Last Call

The Super Committee has super-imploded, as expected by well, everyone.  The blame game begins.

Obama said Republicans in Congress rejected what he called a balanced approach to deficit reduction that included tax increases on the wealthy.

"Despite the broad agreement that exists for such an approach, there are still to many Republicans in Congress that have refused to listen to the voices of reason and compromise that are coming from outside of Washington," Obama told reporters after the super committee announced its failure.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, said Democrats "were prepared to strike a grand bargain that would make painful cuts while asking millionaires to pay their fair share, and we put our willingness on paper," but Republicans "never came close to meeting us halfway."

His GOP counterpart, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, argued that an agreement "proved impossible not because Republicans were unwilling to compromise, but because Democrats would not accept any proposal that did not expand the size and scope of government or punish job creators."

Republican presidential contenders complained that Obama had failed to display necessary leadership to forge an agreement, an accusation rejected by White House Press Secretary Jay Carney.

"Congress assigned itself a job; assigned 12 of its own members a task -- a task that wasn't really that difficult to achieve if there was a willingness to compromise," Carney said of the so-called super committee created under the debt ceiling agreement earlier this year. He added: "Congress needs to meet its responsibilities."

Mitch is a funny guy.  But not as much as Congress itself is.  Nobody expected the Super Committee to do anything, but that wasn't the point.  The point was the President maneuvering the Republicans into a no-win position, and that's exactly what he has done.  The Republicans will do anything to delay the inevitable, but they're locked into each counter-move from here, forced to react, not act.

Now the fun really begins.

Iran, So Far Away, Part 2

Looks like another round of Iranian sanctions is in the works, this time targeting the country's oil and gas industry.

The Obama administration plans to impose fresh sanctions against Iran on Monday, diplomatic sources familiar with the plan told CNN.


U.S. sanctions already prohibit American companies from doing business with Iran.

The goal of the new measures is to bar foreign companies from doing business with Iran's petrochemical industry by threatening to ban them from U.S. markets, the sources said.

The sources did not want to be named because they are not authorized to speak on record before officials roll out the sanctions.

The measures, which the sources said are expected to be announced early Monday, build on existing sanctions on Iran's oil and gas industry.

That's moderately hardball stuff there, off the top of my head I recall that Russia does oil business with Iran, as does China. Cutting Chinese and Russian oil companies out of the US market for doing business with Iran may have a whole lot of unintended consequences, but we'll see if this is the actual plan, or what kind of loopholes are in the sanctions.  One would think foreign companies that do business with Iran would be persona non grata around here anyway, so it's entirely possible that nothing will actually change.

We'll see what the reaction of European/Asian/African countries are.

The Hillary Wedge, Again

And whenever President Obama is making headway with his numbers clearly improving, enter our dear old friends Pat Caddell and Doug Schoen with an op-ed in the WSJ screaming that OBAMA IS DOOMED and that only Hillary can save the Dems.

One year ago in these pages, we warned that if President Obama continued down his overly partisan road, the nation would be "guaranteed two years of political gridlock at a time when we can ill afford it." The result has been exactly as we predicted: stalemate in Washington, fights over the debt ceiling, an inability to tackle the debt and deficit, and paralysis exacerbating market turmoil and economic decline.

If President Obama were to withdraw, he would put great pressure on the Republicans to come to the table and negotiate—especially if the president singularly focused in the way we have suggested on the economy, job creation, and debt and deficit reduction. By taking himself out of the campaign, he would change the dynamic from who is more to blame—George W. Bush or Barack Obama?—to a more constructive dialogue about our nation's future.

Even though Mrs. Clinton has expressed no interest in running, and we have no information to suggest that she is running any sort of stealth campaign, it is clear that she commands majority support throughout the country. A CNN/ORC poll released in late September had Mrs. Clinton's approval rating at an all-time high of 69%—even better than when she was the nation's first lady. Meanwhile, a Time Magazine poll shows that Mrs. Clinton is favored over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney by 17 points (55%-38%), and Texas Gov. Rick Perry by 26 points (58%-32%).

