution speaks to "PERSON[S]" not Citizens.

Jamie,

I guess the killing of Americans was the main crime.
That happens from time to time overseas. Most of the time the perpetrators are either extradited or tried in their own country.

That's what I think should happen with these guys. Try them in Iraq or Afghanistan via their courts or our militarty tribunal....

AC

Correction accepted. Persons rather than citizens is an important distinction.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugural-images.html#comment-191855

Jax,

How do you KNOW they killed Americans? There has been no testimony. There have been no witnesses. No evidence of any kind has been produced in front of judges.

That is what is wrong with Gitmo. We either live up to what we tell the world we are, or we are just some dictatorial, third rate, military junta of no importance throwing out weight around because we can.
.

If they are brought here,,,don't they stand a better chance of a fair trial???

Bethyboo

Congratulations ( Felecidades ) on the new little space traveler,,,,,,he/she will be part of the start of Grand adventures,,,,,,,,,,I thought of a good name for him/her but it sounded a little Martian like so I will keep it to myself
,,,post a pic and name when you can also,,,,,we can introduce her/him to the TM's virtual cousins

Animal,
Is there a specific ammendment that you think these guys are entitled to or denied?

Oh Ho. Just found a webmaster goof in the wonderful new Whitehouse.gov .... The Bill of Rights is missing in action :-)

http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/constitution/billofrights.html

They included a search place to find it so they may not really be missing.

jax - Please refer my habeas corpus link.

Jamie,
Your lack of knowledge on this subject is starting to become evident. There is a mountain of evidence on many of these guys. There are judges....there are lawyers.....there are witnessess

There is a trial today complete with eye witnesses that has just been suspended pending new plans.

The family of a dead american soldier was there to witness the trial of his killer......

"The Writ of Habeus Corpus, is as Obama says, a chance for prisoners to say that they are being held wrongly. Just because you are granted a writ, does not mean you're getting out of jail."

"In this case, if a GITMO detainee is granted a writ of habeus corpus, he or she has the chance to explain to a judge why he or she doesn't belong there. If the judge thinks they do belong there, they stay in jail."

http://blogs.trb.com/news/local/longisland/politics/blog/2008/06/obama_habeas_corpus_doesnt_fre.html

Jax,

One detainee and I'm not sure an invented military tribunal is the correct form.

The point is that this must be public. These people have come under the jurisdiction of the United States. Since they are, they cannot be held in limbo. I really think the sixth amendment must apply

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district where in the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.

Jamie,

I think that you do a disservice to the men and women of our miltary that make up its legal arm.

Despite your wonderful research you failed to notice that this isn't a "criminal" proceeding. It's a military proceeding. The offense is during miitary operations and falls under military courts not civilian crimnal courts.......

This is an entirely different body of law....complete with its own prisons....as AC was nice enough to point out earlier.....

thank you johnny mac
"... Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said on the floor that he had talked to Cornyn and that Cornyn has no objections to a voice vote. The Senate will reconvene after lunch at 2:15 p.m. ET."

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/01/21/senate-prepares-vote-clinton-confirmation/

It says she agreed to more disclosure.....as long as it applies to everyone.....I wonder what the difference is?

Interesting discussion - why, pray tell, jax, are the detaqinees not prisoners of war???? Or are we not at war? Or are they not our enemies? Inquiring minds would like to know.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugural-images.html#comment-191871

Jax, They aren't members of OUR military who agree up front to accede to the code of OUR military justice.

When the Nuremburg trials were held, they were done in public. They were trying the members of another country's military and governmental people.

It's apples and oranges. They are either ttried as persons of another country in their home country or we try them as persons committing acts against us in our country or we try them in some international forum.

GITMO is not the place and the military tribunals are not the court

sen j-mc, imho, just did the rs a big favor by probably pointing out to cronyn that a voice vote would be an embarrassing show of partisan behavior and put a lot of them on the spot.... reminding him that if he wants to head the party, he'd better think about the danger of a roll call. opinion only,just guessing.

Pogo,
If I'm not mistaken you have to be in uniform to be a prisoner of war......
If these guys were uniformed fighting for an established state there wouldn't be a discusiion at all....
I'm surprised you're not up on this......seems like you'd have some subject matter interest.....its not a new issue

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugural-images.html#comment-191874

Jax, The difference is do they invent a rule that applies only to her foundation or do they apply it to all the foundations run by all spouses of political figures.

