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Falling apart
Author: velveeta jones
Date: 05/17/2009 13:09:24
Velveeta awakes this morning feeling melancholy and a bit hopeless. Not just because of the drab rainy day, or the fact that her cat slept on her head the entire night causing her sinuses to swell in an allergic orgy of cat fur and dander. Rather, she is sad that her President seems to be abandoning her.
Is it true? Is the “Yes We Can” is turning into “Yes We Can, But We Won’t”?
Every day it seems my disappointment grows:
Military Tribunals are back
Granted he’s going to make a few “improvements”, but I worry that we’ll soon hear that we cannot close Gitmo in 2010. Listen, in my opinion, if you have Lindsay Graham agreeing with you – then your doing something wrong! The Senator from SC said of the decision to restart the program, "I agree with the president and our military commanders that now is the time to start over and strengthen our detention policies. I applaud the president's actions today." I mean…. YIKES.
Another big disappointment has been Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, which seems to be on hold at a time when we have the momentum to overturn it for good.
This is so frustrating to me. Because we’ve lost so many of our military from this policy – including a lot of Arabic language translators - and have a large potential that goes untapped. (There’s a really good setup for a joke here…. but I’ll leave that for you).
If you haven’t read Frank Rich this morning, do so. As usual Frank steals my blog – and he does write soooo much better – which is why he gets paid so well, lives in NYC and gets to be on the teevee and the radio.
What more will he do to disappoint me? Will he come back from his commencement speech today and push for the overturning of Roe v. Wade and stopping stem cell research?
He tries to quiet the extreme right while Nancy Pelosi is engaged in "who said what, when" with the CIA is nothing but distraction. I am beginning to think that some of my tin-foil hat friends are correct. There is no difference between the R and D. So, how do I go about signing up for this bildeburger group?
Is it true? Is the “Yes We Can” is turning into “Yes We Can, But We Won’t”?
Every day it seems my disappointment grows:
Military Tribunals are back
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will restart Bush-era military tribunals for a small number of Guantanamo detainees, reviving a fiercely disputed trial system he once denounced but with new legal protections for terror suspects, U.S. officials said Thursday.
Granted he’s going to make a few “improvements”, but I worry that we’ll soon hear that we cannot close Gitmo in 2010. Listen, in my opinion, if you have Lindsay Graham agreeing with you – then your doing something wrong! The Senator from SC said of the decision to restart the program, "I agree with the president and our military commanders that now is the time to start over and strengthen our detention policies. I applaud the president's actions today." I mean…. YIKES.
Another big disappointment has been Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, which seems to be on hold at a time when we have the momentum to overturn it for good.
WASHINGTON — The White House says President Barack Obama has begun consulting his top defense advisers on how to lift a ban on gays serving openly in the military.
But the administration won't say how soon that might happen or whether a group of experts will be commissioned to study the issue in-depth, as some Democrats have suggested.
The move enables Obama to say he's making good on his campaign promise to reverse the law, but doesn't lock him into doing so anytime soon. The carefully calculated statement, released this week by White House spokesman Tommy Vietor, leaves enough wiggle room to prevent the hot-button issue from consuming Obama's foreign policy agenda, which is dominated by ending the Iraq war and salvaging operations in Afghanistan.
This is so frustrating to me. Because we’ve lost so many of our military from this policy – including a lot of Arabic language translators - and have a large potential that goes untapped. (There’s a really good setup for a joke here…. but I’ll leave that for you).
If you haven’t read Frank Rich this morning, do so. As usual Frank steals my blog – and he does write soooo much better – which is why he gets paid so well, lives in NYC and gets to be on the teevee and the radio.
TO paraphrase Al Pacino in “Godfather III,” just when we thought we were out, the Bush mob keeps pulling us back in. And will keep doing so. No matter how hard President Obama tries to turn the page on the previous administration, he can’t. Until there is true transparency and true accountability, revelations of that unresolved eight-year nightmare will keep raining down drip by drip, disrupting the new administration’s high ambitions.
That’s why the president’s flip-flop on the release of detainee abuse photos — whatever his motivation — is a fool’s errand.
What more will he do to disappoint me? Will he come back from his commencement speech today and push for the overturning of Roe v. Wade and stopping stem cell research?
He tries to quiet the extreme right while Nancy Pelosi is engaged in "who said what, when" with the CIA is nothing but distraction. I am beginning to think that some of my tin-foil hat friends are correct. There is no difference between the R and D. So, how do I go about signing up for this bildeburger group?