But this is about more than electoral politics. Not only is Mrs. Clinton better positioned to win in 2012 than Mr. Obama, but she is better positioned to govern if she does. Given her strong public support, she has the ability to step above partisan politics, reach out to Republicans, change the dialogue, and break the gridlock in Washington. 

Yes, because Republicans love Hillary Clinton and would totally work with her if just the awful black man does the honorable thing and refuse to run for a second term.  Bonus Verbatim Stupid:

Put simply, it seems that the White House has concluded that if the president cannot run on his record, he will need to wage the most negative campaign in history to stand any chance.

Right. You know, unlike the GOP in 2008.  That was a campaign of rainbows and unicorn farts.

If you honestly think that the best thing to do right now is for President Obama to give up, hand everything over to Hillary Clinton, and that by doing so, this will magically make the Republican Party totally come back to the table for awesome bi-partisan compromise, then I have a lovely royal friend in Nigeria who needs your money in order to get his treasury funds out of the country.  Just cut me a check now along with your credit card number and your SSN.  It'll be great.

The best part is at the end, where they blame 100% of the partisan divide on the black guy and demand that he not only step aside but be made the step aside by Pelosi and Reid, and that Hillary be made to run.  Or else...well, umm...well Doug and Pat aren't sure, but it may involve Obama not being President anymore.

And if this entire article doesn't drip with absolute burning hatred for the President, the implied condescension that not only is he completely incompetent, but that any of his supporters must have their judgment thoroughly questioned as Democrats as well, as if any thinking Democrat, any real Democrat, would instantly agree with their logic as tautology of the most pristine credibility, the assumption of privilege here that President Obama should listen to his moral superiors and exit the election as the "right" thing to do is staggering.

How dare, they say, should the President dare run for re-election when the country is suffering when his very existence offends the authors to the point where the only chance the Democratic party has, they believe, is political suicide.  The suggestion that Hillary Clinton will step above partisan politics where Barack Obama is incapable of doing so means that either Caddell and Shoen have frightfully short memories...or that they believe you do.

Imagine, two professional conservative "Democrat" pollsters demanding that the entire Democratic party drop everything to validate their confirmation bias, pleading their case in Rupert Murdoch's outlet of choice for "gravitas".

They've been running this game of three-card monte for a year now.  I'm sure they have our best interests at heart, considering we're just brain-dead anyway.

Meet Diego

Also known as Fatbot (if you don't get it, watch more Futurama), this is my beloved Diego.  He has met Zandar, and approved of his existence.  Also pictured is his teddy bear, Raul.

Diego does not play well with others.  Mistakes were made, Raul was naughty.  Now back away slowly and let him get back to his day.

Where's My Bottle, B$@%#!

Huffington Post ran this short and sweet article, and I had to share.

A talking baby doll available at Toys "R" Us is upsetting some parents, who claim it has a potty mouth.

Some customers are calling for the "You & Me Interactive Play & Giggle Triplet Dolls" to be pulled from shelves because they say one of the dolls can be heard uttering, "You crazy bitch."

"I did hear that. I wouldn't want that for my child. Definitely not," Denise Altschule told FOX23 in Tulsa, Okla.

Another mother told WJXT-TV in Jacksonville, Fla., that she feared her son could pick up the curse word from the doll. "I don't want him repeating what's on there," she said.

The dolls, which are intended for children 2 and up, are being sold exclusively at Toys "R" Us stores. A Toys "R" spokeswoman told FOX23 that the retail store has not received widespread complaints and said the offending phrase is just baby talk.

Watch the video and decide for yourself.

It took some work.  But yeah right, like kids would learn the B word from a doll, but NOT from every mainstream television show, traffic rant, etc.   It's one of those words that is common enough a talk about "don't say this word" is mandatory, and why it's a bad word.  The doll thing is amusing to me, but then so is acting like snowflake's ears will not be exposed sooner or later.

Orly? Ya Rly! In New Hampshire

She's baaaaaack.

