Meltdown Blogging

I am stunned by the courage and commitment of the Japanese workers struggling at that nuclear plant.

Comments

[Minimalist Poster]

He lives!

[Thomas Collins]

I wonder whether it was the enhancement discussion, the Republic discussion, clarice's plaintive plea, or something else, that stimulated this new thread. In any event, as to the workers at the Japanese nuclear plants, if this happened in the US, I suspect Obama would want to make certain that under his equal pay legislation, these workers were being paid no more than community organizers or Code Pink protesters.

[narciso]

"E por se vive"

[narciso]

"Where have been TM"

[MayBee]

Yes, God bless them.

[clarice]

Me, too!! I am also stunned by the orderly and civilized behavior of the general population which is keeping this tragedy from being even worse.

I have promoted Americares and contributed to them but also want to direct attention to Shelter Box , a rotary club operation which drops off boxes which carry stuff to house as many as 10 people , and provides them with necessary tools, warm clothing and blankets, cook stoves, and utensils to keep them going until more sustained relief arrives.

[Neo]

"courage and commitment" .. when the alternative is Seppuku ?

I ran into a situation recently where most Asian workers won't take any even close to an unreasonable risk because the alternate to success is being fired, which is a tremendous lost of face.

[Ranger]

Yes, but such courage in the face of this type of disaster is not that uncommon. The stories of the efforts to get the Chernobyl reactor under control are also filled with many acts of courage. This types of crisis seems to bring out the best in many people.

OT, but I have a feeling this may have something to do with Obama's poll numbers melting down:

Food prices increase 3.9% in February, highest jump in 36 years

[narciso]

Meanwhile, yet another 'temporary' stumbling block to sanity, in the LUN

[Rob Crawford]

Jesus, Neo, that's a stupid remark.

[MayBee]

"courage and commitment" .. when the alternative is Seppuku ?

No it isn't.
Come on.

[narciso]

TM, you recall someone who mentioned what Ranger is pointing out,

[Jane (sit on the couch or save your country)]

Japan has the 3rd largest numbers of Rotary Clubs after US and India. Our club is planning to partner with a club in Japan near the disaster so they can distribute what we send. Here is a way to contribute online.

[MayBee]

I ran into a situation recently where most Asian workers won't take any even close to an unreasonable risk because the alternate to success is being fired, which is a tremendous lost of face.

First of all, "Asian" cultures are very different.

Second, business risk is much different than personal, physical risk.
These guys are brave and selfless and I thank God for people like them.

[MayBee]

Those are good suggestions, clarice.

I also contributed to the Salvation Army, which has been on the ground in Japan for a very long time.

[Thomas Collins]

Also walking the walk are those dealing with the non-nuke plant aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami.

[centralcal]

Good to know that about the Salvation Army, MayBee. I have contributed to them for many, many years. Will do so again today.

Glad to see TM is alive (and well). I thought he might have stricken by the flu bug.

[Thomas Collins]

I also hope everything is going OK in the TM cosmos, centralcal. I've noticed that there has been a preponderance of "quick hit" threads recently.

[Thomas Collins]

See LUN for an article on the Fukushima 50.

[bgates]

Food prices increase 3.9% in February, highest jump in 36 years

Geez, that Sarah Palin is stupid.

[henry]

TC, good to see attention on people who deserve it.

[clarice]

And here's more on shelterbox
http://www.shelterboxusa.org/

[Danube of Thought]

Insty has a link to a guy who debunks the myth of the phrase "follow the money" from Watergate. (No one ever said it; it was made up for the movie.) It is refreshing to hear this, because for the past 35 years I have always thought that it didn't make any sense, and if supposedly given as advice about how to unravel whatever the "mystery" was it was useless.

Other phrases that have never made sense to me: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself"; "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." (Concerning the latter, Milton Friedman observed that no self-respecting free man would ask either question.)

[henry]

OT: Vicki McKenna has list of boycotted companies. Will add link to "troublemakers school" session in Madison Apr 1,2, basics for lefty protesters. (LUN)

[Walter]

I welcome back our Fearless Leader! Personally, I feel that he just felt the urge to see 1,000 comments again.

