home

Sunday Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 08:12:12 AM EST
Tags: (all tags)
Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit

Another Sunday of bloviating on TV, and on this blog too. Give us your thoughts.

This is an Open Thread.

< Albuquerque Police Adverstising for Snitches | Progressivism: The New "Center-Right" >

  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


    • Display: Sort:
    Sunday Open Thread | 37 comments (37 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

    Tom Friedman (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by KeysDan on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 09:19:06 AM EST
    goes from hanging crepes to hanging effigies in his Sunday NYT op-ed.  While his colleague, Gail Collins, called for early resignations of Bush/Cheney yesterday, in a semi-humorous manner, Friedman is in full-throttle panic mode. He realizes his wish for Bush's early departure will not be realized, so his proposal is for Bush to appoint Tim Geithner as Secretary of Treasury now (of course, this is no refection on Pauslon, according to him) so that Geithner can get going on the Obama plan and act as if Obama is president.   Boy, this guy seems to be chronically off-base, from his Iraq war as a way to democratize all of the Arab world to a subsequently hemmed in goal, upon the debacle of that idea, to looking for a "decent" outcome in Iraq. Now he is trying to instill needed confidence in the markets with his latest scheme.

    Kerry "crushed" at not getting SoS (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by WS on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 09:31:55 AM EST
    From the Politico.

    John Kerry, State -- The Massachusetts senator and former Democratic presidential nominee was a passionate, articulate and early supporter of Obama, a fixture on both conference calls and the Sunday talk show circuit. Kerry's people say he never had any expectations of being named secretary of State but other Democrats say he made no secret of his Foggy Bottom aspirations. "He's crushed," said one Senate aide. Kerry would have been a fine pick, sources say, but Obama apparently had his eye on Hillary Clinton since the early fall. He does get an impressive consolation prize: the chairmanship of the Foreign Relations Committee vacated by Joe Biden.
    this is the one I find interesting (none / 0) (#13)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 09:38:41 AM EST
    Susan Rice, NSA -- Not a done deal, but retired Marine General James Jones and Clinton White House alum James Steinberg have emerged as the two top candidates for the national security adviser job, according to numerous press accounts. That would leave Susan Rice, a top Obama national security adviser long rumored for the post, out in the cold. Rice's prospects may have dimmed because she is one of the few Obama insiders who has been skeptical of a quick withdrawal from Iraq. But centrists, including Brookings Institution fellow Michael O'Hanlon, are still making the case she would provide a valuable counterweight to more dovish Obama aides. It's likely, though, that she'll be given a major role in the new administration somewhere else, if she wants one.

    O'Hanlon lobbying for Rice? Talk about the Kiss of Death. I wonder what Yglesias thinks of that.


    Parent

    If you want to be wrongheaded, (none / 0) (#19)
    by KeysDan on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 10:17:25 AM EST
    stick with Michael O'Hanlon.  He is in a general category with William Kristol, but worse in my view, in that he carries a nano-patina of intellectualism that impresses some for some reason.   I wonder what ever happened to the very articulate soldiers serving in Iraq who wrote an op-ed counter-argument to one of the rosey O'Hanlon reports after an "in-depth" on-site visit to the Emerald City.   Seems one was injured or mortally wounded soon after their article appeared.  

    Parent
    More on the above, (none / 0) (#27)
    by KeysDan on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 12:50:49 PM EST
    the NYT op ed's harsh and powerful assessment of the Iraq war, signed by seven non-commissioned officers (termed, The Seven Magnificent Soldiers) was published August 22, 2007. One of the authors, Staff Sergeant Murphy, was shot in the head just before publication; on Sept 12, 2007,  Sgts. Mora and Gray were killed in an Iraqi vehicle accident. Needless to say, these brave soldiers did not have the same view of the war as seen from O'Hanlon's desk at the Brookings Institution.

    Parent
    Oy (none / 0) (#22)
    by andgarden on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 11:36:39 AM EST


    Parent
    O'Hanlon is a centrist? (none / 0) (#24)
    by oculus on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 11:49:42 AM EST
    Isn't he the fellow who co-wrote the NYT op-ed piece saying, after he talked to Gen. Petraeus in Iraq, that U.S. should stay and win?

    Parent
    Kerry would have been horrible at State. (none / 0) (#14)
    by Angel on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 09:47:29 AM EST


    Parent
    He would have been fine (none / 0) (#15)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 09:51:51 AM EST
    imo.

