home

Wednesday Morning Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 10:12:19 AM EST
Tags: (all tags)
Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit

I am tying up loose ends this morning. J and TChris seem to be busy as well.

Here is an Open Thread.

< Tuesday Evening Open Thread | Blago Asked IL Rep. Danny Davis To Accept Senate Appointment Before Offering It To Burris >

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

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


    • Display: Sort:
    Wednesday Morning Open Thread | 38 comments (38 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

    There are now 10794 signatures (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by Edger on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 10:49:29 AM EST
    on the Petition for a Special Prosecutor to Investigate and Prosecute Bush War Crimes, as of the time of this comment, in the 13 days since we began.

    There have been approximately 1200 new signatures in the past 3 1/2 hours, after an average rate of 750 per day in the 13 days since the petition began.

    The signatures will be delivered to Attorney General-Designate Holder before his Senate Confirmation Hearing this month.

    Sign the petition today, if you haven't yet...

    I'd also highly recommend (5.00 / 2) (#10)
    by Edger on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 11:59:42 AM EST
    Patriot Daily's Obama's Duty To Prosecute Bush For War Crimes:

    The constitutional oath of office requires that our President faithfully execute the office of President and preserve, protect and defend our Constitution. Our constitution also requires that our presidents "shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed." The principle of the rule of law is partially based on this Faithfully Execute clause which requires our President to comply with laws, our Constitution and treaties because our Constitution established a government of laws, not of men and women.

    The Geneva Convention is one of the laws which must be faithfully executed.

    Our constitution mandates that treaties are one of the laws that the President must faithfully execute.  Moreover, treaties are recognized as one of our supreme laws of the land alongside our Constitution and federal laws.  For over 200 years, the federal courts have reaffirmed that our President is bound by the laws of war, which include conventions. In fact, both Hamdi v. Rumsfeld (2004) and Hamdan v. Rumsfeld (2006) addressed the issue of whether the US government was violating the terms of the 1949 Geneva Convention.  Yet, some will whine that it is partisan to not exempt Bush from 200 years of precedent that governed presidents from both parties.

    The Geneva Convention imposes a duty to prosecute former presidents who committed war crimes.

    As well as Bob Fertik's Encourage Obama to Appoint a Special Prosecutor for Bush Administration

    And Ari Melber's Ask Obama For a Torture Special Prosecutor

    Parent

    Since Ari Melber's article (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by Edger on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 07:13:22 PM EST
    made the rounds yesterday, and after an average of 750 new signatures per day on the petition for a special prosecutor since we began it on December 18, in the 12 hours since 5AM PST this morning there have been almost 3000 new signatures on the petition.

    And Bob Fertik's "question" to Barack Obama and the Obama Transition Team at change.gov under "Additional Issues" moved from 8th to 1st place this morning, along with the huge increase in new petition signatures.

    "Will you appoint a Special Prosecutor - ideally Patrick Fitzgerald - to independently investigate the gravest crimes of the Bush Administration, including torture and warrantless wiretapping?"

    Bob Fertik, New York City


    Parent
    wow! (5.00 / 2) (#37)
    by lilburro on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 07:15:00 PM EST
    I hope he will answer...

    Parent
    I suspect he'll have a hard time (none / 0) (#38)
    by Edger on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 07:24:46 PM EST
    ignoring the number 1 question in a category. One criticism I have of change.gov is that this issue is lumped under "Additional Issues" rather than being a category of it's own, or at the very least in a category called "Rule of Law".

    Parent
    Nuremberg Principles / war of aggression (5.00 / 4) (#13)
    by Andreas on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 12:40:30 PM EST
    One of the main crimes according to the Nuremberg Principles is missing:

    Principle VI

    The crimes hereinafter set out are punishable as crimes under; international law:

       (a) Crimes against peace:
             (i) Planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances;
             (ii) Participation in a common plan or conspiracy for the accomplishment of any of the acts mentioned under (i).



