Charlie Savage of the NY Times explores the divisions within Team Obama over the legal basis some of our counter-terrorism policies. My favorite:
“I think the change in tone has been important and has helped internationally,” said John B. Bellinger III, a top Bush era National Security Council and State Department lawyer. “But the change in law has been largely cosmetic. And of course there has been no change in outcome.”
This will leave a mark, in the LUN
Posted by: narciso the harpoon | March 29, 2010 at 12:45 PM
Met WA state's national committeeman at our Lincoln Day Dinner a few weeks ago and asked him specifically about Mr Steele.
He said the R National Committee is very happy with the man.
There was no use in continuing the conversation.
Posted by: glasater | March 29, 2010 at 12:50 PM
After that, the next step should be breaking up the beltway and relocating the vast majority of the DC beaurcracy across the country. Leave DoD, the various Intel agency, and the DoJ in Washington, and send everyone else to new locations across the country with small liaison offices in DC. Force the government to live among the people.
Ranger,
This fits nicely with what I posted at You too today so I updated my post with your quote, I hope that is okay.
What is the real Prouty story - I don't remember it - and I'm reading really really fast so let me know if I missed it.
Posted by: Jane | March 29, 2010 at 12:53 PM
I always find it somewhat amusing when the "Mass Media Industrial Complex" portrays the militia in a bad light. The MMIC denigrates the militia whenever possible and fails to give them positive coverage when they do what they do best: Help during emergencies.
In Michigan by LAW, all able bodied MI Residents ages 18-60 who are not part of the MI National Guard or MI Volunteer Defense Force (MI-VDF) are automatically part of the unorganized militia. The unorganized militia can be called up by the MI Governor at any time to address specific issues occurring within MI.
Imagine the horror of the Latte Liberals at Starbucks if they were to find out they are all militia members! Heck, they have enough trouble trying to grapple with Open Carry.
Posted by: PDinDetroit | March 29, 2010 at 01:07 PM
I didn't know that, PD. So I was part of a militia for a while. Who knew?
Posted by: DrJ | March 29, 2010 at 01:16 PM
Here's something from some years ago, Jane
Posted by: narciso the harpoon | March 29, 2010 at 01:18 PM
Narciso,
I saw the 60 Minutes story last nite. They left no room for her to be culpable.
Posted by: Jane | March 29, 2010 at 01:30 PM
The ultra high spin state for Pelosium allows it exhibit a property known as "superposition", the ability to appear on both sides of any issue depending on the orientation of the observer. Unlike any other known high densisty element Pelosium can tunnel through political barrier walls by employing a mechanism called Maxine's Deemon.
Posted by: boris | March 29, 2010 at 01:39 PM
The Indictment against this MI-Based Militia Group is in the LUN.
Posted by: PDinDetroit | March 29, 2010 at 01:44 PM
DrJ - Many states have similar militia laws, you might want to check yours!
Posted by: PDinDetroit | March 29, 2010 at 01:46 PM
PD -
Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Jane | March 29, 2010 at 01:47 PM
Speaking of rhetoric, I'd add the subsequent paragraph to TM's excerpt:
It's not the policies, it's the appearances.The most revealing observation in the piece, however, is this one:
So much for "We are not a nation that does what’s easy." It seems like just yesterday that Obama claimed to be a strategic thinker, not not a lowly tactician. When it comes to anything international, this Administration is incoherent at a strategic level, incapable of consensus, and has been reduced a passive aggressive tactical approach on almost every front, where its myopic failures are piling up. It was an astonishing irony to hear Jarrett plug "divisions" in Iran as a positive development. Even back in the campaign, Obama was notorious for claiming other people's accomplishments as his own.Then we've got the "fierce debate on Israel underway inside Obama administration," where they've been treating Netanyahu like pond scum too, and just looking for ways to take offense. In a stunning new tactic:
Would that this were just voting present on steroids. Alas, it's the appearance of voting present when voting yes, this time. He'll get lots of sugar from the usual middle eastern suspects -- while they're doubling down on their own strategic interests unimpeded. If you want to add even more incoherence to that particular foreign policy pot, Obama has tried to solicit Chinese cooperation on Iran by warning that nobody knew what those crazy Israelis might do. We just saw how that's playing out, above.Meanwhile the White House is airing more nonconsensual laundry as the hopelessly overlapping and conflicting portfolios of Obama's own appointees are apparently as confusing to the West Wing as they is to our international "partners." Richard Holbrooke, as folks may recall, is virtually persona non grata in his putative AfPak domain. Now it's George Mitchell vs. Dennis Ross. Mitchell's bizarre proximity talks (a novel tactic!) are clearly winning the day, when an anonymous "U.S. offical" feels free to float the toxic dual loyalties slur on Ross.
