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Saturday Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 12:38:56 PM EST
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I am going to try and do a daily open thread that features the better diaries written by our readers. Today we have 2 new ones from Jacob Freeze - Obama's Crooked Muse, discussing the dealings betwen Penny Pritzker and the FDIC and Obama And FDR: The Politics of Low Expectations. We also have a new diary from lilburro, who has been stellar on the issues involving the intelligence community and Obama, Rand Beers for CIA Chief.

If you write quality diaries, I will be sure to feature them in an Open Thread. So please do. This is an Open Thread.

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    Saturday Open Thread | 71 comments (71 topical)

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    Psst.. (5.00 / 5) (#1)
    by lilburro on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 12:43:25 PM EST
    it's "lilburro" BTD.  Thanks for the kind words :)

    This is horrifying (link from digby):

    Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell gave Chris Matthews a glowing endorsement for his potential Senate candidacy today, calling the MSNBC host the "strongest Democratic candidate without any doubt" in an interview on Bloomberg TV.

    AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

    also pretty embarrassing on the part of Rendell.  Didn't he rip MSNBC a new @sshole on the primary coverage??

    Oh Ed. . . (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by andgarden on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 01:13:32 PM EST
    Part of me thinks that he's just trying to throw the election for Specter. (They're old friends).

    Parent
    Fixed, Thanks. (none / 0) (#5)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 12:56:10 PM EST


    Parent
    Tweety has been kissing up to Rendell (none / 0) (#48)
    by MKS on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 11:34:16 PM EST
    for a long, long time.....He said "Eddy" Rendell was a good VP pick, etc.  

    Parent
    HUD Secty Donovan (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by jedimom on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 12:47:07 PM EST
    I wrote up a post after PEBOS announcement of Donovan for HUD, looking at his background and PEBOS address, things sound really promising in regard to HOLC HOLC baby :0)

    http://tinyurl.com/6g4nv7

    "Socks" the cat (5.00 / 5) (#6)
    by Amiss on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 01:03:15 PM EST
    I am sure most of us remember "Socks" from the Clinton years at the White House.News today via Digby is that Socks is ill with cancer and is not expected to survive.

    LINK

    Many of us are animal lovers and thought I would pass along this sad news. Socks is perhaps the most photographed presidential kitty in history.

    I don't remember any other cat (5.00 / 2) (#11)
    by Fabian on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 02:44:40 PM EST
    but Socks.

    He certainly lived to a ripe old age.  (in cat years)

    Parent

    He is almost 19 (5.00 / 2) (#14)
    by Amiss on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 02:58:14 PM EST
    gives me a chuckle to think about some of the things I am sure that cat has heard.

    Parent
    I have their book (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 03:28:50 PM EST
    Dear Socks, Dear Buddy...



    Parent

    Shoot, didn't do my link right (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 03:29:37 PM EST
    Linkypoo:

    Parent
    oh.. (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by jedimom on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 08:19:15 PM EST
    oh Socks! I am so glad he has lived a nice long life. There was a button during the primaries someone made that had Socks and said Bring Socks back to the WH, something like that, and I read that a person wearing it shook Chelsea's hand and she was so happy about the button and he gave it to her..


    Parent
    The quality is terrible (5.00 / 3) (#8)
    by andgarden on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 02:35:23 PM EST
    but this is the moon from my window at about 6AM today.

    I wish I had a better camera for that than my iphone. I've never seen the moon so bright.

    Largest Moon of the Year (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by squeaky on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 02:39:28 PM EST
    Pretty spectacular moon last night, and evidentially this am,  beautiful pic.

    Parent
    It was shining through my curtain (5.00 / 2) (#10)
    by andgarden on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 02:41:06 PM EST
    and basically woke me up. I've never had that before.

    Parent
    Yeah (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by squeaky on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 02:45:49 PM EST
    It was awesome, here is some science info about last nights moon.

    Your pic is better than the sci one. Really captures it, imo.  

    Parent

    Honestly, it was so bright (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by andgarden on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 02:49:18 PM EST
    that I was worried about looking directly at it.

