tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post5933777794678697023..comments2024-03-28T06:32:24.557-04:00Comments on The Elephant Bar: Today, the Arctic is characterised by a mixture of cooperation, competition, and conflicts of interest. There are indications that the growing presence of non-Arctic players prompts more cooperation among the coastal states. The Arctic is also the scene of overarching geo-strategic competition and conflict. Deuce ☂http://www.blogger.com/profile/13472858446242700869noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-49869064120834130732013-02-05T02:49:26.737-05:002013-02-05T02:49:26.737-05:00.
Another viewpoint.
Americans are out of sorts,....<br /><br />Another viewpoint.<br /><br /><i>Americans are out of sorts, and increasingly they're unhappy with the government. According to a Pew poll released last week, more than half of Americans view government as a threat to their freedom.<br /><br />And it's not just Republicans unhappy with Obama, or gun owners afraid that the government will take their guns: 38% of Democrats, and 45% of non-gun owners, see the government as a threat.<br /><br />Add this to another recent poll in which only 22% of likely voters feel America's government has the "consent of the governed," and you've got a pretty depressing picture -- and a recipe for potential trouble. Governments operate, to a degree, by force, but ultimately they depend on legitimacy. A government that a majority views as a threat, and that only a small minority sees as enjoying the consent of the governed, is a government with legitimacy problems...</i><br /><br /><br />A Constitutional Convention?<br /><br />Not in my lifetime, but still...<br /><br /><br />http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/02/04/americans-unhappy-government-convention-column/1887593/<br /><br />. <br />Quirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00272168240606512672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-56467994778200518092013-02-05T02:38:45.786-05:002013-02-05T02:38:45.786-05:00.
Along the same lines, a human rights organizati....<br /><br />Along the same lines, a human rights organization has just published a report that purports that 54 seperate countries aided the US rendition efforts started under the Bush administration.<br /><br /><i>The OSJI report, titled Globalising Torture, says the full scope of non-US government involvement may still remain unknown.<br /><br />"Despite the efforts of the United States and its partner governments to withhold the truth about past and ongoing abuses, information relating to these abuses will continue to find its way into the public domain," the report says.<br /><br />"At the same time, while US courts have closed their doors to victims of secret detention and extraordinary rendition operations, legal challenges to foreign government participation in these operations are being heard in courts around the world."</i><br /><br /><br />It will be interesting to see some of the questions Brennen will face in his confirmation hearings for CIA Director.<br /><br /><br />http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/05/cia-rendition-countries-covert-support<br /><br />.<br /><br />Quirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00272168240606512672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-51131867143578424152013-02-05T01:06:21.219-05:002013-02-05T01:06:21.219-05:00At Bilbo's first meeting with Gandolph and the...<i>At Bilbo's first meeting with Gandolph and the dwarves in Chapter 1, Thorin tells how Smaug arrived, burning up the woods in a spout of flame. As the dwarves came out the front gate, the dragon was waiting and 'none escaped that way'. Next, under cover of fog and steam from the river, Smaug picked off the warriors from Dale one by one. When Elrond looked at the map in chapter 3, Tolkien uses the opportunity to remind readers of the devastation Smaug has produced. We are told that it grieves Elrond to recall 'the ruin of the town of Dale and its merry bells, and the burned banks of the bright River Running'. When Bilbo and the dwarves finally draw near to the Lonely Mountain, we find this stark description: 'The land about them grew bleak and barren, though once as Thorin told them, it had been green and fair. There was little grass, and before long there was neither bush nor tree, and only broken and blackened stumps to speak of ones long vanished'.</i><br /><br />The Christian World of the Hobbit<br />Devin Brown<br /><br />What a big two hearted river we have described for us here.Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04145155737835511824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-89195852841830915752013-02-05T01:01:28.681-05:002013-02-05T01:01:28.681-05:00.
