Tuesday Open Thread
Welcome to your Tuesday open thread. What’s happening today?
According the the National Bureau of Economic Research, the Great Recession ended in June 2009.
The Business Cycle Dating Committee of the National Bureau of Economic Research met yesterday by conference call. At its meeting, the committee determined that a trough in business activity occurred in the U.S. economy in June 2009. The trough marks the end of the recession that began in December 2007 and the beginning of an expansion. The recession lasted 18 months, which makes it the longest of any recession since World War II. Previously the longest postwar recessions were those of 1973-75 and 1981-82, both of which lasted 16 months.
In determining that a trough occurred in June 2009, the committee did not conclude that economic conditions since that month have been favorable or that the economy has returned to operating at normal capacity. Rather, the committee determined only that the recession ended and a recovery began in that month. A recession is a period of falling economic activity spread across the economy, lasting more than a few months, normally visible in real GDP, real income, employment, industrial production, and wholesale-retail sales. The trough marks the end of the declining phase and the start of the rising phase of the business cycle. Economic activity is typically below normal in the early stages of an expansion, and it sometimes remains so well into the expansion.
The committee decided that any future downturn of the economy would be a new recession and not a continuation of the recession that began in December 2007. The basis for this decision was the length and strength of the recovery to date.
Does it feel like the recession is over? I think we actually need different economic descriptors because it’s just strange to say we’re not in a recession when unemployment is so stubbornly high.
A report released yesterday by the Justice Department takes the FBI to task for spying on activists groups with little or no justification. I’m sure you’ll be shocked to hear that most of these groups were left-leaning groups mostly peace & environmental activists.
The FBI in recent years opened investigations into some U.S. activists with little basis, unjustifiably extended the duration of the probes, improperly retained information about activist groups in its files, and classified its investigations of “nonviolent civil disobedience” as investigations into “acts of terrorism,” according to a report released today [1] (PDF) by the Justice Department’s Inspector General.
The FBI activities reviewed by the Justice Department took place from 2001 to 2006, and involved groups including the Thomas Merton Center (a Pittsburgh social justice center), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Greenpeace, The Catholic Worker (communities of religious pacifists) and a Quaker peace activist.
The report by the Justice Department watchdog didn’t find that the FBI targeted these groups on the basis of their free speech activities — which would be a serious violation [2] of FBI guidelines — but did fault the agency for other reasons, most notably a “factually weak” basis for opening investigations.
I don’t think the FBI has changed all that much from its J. Edgar Hoover days. It’s still chasing political grudges.
Tags: Open Thread
No reason to believe that this has changed under Obomba, either. He is too busy telling his liberal base to “wake up” and quit complaining, as he did personally in Philadelphia yesterday.
Anybody willing to guess the fate of DADT in the Senate this afternoon? Has Obomba done any serious lobbying for passing it? Short answer: No. Do you think that the Dems and Obomba might be smart enough to publicize that the Repubs are filibustering the Defense Authorization bill?
Never mind.
Melanie Sloan from CREW was just on Thom Hartman’s radio show talking about Christine and she is holding no punches.
“She’s a crook, she’s been converting campaign funds for years but I guess that’s what happens when you don’t have an actual job.”
“O’Donnell stole from her company, which is her campaign…repeatedly to support her lifestyle”
They filed a complaint with the US attorney in DE, but haven’t heard anything. He’s a Bush appointee apparently.
“If a crminal shows himself to be a candidate for US senate you can’t ignore that”
“the antithesis of honesty and integrity”
Bob Burris called to do a job for Jesus:
http://www.wboc.com/Global/story.asp?S=13184771
Christine has allegedly raised $5 million.
That is enough to take every likely voter to Ruby Tuesday’s for a long conversation about Chris Coons.
“Christine has allegedly raised $5 million.”
How many small packets of suntan lotion will that buy?
Christine has allegedly raised $1 billion dollars and has purchased her own television station and will use the slogan that “She puts the Fox in Fox news.”
Christine has already raised one trillion billion dollars and is eloping with Dr. Evil.
Christine O’Donnell has raised the hackles of every rational voter in Delaware. ’nuff said.
“A report released yesterday by the Justice Department takes the FBI to task for spying on activists groups,” “mostly peace & environmental activists.”
When the FBI (Federal Bureau of Intimidation) knocks on your door, know your rights.
Warren Buffet and Bill Gates allegedly just donated their entire fortunes to Christine. Madonna just called her to say that she is in full support of her chasteness campaign and Lady Gaga is going to be marketing a new line of modern chastity belts called “Christine’s Pristine.” Each belt has a faux diamond and gold crucifix on the front with “Saving My Love For You, Jesus” inscribed underneath.
Leave it to delacrat to hijack the thread to go on another one of his anti-Israel rants.
Yes, Republican bigots are always Obama’s fault, for some reason.
O’Reilly is threatening O’Donnell- he has a tape archive too. The anti-O’Donnell frenzy is a clear sign that the mouse-human chimera’s are taking over!!!!!
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/09/bill-oreilly-to-odonnell-i-hav.html
MJ, you can’t hijack an open thread. That is kind of what “open” means. And I know that very few people really care that we live in a police state, but there it is. Those FBI agents could be intimidating peaceful pro-Israel or JDF members, too. Look for the big picture.
Thanks for the link, delacrat.
That was a great video about the FBI, regardless of the woman’s cause for protesting, she handled the visit really well. Kudos to her.