    I wish I'd had a better camera, but I'm just not that into photography.

    Parent

    Sometimes (5.00 / 2) (#16)
    by squeaky on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 03:03:04 PM EST
    A better camera takes away the romance. This appears to be one of those times, imo. For me the fuzzyness is nice here. Besides, apart from the pic being an object, it is just a marker for your memory of the event, which includes the fact that you only had a crappy camera, that you were worried about your eyes because it was so bright, etc.

    Parent
    At 5:30 AMish it was looking darn nice (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by nycstray on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 03:06:44 PM EST
    I took the dog out for a walk and came around a corner and you just couldn't miss it. I wish I would have known it was supposed to be a special moon, I would have gone out with my camera at moon rise. I usually have a pretty good view of the special moons.

    Parent
    Sorry (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by squeaky on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 03:53:23 PM EST
    Shoulda mentioned it earlier... next time..

    Parent
    I should pay attention (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by nycstray on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 04:44:05 PM EST
    to the local news/weather when it's on ;) They're usually good about mentioning fun stuff like interesting moons.

    It really caught my attention this AM. I round that corner all the time and am not usually as stuck by the moon.

    Parent

    When do you sleep?? You are up early, (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by Teresa on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 04:12:24 PM EST
    up late. Are you a napper or just get by on little sleep?

    I dread you moving away from NY. I love your posts about your food co-op and your dog walks. You make me feel like I'm there.

    Parent

    Depends (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by nycstray on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 04:30:06 PM EST
    I slept between 6 and noon. Tonight will be an earlier night as I try and get back on a daytime sched. I had a bunch of work stuff show up late yesterday and kinda lost track of time going through it. Other times I lose track of time designing or working on personal projects :) And then there's always "before Market month" which ends up being catnap time for a few weeks.

    I'll be much more fun when i move to the mountains! {grin} We'll have lakes and rivers and I'll be able to start a garden. I've already checked out farmers and ranchers there so I still won't have to grocery shop. Checked the weather there this morning and it's snowing down to the level the cabin is at and it's expected to snow all week. Ski resort at the top of the mountain opened today. Dot's going to have to learn to cross country with me  :) I wish I was there now.

    Parent

    When do you move? (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 04:51:33 PM EST
    And geez, leave yourself at least some things to discover after you move there!

    I'm like you on the sleeping schedule, and I'm grateful my body/psyche allow me to be so flexible.  I'm also deeply, profoundly grateful that I've always been able to sleep pretty much anywhere, anytime.  Of course, going to bed with cats (and I assume any pet) makes it impossible not to go to sleep quickly.  My only complaint is that I don't get to enjoy more than a few seconds of it before I'm unconscious.

    Parent

    I had to check out food sources (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by nycstray on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 05:02:11 PM EST
    before I agreed to live there, lol!~ I wanted to make sure there were enough sources since it's higher up on the mountain. I knew the vineyards were there, but wasn't sure about food availability without having to go down towards the valley.

    Pets do make sleeping easy. The dog isn't allowed to sleep with me as the cats won't have it. Which is fine as she sleeps stretched out horizontally, lol!~

    Parent

    Weather and heat (none / 0) (#32)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 04:54:23 PM EST
    NYStray, snowing in your new location-- what's the temperature?

    I'm at about +4 at only 6:00 PM and heading lower overnight (about 6 inches of snow from last night on the ground), but popping back up into the 40s -- and rain -- after the weekend.  Ugh.  I'd far rather have it go below 32 and stay there until spring, but I guess this is likely to be the way it is in the formerly frozen north mostly from now on.

    Pulled the tarps off the remaining outside firewood stacks today and will try to get a few more wheelbarrow loads from them into my attached woodshed tomorrow, but then back on with the tarps for the two or three days of rain upcoming.  Pain in the you know what, but it makes me get out even in the cold and get some pretty serious exercise instead of lying around indoors with the snoozy cats.  When I get my chickens next year, there'll be no escaping getting out and tending to them every winter morning.