    Parent
    What a whacky world! (5.00 / 2) (#3)
    by mmc9431 on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 10:56:36 AM EST
    I just read this on another site:

    Just before Christmas, George W. Bush signed a bill called the The Worker, Retiree and Employer Recovery Act of 2008 (WRERA) which, among other things, "makes it mandatory for businesses to roll over retirement benefits to a same-sex partner in the event of the employee's death."

    What's the world coming to when Bush ends the year with this and Obama ends his with Warren!

    Upside down. Backwards. Inside out. (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by Edger on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 11:00:26 AM EST
    Through the looking glass.

    The far side of the mirror...

    Parent

    It's "BIzzarro World" (none / 0) (#27)
    by CDN Ctzn on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 03:21:04 PM EST
    re: Seinfeld
    re: Superman

    Parent
    Instant Gratification (none / 0) (#1)
    by SOS on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 10:38:57 AM EST
    The Swiss are building a 35-mile railroad tunnel through the Alps. It'll take another nine years to finish carving out the path through the mountain, and will ultimately require the removal of 24 million tons of rock. I suggest we regard this masterpiece, the Gotthard Base Tunnel, as an inspirational symbol.

    extremely biased poll on Health Insurance plans (none / 0) (#5)
    by vector on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 11:30:18 AM EST
    The results of this poll were recently splashed all over the editorial page of the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

    http://blog.cleveland.com/pdgraphics/2008/12/27GGPULSE.pdf

    If there was ever a poll designed to obtain a negative response about universal health care, this is it.

    A quick google.com search reveals that this poll is already being quoted across the U.S. to help oppose universal health care proposals by Democrats,

    Resolved (none / 0) (#6)
    by andgarden on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 11:38:02 AM EST
    At heart Jerome a Paris, is a conservative

    On the subject of Bobby Rush (none / 0) (#7)
    by Steve M on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 11:46:35 AM EST
    Some righteous indignation here.

    heh (none / 0) (#8)
    by andgarden on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 11:52:11 AM EST
    Bill Jelani Cobb joins. . .less righteously.

    Parent
    I disagree (none / 0) (#9)
    by Steve M on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 11:56:20 AM EST
    with his statement that the race card was played from the bottom of the deck here.  In fact, from where I sit Rush played the whole frickin' deck.  Coleman A. Young himself could not have been more blatant about it.

    Parent
    I agree with your disagreement (none / 0) (#11)
    by andgarden on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 12:01:37 PM EST
    I wonder if there's a second deck?

    Parent
    Pennington.... (none / 0) (#12)
    by desertswine on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 12:26:55 PM EST
    Comeback Player of the Year!

    Way to go Jets..

    I'd give him MVP as well.... (none / 0) (#15)
    by kdog on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 01:55:47 PM EST
    What a season...and what a great karmic ending to the year for Mr. Pennington, sticking it to the team that threw him out like yesterday's trash.

    Parent
    I agree.... MVP (none / 0) (#19)
    by desertswine on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 02:23:26 PM EST


    Parent
    Hooray (none / 0) (#14)
    by Steve M on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 01:38:08 PM EST
    A big road win for the Spartans over undefeated Minnesota to kick off the Big Ten season.  I'm already in a good mood for the New Year.

    Interestingly, I did not know this, but Minnesota has a 6'11" forward who goes by the name of Ralph Sampson III.  Minnesota has a long tradition of big men, too...

    bah (none / 0) (#20)
    by eric on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 02:38:38 PM EST
    Gophers blew that one.

    Parent
    Healthy and Happy New Year to All (none / 0) (#16)
    by squeaky on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 02:08:41 PM EST
    I am cooking up a cassoulet, good for snowy wintery weather..

    You too brother... (none / 0) (#17)
    by kdog on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 02:14:20 PM EST
    If you feel like venturing out, I'll be at a little watering hole on 3rd Ave. off 20th and I'd be honored to buy you a cocktail...follow the pungent scent and you'll find me:)

    Same goes for any of you TL fools in the area!

    Parent

    I should be so lucky. What's the temp (none / 0) (#22)
    by oculus on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 03:17:47 PM EST
    and wind chill factor,BTW.

