No More Mister Nice Blog

A couple of good ones from "NO MORE MR NICE BLOG"

"Reporting Half-Truths" or "This is not a Political Event, wink, wink"

"Them Right-Wingers is Crazy"

Mexico Captures Top Drug Trafficker

NPR was playing this story like it was a big win for Mexico and the US drug war but I'd guess there are plenty of lower-level cartel members ready to move into this newly-opened position.

Mexico captures top drug trafficker - Americas - Al Jazeera English

The drug cartels will be around as long as there is demand and drugs are illegal. The demand isn't going away so the only answer is to decriminalize the product. Legalization of the product would turn the drug cartels into legitimate businesses with their turf protected by laws rather than guns and violence.

Take That, President Obama

They don't really want peace. They want the land.

Netanyahu: I never promised to extend West Bank settlement construction freeze - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

Glenn Beck

A good summary of the Glenn Beck show at Washington this weekend at The Daily Beast

It made me wonder if Glenn Beck has ever watched the Glenn Beck show.

The man offers a daily drumbeat of division for a living, earning $32 million last year selling his paranoid snake oil. It’s almost impossible to keep up with Beck’s serial fearmongering, though a stroll through Media Matters will give an authoritative sampling. Just a few of his greatest hits include:

• “We are a country that is headed toward socialism, totalitarianism, beyond your wildest imagination.”

• “There is a coup going on. There is a stealing of America… done through the guise of an election.”

• “The president is a Marxist... who is setting up a class system.”

• “The government is a heroin pusher using smiley-faced fascism to grow the nanny state."

• “The health-care bill is reparations. It's the beginning of reparations."

• And of course, speaking of President Obama, “I believe this guy is a racist” with “a deep-seated hatred of white people.”

You can’t profit from fear and division all week and then denounce them one Saturday on the National Mall in Washington and hope nobody notices.

But Beck sure tried,.....

Christian Terrorist?

I wouldn't be surprised that by the end of 2010 there will have been more acts of terrorism against Muslims than by Muslims.

Fire at Tenn. Mosque Building Site Ruled Arson - CBS News

America, we used to be the good guys.

The Truth ! we don't need no stinking truth!

The US enters it Dark Age: Political Irony

Is good commentary on this Building a Nation of Know-Nothings - NYTimes.com

Student Loans in America

Some good numbers on student loans in the US.

Graduating From IOU: Student Loans in America | MintLife Blog | Personal Finance News & Advice

Robert Reich: Why Boehner's Blaming Bureaucrat

I generally don't like Robert Reich's blogging all that much, he's a little too much of an Old-School liberal for me, sort of stuck in the 70's, but this is pretty good.

Robert Reich: Why Boehner's Blaming Bureaucrats

I especially liked this paragraph. I rarely see the left use good, clean, simple arguments like this.

As far as I can tell, all Republican want to do is to privatize Social Security, extend the Bush tax cuts to the richest 3 percent of Americans, and deregulate. But none of this seems particularly relevant to the task at hand.

Mitch Daniels - Hypocrite

Mitch Daniels, the Right-wing, Small Government, Anti-Obama, Anti-Stimulus, Athiest-hating, Christian Jihadist Governor of Indiana has added another word to this description,... "Hypocrite"

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels says he will ask the federal government to send the state more than $435 million in additional stimulus money for schools and Medicaid.

Daniels has publicly railed against the newly approved $26 billion stimulus package, which would steer about $227 million to Indiana for Medicaid and $207 million for education.

Federal officials said last week that governors must ask for the Medicaid money to get it, which put Daniels and some other governors in a tough spot because they had criticized the new round of stimulus dollars.

Daniels said Tuesday during a stop near Corydon that he still questions whether the stimulus package is wise. But he said Congress has acted, so Indiana will seek the money.

Daniels says Indiana will seek new stimulus money pal-item.com Palladium-Item

He's now

"Mitch Daniels, the Hypocritcal, Right-wing, Small Government, Anti-Obama, Anti-Stimulus, Athiest-hating, Christian Jihadist Governor of Indiana"

Middle East Peace

So we're trying to get peace talks going again and the US asks both parties not to do anything that might jepardize the talks.

