Today I’ll be at an event hosted by the New America Foundation and Steve Clemons, “The Autonomy Rule.” As usual, I’ll Twitter if I’ve got connection.
Al Kamen is reporting that Rep. Ellen Tauscher may be tapped for a big time job at State (Robert Einhorn declined the job):
Word is that Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.), chair of the House Armed Services subcommittee on strategic forces and a staunch superdelegate for presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, is in line for a top post at the State Department, most likely undersecretary for arms control and nonproliferation.
Spencer Ackerman describes possible Pakistani reactions perfectly, because Tauscher has been all over the A.Q. Khan issue, which makes no one in Pakistan happy.
State has ordered all non-essential personnel out of Madagascar.
Obama is expected to appoint an emissary to Sudan amidst criticism that the administration isn’t doing enough, which they deny.
Mr. Obama will tap Maj. Gen. J. Scott Gration, a Swahili-speaking retired Air Force officer who grew up in Africa as the son of missionaries, to take on one of the most delicate diplomatic missions of his presidency, according to three administration officials, who were not authorized to discuss the selection before the official announcement on Wednesday.
Secretary Clinton also spoke on the issue.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton escalated the administration’s oratory on Tuesday, vowing to hold President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan responsible for the expulsion of aid groups.
“This is a horrendous situation that is going to cause untold misery and suffering for the people of Darfur, particularly those in the refugee camps,” she told reporters. “The real question is what kind of pressure can be brought to bear on President Bashir and the government in Khartoum to understand that they will be held responsible for every single death that occurs in those camps.”
Haaretz is reporting that Russian President Medvedev has signed a contract with Iran to sell surface-to-air missiles.
The state-run ITAR-Tass and RIA-Novosti news agencies and the independent Interfax quoted an unnamed top official in the Federal Military-Technical Cooperation Service as saying Wednesday the contract had been signed two years ago. Service spokesman Andrei Tarabrin told The Associated Press he could not immediately comment.
I’ll be back later this afternoon.
Isn’t that nice. After the wall came down instead of pouring aide into the EX Soviet Union and Russia the repugs launched a campaign to demonize and punish them adinfinitum. Well it is finally paying off and the Russkies are rearming and selling arms to Iran. Let’s give another big round of applause to the repugnantklan for making us “safer”!!!
Taylor — It must be great being in DC now instead of Vegas.. So many cool things you get to attend and much easier to keep on top of things… thanks for your hard work and for keeping us informed.
you are so right sec. I am really getting very angry and hostile towards repugs. And especially the right wingnuts that are on the radio. I refuse to name them, we all know their names.
Check out what the Big Fat Idiot is saying “Rush compares Barney Frank to McCarthy for wanting AIG bonus names”
Not just soldiers:
Hundreds of New Civilian Employees Proposed for Afghanistan
Hundreds of additional U.S. diplomats and civilian officials would be deployed to Afghanistan as part of the new civil-military regional strategy that President Obama’s top national security advisers plan to present for his signature next week, according to administration officials.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/18/AR2009031802313.html?hpid=topnews
djjl says:
18 March 2009 at 4:16 pm
Check out what the Big Fat Idiot is saying “Rush compares Barney Frank to McCarthy for wanting AIG bonus names”
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djjl:
you don’t post often but lately you’ve been cracking me up every time.
GeoT – are we supposed to be happy about more folks going to Afghanistan or was that informational only?
I am all in favor of sending more people to Afghanistan so long as someone with half a freaking brain steps in and takes over the mission. Which should be FIND BenLaden(however the hell you spell his name) and everyone we can who had anything at all to do with 9/11 in anyway whatsoever and KILL THEM. Which means KILL the Taliban, every freaking one we can find.
While that is going on make some real meaningful progress in restoring infrastructure and make a differance in the peoples lives so they’ll SEE some point to resisting the wackjobs and murderers.
If your children are fed and safe generally speaking folks don’t join radicle groups and risk everything in suicidal fighting. As for the suicide bomber types and the radicles. KILL them. If you must ALL of them.
THIS is the fight we should have been fighting all along.
djjl:
you don’t post often but lately you’ve been cracking me up every time.
Thanks GeoT. I guess I’ve been a bit acerbic because getting really mad. I’m sick of the people who think they shouldn’t be punished because they don’t use a gun when they steal from people. I particularly angry right now about the insurance industry – health in particular – because they set the system up to deny proper claims and do their utmost to confuse their clients all while posting spectacular profits.
I appreciate your getting a good laugh
sec, I’m with you on that. Nobody is happy about sending more folks to a war zone. But it is good to see competence being of import.
