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Saturday Open Thread

It's still snowing. I'm going to spend the day on the couch in front of the fireplace, listening to music while I read yet more wiretap affidavits and draft more motions to suppress that are due Monday.

What's going on in your world today?

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    Obama's appointsments for CIO and CTO (5.00 / 2) (#9)
    by lambert on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 12:31:52 PM EST
    Both health care technocrats stacking the deck for the insurance companies. Single payer isn't just off the table with these guys. It's not even in the same room.

    Step One (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by waldenpond on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 01:52:34 PM EST
    is to get universal health insurance.  Other countries took this route... then they chip away at the areas that aren't actually providing health care (insurance) and profiteering (pharmaceuticals.)  This country would never go straight at the profits bankrupting the health system, we have to go round about.

    I'm watching for universal health insurance first.  If we can't even get mandatory UHI we're screwed.

    Parent

    No one every suggested, or campaigned (none / 0) (#41)
    by Inspector Gadget on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 03:21:14 PM EST
    on anything but affordable health insurance for all. Single-payer was never an expectation for most. Sadly, our congressional representatives also don't seem to want our tax dollars to provide us with healthcare.

    Parent
    And so? (5.00 / 1) (#54)
    by lambert on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 05:10:47 PM EST
    Surely we aren't level-setting our expectations by campaign promises? Make them do it!

    Parent
    Have sent more than one letter to my (none / 0) (#69)
    by Inspector Gadget on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 07:48:10 PM EST
    Senators and representative on this topic. Have found the politician's use of UHC nothing more than intentional deception. Since no one campaigned on it, thinking healthcare for all would be included in the first round was not in my expectations. I've worked for a major health insurance provider, and don't see UHI as a positive at all.

    Parent
    A long time... (none / 0) (#108)
    by MrConservative on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 01:54:46 AM EST
    America has been talking about institution universal healthcare since the 30's.  I don't have a lot of faith in the Democrats to actually carry through.

    Parent
    Hmm... (none / 0) (#130)
    by lambert on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 12:40:57 PM EST
    I'd be intererested in why you don't see UHI as positive. You could always come over to my place and cross post....

    Parent
    I don't care what anyone campagned on (5.00 / 1) (#113)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 06:57:34 AM EST
    I never really have in the long run after the election is over.  I'm evil like that.  Don't call yourself a Democrat and then screw the regular folks cuz you will hear about it and Dem voters will speak their mind or fail to show up at the polls.  Don't call yourself a Democrat and turn out to be a Republican.......it can be a problem for you and now they have all these big mouth bloggers :)

    Parent
    'A Ton More People Were Wiretapped (5.00 / 2) (#10)
    by fly on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 12:33:55 PM EST

    'A Ton More People Were Wiretapped Than We've Been Led to Believe': FBI Whistleblower Thomas Tamm

    http://www.alternet.org/rights/137260/%27a_ton_more_peo...

    By Liliana Segura, AlterNet. Posted April 18, 2009.

    The man who blew the lid off Bush's spying program believes more details on government spying must, and will, come to light.

    This week the New York Times revealed that the National Security Agency has continued spying on Americans well into the Obama era, with government officials listening in on phone conversations and monitoring e-mails on a massive scale.

    Times reporters James Risen and Eric Lichtblau -- who broke the story of the Bush administration's domestic spying program in December 2004 -- reported that "in recent months," the NSA has engaged in an "overcollection" of domestic communication, far exceeding the already broad legal limits Congress established when it passed legislation to legalize the Bush administration's warrantless surveillance program and granting immunity for the telecoms that enabled it.

    The same article reveals that in 2005 or 2006, the NSA attempted to wiretap an unidentified member of Congress, lending further credence to speculation earlier this year by Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.V., that he might have been spied on.

    For many who have followed the long political saga that saw warrantless wiretapping revealed, debated and ultimately legalized at the hands of Congress, this report comes as no surprise.

    "Everyone knew that the FISA bill, which congressional Democrats passed -- and which George Bush and Dick Cheney celebrated -- would enable these surveillance abuses," Glenn Greenwald wrote after the story broke.

    Nevertheless, for many people it may come as a shock that, 3 1/2 years after the illegal program was uncovered, not only has the government continued to spy on Americans with total impunity, most of the details of Bush's warrantless wiretapping scheme remain a mystery.

    "What really concerns me is that we still don't know the truth," Thomas Tamm, a former FBI official told me me over the phone this week. "We do not know what they did."

    Tamm should know. He is the person who blew the whistle on the NSA spying program, a former employee of the Office of Intelligence Policy and Review, a highly sensitive unit of the Justice Department. He remained anonymous for years, until his identity was revealed in a front-page story by Newsweek reporter Michael Isikoff late last year.

    The article described how Tamm, a veteran employee of the FBI, came across proof that the U.S. government had been unlawfully eavesdropping on Americans by intercepting domestic communications.

    "The idea of lawlessness at the Justice Department angered him," Isikoff wrote. After many sleepless nights and frustrating conversations with his superiors -- "supervisors told him to drop the subject" -- he decided he could no longer keep the abuse to himself.