McCain has a wife with a foundation. Kerry has a wife with a foundation. I'm sure there are several others.

It comes under the heading of "Good for the goose, good for the gander". If the Senate ties her confirmation to her husband's foundation, then they need to make it a rule that no person can be confirmed unless they release all information about the foundations run by thier spouse.

"It says she agreed to more disclosure.....as long as it applies to everyone.....I wonder what the difference is?"

jax, please see pogo's comments at 9:19

patd,
I saw that but I'm wondering what she agreed to....if anything?

"How do you KNOW they killed Americans? There has been no testimony. There have been no witnesses. No evidence of any kind has been produced in front of judges. "

So right, Jamie. How many young boys were picked up on their way to buy bread....how many mercs or warlords turned people in for bounties? What a bunch of BS that whole thing was....and continues to be.

Jamie,
I'm not defending Gitmo....It's just a place as far as I'm concerned.....I just don't see the need to bring them here.....the miiltary tribunal can convene anywhere...its usually in the country where the military operations are taking place.....

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugural-images.html#comment-191879

jamie, your goose gander comment is right on. also aren't there some senators who have their own foundations or at least sit on the boards of some?

Jax,

Fine. Consensus has arrived. We either try them here or we try them elsewhere. We DON'T try them at Gitmo in some invented form of military tribunal that doesn't apply and has never existed before now.

Jamie,
laughs.....I agree....and no name calling....who'd a thunk it......:)

jax,
I have no expertise in military law, laws governing warfare or anything like it. I just know that what I've heard sounds like BS to me to avoid all standards regarding the treatment of those prisoners - if they are"enemy combatants" as opposed to "uniformed" soldiers, I'd say the old rules don't apply to the middle east and the response to our invasion of that area. Frankly, from what I can tell it's a shell game that Bushco studiously constructed to avoid international or idomestic criticism of its end run of all laws that might be applicable. I doubt that the uniformed military gizmo means crap under the "old" laws that apply, and if it does, the "old" laws need to be revisited. - but I would have to defer to someone with military law experience and expertise.

Pogo,
It's my understanding that the administration and congress agreed upon the Military tribunal route in 2006 based upon Roosevelt's use of it against Nazi spies during WWII. They weren't public like the Military Tribunals of Nurmeberg because it was during operations and deemed too sensitive to be public at the time.......

You may have better sources but that's my understanding......

I'm curious, if anyone knows, how many of the remaining 245 "detainees" have been and have not been charged with anything?

I hesitantly tiptoe into this conversation, but wasn't the purpose of bringing the accused terrorists to Cuba, to deny them the Geneva Convention protocols?

One of my favorite bloggers, The Villager, has done our new President eating fried fish. If you have never eaten this particularly wonderful food, enjoy the read and the comments, including mine.

http://electronicvillage.blogspot.com/2009/01/wordless-wednesday-barack-eat-up-this.html

And not to piss off any of the right wingers in here, but IMHO the USA should get the hell out of Cuba and let the Cubans hold total domain over their country.

Tom, I don't believe the Geneva Conventions are so full of holes that the abduction of a prisoner from a war zone would deprive the prisoner of the protection of the conventions, but then again, I don't know that for sure.

ET,
I don't think Gitmo had anything to do with the Military tribunals.....That's only been in the last 2 years when it was established that they either be tried or released.

I think Gitmo was decided upon because at the time the status of these guys was in question and they didn't want the location to be the determining factor of how they were ultimately classified.

The Geneva thing was an issue regardless of where they were.

Pogo,
I think there is still 200+

The "hero's welcome" for Bush in Waco was pathetic. Who ARE these people?

"Dudley Winn, a cotton farmer on the South Plains of West Texas, drove two hours from Lubbock to greet Bush on his first stop after leaving office.
"It's a special day but it's a sad day," Winn said. "He's done eight years of a job well done. He held our country together with the values we respect. He did the job we asked him to do. He kept our values safe."

They really should rename Waco to WHACKO. It must be hard for the right-wing Texans though. Their President and his illegal policies have been rejected by a large majority of the American people.

ET,
They are Americans........

I don't know either Jax and Pogo.... I just remember something about not having the same protections if they were in the States itself. Perhaps it had something to do with domestic laws of the USA regarding certain legal rights? It's a blur to me I confess.

