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Wednesday Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Wed May 18, 2011 at 11:59:49 AM EST
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Here's an open thread for those interested in topics besides Arnold. Actually, all topics are welcome.

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    Wednesday Open Thread | 42 comments (42 topical)

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    Revelations about Fukushima (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by magster on Wed May 18, 2011 at 01:39:55 PM EST
    have been coming fast and furious this week confirming that the situation is worse than previously portrayed, as in more serious meltdown, rising radioactivity into ocean and groundwater, continuing meltdown situation.

    There have been a couple of good Kos diaries, fairewinds.com videos, NYT story yesterday and WSJ and Financial Times stories today for anyone interested in digging deeper.

    I've done my civic duty... (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by kdog on Wed May 18, 2011 at 01:41:25 PM EST
    for the day...spoke to or emailed everybody I know in the 'hood with full descript of the drug squad goons terrorizing my neighborhood.

    Turns out my roomie isn't the only victim of these two thugs...they've been making the rounds.  

    The block is scorching...wonder what the man is up to...spring street cleaning?

    You go kdog :) (none / 0) (#12)
    by Militarytracy on Wed May 18, 2011 at 03:07:02 PM EST
    The mom's need to know about those odd loitering strangers too :)

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    You shoulda seen me last night... (none / 0) (#18)
    by kdog on Wed May 18, 2011 at 03:49:21 PM EST
    I was so hot...hotter than when it happened to me.
    I was contemplating some things very dangerous to my liberty:)

    And now thanks to the Supreme Detecs on the Supreme Court, you're not even safe inside your castle from this harassment...except for Ruth Ginsberg, bless her heart.  

    So much for Obama's appointments...major disappointments here.

    Parent

    I read your earlier post (none / 0) (#21)
    by Militarytracy on Wed May 18, 2011 at 04:17:07 PM EST
    And I know how you feel after I heard about some of the shake downs they did to my teenage daughter around here.  Nothing ever found of course or I would have found out about all of this when it was happening instead of a couple of years after the fact.  But they shook them down several times, pockets, cars, handbags, everything more than once and found nothing.

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    Your roommate may have a colorable (none / 0) (#27)
    by oculus on Wed May 18, 2011 at 04:31:02 PM EST
    42 U.S.C. section 1983 claim.  Why search his car?  He wasn't in it, I gather.  Nothing illegal found on his person.  Seems like a big stretch--unless, of course, he gave consent.

    Parent
    They search the kids cars here too (none / 0) (#28)
    by Militarytracy on Wed May 18, 2011 at 04:33:17 PM EST
    if they are talking to each other in parking lots at night, and they say it is because they suspect drug dealing having taken place.  Does that give them some kind of cover to conduct that kind of search?

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    Typically, in my experience, (none / 0) (#29)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed May 18, 2011 at 04:40:20 PM EST
    the cops simply ask for permission to look the car and the scared JQ Public says yes.

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    File a complaint.... (none / 0) (#41)
    by kdog on Thu May 19, 2011 at 07:45:58 AM EST
    you slay me Oc...last thing he (or I) wants is his name & address on the bulletin board at the command center...it's pointless, and potentially dangerous.

    By my roomie's descript of the altercation, they were up in the car and all up in him before he knew what was going on.

    The only option is to chalk it up as a cost of doing business in 21st Century Police State America.

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    Anybody (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed May 18, 2011 at 05:25:12 PM EST
    else seen this:
    link

    That's a righteous rant (none / 0) (#40)
    by sj on Thu May 19, 2011 at 12:51:56 AM EST
    Thanks for the link.

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    Rep. Duncan Hunter (Jr.) (none / 0) (#1)
    by oculus on Wed May 18, 2011 at 12:21:33 PM EST
    makes a fuss about U.S. Navy's decision to name new ship the "Cesar Chavez.". I suppose his East County constituency may support this but I hope not. Disgusting.

    I have to say that I also find it dismaying (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by Peter G on Wed May 18, 2011 at 03:17:08 PM EST
    (although perhaps not disgusting) that the government would presume to name a piece of military equipment after a nonviolent activist.  It is insulting to the memory of Cesar Chavez, what he believed in, and what he stood for.  A federal building, perhaps, or an airport, sure.  Not a Navy ship.

    Parent
    A very good point, Peter (none / 0) (#15)
    by Zorba on Wed May 18, 2011 at 03:19:30 PM EST
    Maybe a building or some such connected with the Department of Labor would be more appropriate.

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    Maine dept of Labor (5.00 / 0) (#19)
    by sj on Wed May 18, 2011 at 04:11:33 PM EST
    used to have a mural in his honor AND some conferences rooms named for him and other Labor leaders.  That was until their governor ordered it removed and the CRs renamed because they "are not in keeping with the department's pro-business goals".  in the freaking department of LABOR.

    To prove that "some" business owners complained they pulled out ONE fax signed by "A Secret Admirer" full of the most stunted thinking I've seen in a while.

    I think he sent it to himself.  