    Finally, one day during his lunch hour, Tamm ducked into a subway station near the U.S. District Courthouse on Pennsylvania Avenue. He headed for a pair of adjoining pay phones partially concealed by large, illuminated Metro maps. Tamm had been eyeing the phone booths on his way to work in the morning. Now, as he slipped through the parade of midday subway riders, his heart was pounding, his body trembling. Tamm felt like a spy. After looking around to make sure nobody was watching, he picked up a phone and called the New York Times.
    What Tamm revealed would not be reported for a year-and-a-half, when Risen and Litchblau published their now-famous front page story. They went on to win the Pulitzer Prize. Meanwhile, Tamm "has not fared as well."

    "The FBI has pursued him relentlessly for the past 2 1/2 years," Isikoff wrote. "Agents have raided his house, hauled away personal possessions and grilled his wife, a teenage daughter and a grown son. More recently, they've been questioning Tamm's friends and associates about nearly every aspect of his life.

    "Tamm has resisted pressure to plead to a felony for divulging classified information. But he is living under a pall, never sure if, or when, federal agents might arrest him."

    Tamm remains in a sort of legal limbo, with the Department of Justice informing him that no decision on whether to prosecute him would be made until Barack Obama took office. Four months into Obama's term, however, Tamm has not heard anything.

    MUCH MORE AT LINK


    After reading Glenn Greenwalk (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by oculus on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 01:49:50 PM EST
    on his exception to Politico's Allen granting immunity to former Bush admin. folks, it dawned on me.  Think what a sh#tstorm BTD could create if he Twittered!

    I'm getting back on the horse (5.00 / 3) (#21)
    by nellre on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 02:13:16 PM EST
    After 35 years I'm getting back on the horse. Literally.
    It's tough to be a novice at something you used to be good at isn't it.


    Um? (none / 0) (#93)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 10:55:29 PM EST
    You mean you're riding?  I used to ride long ago, but the thought of subjecting my aging flesh to the agonies of beginning riding again makes me cringe and shudder, much as I'd love to do it.

    Parent
    Yes, riding a horse (none / 0) (#104)
    by nellre on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 12:18:20 AM EST
    But he's a nice horse.
    I'm 62. It's scary. But if I don't do it now, I never will!

    Parent
    I'm so glad you two have each other (none / 0) (#114)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 07:03:02 AM EST
    So you guys have that horse and human connect?  Some horses are just awesome.

    Parent
    It is a gorgeous 80+ in MD today, (5.00 / 3) (#23)
    by Anne on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 02:16:30 PM EST
    with bright blue skies and a good breeze.

    Now that the all-around-town chores are done, the groceries put away, and odds and ends taken care of, it's time to go sit outside on the new cushions I bought for the wrought iron furniture, and read...

    Hey, those of you who have followed at all my saga of spending weekends in Virginia getting my aunt's house ready for sale, the For Sale sign went up on Wednesday, and the agent called me at home yesterday to say we got an offer $1,000 over the listing price...it's an "as is" contract, we are making no warranties, so all we need now is approval from the circuit court (they want to make sure the sale is consistent with the market and not some low-ball sale to another family member).

    You could have knocked me over with a feather - I truly thought it might be months before we got an offer.  The buyers are putting 20% down, and want to settle by May 15th, too, so I am keeping my fingers crossed that all goes according to plan.

    Cool! (5.00 / 2) (#94)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 10:59:34 PM EST
    Congratulations!  I hope it works out.  Really terrific homes are somewhat exempt from the real estate disaster, especially if you have a broker who knows his/her business.  We sold my mother's wonderful old Victorian for well over our asking price despite the declining market, thanks to a broker who knew how to create excitement about it.  He also demanded "as is," and required prospective buyers to do their own home inspection before even submitting a bid.  Luckily, the house passed those with flying colors.

    Good luck!

    Parent

    Thanks! I don't know that I would (5.00 / 1) (#100)
    by Anne on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 11:25:50 PM EST
    call the house "terrific," though, and that's the reason for the "as is" listing.  My aunt's husband never wanted to spend any money to do the proper maintenance, and that all kind of caught up with them eventually - let's face it, when you're in your late 80's-almost 90, it's not easy.

    We were faced with probably having to put $30K - $45K into the house and the grounds if we wanted to bring it up to "move in" condition, and doing that would have meant missing the best of the spring market.  Plus not being on-site would have added a whole other layer of logistical difficulty, so we just decided, after much consultation with our real estate agents - who have been wonderful - assessing the current market, what has been selling in the area and for how much, to go the way we did.

    We thought it would most likely be purchased by an investor who would tear the house down and put up a McMansion - instead, we got a couple who want to re-hab, add on and live in the house...

    I'm just going to be on the edge of my seat, though, for the next two weeks, until the court blesses it - I can't imagine they won't, but you never know.

