There are times when I respond quite harshly to views that Chait writes for TNR which make my blood boil and then some time will pass and he’ll write something I really enjoy so I link it up. And then he writes something like this: Give Coburn And Lieberman A Chance My-head-hurts. Make it stop. Now if you’d rather read some intelligent writing on this, click here.
Continue reading …There are times when I respond quite harshly to views that Chait writes for TNR which make my blood boil and then some time will pass and he’ll write something I really enjoy so I link it up. And then he writes something like this: Give Coburn And Lieberman A Chance My-head-hurts. Make it stop. Now if you’d rather read some intelligent writing on this, click here.
Continue reading …
Glenn Beck’s last show airs tonight on Fox News. A new mashup reminds us why this is a sad, sad moment for comedy. Everyone’s favorite (self-described) rodeo clown Glenn Beck will depart Fox News today, after two-and-a-half years. To honor Beck’s work, lefty outfit Media Matters has compiled a mashup of his most outré moments,
Continue reading …
Iain McKenzie tells supporters ‘Labour’s fightback has started here’ after winning majority of 5,838 Labour held on to the Westminster seat of Inverclyde in the party’s first real test since its defeat in the Scottish parliamentary elections. Iain McKenzie was elected with 15,118 votes in the byelection, a majority of 5,838, with the Scottish National Party’s Anne McLaughlin coming second with 9,280 votes. Although Labour’s majority was down by around 9,000 from last year’s general election, the result was welcomed with relief by the party as the SNP came within 500 votes of winning the equivalent Holyrood seat in Scottish elections in May. The Lib Dems’ support collapsed. Their candidate Sophie Bridger won only 627 votes, down from 5,007 in the general election. The Conservative candidate David Wilson won 2,784, and Ukip’s Mitch Sorbie took 288. The byelection was called after the sudden death of Labour MP and former minister David Cairns, shortly after the SNP’s landslide victory in May’s Scottish parliament elections. Despite holding the Westminster seat and its near equivalents for some 80 years, Labour had been struggling to defend its 14,416 vote majority against the SNP. But the partypressed activists into a surge of campaigning, drafting in ex-deputy PM Lord Prescott the day before polling. In his victory speech, McKenzie said: “First can I say this is an election none of us wanted. “We would have much preferred that our dear friend, and widely respected MP David Cairns was still among us and still selflessly serving the people of Inverclyde as he did for 10 years before he was tragically taken from us. “Can I say I’m enormously humbled to be elected to succeed David, and continue his work, standing up for our communities, fighting for fairness and opportunities for our people? “Make no mistake. This was a good night for Inverclyde – and a good night for Labour too. “I’m proud to be part of the Labour party, renewing itself under the leadership of Ed Miliband, listening more, working harder and challenging for better, to get back in touch with those we seek to serve. “And I’m proud that my community of Inverclyde has paid an important step in Labour’s mission to win back the trust of the people both here in Scotland and south of the border. “Remember, only weeks ago the SNP came within 511 votes of winning here, but tonight the voters of Inverclyde have rejected them – this time giving myself and the Scottish Labour Party not a 500 majority, but over 5,000 of a majority. “Labour’s fightback has started right here in Inverclyde – my home town.” Scottish politics Labour Scotland Severin Carrell David Batty guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …
Click here to view this media This afternoon, Glenn Beck broadcast his last Fox News show. We’ll have some thoughts on the particulars in the morning. Meanwhile, I thought it might be useful to look back on his “greatest hits,” as it were, and reflect on the mess he leaves behind : Now, there are plenty of things to object to about Glenn’s trainwreck of a career at Fox, particularly the noxious and yet little-noticed way he almost effortlessly mainstreamed extremist ideas and rhetoric , most recently with his full-bore descent into promoting John Birch Society conspiracism . Undoubtedly, Beck’s relentless fearmongering and the vicious eliminationism of his rhetoric were important components of what made Beck so toxic. Media Matters has compiled an impressive list of the “50 Worst Things Glenn Beck Said On Fox News” that gives a pretty good rundown — but is really only a start. Ultimately, the worst damage he caused was to the shape of our national discourse — from all these factors, but especially in the way he wrapped it up in a “zany” morning-zoo-show format, dragging that discourse down to the level of a prearranged pro-wrestling match. Of course, he’s planning to build on his apocalyptic cult, which is a disturbing prospect, no doubt. And Beck has been promising that his plans for Total World Domination will make us whining, mewling liberals “crap ourselves”. We tremble in anticipatory fear. Meanwhile, I’m drinking a nice cold beer and toasting his departure.
