Short And Not So Sweet
Posted by Michelle Moquin on November 29th, 2012
Good morning!
Thomas Ricks Accuses Fox News Of ‘Operating As A Wing Of The Republican Party’ (VIDEO)
A Fox News interview ended rather abruptly on Monday after a guest took not one but two jabs at the network hosting him (see update below).
Co-anchor Jon Scott interviewed Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Thomas Ricks, who has covered the military for decades, about his new book “The Generals.” Scott asked Ricks to weigh in on the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi and Sen. John McCain’s criticisms of Amb. Susan Rice.
“I think Benghazi was generally hyped by this network especially,” Ricks said. He added that he thought McCain seemed to be “backing off” from criticizing Rice since “the campaign [was] over.”
“When you have four people dead for the first time in more than 30 years, how do you call that hype?” Scott said, pushing back against Ricks’ characterization of the network’s coverage.
Ricks compared the situation to security contractors who were killed in Iraq. He described the attack in Benghazi as a “small fire-fight” and added, “I think the emphasis on Benghazi has been extremely political, partly because Fox is operating as the wing of the Republican Party.”
At that point, Scott thanked Ricks for his time and ended the interview after about 90 seconds.
UPDATE: According to the New York Times’ Brian Stelter, a Fox News staffer told Ricks he was rude following the interview. Ricks said that he thinks the hit lasted “about half as long as planned.”
*******
Well alrighty then…I think this interview is over. Love it.
Blog me.
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the “Donate” button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my “Donate” page)
Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:
Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129
Thank you for your loyal support!
All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2008-2012
“Though she be but little, she be fierce.” – William Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream
" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"
November 29th, 2012 at 8:04 am
Oh baby, what I would do to hear you say those sweet things YM says to YW! Lucky girl, she is.
November 29th, 2012 at 8:37 am
The system of health care is a mess… doctors focusing on symptom suppression, and people blindly accepting the prescriptions without questions.
Combine that with a population that is making itself sick with poor lifestyle choices, and we have a recipe for disaster!
Is it any wonder that Americans spend more for health care than anyone else on the planet, and yet America ranks only 49th in the world for life expectancy?
November 29th, 2012 at 8:48 am
Thanks Rose for the Link. For those of you who need to see a thing before you can comment, Here is the long and short of it
====================================
Jordan Russell Davis, 17, and several other teenagers were sitting in a sport utility vehicle in the parking lot when Dunn pulled up next to them in a car and asked them to turn down their music, [Jacksonville sheriff's Lt. Rob] Schoonover said.
Jordan and Dunn exchanged words, and Dunn pulled a gun and shot eight or nine times, striking Jordan twice, Schoonover said. Jordan was sitting in the back seat. No one else was hurt.Dunn’s attorney Monday said her client acted responsibly and in self-defense. She did not elaborate.
Schoonover also said that “there were words exchanged” between the two, and Dunn claims to have felt “threatened” before opening fire.
According to his father Ron Davis, the teenager died in the arms of his friend in the car. Ron said his son was unarmed.
Dunn was arrested at his home on Saturday and charged with murder and attempted murder. He is being held without bail.
Davis’s funeral will take place on Saturday, Dec. 1 and his parents plan to create a foundation “for at risk students that suffer from tragedies, in his memory.”
Since Dunn is claiming self-defense, Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, which earned infamy after Trayvon Martin’s killing, could be at issue in this case. After Martin’s death, Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) appointed a task force to review the law that authorizes the unfettered use of deadly force in self-defense, but the panel didn’t recommend any significant changes.
=============================
I didn’t get my two cents in about this murder by another racist white boy. I live in Florida and I think we should get together and buy guns for black people who will feel the same threatened by some white boy and then act “as any responsible firearms owner would have.”
I truly believe that this law will not be changed until OTWs start killing white boys in the same manner.
Vivian
November 29th, 2012 at 9:08 am
My hopes and prayers are on the Palestinians today as they try to win U.N. recognition for statehood. A win for them = a win for me. That means no more excuses, chou chou.
November 29th, 2012 at 9:13 am
I’m white but when I lived in Atlanta, a lot of my friends were black and hispanic. I recently moved to Grinnell, Iowa. Here it is strictly whites stick to whites and that’s it.
I went to this game, it is an example of what happens to sports statics when only whites are playing against each other. Jack Taylor, a local basketball star, scored 138 points in a game and all I hear is how this shows that he could super star against any of my nigger friends.
Ignorance is truly bliss. If Jack was playing against any of my friends, he wouldn’t be able to get a shot off much less hit a basket.
Pause the video on the link I am sending you and you be the judge. The defenders are mostly standing around watching him shoot. But the key is they are all white.
I am 6′ 5″ and 17, I can school any of these silly idiots. But I chose to sit out my senior year because I have secured a basketball scholarship at the college of my choice.
Every day I get ribbed every day because I refused to play for their school. They just don’t understand that I could loose my edge and skills playing against such mediocre talent.
Graig
November 29th, 2012 at 9:15 am
Folks, Play Rose’s link, take a long hard look at Mr. Michael David Dunn, note the physical characteristics: over 40, caucasian, angry looking.
There are thousands if not millions of these guys, all over America and they are known to be heavily armed and accustomed to deference in police matters.
They feel entitled, resentful of losing an election, and are certain that even without weapon or provocation, an Obama voter is a threat to them. They are bigots. They are losers. They are the worst kind of cowards and they shoot to kill.
November 29th, 2012 at 9:15 am
Graig, good for you, bc you’re too right. Never lose your edge and that’s all the advice you’ll ever get from me : ) Luv, Zen Lill
November 29th, 2012 at 9:24 am
You are so right, Kirk. It’s hard to believe how surrounded we are by these paranoid little men.
