Today's edition of quick hits:
* Who, exactly, carried out the attack on the U.S. consulate in Libya? U.S. officials can't rule out the possibility that "al-Qaeda-inspired Islamist militants were responsible."
* Looking for a timeline of events? I've seen several published today.
* Meanwhile, Ambassador Chris Stevens is remembered and celebrated for his extraordinary career in public service. The State Department made this video about Stevens in May.
* President Obama told CBS News today that Mitt Romney "seems to have a tendency to shoot first and aim later."
* On a related note, Mark Salter, John McCain's former chief of staff and an Obama critic, conceded today the president's policies are "not responsible" for the violence, and Romney's political attacks were "tortured" and "unseemly." A former Romney advisor added, "They stepped in it."
* Eurozone: "Germany's Federal Constitutional Court on Wednesday gave Chancellor Angela Merkel a significant victory in her bid to master the debt crisis that has buffeted the Continent for years and endangered its common currency, granting approval to one of the key pillars of her strategy."
* Netanyahu and Obama appear to be playing a provocative diplomatic game of chess right now. What's going on? Robert Wright has a good Q&A on the latest developments.
* Rep. David Rivera (R-Fla.) is arguably the most scandal-plagued member of Congress. This week, his troubles managed to get worse.
* Conservatives in Missouri's legislature overrode a gubernatorial veto in order to restrict contraception access. Yes, Republicans are still working on this issue.
* And finally, "Fox & Friends" today clarified its ridiculous unemployment graphic aired yesterday, but by relying only on the U-6 rate starting in January 2009, today's report is still misleading.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
Leave a Comment:
It is completely unacceptable for Prime Minister Netanyahu to blatantly try to influence the U.S. Presidential election and I want to hear outrage about it throughout the media from Fox News to The Nation. Fat chance I know but imagine if it was anyone else.
Faux !News is a cancer on the American soul.
Conservatism in all its forms is a cancer on the American body politic.
Obama must have been hoping something would happen to get the focus off Chicago and his obvious lack of support. I haven't seen Rachel taking much of a position either, but, I haven't watched her completely.
Big Ed has been the only one to mention it and I see he's got the night off.
Team Obama is hoping like heck it gets settled and goes away. After his position in Wisconsin, he can't afford to explain the difference, as if there is one, except of course, one entity ran by republicans and one by democrats.
And even his aim's not true.
And then they smeared it around trying to get it off their shoes...
Vulture/Voucher 2012
Proving Two Rights DO Make a Wrong!
;-)
Two wrongs make a righty.
Netanyahu and Obama appear to be playing a provocative diplomatic game of chess right now. What's going on?
Ask yourself: who benefits from worsened US relations with the new governments of Libya and Egypt and public outrage that could be directed against Obama?
Ask yourself how an "obscure" Israeli Jew makes an "offensive movie" that is up on YouTube this past July, when Netanyahu first starts intimating trying to intervene in our election. Ask yourself how it is an "obscure" Islamic fundamentalist imam happens to "find" this video in Arabic translation, 10 days after the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff tells Netanyahu that the U.S. will not be 'complicit" with him in his attack on Iran. How many times have the Mossad manipulated and deceived Islamic fundamentalists? As for the Coptic Christian anti-Islam activist involved, the Mossad used to routinely use Copts as agents in Egypt. And the Israelis have been manipulating the "Christian Zionists" for years.
So the US has trouble with important new allies, the nitwits get provoked by Mittwit, and the real author of the play sits back in Jerusalem and says "Who? What fox? Ain't nobody here but us chickens!"
What is going on? This is Netanyahu's "October surprise," a month early.
Apparently you have not heard that the filmmaker has only pretended to be an Israeli Jew, and is not himself even Jewish at all. (He appears to be Coptic Christian, i.e., an Egyptian of Christian faith--if anyone can claim that after this!) who has also worked with a convert from Islam to Christianity who's become a major anti-Islamist.
I think Nitanyahoo (purposely misspelled) figured out with Mitt's neocon advisers that something would happen once the film was on YouTube, so they started all trying to pile on Obama at once. I don't think they even began to realize just who might be killed in the mess.
U P D A T E
The "plot" most definitely thickens! Early reports may have been deliberately misleading (at least in the sense that the reporters themselves may have been deliberately misled).
It now appears that "Sam Bacile" may not even be a real person
Israel publicly states that they have no record of the existence, much less the citizenship, of "Sam Bacile"
However, at least one person claiming to be an associate of Bacile, and to have "helped" produced the film, is Steve Klein, a known radical-Christian-right extremist.
A couple more fascinating articles on the subject (and well worth the quick reads!):
The Atlantic
Daily Kos
Stay tuned!