Continue reading …
Lack of artillery, mortars and tanks are frustrating efforts to expand pocket around enclave, rebels say Libyan rebels in Misrata said on Thursday night that they are in discussions with France to supply weapons and ammunition to fighters in the besieged coastal enclave. The frontlines have remained in stalemate for more than a month, with the city enduring nightly bombardments from rockets, and rebel fighters saying they lack the heavy weapons to break the ring of government forces around the city. “We are in discussion with France to supply us with the guns,” said rebel military spokesman Ibrahim Betalmal. “We are trying to do our best to get ammunition and guns from France and inshallah [God willing] we are going to get those guns. These are negotiations with France, not with Nato.” The news comes after reports from Paris said France airdropped weapons and ammunition to rebel forces battling pro-Gaddafi forces in the western mountains who are pushing towards Tripoli from the Tunisian border. Rebels in Misrata say their efforts to expand the pocket around the battered city are frustrated because of a lack of artillery, mortars and tanks. For the past four weeks successive rebel offensives pushing west towards Tripoli have been turned back by pro-Gaddafi forces dug in around the town of Zlitan. Nato has stepped up air strikes against government positions in the past two weeks and has used warships for shore bombardment, but they have not been coordinated with rebel troop movements. Betalmal said negotiations were being handled by the rebel government, the National Transitional Council, and refused to speculate on what kind of weapons might be offered or when they might arrive. The UN has imposed an arms embargo on Libya and Nato warships patrol the coastline to intercept ships suspected of bringing weapons to either government or rebel forces. “We notice that Nato over the past two weeks has increased air strikes for which we are grateful,” said Betalmal. Libya’s opposition leader had earlier on Thursday said that rebels needed more weapons and funding, as China and Russia raised concerns over revelations that France had supplied arms. Mahmoud Jibril, of the Transitional National Council, said foreign deliveries of military hardware would give the rebels a chance to “decide this battle quickly [and] to spill as little blood as possible”. French military spokesman Colonel Thierry Burkhard said on Wednesday that France had airlifted weapons to Libyan civilians in a mountain region south of Tripoli. The deliveries of guns, rocket-propelled grenades and munitions took place in early June in the western Nafusa mountains, when Gaddafi’s troops had encircled civilians. Gaddafi’s prime minister Al-Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi predicted that France “will suffer for this”, saying that the weapons could end up in the hands of terrorists. “Many more French citizens will die because of these acts,” al-Mahmoudi told a small group of reporters in Tripoli, according to a partial transcript of his remarks obtained by the Associated Press. Libya France Middle East Arab and Middle East unrest Africa Europe Chris Stephen guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Lack of artillery, mortars and tanks are frustrating efforts to expand pocket around enclave, rebels say Libyan rebels in Misrata said on Thursday night that they are in discussions with France to supply weapons and ammunition to fighters in the besieged coastal enclave. The frontlines have remained in stalemate for more than a month, with the city enduring nightly bombardments from rockets, and rebel fighters saying they lack the heavy weapons to break the ring of government forces around the city. “We are in discussion with France to supply us with the guns,” said rebel military spokesman Ibrahim Betalmal. “We are trying to do our best to get ammunition and guns from France and inshallah [God willing] we are going to get those guns. These are negotiations with France, not with Nato.” The news comes after reports from Paris said France airdropped weapons and ammunition to rebel forces battling pro-Gaddafi forces in the western mountains who are pushing towards Tripoli from the Tunisian border. Rebels in Misrata say their efforts to expand the pocket around the battered city are frustrated because of a lack of artillery, mortars and tanks. For the past four weeks successive rebel offensives pushing west towards Tripoli have been turned back by pro-Gaddafi forces dug in around the town of Zlitan. Nato has stepped up air strikes against government positions in the past two weeks and has used warships for shore bombardment, but they have not been coordinated with rebel troop movements. Betalmal said negotiations were being handled by the rebel government, the National Transitional Council, and refused to speculate on what kind of weapons might be offered or when they might arrive. The UN has imposed an arms embargo on Libya and Nato warships patrol the coastline to intercept ships suspected of bringing weapons to either government or rebel forces. “We notice that Nato over the past two weeks has increased air strikes for which we are grateful,” said Betalmal. Libya’s opposition leader had earlier on Thursday said that rebels needed more weapons and funding, as China and Russia raised concerns over revelations that France had supplied arms. Mahmoud Jibril, of the Transitional National Council, said foreign deliveries of military hardware would give the rebels a chance to “decide this battle quickly [and] to spill as little blood as possible”. French military spokesman Colonel Thierry Burkhard said on Wednesday that France had airlifted weapons to Libyan civilians in a mountain region south of Tripoli. The deliveries of guns, rocket-propelled grenades and munitions took place in early