Today's edition of quick hits:
* Greece erupted yesterday, with protestors burning dozens of buildings in Athens, but the Greek Parliament nevertheless approved another round of austerity measures in order to receive a European bailout.
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* Violence rages on in Syria, where government forces have "resumed their bombardment of the embattled city of Homs for a 10th day after the authorities in Damascus rejected efforts by the Arab League to seek a United Nations peacekeeping mission for Syria and to deepen the ostracism of President Bashar al-Assad within the Arab world."
* Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer was robbed by a man wielding a machete during a Caribbean vacation late last week. A Supreme Court spokesperson said no one was hurt in the incident.
* Progress on marriage equality wasn't limited to the state of Washington today -- the New Jersey state Senate approved a bill, 24 to 16. The same body rejected a similar plan by a similar vote just two years ago.
* The results should be interesting: "Apple said Monday that it had asked an outside organization to conduct special audits of working conditions inside Chinese factories where iPhones, iPads and other Apple products are manufactured."
* Richard Cordray, director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, explained today how his agency is already having a positive impact on the mortgage industry.
* Culture of corruption watch: "Four years after Countrywide Financial became a symbol of the mortgage meltdown, the company and its questionable dealings have become a potent political issue in the Santa Clarita congressional district held by Republican Howard 'Buck' McKeon."
* The influence of the American Legislative Exchange Council cannot be overstated.
* More good news out of Chicago, where Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) has been moved from a hospital to a rehabilitation center.
* The news is less heartening for Rep. Donald Payne (D-N.J.), who is now being treated for colon cancer.
* Paul Krugman ponders what happened to the right: "How did American conservatism end up so detached from, indeed at odds with, facts and rationality? ... My short answer is that the long-running con game of economic conservatives and the wealthy supporters they serve finally went bad.... Over time, however, this strategy created a base that really believed in all the hokum — and now the party elite has lost control."
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
Leave a Comment:
What was Breyer robbed of? His conscience?
I like Justice Breyer, and I'm glad that he wasn't hurt in the attack.
Definition of a Conservative is a Liberal that was just mugged.
Definition of a conservative might more be-a liberal who lost his mind and heart in defense of freedom and liberty.
Apple is on the hot seat. When the report comes out , how can it be other than bad?
Foxconn China? Rupert did go to China before he started FOX here. I wonder...
I tried following Steve Benen after his move. I read via an RSS aggregator. Obviously TRMS doesn't care to let her people post long form via RSS. I'm done subscribing to Benen. I'll read him via other sources from now on. Like C&L, BJ, etc.
Bye, Steven.
Every night I watch the news about Syria and it is given more coverage by Anderson Cooper on CNN. I am very concerned that the media is not conveying the extent of the tragedy of what is happening.
I feel sure the right is even more disappointed that the media is not beating the war drums.
"How did American conservatism end up so detached from, indeed at odds with, facts and rationality? ... My short answer is that the long-running con game of economic conservatives and the wealthy supporters they serve finally went bad.... Over time, however, this strategy created a base that really believed in all the hokum — and now the party elite has lost control."
I think that Krugman is probably right (again). This "long-running con game" is even showing signs of backfiring in Congress.
For example, the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee was recently working on tort reform legislation in which the federal government would usurp "state's rights" by forcing states to accept federal limits on damages in state courts. However, some Republican congressmen on the committee noticed that, in fact, federal tort reform would override each states' own limits on medical liability lawsuits. So, they raised concerns. Clearly, these congressmen didn't get the memo that the states' rights complaints were supposed to be a con, only to be used when you couldn't win the argument on the merits. Oops.
http://www.estateofdenial.com/2011/02/12/texas-congressmen-raise-states-rights-concerns-on-tort-reform-bill/
A very funny commentary about gay marriage (written by a straight woman) can be found at:
http://lameduckemptynest.blogspot.com/2012/02/gay-marriage-will-ruin-my-marriage.html
Steve - I'm sorry i didn't know that you moved. I'm glad to see that you landed in a very, very good place.
Be well and keep up the GREAT work.
I love Steve and am trying to follow him. But, I chimed in to suggest maybe a warning about linking to a New York Times story as I hit my 20 limit last month just with links. Thanks, From the rez, Craig
ALEC? Not smart ALEC . Once more we see why OWS and its headless almost spastic movement can not compete with well funded right winged organizations. This crap needs to be attacked head on with constant exposure of who they are and what they are.
We need to take back the government before it is too late. Any person that ignores this threat by not voting is asking to lose his/her freedom.