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    Corps can now dissolve govt (5.00 / 3) (#4)
    by waldenpond on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 02:10:51 PM EST
    Naomi Klein:

    {Well, I just found out about this last night, and like I said, there's so much going on that these extraordinary measures are just getting lost in the shuffle. But in Michigan, there is a bill that's already passed the House. It's on the verge of passing the Senate. And I'll just read you some excerpts from it. It says that in the case of an economic crisis, that the governor has the authority to authorize the emergency manager--this is somebody who would be appointed--to reject, modify or terminate the terms of an existing contract or collective bargaining agreement, authorize the emergency manager for a municipal government--OK, so we're not--we're talking about towns, municipalities across the state--to disincorporate. So, an appointed official with the ability to dissolve an elected body, when they want to.}

    More....{A municipal government. And it says specifically, "or dissolve the municipal government." So we've seen this happening with school boards, saying, "OK, this is a failing school board. We're taking over. We're dissolving it. We're canceling the contracts." You know, what this reminds me of is New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, when the teachers were fired en masse and then it became a laboratory for charter schools. You know, people in New Orleans--and you know this, Amy--warned us. They said, "What's happening to us is going to happen to you." And I included in the book a quote saying, "Every city has their Lower Ninth Ward." And what we're seeing with the pretext of the flood is going to be used with the pretext of an economic crisis. And this is precisely what's happening. So it starts with the school boards, and then it's whole towns, whole cities, that could be subject to just being dissolved because there's an economic crisis breaking collective bargaining agreements. It also specifies that--this bill specifies that an emergency manager can be an individual or a firm. Or a firm. So, the person who would be put in charge of this so-called failing town or municipality could actually be a corporation.}

    So let me see if I understand... the Gov will be able to give a no bid contract to the Koch brothers Corp, the Koch's Corp will be in a position to define 'economic emergency' and disband what?  The elected govt of a town/municipality or just all of the boards?  Are they just targeting school boards or are the entitled to wipe out environmental/water/utility boards?  The legislation already gave the Gov the ability to award no bid contracts on utilities.

    So what... now there is dissatisfaction with an oligarchy and we are now going to have dictatorships?

    Link might be nice (5.00 / 2) (#5)
    by waldenpond on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 02:11:52 PM EST
    I posted about this yesterday (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 02:12:22 PM EST
    Maddow did a great segment with Klein monday.

    Parent
    So how does it work? (none / 0) (#7)
    by waldenpond on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 02:16:49 PM EST
    Is Koch going to dissolve the elected govt or the regulatory boards or the contracts?  Any understanding of what they get to do with their new fiefdom?

    Are the Repubs actually giving a whole state to one corp?

    Parent

    yes (none / 0) (#15)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 02:56:25 PM EST
    Corporate Coup (5.00 / 2) (#18)
    by smott on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 03:09:35 PM EST
    Is not too strong a word at all IMO.

    Great exchange on Democracy Now with Amy Goodman and Naomi (Shock Doctrine) Klein ;

    Transcript here
    http://www.democracynow.org/2011/3/9/naomi_klein_on_anti_union_bills