Jax the way Texans tend to act "We don't care how you do it up north" suggest to me that they consider themselves to be an island onto their own.

They might be Americans, but I sure do not share their "values"....

Correction "They" meaning the fans of George Dimwit Bush... not all Texans. There are, of course, many wonderful Texans around (even in Texas) :-)

ET,
Texans are proud of their state no doubt.

Last I checked you are still free to share or not share whatever values you like......

They are still Americans and entitled to their opinion.......is there some issue with that?

Jax

No issue about their rights just their I Q

jax...

I believe that Ralph Reed the attempted shoe bomber was an American citizen and he was held at Gitmo and tried after he went nuts.

Under the MCA of 2006 the President, any President could label you an Enemy Combatant and ship you off to Gitmo with no rights to a lawyer or a court hearing to challenge your detention.

So before you condemn anyone at Gitmo remember that by the grace of God you haven't been labeled an Enemy Combatant, because than you would be screaming for your rights which you will no longer have.

Jax, only that those sort of people who totally fucked up our country from the past 8 years and by voting that administration in, they have blood on their hands. Other than that.. hey no problem

Anon,
I thought Reed was British.....

Nevertheless.....Good advise on the combatant thing.....next time I pick up a machine gun in a foreign country and take a shot at some troops I'll remember to have handy pocket constitution with me......:)

ET,
I'm sure everyone will sleep better knowing that you're good with it........:)

Anon, if you mean Richard Reid... you got it right. But if you mean Ralph Reed he's of the "CHRISTIAN" coalition, basically an anti-Gay hate group. I doubt he'd light his shoe on a plane :D

Jax, more power to them. I am just glad they are LOSERS and that now they can sit back and realize their party can no longer do the damage to America that they have participated in during the past 8 years. Let them eat cake!

ET...

Your correct. I meant Richard Reed, though Ralphie may be an enemy combatant and the Bush people won't admit it.

Time to go back to work, see ya all.

Anon,
Richard Reid was a British citizen......
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Reid_(terrorist)

Jaxtrader, Just returned but only for a bit and not really clear on your question above. It is a different body of law however it must also meet the minimum standards of the Constitution.
In my opinion The 9th Amendment "cruel and unusual punishment" would certainly apply as for others they have to decide whether these are criminal or military trials first, but the 5th & 6th Amendment respectively, to paraphrase "due process" and "confront the witnesses against..." etc, may also apply
There is really so much in the Bill of Rights that each applicable clause may have to be litigated.

Respect for the rule of law would dictate we treat all people fairly.
Remember the Bill of Rights is only the Minimum standards.

Only a humble opinion hope it helps.

AC are you an attorney? You seem to be very knowledgeable !

From the I wish I wrote that file :

Cheney was literally hell on wheels today.

tt

ET,
Im sure that all of the ills of the previous administration will be fixed by the new one.......especially all of the damage to our freedoms....dont' you agree?

AC,
I agree.....we'll see if these Tribunals continue.....

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugural-images.html#comment-191895

I think ET has the location wrong. I believe Bush went to Midland yesterday. A place where he once lived.

I did not read anything that said the Bushes traveled to Waco. Crawford is fairly near Waco but I did not read them going there either.

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/fox-news-former-president-bush-leaves-for-midland-tx-1-20-09/2084925228/?icid=VIDURVNWS10

Farmer Dudley Winn could not begin to get to Waco from the South Plains of West Texas unless he was flying.

There are many of us natural born Texans that don't agree with Bush or his policies.

Ok feisty me is off to bed... good afternoon all... it isn't 9 pm yet, but I need to sleep... cheers.

Oops...

Wrong prisoner. Try Jose Padilla arrested in Chicago and a American Citizen.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Padilla_(prisoner)

Dooty,
I'm not a native Texan but I do appreciate the states'
can do attitude.....regardless of where your politics lie....it's not popular elsewhere I guess

HD I thought I read that in the Yahoo article... yeah, I know there are a lot of great Texans, that's why I amended my statement. Sorry for that...

Jax, yes I agree, but do you?

I really have to go... hoping I am back in top form soon.

Good evening all.

I know that you will say since he ended up being tried in court he was allowed his rights.