Posted by: JM Hanes | March 29, 2010 at 01:53 PM
WMD, really, I think someone's been handling that Pelosium stuff, seems like overcharging, this seems there's less to this than the Zazi indictment
Posted by: narciso the harpoon | March 29, 2010 at 01:54 PM
Should have caught up on the thread before posting. I see that I'm late to Sue's U.N. party. ::g::
Late to PD's party too. Happy Birthday!
Posted by: JM Hanes | March 29, 2010 at 02:00 PM
Pelosium is definitely a By-Product of Administratium. LUN.
Posted by: PDinDetroit | March 29, 2010 at 02:02 PM
Right, PD -- I recognized the form. I still thought Pelosium was worthwhile to post.
If I have not done so earlier -- I wish you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Posted by: DrJ | March 29, 2010 at 02:05 PM
Happy birthday PD.
JMH,
It needs repeating.
Posted by: Sue | March 29, 2010 at 02:12 PM
A very happy birthday, PD, and many more.
MarkO - the Deems didn't have a candidate either when they were busy tarring GWB for 8 years. First the smearing has to be done, and then *anybody* will do. It worked.
Janet aka Arlington Babe - two photos have been removed from the Seachlight site you linked. Boo hoo.
Posted by: Frau Atomkraft | March 29, 2010 at 02:14 PM
I believe it is PD's Birthday, not PDinDetroit's birthday (mine is later in the year - November 11th). But thanks anyways!
Posted by: PDinDetroit | March 29, 2010 at 02:15 PM
Ah Holbrooke, the diplomat with the brilliant
insight, that every Pashtun has atleast one jihadist in their family, he's been hanging too much with Sheriff Joe
Posted by: narciso the harpoon | March 29, 2010 at 02:16 PM
Happy Birthday, PD.
Anyone mention how toxic Pelosium is?
Posted by: Old Lurker | March 29, 2010 at 02:17 PM
LOL
Who knew?
Posted by: Jane | March 29, 2010 at 02:18 PM
I declare today Semi-Annual National PD Day (SANPDD).
With 11 November the other SANPDD of course.
Posted by: hit and run | March 29, 2010 at 02:18 PM
PD,
That was my grandfather's birthday - and Veterans Day too.
Posted by: Jane | March 29, 2010 at 02:19 PM
Oops! The other PD is in Wisconsin, right? Mad City, IIRC.
Posted by: DrJ | March 29, 2010 at 02:29 PM
I pray daily that this current administration comes to their on-timely demise at the ballot box in November 2010. Best B-Day Present Evah!
I am concerned though that the Republic may not last that long. My democratic acquaintances cannot see past the nose on their face with this HCR Law in terms of constitutionality. So clear should it be, that Greenland still covered by ice should tell them all they need to know about Global Warming/Climate Change.
Posted by: PDinDetroit | March 29, 2010 at 02:35 PM
Valerie Jarrett: "...as he has consistently said..."
Good grief, the only consistent thing about Pres.Sux is his *inconsistency*. See bgates at 12:00.
Posted by: Frau Atomkraft | March 29, 2010 at 02:35 PM
For andurial:
An appropriately lengthy, off topic, Iraqi election Epilogue, now with bolding!
None of which is to say that al Sadr doesn't remain a potent threat, but it's worth noting that the Kurds won a significant 57 seats too. The real battle at the moment is the one between Maliki and Allawi:
Allawi, of course, will go first, unless Maliki's challenge meets with success. Both articles are worth a full read.
Posted by: JM Hanes | March 29, 2010 at 02:36 PM
Frau:
LOL. According to Michelle, even Pres. Sux sox sux.
