Saturday Morning Open Thread

Away we go.

Comments

[Sandy Daze]

17 July 2010
Baghdad

hi all,

As if you are interested, but who knows? Here goes. Spent last weekend in Lebanon. Arrived Friday afternoon, departed Tuesday morning. Three big trips, one World Cup final and one movie (Karate Kid, lots of fun)—can't really pack much more into a three day vacation.

Saturday, 10 July to the beach in Tyr, Sunday to a winery on the western slop of the Bekaa Valley and Monday up to Tripoli. Lebanon still has some of the best if not THE best liberty in this part of the world.

It is worrisome, though, having been now so many years from the civil war and the 2006 kinetics, that something is in the offing sooner rather than later. Anyone who has any insight to the labyrinthine politics and an estimate when the rebuilding will stop and the destructive process beginning again, please let me know.

Meanwhile, at LUN, you will find a several images and a fuller description of the trip.

Take good care,
Sandy

BTW – I recall some discussion about temps a week or so ago, FWIW, only 113F & 8% humidity today at 1600.

[hrtshpdbox]

This LUN article is the scariest thing I've read from Krauthammer, and it makes perfect sense. Obama would prefer a GOP Congress for the next two years, the better to have straw men to blame for everything (Bush-bashing being decidedly long in the tooth). Obama knows that the next two years will be dead ones legislatively anyway, and he's only interested in the further damage he can cause from '12-'16. Reagan undone, statism irrevocably installed, mission accomplished. Brrrrr!

[Sandy Daze]

PS:

-16 today

also, overall approval<-->disapproval is at -11

[Melinda Romanoff]

Stay safe, Sandy.

[narciso the harpoon]

I have a lot of admiration for Krauthammer, but seriously, they aren't going to wait till 2012, they need to be checked at every level,
only keeping up a mobilized opposition is the only solution, that's the lesson from the Contract period, and from the Bush interlude

[Janet]

Just a general observation. The over-the-top Obamafest is still MIA at the WaPo. They really seem to have dropped Obama, and just refer to the administration instead.
Just a small picture of the Obama family going on vacation.

[Captain Hate]

I admire Krauthammer as well, narc, but he's been remarkably tone-deaf on a lot of things in the last 2 years. To his credit, he doesn't have trouble admitting fallibility, but I'd rather that he gets it right from the outset.

[narciso the harpoon]

Just a tiny snippet of rapid response, in the new era, in the LUN

[Clarice]

narciso, the WaPo has an article today about a new Spanish language conservative radio station. You ought to contact them and write for them.

ice to hear from you , Sandy.

[hrtshpdbox]

"I'd rather that he gets it right from the outset."

He seems, to me, to get it right more often than most do. But where is he wrong with this particular theory? I think Congressional Dems are slowly realizing (with appropriate horror) that O doesn't care a bit if they lose their jobs in 14 weeks, and might actually prefer that they do.

[narciso the harpoon]

It is in his mode as community organizer, he's already demonizing the GOP even though they are in control of nothing at this point,
'pick, polarize, isolate' His most effective
sparring partner, doesn't even hold office, It's ultimately a fatalist strategy

[Captain Hate]

But where is he wrong with this particular theory?

We'll have to see in this case, but he was wrong on the Tea Parties and Palin; maybe more but those are two off the top of my head in which he was surprisingly tonedeaf. Like I said, he doesn't have any problem admitting when he's wrong, but the same criticism I've leveled at Noonan should be aimed at him as well when appropriate.

[Jack is Back!]

If Obami is doubling down on who is better able to bring the economy back from its death spiral, then he really is as naive as we have suspected even more so. Europe, even as dysfunctional as its central bank and overstuffed Commission is, it is still on a better track of deficit reduction, lower taxes, more competitiveness, less regulation (yes, in some quarters it is actually improving). He is out of his league literally and figuratively now that Zapetaro has seen the light. In Europe they are all Hayekians now. How long it will last is hard to tell. The UK is already running into dissent from the pensioners quarter since the coalition government has decided to follow Labor's lead and continue phasing out free bus passes to those younger than 65. Saves 1 billion quid. Not a happy aging population but then they are trying to make the NHS mores user friendly by giving the GP's more say in budgets and spending. Follow all this since it is coming to a Main St. near you in the close future.

