Thursday, December 31, 2009
Finger-pointing Festival Ensues
efficiency
Janet "you terrorist! [no, not you]" Incompetano is finally getting off the dime and taking steps!
Senior Homeland Security officials will meet with leaders at major airports in Africa, Asia, Europe, South America and the Middle East in the coming weeks “to review security procedures and technology being used to screen passengers on flights bound for the United States,” the department announced this afternoon. Napolitano said she would follow up on those meetings with her own “ministerial level” discussions.
“You guys fix it.” Wonder if she’ll toss in a nice bag of freshly printed cash, too?
Meanwhile,
[U.S. intelligence chief Admiral Dennis Blair] who is responsible for coordinating intelligence gathering between 16 agencies, has the full confidence of the president, aides are insisting.
Pack up, General—aides’ “insistence” of “full confidence” is generally the kiss of death. You been tagged.
I dunno—I think there’s a better way*: dietary profiling. Hand everyone boarding a plane a nice piece of bacon or a little ham sammich. Eat it—get on. Refuse? Buh-Bye.
Mebbe we could show this in the boarding lounge.
OR *clicky*clicky*
????!??? * I know I read this earlier—and was gonna link it [vs stealing it] but danged if I can find it now. If you saw it—or wrote it—please tip me in comments. My only excuse is a mild fever and the *sniffles*
Jovial Attempt at Lighthearted NY's Eve Self-Satire?
oh… nevermiind: Business As Usual
WASoF.
On December 26... as it became clear internally that the Administration had suffered perhaps its most embarrassing failure in the area of national security, senior Obama White House aides, including chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, David Axelrod and new White House counsel Robert Bauer, ordered staff to begin researching similar breakdowns—if any—from the Bush Administration.
And that would be helpful… er, how?
"The idea was that we’d show that the Bush Administration had had far worse missteps than we ever could,” says a staffer in the counsel’s office. “We were told that classified material involving anything related to al Qaeda operating in Yemen or Nigeria was fair game and that we’d declassify it if necessary.”
... “This White House doesn’t view the Northwest [Airlines] failure as one of national security, it’s a political issue,” says the White House source. “That’s why Axelrod and Emanuel are driving the issue."
O. I C.
So the fact that it’s a political issue will be a great comfort, if when you find yourself on a plane full of snakes terrorists. While you’re on your own, with the possible exception of random Danish filmmakers, and without even the plastic spork they used to provide for your in-flight “snack,” know that Axelrod will be addressing the political issue.
Axelrod, who has no foreign policy or national security experience beyond occasionally consulting with liberal or progressive candidates running for political office in foreign countries
Wha?!?
has been actively participating in national security briefings from the beginning of the administration.
Whaaa?!?
He has also sat in on Obama’s “war council” meetings, providing Obama with suggestions in both venues based on what he knows about polling and public opinion data, say several White House sources.
WTF’nFF?!?!?
"[Axelrod] isn’t sitting in the meetings telling the President, ‘Do this because the polling shows that,’” says one source. “But we know that in less public settings, or on paper, David does provide guidance to the President that gives him added context to the recommendations and information our foreign policy and national security teams give him."
Oh.... well.... “context”....
*facepalm*
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
I've Seen Teh Comeback Kid
Teh iWon ain’t him
Which won’t stop U.sNoooz from fielding a few suggestions:
...President Obama has ended his first year in office plummeting in the polls on the heels of a bad economy. So can Obama come back as Reagan and Clinton did? ...
1. Lighten up. People like a president they feel they can have a beer with, so take off the robot mask and show some humor.
Like this?
2. Have Michelle take a more prominent role on a major issue like helping women find jobs. She’s more popular, so take advantage of it.
3. Feel our economic pain.
4. Create an employment program where new jobs can be accurately calculated.
...unlike the last one?
[Nice snark, U.S.Nooz. Careful—No “too big to fail’ 4 U!]
5. Take whatever healthcare deal you can, then promote the heck out of the benefits.
6. Hit the campaign trail for troubled Democrats, and brag about them.
Obama campaigned for Deed in Virginia, Deeds lost.
Obama campaigned for Corzine in New Jersey, Corzine lost.
Obama did not campaign for Owens in New York 23rd, Owens won.
7. Extend some elements of the Bush tax cuts to those making $250,000 or less. Your promise not to raise taxes for those Americans, the bulk of the nation, is being watched like a hawk by Republicans.
8. Bring the troops home from Iraq, and close the Guantánamo Bay prison.
9. Seize voter anger, and steer it to a new “economic populism,” says Belcher. Tap it before the GOP does, and talk about the patriotism of shared sacrifice for the common good. Belcher says that still polls well.
10. Name Oprah as a domestic envoy. People think she can talk to you straight and that she’ll bring their concerns to you.
Hm… Seem to be a few holes in those. Maybe we can field a few suggestions of our own?
