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As ever, the Bush Administration went right along with the latest Olmertian dream of "bombing for peace" making the more moderate Palestinian Authority stronger.
And when has such a plan actually worked?
But with each day, the authority, its leader, Mahmoud Abbas, and its leading party, Fatah, seem increasingly beleaguered and marginalized, even in the Palestinian cities of the West Bank, which they control. Protesters accuse Mr. Abbas of not doing enough to stop the carnage in Gaza — indeed, his own police officers have used clubs and tear gas against those same protesters.
The more bombs in Gaza, the more Hamas’s support seems to be growing at the expense of the Palestinian Authority, already considered corrupt and distant from average Palestinians.
“The Palestinian Authority is one of the main losers in this war,” said Ghassan Khatib, an independent Palestinian analyst in the West Bank city of Ramallah. “How can it make gains in a war in which it is one of the casualties?”
But blowing shit up — when authorized by us or an ally — is so awesome. How could could it fail?
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EPU’d: Per WaPo:
Emphasis added.
Gawd I hope hope it is the last who could have anticipated from this cabal there is still
126 hrs & 58 min
Good morning, pups. It’s Collins, Kristof and Cohen today. Ms. Collins reassures us in “He’s Leaving. Really.” She says George W. Bush has been saying goodbye for so long now, he’s come to resemble one of those reconstituted rock bands that has been on a farewell tour since 1982. Mr. Kristof , in “Where Sweatshops Are a Dream,” says what the world’s most impoverished people need isn’t fewer sweatshops, but more of them. Mr. Cohen writes about “Magic and Realism,” and says that smart power alone cannot usher in the promise of the 21st century.
Here they are.
The coffee, tea and hot chocolate are ready, and I’ve got banana pancakes this morning. I have no idea what will be on the Sci Fi channel this evening, or what they’ll be hawking on the Home Shopping Network, but either of those seem to be viable viewing options at 8:00 this evening. I don’t think I could tolerate W’s “farewell address.” I don’t have a big enough basket, or enough rolled up socks to throw at the TV… Have a great day.
It’s only Thursday, there’s time for a few more “Who could have anticpated”s
Oh right, tonight’s the big night. It should be good for laughs, based on his comic performance at the press conference the other day
The Bush cabal is going to try to botch things up until their all out on their ear.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news…..SHIN499539
125 hrs & 18 min
A New York Times editorial this morning on DoJ malfeasance under Gonzales, Schlozman, et al begins with this sentence:
Say what? The NYT bemoans that the story has faded from the news? And who do they think might be responsible for this tragedy? The irony, it burns.
Another half hour , or more, of chimpy prevarications and “who coulda thoughts” could send a person over the top. Boots will be thrown, maybe even with feet still in them, and I cannot afford a new teevee.
Eff him and all his rotten buddies.
I wonder when the flood gates on pardons will open
125 hrs & 8 min
Almost over !
Still too much Bush !
25 minutes of half sentences and dispronouciations!
I just had an idea — do you suppose we could get Joel and the bots from Mystery Science Theater 3000 to do running commentary on tonight’s “farewell address?” That is about the only way I would watch it…
And lamenting of misunderestimations.
124 hrs & 59 min
Attaturk’s link is to today’s NY Times.
“….The 19 days of bombing, aimed at impeding Hamas’s ability to threaten southern Israel with its rocket fire, have killed more than 1,000 Gazans, according to Palestinian health officials, and have turned the Gaza Parliament, government ministry offices and countless other buildings and homes to rubble. Foreign donors are expected to give money for extensive reconstruction.
Israeli officials would rather see the authority vested with the responsibility and the budget for the reconstruction bonanza than the Iranian-backed Hamas….”
hmmmmm, FOREIGN DONORS ARE EXPECTED to pay for extensive reconstruction.
Surely, they can’t mean the good old US taxpayer again, can they? /s
RECONSTRUCTION BONANZA…Hey, Haliburton, KBR, Bechtel, got your cost-plus, no competition demands all ready??