[narciso the harpoon]

Thanks for the tip, Clarice, I'll check it out

[hrtshpdbox]

"he was wrong on the Tea Parties and Palin"

You're right, point taken, I'd forgotten how dismissive and sniffy and downright elitist he was regarding Palin. She's always going to be underestimated by the mainstream wonks, though (hopefully right up until the day when she says "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office...").

[Old Lurker]

"They really seem to have dropped Obama, and just refer to the administration instead."

It's about Hilary 2012 now, Janet.

[narciso the harpoon]

The left never forgets who bested them, hence the almost Minitrue revisionism in the LUN

[narciso the harpoon]

You know, 'credentialed moronism' creeps up in the oddest places, the new series by Doug Liman, which has Valerie Plame as an advisor
(who would have guessed, except Penn State isn't known as a CM repository), has a reference to Boston College's law school

[Rick Ballard]

"But where is he wrong with this particular theory?"

Source of OPM. As JiB notes, the euros are acknowledging that the OPM well is dry. The commiecrat dream of increasing dependency (and their client base) depends upon their ability to suck the lifeblood from the productive. The proper reaction by a thinking host to an increase in parasites is to restrict access. One means of doing so is to defer purchases (goods will be cheaper tomorrow anyway) which reinforces a deflationary trend. Top line numbers on the current earnings reports indicate that the process is well underway in the capital goods market.

The latest FOMC report tacitly acknowledges what is happening and I'm beginning to wonder if Uncle Ben is going to have his helicopter grounded by a majority of the governors.

[narciso the harpoon]

You know, maybe they should have looked at the Charlie Rose interview before they vetted
her, UVA is not getting a good reputation here

[hrtshpdbox]

"The commiecrat dream of increasing dependency (and their client base) depends upon their ability to suck the lifeblood from the productive."

Well, sure, this is why socialism never works (nothing says it better than Maggie T's "The trouble with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money"). I think Krauthammer is saying it's Obama's plan (and that he might get re-elected), not that it will result in a thriving economy.

[Captain Hate]

I think Krauthammer is saying it's Obama's plan (and that he might get re-elected), not that it will result in a thriving economy.

I don't see how Bammy gets re-elected with a sour economy. I regard Caville as an inarticulate boob who is a blight on intelligent discussions of politics and whose perfect job is shilling for SEC football; but he got it right on "It's the economy stupid". If I'm wrong we may as well lower the flag for the last time and bend over.

[anduril]

"Important as they are, our political divisions are the iceberg's tip. When pollsters ask the American people whether they are likely to vote Republican or Democrat in the next presidential election, Republicans win growing pluralities. But whenever pollsters add the preferences "undecided," "none of the above," or "tea party," these win handily, the Democrats come in second, and the Republicans trail far behind. That is because while most of the voters who call themselves Democrats say that Democratic officials represent them well, only a fourth of the voters who identify themselves as Republicans tell pollsters that Republican officeholders represent them well. Hence officeholders, Democrats and Republicans, gladden the hearts of some one-third of the electorate -- most Democratic voters, plus a few Republicans. This means that Democratic politicians are the ruling class's prime legitimate representatives and that because Republican politicians are supported by only a fourth of their voters while the rest vote for them reluctantly, most are aspirants for a junior role in the ruling class. In short, the ruling class has a party, the Democrats. But some two-thirds of Americans -- a few Democratic voters, most Republican voters, and all independents -- lack a vehicle in electoral politics."

[narciso the harpoon]

True, but with Carville even the truth is hidden by a lie, the recession was over by
the end of the campaign, yet they were playing it like it was '32 all over again.

