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Thank you to everyone who has been contributing links to articles & other content in the Comments section of each day's "Conversation." If you're missing the comments, you're missing some vital links.

Marie: Sorry, my countdown clock was unreliable; then it became completely unreliable. I can't keep up with it. Maybe I'll try another one later.

 

Public Service Announcement

Zoë Schlanger in the Atlantic: "Throw out your black plastic spatula. In a world of plastic consumer goods, avoiding the material entirely requires the fervor of a religious conversion. But getting rid of black plastic kitchen utensils is a low-stakes move, and worth it. Cooking with any plastic is a dubious enterprise, because heat encourages potentially harmful plastic compounds to migrate out of the polymers and potentially into the food. But, as Andrew Turner, a biochemist at the University of Plymouth recently told me, black plastic is particularly crucial to avoid." This is a gift link from laura h.

Mashable: "Following the 2024 presidential election results and [Elon] Musk's support for ... Donald Trump, users have been deactivating en masse. And this time, it appears most everyone has settled on one particular X alternative: Bluesky.... Bluesky has gained more than 100,000 new sign ups per day since the U.S. election on Nov. 5. It now has over 15 million users. It's enjoyed a prolonged stay on the very top of Apple's App Store charts as well. Ready to join? Here's how to get started on Bluesky[.]"

Washington Post: "Americans can again order free rapid coronavirus tests by mail, the Biden administration announced Thursday. People can request four free at-home tests per household through covidtests.gov. They will begin shipping Monday. The move comes ahead of an expected winter wave of coronavirus cases. The September revival of the free testing program is in line with the Biden administration’s strategy to respond to the coronavirus as part of a broader public health campaign to protect Americans from respiratory viruses, including influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), that surge every fall and winter. But free tests were not mailed during the summer wave, which wastewater surveillance data shows is now receding."

Wherein Michael McIntyre explains how Americans adapted English to their needs. With examples:

Beat the Buzzer. Some amazing young athletes:

     ~~~ Here's the WashPo story (March 23).

Back when the Washington Post had an owner/publisher who dared to stand up to a president:

Prime video is carrying the documentary. If you watch it, I suggest watching the Spielberg film "The Post" afterwards. There is currently a free copy (type "the post full movie" in the YouTube search box) on YouTube (or you can rent it on YouTube, on Prime & [I think] on Hulu). Near the end, Daniel Ellsberg (played by Matthew Rhys), says "I was struck in fact by the way President Johnson's reaction to these revelations was [that they were] 'close to treason,' because it reflected to me the sense that what was damaging to the reputation of a particular administration or a particular individual was in itself treason, which is very close to saying, 'I am the state.'" Sound familiar?

