Today's edition of quick hits:
* Neil Heslin, who lost a son in the Sandy Hook shootings, fears Congress "doesn't have the guts" to approve new measures to reduce gun violence. His frustration is both palpable and understandable.
* Republicans who've invested so much energy in saying he's anti-Israel probably won't care for this: "President Obama was awarded Israel's Presidential Medal of Distinction Thursday, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to receive the honor."
* Syria: "The Syrian civil war is threatening the 39-year-old cease-fire between Syria and Israel, as fighting along a separation line between the two countries is undermining the United Nations' capacity to monitor the terms of the truce, according to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki moon."
* In related news: "Senate Armed Services Committee chief Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) joined with Senate Republicans on Thursday to demand that President Obama take military action to end the Syrian civil war."
* Cyprus: "The euro currency union, a centerpiece European policy for a generation, edged toward a rupture on Thursday when the region's central bank said it was ready to pull the plug on Cyprus."
* Good idea: "Two Michigan Democrats have called for a review of Michigan's emergency manager law shortly after a manager was appointed to improve Detroit's financial state. The lawmakers, Reps. John Conyers and Gary Peters, sent a letter on Thursday to General Accounting Office Comptroller Gene Dodaro requesting an investigation into potential abuse of the law."
* Maybe Congress should have thought of this sooner and passed the postal-reform bill that lawmakers ignored: "The financially beleaguered U.S. Postal Service suffered a setback in its plan to end Saturday delivery of first-class mail as Congress on Thursday passed legislation requiring six-day delivery."
* The universe looks great for its age: "Astronomers released the latest and most exquisite baby picture yet of the universe on Thursday, one that showed it to be 80 to 100 million years older and a little fatter, with more light and dark matter than previously thought, and perhaps ever so slightly lopsided."
* Stay tuned: "Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), a leading negotiator in talks on immigration reform, says the Senate Gang of Eight is on track for a deal by the end of March."
* I'd like to think reasonable, fair-minded people can agree that Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) is an embarrassment to herself, her constituents, and the Congress.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
Leave a Comment:
It is so embarrassing for American people to have to have this Congressional cop-out on Gun Control happen. The world is watching and they are not impressed. So sad.
Guns have one purpose: to kill people.
mr. heslin is exactly right. neither party has the guts to push for and pass meaningful gun reform. the democrats are no better than the republicans. it just goes to show us how powerful the business and gun lobbies are. in todays world its all about the money, the money and the money. its no longer about whats honest and true and what is good for america. maybe thats why all democracies have either failed or struggled mightily down through history. its greed and money. the democrats better get their act together or they will be on the outside looking in a few years from now.
That video... damn. How can anyone watch that and still defend gun manufacturer profits off of weapons like this?
Carl, just retire.
The GOP just can't stop stacking wars and American lives on this country. We're going to keep this bloody march going until the middle of the century as long as there is another despot to root out or oil well to seize.
Just in case you had not seen this...
http://youtu.be/F9uoTXWaXqc
I really hope he wins. The problem with this eminent domain crap is they refuse to use any logic or common sense and just want to have it all. They ruin homes, creeks, rivers and wetlands and if we did, to our own land, what they do to our land, we would go to jail.
" Cyprus: "The euro currency union, a centerpiece European policy for a generation, edged toward a rupture on Thursday when the region's central bank said it was ready to pull the plug on Cyprus."
Not really, Cyprus has only been a part of the euro for 8 years.
Well, it may not be a "central" member of the EU, but it will be the first time a member gets the shaft. And THAT is the historic event in this case...
* I'd like to think reasonable, fair-minded people can agree that Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) is an embarrassment to herself, her constituents, and the Congress."
But looks right at home in the reality tv show that is Minnesota elections.
She may be planning a run for senator in MN. God spare us the embarrasment!
"Good idea: "Two Michigan Democrats have called for a review of Michigan's emergency manager law shortly after a manager was appointed to improve Detroit's financial state. The lawmakers, Reps. John Conyers and Gary Peters, sent a letter on Thursday to General Accounting Office Comptroller Gene Dodaro requesting an investigation into potential abuse of the law."