He was only tried after they could not try him for the crimes he was being held on at Gitmo because of those trying to get him his rights back. Charges were changed since they would not be able to convict him of the charges he was being held on in the first place.

Anon,
I couldn't remember his name but I knew there was one. I agree its bad but not that uncommon during trying times.......how about Japanese internment by Roosevelt? What's the legal precedent for that?

Amazing what a victory or lack of one will do for your legacy

Anon,
Roosevelt imprisoned an entire race based solely on the ethnicity......all in the name of National Security of course......all later shown to be unfounded

Yet he is immortalized....not defending the last administrations actions but the worst ever characterizations on some of these issues are a bit of a stretch......

Jax wrote this,

"http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugural-images.html#comment-191924"

Jax,

In my mind, GWB did not do the state of TX any great favors in the 8 years he and his lackeys ran roughshod over the US. Several of us tried to tell the US what they might get if they elected him the first time but did they listen....Hell, NO! The second time they did it on their own.

I think Jax is substantially correct in his take on the detainees in Cuba.

Pogo, months ago I thought you were going to chat-up one of the former JAGs in your building in an effort to civilianize what the points of (military) law are. Did you ever have a chance to do that?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugural-images.html#comment-191932

An event that garnered an official apology from the United States government and reparations to those still living interred.

Then there was that multi decorated Army unit in Europe made up of Japanesese Americans proving that they were loyal to their country. Senator Inouye is still alive. You can ask him what he thinks of the Japanese internment camps.

Just because we did it once, doesn't make it right to do again.

Dooty,

Don't understand the context....but ....Okay

MY QUESTION: Are any of you Trailmixers still up on what ever happened with the Dick Cheney energy group papers from eight years ago? Does the excerpt below mean those papers could now be unlocked and released by the incoming White House, or does some other entity have legal control of them? Or were they destroyed?
I'd love to get a peek at those babies.

From a Politico article about Obama's staff meeting today:

The new president also said Freedom of Information act requests would be more routinely approved by his administration.

“The mere fact that you have the legal power to keep something secret does not mean that you should always use it,” Obama said, hinting at the efforts by former Vice President Dick Cheney to keep information about White House meetings concealed.

Jamie,

No Doubt......but that was thousands of people....women and children......

I'm just saying that our revered leaders did the same things mulitplied many times.....history has been kind to them.

It's no better if we do just once.....I only said it's not uncommon in trying times.......

Wow...I finally got around to checking how HuffPo commentors reacted to Craig's insane "Impeach Roberts" post this morning, and they actually seemed nicer over there than we nasty ol' commentors here in the home nest.

Meanwhile, here's a link to a story from some site that quotes Craig and even puts his idea in the headline:

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Chris_Wallace_doubts_that_Obama_president_0121.html

Lard,
It does seem like they live in their own little insular world sometimes......their commentaries sometimes seem to be written to each other....

I especially like it when when they all learn a new word........I'll never forget "Gravitas"........laughs

I don't spend much time over there at all, Jax...so I'm not familiar with their quirks. I mainly become aware of the HuffPo crowd when something posted there by Craig drives flocks of them over here to vent or chime in.

"It does seem like they live in their own little insular world sometimes......their commentaries sometimes seem to be written to each other...."

jax, lard, we're beginning to sound like the objective observer researchers now and they are the lab rats.

cbob, speaking of cheney on wheels, did you hear brokaw yesterday say how he looked like dr. strangelove?

patd,
You have to laugh sometimes.....

the digital age has made it much easier to compile what the media produces and it's funny to see the herd metality in alot of their product.

this is really funny when they all decide on a new word or phrase that they beat to death until something new comes along.....Laughs

Now that Cheney has rolled out of town....something new.....

Let's take bets on how many days Biden goes without putting his foot in his mouth??????

I'm thinking 10 days ....tops.....:)

New evidence on Antarctic warming

The Wilkins Ice Shelf is said to be "hanging by a thread" from the Antarctic Peninsula, the strip of land pointing from the white continent towards the southern tip of South America.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7843186.stm

Speaking of herd mentality...has anyone noticed the proliferation of a style of diction that is best exemplified by Rachel Maddow. It's this sort of halting, winking, shoulder-shrugging, tongue-in-cheek thing, with lots of little embedded asides and implied irony, etc. It's almost as if the speaker were having a dialogue with him or herself. I wish I could describe it better, but that's the best I can do. I first noticed it with her, and thought it was her unique, charming style...but it seems to be catching on elsewhere.