The democrats did add some pro-Israeli elements in their plank last week. Of course, trying to get the Jewish vote...
TC- Put the tin-foil back in the drawer...
Rusty
As a Jew myself I will tell you the President Obama has the majority of the Jewish vote already.
Rusty - Pro-Israeli, or pro-Netanyahu? Many supporters of Israel including Israelis don't support Netanyahu. And since this is an American election, they're not going to make their support of Obama dependent on his support of the current Israeli government, which many believe is actually harming that country.
GM, in the past on here, you wouldn't find much support for Israel no matter who the pm was. If you want to state democratic support for Israeli policies, I'll let you.
I'd just like to share these photos that, apparently, are from Benghazi:
There are people there holding these signs up, showing their rejection of the urges that caused this to happen.
Also, one of the dead in the attack on Benghazi, Sean Smith, was a respected member of the forum SomethingAwful (whose founder tried to do a good thing for the people of New Orleans in the wake of Katrina):
The only people who won this battle in Libya were the extremists on both sides, whose goal was increasing the fear and hatred of the Other.
Do you mean these pics?
[url]http://imgur.com/a/tlCyI[/url]
Many, many different rebel groups fought for the overthrow of Khaddafi. One of the biggest challenges facing the new government of Libya is bringing all these disparate groups under control and the same umbrella. Many are very reluctant to give up their arms. Libya is still a very dangerous place.
You may think the Libyan government could have done a better job of protecting our foreign service personnel. But our own government doesn't give us complete security; there are neighborhoods in our nation's capital where it's a bad idea to walk at night.
It is very heartening to see these pictures. I believe most Libyans want the same things as the rest of us, freedom, a decent standard of living, and safety for their loved ones.
We did the right thing in Libya, and they won't forget it. We supported the dictator Shah of Iran way past his expiration date and we're still paying the price. There's no percentage in taking sides with a dictator his people have finally grown courageous enough to overthrow.
ClintJames: Yes, thank you. Not sure where they went - I may have just messed up the posting.
George: according to reports, 10 Libyans died helping to protect the embassy, and those of us that deplore this violence should mourn them along with the Americans who were killed. I don't think the Libyan goverment failed; I think that a faction of hatred tried to incite violence, and that other protest is a sign that for a number of people, that incitement failed.
This Republican of 35 years is appalled and disgusted with the actions of Mr. Romney in attacking The President today. Contempt prior to investigation. Check your facts before you speak sir. Everyone has a right to be wrong except in their FACTS. This is the final misstep in your campaign that I can stomach. If it were in my power I would force you to step down from the race. This was nothing more than a cheap attempt to gain political points. Shame on you Romney! You have just solidified my wish to vote for your opponent. I ask all GOP members to send Romney a clear and decisive message. Get your act together!
Romney should outright apologize to President Obama and the American people for his deceptions and lies for his own selfish interests without any concern on how it will affect our country. Romney is disgraceful for what he has done here with what happened in Libya. All Romney has done is to show how he is so literally incompetent to lead this country, as it should be led.
Deb, You are so right! Romney's hot head tactics could rile the terrorists more . When it comes to foreign policy on this i think he should keep his mouth shut !
Pam, as much as I agree with you, you must understand Willard is working for the military industrial contractors who are the major contributors to his campaign.
Without continual global war they would soon go out of business. They don't want peace. Peace would put them out of business, thus no more political contributions for Willard.
All the arms manufacturers need do is retool and make wind turbines, more efficient hydrogen fueled vehicles and such.
But they won't do that. At the end of WWII Goodyear, Standard Oil and General Motors conspired to do away with electric street cars in inner cities. They sold diesel spewing city buses that sucked up fuel and wore out tires unlike the former electric city trams. Then they went after the railroads and help divert cargo from the rails onto semis plying interstate highways. Burning more fuel and tires than a rail system would have for the chance to make a greater profit of moving an item from point a to b.
The railroads are still there. They're not being used because big oil and Goodyear wouldn't make a profit from it.
Put a more efficient locomotive on the rails and haul the freight and clear up the highways for less invasive autos.
Point of argument - a diesel locomotive is an electric motor powered by an enormous fuel fed generator. The locomotive is not a larger version of a semi in that it is an electric based vehicle. The engine on a train is a generator, not the driving force. With cheaper solar or other forms of electricity transportation of freight would be minimal at the same time freeing up the highways for a more safe commute with less abuse to the infrastructure.
That's my sermon for the night. Sorry to rant on so long, but, Jebeeezus, it's really that simple. Thanks.