November 29th, 2012 at 9:24 am
Kirk, you hit the nail on the head.
November 29th, 2012 at 9:25 am
That little white guy got hot, and blew the basket out. Wow, he is the King!
November 29th, 2012 at 9:28 am
Graig, you nigger lovers can’t appreciate white talent when you see it. Guess you liked taking it up the ass for those monkeys and wetbacks.
November 29th, 2012 at 9:29 am
Graig the way I see it you were intimidated by Jack’s talent.
November 29th, 2012 at 9:29 am
I agree with you, Kirk, and you’ve scared the crap out of me!!
November 29th, 2012 at 9:30 am
How hard is it to realize that the (unintended?) consequence of the Stand Your Ground law is to create an open season on any and all “others”. Time to call an end to this demented social experiment.
November 29th, 2012 at 9:32 am
Jack is a small fish in little pond. He would not even start in Division 2 and I am sure wouldn’t make any D1 squad.
Let me go out and play a group of elementary school kids and see if i can score 140.
November 29th, 2012 at 9:33 am
Exactly! Robb, Someone died over this stupid law.
November 29th, 2012 at 9:34 am
Absolutely. Robb, ANYONE can now claim they felt “threatened” and open fire. Insanity
November 29th, 2012 at 9:35 am
What’s wrong with this picture it’s not like they’re going after adults they are going after CHILDREN. Teenagers, I don’t care you can tell when someone is young.
November 29th, 2012 at 9:36 am
I bet if he didn’t have a gun he would not have asked them to turn down the music. Carrying a concealed weapon gives some people false bravado that they wouldn’t have if they were weaponless.
This guy was on the street. It was not like music was from the neighbors while he was trying to sleep for cryin out loud! grrrrrrrr
November 29th, 2012 at 9:37 am
Awwwww Graig, someone else getting the spotlight. Are your feelings hurt?
Go on out there and see if you can get 140………………..if you are going to talk the talk………walk the walk.
November 29th, 2012 at 9:38 am
Teresa, I bet if he did not have a gun he would have stayed in his house, swearing at his wife, or dog, about the “loud music”
November 29th, 2012 at 9:39 am
Carrying has never given me any false bravado. That is a stereotype that, while it could occasionally be true, is a great generalization and in fact I’ve always seen those who carry to place emphasis on NOT getting into confrontational situations because they are carrying and they don’t want to draw. It is an inaccurate generalization to say those who carry try to get into fights.
November 29th, 2012 at 9:44 am
Sonny, I am sure his 15 minutes are ticking. Sorry I am taking Zen Lill’s advice on this one. Nice try though.
I am so shamed by not being a Division 3 wonder. I will post my name and University come 2013 when I begin playing. Watch this blog. Then you can see how well I play against the big boys in Division 1 Basketball.
It is a major power so you will get to see me play in the March Madness games. Tell your son I am sorry for picking on him.
November 29th, 2012 at 9:45 am
What ever happened to sportsmanship? Jack AND his coach should be ashamed.
November 29th, 2012 at 9:50 am
You nailed it Graig. It seems another sports analysts agree the record is a sham.
http://deadspin.com/5962514/?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_facebook&utm_source=deadspin_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow
November 29th, 2012 at 9:52 am
that is a rediculous feat and a sub par stat line. he said i felt like everything i threw up was going in. i guess he was literally unconscious when he missed those 50 shots. just saying not hating and im sure the most arrogant man in the world i mean kobe bryanty would co-sign on that
November 29th, 2012 at 9:55 am
Of course you are right Graig. This kind of thing happens in NAIA bball.
In 1970, John Rinka from Kenyon College in Ohio was leading the nation in scoring and had similar games as the Taylor kid. A friend of mine playing at another NAIA school, Wilmington College, was guarding him one night.
Both were 5-9 … 5-10 guards who could shoot the lights out. Rinka once scored 69 points in game and averaged 41 points in 1970. Rinka said to him, “if you don’t guard me and I won’t guard you.” That night Rinka got 52 and my friend got 48 … before the 3 point line existed.
Both were drafted by an ABA and NBA team. Neither made it. However, Rinka is in the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame and my friend is in the Wilmington College Hall of Fame.
NAIA is step above good high school bball. Competive? Yeah. Equivalent to Division I bball? Not hardly.
November 29th, 2012 at 9:55 am
Right Adam. And folks who drive Hummers and trucks don’t drive aggressively because they’re not worried about being hurt in an accident.
November 29th, 2012 at 9:56 am
This ridiculous “stand your ground” law needs to go. People can just shoot someone just because they are irritated and claim self defense. Florida you suck.
November 29th, 2012 at 10:07 am
Michelle, you need to police your blog and make the people stay on topic. I read your topic every day, but hardly ever does anyone stay even near the topic.
They just go off on anything they feel like discussing. Frankly, it’s fucked up.
Rupert Murdoch’s boys ,showing themselves for what they really are.
Meanwhile over in the UK.
more of Rupert Murdoch’s little helpers are….”in trouble with the law”.
( .20th November 2012).
Prosecutors have announced new criminal charges against the former
News International editors Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson,(news of The World/News International) this time
over alleged illegal payments to public officials.
The Crown
Prosecution Service announced on Tuesday that four former News
International employees, and a defence official alleged to have been
paid £100,000 for information, should stand trial.
The
announcement came as a result of Operation Elveden, in which the
Metropolitan police are investigating claims of unlawful payments by
News International staff to police officers and other public officials.
November 29th, 2012 at 10:10 am
Ricks is correct and someone should be held accountable for non-existent WMD in Iraq and the fact that the Bush regime let Osama Bin Laden as perpetrator of 911 run free until Obama was president.