But the cadence of a typical Maddow sentence might be something like: "And if you are in fact....ummmm...looking for the real terrorist President Bush...youuuuuu might want to just check...well...your OWN MIRROR."

I know it when I see it. Another place it's popped up is with the little well-dressed yuppie spokesmodel in the Toyota Camry commercials.

Jax...Biden already sort of took a gratuitous whack at Chief Justice Roberts today that drew a lot of groans. Does this count?

http://www.politico.com/largevideobox.html?id=8694829001

Lard,
Laughs......I'm gonna watch but I have noticed that our New President speaks with alot of pauses in places I wouldn't expect.......

I'm wondering if SNL has picked up on it.......

Obama has the halting thing, but he doesn't have the ironic snark that's required.

The little Toyota spokesweenie does, though.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugural-images.html#comment-191949

Jax,

What I love is when someone whose job depends on informing the public really, really comes up short on the "Cultural Literacy" department. Matthews had one this morning describing one of the attendees at at the prayer celebration as "Indian, hindu, turban, ecumenical etc." being very bumbling and vague.

I'm sitting there going, "Sikh you doofus". Then towards the end of the show Matthews smoothly describes the same man as "Sikh" and you know some researcher or producer whispered into his ear mike.

Shouldn't fault him that much. He has to come up with commentary totally off the cuff as an event is happening and he really does do it well (when he isn't talking over and spitting on his guests), but I do love catching the boo boos.

Lard,

That's not really a good one.....by Biden standards.....
His past ones have set the bar pretty high.....

I'm thinking the euphoria of the new digs is going to send him into a really good one soon.....laughs

Jamie...on the other hand I noticed that Tweety did correctly characterize the Crusades as a conquest of Islam.

Okay Jax, we won't count it then. Still officially waiting for Biden's first Florsheim lunch.

Lard,

Yep.....we'll all keep a lookout......gotta run all .....fun as always

Hey, I just ran across a great article.
On topic for Craigs old media blog

And a new word

Agnotology: Culturally constructed ignorance, purposefully created by special interest groups working hard to create confusion and suppress the truth

"“People always assume that if someone doesn’t know something, it’s because they haven’t paid attention or haven’t yet figured it out,” Proctor says. “But ignorance also comes from people literally suppressing truth—or drowning it out—or trying to make it so confusing that people stop caring about what’s true and what’s not.”

http://www.wired.com/techbiz/people/magazine/17-02/st_thompson

Jack

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugural-images.html#comment-191951

Jax,

Can we count Jill's boo boo on Oprah? If so, game over. :-)

Jamie,

Absolutely Not........that's just wives prerogative...as any of us married guys will attest to........Laughs

Jack...I think the picture that needs to go next to that word in the dictionary is a portrait of Roger Ailes.

Lardo,

A lot of the Crusades was reclaiming property and it wasn't always in the hands of the Moslems.

http://www.rationalchristianity.net/crusades.html#history

Craig Crawford, you are a fucking idiot.

Lardo,

BTW, That site above is a super Christian site and I wish to state has nothing to do with my personal beliefs about anything. Purely provided for the historical context of the Pope and the crusades.

Seems that David Vitter voted against Hillary Clinton for Sec. State.

Apparently he will only vote for women who are going to perform sex acts on him and he will only do so with $100 bills...lol

Way to go Republicans in helping to build a bigger Dem. majority!!!

Hillary has been confirmed as SOS

94-2 Demint & Vitter voted no

"Several of us tried to tell the US what they might get if they elected him the first time but did they listen....Hell, NO! The second time they did it on their own."

Dooty -- you make me think of the great Billy Joe Shaver's "Black Rose" lyric:

Well the Devil made me do it the first time, the second time I done it on my own.

"Let's take bets on how many days Biden goes without putting his foot in his mouth??????

I'm thinking 10 days ....tops.....:)"

He already did make a wisecrack about John Roberts when he swore in the White House staff today. Obama didn't laugh.

"Craig's insane "Impeach Roberts" post this morning,"

Not insane. Hopeful. I'd vote for giving Roberts the bum's rush no matter what the charges.

Ah -- Lard -- I see you already noted that Biden comment...I thought it was funny. But as I said, I'mnot sure that the President did....