[narciso the harpoon]

If you're going to cite Codevilla's excellent
piece, do us the decency of Luning it

[Captain Hate]

Well yes, narc; I don't consider the serpent a source of anything other than basic political strategy. Having the utterly uninspiring Poppy Bush running against Slick was a gift that the smartest piece of white trash from Hope, Arkansas benefitted from as well.

[narciso the harpoon]

I'm dissapointed, although not surprised they
are taking up Abigail's opposition to the Panther brouhaha, well when everything is a hammer

[Captain Hate]

I've gotta go out but in my absence would somebody please explain where Abigail is coming from?

[Ignatz]

Usually, Mars.

[Clarice]

Abigail, who is not from Mars, is contending that the NBP case --from the Commission's point of view--is small potatoes compared to the administration's efforts to extend its reach over redistricting.

She was instrumental in pushing the subpoena and demanding an explanation of the Dept's conduct and departure from racial neutrality, but she does have a point. The Commission and the public shuld not lose sight of the even bigger troublemaking by DoJ.

[narciso the harpoon]

She's being awfully theoretical and legalistic, if they can do this in an overwhelming majority Democratic district where they should have no need, where wouldn't they try something like that

[Ignatz]

Sorry. Didn't read the whole thread. I thought Abigail was CH's new nickname for anduril.
But like bubu I stick to my claim even though it has been proven false.

[narciso the harpoon]

True, and too many on Hot Air and other sites are already 'reading her' out of the movement, but it's hard to illustrate the
latter example, except, Johnson, McKinney,
Jackson Lee, the end product of this behavior

[Jane]

Sandy, loved the slide show - thanks!

has a reference to Boston College's law school

And what is it they said about my alma mater?

[Danube of Thought]

Take a look at Paul Ryan's Roadmap (at your leisure--it's not a quick read).

Imagine that on January 20, 2012 we have a Republican president and congress. Would they enact that Roadmap? (In the process they would necessarily be repealing Obamacare and much more.)

Imagine that a national referendum were held, up or down, on its enactment. Would a majority approve?

[MayBee]

Sandy "BTW – I recall some discussion about temps a week or so ago, FWIW, only 113F & 8% humidity today "

Clarice "ice to hear from you , Sandy."

cool typo.

It is indeed ice to see you, Sandy

[Danube of Thought]

Sandy, it's always great to hear from you.

True coincidence: after posting at 12:49 I went to HotAir, where Ryan himself discusses the choices, which he sees as imminent and unavoidable.

[Danube of Thought]

Link to Ryan at HotAir.

[anduril]

Not only does Netanyahu have Obama's number--he has all America's number, too: Netanyahu: 'America is a thing you can move very easily'. Feel the contempt.

[Captain Hate]

Contempt? I think he's spot on; two years ago we elected a borderline illiterate with absolutely no accomplishments other than an abundance of self-worship to lead the country. Do you regard that as admirable?

[boris]

"... he's spot on; two years ago we elected a borderline illiterate with absolutely no accomplishments other than an abundance of self-worship ..."

Good point. Over to you Elf Lord.

[bgates]

where is he wrong with this particular theory?

He's saying that just as Reagan got reelected - on the strength of the fact that his first-term measures were turning the economy around, and his stalwart resistance to our enemies abroad - and Clinton got reelected - on the strength of the fact that the triangulation forced on him by the second half of his first term was turning the economy around, and Reagan's previous stalwart resistance meant we could pretend we had no more enemies abroad - so Obama will be reelected - despite the fact that he's ideologically committed to making the economy worse, and he rather likes our enemies abroad.

[Old Lurker]

Boris, you and Cap'n are poking sticks in a cage. Bored today?

[Captain Hate]

Btw thanks for the comments on Abigail, who I have always regarded as being on our side. I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt because I realize the Repukes that are in positions of responsibility could completely misplay an ordinarily foolproof advantage. And if those clowns at Hot Air are coming down hard on her, I'd regard that as another point in her favor.

