Hi there, !
Today Thu 01/15/2009 Wed 01/14/2009 Tue 01/13/2009 Mon 01/12/2009 Sun 01/11/2009 Sat 01/10/2009 Fri 01/09/2009 Archives
Rantburg
533692 articles and 1861926 comments are archived on Rantburg.

Today: 82 articles and 332 comments as of 2:27.
Post a news link    Post your own article   
Area: WoT Operations    WoT Background    Non-WoT    Opinion    Local News   
Israeli reservists swarm into Gaza
Today's Headlines
Headline Comments [Views]
Page 6: Politix
6 00:00 trailing wife [2] 
1 00:00 tu3031 [1] 
5 00:00 Frank G [] 
4 00:00 Deacon Blues [] 
7 00:00 Barbara Skolaut [2] 
5 00:00 Barbara Skolaut [2] 
Page 1: WoT Operations
10 00:00 Barbara Skolaut [4]
6 00:00 Old Patriot []
2 00:00 JosephMendiola [2]
0 []
0 []
0 [1]
8 00:00 Abu do you love [2]
5 00:00 3dc [1]
6 00:00 Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division [1]
4 00:00 JosephMendiola []
1 00:00 Glenmore []
0 [3]
0 [7]
0 [1]
1 00:00 mojo [2]
1 00:00 tipover [2]
6 00:00 Barbara Skolaut []
9 00:00 EA []
Page 2: WoT Background
4 00:00 DarthVader [3]
3 00:00 Besoeker [1]
10 00:00 European Conservative [1]
3 00:00 Besoeker [2]
1 00:00 JosephMendiola []
5 00:00 Procopius2k [1]
4 00:00 Abu do you love [1]
0 []
5 00:00 Frank G [2]
20 00:00 European Conservative [2]
6 00:00 Frozen Al []
4 00:00 rjschwarz [1]
4 00:00 Besoeker [1]
1 00:00 rjschwarz []
2 00:00 JosephMendiola []
6 00:00 Seafarious [2]
1 00:00 .5MT []
1 00:00 swksvolFF []
2 00:00 CrazyFool [2]
2 00:00 Besoeker []
0 []
0 []
0 []
0 [7]
Page 3: Non-WoT
6 00:00 CNN [1]
7 00:00 Seafarious [1]
3 00:00 JosephMendiola [2]
2 00:00 AlanC [2]
14 00:00 Flease and Tenille aka Broadhead6 [2]
9 00:00 Skunky Glins 5*** []
0 [1]
0 [1]
Page 4: Opinion
0 []
0 [3]
4 00:00 trailing wife [5]
3 00:00 GolfBravoUSMC [3]
3 00:00 AlanC [2]
1 00:00 AlanC []
6 00:00 Flease and Tenille aka Broadhead6 [3]
5 00:00 European Conservative [2]
10 00:00 Darrell []
5 00:00 CrazyFool [5]
3 00:00 Glolusing Barnsmell3409 [2]
4 00:00 Skunky Glins 5*** [3]
Page 5: Russia-Former Soviet Union
5 00:00 Steve White [4]
7 00:00 Iblis [2]
25 00:00 logi_cal [2]
0 [4]
2 00:00 tu3031 []
2 00:00 Spusosh the Prolific6862 []
12 00:00 CrazyFool [1]
6 00:00 DMFD [4]
11 00:00 Flease and Tenille aka Broadhead6 [4]
2 00:00 gorb []
0 [1]
0 [7]
3 00:00 Hellfish []
1 00:00 Old Patriot [2]
-Short Attention Span Theater-
Inauguration Sermons and Orations To Be Recorded For True Believers
On January 20, 2009, the United States will inaugurate Barack Obama, the country’s first African American president. In anticipation of citizens’ efforts to mark this historic time around the country, the American Folklife Center will be collecting audio and video recordings of sermons and orations that comment on the significance of the inauguration of 2009.

