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101
Author: Raine
Date: 04/30/2009 12:44:43
So there it is. Obama has been in office for 100 days. If it wasn't clear before to people that this man is a leader, he is in charge, last night should have sealed the deal. I was especially struck by what the president had to say about America no longer torturing. He actually said that These techniques were not needed for us to gain the information that the USA was seeking. It was a wonderful thing to hear, and one that I fully agree with. What was striking about last night was that the president seemed to be acknowledging that yes, we did glean information from certain detainees, but it was not because of the torture-- it was despite of it. In a follow up question, regarding the memo's Dick Cheney wants released (to prove that torture worked) the President stated: Amazing to hear a President say this. In other Words, torture does not work, the ends simply do not justify the means.
In just a few moments last night President Obama took the wind out of the sails of Dick Cheney AND those that would use American Torture as a recruiting method.
On Arlen Specter, there was a shot across the bough to the GOP: You see? He is changing things. This is no Bush Lite, this is a man who promised he would come to Washington and change the way things were being done- Who knew that change would be liberating Senators from the shackles of the GOP? (I kid) The President expressly stated that congress should not rubber stamp everything he desires. he actually gave us all a little civics lesson last night when he stated "Congress is a co-equal branch of government." -- as it should be.
I can't say that I was 100 percent pleased with everything I heard last night, and I will leave that to far more experienced writers out there to talk about those issues. What I did see and hear was a clear message that this man will continue to work in a bipartisan manner with others, despite the fact that they will not work with him. It is a thankless task perhaps, and one that I could never do. I guess that is why "that guy" is president and not me or --- John McCain.
Imagine where we would be today if it were John McCain. Yeah, me too.
:peace: and
Raine
And -- and so I strongly believed that the steps that we've taken to prevent these kinds of enhanced interrogation techniques will make us stronger over the long term and make us safer over the long term because it will put us in a -- in a position where we can still get information.
In some cases, it may be harder, but part of what makes us, I think, still a beacon to the world is that we are willing to hold true to our ideals even when it's hard, not just when it's easy.
At the same time, it takes away a critical recruitment tool that Al Qaida and other terrorist organizations have used to try to demonize the United States and justify the killing of civilians.
And it makes us -- it puts us in a much stronger position to work with our allies in the kind of international, coordinated intelligence activity that can shut down these networks.
I have read the documents. Now they have not been officially declassified and released. And so I don't want to go to the details of them. But here's what I can tell you, that the public reports and the public justifications for these techniques, which is that we got information from these individuals that were subjected to these techniques, doesn't answer the core question.
Which is, could we have gotten that same information without resorting to these techniques? And it doesn't answer the broader question, are we safer as a consequence of having used these techniques?
[...]
And there have been no circumstances during the course of this first 100 days in which I have seen information that would make me second guess the decision that I have made.
In just a few moments last night President Obama took the wind out of the sails of Dick Cheney AND those that would use American Torture as a recruiting method.
On Arlen Specter, there was a shot across the bough to the GOP:
I do think that having Arlen Specter in the Democratic caucus will liberate him to cooperate on critical issues, like health care, like infrastructure and job creation, areas where his inclinations were to work with us, but he was feeling pressure not to.
I can't say that I was 100 percent pleased with everything I heard last night, and I will leave that to far more experienced writers out there to talk about those issues. What I did see and hear was a clear message that this man will continue to work in a bipartisan manner with others, despite the fact that they will not work with him. It is a thankless task perhaps, and one that I could never do. I guess that is why "that guy" is president and not me or --- John McCain.
Imagine where we would be today if it were John McCain. Yeah, me too.
:peace: and
Raine
Comments:
Order comments Newest to Oldest Refresh Comments
Comment by 
Raine on 04/30/2009 12:57:01
Raine on 04/30/2009 12:57:01
Hello!
Comment by 
Scoopster on 04/30/2009 12:57:12
Scoopster on 04/30/2009 12:57:12
Nice opener Raine! And John McCain..