[Jane]

I just updated my Firefox and it took away my tool bar. Anyone know how to unupdate?

[anduril]

Contempt? I think he's spot on; two years ago we elected a borderline illiterate with absolutely no accomplishments other than an abundance of self-worship to lead the country. Do you regard that as admirable?

1. two years ago we elected a borderline illiterate

1a. While Obama has proved to be destructive beyond even my high expectations, it's childish, inaccurate and probably racist-motivated to call him "borderline illiterate."

1b. While we're speaking of "borderline illiterate," Netanyahu was speaking in 2001, as Glenn Kessler explicitly states. Who was president when Netanyahu expressed such open contempt for American? Let's see...

2. Contempt? I think he's spot on

2a. You apparently share the contempt that Netanyahu expressed for George Bush's America, in 2001.

2b. I happen to agree that Netanyahu is "spot on". When it comes to foreign policy, Netanyahu and the Likud Lobby pwn America.

[bgates]

The Commission and the public should not lose sight of the even bigger troublemaking by DoJ.

And her method of ensuring attention is paid to the troubles at Justice is to loudly deride the suggestion of the appearance of impropriety in the one DoJ case the Commission and the public are paying any attention to in the first place. If she's not on Mars, she should be sent there.

[anduril]

Boris, you and Cap'n are poking sticks in a cage. Bored today?

anduril is uncaged, and not likely to be caged by the likes of mopes like you.

[DrJ]

Jane,

For the text formatting toolbar go here.

[Clarice]

bgates, I'll grant she's made smarter comments and moves than this.

[boris]

anduril is unhinged, and not likely to be rehinged anytime soon.

[Ignatz]

--and probably racist-motivated to call him "borderline illiterate."--

--2a. You apparently share the contempt that Netanyahu expressed for George Bush's America, in 2001.

2b. I happen to agree that Netanyahu is "spot on".--

Now bgates is sock puppeting bubu, sock putteting anduril.

[verner]

Well, it seems that the commie lover (yes, that's right, she's married to one!) Dana Priest-Goodfellow is at it again. This time, she'll attempt to out every contractor who works for the guvment on intelligence. That should help keep America SAFE!!!!!

I wonder how much Fidel has put into that ho's bank account? Or maybe it's Putin. And who in the Obama administration (who wants to destroy America) is feeding her the info?

The list is LOOOONG.....

[DrJ]

Jane,

I re-read your message. No need to roll back to a previous version of Firefox. Just reinstall the toolbar.

I'm on Firefox 3.6.6, and the toolbar works just fine.

[verner]

Look Anduril, when the left called Bush semi-illiterate, was it racist?

Case Closed.

Oh, and I dislike the white half as much as I do the black half.

[Danube of Thought]

Jane, that's the problem I emailed you about a couple of days ago. My toolbar (1.4.10) was incompatible with the new Firefox 3.6.6. I ended up uninstalling 3.6.6, then installing 3.5.10, and reinstalling 1.4.10.

I was unaware of the 1.4.12 to which DrJ linked. Please let me know if it works for you with 3.6.6.

[BB Key]

Looks like to me that once they got Ken Salazar's boot off the neck of BP. The private sector has done a decent job of engineering and fabricating from scratch a fix to the leak in the Gulf.

Ken (All Hat and No Cattle) Salazar is way over his head at Interior. A political hack like the rest of this crowd.

[Clarice]

bgtes, Insty links to a WS piece on this you might be interested in. The story is not so much the case itself but that political appointees opposed to race neutral enforcement overruled the career attys and then seem to have lied about what they did and why.

[RichatUF]

verner-

Get Ferdora to make a list of all the Soros bots that were honeycombed into the Pentagon after the election. Obama had a hard time filling Treasury (a few weeks ago some high level positions were still unfilled-the WaPo had an article), but he had no problem "cleaning house" at DoD. Humm...maybe a reprise of the Carter era destablization of our intelligence and defense in LA and the Third World (narciso can speak better about that and the timing seems about right-the Carter era fiasco didn't start until late in Carter's second year).

