Sunday Morning

Away we go.

Comments

[Clarice]

A little something to go with the morning speculoos and coffee.

http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/12/attorney_general_milo_minderbinder.html

[Thomas Collins]

Clarice, I think the LUNed bio clears up the hub situation. Representative Adams left her first husband because he was abusive. Her second husband was killed and she is currently married to her third husband. I haven't done research to confirm this bio, but I note that during her grilling of Holder, she made a reference that I interpreted as indicating a husband of hers had died while in public service.

[Thomas Collins]

See LUN for an incident report on the death of Frank Seton, Representative Adams' first husband.

[Clarice]

Thanks, TC. I'll make sure the editor sees this.

[Jack is Back!]

Since we seem to be editing Clarice today: Its Sandy Adams not Sue. She is a neighboring district. Damn tough cookie (not brittle like speculoos:)

[Thomas Collins]

I love the Milo reference, Clarice. Most of all I love the focus on how the center of gravity of the Holder DOJ policies re drug gangs is what would help Obama push through his gun control agenda in tha US, not what is best for combatting the gangs.

[narciso]

Great pieces, Clarice, I hadn't thought of Milo Minderbinder in Holder's role, although
it does seem to fit in retrospect, like the incident where he uses the Air Force, to attack his own men in Egypt, to protect the
value of his cotton crop.

Another instance of 'credentialed moron' policy is seen here;

http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/12/rashid_ghannoushi_john_espositos_islamist_in_tunis.html

[centralcal]

Good morning. Just read Pieces (and wryly chuckled at Clarice's close). They certainly have become my Sunday morning must read.

About last night's debate, I am still amazed how awful Diane Sawyer was. Haven't watched alphabet news in years and she was the real shock of the evening. ABC's whole presentation was rather off-putting and I think all of the candidates did well in that weird setting - of course by now, they are all veterans of the debate gong show and the differing styles.

Perry is much improved.

[Clarice]

Thanks, JiB, I've informed the editor. I work so hard to be accurate, it is distressing when things like this happen . URGH

[narciso]

this 'beating did improve the morale' as unlikely as one thought, giving Newt a chance to refine his argument, and Santorum an opening, even Perry had some rebound, Bachmann
'paging Dante, though'

In the 'thousands of countries' that this debate will be shown, that will be the lesson.

[narciso]

I 404ed that part of the story, sorry;

Eventually, Minderbinder begins contracting missions for the Germans, fighting on both sides in the battle at Orvieto, and bombing his own squadron at Pianosa. At one point Minderbinder orders his fleet of aircraft to attack the American base where he lives, killing many American officers and enlisted men.

[Jack is Back! (An Above Average Hoi Polloi)]

Clarice,

It is because of your enlightening "Pieces" that every Sunday is Sunny. So, no kicking yourself.

After church and Frederick's Cub Scout Pack meeting, we will roll out the speculoos dough and mold those crispy, delicious cookies.

/"Oh, its beginning to look a lot like Christmas......"

[narciso]

I know he's begging Santorum for the ambassadorship but this is a good roundup regardless;

http://theothermccain.com/2011/12/10/abc-iowa-debate-reaction-roundup/

[Thomas Collins]

Yes, Narciso, Clarice really picked the perfect character from fiction to portray Holder. A US AG who oversees a money laundering and gun distribution operation to murderous gangs with the reasonably foreseeable consequence that such operation will result in the deaths of Americans. All for the cause of providing excuses to trample on Americans' Second Amendment rights and no doubt generating some payoff money in the process. Milo would approve!

[narciso]

As with this masterful sum up by Jacobsen,

http://legalinsurrection.com/2011/12/newt-may-not-be-tea-party-but-his-d-c-enemies-treat-him-like-he-is/

One of the commenters in the thread, JE Burke,
had a bee in her bonnet, about Sarah too,

[Clarice]

Thanks. Joseph Heller never ceases to amuse me or inform. Every one of his books is like a Life for Dummies edition to me.

