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Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Thu Feb 03, 2005 at 12:09:56 PM EST
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There's a ton of stuff I'd like to write about today, some are subjects of the articles listed on the newsfeed on the left, like the prisoner killed on the prison bus while it was going back to the jail from court; Chertoff and Gonzales'; new torture documents; Martha Stewart starring in the Apprentice when she gets on home detention; and not listed, five CT death row inmates have begun a hunger strike and Colorado's Governor Owens has called for the resignation of Professor Ward Churchill due to his remarks about 9/11.

But I'm juggling too many things at work right now to write about any of them, so you go ahead, and no need to stick to what I would have written about--pick your own topics if you'd like.

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    • Open Thread | 32 comments (32 topical)
    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Feb 03, 2005 at 12:35:23 PM EST
    The big story today on TPM and other sites is the blacklist banning 42 residents of Fargo, including a city commissioner, a couple of high school students, and the producer of the Ed Schultz show from attending Bush's rally for his social security privatization scheme. Also in the news is the White House's admission that their plan does nothing to solve the long-term problems of Social Security--in other words, the 2018 and 2052 CBO dates they've been throwing around are red herrings.

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#2)
    by pigwiggle on Thu Feb 03, 2005 at 12:49:42 PM EST
    Here is a good java applet that shows the grave problem with the recent decision concerning dog ‘sniff searches’. For example; assuming 1 in 10 cars is carrying drugs when stopped and sniffed, and the dog is around 87% accurate (one number cited in the Cabelles decision dissent) ~57% of cars searched will contain no drugs. I would like to hear comments from Patrick in particular.

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Feb 03, 2005 at 02:08:01 PM EST
    Colorado Pols is reporting that U.S. Attorney nominee Troy Eid is being investigated for possible improprieties that are holding up his confirmation.

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#4)
    by Kitt on Thu Feb 03, 2005 at 02:08:56 PM EST
    Here's a link to a statement from the American Indian Movement on Mr. Ward Churchill. There is also this editorial in 'Indian Country' today. Ward Churchill would do himself some good to express a profound apology to people he has offended and misled. He should also come clean about his appropriated American Indian identity. This is not advice he will likely take. Churchill has jumped on the cougar of controversy ever since he came onto the Indian scene as Russell Means' main speechwriter in the early 1980s. Churchill thrives on riding that controversial cougar, but this time he poked it in the eye. Nice use of the cougar as a metaphor. We saw a cougar cross the highway near the Boise River a few years ago - made eye contact with my husband. Scared the hell out of me too. Feisty fellows to the end.

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Feb 03, 2005 at 02:56:25 PM EST
    et al - It appears that Churchill has lied. I would think that would be grounds for dismissal from CU. Michael D - I always get ancy when I read some credited to "senior officals." Particularly when what they say dosen't make a lot of sense, but is negative to the administration, and suits the Demos claims. The private accounts are supposed to reduce the payouts from SS by replacing part of SS. If that doesn't improve solvency, I need someone besides a LAT reporter to explain it.

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Feb 03, 2005 at 03:03:12 PM EST
    If you live in California, please visit SaveOurLicense.com and sign the petition to get this on the ballot.

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#7)
    by Quaker in a Basement on Thu Feb 03, 2005 at 03:17:32 PM EST
    "The private accounts are supposed to reduce the payouts from SS by replacing part of SS." Private accounts also reduce something else. Anyone? Anyone?

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#8)
    by kdog on Thu Feb 03, 2005 at 03:25:16 PM EST
    Tommorow is D-Day for me, as I go for my pre-employment drug screening for an exciting new job I hope to get. Haven't smoked in about 2 weeks, but as a textbook "chronic" user (more then 3-4 times per week on average) I've read the glorious THC can stay in the system for 12 weeks, so hopefully the all the goldenseal, endless quarts of H2O, and the "quickflush" do the trick. It steams me to have to provide bodily fluids for a job all parties agree I am well qualified for, but unfortunatley I can't afford principles right now, as the new job comes with a hefty raise and a chance for advancement. I long for the day when a man is no longer judged by the contents of his urine, but on the contents of his character. Wish me luck friends. P.S. No, my new job does not involve driving a school bus or operating heavy machinery!

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#9)
    by john horse on Thu Feb 03, 2005 at 03:33:24 PM EST
    There is no social security crisis. Says who? Says Bush. According to the LA Times (found in talkingpointsmemo) "In a significant shift in his rationale for the accounts, Bush dropped his claim that they would help solve Social Security's fiscal problems...A Bush aide, briefing reporters on the condition of anonymity, was more explicit, saying that the individual accounts would do nothing to solve the system's long-term financial problems."

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#10)
    by Kitt on Thu Feb 03, 2005 at 03:38:44 PM EST
    Jim: et al - It appears that Churchill has lied. I would think that would be grounds for dismissal from CU. You mean as far as his ancestry?