Washington Journal:
7:00-8:00 Newspaper Articles/Phones/Newsdesk Hits/Phoners
DAVID HERSZENHORN
New York Times
Newsdesk Congressional Reporter http://www.nytimes.com
Topic: Guest will discuss the congressional reaction to President-elect Barack Obama’s proposed $800 billion economic recovery plan. Guest wrote this morning that Mr. Obama’s proposal faces tough negotiations from Senate Republicans.
8:00-8:30 REP. BARNEY FRANK
D-Massachusetts, Financial Services
Committee Chairman
http://www.house.gov/frank http://financialservices.house.gov
Topic: The House’s debate and expected vote today on a bill that sets conditions for release of the next installment of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). Chairman Frank wants the release of $350 billion in TARP funds to be tied to new uses – especially to addressing home foreclosures, and help for municipalities. He thinks it’s been too closely tied to Wall Street so far. House Republican Leader John Boehner has said he opposes the bill. Chairman Frank is the bill’s author.
8:30-9:00 REP. KEVIN McCARTHY
R-California, Chief Deputy Whip
22nd District – Bakersfield http://kevinmccarthy.house.gov
Topic: Guest will discuss today’s hearing sponsored by House Republican Whip Eric Cantor that includes testimony from the GOP leadership and the House Economic Stimulus Working Group – a group of business experts and leaders who will offer ideas and solutions to help revitalize America’s economy. Guest will also discuss GOP reaction to Pres.-elect Obama’s economic proposals so far.
9:00-9:30 Newspaper Articles/Phones
9:30-10:00 DR. DENIS CORTESE Mayo Clinic
President & CEO http://www.mayoclinic.org
Topic: A look at the Mayo Clinic & their work in healthcare. Guest will also discuss the national healthcare system, advancements in medicine & what he sees as the most needed areas of change under the incoming Obama administration.
Just heard on Nice Polite Republicans that Israel shelled the crap out of UN Headquarters in Gaza. Nice job, folks… Apparently some Palestinians had taken shelter there, so UN or no UN there was shelling to be done.
I won’t watch Bush ,I’ll wait for KO or Maddow’s commentary !
Hey Olmert you better give Bush his marching orders quick
124 hrs & 51 min
“Israel is proposing, with the tacit agreement of Egypt and the United States, to place the Palestinian Authority at the heart of an ambitious program to rebuild Gaza, administering reconstruction aid and securing Gaza’s borders.”
It’s great that “the only democracy in the Middle East” wants to push aside Gaza’s elected Hamas officials and install a regime more to its liking.
dreadful, isn’t it?
here’s from CNN
I am sure our MSM stenographers will explain it all perfectly for us.
http://www.scholarsandrogues.c…..el-pretty/
great picture too
124 hrs & 45 min
Interesting photo slide show of Obama’s people.
That’s what I’m waiting for, the pardons. Do you think it will be a Friday night dump or will he wait till Tuesday morning when the world is focused on Obama. We should have a pool. My thinking is that these pardons will be so infuriating that they won’t happen till late Monday.
Bush will get off on one last chance to say ‘fuck you’ to the American people.
nice.
more phosphorus bombs,to destroy aid supplies .
Seems like some of Obamas people are really into the who could have anticipated gang.
http://www.propublica.org/arti…..watch#7275
124 hrs & 31 min
The Greater GITMO in Gaza, huh?
I read the last sentence: …push aside Gaza’s elected Hamas officials and install a quisling more to its liking, like Mobarek.
My 27 meant as reply to Legion 303 at 19
Thanks ecahn I saved that one
H/T Josh
I figure the pardon dump will be released between 11:30 and 11:45 a.m. on Jan 20 – to mess up Obama’s play house and defy the people one last time – the little spoiled brat makes one last destructive mess.
I figure Addington, Yoo, Gonzo, Mukasey as preemptive pardons. Maybe Libby. As for Cheney, he wasn’t part of the government so he didn’t have anything to do with any criminal activity. /s
you could be right, it’s going to take GWB some time to relinquish the spotlight I think.
