Wednesday Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 04:17:51 PM EST
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I am out for the rest of the day. So this will be an Open Thread.

Just for kicks, a trip down memory lane when the new Obama Bots attacked me in years past - on the New McCarthyism in 2005 and on Alito later that year. Ancient history of course. Maybe John Brennan can be discussed sometime soon.

One last thing, Greenwald on John Brennan: [More...]

It simply is noteworthy of comment and cause for concern -- though far from conclusive about what Obama will do -- that Obama's transition chief for intelligence policy, John Brennan, was an ardent supporter of torture and one of the most emphatic advocates of FISA expansions and telecom immunity. It would be foolish in the extreme to ignore that and to just adopt the attitude that we should all wait quietly with our hands politely folded for the new President to unveil his decisions before deciding that we should speak up or do anything.

This is an Open Thread.

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Wednesday Open Thread | 36 comments (36 topical)

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Off to see "South Pacific." (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by oculus on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 04:23:03 PM EST

Since the reviews assure me this classic musical was not updated, I'm confident I won't be hearing "Barack Obama" or "Sarah Palin" until at least 11:00 p.m. Yeah.

"I'm gonna wash that man right outta (none / 0) (#4)
by nycstray on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 04:25:09 PM EST

my hair"

just sayin' ;)


I've got to be carefully taught. (none / 0) (#5)
by oculus on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 04:26:48 PM EST

Hey, quit with the "Happy Talk" (none / 0) (#19)
by shoephone on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 05:32:59 PM EST

;-)


: Talk about what you want to do. (none / 0) (#36)
by oculus on Thu Nov 13, 2008 at 03:03:26 PM EST

Puhlease.

There is (none / 0) (#27)
by gyrfalcon on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 06:04:22 PM EST

nothing like a dame, though.


It will truly be (none / 0) (#33)
by KeysDan on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 07:44:08 PM EST

an enchanted evening. This is a great revival, have fun.


: Agreed. The couple behind us (none / 0) (#37)
by oculus on Thu Nov 13, 2008 at 03:04:22 PM EST

leaving the theatre sd., that was cute. "Cute"? Try romantic, tragic, nostalgic.

I've sequestered myself (5.00 / 2) (#3)
by centralismo on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 04:24:46 PM EST

from the news. Only listening to media created and performed by Neil Young until further notice.

: And only NY prior to 2000. (none / 0) (#8)
by centralismo on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 04:29:58 PM EST

DNC is in debt? (1.00 / 1) (#1)
by nycstray on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 04:21:49 PM EST

second time since the election I've gotten a request for $$

Our friends at the Democratic National Committee laid it all on the line to bring change this year.
We've been reviewing the books, and the DNC went into considerable debt to secure victory for Barack and Joe. It took unprecedented resources to staff up all 50 states, train field organizers, and build the technology to reach as many swing voters as possible.
It worked.
But it also left the DNC in debt. So before we do anything else, we need to help pay for this winning strategy.

Umm, I'd love to see their books . . . .

Me too. I wonder why there is not some fauxrage (3.00 / 2) (#9)
by iceblinkjm on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 04:36:23 PM EST

on this topic is considering how much crap was heaped onto Senator Clinton regarding her campaign debt. Than again I've heard diddle on the millions she raised for Obama, The DNC and our candidates.


nycstray my friend... (1.00 / 1) (#23)
by kdog on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 05:52:58 PM EST

I'll wager they will be emailing you for cash until your email provider closes your account.


lol!~ too true, BUT! (3.00 / 2) (#25)
by nycstray on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 06:02:57 PM EST

if I act now I can get this fugly "victory t-shirt"!!!

I'll just add them to the spam filter. They can hang with the Viagra emails ;)


: Hey BuzzyBill! (5.00 / 1) (#31)
by nycstray on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 06:45:05 PM EST

I see you have issues with this thread wondering about campaign expenditures . . . care to discuss it?
And yes, it IS a fugly t-shirt!

For the record (none / 0) (#6)
by Steve M on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 04:27:02 PM EST

since we are walking down Memory Lane, commentor "Steve" in the "New McCarthyism" thread was me. In particular, I think comment #167 stands the test of time.

And I still never understood the right wing's argument about that Jay Rockefeller memo, but there was a time when it would reliably drive them all into a tizzy.

Hmmmm. "Steve" then. (none / 0) (#7)
by oculus on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 04:28:18 PM EST

"Steve M." now. Velly interesting.


Highly suspicious, no? (none / 0) (#10)
by Steve M on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 04:37:38 PM EST

As my friend Steve's girlfriend used to say back in college, "One Steve is as good as another."


TMI (none / 0) (#11)
by centralismo on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 04:46:33 PM EST

: Is it really? (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by Steve M on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 04:51:57 PM EST

Not much information provided in my last comment. Maybe your "I" stands for "Imagination."