    Then, the next decision is whether to leave my aunt where she is, or move her up here where she would be closer to all of us.  I have to do the research on the area nursing centers, make some visits and get some help factoring in the Alzheimer's to all of it - the trauma of being moved to a new environment, etc.  I would just like to have her nearby, so that we could all pop in on a regular basis; northern VA isn't that far away - about 70 miles for us - but it's not close enough to stop in on the way home from work, or pop in with a special treat, or anything like that (and then there's that DC Beltway traffic - ugh!).

    One step at a time, though, right?

    Parent

    Wow! That's amazing that it sold so quickly. (none / 0) (#107)
    by DeborahNC on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 01:13:34 AM EST
    Congratulations! I remember some of what you've been going through, and it looks as if it's almost over. I'll keep my fingers crossed for the circuit court to come through for you. Can't see why they wouldn't.

    The decision about your aunt is a tough one. It would be great if she could be nearby. You've been very good to her, so I know that you'll make the right decision.

    What's it going to be like to have your weekends free?

    Parent

    Well, I gave myself a couple days (5.00 / 1) (#125)
    by Anne on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 10:45:33 AM EST
    off at the end of this week, and tried - pretty successfully - to walk past the boxes stacked in my living room without feeling guilty about not unpacking them.

    They seem to be calling to me today, though, lol...I just don't know what to do with all of it.  My brother's got boxes at his house, too, and what we need to do is have sequential get-togethers so we can all go through the boxes together and make some decisions about who wants what.

    And we both still have boxes from when our uncle (my aunt's and my father's brother) died 4 years ago...

    I'm working up to having a massive purge, whittling down all the stuff - including what we have accumulated in almost 26 years in this house - so that my poor children won't someday be looking at all of it and asking, "what the heck were Mom and Dad saving this stuff for?"

    E-Bay, yard sale and consignment stores are all on my radar...

    Parent

    I 've been waiting for the necessary (none / 0) (#134)
    by DeborahNC on Mon Apr 20, 2009 at 12:00:39 AM EST
    motivation to propel me into action to clean out closets, sort through boxes, and the attic...oh my! The thought that after my death, the younger generation in my family will be rummaging through my mementos is enough to give me nightmares.

    I still have research papers that I wrote thirty years ago, and 'love' notes I received. I'll be hauling boxes and sifting through papers tomorrow.

    To me, looking into someone's personal keepsakes, letters, journals, etc. is like peering into her/his psyche. My psyche is not quite ready to to be seen in the light of day. lol...

    Boxes from your uncle who died 4 yrs. ago? Good luck. And, I continue to admire what you've done, and continue to do for your family. Keep us up to date on how things are progressing.

    Parent

    Exactly (5.00 / 3) (#40)
    by daring grace on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 03:13:43 PM EST
    I share the feeling of heartache for what's happening to Roxana Saberi. The nonsense about the president and Chavez is a strange red herring to drag into it unless you're prone to just reflexively knock Obama.

    The Secretary of State, and the two senators from Saberis's home state of N. Dakota are all on record condemning this. And it looks like, based on other recent cases that were similar, that there's reason to hope this will be resolved, as outlined in the linked NY Times article.

    I actually have not been following (5.00 / 6) (#51)
    by Anne on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 04:48:55 PM EST
    Obama's visit with Chavez, but I took shoephone's comment about Obama to be less a neocon rallying cry and more an expression of frustration arising out of the juxtaposition of Obama sucking up to Chavez next to that of Saberi being the victim of a repressive Iranian judicial system.

    Sometimes, squeaky, people are just upset about one injustice piling on top of so many others; for all I know, Obama is sick about the Saberi sentence and has Clinton on it like white on rice - I hope that's what's happening, squeaky, I really do - but in the meantime, I can cut someone some slack for making a comment that didn't meet your standards.

    And, whether you want to consider it an "amen" or not, I am very glad Clinton is in the position she is in, because if ever there was a time when we needed someone willing to work every angle and aspect while being mindful of the issues at stake, it's now, and I have every confidence that that is exactly what Clinton is doing.

    There's So Much I Can Agree On (none / 0) (#122)
    by daring grace on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 10:24:56 AM EST
    with what you write, but as with shoephone's odd paralleling of Saberi's suffering with Obama's meeting Chavez at a regional summit, I find your calling that meeting Obama 'sucking up' sort of strange.

    The president attended a summit, and briefly conversed with, shook hands with, patted the back of and accepted a book from Hugo Chavez, a dictator, sure, but also another leader of a nation. This is part of his job description as POTUS and also is how he predicted he would govern as POTUS: talking to leaders of repressive regimes in the interests of exerting more influence.

    I'm fine with cutting people slack when they make comments that seem snarky--that maybe they have other intentions. Especially with snappy, glib one liners it can be easy to misread a writer's intent.

    So I also think it's reasonable when a statement seems harsh or inaccurate or just plain off the wall out of context to mention it.

    Parent

    I don't mind if anyone disagrees (5.00 / 1) (#127)
    by shoephone on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 11:47:22 AM EST
    That is hardly the issue. And Anne got the point, while others didn't. Seeing the front page of Saturday's NY Times, with the Saberi article juxtaposed against a photo of Obama smiling ear-to-ear while shaking hands with Chavez, pi$$ed me off. To my mind, Chavez is just another bombastic authoritarian whose policies deny the Venezualan people their rights (you may disagree with that too, but frankly I don't care.)