Comments:
Order comments Newest to Oldest Refresh Comments
Comment by 
BobR on 05/17/2009 13:48:48
BobR on 05/17/2009 13:48:48
People seem to forget that Obama has always been fairly moderate. He was never a progressive dream.
Comment by AuntAzalea on 05/17/2009 14:01:03
Good job VJ- harshing my mellow much? I am sick of the "Bush mob" quicksand pulling us all back in as Frank Rich put it. 
I just hope the commencement speech goes well and they have decent security for him.
Meanwhile I plan to enjoy this Sunday and wish everyone a good weekend.
I just hope the commencement speech goes well and they have decent security for him.
Meanwhile I plan to enjoy this Sunday and wish everyone a good weekend.
Comment by 
livingonli on 05/17/2009 16:03:07
livingonli on 05/17/2009 16:03:07
Hello all. While Obama has never been as progressive as Kucinich or Feingold. He seems to be doing things too centrist which is making me think he wouldn't have been that much different from Hillary since she would have done things that I wouldn't have supported and were the reasons why I didn't support Hillary.
Comment by 
velveeta jones on 05/17/2009 16:34:32
velveeta jones on 05/17/2009 16:34:32
BobR I agree that he was/is a moderate, but he seemed to be more progressive than Bill Clinton, imo. At least he implied that he was more progressive than Bill. But from the nomination of Giethner to stalling on DADT is just so damn frustrating. I am nervous about his SCOTUS pick.
Comment by 
m-hadley on 05/17/2009 16:47:07
m-hadley on 05/17/2009 16:47:07
Mornin' VJ and Auntie Azalea,
Once again Velveeta, you've given voice to one of our collective concerns (I'd take you over Frank Rich any time :P) I, for one, am getting sick & tired of President Obama's pragmatism. I agree with both VJ and Mr. Rich that we, as a nation, need to wipe the slate clean. I just don't think that we can move on without facing our ghosts, the uglier they are, the more they need to be confronted. If you haven't seen the Rummy's Crusade piece in GQ, check it out. I wish I could say that we were wrong about the Bush/Cheney cabal, but everything that has come out in the past several months has only served to validate our suspicions. Viva VJ!!! :clap:
Cheers,
mfaye
& 
Once again Velveeta, you've given voice to one of our collective concerns (I'd take you over Frank Rich any time :P) I, for one, am getting sick & tired of President Obama's pragmatism. I agree with both VJ and Mr. Rich that we, as a nation, need to wipe the slate clean. I just don't think that we can move on without facing our ghosts, the uglier they are, the more they need to be confronted. If you haven't seen the Rummy's Crusade piece in GQ, check it out. I wish I could say that we were wrong about the Bush/Cheney cabal, but everything that has come out in the past several months has only served to validate our suspicions. Viva VJ!!! :clap:
Cheers,
mfaye
&
Comment by BobR on 05/17/2009 17:25:58
I hope you understand where I am coming from. I am disappointed, but not necessarily surprised. He is definitely more progressive than Bill (or Hillary) Clinton in some areas, less so in others. That's why he wasn't my first choice when the campaigns started.
I still think he's a great leader with a conscience, and that will guide him as he moves along. I also think he's prioritizing things, and sees DADT as a distraction rather than a primary concern for right now.
I suspect that once the economy, healthcare, and energy projects are moving along nicely, we'll see more progress on some of these other things.
If not - I'll see you folks in DC with signs by the Whitehouse...
BobR on 05/17/2009 17:25:58
Quote by velveeta jones:
BobR I agree that he was/is a moderate, but he seemed to be more progressive than Bill Clinton, imo. At least he implied that he was more progressive than Bill. But from the nomination of Giethner to stalling on DADT is just so damn frustrating. I am nervous about his SCOTUS pick.
I hope you understand where I am coming from. I am disappointed, but not necessarily surprised. He is definitely more progressive than Bill (or Hillary) Clinton in some areas, less so in others. That's why he wasn't my first choice when the campaigns started.
I still think he's a great leader with a conscience, and that will guide him as he moves along. I also think he's prioritizing things, and sees DADT as a distraction rather than a primary concern for right now.
I suspect that once the economy, healthcare, and energy projects are moving along nicely, we'll see more progress on some of these other things.
If not - I'll see you folks in DC with signs by the Whitehouse...