Maybe hijack was the wrong term – but he nevers seems to let a day go by without doing some Israel bashing.
And what is the JDF?
Sorry, typo – I meant to write JDL. The problem is not the particular opinion – the problem is that we are living in a police state and the right to freedom of assembly to protest and redress grievances has been lost.
you can’t hijack an open thread.
Not only that, delacrat’s link would be on topic even if the thread weren’t open – check the post again. I’m on the other side of delacrat’s Israel position, but I sure as hell appreciate seeing what the FBI is up to.
First they came for the anti-Semites, but I wasn’t an anti-Semite, so I said nothing…
🙂
If you go to the Oct. 2 rally in DC, maybe you should start keeping a charged-up camera by the door.
The JDL went out of existence years ago, with the assassination of Rabbi Kahane.
Which rally A1 (G-D, there are so many in DC that one loses count).
OK, ADL! 🙂
Tell me again what a good job Obomba is doing: The Senate bill to repeal DADT appears headed for defeat.
“The whole thing is a political train wreck,” said Richard Socarides, a former White House adviser on gay rights during the Clinton administration.
Socarides said President Barack Obama “badly miscalculated” the Pentagon’s support for repeal, while Democrats made only a “token effort” to advance the bill.
“If it was a priority for the Democratic leadership, they would get a clean vote on this,” he said.
“Political train wreck” pretty much sums it up. Wake up yourself, Barack.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100921/ap_on_go_co/us_gays_military
Interesting article in NYT on 538.com analysis of polling data – http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/why-the-generic-ballot-may-underestimate-democrats/.
And A1 – there is a huge, huge difference between the JDL and the ADL. The JDL were militants and were rejected by many in the Jewish community.
Understood. But really the point wasn’t about the JDF, JDL, ADL, XYZ, or ABC, it was about the FBI.
But you brought it up, A1. Just trying to figure out why?
O’Whack-a-mole has her website back up. If you want a good laugh, read the new and improved “About Christine” section.
“Understood. But really the point wasn’t about the JDF, JDL, ADL, XYZ, or ABC, it was about the FBI.” -A1
Palestine-Israel an elephant in the living room we are not supposed to talk about, otherwise MJ gets upset and the thought police pays you a visit.
DADT repeal failed first cloture vote. Blanche Lincoln (dead Senator walking D-AR) and Mark Pryor (D-AR) voted with the Republicans. Harry Reid voted no on procedural grounds (so it can come up again for a vote).
it’s not you aren’t allowed to talk about it. It’s just no one wants to discuss a VERY complex situation with someone so obviously unable to grasp any conflict that doesn’t have a GOOD guy and a BAD guy…. also it is pointless to talk about it with someone who wont admit Hamas is a terrorist organization dedicated to death.
MJ and myself among other have admitted many missteps and wrongs done by Israel, while remaining pro-Israel.
You ignore all that AND never mention ANY misdeeds done by Hamas or Hezbollah in order to advance your OBVIOUS anti-Israel bias.
btw, arent you mad at Obama for not using his King powers to override the Senate today when they killed DADT? what was he thinking. he should have forced them… oh wait that would be police state…. i guess it’s ok if you are a pro-progressive dictator.
MJ, I was just trying to make the point that it wasn’t relevant as to whether the protest was pro- or anti-Israel. The person interviewed in that video could just as easily been someone participating in an anti-Hamas demonstration. What matters is that the FBI and the U.S. Government are working to control, contain, intimidate, and stop peaceful protests in the U.S.
I think that we can agree that that is wrong. We both should have the right to peacefully assemble and express our different views without the FBI showing up at or doors.
Keep defending Obomba as much as you want, a.price. The failure to get DADT passed is another failure in his leadership. Once again, despite his lofty rhetoric, when it came time to do the work to get it passed, he did not even try.
I remember the day when the President and majority party made the minority party look like traitors for even thinking of voting against the defense appropriations bill. Today, the republicans filibuster the bill with barely whimpers from the White House. I guess Obomba is too tired from complaining about his liberal base to, you know, actually fight the republicans.
Now we’ll have to wait to see if he appeals the DADT court decision.
It is you who needs to wake up, Barack.
http://christine2010.com/christine-counters/
check this out, Christine addresses some “media myths” about her. Doesn’t really tackle the whole, I have no job so I live off campaign money thing…
A1- I’ll share a story with you about the FBI and my mother from 30+ years ago and how intrusive (and completely moronic) they are. But not today.
I remember the day when the President and majority party made the minority party look like traitors for even thinking of voting against the defense appropriations bill. Today, the republicans filibuster the bill with barely whimpers from the White House. I guess Obomba is too tired from complaining about his liberal base to, you know, actually fight the republicans.
A1 leaves a mark.
I’ve noticed in my neighborhood that yards with signs breakdown as follows: a mix of the various democrats, or the republican candidate for State Rep. (Bill Stritzinge). Nothing for COD or Urquhart. There are quite a few republications, but none willing to put a sign up for either COD or Urquhart. Of coarse they might still vote for them on election day.
Ha! My neighbors still have their Castle signs up – proudly!
One interesting thing I noticed. A house I drive by often had multiple Christine O’Donnell signs in their yard. Or used to. They’re all gone now.
Hey! Jason330 on WDEL right now!
In all humility, I rocked it.
You did rock it!
Yes he did (for some reason, I can get WDEL but everything else is blocked at work).