    NAOMI KLEIN: Well, I just found out about this last night, and like I said, there's so much going on that these extraordinary measures are just getting lost in the shuffle. But in Michigan, there is a bill that's already passed the House. It's on the verge of passing the Senate. And I'll just read you some excerpts from it. It says that in the case of an economic crisis, that the governor has the authority to authorize the emergency manager--this is somebody who would be appointed--to reject, modify or terminate the terms of an existing contract or collective bargaining agreement, authorize the emergency manager for a municipal government--OK, so we're not--we're talking about towns, municipalities across the state--to disincorporate. So, an appointed official with the ability to dissolve an elected body, when they want to.
    AMY GOODMAN: A municipal government.
    NAOMI KLEIN: A municipal government. And it says specifically, "or dissolve the municipal government." So we've seen this happening with school boards, saying, "OK, this is a failing school board. We're taking over. We're dissolving it. We're canceling the contracts." You know, what this reminds me of is New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, when the teachers were fired en masse and then it became a laboratory for charter schools. You know, people in New Orleans--and you know this, Amy--warned us. They said, "What's happening to us is going to happen to you." And I included in the book a quote saying, "Every city has their Lower Ninth Ward." And what we're seeing with the pretext of the flood is going to be used with the pretext of an economic crisis. And this is precisely what's happening. So it starts with the school boards, and then it's whole towns, whole cities, that could be subject to just being dissolved because there's an economic crisis breaking collective bargaining agreements. It also specifies that--this bill specifies that an emergency manager can be an individual or a firm. Or a firm. So, the person who would be put in charge of this so-called failing town or municipality could actually be a corporation.
    AMY GOODMAN: Whose government they dissolve, a company takes over.
    NAOMI KLEIN: A company takes over. So, they have created, if this passes, the possibility for privatization of a whole town by fiat. And this is actually a trend in the contracting out of public services, where you do now have whole towns, like Sandy Springs in Georgia, run by private companies. It's very lucrative. Why not? You start with just the water contract or the electricity contract, but eventually, why not privatize the whole town? So--
    AMY GOODMAN: And what happens then? Where does democracy fit into that picture?
    NAOMI KLEIN: Well, this is an assault on democracy. It's a frontal assault on democracy. It's a kind of a corporate coup d'état at the municipal level.

    Parent

    Reinventing Government (none / 0) (#50)
    by Rojas on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 07:32:28 PM EST
    Perfect (5.00 / 0) (#21)
    by waldenpond on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 03:27:35 PM EST
    I really like this.  There isn't anything more extreme than this.

    No unions to fund Dems and now Repub govs can hand their states over to a conservative to exploit and then abandon.  You couldn't have written a better conspiracy.  Priceless.

    The guess the most stunning thing to me is that the people have not shut down their govt buildings.  If they aren't willing to shut down this vote..  eh, oh well.  Hopefully the Kochs have enough kids and grandkids to name the newly formed territories after.

    Parent

    but I agree (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 03:30:11 PM EST
    I said yesterday that it was both terrifying and encouraging because republicans seem as reliable as the farmers almanac when it comes to over reaching.


    Parent
    I actually think (none / 0) (#22)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 03:28:47 PM EST
    what just happened in Wisconsin may have an impact on this.

    Parent
    Well, here we go (none / 0) (#39)
    by Zorba on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 04:20:25 PM EST
    Can a true corporatocracy be far behind?  We're already more than halfway there.  What is it going to take to wake the electorate up?

    Parent
    Recognizing that (none / 0) (#54)
    by christinep on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 09:02:45 PM EST
    elections do have consequences. I know: its trite to say now. But...all the more true. Vote!

    Parent
    Surprise! (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by jbindc on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 02:16:54 PM EST
    The Great Oz says that everything (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 02:25:20 PM EST
    is terrific.  I did read that MERS is out of the foreclosure business now and that foreclosures dramatically fell off since the start of the year because the mills are no longer safe.  This has been singlehandedly accomplished because some people got themselves some attorneys.  I thank them all for that even if their own fights were not fruitful.  They have all played in a role in exposing the illegalities, they have all played a role in changing the futures of other families.

    Parent
    Not so much they didn't find wrongdoing... (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Dadler on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 02:31:00 PM EST
    ...as much as they chose not to see it.    

    Parent
    Well, gee (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by Zorba on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 04:21:45 PM EST
    I'm shocked, shocked!  Not.  Nothing to see here folks, move along.   :-(

    Parent
    What to do about Libya? (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by KeysDan on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 03:56:00 PM EST
    Nicholas Kristof (NYT, March 10) makes a case for a no-fly zone supported by Gen. Merrill McPeak, a former Air Force chief of staff who is "mystified" by the "wailing and gnashing of teeth" about imposing such a zone on Libya.  Unlike Secretary Gates, the general can't imagine an easier military problem.  Indeed, he says, "if we can't impose a no-fly zone over a third-rate military power like Libya, then we ought to take a hell of a lot of our military budget and spend it on something usable."  Now, there is an idea worth exploring, but I digress.