If you haven’t already, I would strongly recommend checking out this book at the library (saves money). Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq’s Green Zone by Rajiv Chandrasekaran . The structural imcompetence of the Bush Administration is stunning. If you’ve got blood pressure problems, be sure you’ve taken your meds.
kris says:
18 March 2009 at 4:32 pm
GeoT – are we supposed to be happy about more folks going to Afghanistan or was that informational only?
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It’s a diplomatic effort and one that is sorely needed IMO. Should you be happy about it? I’ll let you speak for yourself. I’m just glad, since we’re there now, it is not going to be all military all the time. We need to win some hearts and minds.
djjl says:
18 March 2009 at 4:53 pm
I appreciate your getting a good laugh
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I love it when you ridicule Rush
secularhumanizinevoluter says:
If your children are fed and safe generally speaking folks don’t join radicle groups and risk everything in suicidal fighting. As for the suicide bomber types and the radicles. KILL them. If you must ALL of them.
THIS is the fight we should have been fighting all along.
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well said Oh Secular One.
I think Rush Limbaugh and his ilk are despicable human beings willing to sell out their own country in order to line their pockets. I think what he does is treasonous. He intentionally misinforms and appeals to the base instincts of people to make a buck.
Just makes me want to sit down and cry.
All Things Considered, March 18, 2009 ·
While officials in school districts across the country are making some very tough decisions in this dour economy, one school district in Michigan is doing the unprecedented: pushing the reset button and laying off every employee.
Pontiac is an industrial sister city to Detroit. And like the Motor City, this gritty suburb shows all the signs of economic decline.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102057651&ft=1&f=1012
I’m serious about that book. It’s a political page turner and each page filled with jaw dropping idiocy.
GeoT
Your new house looks spectacular. Congratulations on the good buy.
djjl says:
18 March 2009 at 5:19 pm
GeoT
Your new house looks spectacular. Congratulations on the good buy.
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thank you! I’ve been out gardening toady, I’m inspired… even trying orchards, my Mom had a real knack for growing orchids…and most everything else actually
She’s my hero… ine 
djjl says:
18 March 2009 at 5:10 pm
I think Rush Limbaugh and his ilk are despicable human beings willing to sell out their own country in order to line their pockets
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Did you ear W say he won’t criticize Obama because he “loves his country more than he loves politics”? I may be wrong but that actually sounded lucid.
Yeah I heard that. I believe him. Cheney is another story however.
BTW, I’ve grown orchids forever. Have you tried phaleonopsis? That’s my favorite. Cymbidiums are fun too.
http://www.webshots.com/search?query=phaleonopsis&new=1&source=chromeheader
http://www.webshots.com/search?media=photo&query=cymbidium&queryChannel=&sortBy=&source=search_menu
Gotta go complete dinner.
Pan grilled rib eye (alton Brown recipe)
warm cherry tomato and asparagus salad with home made blue cheese dressing
GeoT, I want to see your new house.
Where did you post the pics.
djjl:
this is one that I got today:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/fullsize/2636550700030272744MyatPA
have a good dinner, sounds yummo.
sounds wonderful djjl, especially the salad.
Betsy says:
18 March 2009 at 5:55 pm
GeoT, I want to see your new house.
Where did you post the pics.
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I’ll post the links in a sec… stand-by.
mi casa:
http://o.mfcreative.com/f2/file02/objects/0/0/8/2008a2ca-2e3c-4f7b-af62-788505696f86-0.jpg
http://o.mfcreative.com/f2/file01/objects/a/3/6/1a36da3e-eeb6-4b71-a60f-856e424405da-0.jpg
http://o.mfcreative.com/f1/file13/objects/2/6/1/d261ca32-3e70-4b4e-9595-586bc9feb0bc-0.jpg
Betsy:
p.s. very little furniture yet.
Cramer just now:
“I’m going to buy a house on the way home tonight”… he is suddenly very bullish.
He suggests we all re-fi @ 4% …
I love your new house. That fireplace is absolutely fantastic. Love it.
Been there done that when we bought the repo for son. Hubby kept waiting for interest to go down. Countrywide kept saying it should go lower than 4.85. Well it started going up and he decided he’d better lock in at 5.15.
Betsy says:
18 March 2009 at 6:06 pm
Been there done that when we bought the repo for son. Hubby kept waiting for interest to go down. Countrywide kept saying it should go lower than 4.85. Well it started going up and he decided he’d better lock in at 5.15.
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What the Fed did today knocked everything back down to 4% (plus loosened the credit market). I like your idea. We may buy another house locally and put it our son’s (2) names and either let one of them live in it or rent it. Because I really believe what you buy now will build equity.