The birther wars continue. Orly Taitz, birther queen of California, personally filed a complaint in New Hampshire on Saturday that challenged President Obama’s U.S. citizenship and argued for his removal from the state’s ballot, reports the Concord Monitor.

New Hampshire’s electoral governing body, the Ballot Law Commission, turned down the complaint in a public hearing via 5-0 vote. It got pretty ugly shortly thereafter.

“Traitors!” screamed the members of the attending public. “Treason!”

“You have no decency! You have no honesty! You’re committing treason!”

The group of birthers, which included several New Hampshire state representatives, erupted after the decision, shouting at the commission attorneys as they tried to exit the hearing room. Another state representative apparently suggested committee members should cover their face with a mask if they ever found themselves in his district.

Considering the chair of the committee is a Republican, it tells you something that Taitz lost a unanimous vote on her idiocy.  Even Republicans it seems are tired of her racist birther stupidity.

I honestly believe she needs to seek help.

Drive Fast, Turn...On The First Lady

So Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden went to Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup finale race in Miami to honor our men and women in uniform.  The reception the First Lady got?  Exactly what you'd expect from NASCAR fans, apparently.



I'll tell you what, nothing shows class and distinction like booing the First Lady of the United States because you disagree politically with her husband. Way to go, guys.

As I've said again and again:  Not all Obama Derangement Syndrome is directed at one Barack Obama.

StupidiNews!

• NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg announced the NYPD arrest of a terror suspect caught before he could allegedly detonate a pipe bomb.
• Reports put some ten dead and hundreds wounded in a bloody crackdown Sunday in Cairo's Tahrir Square by Egypt's military government.
• Syrian rebels are claiming responsibility for a rocket propelled grenade attack on the Damascus offices of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's ruling party.
• New Zealanders head to the polls this week in what is expected to be re-election for Prime Minister John Key's National Party.
• Patents filed by Apple suggest that the company is working on an "airbag" anti-shock system for electronic devices that are dropped.

Last Call

The Afghans are setting new ground rules for dealing with the US, and it looks like a partnership is in the cards for the two countries.

An overwhelming majority of the participants of a loya jirga or the grand council of elders on Saturday backed President Hamid Karzai's call for a long-term partnership with the United States that would come into effect after the withdrawal of international troops in 2014.


“In order to protect the achievement of the last 10 years and given the political situation in the region, a strategic partnership with the United States is considered to be necessary for the political, economical and military stability of the country,” the meeting's final resolution said.

But that agreement would require the U.S. to agree to a complete halt of night raids, an end to the arbitrary jailing of Afghan suspects, the closure of all American detention centers in Afghanistan, and the transfer of all Afghan detainees to government-run prisons, according to the resolution, which was issued on the fourth and last day of the council.

Karzai said that he had worried that the jirga might reject the strategic partnership or that the participants would take a soft approach toward the issue and fail to set out enough conditions. But Karzai said he was satisfied with the result. “I absolutely agree with it,” Karzai said.

Karzai convened the grand meeting, which was attended by more than 2,000 delegates from across the country, to advise his government on what framework should govern a strategic partnership with the United States. Included in the meetings were members of parliament, tribal elders, members of provincial councils and representatives of Afghan refugees in Iran and Pakistan. The delegates were divided into 40 committees to discuss the issues.

Karzai said his government would use the recommendations to guide future discussions with the United States.

As 2011 have proven several times so far, "this is what democracy looks like".

Rush 'N' Attack

So it turns out that weird "cyber-attack" that knocked out a water pump facility in Illinois last week?  Yeah, turns out it was in fact...the Russians.

A cyber strike launched from outside the United States hit a public water system in the Midwestern state of Illinois, an infrastructure control systems expert said on Friday.


“This is arguably the first case where we have had a hack of critical infrastructure from outside the United States that caused damage,” Applied Control Solutions managing partner Joseph Weiss told AFP.

“That is what is so big about this,” he continued. “They could have done anything because they had access to the master station.”