Speaking of barfin'.. y'all got some REALLY strange folks down there in Georgia..
Speaking of barfin'.. y'all got some REALLY strange folks down there in Georgia..
Comment by 
wickedpam on 04/30/2009 13:09:45
wickedpam on 04/30/2009 13:09:45
Morning :hug:
Comment by wickedpam on 04/30/2009 13:12:17
wickedpam on 04/30/2009 13:12:17
Did anyone hear Mexico revised their numbers from like 150 dead to 7? Anyone buying that?
Comment by 
TriSec on 04/30/2009 13:14:15
TriSec on 04/30/2009 13:14:15
Howdy comrades!
Still enjoying the "offline life" for a few days anyway. I'm off to the market with Mrs. TriSec, then I'm going to be working on my bike this afternoon.
The new gig is still within an easy ride (3 miles), but I've got two giant, killer, death hills in between me and the new office. Going to try out a dry run to see how much wind I would suck.
Then of course, there's the "New Job Syndrome"....don't know if I'll even have access, but of course that's not a good idea anyway in a new job. So....
:peace:
Still enjoying the "offline life" for a few days anyway. I'm off to the market with Mrs. TriSec, then I'm going to be working on my bike this afternoon.
The new gig is still within an easy ride (3 miles), but I've got two giant, killer, death hills in between me and the new office. Going to try out a dry run to see how much wind I would suck.
Then of course, there's the "New Job Syndrome"....don't know if I'll even have access, but of course that's not a good idea anyway in a new job. So....
:peace:
Comment by wickedpam on 04/30/2009 13:18:57
wickedpam on 04/30/2009 13:18:57
awwww new puppy!
Comment by Raine on 04/30/2009 13:20:57
Raine on 04/30/2009 13:20:57
Woohoo!!!
Comment by Raine on 04/30/2009 13:23:59
The lab has confirmed for sure 7 cases... the rest are assumed to be so.
I also read yesterday that in the USA, every county has been allotted the test kits, so as to not overwhelm the cdc. The rest will be called cases of Flu as needed.
So all in all, there are still hundred dead from the Flu, it is how they are testing the cases. I hope that made some sense.
Raine on 04/30/2009 13:23:59
Quote by wickedpam:
Did anyone hear Mexico revised their numbers from like 150 dead to 7? Anyone buying that?
The lab has confirmed for sure 7 cases... the rest are assumed to be so.
I also read yesterday that in the USA, every county has been allotted the test kits, so as to not overwhelm the cdc. The rest will be called cases of Flu as needed.
So all in all, there are still hundred dead from the Flu, it is how they are testing the cases. I hope that made some sense.
Comment by 
BobR on 04/30/2009 13:24:44
I need to move.
BobR on 04/30/2009 13:24:44
Quote by Scoopster:
Nice opener Raine! And John McCain..
Speaking of barfin'.. y'all got some REALLY strange folks down there in Georgia..
I need to move.
Comment by Raine on 04/30/2009 13:25:09
Oh dear lord.
I gotta get outta this place.
Raine on 04/30/2009 13:25:09
Quote by Scoopster:
Nice opener Raine! And John McCain..
Speaking of barfin'.. y'all got some REALLY strange folks down there in Georgia..
Oh dear lord.
I gotta get outta this place.
Comment by 
Random on 04/30/2009 13:31:15
Random on 04/30/2009 13:31:15
Random'll admit that 8 years ago he was a much to young to pay attention, but did we pay this close attention to Bush's 100 days?
Comment by wickedpam on 04/30/2009 13:34:14
Jeez.
wickedpam on 04/30/2009 13:34:14
Quote by BobR:Quote by Scoopster:
Nice opener Raine! And John McCain..
Speaking of barfin'.. y'all got some REALLY strange folks down there in Georgia..
I need to move.
Jeez.
