It's been rare these past few weeks that I have had time to sit down and simply read diaries and FP posts at Daily Kos. I just haven't had time. I'm laid off. Officially. I'm dealing (hopefully with success - fingers crossed!) with finding my next job in a horrendous economy. I'm dealing with my husband's dying work truck and worst-case scenario financial planning in the coming months. I'm dealing with having to unexpectedly procure a car for myself (long story - I have a fleet car that I'm losing due to the layoff).
And THIS is what you give me when I open Daily Kos? Of the eight diaries on the recommended list, SIX are about Obama's transition activities. SIX. Some criticize Obama. Some criticize the criticisms of Obama. Some merely seek conciliation, and some make recommendations without value judgments.
I'm not trying to single out a diarist. They write diaries and have a right to write about what strikes them. But SIX of them on the rec list? Has everyone forgotten that other things are going on in the world? More over the fold.
Here's what you may be missing as you bounce between the SIX Obama transition-oriented diaries. It's important stuff, folks.
On the political front:
Board rules against Franken in Minnesota Senate recount
Minnesota's Canvassing Board on Wednesday denied Al Franken's request to include thousands of absentee ballots in a recount in the U.S. Senate race in the state.
Republican Sen. Norm Coleman, left, has a slim lead over Democrat Al Franken in Minnesota's Senate race.
Republican Sen. Norm Coleman, left, has a slim lead over Democrat Al Franken in Minnesota's Senate race.
The five-member board, which oversees the recount, stressed during Wednesday's hearing that it wasn't rejecting the merits made by Franken's attorneys. The panel also indicated that the fight over the exclusion of the absentee ballots from the recount most will likely land in court.
Some 12,000 absentee ballots were rejected from the initial vote count because of technicalities and errors.
Well that's kind of important.
On the international front:
Iraq parliament delays vote on security agreement
Reporting from Baghdad -- Iraq's Shiite-dominated parliament today delayed voting on a pact setting Dec. 31, 2011, as the deadline for U.S. forces to leave Iraq as Sunni Arab lawmakers pressed for more concessions in exchange for supporting it.
Think that might have some level of impact on what we all seem to collectively want - the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq??
Afghan president wishes he could down U.S. planes
Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Wednesday he would bring down U.S. planes bombing villages if he could, in a sign of growing tension between Afghanistan and its Western backers as the Taliban insurgency grows in strength.
[and also]
Karzai offers Taliban leader 'protection' for peace
KABUL (AFP) — Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Wednesday he would protect the fugitive leader of the insurgent Taliban, Mullah Mohammad Omar, in return for peace whether his international partners liked it or not.
But that's not nearly as important as what YOU think about Gates, right?? No effect on long-term foreign policy or anything...
China’s Central Bank Cuts Interest Rates
HONG KONG — China’s central bank cut interest rates by more than a full percentage point on Wednesday, its largest rate reduction since the Asian financial crisis a decade ago and the latest sign of worries in Beijing about the slowing of the Chinese economy.
The rate cut came the day after a violent protest by hundreds of jobless workers who attacked police vehicles near Hong Kong, and five days after top Chinese officials warned in Beijing that the economy was still deteriorating and that dissent and threats to social stability would be crushed.
But hey - it's not like our economy has become intertwined with that of China's or that what they do affects us or anything...
Thai Protesters Seize Part of Airport
BANGKOK, Nov. 25 -- Activists trying to bring down Thailand's government seized key parts of the capital's main airport Tuesday, forcing authorities to cancel all departing flights and dealing a further blow to the country's reeling tourism industry.
Somehow, I think it's kind of important to understand what's going on in Thailand. But maybe I'm an egghead.
2 U.S. Troops Killed By Gunman in Iraq
Two American servicemen were killed Tuesday when a gunman in an Iraqi army uniform opened fire while they were distributing humanitarian aid in northern Iraq, the U.S. military said.
It was the third such shooting in the Mosul area in less than a year purportedly involving Iraqi soldiers, raising concerns about infiltration of the Iraqi security forces in one of the most dangerous areas in Iraq.
On the financial front:
U.S. Oct. new-home sales fall 5.3% to 433,000 pace
Borders off 40% on wider loss, narrowed options - Third-quarter loss balloons; sale of bookseller no longer on the table
Dillard's posts wider loss, shares fall
Tiffany cuts view amid worst U.S. sales since 2001
Treasurys Volatile as Stocks Sag
Americans' Food Stamp Use Nears All-Time High
I don't even have to add pieces of the articles themselves. The headlines tell the story - and believe me - it's an abbreviated selection of the major domestic financial headlines on this day.
Oh my GOD I hate being a finger shaker. Hate. It. But seriously - I think it's totally appropriate to discuss Obama's official appointments and rumored appointments. I think it's appropriate to have an opinion on those appointments, and to question the path Obama is taking as we move forward towards his Administration. I think the well-considered criticisms are appropriate. I think the well-considered defenses are appropriate.
But not to the utter obfuscation of everything else that is going on in this country and in the world. I don't really care how the world sees Daily Kos - I care how I see Daily Kos. And I've always seen it as a bastion of experts willing to illuminate and educate on a variety of issues - the key word being, of course, VARIETY.
That's it. This was a semi-rant that included actual news. We now return you to your originally scheduled program, already in progress.
Update [2008-11-26 14:13:50 by RenaRF]: H/T to terrypinder. This story is breaking - violence in Mumbai, India:
Gunmen attack targets in Indian city
At least 18 people were killed in a series of coordinated attacks targeting sites popular with tourists and business people, according to police and CNN's sister network in India.
Ongoing battles between police and gunmen were reported at two five-star hotels by CNN-IBN.
Update [2008-11-26 15:9:7 by RenaRF]: CNN reporting on air on Mumbai:
TJ HOLMES: ...the latest on what we've been watching in India right now. The number now, according to IBN, at least 55 killed in attacks that have been happening there. Several attacks - at least 7 different locations have been attacked - IBN reporting also that at least 200 people have been injured. The places that have been attacked that we know of, at least two luxury hotels, a crowded train station, a restaurant that's a local landmark there, police headquarters.
But these attacks may still be going on. What we understand from authorities there - some of these attackers have been lobbing grenades and have been firing rifles and weapons and bullets - so 55 now is the word of how many have been killed. Jim Clancy is with me here from our CNN International to help us with this story...
Update [2008-11-26 15:26:7 by RenaRF]: More on Mumbai:
Hostages Held At Mumbai Hotels
Indian television channel NDTV is reporting 40 western hostages held at the luxury Trident Hotel and others held at the Taj Mahal hotel.
[questions remain as to whether or not they are American and British hostages]
::snip::
Attacks have been reported at the Leopold Cafe, the Ville Parte, the Oberoi Hotel, the Trident, the Taj Mahal Hotel, the CST train station, JW Marriott hotel and one other location.
UPDATE: H/T Gray for CNN-IBM Live Stream (requires Flash Plugin)