    And yes, I feel frustration with the fact that, while Obama made numerous forceful statements the previous week about the Somali pirates, he's stayed silent about Saberi's situation.

    But then having to tolerate a commenter sticking words in my mouth that I never said, ie. that we should bomb Iran, is equally as frustrating. And from what I've noticed, sticking words in other people's mouths seems to be a bad habit with that commenter.  

    Sorry I missed all the ensuing fireworks yesterday. I actually had weekend plans.


    Parent

    Obama made some comments today during the (none / 0) (#129)
    by nycstray on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 12:19:39 PM EST
    wrap up press conference for the summit. Should be online by now.

    Parent
    I Missed Whatever Fireworks Occurred Too (none / 0) (#131)
    by daring grace on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 12:57:06 PM EST
    My main point to Anne was to say how easy it is for others to take your comments out of context when they are in the form of a one or two line snap esp. when it doesn't seem to correspond to the rest of your post.

    I share your opinion of Chavez, as well as your anger at the plight of Ms. Saberi.

    I'm glad you expanded on your feelings about Obama's comments about the pirates, because I didn't understand that was your context in the first comment.

    Parent

    Don't worry. (none / 0) (#133)
    by Dr Molly on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 01:50:43 PM EST
    We all got the point.

    And we all know the game about what people say vs. what other people say they said.

    It was crystal clear!

    Parent

    Started my comment by saying that (none / 0) (#124)
    by Anne on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 10:36:12 AM EST
    I had not been following Obama's visit with Chavez.  Because my real life has been so stressful lately, I took half a day from work on Thursday and all day Friday - I wanted to sleep late and do whatever moved me - read, get out in the fresh air, do some much-needed shopping - which is exactly what I did.  Didn't watch news, just read comics and sports in the paper, did the crossword puzzles, watched some TV.  Spent some quality time with my husband, cooked some real meals for a change; it was great.

    So, it wasn't until today, actually, that I understood that Obama met Chavez as part of a summit in Trinidad/Tobago - I thought from shoephone's comment that Obama was meeting with Chavez one-on-one, which is why I assumed (yeah, I know, that's a no-no) she was criticizing the suck-up-iness of their meeting.

    It was totally my mistake - knowing now that it was part of a group meeting, I probably would have reacted differently.

    So, mea culpa; that will teach me!

    Parent

    Chavez a Dictator? (none / 0) (#128)
    by squeaky on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 12:11:03 PM EST
    He was democratically elected, but maybe you use the term loosely.

    Parent
    I Did (none / 0) (#132)
    by daring grace on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 01:28:12 PM EST
    And poorly.

    I used to favor Chavez because of the many reforms he seemed to bring to Venezuela--or shall we say the beginnings of reforms. Then his silencing of opposition, as epitomized by his pointed failure to renew the broadcast license of that opposition tv station, turned me off him.

    But I knew he's won elections so this was just sloppy writing.

    And I referred to this Christian Science Monitor article that spells out some of the reasons he is so popular in Venezuela, esp. with the poor and disenfranchised.


    Parent

    Clinton is more than "disappointed" (5.00 / 3) (#56)
    by nycstray on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 05:56:36 PM EST
    she is working on it actively. If anyone bothered to look, they might notice that this seems to be taking the same path as with the pirates. BOTH voiced their/our opinions and "working on it" at the beginning. They have both said they are aware of it, not, happy and the US wants something done about it. Although, I don't think we can use the same force on the Iranian courts as we did with the pirates. I would be really surprised if the US didn't do anything to get her out of an Iranian prison and also prove she's not a spy.

    squeak, if you drop your determined "cult of Hillary" crap, you might be able to see that many Hillary supporters have said positive things about him etc. Although I don't believe they were "amen" kool aide ones that you would find with the Obama cult. Could be why you're missing them  ;)

    Disappointed (1.50 / 2) (#59)
    by squeaky on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 06:12:51 PM EST
    The press reports that Hillary is deeply disappointed, but Obama is just, deeply disappointed too. Oops, they are both deeply disappointed. But somehow in your mind Obama is just deeply disappointed but Hillary is so deeply disappointed that she is going to take action, while Obama couldn't be bothered.

    Is that how it goes?

    As far as the cult meme goes, implying that Obama is too lazy to do something about this, and thanking god we have hard working Hillary to save the day is absurd. That can only be some version of worship, imo.

    Obama cult love is so obvious to you, but Hillary love is just  natural.  I get it now.

    Parent

    Uh NO. (5.00 / 4) (#60)
    by nycstray on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 06:31:47 PM EST
    In my mind Hillary does NOT work independently. She works for Obama as part of his admin. I expect him to be aware of this and to comment/inform us of his (our) position. I expect his "people" to do the actual work. BUT, he is the final say. Hillary could negotiate her a** off, but he is going to sign off on the final outcome. The press reported they were both deeply disappointed, and they also pointed out she was actively working on it. As well she should be, imo.

