Tough Times At The Times

It was a brutal day for the Times headline writers. We can only imagine the editors pain:

Bush a Fond Presence in Africa for Work During and Since His Presidency

Reality has been unkind to the Times' domestic fantasies as well:

State’s Witnesses in Zimmerman Trial Put the Prosecution on the Defensive

 They include an amazing photo of the lead prosecutor attempting to silence his own witness. Or something:

 

The caption says the prosecutor was trying to reenact the martin-Zimmerman scuffle, but what am I going to believe, the Times or my lying eyes?

And they don't even pretend that this is good news on Obamacare:

Crucial Rule Is Delayed a Year for Obama’s Health Law

WASHINGTON — In a significant setback for President Obama’s signature domestic initiative, the administration on Tuesday abruptly announced a one-year delay, until 2015, in his health care law’s mandate that larger employers provide coverage for their workers or pay penalties. The decision postpones the effective date beyond next year’s midterm elections.

Thereby delaying employee dumping until after the election.

The news is so contrary to the Times world-fiction on so many fronts that their Metaphor Masher has failed:

Obama Seeks New U.S. Role in Climate Debate

WASHINGTON — When President Obama barged into a meeting of leaders from Brazil, China, India and other countries at a climate conference in Copenhagen in December 2009, he managed to extract a last-minute agreement to set a goal to limit the rise in global temperatures.

It was the high-water mark of Mr. Obama’s leadership on climate change — even if the deal was less than the Americans or Europeans wanted — but it has been downhill ever since.

A "high water mark" and then "downhill"? Surely waters recede after hitting a high water mark, whether anyone has headed for the hills or not. And isn't that just what Obama promised in 2008?

The dire situation has prompted the editors to run guest pieces repudiating their own efforts at undermining Bush's war on terror. Here is a discussion of a Treasury program meant to track terrorist funds:

In 2006, this newspaper revealed the existence of the classified Terrorist Finance Tracking Program, which was developed and overseen by the United States Treasury. T.F.T.P. was, and still is, run by the Treasury Department using information subpoenaed from the Society for Worldwide International Financial Telecommunication. During the program’s first few years, one of us headed Swift; the other helped oversee T.F.T.P. at Treasury.

...

When European data privacy advocates and politicians objected to the program, the eminent French counterterrorism judge Jean-Louis Burguière was assigned to review the program in detail for the European Parliament. He reported in 2008, and again in 2010, that Treasury had complied with civil liberties protections.

Their point?

The use of the data was legal, limited, targeted, overseen and audited. The program set a gold standard for how to protect the confidential data provided to the government. Treasury legally gained access to large amounts of Swift’s financial-messaging data (which is the banking equivalent of telephone metadata) and eventually explained it to the public at home and abroad.

It could remain a model for how to limit the government’s use of mass amounts of data in a world where access to information is necessary to ensure our security while also protecting privacy and civil liberties.

And the Times coverage?

The Times’ revelation did damage to the effectiveness of the program while ignoring the innovations that balanced security and civil liberties.

Yes, but it bashed Bush, which was Mission Critical. Well, that was then.

 

 

Comments

[Doris Kearns Goodwin]

Did I ever tell you about the time LBJ showed me the upstairs bedroom at the White House?

[daddy]

I thought she told us she hadn't done anything wrong?

Embattled IRS official Lois Lerner will not testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee unless she’s given immunity from prosecution, her lawyer told POLITICO Tuesday.

[Jeff Dobbs]

When Times Get Tough, the Times Stops Toeing?

[Janet --- -... .- -- .- ... ..- -.-. -.- ...]

Live feed to Tahrir Square in Egypt - http://www.times-standard.com/digitalextras/ci_23588344/live-egypt-protests-tahrir-square-military-deadline-closes

[NJJan]

At this point, when it comes time for the defense to present it's case, I would thank the prosecution for doing so and rest.

I have been following trial this am at LI. West was great at turning prosecution witness into lecturer on syg law and educating jury.

[Ranger]

AJ has some "on the street" perspective on the Egypt situation:

Al Jazeera's Gregg Carlstrom spoke to several Egyptians at Tahrir Square.

One woman has a big sign demanding Morsi leave "because there is no water, because there is no electricity, because there is no gas, because there is no petrol." Asked who could fix these problems, though, she said she didn't know.

Mahmoud Hussein, driver - he's referring to a video the army released yesterday of Sunday's massive protests:

"We have the army with us. You saw the video? Morsi told us he is legitimate but we have millions in the streets. The armed forces will make a statement tonight and god willing we will have a new president."

Saber Helmy, selling tea at a stand - Shubra is a poor district not far from downtown - says he signed the Tamarod petition:

"I want Morsi to come to Shubra, we have no water, no electricity... [Asked if he has a job] Only because of this, because of the people here, maybe I make enough money to live. We have nothing. He promised to make things better and he hasn't."

Faiza Fahmy - talking about the speech:

"He wasn't talking to us. He was talking to the ikhwan like he always does. It was the same as last time [last Wednesday's speech], all this talk about thugs and felool. Are we all thugs and felool? He lives in a different country, this man."

Ahmed Abdel Rahman, engineering student, carrying a caricature photo of Anne Patterson, the loathed US ambassador - he's referring here to Morsi's November decree which helped force through the divisive constitution:

"Obama's statement is not enough. They covered up for the Brotherhood for a year, even after Morsi forced through the constitution. And until now he hasn't told Morsi to step down."

As they say, you can't eat Sharia. Also interesting that they include the anti-Obama viewpoint. Funny how you have to go to AJ to get real reporting these days.

[rse]

daddy-and she just keeps her taxpayer funded that comes with a bonus job in the meantime? That's justice.

http://www.invisibleserfscollar.com/turning-all-of-us-into-piggy-banks-or-dependents-who-need-direction-and-aid-and-desired-dispositions/ is me pointing out that making a disposition to adopt and implement the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the focus of ed in the US and everywhere is a mandate to spread misery.

Because misery creates the jobs. To be redistributive administrators who want their cuts. A world of Lois Lerners until there is no OPM.

[bunkerbuster]

From the NYT on Zimmerman:
``Mr. Osterman’s account largely matched what Mr. Zimmerman — who was photographed bleeding after the killing — told the police. There was one exception: Mr. Osterman’s contention that, according to Mr. Zimmerman, Mr. Martin had grabbed his gun but that he managed to get it back. That contradicted Mr. Zimmerman’s account to the police, in which he said Mr. Martin seemed to be reaching for his gun.''
The gun.
That's what this case is going to come down to.
Why would Zimmerman lie about a struggle for the gun?
Seems pretty obvious. It's unassailable that he was pursuing Martin and almost doubtless that Martin knew he was being pursued.
If there was a struggle for the gun, it means Martin was in fact fighting for his own life, while Zimmerman had no reasonable fear for his life.
When you chase someone down, then present a gun, the reasonable assumption is that the person would fear for their life AND the person would see flight as a very dangerous option. Fearing for your own life, as the one with the gun in your hand, isn't reasonable in that circumstance and we do have, sadly, incontrovertible evidence that Zimmerman was perfectly willing to kill.
A struggle for the gun doesn't prove that Martin was the one "standing his ground,'' but it makes that scenario far more plausible.
Catching Zimmerman lying about a struggle for the gun, on the other hand, leaves the defense with a whole lot of 'splainin between them and an acquittal.

[NJJan]

Next witness is on Skype. Tells prosecution they sound like chipmunks singing Xmas song. This is going well

[matt]

Time is calling Obama's move on Obamacare "deviously brilliant". Everyone knows it's a nightmare and yet they call the move brilliant. It's sort of likie calling Hitler's invasion of Russia deviously brilliant or Pearl Harbor deviously brilliant.

I'm sure the rest of the propaganda machine will call it brilliantly devious and incredibly extraordinary etc.

We need to run these scum out of office, conduct swift but fair trials and thence to a hanging in courthouse square.

[Rob Crawford]

I just wanna say that following a political convention where they denied Christ three times, it's entirely appropriate for Democrats in Texas to be chanting "Hail Satan".

[Cecil Turner]

Is the State seriously suggesting Zimmerman set this entire thing up, after taking a community college class on crime scenes? Wow.

If so, Zimmerman oughta be head of CIA.

[Janet --- -... .- -- .- ... ..- -.-. -.- ...]