Out with the Black. In with the White. New York Times: “Lester Holt, the veteran NBC newscaster and anchor of the 'NBC Nightly News' over the last decade, announced on Monday that he will step down from the flagship evening newscast in the coming months. Mr. Holt told colleagues that he would remain at NBC, expanding his duties at 'Dateline,' where he serves as the show’s anchor.... He said that he would continue anchoring the evening news until 'the start of summer.' The network did not immediately name a successor.” ~~~

~~~ New York Times: “MSNBC said on Monday that Jen Psaki, the former White House press secretary who has become one of the most prominent hosts at the network, would anchor a nightly weekday show in prime time. Ms. Psaki, 46, will host a show at 9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, replacing Alex Wagner, a longtime political journalist who has anchored that hour since 2022, according to a memo to staff from Rebecca Kutler, MSNBC’s president. Ms. Wagner will remain at MSNBC as an on-air correspondent. Rachel Maddow, MSNBC’s biggest star, has been anchoring the 9 p.m. hour on weeknights for the early days of ... [Donald] Trump’s administration but will return to hosting one night a week at the end of April.”

New York Times: “Joy Reid’s evening news show on MSNBC is being canceled, part of a far-reaching programming overhaul orchestrated by Rebecca Kutler, the network’s new president, two people familiar with the changes said. The final episode of Ms. Reid’s 7 p.m. show, 'The ReidOut,' is planned for sometime this week, according to the people, who were not authorized to speak publicly. The show, which features in-depth interviews with politicians and other newsmakers, has been a fixture of MSNBC’s lineup for the past five years. MSNBC is planning to replace Ms. Reid’s program with a show led by a trio of anchors: Symone Sanders Townsend, a political commentator and former Democratic strategist; Michael Steele, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee; and Alicia Menendez, the TV journalist, the people said. They currently co-host 'The Weekend,' which airs Saturday and Sunday mornings.” MB: In case you've never seen “The Weekend,” let me assure you it's pretty awful. ~~~

     ~~~ AP Update: "Joy Reid is leaving MSNBC, the network’s new president announced in a memo to staff on Monday, marking an end to the political analyst and anchor’s prime time news show."

Y! Entertainment: "Meanwhile, [Alex] Wagner will also be removed from her 9 pm weeknight slot. Wagner has already been working as a correspondent after Rachel Maddow took over hosting duties during ... Trump’s first 100 days in office. It’s now expected that Wagner will not return as host, but is expected to stay on as a contributor. Jen Psaki, President Biden’s former White House press secretary, is a likely replacement for Wagner, though a decision has not been finalized." MB: In fairness to Psaki, she is really too boring to watch. On the other hand, she is White. ~~~

     ~~~ RAS: "So MSNBC is getting rid of both of their minority evening hosts. Both women of color who are not afraid to call out the truth. Outspoken minorities don't have a long shelf life in the world of our corporate news media."

 

Contact Marie

Email Marie at constantweader@gmail.com

Page Links
Tuesday
Feb222011

The Commentariat -- February 23

Scott Shane of the New York Times: "As the Qaddafi clan conducts a bloody struggle to hold onto power in Libya, cables obtained by WikiLeaks offer a vivid account of the lavish spending, rampant nepotism and bitter rivalries that have defined what a 2006 cable called 'Qadhafi Incorporated.'”

Karin Brulliard of the Washington Post: "As the Obama administration has boosted economic and development assistance for Pakistan over the past two years, it has deployed U.S. diplomats and aid workers more widely to implement education programs, flood relief and other projects. The apparently growing belief that many Americans work as sinister agents could imperil those efforts or endanger those carrying them out, U.S. and Pakistani officials said." The U.S.'s admission that Raymond Davis, accused of shooting dead two Pakistanis last week, was a CIA contractor, only confirmed Pakistanis' suspicions. The U.S. continues to claim he should have diplomatic immunity. ...

... Tom Raum of the AP: "Some members of Congress, Democrats and Republicans alike, are threatening to cut off funds to Pakistan if Raymond Allen Davis is kept much longer in a Pakistani jail. But turning him over to the U.S. could unleash a torrent of anti-American sentiment across Pakistan, threatening to undercut that country's fragile civilian government."

Ha, ha. Walker Pwned. After he heard Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin refused to take calls from Democratic legislators, Ian Murphy, who runs the Buffalo Beast site (founded by Matt Taiibi), called Walker posing as financier & Walker-backer David Koch. Murphy/Koch not only got through, they had a 20-minute conversation, which you can listen to below. (The Buffalo Beast site is currently down [1:45 pm ET]). Update: the Buffalo Beast site is back up. Give it a hit. Murphy has a partial transcript of the audio. Audio Parts 1 & 2:

     ... Adam Weinstein of Mother Jones -- and Walker's office -- verified the call. ...

     ... Ezra Klein: "The state's Democratic senators can't get Walker on the phone, but someone can call the governor's front desk, identify themselves as David Koch, and then speak with both the governor and his chief of staff? That's where you see the access and power that major corporations and wealthy contributors will have in a Walker administration, and why so many in Wisconsin are reluctant to see the only major interest group representing workers taken out of the game.... Walker ... is not opposed, in principle, to powerful interest groups having the ear of the politicians they depend on, and who depend on them. He just wants those interest groups to be the conservative interest groups that fund him...."

Judith Davidoff of the Madison, Wisconsin Capital Times: "The billionaire brothers whose political action committee gave Gov. Scott Walker $43,000 and helped fund a multi-million dollar attack ad campaign against his opponent ... have quietly opened a lobbying office in Madison just off the Capitol Square. Charles and David Koch, who co-own Koch Industries Inc. and whose combined worth is estimated at $43 billion, have been recently tied with Walker's push to eliminate collective bargaining rights for public workers." ...