It is expected that such sermons and orations will be delivered at churches, synagogues, mosques and other places of worship, as well as before humanist congregations and other secular gatherings.
So that atheists can pray to Him as well?
Posted by: Anonymoose || 01/12/2009 08:53 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Get me Montell Williams on the phone stat!
Posted by: swksvolFF || 01/12/2009 15:35 Comments || Top||

#2  Could've picked up my hand painted commemorative plate at Rite Aid for 19.95 yesterday.
I passed.
Posted by: tu3031 || 01/12/2009 15:37 Comments || Top||

#3  btw, already won 10 for guessing that Will Smith will be making an Obama movie - any takers for 20 the first production advertisement shows in 2009?
Posted by: swksvolFF || 01/12/2009 15:38 Comments || Top||

#4  ..rambling..

"Mom, tell me again about your President Obama commerative coin collection."
"Well it is a Washington dollar, a Kennedy half dollar, an Illinois quarter and Hawaii quarter. They are full color and I bought them for us to remember that special moment in American History. It was only $20 and they said it would increase in value and here it is 2 years later and it has already doubled in value! Even came with that nice display we have it in above the fireplace..why do you ask, is this a civics project for school?"

"We need milk and I only have $10. We're also out of firewood."
Posted by: swksvolFF || 01/12/2009 15:54 Comments || Top||

#5  "his kind eyes and confident smile offer comfort to a weary world"

*GAG*
Posted by: Frank G || 01/12/2009 19:39 Comments || Top||


Fifth Column
Like Cockroaches When The Light Is Turned On
Until last week, Carol M. Browner, President-elect Barack Obama's pick as global warming czar, was listed as one of 14 leaders of a socialist group's Commission for a Sustainable World Society, which calls for "global governance" and says rich countries must shrink their economies to address climate change.

By Thursday, Mrs. Browner's name and biography had been removed from Socialist International's Web page, though a photo of her speaking June 30 to the group's congress in Greece was still available.

Socialist International, an umbrella group for many of the world's social democratic political parties such as Britain's Labor Party, says it supports socialism and is harshly critical of U.S. policies.

The group's Commission for a Sustainable World Society, the organization's action arm on climate change, says the developed world must reduce consumption and commit to binding and punitive limits on greenhouse gas emissions.

Mr. Obama, who has said action on climate change would be a priority in his administration, tapped Mrs. Browner last month to fill a new position as White House coordinator of climate and energy policies. The appointment does not need Senate confirmation.

Mr. Obama's transition team said Mrs. Browner's membership in the organization is not a problem and that it brings experience in U.S. policymaking to her new role.

"The Commission for a Sustainable World Society includes world leaders from a variety of political parties, including British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who succeeded Tony Blair, in serving as vice president of the convening organization," Obama transition spokesman Nick Shapiro said.

"Carol Browner was chosen to help the president-elect coordinate energy and climate policy because she understands that our efforts to create jobs, achieve energy security and combat climate change demand integration among different agencies; cooperation between federal, state and local governments; and partnership with the private sector," Mr. Shapiro said in an e-mail.

Mrs. Browner ran the Environmental Protection Agency under President Clinton. Until she was tapped for the Obama administration, she was on the board of directors for the National Audubon Society, the League of Conservation Voters, the Center for American Progress and former Vice President Al Gore's Alliance for Climate Protection.

Her name has been removed from the Gore organization's Web site list of directors, and the Audubon Society issued a press release about her departure from that organization.

Posted by: Anonymoose || 01/12/2009 12:53 || Comments || Link || [1 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Mr. Change picks another Clintonista? Looks like all she learned from them is how to cover your tracks.
Posted by: tu3031 || 01/12/2009 13:08 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
The wide world of Obama kitsch

It’s bigger than the World’s Fair, bigger even than the Super Bowl. It’s the Jan. 20 O’nauguration. Last week, the Official 2009 Presidential Inaugural Committee launched its formal online store. It features dozens of “collectibles” ranging from jewelry to stemware to chic fashions.

So here’s a little test for the Oba-maniac in all of us. See if you can guess which Obama-bilia items are real and which are the product of a little imagination. Your prize will be wall-to-wall TV coverage of the big day.

Coloring book ($6) — The little ones will love to put the crayon to some of Obama’s greatest speeches with this educational souvenir. Obama can be black and white . . . or green and purple.

Piggy bank ($10) — Teach your kids to keep their money away from those Wall Street scoundrels in this cute, recessionproof investment vehicle. Emblazoned with the official 2009 Inaugural Squeal.

China plate ($82) — What better way to invest in the economy than an $82 commemorative dish? Suitable for eating or reverent gazing. Food not included.

Bowling ball ($120) — Keep politics out of the gutter with this 16-pound, pro-style Barack Obama Bowling Ball. Just knock down 38 pins to beat the president.

Lunchbox ($18) — Your grade-schooler will be the envy of the cafeteria with this collectible, limited-edition lunchbox, featuring Obama on the obverse and — who else? — Obama on the reverse.

Abs workout video ($12) — Our buff new president aims to cut the fat from the federal budget ... and your waistline. You’ve seen his sleek physique on TV. Now get that hard, presidential six-pack you’ve always dreamed of.

Apron ($15) — Whip up an Inauguration Day feast in this official apron and your guests will salute their new commander in-chef.

Basketball jersey ($130) — You’ll be dunking on al-Qaeda for Team Obama in this slammin’ No. 44 basketball jersey. Two, four, six, eight! Who do we inaugurate!?!

Obama ‘Love’ tote bag ($70) — Rock the tote with this presidential carry-all from elite celeb designer Diane von Furstenberg. Great place to stash that pocket change we can believe in.

Obama ‘Change’ diaper ($9) — America needs change and, oops, so does Junior. This ultra-absorbent inaugural diaper keeps infants comfy while they do their patriotic doody.

Real: Coloring book, piggy bank, designer ‘Love’ tote bag, china plate and basketball jersey.

Pretend: ‘Change’ diaper, bowling ball, apron, lunchbox and abs workout video.
Well, so far...
Posted by: tu3031 || 01/12/2009 15:52 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Wait a few months. I'm sure you will be able to get it all for much less on eBay.l
Posted by: Cornsilk Blondie || 01/12/2009 17:53 Comments || Top||

#2  They're worth more AFTER the trial.
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/12/2009 18:37 Comments || Top||

#3  Steve Goodman, "Veg-e-matic"

Fell asleep last night with the TV on.
Oh, what a dream I had!
Dreamed I went and answered every single one of those late night mail order ads.
And 4 to 6 weeks later,
Much to my surprise,
The mailman came to my front door, and I couldn't believe my eyes

When they brought the Veg-e-matic
and the Pocket fisherman too.
Illuminated Illustrated History of Life,
Boxcar Willie with a Ginsu knife,
A bamboo steamer
and a garden weasel too.
and a tie dyed, day-glo souvenir shirt
from Six Flags over Burbank.

The doorbell rang all morning,
and it rang through the afternoon.
I shook with fright as it rang all night,
by the light of the Mastercard Moon.
There was Parcel Post in the pantry,
UPS in the hall,
COD to the ceiling,
and I just couldn't pay for it all.

I got the egg scrambler
With a Seal-a-meal carrying case.
A set of presidential commemorative plates
So I can eat my eggs off the president's face,
A minute mender,
and a needle that'll knit or crochet,
And an autographed photograph of RinTinTin
at Six Flags over Burbank.

I remembered I was dreaming,
So I gave a mighty cheer.
When I awoke, it was no joke,
for all that Sh#t was here!
So if you fall asleep with the TV on,
Here's what you've gotta do,
Rip that phone right off of the wall
if you don't want it to happen to you.

I got the Veg-e-matic,
and the Pocket Fisherman too.
Illuminated illustrated History of Life,
Boxcar Willie with a Ginsu knife,
A bamboo steamer,
and a smokeless ashtray too.
And an all-expenses paid weekend for three
at Six Flags over Burbank.
Posted by: mom || 01/12/2009 19:03 Comments || Top||

#4  Diaper's getting close, but where's the super-soft Obama TP?
Posted by: KBK || 01/12/2009 19:29 Comments || Top||

#5  he puts the Sham in Sham-WOW!

btw - is a coloring book racist?
Posted by: Frank G || 01/12/2009 19:42 Comments || Top||

#6  I just saw this month's issue of Vogue magazine at the grocery store check-out. All about changing oneself, now that we have a new president. Ooooh, the assumptions the editors make about their readership! Perhaps they're right though -- I actually purchase an issue biennially.
Posted by: trailing wife || 01/12/2009 20:01 Comments || Top||


Durbin hopes deal near on Burris
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate's second-in-command, Sen. Dick Durbin, said Sunday that he is moving away from resisting former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris as President-elect Barack Obama's successor and hopes a resolution to the disagreement will be reached soon.

Durbin said lawyers still need to sign off on Burris' paperwork and review his testimony before the Illinois House, which later impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich on corruption charges. "I started off obviously skeptical, as all of the Democratic members did," Durbin, D-Ill., said on "Face the Nation" on CBS. "But as time has gone on and we've looked closely, we want to be fair to Roland Burris. If he has the proper certification and papers, then we're going to take one look at the process and move forward from there."

Durbin said Senate lawyers are reviewing a document received Friday night to see whether it complies. Democrats also want to review Burris' testimony before the impeachment panel, where the appointee said he promised Blagojevich nothing in exchange for the seat.

"I want to do this in a fair and quick way so that Roland knows his fate," Durbin said.
Posted by: Steve White || 01/12/2009 00:00 || Comments || Link || [0 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Meanwhile back in Chicago, Blago is laughing at you, not with you.
Posted by: Spot || 01/12/2009 8:44 Comments || Top||

#2  Send in the clowns.
Posted by: mojo || 01/12/2009 11:30 Comments || Top||

#3  "But as time has gone on and we've looked closely, we want to be fair to Roland Burris.

Takes time for the donks, that strange, foreign notion of "fairness."
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/12/2009 11:34 Comments || Top||

#4  Mojo, the Clowns are already there.
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 01/12/2009 11:47 Comments || Top||


Al Franken, Already an Unpopular Democrat?
Alexander Burns of Politico (featured Sunday on Yahoo!) sees no chance of Norm Coleman retaining his Senate seat, but he devoted an article to Al Franken's unique position as a potential top-dollar fundraiser -- for conservatives and Republicans. "With only a longshot court appeal standing in the way of Democrat Al Franken's election to the Senate, Republicans are gritting their teeth and bracing for the arrival of a new senator whose every utterance will sound like nails on a chalkboard to them."

Already, he's a drag on the Democrats:

Polling results this week confirmed Franken's precarious position: more Minnesotans have a negative impression of him than a positive one, by a 45 percent to 37 percent margin. Those would be dismal numbers under any circumstances, but for a newly-elected senator they would be particularly alarming.

Even professors favored by the media establishment aren't sanguine:

According to Carleton College political scientist Steven Schier, Franken's record as a "flamboyant and aggressive partisan" would make him ripe for criticism back home. "I think it's impossible to overstate the hostility Minnesota Republicans feel toward Al Franken," Schier said. "He will be a very useful fundraising tool."
Posted by: Fred || 01/12/2009 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Polling results this week confirmed Franken's precarious position: more Minnesotans have a negative impression of him

Er, huh... then can be assign responsibility for his election win to simple voter STUPIDITY?
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/12/2009 8:17 Comments || Top||

#2  Take one RINO GOP candidate (Coleman)and mix in a half cup of recognizable 3rd party candidate (Barkley). Allow dough to rise in a climate ripe for a GOP protest vote (Dems in MN don't know how to vote other than straight ticket DFL).

Remove from oven and sprinkle with a little vote tampering (25 counties have more votes cast than voters that signed in on election day, for instance) and you get Al Franken!
Posted by: WacoMN || 01/12/2009 10:03 Comments || Top||

#3  Ah, but Al forgot about the Rush factor. You don't call Limbaugh a Big, Fat Idiot and expect to get away with it - especially now that you are in the public spotlight. Now there is no libel or slander rules to apply by Rush. And if Al does a Harry Reid and try to pick a public fight with Rush, he will just make more money for the right and dig a hole deeper than his tiny feet can climb out of.
Posted by: Jack is Back || 01/12/2009 10:32 Comments || Top||

#4  WacoMN: Don’t forget to first liberally grease the pan with organized labor.
Posted by: DepotGuy || 01/12/2009 10:42 Comments || Top||

#5  Now they figure out he's a putz?