    I never said Obama was too lazy and I took the comments to be frustration. Perhaps they wanted to see more from him or didn't feel his reaction was as strong as it was to the pirates. Or something. Dunno. Notice, I didn't comment on the comment.

    Obama cult love is still alive on DK. It's really quite funny on the non- important issues. I also noticed Taylor Marsh (former rabid Hillary supporter, yikes!) doing an Obama swoon that was pretty off base. Can't remember the issue off the top of my head, but it was in the past couple days. I'm not seeing that with the Hillary "cult", but I'm not following it either (nor am I following the Obama cult, that one just seems to be more prominent and pops up in my face). I don't think either "cult love" is ok, quite frankly.

    Hate to break it to ya, but you will never figure out my mind. Partly because you are too busy misreading what I write, partly because you have assumed a fact which is not and partly because I'm just a tad more fluid than you can see. ;)

    Parent

    Hillary is not an independent contractor, (5.00 / 4) (#76)
    by Anne on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 08:24:49 PM EST
    but the Secretary of State, which means she doesn't use a lot of "I" and "me" and "my," but "we" and "Washington" because she represents something that is much larger than she is.

    There is nothing wrong with acknowledging Hillary's well-regarded and fairly legendary work ethic, and if you felt I was implying Obama was "lazy," well, let's just say he doesn't have quite the same history in that department as Hillary - if he suffers by comparison, I would say that is ultimately his own doing.

    Too funny... (5.00 / 3) (#85)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 09:23:53 PM EST
    ...Texas for sale on Ebay.

    Oh noes! (5.00 / 1) (#90)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 10:26:45 PM EST
    It snowed in Denver--in April!  The horror, the horror...

    It is pretty gawd awful living here, what with the natural beauty, the good people and those 300+ days of sunshine.  

    Who in their right mind (none / 0) (#109)
    by Fabian on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 04:18:16 AM EST
    would complain about precipitation in that region?

    With all the droughts and water shortages, I look at most precipitation events as good things.  It may have been gray and wet for three days this week - but it was slow and gentle rain, the kind that sinks in.

    Parent

    Every last snowflake... (5.00 / 1) (#119)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 09:11:37 AM EST
    ...is very much a blessing.  We actually had 100% humidity on Friday--a very rare and welcome occurence.  My dry skin was most pleased.

    These people who seem to think that a little snow in a semi-arid place is such a burden crack me up.  

    Parent

    And the snow that you get to have (none / 0) (#112)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 06:49:10 AM EST
    today and melts tomorrow.  There was no snow in New York.  I haven't seen snow in four years now :(

    Parent
    I woke up this morning... (5.00 / 2) (#118)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 09:03:10 AM EST
    ...and went out on the deck to find the sun shining brightly and the foothills from Pike's Peak to Mt. Evans covered in white.  

    Always stunning, no matter how many times I see it!  

    Here in the city, there is only a little left on the grass and rooftops.

    Parent

    Thread cleaned of insults (5.00 / 2) (#101)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 11:38:48 PM EST


    Bad way to start my day (2.00 / 1) (#3)
    by shoephone on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 12:11:47 PM EST
    Finding out that Roxanna Saberi has been sentenced to eight years in an Iranian prison.

    What now, Mr. Obama? Oh, wait, you're down south, spending the day playing footsie with the likes of Hugo Chavez.

    Worth watching to see how this is (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by Inspector Gadget on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 12:23:14 PM EST
    handled, for sure. We just sent the Navy to rescue one American. What will this administration do to help this woman get home?


    Parent
    probably more than Australia did (none / 0) (#6)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 12:25:31 PM EST
    for Schapelle Corby, who got 20 years in Bali for having 4 kilos of pot in her boogie board, which she insists were planted.

    Parent
    What a sad story (none / 0) (#11)
    by shoephone on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 12:34:17 PM EST
    especially since it's so obvious it was planted! Must have been the John Howard government?

    It does amaze me how things have changed in Bali. When I was there in the late 1970's, Kuta Beach was the place to be if you were a pot-smoking surfer.

    There are two things about the Saberi conviction that really anger me:

    1. The prosecutor changed the charges twice

    2. It was a secret trial


    Parent
    I hope you're right.... (none / 0) (#25)
    by Inspector Gadget on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 02:18:20 PM EST
    that is a travesty that should never be repeated or forgotten.

    Parent
    Unfortunately, (5.00 / 2) (#64)
    by eric on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 06:58:32 PM EST
    we as a nation have forfeited the right to complain about how other nations prosecute people.  After Guantanamo, it is open season on Americans.  I hear Iran allowed her a lawyer and a pretty quick trial.  I haven't heard that they tortured her.  That's better treatment than most Guantanamo prisoners got.

    Parent
    I get your point (5.00 / 1) (#126)
    by shoephone on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 11:27:23 AM EST
    However, I, as a citizen, have not forfeited my right to complain about either my government or other governments.

    Two wrongs still don't make a right. (And, obviously, criticizing Iran doesn't equate with supporting the U.S. government's past, or future, actions.)

