wxsnoozle's Blogtag:tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com,2010:/talk/blogs/wxsnoozle//28482010-05-31T03:30:29ZMovable Type Pro 4.21-enToxic Assets, Toxic Spill...What else has been left behind?tag:tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com,2010:/talk/blogs/wxsnoozle//2848.3377562010-05-31T03:26:48Z2010-05-31T03:30:29ZI don't usually go for snarky images, but this one covers a lot of territory. Language a bit NSFW (F word), so I didn't embed the image into this post....wxsnoozle
this one covers a lot of territory.
Language a bit NSFW (F word), so I didn't embed the image into this post. ]]>
NY Times Article On Gates Iran Memotag:tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com,2010:/talk/blogs/wxsnoozle//2848.3304732010-04-18T04:44:39Z2010-04-18T05:50:38ZThe article entitled, "Gates Says U.S. Lacks Policy to Curb Iran's Nuclear Drive"quickly raised a gut reaction in the second paragraph.Several officials said the highly classified analysis, written in January to President Obama's national security adviser, Gen. James L. Jones,...wxsnoozle
Gates Says U.S. Lacks Policy to Curb Iran's
Nuclear Drive"quickly raised a gut reaction in the second paragraph.
Several officials said the highly classified analysis, written in
January to President
Obama's national security adviser, Gen. James L.
Jones, came in the midst of an intensifying effort inside the
Pentagon, the White House and the intelligence agencies to develop new
options for Mr. Obama. They include a set of military alternatives,
still under development, to be considered should diplomacy and sanctions
fail to force Iran to change course.
My gut reaction was immediately, "How in hell did this 'highly classified analysis' end up in the hands of the NY Times? Especially now...at such a sensitive time? And what kind of back-channel discussions were going on between the Times and the Pentagon to keep this off the front page?"
After a short time, my second reaction was, "Well, with all the sabre-rattling against Iran in the past administration, why were there no plans then...that could be adjusted for now? Surely, the Pentagon has been prepared...even war-gamed on paper...for the possibility of a strike on Iran??"
After I thought about it a bit further, I would venture that this "highly classified analysis" has been strategically-leaked. Given the recent flurry of nuclear agreements and policy refinements, the timing of this memo seems somehow a bit too fortuitous. This kind of high-level discussion doesn't get out of the Pentagon without a reason.
Something's going on here. The Obama Administration has been exceedingly accommodating and exceedingly patient toward Iran. The carrot of diplomacy has been held out for quite some time now. Is the stick now coming out?
And even if the Administration has not been entirely successful in its diplomatic efforts, they have at least looked skillfull and purposed. We've had the Nuclear Policy Review, refreshing of Start language, the Summit...and everything these entail...all within just a few short weeks. China seems willing to engage in tougher sanctions. And before all of this, Bibi stumbled & Obama reacted swiftly and gained a tough upper hand (linkage anyone?).
At the Denmark meeting on climate change, Obama met personally with many heads of state. And while the press reported the Copenhagen Summit as a failure, Obama & his team were negotiating the new Start Treaty with Medvedev (in an empty mall dress shop with unclothed mannequins)! Likewise, Obama met separately with the top heads of state at the Nuclear Summit; it's not too far a stretch to suppose that results were gained here, too.
On the face value of the article, the Administration appears to be unprepared. Given the adroit diplomacy shown in the past few months, I tend to think instead that this leaked memo is another move in the administration's masterful, but dangerous chess game.
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This Was A Big Fu**ing Deal, Too!tag:tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com,2010:/talk/blogs/wxsnoozle//2848.3296782010-04-14T04:41:24Z2010-04-14T05:18:37Zwxsnoozle Virtually every foreign policy expert from Sam Nunn to John Kerry has the same greatest fear: al-Qaeda or an al-Qaeda wannabe getting their hands on nuclear material. It was also the greatest fear of the Bush Administration. Remember the "One Percent Doctrine"? For those who haven't read the book, the title refers to then Vice President Cheney's assertion that if there was a one percent chance of a terrorist connection to nuclear weapons, then the US must strike first. It was the major reason that we went to war in Iraq; the false assumption that Saddam Hussein was developing nuclear weapons and these were either insecure or available for purchase. By extension, the "One Percent Doctrine" was also the very basis for the Bush Doctrine of preemptive strike.
With striking speed and skillful diplomacy, Obama is beginning to fulfill the promise of a nuclear disarmament long wished for by his predecessors. And the step by step diplomacy of the past few weeks is not only dismantling nukes...but effectively dismantling the Bush Doctrine.
Steve Benen over at Atlantic Monthly has a nice write-up about Tuesday's event. ]]>
Another Nut Case Coming Out Of The Woodworktag:tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com,2010:/talk/blogs/wxsnoozle//2848.3288222010-04-08T00:00:24Z2010-04-08T00:03:07ZStill developing, but it looks like another guy in financial/tax/fraud trouble looking to blame it all on the government and minorities....wxsnoozle
Still developing, but it looks like another guy in financial/tax/fraud trouble looking to blame it all on the government and minorities. ]]>
Cornyntag:tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com,2010:/talk/blogs/wxsnoozle//2848.3267252010-03-25T04:45:36Z2010-03-25T04:46:08ZWow, just wow!...wxsnoozle
Wow, just wow! ]]>
Hitler Discovers Republicans Have No Ideastag:tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com,2010:/talk/blogs/wxsnoozle//2848.3262382010-03-23T04:24:55Z2010-03-23T04:28:17ZHitler Discovers Republicans Have No IdeasShort, funny, rather astute video. This is NOT a comparison of the Republican Party to NAZIs. It's a whole series of "Hitler Discovers..." videos....wxsnoozleHitler Discovers Republicans Have No Ideas
Short, funny, rather astute video. This is NOT a comparison of the Republican Party to NAZIs. It's a whole series of "Hitler Discovers..." videos. ]]>
Circustag:tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com,2010:/talk/blogs/wxsnoozle//2848.3255892010-03-21T06:19:03Z2010-03-21T06:22:47ZJournalism students go out and ask Tea Party protesters what they object to within Health Care Reform.Wow...just wow!...wxsnoozle
Journalism students go out and ask Tea Party protesters what they object to within Health Care Reform.
Wow...just wow! ]]>
Significant Hint About My Congressmantag:tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com,2010:/talk/blogs/wxsnoozle//2848.3239282010-03-12T20:54:24Z2010-03-12T21:04:57ZGlenn Nye (VA 2nd) previously voted "no" in the House.This week, he announced that an education provision for military spouses had been restored by the DOD. It's called "MyCAA" and he's been heavily publicizing the fact that he got it...wxsnoozle This week, he announced that an education provision for military spouses had been restored by the DOD. It's called "MyCAA" and he's been heavily publicizing the fact that he got it restored. He's generally pretty low-key, so this is out of character for him.
I detect some horse-trading going on in the background.
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I'm just enjoying this...tag:tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com,2010:/talk/blogs/wxsnoozle//2848.3203552010-02-21T00:52:27Z2010-02-21T00:57:31ZSenator John Cornyn posted something on FaceBook that he clearly thought was damaging to Health Care Reform. He was wrong...or got caught in a lie.Here it is.It's the 3rd post down, beginning with " Ironic the HC bills POTUS supports...wxsnoozle Here it is.
It's the 3rd post down, beginning with "
Ironic the HC bills POTUS supports will futher
raise premiums by 10-13%, according to page 6 of CBO's analysis, making
problem worse..."
Comments are great.
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Just A Tiny Bit Of Hell Freezes Overtag:tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com,2009:/talk/blogs/wxsnoozle//2848.2987632009-10-28T22:25:00Z2009-10-28T22:37:41ZEditorial in tomorrow's Wall Street Journal. Heart of the subject doesn't really show up until the last 2 paragraphs....wxsnoozle
Wall Street Journal. Heart of the subject doesn't really show up until the last 2 paragraphs.
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A.Q. Khan Professes Innocence In Smuggled Lettertag:tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com,2009:/talk/blogs/wxsnoozle//2848.2920482009-09-24T03:12:54Z2009-09-24T03:16:12Zwxsnoozle
A tale of money, intrigue, & espionage from Sunday's London Times & Simon Henderson.
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Qaddafi Helped Roll Up A.Q. Khan Networktag:tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com,2009:/talk/blogs/wxsnoozle//2848.2918002009-09-23T05:13:06Z2009-09-23T05:45:31ZWith all the hoopla surrounding Moumar Qaddafi and his search for lodging, there may be a relatively unseen reason as to why he has been welcomed back into the "world community".I read a lot of books, but I'm not going...wxsnoozle
hoopla surrounding Moumar Qaddafi and his search for lodging, there may be a relatively unseen reason as to why he has been welcomed back into the "world community".
I read a lot of books, but I'm not going to go back and cite the specific information. So correct me if I'm wrong on any of this. But I very distinctly remember reading the following information from a reliable source. Here goes:
After the neighboring kingdom of Morocco was hit with bombings by radical Islamists (May, 2003), Qaddafi got scared that the same kind of thing would happen in Libya. Years of economic and social isolation had taken their toll, but this new threat within his own country was considered to be far more dangerous to his hold on the country.
To that end, he decided to "give up the goods". He approached British Intelligence and eventually turned over reams and reams of nuclear blueprints & correspondence directly tied to Pakistani nuclear scientist, A.Q. Khan. U.S. intelligence was quickly brough into the picture. It was theorized that this stuff was "out there" and being distributed to Muslim nations, but Qaddafi provided absolute proof of the existence of the Khan network. In short order, the secret, Islamist web of nuclear proliferation was neutralized...and A.Q. Khan was under house arrest. Additionally, a Swiss family-operated supplier of nuclear parts was brought to trial.
Sanctions were lifted...and Qaddafi's masses were placated.
So while this guy is certainly despicable, his entry into the world community has been well-earned. The information provided was absolutely invaluable.
As to why he ended up at Donald Trump's estate? I betcha' that somebody very high up asked for a very discreet favor.
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Flickr Set Of Tea Party Proteststag:tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com,2009:/talk/blogs/wxsnoozle//2848.2896592009-09-13T04:10:21Z2009-09-13T04:11:21Zhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/42448313@N03/sets/72157622224474669/...wxsnoozle
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42448313@N03/sets/72157622224474669/
AP Calls Virginia for Obama!tag:www.talkingpointsmemo.com,2008:/talk/blogs/wxsnoozle//2848.2428792008-11-05T03:53:47Z2008-11-05T03:54:17ZwxsnoozleMcCain seems heavier with ad time in SE Virginiatag:www.talkingpointsmemo.com,2008:/talk/blogs/wxsnoozle//2848.2413072008-10-31T05:44:40Z2008-10-31T05:57:56ZJust anecdotal, but it seems that McCain is flooding the airwaves here. Obama has been here for rallies twice in the past 3 days...the second one Thursday during the early news hour, so it was carried live for a good...wxsnoozle Then I received the following e-mail tonight:
I'm the Chief Financial Officer for Barack Obama's campaign. I track the donations coming in and the expenses going out.
I asked for the opportunity to write to you directly so that I could try to explain what's happening right now.
This organization has thousands of employees and spends millions of dollars a day -- and at the moment we're doing it without a safety net.
Our spending plans have been stretched by John McCain's negative attacks and the overwhelming resources of the Republican National Committee.
As of October 15th, John McCain and the RNC together had nearly $20 million more in cash than the combined total of Obama for America and the DNC. And just this week, we're facing new and unexpected spending against us in Montana and West Virginia.
Your incredible generosity has gotten us this far. But right now we need your help more than ever to get this campaign across the finish line.
Please donate $100 or whatever you can afford right now:
https://donate.barackobama.com/RNCadvantage
My team and I are working to stretch every dollar in order to keep as many paths to victory open as possible. But we need whatever help you can provide for this crucial final stretch.
Thank you,
MM
Marianne Markowitz Chief Financial Officer Obama for America
Hmmmm. October donations have supposedly dropped off sharply (after $150 bn September). And the Obama campaign has been run with honesty. This gives me pause. It might be that the Republicans are "laying in the weeds"...throwing big money into the final few days while they may have caught the Obama campaign off guard.
Anyway, I sent them some money (again!). You might do the same. ]]>