Obama is such a loser. Looking at the Egypt live feed, it is just sickening how this administration is supporting the evil thugs.
Obama has been a fiasco from day 1....just like Hillary at State. Incompetent losers.

[Clarice]

Tom, this is a genius post--Couldn't be better.

[narciso]

'It's Just a Flesh Wound' Rionda was heard to say.

[Gus]

Cue the circus music ButtBuster is in da house.

[narciso]

Al Jazeera is good, at least in their print edition, that's why the decision to hire Soledad is a little surprising,

[Clarice]

How can the Administration delay implementing the employers' obligation to provide insurance but not the individuals' obligation to do so? Doesn't this only make the situation worse?

[boris]

ButtBuster aka AssCracker

[Gus]

Creeepy AssCracker.

[bunkerbuster]

you can count on wingnuts like boris and Gus to froth up with homoerotica. i guess if they were the type of people that could be embarrassed they wouldn't be wingnuts in the first place. still, it's pavlov's dog. ring the bell, and they spout homoerotic imagery. they most be pretty lonely fellows...

[Gus]

Clarice, maybe this will help.
{{Obama said he supports a single-payer health care system, and that the only reason we "may not get there immiediately" is "because first we have to take back the White House, we have to take back the Senate, and we have to take back the House" - which, of course, we have:}}
Stalin didn't set out to kill 50 million, but some people just wouldn't listen.
Obama is a communist. Communists don't care what the people want.

[bunkerbuster]

Clarice: My understanding is that the paperwork requirements for employers were egregious. I'm not sure what "situation" you're referring to when you say it would only make it worse.
Seems pretty obvious to me that if you waive the rule and vow to simplify the paperwork, you're making the situation better, not worse, even if individuals, for whom the paperwork is not egregious, still have to adhere to the rules.

[Clarice]

If employers needn't provide the insurance and all people must have it, everyone will have to buy insurance--including stupid, unemployed people who voted for obama and the price of that insurance is skyrocketing. How does this help the Democrats in 2014? Only a real genius can explain this and I guess that's why bubu cannot.

[Porchlight]

This photo of the daughter of some friends of ours made the cover of the dead tree Austin American-Statesman this morning:

http://www.statesman.com/gallery/news/state-regional-govt-politics/texas-house-hearing-abortion-bill-070213/gCBpQ/#3605683

Powerful testimony yesterday and the blues (pro-life) showed up in (peaceful) force.

At one point the oranges (pro-choice) were chanting Hail Satan and at another they were circling around a group of pro-lifers in the Rotunda in an "orange tornado" of chanting. Two oranges harassed another friend's 9 yo daughter by making loud jokes about vaginal penetration behind her, even after her mother asked them to stop. Typical.

[bunkerbuster]

Not that there's any surprise. Gus doesn't mind shouting to the world that he has no idea what a communist is, so why would he hesitate to broadcast his obsession (subconcious?) with homoerotic imagery...

[boris]

"wingnuts like boris and Gus ..."

Apparently bubu doesn't know that boys and girls can do that too. Such ignorance is kinda creepy.

[boris]

Bubu can't add or subtract and doesn't know anything about sex. What a surprise (creepy).

[Joan]

If the administration can delay implementing part of ACA, then what is their argument that parts of it can't just be struck off or out or away or put in the rubbish heap of bad legislation? It seems that the dems/dim and/or this administration can really do anything they/it wants. Wish the repubs had some backbone or, at least, a few democrats had our country's best interest in their hearts when they legislate.

[matt]

Morsi is under house arrest by the Army, it is being reported.

[Gmax]

Drudge has siren up, something going on with Zimmerman show trial, not clear from his headline.

[bunkerbuster]

Clarice: It helps the Democrats because the "take home" price of insurance will be much lower for people who are unemployed or employed at jobs that pay too law wages to have afforded insurance prior to enactment of Obamacare.
Remember, some 41 million Americans have no health insurance. Most would certainly like to have coverage, but find they can't pay for it.
Please explain why you think Obamacare is going to make that situation worse.
Pay attention. Insurance rates have been soaring for years. They are likely to continue to rise, as long as doctors and hospitals have an incentive to maximize prices and as long as Americans keep getting older and fatter.

[Clarice]

where will thoswe folks get their insurance--? About half the states have refused to set up exchanges..