    Iran didn't "allow" Saberi's lawyer a quick trial. They forced through a quick secret trial, during which Saberi's attorney was not permitted to present a defense for his client.

    Parent

    Hillary Clinton is "angry" (none / 0) (#7)
    by oculus on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 12:25:57 PM EST
    per headlines.

    Parent
    Damn.. (none / 0) (#115)
    by kdog on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 08:12:06 AM EST
    eight years..the world is mad.

    We have Americans in American jails for more than eight years for doing nothing....unnecessary tyrannical imprisonment for bullsh*t non-existent crimes is a worldwide problem...Obama don't have a leg to stand on when it comes to chains and cages.

    Parent

    Fort Worth Annual Arts and Crafts Festival (none / 0) (#1)
    by easilydistracted on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 12:09:20 PM EST
    for me today. Good festival. Rated number 8 in the nation, according to web site info. Jimmy Vaughn headlines the entertainment this evening.

    My nephew-in-law is stuck in Denver (none / 0) (#2)
    by oculus on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 12:10:01 PM EST
    and my brother is stuck inside his house near Silverton.  I'm listening to an abysmal performance of Siegfried from the Met.  

    Your brother... (none / 0) (#98)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 11:13:48 PM EST
    ...is a lucky man.  What a wonderful part of the State to live in!  Has there been an influx of money and development in Silverton as is the case with Telluride?    

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    Not many buildable lots where he is--about (none / 0) (#102)
    by oculus on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 11:50:59 PM EST
    10 miles north of I-70.  Great views.  But no high speed internet, cable, cell phone coverage, and a really, really steep driveway.  House is absolutely beautiful.  

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    Are we talking about... (none / 0) (#103)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 12:01:56 AM EST
    ...Silverthorne or Silverton?  I'm guessing the former as Silverton is nowhere near I-70. Silverthorne is off Highway 9 along the Blue River.  Good fishing along there.  

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    Silverthorne. No spark-belching (none / 0) (#105)
    by oculus on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 12:18:57 AM EST
    engines!

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    Jeralyn (et al) --may I recommend (none / 0) (#4)
    by NJDem on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 12:13:13 PM EST
    revisiting Tapestry as one of your music selections today.  I just played the whole thing while relaxing this morning and I always marvel at what a great, complete album it is.  

    Ironically I was going to post this rec for everyone, but especially when I read your plans for today.  Enjoy what I hope is your last snowed-in weekend :)    

    I love it (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by Mikeb302000 on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 02:18:55 PM EST
    and I am old enough to have heard it when it first came out.  In fact that's the pleasure of it for me. Through music I relive the very best of my past.

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    My wife (none / 0) (#18)
    by bocajeff on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 01:56:00 PM EST
    always uses Tapestry as her road trip music. Considering that she is too young to have heard it when it first came out and that she is the only African American either of us knows that listens to Carol King, she does get some weird looks.

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    Geez, I listened to Tapestry about (none / 0) (#31)
    by Anne on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 02:24:44 PM EST
    a million times my freshman year in college: 1971.

    Can't listen to any of the songs on it without being instantly transported back in time - and they were fun times!

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    My little nieces... (none / 0) (#116)
    by kdog on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 08:19:10 AM EST
    go nuts for Carole King...cue up Track 1 on Tapestry and they're dancing like maniacs, laughing and singing...comes in handy as a comrpomise when they wanna listen to High School Musical for the 100th time, "C'mon girls, how 'bout some Carole King?"

    Good stuff.

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    In the garden! (none / 0) (#8)
    by talesoftwokitties on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 12:26:17 PM EST
    Mid 70's here in the SF Bay area. Sun is shinning bright. This is the time of the year I love! Weeding in the garden is like therapy. Morita therapy. Do a little patch, step back and look, and appreciate. Very enjoyable!

    Weeding and pruning (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 12:46:15 PM EST
    I've always liked the destructive part of gardening best, weeding and pruning out dead branches.  Immediate sense of accomplishment you can actually see.

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    Yikes! (none / 0) (#12)
    by ChiTownDenny on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 12:37:08 PM EST
    Your weather!!!  Glad to hear you've planned appropriately.  In the meantime, you have a beautiful Spring (???), Summer to look forward.  We will all be envious.

    70 here (none / 0) (#13)
    by SOS on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 12:37:18 PM EST
    or in a few hours

    Two Thumbs Up! (none / 0) (#15)
    by CDN Ctzn on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 01:32:36 PM EST
    Not sure how many of you have seen the movie or rented the DVD, but "Young At Heart" is an absolute must IMO.
    The documentary is absolutely marvelous and moved me to begin volunteering at a local Nursing Home. After seeing it I wanted to fly home and hold my 90 year old Dad for a long time.
    There's a reason they're called "The Greatest Generation"!
    If you haven't seen it, check out Netflix as it is priceless!!

    It's just about perfect in New York (none / 0) (#19)
    by byteb on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 02:02:52 PM EST
    I bought herbs to plant in pots for a convenient herb garden on my back deck. My two year old grandbaby, Nico,  is coming soon for a sleep over tonight and I'm keeping fingers crossed that he sleeps a little past dawn tomorrow...