Jax said, "Dooty,

Don't understand the context....but ....Okay "

I am sure I had a point but damned if I can remember it. Disregard last transmission.

"Can we count Jill's boo boo on Oprah? If so, game over. :-)"

I watched that clip -- and given the look on her face, it wasn't a boo-boo. Jill's too smart for that. She was just tired of people saying Joe didn't have a very important role now. Bank on it.

"hallelujah!"

Indeed, indeed. Congrats Bethy!!

Dooty -- you make me think of the great Billy Joe Shaver's "Black Rose" lyric:

Well the Devil made me do it the first time, the second time I done it on my own.

Patsi,

Dang it can't slip anything by youse guys. Billy Joe Shaver is one of my favorite writers bar none.

"Billy Joe Shaver is one of my favorite writers bar none."

Same here Dooty. He is the Ritz.

Patsi,

I don't know the name of the movie but Shaver played a revival preacher in the movie. I would love to see it. Do you happen to know the name of the movie? I guess I could look it up but I am sorta lazy today. i think there is also a documentary about Shaver also.

I went and looked it up

The Apostle with Robert Duvall

the documentary is called A Portrait of Billy Joe. The documentary was directed by Luciana Pedraza. She is Duvall's wife if memory serves.

Looks like you're owed some apologies, Solar, though I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you:

Israel admits troops may have used phosphorus shells in Gaza
Amnesty warns Israel could be guilty of war crimes

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/21/gaza-phosphorus-shells

Well, Biden can crack all the jokes he wants about Roberts. However, Roberts is there for life, Biden has four years and possibly eight depending on how things go.

"A Portrait of Billy Joe"

Darn you, Dooty. I am trying to be so careful with spending after Christmas. But I just ordered it....

Thanks for that link on the Maddow impersonator, Rez.
She definitely has the look and the facial expressions nailed. She needs more work on the diction, though. She hasn't captured the essence of that yet.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugural-images.html#comment-191997

Champ no apology required.

No one ever said they did not do it, only that proof did not exist that it was used and that it would have to wait for international observers. Now it appears that some were used in contravention of agreements and that the events are under investigation.

Photographic evidence of injuries consistent with the use of ballistic white phosphorus was presented as proof, and was rejected by some people, won't name any names, as contrived propaganda. At least that's what I remember.

I said I wasn't naming any names, and you can dig through the posts yourself.

Caroline Kennedy advises Gov. Patterson that she
is withrdawing from consideration for Senate
as per New York Post.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/01212009/news/politics/caroline_kennedy_ends_senate_seat_bid_151234.htm

Obam retook the oath today in his office. The man just covers all the bases.

Better to withdraw and be thought a loser then actually be a loser. Apparently Mrs. Schlossberg did not have the "fire in the belly."

She'll get an ambassadorship or something.

Oh Good Lord, what is going on with Caroline? The excuse about Teddy is obviously contrived -- since the docs have now pronounced him hale and hearty.

Was Patterson actually about to stiff her, and this is a face saver? I think that is indeed what is going on here.

Unbelievable, given the way this story has evolved.

Or...maybe she's just pissed because the Obama girls are already WAY cuter even than she and John-John ever were!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugural-images.html#comment-191999

sorry I had no idea!

jax...

What we did to the Japanese during the war was wrong, however as far as I know we didn't Torture them.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Since Vitter wants to know how much money in going to the foundation and who the contributors are I say we should all email him and ask him how much money he was paying the prostitutes for sex while he was wearing a diaper of did he trade State Secrets for sex since spies use sex to gain access to State Secrets.

And who the prostitutes are and if he wrote the sex payments off as expenses that were charged to American Taxpayers.

But as I said above we must really investigate whether or not he traded State Secrets for sex since I don't believe that any American Prostitute would have sex with him in a diaper. He must be a Traitor.

Didn't Hoover use sex to get dirt on his political enemies? Just like spies do.

I can see you guys are on top of the Geithner hearing that went on today. Why no interest? I guess I am the lone woman public outrage over his nomination.

Champ

Thanks for that link about the white phosphorous,,,,I wish that I was wrong about it being used on women and kids,

Some wouldn't except the truth even if the bodies were stacked on their front porch,,,,but lets wait for the official report,,then the follow up response will be that the babies were hiding Hamas under their cribs.