Bring the Bush regime to justice. He, Cheney, Rice et al should have been impeached years ago for lying to the American public and congress.
This is political BS by the GOP. They will continue to witch hunt and obstruct until the 2016 elections.
November 29th, 2012 at 10:10 am
Seems to me that FOX network (don’t call them NEWS, please) is not the wing of the republican party, but the butt hole of the republican party.
November 29th, 2012 at 10:12 am
Fox put out that he apologized for what he said. Another Lie.
There was nothing for him to apologize for since he spoke the truth. Kudos to Thomas Ricks. Fox News can sure dish it out but can’t take it!
November 29th, 2012 at 10:13 am
No “news” and certainly no “response” from Fox should ever be entertained in any seriousness. They are a joke, held in contempt by other news organizations and by journalists, as well they should be.
November 29th, 2012 at 10:25 am
How to Keep Your Cool When Dealing with Aging Parents
Editor’s Note: As I look at my parents—who are, of course, getting older—it’s difficult to watch them slow down, both mentally and physically. They need an increasing amount of support from me and my siblings, which can be hard on us.
Michelle:
Your once sharp-minded mother has begun to make mistakes when paying her bills…your once strong-as-a-bull father has started to struggle with bags of groceries.
Of course, your heart aches to see your aging parents in decline, and you want to be supportive. But let’s be frank—sometimes it is really, really hard not to be irritable and impatient or even to explode in anger. Doing so, however, only makes everyone feel worse.
Try to be patient and compassionate…
Remind yourself that role reversal is inevitable. Even though you’ve been an adult for decades, it is hard to adjust emotionally to the fact that your parents no longer take care of you and instead you must take care of them.
It’s normal to feel disappointed and distressed about this transition. But realize that your parents, like you, also are making difficult adjustments necessitated by their loss of abilities and independence.
As their world shrinks and their dependence on you grows, they become increasingly embarrassed about their decline, desperate for attention and anxious about not being in control of their lives.
Remember how when your children were small, fear and frustration made them act clingy or throw tantrums?
For the same reasons, your aging parents’ emotional tumult may lead them to complain that you don’t love them (for example, if they think that you don’t call often enough) or to lash out at you even when you’re being helpful (accusing you of being critical or controlling when you insist on taking over their bill-paying). Understanding these facts can help you accept the new reality.
Acknowledge your fears for your own future. When you lose your temper with your parents, don’t berate yourself for being a bad daughter.
True, you probably would find it easier to be patient with an elderly stranger than with your own parents. But this doesn’t stem from lack of love—it happens because your parents’ failings hit closer to home, triggering fears of your own inevitable deterioration.
Whenever irritation with Mom or Dad mounts, take a deep breath and say to yourself, “I’m upset because I’m worried about getting old myself, but that is the future, not the present.” This reminder makes it easier to deal patiently with your parents in the here and now.
Be respectful.
Pointing out your parents’ failures only adds to their distress, so make a conscious effort to be as positive as possible. Acknowledge what they do well, voicing your approval (“I’m impressed that you always keep the house so clean”) and appreciation (“Thank you for remembering your granddaughter’s birthday”). This helps them feel empowered and competent.
When challenges arise, unless there truly is a time crunch, express acceptance (“There’s no rush, you can take your time figuring out what you’d like for dinner”)… and offer encouragement (“Let’s try again, I think we can find that book you’re looking for”).
Vent to a third party, not to your parents.
When your emotions threaten to overwhelm you, find an understanding friend or another family member to whom you can voice your complaints…or join a support group for children of aging parents.
Do not express your anger directly to your parents—this only makes them feel defensive or insecure and causes them to become argumentative or to withdraw into a shell.
What if you do lose your cool?
Apologize at once and be reassuring of your love, saying, “I am so sorry that I got upset. Changes are tough for all of us, but I want you to know that I love you now as much as ever—and I always will.”
Judy Kuriansky, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and sex therapist on the adjunct faculty of Teachers College, Columbia University in New York City. She is the author of several books, including The Complete Idiot’s Guide to a Healthy Relationship (Alpha), and is a columnist and advisory board member for HealthyWoman from Bottom Line. http://www.DrJudy.com
November 29th, 2012 at 10:27 am
I feel that if the ‘apology’ attributed to Ricks really happened, it was more intended to defuse the tension in the room rather than as a denial of what he’d just said.
It’s entirely normal for a blameless person to apologise for such reasons. When a roomful of people is glowering at you, you can have a moment of doubt/insecurity. Also, he may have wanted to apologise for how he said what he said, but not for the content. He’d been very accusatory, blunt and direct, albeit rightly in my view.
I think this is the most likely explanation by far. The idea that he said something with such conviction on camera then totally turned around in a private apology as soon as the interview was over – that’s quite bizarre and Fox knows it, which is what makes their claim so disingenuous. They are real sleazeballs in addition to being power-hungry zealots. Not a class act.
November 29th, 2012 at 10:29 am
How can this Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist compare the death of a hired security contractor to the death of an “oficial US Ambassador” is beyond belief. Obviously, Tommy had his own point of view going into this interview. Wake up America!
November 29th, 2012 at 10:40 am
You are losing your humans because you have not provided enough fat for their brains. They need a constant supply of DHA. Physical exercise over mental stimulation has shown to be more beneficial.
However, Myelin, the protective sheath surrounding the brain’s neurons, is composed of 30 percent protein and 70 percent fat. That means for long distance travel with the human head, the brain must be maintained by regular injections of DHA and EPA.
Proper science will decrease the specimens needed to insure safe delivery of the product.
November 29th, 2012 at 11:10 am
GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE!