When it comes to foreign policy, Netanyahu and the Likud Lobby pwn America.

Good grief. The Clinton administration actively destabalized Netanyahu's government and then actively supported his opposition (the whole business about Clinton having "a new toy"). I think he might have been a bit upset about that at the time.

[narciso the harpoon]

You know because of what happened last week I was glancing at Pete Earley's bio of the late Georgi Tretyakov, and it mentions his part in Sagan's 'nuclear winter' study, the SVR agents in the Oil for Food program, how Talbott could always be counted to repeat
Russian propaganda, they referred to him as a special access contact, all those interesting details, also Silva refers to the book in
the notes to his last novel, The Defector

[narciso the harpoon]

Well I do recall from Mitrokhin how Agee had been recruited by the DGI, which was in itself
a KGB project by General Simonov, there's a bit of a discussion in Wiilam Gibson's latest, about the "Cold Civil War'

[Sandy Daze]

Melinda, Clarice, MB, DoT & Jane -
thnx, great to hear from you too ! Would like to be more engaged in the ebb & flow, err give and take, but the recent regular power outages (Sarisistani is shifting 20% of Baghdad's power to Basrah, where all the action is occurring these days (economic action), mean that my Internet is up and down. Comms are both better and worse, better in that with the US Mil drawdown, not as much bandwidth is being gobbled up coming out of theater, worse in that the up and down makes it hard to hold a conversation sometimes.

on ice: remember not all of it is potable.

On Firefox, Jane, Like DrJ, I am also using 3.6.6 without issue. What about the pull down menu ("view")? Perhaps somehow or another the toolbars were deselected? Geek alert (and I remember about a month or so ago when the really smart folks were talking about their computers) I am using UBUNTU 10.04 on all three of my laptops. With Firefox I am using the following add-ons:
Firefox Sync (must have)
LastPass (a must too)
1 Click YouTube download (cannot stream anything here, so the vids that you folks link to, I download int he background sometimes takes an hour or two !)
and some misc support add-ons.

Most strongly recommend Sync, LastPass and 1-Click!

Take good care,
Sandy

[daddy]

Narciso,

Re: Your link to Thatcher's family being appalled at the Meryl Streep portrayal of Lady Thatcher as "a dementia-sufferer looking back at her life with sadness."

Par for the course from the left, but isn't it interesting that Limbaugh comments on Michael J Fox's excessive shaking from Parkinson's on some Political Campaign ad due to failing to use his medication, and Rush is vilified everywhere for it, yet here a made up, false mental and medical portrait of Thatcher is trotted out by the Filmmaker's, and my bet is that the criticism will be non-existent and the reviews will be glowing.

[Jane]

Dr. J

Firefox is preventing me from downloading. And there was a sign on the update that it would not allow it either (after I downloaded it).

How stupid is that?

[anduril]

Look Anduril, when the left called Bush semi-illiterate, was it racist?

Case Closed.

No, not closed.

Do you have a problem quoting my words in their relevant entirety?

1a. While Obama has proved to be destructive beyond even my high expectations, it's childish, inaccurate and probably racist-motivated to call him "borderline illiterate."

When "the left" called Bush "semi-illiterate" (if those are the words that "the left" used), "the left" was being childish and inaccurate. Were they being racist? Possibly--the motives of people who speak childishly and inaccurately are always suspect. It would depend on who was making the charge. Were many of "the left" who made such charges exhibiting an invidious prejudice against people with a Texas accent and against both Texas and the South in general? I have little doubt that that was the case, although "the left" would cut Southern leftists some slack in that regard.

[Jane]

I bypassed it! Thanks so much Dr. J

[Jane]

Dot,

When I brought it up it said "Firefox has not allowed you to down load this" (well in computer speak) and I found a button that said "download it anyway" and did.