[Jane]

I read Clarice's Pieces at about 4 AM and it was just as good at that hour as it is at every other hour.

Speaking of which , what hour do they post it?

[narciso]

Well I thought his 'Good as Gold' about the Kissinger manque,and his attempt at a sequel to Catch 22, 'Closing Time, was probably a miss.

[Clarice]

About 3:30. It's set to go up automatically,Jane.

Narciso,I did like Good as Gold, just not as much as God Knows and Catch22. But those two are genius enough to satisfy anyone. Remember that line in Good as Gold to the effect that he'd lied under oath to Congress under four administrations and was considered a statesman by everyone.

[Clarice]

And, then,the casting of the Catch 22 movie was also genius. whenever I read a Yossarian line I see and hear Alan Arkin delivering it.

[narciso]

I'd forgotten that line, that's worthy of Jonathan Lynn's Sir James Hacker,

[narciso]

Like they said in Barcelona, what's the thing above the subtext

http://www.regrettheerror.com/2011/12/07/the-guardian-is-confused-about-what-the-canadian-flag-looks-like/

[pagar]

AG Holder says its OK to discriminate. The case that proves the intent of the current DOJ.

http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2011/11/23/doj-refuses-to-fight-clear-racial-discrimination/

[Danube of Thought]

Nice one, Clarice. Brought back memories of Col. Scheisskopf.

[sbw]

Clarice, beautiful. The first paragraph is strong enough to stand alone as a powerful editorial.

The editorial conjures the image:

Obama, sitting at his desk in the oval office, bracketed by TOTUS, dressed in a Jimmy Carter sweater, hands folded in front of him, lecturing the American people down his nose, next to a Trumanesque sign that says, "The buck never stops."

[Captain Hate]

I am still amazed how awful Diane Sawyer was. Haven't watched alphabet news in years and she was the real shock of the evening.

Who did Diane bang to get to where she is? That ABC didn't even knock her down a notch after she embarrassed the network by getting caught staging the Food Lion sting strongly implies she sweated up the sheets with people in high positions there.

[Danube of Thought]

Minus 20 at Raz today.

[narciso]

Well maybe this might put in perspective, Capt.

http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20101432,00.html

My fishwrap today is full of win, with the Senator from my former Hometown, arguing for
the approval of Maria Aponte, the one who's
boyfriend was with the DGI.

[hit and run]

How did you enjoy the game yesterday,DoT?

[Captain Hate]

Mitch McConnell is shoving Chris Wallace's obnoxious questions on Richard Cordray back up his commie ass.

[Captain Hate]

Thanks narc although the mental image of Holbrooke and Sawyer is enough to cause permanent ED.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Clarice-

Excellent job, and now I have more Heller to pick up.

You all are too well read for the likes of me.

[narciso]

It's a skill set, to look around the elephant in the room,

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/09/19/2541051_p2/florida-charter-schools-big-money.html

[Captain Hate]

All the bloggers @ AoS must be nursing whopper hangovers because the overnight thread is still there. Still the subject of that was Lindsey Lohan's photo spread in Playboy. This upsets me in a number of ways. First, to get it out of the way so I don't have to mention either of these cretins further, by doing this that senile POS Hef proves that the only difference between him and the noxious Larry Flynt is a wheelchair. Second, were they able to airbrush the location bracelet on Lohan's ankle or did they just crop it out? Finally, not to go sylvia on you, it really saddens me on how far she's fallen in a very short period of time. She must have made the wrong decision at every fork in the road. Adults are responsible for the decisions they make but there's something about the culture of Hollywood that leads to destructive choices.

[Cecil Turner]

Nice Pieces, Clarice. I especially liked the MM reference (tho I was afterward looking for a parachute replaced by a share certificate). Not sure if Milo represents authority so much as war profiteering run amok, but overall it worked. (And I'll never get tired of the Adams clip.) Well done.