Comment by velveeta jones on 05/17/2009 17:45:22
velveeta jones on 05/17/2009 17:45:22
Thank Faye. I am wondering if his hands are tied because of some secret society that has threatened his and his families lives.
:foil:
:foil:
:foil:
:foil:
Comment by 
Raine on 05/17/2009 18:08:49
Raine on 05/17/2009 18:08:49
wonderful Blog Ms. Jones.
I have been feeling a bit nervous about these past few weeks myself. It is my understanding regarding the repeal of DADT, it needs to be done thru congress, doesn't it? Isn't that how is was passed in the first place?
Ther eis a part of me that wonders if there are more powerful forces at work here. I hope that our president is indeed safe.
Something has to give, that is for sure.
I have been feeling a bit nervous about these past few weeks myself. It is my understanding regarding the repeal of DADT, it needs to be done thru congress, doesn't it? Isn't that how is was passed in the first place?
Ther eis a part of me that wonders if there are more powerful forces at work here. I hope that our president is indeed safe.
Something has to give, that is for sure.
Comment by Raine on 05/17/2009 19:39:32
Raine on 05/17/2009 19:39:32
Whew -- that was bad timing on the part of the server.
For those that missed it, the President just gave a wonderful speech at ND. I feel inspired again.
For those that missed it, the President just gave a wonderful speech at ND. I feel inspired again.
Comment by Raine on 05/17/2009 20:10:48
A pic from today:
If you had the chance to listen to the speech, this makes this photo all the more interesting.
This was before he recieved and Honorary degree:
It was not just The president that made me proud today while watching this, it was also Notre Dame. I have hope that we can come together -- I believe that the GOP will still fight it every step of the way.
After watching what I saw today, seeing nd hearing people speak out against torture -- I believe we are going to be alright --
Just not overnite.
Raine on 05/17/2009 20:10:48
A pic from today:
If you had the chance to listen to the speech, this makes this photo all the more interesting.
This was before he recieved and Honorary degree:
It was not just The president that made me proud today while watching this, it was also Notre Dame. I have hope that we can come together -- I believe that the GOP will still fight it every step of the way.
After watching what I saw today, seeing nd hearing people speak out against torture -- I believe we are going to be alright --
Just not overnite.
Comment by livingonli on 05/17/2009 21:19:27
livingonli on 05/17/2009 21:19:27
The server also burped while I was getting ready to leave for work since it seemed to take forever to reload and I wanted to post a comment before I took off.
Comment by livingonli on 05/17/2009 21:24:57
livingonli on 05/17/2009 21:24:57
The response time for the blog does seem slower on Firefox and Flock than it does on IE lately.
Comment by Raine on 05/17/2009 21:26:49
Raine on 05/17/2009 21:26:49
OK, I need dinner suggestions.
Hungry as hell.... Who delivers?
Hungry as hell.... Who delivers?
Comment by Raine on 05/17/2009 21:27:22
Raine on 05/17/2009 21:27:22
WTF is Flock?
Comment by Raine on 05/17/2009 21:29:16
Raine on 05/17/2009 21:29:16
The issue is not das blog -- it is the server. Bobber is no en casa -- so until he gets home and contacts them -- please have patience?
And seriously -- what is Flock?
I usually zoom around with Safari --
And seriously -- what is Flock?
I usually zoom around with Safari --
Comment by livingonli on 05/17/2009 21:34:56
Flock is another browser. They have kind of supplanted Netscape. The one thing they have is sidebars to set up for any of your social media, On my computer, I have it set up for my facebook updates so it lists all my friends and when their pages were last updated. So on my home computer I usually have both my Firefox browser up for e-mail and general stuff and flock for das blog, facebook, linkedin and my other social network sites.
livingonli on 05/17/2009 21:34:56
Quote by Raine:
The issue is not das blog -- it is the server. Bobber is no en casa -- so until he gets home and contacts them -- please have patience?
And seriously -- what is Flock?
I usually zoom around with Safari --
Flock is another browser. They have kind of supplanted Netscape. The one thing they have is sidebars to set up for any of your social media, On my computer, I have it set up for my facebook updates so it lists all my friends and when their pages were last updated. So on my home computer I usually have both my Firefox browser up for e-mail and general stuff and flock for das blog, facebook, linkedin and my other social network sites.