The daily fiscal cliff update is below as talks heat up. Mitt Romney and the president are set to have lunch this afternoon and the Senate is looking at modifying the filibuster. That, and a lot more, below in today’s Daily Events.
Talk to you all tomorrow,
– Adam Tragone, Managing Editor
November 29th, 2012 at 11:32 am
If your subtle suggestion that the crashes of two MV-22 Osprey in Japan we felt were necessary because they came too close to our main hover craft was do to anything but what we reported is not retracted, we will be forced to disengage from your committee on Iwakuni surveillance encounters.
10-0D1
November 29th, 2012 at 11:38 am
As a white American of Cuban descent I saw this first hand in my local voting precinct and around most areas of the predominantly middle-class poorer Democratic Hispanic and African-American areas in South Florida.
We were subjected to outrageously long lines for early voting and on the day of the election. In my case I had to wait over 4 1/2 hours to get my ballot, but it was twice as long in some other areas.
Meanwhile, my cousins who are also of Cuban descent, but live in predominantly white well-to-do Republican precincts were able to cast their ballots in less than an hour.
The combination of reducing early voting days, a lack of enough voting machines and workers in largely Democratic precincts and loading up the ballot with numerous ridiculously long initiatives was all an effort by Republicans to suppress Democratic turnout..
November 29th, 2012 at 1:51 pm
This is my read of the article.
=============================
Ricks appeared on Fox News on Monday to promote his new book “The Generals.” The interview was cut short, lasting only 90 seconds, after the Pulitzer Prize winning-journalist and author said that Fox News “hyped” the story about the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi and was “operating as a wing of the Republican Party.”
Fox News’ executive vice president of news editorial Michael Clemente told the Hollywood Reporter that Ricks apologized after the feisty exchange and blamed his snappy response on fatigue caused by his book tour. Ricks denied that he apologized and clarified his hallway conversations following the interview in an email to Clemente.
=============================
Faux Noise is the spin network and a Republican infomercial.
No truth, no facts, just lies, half truths and misinformation.
Faux Noise is where facts go to die and people filled with hate go to recharge their anger.
November 29th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
To all of you HP liberals praising this man as a hero: Read what he actually said. He said that Fox created this Libya controversy and said it wasn’t a big deal; Fox is the only news outlet that adequately discussed this incident that saw American officials DIE.
Ricks should be thanking Fox for finding the truth — note that he couldn’t point out a single falsehood…Nothing Fox said on the matter was false.
November 29th, 2012 at 1:54 pm
Nothing new when it comes to Fox News. They’re shameless and show no signs of changing any time soon. Let’s just hope more and more people see the ridiculousness associated with this joke of a network.
More thoughts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4BPtyV8IFg
November 29th, 2012 at 1:55 pm
FOX News. We make stuff up.
November 29th, 2012 at 2:01 pm
GOOD AFTERNOON TO EVERYONE!
First off, I must correct the mistake I made yesterday where I incorrectly said that Rep. Shelley Moore Capito was gearing up for her 2016 challenge to incumbent Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller in West Virginia. It’s actually in 2014.
We are unveiling our daily fiscal cliff update story where we collate all the latest news on the fiscal cliff negotiations and put them in to one, simple article for you to keep handy as you get your news.
Also – Neil W. McCabe’s weekly Cloakroom column is below. Neil gives you an insider look at Capitol Hill movers and shakers in a one-on-one interview. This week, it is executive director of the Republican Study Committee, Paul Teller.
Talk to you all tomorrow,
– Adam Tragone, Managing Editor
November 29th, 2012 at 2:04 pm
Our Louisiana governor, Bobby Jindal, seems to have adopted the ALEC agenda for state government. He has passed a “voucher system” for students in “failing” public schools to attend private schools, with apparently no regulation of standards in private schools.
He has contracted with a private company to manage Louisiana’s social services. We had just as well hire a private company to run our state government.
November 29th, 2012 at 2:09 pm
The clock starts ticking for Netanyahu today to do everything right to pave the way for a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through negotiations. It is his arrogance and defiance and belligerence that drove the moderate Abbas to go before the world community to seek approval for statehood for the Palestinians.
November 29th, 2012 at 2:11 pm
“The Palestinians are certain to win U.N. recognition as a state Thursday”—ONE STATEMENT
–
“Israel and the United States warn it could delay hopes of achieving an independent Palestinian state through peace talks with Israel.”– TOTALLY DIVORCED FROM REALITY 2ND STATEMENT.
-the Palestinians have been in no talks with Israel for over two years. fact
-the israelis have been bulldozing more palestinians homes and inserting new Jewish settlements that whole time. fact
-the Israelis want the status quo to remain the same. fact
-the status quo is terribly bad for the Palestinians. fact
-the USA “negotiating” is a JOKE- when they outright favor Israel. fact
-the Palestinians are getting a raw deal from USA and Israel- its a stacked deck. fact
-walking away from Israel- is getting them a STATE. fact
-things are changing. fact
-with statehood for the Palestinians- Israel will be subject to World
Court and War Crimes Tribunal at The Hague. fact
-the days of doing the Palestinians any way they please are ending for Israel. fact.
November 29th, 2012 at 2:12 pm
It isn’t the 7 million Jewish Zionists in Israel that protects the “promised land”. It isn’t the 7 million Jewish Zionists in the US that protects the “promised land”.
It is the 100 million Christian Zionists that protect the “promised land”.
November 29th, 2012 at 2:13 pm
“We remain committed to the two-state solution and our hand remains extended in peace,” Abbas said in a statement read by Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki after the start of the General Assembly session. Abbas is expected to address the assembly in the afternoon.