Is that the same John Conyers who has made over 1.6 million in salary alone over the last 10 years but claims as his only net worth one house in Detroit worth less than $100,000?
Or the same John Conyers whose 35 year younger wife is in prison for fraud committed while a member of the Detroit City Council?
That's like Bernie Madoff asking for an investigation of the SEC for abusing it's powers.
"Senate Armed Services Committee chief Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) joined with Senate Republicans on Thursday to demand that President Obama take military action to end the Syrian civil war."
I'm sorry, but when are these chickenhawks going to see the light.
Syria is NONE of our business!! If we'd mind our own business we'd have enough money to be working on the problems of THIS country!!
WTF is wrong with these people?
I suggest Levin, and his Republican buddies, sign up and put THEIR butts on the line FIRST.
I put it on the GOP in my comment and have to admit there were enough Democrat Presidents to wear that yoke through recent history. It just seems like its been all GOP. I hope this one can make it out of office without sticking his head in it.
Let's talk something good for a minute . . . Gov. Hickenlooper signed SB11 at 3:30 local time, making Civil unions legal in Colorado!
So there is law requiring USPS to continue 6 days a week delivery, but continued funding issues. Sounds like a way for certain congress critters to yell about how the USPS can't do what it has been ordered to do & therefore should be privatized. You know, make it impossible to do something & then be unhappy that it is not done. Sound familiar? Haven't Democrats been dancing to that tune long enough?
The 'funding' problems of the USPS are because the Congress passed laws requiring them to 'fully fund' retirement benefits for 75 years into the future. This is something that no other entity (private, corporate, or governmental) is required to do.
That's a favorite of Congress. De-funding an agency then complaining it shouldn't exist because it can't do the job it's supposed to do.
Don't forget to pass impossible rules, then complain the quasi government agency cant do anything right
Putting the USPS out of business is just another monopoly for investors. Why has that gone unnoticed. And of course they are unionized. The scourge according to many low IQ's on the right.
Personally I consider these attacks of the USPS to be unconstitutional. I have a job that relies heavily on the USPS. I find it invaluable.
I'm surprised that TRMS has not mentioned/covered this at all:
From the Huffington Post: Wall Street Deregulation Garners Bipartisan Support Despite Devastating JPMorgan Report
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/19/wall-street-deregulation-_n_2910168.html
From Salon.com: JPMorgan Is Not a Farmer: But the Nation's Biggest Banks Use the Little-Covered House Agriculture Committee to Sneakily Pass Deregulation
http://www.salon.com/2013/03/20/j_p_morgan_is_not_a_farmer/
It's appalling that we can't pass assault weapons ban or limit the capacity on magazines but Dems in Congress will sell us out for the big banks.
Thanks for pointing this out! Another reason I am cancelling cable when contract is up. This should be a top story on the news but nothing. I see the 2014 election cycle started already.
" Republicans who've invested so much energy in saying he's anti-Israel probably won't care for this: "President Obama was awarded Israel's Presidential Medal of Distinction Thursday, becoming the first sitting U.S. president to receive the honor."
President Obama received this honor because he is truly a mensch. I can't think of a single Republican president who is or was one except for Abraham Lincoln.
Mensch or cajonnes or pandering?! I take MS. Hillary Leverett's view on solutions for the ME. Peace will never start until borders are back to 67 including Tel Aviv. Being a Christain I am absolutely pissed at the way the jewish orthodoxy treats Christains and to have the cajonnes to claim Jerusalem as YOUR/THEIR capital is "living in the past".
Mr. Mike
The way you Jewish in capital "j" but Christian in with a capital "C" says a lot about you. And why capital MS instead of just Ms. For a moment I thought you were indicating the Hillary Levertt had Multiple Sclerosis.
For those who have been paying attention to the Detroit EFM situation, you might find this article to be interesting. I know I did. I am a Detroiter and am DEEPLY conflicted about what has happened.
http://metrotimes.com/news/news-hits/double-vision-1.1460210
Keep up the good work, TRMS people!