To that end, I wonder if anyone has opinions about the possibilty of our old friend Patrick Fitzgerald serving as FBI director.

Speaking just for myself, I disapprove.

[Danube of Thought]

There is apparently some concern on the west coast about radiation from Japan. The positions of the Department of Homeland Security and the Surgeon General are not known.

[narciso]

Here''s that insty link, Pertierra, a lefty lawyer that represented Jennifer Harberry, the wife of Guatemalan guerilla leader Efraim
Bamaca, who wanted to be 'like Guevara' and
the Guatemalan Army granted his wish. 'be careful for what you wish for'.

[narciso]

Oh and he's representing the Chavex govt in trying to extradite Posada Carriles, in this
show trial they are conducting down in Texas, just as William Ayers would like it,

[clarice]

I'm not hot on Comey rr Garelick in that post either, Walter.

[Janet]

One of my favorite quotes on courage (2 demons talking, the "Enemy" refers to God)-

"We have made men proud of most vices, but not of cowardice. Whenever we have almost succeeded in doing so, the Enemy permits a war or an earthquake or some other calamity, and at once courage becomes so obviously lovely and important even in human eyes that all our work is undone, and there is still at least one vice of which they feel genuine shame...In peace we can make many of them ignore good and evil entirely; in danger, the issue is forced upon them in a guise to which even we cannot blind them."
The Screwtape Letters, Letter XXIX

[Melinda Romanoff]

Clarice-

No, no, no.

Lanny Davis. Mr. Coathangershpoulders.

[MayBee]

A lawyer in charge of the FBI seems like it would be a grievous error.

[lyle]

The Screwtape Letters, Janet?

[Melinda Romanoff]

MayBee-

Define Federal Judgeships and their qualifying criteria?

[lyle]

Aargh, should have read all the way to the end. Sorry.

[Melinda Romanoff]

I'd let Demosthenes head that search committee.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Off to lunch with YL!

[Janet]

Yeah lyle, it's at the bottom of the quote. The only good play I've been to in the last 10 years was The Screwtape Letters (but I'm not much of a theater person)...& the book is wonderful.

[MayBee]

Have a great lunch, Melinda!

[Porchlight]

The positions of the Department of Homeland Security and the Surgeon General are not known.

I think actually the Surgeon General piped up yesterday and there is now a run on iodide tablets.

http://hotair.com/archives/2011/03/15/surgeon-general-to-west-coast-hey-might-be-worth-stocking-up-on-iodide/

[MayBee]

I think Gorelick in charge of the FBI just in time for a Fannie/Freddie investigation would be the perfect icing on the layer cake that has been Gorelick's career.

[narciso]

They're remaking "House of Cards" what a travesty,

[hit and run]

The positions of the Department of Homeland Security and the Surgeon General are not known.

They most certainly are known.

Fetal.

You know why Obama has chosen Rio as his destination of choice for this weekend?

Mayara Tavares.

[Thomas Collins]

Jammie Wearing Fool has uncovered Obama's real bracket (winner not determined yet). See LUN.

[bgates]

This is kind of a cruel parody:
One of the things I wanted to do on the show was, as people are filling out their brackets -- this is obviously a national pastime; we all have a great time, it’s a great diversion. But I know a lot of people are thinking how can they help the Japanese people during this time of need. If you go to usaid.gov -- usaid.gov -- that will list all the nonprofits, the charities that are helping out there. It would be wonderful for people to maybe offer a little help to the Japanese people at this time -- as they’re filling out their brackets. It’s not going to take a lot of time. That's usaid.gov. It could be really helpful.

[harrjf]

I am not surprised by the actions of the Japanese at the nuke plant. As a life-long Heinlein fan it is a recurring theme in his writings. The good of the many outweigh the good of the few (or one). See "The Green Hills of Earth" or "The Long Watch" to name two. The "Star Trek: Wrath of Khan" focused on this for a dramatic end (LUN).