[hit and run]

Catching up from yesterday:

Welcome back Chubby.

Welcome back Agent J.

Got to speak with my neighbor who piloted a Romney on a campaign flight a couple weeks ago. I think he said Atlanta to Houston,but I am not sure I have that correct. Not much more in the way of details -- Romney was nice and personable, and he reiterated he came across as "presidential". During the flight, on which Romney was accompanied by just a couple of aides, he spent most of the time personally writing thank you notes.

And finally,my soon-to-be nephew (marrying my niece) has been selected to receive a call from Obama for the holidays. He's quite excited, and political differences aside and a general loathing of the man himself on my part, I don't blame him one bit. That's pretty cool. He's sworn to secrecy (which is exactly why you're hearing about it here) because such calls are supposed to be a suprise but his commander couldn't keep his mouth shut (so why should the rest of us be expected to do so?).

So mum's the word.

[narciso]

It's sad about Lindsey, she was such a fresh face in 'Mean Girls' yet she has circled the singularity in record time, then again herpsycho parents, haven't helped matters. Whose star really has consistently risen, from their I'd say Rachel McAdams, the Queen bee.

OT, how about that Mens Health 100, are they totally insane,

[narciso]

Apparently, your screed did the trick, Captain, as the Sunday Book thread came up,
like Alladin's genie.

[Clarice]

Thank you all.

[Danube of Thought]

It was a wonderful day, Hit. Bitterly cold but a great deal of fun. Ran into many an old friend.

[Jane]

Don't say you weren't warned.

Chrisiane Amanpour's hairdo looks like she got her toe caught in an electrical outlet. I can't help but think she is taking lessons from Flotus.

BTW did anyone else see Bambi singing with Santa Claus? He was reading the words of "let it snow" off a teleprompter.

[Captain Hate]

I have mysterious powers, narc

[narciso]

REminds me of Senator Harrison, speaking of Sam Rothstein;

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/12/11/senator-reid-calls-criticism-nuclear-chief-witch-hunt/

[Ranger]

BTW did anyone else see Bambi singing with Santa Claus? He was reading the words of "let it snow" off a teleprompter.

You know, if someone had made a film about a shallow affirmative action politician who stumbled his way to the presidency saying things like "all 57 states" and used a teleprompter for every public event, it would have been panned as too unbelievable. Truth truely is stranger than fiction.

[centralcal]

Rev. Al is as good at paying taxes as he is at everything else according to this NY Post piece at Weasel Zippers:

In all, the controversial activist and his empire, including the National Action Network and two for-profit companies, were $5.3 million in the red, public records show.

Not surprisingly, a significant portion of the $5.3 million is in delinquent taxes.

[Ranger]

BTW, excellent work again Clarice. I exspect impeachment hearings to start sometime in March. Best timing would be an impeachment trial in early September.

[narciso]

Even Bialystok would say 'I bow to you', Reverend Al.

[Captain Hate]

Not surprisingly, a significant portion of the $5.3 million is in delinquent taxes.

Has he ever paid off the judgement for the guy he slandered in the Tawana Brawley scam?

[Threadkiller]

Daddy, beware. Talk to the "circulation supervisor" of your library. I do not think anyone else will negotiate with you. They will cite policy and claim they are doing their job.

The typical claim is they have only one source for replacement books and as part of that contract the books arrive at the library already stamped, tagged, burglar proof, and coded. Secondly they may claim that the library's source may give them a higher quality book than what you may have purchased.

Arm yourself with the supervisors decision before you enter the library. Also, if you turn in the book and pay for the replacement book, chances are they will not let you keep the damaged book. If replacement is the only option, you may as well say you lost the book.

Glad the coffee didn't spill on the controls!

Agent J, glad to see a post from you. I have been thinking about you.

CH, narciso, is their a decoder for your Ace topic. I have not been there for awhile, but if there is a fun thread to read, please let me know.

[narciso]

No, he had one of his minions do it for him,

Is there something in the water at Harvard, or did the Bugs just scoop out his brain, before he went over to the Times;

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/11/opinion/sunday/douthat-professor-gingrich-vs-professor-obama.html?_r=1

[Janet]

Finally, not to go sylvia on you, it really saddens me on how far she's fallen in a very short period of time. She must have made the wrong decision at every fork in the road. Adults are responsible for the decisions they make but there's something about the culture of Hollywood that leads to destructive choices.

Totally agree, Captain. This "Craig Ferguson speaks from the heart" video raises some of the same feelings. It is 12 minutes but he talks about the train wreck of Brittany Spears life, how he got into AA, & to not forget the people behind the celebrity. It is funny & not preachy.

One of my favorite comments was from an Anchoress post long ago - "Be kind - for everyone you meet is engaged in a mighty struggle." Lindsey Lohan is so lost & she needs some truth in her life. Not much truth in Hollywood.

[Rick Ballard]

Ranger,

What purpose would be achieved by impeachment when there is no possibility of conviction? An impeachment carries a high political price and requires a commensurate level of political reward which is not apparent to me in this instance.

Why not begin a debate regarding allowance of liability suits on behalf of the victims of the malfeasance and misfeasance of the Department of Justice with removal of the "agent of the government" shield for individuals involved accompanied by refusal to pay for the defense of miscreants?

Let Holder spend the next decade paying legal bills trying to fend off bankruptcy.

[Threadkiller]

Can you imagine , Rick? Holy moly what a mess that would be! The Pigford lawyers are salivating.

[Ranger]

Hmmmm... Another write up about the Federal Government's role in skyrocketing tuition:

U.S. Universities Feast on Federal Student Aid: Virginia Postrel

...The other is a widespread feeling, which the recession has intensified, that higher education is unfairly insulated from the everyday competitive pressures most people have to cope with. Instead of having to find ways to operate more efficiently and deliver ever-more value without raising costs, the way private-sector managers do, college administrators seem able to pass higher and higher bills on to their customers and the public.

A good chunk of the educated public has decided that college educators are decadent and lazy. Many are positively lusting to see higher education get its Detroit-style comeuppance.

The Ben-Dana's of the world know that the most effective spokesman for reforming higher education would be a president that was a university professor rather than an Afirmative Action adjunct at a law school. And that reform will involve a significant reduction in the money going to universities through Federal student loans I imagine.

[Benjamin Franklin]

For the honest people here...(.the rest can go suck on a rock)

"Here’s where I think we’re in very dangerous territory. We have two very different but similarly large protest movements going on right now in the Tea Party and the Occupy Movement. What if one of them is linked to a violent act? What if a bomb goes off in a police station in Oakland, or an IRS office in Texas? What if the FBI then linked those acts to Occupy or the Tea Party?

You can see where this is going. When protesters on the left first started flipping out about George Bush’s indefinite detention and rendition policies, most people thought the idea that these practices might someday be used against ordinary Americans was merely an academic concern, something theoretical."

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/taibblog/indefinite-detention-of-american-citizens-coming-soon-to-battlefield-u-s-a-20111209#ixzz1gF9cfjzQ

[Captain Hate]

TK, I try to link any AoS post that's worthy of attention. Sadly they've been dwindling in volume....

[Captain Hate]

Not surprisingly, a significant portion of the $5.3 million is in delinquent taxes.

I would be very happy with that. Now Rick, what can we do about Gorelick?

[Benjamin Franklin]

Ranger/Gmax cock-puppet alert.---------

[Captain Hate]

Let Holder spend the next decade paying legal bills trying to fend off bankruptcy.