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#11)
    by desertswine on Thu Feb 03, 2005 at 03:44:01 PM EST
    Good luck kdog. Hope you get your job.

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#12)
    by john horse on Thu Feb 03, 2005 at 03:47:32 PM EST
    In thinking over what I wrote in my last post, Bush did not say that there was no social security crisis. However, what the quotes from the LA Times show is the dishonest way that Bush has been manipulating the American people.

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#13)
    by jimcee on Thu Feb 03, 2005 at 03:59:04 PM EST
    Regarding the Ward Churchill "death threats" that were sited by Hamilton College for the cancellation of his event. The local police have not received a complaint from the college as of last night so it is apparent that this cancellation is Alumi driven. The articles that were mentioned above are a stitch. What amazes me more than anything is that this guy had found a cozy home at the U of C. Man, are there any standards left in academia? standards.

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#14)
    by jimcee on Thu Feb 03, 2005 at 04:01:21 PM EST
    Uhmmm..Alumni. Sorry.

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#15)
    by ras on Thu Feb 03, 2005 at 04:10:04 PM EST
    Indiv accounts will - as I've said before - nibble around the edges of the overall funding prob, by providing a slightly higher rate of return (very-long-term average). Their bigger atttraction is that by making the money yours the govt cannot later expropriate it or reclaim it, such as on your death. And since participation/use of the private accts is voluntary, no one who's worried about them needs risk a thing. The bulk of the funding prob is still in the demographics. Either that can be addressed now - prob by raising the retirement age - or the whole system can go tidbits up later. Note that the two ideas work together - if the retirement age is gradually raised, reflecting in part longer lifespans, some people - those who die younger, e.g. at age 64 - would get ripped off all the more w/out the private accts. This is so because they will have paid in just as much as their friend, who also lived to, say, 64, but their friend got to take money back out; the dead donor didn't. In contrast, Bush's plan allows that money to remain in the deceased's estate, where it can be part of the inheritance passed on. To repeat: if it worries you, don't use it. You have the choice.

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#16)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Feb 03, 2005 at 04:26:16 PM EST
    Kdog.... I told you to put that crack pipe down awhile ago.... LOL Good luck

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#17)
    by Quaker in a Basement on Thu Feb 03, 2005 at 04:38:35 PM EST
    To repeat: if it worries you, don't use it. You have the choice. Do I also have a choice whether I'll shoulder my share of the debt for transition costs?

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#18)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Feb 03, 2005 at 05:15:10 PM EST
    jimcee - Joke: Question: "What is the difference between Boulder (home of CU) and eastern Europe? Answer: " There are no communists left in eastern Europe." Kitt - Well, the indians say he isn't an indian. As far as his other comments, I'll just go along with Cliff. Let the widow women have him. Which was an old indian tradition. kdog - Go dude!

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#19)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Feb 03, 2005 at 05:32:15 PM EST
    kdog, hope you haven't been dieting. I've read THC is not water soluble so hangs around in fatty tissues. If you diet it gets released quicker. Suggest you get a couple of burgers in for breakfast (joke). Good luck in anycase.

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#20)
    by Kitt on Thu Feb 03, 2005 at 05:37:29 PM EST
    So..the answer is 'yes' eh, Jim? Can ya just answer without being cagey? I don't know if it's grounds for dismissal from the university as a professor for lying about your ancestry. Kinda doubt it. However, I don't know that much about Mr. Churchill nor care to find out more.

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#21)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Feb 03, 2005 at 05:40:30 PM EST
    PPJ, it was an official speaking to the entire press gaggle; it's not the LA Times making up this story. The consensus seems to be that it was Dan Bartlett as a continuation of the embargoed press briefing on the SOTU, and that the anonymity is not to protect the source, but rather the stated press policy of the administration with regards to the SOTU to keep the media focus on Bush rather than his aides.

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#22)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Thu Feb 03, 2005 at 07:05:21 PM EST
    Businesses in the Tampa Bay area broadcasting Fox News in their lobbies and/or places of business this week: Chili's Restaurant Fed Ex Office Kinko's Southtrust Bank Bank of America Bennigan's Restaurant Businesses in the Tampa Bay area broadcasting proven liberally biased news casts I've come across this week: NONE The Corporatization of American culture-at-large is in progress. Just the news, fair and balanced. Please stay tuned.

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#23)
    by Patrick on Thu Feb 03, 2005 at 10:12:54 PM EST
    Kdog, Good start with your employer.... Pigwiggle, What response are you looking for. A dog sniff is not a search so 0% of vehicle will be searched by the dog. The dog handler may search vehicles based on the probable cause established by the K-9 sniff, and I can't say how many times he's going to find the source of the odor. Depends on the handler. I do wish it was all as black and white as you seem to think it is. It would certainly be easier that way.