Comment by wickedpam on 04/30/2009 13:37:09
wickedpam on 04/30/2009 13:37:09
Comment by Raine on 04/30/2009 13:41:02
Raine on 04/30/2009 13:41:02
I really liked what Obama Said last night about State secrets:
QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. President. During the campaign, you criticized President Bush’s use of the state secrets privilege, but U.S. attorneys have continued to argue the Bush position in three cases in court. How exactly does your view of state secrets differ from President Bush’s? And do you believe presidents should be able to derail entire lawsuits about warrantless wiretapping or rendition if classified information is involved?
OBAMA: I actually think that the state secret doctrine should be modified. I think right now it’s overbroad.
But keep in mind what happens, is we come in to office. We’re in for a week, and suddenly we’ve got a court filing that’s coming up. And so we don’t have the time to effectively think through, what exactly should an overarching reform of that doctrine take? We’ve got to respond to the immediate case in front of us.
There — I think it is appropriate to say that there are going to be cases in which national security interests are genuinely at stake and that you can’t litigate without revealing covert activities or classified information that would genuinely compromise our safety.
But searching for ways to redact, to carve out certain cases, to see what can be done so that a judge in chambers can review information without it being in open court, you know, there should be some additional tools so that it’s not such a blunt instrument.
And we’re interested in pursuing that. I know that Eric Holder and Greg Craig, my White House counsel, and others are working on that as we speak.
QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. President. During the campaign, you criticized President Bush’s use of the state secrets privilege, but U.S. attorneys have continued to argue the Bush position in three cases in court. How exactly does your view of state secrets differ from President Bush’s? And do you believe presidents should be able to derail entire lawsuits about warrantless wiretapping or rendition if classified information is involved?
OBAMA: I actually think that the state secret doctrine should be modified. I think right now it’s overbroad.
But keep in mind what happens, is we come in to office. We’re in for a week, and suddenly we’ve got a court filing that’s coming up. And so we don’t have the time to effectively think through, what exactly should an overarching reform of that doctrine take? We’ve got to respond to the immediate case in front of us.
There — I think it is appropriate to say that there are going to be cases in which national security interests are genuinely at stake and that you can’t litigate without revealing covert activities or classified information that would genuinely compromise our safety.
But searching for ways to redact, to carve out certain cases, to see what can be done so that a judge in chambers can review information without it being in open court, you know, there should be some additional tools so that it’s not such a blunt instrument.
And we’re interested in pursuing that. I know that Eric Holder and Greg Craig, my White House counsel, and others are working on that as we speak.
Comment by Random on 04/30/2009 13:41:37
Random on 04/30/2009 13:41:37
Comment by Raine on 04/30/2009 13:50:42
Raine on 04/30/2009 13:50:42
:spit: Skanket!!!
I like that...
I like that...
Comment by Raine on 04/30/2009 13:51:42
Raine on 04/30/2009 13:51:42
Hey tough cookies Faux. Carry the presser, you might get to ask a question... These are choices and consequences MoFo's...
Comment by Raine on 04/30/2009 13:51:43
Raine on 04/30/2009 13:51:43
Hey tough cookies Faux. Carry the presser, you might get to ask a question... These are choices and consequences MoFo's...
Comment by Random on 04/30/2009 13:53:56
Random disappears for days and comes in with a zinger.
thank you, thank you.
Random on 04/30/2009 13:53:56
Quote by Raine:
:spit: Skanket!!!
I like that...
Random disappears for days and comes in with a zinger.
thank you, thank you.
Comment by Raine on 04/30/2009 14:00:57
Would one for babies be called a skanklet?
Raine on 04/30/2009 14:00:57
Quote by Raine:
:spit: Skanket!!!
I like that...
Would one for babies be called a skanklet?
Comment by Raine on 04/30/2009 14:11:22
Raine on 04/30/2009 14:11:22
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
How's this for a late-in-the-day story for you to wrap your head around... It's a doozy: The National Republican Senatorial Committee playing the part of liberal interest group by "introducing" the newest Democrat to Pennsylvania, Arlen Specter, in robo calls painting him as tied to Bush and anti-labor... cue crazy cartoon character's loose-lipped shaking of head.