    Parent
    Agree to disagree. (none / 0) (#16)
    by Angel on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 09:59:07 AM EST


    Parent
    Harmless but ineffective. (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by oculus on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 11:50:12 AM EST


    Parent
    Sitting here in Georgia (5.00 / 2) (#20)
    by kenosharick on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 10:35:20 AM EST
    seeing commercial after commercial ranting in a deep scary voice that Jim Martin (practically) "is the devil" "coming for your children" ect., ect. It is so totally over the top that I hope it backfires and chambliss loses. There was one on that actually said "Jim Martin will end the secret ballot in America." I am afraid there are many voters here stupid enough to fall for this crap.

    The Republicans and their allies (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by andgarden on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 11:38:34 AM EST
    are going all out for Saxby. They frankly can't afford to lose him, because he absolutely could be the difference between passing and not passing the EFCA.

    All Democrats will vote for cloture, and so will Specter.

    Parent

    My thoughts... (none / 0) (#1)
    by kdog on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 08:34:23 AM EST
    there won't be an undefeated NFL team after today...Gang Green brings Kerry Collins and the Titans down a peg.

    That and I hope my squad brings it in our semifinal game in 2 hours...my championship fleece is getting old and I want a new one.  We finally got some football weather..24 degrees...I love this game:)

    Mercury Morris hopes... (none / 0) (#26)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 11:54:27 AM EST
    ...you're right about that.  He's got champaigne to drink!

    How about those Knickerbockers, huh?  Think you'll see LeBron and Chris Bosh in NYC soon?  

    Good luck with your game today!

    Parent

    Drink up '72 Dolphins.... (none / 0) (#37)
    by kdog on Mon Nov 24, 2008 at 08:17:16 AM EST
    drink up, there is a new sheriff in the AFC.  I thought it would be close, but the Jets pretty much dominated.

    Too bad me and the fellas couldn't match their effort, two touchdown lead at half and we sh*t the bed...I'm still stewing.  Ah well, the winter league starts in 2 weeks, we'll get 'em next go round:)

    Parent

    Excellent call! (none / 0) (#28)
    by nycstray on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 03:54:56 PM EST


    Parent
    I've grown tired of ... (none / 0) (#2)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 08:34:48 AM EST
    the word "bloviating." A favorite word in the blogosphere.  Rarely used elsewhere.

    Anyone want to nominate a word to replace it?

    I love bloviating (none / 0) (#4)
    by The Poster Formerly Known as cookiebear on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 08:44:16 AM EST
    It's such an obscene word. Perfect for some of these fatheads.

    Parent
    I like yammering (none / 0) (#7)
    by Democratic Cat on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 09:10:21 AM EST
    Although people can yammer without expressing opinions, so it's not exactly the same as bloviating.

    Parent
    Davd Brooks' world must be caving in on him (none / 0) (#3)
    by The Poster Formerly Known as cookiebear on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 08:43:21 AM EST
    He's so sweaty and jittery, like the whole thing is spinning out of control and he must, simply must, bring the planets back into alignment.

    Many pundits (5.00 / 2) (#21)
    by BackFromOhio on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 11:21:49 AM EST
    seem to be in panic mode over the economy. E.g., Mort Zuckerman this a.m. sounding alarm bells. It's finally dawning on them that 8 years of Bush admin has left the country bereft.  Where were all these pundits when we needed them?

    Parent
    Nominations so far (none / 0) (#5)
    by koshembos on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 08:45:29 AM EST
    The openly known nominations by Obama are: Holder Daschle, Geithner and Napolitano. Only Napolitano is an inspired nomination and potentially a great candidate. Holder is a Washington insiders insider; that's all one has to say. The AG job will be a waste. Daschle is incomptent and a GOP butt kisser. They say that Geithner is smart. I have several smart friends; I wouldn't like to see them at Treasury. Smart is not a significant trait; stupid is. Obama should have fought for Summers who is one of the best economist in the world. He is also a daring person and can get us out of the depression. Chicken Obama doesn't fight and Summers has heavy bags but is worth the fight.

    Summers remains (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by Nasarius on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 09:25:44 AM EST
    As an adviser. He's rumored as Fed chair, but I doubt it. Obama really doesn't need the bad PR so early on that would come from lefty Senators voting against him.

    I realize that most great people are a*holes, but Summers has said things that are just plain stupid. Which, as you indicate, is a significant trait.

    Parent

    Well (none / 0) (#18)
    by Dr Molly on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 10:09:03 AM EST
    I realize that most great people are a*holes

    I would say instead that some great people think they can get away with being a*holes because they perceive themselves as being so darn great and that they can get away with it. I say this from having lots of experience with Summers-like people in academia who use their supposed 'greatness' or 'brilliance' as an excuse to be class A jerks. And Summers is surely one of them.