    Parent

    Actually, I think it was his daughter (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by scribe on Wed May 18, 2011 at 06:03:36 PM EST
    who, at age 22, got hired by him to be his assistant chief of staff at the sum of $41k/yr, plus room and board in the Blaine House (the Governor's mansion). But she is a recent college graduate!

    While $41k/yr plus room and board might not seem a lot, by Augusta, Maine standards it's a princely sum.  Beginning deputy AGs (lawyers) start at about $38k.  Don't ask what teachers get.  

    More to the point, this is the same LePage who, last week, decided that the State had to choose between clean elections and public broadcasting.  The public broadcasting system was coming up to its annual board of directors meeting on their budget - where the system presents the board with the budget it's come up with, not where they haggle over line items - and the chairman made a courtesy phone call to the governor's office to remind them of the meeting.  In response, the governor's office told the chairman that, oh, "by the way, we're going to eliminate the entire state funding portion of your budget", i.e., about $2 million, 20 percent of the budget, and get rid of the statutory requirement that the state fund public broadcasting.  The reasoning sussed out was that, because people had complained when LePage proposed to eliminate public "clean elections" funding, he was going to cut the budget somewhere else.

    The man is a thug, pure and simple.

    Parent

    But you can't send a federal building (none / 0) (#17)
    by inclusiveheart on Wed May 18, 2011 at 03:41:51 PM EST
    or an airport to foreign countries that have residents who might like Caesar Chavez.

    Anyway, they probably have too many Ronald Reagan boats by now and in Central American ports those boats aren't probably so popular.

    Parent

    USNS and not USS Cesar Chavez (none / 0) (#22)
    by ScottW714 on Wed May 18, 2011 at 04:17:18 PM EST
    The 'N' indicates that the crew is mostly civilians, some sort of supply ship.

    Not sure if it's appropriate, but it makes sense, farmers supply people with food and the ship will supply the Navy with food, fuel, and the other zillion things they need.  

    The don't carry munitions or go near military operations.

    I still tend to think peter is probably right, but then again no one knows if the family was contacted.  I would guess they don't throw names on anything, ships to bridges, without a thumbs up from the family, but I don't know.

    Parent

    Chavez did (none / 0) (#23)
    by Wile ECoyote on Wed May 18, 2011 at 04:17:34 PM EST
    a stint in the Navy.

    Parent
    More (none / 0) (#43)
    by jbindc on Thu May 19, 2011 at 03:52:36 PM EST
    Here

    SAN DIEGO -- Navy Secretary Ray Mabus on Wednesday said it was an honor to name the last of 14 Lewis and Clark-class cargo ships after the late farm worker activist Cesar Chavez -- pointing out that the vessels recognize American pioneers and visionaries who changed the country and the world for the better.

    Mabus also praised the mostly Latino workforce attending Wednesday's ceremony at the San Diego shipyard where the boat is being built, saying "because of what you do, you make our Navy stronger and America more secure."

    General Dynamics NASSCO officials had suggested the name to the Navy to honor its employees and Barrio Logan, the mostly Latino neighborhood where the ship builder is located on San Diego's waterfront.

    SNIP

    Chavez's son, Paul, who attended the ceremony with other relatives, said his family acknowledges "this great honor" that recognizes his father's tireless work in making sure the nation kept its promise as a "beacon of equality and freedom."

    Chavez served two years in the Navy, joining in 1946. His son said they were difficult years because of the segregation in the armed forces at the time. When he returned after being deployed to Japan, Chavez was not allowed to sit in a middle row of a theater.

    Now more than 65 years later, he said, "who would have believed the Navy in which he served would turn around and honor him with this ship. So we're very honored."



    Parent
    This guy again? (none / 0) (#4)
    by kdog on Wed May 18, 2011 at 01:26:52 PM EST
    He'd rename the country United States of Reagan if he could though...dude has his admirable historical figures worthy of such honors all discombobulated.

    Here in the east they're not picking people nearly as cool as Cesar Chavez to name/rename sh*t after...try Ed Koch...wtf?

    Parent

    How About the David Dinkins ? (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by ScottW714 on Wed May 18, 2011 at 01:54:25 PM EST
    Koch, I seriously lost it when I read that.  Quit electing people with toolesque names and you won't have that issue.  

    Can't mess with LaGuardia.

    Parent

    I got no problem... (none / 0) (#11)
    by kdog on Wed May 18, 2011 at 02:45:20 PM EST
    with "thinks like Kroch"...I just don't think we've given history enough time to judge his worth.

    I mean they'll name/rename sh*t after just about anybody these days...whats up with GHW Bush Airport in Houston?  Reagan Airport in D.C.? Let the ink dry on the history books for goodness sake....future generations are gonna think we were all smoking crack.

    JFK Airport, I'll give 'em a pass in light he was murdered...special case.  Same for newly re-christened RFK bridge, though I'll always call it the Triboro.  

    Parent

    Did you see what he suggested the ship's name (none / 0) (#20)
    by Wile ECoyote on Wed May 18, 2011 at 04:16:54 PM EST
    should be?  

    Parent
    The notion of Chavez as a warrior (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by Rojas on Wed May 18, 2011 at 08:07:56 PM EST
    does not set well with the folks who are only concerned about getting their lawn cut for five bucks and change.