Are you old enough to remember the multibillion $$$ bailout of NYC by the federal government?
Detroit, with its lengthy history of corruption, seems to be stuck in a 'heads you lose, tails you lose' situation.
If we had an actual functional federal government and corruption could be contained in the governence of Detroit, a federal bailout would be worthy of consideration.
SOV,
Sorry, no. I mean, I was technically around, but I wasn't paying attention to the news (unless Evel Knievel was involved). I'm maybe a year or 2 older than Rachel is. I had *no idea* that NYC was bailed out by the government. I knew NYC had a lot of issues in the 70s and 80s though. However, NOW it makes sense that a couple of Detroit City Council members were saying, "Why can't Detroit get a bailout?" I thought they were being ridiculous. Maybe they were referring to precedent...
This whole thing is just unbelievably sad. I grew up IN THE CITY, in the 70s and 80s. Things were bad then. I still live in the metro area, but like most people who have the means, I left the City a while ago (although I still worked Downtown and paid City taxes until a couple of years ago). The people who live there have almost no services, no public safety, no transit, and the list goes on. While the politicians preen and posture, the houses burn, people get shot, robbed, murdered, children can't go to school safely... I really don't know WHAT the answer is.
What I found really interesting about this particular article is that the Metro Times isn't generally known for its hard hitting investigative reporting. If you want to know what the cool happenings are in Detroit, that's where you look. If you want to read Dan Savage's sex column instead of Dear Abby, that's where you look. But not there. However, our 2 major papers have both signed on to the EMF concept. Not surprising with the News; it's the conservative paper. But even the Free Press has decided that Detroit just needs to take its medicine, with columnists who are normally very liberal (like Rochelle Riley and Stephen Henderson) writing columns in support of the EMF. I don't know if that's because they were told to - I know the Freep is now part of a conglomerate. But I was genuinely surprised to see those 2 come out in support of the EMF. There are very few media voices in Detroit who seem to want to voice their opposition any longer. It's kind of strange, really.
On a separate topic - Is anyone else as offended as I am with the zillions of AT&T commercials featuring children being reinforced in the belief that bigger is better & more is better! Is this Ayn Randian message what a major corporation should be 'teaching' our children and grandchildren?
Democrats...nearly unanimously voted to expand gun rights attached to the continuing resolution I believe 4 pro-gun provisions we made permanent....would Republicans vote to defend the Earth from a space invasion if 4 pro choice provisions were attached to the bill????
Cyprus might get the shaft from the EU AND the Italian president will release a post-negotiations report in order to prepare for the possible formation of the future Italian cabinet. Expect the formation of a grand coalition to change the electoral system, then elections. And the markets will go mad in 6 months...
That story about Bachman running away from a reporter gave me deja vu. Didn't something similar happen about a year ago?
Saw it on CNN and she was damn near on a dead run. I wish CNN would put it on YOUTube. I am sorry I can't think of the female reporter but I give her lots of credit. I also have to admit that I could only stand listening to MS. Bachman for a minute...too many lies and switching the subject back to Bengahzi. She actually sits on the intelligence committee...I think. We should ask her about Bengahzi. She has oversight! AND this brings up media reppnsibility to ask these hard questions and divert resonsibility bakc onto Congresspersons when they "do thier spin". Sick of it! Need more transparency.
Answered my own question: http://thinkprogress.org/security/2012/07/19/546381/bachmann-runs-away-cnn-muslim-brotherhoo/
Same reporter, even!
The concerns about gun control and the postal service are real and significant. I have a concern that affects us all in this country --- it is censorship and freedom of speech. Currently 80% of all media are owned by .1%ers. And the remaining 20% have been largely infiltrated with far right messages and messengers. We are supposed to have freedom of speech but in market after market only one voice is heard, the far right. Even markets that are supposed to permit free speech, do not have it. I was in the South for January and February and, in the local McDonald's, FoxNews was the only channel I saw. I travelled to New York City in early March and stayed in a hotel that had Time Warner cable. The cable had Fox and CNN but NO MSNBC. I traveled to upstate New York that also had Time Warner cable and the list of cable channels had MSNBC, but MSNBC was no where to be seen. THIS IS THE CENSORSHIP THAT MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS ARE SUBJECTED TO EVERY DAY!