    Along with a no-fly zone, another step would be use American military aircraft to jam state t.v. and radio propaganda and military communications, which the general feels would be "dead easy."  Bad choice of words, but I again digress.    

    Kristof seems to be persuaded by the general's line of thinking in that if Obama's administration has exaggerated the risks, it has downplayed the risks of continued passivity.  Moreover, he was "chilled" by a conversation he had with a Libyan friend who has been candid in the past, but in his latest conversation sounded as if it was being monitored for he was praising Qaddafi to the skies.  Kristof could not tell whether the guy really believed that or had a gun to his head. Either way, the new tone was to Kristof, an indication that the government had the upper hand.  To me, it also gave a reminder that our supporter, egging us on one day, may not welcome our presence the next.  But I digress, once again.  

    So what to do?  The president may be ready to undertake such a no-fly zone, but my guess is that he will do so only with a coalition--maybe like the 90 nations put together by Daddy Bush for Desert Storm with the idea that that will shield us from Middle East criticism.  But we know, Osama freaked out over the presence of US troops on Saudi soil as a part of that war with continuing and catastrophic consequences.

    A tough call, but maybe we can take a leaf from Reagan, the president who changed our trajectory, and support a "contra" program--supplying and supporting, but not being overtly and actively engaged using US military in another war in Arab lands.

    Gee, thanks, KeysDan (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by Zorba on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 04:25:15 PM EST
    I'm now going to go quietly bang my head against the wall.  We never learn from history, do we?

    Parent
    It would be very easy for us (none / 0) (#46)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 04:33:21 PM EST
    to block their military communications.  The question is should we become involved doing that.  If and when we do enforce no fly or jam military communications, it will be a NATO led decision.

    Parent
    That France has moved forward, (none / 0) (#55)
    by christinep on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 09:07:25 PM EST
    followed by Great Britain suggests a degree of coordination all the way around. It also suggests that we/our Administration is adroitly maneuvering to a supportive role that would not involve the extensive people/$$ commitment if we jumped or lunged in to yet another middle eastern engagement first.

    Parent
    Yeah. Let's hope our government (none / 0) (#57)
    by shoephone on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 09:10:08 PM EST
    is one-tenth as "adroit" as you assume. Thousands of Libyans have already been killed or tortured in the past three weeks.

    Parent
    Do you want another war, shoephone? (none / 0) (#58)
    by christinep on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 09:13:49 PM EST
    I know about the sadness. We all do. We can wring our hands or we can look with clear eyes to determine what we can do. What would you do?

    Parent
    Where did I say I wanted a war? (none / 0) (#60)
    by shoephone on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 09:27:41 PM EST
    Please don't put words in my mouth. Obviously, the remedy rests solely in international diplomacy. And in a dogged willingness on the part of our president to play diplomatic hardball with Quadaffi the way he (finally) started to with Mubarak.

    But waiting for three weeks, after so many have been harmed and killed, was not a good strategy. I hope he shows some smarts and leadership on Libya from here on out.

    Parent

    And by "international diplomacy" (none / 0) (#61)
    by shoephone on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 09:32:06 PM EST
    I do not necessarily mean the U.N., which, I think, has proven itself to be useless beyond measure. One tactic might be to directly engage the Arab League, since it got involved in the Egyptian matter.

    Parent
    Don't mean to put words in your mouth (none / 0) (#62)
    by christinep on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 09:41:25 PM EST
    ...but, do mean to call you on the clear implication that something could have been done by the US to stop the blood shed until now. First: We really--none of us--don't know the diplomatic back channels that have been used; thought the progression of France & England does indicate substantial coordination among the western nations (including the US.) AND (2) Unless we think--ala Bush redux--that the US can wave its magic wand in the MidEast and make it all better....

    A number of people with whom I have talked feel, at this point, that our pace is about right in terms of the info available to the general public. It is assuring to have a leader in foreign policy who does not pull the "Bring 'em on " routine.  And, so far, we are VERY ADROITLY threading our way through the minefields that have been laid throughout the Middle East for the past 50 to 60 years.