The Palestinians say they need U.N. recognition of a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, the lands Israel captured in 1967, to be able to resume negotiations with Israel. They say global recognition of the 1967 lines as the borders of Palestine is meant to salvage a peace deal, not sabotage it, as Israel claims.
The non-member observer state status could also open the way for possible war crimes charges against the Jewish state at the International Criminal Court.
the U.S, Israel, Germany, Canada, Netherlands and Australia opposed or abstaining.
To date, 132 countries – over two-thirds of the U.N. member states – have recognized the state of Palestine.
November 29th, 2012 at 2:13 pm
138 in favor of resolution
9 opposed
41 abstentions
November 29th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
FACT – Palestinian men treat us women as if we were less than sheep. We have no rights, yet they go before a committee of men complaining about their lack of equality.
FACT – We Palestinian women want equality. Until the men give it to us why should we take sides in their struggle.
Our fate will be the same regardless.
November 29th, 2012 at 2:21 pm
t’s not the moderates that are the problem, but the Conservatives, many who are quite rabid in nature (Justice Scalia Todd Adkins, Robert Mourdock). These people make Sarah Palin an acceptable alternative… Nah, scratch that… The “middle” is now Right of center and if Romney was elected, it would be far Right of center.
No, the problem is that the Conservative Right (includes many Democrats) control the agenda and air waves. Along with a many spineless Democrats, who rubber stamp their Conservative policies, the Conservatives dominate. Many people say we have only one party in Washington with different “Corporate Pay Masters” and slight differences around the edges…
Think about this. Why do Republicans along with some unprincipled Democrats in tow always get what they want??
• Wars
• Deregulation
• MIC
• Tax Cuts
• Austerity for all
• Repeal of Glass Steagall
And what do the Democrats get in return???
It’s about time; real Dems stop giving and start demanding…
It’s time they start pulling governance back to the left.
When that happens, let’s see if these issues start dissipating…
November 29th, 2012 at 2:22 pm
I am really counting on Obama to be more bold in his 2nd term. It’s why I voted for him. I believe he wants to do some great things, and freed of the shackles of a re-election, I want him to succeed.
His response to the marijuana issue will be a bellwether for how he’s going to handle his 2nd term, I think. No response is a response, too, and if he simply maintains some weird silence on the issue, it’s going to be pretty depressing for America.
But Obama recognized his failure to communicate a narrative to America for his first 4 years, so I’m pretty optimistic on this one.
November 29th, 2012 at 2:23 pm
my guess is that to some extent anyone who becomes President and gets briefed on all those things we know nothing about yet, it not only ages them it forces them to adjust their plans and ideas for their administration; on the ground reality in various areas both geographic and policy – probably force new Presidents to deal with things they never anticipated.
November 29th, 2012 at 2:25 pm
Following Obama’s bitter campaign with Mitt Romney. Obama would like to consider Mitt Romney’s ideas over lunch? Nice and Sleazy does it, nice and sleazy does it, does it, does it, does it every time.
November 29th, 2012 at 2:26 pm
Romney in another “no win” situation…..if he does not go he is accused of being disrespectful the POTUS, if he goes he is a prop for an Obama photo op. Does anyone really think the Imperial one will gather any ideas from a successful businessperson. This is the age, sold by Obama’s ChiMob that success is to be vilified and confiscated for the leaders “greater good”.
But the press takes cue’s from the left, that is for sure, so our glorious leader will be elevated for his gesture to the defeated opponent. What a piece of history.
Pray for our Nation.
November 29th, 2012 at 2:27 pm
Our President is “Magnimous”, I would have let that sore looser eat crow with hot sauce!!!!
November 29th, 2012 at 2:27 pm
Come on…B.O. does not need to do this period! I hope this isn’t a chink in the armor showing the Prez’s needy side, still wanting to be liked.They don’t: They never will. Get over it Mr. President.
November 29th, 2012 at 2:29 pm
Romney was correct. The President did promise free gifts to people. I am glad Gov. Romney is the first person to cash in on his… SMH – The Goverment Free Lunch Program.
Nothing better than that cheese poor people use to get over 20 years ago. Gov would you like some wine with that cheese. Lol. Too funny.
On a serious note – good on the President to keep his word, in spite of Romney’s comments, after he loss, over the phone. The President of the USA should never be petty, like his/her citizens.
November 29th, 2012 at 2:31 pm
Pete, our great leader has aready been elevated to a second term so there is little need for him to be elevated any more even if this is possible from this small gesture of reaching out to the man he defeated for his input.
November 29th, 2012 at 2:32 pm
Obama shows that he is the better man by sticking to what he said and having Romney in for a visit to the WH. After Romney got rude and snarky and made the hateful remarks about Obama winning because of “GIFTS” it shows that the American voter chose the right man for the job of POTUS.
Now lets hope we can get on with making the country better and Mitt can just fade away back into the private sector at his new job at his sons company in Boston.
November 29th, 2012 at 2:33 pm
I would hope that Obama will only listen to 47% of what he is saying.
November 29th, 2012 at 2:38 pm
Five Steps to Minimize Stress
by Dr. David Williams
Stress. We can’t see it, hear it, taste it, or reach out and touch it. Consequently, we downplay its ability to do us harm. But we shouldn’t.
The effects of unresolved stress are cumulative. Stress depletes the pituitary, adrenal, and thyroid glands. It compromises the immune system and lowers your resistance to illness. It has now been directly linked to cancer, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Simply put, stress can destroy your health.
But the last thing you want to do is to let this seemingly dire news about stress stress you out even more. That’s because practically any method you use to reduce stress will ultimately benefit your immune system.
While I could probably write several volumes on various techniques for stress management, here I outline five simple steps that you should go through every night before you go to sleep to help you come to grips with the unresolved stress and conflicts that have surfaced during the day.