[Gmax]

Another Drudge post, developing Poll shows more
Americans consider blacks racists than whites or Hispanics. Probably because they are using their eyes and ears and not reading the NYT...

[pagar]

IMO, there is no way any member of the Obama regime would do anything to make paperwork on anything easier.

[jimmyk]

According to bubu, a gun can never be used in self-defense, because if you have a gun, you can never be in fear of your life. Joseph Heller couldn't have said it better.

[Gus]

ButtBuster is a clown.
My homoeroticism was simple the same term used by DEE DEE, illiterate clown that testified for Skittle Von Purple Drank.

[Ranger]

Bubu, let's walk through this very slowly...

Currently, a majority of the uninsured are young, healthy people who choose not to buy insurance because they don't want to pay the $1,200 a year for a bare bones policy they don't think they need.

So, how does Obamacare "help" these people? It eliminates the bare bones policies, and requires young, healthy people to buy "better" policies that will cost them $2,400 to $3,600 a year. Now, they might get a subsidy to help pay for it, but it will still cost them more out of pocket then they are paying now (nothing).

Oh, and if they were working 35 hours a week at a part time gig before Obamacare, they are going to find that they are only getting 29 hours a week of work now, thanks to the IRS declaring that 30 hours a week is "full time" for the employer mandate.

So, those who Obamacare is supposed to help are going to be paying more for insurance, and making less money. Sounds like a classic Dem approach to helping people.

[Thomas Collins]

Free Zimmerman, arrest Morsi!

[Rob Crawford]

I saw some pictures this morning of Obama in Mandela's jail cell.

It was a good look for Obama.

[Thomas Collins]

Pranksters are calling the guy who is testifying via Skype.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/buster/skype/zimmerman-trial-skype-bombing-756390

[Gus]

Ranger, ButtBuster has no idea what he is talking about. But he'll set up a strawman and knock it down. More correctly Obama is a Marxist, ButtBuster knows this, but being a dishonest pile of shit, ButtBuster will not acknowledge that. It's just how ButtBuster rolls. Obama set this up for GOVERNMENT control. That is exactly what Marxists do. Obama couldn't run a grade school GirlScout cookie operation. Cash for Clunkers cost the taxpayers $24,000 per car, not to mention the damage caused by taking perfectly drivable used cars off the market. It's simple MARXISTS dictate, but don't have a clue. Again, ButtBuster is a pathetic pile of steaming crap.

[Rob Crawford]

According to bubu, a gun can never be used in self-defense, because if you have a gun, you can never be in fear of your life.

It's morons like this that leave our self-defense laws in the state where you have two choices -- acquiesce, or deadly force.

[Jane -]

Porch, that is one compelling picture!

[bunkerbuster]

Ranger: many people 26 years old or younger are now covered by their parents insurance policies, thanks to Obamacare.
I'm not sure where you're getting your statistics on uninsured people, but they sound a little off to me.
I'm pretty sure there are going to be a lot more young people happy to be covered under their parents policies than there are uninsured young people who resent having to buy insurance made affordable to them via Obamacare.

[Captain Hate]

Testifying by skype, what could go wrong? What an embarrassment for all involved.

[Clarice]

The plan--and it sure looks illegal:http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2013/07/02/White-House-Illegally-Delays-Employer-Mandate-to-Avoid-2014-Election-Disaster-and-Grow-Government-Run-Exchanges

[Ranger]

Looks like the report of Morsi being denied. May be a disinformation campaign to bate the Brotherhood into attacking security forces and justifying a crackdown. Or it could be an effort to force the military to act rather than play Hamlet on the Nile.

[Gmax]

I'm pretty sure

Well that's damn compelling on the rebuttal ( snark off, snark off, damnit its stuck!)

[Gus]

Yes ButtBuster, many people up to their 27th birthday will be happy to have their parents pay for their freebies, abortions and birth control. Such a FEATURE!! 8 years and 364 days after being eligible to VOTE, these offspring are still dependent and do not pay into the COSTS of health care.
You're mocking yourself ass clown.

[pagar]

Obamacare disaster is only part of his plan.

http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/07/obamas_fundamental_transformation_of_a_nation_he_despises.html

[Old Lurker]

Just because you CAN stay on Dad's policy does not mean your Dad has to allow that if his goal is to raise a self supporting young adult.

