Today's edition of quick hits:
* In terms of policy significance, inauguration invocations are generally easy to ignore, but today's remarks from Myrlie Evers-Williams were among the most powerful and memorable of any invocation I've ever seen.
* I also quite liked Richard Blanco's inauguration poem, "One Today."
* Algerian hostage crisis: "Algeria's prime minister said Monday that at least 37 foreign hostages died during the four-day siege in his country, a steep increase from earlier estimates, and the United States government confirmed that three Americans were among them." To underscore the lack of information, note that five hostages remained unaccounted for.
* Yemen: "A U.S. drone airstrike on a vehicle Monday east of Yemen's capital of Sanaa killed three suspected al-Qaida militants and wounded two others, according to security officials."
* The House vote on the debt ceiling is likely to come as early as Wednesday.
* A stunning scene: "A gunman reportedly attempted to assassinate the leader of Bulgaria's Turkish ethnic party during a televised conference on Saturday."
* The congressman and his family are now reportedly under protection: "Authorities are investigating death threats against Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), according to an aide to the freshman congressman."
* This should be a no-brainer, not a debate: "Flu season fuels debate over paid sick time laws."
* How bizarre: "Nevada assemblyman Steven Brooks (D) is in jail, arrested for threatening Speaker-elect Marilyn Kirkpatrick (D), the Las Vegas Sun reports."
* The NRA's attack ad that mentions the president's kids isn't just offensive; it's also largely based on a mistake published by a right-wing website.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
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Virginia GOP redistricts state and eliminates a democratic seat while opposing/tying dem vote is at Inauguration.
http://bluevirginia.us/diary/8554/breaking-while-dems-distracted-by-inauguration-virginia-senate-gop-stages-a-coup#.UP238evm6og.twitter
wow, the GOP is relentless in their criminal attempts to rig the f* out of the system! disgusting. I hope the people of Virginia will try to stop this.
I am always skeptical when a right-winger claims they are being threatened, since their standard response to mild criticism is to scream that they are under attack. It wouldn't surprise me a bit if the guy is simply overreacting to something. Of course, it's also possible that he isn't, but I'm not going to ever take a right-wing politician at his word.
On a less serious note, I'm looking at a photo that HuffPo is using that proves the point the people in the background are usually more interesting than the people in the foreground. The picture is from behind Justice Roberts and to left. Barack and Michelle are in the foreground. Behind Michelle and to her left, you see John Boehner looking as actively miserable as it is possible to look without actually crying.
Normally, John would be the funniest thing in the picture, but the lady to Boehner's right (between Michelle and Barack) is the real eye-catcher. She appears to be trying to set fire to the president's head by staring at it.
I'd paste or attach this if I could, so pardon the description. Does anybody know who she is (she's not Mrs. Boehner, but she must be somebdy to be there) and why if she was so unhappy, she had to go anyway?
Are you sure it's not Debbie Boehner? Sure looks like other pictures I've seen of her! Maybe a little older, a little less blond, but the same facial features....
I thought it was Mrs B too. I had the same thoughts as you about it.
We can mock the NRA for getting facts wrong by relying on the likes of Brietbart, but their error (if that is what it was) doesn't undermine the intended effect of the ad.
Clearly the offensive ad was intended to fire up the NRA's Obama-hating base. That target audience hasn't shown much concern about adhering to reality.
Wmcq - If o look att te NY Times picture, I believe that is te lucky Mrs. B.
Nope, Debbie Boehner is a blond. The woman I'm talking about has big silver orb earrings some big silvery serpentine around her neck and a small smear of orange across the middle of her mouth.
Right now I'm feeling grateful to Obama for being willing to head the nation during this period of decline. But I still need more from him. Climate change is going to destroy the lives of all our children - as it is already destroying lives wherever the floods, droughts, and hurricanes push people over the edge. We need to stop putting ourselves before our children.
Fox News inauguration trivia (from "The five")
What inauguration was in Chinese? The next one.
When Martin Luther King described his dream -
"I have a Dream, we'll see the Promised Land!" -
He knew the Right would fight and lie and scheme
To keep this country's promise in their hand.
He wanted to protect the right to vote
From those who would suppress his people's voice.
If he were here today, he'd have to note,
The Right succeeds at taking away their choice.
Republicans would decimate this land
To force Obama out of House and station.
Republicans refuse to see or understand
Obama's Hope and Change would save our nation.
The Promised Land will remain unfulfilled
Until the Right's obstruction can be stilled.