Carol

here you go,,,,you asked for it!

the soldier and the nun

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A soldier ran up to a nun, out of breath, he asked, 'Please may I hide under your skirt? I'll explain later.'...........The nun agreed. A moment later two military police ran up and asked,'Sister have youseen a soldier?' .........The nun replied, 'He went that way.' After the MPs ran off, the soldier crawled out from under the skirt and said, 'I can't thank you enough sister. You see, I don't want to go to Iraq.' The nun said she understood completely. The soldier added, 'I hope I'm not rude, but you have a great pair of legs.' The nun replied, ' If you had looked a little higher, you would have seen a great pair of b---s.... I don't want to go to Iraq either.

Good one Solar.

Pool report of Pres. Obama re-taking the Oath:

At 7:35 p.m. Roberts adminstered the oath again to Obama in the map room.

Pres. Obama joked while sitting on a couch---"We decided it was so much fun"...

Roberts asked "Are you ready to take the oath?"

Pres. Obama replied "I am, & we're going to do it very slowly". It took 25 seconds.

Then Pres. Obama said "All right--- the bad news for the pool is there's 12 more balls."

http://thepage.time.com/pool-report-of-obama-re-taking-the-oath-of-office/

And here is the White House Counsel Greg Craig's statement on re-administering the Oath.

"We believe that the oath of office was administered effectively & that the President was sworn in appropriately yesterday.

But the oath appears in the Constitution itself.

And out of an abundance of caution, because there was one word out of sequence, Chief Justice Roberts administered the oath a second time,"

http://thepage.time.com/statement-from-white-house-on-re-administering-oath-of-office/

White Phosphorous or WP or, as we used to call it, Willie Peter was a multipurpose substance used for a number of purposes.

Most commonly, it was used as a spotting round when identifying targets for servicing by other ordnance.

Then it was a screening smoke intended to hide friendly forces from the enemies eyes.

And, lastly, it was stuff that set the napalm on fire when it hit the ground.

In all three of these roles it was more effective than the available alternatives.

We didn't regard it as being especially dangerous. If some of it was to get on your skin, just covering it with water would stop any burning until first aid could be sought. And, if, in the unlikely event that a chunk of it got on you, you could always pry it off with a knife.

The main thing was to keep air away from it as it would spontaneously ignite in the atmosphere. So, how would you keep it from drying out and igniting again. Easy, just give it a bath with a copper sulphate solution? That solution would create a permanent coating on the surface of the WP keeping it from reigniting.

It was quite useful for its intended purposes, but we didn't see it as being an offensive weapon as it simply didn't have the oomph to really service a target. We had much more destructive things for that purpose.

Carol -- I gotta admit, the Turbo Tax thing took me aback.

Freeze in Craigs home town tonight...
Get your oranges picked or keep em warm, cover the tropical plants, and turn on the sprinklers for that rare Florida ice show..... Yippeeeee

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugural-images.html#comment-192037

So lets hear from Mr President Transperancy Obama on why he has an unaccountable handling the accounting of our treasury

Maybe Hillpac is getting something from actblue.com

Check it out.... Peel the onion

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-klein/president-obama-fails-his_b_159661.html

Waiting for your contribution Bri

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/

Carol

Carol--

I think that you have a good point about Geithner and his tax problems,,,,,,,Im more bent out of shape by the large Corp,,,that pay no taxes at all,,,,Caterpillar,,,Ibm,,,Pepsi,to name a few that have subsidiary co's for tax shelters,,in other parts of the world,,,,some even got bail out
money
,,,Rupert Murdoch,,,,has a hopping 700 to 800 companies in about 12 -18 countries,,,,,they should not be allowed to escaped paying taxes like all of us,,,,,,lets see what Obama will do about this,,,,he had a lot of corp, $ that got him elected----just saying. Just remembered Motorola,Exrox,,General Electric....Time for a flat sales,,and a flat income tax,,,,

ct,
Saw Tim Geithner's hearing today-he takes full responsibility but it's hollow rhetoric since there are no consequences. No matter what party that's what they all say. He should pick someone else-where there's smoke etc...

joint appearance?

