Political Hippo Circle Jerk - America, farg YEAH!

[Phanatic]

Palin memoir could net big bucks

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20081119/pl_ynews/ynews_pl157

Coming soon to a bookstore near you... Sarah Palin's memoirs?

Speculation is mounting that the Alaska Governor and former Republican vice presidential nominee is closing in on a deal that could net her $7 million to tell her story. Reuters reports that Palin is in high demand:

[shorebird]

I have a hard time believing Osama Bin Laden has actually evaded a full on U.S. effort to find him.  For Bush he's been a "would be nice to get" while the focus has been on empire building in the sand.

Either the U.S. military isn't going all out to get him, or he's in a bunker in D.C.

Do you think it's at all possible he's holed up in one of the many tunneled out caves in the Afghan mountains?? Wasn't it the U.S. that, when the Russian's and Afghan's were at war,  gave them the technology and the machinery to tunnel through all that sandstone? If he's anywere, he could be somewere in those mountains.

[Diomedes]

I think he's in Pakistan, but no one cares what I think.  It's clear to me though that wherever he is, Bush hasn't exactly gone all out to get him.

[Seabiscuit36]

NYT's is reporting Hillary is accepting the Secretary of State position

[phillycrew]

I think Hillary might make a good Secretary of State.

I agree with Dio that I think OBL is in Pakistan.  The problem with "kicking some ass" in Pakistan is they have nukes. 

[Cerevant]

I think Hillary might make a good Secretary of State.

I agree with Dio that I think OBL is in Pakistan.  The problem with "kicking some ass" in Pakistan is they have nukes. 

There is a big difference between GWB stomping around and taking unilateral action, and what I understand is Obama's approach...

The overwhelming majority of countries would at least understand if not support a systematic hunt for the perpetrators of 9/11.  No one understood why we were going into Iraq.

[Diomedes]

This is interesting.  At an NYU law school panel discussion after the election, an audience member asks the panel if, because he is a constitutional lawyer, Obama will treat judicial nominations differently.   At the 69 minute mark Burt Neuborne picks up after one of the other panelists and explains that one thing which "will happen," is that the aging circuit and district court judges who lean democratic, or at least the most partisan ones of that crowd, will all elect for "senior" judge status as soon as they turn 65.  This would allow them the same salary, benefits, caseload, etc. but the point is that "senior" it is a status which effectively vacates their seat, because by law the senior judges are not counted in the same way as the regular sitting judges.  Neuborne claims 100 such judicial appointments could become available within a year by this maneuver.

He doesn't claim Obama has a hand in it, but he does say the judges are talking about it amongst themselves.

If it were to happen--and I hope it does--it could be one of the biggest opportunities for Obama to have an immediate, massive, and lasting effect on the nation.

the link is here, the pertinent exchange happens around minute 69 or so (yes, you can let it load and then fast forward to it; you don't have to suffer the whole farging talk)

http://www.law.nyu.edu/news/ELECTION_PANEL

[rjs246]

Not to step on Dio's toes, but Obama's plan to create jobs by working on the country's infrastructure is goddamned brilliant and a page directly out of FDR's book. We need jobs and our infrastrucure has been ignored for the better part of 3 decades. This will have a long lasting positive impact on the country and create jobs in the short term. Again, Obama is giving me hope that he will be able to do at least some of the things he's promised...

[Diomedes]

I'll be first in line for one of those jobs.

[rjs246]

Let me backpedal a little actually... his plan isn't 'brilliant'. In fact, it's boring when you consider that infrastructure is exactly what government money SHOULD be spent on. But its simplicity is exactly what makes it an intelligent place to start. Again, he still needs to follow through on 'going through every line of the budget' and eliminating wasteful/failing projects, but this is exactly the kind of thing that governments should do to make the country a better place to live so well done.

[Diomedes]

Investing in infrustructure will put people to work, mostly blue collar and middle class people.  That means they can pay their mortgages and buy christmas presents.  The work they do will improve the country drastically by making it easier and more efficient for people and products to move.

All of which helps the rich fargers at the top who get a cut of everything anyway.

If his plan actually includes putting people to work on wind farms, green roofs, etc, then it will also make a big dent in our oil dependency.  It's the right thing to do, no doubt.

[reese125]

It sounds like Obama read Thomas Friedman's "Hot Flat and Crowded" a couple of times

good man

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

GREEN COLLAR JOBS

[Phanatic]

Green companies need IT too right? Sign me up!

[Diomedes]

GREEN COLLAR JOBS

Don't worry, you won't be called upon.  Next to a shallow swampy grave, the corporate cubicle is your proper place.