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Sunday Open Thread

By TChris, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:22:22 PM EST
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Heat in the south is being mitigated by storms, but the rest of the country seems to be enjoying sunny, pleasant weather. You probably have better things to do than reading a blog, but if not, here's an open thread. It's open to all topics, but lets throw out a rhetorical question for starters: what kind of jerk boards an airplane, stranding his newlywed wife in an airport in Malaysia, because he thought she was taking too long in the bathroom?

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    Sunday Open Thread | 64 comments (64 topical)

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    Watching Wimbledon men's finals (5.00 / 3) (#1)
    by andgarden on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:23:23 PM EST
    another amazing match.

    It's been un-freakin'-believable! (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by Anne on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:25:04 PM EST
    I am pulling for Roddick - he's played the tennis of his life here.


    Parent
    It's Federer (none / 0) (#3)
    by andgarden on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:28:43 PM EST


    Parent
    Grrrrr. (5.00 / 3) (#7)
    by Anne on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:33:14 PM EST
    Have to hand it to Federer, but my heart was with Andy - he's just played phenomenal tennis; to come "this" close to his first Wimbledon win and not get there, after, what? - 72 games in the match?  I feel for the guy, I really do.

    Parent
    Well, it was predicted (none / 0) (#8)
    by andgarden on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:35:19 PM EST
    but we still got a very good match.

    Parent
    Roddick has many (none / 0) (#30)
    by BackFromOhio on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 02:00:46 PM EST
    more grand slams to come,and I suspect quite a few wins. I was rooting for Federer I have to admit, & my heart was in my stomach the whole last set. Roddick has the most improved game, and gave us a match we'll never forget.  

    I wonder if Federer will sit out the U.S. Open because it will come just a few weeks after his first baby?

    Parent

    A few weeks after the baby (none / 0) (#45)
    by cal1942 on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 02:47:00 PM EST
    His baby!  Have I missed something?  

    Parent
    South Cental PA (5.00 / 2) (#10)
    by Chuck0 on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:41:14 PM EST
    weather is wonderful. Windows and doors open, cool breezes blowing through the house. Definitely makes abandoning DFW, Texas well worth. Less Republicans, cooler weather and better geography. Texas can roast. I'll have to pick up the pace writing letters trying to convince Guv Goodhair to make good on that secession thing. Maybe if I volunteer to build a new border fence. (On the Rio Red, not the Rio Grande.)

    Windows open weather is just lovely (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by nycstray on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 01:15:34 PM EST
    here in Brooklyn also. I thought we weren't going to get any of this weather this year (for more than half a day!).

    Parent
    SC PA is one of the (none / 0) (#11)
    by andgarden on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:43:51 PM EST
    most Republican places left in the northeast. Glad you're enjoying it though.

    Parent
    I was speaking (none / 0) (#12)
    by Chuck0 on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:50:51 PM EST
    of PA in general. And SC PA is changing. Obama/Biden signs outnumbered McCain/Palin in my little village outside York last November.

    Parent
    Changing, growing, ys (none / 0) (#14)
    by andgarden on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:53:33 PM EST
    but still. . .

    Parent
    Beautiful horse farms in that area. (none / 0) (#36)
    by lilburro on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 02:12:48 PM EST
    And then on the other hand, I went to the York Fair (or whatever it is officially called) a few years ago, and at the art show, the blue ribbon watercolor featured two people in blackface with watermelon, etc.  It was really weird.  

    Parent
    On quitters (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by Natal on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:53:11 PM EST
    Sarah Palin seems to have a history of quitting.  And I think it's endemic in her personality. For example, she evidently attended 5 colleges in 6 years before obtaining her degree. We all have our own little quirks and this appears to be hers.  For this reason it would not be desirable to have her assuming highly responsible positions that others depended upon for their well-being. If she's easily rattled under pressure then the presidency is not the job for her.

    She didn't quit college (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by nycstray on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 01:13:05 PM EST
    changing schools is not quitting. I went to 3 schools and changed my major 3 times, I never quit college either.

    Parent
    Quite right. The ability to (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by oldpro on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 01:24:05 PM EST
    change and adapt was never more vital.  It's often a sign of courage or intelligence or both.  Good for you.

    Palin?  Not so much.

    Parent

    Well (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by Natal on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 01:28:11 PM EST
    if it's not quitting I'm intrigued by it and just wondering whether it's a personality trait related to her sudden "changing" of career path this past week. Maybe you're right they're unconnected.