Betsy:
When we bought our first house in 1982 I believe our mortgage was at 13%, hard to believe.
you betcha.
Obama Would Crush Sarah Palin In 2012: Poll
A new Public Policy Polling survey shows President Obama would crush Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in a hypothetical 2012 presidential contest, 55% to 35%.
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2009/03/18/obama_would_crush_palin.html
I am so tired of this blame game in DC. I predict that Obama is going to fired Geithner. He’s getting way too much pressure to do it. Even though they all were instrumental in approving the appointment.
Oh oh -
Dodd says he added the bonus provision to the stimulus bill at the request of the administration.
Everyone duck.
I’ll let you answer that one GeoT.
No Betsy this is serious and not amusing one bit. Obama/Biden are also considering giving the campaign funds back that AIG contributed.
kris says:
18 March 2009 at 6:39 pm
That’s gonna leave a mark.
Yes it is justlen. This really isn’t good.
Hey Kris
Do you have a link for this?
“Obama/Biden are also considering giving the campaign funds back that AIG contributed.”
That’s what I want AG because I’ve been watching all day and haven’t heard one word about this.
Me either. Looks like the folks in Orange County are behind Obama at the Town Hall.
It’s breaking news Betsy. Dodd did an interview with CNN this afternoon. You can go to CNN.com or Politco has it also.
Its on live on CNN and MSNBC, of course Faux Noise isn’t covering it. All that strong support would not jive with their agenda.
Kris
I heard Dodd tell Chris Mathews he would check into it, and return any money if needed. I did not hear any mention of Obama or Biden.
Once again go to cnn.com or politico. Politico and CNN has the story about Dodd lying all this time and then revealing he wrote the exemption provision at the request of the administration. Politico has the story of Obama/Biden thinking of returning the money. Might be to little to late.
RE: Dodd v. Treasury… Got a Tweet from David Shuster who is subbing for Keith tonight. Barney Frank will be on Countdown to address this.
Oh and President is killing it in the OC Town Hall. He should do these every week.
Sorry, must be going blind, but I can’t find the Obama/Biden story on Politico. If anybody else finds the link, please post
From Politico$44:
ABC reported that Obama officials say Obama and Biden team may “review” the idea of returning campaign donations from AIG staffers.
staffers kris, that’s not AIG. You make it sound like they took money from the corporation.
Hey all. New thread…
Here’s the scoop.
ABC News is only ASKING the question.
Will Obama, McCain, Dodd Return Contributions From AIG Employees?
http://tinyurl.com/cwpf5y
Betsy and Audiegrl – Do you guys believe Obama can’t do anything wrong for God’s sake?
And on top of that Betsy – staffers and AIG. What’s wrong with you guys?
Here is what was said on Politico44
Afterward, he might have …
… something to say about Dodd’s claims that Treasury requested language exempting pre-February 2009 bonuses from limits.
This was talking about a conference call that Gibbs was going to be on at 6:30pm
Kris
No. I don’t agree with him on all things. But I also don’t believe in making unsubstantiated statements or saying that a news organization make a statement without links and evidence to back them up. Those are just opinions. Which are fine.
kris, you are really over reacting. AIG staffers. End of report. And no I have never said he could do no wrong. I just think that you find anything at all and blow it way up IMO.
So with that said, I have to go fix dinner.
Fine Betsy. You think I blow it way up enjoy the next few days my friend.
Have a pleasant dinner.
Audiegrl – you are 24-7 I love Obama. If it is something about Repubs both you and Betsy jump and say how much you hate them, they hate this country, etc.
Talk about blowing things up and overreacting. Sorry to disturb the love fest.
kris says:
18 March 2009 at 7:50 pm
Talk about blowing things up and overreacting. Sorry to disturb the love fest.
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1. that’s not true.
2. That would make you the mirror opposite. There is “Obama can do no wrong” and then there is “Obama can do anything, even great things, and I will still call it a failure” (because I KNEW this was going to happen from back before he got elected) Oh and “I don’t like Tim Geithner so he should be fired”
kris says:
18 March 2009 at 7:50 pm
Fine Betsy. You think I blow it way up enjoy the next few days my friend.
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okay Karnac, see ya’ Monday… (you better document your predictions for “the next few day’s” so we can see how right or wrong you’ve been) sounds like wishful thinking on your part Kris, you’re just dying for things to be and stay horrible so you can say “see I told you so” about Obama. Guess what? you’re wrong. Things are getting better. And that’s not wishful thinking on my part that’s an observation of the indicators.
Kris and AnninCA are obviously conspiring
Wow!
I think Kris and AnninCA are one and the same.