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#24)
    by john horse on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 04:09:41 AM EST
    Update on Wilton Dedge. As documented in Talkleft, Wilton Dedge spent 22 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. After dragging their heels for years, the State of Florida finally gave him the DNA test he requested which resulted in his release. His father liquidated his pension in order to pay the costs of freeing him. Now he wants the Florida legislature to compensate him for those lost years. Unfortunately, in Florida, we have a Republican leglislature, so his prospects of getting restitution are problematic.

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#25)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 05:18:51 AM EST
    TS - Business office, etc., have a way of broadcasting things that the majority of their customers want to hear. You want CNN? Ask for it. Michael D - I hear you, but I am past the point on these unidentified sources. Boths side use it to push an agenda. That is BS. If they can't name the source, they should not use the info, with this caveat. Let the senior news manager, director, VP, whatever, review and put a disclaimer in the broadcast that they believe the information is correct. I also note you didn't respond to my comment that reducing the payout of SS will aid the solvency issue. TS - Business offices have this habit of trying to not do things that offend customers. You want CNN? Ask for it.

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#26)
    by Kitt on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 07:59:55 AM EST
    Oh yeah - the Idaho Senate voted to forego a constitutional amendment against gay marriage. Our Senate is considered "the most Republican Legislature in the nation." Ewww. This is my favorite quote: "Here we are on the 24th day of the legislative session, and what is the longest debate we've had in this session so far?" Andreason asked. "Is it about education? Is it about public transportation? No. It's SJR 101. And I think that's a small example of what we're going to see in the next election if this is on the ballot." Mr. Andreason is a Republican (of course) from Boise. I met him at an education thing I do with the school district here. We had members of the senate come to discuss education. He seems very approachable, very down-to-earth, less government kind of guy.

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#27)
    by kdog on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 08:05:44 AM EST
    I think it is a good start Pat, it's obvious to all the regulars I love reefer, and for me to abstain to get this job shows my willingness to sacrifice. The whole thing is just so silly though, either you can do the job or you can't, what I do at home on my time SHOULD be nobodies business. I know you think reefer is evil, but I assure I'm not out robbing old ladies handbags, ripping crops with an M16, or collecting welfare (like 99.9% of pot smokers) I'll never understand how you've come to your prejudices. For the others, thanks for the well wishes...T minus 2 hours!

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#29)
    by pigwiggle on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 08:12:49 AM EST
    Patrick- I understand that the dog sniff isn’t considered a search; I’m talking about false positive indications from a dog and subsequent searches. My point; if the dogs are in fact as reliable as police claim, and further there are drugs in 1 out of 10 cars stopped and sniffed (a VERY generous assumption) a full HALF of SUBSEQUNT searches, of those cars torn apart looking for drugs, will be fruitless (false positive). That’s what I want you to respond to. Are you willing to accept that half or more searches due to an indication from a k9 will be erroneous?

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#30)
    by john horse on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 02:36:50 PM EST
    kdog, Good luck on the interview. I think drugs are bad for you, though I use them myself (alcohol). Abuse of drugs is especially bad. However, what you do in private is nobody else's business as far as I'm concerned including any prospective employer. But remember. If you must do drugs or drink, please don't drive. And if you must drive, please don't drink or do drugs. However, if you must drive and drink and/or do drugs, remember Betsy's Funeral Home on South 9th Street.

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#31)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 05:56:54 PM EST
    DA - Only if it is to protect your job. BTW - When I make a hotel reservation I always ask a couple of questions. 1. Do you have high speed Internet access? 2. Do you have Fox News? A "no" to either question sends me away. Hotels are very sensitive to things like that.

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#32)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 07:52:27 PM EST
    Having Fox News playing Ann Coulter or Sean Hannity in the lobby of my bank is about as offensive to me as would be a Confederate Flag hanging in the lobby with tellers wearing "It's cotton, you used to pick it" shirts. Ann Coulter is a rabid bigot. Her hate speech equals that of Rush Limbaugh and Joe Scarborough. Last I heard, I don't recall Dan Rather, Tom Brokaw, or even Robert Novak ever saying the despicable crap that Fox News spews over the airwaves. It is unacceptable. It is MORE unacceptable that I can either (1) allow myself to be offended or (2) stop using one of the 3 largest banks in America because of it. I suppose that I should never send a Fed Ex package again either. After all, there are plenty of other carriers that my place of business has accounts with (not).

    Re: Open Thread (none / 0) (#33)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 08:08:35 PM EST
    TS - I watch FNC and must say that I find its NEWS broadcast fair and balanced. Their commentators, Hannity, O'Reilly are on the right, with Combs on the Left. I rarely watch their COMMENTATORS, preferring C-Span and PBS. By the by, I think it best to not rile the blood. As for picking cotton, I have done my share, pulling a 9 foot sack and getting paid $1.00 per hundred pounds picked. I hope you never had to. It is stoop labor and is back breaking work.

    Open Thread | 32 comments (32 topical)