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20 Dec 2009 11:04

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U.S.: Arnold Schwarzenegger could really do anything after leaving office

  • one If he wants, he could always return to that high-paying acting career.
  • two Screw acting! Arnold could totally run a network or movie studio!
  • three And really, does it need to be in the film industry? Business could use his acumen.
  • fourDude could stay in politics, head towards the Senate, and win some friends.
  • five Become a homemaker to prep for his role in “Junior 2: Mr. Dad.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 Dec 2009 10:40

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Politics: Fox News’ angle on Ben Nelson: He sold his vote for his state!

  • Do the twist! Saying that the abortion concessions weren’t enough, Fox News claims that Nelson sold his vote for health care to win kickbacks. “It’s pretty obvious votes have been bought,” Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia said. Nelson did get Reid to agree to help pick up his state’s future Medicaid tab, at a cost of $45 million. Most other states will get their tab picked up, but only over a short period.
  • Fair & balanced Politico covers the issue differently – they note it’s the kind of concessionary agreement made with legislation like this. Nelson’s fellow Democratic Nebraska senator, Tom Harkin, makes a good point: “… it is going to be the impetus for all the states to stay at 100 percent. So he might have done all of us a favor.” That’s right, the Feds might pay the balance of Medicaid for everyone eventually.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 Dec 2009 08:30

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Politics: Obama will take his victories, no matter how symbolic they are

  • Mr. Obama has put a high value on process and keeping things moving, recognizing that history generally does not remember the to and fro, only the big sweep of presidential accomplishments.
  • New York Times reporter Peter Baker • In an analysis piece on the recent pushes he’s made to get stuff done, even if it’s meant that the ends – particularly on climate change, although health care is the same way – don’t look anything like the means. The downside of this, of course, is that he’s had to compromise to achieve basic goals instead of more complex ones. Are these victories worth the paper they’re written on? We’ll find out. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

19 Dec 2009 12:24

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U.S.: Congress sends a huge military spending bill to Obama

  • $636 billion to do all sorts of willy-nilly with source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

19 Dec 2009 10:28

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Politics: Copenhagen: Did Obama save the day or dilute the deal?

  • He came. He did a quick deal. He left. That was how US President Barack Obama intervened in the global warming conference in Copenhagen and whether he saved it from total deadlock or condemned it to issuing a powerless piece of paper depends on your point of view.
  • BBC Correspondent Paul Reynolds • Discussing the nature of Obama’s quick deal-making in Copenhagen. A few interesting things about the conference: Obama dealt with China and a few other large but unexpected countries – India, Brazil, South Africa – but left Russia and the EU out of it (shockingly). Also, the forum may have just been the wrong choice for something this monumental. Family reunions this big tend to fall apart due to lots of infighting. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

19 Dec 2009 10:07

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Politics: Twitter’s reaction to Ben Nelson strong enough to trend a topic

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

18 Dec 2009 22:06

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Politics: Al Franken’s smackdown of Joe Lieberman: Actually rather modest

  • There have, of course been famous exceptions. Dick Cheney, who as vice president was also president of the Senate, told Patrick Leahy to (#&! himself, which qualifies as a breach of comity, to say nothing of biology.
  • Slate columnist John Dickerson • Regarding the state of decorum, which Sen. Al Franken famously broke last night when it came to Sen. Joe Lieberman. But it’s by no means the only time it’s happened, nor the harshest. Now if Al Franken said this, it’d be the greatest thing in the history of ever. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink
 

15 Dec 2009 23:13

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U.S.: Immigration: Hey, let’s throw another thing on Obama’s plate, OK?

  • Couldn’t this battle wait for now, guys? Today, Democratic Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez introduced a bill to reform immigration. Now, obviously, this battle needs to come up, especially considering how heated it got during the Bush years. But let’s play devil’s advocate here. You have a president who is dealing with these things (among others), in order of importance: Unemployment, health care, the economic crisis, Afghanistan, Iraq, closing Guantanamo, gay rights and making sure Bo the dog gets kibble. And now we want to throw immigration on top of all of this? This seems like it could wait until year three. We’d rather see Obama deal with all that other stuff the right way. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

15 Dec 2009 20:31

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Culture: Howard Dean (and the left) turn on the Senate’s health plan

  • This is essentially the collapse of health care reform in the United States Senate. Honestly the best thing to do right now is kill the Senate bill, go back to the House, start the reconciliation process, where you only need 51 votes and it would be a much simpler bill.
  • Former DNC chair Howard Dean • Saying that the Senate bill isn’t worth saving in its current form. Why’s that? Blame some guy named Joe Lieberman. Why does Joe Lieberman Howard Dean hate America? Actually, he’s not alone. DailyKos founder Markos Moulitas also says it should die in its current form. As do a few other prominent liberal voices. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Dec 2009 10:12

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Politics: In this video, an Irish politician hilariously drops the F-bomb

  • We’d like to trust our readership enough to watch a video like this and not get offended by the fact that Irish Green Party politician Paul Gogarty loudly and violently says the F-word. (Rhymes with “truck.”) So let’s just say that the video above should not be played in your office with speakers on at full blast, unless your office happens to be really into Irish politics. Then it’s OK.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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