[Account Deleted]

Clarice,

We can't know if it's really illegal until Chief Justice Floor Wax and Dessert Topping issues his opinion. It will probably wind up being illegal on odd days and legal on even days, except for leap years or when it's raining.

[bunkerbuster]

jimmyk: Pay better attention. Zimmerman was in hot pursuit of Martin. That's why it would be reasonable for Martin to assume he was being attacked if Zimmerman pulled a gun on him.
The point isn't that a gun can't be used in self-defense, it's that using a gun in an altercation doesn't automatically mean you're using it in self-defense.

[Ignatz]

--If there was a struggle for the gun, it means Martin was in fact fighting for his own life, while Zimmerman had no reasonable fear for his life.--

I have tried to come up with a stupider, more nonsensical sentence than that and have come up empty.
Anyone else care to give it a shot?

[Gus]

""jimmyk: Pay better attention. Zimmerman was in hot pursuit of Martin.""
Such utter bullshit from ButtBuster.

[narciso]

I think they observe 'Fight Club' rules over there,

[Thomas Collins]

The State's argument tops that one for imbecility, Ignatz. Basically, the State's argument is this: To be in sufficient fear of serious bodily harm or death so as to justify using deadly force, one must be already dead or seriously injured. The State's argument is unintentionally of Onionesque proportions.

[Porchlight]

Thanks, Jane. Yes, it is - I am proud of my friends who are toughing it out at the Capitol this week. It's only blocks away but I can't be there b/c of work. Maybe next week when the bill (hopefully) comes to a final vote.

[Rob Crawford]

Just because you CAN stay on Dad's policy does not mean your Dad has to allow that if his goal is to raise a self supporting young adult.

You sure it's not compulsory?

[Ranger]

Zimmerman was in hot pursuit of Martin.

Not when he was flat on his back getting his head smashed against the concrete sidewalk. And even the prosecution is arguing that is when the gun came out.

I haven't heard anyone but you argue that the gun was pulled before the fight started.

[Gus]

Thomas and Ignatz. The State obviously realizes they can't get Whitey on Murder 2. That charge was a Trojan horse. They are trying to seek a CONVICTION...period. The gambit is to get the jury to compromise.
Only an imbecile like ButtBuster would believe such nonsense.
Do you remember the old TOOTSIE POP commercial?
How man licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop. One, two, KRUNCH!! THREE!!!
How many head blows to concrete and broken noses does it take to make you fear for you to fear bodily harm??? It's that simple. Unfortunately mentally ill LIBTARDS side with whom they view as on their side POLITICALLY. Skittles is black, so ButtBuster sides with his assumed political allies. Same is true on gay issues.

[Gus]

Rob think about it. The GOVERNMENT makes the decision, NOT THE FATHER. The GOVERNMENT decided if young Sarah could get a lung transplant, NOT THE DOCTOR, the GOVERNMENT tells the young person they can stay on Mom and Dad's policy. Vote buying at it's worst.

[Rob Crawford]

I haven't heard anyone but you argue that the gun was pulled before the fight started.

I think Jesse Jackson made that claim. But he also claimed St. Skittles was shot in the back.

[Rob Crawford]

Skittles is black, so ButtBuster sides with his assumed political allies.

That's because ButtBuster is a racist.

[bunkerbuster]

Thanks Ignatz!
Zimmerman's fear for his life wouldn't be reasonable at that point because Martin had acted only in self-defense, giving no indication of an intent to harm Zimmerman.
Zimmerman has of course claimed that Martin, after a fashion, threatened to kill him.
If it emerges that there was a struggle for the gun, which would mean that Zimmerman has some lying to 'splain, then it hardly makes sense at all that Martin would tell an armed man that he was going to die.
The only plausible case in that scenario is that Martin threatens to kill Zimmerman AFTER he gains control of the gun. But given the end result, we know that if Martin did get control of the gun, he didn't use it to kill Zimmerman...
Another discrepancy between Zimmerman's testimony and other evidence is that he claims not to have known about the stand your ground law.
If it's shown that he did know about the law, then lied about that along with the gun struggle, it does not look good at all for Zimmerman's freedom...

