June 30, 2010
Day 72
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From CNN’s Suzanne Malveaux. (She has a twin sister Suzette who was on the show with her today.)
Gulf coast wildlife affected by the BP OIL pollution. No way to account for the animals at the bottom of the sea. Treated and released animals were tagged so they could be followed.
Dead 1,165
Rescued 858
Released 250
Dead 436
Rescued 101
Released 3
Dead 51
Rescued 2
Released 1
June 30, 2010
Day 72
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Most recent view that isn’t obscured by clouds is June 26.
NASA/GSFC, MODIS Rapid Response
June 29, 2010
Is it me or does this hearing visually look like an SNL sketch?
(Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Is it the lighting?
June 29, 2010
Found this amusing.
Hardball – Chris Matthews talks with Sen Arlen Specter about the Elena Kagan confirmation hearing.
Nearing the end he asks:
MATTHEWS: Are you going to vote for Kagan?
SPECTER: I don’t know – I’m thinking about it. [Specter smiles] You don’t think I’m going to make a declaration standing with one foot on Hardball. Throw me a softball instead.
Without a blink, Matthews throws one at Specter’s head:
MATTHEWS: Are you going to vote for Sestak?
SPECTER’s face transforms: Uh, yeah. Yeah.
MATTHEWS: That’ll make the news. You’re a real Democrat now — you’re a tried and true Democrat now.
For the last few months of his political career.
SPECTER: Listen Chris, I said on election night I would support the winner.
June 29, 2010
June 29, 2010
DAY 71
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President Bill Clinton was in South Africa for the World Cup at least in part as the honorary chairman of the 2018 & 2022 US bids to host it. The visuals of Bill Clinton and Mick Jagger during the US vs Ghana match were a little cheesy even for barrymedia. Clinton and Jagger are each universes apart from barry and Tony Hayward.
(Terry McAuliffe, Bill Clinton, Mick Jagger/AP)
Fortune, TIME, and CNN held their annual Global Forum in Cape Town (Jun 26-28) and Wolf Blitzer spoke with Bill Clinton about the ongoing BP OIL pollution. Clinton defended barry (ever heard barry do so for either Clinton) and then he mentioned blowing up the well or remaining at BP’s mercy and that the Navy could probably do it but the ecological costs would be unknown.
Full comments worth listening to/reading. Empathy is one thing — the willingness to make a decision on the spot without a teleprompter and without equivocating is another. Clinton said more with this one statement than barry has in 71 days.
I think the federal government’s position ought to be very straightforward. The most important thing is to fix the leak. If anybody can help us fix the leak, I’m for it.
Video/transcript follow
June 29, 2010
A little Joe Biden to lighten your day.
He is the one and only thing transparent about this presidency.
Sat, Jun 26, Kopps Frozen Custard, Glendale, WI
VP Biden is enjoying a frozen custard courtesy of the manager who would prefer Biden lower his taxes which Biden doesn’t find humorous so he calls him a smart ass.
The funniest part is Rick Sanchez’s introduction of the clip. He says “anals” not “annals”.
SANCHEZ:
On Saturday, the vice president gave us another gem for the annals of Biden Moments.
BIDEN pulling out cash from his pocket:
Whattya we owe ya?
KOPP MANAGER SCOTT BORKIN:
Don’t worry, it’s on us. Lower our taxes and we’ll call it even.
BIDEN says something inaudible and then:
Why don’t you say something nice instead of being a smart ass all the time?
BORKIN laughs.
BIDEN: Say something nice.
Not sure the big deal though Fox and Friends had Borkin on the show:
BORKIN: I was thrown by it. I wasn’t expecting that, especially from, you know, the No. 2 in charge of our country.
If he’s not expecting something like that from the #2, what do you think he expects from #1?
^
Yo, what’s the big effin deal? I can at least talk to real folks. And I sure as hell don’t need a GD teleprompter to do it!
June 26, 2010
June 26, 2010
Day 68
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Chris Matthews said barry doesn’t toot his own horn.
Here’s why.
(Cam Cardow / Ottawa Citizen, Politicalcartoons.com)
Watch on.
What would be the dynamic if BP was an American company?
June 26, 2010
A reminder of just what barry has accomplished.
308,631,485
$42,267.60
June 25, 2010
Figured the second half of Hardball needed it’s own post. One wonders if anyone will say anything about these comments.
Part 1 Rep Moran thinks “this may be the most successful last six months in American presidential history” and that barry “doesn’t get on the stump and rah-rah”.
Part 2 Moran stops just short of angry, articulate and clean.
Matthews returns to the emperor has no ego.
MATTHEWS:
OK. You started off, Congressman Moran, by saying, all right, we have a president who is low-key, who won`t brag. Isn`t that a problem?
MORAN: Well…
MATTHEWS:
Isn`t it a problem he won`t sell it? If you don`t blow your own horn, who will? He won`t blow it.
MORAN:
The reality is, as an African-American who got as far as he`s gotten, he`s not a rabble-rouser.
MATTHEWS:
No, but can`t he brag a little? Can`t he tell you what he`s doing?