[narciso the harpoon]

I know daddy, they had a similar effort not so far back, where they portrayed her, as some
kind of bar girl, flirting her way to the top, instead of an accomplished chemist who
'dissolved' her opposition rather handily.
And over here, there was that wretched Showtime project "The Reagans' with 9/11 denialist Brolin

[DrJ]

Jane,

You are on a Mac, right? Usually there is some way to override these sorts of flags. I have no Macs, but I do run FF 3.6.6 and the text formatting toolbar 0.1.4.12 and it all works (on Win7).

I could check it on FreeBSD, but Java does not work on the 3.6.x series yet so I don't have it installed.

Computers. Making life easier.

[DrJ]

Congrats, Jane! Too slow on this end, it seems.

[narciso the harpoon]

I refer to my old blog entry, that AT did excerpt the most significant part of, but that hasn't been followed up, in the LUN

[Danube of Thought]

I'm on a Mac, and am currently using 3.5.10 and the 1.4.10 toolbar. I'm afraid to re-try 3.6.6 for fear I won't be able to get any toolbar added on.

[Captain Hate]

Good grief. The Clinton administration actively destabalized Netanyahu's government and then actively supported his opposition (the whole business about Clinton having "a new toy"). I think he might have been a bit upset about that at the time.

I remember being incredulous at the Clintonoids actively working on Ehud Barak's campaign and being amused at the MFM's lack of outrage at such partisan meddling in the internal affairs of an ally. And by "amused" I mean completely disgusted.

[Jane]

I'm on a PC. But all is well.

[DrJ]

I'm afraid to re-try 3.6.6 for fear I won't be able to get any toolbar added on.

1.4.12 will work for you. You may have to jump through some hoops to get there (see Jane's posts above) but it will work.

[verner]

Whatever....it is pointless interacting with you. So from now on, I won't.

[american dream]

Latest it was a 3.7. Worst since 200 years. Soon O is impeached and imprisoned. Russians are so neat about history.

[narciso the harpoon]

I've learned the hard way, verner,it's not worth humoring Serge Nilus here, on virtually any subject, in the LUN part of the link from
that other blog

[JM Hanes]

anduril:

I'd have thought gratuitous accusations of racism would be too intellectually vacuous, even for you.

"Borderline illiterate" may be hyperbole, but if you'd been following the texts of his speeches, you'd have a hard time defending his appalling syntax. He can hardly make an historical reference that doesn't include an elementary blooper. I dare say you'd be the first to characterize anyone here who made such errors as borderline illiterate, assuming you were pressed for time and couldn't come up with a nastier ad hominem on the spot.

[narciso the harpoon]

Here is some of the details, about Tretyakov, of course mediated by David Wise, in the LUN

[Captain Hate]

That was the thrust of my description, JMH; lacking a transcript due to the appalling lack of curiosity in vetting BOzo by the MFM, I had to rely on the evidence that my eyes and ears provided me. Let me put it this way: If my children came up with such a regular stream of historical and grammatical howlers, I'd be looking for the time and place they went feral and rejected all of their well-documented education.

[Danube of Thought]

it's childish, inaccurate and probably racist-motivated

This is the climate that the Obama presidency has brought with it: fools feel quite comfortable now imputing racist motivations to his critics. But we knew it was going to be this way, didn't we?

[verner]

Thanks Narciso. Sounds like a good read. I honestly think there are all kinds of agents floating about in DC, hiding in plain view. Letelier was an agent for Fidel, and he was one of the founders of CIP, where Dana Priest's husband (the one who was a cheerleader for the Khemer Rouge in the pages of the NYT, and is a big buddy of CHomsky's to this day...) has been ex. director since it's inception in the 70s.