Here

Mitchell has reportedly told both Netanyahu and Abbas that the Obama administration expects that after the start of direct talks, both sides will refrain from taking any steps to compromise the progress of negotiations

and Here

The Obama administration expects Israel to refrain from making any move that could potentially damage peace talks with the Palestinians once they begin, United States Middle East envoy George Mitchell has told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mitchell conveyed the same message to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas

The Palestinians have said that if Israel renews building in the settlements, the peace talks are off. Quote below found Here

In recent days, Abbas has made clear that if Israel renews building in West Bank settlements, after a 10-month freeze on settlement construction on September 27, the Palestinian Authority will abandon the direct peace talks.

The US says the settlements are illegitimate. Found Here

The official said that the U.S. position on the settlements is already known and has not changed. He clarified by saying that the U.S. views Israeli settlement building as illegitimate.

So,... what's the big story on HAARTZ today. Here

(Israel's)Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Wednesday that there was no reason why building should not restart in the major West bank settlement after a 10-month freeze expires next month.

So,.....do you still think Israel really wants peace?

Wikileaks - Julian Assange

A different view of Wikileaks and Julian Assange.

Global Guerrillas: GLOBAL GUERRILLA: Julian Assange

Amazing Pool Shots

I'll bet we'll be seeing this guy on TV soon.

Planting the Seeds

Growing future terrorists aljazeera.net

On both sides really. We're pissing off Muslims around the world but also teaching a whole generation US kids that its OK to hate Muslims.

What will happen first? A Muslim attack on the US or an attack on Muslim property here in the US by a Christian militant?

Religion sure causes a lot of problems.

Wikileaks - with updates

This will be worth watching. Did he do it or did the powers that be in the US set him up to shut him up? My money's on "he's being set up".

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange accused of rape | Media | guardian.co.uk

and from the BBC

UPDATE:
Something odd is going on. Now they have cancelled the arrest warrant.

Aljazeera: Assange

What's in it for Them

A good idea but I'd bet there's a better chance of me becoming the Pope than this actually happening.

Richard's Real Estate and Urban Economics Blog: Bill Gross' big idea

Ground Zero Mosque

The Daily Mash - OUTRAGE OVER PLANS TO BUILD LIBRARY NEXT TO SARAH PALIN

American Royalty

This Post at TPM.

Fox's Parent Company Not The Only News Outlet Funding Gov Races | TPMMuckraker#more

has the following paragraph.

Nathan Daschle, the head of the Democratic Governors Association, requested in a letter to Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes that the network add a formal disclaimer to its coverage whenever a program covers governors or gubernatorial races until Election Day.

Nathan Daschle is ex-senator Tom Daschle's son. His mother is a lobbyist.

I also found this: President Daschle?

and this,.. Nathan talking about politics

“It’s of no interest to me. I could say that without hesitation,” the younger Daschle said of holding elected office. “It’s too much of a sacrifice. I’m not willing to make it. The price of success is immense sacrifice.”

(emphasis mine).

He may be a great guy but i doubt he'd be where he is now if not for the power, money and influence of his parents. I think I would append this to his quote above.

"the price of success is immense sacrifice," on the part of your parents.

A well connected son of power and money. More American royalty.

The Fox News Party?

Three of the top four republicans choices for 2012 are Fox News employees. Hell, might as well let Hannity or o'Rielly be the VP.

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/node/39096

A Better Headline?

I think there are better headlines for this story.

FOXNews.com - Nearly 1 in 5 Americans Thinks Obama Is Muslim, Survey Shows

How about...

"20 Percent of Americans Are Stupid"

or,......

"We allow these people to vote?"

or,......

"Fox News and The Right Wing Noise machine has done its Job"

Ground Zero Mosque - Part 2

More questions for right wingers. these directed at The Dumb One.

From Billablog: Legitimate Questions for Sarah Palin

You believe in the US constitution, don't you? You believe in people's freedom to worship as they see fit? If so, what's the problem?

You believe in small government, right? You believe that big government should get out of people's lives, don't you? If so, then what business does the president have in telling anyone what they should build where?

You make an interesting point that having the right to do something doesn't mean you should. Would you extend the same principle to – oh, let's say – gun control as well? Or would that be an attack on freedom and a trashing of the constitution? How can you try to have it both ways?

And you believe in the free market don't you? So if you object to the owners' plans for the site, why not just outbid them? Why not let the market decide?

In short, how can you justify a position on this issue that contradicts your positions on just about everything else?

