Wednesday Open Thread
The Wednesday edition of your semi-daily open thread. Yesterday was a weird day, wasn’t it? Share what’s on your mind below.
The ultimate prospects for democracy in Tunisia are still very uncertain. While the former head of the secular, autocratic government, Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, has fled the country in the face of a popular uprising, efforts to form a government and prepare for elections are facing significant obstacles.
Nevertheless, here in the U.S., The Post’s Jennifer Rubin is already field testing the narrative that President George W. Bush’s invasion of Iraq somehow led to the uprising in Tunisia:
Recall when President George W. Bush talked about democracy taking hold in Iraq and then the region? Now Bush’s vision seems very prescient.
Rubin doesn’t even attempt to prove causation — eight years ago, the U.S. invaded Iraq, and last week there was an uprising in Tunisia. Ergo Bush deserves the credit. This is deeply paternalistic — in Rubin’s version of history, the Tunisians who faced down the security forces of an autocratic regime are practically bit players in their own political upheaval.
The George W. Bush legacy rehabilitation project is in full swing.
I guess accusing her critics of “blood libel” didn’t
really help Sarah Palin.
A new USA Today/Gallup poll shows Sarah Palin’s favorable rating has dropped to 38%, her lowest since just after bursting onto the national scene as Sen. John McCain’s running mate in 2008. In the wake of controversy over her response to the Tucson
shooting, her unfavorable rating hit a new high at
53%.
She’s entering Christine O’Donnell territory there. I doubt her interview with Hannity helped her at all, she’s only preaching to the choir.
There were some election 2012 announcements. North Dakota’s Kent Conrad announced his retirement in 2012. This is an expected Republican pickup. Today Joe Lieberman is also expected to announce his retirement.. I’m happy to see Lieberman go but thanks for the DADT repeal! Indiana’s Dick Lugar announced he will run for re-election in 2012. He is expected to face a Tea Party candidate in a primary.
Tags: Open Thread
Marcos from the Great Orange Satan on a possible Elizabeth Warren run for Senate.
Interesting, yes?
Has anyone seen this list of the most-to-least tolerant states?
Delaware’s in the bottom half, just in front of Texas.
Does this comport with your experience as a Delawarean? Seems low to me.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-01-16/ranking-the-most-tolerant-and-least-tolerant-states/
I haven’t had a chance to study the methodology yet.
Any state whose “major university” kills track & field belongs in the bottom half.
http://blogs.delawareonline.com/collegesports/2011/01/19/university-of-delaware-drops-mens-track-cross-country/
Mitigating factor: university has great radio station [although it must preempt its quality programming in homage to the god of football].
You guys missed the excitement of hb 11 today.
Anyone else enjoying all the festivities in DC praising our friend the dictator? What BS. Then again, maybe I should start learning mandarine so I can appease our chinese overlords ten years from now.
The first thing to find out, Phil, is Mandarin for “stay classy.”
John M.: It’s a start. Football next!
@phil – actually I would recommend that you learn correct English grammer and spelling first!
@Phil – and when that is mastered, best try Spanish
http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20110119/OPINION16/110118037
@dirty girl – as soon as you can tell me what “grammer” is.
BTW, when you point out typos and such, at least check your own post. Fail.
Liú jīngdiǎn Geezer!
yeah, but do you have the inflections down, round eyes?
my way to see if you were paying attention – now work on that Mandarin – ROTFLMAO
Looks like you failed your first test – that was funny!
Record of President Obama’s birth in 1961 is ‘in the archives’: Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie
NY Daily News 1/19/2011 Michael Sheridan
Officials in Hawaii have tracked down papers indicating that President Obama was indeed born in their state, according to its new governor.
Gov. Neil Abercrombie, who took office in December, told Honolulu’s Star-Advertiser on Tuesday that “our investigation” indicates there is a recording of his birth.
“It actually exists in the archives, written down,” he said.
*yawn*
what was the point of that?
In other news, scientists have concluded that yes, under non-cloudy conditions… during daylight hours, (defined as the sun being visible, commonly between the hours of 6am and 7pm) the sky does in fact have what artists refer to as a “blue” color.
also, Rush Limbaugh is a fat drug addicted pile of otter crap.