[Ranger]

Well Bubu, we will just have to see how many people actually buy individual health insurance policies under Obamacare. But it is clear already that the cost of those policies is set to at least double next year. And if people already don't want, or can't afford to pay $100 a month this year, why will the be willing or able to pay $200 a month next year.

Oh, by the way, Mom and Dad have already seen their premiums go up significantly over the last two years thanks to Obamacare forcing their carriers to cover their kids as well.

[Rob Crawford]

It's not vote-buying, Gus, it's eugenics. The "Progressive" dream for the last century -- deciding who lives and who dies, so as to cultivate a race of proles.

[Porchlight]

I haven't heard anyone but you argue that the gun was pulled before the fight started.

The pro-TM crowd made the assumption from the beginning that GZ brandished his gun and chased TM around the complex. They have zero evidence for this, but that is what they claim.

[Ignatz]

"--Insurance rates have been soaring for years.--"

That rate has nearly doubled since Barrycare was enacted and as the projected premiums bid by insurance companies have demonstrated (despite several disingenuous attempts by lefties to mischaracterize them) will only accelerate as more of it comes on line.

[Gus]

Ranger, Whitey Zimmerman was NOT in HOT PURSUIT of Skittles. He was relaying to the police dispatcher Skittles whereabouts. Skittles left his view, and then reappeared and confronted Whitey Zimmerman. Skittles then assaulted Whitey Zimmerman injuring him. Witnesses saw Skittles on top of Zimmerman punching him. Zimmermans nose, face, forehead and the back of his head all show CLEARLY that SKITTLES was battering Whitey Zimmerman. Skittles then got sent to his ultimate reward for injuring Whitey Zimmerman. I don't think Zimmerman is a saint, but Skittles made the mistake of battering an armed man. So sorry Skittles no soup for you.

[Jane -]

I wonder if Whitey Bulger is bummed that his trial is getting ignored because of Trayvon.

[Gus]

Another ButtBuster strawman. Check this one out.
{{Zimmerman's fear for his life wouldn't be reasonable at that point because....."}}
Zimmerman does not need to fear for his life to defend himself.

[bgates]

I wonder if Whitey Bulger is bummed

Probably nervous that the race hustlers chose this moment to stir up a lot of "Kill Whitey" sentiment.

[Gus]

Hey ButtBuster, just admit, it, you don't have a clue what you're talking about. Ok?
Whitey Zimmerman doesn't have to fear death to defend himself. He has to fear bodily injury. Clearly Skittles was battering him, and was on top of him. r.i.p. Skittles.

Just admit it ButtBuster, it's the first step toward sobriety for you!!

[Gus]

Whitey Bulger. Sounds like a porn star name.

[Clarice]

Heh, bgates.

[Ranger]

Looks like show-time is approaching in Cairo. Reports that crowds are approaching the Presidential Palace. Looks like the Army may just sit back and let the people, with the help of some plainclothes police with AK47s, do the heavy lifting here.

[Gus]

LIVE ACTION RANGER!!

[narciso]

Whitey being such a soft touch in that department, in the Departed, Costello's the Manque is introduced at the time of the Boston busing protests, hint, hint,

[Stephanie]

Went to the opening of the 'Lone Ranger' last night. Not bad but definitely too long. action was good and the explanation of the bird on his head makes sense in the spiritual aspects raised in the movie.

Only movies I go to see in theatre are Depp movies so I might be a little biased.

[Ranger]

Well, there is a definite logic to this approach my the Army. They can't be blamed for a "coup" of the president is removed by "popular action" by "civilians."

[jimmyk]

The GOVERNMENT makes the decision, NOT THE FATHER. The GOVERNMENT decided if young Sarah could get a lung transplant, NOT THE DOCTOR, the GOVERNMENT tells the young person they can stay on Mom and Dad's policy.

Unfortunately the government has been heavily involved in transplant decisions all along. It's a Soviet-style system where artificial scarcity is created, then the government takes over the allocation. There are lots of ways short of having an open market for organs that the supply could be increased and doctors, patients, and private insurers could make these decisions without the government being involved. Meanwhile millions die waiting for organs.

[Ranger]

Looks like the Army is heading into the Cairo University area where Pro-Morsi demonstrators had been gathering. Pics of APCs on the street and troops dismounting.