The Illinois Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center disclosed the cyber assault on a public water facility outside the city of Springfield last week but attackers gained access to the system months earlier, Weiss said.

The network breach was exposed after cyber intruders burned out a pump.

“No one realized the hackers were in there until they started turning on and off the pump,” according to Weiss.

The attack was reportedly traced to a computer in Russia and took advantage of account passwords stolen during a hack of a US company that makes Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) software.

So, maybe there's something to this whole "foreign cyber attack" thing after all, especially if Russian mafia hackers are getting into our infrastructure and playing with the equipment.  Maybe it was government-sponsored, maybe it was terrorists, maybe it was just some obnoxious kids.  Dunno.

Not feeling really good about such vulnerabilities if they exist.

One Tough Egyptian Cookie

Cairo, Egypt (CNN) -- Egyptian blogger Aliaa Magda Elmahdy has become a household name in the Middle East and sparked a global uproar after a friend posted a photo of her naked on Twitter.

The photo, which the 20-year-old former student first posted on her blog, shows her naked apart from a pair of thigh-high stockings and some red patent leather shoes.

CNN: Why did you post a photo of yourself nude photo on Twitter, and why the red high heels and black stockings?

Elmahdy: After my photo was removed from Facebook, a male friend of mine asked me if he may post it on Twitter. I accepted because I am not shy of being a woman in a society where women are nothing but sex objects harassed on a daily basis by men who know nothing about sex or the importance of a woman.

The photo is an expression of my being and I see the human body as the best artistic representation of that. I took the photo myself using a timer on my personal camera. The powerful colors black and red inspire me.

CNN: Who is Aliaa Elmahdy inside the body portrayed in the nude photo?

Elmahdy: I like being different. I love life, art, photography and expressing my thoughts through writing more than anything. That is why I studied media and hope to take it further to the TV world too so I can expose the truth behind the lies we endure everyday in this world. I don't believe that we must have children only through marriage. It's all about love.

She is educated. She thinks for herself. She insists that she be valued in a society that treats women like livestock. She has hopes, dreams and ideas, and is willing to work to make them happen. She made a statement that will echo for many women who come after her.  She wants to break free from the oppression women face all over the world, but especially so in her part of the world.

She also addresses something that I found very disturbing a few months ago: the forced virginity tests young women are put through.  I had a hard time finding the words to say what I felt, and she comes back with the perfect and complete reply.

CNN: What do you think about the forced virginity tests performed by the Egyptian military on more than a dozen girls arrested in Tahrir Square?

Elmahdy: I consider this rape. Those men in the military who conducted these tests should be punished for allowing this to happen without the consent of the girls in the first place. Instead, the girls walk around feeling the shame and most of them are forced to remain silent.

Well said. This week we linked to an article that said women whose eyes are "too tempting" may have to cover them. Women are treated as property if they are lucky, slaves if they are not. They live and often die at the whim of men. It's not a crime to be a woman, and there is nothing wrong with being true to yourself and demanding fair treatment. It takes brave people, and this woman repeatedly shows more strength and morals than those who would flog her for daring to show her face in public.

McDonald's And Target Drop Egg Farm Over Cruelty Claims

This really bothers me, and I usually skip these articles.  I accept that I'm a hypocrite, destined to eat meat while feeling guilty about how animals are treated.  We took good care of our farm animals, and treated them with consideration and respect.  It is important to recognize what goes on so we can eradicate this in the future.

(CNN) -- McDonald's and Target dropped an egg supplier this week after an activist group released disturbing video showing what it says shows animal cruelty at three of the company's barns.

The undercover video, released by Mercy for Animals, was allegedly shot between May and August at facilities run by Sparboe Farms in Colorado, Iowa and Minnesota. It shows hens crammed in crowded cages, workers burning beaks and one, trying to shove a bird inside the pocket of a co-worker, apparently for fun. Another worker presses his thumb against the back of a chick's neck until it breaks.

