Daily Chatterings: Thursday, March 26th

THE BIG CHATTER:
So, this really should be that Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner is testifying on the hill tomorrow, but I am going to be talking about Democracy for America's new efforts all day tomorrow. Launching a new website, Stand With Dr. Dean, the DFA is making health care reform priority number 1, and Howard Dean wants 250,000 signatures. I expect no problems getting it done. President Obama campaigned on a pledge, and the American people voted for it. Now it is time to make health care reform happen. It will be one of the most important changes in American history.

And on a personal note: One of my old volunteers from the Obama campaign, Bill Monroe spoke about DFA trainings on the call. It was pretty cool.

SOME OTHER CHATTERINGS:
On to Secretary Geithner, and his testimony tomorrow.

Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner returns to Capitol Hill on Thursday and is expected to reveal a much anticipated list of Obama administration priorities for preventing future financial collapses.

We will see if this appearance is as impressive as the last one.

North Korea has been slowly preparing for a missile launch. Shortly after the election, satellite photos showed similar activity to what we saw just before their last launch. Now:

North Korea has positioned a Taepodong-2 missile on the launch pad at its facility in Musudan in the east of the country, U.S. officials told NBC News on Wednesday.

They are claiming it is solely for launching a satellite, and that the launch will most likely happen between April 4-8.

This story is sure to move you.

Redstate, not surprisingly, lays down one of the stupidest arguments ever when responding to this statement by Jim Moran:

“It sets us back in the war on terrorism to be maintaining Guantanamo,” said Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.), who’s heading an investigation of the facility for the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

“It will enhance our reputation to close it down and to apply our system of justice to all of these detainees,” he added. …

This is the title of their post, "covering" this story:

Note to Jim Moran (D-VA): People who want to kill themselves to kill you don't care about you 'reputation'

Okay, the problem with this argument is that our "reputation" is the most important recruitment tool for terrorist organizations. In other words, our "reputation" is the most important factor in creating "people who want to kill themselves to kill you." Not to mention the fact that so many of these people have not been proven to be terrorist. And of the typical Republican talking point that:

many of whom took advantage of their second lease on free life to rejoin the jihad and do their utmost to take more innocent American, Iraqi, Afghan, Pakistani, etc. lives.

A lie. A blatant lie. Check MediaMatters for more.

YOUR DAILY VIDEO TO CHAT ABOUT:


Anything I'm missing?

Daily Chatterings: Friday, March 20th 2009

THE BIG CHATTER:
It would appear that, barring some unforeseen outrageousness, the big issue today will be the AIG bonuses. Now that the House passed a bill to tax the bonuses almost out of existence, watch out for the similar legislation that has been introduced in the Senate. I also expect a lot more fighting over who is to blame for letting the bonuses happen.

SOME OTHER CHATTERINGS:
March 20th marks the six year anniversary of the Iraq war. If you asked me seven years ago whether or not we would be stuck in a war in Iraq today, I would have found the question ridiculous.

The AP is reporting that:

At least 13 firms receiving billions of dollars in bailout money owe a total of more than $220 million in unpaid federal taxes, a key lawmaker said Thursday. Rep. John Lewis , D-GA., said two firms owe more than $100 million apiece.

I'm guessing that $220 million will get some chatter time from the talking heads.

There's definitely going to be a lot of talk about President Obama's appearance on the Tonight Show last night. And I kind of doubt it will be about this being the first President to go on the Tonight Show. Big slip.

UPDATE:
Special Olympics Chairman, Tim Shriver, nephew of Sen. Ted Kennedy, has been making the rounds. Apparently, President Obama called him before getting on Air Force One, before the show aired.

"He expressed his disappointment and he apologized in a way that was very moving. He expressed that he did not intend to humiliate this population."

Senator Chuck Graham joins in with this facebook status update:

wonders if Biden will make fun of Obama for pulling a "Biden" last night on Leno

For those of you that are unaware, that is this Senator Chuck Graham.

END OF UPDATE

This is a really depressing story. I often focus so strongly on our economy, that I forget the global economy is hurting.

Aokigahara Forest is known for two things in Japan: breathtaking views of Mount Fuji and suicides. Also called the Sea of Trees, this destination for the desperate is a place where the suicidal disappear, often never to be found in the dense forest.

How is this news?

Lastly, I'm guessing that Republican talking point #1 today will be that President Obama should fire Geithner. And by talking point #1, I mean I expect to see the ditto heads united and spouting the exact same phrases. These Republicans completely support the bonuses, but will be more than happy to criticize Geithner.

YOUR DAILY VIDEO TO CHAT ABOUT:
It is going to be fun to see how good President Obama is at picking his March Madness bracket.


Anything I'm missing?