Top Chef New York tonight at 10 (none / 0) (#13)
by BarnBabe on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 05:03:31 PM EST

Of course, then it is on every other night as a repeat. Bravo does good reality shows.

I am just starting to come back from political fatigue. This election was way way too long. And now, it is dark too early.

Am I the only one who likes it? (none / 0) (#17)
by Teresa on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 05:32:11 PM EST

I like that it is daylight when I get up for work or at least close to it. I'm not a morning person and it helps me wake up.


: Ha! The morning part is fine (5.00 / 1) (#34)
by BarnBabe on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 08:14:32 PM EST

I just hate getting home and it is almost dark. I tend to go into end of the day routine. I watch a lot of House. And I am not a morning person either. In fact, I hit the snooze 4 times each morning. I have it timed that way.

Guess old habits die hard. (none / 0) (#14)
by coigue on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 05:06:11 PM EST

The circular firing squad is alive an well in the blogging ranks.

Digby's CIA post con't. (none / 0) (#15)
by lilburro on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 05:17:21 PM EST

I am glad that BTD brought up Brennan. I think the transition efforts on national security are going to be some of the thorniest and most interesting. I am sure Obama and his team are having interesting discussions; I believe we ought to as well.

The assumption I have read on the part of many posters here is that the transition team doesn't matter, because the CIA will have to do whatever the President tells them to do. What the CIA and possible national security heads think is irrelevant. The greater point that I got from the digby post below is that it's not that simple. Check out this article which is her starting point.

The CIA is portrayed as a risk-taking, mistake-making agency. And they are an agency that puts a great deal of pressure on the President to conform to their needs.

I really want to know what Obama envisions the CIA doing in the future, and who he wants to put in the leadership roles. Considering how often they seem to act on their own, the leadership is especially important in national security/intelligence. Do we want another Tenet, who collaborates in creating the false pretenses of the Iraq War? Who believes Al-Qaeda is responsible for anthrax? Brennan wrote an open letter defending Tenet's career. How does he really feel about it? If as the WSJ suggests, he could be up for some top role in the Obama admin, we ought to question his association with Tenet and Tenet's tenets.

The CIA is the LAST agency (3.00 / 2) (#22)
by CDN Ctzn on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 05:39:07 PM EST

I would trust. Anyone who knows anything about the CIA should recognize that they are guilty of the very Crimes that we have accused supposed "rogue" states and terrorist organizations of committing. But, I guess the point is moot since it's US that is authorizing those "activities".
Want to send a clear message of CHANGE to the world? Either revamp the CIA from the top down, or better yet, get rid of the damn thing!


I'm with you... (1.00 / 1) (#24)
by kdog on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 05:58:16 PM EST

disband that criminal organization...and the DEA while we're at it.

We'll improve our national financial security, at the very least.


And the FDA/USDA/CPSC (none / 0) (#28)
by nycstray on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 06:08:24 PM EST

bunch of worthless idiots. They need to rebuild our safety agencies so they actually provide um safety. Food safety and security anyone? Obama didn't seem to think there was a problem during the campaign . . . . hope some congress critters bend his ear aggressively.


Congradulations (none / 0) (#30)
by CDN Ctzn on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 06:30:14 PM EST

kdog! Both you and I recieved "troll" ratings for speaking the truth about the nefarious CIA. YEA for us!!!


Buzzybill seems to like ones (none / 0) (#32)
by nycstray on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 06:47:53 PM EST

maybe he doesn't understand the system? Now that I see what else was troll rated, I may have been wrong in my assumption above?


: Buzzybill is enjoying his first day here. (none / 0) (#35)
by BarnBabe on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 08:15:34 PM EST

N/T

This Just In (none / 0) (#16)
by CDN Ctzn on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 05:30:36 PM EST

on CNN at 3:28PT. Sarah Palin is "generously" offering to help Barack Obama in his Presidency. Obama Senior Advisor Valarie Jarrett is excited about the possibilities.

THANK YOU GLENN (none / 0) (#18)
by lilburro on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 05:32:43 PM EST

Seriously, if people actually care about Obama keeping his promises and becoming a good President, they need to care about this crap now AND later.

And it looks like you win BTD. This conversation will be had.

I on;ly win if Brennan is kept far away (1.00 / 1) (#20)
by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 05:34:55 PM EST

from the Obama Administration.


: Hey (3.00 / 2) (#26)
by lilburro on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 06:03:56 PM EST

you can keep him away after he's in the administration, dangit!

Is campaign finance reform dead? (none / 0) (#21)
by Manuel on Wed Nov 12, 2008 at 05:37:20 PM EST

Obama likely to escape campaign audit

Is this the right precedent to be setting for future campaigns? Do we need to take another look at campaign finance?