Today's edition of quick hits:
* Europe: "The leaders of the euro zone's four largest economies vowed on Friday to defend the common currency with all means necessary, trying to reassure markets before yet another key summit meeting of the European Union next week in Brussels. But there clear disagreement remains about what those mechanisms ought to be."
* On a related note, talk of a new European stimulus is dependent on the details, "which remain murky."
* Did Syria shoot down a Turkish fighter jet today? At this point, the answer isn't clear.
* Unrest in Cairo: "Egypt's military rulers warned on Friday that they would use 'the utmost firmness' against anyone they deem to threaten 'the higher interests of the country' just as tens of thousands of demonstrators flooded into Tahrir Square here for the fourth day of demonstrations against the dissolution of Parliament and reassertion of their power."
* Male Afghan insurgents, dressed as women, launched a brazen attack on a lakeside resort today, killing at least 20 civilians.
* The Arkansas Supreme Court "struck down the state's execution law Friday, calling it unconstitutional."
* Amine El Khalifi: "A suspect in a planned suicide bombing attack on Congress has pled guilty to charges against him in federal court."
* Garrett Epps takes a closer look at the Supreme Court's Knox v. SEIU ruling, which he calls the high court's "Scott Walker moment."
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
Leave a Comment:
This is certainly a free speech matter, but they have it the wrong way. Collective bargaining is a type of free speech, where workers voice their opinion by striking, or various other methods, and should be protected under the constitution. Any ruling to the contrary by the Supreme Court would be judicial activism of the worst kind, going directly against the United States constitution.
The ruling is about a union member who disagees with the unions position on political matters. That is free speech
The problem is, Steve, that the far-right majority of the Robert's Court clearly sees it's job in the protection of privilege against the 'threat' posed by the unprivileged. As in the Citizens United decision, 'free speech' is the false flag under which privilege sails.
Re: unrest in Cairo. I would feel relieved if the Muslim Brotherhood were not in control of the government in all branches. Many Egyptians would be too (I recall one young woman saying she didn't want Egypt to become Saudi Arabia.) In the Middle East the military, as a secular institution, helped secure nations like Turkey from fundamentalism.
On the other hand there might just be a civil war over this, though I'm not sure.
Unrest in the Middle East, Supreme court of republican nonsense all this and more. So remember as you endulge in the game that the pea of truth is hidden withing one of the shells, or is it. In true artistic form the con man amazes and astounds letting you get a glimpse of the pea oops, then just as you think you know poof he palms it. Truth is power and must be held close to the breast or perhaps his hip pocket?(by the way did you notice his confederate stealing your wallet?
Can't fool me, I know how to escape the con--quit seeking the truth.
Mr. Benen, don't know if you'll read this but to demonstrate I can spot ridiculous behavior on the Right...the other day I was listening to Rush Limbaugh in Mississippi which has a new voter ID law. The Secretary of State did a PSA informing listeners of what to do if they or someone they know needs to get a free state issued ID.
Now I don't know for sure but I'm not positive that the Rush audience includes a large number of possible disenfranchised voters who would need to know this information, but I could be wrong.
I wondered if the same public service announcement (or ad) is running during other programming on other stations?
Here's a cute insight into right winged lunacy.
Charleston, S.C. where the right wants to drown the federal government. Ah,but they want the fed to replenish the sand at the beaches. They claim after all, that had the federal government not put the jetties in place way back when that the erosion would not be as bad. Of course without those jetties the port would have silted over even worse and then they would have kept the feds dredging it. Now they want to deepen said harbor to allow the bigger ships in.Any collateral damage from the deepening will of course be the fault of the feds.
I was so impressed with Ezra Klein's full report on the republicans being the first ones to endorse and press for the individual mandate. This is an amazing story and should be told again for all to see what phonies the republicans are for real. Even before Clinton, they wanted it claiming no one wants to pay for someone who does not have insurance. Funny, isn't it. Actually in Obama's plan..no one would really be fined..but I do think the supreme court will defeat it as the four reps. two of which met with Heritage Foundation more than once and they strongly object to it. The rest of the bill is good and whatever is out there now...people like. Should they kill the entire bill, ins. companies will not have to send out checks
to those who are scheduled to be reimbursed so they do have power and we shall see. The supreme court has not been known for its great decisions lately.
I can feel for the people in Egypt and the extremes on both sides of this power struggle. In which really you do have the same type of narrow-mindedness in men that cause misery, despair and death. The power craving, corruption, arrogance, deceiving, hypocrites, and greed are almost unbearable. I know for one thing knowing what all that is and how it affects people, I would rather die before I would ever have to accept or go through that crap again or have anyone else have to go through it.