Committing yourself daily to such a stress-reducing regime will result in less illness as well as give you inner strength—and it may even save your life.
Step 1: Relive Your Day
As you lie in bed, quickly relive the events of the day. If there were instances where you expressed any anger, bitterness, ill will, hatred, or other negative feelings (either verbally or even if you just had these types of thoughts) you need to visualize the situation in your mind, and picture yourself handling it in a positive manner.
After doing this for several weeks, you will gradually begin to automatically handle real-life situations in a positive manner. Mentally “transforming” the negative attitudes and feelings will also allow only positive and constructive thoughts to flourish in your subconscious mind.
Step 2: Forgive Yourself and Others
As you begin to re-examine and understand how you react to others, you’ll most likely need to work on forgiveness for both yourself and others.
Regardless of how guilty you might feel for past actions, you must come to grips with those actions and forgive yourself. Move on knowing that you are making changes and will become more positive as a result of those past experiences.
Forgiving others begins with truth. You can’t keep the fact that someone hurt you a secret. Openly recognize that you’ve been hurt, experience the sadness, and above all relate this (honestly, but without bitterness) to the person who hurt you. Being totally honest is the only way to allow for forgiveness and start the healing process.
Step 3: Give Thanks
Next, it is time to give thanks for all of the wonderful things in your life. If you can’t find anything to be thankful for, it’s only because it’s easier to feel sorry for yourself than it is to look for the “silver linings” in your life. If nothing else, you should feel extremely positive and thankful that you’re going through this process to make things better from this moment forward.
Step 4: Relax
After a few minutes of working through the above suggestions, it’s time to relax and get rid of the physical stresses that have accumulated throughout the day.
You should already be lying flat on your back with a pillow to support your neck and head and with your hands at your sides. Beginning with your toes, first tense the muscles then allow them to relax completely.
From there move to your feet, lower legs, thighs, et cetera, until you finish with the neck and head area. Don’t move onto the next body part until the part you are working on is totally relaxed.
You may find it difficult to truly relax on the first few tries, especially when you reach certain tension-filled areas, such as the neck or shoulders.
But with practice, it will become easier and you may be able to use a quicker technique where you imagine you are lying in a warm stream of water that runs from your feet, up your legs, thighs, and so on. As you imagine the water moving up the length of your body, it should relax every muscle along the way.
Step 5: Visualize the Positive
Once you have mastered the physical relaxation technique in step 4, it’s time to add some visualization and positive inputs to the process. First, imagine your entire body encompassed by a bright white light. Next, picture yourself as you would like to be.
For example, you might see yourself as extremely happy and healthy enjoying a walk on a beautiful spring morning. Picture situations with loved ones or friends in the surroundings you would like to experience. The key is to use your imagination to not only “see” circumstances you would like to occur, but also to develop the ability to imagine how to touch, feel, smell, and even taste those situations.
In other words, when you picture yourself in a positive situation imagine the inputs you’d be receiving from your other senses. The more detailed you can become, the more powerful a tool visualization will be.
I’m sure you’ve heard about imagery or visualization being used as a part of therapy for cancer treatment. Patients are taught to visualize their natural cancer-killing cells attacking and destroying the tumor. The same techniques can be used to help heal any type of physical or emotional illness. Just keep in mind that as you visualize desired situations, don’t try to picture exactly how they will happen.
For example, let’s say you were under a great deal of stress because Aunt Mary never ended her two-week vacation and has continued living in your house for the last eight months. Sure, you could visualize your aunt suddenly having difficulties back home forcing her to leave. But a more positive visualization would be just to picture her not there any longer.
Visualization may seem strange to some people, but we all use it every day in the form of imagination and day dreaming. With a little effort and practice, you can now also use it as a potent tool that can improve your health.
November 29th, 2012 at 2:39 pm
I can’t get any relief until I hear from Howie about what the aliens are talking about here.
C’om Howie, give a little.
November 29th, 2012 at 2:42 pm
If my father says one more time; “Everything happens for a reason.” I’ve heard this said more times than I care to. I’m not sure where it came from either, but it’s definitely not in the Bible.
The closest thing I can come up with is “To everything, there is a season,” but that’s not exactly the same.
The fact is that faith, by definition, is not reasonable.
If it could be empirically verified with facts or by using the scientific method, it wouldn’t be faith. It would be a theory.
Also, consider how such a pithy phrase sounds to someone who was raped. Do you really mean to tell them there’s a reason that happened?
Better to be quiet, listen and, if appropriate, mourn alongside them. But don’t dismiss grief or tragedy with such a meaningless phrase.
My father thinks he is being so deep when he says it. I just want to smack him upside his head. But he’s my father so I smile and nod in agreement.
Sally
November 29th, 2012 at 2:51 pm
Here’s how we white men treat a nigger president.
================================
MIKE ALLEN: This president is not going to extend [Bush tax cuts], he knows that he loses his leverage that way.
NORQUIST: Well, the Republicans also have other leverage. Continuing resolutions on spending and the debt ceiling increase. They can give him debt ceiling increases once a month. They can have him on a rather short leash, you know, here’s your allowance, come back next month.
ALLEN: Okay, wait. You’re proposing that the debt ceiling be increased month by month?
NORQUIST: Monthly if he’s good. Weekly if he’s not.
==========================
Spank that nigger’s ass once a week if he doesn’t tow the line.
Tony
November 29th, 2012 at 2:57 pm
Khadeeja, your write brings to mind the expression “cut your nose off to spite your face.”
November 29th, 2012 at 3:00 pm
At least the Palestinians now can gain access to U.N. agencies and international bodies, most significantly the International Criminal Court, which could become a springboard for going after Israel for alleged war crimes or its ongoing settlement building on war-won land.