The fact that it is legal doesn't make it c....<br /><br />The fact that it is legal doesn't make it constitutional.<br /><br />The problem with most of these usurpations of the Constitution is that it takes so long to get to SCOTUS. This is in part due to the deference the lower courts usually give to the executive with regard to its claims based on national security.<br /><br />If it appears a questionable case is going to make it to the Supremes, the executive usually backs down so as not to provide any precedent for denying executive privelege or forcing the Court to elucidate specific limits on the Executive.<br /><br />There are a few lawsuits working their way through the lower courts challenging on constitutional grounds this policy of Obama. I would predict that if it looks like the Supremes are eventually going to review any one of these cases, Obama will back down before SCOTUS has the case presented to them, just as Bush did on torture and just as Obama is currently doing on the Obamacare abortion/contraceptive mandate.<br /><br />.<br /><br />.Quirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00272168240606512672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-85701225019205738972013-02-05T00:04:09.865-05:002013-02-05T00:04:09.865-05:00As to the 'Hated' Federals, you projecting...As to the 'Hated' Federals, you projecting.<br /><br />You'll find no reference in my writing to any such statement.<br /><br />You use the word HATE quite liberally. You must be a bitter old man, to think others share your rage against the machinedesert rathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02369546288659566961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-17528824426409894492013-02-04T23:56:21.489-05:002013-02-04T23:56:21.489-05:00Of course the President can authorize the use of f...Of course the President can authorize the use of force against any one he'd decides aides those forces that attacked US on 11SEP01.<br /><br />The 14SEP01 Authorization of Use of Force gives the President the authority. Passed with little, if any, dissent in Congress.desert rathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02369546288659566961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-1946452185386783442013-02-04T23:55:43.385-05:002013-02-04T23:55:43.385-05:00When I was in Uruguay some years back I was struck...When I was in Uruguay some years back I was struck, among many other things, by a vintage post card.<br /><br />It depicted a party celebrating the ending of slavery in that country... <br /><br />A party! With folks of both races dancing and celebrating together!<br /><br />And the end of slavery by proclamation! <br /><br /><br />Now I know that's simplistic as heck, so here's a link to a Google book excerpt that fills out some details: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/auzwe3w" rel="nofollow">Google search</a><br /><br />I shoulda bought the post card...<br /><br />Although, looking back, there were a bunch of other things I shoulda done there...<br /><br />Oh well, "What difference at this point does it make?" gnossoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03985243587763564103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-22201087646873255872013-02-04T23:45:19.075-05:002013-02-04T23:45:19.075-05:00A confidential Justice Department memo concludes t...<i>A confidential Justice Department memo concludes that the U.S. government can order the killing of American citizens if they are believed to be “senior operational leaders” of al-Qaida or “an associated force” -- even if there is no intelligence indicating they are engaged in an active plot to attack the U.S.<br /><br />The 16-page memo, a copy of which was obtained by NBC News, provides new details about the legal reasoning behind one of the Obama administration’s most secretive and controversial polices: its dramatically increased use of drone strikes against al-Qaida suspects, including those aimed at American citizens, such as the September 2011 strike in Yemen that killed alleged al-Qaida operatives Anwar al-Awlaki and Samir Khan. Both were U.S. citizens who had never been indicted by the U.S. government nor charged with any crimes. </i><br /><br />http://openchannel.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/04/16843014-exclusive-justice-department-memo-reveals-legal-case-for-drone-strikes-on-americans?lite<br /><br />from DrudgeBobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04145155737835511824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-77854147276873175742013-02-04T23:36:33.518-05:002013-02-04T23:36:33.518-05:00.
Pure speculation of course but when has that ev....<br /><br />Pure speculation of course but when has that ever stopped you?<br /><br />.Quirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00272168240606512672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-63947903570915652812013-02-04T23:34:28.405-05:002013-02-04T23:34:28.405-05:00.
They still do.
Didn't you make a statement....<br /><br />They still do.<br /><br />Didn't you make a statement about Sweden having a claim?<br /><br />.Quirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00272168240606512672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-7858972037632588092013-02-04T23:07:02.802-05:002013-02-04T23:07:02.802-05:00If the CSA had lived, history could have taken som...If the CSA had lived, history could have taken some astounding turns.<br /><br />A hundred years down the road, they might have teamed with that other movement of racial superiority, the Nazis, and who knows how the war would have turned out then.<br /><br />Pure speculation of course, nothing possible to prove about it, but it is hard to imagine them yearning to fight against another group of such a similar outlook.Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04145155737835511824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-5185535653827874312013-02-04T23:01:39.079-05:002013-02-04T23:01:39.079-05:00Hey, that one about the farmer was good. Celebrate...Hey, that one about the farmer was good. Celebrated all the vanished virtues, hard work, family, perseverance, and it was voted third most popular ad.<br /><br />AdMeter<br /><br />http://admeter.usatoday.com/<br /><br /><br />The third highest ranking commercial was a black and white ad called Farmer that, in the end, revealed a Dodge Ram truck.<br /><br />The second most popular ad was for the laundry detergent Tide. It featured a stain that mysteriously resembled Joe Montana.<br /><br />And, the top ad for Superbowl 2013 was, drum-roll please, a touching and, depending on how sensitive you are, even tear-jerking commercial for Budweiser where a man and his Clydesdale reunite.<br /><br />http://www.wusa9.com/news/article/241511/158/USA-Today-Votes-Best-Super-Bowl-XLVII-Ads-<br /><br /><br />Meanwhile the gentleman from Arizona is supplementing his income by training agents of his hated Federal/Socialists how to ride horses.Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04145155737835511824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-87401642277115072072013-02-04T22:59:40.350-05:002013-02-04T22:59:40.350-05:00http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348059/...http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/348059/description/Earlier_Neandertal_demise_suggested_by_redating<br /><br /> Earlier Neandertal demise suggested by redating<br />Improved radiocarbon method suggests the group died out longer ago than thought<br /> <br /><br />By Erin Wayman<br /><br />Web edition: February 4, 2013 <br /><br /><br />All the dates seem to get pushed back.<br /><br />If they hadn't died out, the N-thals might have as good a claim on the north as any. Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04145155737835511824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-86223636568052869512013-02-04T22:55:59.846-05:002013-02-04T22:55:59.846-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04145155737835511824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-14207412807020579962013-02-04T22:39:29.905-05:002013-02-04T22:39:29.905-05:00Some of you will say, "not I" !!
Yeah ...Some of you will say, "not I" !!<br /><br />Yeah ok.MOMEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18307879234693014691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-88738604002888202442013-02-04T22:36:57.857-05:002013-02-04T22:36:57.857-05:00Submissive useful idiots.Submissive useful idiots.MOMEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18307879234693014691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-64535250871436197072013-02-04T22:35:31.067-05:002013-02-04T22:35:31.067-05:00Useful idiots, Deuce. We have been numbed into su...Useful idiots, Deuce. We have been numbed into submission.MOMEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18307879234693014691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-49979680724978600812013-02-04T17:56:25.966-05:002013-02-04T17:56:25.966-05:00We have the USA, had the CSA and are well on the w...We have the USA, had the CSA and are well on the way to DSA.Deuce ☂https://www.blogger.com/profile/13472858446242700869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-6288254199564098282013-02-04T17:55:19.080-05:002013-02-04T17:55:19.080-05:00Most Americans are more concerned about the Super ...Most Americans are more concerned about the Super Bowl commercials.Deuce ☂https://www.blogger.com/profile/13472858446242700869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-46184124275824497952013-02-04T16:37:11.596-05:002013-02-04T16:37:11.596-05:00Especially if they've engaged in criminal beha...Especially if they've engaged in criminal behavior. The PBS doc "The Untouchables" certainly thought they had!Ashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16688752302081088907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-21977221319445324342013-02-04T16:17:35.682-05:002013-02-04T16:17:35.682-05:00.
The latest liberal excuse is that we need to fo....<br /><br />The latest liberal excuse is that we need to follow the advice of unnamed 'experts', and I say excuse because I wonder when using common sense and an appeal to justice went out of style.<br /><br />It's the ultimate in moral hazard to not only ignore the guilt (and sometimes criminal guilt) of those most responsible for getting us into the current situation but also to reward them and institutionalize the mistakes they made.<br /><br />.Quirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00272168240606512672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-13907933409608308002013-02-04T15:38:51.091-05:002013-02-04T15:38:51.091-05:00I don't think many Americans, realize, or want...I don't think many Americans, realize, or want to realize, how deep in the pocket of Corporations willing to pay, the USA government is.Ashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16688752302081088907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-69211375370790338782013-02-04T15:26:30.654-05:002013-02-04T15:26:30.654-05:00Stay the Course!...
A rucurring theme in governme...Stay the Course!...<br /><br />A rucurring theme in government of Goldman Sachs, by Goldman Sachs and for Goldman Sucks.<br /><br />Those folk domoinate both wings of our Federal Socialist Party.<br />Republican and Democratic.desert rathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02369546288659566961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-82464445945707162642013-02-04T15:24:40.320-05:002013-02-04T15:24:40.320-05:00Phoenician (Canaanite)
"Great excitement spr...Phoenician (Canaanite)<br /><br />"Great excitement spreads in Sidon and Tyre when news arrives that all displaced persons by order of Cyrus can now return to their homelands. The Jews taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar are allowed to proceed to Jerusalem. Cyrus grants a royal concession of Phoenician timber to the Jews to rebuild Jerusalem and their temple. Phoenician artisans make their way to Jerusalem to take part in the reconstruction of the city. In the Old Testament, Ezra (3.7) infers that Jews and Phoenicians renew commercial relations:<br /><br /><br /><br />Read more: History of the Phoenician Canaanites http://phoenicia.org/history.html#ixzz2JxpJ30cU<br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-9143132448810025622013-02-04T14:35:34.950-05:002013-02-04T14:35:34.950-05:00.
Here is one Obama has no basis for blaming on B....<br /><br />Here is one Obama has no basis for blaming on Bush.<br /><br /><i>The investigative report, titled “The Untouchables,” asked why no senior Wall Street executive has been prosecuted for apparently well-documented illegal acts, such as authorizing document forging, misleading investors and obstructing justice. Breuer was shockingly candid. <br /><br />‘Pursuing Justice’ <br /><br />“Well, I think I am pursuing justice,” he said. “And I think the entire responsibility of the department is to pursue justice. But in any given case, I think I and prosecutors around the country, being responsible, should speak to regulators, should speak to experts, because if I bring a case against Institution A, and as a result of bringing that case, there’s some huge economic effect -- if it creates a ripple effect so that suddenly, counterparties and other financial institutions or other companies that had nothing to do with this are affected badly -- it’s a factor we need to know and understand.” <br /><br />Attorney General Eric Holder expressed similar views in the context of discussing why more severe charges weren’t brought against Zurich-based UBS AG last year for manipulating the London interbank offered rate. And Neil Barofsky, a onetime senior prosecutor and former inspector general of the Troubled Asset Relief Program that administered the bank bailouts, provided a scathing assessment of Justice Department policy...</i><br /><br /><br />I find it amusing that those who accuse the GOP of being in the pocket of big business are unwilling to call Obama on the same thing. Liberal white guilt or just the fact that he is one of theirs?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-03/who-decided-u-s-megabanks-are-too-big-to-jail-.html" rel="nofollow">TBTF? Who says so?</a><br /><br />. <br />Quirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00272168240606512672noreply@blogger.com