June in the western Nafusa mountains, when Gaddafi’s troops had encircled civilians. Gaddafi’s prime minister Al-Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi predicted that France “will suffer for this”, saying that the weapons could end up in the hands of terrorists. “Many more French citizens will die because of these acts,” al-Mahmoudi told a small group of reporters in Tripoli, according to a partial transcript of his remarks obtained by the Associated Press. Libya France Middle East Arab and Middle East unrest Africa Europe Chris Stephen guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …To those of us observing, this comes as no surprise. A year ago I wrote about it here , and expanded on it here , here and here . And now, Senator Schumer has hammered that home in this speech at EPI . And we need to start asking ourselves an uncomfortable question – are Republicans slowing down the recovery on purpose for political gain in 2012? It’s one thing for them to block programs they have always opposed. But when they start to contradict themselves by opposing programs they have supported—such as pro-business tax cuts—we are left to wonder. Let’s not forget – Senator McConnell made it clear last October that his number one priority, above everything else, is to defeat President Obama. And now it is becoming clear that insisting on a slash-and-burn approach may be part of this plan – it has a double-benefit for Republicans: it is ideologically tidy and it undermines the economic recovery, which they think only helps them in 2012. The result is that Republicans aren‘t just opposing the President any more. They are opposing the economic recovery itself – and all that means for America’s working and middle class families. It’s about damn time someone called the naked emperor out. I am so tired of hearing the press memes about Obama this, Obama that, and how it’s all going to land on the head of Obama. No. These crazy lunatics on the right are colluding with their corporate brothers to bring down this economy with the assistance of the media. During the Bush administration the debt ceiling had to be raised several times. Note the difference in how it was covered from 2001-2008. The Beltway media was certainly willing to report an increase as a ‘painful vote’, but not one in question. There was never any question that the debt ceiling would be increased then. The only question then was whether the debt ceiling would be raised while the Bush tax cuts were cemented in at the same time. They were. If we could possibly get the media to actually report what Republicans are doing — bankrupting the country, stalling any economic growth for short-term Republican gains, keeping unemployment rates high by decimating the ranks of government employees, and more — maybe there would be an opportunity to move past the stupid finger-pointing into some thoughtful debate about how wrong it is to keep tax rates low while the entire country suffers as a result.
Continue reading …To those of us observing, this comes as no surprise. A year ago I wrote about it here , and expanded on it here , here and here . And now, Senator Schumer has hammered that home in this speech at EPI . And we need to start asking ourselves an uncomfortable question – are Republicans slowing down the recovery on purpose for political gain in 2012? It’s one thing for them to block programs they have always opposed. But when they start to contradict themselves by opposing programs they have supported—such as pro-business tax cuts—we are left to wonder. Let’s not forget – Senator McConnell made it clear last October that his number one priority, above everything else, is to defeat President Obama. And now it is becoming clear that insisting on a slash-and-burn approach may be part of this plan – it has a double-benefit for Republicans: it is ideologically tidy and it undermines the economic recovery, which they think only helps them in 2012. The result is that Republicans aren‘t just opposing the President any more. They are opposing the economic recovery itself – and all that means for America’s working and middle class families. It’s about damn time someone called the naked emperor out. I am so tired of hearing the press memes about Obama this, Obama that, and how it’s all going to land on the head of Obama. No. These crazy lunatics on the right are colluding with their corporate brothers to bring down this economy with the assistance of the media. During the Bush administration the debt ceiling had to be raised several times. Note the difference in how it was covered from 2001-2008. The Beltway media was certainly willing to report an increase as a ‘painful vote’, but not one in question. There was never any question that the debt ceiling would be increased then. The only question then was whether the debt ceiling would be raised while the Bush tax cuts were cemented in at the same time. They were. If we could possibly get the media to actually report what Republicans are doing — bankrupting the country, stalling any economic growth for short-term Republican gains, keeping unemployment rates high by decimating the ranks of government employees, and more — maybe there would be an opportunity to move past the stupid finger-pointing into some thoughtful debate about how wrong it is to keep tax rates low while the entire country suffers as a result.
Continue reading …‘We Put Liberty on Layaway’: Stephen Colbert Addresses Crowds After FEC Approves Super-PAC
June 30, 2011 No CommentStephen Colbert appeared at the Federal Election Commission in Washington, D.C., this morning to find out if his “super PAC” had been approved. It was. And so today is the first day Colbert can start living out his committee slogan: “Making a better tomorrow, tomorrow.” For those few who have not been spending their spare
Continue reading …