Open Thread:
Posted by: taggles on: June 18, 2009
Lots going on, please bring discussions from previous thread.
The Washington Post fires its best columnist. Why?
One of the rarest commodities in the establishment media is someone who was a vehement critic of George Bush and who now, applying their principles consistently, has become a regular critic of Barack Obama — i.e., someone who criticizes Obama from what is perceived as “the Left” rather than for being a Terrorist-Loving Socialist Muslim. It just got a lot rarer, as The Washington Post — at least according to Politico’s Patrick Gavin — just fired WashingtonPost.com columnist, long-time Bush critic and Obama watchdog (i.e., a real journalist) Dan Froomkin.
What makes this firing so bizarre and worthy of inquiry is that, as Gavin notes, Froomkin was easily one of the most linked-to and cited Post columnists. At a time when newspapers are relying more and more on online traffic, the Post just fired the person who, in 2007, wrote 3 out of the top 10 most-trafficked columns. In publishing that data, Media Bistro used this headline: “The Post’s Most Popular Opinions (Read: Froomkin).” Isn’t that an odd person to choose to get rid of?
Gay-marriage foes hire California firm that ran Prop 8
Opponents and supporters of gay marriage are laying the groundwork for a tough summer political campaign that experts say will put Maine in the national spotlight.
Organizers of an effort to overturn a new law legalizing same-sex marriage in Maine have hired the California public relations firm that ran the successful Proposition 8 campaign to overturn same-sex marriage there.
Supporters of the law have hired a seasoned Maine political strategist who ran the successful Maine Won’t Discriminate campaign in 2005. That campaign fought a people’s veto of Maine’s gay-rights law.
Daschle Folds on Federal Public Health Care Plan
In an attempt at bipartisanship, three former majority leaders of the U.S. Senate, Tom Daschle, Howard Baker, and Bob Dole, offered their solution today to the biggest obstacle to achieving health care reform — a public option.
“While I feel very strongly that consumers should have the choice of a national, Medicare-like plan, my colleagues do not. . . But we were concerned that the ongoing health reform debate is beginning to show signs of fracture on the public plan issue, so in order to advance the process of developing bipartisan legislation and to move it forward, it’s time to find consensus here,” Daschle said.
“We’ve come too far and gained too much momentum for our efforts to fail over disagreements on one single issue,” he said.
And a little comic relief for those that might need it. I know I do sometimes and this never fails!
54 Responses to "Open Thread:"
June 18, 2009 at 9:35 PM
PS Widdershins are posting comments
http://advocate.com/news_detail_ektid91555.asp
and
June 18, 2009 at 9:42 PM
BTW — re: Prop 8 — Arnold has chosen not to defend it in court, so the supporters of it are going to be on their own. To the Obots who lie (or are too stupid to know): Obama could have chosen to do the same thing in Smelt (the DOMA case). Put that in your kool aid pipe & smoke it.
June 18, 2009 at 9:47 PM
A Republican governor at that. Gawd people who continue to support him will look like pretzels and fools by the time this nightmare finally ends.
Some people will quietly stop lending support and then get more vocal others will fight it tooth and nail. Get ready for the fight.
June 18, 2009 at 9:49 PM
The Sox have been rained out so I took a look at the Froomkin firing at Politico and this is what makes little sense to me.
The comments suggest that the WashPo has been drifting more and more lately to the Right judging by its stable of right wing commentators. Yet Froomkin has taken on Obama more than once in some of his columns. So if he is offending anybody, it would appear that it is more on the left than the right itself since what could better serve them than Obama bashing”
It makes little sense to speculate and lay blame until we know the full story but according to the comments, it looks as if they are even divided in their posts as to the viability of Froomkin from either side. I am not familiar with his writing, but he took on Bush for 8 years without much blowback from those on the paper who beat the war drums on Bush’s behalf in 2002.
Interesting.
June 18, 2009 at 9:55 PM
Froooooomkin gone? There goes the last reason to ever read that rag again!
June 18, 2009 at 10:00 PM
Pat, the argument Greenwalt was making about Froomkin’s firing is that Froomkin criticizes Obama from the Left. That’s something the Post didn’t like since they continue to employ several very conservative columnists.
Taggles, the link to the advocate above leads to the Ricky Martin story. Are Widdershins commenting there?
June 18, 2009 at 10:11 PM
I forgot to write this in my last comment
Welcome to backtrack’s America.
Did the obots get what they wanted? They should be so proud.
No more freedom of speech.
Never steal anything small.
Learn how to walk in lockstep.
Women will walk in front in a minefield and behind any other time.