Arrrgh; that was the C&P I meant to include in the 11:18

[Benjamin Franklin]

Really? Quakers? In 2006? F****** A********

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0116-09.ht

The Pacifist `Threat'

Disclosure Of Recent Government Surveillance Of Quaker Activities Doesn't Surprise Members

by Francis Grandy Taylor

A group of Quakers who were protesting military recruitment efforts at a Florida high school recently learned their meeting was included on a secret Pentagon database of "suspicious incidents." When that news broke last month, it had a familiar ring for many American Quakers.

"With the restriction of civil liberties goes surveillance," says Don Weinholtz, a Quaker who lives in Windsor. "It just seems to be a very unfortunate natural course of events."

The Religious Society of Friends is one of the largest groups of Quakers in the United States, with about 600,000 members worldwide. They embrace beliefs, called testimonies, that include peace, equality and rejection of war in all its forms.

Quaker groups and members have come under government surveillance and infiltration at various times in history, from the McCarthy era to Vietnam. The pacifist church was in the forefront of protest in the run-up to the Iraq war and since then has worked to counter military recruitment efforts in high schools.

[Ranger]

Rick,

I think the point is to put the lawlessness and the corruption of the Obama administration front and center 3 months before the voters go to the polls.

At best, the AG was negligent in his duties. At worst, he knowingly allowed agencies under his authority to engage in outright criminal conduct (unless we find out there was a National Security or Inteligence Finding that authorized the transfer of weapons to a foreign criminal enterprise). Either way, those agencies then planned to used their own criminal conduct to demand the restriction of law abiding American citizens constitutional rights.

And I don't think conviction is out of the questions. I think you would get quite a few Dems to vote to convict in an effort to save their own hides in November.

Also, my understanding is that there is no need to open that discussion about liability in civil court. If what they were doing violated the law, they are not protected by their status as government agents. I suspect that is why the local Federal Prosecutor moved to have the family of the murdered border agent barred from being listed as victims of the crime.

[Clarice]

Rick, I'm not sure there is immunity under the federal tort claim act for the cts of the agents in f & F. As I said the other day the law is complicated and though I handled the first major case under that law I'll be damned if I can remember the case law on the meaning of "within the scope of their authority". That means the US may be liable. If not, it is time to start restricting le immunity, isn't it?

[Benjamin Franklin]

Pg 59

http://www.justice.gov/oig/special/s1009r.pdf

[Captain Hate]

Btw I didn't see it mentioned here but there was an excellent article about Tim Tebow in yesterday's WSJ Review section.

[Rocco]

Hmmm...is MO having an affair?

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2011/12/michelle-obama-secret-affair-rumors-surface/

[Benjamin Franklin]

It' is an old strategy which has grown more covertly bold, while overtly hypocritical.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/dec/05/occupy-london-police-terrorism-document

The document issued by City of London police, headed "Terrorism/extremism update for the City of London business community", included a detailed account of recent and upcoming Occupy London activities and was sent to "trusted partners" in the area.

The document, dated 2 December, which was passed on to Occupy London's Finsbury square encampment over the weekend by a local business owner, gave an update on foreign terrorist activities including that of Farc in Columbia, al-Qaida in Pakistan and the outcome of a trial into the Minsk bombing in Belarus.

Below that, a section headed "Domestic" was dedicated wholly to the activities of the Occupy encampments and singled out anti-capitalists as a cause for concern.

"As the worldwide Occupy movement shows no sign of abating, it is likely that activists aspire to identify other locations to occupy, especially those they identify with capitalism."

The document stated that police had "received a number of hostile reconnaissance reports concerning individuals who would fit the anti-capitalist profile", and asked businesses to be vigilant for further sign of occupation activity.

It also said that the number of protesters present at the camp remained "fairly consistent" but that demonstrations originating from the camp had "decreased and lacked the support and momentum of earlier actions".

The City of London police have as yet been unwilling to reveal how many businesses were included on the mailing but their list is thought to include large multinationals and banks.

[rse]

LUN is just the attire clarice needs to go with her pieces. Suspect it comes in a fleece. Red has Pride and Prejudice, Fahrenheit, and To Kill a Mockingbird. The Wolverine can get something too.