    Parent

    Kudos to you for knowing all that goes on (none / 0) (#67)
    by shoephone on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 10:41:51 PM EST
    in the back channels. And for having such unrelenting faith in Mr. Obama's "adroit" skills in the midst of such tumult. I have not seen the evidence yet. And, once again, to suggest that I ever implied that we should go in there with guns blazing, a la Bush, is a total mischaracterization of my views.

    Parent
    C'mon now, shoephone (none / 0) (#69)
    by christinep on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 11:30:33 PM EST
    I'll say one more time that I did not mean to put words in your mouth. Rather, I asked what you would do since my read/interpretation of your statement is that you seemed at once disparaging with the passage of three weeks.

    Look, I understand your frustration. We all feel either the "what can we do" or "something should be done" or "?" My opening statement about the international channel that France has now created was meant to express a degree of optimism...not to pick a fight or whatever. And, yes, I do have justifiable confidence that this President's methodical & considered approach tends to be a far sight better than other "leaders" who would pop off at the mouth on foreign affairs and/or take impulsive, counterproductive measures without much thought.

    For the record, I do not mean to imply that I am privy to any back channels of diplomacy here or elsewhere...only that each theatre has evidenced such diplomatic interaction.

    Parent

    Is "adroitly maneuvering" another way (none / 0) (#59)
    by Anne on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 09:26:07 PM EST
    of saying, "hanging back to see what kind of fallout there is when other countries step forward?"

    I mean, if we are going to get involved, is there anyone who doesn't know it's going to come with an actual price tag?

    And no, I don't want another war, christine, just to anticipate your question.  But I don't know that getting in line behind Britain and France means we've avoided that possiblity, only that, when it comes to promoting democracy and doing what we can to give the rebels a fighting chance, we talk a much bigger game than we're willing to walk.

    Parent

    Anne: It means a middle ground. (none / 0) (#64)
    by christinep on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 09:53:29 PM EST
    No debilitating war or other extensive military effort; no turning from it. A middle ground.

    As I mentioned in replying to shoephone: The many years of minefields aren't resolved by magic wand; they do take awhile to de-commission. So far, in the Middle East, many international reporters are pleasantly surprised at the acuity the US has shown.  Between Obama & Clinton, I really do think--no bs on my part for this one--that the turnaround from the acrimonious attitude toward the US in the MidEast has been incredibly speedy. (In many ways, if the US response in the many MidEastern crises of the past months continue to be so finely tuned, this may turn out to be the strongest suit for the Administration. While I don't have a standard for measurement there, I do know this: The line is narrow between overstepping one's position and understepping in response to the upheaval there today. Noone else has gotten it right, heretofore. So far, so good.)

    Parent

    christine, I don't mean to suggest we (none / 0) (#65)
    by Anne on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 10:01:23 PM EST
    should have gone in, guns blazing, a la Bush; that would be the last thing I would advocate.

    And I'm also not saying that I don't think there aren't diplomatic efforts going on.

    I guess what I am saying is that it seems like there's a possiblity that what was a narrow window to move Gaddafi out may be closing, and the tipping point that once looked like it favored the rebels may be moving back the other way.

    In the meantime, there is so much death; it's hard to feel like we are standing on the sidelines watching, even if there are things going on in the background that we can't see.


    Parent

    I agree, Anne (none / 0) (#66)
    by christinep on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 10:22:52 PM EST
    It hurts. And, when there isn't only one power on earth anymore, well....

    I wonder, tho, how wide the window was really open. Gaddafi has the $$ and the mercenaries. Also: Tripoli, and Libya in toto, has a history of unfulfilled upheaval. My thinking is that Gaddafi (or Ghadafi or Qaddafi--I still don't know how to spell his name after all these years) has been seriously weakened; and that it is only a matter of time. It just won't be as quickly as we would like. IMO, this is one of those situations where we are best positioned if we work closely with the UN and other directly involved nations--such as oil dependent France & Britain.

    I do share your sadness about the pain for all those fighting so hard to break free.

