Open Thread

11 Comments

1. 

   Cali Scribe on April 11, 2006 at 5:31 pm

   I’ll drink to that… 🙂

   He’s pushing for style over substance from Bush and the Republicans. Then again, that might be all they’re capable of…

2. 

   esquimaux on April 11, 2006 at 5:52 pm

   http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/comics/Piranha.dtl

3. 

   Street Kid on April 11, 2006 at 6:04 pm

   Definitely sums it up!

4. 

   sjct on April 11, 2006 at 6:55 pm

   Did you find your tv remote control and where was it?

   • 

     Man Eegee on April 11, 2006 at 7:02 pm

     the disappearance coincided with his inability to replenish the milkbone supply (plus he ate all the Pringles without sharing).  The horror…

   • 

     BooMan on April 12, 2006 at 12:27 am

     Naw…I got a new remote…$15.

5. 

   Arcturus on April 11, 2006 at 7:05 pm

   Never did get to doing a diary on this after Condi was in Congress last week shillling for the deal. Democrats are divided over it.

   from The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) petition page:

   The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) believes that a nuclear technology trade agreement with India is contrary to the long-term security of the United States, India and the world. The Bush administration has submitted a bill to Congress, HR 4974, which revokes Congressional review and evaluation of any future nuclear trade deal with India. We need your help to defeat this legislation.

   The FAS enthusiastically supports much stronger ties with the world’s largest democracy. There are myriad areas in which cooperation between India and the United States should be improved, including trade, technology, education, and security. Nuclear trade is unnecessary and ill-advised.

   Allowing India to bypass the Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) weakens the entire international non-proliferation effort. While the NPT is not perfect, it should be strengthened, not undermined. Moreover, the United States cannot rightfully criticize India’s nuclear program while at the same time developing a national security strategy that increases the emphasis on nuclear weapons. We believe that the United States should withhold nuclear cooperation from India and work vigorously with other nuclear powers to dramatically reduce the number and salience of nuclear weapons.

   Much was made of the Indian nuclear “deal” but there isn’t really a deal, yet. President Bush and Prime Minister Singh agreed — in principle — to develop a nuclear technology trade agreement, but the details must be worked out over months. Normally, any agreement would be subject to Congressional review. But H. R. 4974 makes it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for Congress to object to whatever the deal turns out to be. In essence, the Congress is being asked to approve a nuclear trade agreement with India months in advance, sight unseen. Even those who support some, but not all, types of possible nuclear agreements with India should oppose this bill that will eviscerate Congressional oversight powers.

   Encourage your members of Congress to vote against H.R. 4974.

   • 

     idredit on April 11, 2006 at 11:23 pm

     some disturbing alerts being sounded by Bill Arkin on Iran…the train has left the station, active war plans?

     See this comment I attached to my dairy here

     Shameless pimping. Yes, but not just my opinion, we’re approaching a crisis. All that shit yesterday with Rumsfeld and Bush on us taking Sy Hersh seriously-we’re sounding like Henny Penny ‘fantasyland’ and ‘wild speculation’ is deep BullSh*i*t.

     • 

       Jaded Prole on April 12, 2006 at 7:04 am

       The media appear to be “ramping up” the propaganda to make Iran seem that much more threatening. A bad sign

6. 

   Street Kid on April 11, 2006 at 8:35 pm

   Medicare D(isaster):  Immigration, Identification, Interpretation

7. 

   James 438 on April 11, 2006 at 8:38 pm

   (This is a little long, but since it’s old news I didn’t think it was worthy of a diary.)– Focus on the Family is up in arms about Prof. Eric Pianka’s alleged desire to kill of most of humanity. This is from today’s email news alert.

   (Did I miss something? I thought this story was completely discredited weeks ago–though I guess I shouldn’t expect FotF to pay attention to the facts of the matter.)

   Professor Hopes for Pandemic

   According to Genesis, we’re made in the image of God. According to Eric Pianka, a professor at the University of Texas, we’re no more important than bacteria.

   Pianka recently said that 6.5 billion people living on the planet is too many. He’s calling for a 90 percent reduction and is just waiting for a good pandemic to take care of the problem.

   According to Joe D’Agostino, vice president of communications for the Population Research Institute:

   “These radical environmentalists are anti-people; they’re anti-human. It really goes to show the real hatred among scientists and others for the human race.”

   Those scientists! Why do they hate humanity?

   D’Agostino says Christians should fight back, but often don’t.

   “Instead they allow themselves to be intimidated,” he said. “They accept the idea that religious freedom means freedom from religion, and they’re worried about offending people.”

   Gary Alan Taylor with Focus on the Family’s Truth Project said that’s why the ministry is aiming to teach a Christian worldview through the video curriculum. The need is palpable, since according to a Barna Research poll, only 9 percent of born-again believers show evidence of having a Christian worldview.

   One funny thing in all this is that the whole “news alert” seems to be an advertisement for this Truth Project the article ends with a link that takes you the project’s webpage, where you can sign up for conferences ($119 for an individual, $149 for a couple).