A year ago tonight, Keith gave us this news.
In honor of Marie Olbermann's love of opera...
RIP Theodore & Marie Olbermann...
My "this day in history" items actually have a musical theme to them, so put on your dancing shoes! On this date in 1957, Elvis Presley's "All Shook Up" was released.
On this date in 1962, the Russian newspaper Pravda warned youths about the dangers of twisting. Lordy, can y'all see Khrushchev going all Chubby Checker in Red Square? HA! ;D
Finally, on this date in 1965, the Beach Boys recorded "California Girls." Surf's up, Dude! ;D
Let's Countdown - twisting optional... ;D
#5 "Brave Nuke World" - President Obama’s nuclear weapon policy was announced by SOS Clinton today. Among some of the highlights are not responding with nuclear weapons to a non – nuclear country even if they attack us (Iran & North Korea excluded) and no developments of new nuclear weapons. Shallow comment here, but does anyone else think SOS Clinton looks bad besides me? OK, back to the subject at hand. It feels really REALLY weird to be talking nuclear weapons (and hearing "nuclear" being pronounced correctly!) after all this time; I’m having flashbacks to War Games & The Day After! SOD Robert Gates did some announcing, too. What was announced today could be changed at a moment’s notice should events around the world dictate. Some advisors didn’t think President Obama was changing nuclear policy enough; some allies thought we might be changing it too much. Senators McCentury & Krackpot Kyl have some "concerns."
SPARK THEM! Senator McCentury was dying to bomb...bomb...bomb bomb bomb Iran, remember? Here’s Steve Clemons to talk policy; he thinks this new policy is legacy – making stuff. SOD Gates reinforced the desire to get North Korea back to the nuclear talks game as well as Iran. China & Russia have been briefed and are on board. There is a nuclear summit in Prague next week, and President Obama intends, apparently, to demonstrate that our country can be a trusted leader & partner in world politics. Howard Fineman is going to talk politics with the policy announced today. He thinks the GOP is being pretty cautious so far; of course, Congress is on recess. Well, does it REALLY matter what Congress thinks about this policy? We know who’s REALLY in charge of the GOP, and I bet he’s as pi$$ed as when his Viagra got confiscated. ;D We still have 1500 nuclear missiles & warheads even if President Obama signs an agreement with Russia next week. On a slight side note, I’ve driven by a launching facility for underground nuclear missiles; it was in the Badlands of South Dakota in the damn middle of nowhere. But, boy, there was sure no sparkin’ doubt as to what it was! Howard thinks this policy is also designed for eventual global pressure on Iran & Israel. Iran needs to "play ball" in the nuclear game; Israel needs to admit they’re in the nuclear game. Howard brought up one of my Senators – the one who doesn’t embarrass me nearly as often as THIS ONE does (and you thought "it" had gone forever – silly rabbits!).
Senator Lugar & then – Senator Obama went to Russia and a few other places to talk nukes, "loose" nukes, etc. fairly early on. So, they actually have a history of a working relationship in this area.
#4 "Mine Disaster" AKA "The Cost of Coal" - 25 miners are confirmed dead, and 4 are still missing in WV. Dangerous levels of methane gas are hampering rescue efforts; it could be noon tomorrow before they begin again. Mine owners, apparently, decided it was more cost – effective to pay the fines for violations than actually making sure their workers were safe. 50 safety citations were handed down to the owners of the mine where this horribleness is taking place JUST IN THE LAST MONTH. Good sparkin’ grief... Massey Energy is making government officials inform families of miner deaths & injuries. Gov. Joe Manchin described the massive destruction brought on by the explosion – rails twisted into pretzels & such. We get introduced to Jeff Goodell tonight; he confirmed that it’s cheaper for mine owners to pay fines than to keep their workers safe. Coal mining is "...a commodity business...," according to Mr. Goodell; apparently, a lot of mine owners think their workers are a commodity, too. Some coal mines are more dangerous than others merely due to geography & geology; a careful company & owner will prepare for that ahead of time. Mr. Goodell said the best way to change or prevent this tragedy or any others from happening again are to quit mining coal. This weaning would have to happen over a fairly long period of time. Much of the good coal in WV has already been mined out.
**Zamfir, master of the pan flute, was born on this date??!! How the spark did I miss THAT in "this day in history"?! Well, I will have to do SOMETHING to resolve that omission! ;D Greeks shoot off fireworks to celebrate Orthodox Easter; the Easter Bunny better watch out for "incoming!" there! Horseys are pulling Hummers in Central Park. A cheerleader is running around Tokyo to pep up depressed workers.**
#3 "Going to Extremism" - A "gentleman" in WA has been arrested for threatening the life of Senator Patty Murray because of her HCR support. He also wanted to "string up" Senator Maria Cantwell. Here’s Mark Poktok again. This guy carried out a true threat; he vowed to help people kill the Senator. That’s different from saying, "You deserve to die" & other ilk. Mr. Poktok hopes what happened will sober people up; I don’t think it will. I said last week that someone will actually have to die for anything to change.
"Special Comment Quickie" Senator McCentury claims he was never a maverick, now. But, what about what Grandma ExGov TurkeyLover said in the VP debate?! ;D Then, there’s that campaign ad. Thurber wrote about a drunken bear? HA! OK, this Thurber moral bears repeating:
You might as well fall flat on your face as lean over too far backwards.
WPITW – A couple of British ladies tried to smuggle a dead guy on a plane to Berlin; they’ve seen Weekend at Bernie’s WAY TOO MUCH. Grandma ExGov TurkeyLover was going to take money to chat with booze peddlers; the church to which she claims she belongs has a "dry" policy. Gov. Gilligan...er...uh...Jindal struck a deal with the LA AG to save jobs in his office in exchange for being part of the "HCR is unconstitutional!" parade.
#1 "To Tell the Truth" - Senator "Doc" Tom Coburn told an OK town hall audience not to let FAUX News convince them that some people, specifically Speaker Pelosi, are evil or bad or whatever. I commented in an earlier thread questioning who THIS was, and what have they done with Senator "Doc" Coburn – HA! ;D This admission comes on the heels of David Frum’s comment about the GOP working for FAUX News. Good grief, there’s audio & everything! OK, seriously, really, this person is actually Kang or Kodos, right?!
Here’s Eugene Robinson! Keith’s whole world view is shaken – as is mine. The boys had some fun with what Lonesome Rhodes might do on his blackboard will all this stuff! Eugene also thinks, like Jonathan Alter, that there are reasonable Republicans out there. Yep, and the Easter Bunny brought me a million dollars Sunday, and Butler won last night! Another story line to go with the "people not voting" quote from David Frum is that high voter turnout is usually never a good thing for the GOP – Florida in 2000, anyone? Ohio in 2004, anyone? The GOP wants as few people to go out & vote as possible. Horrible voter ID laws, anyone – like in my fair state? The GOP is all over the "right to vote" shtick as long as said voters will vote for them.