    Parent

    Re: A narrow window (none / 0) (#68)
    by shoephone on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 10:44:46 PM EST
    I totally agree. A very narrow window, and timing was all. But being savvy enough to recognize and seize that moment takes an adroitness you and I can only weakly ponder.

    Parent
    For those who think (none / 0) (#1)
    by jbindc on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 02:04:26 PM EST
    That one good jobs report sends the message that the economy is doing well.

    Jobless claims rose last week

    It's better news, but in no way is the economy improving enough that real people will see any effects.

    And protestors in Wisconsin (none / 0) (#2)
    by jbindc on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 02:04:57 PM EST
    are being forcibly removed from the Capitol.  Senate Democrats are returning to Wisconsin.

    360 view (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 02:06:53 PM EST
    I'm just scary I'm told (5.00 / 2) (#9)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 02:21:00 PM EST
    If I were in WI today though, today seems like a good day to go to jail.

    Parent
    That link (none / 0) (#37)
    by eric on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 04:12:20 PM EST
    is pretty awesome.

    Parent
    I thought so too (none / 0) (#38)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 04:17:06 PM EST
    Re: Taymor out as director (none / 0) (#12)
    by Harry Saxon on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 02:49:35 PM EST

    Julie Taymor, the Tony Award winning director of "The Lion King," will no longer direct Broadway's troubled "Spider-Man" musical as producers announced a new creative team and postponed the show's official opening to summer.

    Taymor, who also co-wrote the book for "Spider Man: Turn Off the Dark," will remain a part of the new team, lead producers Michael Cohl and Jeremiah J. Harris said Wednesday, in announcing an unprecedented sixth delay for the musical.

    Click or SF Me

    Tiger and Mickelson playing together today... (none / 0) (#13)
    by Dadler on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 02:54:14 PM EST
    ...at Doral. Amazing how the appeal of that pairing has been diminished.

    Tiger (none / 0) (#26)
    by CoralGables on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 03:54:13 PM EST
    is currently tied for 55th, six strokes off the pace, and ahead of just two golfers after playing only nine holes. That will diminish it quite a bit.

    Parent
    Johnies by 5... (none / 0) (#14)
    by kdog on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 02:55:19 PM EST
    at the half...I shoulda played hookie today.

    Aztecs barely viewable tonight (none / 0) (#16)
    by Dadler on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 02:59:13 PM EST
    Won't be able to see them here in the Bay Area, where I'm still unpacking and trying to get my son adjusted to not only a new school, but his move from private to public. The basic difference is his old school, while not costing a fortune, had all the great extras that public schools have been forced to get rid of. Most acutely for him, the school district he's in, now that we have moved here, has just cut their music "department" down to one teacher for five phucking schools.  I'm depressed for Eli, he had such immersion in playing his trombone and sax, and now it's gonna take awhile to find a program as good.  Just sucks.  Oop, and I gotta go pick him up, minimum day today, another thing that's new to him, but liked of course.  

    Hope Lavin's team pulls it out and goes on a run for you.  

    Peace out, my man.

    Parent

    I mean, sh*t, this band he was in was GOOD (none / 0) (#17)
    by Dadler on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 03:04:04 PM EST
    More importantly... (none / 0) (#19)
    by kdog on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 03:13:36 PM EST
    hope your boy has an easy adjustment...moving is hardest on the kids, especially mid-term, but a definite character-builder imo.  Also hope you get him and his horn hooked up with a good band bro.

    Too bad for SDS certain honor code violations at BYU didn't come to light a couple weeks sooner:)  Hope to see ya deep in the big dance!

    Ru-roh...Johnnies down one...c'mon Seniors!  You've never beaten this team!  You don't wanna go out like that!  

    Parent

    Tie Game... (none / 0) (#24)
    by kdog on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 03:40:24 PM EST
    2 minutes...I can't stand it...if there is a god I hope he's catholic.

    Parent
    I hear the Fat Lady now... (none / 0) (#25)
    by kdog on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 03:52:29 PM EST
    Orangebastards by 6...curse the heavens.

    Helluva season, helluva effort...onto the NCAAs to make some noise.

    Parent

    Yesterday's Finish (none / 0) (#29)
    by CoralGables on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 04:01:29 PM EST
    comes back to bite you. Call it Scarlet Knight Karma.

    Parent
    Qaddafi (none / 0) (#20)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 03:23:41 PM EST
    senator Palin (none / 0) (#28)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 03:58:21 PM EST
    you know what?  this could happen.

    All of a sudden, there's a lot of speculation that Sarah Palin's political future runs through Arizona, the home state of her 2008 presidential running mate John McCain and where her daughter Bristol Palin recently bought a house.

    On Tuesday, state Rep. Steve Farley, D-Tucson, forwarded a rumor that Palin was contemplating coming to Arizona to run for retiring Republican U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl's open seat in 2012.



    Will (none / 0) (#30)
    by CoralGables on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 04:03:19 PM EST
    never happen

    Parent
    in AZ (none / 0) (#31)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 04:04:04 PM EST
    why?  I think if she can win anywhere its there.

    Parent
    She has (none / 0) (#33)
    by CoralGables on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 04:05:39 PM EST
    no interest in being part of a body of 100.

    Parent
    she wants attention (none / 0) (#35)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 04:07:56 PM EST
    if this is the way to get it she will go for it.

    Parent
    Thrives on attention (none / 0) (#36)
    by CoralGables on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 04:09:50 PM EST
    but only if she can call all the shots. I don't see her ever running for anything again unless it's for president as an independent.

    Parent
    unless she uses it as a step towards (none / 0) (#40)
    by nycstray on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 04:20:56 PM EST
    2016 . . .

    Parent
    God help us (none / 0) (#44)
    by jbindc on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 04:25:29 PM EST
    that was the point (none / 0) (#45)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 04:29:07 PM EST
    of the article.

    Parent
    OMG, she would totally win (none / 0) (#32)
    by ruffian on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 04:05:16 PM EST
    I think so too. (none / 0) (#34)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 04:07:33 PM EST
    Whether she wants it or not is another story (none / 0) (#42)
    by ruffian on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 04:22:27 PM EST
    But these people elected John Kyl...they would elect her too.

    Parent
    Well, if being senator (5.00 / 3) (#47)
    by KeysDan on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 04:41:07 PM EST
    didn't work out, she could always quit.  

    Parent
    The Arizona Team of (none / 0) (#48)
    by KeysDan on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 05:07:56 PM EST
    McCain and Palin.  A familiar ring.

    Parent
    two of the finest minds... (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by getoffamycloud10 on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 07:04:44 PM EST
    Two of the finest minds the cutting edge of ninth century conservative "thought" can hack up.

    Parent
    Functional insanity (McCain) or... (5.00 / 0) (#51)
    by Dadler on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 07:50:31 PM EST
    ...dysfunctional inanity (Palin).  Grand Canyon deserves soooooooooooooo much better.

    Parent
    Palin won't take the pay cut (none / 0) (#52)
    by getoffamycloud10 on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 08:21:00 PM EST
    Palin's not running for anything. She can't take the pay cut. She just has to cough up a possible run to keep her suckers on the line.

    She's just another fraud - no more electable than Rudy or Trump.

    "The Wire" actress arrested (none / 0) (#53)
    by Anne on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 08:32:25 PM EST
    in a huge drug bust in Baltimore today:

    Hundreds of local and federal police officers who fanned out across Baltimore at dawn yesterday, hauling suspects out of homes and off the streets, announced at days' end they had shut down one of the city's major sources of illicit drugs and violence.

    In all, they charged 63 suspects with federal and state drug conspiracy charges -- among them actress Felicia "Snoop" Pearson, whose arrest on heroin-related and aiding and abetting charges echoed the street lifestyle she portrayed as a character in HBO's series "The Wire" and sought to overcome in her personal life.

    [snip]

    The arrests were the culmination of an intensive five-month investigation by the DEA and Baltimore police, acting on intelligence that started flowing in about the Latrobe Homes-based organization in 2008, authorities said at an afternoon press conference.