    Parent
    Many people alter career paths also (none / 0) (#24)
    by nycstray on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 01:38:29 PM EST
    they find their current one isn't working as well for whatever reason. I'm guessing they all didn't make the same adjustments in college.  

    Parent
    The school part (5.00 / 0) (#47)
    by cal1942 on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 03:08:51 PM EST
    I don't buy.

    But, quitting an elective position and giving as partial reason being messed up a little by the press (contrast that with what Bill and Hillary Clinton have had to put up with) disqualifies her from higher office.

    Especially funny (and telling)was her point guard metaphor.

    A good point guard can break a full court press.

    Parent

    Well, yeah, you can throw (5.00 / 0) (#51)
    by brodie on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 03:45:27 PM EST
    out anything school related, whether they happened or not, and everything else and just look at what she's done in abandoning the most important job she's ever held, and the only one, obviously, which would have remotely qualified her in the eyes of the public for higher office.

    It'll be very difficult spinning this one away in the several years to come, if she indeed intended the move as a way to "clear the decks" of the difficult stuff in order to run in 2012.  It bespeaks a flighty and unsteady personality which won't sit well with the larger public.  What those crazy RW Repubs do with all this in the primaries, if she's a player, well, that party has done plenty of stupid before and usually the MSM has covered for them (Shrub, Quayle, Ronnie).

    As for the point guard metaphor, I'd underscore the part, as I recall that rambling mess, where she talked about "looking at the basket."  I interpret that as looking for the big goal -- the WH.

    Parent

    Quitters and Paraders (2.00 / 0) (#62)
    by Inspector Gadget on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 06:08:34 PM EST
    I see some politician is parading his young daughters around Russia. Can't wait to hear what the late night hosts make of that.

    Parent
    Parading? (5.00 / 0) (#63)
    by squeaky on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 06:14:17 PM EST
    Guess we know what some bloggers, or commenters on blogs think. I am sure that the right wing will also have something ugly to say about Obama parading his children around for personal gain.

    Parent
    WTF? (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by squeaky on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 01:19:47 PM EST
    Biden said Israel could decide to attack Iran whether the United States agrees or not.

    "They're entitled to do that. Any sovereign nation is entitled to do that. But there is no pressure from any nation that's going to alter our behavior as to how to proceed," Biden said, adding: What we believe is in the national interest of the United States, which we, coincidentally, believe is also in the interest of Israel and the whole world."

    JTA

    Fanning the fire?

    Granting Israel (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by BackFromOhio on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 02:05:31 PM EST
    a right to preemptive strike?

    Parent
    dear supreme ayatollah (none / 0) (#50)
    by Jlvngstn on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 03:24:01 PM EST
    we did not like your election results......

    Parent
    Sanford Dumped (5.00 / 2) (#28)
    by squeaky on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 01:58:31 PM EST
     
    Gov. Mark Sanford and his publisher have parted ways.

    "Sentinel has agreed to release Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina from his contract to write a book about fiscal conservatism...

    cnn

    Wonder what the next book deal will be..  All My Loves?

    A Biopic ... (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 02:11:37 PM EST
    starring Will Ferrell.

    ;)

    Parent

    lol!~ (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by nycstray on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 02:12:48 PM EST
    Maybe he could write for the soaps?

    Parent
    If the guy would just stop (none / 0) (#54)
    by weltec2 on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 05:49:42 PM EST
    bragging. I remember Colbert pointing out what a boring person he is. Perhaps he had to go through this public mid-life crisis to try to prove the Colbert Nation they were wrong.

    Uh Sanford? It didn't work. You're boring AND an embarrassment.

    Parent

    Yesterday (5.00 / 0) (#38)
    by lilburro on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 02:17:13 PM EST
    I went down to a fireworks celebration in my parents' little Southern town in NC.  Saw a few bumper stickers that gave me a rise - "Protect America/Detain Obama" "Why are we letting Communism happen" etc.  I don't remember our side being as ridiculous when W was around but maybe I'm just blinded by partisanship.  

    David Broder calls Al Franken a... (5.00 / 2) (#39)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 02:21:00 PM EST
    loud mouth?  

    His insecurity is showing ;-) (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by andgarden on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 02:28:08 PM EST


    Parent
    What a jerk.... (5.00 / 0) (#56)
    by sallywally on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 07:37:38 PM EST
    not to mention an idiot of the first water!

    Parent
    Takes one ... (none / 0) (#41)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 02:25:02 PM EST
    etc.

    Parent
    Broder (none / 0) (#46)
    by cal1942 on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 02:55:53 PM EST
    is a marauding stain.

