home

Monday Morning Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Mon May 02, 2011 at 11:53:34 AM EST
Tags: (all tags)
Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit

Open Thread.

< The Death Of bin Laden | From The Selective Memory File >

  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


    • Display: Sort:
    Monday Morning Open Thread | 15 comments (15 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

    Workers Rally.... (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by kdog on Mon May 02, 2011 at 05:34:01 PM EST
    in Madison opens with moment of silence in honor of the late, great Ben Masel.

    Jeralyn linked to his comments here over the years, been reading through some of 'em...here's a link if you wanna start from the beginning of the archive.

    In a word, the man was a patriot.  Fought the good fight, even struck some hard blows.  He beat Guiliani for 68 grand.  He was awesome.  If we all had half the heart of Ben this would be one helluva country.

     

    An empty open thread! (none / 0) (#1)
    by lilburro on Mon May 02, 2011 at 02:54:14 PM EST
    I guess people have other stuff on their minds today...

    Thank you to Jeralyn and BTD for keeping the blog going today with a lot of interesting posts about bin Laden.  I truly appreciate it.

    Now that (none / 0) (#2)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon May 02, 2011 at 03:52:12 PM EST
    I've gotten over the excitement of finding Bin Laden and the fact that he's dead, I'm wondering if this is going to embolden Obama more on his horrible domestic agenda.

    Well (none / 0) (#5)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon May 02, 2011 at 04:39:47 PM EST
    we can probably agree that it's certainly not what's needed at this time.

    Parent
    Just wrote elsewhere (none / 0) (#6)
    by brodie on Mon May 02, 2011 at 04:45:47 PM EST
    that this successful mission allows Obama a two-fer:  pull out completely from Iraq and substantially, and on schedule or sooner, from Afghanistan.  He's now got much greater nat'l security cred with the public and so has the greater political room to maneuver to his left.  

    Basically take the John Le Kerré approach from here on out on taking care of terror -- hard working intel on the ground, then call in the special forces, a spy and police action.  Bring the troops home and take the savings and put it into a jobs program or something to help out drowning homeowners.

    It's really his Cuban Missile Crisis Moment -- and just as JFK used it wisely to begin to withdraw from VN and begin détente with Khrushchev (openly and behind the scenes) and Castro (quietly) and generally begin to end the Cold War along with the Soviet leader, so too does Obama now have the chance to govern in more progressive ways in FP now that he's essentially proven himself to be tough and smart enough on terror with the public.

    Parent

    brodie (none / 0) (#8)
    by jondee on Mon May 02, 2011 at 05:55:08 PM EST
    are you of the opinion that the Operation Nothwoods crowd at the Pentagon may've had something to do with the demise of the "going soft on communism" JFK?

    Parent
    I like the first part of your post (none / 0) (#10)
    by jondee on Mon May 02, 2011 at 05:57:36 PM EST
    I'd like to think that's whats going to happen..

    Parent
    Yep, certainly some (none / 0) (#16)
    by brodie on Mon May 02, 2011 at 07:15:58 PM EST
    high-ranking Pentagon extremists along with a few similar types at CIA.

    Parent
    I'm expecting him (none / 0) (#13)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon May 02, 2011 at 06:39:27 PM EST
    to move to the right on this. I hope I'm wrong. His history has been to move right.

    Parent
    I hope not, but also hope (none / 0) (#17)
    by brodie on Mon May 02, 2011 at 07:39:21 PM EST
    others elsewhere will pick up on this parallel and opening and note how Obama now doesn't need to go rightward, assuming for the moment that might have been in his mind when he initially signed off on doubling down and more with troops in Afghanistan and other moves.

    Kennedy was planning quite a progressive 2d term, btw, with his post-Cuban Crisis opening:  being the first US prez to visit Moscow following another major arms control agreement; the joint US-USSR space mission to the Moon, which Kennedy first broached with Khrushchev at Vienna and which Nikita may have finally agreed to by Nov '63; recognition of Red China; the new beginning with Castro being made public after cooperation from Fidel in not furthering/fomenting revolution in this hemisphere.  That in addition to continuing to try to reform CIA and Defense.  

    And domestically, a completion (he thought an "18 month delivery" as of fall '63) for all his major domestic proposals like CR, Medicare, tax reform/cut, and then, some major action on combatting poverty.  Kennedy, while some of his proposals were slow going in Congress, was at least always trying. After a successful re-elect against BG of course, his position would have been much stronger with a more liberal Congress.

    Obama can take a page from Kennedy in not being afraid to act boldly and progressively both in FP and DP and in taking advantage of openings presented to move the country and the world forward.  Ball is now in his court.  

    Parent

    We we actually glad he came. (none / 0) (#9)
    by jeffinalabama on Mon May 02, 2011 at 05:57:28 PM EST
    He did meet and cheer up some of the victims.

    Jeff, matey, how are (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by caseyOR on Mon May 02, 2011 at 06:21:15 PM EST
    you doing down there? Did your home survive? Do you have shelter and food? Is the power back on yet?

    I know that's a lot of questions, but I've been thinking, and worrying a little, about you. You know how captains can be where the welfare of their crew is concerned. :-)

    Parent

    finally got power, but some damage/ (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by jeffinalabama on Mon May 02, 2011 at 06:43:19 PM EST
    The problem? my mother totalled her vehicle. It's a mess, but soon all will settle.

    It will be a tough few months here. Tuscaloosa was hit pretty hard. As BTD will tell you, almost nothing is more important than SEC football. However, a number of Auburn people have driven over to help out.

    I'll be swamped the rest of this week and next, but I'll be posting and searching for New Tortuga soon!

    Parent

    Take all the time you need to recover (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by caseyOR on Mon May 02, 2011 at 06:56:03 PM EST
    from the tornadoes. The search for our home port can certainly wait.

    Glad the power is back. Is your Mom okay? Does she have to give up driving? I remember when my Mom had to stop driving. She knew she couldn't drive anymore, and she did the responsible thing by selling her car, but losing that freedom threw her into a depression that still affects her. Hope things work out for your Mom.

    Keep us apprised of developments on both the Alabama home front and the New Tortuga front. Pictures are always welcome.

    Parent

    We were* (none / 0) (#11)
    by jeffinalabama on Mon May 02, 2011 at 05:58:05 PM EST
    ugh.


    Parent
    Monday Morning Open Thread | 15 comments (15 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment