Today's edition of quick hits:
* Diplomacy in Afghanistan: "Seeking to break an impasse on a broader strategic arrangement, the United States agreed Friday to greatly accelerate its transfer of imprisoned insurgents to Afghan government control, but will retain a veto over which ones can be released."
* Syria: "The top United Nations relief official offered a somber view on Friday of the aid crisis caused by the uprising in Syria, saying she had witnessed horrific destruction during her two-day visit there and had encountered resistance by the government to accept her emergency aid proposal, in which U.N. relief workers would gain unrestricted access to stricken areas."
* Shutting down Japan's nuclear industry: "All but two of Japan's 54 commercial reactors have gone offline since the nuclear disaster a year ago, after the earthquake and tsunami, and it is not clear when they can be restarted."
* Has Rush Limbaugh's loss of advertisers done real damage? Consider his "dead air" problem.
* Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) push for judicial confirmations can't come soon enough.
* Remember former half-term Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R)? She's apparently still around, saying very strange things on national television.
* Chris Hughes' new role atop The New Republic strikes me as very encouraging.
* As a scandal forces South Carolina's lieutenant governor to resign, it's worth taking stock and acknowledging just how many controversies have plagued the state's political leaders.
* And New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) has another clip to add to his list of heated confrontations with voters. This time, he got into a shouting match with a law school student, who is also a former Navy SEAL, whom Christie called an "idiot." (Update: here's a more detailed account of what transpired between the governor and the student, named William Brown.)
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.





Don't argue with the governer, he'll sit on you and then you'll be sorry.
Gov. Christie, classy as ever......
It's tough for Chris being upstaged by Rush.
The problem with Rush's "dead air" not being problem is that he makes like $56 M a year and can afford to make a mockery of advertisers leaving. As time mellows the conflict the advertisers, or different advertisers, will return Rush to his usual arrogant self. This is a case where Limbaugh is too big to fall from a single misogynistic event.
I am enjoying his dead air while it lasts. Best I can do!!!
Maybe if we can fill Rush's dead air with Chris Christie's arrogance we could eliminate two birds with one stone? Nah...
How about Chris Christies aerobicize class,
I still can't figure out who in Jersey thought it was a good idea to elect this guy.
Well I recall the time a right wing student swaggered in to tell the class that Plato was a puerile idiot.
So, Chris Christie--isn't it time to close that loud and vulgar mouth until you think twice about the ludicrousness of what you are saying?
OK so, what do you think? Weebles wobble or Humpty Dumpty.
Humpty, weebles wobble but they don't fall down.. I used to think he was somewhat savvy but he's proved me wrong, again!
Did I say savvy? I meant flabby!
Classy guys, mock someone on their weight. I am assuming you are "caring" progressives.
I don't normally do that but, I reacted defensively in honor of that Navy Seal. Was it okay for him to do what he did? I apologize will he?
What a fracking bully.
Gov. Bully strikes again. Surely NJ voters have begun to tire of this man.
I think alot of these Governors are giving their States a bad name.
If Republicans think Christie is going to make a great candidate, then let them nominate him. He has no control over his temper and disdain for people who disagree with him. That is not a character trait that will endear him to voters. He is a train wreck waiting to happen and I would not be surprised if he gets turned out of office if he runs for governor again.
Christie has been watching to many Godfather movies....and eating to much Godfathers Pizza......can't wait to see him on dancing with the angry stars.
The Governor’s maner of preparation for a public meeting is to solicit faux questions from likely plants in the audience, that are then used just to trigger his monologue, of only the things he want to say, in the seat of the pants style he thinks is great style. He has interest only in his show, but a show that is the same every time.
A seat of the plants style does not suit itself to merging Universities, which have very complex designs, campus facilities etc. Such a plan should be proposed, and published ahead of time, arguments for and against, so that they may be understood ahead of time. Thus prepared the Governor would be in control ahead of time, to have time to listen to the public questions with ample time and demonstrate his authority in effective leadership style.
