Clinton: Steps being taken to improve U.S. image with Muslims

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton moved Wednesday to boost U.S. ties with the world’s most populous Muslim nation and its neighbors

Abandoning Israel will do that for you. And attract some hefty donations for the library.

Fox News: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/02/18/north-dakota-house-gives-fertilized-eggs-human-status/

“The author of the bill, Rep. Dan Sullivan, R-Tulsa, said it is designed to stop couples from using the gender of a fetus as a reason to get an abortion. Sullivan said a doctor would be prohibited from performing an abortion if the mother specifically said the fetus’ sex was the reason.”

I’m excited about this first step, but don’t know what the future holds. I’m assuming if it’s passed into law, there’s going to be multiple challenges to it.

My favorite is the Achaemenid Persian Empire (550-330 BC). Here’s a couple questions regarding it:

-Who were the first and last rulers of the Persian Empire?
-What was the Persian capital burned by Alexander the Great in 330BC?

I would love for Iran to be taken over by a more US-friendly regime to make it easier to visit the answer to the 2nd question!

All in opposition to all three bills were Republicans, and included two from Alabama.

Alabama boasts three auto assembly plants: one owned by Korea’s Hyundai Motor Co., one owned by Japan’s Honda Motor Co. and a Mercedes-Benz plant owned by Daimler. Toyota also has an engine factory in Alabama, and each of these facilities has attracted dozens of suppliers to support their operations.

The rest are ok by me, but include neither of my Republican Senators (of course, we have a big GM plant).

Like a couple of months ago when The One promised the most Open and Transparent government…..EVER.
Or really ancient political history when Speaker Pelosi made the same promise about the House of Representatives.
But clearly you meant real world items, which I just don’t see as an efficient use of time….:)
jk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnX-D4kkPOQ

Enjoy if you haven’t seen it already, or even if you have.

Although neither of my Georgia Senators is there either.

And frankly, I’m not surprised.

Any of the above 12 that we can tap to be a new majority leader?

President Obama is undertaking a policy review regarding Afghanistan. The move is partly a political show, of course, to demonstrate a “change” from the former President Bush’s policies. However, it’s still partly a way to move things forward there, so it’s worth taking an interest in it being a success. An Afghanistan as successful as Iraq is fast becoming would be excellent news for that area of the world and for democracies like ours.

All that said, why are we conducting the policy review here in the US? Wouldn’t it make more sense to conduct it in Afghanistan as a way of giving a vote of confidence to Afghanistan’s government? Doesn’t it send the wrong message to conduct the review from afar, forcing those closest to the situation to come to us rather than making us go to them?

I’m curious what others think of this from a foreign policy perspective; I don’t see what we gain by conducting the review here instead of there, beyond overall-negligible travel and security expenses.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS20206+18-Feb-2009+PRN20090218

The rancher who was sued by the illegal aliens won in court. He is pursuing his claims against those who filed against him.

I have stated it before. The Courts are our best hope against Socialism creep.

I saw a front page by Pat Haynes (of Ankle Biting Pundits; J.S. McCain campaign), yesterday. What happened to that?

I was going to come back and read it and it disappeared. His site has been dead for a long time, too.

The photo below captures a disturbing trend that is beginning to affect US wildlife.

Animals that were formerly self-sufficient are now showing signs of belonging to the Democrat Party… as they have apparently learned to just sit and wait for the government to step in and provide for their care and sustenance.

Otherwise, what areas of ancient history do you like?

Thanks for the open thread, Jeff. Lately when I log into RS, and I click on a diary to read, most of the time I am not logged in when in that diary. If I go back to home page, I’m logged in again. What’s up?

That the Holy Roman Empire was neither:

Holy,
Or Roman,
Or… really an Empire

therefore:

It would be nice if JUST ONCE they had a real plan beyond throwing Political payback monies at a problem

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/02/18/white-house-opposes-fairness-doctrine/

Or he opposes this in name for headlines, supports localization law or whatever that is.

Then I got to thinking – maybe this keeps coming up because they are trying to sneak in another amnesty bill.

I happened to be channel surfing last night and stumbled upon Jeopardy as they were posing the following question:

“A Marxist stage before communism, this is government control over the economy; I thought it meant friendliness”

None of the contestants answered – just blank stares. I believe it epitomizes the unfortunate situation we find ourselves in. Even these seemingly intelligent people on Jeopardy, who could probably answer azaeroprof’s question without a problem, don’t even know the definition of something that has both an immediate as well as lasting impact on their lives.

I think my favorite part of that is listing “the U.S. District attorney” as a reference.

Just received an e-mail from The NRA’s Institute For Legislative Action….

Fairfax, Va. – Today, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously in support of allowing employees to store legally owned firearms in locked, private motor vehicles while parked in employer parking lots. This decision upholds NRA-backed legislation passed in 2004.

“This is a victory for the millions of American workers who have been denied the right to protect themselves while commuting between their homes and their workplace,” said NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre. “This effort was aimed at skirting the will of the American people, and the intent of legislatures across this country while eviscerating Right-to-Carry laws. This ruling is a slap at the corporate elitists who have no regard for the constitutional rights of law abiding American workers.”

In March 2004, the Oklahoma legislature passed an amendment holding employers criminally liable for prohibiting employees from storing firearms in locked vehicles on company property. A number of corporations subsequently filed suit in opposition to the new laws, alleging they were: unconstitutionally vague; an unconstitutional taking of private property; and preempted by various federal statutes. The lower court ruled in favor of the injunction.

“This issue was contrived by the gun control lobby who goaded corporations into doing their dirty work for them,” said Chris W. Cox, NRA chief lobbyist. “However, this ruling is a vindication for every hardworking and lawful man and woman whose basic right to self-defense was taken away on a whim by corporate lawyers. NRA is prepared to defend this right and to ensure the safety of every American worker.”

In October 2008, Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry and Attorney General Drew Edmondson appealed to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals the lower court decision to strike down the NRA-backed worker protection laws. Today’s proceedings handed down by Circuit Judges Paul J. Kelly, Bobby R. Baldock, and Michael W. McConnell reversed the lower court’s grant of a permanent injunction.

from the Get Fuzzy comic strip…ever notice the resemblance? It’s in the eyes.