How's this for a late-in-the-day story for you to wrap your head around... It's a doozy: The National Republican Senatorial Committee playing the part of liberal interest group by "introducing" the newest Democrat to Pennsylvania, Arlen Specter, in robo calls painting him as tied to Bush and anti-labor... cue crazy cartoon character's loose-lipped shaking of head.
Comment by wickedpam on 04/30/2009 14:34:02
wickedpam on 04/30/2009 14:34:02
I think Steph should call the new pupper DeMille
Comment by Scoopster on 04/30/2009 14:46:05
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight..........
Scoopster on 04/30/2009 14:46:05
Quote by Raine:
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
How's this for a late-in-the-day story for you to wrap your head around... It's a doozy: The National Republican Senatorial Committee playing the part of liberal interest group by "introducing" the newest Democrat to Pennsylvania, Arlen Specter, in robo calls painting him as tied to Bush and anti-labor... cue crazy cartoon character's loose-lipped shaking of head.
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight..........
Comment by Raine on 04/30/2009 14:46:45
Raine on 04/30/2009 14:46:45
Love me some Schuster!!!
Comment by TriSec on 04/30/2009 14:48:07
TriSec on 04/30/2009 14:48:07
mmm....tater's & eggs for lunch today!
Comment by wickedpam on 04/30/2009 14:49:15
wickedpam on 04/30/2009 14:49:15
oh, that sounds good
Comment by BobR on 04/30/2009 15:16:20
yes.
It's been done for the last several presidents.
BobR on 04/30/2009 15:16:20
Quote by Random:
Random'll admit that 8 years ago he was a much to young to pay attention, but did we pay this close attention to Bush's 100 days?
yes.
It's been done for the last several presidents.
Comment by BobR on 04/30/2009 15:18:39
BobR on 04/30/2009 15:18:39
Two calls yesterday from agency screeners and a call from an agency's account manager today (it was supposed to be two, but one of them had a personal emergency and will call on Mon instead). Both are in the DC/Baltimore area, which is where most of the jobs in my profession seem to be.
So: if things work out, we'll be DC bound in a couple weeks for a face-to-face interview...
So: if things work out, we'll be DC bound in a couple weeks for a face-to-face interview...
Comment by wickedpam on 04/30/2009 15:19:14
wickedpam on 04/30/2009 15:19:14
Comment by 
m-hadley on 04/30/2009 15:20:33
m-hadley on 04/30/2009 15:20:33
Ooooh, I can't wait, Rebekah Baker coming up to do her masterful Ross Perot. 
Cheers,
mfaye
& :peace:
:gobama:
Cheers,
mfaye
& :peace::gobama:
Comment by Raine on 04/30/2009 15:20:55
And as far as B*sh... I have this article here from 2001:
So, if by August 7, B*sh had only worked 54 days. He didn't even work 100 days by Sept. 11th.
Raine on 04/30/2009 15:20:55
Quote by BobR:Quote by Random:
Random'll admit that 8 years ago he was a much to young to pay attention, but did we pay this close attention to Bush's 100 days?
yes.
It's been done for the last several presidents.
And as far as B*sh... I have this article here from 2001:
A White House On the Range
Bush Retreats to Ranch For 'Working Vacation'
by Mike Allen
The Washington Post
August 7, 2001
CRAWFORD, Tex., Aug. 6 -- By the time President Bush returns to Washington on Labor Day after the longest presidential vacation in 32 years, he will have spent all or part of 54 days since the inauguration at his parched but beloved ranch. That's almost a quarter of his presidency.
Throw in four days last month at his parents' seaside estate in Kennebunkport, Maine, and 38 full or partial days at the presidential retreat at Camp David, and Bush will have spent 42 percent of his presidency at vacation spots or en route.
Many of those days are weekends, and the Camp David stays have included working visits with foreign leaders. But administration officials, who initially believed that regular trips to the Texas ranch enhanced Bush's image as a rugged outsider, are acting like they may be worried about the perception that he is loafing.
