Al Franken Century / Super Inaug-u-rama Politics Thread

by **Bucky** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 22:30:50

What's so implausible about that :?:

by **JFLNYC** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 22:46:42

Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Terrance W. Gainer estimated that several thousand people with blue and purple tickets could not get into the designated sections.

“It does appear that maybe there were more tickets in purple and blue than bulky people in coats would permit,” he said.

New police code for Blacks, a/k/a "BPIC."

by **jerseyhoya** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 22:48:15

It's really a crappy excuse too because my old college roommate who worked on the campaign and got me the ticket was a bit more aggressive in the line and made it in. He said the purple section was spacious and empty compared to everything else around it.

by **JFLNYC** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 22:49:40

There were plenty of reports of people with Silver tickets who didn't get in, too.

by **Wizlah** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 07:00:30

Houshphandzadeh wrote:Poem was way too safe

The collective groans that went up from the permanent staff of the Edinburgh International Book Festival were a thing to behold. We've seen more than our fair share of poetry readings, and I realise she was coming after the new prez, but man did that suck. The minister who gave the benediction or whatever was way better. He ruled.

Hrm, speaking of Prez . . .

by **Wizlah** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 07:17:46

JFLNYC wrote:
Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Terrance W. Gainer estimated that several thousand people with blue and purple tickets could not get into the designated sections.

“It does appear that maybe there were more tickets in purple and blue than bulky people in coats would permit,” he said.

New police code for Blacks, a/k/a "BPIC."

Shit, they've been using that in london for years now. It's even an acceptable excuse in the event of an unfortunate fatality.

by **Wizlah** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 07:58:30

Werthless wrote:
The Red Tornado wrote:Finally found a transcript

On this day!

Having just read the speech, I must say it is quite good. It starts off slow, and contains a bunch of generalities, obviously, but I still liked it.

Hah. When he got to the bit about the market requiring a steadying hand, I thought 'damn, werthless not going to like that . . .' then he mentioned 'on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart' and I figured you'd be happier.

by **Wizlah** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:51:19

Yay. Now isreal thinks it may have used WP rounds. But fuck it, you know, when you're firing that many shells, it's easy to dump the wrong load into artillery, right? Still, they're pretty sure they only fired them at Hamas folk. Not hospitals. Although I can see why the latter might need white phospherous raining if they've got to cauterize a lot of stumps at once. I mean, it's not like they were short on those the last couple of weeks.

The admission that the shells may have been used improperly follows yesterday's demand by the UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon for an investigation into the targeting of UN facilities – including by phosphorus weapons.

It also follows the decision by the IDF to protect the names of battalion and brigade commanders who participated in Operation Cast Lead.

According to Israel Army Radio on Wednesday the decision – ordered by defence minister Ehud Barak – was made in anticipation that war crimes charges may be filed against IDF officers, who could face prosecution when they travel overseas.

by **Wizlah** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:56:42

FWIW, here's a pretty interesting profile on John Ging, who's head of UNWRA operations in Gaza. It's funny, growing up we all used to make jokes about how all the irish army was good for was manning checkpoints in beirut in blue helmets. Guess all that experience can be put to good use.

He began his career with the Irish army in 1983, serving for 12 years in peacekeeping missions in central Africa, the Balkans and southern Lebanon, before reaching the rank of captain. He resigned his commission voluntarily in 2002.

During his time in the army, Ging worked for 18 months with the Irish non-governmental organisation Goal, as regional director for Zaire, Tanzania, and Rwanda in the aftermath of Rwanda’s civil war.

Responding to statements by Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni that there is “no humanitarian crisis” in Gaza, Ging said: “We have a catastrophe unfolding in Gaza for the civilian population. The people in the north have no water. That comes on top of having no electricity. They’re trapped, they’re traumatised, they’re terrorised by the situation.

“They’re in their homes. They’re not safe. They’re being killed and injured in large numbers, and they have no end in sight. The inhumanity of this situation, the lack of action to bring this to an end is bewildering to them.”

He also castigated Israel’s targeting of public buildings. “The whole infrastructure of the future state of Palestine is being destroyed. Blowing up the parliament building – that’s not a Hamas building. The president’s compound is for the president of Palestine. Schools, mosques.”

by **JFLNYC** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 13:07:09

The U.S. also used white phosphorous shells in Iraq in both assaults on Fallujah, if not elsewhere.

by **Werthless** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 13:30:34

Wizlah wrote:
Werthless wrote:
The Red Tornado wrote:Finally found a transcript

On this day!

Having just read the speech, I must say it is quite good. It starts off slow, and contains a bunch of generalities, obviously, but I still liked it.

Hah. When he got to the bit about the market requiring a steadying hand, I thought 'damn, werthless not going to like that . . .' then he mentioned 'on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart' and I figured you'd be happier.

If he comes close to showing as much respect for the Constitution (and liberty in general) as his speech portends, I'll be relieved.

by **kruker** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 15:51:36

by **jerseyhoya** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 22:11:25

Obama done got resworn in this evening. I didn't make it to this one either.

by **Stay_Disappointed** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 13:13:49

Obama has been president not even three days and my workplace has had a fire drill already. :shock:

by **kruker** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 13:23:32

Caroline Kennedy's cites personal reasons for dropping her Senate bid. Does avoiding the inevitable embarrassment (or perceived embarrassment) of not being selected count as a personal reason?

by **dajafi** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 13:46:27

kruker wrote:Caroline Kennedy's cites personal reasons for dropping her Senate bid. Does avoiding the inevitable embarrassment (or perceived embarrassment) of not being selected count as a personal reason?

This certainly could be spin, but...

According to a knowledgeable Democratic source that spoke with Time, Caroline Kennedy withdrew from consideration for the vacant U.S. Senate seat "because of a personal matter that arose 48 hours before she fully expected to be chosen" by New York Gov. David Paterson.

"Without talking to her political advisers, Kennedy called Paterson and told her she had a personal issue that made her inclined to withdraw her name. He told her to take 24 hours to reconsider. She took that time on her own, and ultimately decided to stick with her original decision."

The New York Daily News has a similar explanation.

I hated the idea of Senator Princess, as I generally detest dynastic politics. But I also think Paterson is a spineless machine pol, and I'm sure his main calculation was and is who best helps him win in two years. (Number two: who has a good enough relationship with Obama to get a little extra lobbying oomph on behalf of the state.)

This is telling in its own right: if you're confident in your own performance, you make the best decision and let the politics work themselves out. But he's not that guy. With Kennedy money behind her, that would have made his fund-raising that much easier. Now he'll have to get by with Cuomo--another dynast, and a jerk, but at least a knowledgeable guy--or Gillibrand, whom I don't know much about but might have an edge by virtue of being a woman and not hailing from the city.

by **JFLNYC** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 13:50:17

Are you saying Patterson lacks vision?

by **Bakestar** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 13:52:23

oh ya he's blind

by **Phan In Phlorida** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 15:11:44

Al Gore's Green Ball?

:shock:

Sounds like he needs to see a doctor :shock:

by **Bakestar** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 15:12:43

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Al Franken Century / Super Inaug-u-rama Politics Thread