General Electric co-produced their first diesel-electric locomotives circa 1928. These were the first 'hybrid' vehicles, built for use on the lower east side of Manhatten. Batteries are still not up to this, so from 1929 on diesel locomotives are basically large gensets on wheels. General Motors actually adapted their locomotives for sale as modular power plants.
What a beautiful video with Chris Stevens. Makes me want to cry. Do we have more info on the others that were killed in Libya? They should be honored, too.
I hope and pray that this does not turn into a military battle purely out of outrage and vengeance. The way to honor the work of the people who were killed is to continue their mission in the way that they were carrying it out - peacefully.
Excellent sentiment. The majority of Libyans are pro-democracy.
Romney and his disdain for An American President is outrageous. Romney opens his mouth and his flip flops come in! The thought of Romney being A President frankly should scare the Hell out of us. Rachael you caught him in bold face lies about Obama care and you must continue to report on his i think possibly baiting the American people to pull those in who would believe his lies then switch on everything he told them if he would get in office.
Oh please, enough with the pearl-clutching. I remember the left having been judge and jury a short time ago with the Duke rape case and Trayvon Martin. Jumping on Romney is just another act of hypocrisy. Just another reason to ignore the left.
@Shooter
Oh Please, back at you!
The POINT that was being made by "the left" was that the Trayvon Martin case should go before a judge and jury - you know DUE PROCESS!
Someone on a previous thread suggested to respond to blanks by posting factoids or recipes.
My response to blanks:
Emus and kangaroos cannot walk backwards, and are on the Australian coat of arms for that reason.
Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds, while dogs only have about ten.
Yes, Shooter. No matter WHAT the Republicans do, the Democrats have always done something worse and more of it. Yeah. Sure.
We know from your previous "troll strategy" posts that you absolutely will not--cannot--admit that any Republican is ever wrong about anything, in any way shape, or form.
Too bad. Your credibility, such as it is, might be enhanced by admitting conservative missteps, especially when they're perfectly obvious to everyone else in the universe.
But "credibility" among those on the right mainly is gained by pig-headed adherence to Ideological Soundness.
This is living proof that racism needs to be classified as a type of terrorism and that Romney is unfit for public office because he only takes sides with white supremacists.
Here's the statement provided by the person responsible for the video that triggered the attack.
So Mr. Bacile openly admits that he is racist, and that he thinks "cancerous Muslims" that remain living pose a security threat to the US because Muhammed was a fraud.
That is about as racist as it gets.
And Romney openly admits that is only mad at the Muslims that were offended.
And Romney openly admits that is only mad at the Muslims that were offended.
Conversely Romney excuses the hate-filled lying propaganda "American value" of free speech. “I think it’s a terrible course for America to stand in apology for our values".
Again and again we see Republicans use freedom of speech to excuse hate speech and lies.
Republicans will deny this but there seems to be an unspoken racist attitude among the Republican party. They want to do away with civil rights in the worst way. Send this country back 50-60 years. Racism needs to be the discussion this country is having!
Since yesterday was the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, there have been articles saying the Bush Administration was advised multiple times of the imminent attacks. I haven't a kind word to say about Bushy, but it seems fruitless blaming his administration when it's apparent the FBI/ CIA dropped the ball.
I can remember as far back as the 1960's, hijackers taking over jumber jets. Since there were CLEAR warnings, couldn't the FBI or CIA have set up protocals with airline industry, airline pilot schools ect. They're paid to protect, to secure the land for pete's sake. Were they just standing watching the shores, the coastal areas.
1) we know terrorists hijack planes
2) there were threats and warning
3) how many ways can they attack us (this is not rocket science)
The terrorists didn't use bombs to take down the towers or crash the Pentagon, they used jumbo jets filled to the brim with fuel!
Either they were totally brilliant or we (FBI/CIA) were totally stupid.
Your tax dollars at work.
No one should have died in Tower II. Everyone should see the documovie "9/11 Press for Truth".
Regarding Kurt Eichenwald's revelations of the many explicit warnings of bin Laden's impending attacks in the U.S.: It's no wonder that Bush, Cheney, Rice, etc. were so sanguine about the possibility. The Neo-Cons ("chicken hawks") Wolfowitz, Perle, and others were trying to convince everyone that bin Laden's threats were only a "distraction".
The Neo-Cons were all part of the Project for a New American Century, along with Jeb Bush, John Bolton, William Bennet, etc. In September 2000 the PNAC, having failed to get President Clinton to invade Iraq, "published a controversial
90-page report entitled Rebuilding America's Defenses: Strategies, Forces,
and Resources For a New Century.