    Parent
    No, I didn't, (none / 0) (#25)
    by Peter G on Wed May 18, 2011 at 04:27:44 PM EST
    as there was no link provided, that I saw.

    Parent
    Covered here Tidewater: (none / 0) (#30)
    by Wile ECoyote on Wed May 18, 2011 at 04:42:11 PM EST
    Marine Corps Sergeant Rafael Peralta, who was nominated for the Medal of Honor for action in Iraq

    Parent
    San Diego Union Tribune: (none / 0) (#33)
    by oculus on Wed May 18, 2011 at 06:24:44 PM EST
    UT

    Parent
    Thanks for the link, Oculus (none / 0) (#36)
    by Peter G on Wed May 18, 2011 at 07:47:08 PM EST
    The article says his family is participating in the commissioning ceremony, so I guess they're ok with it. If so, who am I to question the choice?

    Parent
    To be fair, it'll be a snow day in H*ll (none / 0) (#2)
    by Harry Saxon on Wed May 18, 2011 at 12:40:42 PM EST
    when an American ship is named after a CEO of an agribusiness company.

    ;-)

    Probably because (none / 0) (#3)
    by sj on Wed May 18, 2011 at 01:06:46 PM EST
    when schools, parks and streets are named after the CEO of an agribusiness company due to his/her contribution to his/her community or society, it probably will be a snow day in h*ll.

    Parent
    You Can Only Name So Many Things... (none / 0) (#5)
    by ScottW714 on Wed May 18, 2011 at 01:39:36 PM EST
    ... the Ronald Reagan, and Rush Limbaugh is still alive, that leaves Barry Goldwater & Calvin Coolidge, at least according to this list, the official GOP hero pages.

    Their hero list is pretty damn funny, who knew they have so many black heroes, more than whites.  Even a Hispanic tossed in the mix.  No Chavez.

    Speaking of Chavez, one has to wonder if Hunter is thinking of Hugo, rather than Cesar.

    I'm pretty sure (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by Zorba on Wed May 18, 2011 at 02:12:11 PM EST
    that Hunter knows exactly who Cesar Chavez is, and is opposed to naming anything after him.  Remember, Chavez organized farm workers and co-founded the United Farm Workers.  Republicans are not exactly union friendly these days, and what probably makes it worse as far as Hunter is concerned is that Chavez started his labor and Latino civil rights activism in Hunter's home state of California.

    Parent
    Wouldn't surprise me... (none / 0) (#10)
    by kdog on Wed May 18, 2011 at 02:26:06 PM EST
    if he doesn't know the man's history and his noble contribution to this nation...all Duncan needs to know is "sounds Mexican".

    Parent
    While Duncan (none / 0) (#14)
    by Zorba on Wed May 18, 2011 at 03:17:30 PM EST
    the younger was too young to have remembered any of Cesar Chavez's work, his father wasn't.  I'm betting Duncan the elder filled Duncan the younger in on how "terrible" it would be to have Chavez's name on a U.S. Navy ship.  (Duncan the elder was Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee for awhile, and I wouldn't be surprised if he still has a strong opinion about what or who naval ships and such things are named after.)

    Parent
    Would you have a problem if they named the (none / 0) (#24)
    by Wile ECoyote on Wed May 18, 2011 at 04:23:21 PM EST
    ship after a hispanic war hero?  

    Parent
    I wouldn't...but I'm a Zapatista (5.00 / 0) (#26)
    by Militarytracy on Wed May 18, 2011 at 04:27:45 PM EST


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    Honestly... (none / 0) (#42)
    by kdog on Thu May 19, 2011 at 07:47:16 AM EST
    I'd like us to stop buying warships to be named...we're broke, or so they tell the teachers.

    Parent
    NCAA tells DOJ the former is powerless (none / 0) (#34)
    by oculus on Wed May 18, 2011 at 06:45:25 PM EST
    to change from BCS to playoff system.  Says:  talk to BCS.  LAT

    Is that the (none / 0) (#35)
    by Zorba on Wed May 18, 2011 at 07:12:10 PM EST
    NCAA equivalent of "Talk to the hand"?

    Parent
    Karl Rove is cracking my husand up (none / 0) (#38)
    by Militarytracy on Wed May 18, 2011 at 09:02:39 PM EST
    He just saw him on a DailyShow clip saying he is personal friends with guys who make up SEAL team six.  My husband says that he really doubts that because most SEALs that he has known don't seem to think much of politicians.  But good luck checking up on Karl's story about being BFF with SEAL team six because you can't even know who belongs to SEAL team six to ask them if they are the one(s) who is Karl's BFF.  Then my husband says, "Can imagine being a member of SEAL team six having a few drinks with Rove, and he won't quit whispering to different people at the bar about cool you are, and you are his friend, and you are a member of SEAL team six?"  What a dweeb on the loose!

    How stupid do they think we are? (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by lilburro on Wed May 18, 2011 at 11:00:00 PM EST
    Then again, maybe he's friends with the dog...

    Parent
    Wednesday Open Thread | 42 comments (42 topical)

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