Thought you are a Bonger!

they should pay taxes like all of us

ct,
Your link was very interesting. I found this sentence particularly telling:
"Geithner didn't make one mistake. He committed multiple transgressions over the course of many years. To call them "an innocent mistake" is as insulting as deducting your kid's expensive summer away camp as a childcare expense, which Geithner tried to do. Furthermore, Geithner paid the majority of his missing taxes and penalties only after he was nominated to be Secretary of the Treasury. His situational ethics are directly at odds with the culture of personal responsibility that Obama has set as his foremost goal."

Yes AC and he does apologize for his mistake.

I heard tonight if you work for the IRS and don't pay your taxes, you lose your job. I guess Geithner is OK since he wasn't working there yet.

It is a ethics issue. It is a trust issue.

Obama: "Transparency and the rule of law will the the touchstone of this presidency"

Actions speak louder than words Mr. President.

Arsenic would work well

I really like Michelle. She is a neat lady. Behind every good man is a better woman. Sorry guys.

I also have a warm spot in my heart for Laura.

Yowza, Craig, "Roberts should be impeached and removed from office for this unforgivable error." I didn't think it was that big of a deal at least not compared to the past 8 YEARS. But they reprised the oath in private today. So it's very legal now.

I ODed on the Pres thing the past few days. But then, it took until seeing Obama in the Oval Office before it really sunk in.

HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN !!!

And his actions today with ethics, lobbyists, etc. is JUST what I needed to hear.

I'm happy, and the pix are nice. I saw a lot of Burberry scarves there. Is it a statement?

tt

for all those who thought i had lost my mind as of noon yesterday, can i get a round of 'i told you so'?

Obama Sworn In Again, Using the Right Words

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/21/AR2009012103685.html?hpid=topnews

Although i still think Roberts deserves to be fired

Hmmmm.....so 2 Million people watched Obama take the oath and it may have not been valid? So, he had to re-do it PRIVATELY! LOL

Me thinks 2 Million people who went to DC got ripped off! They should have at least televised the re-oath/re-do.

I hope Obama understands that when he screws up in his presidentail decisions, there are NO re-do's!

and by the way, i very much enjoyed the Biden Administration, thought he ruled for 24 hours with exceptional grace and honor

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/inaugural-images.html#comment-192017

LL exactly what I thought....

Craig, I am proud of you that you stopped smoking. I am on your side with impeach Roberts, but what is done is done.

Lampe I can understand your irritation at comments re: Palin, but she is in the public sphere and it goes with the territory.

It is 6 am, I'm still sick but the antibiotics are starting to do there thing. Having a gas station franchise, I have to open whether sick or not. It's been a challenge.

Try everyone to see the bright side of things. There are more important issues than some of the things we fight about. I just got an email from my sister regarding my first niece (born in Novemer 1981). She writes: " Anna has Follicular Lymphoma which is an incurable cancer that resides in the lymph nodes. It is incurable at this time but is 100% treatable...." All of us are distressed yet glad to hear it is 100% treatable. Currently no cure, but none of us can easily comprehend how a young mother with two babies can get stricken with this, especially since it usually doesn't strike until someone is well in their 50s. I am thankful that she has at least a modicum of health insurance.

Off to work.. sadly.

This yo-yo story is killing me! Shuster sent us scrambling to NYT for the Caroline no-go story, then an hour later she's back in it, but Slate is reporting she's out of the race...most MSM papers are keeping it off the pages for now...Patterson ? has he spoken? Well, back to the TV to find the latest....

Yes, I still say FIRE ROBERTS , too...although Obama was just jokin' 'round about it today.

I have to ask: Would any of you REALLY be happy to see Roberts impeached? I'm starting to get worried.

Bethy -- Congrats on the new baby! What fun!

(I'd like to see all of those right wing judges gone. Don't care if they are impeached or just do the "right" thing and resign! ha...)

Zoey -- Sounds like quite a time. That's making memories for a lifetime.

ET -- SO SORRY about your niece. Thankfully, it's treatable. But still, what a terrifying thing.

Lampe -- Glad you don't feel the need to apologize about defending Sarah Palin's kids receiving BS from the media and a few malcontents here. Those same people would be outraged if the same media snark was directed at Obama's children. And I would be outraged too. EVERY politician uses family to some extent. (The president invited photographers to his daughters' first day of school.)

That doesn't mean a-holes should declare open season on them.

(It's almost always done with female candidates. Just one more way to demean women, telling them they should just stay the hell home and be a good little wife and mom. BS.)