I guess frostbite can affect the brain, too, not just fingers and toes.
Posted by: Cornsilk Blondie || 01/12/2009 12:04 Comments || Top||

#6  Franken will help make them all unpopular.
Posted by: DoDo || 01/12/2009 14:54 Comments || Top||

#7  "Franken will help make them all unpopular."

Go for it, Al! :-D
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 01/12/2009 19:39 Comments || Top||


Obama's big task: managing the best, brightest
Posted by: Fred || 01/12/2009 00:00 || Comments || Link || [2 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Is Mr. Change bringing back Mcnamara too?
Bob could be the nost despicable American who's lived during my lifetime.
Posted by: tu3031 || 01/12/2009 10:51 Comments || Top||

#2  Double down DITTO!
Posted by: Besoeker || 01/12/2009 11:04 Comments || Top||

#3  I wonder if Obama laughs at these puff pieces or believes them.
Posted by: DoDo || 01/12/2009 11:33 Comments || Top||

#4  Ah, but the Best and the Brightest do believe, DoDo. I look forward to a great deal of amusement as they each trumpet their own policies, contradicting each other and their boss. Such only give way to those better and brighter than themselves; President Obama, with only a Harvard law degree, a brief U. of Chicago lectureship, and two popular books to his name, can hardly compete with such august brains as themselves. His IQ won't give him any points in that group, either.

Oh, and at least within the Executive circle the details of his undergraduate academic performance and how he got accepted to Harvard Law will be told sotto voce at little dinner parties, all in terms of total admiration for his subsequent achievements, of course.
Posted by: trailing wife || 01/12/2009 16:06 Comments || Top||

#5  "Obama's big task: managing the best, brightest the arrogant managing the more arrogant"

There - fixed.

Accuracy is important.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 01/12/2009 19:41 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
55[untagged]
16Hamas
4TTP
3Iraqi Insurgency
2Govt of Pakistan
1Govt of Syria
1al-Qaeda in Pakistan

Bookmark
E-Mail Me

The Classics
The O Club
Rantburg Store
The Bloids
The Never-ending Story
Thugburg
Gulf War I
The Way We Were
Bio

Merry-Go-Blog











On Sale now!


A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.

Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.

Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has dominated Mexico for six years.
Click here for more information

Meet the Mods
In no particular order...
Steve White
Seafarious
tu3031
badanov
sherry
ryuge
GolfBravoUSMC
Bright Pebbles
trailing wife
Gloria
Fred
Besoeker
Glenmore
Frank G
3dc
Skidmark

Two weeks of WOT
Mon 2009-01-12
  Israeli reservists swarm into Gaza
Sun 2009-01-11
  Hamas rejects international observers in Gaza
Sat 2009-01-10
  Israel to continue offensive despite UN resolution
Fri 2009-01-09
  New Year's Missile Strike Killed Top Al-Qaeda Operatives
Thu 2009-01-08
  Katyusha rockets falling in Israel's North on the town of Nahariya
Wed 2009-01-07
  Screech urges Muslims to attack Israeli and Western targets over Gaza op
Tue 2009-01-06
  First major Israel-Hamas fighting in Gaza City
Mon 2009-01-05
  Battles begin in N Gaza; many hamas operatives captured
Sun 2009-01-04
  IDF moves to bisect Gaza
Sat 2009-01-03
  Sri Lankan troops capture Kilinochchi
Fri 2009-01-02
  Girls to marry militants, orders Taliban
Thu 2009-01-01
  Senior Hamas leader killed in IAF air strike in Gaza Strip
Wed 2008-12-31
  Iranian 'students' attack Jordan, UK embassies, Saudi air office; threaten Egypt; burn Benneton store ...
Tue 2008-12-30
  Death toll in Gaza rises to 350; over 1,600 injured
Mon 2008-12-29
  Somali president resigns


Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
18.117.216.229
Help keep the Burg running! Paypal:
WoT Operations (18)    WoT Background (24)    Non-WoT (8)    Opinion (12)    Local News (14)