Plitvice Lake in Croatia. From Huffington Post
UP-FRONT RALLY NUGGET ...
FROM PITTSBURGH'S OWN LYNN CULLEN!
Hello my friends.
It’s time to take on the lunatics before they drive us all crazy. If you’re as fed up as I am with the tone of political talk these days, I have a great idea for relief: Join me at the Rally to Restore Sanity on October 30 in Washington, DC. This is the brainchild of Jon Stewart and what a perfect metaphor it is for the sorry state of our unhappy nation heading into the November elections. What better way to encapsulate the total insanity and stupidity of our national debate than responding to the clarion call of the nation’s comic-in-chief? The tea partiers have picked their clown: Glenn Beck. We have chosen ours: Jon Stewart.
What a get-together this is going to be on the National Mall, sure to be unlike any rally the nation’s capital has ever seen. This is frivolity with a purpose! This will show the nation that not all Americans have gone off the deep end.
What better way to stick it to the whiners, the hysterics, the paranoids, the birthers, the haters, and ideological purists than a massive dose of ridicule!?!?!?!? And, Stephen Colbert will be hosting a “counter-rally” titled “Keep Fear Alive”. Is this not perfect?
I have the buses gassed up and ready to go. All you have to do is sign up to get aboard before October 22. We have multiple pick-up points and two buses already filled. You missed Woodstock. You don’t want to miss this.
To register, email sanityexpress@deboltunlimited.com or call 1-800-4-DEBOLT. There is also a link on Pittsburgh City Paper’s website at www.pghcitypaper.com.
Hope to see you on the bus!
Lynn Cullen
And now ... back to our regular nuggets:
Embrace the Talks (Paul Pillar) from the National Interest
"The story in the Washington Post about preliminary talks between the Afghan Taliban and President Hamid Karzai is encouraging news in two respects."
With Talks Stalemated, Demographics Define Israeli-Palestinian Future from Yale Global
"Contrasting birth rates between Israelis and Palestinians will influence Middle East politics."
This analyst is on the mark here. In short order, the demographics will force any 'stalemated' talks to resume. I think this is Obama's insight and that of his team. If there is only going to be 'one state' these demographics strongly indicate that that state will be Palestinian.
And speak of the Devil!
Israelis, Palestinians Signal Deal on Settlements from the Washington Post
"In the clearest sign that a deal may be emerging to keep the troubled U.S. Mideast peace push alive, a top Palestinian official said Thursday that his side would accept an American proposal for Israel to curtail settlement construction for two months."
Donilon to Replace Jones as National Security Adviser from the New York Times
"As deputy national security adviser, Mr. Donilon has urged what he calls a “rebalancing” of American foreign policy to rapidly disengage American forces in Iraq and to focus more on China, Iran and other emerging challenges. In the Afghanistan-Pakistan review, he argued that the United States could not engage in what he termed “endless war,” and has strongly defended Mr. Obama’s decision to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan next summer."
One can only assume that Obama is going to move in Donilon's direction.
Presidents: History May Not Repeat But It Certainly Rhymes (Peter Feaver) from Foreign Policy Magazine
"Forget Carter: Maybe Obama is like Ike."
Foes of Health-Care Law Lose Key Court Ruling in Mich. from AOL News
"A federal judge on Thursday upheld the authority of the federal government to require everyone to have health insurance, dealing a setback to groups seeking to block the new national health care plan."
The Man Who Never Was (Todd Purdum) from Vanity Fair
"“You can tell he can barely fucking stand the fact that he was beaten by Barack Obama,” says one senior White House aide who was present. “Throughout the whole meeting, he would not look at the president, even when he was talking to him.”"
October Surprise? (James Carville and Stanley Greenberg) from Democracy Corps
"We are very close to believing that the 2010 election can move to a new place. Our latest poll shows the Democrats with a 6-point deficit—and any shift will have a significant impact on the number of House seats and the hold on the Senate."
Poll: Tea Party Fires Up the Democrats More Than it Influences Republicans from The Hill
"Democrats break 66-15 against the Tea Party, and half say Tea Party support makes them less likely to vote for a candidate. So a Tea Party endorsement would motivate Dems to vote against a candidate slightly more than it prompts Republicans or independents to vote for one. "
White America Has Lost Its Mind from the Village Voice
"The white brain, beset with worries, finally goes haywire in spectacular fashion."
Republicans Still Lacking the Moderates from Public Policy Polling
"One of the more remarkable things about the likely big win Republicans are headed for next month is that they're doing it without having improved their appeal to the center at all since the 2008 election. … That's the reason why this year's Republican resurgence may prove to be short lived and why much of what the party gains this year could be lost again in 2012."
FL-Sen: A Florida Double Crist? from the Wall Street Journal
"Kendrick Meek might drop out of the Florida senate race and thereby pave the path to victory for Charlie Crist."
To be frank, I suspect it may be tool late for this kind of deal. Some further analysis is HERE from Daily Kos.
ANIMAL NUGGET!!
Animals Said to Have Spiritual Experiences from Discovery News
"Animals (not just people) likely have spiritual experiences, according to a prominent neurologist who has analyzed the processes of spiritual sensation for over three decades."
DINOSAUR NUGGET!!
New Strong-Handed Dinosaur May Shatter Assumptions from National Geographic News
"Fossils of an intriguing new species with a powerful hand may reveal an edgier side of some supposedly peaceful, plant-munching dinosaurs, a new study says."
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