"Regarding the undercover videos, the behavior on tape is disturbing and completely unacceptable. McDonald's wants to assure our customers that we demand humane treatment of animals by our suppliers. We take this responsibility -- along with our customers' trust -- very seriously. It's important to note that the most alarming actions on video did not occur at Sparboe's Vincent, Iowa, facility that supplies McDonald's. Nonetheless, our extremely high standards for our suppliers prohibit this conduct," McDonald's said in a statement, announcing its decision to cut ties with Sparboe Farms.

The response from Sparboe was "this isn't who we are." Ridiculous in light of the fact that this happened on their premises, and serious violations were found. I am glad to see two major vendors taking this seriously. It gives me hope that standards will be enforced and animals can be treated as kindly as possible, whenever possible.

Gingrich Calls Child Labor Laws "Truly Stupid"

(CNN) - Newt Gingrich proposed a plan Friday that would allow poor children to clean their schools for money, saying such a setup would both allow students to earn income and endow them with a strong work ethic.

Speaking at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, the former House Speaker said his system would be an improvement on current child labor laws, which he called "truly stupid."

"It is tragic what we do in the poorest neighborhoods, entrapping children in child laws which are truly stupid," Gingrich said. "Saying to people you shouldn't go to work before you're 14, 16. You're totally poor, you're in a school that's failing with a teacher that's failing."

So, I actually see where he was going and I feel dirty about admitting it. I was raised on a farm and I worked from the time I was old enough to handle the physical requirements. My childhood was pleasant enough, and I grew into a responsible adult with a solid work ethic. I had chores, and I had Big Chores, and I learned a lot of practical tips.

However, there is a lot wrong with the actual application of his suggestion. Children are going to learn a leaner and harder lifestyle than the generation before them. However, child labor laws are far from stupid, and it is shameful to imply that exploitation of children is not a real threat. Once upon a time that happened everywhere, and it still happens all around the world.

Learning responsibility is a good thing. A child contributing to the family is a good thing, through helping in whatever their abilities allow. However, there are liabilities and things not mentioned here, such as who is going to run this and ensure the safety of the children. It's a sloppy answer that wasn't thought out, and calling child labor laws stupid was the sprinkles on the cupcake of stupidity.

Fire Walker Chronicles, Part 4

A big weekend rally in Madison, Wisconsin was a huge success as over 25,000 gathered in the state capital to protest Gov. Scott Walker and to urge his recall.

Thousands of people gathered at the Wisconsin capitol on Saturday to demand a recall of Republican Governor Scott Walker, whose controversial and successful drive to limit public unions last winter sparked the biggest protests in the state since the Vietnam War.


Former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold, a Democrat, signed a recall petition during a morning meeting with about 300 recall volunteers and pledged to help the effort through his political action committee.
With the crowd chanting “Run, Russ, Run,” Feingold repeated that he would not run against Walker in any recall election.

“There will be a new governor in a few months. It won’t be me, but it will be somebody good,” Feingold said. “It’s not about me. It’s not about any particular candidate. It’s about restoring civility and some kind of sense of unity to the state.”

The Wisconsin Department of Administration estimated that between 25,000 and 30,000 people gathered at an afternoon rally at the Capitol building to boost the state-wide petition drive for a Walker recall election that began on November 15.

United Wisconsin, part of the coalition leading the recall effort, said more than 105,000 signatures had been gathered through the first four days of the effort. Organizers need 540,208 valid signatures by January 15 to trigger a recall vote.

So 20% there in 4 days?  Yeah, things are looking good for the recall effort, I'd say.  Walker and his administration are in trouble, even if Russ Feingold isn't going to replace Walker.  Still, the effort appears to be going rather well, I'd say.

Last Call

Via BooMan, we learn that the myth of "President Obama's dwindling support from the people" is just that: a myth.

The sheer scale of small donations, totaling $56 million for Obama and his party, has surprised many Democratic strategists and fundraisers, who feared that a sour economy would make it difficult for Obama to raise money from disenchanted and cash-strapped voters.