MORAN:
He`s a very thoughtful, reflective guy. He`s not a grandstander. That`s his personality. He`s reflective. I do think we need to probably do a little more grandstanding, because it`s our necks on the line now in November.
But the reality is, we have a very good president. We have accomplished a lot.
We`re going to have to let the chips fall where they may. We may lose 10, 20 seats. I don`t think we`re going to lose anywhere near 30. We`re going to still have the majority. We`re going to continue to accomplish a whole lot in the next year and two-and-a-half years.
And I think he`s going to get reelected. And the country is better off. for it.
And finishes with it’s the Republicans fault. (He used Pres Bush in Part 1.)
But it`s a tough time. And you have got a political party that will vote no on anything.
June 25, 2010
Part 2: Moran: “as an African-American who got as far as he`s gotten, he`s not a rabble-rouser”
Hardball: Chris Matthews, Jim Vandehei, Rep Jim Moran (D-VA).
Matthews is back to sucking up to Dems and giving them uninterrupted time to spew propaganda. How can he take himself seriously or expect anyone else to?
2010 elections
REP MORAN: We aren’t getting talking points from the WH, but there’s a lot to talk about.
And then the delusion begins.
MORAN: This may be the most successful last six months in American presidential history.
Guess that’s why 28% of Americans think the country is heading in the right direction and why barry’s numbers are at an all time low.
MORAN: I can’t think of a time that we have accomplished as much as we have.
Yes. Has the country ever been this angry?
MORAN: More jobs were created than Bush was able to generate in 8 years.
How many jobs were lost under Bush vs barry. How many jobs are from the census. Why has the unemployment rate gotten worse since barry took office and never really decreased?
Matthews mentions just 41K civilans jobs in May.
MORAN: We had a lot of census bureau employees. Granted.
But the fact is the economy has come back from the brink and alot of that is because of presidential leadership.
Do these politicians know how transparent their BS is?
And where’s the Chris Matthews from the last two weeks talking about how barry has no idea how to govern?
Then he goes on about healthcare – that won’t kick in until barry’s out of office and may eventually get repealed – energy bill and Wall Street reform (after the bail out).
MORE: Those are enormous legislative victories.
At what cost – literally.
I know that people think it is not enough somehow beacuse President Obama doesn’t get on the stump and rah-rah. He’s kind of an understated guy.
Dear God has he ever read one of barry’s stump speech? Every single time he points out what he’s done while whining about Republicans/President Bush/VP Cheney/FOX and the rest of the “talking heads” as he does so.
As far as foreign policy.
MORAN: The reality is the reputation of the United States around the world has improved immeasurably.
1-It would have no matter who became president because they wouldn’t be Bush.
2-It’s not barry doing the work – it’s Secy Clinton. And it is because she was already known on the world stage and had visited so many countries and met the heads of State.
barry became president of the United States having traveled out of the country as a politician for just 33 days, which included a single overnight in England on his way back from Russia. Not even 24 hours in all of Europe. And as chairman of the Senate European subcommittee, he did not convene a single policy meeting. He hasn’t even met the majority of heads of state in Europe or around the world. Secy Clinton who was “sipping tea with ambassadors” met more heads of state before becoming Secy of State than barry has met with in their own countries while in office. He’s never even been to Australia, New Zealand or South America and didn’t visit Afghanistan, Canada or Mexico until he took office.
And the Dems spin? barry’s traveled to more countries than any other president in his first year.
MORAN: He’s going to go the G-20 summit – they’re all gonna listen to him – they take him seriously, which was not the case in the last 8 years with George Bush.
World leaders know he is soft. Look at Ahmadinejad. How many sanction deadlines has Iran been given since barry’s been in office?
This man makes perfectly clear why people are angry. He skips over Afghanistan, does not mention the terror attacks or barry’s slow response to them, the oil disaster – what kind of presidential leadership needs 50 days to find out whose ass to kick – and then there’s the never mentioned Guantanamo situation that barry has done nothing about, which was his #1 priority when he took office 18 months ago. And as far as barry “accomplishing” so much – Moran never mentions what he’s done to the National debt.
And what’s going to be the party line?
(7:44) Our pitch now is things aren’t nearly as bad as they could be.
I sure hope if this man is up for re-election he loses. The lies are too much to take. And his desperate attempt at selling them is immoral.
June 25, 2010
June 25, 2010
(more…)
June 25, 2010
Day 67
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Simple visuals of the lateral spread of BP Oil pollution from May 25 – June 24. Follow links for details (includes wildlife refuges).
Apr 20 rig explosion 41 miles off coast
May 26 (LA) –> Jun 24 (LA, MS, AL, FL)
MAY 26 (earliest I could find) LA only
JUNE 24: LA, MS, AL, FL
Where will it be in another 2 months?
June 25, 2010
Day 67
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The model was initialized from Wednesday-Thursday satellite imagery analysis (NOAA/NESDIS) and Thursday overflight observations. The leading edge may contain tarballs that are not readily observable from the imagery (hence not included in the model initialization). Oil near bay inlets could be brought into that bay by local tidal currents.
And it came with this curious notation.
June 25, 2010
Pretty good likeness of Hayward.
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Mike Keefe / The Denver (CO) Post, Politicalcartoons.com
June 22, 2010
June 23, 2010
Day 65
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Jun 17 House hearings on [their own missed oversite of] BP
Congressman Steve Scalise (R-LA) showing Tony Hayward a photo of an oil-drenched pelican (taken by Charlie Riedel/AP).
The pelican is the Louisiana state bird
.
(Haraz N. Ghanbari/AP)
More pelicans, fish, dragonfly, marsh, subsea oil, oil patties, boom, bird
June 23, 2010
Landon Donovan said the disallowed goal against Slovenia would increase viewership. Don’t know if it did but Donovan’s gooooooooooal in the 91st minute will get folks tuned in for the next match.
Folks around the world wonder why the USA isn’t into soccer. I had forgotten until the 19:52 mark when a clear and obvious goal was disallowed. Here we go again. Flashback to the last 3 World Cups and the last game where Edu was clearly robbed – with no explanation ever given.
It doesn’t take a rocket science to understand the true politics behind the matches. It’s up to you to say it outloud.
And have you seen that disallowed goal lately?
DarthBob8
Hard to find because FIFA – much delayed – claimed copyright. AP and various other large news outlets have been using still photos of the goal. Clear censorship from a free press country.
Imagine for a moment [eventhough it's an absolute impossibility] that the calls were so clearly in favor of the US – no matter the particular nature of the politics of the countries in general.
Would that referee have gotten away with not explaining his call?
And if it were a US referee?
Today’s disallowed goal was just the jumping off point of missed fouls, fake fouls, and no doubt about it attempts (some successful) to injure US players. It was so obvious the announcers didn’t bother getting outraged. The camera even caught one of Algerian players laughing after a missed call.
Playing hard so the other team doesn’t win is one thing. Attempting to injure opponents in a scoreless game is another. It’s not sport – pt’s a political statement.
Which brings me back to the US not being interested in World Cup Soccer.
The fundamental nature of American sport is sportsmanship. The notion that at the start of the competition either team/individual can win, that the competition will proceed with well-defined rules, equally applicable to both sides, and will be presided over by an impartial referee required to explain his call.
Not so with World Cup socceer. Think East German Olympic machine of old, the modern day Chinese “women’s” gymnastics team and the judging in figure skating/ice dancing.
World Cup soccer is what the casual or first time soccer watcher in the US sees when they tune in. And if something is fundamentally corrupt – it’s no longer sport and not worth investing in.
Then there’s the game itself: the non-rapid pace, the lack of breakaways and shots on net, the lack of substitutions, the mysterious time left, the arbitrary calls that need no explaining, the arbitrary awarding of penalty cards, the huge field compared to the number of players and most of all the no hands.
And then there’s the World Cup set up. Had the US not won today, they would not have advanced. And had it been a tie they would have gone home without ever being beaten – by their opponents. As is, they advance in first place.
For soccer to catch on in the US, (it never will with the present rules), they’re going to have to narrow and shorten the field and allow for substitution. The action and caliber of play would increase exponentially and the goalie’s skill would really make a difference. At least twice near the end of today’s match, players were too tired to take that extra step. That’s cheating the fans who sit there for hours listening to that NOISE. Fans who pay the salaries of those exhausted players and who are so frustrated at the end of the match they end up fighting, rioting and going after the ref.
And folks will have to learn the game, which means covering it from more angles – starting with the end zones. One can’t appreciate the passing lanes or defense watching from the sidelines and it ends being an up and down marathon with occasional 40 yd dashes.
In the meantime, it watchable using the lowest fast forward. The action is still easy to follow and that NOISE cannot be heard.
Congratulations Team USA.
England, too. (Won 1-0)
Landon Donovan after the game re disallowed goal:
We embody what Americans are about. We can moan about it or get on with it and we kept going. We believe, man.
US scored 9 goals in qualifying from the 86th minute on.
President Clinton was in attendance. He is the honorary chairman for US’ bid for the 2018 & 2022.
Next match Saturday 2pm EST (ABC)
June 23, 2010
Day 65
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Can you spot what’s missing?
Yep. No cap. Just like on June 3.
Strange discharge of fluids:
BP: This morning at approximately 0845 CDT a discharge of liquids was observed from a diverter valve on the drillship Discoverer Enterprise, which is on station at the MC252 wellsite. As a precautionary measure, the lower marine riser package (LMRP) containment cap system, attached to the Discoverer Enterprise, has been moved off the Deepwater Horizon’s failed blow-out preventer (BOP) to ensure the safety of operations and allow the unexpected release of liquids to be analysed.
Capture of oil and gas through the LMRP cap is therefore temporarily suspended until such time that the cap can be re-installed. Capture of oil and gas through the BOP’s choke line via a manifold to the Q4000 vessel on the surface continues.
Seems a ROV closed a ventwhich made them concerned about ice crystals (and explosion) so the cap was removed.
No cap from 0845 – 1900. 10 hours or more of oil and gas gushing unchecked into the Gulf.
Forget the flow estimates – look with your won eyes at maps of the oil spread or NASA photos to see how much oil is out there.
Citizens Against ProObama Media Bias