    Trust the Wapost to keep on someone who should have retired decades ago, whose pinnacle was below mediocrity.

    Parent

    Regarding "Weddings and Celebrations" (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by andgarden on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 02:34:14 PM EST
    in the Times style section.

    I admit that I do not often read it, and the selection of newlyweds over the years has seemed extremely classist when I've bothered to look. Still I was happy to see the "and celebrations" addition several years ago.

    But as the country moves beyond civil unions, it's it time to just call the section "weddings" again?

    Alfred E. Neuman has company. (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by lentinel on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 07:29:14 PM EST
    "Hello and Happy Fourth of July, everybody. This weekend is a time to get together with family and friends, kick back, and enjoy a little time off. And I hope that`s exactly what all of you do." (Obama)

    What, me worry?

    To be fair, Obama did go on to say that we are in two wars and have skyrocketing health care costs. The other problem he mentioned is the bromide, dependence on foreign oil.

    Dependence on oil, fossil fuels, is the problem. Not whether or not we import them. Cheeesh.

    Unemployment didn't rate a mention as a problem.
    Neither did all the people having lost their homes to greedy banks.

    Don't worry. Be Hoppy.

    Kick back and have a beer.
    Maybe watch a few reruns of "The Bushes".

    we do need the rain here.. (none / 0) (#4)
    by jeffinalabama on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:28:56 PM EST
    as far as the newliwed couple-- heck, I am at a loss on that one!

    Tchris, i thought you were in Wisconsin! (none / 0) (#5)
    by jeffinalabama on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:30:00 PM EST
    Have you moved south?

    It's a beautiful day here (none / 0) (#9)
    by TChris on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:36:38 PM EST
    and I'm about to mow the lawn.  Grrr.

    Parent
    here comes (none / 0) (#15)
    by jeffinalabama on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:56:42 PM EST
    the rain in Alabama... we need it!

    Parent
    You have rain today? (none / 0) (#40)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 02:22:33 PM EST
    Blow some South please.  I haven't seen rain in almost 30 days in my specific Southern location.

    Parent
    Meh (none / 0) (#6)
    by cawaltz on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 12:32:32 PM EST
    I'm glad it's finally raining. The overcast weather sans rain has been downright depressing(we finally went to the pool yesterday despite the clouds because the clouds have been hanging around for a week straight now). Hopefully we can actually get a couple of summer days in before summer is actually over.

    Honduras Update (none / 0) (#16)
    by squeaky on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 01:04:13 PM EST
    WASHINGTON, July 5 (Reuters) - United Nations General Assembly President Miguel D'Escoto will accompany ousted President Manuel Zelaya to Honduras, Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa said on Sunday.

    [snip]

    Correa said Zelaya would return to Honduras on Sunday. He provided no details about the trip.

    Reuters

    Well he won't be returning by airplane:

    The de facto coup government in place in Honduras since last Sunday's coup d'etat has militarized the international airport outside the capital city of Tegucigalpa and shut down all other airports in the country. Letters were received by the Embassies of Argentina, Paraguay and Ecuador from the coup government, denying authorization for airplanes to land in Honduran airspace carrying the heads of state from those nations.

    link

    The US remains the only nation that has not called this a coup.


    Like its hard (none / 0) (#19)
    by Jen M on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 01:18:27 PM EST
    to drive in?  Ok granted, there is a dearth of superhighways but one does not need a plane to enter Honduras (unless one needs the fanfare of arrival)

    Parent
    Well.. (none / 0) (#21)
    by squeaky on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 01:22:23 PM EST
    His airplane is flying from Washington and is expected to arrive at 4 PM EDT. Maybe he will stop in El Salvidor and drive in.

    The military has been mobilized, snipers will shoot down any plane attempting to land. I am sure that the borders are covered too.

    Something bad is going to happen, imo.

    Parent

    AP says the current "President" (none / 0) (#25)
    by oculus on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 01:49:00 PM EST
    states the President will be arrested upon arrival.

    Parent
    Yeah (none / 0) (#26)
    by squeaky on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 01:51:05 PM EST
    That is if his plane is not shot down first.

    Parent
    I'm not real happy the flight will (none / 0) (#27)
    by oculus on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 01:57:40 PM EST
    originate from Washington D.C.  

    Parent
    Why's That? (none / 0) (#29)
    by squeaky on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 01:59:12 PM EST


    Parent
    Because it smacks of CIA/US State (none / 0) (#31)
    by oculus on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 02:02:13 PM EST
    Dept. minding someone else's business.