This Governor extremely is lazy, unprepared and stages the stupidest public events imaginable, he should not have to proclaim that is the Governor at the end of an unproductive fracas. His mission accomplished, he cannot communicate, there is no point in communicating with him, and you would get as much information from him as would by talking to the dinner table. The Governor is not an idiot, but a fool too lazy to prove he not an idiot, and has followers that are certifiable idiots.
Every time this Govenor deals with the public, he leaves, behind the bitter after taste that poisons civil society, creates hostility where none exists, none is needed and none is justfied. The public will live to regret this form of needless intolerance, in the cost needed to protect him from himself.
Is this productive for the State?
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/jersey-governor-chris-christie-calls-navy-veteran-idiot-article-1.1036558?localLinksEnabled=false
Women, Sorry about the mix up on whether or not you should be allowed to take birth control pills. It seems there is a disagreement between us men. The guys who are not allowed to have sex seem lean towards no. The guys who are allowed to have sex seem to think it's ok. We will figure it out and get back to you as soon as we can. We know you might like some input on this but we've got it covered. Try to think about something else, like who you are going to vote for in November.
Christie's still a pig. He still fancies himself a Mafioso. And, he's as chunky as ever.
It sure looks as if the people in the audience looove Christie. I guess they'll get what they deserve, but I feel sorry for the people who didn't vote for Christie and really don't deserve him or his rethuglican policies.
As much as Christie is a disgrace: the navy seal William Brown and all who agree with him would like you to also know about the issue that has him and so many of us outraged: a terrible plan by the governor to takeover policy regarding public higher education and end the existence of Rutgers-Camden, the third most veteran-friendly university in the nation and a campus where a a large number of students are working class and minority.
Andy who would like to know more can go to these sites:
info.saverutgerscamden.org (information)
saverutgerscamden.org (donation--for publicity and, if necessary, legal defense)
r2rmerge.com (petition--over 11,000 names already)
if you would like more information you can email me, a history professor at Rutgers-Camden at ashankman1@gmail.com
Hey Rachael, we're taking on some of the most powerful people in the nation and doing a good job so far but we need help! Check us out: we're a great story!
I think New Jersey has some of the best schools in the nation I went to Rahway High School in the 70's. I often thought New Jersey would be a great model for other states as far as the opportunity to obtain a real education. New Jersey citizens should fight as hard as they can against changing anything. They may not realize that their State is one of the Best for education. Don't fix it if it's not broke.
I would love it if Christie disappeared from the scene altogether, not just because his politics and behavior are annoying, but because of the continuous stream of "hilarious" comments about his weight that accompany every mention of him. It's not enough that he's a bully, everyone's got to make sure to point out that he's fat. I guess no one would notice if it wasn't brought up every single time. Or something.
I'm a transplant to NJ, and Christie is a Jersey boy. He is charming, affable and self-effacing ...until he's riled. Then he's a bombastic, arrogant bully. His behavior is annoying, but it's also not unexpected by the NJ electorate, because next door neighbors do this same thing.
That "I'm your friend until I'm suddenly not" demeanor isn't unusual.
And I'm not sure that NJ voters recognize this behavior to be as bullying as it seems to the rest of us.
But it is....
I am from New Jersey this is bullying. We may be outspoken and assertive and sometimes rash. There were bullys in school but, most of them grew up and stopped bullying. He is a phoney, he watches too much Jersey Shore.
Rachel....need your help putting this out in the blogsphere. Right now in Missouri, Enterprise Rent a Car, a billion-dollar company that opposes current legislation prohibiting the rental of cars under safety recall, is financing the election efforts of Ann Wagner. Grassroots campaign says "NO!" This is a "David & Goliath" story.
http://www.change.org/petitions/enterprise-rent-a-car-stop-opposing-a-law-prohibiting-companies-from-renting-out-recalled-cars