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09 Nov 2010 21:08

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World: Israel PM to Obama: You don’t own me! I do what I want!

  • Jerusalem is not a settlement. It is the capital of the state of Israel. Israel sees no connection between the diplomatic process and the planning and building policy in Jerusalem.
  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu • Explaining why Israel will continue to build settlements in disputed areas of Jerusalem and the West Bank despite rebukes from the U.S. for its latest settlement-building schemes. Just hours before, Obama criticized Israel for its actions like so: “This kind of activity is never helpful when it comes to peace negotiations, and I’m concerned that we’re not seeing each side make that extra effort involved to get a breakthrough. Each of these incremental steps end up breaking trust.” source
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08 Nov 2010 09:40

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World: Does Obama want India on the UN’s Security Council permanently?

  • YES he said the U.S. would offer its support to India source
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06 Nov 2010 13:00

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Politics: George W. Bush on waterboarding: “Damn right.” Damn right.

  • I thought about my meeting with Danny Pearl’s widow, who was pregnant with his son when he was murdered. I thought about the 2,971 people stolen from their families by al Qaeda on 9/11. And I thought about my duty to protect my country from another act of terror. ‘Damn right,’ I said.
  • George W. Bush • Explaining in his coming memoir, “Decision Points,” why he allowed the CIA to waterboard suspects being interrogated, specifically Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. While it’s clear from the quote that he thought the decision through, the off-the-cuffness of his response strikes us as a little, you know, stark. We appreciate Bush caring so much about the lives of Americans that he’s willing to waterboard a 9/11 suspect, but waterboarding is about half a step away from torture. In fact, depending on who you ask, lots of people consider it torture. Also in the book, Bush (who claims to be through with politics) compliments Obama’s political skills while criticizing those of John McCain. He is also keeping his nose out of the whole 2012 race out of respect for Obama. This is impressive restraint that he at times didn’t show in office, by the way. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

04 Nov 2010 12:52

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Politics: Mitch McConnell: Partisanship or nothing at all. (Whatta jerk!)

  • Know who’s kind of a jerk? That’s right. Mitch McConnell. The Senate Minority Leader, who’s still the minority leader after Tuesday’s elections, isn’t looking to compromise with Obama on anything. He’s digging in his heels. “If our primary legislative goals,” he said during a speech at the Heritage Foundation Thursday, “are to repeal and replace the health spending bill, to end the bailouts, cut spending and shrink the size and scope of government, the only way to do all these things it is to put someone in the White House who won’t veto any of these things.” Your primary role is to end gridlock and get things done, and to find ways to reach your goals while working within the system. Not to keep the system stagnant for two whole years until you get what you want. In fact, we’d argue that part of the reason you didn’t do better on Tuesday is because of the gridlock. Obama would be smart to not bend to this guy. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

03 Nov 2010 22:28

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Politics: Post-midterms, Obama gets a big-up from the f-word

  • Obama’s been getting railed upon from all corners for a while now, but we have to admit that he seemed to handle his party’s lack of success yesterday fairly well today. He had a measured response to the questions he got at his press conference today, and didn’t get angry or testy at any point. Which for fans of the president is heartening. Also heartening is this site which has been all over our Facebook today. “What the fuck has Obama done so far?” A lot. A defensive measure so solid that you’d think that the site was produced by Obama’s staff, until you realize that the word “fuck” is right there in the URL. source
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02 Nov 2010 09:57

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Politics: Ed Rendell on Obama: “expectations were unreasonably high”

  • I think expectations were unreasonably high for Barack Obama. He took over the presidency, Harry, facing the worst set of problems not of his own making that any American president has faced in the last 50 years.
  • Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell • Explaining (on “The Early Show” with Harry Smith and Maggie Rodriguez) the big problem Democrats have faced over the last two years. They have a president who has actually done stuff but the American people are either unaware or misinformed about what it is he did. (See: The Obama tax cuts nobody felt.) “We’ve got to learn to explain and communicate what we’ve done and what we want to do a lot more clearly and a lot better than we have,” Rendell said. While it’s too early to say whether or not Rendell’s assessment means big losses tonight (let the polls speak for themselves, kids), it’s one of the more honest assessments of the communication problems the Democrats have had recently. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Nov 2010 00:56

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U.S.: Unemployed woman receives letter from Obama, sells it to get by

  • sad One of millions of people in dire economic straits, Jennifer Cline and her husband lost their jobs in 2007. Then she got two types of skin cancer.
  • uplifting Cline wrote a letter to Obama telling him of her optimism despite her tough situation. Obama responded personally. It was big news.
  • sad Months later, Cline, still in dire straits, is selling the letter for $7,000 to pay for a mortgage and medical bills. Hard knocks suck. source
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29 Oct 2010 12:04

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Politics: Noted Bush-haters Valerie Plame, Joe Wilson also dislike Obama

  • The idea that you can continue to keep human beings in detention offshore is an insult to us as a civil society and everything we stand for. I think the same thing can be said about the clandestine renditions. We need to shine a light on all of that and let it lead us where it may.
  • Former U.S. diplomat (and husband of Valerie Plame) Joe Wilson • Ripping on the Obama administration for not doing enough to stop Bush-era methods of security, including closing the base at Guantanamo Bay. Some of this is, of course, personal: Wilson’s wife was outed as a spy by members of the Bush Administration after Wilson publicly doubted the administration’s reasons for starting the Iraq war. Still interesting, though, that they’re ripping on Obama for this, too. In other news, the couple is about to get the Hollywood treatment – “Fair Game,” starring Naomi Watts and SEAN FREAKING PENN, sounds like an awards-season racehorse. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Oct 2010 22:05

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Culture: The Daily Show’s three most popular episodes Obama-related

  • 3.58M the number of people who watched Obama (the candidate) on The Daily Show back in 2008
  • 2.92M the number of people who watched his wife Michelle on the show a few weeks later
  • 2.84M the number of people who watched Obama (the president) on the show last night source
  • » And we must point out, kids: Jon Stewart did a hilarious intro before he introduced Obama last night. But the conversation went on so long that it never aired. Fortunately, Comedy Central was able to introduce us to the joy that is “Keeping the President Waiting.”
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

27 Oct 2010 10:36

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Politics: Obama’s headed to “The Daily Show” for totally calculated reasons

  • The President hasn’t been shy about going to the places where people are getting their information and trying to make his case. And I think that’s what he’ll do on the show.
  • White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs • Admitting that Obama’s reasons for going on “The Daily Show” are a last-ditch effort to build some momentum going into the midterms. Which, let’s face it, there are much worse ways to do that. We just wish it wasn’t so calculated. In other Jon Stewart-related news, TBD has a pretty entertaining takedown of all the media pundits who have been freaking out over “The Rally to Restore Sanity” and “The March to Keep Fear Alive,” many of which are along the lines of “omigodhe’sgonetoofarthistime” screeds. Use your heads, guys. It’s no worse than any other rally. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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