Ranger-I am dealing somewhat with higher ed but I have already researched that because it turns out to be an integral part of K-12. It's just a different audience so my assumption is to tell the first story and then hopefully there will be demand for a full fleshing out of higher ed. Needless to say it has made Red's college search interesting because there are famous schools I suggested she avoid and the "I want the prestige t-shirt.bumper sticker" crowd simply wants to go for the highest ranking in US news. Which has become an effective means of corrupting certain schools.

[Ranger]

Gee, Ben-Dana seems really sensitive to the idea of Federal student loan money drying up.

[Rick Ballard]

"I think the point is to put the lawlessness and the corruption of the Obama administration front and center 3 months before the voters go to the polls."

Ranger,

Who would do that in a manner which might reach the Muddle? The MFM would turn it into a 'racist witch hunt' in less than a heartbeat.

I'm not saying that impeachment is not warranted and your point regarding the absence of a NSI Finding might prove sufficient to obtain a conviction. It's a matter which would have to be weighed very carefully and perhaps an announcement that it is being weighed would be sufficient to drive Holder to resignation.

[Jack is Back! (An Above Average Hoi Polloi)]

Can we get back to Milo?

In the sequel to Catch 22, "Closing Time", we find Milo and Yossarian trying to market a stealth bomber to the DoD. And finally, they get to make their case for the B2 (because that is what it is) before the purchasing commission:

“And what does a flying wing look like?”

“Other flying wings,” Wintergreen interposed adroitly, with Milo struck dumb by a query he had not anticipated.

“And what do other flying wings look like?”

“Our flying wing,” answered Milo, his composure restored.

“Will it look,” asked a major, “like the old Stealth?”

“No. Only in appearance.”

IOW's, narciso is really Heller.

[Jane]

I say we wait until after the election and then prosecute Holder and put him in jail while leaving all civil penalty options open.

In the meantime we can let the evidence build and build.

[Benjamin Franklin]

"The MFM would turn it into a 'racist witch hunt' in less than a heartbeat."

Marmalard isn't really thinking about teh 'racism'. He knows
the consequences of greater crimes and the 'retroactive immunity'
that hasn't been invoked for Iraq war .

[Jane]

The notion that someone would voluntarily sleep with Michelle simply blows my mind.

[jimmyk]

rse, what is your reaction to Narciso's 9:42 link?

My off-the-cuff response is (a) while there are undoubtedly some problems with charter schools, the article could be a hatchet job on behalf of the unions; (b) it doesn't surprise me that where taxpayer money is involved (the dreaded "public-private partnerships"), corruption ensues. Is there any way to minimize it (say vouchers vs. charter schools)? And are even the problem charter schools still not an improvement over most public schools?

[peter]

A few weeks ago, I was driving back from Philadelphia, felt drowsy, and decided I needed to find a cup of coffee before I got on the turnpike. I drove around Camden, NJ. To my horror, I saw a place so run down, there did not look to be a single place safe enough to go into to buy a cup of coffee.
LUN an article about this victim of failed Democratic policies.

[jimmyk]

The notion that someone would voluntarily sleep with Michelle simply blows my mind.

I don't see the analogy with Cain in the article. If Cain's wife had been rumored to be having an affair, Cain would still be in the race.

But yeah, it is hard to fathom, assuming there are no blind and deaf secret service agents.

Belated kudos to Clarice on the "Pieces," and to daddy on his debate coverage.

[Neo]

I have been trying to watch the foreign press on some of my cable channels.
RT, though probably not necessarily foreign, but they sound that way, is quite interesting. It has a daily update on the OWS folks, but their report yesterdsy called "Fox, lies and videotape" showed that they don't recongize irony.
They went on and on about how the media (not just Fox) would beat the war drums by showing unrest in other countries, when in fact these were isolated instances. They must not have remembered that they do the same thing with OWS.