If they buy a GM car should they worry about the old saying ” close enough for government work”?
If there is a job to be had expect no benefits and low pay and bow down and be thankful you got it.
Get used to being monitored on the computer and phone.
Go back into the closet and never expect anything from him.
The brave new world of backtrack
WOMEN WITH INTELLIGENCE AND EXPERIENCE,MEN WHO SUPPORT THEM AND COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY ALWAYS
PUMAS,BUBBAS,EQUALISTS AND THOSE PEOPLE RULE
June 18, 2009 at 10:16 PM
They really do think people are stupid, here’s another bone for the gay community:
White House Looks to Include Same-Sex Unions in Census Count
The White House said Thursday it was seeking ways to include same-sex marriages, unions and partnerships in 2010 Census data, the second time in a week the administration has signaled a policy change of interest to the gay community.
The administration has directed the Census Bureau to determine changes needed in tabulation software to allow for same-sex marriage data to be released early in 2011 with other detailed demographic information from the decennial count. The bureau historically hasn’t released same-sex marriage data.
BUT
The Census Bureau has long collected data on same-sex marriages when people chose to report it. White House officials said the previous administration interpreted the federal Defense of Marriage Act as prohibiting the release of the data. The Obama administration has abandoned that interpretation.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124537164093129827.html#articleTabs_comments
June 18, 2009 at 10:19 PM
and you are only able to be married in the eyes of the states that allow you to be married.
I guess it’s good to be counted, but what is this in the realm of things.
He didn’t campaign on getting gay marriage statistics included in the Census data.
June 18, 2009 at 10:35 PM
Oh, Obama is going to count gay marriage in the census? Wow, that changes everything! NOT!!!!!
Gary, you mentioned that you sometimes have problems posting at advocate. I’ve noticed that sometimes it’s very hard to post there, too. I’ve run into the problem that my comment just isn’t accepted. But I keep trying, cutting length of comment, changing a word, and trying again, and eventually it goes through. It can take a while, though!
June 18, 2009 at 10:36 PM
all kidding aside, I have never seen anything like this in this country.
Even during the McCarthy era people spoke out.
This is beyond crazy. We can not trust congress or the press or most of the departments of government. Where is the outrage? I know the PUMAs are aware but what the hell happened to the rest of the country?
WOMEN WITH INTELLIGENCE AND EXPERIENCE, MEN WHO SUPPORT THEM AND COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY ALWAYS
PUMAS,BUBBAS,EQUALISTS AND THOSE PEOPLE RULE
June 18, 2009 at 10:49 PM
“Oh, Obama is going to count gay marriage in the census? Wow, that changes everything!”
If I would have known that. He would have surely got my vote. I hope we get a little rainbow colored GPS dot on our front doors instead of the red ones: Oh, the straights will be so jealous.
June 18, 2009 at 10:57 PM
DYB, you know taggles was over at the advocate posting on the Ricky Martin thread because she likes his Bon Bon. She said earlier today that she liked that song.
Nice post over their DYB. Thank you all for helping us blog those turn-coat blogs today. I hope to get to meet all of you in DC.
June 18, 2009 at 10:59 PM
CNN is reporting that Obama and Michelle will be meeting with Richard Simmons at the White House tomorrow.
June 18, 2009 at 11:00 PM
Richard Simmons. OMG Obama is coming around now. It is all things gay this week. Yippee!
June 18, 2009 at 11:04 PM
we’re all gonna have to go on the Richard Simmons regimine.
Sweatin Time!
June 18, 2009 at 11:07 PM
Richard Simmons?! Hahahahahahahahahahaahahahahhahahahahahahaahaaaaaaaaa!
June 18, 2009 at 11:08 PM
taggles, that’s beyond ridiculous, and if gay marriage is legal in some states, why would the country NOT have an interest in having that knowledge. More knowledge=better=more useful. It is only helping them, it does nothing for gay people.
June 18, 2009 at 11:09 PM
DYB — loved your comment on the advocate (I’m AMH over there, btw).
True friends stab you in the front — Oscar Wilde.
June 18, 2009 at 11:11 PM
Richard Simmons?!?!?!?!?! WTF!?!?!?!
I’m stunned at the transparent stupidity. I’m mean, don’t get me wrong I love Richard (he’s a NOLA boy after all), but can you even think of a gay person who is more fawning/harmless?
June 18, 2009 at 11:15 PM
he’s the only gay guy he could get. No A list gay would be caught dead there. Actually it would be funny if Richard Simmons backs out.