Have ya realized that sometime during Morning Swim tomorrow we’ll be down to double digits?
Indiscriminate bombing,White Phosphorus,Depleted uranium, Cluster bombs, Nit-wits with steroid designed protective gear invading cities with tanks and artillery . Who are the terrorists?
Mirror anyone?
Who does this remind us of?
Time to go to work ,and man is it cold ,6 or 7 degrees ( the thermometer can’t make up it’s mind ) !!
See y’all later !!!
Don’t forget to call your Senators today on Eric Holder.
keep your toes warm
Swim’s up
DIGG is open.
Sorry, I can’t get URL to transfer. When I right-click to copy URL my highlight disappears. Won’t work on Firefox either. Anybody got a fix?
Georgie’s 8 year pathological rampage under his kleeeeg lights; let’s not kid ourselves, he ain’t finished. Look for some ’shocking’ act about 4:30 p.m. this Friday – - his specialty.
Try this. Go to Digg and copy the URL. Come back to comments and type whatever you’re gonna. Highlight the word you want to be the link. Left click on the link link. Paste the URL into the text box, then click OK.
try it anyway, the text is still selected even if it isn’t highlighted at that moment.
Bush & Co. profit from conflict so of course they’re more then happy to fan the flames. It may look like a colossal failure to us but to them they are succeeding. The middle east is a perfect region to antagonize because all they have to do is use ‘protecting Israel’ as justification then label anyone who questions the madness, antisemitic. End of argument – it works everytime. If they radicalize the population, even better. More cost-plus, nobid contracts for them.
The Israeli apologists are learning that the “anti-Semitic” labeling is wearing thin and rather than halting discussion it intensifies it. Venezuela broke off diplomatic relations with Israel yesterday. Hopefully more countries will take some form of stand diplomatically.
The step at copy the URL is where my procedure breaks down. I’ll try Elliot’s suggestion at #42.
Thanks.
Will do. Thanks. I sure hope it works.
DIGG
This is what happens when I type DIGG, highlight it, click the link button, paste the URL, click ok.
What am I doing wrong? It worked before last 2 windows updates.
I see your problem, you ended up with “http://” in there twice. Try deleting the “http://” in the link box first, and then paste in your link.
ha,ha,ha — what I saw is not what I got!! Before I hit submit I saw a long line of computer-speak, after submit I see the blue DIGG.
Guess you’ll have figured out – I ain’t no geek.
Thanks SD and Elliot.
Elliot, seems I’ve heard that “try it anyway” before when I was a bit stubborn and standing in my own sunlight. hee,hee,hee
Looks to me like something is going awry copying the url. If you right click on the url at Digg the url should become highlighted and a menu box will drop down. Left click on copy. Come back here, type in your comment. Highlight the word you want linked and then click on the link link and paste the url into the text box.
Be sure to right click in the url link text box. That will override the http:// you see highlighted when you open the link dialog box.
Thanks, SD. I didn’t know about the menu box dropping down. (automatic?).
I’ve printed out your and Elliott’s instructions for next time.
You young whipper-snappers just amaze me!
I turned 65 last November. Earned a computer science degree at 55. *g*
A drop down menu will appear any time you right click in a text box. The box you see the site’s url in is a text box, as is the box you paste the url into, i.e. if you look at the top of the page the box where you see http://firedoglake.com… is a text box.
The comments box where I’m typing is also a text box.
psst
Thanks, you boys! I just successfully opened the DIGG at the swim.
SD, I hope that by the time you’re my age the world will be all fixed and the sane humans will be in charge again.
How are those furry critters and all other living things in your neck of the woods?
My thought on the pardons has always been a Saturday Night Massacre. It all happens this weekend, when no one thinks we’re paying attention.
Bush will pardon everyone, then step down, so Cheney can be 44 (screwing up all the printed matter and history on Obama) and pardon Bush.
The cabal wins.