November 29th, 2012 at 3:02 pm
Enough is enough. Norqust, McConnel, Boehner. and all of their compatriots have knowingly and willingly harmed America and her people for their own benefit. Time for that to end.
Beasts like Norquist and those who have signed his pledge, should be brought up on charges of treason. They have betrayed this country and hurt her people, and should be treated like the traitors that they are. No more playing nice, no more coddling them.
If we really want to send a message to these creatures, and the rest of their traitorous party, they have to pay the price for their actions. They should all immediately be removed from office and arrested for treason.
November 29th, 2012 at 3:15 pm
Kery, advice from another insensitive narcissistic fool. How does one spite her face when she has no face in the eyes of these beast who call themselves men.
You sound like the whites in America who continually told their blacks to wait, be patient, your day will come. Well to my memory it came when they started to burn down your cities.
Why should Palestine women support the men to gain access to the UN or anything else, if they will not be able to avail themselves of that privilege?
Where is the springboard for going after the crimes of enslavement they force upon the Palestine women every day of our lives?
You so cavalierly imply that our sufferings should take a back seat to your lofty efforts of going after Israel for “war crimes.”
Are you aware that Israel laws give Palestine women way more rights than Palestine men? This does not weight on you because you are a male.
I say if you are so concerned about the plight of Palestine men bring your brave committed self to Gaza and pick up a gun. I am tired of these brave men forcing us women to wear bombs for their causes.
November 29th, 2012 at 3:16 pm
AGREED!!!!!!!!! They need to be arrested and censured.. they are Enemies of the STATE.
November 29th, 2012 at 3:52 pm
Can we do that Brian???
November 29th, 2012 at 3:53 pm
Why isn’t anyone freaking out over Norquist talking about the President as if he were a dog? This should be right up TP’s alley. Or are we taking a break from race-baiting?
November 29th, 2012 at 3:55 pm
The word treasonous comes to mind. May not be semantically correct, but it comes to mind.
November 29th, 2012 at 3:57 pm
Rosemarie, it is clearly a violation of Section 1, Article 8 of the Constitution, as well as of the Oath of Office each Congressperson took when being sworn in.
No oath or pledge may supersede their duties as articulated in the Constitution.
While it’s arguable whether they are truly guilty of treason, they, at the very least, are guilty of Un-American actions that have violated their Oath of Office, and are doubtless guilty of high crimes, and are therefor unsuitable to serve office and should be removed.
Norquist, as the architect of the pledge, is more likely to be truly guilty of treasonous activities. If we put enough pressure on the Obama Administration, we might be able to get something done.
November 29th, 2012 at 3:58 pm
I love how Norquist can compare the first African-American president to a misbehaving child and no one even blinks an eye.
November 29th, 2012 at 4:06 pm
Sally, my pet peeve in that area is this from my mother. “If you died today, do you know where you’d spend the rest of eternity?”
I am always just a No mom, I don’t, and neither do you. So stop asking such a presumptuous question as this that implies you have some insider knowledge that the rest I don’t.
And seriously, if your faith is entirely founded upon the notion of eternal fire insurance, you’re not sharing testimony; you’re peddling propaganda.
November 29th, 2012 at 5:35 pm
Ahlam and ladies, by all means, do nothing. Don’t support your sons. You know, the ones you are teaching and raising. It’s your country. If you aren’t interested in change, don’t expect anyone else to be for it either. Nothing happens overnight. In the US, black men got the vote FIFTY ONE YEARS before women. But, eventually they got it. You can’t stop trying. Change has to happen for change to actually happen.
November 29th, 2012 at 5:37 pm
So don’t support it. The status quo is obviously working so well for you now.
November 29th, 2012 at 9:28 pm
Kery, you sound like so many men who are quick to give women advice about how to be patient and wait for men to become benevolent and bestow upon them what they should have by birth right.
You must be a white man because only one would so easily spout that black men got the vote. Wake up you self centered privileged white boy. The black man still doesn’t have the vote.
The white man takes it back whenever he wants to. The only difference is he uses his law to make it legal.
How would you like me to lock your preaching ass up and tell you one day I will remove the dog collar from your neck or the neck of the neck generation of your kind?
You would be screaming for god to help because your kind is quick with the advice and short on tolerance for pain when it is you experiencing it.
As for supporting it. Remember your history. The black man never supported waiting for the white man to give him what was his he used his mind to take it from the inferior white boy.
We women wait only for circumstances to present itself as it did for black America so that we can grab equality. If that means aligning ourselves with the Israel or any other country that recognizes our needs, then so be it.
Dahab
November 29th, 2012 at 9:37 pm
Kery, only a man would act as if a woman who is forced to have sons would care what happens to enslavers to be. As soon as that son you are so glib to portray as something the raped would care about grows to know the difference between a male and a female, he becomes my master.
Why would I care what happens to some beast that holds life and death over her person because he is a male? Son or not, he is nothing but a source of fear and dread to me.
If the jews, americans or anyone kills him, I will have one less master to fear. That would not occur to you because as your other white male country men you are so filled with your own perceptions of the world that the sufferings of others caused by your actions doesn’t occur to you.
Only a white male would give advice to a woman oppressed by a male system of government that terrorizes women to “support your sons.” How fatherly of you.
November 29th, 2012 at 9:50 pm
If you bother to listen, you would know that the reason we women are refusing to help Palestine men is because Palestine is NOT the country of Palestine women.
It is the PRISON of Palestine women!
Hear that over your need to pontificate about how we should support our men and country. Nothing happens if you wait for your oppressors to find it in their hearts to set you free from their tyranny.