Comment by livingonli on 05/17/2009 21:34:57
Flock is another browser. They have kind of supplanted Netscape. The one thing they have is sidebars to set up for any of your social media, On my computer, I have it set up for my facebook updates so it lists all my friends and when their pages were last updated. So on my home computer I usually have both my Firefox browser up for e-mail and general stuff and flock for das blog, facebook, linkedin and my other social network sites.
livingonli on 05/17/2009 21:34:57
Quote by Raine:
The issue is not das blog -- it is the server. Bobber is no en casa -- so until he gets home and contacts them -- please have patience?
And seriously -- what is Flock?
I usually zoom around with Safari --
Flock is another browser. They have kind of supplanted Netscape. The one thing they have is sidebars to set up for any of your social media, On my computer, I have it set up for my facebook updates so it lists all my friends and when their pages were last updated. So on my home computer I usually have both my Firefox browser up for e-mail and general stuff and flock for das blog, facebook, linkedin and my other social network sites.
Comment by livingonli on 05/17/2009 21:34:57
Flock is another browser. They have kind of supplanted Netscape. The one thing they have is sidebars to set up for any of your social media, On my computer, I have it set up for my facebook updates so it lists all my friends and when their pages were last updated. So on my home computer I usually have both my Firefox browser up for e-mail and general stuff and flock for das blog, facebook, linkedin and my other social network sites.
livingonli on 05/17/2009 21:34:57
Quote by Raine:
The issue is not das blog -- it is the server. Bobber is no en casa -- so until he gets home and contacts them -- please have patience?
And seriously -- what is Flock?
I usually zoom around with Safari --
Flock is another browser. They have kind of supplanted Netscape. The one thing they have is sidebars to set up for any of your social media, On my computer, I have it set up for my facebook updates so it lists all my friends and when their pages were last updated. So on my home computer I usually have both my Firefox browser up for e-mail and general stuff and flock for das blog, facebook, linkedin and my other social network sites.
Comment by livingonli on 05/17/2009 21:36:11
livingonli on 05/17/2009 21:36:11
A triple post. How the hell did that happen? 
Comment by 
TriSec on 05/18/2009 00:42:39
TriSec on 05/18/2009 00:42:39
Evening, folks.
It's been a busy weekend.....out birdwatching yesterday am, then a noontime soccer game, then a shift at the store yesterday.
Then I was back at the store again today for TEN HOURS (all on the company dime!) for training.
A few weeks back, I applied for something called an "Outdoor Discovery School Kioks Representative".
It's a very cool job...I get to stand out in the sun all summer long and sell "walk-on" adventures to people outside the store. (mostly a couple of hours of kayaking or fly-fishing, same day.)
In any case, it's been called a highly prestigious job, as we are the "public face" of the store all summer long. We get to stay outside while everyone else is stuck indoors, and best of all, for the last excursion of the day (every day!) when I drive the bus out to the site, if the event didn't sell out, I can stay and go on it for nothing, and get paid to do so! (I see a lot of kayaking in my future this summer.)
New job Monday, New job next Saturday....there's a 180º turnaround for ya!
And I'm not being insensitive. I know how hard it is out there....Bob, Livin, Shelagh, Mondo, and everyone else out there in the lifeboats.....we're still praying for ya!
It's been a busy weekend.....out birdwatching yesterday am, then a noontime soccer game, then a shift at the store yesterday.
Then I was back at the store again today for TEN HOURS (all on the company dime!) for training.
A few weeks back, I applied for something called an "Outdoor Discovery School Kioks Representative".
It's a very cool job...I get to stand out in the sun all summer long and sell "walk-on" adventures to people outside the store. (mostly a couple of hours of kayaking or fly-fishing, same day.)
In any case, it's been called a highly prestigious job, as we are the "public face" of the store all summer long. We get to stay outside while everyone else is stuck indoors, and best of all, for the last excursion of the day (every day!) when I drive the bus out to the site, if the event didn't sell out, I can stay and go on it for nothing, and get paid to do so! (I see a lot of kayaking in my future this summer.)
New job Monday, New job next Saturday....there's a 180º turnaround for ya!
And I'm not being insensitive. I know how hard it is out there....Bob, Livin, Shelagh, Mondo, and everyone else out there in the lifeboats.....we're still praying for ya!
Comment by livingonli on 05/18/2009 02:59:34
livingonli on 05/18/2009 02:59:34
I actually did hear a promo on WWRL for Stephanie Miler. Apparently, they will begin running the show Monday but only airing the last hour. The station will continue to run Infomercials from 9-11 AM. Hopefully, they will wise up and realize that's the cheap way out and run some real programming.