Today's edition of quick hits:
* I'll have a detailed write-up in the morning, but for now, note that the Senate held two up-or-down votes this afternoon on competing tax plans. The Republican proposal was defeated and the Democratic plan narrowly passed. (VP Biden was in the chamber in case of a tie.)
* As the Olympics gets underway, it looks like British security is pretty intense.
* The argument over fixing a House Republican typo got a little heated on the floor this afternoon, but Democrats held their ground.
* Years after Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) first pushed a measure to audit the Federal Reserve, the House actually passed his bill today. In fact, the vote wasn't close -- 327 to 98.
* The nation's brutal drought is expected to "drive up the price of milk, beef and pork next year, the government said Wednesday, as consumers bear some of the brunt of the sweltering heat that is driving up the cost of feed corn."
* 285,000 acres: "The Obama administration will open public lands in six western states to more solar projects as part of a solar energy road map it publicized Tuesday."
* The "Great Green Fleet" aircraft carrier strike group: "Navy Secretary Ray Mabus insisted plans for a "green fleet" that uses biofuels will move forward despite efforts by Republicans in Congress to stop it."
* I've always wondered why more cities don't bury their power lines.
* Marriage equality is proving to be good for New York City's economy.
* And after Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) chastised Rep. Michele Bachmann's (R-Ariz.) anti-Muslim tactics, Wes Harris, a leading Tea Party activist in Arizona, responded, "Go to hell, Senator, it's time for you to take your final dirt nap." Stay classy, Tea Partiers.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
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Joe Scarborough is an IDIOT!
I really like Morning Joe when Joe himself is not on it -- everybody else seems to be able to carry on really interesting discussions when he's not there. Willie Geist is great, very professional and funny, too! Mika is also good when Joe's not there, but she acts like an exasperated big sister when he's on.
I also wish I had a nickel for every time I've heard Joe mention that he's a conservative... it's like, if you have to point it out all the time, maybe you don't really understand the concept? ;o)
I also have to wonder why Al Sharpton still has his own show... I'm sure he's a really nice guy, but he sure can butcher the English language, half the time because he can't seem to read his teleprompter correctly... (they did a great skit on SNL about Rev. Al where he messed up an introduction, so much like how the real Al has done). And he walks all over his guests while they are trying to talk but reading the next thing on his script right after he asks them a question. He should just stick to being a guest on the other shows, he seems to do better with that...
A Chicago alderman who represents an upscale ward in the city with the blessing of Rahm Emanuel has exercised his privilege to deny Chick-fil-A a permit to build a restaurant in his ward because of the owner's anti-gay view. The Chicago Tribune reported this story today. A conservative group blasted the alderman claiming he was discriminating based on religion and accused the alderman of pandering to a small group of his constituents. This may be a foreshadowing of what other aldermen may do if Chick-fil-A tries to build a restaurant in their wards.
Sounds like an excellent idea. Bricks through the windows of existing franchises works, too.
The only unforturnate thing about that is the 30-40 jobs that won't be created - ableit at the lower end of the pay scale - and the business taxes that the business would generate. If you multiply that throughout Chicago and other cities, it could mean thousands of new jobs and more in tax revenue. In the current economic climate every job is needed - even hourly ones like these. Most likely the franchise owners that want to start these restaurants and the employees probably do not share the same views as the owner of Chick-fil-A. In the end the owner of the company will not suffer much economically, but the would-be small business owner (the franchisee) and the people desparetly looking for work will. Oh, and don't forget the construction jobs that won't happen now that the permit has been denied.
It's just phuc'in chicken folks!! I don't go there to change the world or worship, I just eat their chicken.
I also go to Hooters, anybody ask their views on the topic?
Given the clientell of both establishments, Chic-fil-a is a much better place to take the family.
They aren't getting any more of my money so they can just turn around and use it against me. My family will do just fine without supporting them, and probably stay a lot healthier besides...
Man, those Tehadists better watch their mouths. Ol' Johnny Walnuts will go Wilford Brimley on their a**es and cane the living crap out of them.
And anyone who thinks anything Ron Paul thinks is a good idea is, in fact, a good idea needs to have some sense slapped into them.
Did Wes Harris promptly get a visit from his friendly Secret Service officer?
When Romney ran in 2008 wasn't he prepared then to provide 2 years of tax returns--so why can't we see those now. Did I hear correctly that when being vetted for McCain's VP he turned over 20 years of tax returns to McCain's folks. Do only R's get to see them??? He needs to turn over back to when he allegedly left Bain--whether that's 2001 or his retroactive retirement to 1999. Enough stonewalling....
The Army is working on a March rehab project involving oyster shells.