Dan Senor

Top Ways Dan Senor Could have avoided offending Iraqi Muslims - from Jual Cole

Dan Senor- Israeli Propagandist he hits all the media outlets. He is married to CNN's news personality Campbell Brown.

How can we trust any of the Political/Media Elites.

Megan McArdle Smackdown

Everyone should read this take-down. Remember it whenever you read or hear any piece from any media. A large portion of the time the writer has no clue about the subject at hand.

From GinAndTacos: Megan McArdle Smackdown

Ground Zero Mosque ?

Any media elite or general nut-case who is against the building of the "Ground Zero Mosque" should be asked these questions.

From FDL

1. Since the proposed site for the Park51 worship space is 2 blocks away from Ground Zero, why do you keep calling it the “Ground Zero Mosque”?

2. What precisely is an acceptable distance from the former site of the World Trade Center for Muslims to practice their religion? (Terms like “so close” or “in the shadow of” or “steps away” are obviously subjective.)

3. Is there a difference between violent Islamic extremists and mainstream Muslims?

4. If your answer to #3 is “yes,” why is there an objection to Muslims practicing their religion in Lower Manhattan?

5. Since Muslims have been holding religious services at Park51 for over a year, should they be stopped?

6. As Park51 is private property, are you in favor of the government regulating how the space is utilized?

don't ya just love religious wars?

Managed Ignorance

Originally from here: Ordinary Gentlemen

But tied nicely to the master ignorant manager here: uggabugga

Media Loyalty

Well put, from Balloon Juice

One should always remember with Fallows, with Klein, with nearly all establishment bloggers and opinion writers, that their loyalty is to their career and their clan, not to their country, not to mankind, not to the truth, and certainly not to you, the reader.

Progress? Maybe in Mexico.

Mexico debates legalizing Marijuana

Meanwhile, Israel continues to act like an asshole.

No Peace unless we get to keep your land: Netanyahu rejects peace talks based on 67 borders.

Lebanon better sit down and shut-up: Israel hands Lebanon and ultimatum. - Israel threatens to destroy hostile Lebanese border positions

The apartheid continues: Arab's can't attend university unless they have served in Isreaeli army.

The Gaza prison camp will continue: IDF Chief - Future Gaza Flotillas will be blocked by Israeli Defensive Shield

And,... We'll use snipers on the next peace-activist flotilla: Snipers

And,... We're attacking Iran next year whether the US likes it or not.

Unless, of course, we can get the US to attack them first.

Let's really piss them off - part 2

I guess while we're waging war on two middle eastern states (Iraq and Afghanistan), threatening war with a third (Iran), we might as well piss-off a couple of other countries in the region (Turkey and Lebanon).

The drumbeat to attack Iran goes on, by Jeffrey Goldberg - America's favorite Israeli prison Camp guard

US court enforces Turkish Genocide claim.



US Freezes Aid to Lebanon

Let's really piss them off.

There are about a billion Muslims on this planet and it looks like the crazy people here in the US want to piss them all off.

US Church plans to burn the Koran

Anti-mosque ads in NYC

More American Royalty

Dan Quayle's son is running for congress in Arizona.

Has he ever had a real job or has he been raised to be part of the US royalty governing elite?

Gawker.com: Dan Quayle's son

Obama - Anti-Business ?

The anti-business president's pro-business recovery

Religious Wars - Christian Jihadists

The right's ingenious campaign to turn one billion people into our sworn enemies. | Crooks and Liars

Mitch Daniels - Christian Jihadist

Since he was interviewed on the national media this weekend, (Fox, I think) I thought I'd bring up my favorite "Mitch Daniels" quote.

atheism leads to brutality. All the horrific crimes of the last century were committed by atheists -Stalin and Hitler and Mao and so forth- because it flows very naturally from an idea that there is no judgment and there is nothing other than the brief time we spend on this Earth.

from .. Daniels talks candidly about his faith

Hey Mitch, Have you ever thought about how many people have died at the hands of Christianity through the ages?

Mitch Daniels can kiss my atheist ass.

Legalize It !

It looks like I'm not the only one who thinks legalizing pot would help solve Mexico's Drug Cartel/Violence problem.

Sign the Petition to President Obama: End the War on Marijuana | FDL Action

Run Government Like a Business

"Run Government Like a Business" = Deficit Spending | Angry Bear

Employers can't find Workers?

A good analysis of a MSM article.