Responding to criticism from Democrats and their fears of long-term damage to Bush's image, his advisers have piled on so many activities for this month-long vacation that the president is likely to feel he is marooned at an overly ambitious summer camp. The White House held a briefing today to announce that Bush had run four miles early this morning, held a 45-minute meeting with four senior officials here and talked by telephone with national security adviser Condoleezza Rice about Macedonia.
Bush will "spend a good portion of the time working," spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters today.
So, if by August 7, B*sh had only worked 54 days. He didn't even work 100 days by Sept. 11th.
Comment by m-hadley on 04/30/2009 15:25:53
Cool, I got a grant to attend the Annual Meeting of Law Librarians which will be in DC this July (24 - 28th) - I have reserved a room at the Days Inn (DC) one block from the Metro. Would love to see/hook up with any 4Fers who will be in the vicinity at that time - Mala? BobR & Raine? Perhaps a mini-meet-up? Just let me know... Thanks mucho and good luck BobR :D
Cheers,
mfaye
m-hadley on 04/30/2009 15:25:53
Quote by BobR:
Two calls yesterday from agency screeners and a call from an agency's account manager today (it was supposed to be two, but one of them had a personal emergency and will call on Mon instead). Both are in the DC/Baltimore area, which is where most of the jobs in my profession seem to be.
So: if things work out, we'll be DC bound in a couple weeks for a face-to-face interview...
Cool, I got a grant to attend the Annual Meeting of Law Librarians which will be in DC this July (24 - 28th) - I have reserved a room at the Days Inn (DC) one block from the Metro. Would love to see/hook up with any 4Fers who will be in the vicinity at that time - Mala? BobR & Raine? Perhaps a mini-meet-up? Just let me know... Thanks mucho and good luck BobR :D
Cheers,
mfaye
Comment by 
livingonli on 04/30/2009 15:35:49
livingonli on 04/30/2009 15:35:49
Good morning everyone. 
If McCain was president, I would probably be living out of my car now,.
If McCain was president, I would probably be living out of my car now,.
Comment by wickedpam on 04/30/2009 15:36:55
Cool :D
That's going to be Momma Mala's birthday weekend but I might be able to head in to DC on that Saturday or Sunday for lunch depending on what she wants to do.
wickedpam on 04/30/2009 15:36:55
Quote by m-hadley:Quote by BobR:
Two calls yesterday from agency screeners and a call from an agency's account manager today (it was supposed to be two, but one of them had a personal emergency and will call on Mon instead). Both are in the DC/Baltimore area, which is where most of the jobs in my profession seem to be.
So: if things work out, we'll be DC bound in a couple weeks for a face-to-face interview...
Cool, I got a grant to attend the Annual Meeting of Law Librarians which will be in DC this July (24 - 28th) - I have reserved a room at the Days Inn (DC) one block from the Metro. Would love to see/hook up with any 4Fers who will be in the vicinity at that time - Mala? BobR & Raine? Perhaps a mini-meet-up? Just let me know... Thanks mucho and good luck BobR :D
Cheers,
mfaye
Cool :D
That's going to be Momma Mala's birthday weekend but I might be able to head in to DC on that Saturday or Sunday for lunch depending on what she wants to do.
Comment by m-hadley on 04/30/2009 15:43:23
Me too, Liv,
Was it a loooong night last night? Hope you got some rest.
Cheers,
mfaye
m-hadley on 04/30/2009 15:43:23
Quote by livingonli:
Good morning everyone.
If McCain was president, I would probably be living out of my car now,.
Me too, Liv,
Was it a loooong night last night? Hope you got some rest.
Cheers,
mfaye
Comment by livingonli on 04/30/2009 15:43:44
livingonli on 04/30/2009 15:43:44
I remember when every outlet was playing that clip from the Alan Combes radio show when he admitted that he had sex with a mule.
Comment by livingonli on 04/30/2009 15:46:10
I did get some sleep. I was off last night but still went to bed later than I planned.
livingonli on 04/30/2009 15:46:10
Quote by m-hadley:Quote by livingonli:
Good morning everyone.