Section V of Rebuilding America's Defenses, entitled
"Creating Tomorrow's Dominant Force", includes the sentence:
"Further, the process of transformation, ...is likely to be a long one, absent some catastrophic and catalyzing event––like a new Pearl Harbor". -- Wikipedia
According to Russ Baker, Bush's first auto-biographical ghost-writer, Bush wanted to invade Iraq even before he was elected. An attack in the U.S. would have been, and was, like the new Pearl Harbor they were hoping for.
There's much more to this story, of course. Your staff might want to research it. I have been doing so for years, for a proposed book, working title, "A Peon's Guide to the New Feudalism". Title based on "Trickle-Down Economics has one sure outcome -- a lot of pee-ons". -- Thom Hartmann
Love your program!
Sam Bacile is a pseudonym for imbecile. Anyone who stirs the pot from afar remaining safe from danger, a likely Romney voter, deserves the consequences of their actions. Unfortunately one must believe in hell to believe justice will be done.
The Hawks are squawking for a fight! Kill,kill they squawk. Kill who you may ask. Them they say. Them who? Any them that ain't us!!
Bring in the Buzzards to feed on the carcasses of screeching Hawks dying from high blood pressure caused by temper tantrums tossed because they are not god.
I'm telling you something stinks about this whole situation. The Neo-Cons move around the fanatic savages in the Middle East like so many pawns on the chessboard.
9-11-12
The breaking news in Libya and Egypt is a farce. The same covert-op, Christian, neo-con devils who instigated the protests before the Iran Hostage taking incident during the Carter Administration are perpetrating these traitorous acts AGAIN!
The situation in Iran led to the defeat of Jimmy Carter to Ronald 6 Wilson 6 Reagan 6...
Big monied interests are paying off Libyan-Egyptian locals to storm US compounds in a concerted effort to bring down Obama/Biden before the election. By the way, what has Ollie North been up to recently?
Think again on consciousmc.blogspot.c**
The trailer was uploaded to YouTube by Sam Bacile, whom The Wall Street Journal Web site identified as a 52-year old Israeli-American real estate developer in California. He told the Web site he had raised $5 million from 100 Jewish donors to make the film. “Islam is a cancer,” Mr. Bacile was quoted as saying.
The trailer was uploaded to YouTube by Sam Bacile, whom The Wall Street Journal Web site identified as a 52-year old Israeli-American real estate developer in California. He told the Web site he had raised $5 million from 100 Jewish donors to make the film. “Islam is a cancer,” Mr. Bacile was quoted as saying.
You realize of course that we now know all of this is nothing but a stream of lies.
Thanks for saying so. How do we know this? Wait let me check you tube...hmmm seems to me the video was real but of course it has been removed. But what the heck we will pretend the video and trailer were bogus and never existed.
Do you have a source proving the trailer never existed or at least proving it was not from a film? I mean the film is the problem even though I have heard it was distributed by a Christian organization.
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/12/latest-updates-on-rage-over-anti-islam-film/?ref=islam
September 12, 2012, 12:46 pm-
if Clinton should be appointed "secretary of 'splainin' stuff," then Rachel should be appointed "under-secretary." fantastic chronological breakdown of the Libyan/Egyptian situation from beginning to the present, proving that the President IS in charge!
looking forward to updates.
On Richard Engels emphasizing President Morsi's "Brotherhood" roots is a bit of overreach at this point. He is Dr Morsi, Ph.D. (Engr'g - USC) and a former professor at CalState - Northridge (CSU).
While we have our own well-educated religious whackos, like Gov McDonnell (R-VA) who graduated ND, and MBA'd at BU, but, then MA'd & JD's at Regent, Dr Morsi has not (yet) shown us any reason to worry. Perhaps, fortunately, he is a logical thinking engineer.
What Dr. Morsi might want to do, and what he perceives that he CAN do given the views of his constituents, may well be two different things.
He's in a somewhat precarious situation. Much as we see with our politicians, a leader who gets out too far ahead of his people is not going to be their leader very long.
I wasted fifteen minutes of my life finding, then watching this stupid anti-Muhammad video. I know that if I posted an equivalent video mocking Joesph Smith and LDS I would be counting on the Supremes to find it protected speech, and not a Federal hate crime. A parody of LDS, in the style of Bacile would be too easy to do, but I bet the in Romneyland the best one could hope for afterward is living in the floor drain in John Gotti's cell.
South Park did a brutal episode about the LDS.
<singing> dum dum dum dum
Unfortunately for mankind if the 16-24 year old male is not otherwise employed he may well be an immature idiot (see Fontline's"Interupters" @ Amazon). Equaly unfortunate is that we live on a world the has disasters (natural and other). Prepareing for the one wrong can keep the other wrong fully employed!. It's a plan. We need to do new stuff; build a 1 G space station, send bacteria to Venus, emergency ground water access for out cities,,,,. There is plenty to keep us busy.