June 18, 2009 at 11:23 PM
Have you read this?
http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2009/06/18/uncle-sams-dirty-little-secret/#comments
I found it very interesting
WOMEN WITH INTELLIGENCE AND EXPERIENCE, MEN WHO SUPPORT THEM AND COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY ALWAYS
PUMAS,BUBBAS,EQUALISTS AND THOSE PEOPLE RULE
June 18, 2009 at 11:25 PM
gary — LMAO — I’m going to light my candle & pray that Simmons backs out (but I seriously doubt he will — he is way to nice & accommodating to offend anyone).
June 18, 2009 at 11:35 PM
“We’ve come too far and gained too much momentum for our efforts to fail over disagreements on one single issue,” he said.
**********
One single issue??? That one single issue is the thing that allows every other industrialized country to deliver universal health care and stay solvent. The fix is in and the country is screwed.
June 18, 2009 at 11:49 PM
la-t-da — drag? pfft. I want him in a sparkly rainbow top & shiny short shorts!!
June 19, 2009 at 12:00 AM
The latest Senate “Health Care Reform” has been leaked, it’s scaled back from previous proposals and a “public option” is gone. I guess the Insurance got what they paid for.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2009/06/exclusive_the_finance_committe.html
June 19, 2009 at 12:05 AM
US Navy to intercept suspicious North Korean ship. Gates orders additional defenses over Hawaii. Comforting.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20090618/us-us-nkorea/
June 19, 2009 at 12:22 AM
Mousavi spokesperson says Mousavi is the “obama of Iran”
FP: There has been growing criticism here in Washington that U.S. President Barack Obama hasn’t said or done enough to support those demonstrating in the streets of Iran. Do you think Obama is being too careful? Or even that he is helping Ahmadinejad by being cautious?
MM: Obama has said that there is no difference between Ahmadinejad and Mousavi. Does he like it himself [when someone is] saying that there is no difference between Obama and [George W.] Bush? Ahmadinejad is the Bush of Iran. And Mousavi is the Obama of Iran.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=5018
June 19, 2009 at 12:25 AM
3W
My late husband was in Korea during the so-called police action. Our best man was at the frozen chosen.
It is not a good place to be. I would hate to see it explode again.
WOMEN WITH INTELLIGENCE AND EXPERIENCE,MEN WHO SUPPORT THEM AND COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY ALWAYS
PUMAS,BUBBAS,EQUALISTS AND THOSE PEOPLE RULE
June 19, 2009 at 12:29 AM
“And Mousavi is the Obama of Iran. ”
If that is the case and he gets in, then I am really sorry for those people that have given their lives and fight to this cause, to wake up a year from now and find out that there is nothing different. There disillusionment would be 500 times greater than ours. I hope for their sakes that he is not the Obama of Iran.
June 19, 2009 at 12:49 AM
Helen, regarding your comment above about the gag order that seems to be in place upon everyone under our dear leader; I believe part of the problem is the extent of economic stress so many of us are feeling. Many simply have no time or energy to really understand or follow what is transpiring and are in survival mode. Relatedly, so many avenues of dissension are not there, the normal outlets have been infiltrated, although that seems to be changing of late. In addition,I have noticed that people are no longer putting up a fight when faced with layoffs, loss of benefits, decreased wages, etc; they are told that they are lucky to exist, so don’t make demands. The rights we have fought for are being taken away due to the crisis. I was at a union negotiating team for a severance package for our health care unit- they nearly laughed at us when we asked for what was freely given just 4 months ago, and the rank and file will roll over and play dead. We are fighting, not unreasonably, but as far as those concerned at least pay respect to what is really happening to people in the community. There are few checks and balances. Kafka is returning from the grave.
June 19, 2009 at 1:03 AM
Some of the obot “whiners” at Huffington were just given a lesson on “the difference between whining and speaking out” from the great obot in the sky box. (I am ROTFLMAO and pissing my pants.)
Whining:
-I already wrote my rep 2 times! I got no response.
-If Obama doesn’t do what I want we’ll vote him out!
-We are lost and it’s all THEIR fault.
-So much for “Yes we can.”
-Where’s my change! STOMPS FOOT
-The guy’s had 4 months and I don’t have everything I want yet!
Speaking out:
-I don’t agree with Obama on Don’t ask don’t tell, and for those who are of like mind, here’s a link to a petition.
-I’m disappointed by Obama’s stand on the public option and I’m here to ask each and every one of you who agrees with me to send an e-mail to the White House—NOW.
-Is there anyone out there willing to help me coordinate a march? Moveon, I’m looking at you.
June 19, 2009 at 1:05 AM
Lililam
Thank you for the information. I have one daughter that was a vet’s assistant. She was laid off from work. People do not have the money to care for pets. My second daughter works in the eyeglass business. Her hours were cut to 30 a week. She kept her benefits but her main income is from commission and with less hours that means less sales.