The concentration of radio and newspapers in the hands of the few creates programming the is overwhelming far right. In the Midwest, Limbaugh and Hannity are the only two voices heard in the afternoon on talk radio. The Gannett Co. owns the large circulation newspapers in many major cities and owns USA Today which has spun right in the last few years.
The Republicans have rendered the FCC powerless and so those who want to have more and more outlets, like Rupert Murdoch, just do it. Look at what Bain Capital owns through Clear Channel.
Anyone interested in truly free speech and are opposed to censorship should join the battle and work to restore the Constitutional right of freedom of speech in the United States.
I agree with you whole heartedly and have complained about it for year. It seems the investment in high speed cable/internet has concentrated server hubs in a small number of locations. This will hinder satellite development I suspect since fiber optic cable has to be paid for somehow--termed monopoly. This may change in a few years. I know of 4 households dropping cable and going internet and back to the good old antenna. And schools have relied upon multi media for teaching and not encouraging newspaper readership. What we have is info-tainment...and not hard core news reporting. And look at the Manning case. One year the Times celebrates Ellsberg then crucifies Assange and Manning the next. Free speech is just a "cliche" meaning if you own a media outlet "you have free speech" to braodcast--forget journalistic standards. Oprah! What was that book you wanted me to buy? What have we become?
I said it before and I'll say it again it's all about the ratings. You get the 18-44 or 34 years old and you own the air. Oprah's book how many time do you see Drift being pushed. I have watch reporters interview someone and then what I see or read is not what that person meant. They,yes they "the press"made the person comments fit the story they wanted to tell. Anybody who believes 100% or even 50% of what they are told by the media is a fool. Watch the news and watch the adjectives used.
jimes
There is a lot more demand for CNN and Fox than for MSNBC. Hotels give their customers what will make them stay at their hotel. Apparently it's not MSNBC.
MSNBC will start the drifting you can't pay people if nobody is watching
Right now, the Koch borothers and Rupert Murdoch are in a bidding fight to gain even more control. They are trying to the buy the Tibune assets which include about ten nationwide newspapers - incuding the L.A. Times, Chicago Tribune and the Baltimore Sun. In the assets are around 13 CW stations nationwide - 7 fox stations among other entities. I don't know if the Koch brothers currently own any papers, etc, but, we all know that Rupert Murdoch has a big percentage of papers and stations now. I agree with you, Jimes and Mike - this is getting a bit too unreal - where do you even start to unravel this mess????
Well lets get real for a minute here... I am sure that if either Harry Reid or John Boehner or Mitch McConnell ever got into a situation where some crazed out lunatic stuck an AR-15 assault rifle up their asses and threaten to pull the trigger. I guarantee you there would be an assault weapons ban on the floor of the U.S. Congress the very next day !...
And it would probably pass with a strong majority...
But, since it's only the average American just going about their daily lives who has to worry about NOT offending the N.R.A. fanatics or sitting in a movie theater waiting to be shot by some deranged lunatic or having children sitting in a class room at some elementary school being decapitated or cut in half by 30 round magazine clips, then it's not as important to any of them for this legislation to pass.
We as a people should demand an up or down vote on the weapons ban bill so we can see who in Congress is in bed with the N.R.A. That is the least this political COWARD Harry Reid can do for the American people.
So, nothing on Tomas Young? NBC is chicken, I guess.
So if that's the baby universe where are the baby observers?
Too enigmatic? We are shown a picture of the universe in its infancy - very interesting - as if 'we' are outside of it. How come?
To me this is the main problem with science: we are not supposed to be part of what we observe. I say that as a scientist.