    I'm working all weekend. (none / 0) (#20)
    by Dr Molly on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 02:08:04 PM EST
    Job is currently highly stressful and ruining my life - partly due to the stimulus bill, which gave my agency tons more money to spend, which creates much more work for us. So I guess that's good for everyone getting the money, but not for me!

    It's gorgeous outside here today. To cheer myself up, I brought azaleas cuttings, tulips, and daffodils from my garden into work so I can gaze at them while working.

    I'm really lucky (none / 0) (#106)
    by nellre on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 12:22:59 AM EST
    I work in what is called a virtual office... as in I work from home.
    So when I need to put in those extra hours, it's not so burdensome...with my three second commute.

    Anybody who can do their work from home should in my opinion. It's very green too!

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    you are lucky! (none / 0) (#110)
    by Dr Molly on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 06:17:09 AM EST
    I don't get to telecommute very much, but occasionally. It is definitely the green thing to do, and more companies should offer it.

    Congratulations on the horseback riding! That's brave of you, but I bet it will make you feel good (other than the pain). Let us know how it goes!

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    In Rome (none / 0) (#29)
    by Mikeb302000 on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 02:21:33 PM EST
    yesterday was the perfect day, so much so that I thought it was the best weather day we've had this year.  Today it's back to cloudy cold and rainy. It's been a rough winter for us.

    In Rome? (none / 0) (#95)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 11:00:43 PM EST
    Oh, give me a break! :-) Here in Vermont, it's been winter since late October, and I'm still having to keep the woodstove going!

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    Fox Baseball! (none / 0) (#32)
    by nycstray on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 02:31:03 PM EST
    Windows open and doing some much needed putzing around the apt. Just turned on the TeeVee for some Saturday afternoon Fox Baseball with my Yankees. Tomorrow will be back to chilly and rainy {sigh} but I'll prob still wander out as my fav cooking store is having a free composting session for us city folks who want to kitchen compost, worms and all (just don't tell the cats . . .)!

    my daughters are at the game (none / 0) (#35)
    by byteb on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 02:56:19 PM EST
    their first visit to the new stadium.

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    I'm jealous! (none / 0) (#36)
    by nycstray on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 03:03:45 PM EST
    Beautiful day for a game!! I need to get coordinated with my friend for trips to both stadiums. We want to do food tasting, lol!~ Food Network partnered with Yankee Stadium, and that can only be good {grin} We'll do one "money is no object" game (within reason of course) at each stadium, and then if we go more often, be a bit thriftier . . . 2-0 Yanks!

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    You read my mind (none / 0) (#37)
    by byteb on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 03:04:54 PM EST
    I was wondering what the score was!

    Thanx. ;)

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    3-2 Indians (none / 0) (#38)
    by nycstray on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 03:10:53 PM EST
    that was short lived . . .

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    14, count 'em, 14 runs in the 2nd inning (none / 0) (#45)
    by caseyOR on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 03:59:19 PM EST
    for Cleveland. Oh my goodness, poor Yankees.

    I hope the Yankees pull out of the tailspin that this game is becoming for them. I have a soft spot for Joe Girardi. He and I hail from the same hometown, and he went to high school with my cousin. And an added plus, he played for the Cubs.

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    Make that 15 (none / 0) (#48)
    by nycstray on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 04:06:59 PM EST
    Oy.

    I like Joe also. He was a good pick to replace Torre imo. Easy for us to get behind :)

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    It's the 5th inning (none / 0) (#53)
    by caseyOR on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 05:03:50 PM EST
    score is Cleveland - 20
                   Yankees -      2

    There's no joy in the Bronx today.

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    21-4! (none / 0) (#58)
    by nycstray on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 06:02:29 PM EST
    Well at least I'm getting some good fantasy points, as is a good friend of mine, lol!~

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    Gross. 22-4 final. (none / 0) (#67)
    by scribe on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 07:21:54 PM EST
    It was good to see Jeter, Damon and Texiera all in the dugout through the whole thing even though they'd been pulled early on.

    Jeter has that way of leading in which he doesn't have to say anything, sort of like Joe D. did.  All the Clipper had to do was look at you.  Jeets gets out front and leads from the front, but also deals with his teammates quietly.

    I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall in the locker room post-game.

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    Go Padres! (5.00 / 1) (#84)
    by otherlisa on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 08:54:04 PM EST
    Just because.

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    Go Nuggets! (none / 0) (#86)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 09:37:22 PM EST
    Just sayin'.

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    Go Marlins! (5.00 / 1) (#88)
    by CoralGables on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 10:00:20 PM EST
    Goes without saying.

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    I wish the Rockies would step it up-- (none / 0) (#91)
    by oculus on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 10:39:09 PM EST
    especially v. the dreaded Dodgers.

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    Tell me about it. (none / 0) (#92)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 10:49:37 PM EST
    If only we had a bullpen.  

    /heavy sigh

    On the plus side--next Friday looks like it just might be good night for a ballgame.