My son is construction in Fla. That has died.
My youngest daughter is working with an assistant living program.
I do know that many do not realize just how bad the economy is and how many people are affected. It is ugly out there and getting worse not better.
I am lucky enough to be retired and I work 2 nights a week and I do help out when I can.
I am afraid that people will be so beaten down that they will not stand up for their rights and everything that generations fought for will be lost.
WOMEN WITH INTELLIGENCE AND EXPERIENCE,MEN WHO SUPPORT THEM AND COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY ALWAYS
PUMAS,BUBBAS,EQUALISTS AND THOSE PEOPLE RULE
June 19, 2009 at 1:10 AM
I mentioned earlier that the oborg had Aravosis in their sites. I guess he’s not the only one. I just saw this comment on Towleroad. This commenter is obviously an obot, and he is going after prominent gay bloggers to damage their credibility just like they tried to do with us last year.
…It is unfortunate that the conversation about equal rights for LGBT community is being hijacked by people like John Avarosis and Andrew Sullivan – bloggers who are not known for moderation. Their idea of having a discussion about rights is to shout shrilly at the top of their voices while beating the table with their fists and calling names to anyone who might disagree with their points of view.
I remember that I had to stop reading Mr. Avarosis’ Americablog during the elections because his constant blaring of Mr. Obama’s inevitable loss (presumably because Mr. Obama was not following the strategy Mr. Avarosis thought was best) was driving up my blood pressure. The same goes for the otherwise-equally-excellent Daily Kos blog.
There are other gay “activists” of similar and/or suspect temperament who are in the fray now – Dan Savage on the west coast for one, who is never late in jumping the gun or putting his foot in his mouth….
The oborg witch hunt of the gay community has begun.
June 19, 2009 at 1:18 AM
Exactly, Helen, I feel we are going backwards very quickly. I am so worried about my son, who works in State Parks- over 200 parks may close and basic services are going down the tubes. We are getting no solid direction from anyone with integrity. Those in charge have no idea that real lives will be devastated and lost- there is no real empathy, because the head of the beast is a sociopath. FDR he ain’t.
June 19, 2009 at 1:29 AM
They must have twittered an emergency meeting, gary. They are everywhere, not just the gay issues. I am reading the post at HUFFup about the public option being off the table. The disillusioned bots that are barely hanging on to “hope” by their fingertips are getting preached to. Amazing.
June 19, 2009 at 1:33 AM
“UPDATE: Former co-chair of the Obama LGBT Leadership Council Stampp Corbin has dropped out of the fundraiser as well.”
June 19, 2009 at 2:10 AM
On the tv local news
Walter Cronkite in the hospital.
This is a man that today’s so-called journalist should learn from.
We have no one like him today. We are stuck with stenos.
WOMEN WITH INTELLIGENCE AND EXPERIENCE, MEN WHO SUPPORT THEM AND COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY ALWAYS
PUMAS,BUBBAS,EQUALISTS AND THOSE PEOPLE RULE
June 19, 2009 at 4:03 AM
I remember that I had to stop reading Mr. Avarosis’ Americablog during the elections because his constant blaring of Mr. Obama’s inevitable loss
Well that’s a fuckin’ lie because Avarosis had is tongue up Obie’s butt once he made the switch from HRC and when the check cleared.
So whoever posted that didn’t even know what Avarosis’ stance was.
June 19, 2009 at 5:57 AM
“Daschle folds” – how is it news?
What I don’t get is – how was he in any position to have his folding be news?
June 19, 2009 at 5:59 AM
Wow, Garry! Washn’t Avrosis the bestest B0bot? And Sullivan too?
June 20, 2009 at 11:24 AM
The Washington Post fires its best columnist. Why?
Whoever hires Froomkin now will get an instant boost in circulation plus has a chance to establish themselves as the coming media source in the USA (now that the msm has clearly jumped the shark).
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June 18, 2009 at 9:27 PM
Am I getting paranoid? Everyone that speaks out about backtrack or his bunch gets punished?
Investigate his friends for stealing public money = getting fired and publicly trashed
Write columns that not bowing and scraping to backtrack = getting fired
Is this the hope and change he was promising.
Change the perception of truth
Hope you don’t loose your job for telling the real truth.
WOMEN WITH INTELLIGENCE AND EXPERIENCE,MEN WHO SUPPORT THEM AND COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY ALWAYS
PUMAS,BUBBAS,EQUALISTS AND THOSE PEOPLE RULE