    Parent
    27ºF, but feels like 15ºF (none / 0) (#23)
    by andgarden on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 03:19:43 PM EST
    BURRRR.

    Florida in two days. . .

    Parent

    Best time to head to FL for sure. (none / 0) (#28)
    by oculus on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 03:22:57 PM EST
    We used to put our winter coats in a locker at the airport in Detroit and head out for Gulf Coast.  Delightful.

    Parent
    Minneapolis right now (none / 0) (#29)
    by eric on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 03:23:38 PM EST
    3°F, feels like -9°F.

    Parent
    More Like 15ºF below (none / 0) (#30)
    by squeaky on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 03:27:22 PM EST
    The wind is fierce.

    Parent
    Reality check for CA (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by oculus on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 03:30:27 PM EST
    wannabee Manhattanite.

    Parent
    There Is Always Take Out (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by squeaky on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 03:38:27 PM EST
    But alas I am cooking and so I had to go out to hunt for food. Forgot gloves and carrying four grocery bags added to the wind chill, toasty now.

    Any way I love the seasons, nothing like warming up after being in the freezing cold, and then when spring comes, wow.

    Summer gets a little tiresome with the high August humidity, Fall is my favorite though.

    Don't know how people do without the four seasons.

    Parent

    Oh, some people go to Manhattan (none / 0) (#33)
    by oculus on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 03:41:27 PM EST
    as often as possible!

    Parent
    Staying In (none / 0) (#34)
    by squeaky on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 03:41:36 PM EST
    Don't think I will make it out tonight, but if I do I will surely find you there. Another time, in any case a virtual toke and toast[ed].

    To the new year. Looking forward to seeing a different face on America.

    Parent

    mmm (none / 0) (#18)
    by andgarden on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 02:15:59 PM EST


    Parent
    Removing "God" from the inauguration (none / 0) (#21)
    by Realleft on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 02:40:52 PM EST
    on CNN.

    Should Talk left bloggers and commenters be as strong in supporting the offense taken by atheist citizens at having Christian leaders of any type in the ceremony as they have been in supporting the offense taken by gay citizens for having a religious leader involved who has made anti-gay statements?  If not, what are the differences?

    Here are a few Warren comments:
    "There is a home for atheists in the world today--it's called North Korea."

    Is (an atheist's) soul in jeopardy, in your view, because he has rejected Jesus?

    WARREN: The politically incorrect answer is yes.

    A good friend of mine, who is (none / 0) (#24)
    by oculus on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 03:19:53 PM EST
    straight, is very upset about Obama's choosing Warren to deliver the invocation.  She is upset because of Warren's support of Prop 8 and his diatribes against LGTGs.  But also because she doesn't want anyone to invoke any god at the inauguration.  I told her the latter is a losing battle.

    Parent
    I am with (none / 0) (#25)
    by eric on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 03:20:59 PM EST
    you except I really don't see the big deal about the "god" word being included in the oath.  Obama can say it if he wants, it is his prerogative.  I wouldn't say it, but I could never be elected President, either.

    Warren's views on gay rights is a little more troubling to me because it effects policies on marriage, benefits, etc.  If Christians want to believe things and say certain words in oaths, that is up to them.  Stay out of policy, though.

    But yes, people should be offended by Warren's comments about atheists.  The strange thing is, most of us don't stand up for ourselves on this issue very well.

    Parent

    According to AP, a Pakistani official, (none / 0) (#26)
    by oculus on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 03:21:04 PM EST
    speaking w/o attribution, states a suspected plotter of the Mumbai attacks is "singing."  

    Got my Christmas present! (none / 0) (#35)
    by Fabian on Wed Dec 31, 2008 at 04:36:48 PM EST
    Smartwool base layer or thermal underwear, if you like.  No itchies, warm but not overly toasty.  My son liked his too and we are both running around in our woolens with only a tshirt on over them.  He's got his Smartwool hat on too.  The kids picked out their favorite hat and I got the other one.

    Patagonia's Capilene were heavier and warmer, so I'll probably pick up a set of those too.

    Wednesday Morning Open Thread | 38 comments (38 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment