Motley Moose – Archive

Since 2008 – Progress Through Politics

Archive for November 2013

The Daily F Bomb, Tuesday 11/26/13

Interrogatories

Did you ever belong to a fraternity or sorority? If so, which one?

How do you prepare your Thanksgiving turkey (or tofurkey, or other alternative)?

Have you ever vacationed in an RV? Would you ever?

What are some of your favorite family expressions, exclamations, etc. that are rarely heard anywhere these days?

The Twitter Emitter

Tuesday Morning Herd Check-in

  Make sure you let your peeps

  know where to find you!  


    PLEASE Do Not Recommend the check-in diary!   

        Fierces on the Weather Critter Comment are obligatory welcome.

Why Democrats should not fear “Majority Rules”

Last Thursday, Senate Democrats voted to remove the threat of filibuster from most judicial and executive branch confirmations.



Not so scary, really.

Essentially, they said that the majority has the right to govern as a majority. Small-d democracy finally being applied to the Senate which has been in the hands of Big-D Democrats for the last 7 years.

The showdown that led to this rule change was remarkable in it’s blatant disregard for the Constitution of the United States. Senate Republicans were attempting to nullify the law that had established that the DC appeals court would have 11 judges presiding. The Republicans did not put forward and pass a bill to change the number of judges: they blocked the Senate from voting on the confirmation of the three judges needed to fill the court’s vacancies.

The Washington press corps and their sycophants in the punditry were quick to issue warnings about how terrible this would be: for Democrats. The Friday news cycle was filled with scare stories: “Democrats will pay the price”, “Harry Reid’s blunder”, “Democratic overreach will come back to haunt them”, “You did it: more Scalias for you!”, “No filibuster means more rapes!!”.

Of course, as is often the case, the woe-is-you’ers were completely missing the point and 100% wrong.  

The Daily F Bomb, Monday 11/25/13

Interrogatories

What are you blasé about that still excites other people?

What big news event was the first you remember (like the Kennedy assassination was for many) and what do you remember about it?

Every century has a “trial of the century” and/or “Crime of the century” alongside the “storm of the century.” What trial, crime, and storm represents the last century for you?

Do you know, or did your family know, anyone who was blacklisted during the communist witch hunts of the 1950s?

The Twitter Emitter

In the News: Tentative Iran Nuclear Agreement Announced

Yesterday, a tentative agreement regarding Iran’s nuclear program was announced.

NPR: Deal Reached To Limit Iran’s Nuclear Program

Iran and six world powers have reached a preliminary agreement in Geneva on curbing Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for some sanctions relief.

In a late-night statement from the White House, President Obama called the breakthrough “the most significant and tangible progress” with Iran since he took office. It calls for specific actions over the next six months, while negotations continue on a longer-term deal.

President Obama:



Statement By The President On First Step Agreement On Iran’s Nuclear Program

Good evening.  Today, the United States — together with our close allies and partners — took an important first step toward a comprehensive solution that addresses our concerns with the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear program.  

Since I took office, I’ve made clear my determination to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.  As I’ve said many times, my strong preference is to resolve this issue peacefully, and we’ve extended the hand of diplomacy.  Yet for many years, Iran has been unwilling to meet its obligations to the international community.  So my administration worked with Congress, the United Nations Security Council and countries around the world to impose unprecedented sanctions on the Iranian government.

These sanctions have had a substantial impact on the Iranian economy, and with the election of a new Iranian President earlier this year, an opening for diplomacy emerged.  I spoke personally with President Rouhani of Iran earlier this fall.  Secretary Kerry has met multiple times with Iran’s Foreign Minister.  And we have pursued intensive diplomacy — bilaterally with the Iranians, and together with our P5-plus-1 partners — the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, and China, as well as the European Union.

Today, that diplomacy opened up a new path toward a world that is more secure — a future in which we can verify that Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful and that it cannot build a nuclear weapon.

(Rest of remarks below the fold)

Sunday All Day Check-in for the Herd

  Make sure you let your peeps

  know where to find you!  


    PLEASE Do Not Recommend the check-in diary!   

        Fierces on the Weather Critter Comment are obligatory welcome.

Saturday All Day Check-in for the Herd

  Make sure you let your peeps

  know where to find you!  


    PLEASE Do Not Recommend the check-in diary!   

        Fierces on the Weather Critter Comment are obligatory welcome.

The Daily F Bomb, Friday 11/22/13

Interrogatories

Where do you stand on the Kennedy assassination? Do you believe Oswald acted alone, or do you subscribe to one of the other theories floating around out there?

It’s Start Your Own Country Day again. What kind of topography would your country have? What kind of climate? What kind of government?

On Go For a Ride Day, describe your ultimate ride? Is it a plane, a train, an automobile? Perhaps a cool vintage motorcycle? Maybe even a horse?

Are you an out of the can cranberry sauce aficionado (like 90% of Americans) or do you like the REAL thing? (I think I may have revealed where I stand on this issue.)

Cell phone conversations on planes? Yea or Nay?

The Twitter Emitter

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