A Washington Post analysis shows that nearly half of his campaign contributions, and a quarter of the money he has raised for the Democratic Party, has come from donors giving less than $200. That’s much higher than it was in 2008 and far beyond what the best-funded Republicans have managed.

Looks like the President continues to have broad support of regular people who are willing to put their money up to be heard, myself included.  I know, I know, but I thought Democrats were so over the President because he failed to stand with the people, right?

Gosh, you mean that the President continues to maintain support and even gain it compared to the GOP opposition, and that the people are rewarding the President's efforts with monetary support, even in this terrible economy, because they know what a Republican in the White House would mean?  And you mean people are not only quietly ignoring the foolish message of abstaining from voting, but are actively supporting the President with contributions?

Who would have guessed that, you know besides us stupid mofos who backed the President for solid reasons, a solid record, and knowledge that the long game is more important?

Hair Shirt And Flogger Not Included

Rick Santorum has figured out the key to solving America's problems here in the depths of the worst economic quagmire in generations: Get used to the suffering, it's good for you.

During a town hall meeting in Ottumwa, Iowa Friday afternoon, Rick Santorum argued that Americans receive too many government benefits and ought to “suffer” in the Christian tradition. If “you’re lower income, you can qualify for Medicaid, you can qualify for food stamps, you can qualify for housing assistance,” Santorum complained, before adding, “suffering is part of life and it’s not a bad thing, it is an essential thing in life.”

Such is the lot of the peasant in the Kingdom Of Froth And Lube. If the invisible sky dude wanted you to be rich, you'd have money. Since you're not, please take comfort in the fact that you're meant to hurt. It'll build character. Please pay no attention to the people raiding the treasury and saying we need to make more peasants suffer, I'm sure they have an excellent reason for not going through any of the standard character-building suffering exercises along with you.

Now do get back to work.

The Revenge Of Papers, Please In Alabama

It was only a matter or time before something like this happened in Alabama, folks.

A German manager with Mercedes-Benz is free after being arrested for not having a driver's license with him under Alabama's new law targeting illegal immigrants, authorities said Friday, in an otherwise routine case that drew the attention of Gov. Robert Bentley.

Tuscaloosa Police Chief Steven Anderson told The Associated Press an officer stopped a rental vehicle for not having a tag Wednesday night and asked the driver for his license. The man only had a German identification card, so he was arrested and taken to police headquarters, Anderson said.

The 46-year-old executive was charged with violating the immigration law for not having proper identification, but he was released after an associate retrieved his passport, visa and German driver's license from the hotel where he was staying, Anderson said.

The length of his detainment and the status of his court case weren't immediately known.

If you're trying to attract foreign companies to your state, having a law like Alabama's immigration nonsense is a great way to do it, yes?  If I'm an international company CEO considering building a plant or factory or regional office in the US, I just crossed Alabama off my list.  Too high of a chance of an international incident.

The best part is I can't wait for the wingnut's explanation for this that goes "Well if all those evil brown people just left the state, we wouldn't need to have this law!  This is all their fault!"

Awesome.

It's All A Huge Fraud: Video Saturday

Shorter Matt Taibbi:  A mother of two in Mississippi lies about previous felony drug conviction to get food stamps because otherwise she would have been ineligible.  Pays back the $4,367 she got.  Gets three years in prison on top of that because the judge is outraged at her pattern of criminal behavior.  Meanwhile, banksters cost us trillions, paid a small fraction of the money back, got zero-cost loans and billions in taxpayer bailouts.  Don't get prison time at all.  Still doing the same thing they were doing before.

If defrauding taxpayers for four grand is worth 3 years in prison, what's a couple trillion worth?

Why, it's worth this:



You're supposed to be more angry with the woman facing prison for food stamp fraud than the banksters that destroyed our economy. They're paying good money to see that you remain thinking that, you know.

A well-known Washington lobbying firm with links to the financial industry has proposed an $850,000 plan to take on Occupy Wall Street and politicians who might express sympathy for the protests, according to a memo obtained by the MSNBC program “Up w/ Chris Hayes.”