[Ranger]

Hmmmm... The Army has apparently also issued a travel ban on 40 top leaders of the Brotherhood. I guess they won't be flying to the US for a picture op with Barry when all this is over.

[Rob Crawford]

Ranger -- any pics of Brotherhood members with baked goods taped to their heads? That was the best part of their last uprising.

[bgates]

Here's busty's theory of the case:

1) George Zimmerman sees a young black man and decides to kill him.
2) Zimmerman calls the police, describes his chosen target, and asks they come meet him.
3) Zimmerman draws his weapon and follows Trayvon through the dark.
4) Zimmerman confronts Trayvon, weapon in hand, not knowing how Trayvon will react, whether any of his neighbors are looking out a window and can identify Zimmerman and/or Martin, or how many seconds until the police arrive.
5) Despite his murderous intent, need for haste, and knowledge of the fact that "these assholes always get away", Zimmerman does not fire the weapon until after he is close enough for Martin to try to take it from him.
6) And in fact until he is underneath Martin on the ground getting punched in the face (or, per busty's theory, watching Martin swinging his arms in the manner of a professional cage fighter in the same position while simultaneously cuts and bruises appear on his face - since no eyewitness other than Zimmerman saw any punches land, the origin of Zimmerman's facial injuries must remain forever a mystery) and having his head banged against the pavement.

7. Zimmerman then murdered Martin. In a stroke of luck, he was able to do so before Martin (who was engaged in justifiable self-defense) got the gun away from him. In a further stroke of luck, he did it before the police he called arrived. In yet a third stroke of luck, none of his neighbors had a clear view of his crime. In a fourth stroke, his single shot proved fatal so he didn't have to worry about Trayvon telling a conflicting story. In an incredible fifth independent bit of good fortune for the murderer, the victim he had chosen for no other reason than skin color - while calling the police to offer the flimsy pretext that he was worried about a juvenile delinquent in his neighborhood - in fact had a history of juvenile delinquency, allowing identity conservatives to swallow his narrative of Trayvon's allegedly suspicious behavior more easily.

It's the perfect crime.

[Ranger]

Nope, but there are some pics of them in multi-colored hard hats and life preservers. That is their cutting edge militia combat gear these days.

[Ranger]

I should say various colors of hard hat.

[Gus]

Megyn Kelly just called Egypt a MAJOR AMERICAN ALLY.

Nonsense. They are not an ally at all. They are part of our welfare state.

[Rob Crawford]

I liked the image of multi-colored hats better. Kinda like rigid plastic clown wigs.

[Rob Crawford]

Nonsense. They are not an ally at all. They are part of our welfare state.

He meant "major Democrat ally". Anyone living off taxpayer money is a Democrat ally.

[Jane -]

Today is Megyn's last day. I don't think her face has looked pregnant once in the last 9 months.

(ok phrased badly - I'm no BGates)

[Ranger]

More updates:

In the Nasr City area of the capital, New York Times reporter Kareem Fahim tweeted that soldiers were firing into the air to disperse demonstrators.

Nasr City is where Cairo University is located, and one of the main spots for pro-Morsi demonstrations in the city.

[Dave (in MA)]

I hadn't noticed Bunny complaining about any "homoerotica" when all the moonbats were slinging the term "teabagger" around for the past 3+ years.

[Porchlight]

So unfair, Jane. ;)

BTW that was one reason (among many) I thought all the Trig truther stories about Palin were so stupid. In photos toward the end of her pregnancy, her face looked puffy. You can't fake that, especially if you're as small and slim as Palin is when she isn't pregnant.

[Rob Crawford]

soldiers were firing into the air to disperse demonstrators

How many innocents killed by bullets returning to earth?

I despise people who think of guns as fireworks.

[narciso]

Nasr City was where that Jihad cell was busted, shortly after Benghazi

[Clarice]

Morsi's now a "guest" of the military--I suppose the military has something they will do ..Maybe just open the door and leave him to the crowd? Really, this is crazy--He can't leave, they don't know what to do and the crowd is just boiling on all sides.

[Gus]

Maybe they are gathered there in Cairo to hear Obama speak. We have EGYPT's people hating us now. How did that happen?