Today's edition of quick hits:
* Syria: "A day after a referendum on a new Constitution and amid sustained violence, Syria came under renewed international pressure from a long list of governments urging an immediate ceasefire and warning that Syria's leaders would not escape accounting for their actions."
* The new Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index far exceeded expectations: "A private research group says that consumer confidence in February rose dramatically."
* Eurozone: "Germany's parliament overwhelmingly approved its country's contribution to the Greek bailout on Monday, serving as a reminder that, for all of Germany's caution about funding its poorer neighbors, Europe's largest economy is still willing to muster billions to aid others."
* Oh my: "For the first time, the Defense Department acknowledged Tuesday that some cremated remains of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were dumped in a landfill."
* Senate Democrats took to the floor this morning to "condemn the unprecedented obstruction of qualified, consensus judicial nominees that Senate Republicans have been engaged in since the start of the Obama Administration." They're right.
* As if he weren't in enough trouble: "Staten Island Rep. Michael Grimm urged a federal judge to spare a New York-based developer with three bribery-related convictions from serving a day in prison, the Daily News has learned."
* After having thought about it, maybe JFK's speech on religious liberty doesn't make Rick Santorum want to "throw up."
* The Wyoming House of Representatives is preparing, just in case, for the total economic and political collapse of the United States.
* There should be no doubts about the critical role Fox News has played in the Republican presidential nominating process.
* And MIT economist Jonathan Gruber, who knows about as much as anyone about the structure of health care reform, put together a pretty terrific video explaining a policy that a lot of people find confusing. It's worth your time.
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
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Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine just said she will retire. I like her and that will be a loss as she mostly showed common sense in spite of her party.
The 2012 Senate race in Maine has gotten a lot more interesting now. With Snowe retiring, it certainly raises the chances of being able to turn that seat to the Democrats.
There were two challengers to Snowe, and one of them decided to run as an Independent after the debacle in the Presidential Caucus. So, right now there is only one member of the GOP on the ballot, and there's only a short amount of time for the GOP to find an establishment candidate.
I'm guessing Wyoming's emergency plan was written by ALEC. If anyone had read it, they might have edited out the aircraft carrier. Then again, maybe they are planning on global climate change providing them with a coast.
The Wyoming emergency plan is a hoot. It makes the Wyoming legislature look like bunch of idiots.
Where will they park the Aircraft Carrier?
A reader I lunch with daughter-in-law has just been sworn in as a Federal judge in Northern Califonia. She is the first Latina Federal judge in Northern California.
http://www.trialinsider.com/?p=993
A very rare instance of an Obama appointee getting confirmed.
You left out tensions in North/South Korea. Might Kim Un attack South Korea's Baegryeong do (island) to show his army can produce gains for its cost? Don't rule out the possibility, especially as the North is railing about protecting its 'waters'. This major South Korean island (from before the Korean war) is far to the west and is very vulnerable to a surprise attack. No Korean surprises are the best surprises.
http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=357301570966910&id=246310432083819¬if_t=share_replyCongress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances... When will the final straw be added?
the entire country should see the ACA video. best explanation of the law yet.
OMG, as the cool kids say. I thought I was really on top of the ACA, but I learned something astounding for your video. ACA caps healthcare premiums at 8% of wages????
How did I not know this?
This could save our family $10,000 a year. I have to find out more on the details around this and when it goes into effect.
2014. It goes into effect in 2014. Damn. That's a long way off.
Since when does the ACA include a Public Option? (50 sec into video)
Last time I checked, that was stricken from the bill before it was signed into Act.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF8SiN8Bbh0 (link to the vid)
He didn't say, "Public Option", but "Public Insurance", i.e. insurance not linked to an employer.
Woulda been nice, though...