[Captain Hate]

I hope Brian Terry's family has the most dogged, no-holds-barred lawyer ready to pounce on Stedman as soon as that chinless pinworm is out of office.

[Elliott]

RT is funded by the Russian government.

[jimmyk]

OT, how about that Mens Health 100, are they totally insane,

Any top 100 list that includes Madonna, that doesn't have "hideous" in its title, is automatically suspect. On what planet is she "hot"?

There are plenty of women with brains and genuine talent that would top any in that list.

[rse]

I think the LUN is excellent on both what is at stake with Friday's EU agmt, the progressive dream, and what our institutions are designed to preserve.

Clarice's point about the 2nd Am in her pieces reminded me of how I feel about the ed bureaucrats blissfully gutting the Bill of Rights generally. One of the bureaucrats who made a truly shocking concession is someone who has lied to my face multiple times when I cited chapter and verse of why I knew the given wisdom was false.

That interview with Obama before he was in political office where he derisively speaks of the Constitution as too much about "negative liberties" is the mindset of his SCOTUS appointments and the fed judiciary generally and the bureaucrats at the local, state, and federal level. I think Thomas is right the judiciary overreach has resulted in bureaucratic beliefs that they have unlimited powers over the citizen who can just cough up the funding for being ruled over.

Through the EU or Durban or the local school district or Obamacare or ICLEI. We are subjects and sources of revenue unless we get a Pres, Congress, courts, and local politicians who recognize these lines and start stepping away from the abyss of the collective.

[Ranger]

Rick,

I do see your point. But setting the table is worth doing anyway. If the press is in a funk and the Dems in the Senate are in self preservation mode by next September, the MSM may be very willing to pimp the impeachment of Holder as showing how willing the Dems are to fight corruption and abuse of power in DC. At that point the left may see saving as many Dem Senators as possible as the more desireable course of action.

[Neo]

"Climate change" is the UN version of 3 card monte.

[Neo]

DURBAN, South Africa -- A U.N. climate conference reached a hard-fought agreement Sunday on a far-reaching program meant to set a new course for the global fight against climate change.

The 194-party conference agreed to start negotiations on a new accord that would ensure that countries will be legally bound to carry out any pledges they make. It would take effect by 2020 at the latest.

Why don't that do this next agreement via teleconferencing and show that they really care about their carbon footprint

[Ignatz]

--Why not begin a debate regarding allowance of liability suits on behalf of the victims of the malfeasance and misfeasance of the Department of Justice with removal of the "agent of the government" shield for individuals involved accompanied by refusal to pay for the defense of miscreants?--

If they had to pass a law to do it, wouldn't that run into an ex post facto problem, or is that another part of our "living" Constitution that is dead?

[Chubby]

((there's something about the culture of Hollywood that leads to destructive choices))

not always but often it is parenting that makes the difference between a successful life like Shirley Temple Black's and a train wreck like Lindsay Lohan's. Lohan's dad is a basket case in his own right. "Raise up a child in the way he should go." Proverbs

[Jane]

The more I think about it, the more I love Perry's idea of a part time Congress. ANd given how much everyone hates Washington I'm surprised it's not getting more traction. Of course how on earth do you implement it?

[Captain Hate]

There are plenty of women with brains and genuine talent that would top any in that list.

I could only go through so much on that list. Paris Hilton? Lady Gag-Gag? Even some of the wimmenz that weren't highly questionable had unflattering photos.

I assume Worf didn't make the cut.

[Gmax]

Yeah right sure, You know what the "hard fought agreement" consists of? They agreed to meet at the same time next year on your tab, AND of course to keep talking about it. Pretty impressive, no?

[Ignatz]

--Any top 100 list that includes Madonna, that doesn't have "hideous" in its title, is automatically suspect.--

Or "things I wouldn't touch with a barge pole on a bet".