    But man, that wood heat is soooo much nicer than baseboard oil heat, even if it is uneven.

    If you have the option of putting a woodstove in your cabin, I can't recommend it highly enough.  Even if you have to buy your wood and have it delivered, it's wayyyy cheaper than oil or gas or electric-- less so this year, but big last year and will only increase as the economic situation gets back to normal-- and it's unbelievably more satisfying filling up the stove with firewood you've stacked and lugged, even if not cut and split yourself, than bumping up a thermostat.

    I even bought myself a maul (like an axe only heavier and with a bigger, more tapered head) to split down my bigger chunks myself and am learning to use it.  Makes me feel like Lumber Jane out there whacking the bejesus out of the firewood, even if I do have still a lot of embarrassing misses I wouldn't want anybody to see.

    You can either shrink from winter or embrace it, seems to me, and living in the country, you have no choice on which way to go.

    Parent

    Low 20's (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by nycstray on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 05:15:26 PM EST
    Which I'm fine with. I think teens and single digits are sparse there in general.

    Woodburning stove and wood are already there :) My parents don't go up much in the winter anymore but usually keep the wood stocked. I'm sure I'll be splitting logs. I sculpt so I might end up with some interesting firewood! I love swinging an axe/hatchet. Great stress reliever for the stuff that gets stored through the shoulders :) I'll have to check out mauls.

    My big thing will be reacquainting  myself with CA wildlife and insects. I know there's bears as my mom sent pics of one hanging out around the cabin. And there was an insect that looked pretty much like a scorpion. I can deal with the yellow jackets by redirecting them away from the cabin and I'll need to get into the habit of checking the pets for ticks {EEEEEW!}.

    I'm pretty self sufficient, so I suspect I'll embrace mountain living. Can't wait for morning dog walks :)

    Parent

    Sounds great! (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 06:41:30 PM EST
    Yeah, you definitely want a maul and not an axe for splitting wood.  I had to work up to it, starting with a solid little hatchet I banged into the wood with a short, lightweight sledgehammer.  Don't let anybody talk you into messing with what's called a "wedge."  It's not sharp enough to really dig into the wood, so to make use of it, you have to have the kind of upper body strength to pound it in that women just aren't built for.

    There are over-the-counter things that will keep dogs from getting ticks, but not for cats, despite what the product literature says.  I find mine pick up a couple in spring and fall, and I've just learned to steel myself to pull them out.  Yech.

    Yellow jackets can be a major pain in the A to deal with.  They're not like bees or even wasps, and attack and sting just for the pure joy of it, seemingly.  There's a pretty good non-toxic wasp spray out there that isn't as brutally deadly as the heavy-duty nerve agent chemical for wasps and the like, but works well on nests.

    I had a bunch of yellow jackets make a big nest under one of my firewood stacks this summer, and I had to swath myself in boots and gloves and scarf and winter gear and go out at dusk to try to spray the damn thing from a safe distance a couple of times before I got them all.  When I took the wood stack apart, i was amazed at the size of the nest and the number of yellow jackets in it that had accumulated in a really short period of a few days.

    Don't mess around with YJs.  They're very short-tempered, and their stings itch maddeningly for days like nothing I've ever experienced before, much worse than a bee sting.  I hate the little bastards.  Bees and wasps, at least the ones around here, don't sting you unless you step on them, but YJs do it just on principle.  They're the Dick Cheneys of the bug world!

    Parent

    Meant to say (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 06:43:54 PM EST
    I would have happily let the YJs have their nest and even left them the pieces of wood they were under, but they wouldn't let me come anywhere near the rest of the long stack, and attacked the folks who mow my lawn to boot.  I'm for live and let live where at all possible, but these guys were impossible.


    Parent
    That is so beautiful! I want to come with (none / 0) (#34)
    by Teresa on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 05:02:12 PM EST
    you! I can't wait to hear your dog walking in the snow stories. It looks like a Christmas card.