PootyPoot & Teh Reset
overCHAAARGE
Russia needs more weapons to punch through America’s new missile defence shield, Vladimir Putin said yesterday in blunt remarks…
“To preserve the balance we must develop offensive weapons systems, not missile defence systems as the United States is doing,” he said…
“If we are not developing an anti- missile shield then there is a danger that our partners, by creating such an umbrella, will feel completely secure and thus can allow themselves to do what they want, disrupting the balance, and aggressiveness will rise immediately,” Mr Putin said.
G’head. Work that Smart Diplomact© Uni-Corn Magyck.
*facepalm*
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
All in how ya look at it...
”...we think of Amsterdam-to-Detroit as a flight between two western cities. But if you’re Muslim it’s a flight between two outlying provinces of the dar al Islam - the fast Islamifying Amsterdam and Dearborn, Michigan.
Monday, December 28, 2009
QED, BVD, DDT
physics, FAIL
This thorough debunking of the theory of man made warming disproves that there exists a mechanism whereby carbon dioxide in the cooler upper atmosphere exerts any thermal “forcing” effect on the warmer surface below. To do so would violate both the First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics. As there is no glass roof on the earth to trap the excess heat, it escapes upward into space.
Serious Consideration
Road Trips
Well, at least he’s relaxed....
White House sources tell ABC News the President will “likely” speak publicly about the alleged attempted terrorist attack on Flight 253 in the next few days.
Well, we really shouldn’t disturb him—he is on a “news-free vacation” after all… “recharging his batteries”
Uh-bama Busy on Vacation
But Teh Progressives are “speaking.”
[Matthew Yglesias:] “...a pretty unserious plot. ...And even if you did manage to blow up an airplane in mid-air, that would be both a very serious crime and a great tragedy, but hardly a first-order national security threat."
I mean really... What possible kind of economic threat could be posed by the failure of Foggy Bottom to recognize incoming terrorists man-caused disaster waves? Or, even, a plane-full of firey debris and burning passengers raining down on the city of Detroit? Heck, I’ve heard about that place—hardly has any economic activity anyway.
The emergency halting of air traffic? Meh—who flies these days?!? Ya can’t even go peedle the last hour of a flight. And there are lap inspections hourly.
Prosecutors want to get DNA samples from a man who is accused of plotting to blow up a flight carrying 300 passengers on Christmas Day.
...The DNA sample is needed so prosecutors can conclusively tie Abdulmutallab to evidence found on the Northwest Airlines plane.
Cuz it could’ve been the guy sitting next to the guy that was on fire?!?
"While we continue to investigate the source of this incident, the traveling public should be very confident of what we’re doing now,” [Napolitano] said.
uhm… yeah
Maybe the war in Yemen is the “Real War,” now…
But, see... Booooosh!!!!
terrorism
What happened to the phrase “Man-Caused Disasters?”
...plane bomber Umar Abdulmutallab has bragged to FBI agents that there are more young men plotting to launch attacks on the West.
...25 British-born Muslims are plotting to bomb Western airliners.
The fanatics, in five groups, are now training at secret terror camps in Yemen. ...in their early 20s and from Bradford, Luton and Leytonstone, East London.They are due to return to the UK early in 2010 and will then await internet instructions from al-Qaeda on when to strike.
Thanks for the tooooolerance, Brits.
[Children’s Secretary Mr Balls has made no comment thus far.]
A Scotland Yard source said: “...They are due back within months when they will be under constant surveillance."
Oh.... well, then....
Today Alan Johnson confirmed ... “If you are on our watch list then you do not come into this country.
“You can come through this country if you are in transit to another country but you cannot come into this country."
Again, tks.
The Home Secretary said US authorities should theoretically have been informed, and he doubted there had been a “hiccup” in procedures.
So, “The system worked,” you say?
When Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s father in Nigeria reported concern over his son’s “radicalization” to the U.S. Embassy there last month, intelligence officials in the United States deemed the information insufficient to pursue.
Worked as well as the new HellCare System!
Circling... Circling...
blind tooooolerance blinds
Our Brit brothers have gotten themselves in quite a pickle…
Police are working with universities to clamp down on “aggressive conversions” during which girls are beaten up and forced to abandon university courses.
...The Hindu Forum of Britain claims hundreds of mostly Sikh and Hindu girls have been intimidated by Muslim men who take them out on dates before terrorising them until they convert.
...[Meanwhile] Met police chiefs are to review a controversial stop-and-search power used in the fight against terrorism. ...concerns about the number of stops carried out in London using Section 44 legislation.
And yet:
Muslim schoolchildren should… have separate changing rooms for sports and swimming, single sex classes for sex education, prayer rooms and new rights to Islamic worship, and different uniform rules, the Muslim Council of Britain said.
...The call for special treatment for Muslim pupils comes at a time when Government efforts are concentrated on eliminating segregation and encouraging ‘British’ values to tackle religious extremism.
..."Unfortunately Muslim pupils are sometimes placed in situations where they feel pressured into acting contrary to their beliefs and conscience and also experience Islamophobic sentiments and comments within schools."
Don’t we all? I think that’s called ...um, Life.
And the Us/Them bickering is not just confined to the multi-culti set:
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson… is urging the Prime Minister to switch strategy in the New Year by making a keynote speech and co-ordinated announcements designed to reassure middle England that Labour is still on the side of wealth-creators and the aspirant lower-middle classes.
... Children’s Secretary Mr Balls is against the change, however, arguing that a slight narrowing of the Conservative poll lead in recent weeks is down to Mr Brown’s sharper attacks on class combined with spending and tax announcements that explicitly favour the poorest households over the rich.
The sun has long set and it’s nearing midnight.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Slam That Barn Door!
the horse sent us a postcard ...from Yemen
From AirCanada:
Among other things, during the final hour of flight customers must remain seated, will not be allowed to access carry-on baggage, or have personal belongings or other items on their laps.”
I’m sure TSA’s adjustments to regulations will be ever so much more sensible…
Road Trip!!!
DANGER! Will Robinson DANGER!
Hamsher Dance
December 23, 2009
Attorney General of the United States of America
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530-0001Dear Attorney General Holder:
We write to demand an immediate investigation into the activities of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. We believe there is an abundant public record which establishes that the actions of the White House have blocked any investigation into his activities while on the board of Freddie Mac from 2000-2001, and facilitated the cover up of potential malfeasance until the 10-year statute of limitations has run out.
The purpose of this letter is to connect the dots to establish both the conduct of Mr. Emanuel and those working with him to thwart inquiry, and to support your acting speedily so that the statute of limitations does not run out before the Justice Department is able to empanel a grand jury.
...
/s/ Jane Hamsher and Grover Norquist
Srsly. RTWT. It’s worth giving her a hit [she’s FireDogLake, yanno] just for her bravery’s sake. I’m sure appealing to Holder to go after Rahm will turn out well for her…
Didja know she usta date Andy Sterns? I think this might just qualify as “infighting”...
Any volunteers to set up the Dead Pool “I’m quitting blogging/politics to spend more time with my ...er, family” Pool?
Is this Iron?
or just another serving from Alice’s tea table?
Remember the ∅ptimism?
OR *clicky*clicky*
“...won’t hafta worry ‘bout payin’ my mortgage..."
Come to think… the country would’ve been better off if Teh iWon had just handed a bunch of folks a pile of ca$h from his stash ...
But look what slipped by while we were busy swilling egg nog and playing with Zhu Zhu Pets under the tree:
The Obama administration’s decision to cover an unlimited amount of losses at the mortgage-finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac over the next three years stirred controversy over the holiday.
The Treasury announced Thursday it was removing the caps that limited the amount of available capital to the companies to $200 billion each.
...o far, Treasury has provided $60 billion of capital to Fannie and $51 billion to Freddie. ...
In exchange for the funding, the Treasury has received preferred stock in the companies paying 10% dividends. The Treasury also has warrants to acquire nearly 80% of the common shares in each firm.
...company shares have been trading on the New York Stock Exchange at less than $2 apiece, and it isn’t clear when the companies will to [sic] profitability or whether common shares will have any value in the long term.
...For the CEOs, annual compensation consists of a base salary of $900,000, deferred base salary of $3.1 million and incentive pay of as much as $2 million.
...The FHFA said that Fannie and Freddie “must attract and retain the talent needed” for their vital role in the mortgage market.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Merry Christmas, Y'all
and to y’all a good night
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Feel Safer Yet?
shiny-new Cybersecurity-Czar
The decision to appoint Howard A. Schmidt, an industry executive with government experience who served as a cybersecurity adviser in the Bush administration and who also has a military and law enforcement background, is seen as a compromise between factions. Government officials and industry executives say there has been a behind-the-scenes dispute over whether strict new regulations are necessary to protect the network that increasingly weaves together the vast majority of the world’s computers.
Mr. Schmidt will report to the National Security Council — not both to the council and to the National Economic Council, ... also “have regular access to the president,”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is probing a computer-security breach targeting Citigroup Inc. that resulted in a theft of tens of millions of dollars by computer hackers who appear linked to a Russian cyber gang, according to government officials…
The Citibank attack was detected over the summer, but investigators are looking into the possibility the attack may have occurred months or even a year earlier.
How would ya not notice that?
Joe Petro, managing director of Citigroup’s Security and Investigative services, said, “We had no breach of the system and there were no losses, no customer losses, no bank losses.” He added later: “Any allegation that the FBI is working a case at Citigroup involving tens of millions of losses is just not true."
Oh… well that clears that up… I’m sure…
We KNOW What YOU Are...
new memo from the DNC—watch the meme!
If you object to the back-room pork deals, whore-mongering, and midnight madness of the Senate process as it attempts to nationalize one sixth of the US economy, well… Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse [he wishes...] (D-RI) knows who you are…
”...And why? Why all this discord and discourtesy, all this unprecedented destructive action? All to break the momentum of our new young president.
They are desperate to break this president. They have ardent supporters who are nearly hysterical at the very election of President Barack Obama. The birthers, the fanatics, the people running around in right-wing militia and Aryan support groups, it is unbearable to them that President Barack Obama should exist. That is one powerful reason. It is not the only one."
Later, Whitehouse [*giggle*] stood by his speech while denying he said it. [is that covered under the Public Option?]
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{/if}