If McCain was president, I would probably be living out of my car now,.
Me too, Liv,
Was it a loooong night last night? Hope you got some rest.
Cheers,
mfaye
I did get some sleep. I was off last night but still went to bed later than I planned.
Comment by livingonli on 04/30/2009 15:51:51
livingonli on 04/30/2009 15:51:51
The Cinco De Mayo Festival in New York has been canceled in New York due to the flu outbreak.
Comment by Raine on 04/30/2009 15:56:00
Raine on 04/30/2009 15:56:00
Joe Scarborough just tweeted:
Is it prudent to allow flights from Mexico City to continue arriving in America when VP Biden wouldn't want his family to fly domestically?
Is it prudent to allow flights from Mexico City to continue arriving in America when VP Biden wouldn't want his family to fly domestically?
Comment by Raine on 04/30/2009 15:56:38
That is sad, but I believe it is better to be safe than Sorry.
Raine on 04/30/2009 15:56:38
Quote by livingonli:
The Cinco De Mayo Festival in New York has been canceled in New York due to the flu outbreak.
Comment by 
Mondobubba on 04/30/2009 16:11:44
Mondobubba on 04/30/2009 16:11:44
Comment by Mondobubba on 04/30/2009 16:14:08
Mondobubba on 04/30/2009 16:14:08
I'm in class today with three women of work for the Florida Dept. Of Public Health. I've gotten a crash course in how epi/pandemics are defined. It isn't by the number of people infected, it is the number of coutries/states reporting infections. Makes more sense now doesn't it?
Comment by Raine on 04/30/2009 16:26:31
That is what Margaret Chan said Yesterday at the WHO update.
Raine on 04/30/2009 16:26:31
Quote by Mondobubba:
I'm in class today with three women of work for the Florida Dept. Of Public Health. I've gotten a crash course in how epi/pandemics are defined. It isn't by the number of people infected, it is the number of coutries/states reporting infections. Makes more sense now doesn't it?
That is what Margaret Chan said Yesterday at the WHO update.
Comment by TriSec on 04/30/2009 16:50:33
TriSec on 04/30/2009 16:50:33
And now I'm off on this loverly afternoon to work on my bike. TTFN!
Comment by Mondobubba on 04/30/2009 17:02:36
Well, gee. I didn't see that. :kick:
Mondobubba on 04/30/2009 17:02:36
Quote by Raine:Quote by Mondobubba:
I'm in class today with three women of work for the Florida Dept. Of Public Health. I've gotten a crash course in how epi/pandemics are defined. It isn't by the number of people infected, it is the number of coutries/states reporting infections. Makes more sense now doesn't it?
That is what Margaret Chan said Yesterday at the WHO update.
Well, gee. I didn't see that. :kick:
Comment by Scoopster on 04/30/2009 17:20:35
Actually, yes.. :lol:
Scoopster on 04/30/2009 17:20:35
Quote by Mondobubba:
I'm in class today with three women of work for the Florida Dept. Of Public Health. I've gotten a crash course in how epi/pandemics are defined. It isn't by the number of people infected, it is the number of coutries/states reporting infections. Makes more sense now doesn't it?
Actually, yes.. :lol:
Comment by Scoopster on 04/30/2009 17:40:59
Scoopster on 04/30/2009 17:40:59
Comment by livingonli on 04/30/2009 18:22:46
She won worst person last night for that honor. What a piece of work.
livingonli on 04/30/2009 18:22:46
She won worst person last night for that honor. What a piece of work.
Comment by TriSec on 04/30/2009 18:51:07
TriSec on 04/30/2009 18:51:07
{Totten Pond Road, Waltham MA} <-- This is a really big hill.
:thud: <-- This is TriSec after riding his bike UP the really big hill on the first day out this season.
Any Questions?
:thud: <-- This is TriSec after riding his bike UP the really big hill on the first day out this season.
Any Questions?