** Shawn Doherty of the Cap Times: "The [Walker] bill allows the Walker administration, without approval of the Public Service Commission and without a competitive bidding process, to sell off or lease the state's several dozen energy plants to private companies.... The guy Walker put in charge of the office that will oversee these potential power plant sales — though some people worry they will be more of giveaways than sales — is Jeff Plale.... He is one of the two Democratic senators who at the very last minute defected from the Democratic ranks to vote against state employee contracts last fall. Around a month later, Walker handed the former South Milwaukee Democratic legislator the $90,000 post as the administrator of the Department of Administration's Division of Facilities. And now he is busy defending the administration's move to sell off the state's power plants as no big deal." ...

... Michael Fletcher & Brady Dennis of the Washington Post: "The budget fights initiated by Republican governors represent a multi-state effort by like-minded politicians to solve budgetary problems in part by weakening public employee unions and demanding significant concessions from workers. After the November elections, Republicans now control many more state legislatures and governorships." ...

... Greg Sargent: Gov. Scott Walker refuses to accept the public workers' union concessions & declare victory. "For all of Walker's pieties about how he really, honestly, truly isn't out to bust unions, his own conduct makes it entirely clear what this is really all about." ...

"A Less Perfect Union." Stephen Colbert weighs in on Turmoil in the Middle West:

... In Right Wing World, the story is that Scott Walker campaigned on ending collective bargaining rights for public workers, & the public voted him into office, so its "democratic" to take away their rights. Andrew Sullivan, who thinks it's fine for Walker to restrict union benefits, has searched for evidence that Walker actually campaigned against collective bargaining, and he can't find any. ...

Quote of the Day: There is something bizarre about Republican commentators who cheered on Tea Party protests against a clear Obama campaign pledge -- health insurance reform -- suddenly decrying public protests against something a politician didn't campaign on. -- Andrew Sullivan

... Dennis Cauchon of USA Today: "Americans strongly oppose laws taking away the collective bargaining power of public employee unions, according to a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll. The poll found 61% would oppose a law in their state similar to such a proposal in Wisconsin, compared with 33% who would favor such a law." ...

... There are conflicting news stories out of Indianapolis on Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels' position on public employee collective bargaining rights, so I'm going with this Politico story by Maggie Haberman: "Mitch Daniels suggested Tuesday that Republicans drop their push for the right-to-work legislation.... The Republican governor and presidential hopeful also said he won't send out state police to round up absent Democratic state [House] lawmakers, who fled the state to stall Republican action on the bill."

... Meanwhile, the AP reports that "The Indiana Senate has approved a bill to limit teachers' collective bargaining rights despite objections from minority Democrats and hundreds of union members protesting in the Statehouse.The Republican-ruled Senate voted 30-19 Tuesday to approve the bill, which is part of Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels' aggressive education agenda." CW: so was this Daniels' idea or not? Has he changed his mind? I can't tell. ...

... CW: AND pardon me while I fall out of my chair. Peter Schorsch of Saint Petersblog: "Gov. Rick Scott said during a radio interview Tuesday that Florida shouldn’t move to take away public employees’ collective bargaining rights as the Republican governor of Wisconsin has proposed, reports the News Service of Florida." Heretofore America's Worst Governor, Scott may be falling into Second Worst Governor place, behind Scott Walker of Wisconsin.

What You Should Know about Raising the Debt Limit. Even though the federal government will hit the national debt ceiling in a few months, Republicans have been threatening for some time to refuse to raises the debt limit. They characterize their threats as demonstrations of "fiscal responsibility." The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report titled "Delays Create Debt Managment Challenges & Increase Uncertainty in the Treasury Market." The first two sentences of the report should (but won't) blow the wind out of Republican sails:

The debt limit does not control or limit the ability of the federal government to run deficits or incur obligations. Rather, it is a limit on the ability to pay obligations already incurred.

Andrew Cohen of The Atlantic: "U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler didn't just endorse the constitutional legitimacy of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on Tuesday evening. She used her 64-page ruling to answer some of the most basic criticisms of the new federal health care law. AP story here. TPM has a copy of Judge Kessler's ruling here. From a footnote in the ruling:

In short, those who choose not to purchase health insurance will ultimately get a 'free ride' on the backs of those Americans who have made responsible choices to provide for the illness we all must face at some point in our lives.

     Cohen writes, "The quote ... speaks ... to all the Americans out there who refuse to buy health insurance in the name of federalism and the 10th Amendment."

Andrew Cuomo with "concubine" Sandra Lee, after attending mass on Sunday, January 2, 2011. AP photo.Oh, No! "Public Concubinage." Thomas Kaplan of the New York Times: "A consultant to the Vatican’s highest court is calling for Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to be denied holy communion because he lives with his girlfriend without being married to her. Edward N. Peters, a professor at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, who last year was named by Pope Benedict XVI as a consultant to the Vatican court, the Apostolic Signatura, called the governor’s living situation 'public concubinage' in his blog on Jan. 4, and said in a recent interview that Mr. Cuomo, who is Roman Catholic, must refrain from taking communion under canon law. CW: I love having stupid stories like this pop up for mental health breaks.

