Our 44th president, Barack Obama

[RGMike]

Holy CRAP!!  Arlen Specter switches parties and becomes a Dem.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/nov05election/detail?entry_id=39231&tsp=1

In his statement, Specter said since becoming a Republican in 1966, and being part of the Reagan "big tent," the GOP has "moved far to the right." "Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats," he said. "I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans."

He said his support for the stimulus package was not popular with his party but that he felt it necessary to prevent the recession from deepening.

"I am unwilling to have my 29-year Senate record judged by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate," Specter said. "I have not represented the Republican Party. I have represented the people of Pennsylvania."

He expressed his regret at disappointing "many friends and supporters," but said, "I am also disappointed that so many in the party I have worked for for more than four decades do not want me to be their candidate. It is very painful on both sides."

[mshray]

that's just in time to give the Dems a fillibuster-proof majority for the nomination of the next Supreme Court justice.

[urth]

that's just in time to give the Dems a fillibuster-proof majority for the nomination of the next Supreme Court justice.

So long as they can get Al Franken seated in the Minnesota delegation before confirmation comes up.

[ggould]

that's just in time to give the Dems a fillibuster-proof majority for the nomination of the next Supreme Court justice.

So long as they can get Al Franken seated in the Minnesota delegation before confirmation comes up.

hopefully there's not much of a rush.  I just wonder how long Norm Coleman will drag things out in Minnesota.

[urth]

that's just in time to give the Dems a fillibuster-proof majority for the nomination of the next Supreme Court justice.

So long as they can get Al Franken seated in the Minnesota delegation before confirmation comes up.

hopefully there's not much of a rush.  I just wonder how long Norm Coleman will drag things out in Minnesota.

I think Obama can make his nomination any time now that Souter has announced his intention to retire, but they can't start confirmation proceedings until he's actually left the bench, which will be when this session is over in June. So they still have a bit of time to work with. But Coleman is showing no signs of wavering, even though Franken's lead seems to get bigger every time there's another challenge. At the rate they're going, it'll be a landslide for Franken by the end of the year.

[ggould]

I haven't listened to, or read the transcript of the entire speech, but have scanned a few articles.  I found a short fragment, which continues to illustrate how sharp this guy is, and how well he frames ideas:

Remember, too, that the ultimate irony of faith is that it necessarily admits doubt... This doubt should not push us away from our faith. But it should humble us. It should temper our passions, and cause us to be wary of self-righteousness.

[RGMike]

I haven't listened to, or read the transcript of the entire speech, but have scanned a few articles.  I found a short fragment, which continues to illustrate how sharp this guy is, and how well he frames ideas:

Remember, too, that the ultimate irony of faith is that it necessarily admits doubt... This doubt should not push us away from our faith. But it should humble us. It should temper our passions, and cause us to be wary of self-righteousness.

Indeed and amen. I heard a clip where he talked about how those on both sides of the abortion debate should not demonize each other. Funny, those "devout Catholics" didn't complain when George "Pro-death penalty" Bush spoke there. (Do NOT get me started on the Catholic Church!)

[RGMike]

Post-of-the-Day from a British guy on hollywood-elsewhere.com, commenting on Obama's speech in Cairo:

"You'd have to be a moron to pick holes in this speech. Well done, again, Mr. Obama.

He's fucking ace. I'm British and just looking at our shambles of a Prime Minister makes it even more clear just how phenomenal your President is. A once-in-a-lifetime kind of guy. Well done, America, for electing him.

Fox News can piss off."

[urth]

Two Japanese guys carrying $134B (yes, that's BILLION) in bonds in their suitcases were arrested while trying to cross the border from Italy into Switzerland. The implications this may have for the US dollar make Bernie Madoff seem like small potatoes.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a62_boqkurbI

[RGMike]

Two Japanese guys carrying $134B (yes, that's BILLION) in bonds in their suitcases were arrested while trying to cross the border from Italy into Switzerland. The implications this may have for the US dollar make Bernie Madoff seem like small potatoes.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a62_boqkurbI

Damn! This oughta be one of Rachel Maddow's "Holy Mackerel!" stories.

[Gazoo]

Obama's fucked over the gay community once again.  I'm grateful for his handling of other affairs, but on this count he's failed me.  He'll never receive another gay dime from me.

[RGMike]

Shoulda seen this one coming. Headline about Obama's "beer summit" with Prof. Gates and the Cambridge police offcer:

"The Audacity of Hops"

[mshray]

Shoulda seen this one coming. Headline about Obama's "beer summit" with Prof. Gates and the Cambridge police offcer:

"The Audacity of Hops"

I got to watch Countdown last night for the first time in ages, and it was all about the Don't Call It a Beer Summit. 

They also showed clips of Limbaugh & Beck calling Obama an "Angry Black Man" who even "hates whites" according to Limbaugh.  Really, so he hates his dead mother, Rush?

But Keith had the night off & I didn't much care for the Brit who was filling in, although he had one good zinger - he said he believes that at some point in the future we will learn that Limbaugh & Beck were secretly on the Dems payrole this whole time.  Brilliant!

[RGMike]

Shoulda seen this one coming. Headline about Obama's "beer summit" with Prof. Gates and the Cambridge police offcer:

"The Audacity of Hops"

I got to watch Countdown last night for the first time in ages, and it was all about the Don't Call It a Beer Summit. 

They also showed clips of Limbaugh & Beck calling Obama an "Angry Black Man" who even "hates whites" according to Limbaugh.  Really, so he hates his dead mother, Rush?

But Keith had the night off & I didn't much care for the Brit who was filling in, although he had one good zinger - he said he believes that at some point in the future we will learn that Limbaugh & Beck were secretly on the Dems payrole this whole time.  Brilliant!

KO's been off for 2 weeks, and I anxiously await his return. MSNBC's bench isn't very deep, sadly -- they had Howard Dean subbing Tues & Wed (rather stiff) and Richard Wolfe is a great talking-head for them, but he's no host. 

there was a lot of talk last year that they were "scouring the globe" for a new host to follow OlberMaddow in the 10 eastern/7 Pacific slot but so far nothing. Cenk Uygur (or however it's spelled) from "Young Turks" would be a fine addition to their lineup.

[RGMike]

BREAKING NEWS: N Korea releases those imprisoned US journos, after a visit from Bill Clinton. ("See, Hillary, I can do your job better than you can")

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/08/03/international/i175802D19.DTL&tsp=1