Why is the Journal Mystified that Some Employers Are Having Trouble Finding Workers? « naked capitalism

Terrorist or Not ?

Who said this? From the Terrorism quiz found here at Informed Comment

“To watch the courageous Afghan freedom fighters battle modern arsenals with simple hand-held weapons is an inspiration to those who love freedom.”

It was the great Ronald Reagan: President of the United States, 1981-1989.

"One man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist."

I said that...

A few Late Night Links

Deficit Spending at Demand Side Blog

This, from Doctor Housing Bubble is depressing. Second Half Recovery 2010

Some good pictures of the Old-Time USA: Here

Interfluidity. Always interesting

Those crazy Elites

So the fired retiring HP guy, Mark Hurd will get a 50 million dollar severance package including 12 million in cash: Mark Hurd Severance Package

An average US household would have to work 1000 years to make what this guy made last week for getting fired.

And our government is arguing over whether the tax rates on these rich bastards should be raised a couple of percent.

Meanwhile, cities and states are cutting services for lack of funds. Glenn Greenwald

The working man doesn't stand a chance.

Drowning in Deficits

Drowning in Deficits

© Matt Wuerker

Oppression

What it's like to be a Palestinian kid and watch you dad be taken away by Israel Soldiers.

A Little Humor

The Azbilliard's "Funny pic/gif thread", started on March 20, 2008

Page 1

and 2.5 years, 424 pages later,... still going strong.

Page 424

Pool Players are relentless,... funny too.

Unemployment

From Martin Ford: Unemployment: The Economists Just Don't Get It

.... which is that advancing technology is the primary culprit. I've been arguing that as machines and software become more capable, they are beginning to match the capabilities of the average worker. In other words, as technology advances, a larger and larger fraction of the population will essentially become unemployable.

and then from The Booman Tribune

Retail salespersons and cashiers had employment levels of 4.2 and 3.4 million, respectively; these two occupations combined represented almost 7 percent of total employment in the private sector. The third largest private sector occupation, combined food preparation and serving workers, with employment of 2.5 million, accounted for slightly more than 2 percent of total employment in the private sector.

And from TNB....

When technology takes over serving at fast food chains and cashiering, we're really in trouble.

Those Crazy Republicans

Another assault on Republican fiscal policies, from a republican.

Stockman: How the GOP Destroyed the U.S. Economy

Is there a push from moderate Republicans to take back their party from the religious right, wing-nut, Teabaggers or is this just a ploy to look somewhat reasonable to attract the middle in the coming election?

Our Debt - Who's Responsible?

From the Booman Tribune

Here's some historical fact. In the Roosevelt/Truman term from 1945-1949, public debt dropped twenty-four percent. During Harry Truman's full-term (which included most of the Korean War), public debt dropped twenty-two percent. During Dwight Eisenhower's two terms, public debt dropped by 11% and 5%, respectively. During the Kennedy/Johnson term, public debt dropped eight percent, and it dropped 8% during LBJ's full term (which included the beginning of the Vietnam War). During Nixon's first term (which included the remainder of our major involvement in Vietnam), public debt dropped three percent. It wasn't until the Nixon/Ford term from 1973-1977, that our debt rose, and it rose a meager 0.2 percent. Jimmy Carter dropped the public debt 3.3%, despite a very weak economy.

This was our history until Ronald Reagan came to power. During Reagan's two terms our public debt increased eleven percent and nine percent, respectively. Under George H.W. Bush, our debt increased fifteen percent. This was rectified under Bill Clinton, whose two terms delivered a one percent and seven percent reduction in our public debt. And then came George W. Bush.

In Bush's first term, our public debt increased seven percent. During his second term, our debt increased by a post-war record of twenty-percent.

For those of you reading along, the history is that no Democratic administration in the post-war era has ever completed a term in office with the public debt higher than when that term began. The same can be said for Dwight Eisenhower. However, public debt rose during every Republican term since Nixon's first ended in 1973.

The Middle Class

The state of the middle class in America? It ain't good....

Financial Times

LIving Paycheck to Paycheck

This is a little scary?

Living Paycheck to Paycheck

Nearly a quarter of the workforce said they have postponed their planned retirement in the past year and a CareerBuilder.com survey reports that 61 percent of workers say they are now living paycheck to paycheck, as compared to 43 percent in 2007.

More about it here: DailyFinance.com

61% today it was 43% just two years ago. I'd like to know what it's been historically.