    Parent
    Looks much better than (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by nycstray on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 05:18:43 PM EST
    this, doesn't it?! At least when we're around the cabin I won't have to keep her on a leash. That means I won't be on the other end when she's dolphin diving through deep snow, lol!~

    Parent
    Walking in the snow? Heh (none / 0) (#66)
    by BarnBabe on Sun Dec 14, 2008 at 11:18:28 AM EST
    It is more like walk 4 feet, roll and roll and roll. My Golden Retriever makes tons of snow angels and she could do it for hours. On weekends I give her more time, depending on the temperatures outside. On freezing mornings it is mostly, hurry, hurry, no snow angels, quick, get into the house.

    Parent
    That looks so beautiful (none / 0) (#39)
    by befuddledvoter on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 05:43:07 PM EST
    I bet they have a long winter though.

    Parent
    15 years (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by Jlvngstn on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 05:32:15 PM EST
    largest moon in 15....

    Parent
    Wow (none / 0) (#38)
    by squeaky on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 05:42:34 PM EST
    Did not know that. Here is a link, with a great pic.

    Oh. and andgarden the bbc (link above) has this message for you:

    We want to see your pictures of the full moon.



    Parent
    Just like with Cher. (none / 0) (#67)
    by BarnBabe on Sun Dec 14, 2008 at 11:20:45 AM EST
    It was a great moon last night. I was walking by a window and suddenly was struck at how beautiful it was and mainly how big. Can't remember ever seeing one so big. The light from it reflected off the snow and it was like duck out there.

    Parent
    Andgarden, the moon is a sunlit ... (none / 0) (#19)
    by Robot Porter on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 03:17:08 PM EST
    object you must expose accordingly.

    Of course, iphone doesn't allow for manual exposure.  So you'll never be able to get a good shot of the moon with it.

    Parent

    Interesting (none / 0) (#20)
    by andgarden on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 03:21:25 PM EST
    Thanks

    Parent
    I'm feeling a little bereft. (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by caseyOR on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 03:02:54 PM EST
    No college football, and no baseball for almost 4 more months. I just can't get into basketball. Thankfully, the NFL is still in action for a few more weeks. Oh, woe is me.

    Heisman Trophy is to be awarded (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by Amiss on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 03:28:09 PM EST
    tonite. Will it be Bradford, McCoy or Tebow? Check out the predictions at stiffarmtrophy.com.

    LINK

    Parent

    That looks close! I was expecting the other (none / 0) (#26)
    by Teresa on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 04:14:46 PM EST
    guys to split the Big 12 vote and Tebow to win. Maybe not, huh?

    Parent
    Tebow got the most first place votes (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by Amiss on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 10:15:40 PM EST
    but McCoy came in second with Bradford winning. In my most humble opinion, Even tho I was and am a Tebow fan, I would have been much happier with McCoy winning than Bradford. I just don't think getting out on the field and scoring so many points just to demoralize your opponents and to win a trophy is what it should have been about, but that is what won it, sadly. I do not think that is what sportsmanship is or should be about or what we should be setting up as an example to our youngsters.

    Just my opinion, tho.

    Parent

    I Would Challenge You (none / 0) (#18)
    by CDN Ctzn on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 03:16:50 PM EST
    to watch Hockey if it's available in your market. Still the best sport out there in my opinion, minus the primadonas that the other sports feature. Talk to a number of NHL players and you'll see they are intelligent ordinary guys who grew up without alot and for the most part had to make it on their own merits.

    Parent
    Watching (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by Jjc2008 on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 08:59:22 PM EST
    "It's a Wonderful Life" AGAIN.

    Of course it seems even more appropriate than some other years.  I used to love to watch it with my father.  My mother had died before it started airing on regular television so much.  

    It was often an opportunity to talk to him about those times during the depression and hear his account of his days on the rails, crossing the country, living in hobo camps, shilling in carnivals, trying to make his way to his uncle's place near Modesto.

    I wonder if other people feel that this movie was a precautionary tale. I am guessing the rethugs don't care for this classic too much.

