Today's edition of quick hits:
* Here's a geopolitical eye-opener: "India successfully test-launched a long-range missile on Thursday that would give it the capability for the first time of sending a nuclear warhead as far as China's capital, Beijing, officials said."
* Syria: "The secretary general of the United Nations gave a dark appraisal of the Syria conflict on Thursday, accusing its government of failing to carry out nearly every element of the peace plan that took effect a week ago, obstructing work by an advance team of cease-fire monitors and doing nothing to alleviate an intensifying humanitarian crisis on the ground."
* The House Republicans' tax-cut bill we talked about earlier? It passed the chamber easily.
* The Senate's task of the day: trying to save the U.S. Postal Service.
* The Secret Service's Colombia scandal has led to the departure of three employees, with more expected to go fairly soon.
* Speaking of the Secret Service, Ted Nugent is apparently in the clear.
* If we can avoid manmade earthquakes, we should: "The number of earthquakes in the central United States rose 'spectacularly' near where oil and gas drillers disposed of wastewater underground, a process that may have caused geologic faults to slip, U.S. government geologists report."
* Ohio Republicans move to defund Planned Parenthood.
* And putting aside politics, party, and/or ideology, there's just something amazing about seeing President Obama on the Rosa Parks bus.
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
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Something about that photo moves me to tears.
Ditto.
Yep.
A picture worth a thousand words yet far more fitting than any words could be.
That's a fantastic picture.
Wow.
That photo is quite a contrast from Bush looking out a plane window over New Orleans.
OK. I'll send another $100.
Wow. That just brought it all home right there. . .
Quite a photo. They have a similar bus at the Civil Rights Museum in Memphis - the Museum is the old Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King was assassinated. You exit the museum right next to the room he stayed in - and stand where he was shot. Very moving.
I love that man, warts and all.
My new favorite photo of our President.
Speaking of Planned Parenthood:
You know that law in Texas requiring doctors to read a state-mandated script before performing an abortion? One blogger (cofounder of blogging site Dreamwidth) decided to do something about it.
Thanks. Being a Texan, I had read the Texas Observer article mentioned in the link (or as much as I could without throwing up), and now you've given me a specific way to do something about the damage those SOB's in Austin have done.
PGW thanks for the link - that is truly a beautiful thing!
That is quite moving, It looks like the President is reading a plaque about the brave lady that sat in the seat he is now sitting. Nice.
And moments after that picture was taken, Mitt Romney boarded and told Obama to get the hell out of his seat and go to the back of the bus.
(Is that comment over the line? I just can't tell any more.)
What gives me goose bumps even more is when the President is making an announcement in the East Room of the White House and there he stands in front of the full length portrait of George Washington. Everyone knows it. The one that Dolly Madison cut down before the British torched the place in the War of 1812.
I'm a 42 year old white guy from California and am wiping tears from my eyes. Thank you for posting that photo. Each Life Has It's Place.
My heart hurts at the poignancy of this transcendent photo. My heart hurts...because he sits there by himself, but not alone.
Beautiful picture...
but look how slim (?) (opposite of wide) the seats are.
We sure quite a robust nation of people now aren't we... Obama's in shape and he's wider than one space.
I wonder how many Tea Partiers look at that photo and get angry because they think Obama is being "racially divisive."
I agree, not only is that an incredible photo but it is in your face to the average racist. Look at how far this country has struggled and come! Racists and homophobes, you're running out of gas! Unfortunately though, we all appear to be corporate owned and operated.
Just to set the record straight. On the comment Tea Party persons would get angry of this pic. No, I'm not angry. Why would anyone. And, we're not running out of gas. But, we will be running to the voting booth. And, by the way. On the Zimmerman case. Why is it that the liberal media goes after him, and convicts him on their shows? But, not a word was heard when 4 black men Kidnaped, raped, mutilated, murdered, and set fire to a white couple? Where's the outrage for this crime? Where's Jackson, and Sharpton? Hmmm? makes ya wonder where their hearts are!