Here's a story we like even better. Jeff Gelles of the Philadelphia Inquirer: when Well-Fargo slapped a huge, extra-legal new insurance premium onto Patrick Rodgers' home mortgage loan, Rodgers tried to get the bank to drop the excessive coverage, but -- surprise! -- Wells-Fargo personnel wouldn't even return his phone calls. So Rodgers took the bank to court & obtained a judgment against it -- and a court-ordered sheriff's levy against a local branch of Wells-Fargo to enforce the judgment. With a little help from Rodgers, the story gained national media attention, & Wells Fargo settled with Rodgers. CW: you see what lengths you have to go to to get a bank to return a fucking phone call.

Right Wing World

Another Winger implies Michelle Obama is fat. This time it's the svelte Rush Limbaugh. Really. Max Read of Gawker has the audio & a transcript.

Should this man be calling this woman "fat"?     ... OR, as Jimmy Kimmel asked, "Isn't that the morbidly-obese pot calling the kettle African-American?"

Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post: "South Dakota Republican Sen. John Thune has decided not to run for president in 2012, saying he wants to remain in the Senate to fight for conservative principles." CW: Thune's main qualification is that he looks like a president:

John Thune shows House twerps Eric Cantor & Paul Ryan how to look presidenty. Life photo. NEW: the likeness between Thune in this shot & the real President, pictured below, is striking. Why, even their outfits are identical.

News Ledes

President Obama on the situation in Libya:

New York Times: "House Republicans told Senate Democrats on Wednesday that they would agree to a temporary spending bill to avert a government shutdown next week only if the measure began instituting House-passed cuts on a pro-rated basis."

New York Daily News: "Libya's former justice minister, one of several senior officials to defect since Khadafy ordered a military crackdown on protesters Sunday, told a Swedish tabloid that he has proof Khadafy personally ordered the 1988 Lockerbie bombing. That Libya was behind the bombing is not new, but Mustafa Abdel-Jalil's claims suggest Khadafy could face an international criminal trial if he survives his revolution." ...

... Al Jazeera: "Muammar Gaddafi ... clings to power in the face of mass protests demanding  his resignation, as parts of the country's state structure appear to be disintegrating around him. Fears are growing that Libya's state apparatus, once seen as a powerful and coherent entity, is facing collapse as key officials quit the government, with some joining the protesters, and as international isolation mounts. Fresh gunfire was reported in the capital Tripoli on Wednesday, after Gaddafi called on his supporters to take back the streets from anti-government protesters." New York Times story here. ...

... Reuters: "Egypt's new cabinet met for the first time on Wednesday with security high on its agenda and under attack from the Muslim Brotherhood and others who want it purged of ministers appointed by ousted president Hosni Mubarak. In preparation for polls that military rulers have promised to hand over power to civilian rule in six months, activists announced the forming of a new political party on Wednesday."

New York Times: "After a week of upheaval in Madison, Wis...., the [union] battle moved to Ohio, where the Legislature held hearings on a bill that would effectively end collective bargaining for state workers and drastically reduce it for local government employees like police officers and firefighters.... In Indiana, nearly all of the Democratic members of the state’s House of Representatives stayed away from a legislative session on Tuesday in an effort to stymie a bill that they say would weaken collective bargaining. By late Tuesday, they seemed to have succeeded in running down a clock on the bill, which was to expire at midnight. Representative Brian Bosma, the speaker of the Indiana House, said the bill would die when the deadline passed." ...

     ... Indianapolis Star Update: "Republicans have killed a controversial labor bill that has sparked a Democrat work-stoppage and large union protests at the Statehouse. But Democrats say that isn’t enough to get them back to the Statehouse. Rep. Dale Grubb, D-Covington, the House Democratic caucus chairman who was with the Democrats at an Illinois hotel, said House Democrats are going to stand strong and won’t return to the state until Gov. Mitch Daniels and House Speaker Brian Bosma assure them they won’t resurrect four additional labor measures and six education bills." ...

... AP: "Democrats kept the Wisconsin Assembly up overnight with a droning filibuster in another desperate attempt to block the Republican governor's bold plan to strip public sector workers of nearly all of their bargaining rights.... Meanwhile, tens of thousands of demonstrators have descended on the state Capitol in monumental protests that entered their ninth day Wednesday."

AP: "A federal judge on Tuesday threw out a lawsuit claiming that President Barack Obama's requirement that all Americans have health insurance violates the religious freedom of those who rely on God to protect them. U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler in Washington dismissed a lawsuit filed by the American Center for Law and Justice, a Christian legal group founded by evangelist Pat Robertson, on behalf of five Americans who can afford health insurance but have chosen for years not to buy it." President Clinton appointed Kessler to the court.

New York Times: "Rescue workers struggled to find survivors on Wednesday as much of New Zealand’s second largest city remained silent and dark a day after an earthquake killed scores of people."

AP: "A renewed call for Middle East-style democracy protests in China urged citizens to take strolls at specific locations on weekend afternoons and demanded authorities release activists apparently still in custody Wednesday."

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