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    Yes, indeed. They heard you. (none / 0) (#89)
    by oculus on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 10:19:31 PM EST
    Jeter better... (none / 0) (#117)
    by kdog on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 08:25:29 AM EST
    start saying more nothing...lol.  Always a pleasure to hear the Yanks gt spanked:)

    Meanwhile, Johan does it again cross-town, Mets win 1-0...what a pitcher, I'm so grateful the Yanks decided to pass on Johan last year.

    Parent

    in the local rag. I can't stand that he's my rep. Mr Fair Tax anti- government, who went to a land grant college, enjoyed a government issued dentistry license, and will live off a generous government pension after he leaves office, with full federal health care for life. Schmuck.

    Troy Davis (none / 0) (#61)
    by lentinel on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 06:43:12 PM EST
    It seems that Davis has lost his appeal.
    2 of 3 judges said that he was not able to prove his innocence.

    All that is left is the Supreme Court which has once refused to hear his case.

    I would have thought that the grounds for considering giving him a new trial would have been that the prosecution would have had little chance of convicting him without the witnesses who have now recanted. But it seems that the judges expressed that it was up to Davis to prove that he was not guilty.

    I don't get it.

    Maybe he's guilty - but this judicial system seems barbaric and sadistic.

    Could you please just post a link? (none / 0) (#66)
    by scribe on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 07:18:59 PM EST
    The long block quotes from other sites (yours' looks like the report from TPM) can irritate those sites' owners and chew up server space.

    Just sayin'.

    Also, Hatley was sentenced to life the next day - the prescribed penalty.

    FWIW, the story of the conviction and sentencing was, for a while Thursday, the lead story on German radio news.

    Links (none / 0) (#80)
    by squeaky on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 08:39:08 PM EST
    You had better be able, then, to point (none / 0) (#71)
    by Inspector Gadget on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 07:59:49 PM EST
    to the exact part of any of my comments that responded to anything other than the imprisonment of an American journalist in Iran.

    I made ZERO reference to anything about Chavez.

    I think you.... (3.00 / 2) (#72)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 08:07:23 PM EST
    ...might just be the one having a bad day.  

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    Uh (none / 0) (#78)
    by squeaky on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 08:33:54 PM EST
    Maybe you need to fix your browser so you do not get confused as to who is saying what to whom.

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    You were responing to me though. (none / 0) (#74)
    by nycstray on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 08:16:21 PM EST
    And reading 101 might help:

    The press reported they were both deeply disappointed, and they also pointed out she was actively working on it.

    I never said Hillary said anything.

    Sorry (none / 0) (#75)
    by squeaky on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 08:20:05 PM EST
    I was quoting the original source (Hillary) that said we in quotes and Washington in quotes. If the press said "she" was working on it well so be it.

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    It was 75 and clear skies today on the east coast (none / 0) (#87)
    by AX10 on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 09:54:33 PM EST
    from New York to Washington DC.

    Sorry to hear about the now.
    Reminds me why I never want to live in Colorado.

    NY is not the (none / 0) (#96)
    by gyrfalcon on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 11:03:50 PM EST
    be all and end all of the East Coast!  North of there, not so beautiful weather.

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    {shock!} (5.00 / 1) (#97)
    by nycstray on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 11:11:48 PM EST
    It's not?!?!

    {grin}

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    Speaking of grins... (5.00 / 1) (#99)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sat Apr 18, 2009 at 11:22:16 PM EST
    ...I give you this

    Is that too cute or what?

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    Leaving an older family car (none / 0) (#111)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 06:47:23 AM EST
    in VA for our daughter to use.  Flying home today with our granddaughter who is 1 and is just so precious.  I've spent a wad on baby dresses since I got here but how can you not????  She's enchanting.  We haven't seen her in awhile so I can't even begin to explain how wonderful it is to get to have her with us for a short time while everyone is settling in here.  Flying can be dirt cheap at the moment if you want to show up at the crack of dawn......which I didn't :)  But it is sort of cool that travel can be had for a song for some right now.  We went to a local mall here yesterday to pick up a few items and in Spencers (cuz my daughter had to drag me to Spencers to see stuff to crack up about) there was an Obama shirt that read "Everybody just effing chill, I've got this one".  I think Obama needs some help right now in one department particularly, but he is an incredible improvement over the other dude who thought that being the "decider" was about deciding on the five iron or the seven iron.  In any case the shirt was sort of a hoot.

    That is a tough decision... (none / 0) (#120)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 09:19:27 AM EST
    ...I love both my 5 and my 7 irons equally!  They tend to get jealous of each other too...

    Hard to believe that Spencer's is still in business.  Guess there's always a market for silly stuff.

    Sounds like you've had a very nice trip--good!

    Good signs in Baghdad... (none / 0) (#121)
    by kdog on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 09:30:05 AM EST
    vice is back in a big way...link.

    People who have been holed up inside with their vices for 6 years are takin' it to the streets...happy to hear it.

    LOL... (none / 0) (#123)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 10:28:56 AM EST
    Mr. Chavez Whiskey, an Iraqi-made hooch.

    That's some real multicultrualism right there.

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