    Me, too (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by Amiss on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 10:17:16 PM EST
    A yearly favorite of mine since I was in school.

    Parent
    Watch it.... (none / 0) (#71)
    by kdog on Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 08:42:39 AM EST
    at least once every season...awesome movie.

    My arch conservative bro-in-law likes to call "It's a Wonderful Life" socialist propaganda...I like to think of it as a cinematic example of putting community before profit....not by government order or legislative decree, but by choice and out of kindness.

    We don't wanna live in Pottersville do we?  Lets start acting like it.  We don't need legislation to do it, just a heart and a sense of community.

    Parent

    Who is staying in Blair House that is so important (5.00 / 1) (#47)
    by Amiss on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 11:10:42 PM EST
    that the Obamas cant move in a few days early so their kids can start school on time?

    Link

    Not Bush relatives, not foreign dignataries, just events and such that are not made public that are so much more important than the President elect and family cant move in a few days early. After all even the Clintons moved in in December!

    I don't think it's just who's staying (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by nycstray on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 11:48:23 PM EST
    the article also mentions events that are planned and says it would be unsuitable (for the kids?).

    I'm sure the Obamas are resourceful enough that if they really want their girls there on the first day of school, they'll find accommodations. If they aren't, we're in big trouble . . . .

    Parent

    Maybe Hillary has a spare bedroom :-D (none / 0) (#50)
    by andgarden on Sun Dec 14, 2008 at 12:03:57 AM EST


    Parent
    Ya know, it would be just like her (5.00 / 2) (#51)
    by nycstray on Sun Dec 14, 2008 at 12:16:32 AM EST
    to put them up  ;)

    Parent
    I had landlords like that (none / 0) (#53)
    by Cream City on Sun Dec 14, 2008 at 05:03:13 AM EST
    who just wouldn't kick out the current tenants when I wanted to move in early for my kids.  I suppose I could have read the fine print of the lease. . . .

    Really, I don't get it -- why this is a story.  It can't affect more than five or six days of school for them, it would be no different from a hotel in the interim, and the Obamas can afford that.  And no other president-elect, some with school-age children, has asked for this.  Somehow Chelsea Clinton seems to have survived and done well, going to the same school but living out of suitcases for a couple of days.  

    For once, Bush is upholding the Constitution -- the part about the start date of the presidential term of office.  Would that he had heeded the other parts.

    Parent

    It seems to me that the days... (none / 0) (#54)
    by EL seattle on Sun Dec 14, 2008 at 06:27:51 AM EST
    ... in question will be really chaotic, what with all the staff and workers moving the old crew out so the new crew can move in.  I'd think that a quiet secure temporary home close to the school would provide a more controlled, calmer transition for the kids until things settle down a little bit at the White House spread.  

    Parent
    Exactly. It's essentially a hotel (none / 0) (#68)
    by Cream City on Sun Dec 14, 2008 at 11:23:29 AM EST
    as I noted -- and one scheduled for several major events, receptions and such, on the first floor during that time, just like a hotel, too.  But at a hotel, at least, they could get several floors away from all that.  But I think you're right that an even more private rental residence, perhaps a residential hotel (with kitchen, living area, etc.) would be better for the kids.  Then there's what's best for the Secret Service, I suppose. . . .

    No matter what, it will be a massive struggle to maintain a private life at all for these girls -- and having raised a girl, I know that at the ages of the Obama girls, it's a significant time in shaping them for the rest of their lives.  No way I would have wanted my girl in a media spotlight then.  

    So I hope that the Obamas pull back from more media interviews and that sort of stuff from the campaign and follow the Clintons' rules re Chelsea, which seem to have worked well.

    Parent

    The Clintons (none / 0) (#70)
    by Amiss on Mon Dec 15, 2008 at 01:07:12 AM EST
    moved in in December it was reported in one of the stories. So it is not so unprecedented. I kinda feel it is Bushes being more of an ass than anything, since they wont make public what is going on that is so important there.

    Parent
    I give up! Americans ARE Stupid! (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Dec 14, 2008 at 08:48:58 AM EST
    According to a recent poll, only 47% of Americans believe in evolution.

    But 61% believe in the virgin birth of Jesus.

    And 31% believe in Witches!  Witches!?!  Really?

    Details here.

    Jeez, Robot (5.00 / 1) (#69)
    by Dr Molly on Sun Dec 14, 2008 at 12:09:59 PM EST
    That's depressing! But science literacy has been on the defensive for some time now. It's the Age of Anti-Enlightenment!

    For all those who care about this issue, consider supporting the National Center for Science Education, an organization that fights the good fight against anti-science propaganda, including, but not limited to, resisting attempts to teach creationism in schools.

    Parent

    And Then (none / 0) (#56)
    by squeaky on Sun Dec 14, 2008 at 08:55:12 AM EST
    There are those who believe that a certain politician is the next coming....  cough, cough....

    Seems that many feel the need to invest their dreams in one sort of a myth or another.

    Parent

    Myths are fine ... (none / 0) (#57)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Dec 14, 2008 at 09:02:18 AM EST
    just as long as you realize they're myths.

    Parent
    Self Reflection (none / 0) (#58)
    by squeaky on Sun Dec 14, 2008 at 09:12:19 AM EST
    Has been in short supply this election cycle. Cultism is still alive and well. So I wouldn't be so quick to point out the mote in others eye's before removing the log in your own.

    Anyway I have no problem with people believing in whomever they choose to, be they witches, or demons, as long as they do not try to foist their beliefs into law.

    Magic is important and always will be.

    Parent

    I understand the attraction of ... (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Dec 14, 2008 at 09:35:51 AM EST
    belief.  

    After all the "willing suspension of disbelief" is what makes novels, movies, video games and so on so enjoyable.

    But I do find it disturbing the discomfort (often verging on rage) some express when you offer even the most mild skepticism of Obama.

    Disturbing and more than a little bit creepy.

    Parent

    Yes (none / 0) (#61)
    by squeaky on Sun Dec 14, 2008 at 09:44:22 AM EST
    I never could understand the uncritical reverence either, although by fat, most of the uncritical reverence I have seen towards a politician is toward Hillary. Must be because I do not spend much time on blogs other than TL.

    Parent
    I was speaking more about ... (none / 0) (#64)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Dec 14, 2008 at 09:54:11 AM EST
    in real life.  I expect a degree of lunacy on blogs.

    ;)

    Parent

    Real Life? (none / 0) (#65)
    by squeaky on Sun Dec 14, 2008 at 09:55:58 AM EST
    Out there... sounds like a myth to me...  

    Parent
    Hard Lessons: Iraq Reconstruction (5.00 / 2) (#63)
    by squeaky on Sun Dec 14, 2008 at 09:52:40 AM EST
    The draft of a federal report by the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. Annotations are based on the review's findings. The draft was provided to reporters at The New York Times and ProPublica by two people outside the Inspector General's office who have read the draft.

    NYT
    The NTY reports that the report ends with a quote from DIckens:

    "We spent as much money as we could, and got as little for it as people could make up their minds to give us.
    "

    Heck of a job..

     

    Thanks, great idea (none / 0) (#2)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 12:45:56 PM EST
    It would be terrific to have more reader diaries on TalkLeft. You can cross-post diaries you write elsewhere.

    If you'd like to write diaries here, send me an e-mail so I can change your user permissions to allow for them. Diary status is not automatic.

    As I wrote here:

    If you blog elsewhere, you're welcome to cross-post here in a diary. Just note that it's been cross-posted at your site and hot-link your site. Hopefully, you'll get some extra traffic.

    On diary topics, please make them relevant to the issues on TalkLeft -- elections, politics of crime, crime in politics, war, civil liberties, etc. The economy and environment, while important, are not TalkLeft topics. Yes, they should represent a progressive point of view. Conservatives have their own sites to post on.

    Also, no profanity, potentially libelous accusations or nasty personal attacks please. Your diary should add, not detract, from the level of political discourse on the site.
    Note: the economy and environment are ok (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 12:48:07 PM EST
    too now, so feel free to write about those topics. And it's not necessary that you blog elsewhere, you can also just write here.

    Parent
    Just a thought... (none / 0) (#27)
    by Oje on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 04:29:45 PM EST
    on third party potential at this time.

    With recent corruption in both parties. It seems like there is real opportunity for a third party to claim the banner of reform in Illinois. And, not just anti-corruption.

    The Obama/federal government looks to make green technologies a center piece of economic policy in the next four years, it is a shame that the Green Party is so dismal. If it were a viable party, rather than a symbol of its members' lifestyle and  anti-politics ethos ("the Dems and Reps are the same!"), Illinois is a great state to stake a claim as the leader for a new American economy based on green principles. It has the human capital, educational institutions, entrepreneurialism, and even existing economic interests to form a coalition (despite its shortcomings, Midwestern ethanol interests could become natural allies of a Green party with a viable green economy platform).

    No, there is no such opportunity (none / 0) (#29)
    by andgarden on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 04:32:11 PM EST
    sorry.

    Parent
    Andgarden (5.00 / 4) (#42)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Dec 13, 2008 at 06:48:29 PM EST
    have you ever heard of the concept of diplomacy?  You need to look it up sometime.  Being smart and perceptive at a very young age is nice, but when it leads you to flat and sometimes nasty contradictions, it's not so nice.


    Parent
    If they focus on gains... (none / 0) (#52)
    by EL seattle on Sun Dec 14, 2008 at 01:31:42 AM EST
    ... at the local level, I'd like to think third parties could use blogs, social networks, the internet and other doodads of PC culture to bypass traditional media and get more of a toehold in the cultural awareness of the voters.  More presence on City Councils can lead to more presence on State Legislatures and so on.  

    But if they depend on the voters to come running to them out of some sense of national disillusionment with the two main parties, they'll have to settle for the usual result.  At least that's my guess.

    Parent

    Hmmm ... (none / 0) (#59)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Dec 14, 2008 at 09:21:46 AM EST
    Dec. 12 (Bloomberg) -- The Federal Reserve refused a request by Bloomberg News to disclose the recipients of more than $2 trillion of emergency loans from U.S. taxpayers and the assets the central bank is accepting as collateral.

    Bloomberg filed suit Nov. 7 under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act requesting details about the terms of 11 Fed lending programs, most created during the deepest financial crisis since the Great Depression.

    The Fed responded Dec. 8, saying it's allowed to withhold internal memos as well as information about trade secrets and commercial information.

    This is a story that will grow and grow over the next year.  

    Let's hope Obama's "open government" will let us know about this sooner, rather than later.

    Envoys Not Diplomats (none / 0) (#62)
    by squeaky on Sun Dec 14, 2008 at 09:47:26 AM EST
    Jerusalem has received various reports in recent weeks indicating that American foreign policy in the Middle East and in Southeast Asia after president-elect Barack Obama takes office will operate on the basis of special envoys who will report directly to Obama and his designated secretary of state, Hillary Clinton.

    Obama and Clinton's transition teams are maintaining secrecy and minimal ties with Israeli diplomats. Obama and Clinton also directed their people not to take part in the policy debates of the Brookings Institution's Saban Center forum, attended by Israeli politicians and officials, which took place earlier this month in Washington, D.C.

    [...]

    The most prominent name in consideration for the top coordinator post is Dennis Ross, who served as President Bill Clinton's special envoy to the Middle East. Ross' name has also come up as a possible senior adviser to Hillary Clinton

    [...]

    Short-listed for this job are Colin Powell, who was President George W. Bush's secretary of state during his first term; Dan Kurtzer, U.S. ambassador to Israel from 2001 to 2005; and Martin Indyk, who is close to Hillary Clinton and who served as U.S. ambassador to Israel from 1995 to 1997 and from 2000 to 2001.

    lHaaretz via war & piece

    Saturday Open Thread | 71 comments (71 topical)

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