The proposal was written on the letterhead of the lobbying firm Clark Lytle Geduldig & Cranford and addressed to one of CLGC’s clients, the American Bankers Association.

CLGC’s memo proposes that the ABA pay CLGC $850,000 to conduct “opposition research” on Occupy Wall Street in order to construct “negative narratives” about the protests and allied politicians. The memo also asserts that Democratic victories in 2012 would be detrimental for Wall Street and targets specific races in which it says Wall Street would benefit by electing Republicans instead.

According to the memo, if Democrats embrace OWS, “This would mean more than just short-term political discomfort for Wall Street. … It has the potential to have very long-lasting political, policy and financial impacts on the companies in the center of the bullseye.”

The memo also suggests that Democratic victories in 2012 should not be the ABA’s biggest concern. “… (T)he bigger concern,” the memo says, “should be that Republicans will no longer defend Wall Street companies.”

Can't have that.  Here's Chris Hayes's segment on that this morning.




Is it now becoming clear, folks? The efforts to repeatedly demonize the Occupy movement in the eyes of others, and the effort to turn Occupy protesters and their supporters themselves against "corporate lackey Obama" are designed to demoralize a large segment of the Dems' voting base.

The 2010 elections showed us exactly what happens when that strategy is successful. It's being done again, and surprise, it's being done by the same people, with more than a little assistance from the "Obama isn't progressive enough!" left.

Because this is happening.



And Wall Street couldn't be happier with the effort to split progressives apart over the Democrats' role in all this, especially with the perception that President Obama isn't progressive enough to support OWS.

That's exactly what the actual villains in this scenario want you to think.

Oops! Fatal Edition

MIAMI - A South Florida family files a lawsuit against North Shore Medical Center after a nurse mistakenly gave a 79-year-old man Pancuronium, a drug administered to inmates during most lethal injections.


Last July, Richard Smith, 79, was admitted to the intensive care unit for observation after complaining of shortness of breath. Records show Smith told doctors he had an upset stomach. The doctor ordered Pepcid, an over-the-counter antacid, for him.


However, a nurse in the ICU grabbed a vile of Pancuronium out of a locked drug cart, injected it into Smith's IV tube and apparently left.

I have some medical training, and am licensed to dispense medications in Missouri.  I know how rigorous the training is and the steps that keep mistakes like this from happening.  This story is the perfect example of why the rules are in place, and the dangers of skipping steps.  This man was fully aware of his suffering, he was awake and unable to breathe, and the last thing he knew in this world was that help was not coming.  Preventable, sad, and utterly depressing on behalf of his family.  The nurse made several mistakes, not just one.  That she was not fired and prosecuted is amazing to me.

Fire Walker Chronicles, Part 3

The effort to recall Wisconsin GOP Gov. Scott "Union Busting Koch Head" Walker is officially on, and TPM's Eric Kleefield investigates how it would work if Dems can get the 560k or so signatures needed by January 15.  They're about 10% of the way there already with over 50k collected in two days.

And then, if the Dems do make the threshold, there’s no clear timetable for how long an election might take. In separate interviews with TPM, both the state Democratic Party spokesman Graeme Zielinski and state Government Accountability Board (which oversees elections in the state) spokesman Reid Magney used the same phrase to describe the situation: “Uncharted territory.”

Magney explained the timeline to TPM, and all of the variables that could come into play. Keep in mind, though, that all of the following discussion is based on an assumption that the Dems will in fact gather the needed signatures.

The bottom line: If the signatures are submitted in mid-January, and there were no extension of the review, then the election could be held as soon as late March. But should that scenario prove unrealistic, with an added extension and a primary, it could go into late May or early June.

It seems very likely that Wisconsin Republicans will do everything they can to sink this recall effort with procedural hurdles, challenges, and if the occasional destruction of petition signatures happens, well that's just really too bad.  Polls show that a majority of Wisconsin voters back the efforts to toss Walker out on his ass, too.  They must be getting scared in Madison.

Really scared.