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/07/army-oyster-shells/
What about re-examing how Iceland responded to their banking crisis? I know now with Germany being downgraded and fears about the EU looming, LIBOR, London Olympics and Bjork (who's not at all current events, but I love her) it would be interesting to see how this would map onto the current political "discourse" on economic inequality in the United States. Would something like the Icelandic response be possible in the United States with the right legislative structure and political atmosphere?
The fools, idiots, morons and droolers of the Arizona Tea Thugs can always plead that the heat got to their brains. Except they don't have any. (brains)
The new NYdot com business televison ad has it all wrong! Robert DeNero is saying, "We built the first railway, we built empires" what's he talkin' about? Obama has to tell them, "You , you didn't build that". Not NY, no, you didn't do that alone, you got federal funds and assistance programs and grants etc etc. Tell 'em President Obama, who does the New NY dot com think they are?? Mitt Romney??? No person no state can do it alone, ....."you got some help along the way." New York did not build the first railway or empires.
Well, except for the NY Yankees that is.
I would have discussions with my Libertarian minion about the role of government and their involvement in highways, roads, railways, etc. It was more frustrating than fun since he didn't remember much of American History. The frustrating part was that he was raised in a liberal Northern California university city (Davis) with a good school system.
He either learned not to argue with his boss or slowly learned to recognize.
In my state, the DOT doesn't build roads. Six workers drive around in a dump-truck, one drives, one fills the pot-hole and the other four watch. When a road is to be built or re-paved it is put out to bid for private contractors. So yes, Private business DID build that with tax-payer money.
... Which means the state built the roads, since the person who pays to have something built is the owner.
Very well stated Stknmov. It's like that in every state. I am refering to the founder's original intended form of state here of course, like Obama's "57 states" comment. It's hot out there on the roadways fillin' pot holes, in the words of President Obama, "there are para legals if anyone needs one". "Oh of course you don't need para legals, I meant paramedics"
I think others here would view "the state" as only Karl Marx could refer to that term as being defined, "The State" who did everything for you and to whom you owe everything. Hey isn't that what Obama and Warren said too???
No it isn't, and no amount of your wishing and editing can make it seem that way.
I brought up the possible homophobic attack which happened in Lincoln, NE. No actual new news on that front, other than this new article which adds very little to the little already known except that there is an FBI agent on the case and that the police are holding open the possibility that the attack was a fake. The latter tidbit is about as newsworthy as a report saying that the sun continues to shine, although it does maybe imply that no sexual assault occurred. Or at least, none that left undeniable traces of it's occurrence.
In a similar vein, a gay man in Oklahoma City was nearly killed when his car was bombed in what may also be a homophobic attack:
ThinkProgress
News9
This about sums up my feelings on how the week is going.
Not quite in the same vein, but broadly related, I see from Right Wing Watch that a report on religious-right activities in Africa (including but not limited to Uganda's kill-the-gays legislation). I've only just spotted this, so obviously haven't read it yet.
Please, Steve - We have enough people to be embarassed about here - but fortunately Michelle Bachman is not one of them - she isn't an AZ rep.
re: The green fleet.
I guess those idiots in congress need to open a history book and discover why Rommel was stopped in North Africa and why the Battle of the Bulge failed for Hitlers Panzer divisions .
Here's a clue - no fuel for the tanks.
They are giving us the opportunity to thumb our noses at those who would hold us hostage for fuel .
But as always there the money angle . As always follow the money
Who boys and girls is the largest consumer of petroleum?
Why it's the US military .
Big oil likes having them as a customer and will do anything to preserve the status quo .
Mr Senator it would be a shame if anything happened to that nice campaign donation now wouldn't it .
Tell me again how you're going to vote on this.
Just had a lovely little pipe dream, not going to happen but still nice to consider - What if the Right to Bear Arms was clarified a little to say that the 'arms' every citizen has a right to bear shall be limited to a single shot pistol with a barrel length of no more than three inches. Other firearms would then be restricted to purpose, ie. only available to those who require them for a specified regulated task, and fitted with gps trackers and gun cameras that record whilst the operators finger is in contact with the trigger. You still have an armed society, but I would wager that gun violence would plummet and mass shootings would be practically impossible... Oh well, it's a nice thought anyway...
But the NRA won't be making near as much money... and isn't that the point? ;o)
Does Wes Harris know that a U.S. senator can not be recalled? McCain isn't a state senator that can be recalled. He is U.S. senator who can only removed from office by the senate itself. That's what the U.S. Constitution states. Article I Section 5 Clause 2:
"Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behavior, and with the Concurrence of two-thirds, expel a Member."
Wes Harris like so many other Tea Party members have never bothered to actually read the Constitution they so say they love. What an idiot.