I would say that this is a litmus test for society. Those that can't understand the self-less actions of others say more about themselves and their own shortcomings. I am awed by the actions of those workers and dread what is likely to come.

I am in no way saying anything bad about any of my JOM friends. I am not comparing what I think to what anyone else might think or feel. I see the love and support that is freely distributed to near strangers.

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vjnjagvet]

60 votes for Jamie Gorelick's confirmation? I think not. I hope not.

Fox meet chicken coop.

[lyle]

the book is wonderful.

Couldn't agree more, Janet. A clever, moving, funny, though-provoking book. It's been a few years since I read it but I recognized it immediately. Thanks for posting the exerpt.

[Janet]

It's embarrassing to have a President this embarrassing.
He's not even pretending to be Presidential. Go to Rio...who cares.

[Boatbuilder]

Jeezus, bgates--I thought that was one of your best!

[lyle]

How is it that a retread like Gorelick can be allowed any near a lever of power? Someone explain the difference to me between what Enron was doing and what Fannie was doing.

[hit and run]

Isn't it a Baracket?

[narciso]

No, that's not memorex, that's really him.

[harrjf]

OT but, over the past few days both the Madison Teachers and Municipal employees have agreed on new contracts. From what has been reported in the papers it would appear that the workers in both groups have gotten crappy deals. The winners seem to be the unions which continue to run closed shops and have automatic deductions for dues. When will the people realize that the unions are their masters.

Irony alert, the Mayor of Madison, has beamingly proclaimed that the contract is the result of how collective bargaining is supposed to work. Never mind he didn't notice the sword hanging over their heads. Boy I hope that Soglin crushes this pompous ass in the upcoming election.

Jane if I had your email you would get a note from a friend from WI that states "I hate the unions and love Scott Walker".

[glasater]

Mayara Tavares

Hit--I really have my doubts on BOzo's attraction to the opposite sex. Like many things lately it just doesn't cross his little mind.

[lyle]

"Well it's sundown on the unions
Made in the USA
Sure was a good idea
'til greed got in the way"

[PD]

Boy I hope that Soglin crushes this pompous ass in the upcoming election.

What a choice! Isn't there someone else we can vote for?

Maybe that guy who used to wear the fish mask?

[narciso]

It's a Kang vs Kodos, situation, PD.

[Rob Crawford]

How is it that a retread like Gorelick can be allowed any near a lever of power?

She knows how to play the game. Cover up the dirt and they'll shovel money into her pockets.

[MayBee]

PD- I have been haunted by the fact that I was snide with you a few days ago (about windmills on hills). I sincerely apologize.

[Captain Hate]

Someone explain the difference to me between what Enron was doing and what Fannie was doing.

Paul Krugman wasn't consulting for Fannie?

Tammy Bruce is talking about the recall election and how it should be making Repukes nervous. It's so refreshing listening to Teh Tam after Rush had me screaming at the radio to get to the point on one of endlessly irritating vignettes sounding like Bill Bennett with a speech impediment. He really should hire a coach to get him speaking more fluidly with his hearing problem because his stuttering sounds extremely unprofessional and it should be easily correctable.

[Rocco]

How soon they forget! How Chinagate Led to 9/11

As the 9/11 Commission tries to uncover what kept intelligence agencies from preventing September 11, it has overlooked two vital factors: Jamie Gorelick and Bill Clinton. Gorelick, who has browbeaten the current administration, helped erect the walls between the FBI, CIA and local investigators that made 9/11 inevitable. However, she was merely expanding the policy Bill Clinton established with Presidential Decision Directive 24. What has been underreported is why the policy came about: to thwart investigations into the Chinese funding of Clinton’s re-election campaign, and the favors he bestowed on them in return.

I figured TM got a look at the Red Sox lineup and fainted!

[middyfeek]

@Danube of Thought - how about "Winning isn't everything it's the only thing".

Makes no sense at all but passes for wisdom because it was said by a winning football coach.