Posted by: JM Hanes | March 29, 2010 at 02:38 PM
OL.
As far as I can tell the toxicity of Pelosium has not been determined. I do know that I would not want it in my lab, and I have some pretty nasty things lurking about!
Posted by: DrJ | March 29, 2010 at 02:55 PM
Pelosium is nasty, but it sure ain't pretty. Just the mere thought of seeing it has people running for the doors in droves.
Posted by: PDinDetroit | March 29, 2010 at 03:04 PM
narciso, it was great.
well, DoT after that sweet post, how can I continue being angry with you about the weight loss success?
I'm busy making my famous charoset today..It's a kind of fruit, wine and nut chutney for the seder I modified from a Roman recipe--I use tarter fruit than they do and home roasted hazelnuts, pecans (which I like better than walnuts) and almonds.Today I am making what should be a sufficient quantity for 45-60 people in the hope it will suffice for 32.They use cinnamon, sugar an nutmeg. I do, too, but I add cardamon.
Posted by: Clarice | March 29, 2010 at 03:14 PM
Posted by: Neo | March 29, 2010 at 03:19 PM
Welcome back, Clarice. The recipe sounds great!!
Posted by: DrJ | March 29, 2010 at 03:30 PM
Lovelock is, of course, a famous loon, but he snapped to the fact that wind and solar are unicorns and rainbows and started advocating nuclear about two years ago. Within the last month he's credited climate skeptics with keeping the debate sane. So, he's sort of my kind of famous loon, lately.
=============
Posted by: Look up the Roman root for Gaia. | March 29, 2010 at 03:39 PM
And besides, would Gaia be dumb enough to bring forth a race of creatures not smart enough to clean up after themselves.
=================
Posted by: Surely she doesn't want to keep licking us clean forever. | March 29, 2010 at 03:46 PM
Yeah, but the Gaia hypothesis was enough bad science for a generation, the pied piper of LSD, Owlsey has similar idiosyncratic stands, but he's a nut from a different tree
Posted by: narciso the harpoon | March 29, 2010 at 03:48 PM
Humans are too stupid to prevent climate change
Does that idiot concede that climate is changing all the time because of non-human factors? And by "too stupid", does he mean that lunatics like Weird Al have been confusing people with anti-science garbage?
Posted by: Captain Hate | March 29, 2010 at 03:50 PM
Thnx, Dr J.
Posted by: Clarice | March 29, 2010 at 04:02 PM
It's the South Beach Diet, Phase 1, Clarice. It's not a lot of fun, but it does work without leaving you hungry. Well, not unbearably hungry. Your recipes ain't making it any easier...
Posted by: Danube of Thought | March 29, 2010 at 04:10 PM
It's not her fault, kim, it's Prometheus'.
Posted by: Elliott | March 29, 2010 at 04:16 PM
Welcome back, Clarice. Did you enjoy Cabo? I always substitute pecans for walnuts - which seem to cause me irritation inside my mouth.
The chutney sounds yummy - what does it accompany in the Seder?
Posted by: centralcal will not comply | March 29, 2010 at 04:49 PM
I loved Cabo. My grand daughter rode a dolphin there and we had a great time.
The chaorset is a symbolic remembrance of the mortar the Egyptian slaves, aka our ancestors,used to build the pyramids. It's traditionally made with fruit and nuts and wine.
In northern countries(Ashkenazi Jews), it's usually chopped fresh apples, walnuts, sugar, sweet wine and cinnamon.In southern areas of the word (Sephardic Jews) its usually a sweet cooked jam of dates, figs,prunes, raisins, nuts, spices and wine. I make mine with tart fresh apples and pears, dried peaches, prunes, dried pears,apricots,apples,cranberries, cherries and hazelnuts, pecans, and almonds..etc. as described. This all gets cooked into a thick jam.
Charoset is served in the ceremony with the bitter herbs, but the guests usually also like some of mine as a sort of chutney accompaniment to the meat course or as a spread on the matzohs.
Posted by: Clarice | March 29, 2010 at 05:08 PM
Yummy mortar , clarice!
Now who will be attending Pres.Sux's seder and will there be food from Shelly's garden?