[Captain Hate]

not always but often it is parenting that makes the difference between a successful life like Shirley Temple Black's and a train wreck like Lindsay Lohan's.

Do children still watch Shirley Temple movies? The Hatettes were big fans of them, probably at Mrs H's suggestions, and they seemed to have timeless appeal.

[Clarice]

Can you imagine anyone being stupid enough to take these international conferences and agreements seriously? Seriously, I'm asking?

It would be even dumber than fixing the balloting for high school prom king.

[Gmax]

Well this certainly put into focus why Phil Falcone was such an ethusiastic bundler for ZERO last time around. Rags to riches to rags in a few short years? Yikes, here:

U.S. securities regulators are considering filing civil fraud charges against him and what is left of his once $26 billion hedge fund empire. . . . Harbinger now manages less than $4 billion and roughly half of the money is tied up in its investment in LightSquared LP, the upstart wireless telecom on which Falcone has bet the ranch. LightSquared is running low on cash and its outstanding debt trades at a steep discount as its fortunes have floundered due to a number of technical issues.

[Captain Hate]

I think you put it in the proper context, C. There were plenty of willing imbeciles thinking Kyoto was the roadmap for the salvation of humanity.

[rse]

jimmyk-

Just read it. In general I do not see charters as the panacea assumed because usually they must still be certified teachers not just able and knowledgeable as most privates have been able to do traditionally. The principals generally come with the educational leadership credentials that are nonacademic and designed to get them to implement false but pernicious ideas. The Governing Councils nominally have authority but the accrediting agencies have stipulated in rules that exist but are not widely known that not deferring to a principal or super in a dispute can be grounds to lose accreditation. A lot of the charters are affiliated with Knowledge Works out of Ohio that I consider to be Ground Zero for using ed as a crony capitalism vehicle. Hint-Riley is on the Board and it's Diller's idea of the next growth area after AOL.

I read that article as wanting the streams of money to be going to the preferred cronies and that there are insufficient controls in Florida to make that happen. I know what and how the accreditors are pushing in other states and school districts to stop the transmission of knowledge apart from basic skills and they love charters and magnet programs. I see that article as a push for legislatures to allow districts to get more control over those charters lest you end up with outliers in Florida still pushing for solid academics while that Race to the Top grant pushes the nonacademic template. I have met the current Ed Super who came from Va and have talked with members of Fla's legislature. That is a state currently poised to act quickly and pivot once the hard facts of what is going on come out. Diminishing the autonomy of the charters now would make that pivot harder. There's a real desire to prevent still functioning well points of comparison in the future sea of emotional and social learning.

And they do hate Scott because he came into office not beholden to anyone and behaves that way. Threatening to the powers that be from either party.

[Threadkiller]

My daughters watched Shirley Temple dvd's just last night, CH. Family Channel had Christmas Vacation on. Not for kids, imo.

It is sad that when the Family Channel actually has a good family show on they always have viagra commercials to break up the positive content of the show.

[matt]

If Holder were a character he would be Major Major, climbing out the back window of his office and avoiding all responsibility.

Querida and I blew off Peru after the air traffic controllers went on strike and we were told it could be days before we got to Cusco. We were very disheartened with Lima.

Chile is 1.5 or even First World. Peru I would classify as 4th World. Horrible poverty and the toll of malnutrition is a crime.

[glasater]

Not too long ago on Candy Crowley's show on CNN there was quite the fiery exchange between Bob Walker -- a supporter of Newt -- and John Sununu who has been supporting Romney.
Part of the exchange was about the 10k bet Romney tried to make with Perry.
But the whole thing was pretty interesting. Had forgotten what a good natured tiger Bob Walker is.

[Threadkiller]

Lightsquared satellites were launched at Russian facilities, IIRC. I wonder if our space program's nuetering is related?

[Captain Hate]

Good to hear on the ST movies, TK; but can't boner pills find a more appropriate setting? Like MessNBC and the Ed Show?