Dana Priest is continuing to do horrible damage to national security in the pages of the WaPo. And I don't care what anybody says, she is just like her putrid husband (he would not have married her if she was not), and I also would not be surprised if the Obama administration is not purposefully feeding her the info in order to totally cripple American intelligence gathering.

[hrtshpdbox]

where is he wrong with this particular theory?

"He's saying that... Obama will be reelected - despite the fact that he's ideologically committed to making the economy worse, and he rather likes our enemies abroad."

Yep, he is saying that's a possibility if O is under-estimated by Republicans, and that losing the House could work to O's benefit; I hope he's wrong, but I suspect he's not.

[Captain Hate]

But we knew it was going to be this way, didn't we?

Absolutely; some were saying that electing Sir Shanksalot would set back race relations by a significant amount. I'm not sure that will ultimately happen (I'd like to think we're further along than that although I could be whistling past the graveyard) but it's not out of the question.

[american dream]

Russians are so neat about history.

[Danube of Thought]

It is a shame to see the NAACP, which has entirely marginalized itself in recent years, getting all this publicity from its attacks on the Tea Party. And Eric Holder is exactly the wrong man for the job of AG.

[hrtshpdbox]

I think Holder is also exactly the wrong man for, say, cashier at Pathmark. Or "weed man" on a lawn care crew. Or...

[Clarice]

The only good thing about this past week is that the "racism" charge has lost its meaning and its sting .

[Danube of Thought]

Gallup:

Current satisfaction with the way things are going in the country is close to the 23% average seen thus far in 2010. While the 2010 average exceeds the record-low annual average of 15% for 2008, it lags behind the 27% recorded in 2009 and is the lowest Gallup has measured in a midterm election year.

[Danube of Thought]

In 1994 it was 33%; in 2006 it was 31%.

[daddy]

Jane,

Have missed many threads lately but...

Having spoken to Scott Brown, do you think there is any way possible that on this last vote he was truly unaware of how the vast majority of folks who elected him wanted him to vote? I don't. I think the majority opinion of the folks who elected him was as crystal clear on this Financial Bill as was their opinion on Health Care, and thats why I'm so disappointed in him.

From your hometown perspective, am I wrong?

[hit and run]

Greetings from an undisclosed lake in NC.

That's all. Best to you and yours.

[Army of Davids]

This Health Care Czar recess appointee... Berwick

Unacceptable.

The guy needs to stay at Harvard. A horrible appointment.

[Danube of Thought]

I share daddy's views. I'm disappointed and mystified.

[Jane]

From your hometown perspective, am I wrong?

I don't know. Everyone who has met Scott thinks he is a regular guy. The most "regular guy" in Washington. I read where he was bombarded with calls to vote for the bill by a WH org, but that should not have won the day. I have no idea if he got a lot of feedback from MA. I know I sent him an email a couple of weeks ago and told him considering a FD bill that didn't address Fannie and Freddie was a joke. Clearly it made no difference.

Here is what I concluded today: He probably knew that once the WV guy came on, the bill was going to pass, and if, instead he was the vote he could accomplish something on jobs, Still, if that is the case, it is completely a tin ear move.

He said he would come on my radio show and once I get to Boston I am going to invite him. I'll ask him then.

[centralcal]

Trying to catch up and drink cocktails and comprehend (ha ha) all at the same time.

I am with daddy and DoT re: Scott Brown. Now, IIRC, his staff was initially populated with the remainders of Teddy. So, that may be one obstacle in his new found Senator-hood. But there is also his somewhat strange ego, narcissistic streak that he has exhibited in quotes about how he is being speed dialed by the movers and shakers in the White House.

He may prove to be a one-term wonder in Massachusetts.

Whatever - he is not one to inspire much confidence. Truly, who would want to align themselves with the Collins/Snowe branch of the Republican party?

[Jane]

I don't Teddy's people are still on his staff.

[centralcal]

Well, that is good news, Jane.

[Clarice]

At the moment he's more popular in Mass. than Kerry. I don't like this vote of his but I think he's being shrewd.