    Grrrrrr. I'm still mad that he's making it into the administration. Although I realize I'm in the minority and most people don't care what he's said or done because he's so, um, great.

    There are also plenty of very smart people who don't use their fame or intellect as license for being a*holes.

    Parent

    Clinton (none / 0) (#6)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 08:46:18 AM EST


    Parent
    The Clinton nomination... (5.00 / 3) (#9)
    by Maria Garcia on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 09:23:25 AM EST
    I realized this morning that Obama went up tenfold in my estimation with this nomination. And its not because I'm a Hillary fan, although I am. It's because I was worried that as a media darling Obama was going to keep trying to please the CDS afflicted a-holes in the media. But they are so shocked and dismayed by this whole thing and he doesn't seem to care! I love that. I feel like the MSM has actually become a danger to our democracy and a good part of my reasoning for being wary of Obama was that I thought getting the candidate they shilled for into office gave them too much power. But so far so good. Obama's not playing to them or to his blogger boy cheerleaders either. So he's got a new fan in me!

    Parent
    That's exactly how I feel (none / 0) (#12)
    by The Poster Formerly Known as cookiebear on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 09:36:36 AM EST
    Obama had gone down in my estimation, due to all the praise and adoration. But he's quickly proven to me that he's pragmatic, and has his feet planted solidly on the ground.

    Parent
    Summers may have stirred up the pot (none / 0) (#29)
    by BackFromOhio on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 04:17:09 PM EST
    at Harvard, but in practice, he is supposed to be a major supporter of women -- good boss, lots of female hires/promotions.

    I think it's a shame we have to lose out on having him run the Treasury because of misplaced Admin-elect worry about misogyny flap; if everyone would stop the misogyny or call it out when it happens....

    Parent

    I don't know where you get your information (none / 0) (#30)
    by Dr Molly on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 04:28:44 PM EST
    but Summers is no supporter of women. It's not just his ridiculous remarks about women vs. men in math and science, it's many other things - like the fact that 4 out of 36 faculty positions went to women during his presidential tenure, for which he was also heavily critiqued (prompting his absurd explanations for women not moving up the ladder in these fields at the same rate as men). He also was famous for discounting the problems women in academia face with career vs. family balancing acts.

    Parent
    As to his years at treasury (none / 0) (#35)
    by BackFromOhio on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 10:17:30 PM EST
    http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2008-11-13/larry-summers-for-treasury

    Article at thedailybest citing Huffington Post article:


    After reading the follow-on comments to Sheryl Sandberg's recent defense of Larry Summers on the Huffington Post and her endorsement of his candidacy for the Treasury, we at Big Think feel obliged to further this important conversation. Many commenters were quick to seize on certain impolitic remarks as disqualifiers of Larry's candidacy for Treasury secretary.  But Sheryl's personal account of how Larry mentored and encouraged her and other women in the Treasury invites a serious reconsideration of all the attacks waged against him, not just those involving his views on women

    I don't necessarily agree with all points made there, but I do take notice of his actions while at Treasury.  I would agree that dismissing his remarks while at Harvard as "certain impolitic remarks" is too dismissive.  

    Parent

    Lieberman is on MTP (none / 0) (#17)
    by byteb on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 10:06:33 AM EST
    and I want to be on record: I detest him. He's a complete, wormy jerk and idiot.

    The Vatican has decided (none / 0) (#31)
    by Edger on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 08:14:52 PM EST
    through a Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, to "forgive" John Lennon for saying in 1966 that The Beatles were more popular than Jesus, according to a BBC News article today.

    How nice of them.

    "The paper dismissed Lennon's much-criticised remark that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ as a youthful joke."

    The Vatican has not yet asked for forgiveness for it's condemnation of Lennon, however.

    After 2000 years one would think they have forgiveness figured out...

    Sounds Like (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by squeaky on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 08:30:13 PM EST
    They are they are desperately angling to beef up membership.

    Probably the Vatican thinks with the new economic crisis in hand they can pick up a few boomers and retro kids.

    Parent

    erm... (none / 0) (#32)
    by Edger on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 08:17:31 PM EST
    "one would think they would have"...

    Parent
    Yes we can! (none / 0) (#34)
    by dutchfox on Sun Nov 23, 2008 at 09:24:12 PM EST
    Anyone seen this?

    Obama has subcontracted out foreign policy to Clintonista hawks.

    Good for her! (none / 0) (#36)
    by Amiss on Mon Nov 24, 2008 at 01:39:39 AM EST


    Parent
    Sunday Open Thread | 37 comments (37 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment