1/ Wikileaks and the diplomatic cables
How the cables reflect the realities of the world rather than the bland official statements governments give out......but reading some of the leaked dispatches it strikes me how our embassies and diplomats really have it together...no BS, just the facts....interesting to get the background to events that noone has ever read before.
But Thomas Friedman has a more depressing conclusion....
O.K. I admit it. I enjoy reading other people’s mail as much as the next guy, so going through the WikiLeaks cables has made for some fascinating reading. What’s between the lines in those cables, though, is another matter. It is a rather sobering message. America is leaking power.
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That’s true, but if we are stuck supporting bad regimes because only worse would follow, why can’t we do anything to make them reform? That brings us to the sobering message in so many of these cables: America lacks leverage. America lacks leverage in the Middle East because we are addicted to oil. We are the addicts and they are the pushers, and addicts never tell the truth to their pushers.
When we import $28 billion a month in oil, we can’t say to the Saudis: “We know the guys who would come after you would be much worse, but why do we have to choose between your misrule and corruption and their brutality and intolerance?” We’re just stuck supporting a regime that, sure, fights Al Qaeda at home, but uses our money to fund a religious ideology, schools, mosques and books that ensure that Al Qaeda will always have a rich pool of recruits in Saudi Arabia and abroad. We also lack leverage with the Chinese on North Korea, or with regard to the value of China’s currency, because we’re addicted to their credit.
Geopolitics is all about leverage. We cannot make ourselves safer abroad unless we change our behavior at home. But our politics never connects the two.
Wikileaks update
Today [Tuesday] the British police arrested Julian Assange and he is being held without bail on completely bogus sexual assault charges, presumably until he agrees not to release the next set of revelations about Bank of America.....see how the oligarchs get things done?
2/ Tax Cuts
This was the economist Paul Krugman's column yesterday morning saying to the President "don't give in on the tax cuts". Bad policy, even worse politics.
Well Monday night President Weenie caved completely and gave the Republicans everything they wanted. And more.
Example - the tax cuts are extended for two years, and unemployment benefits for 13 months. And why two years for the tax cuts? Why not 18 months, so when it comes up for a vote mid-2012 everyone is on record where they stand? Bad politics.
Democrats have tried to push a compromise: let tax cuts for the wealthy expire, but extend tax cuts for the middle class. Republicans, however, are having none of it. They have been filibustering Democratic attempts to separate tax cuts that mainly benefit a tiny group of wealthy Americans from those that mainly help the middle class. It’s all or nothing, they say: all the Bush tax cuts must be extended. What should Democrats do?
And in a related story.....
In Latest Compromise with GOP, Obama Agrees He is a Muslim
Place of Birth ‘Negotiable,’ President Says
WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report) – In his latest effort to find common ground with Republicans in Congress, President Barack Obama said today that he was willing to agree that he is a Muslim.
Differences over his religious orientation have been a sore point between the President and his Republican foes for the past two years, but in agreeing that he is a Muslim Mr. Obama is sending a clear signal that he is trying to find consensus.
“The American people do not want to see us fighting in Washington,” Mr. Obama told reporters at the White House. “They want to see us working together to improve their lives, and Allah willing, we will.”
But Mr. Obama’s willingness to back down on his claim of being a Christian does not seem to have satisfied his Republican opposition, as GOP leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) today insisted that the President must also agree that he was born in Kenya.
While Mr. Obama did not immediately agree to Rep. Bohener’s demand, he hinted that yet another compromise might be in the offing: “My place of birth has been, and will always be, negotiable.”
White House sources indicated today that the President might be willing to meet the GOP halfway on his birthplace and say that he was born in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
3/ And the reality of bipartisanship....a Tom Tomorrow cartoon....excellent.
4/ A wonderful Jon Stewart.....skewering Fox News for it's phony "War on Christmas" BS.....fabulous cartoon sequence as well.....8 minutes.....
5/ The Justice Department could be a real source of change, but Eric Holder seems to be just another bought and sold politician....an Obama special like Timothy Geithner.
This article is how they are going after fraud cases but not one, not one investigation of a major player like a big bank or hedge fund. All smoke and mirrors, go after the little guys so it looks like you are doing something but don't touch the oligarchs.....does this remind you of anything? Like the war on drugs?
But the effort was also something less than it appears. Some of the cases were initiated before the Obama administration took office. Others got under way before President Obama created the appointment of the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force in November 2009, and many of them were well on their way to completion by the time the task force began its crackdown on Aug. 16.
The statistical rendering of the operation also includes considerable overlap of criminal and civil cases, which results in double-counting of many of the defendants, losses and victims.
6/ Almost a tragedy - a bus with VH1 reality show stars crashes in California causing a major slut spill....from Onion News...2 minutes....
7/ Here's an oligarchy story that will crank you up a bit - the financial predators in Wall Street were deciding, just in case President Weenie made a stand and called the Republicans bluff, to pay out their massive bonuses for a job very well done this year so they wouldn't have to pay the 4% extra tax on their bonuses over 1/4 million.....lucky for them the weenie caved last night so "no problem, mon"......
Worried that lawmakers will allow taxes to rise for the wealthiest Americans beginning next year, financial firms are discussing whether to move up their bonus payouts from next year to this month.
At stake is a portion of the hefty annual payouts that are a familiar part of the compensation culture on Wall Street, as well as a juicy target of popular anger. If Congress does not extend the Bush-era tax cuts for the highest income levels, a typical worker who earns a $1 million bonus would pay $40,000 to $50,000 more in taxes next year than this year, depending on base salary.
8/ A DDD favourite - "The Only Exception" from Paramore.....love this one.....
9/ Florida stories - some of you voted for and elected this current crop of scum, but all of us have to live with what they do....so here goes.....
Florida is 49th out of 50 states in scholastic achievement in the public school systems, just ahead of Mississippi. So what do the boys in the Legislature and our shiny new Governor want to do? Cut funding to the public schools, and go to private charter schools and vouchers.....guaranteeing the system will get worse for the lower middle class and the poor.
Note to Lake County residents - Lake is 46th out of 47 counties in Florida in spending per pupil......
Contrary to what is best for students, Florida Republicans are once again drawing battle lines over education reform. Gov.-elect Rick Scott fell into the trap last week by appointing an education transition team tilted against traditional public schools and in favor of private schools and tuition vouchers. State Sen. John Thrasher fueled the animosity by falsely claiming that teachers unions are the single barrier to reform.
No hurricane for five years, and in spite of that rates are constantly increasing one of the first actions of the Republican team is to give it away to the insurance companies......so suck it up middle class, you got what you voted for - nice, big and happy corporations......
TALLAHASSEE — Despite five straight years without a hurricane hitting Florida, the Republican-controlled Legislature is set to move quickly to enact a host of changes to help insurance companies.
After seeing similar bills vetoed for the past two years by Gov. Charlie Crist, legislators are more optimistic of success in a new political landscape that includes a supportive governor, Rick Scott. Scott is set to succeed Crist on Jan. 4.
The proposed changes would make it easier for insurers to set rate increases of up to 10 percent annually. They would also put a three-year limit on when property owners can file a claim from a hurricane and would change how much insurers have to pay out initially for structural damage.
Another change would allow insurers to withhold full payment to policyholders until they repair their damaged property. So-called holdbacks were banned after the 2004-05 hurricanes.
We presently have a Florida Environmental Agency that is taking on Georgia-Pacific, one of the major polluters in North East Florida...but that was the DEP under Charlie. I am having a psychic flash - one of our new Governor's first actions will be to gut the DEP and fill it with cronies so the boys can continue to merrily pollute our water supply, under the watchful eye of the St. Johns Water Management Authority of course.....
Paper giant Georgia-Pacific and the Florida Department of Environmental Protectiontraded heated letters last week, as the two sides debated the details of the construction of a controversial pipeline that will reroute much of Georgia-Pacific’s effluent from Rice Creek into the much larger St. Johns River.
The decision to construct a pipeline was the result of a 1994 application from Georgia-Pacific to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection that sought a permit to allow the company to relocate their existing wastewater discharge.
10/ Mount Dora
Good news - the Lakeside Inn has been sold to someone with actual experience in the Hotel Industry and not to some rich guy who wants a hobby. This could be a real boost to our city.....[decent bar, upscale restaurant, nicer lakefront etc. etc.] ...which needs some help and imagination.
MOUNT DORA — The Lakeside Inn, long one of this city's iconic treasures, was sold this week to a Naples man with a long history in hotel management.
Jim Gunderson, 51, said he and his wife, Alexandra, plan to move to Mount Dora and renovate the 87-room hotel.
"The inn is a wonderful icon in the community and I feel very, very fortunate to have the opportunity to purchase it and do what I can to ensure that it is preserved, protected and restored," Gunderson said. "This property is just so rich with history."
Any renovations "will not interfere with guest experiences," said Gunderson, a hotelier for nearly three decades and worked in management for several large hotels and resorts, including Marriott Hotels.
We have recently been to some of the towns around Mount Dora, and it's interesting what is happening.....the towns have put some major dollars into renovations of the infrastructure and it looks like it is paying off......
Tavares
Downtown is slowly getting better - Al's Landing is a great place to have a drink and enjoy the live music, but the food needs improvement. There are four seaplanes moored at the new facility.....
Cafe Basil on main street has some excellent Jamaican food....if you have ever eaten in the Caribbean this will bring back memories. Their jerk chicken is wonderful, and get a slice of his Jamaican rum cake. And a bonus - Cafe Basil is only open till 7pm for dinner, but you can bring your own wine for a $5 corkage fee.....
Eustis
Well they have finished the major roadway project, and actually it looks pretty nice. It will look better when the trees they put in grow up to be the same size as the trees they ripped out.
Both Cafe Gianni and the Great Pizza Company have tables outside so when the weather warms up you can eat outside....
Sanford
We were in the newly renovated main street in Sanford on a Friday night and the downtown was jammed with young adults in their 20's and 30's....Two Blondes and a Shrimp and the Willow Tree Cafe both have outside dining and great food. We got there late but both restaurants were busy till at least 10pm....we don't see that in Mount Dora too often.
Great Christmas lights too.......
And regular readers of DDD know how we feel about Winter Garden......muy cool.....
So this is why the Lakeside Inn changing hands is such a good thing.....new money, new ideas for what could be a first class upscale destination.......
And on a final note if our major landlord Majestic Properties [Mr. Mazik] put as much effort into filling his properties [including the icon at 5th and Donnelly, vacant for 20 years] as he did with his Christmas tree we would be a lot better off in Mount Dora.....
Todays video - a DDD favourite....strip poker
Todays Florida oldies jokes....love the Villages one....
Two elderly ladies are sitting on the front porch in Bonita Springs, doing nothing. One lady turns and asks, 'Do you still get horny?'
The other replies, 'Oh sure I do.'
The first old lady asks, 'What do you do about it?'
The second old lady replies, 'I suck a Lifesaver.'
After a few moments, the first old lady asks, 'Who drives you to the beach?'
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Three old ladies were sitting side by side in their retirement home in Ft. Lauderdale reminiscing. The first lady recalled shopping at the green grocers and demonstrated with her hands, the length and thickness of a cucumber she could buy for a penny.
The second old lady nodded, adding that onions used to be much bigger and cheaper also, and demonstrated the size of two big onions she could buy for a penny a piece.
The third old lady remarked, 'I can't hear a word you're saying, but I remember the guy you're talking about.
******************************
A little old lady was sitting on a park bench in The Villages, a Florida Adult community. A man walked over and sits down on the other end of the bench. After a few moments, the woman asks, 'Are you a stranger here?'
He replies, 'I lived here years ago.'
'So, where were you all these years?'
'In prison,' he says.
'Why did they put you in prison?'
He looked at her, and very quietly said, 'I killed my wife.'
'Oh!' said the woman. 'So you're single...?!'
******************************
Two elderly people living in Ft. Myers , he was a widower and she a widow, had known each other for a number of years. One evening there was a community supper in the big arena in the Clubhouse.
The two were at the same table, across from one another. As the meal went on, he took a few admiring glances at her and finally gathered the courage to ask her, 'Will you marry me?'
After about six seconds of 'careful consideration,' she answered 'Yes.. Yes, I will!'
The meal ended and, with a few more pleasant exchanges, they went to their respective places.. Next morning, he was troubled. 'Did she say 'yes' or did she say 'no'?'
He couldn't remember. Try as he might, he just could not recall. Not even a faint memory. With trepidation, he went to the telephone and called her.
First, he explained that he didn't remember as well as he used to. Then he reviewed the lovely evening past.. As he gained a little more courage, he inquired, 'When I asked if you would marry me, did you say ' Yes' or did you say 'No'?'
He was delighted to hear her say, 'Why, I said, 'Yes, yes I will' and I meant it with all my heart.' Then she continued, 'And I am so glad that you called, because I couldn't remember who had asked me.'
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A man was telling his neighbor in Miami , 'I just bought a new hearing aid. It cost me four thousand dollars, but it's state of the art. It's perfect.'
'Really,' answered the neighbor. 'What kind is it?'
'Twelve thirty.'
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A little old man shuffled slowly into the 'Orange Dipper', an ice cream parlor in Naples , and pulled himself slowly, painfully, up onto a stool.
After catching his breath he ordered a banana split.
The waitress asked kindly, 'Crushed nuts?'
'No,' he replied, 'hemorrhoids.'
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Todays feline joke
A cat died and went to Heaven. God met her at the gates and
said, 'You have been a good cat all these years. Anything you want is yours for the asking.' The cat thought for a minute and then said, 'All my life I lived on a farm and slept on hard wooden floors. I would like a real fluffy pillow to sleep on.' God said, 'Say no more.'
Instantly the cat had a huge fluffy pillow.
A few days later, six mice were killed in an accident and they all went to Heaven together. God met the mice at the gates with the same offer that He made to the cat. The mice said, 'well, we have had to run all of our lives: from cats, dogs, and even people with brooms! If we could just have some little roller skates, we would not have to run again.' God answered, 'It is done.'
All the mice had beautiful little roller skates. About a week later, God decided to check on the cat.
He found her sound asleep on her fluffy pillow. God gently awakened the cat and
asked, 'Is everything okay? How have you been doing? Are you
happy?' The cat replied, 'Oh, it is WONDERFUL. I have never been
so happy in my life. The pillow is so fluffy, and those little Meals on Wheels you have been sending over are delicious!'
said, 'You have been a good cat all these years. Anything you want is yours for the asking.' The cat thought for a minute and then said, 'All my life I lived on a farm and slept on hard wooden floors. I would like a real fluffy pillow to sleep on.' God said, 'Say no more.'
Instantly the cat had a huge fluffy pillow.
A few days later, six mice were killed in an accident and they all went to Heaven together. God met the mice at the gates with the same offer that He made to the cat. The mice said, 'well, we have had to run all of our lives: from cats, dogs, and even people with brooms! If we could just have some little roller skates, we would not have to run again.' God answered, 'It is done.'
All the mice had beautiful little roller skates. About a week later, God decided to check on the cat.
He found her sound asleep on her fluffy pillow. God gently awakened the cat and
asked, 'Is everything okay? How have you been doing? Are you
happy?' The cat replied, 'Oh, it is WONDERFUL. I have never been
so happy in my life. The pillow is so fluffy, and those little Meals on Wheels you have been sending over are delicious!'