    A federal indictment against 15 of the individuals alleges ties to New York and California, and that members of the conspiracy "would engage in acts of violence against members of the conspiracy who failed to perform required tasks," though officials declined to elaborate on what they called one of the largest cases to be brought in the city.

    [snip]

    The DEA invited two reporters to accompany officers carrying out raids on warrants issued at the state level. About 450 officers from various law enforcement agencies met up before 4:30 a.m. at the Baltimore Ravens' downtown stadium, gathering in groups of eight to 10 officers before heading out to execute search warrants in a persistent rain.

    Just another day in Baltimore...

    I was afraid it was gonna be Snoop. (none / 0) (#56)
    by getoffamycloud10 on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 09:09:10 PM EST
    I was afraid it was gonna be Snoop.

    Parent
    That damn show (none / 0) (#63)
    by lilburro on Thu Mar 10, 2011 at 09:49:32 PM EST
    I just could never get into it.  Please someone convince me.  I remember seeing her on Anthony Bourdain's show.  She seemed great.  

    DEADWOOD FTW!

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    I was convinced Deadwood was the best (none / 0) (#75)
    by ruffian on Fri Mar 11, 2011 at 12:03:19 PM EST
    show ever, then I watched all the DVDs of 'The Wire' in one summer.  I'm still torn, but I have to give it to 'The Wire'. Can't really say why, to convince you. They really aren't that comparable except that they are both excellent in every way.

    OK, my gut reaction is that what makes 'The Wire' better is just the presence of more great characters, and dang, my memory for names is so bad, like the older black survellience cop that carves furniture that they pulled in off a desk job, and, of course Omar. and Kima.

    Much as I loved Deadwood, I think there were just fewer well drawn stories and characters.

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    Wow. Thoughts of strength (none / 0) (#70)
    by nycstray on Fri Mar 11, 2011 at 01:13:18 AM EST
    and good energy for Japan.  

    8.4?!

    O.M.G.  

    That quake has been upgraded to 8.9. (none / 0) (#71)
    by caseyOR on Fri Mar 11, 2011 at 01:21:21 AM EST
    My late local news is showing live coverage from Japan TV of the tsunami that is washing over Japan right now. Waves as high as 10 meters are crashing into the country. I'm watching boats and trucks and houses and out buildings being swept away by the surging water. Several aftershocks of up to 7.8 have already occurred.

    The earthquake expert giving commentary on the local news says the Oregon coast will get hit with a tsunami from this quake in the next several hours. Hawaii  is preparing to get hit by the tsunami around 3 AM Hawaii time.

    The quake was centered approx. 60 miles off the east coast of Japan, about 240 miles NE of Tokyo.

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    this is so not 'pretty' (none / 0) (#72)
    by nycstray on Fri Mar 11, 2011 at 01:59:21 AM EST
    I can't even imagine the volume of this quake (as a CA gal who grew up with them and was in the NoCal one)

    My local news has said the west coast seams to be safe (thank Dawg , but I did check my fresh water stash, 12 gallons). I may be removed from a fault line (yes, I checked that when moving back!), but, oh, yeah, I could be in tsunami land. Didn't think to check that one . . .

    My heart goes out to all those in Japan. The images just freeze my brain the way the waters have swept through.

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    Entire west coast is under a tsunami watch. (none / 0) (#73)
    by caseyOR on Fri Mar 11, 2011 at 02:01:47 AM EST
    Check your local news, stray, for info on when it will hit your area and whether or not it will be big enough to cause damage.

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    Yup, just heard that (none / 0) (#74)
    by nycstray on Fri Mar 11, 2011 at 02:31:54 AM EST
    I'm at the top of the hill above the bay so not really worried. Any activity would have to pass through the SF bay and the attached land masses before it hit my bay. All my cats are in for the night, so I think I'm going to break from the TV images and retire with my crew.

    I can't even imagine anything in a 8.+ quake area . . . . heh, our wave watch has just been posted for 8:08 AM. I'll prob sleep through it :)

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