[Ignatz]

--Jeezus, bgates--I thought that was one of your best!--

I had to click the link to find out it really was Barry.
Sorry, bgates, he's close to putting you out to pasture. I'm not sure you can top that one.

[PD]

MayBee: Actually, your remark made me realize I was focusing on only one aspect of the problem - the less important one! :-)

[narciso]

No, Newt was doing so for Freddie Mac, (I know Facepalm) as was one of the nitwit McCain
managers, Davis, who was unearthed for that WAshingtonian profile, which seems to have gone nowhere. I haven't heard any stuttering on Rush's part.

[clarice]

Hillary says she doesn't want a second term as Sof S; doesn't want to be S of D' Doesn't want to run for VP or President. I don't want her to do hold any of those positions either. Does that make me a tie with "the smartest women in the world"?

[Captain Hate]

I haven't heard any stuttering on Rush's part.

He does it on words starting with Bs and Ws a lot. You may have gotten conditioned to it where you don't notice it.

[henry]

Clarice, a tie? You didn't want her in those positions long before Hillary figured it out.

[jimmyk]

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself"

There is an internal logic to this in the context of the Great Depression and financial panic, if you believe that it was mainly just a self-confirming loss of confidence. I don't buy that, nor Keynesian solutions that FDR was advocating, but from his viewpoint it makes sense.

[Danube of Thought]

No way Gorelick appears before any Senate committee. No way Obama asks her to.

And if she did her confirmation might well get filibustered, after a marvelously inflammatory hearing.

[Danube of Thought]

He really should hire a coach

I assume he's had the very best available from the day he had his implants. Once those things are put in, it takes a huge effort to learn how to speak all over again. The Vile Banshee had them put in and in her case she was unable to do it--whole effort was wasted.

[Porchlight]

I had to click the link to find out it really was Barry.

Me, too, Ignatz.

[Neo]

FoxNews is claiming that a new powerline to get off site power to the damaged Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant is about completed. This would eliminate many of the problems involved with cooling the four nuclear reactors that were in operation at the time of the earthquake.

[clarice]

Hush, DoT. I have been leading a write in campaign on her behalf to the WH. I think if we can get Rush to condemn her it's a lock.

Neo, thanks for the good news.

[clarice]

I plan to steal that from bgates this week--also Janet's lovely contribution about courage.

[Jim Miller]

Since we are on the subjects of C. S. Lewis and Paul Krugman -- for years I've thought that the photo that gets distributed with his column makes Krugman look like the apprentice devil, Wormwood, in "The Screwtape Letters".

(It has been many years since I read any of the book, so I don't recall whether Lewis gave us a physical description of Wormwood. But that photo somehow combines evil intent with ineffectiveness.)

[Old Lurker]

Rush did a fabulous number just now on Obama by slicing up Obama's statements of his B'Ball picks and inserting them between news clips of the various tragedies in play on this day.

One of these two is very very good at his job.

[Danube of Thought]

Gov. Moonbeam just cut a fabulous (for the union) new deal with the state prison guards. At least we can hope that this will give the GOP legislators the spine to refuse to put his tax-extension initiative on the ballot.

[Jane]

Jane if I had your email you would get a note from a friend from WI that states "I hate the unions and love Scott Walker".

Harrjf,

I feel the exact same way. I asked my friend for her explanation. I'll let you know when I hear.

[Captain Hate]

Rush did a fabulous number just now on Obama by slicing up Obama's statements of his B'Ball picks and inserting them between news clips of the various tragedies in play on this day.

I agree OL; I heard it and it was very well done.

[lyle]

Krugman as Wormwood = perfect.

[MayBee]

Jake Tapper is driving me crazy with his apparent attempt to gin up a rift between the US and Japanese governments right now.

What's that about?

[lyle]

What's that about?

That the Japanese don't want to deal with a jugeared narcissist sock puppet who wouldn't know leadership if it bit his skinny ass?

Just a working theory.

[clarice]

Do you suppose O is autistic?

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

White House Insider:

So you think President Obama should be impeached?