I do not care who sets us free. If our liberators have to walk over the bodies of every male, including our sons, in Palestine to give me one moment of freedom from fear that a male will think I have violated some honor or his and torture or kill me, I would move heaven and earth to support them.
Kill them all, If Michelle would set Madaline free to do it I would worship the ground she walks on. If she would make me a Girlz and allow me to do it, I would cut the throats of the little male beasts with pleasure.
If you are an American, I would love to have the men you so ignorantly proclaim understanding and support for to get their hands on you.
They would teach you the meaning of fear. In only a few minutes you would hate them while you whinnied and begged for them to kill you to spare the pain they would so expertly put to you.
You hypocrites can spout that “lets all get along” because you are safe thousands of miles away from the terror, fear and harm.
But you are the first to cry for vengeance, if it is you who is harmed. It is only to others you suggest the nobility of waiting.
Come to Gaza. I dare you.
November 29th, 2012 at 10:01 pm
Black men got the vote because circumstances presented itself in a way that put pressure on white america to give OTWs an equal footing as a matter of law.
It was not something that white men wanted to do or most even practiced once the law was passed. It was passed to convince the outside world that white america could be trusted by the OTW countries that the Russians were courting.
The white man never intended to really give OTW equality or the vote. Your moralizing to these women is shameful. You have not experience any deprivation unless the loss of your race’s special status as America’s Affirmative Action Beneficiaries pisses you off.
If you need a ticket to get your sermonizing ass to Palestine, I will send you there first class on the first plane smoking.
I hope you women of Palestine know that black America supports you in whatever you try to accomplish to rid yourself of your oppressors.
Robert, RT
November 30th, 2012 at 7:33 am
What to Do If You Think a Loved One Is Depressed…
It’s difficult for healthy people to fully understand what depression feels like. It’s more than feeling “down.” People with depression don’t experience normal emotions.
They blame themselves for things that aren’t their fault…or get angry for trivial reasons…or misinterpret disagreement as rejection and increasingly withdraw from normal interactions.
Important:
Don’t expect someone with depression to “snap out of it.” It is a disease. You can’t solve depressed people’s problems, but you can help them get the help they need. What to do…
Don’t take it personally.
It’s easy for your feelings to be hurt when you’re dealing with someone who is depressed. His/her communication skills may be impaired, and he will find it difficult to give the expressions of support that are normal in healthy relationships.
Remind yourself that it’s not about you.
When you are helping someone who is depressed, try to be objective and keep your emotions out of it.
Point out recent changes.
Denial is one of the main defense mechanisms of depressed people. They often don’t recognize—or choose not to recognize—that they’re depressed.
Without being judgmental, explain what you’ve noticed. Stick to the facts. Maybe he sleeps all the time or is less active than he used to be.
He might have given up activities that he used to enjoy. He probably spends more time alone—watching TV, using the Internet, etc. He might be overly sensitive or get angry easily.
You can suggest (but not insist) that the changes might be due to depression. Encourage him to get professional help.
Important:
Don’t expect that one conversation will change things. You might have to bring it up repeatedly. Also, men and women tend to react differently when people bring up their depression. Men are more likely to get angry and defensive…while women tend to feel hurt.
Explain why he needs help.
A depressed person is highly vulnerable to criticism. Try not to give the impression that you’re blaming or judging. Do help him understand that his behavior is affecting his loved ones.
Example: You might point out that some behaviors, such as a hair-trigger temper, are frightening. Simply saying, “You’re different than you used to be,” might encourage him to get help.
Encourage exercise.
Studies have shown that people with mild-to-moderate depression who exercise three or more times a week for about 30 minutes each time improve about as much as those taking antidepressants.
Those who continue to exercise are less likely to have future episodes of depression than those who rely on medications alone.
Any form of exercise is likely to be helpful, but aerobic exercise—swimming, biking, fast walking—is probably superior to other types of workouts. It increases brain levels of endorphins, the so-called “happy hormones.” It also boosts confidence.
Join him in social activities. Social isolation is one of the hallmarks of depression. But people with depression want human contact even when they’re too insecure or withdrawn to seek it out.
You can help him overcome his reluctance by introducing him to safe social settings without a lot of pressure. You could, for example, accept a dinner invitation from close friends, those with whom your loved one won’t feel as though he has to perform.
Or you could go to an art opening or other social event where you will be around other people but your loved one won’t have to engage unless he wants to.
Keep at it. Start conversations. Ask about his day. Make plans to meet for lunch or dinner. You’ll probably get a lot of rejection, but keep trying.
Important:
Being around someone with depression is draining. Allow yourself to back away when you feel that you can’t cope with it anymore. Take a break, and take care of yourself. Then, when you’re feeling strong, reach out again.
Ask about suicide. It’s an uncomfortable topic, but it is essential to talk about. Up to 15% of those with serious depression will end their lives by suicide.
If you’ve talked to your loved one about depression and he admits that it’s a problem, follow up by asking something such as, “Are you having thoughts of hurting yourself? Have you thought about suicide?”
Few people will admit to having these thoughts unless they’re asked—the majority of suicides come as a complete surprise to loved ones. People who are depressed are ashamed of having these thoughts, and they don’t want to put a burden on their loved ones.
Bringing up the subject gives him permission to talk about it. If he is having suicidal thoughts, you will know that the depression is serious and that it is urgent that he get immediate help.
Source: Richard O’Connor, PhD, a psychotherapist in private practice with offices in Canaan, Connecticut, and New York City. He is former executive director of the Northwest Center for Family Service and Mental Health and author of Undoing Depression: What Therapy Doesn’t Teach You and Medication Can’t Give You (Berkley Trade). http://www.UndoingDepression.com