Posted by: Frau Geschäft | March 29, 2010 at 05:22 PM
WH bitter herbs?
Posted by: Frau Geschäft | March 29, 2010 at 05:24 PM
OT and for clarice *after* the big dinner:
sous vide DIY
LUN
Posted by: Frau Geschäft | March 29, 2010 at 05:35 PM
Hey, speaking of things happening to Republicans...
RNC Says Member Will Return $2,000 Reimbursed for Visit to Bondage Club
Posted by: Extraneus | March 29, 2010 at 05:38 PM
With your fuller description of your Charoset, I can think of all sorts of things it would go great with!
I have sadly been ignorant of many Jewish traditional dishes. Take for instance, matzohs. I thought they were a soft dumpling - can they also be drier, like bread or biscuits? If so, I would for sure be slathering on the Charoset.
Dang DoT - did he purposely lose a few pounds before a major eating holiday, just to make us all feel fat?
Posted by: centralcal will not comply | March 29, 2010 at 05:40 PM
Thanks, frau. I suppose the main thrill of sous vide though is buying yet another piece of pricey single purpose, impossible to store cooking equipment.
Posted by: Clarice | March 29, 2010 at 05:44 PM
"I am concerned though that the Republic may not last that long. My democratic acquaintances cannot see past the nose on their face with this HCR Law in terms of constitutionality."
PDinDetroit
Same here. No factual argument will budge them. These are intelligent people, but they are caught up in the cult of personality and convinced that the fight against HCR is just an effort to discredit Obama, the first black pres. I'd swear, they're channeling that nutcase, Obermann.
Posted by: Barbara | March 29, 2010 at 05:45 PM
Ranger,
This fits nicely with what I posted at You too today so I updated my post with your quote, I hope that is okay.
What is the real Prouty story - I don't remember it - and I'm reading really really fast so let me know if I missed it.
Posted by: Jane | March 29, 2010 at 12:53 PM
Please, post it everywhere you wnat! Glad to be of help in some small way.
Posted by: Ranger | March 29, 2010 at 06:23 PM
...is buying yet another piece of pricey single purpose, impossible to store cooking equipment.
Hah!I know why you mean, clarice. I've never seen one that I didn't want. My latest desire is the elusive Thermomix. It does everything but rotate the mattress.
LUN
You actually cook up a storm. I am looking for the appliance that will make my life easier. (I had one of the first Cuisenart machines which I used mainly to slice potatoes.)I would rather read about cooking than do it. In fact, I'd rather read than cook. My cardinal sin,if I had one, would be gluttony. (I'm sure my husband was hoping for another.)My father was a baker and my mother a professional cook. Newly wed in Germany, I used to dream of my m-i-l's gravy!
Posted by: Frau Geschäft | March 29, 2010 at 08:21 PM
If this is a duplicate, my apologies. I think Typepad ate my last comment. Either that or it put it in the Thermomix.
"My latest desire is the elusive Thermomix. It does everything but rotate the mattress."
Frau, LOL! I'm sending the link to my brother, the king of the FoodSaver Vacuum Sealers. He is gonna love this!
Posted by: Barbara | March 29, 2010 at 10:23 PM
Take for instance, matzohs. I thought they were a soft dumpling - can they also be drier, like bread or biscuits? If so, I would for sure be slathering on the Charoset.
You're confusing matzohs--an unleavened flatbread-- with matzoh balls which are a soft sort of savory dumpling made of matzoh meal (crushed up matzohs).
Posted by: Clarice | March 29, 2010 at 10:39 PM
Ah, I told you I was "ignorant."
Ben Smith over at Politico is giving Carly Fiorina a bad time over a "breaking bread" reference in her Passover statement. Anyway, he explains, as you do here, that Matza (so many different spellings!) is an unleavened cracker.
Now, from you, I also learn that matzoh meal is the crushed crackers. Did not know that!
Spending most of my adult life surrounded by Catholics in a small dairy/farm community with no Jewish population (that I know of), one didn't learn much about Jewish traditions, etc. I think every community benefits when there are more experiences, rather than less, alas. Saves us all from asking dumb questions - like mine about Matzohs! grin
Posted by: centralcal | March 30, 2010 at 02:25 PM