Impeached? -Expletive- no. That’s too good for him. President Obama should be arrested. What’s that word you used a while back – sedition? Well there you go – that pretty much sums up this whole stinking cesspool of a White House right there. Look, I was suspicious of this guy before – but based on what I was told these past few months…the man, those around him (pauses) …this president is the most corrupt thing to have sat in the White House in our lifetimes. Being part of that campaign in 2008…it makes me sick. Do you understand what I’m saying? Sick. To have played any part in getting him elected…Obama isn’t just incompetent…he’s something else. Something worse. I’ve been around a lot of asshole-arrogant politicians. Plenty of those. Even a few outright criminals. This is different. This is a whole other level of corrupt.

More here

Need a little WH trashing?

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Krugman as Wormwood = perfect.

I thought Chernobyl translated to Wormwood?

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

This is what democracy looks like? Not my democracy, how 'bout yours?

Upon arrival, members of the recall committee were encircled by union protesters carrying signs and a leader with a mega phone who began chanting and ranting loudly. They packed in tightly around the petition collection table so as to prevent those attempting to sign from doing so. At one point, a pro union protester, pretending to be interested in signing the petition, wrote profanity across a partially collected petition form, than began ripping up the completed petitions that were in close proximity.

The policemen who were there, and who were standing in close proximity to these events as they unfolded, did nothing to assist those collecting the petitions as they were being destroyed, despite such an action being a Felony under Wisconsin law. Police also did nothing to clear the walk way for citizens that wanted to sign the petitions. Recall Committee members received many phone calls the following day from Merill area citizens who stated that they showed up to sign the petition, but were too afraid to get out of their vehicles and approach the recall table.

[lyle]

I thought Chernobyl translated to Wormwood?

Even better. We have the ripe ingredients of a syllogism, no?

[Rick Ballard]

Clarice,

I'm wondering if he tripped a breaker that can't be reset. Can you think of another reason for TOTUS and FLATULUS to make a Road to Rio movie at the moment? Is he afraid of being in town while Daffy executes the Libyan tweeters who begged for help? This just ain't the moment for another TOTUS and FLATULUS vacation movie.

[Rick Ballard]

Clarice,

I'm wondering if he tripped a breaker that can't be reset. Can you think of another reason for TOTUS and FLATULUS to make a Road to Rio movie at the moment? Is he afraid of being in town while Daffy executes the Libyan tweeters who begged for help? This just ain't the moment for another TOTUS and FLATULUS vacation movie.

[Rob Crawford]

Need a little WH trashing?

Huh. What a pity the guy won't say these things other than anonymously. Sure would help make him sound credible.

[Dave (in MA)]

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" There is an internal logic to this in the context of the Great Depression and financial panic...

Wasn't that the time when President FDR got on TV before he was president and before TV was invented and didn't just talk about the, you know, the princes of greed?

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

4 NYT reporters missing in Libya

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Taxpayer Squeeze

See you all later, gotta go get poked, prodded, and nuked some more.

[clarice]

The road to Rio I think reflects (a) he's a clueless good time Charlie.(b) he got elected as a celebrity figure and has decided his only way to be re-elected is as a celebrity not as a chief executive.

But something IS definitely missing. Flat effect. Inappropriate responses to tragedies. Utterly lacking in empathy.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Is it time for a balloon drop and some straw hats?

[MayBee]

When Obama cancelled summer travel plans, Michelle went to Spain without him. When Obama chose to delay his trip to Hawaii, Michelle went without him.

I half suspect he promised this trip to Rio to Michelle, and he is going to go come hell or high water, because she'll just take a presidential plane to Rio without him. And then he has to explain that.

[cathyf]

I had to click the link to find out it really was Barry.

I spent a good ten minutes looking for SOMETHING to mark it as a gag site. But, no, the url is www.whitehouse.gov, there is no Onion mark anywhere. I am simply speechless.

[lyle]

Wow, over three hours and no one figured out the source of my cryptic song lyrics re the unions. Or at least hasn't commented.