    Parent
    Nah (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by squeaky on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 02:08:52 PM EST
    They are coming from a big OAS meeting yesterday or Friday night. It is rather obvious that the US is supporting the new president and not the ousted one. We have lots of troops there and they are not stopping the Honduran military from doing whatever they want to do.


    Parent
    And what else ... (none / 0) (#34)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 02:10:08 PM EST
    is new?

    Parent
    I wouldn't want to drive in (none / 0) (#48)
    by cal1942 on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 03:11:00 PM EST
    Stuff can happen on the road outside the public eye.

    Parent
    Just how much... (none / 0) (#43)
    by EL seattle on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 02:28:30 PM EST
    ... legislative and legal support did Zelaya have in his effort to change the Hondoran constitution?

    Ever since I read this item, earlier this week:

    "Unfortunately, Zelaya is an awkward  poster child for democracy in Latin America, given his tenuous respect for the rule of law in recent weeks," said Dan Erikson, of the Inter-American Dialogue.

    Zelaya's bid to organize a referendum on whether presidents should be able to run again was the final straw for the army. The supreme court had declared his plebiscite invalid.

    ...I've been wondering how much power George Bush and the Republican party could have could have consolidated if, back in the 2002-3 era when Bush's popularity was still really high, they'd organized referendums to change the constitution in order to permanently get around opposition on certain subjects.

    Parent

    There is no federal referendum (none / 0) (#49)
    by cal1942 on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 03:13:20 PM EST
    The US Constitution cannot be amended by referendum.

    Parent
    No it can't... (none / 0) (#53)
    by EL seattle on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 05:32:46 PM EST
    ... but a referendum like that could be used as a very effective intimidation tool to push the  legislative change that the admisistration wanted.

    If I recall correctly, there were a few democrats who lost races in 2002 and 2004 because they were painted as soft on terror.  (Max Cleland, for instance.) Maybe more would have lost races if they'd had to stand up against a successful 2002 public referendum that gave approval for things like "advanced interrogation techniques".

    Fortunately, that never happened here.  

    But I'd still like to read an account of the process that Zelaya was following in Honduras, and the reasoning behind the setbacks that were posed by the legislature, the supreme court, and finally the military leading up to last weekend's events.

    Parent

    Right (none / 0) (#64)
    by cal1942 on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 10:33:43 PM EST
    about a referendum on "advanced interrogation techniques."

    I wouldn't want to see anything like that.

    In fact I wouldn't want to see any kind of non-binding referendum on the national level.

    Endorsing irresponsible behaviour in any matter is repugnant.

    I don't like the idea of binding referenda on the state level either.  Look what's happened to California.

    It's like using democracy against itself.


    Parent

    Flight Diverted (none / 0) (#52)
    by squeaky on Sun Jul 05, 2009 at 05:16:30 PM EST
    The flight that was carrying ousted President Manuel Zelaya has been diverted to El Salvador because it lacked permission to land, Honduras' top aviation official announced Sunday.

    Miami Hearald

    Parent

    We got a huge storm last night (none / 0) (#57)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 08:30:11 AM EST
    We really needed it.  It was a blazing one too, not very dark around here in the dead of the night.

    Good News (none / 0) (#58)
    by squeaky on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 12:31:57 PM EST
    MOSCOW -- The United States and Russia, seeking to move forward on one of the most significant arms control treaties since the end of the cold war, announced Monday that they had reached a preliminary agreement on cutting each country's stockpiles of strategic nuclear weapons.

    NYT

    A big step to reverse the damage that BushCo caused to US/Russia relations.

    Yes (none / 0) (#59)
    by jbindc on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 01:31:39 PM EST
    and maybe this means ObamaCo won't have to do some bypassing of the Senate's constitutional role of ratifying treaties.

    Parent
    Oh (5.00 / 0) (#60)
    by squeaky on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 01:39:17 PM EST
    I forgot, Obama is an empty suit, but running radical communist/right wing organization (ObamaCo) that has secret plans to eliminate the Senate and the Constitution.

    thanks for reminding me, for a second there I thought Obama was just trying to reduce nuclear warheads from the planet earth.

    Parent

    Salazar Horse Slaughter (none / 0) (#61)
    by squeaky on Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 05:19:33 PM EST
    This is horrible, hamburgers seem responsible for the extermination of 33,000 US wild horses, because the horses supposedly eat too much, and are supposedly destroying 19 billion acres of US land carved out for them since 1971.

    The horses are now penned up waiting a cruel execution evidentially to make room for cows or something..

    link

    Sunday Open Thread | 64 comments (64 topical)

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