Could people who are great at science and math help in global warming?
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development posted these results yesterday:
Science Test:
1. Finland
2. Canada
3. Japan
21. United States
Math Test:
1. Finland
2. South Korea
3. Netherlands
25. United States
Is "no string theorist left behind" a Bush policy?
Posted by TIKI AL at December 5, 2007 04:11 AM"scare the bejeesus" out of people.
Worked for Bush.
Posted by Judith at December 5, 2007 05:18 AMRegarding the NIE...aside from the facts we now know - the main one being that Bush/Cheney have known for at least six months, if not a year, that Iran has stopped it's nuke weapon development yet they continued to Lie to America about WW III, etc. (and will, of course, get away with it). What I want to know is WHY this information was released and by who's authority. I can't see Cheney giving the OK, or Bush. So who did it ??? I guess the next Admin person who leaves to be with his family might be a good choice.
Posted by T2 at December 5, 2007 06:33 AM'Collapse,' by Jared Diamond is doing it for me...
Posted by garyb50 at December 5, 2007 07:01 AMJay Inslee this morning on CSPAN was a must see. Fear as the dis-incentive has lost all credibility. Americans are emerging from their duct taped homes because they're tired of fear. They're fed up to their eyeballs of a govt that fails even as it pronounces we should go shopping and let Big Brother loose on this Country. No, fear is a non starter. But being green, hey that offers imagination, science and integrity, a chance at regaining some element of respect in the world community and that's something Americans can put their shoulders to.
Our new Australian PM at work...
Peter Garrett has campaigned heavily on climate change in the past, but Opposition MPs won’t get a chance to question him when parliament resumes next year.
In a move that has baffled some, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is ensuring his new Environment Minister keeps his mouth shut on such sensitive topics.
Having already been stripped of the Climate Change portfolio, Peter Garrett will also lose his climate change voice; with Kevin Rudd making Treasurer Wayne Swan responsible for climate change discussion in the House of Representatives.
What comedy, the Minister of the Environment can't speak to climate change. What a crock this is. My how free wheeling Mr. Rudd is. "Sit down and shut up."
Did anyone see the picture on the front page of a Tehran newspaper today of Bush with a very long Pinocchio nose?
It's great to see integrity and honesty in the press for a change.
Posted by TIKI AL at December 5, 2007 08:17 AMDid anyone see the picture on the front page of a Tehran newspaper today of Bush with a very long Pinocchio nose?
It's great to see integrity and honesty in the press for a change.
TIKI, what a hoot! LMAO
Am I the only one that rich irony in Peter complaining about a president preventing someone in their administration from answering questions? (at least as he describes it)
Jeebus what a poorly written article that is.
ensuring his new Environment Minister keeps his mouth shut on such sensitive topics.
Well since he demonstrated an inability to speak accurately in the first place, I don't see this this as such a stretch.
Instead they are going to take a different approach (which I agree is worth a try) to approach climate change issues, directly from an economic perspective allowing the economic minister to address the issue (in close conjunction with the Ministry of the Environment.
IMO, the only way to really get through to people is via the wallet, so aside from the issues they have w/ Garrett this seems to be worth a shot.
So, Peter, in deference to you: Garrett is being told to sit down, shut up because he was an idiot during the campaign. He hasn't lost his voice or his position (yet).
If you have any specifics, Peter, I'd be happy to listen to them. Please point out any details that you think are being stifled/avoided.
Is this going to be your new torch to carry Peter? Should we look forward to more Rudd comments in the future?
Posted by Simp at December 5, 2007 09:02 AMI'm with T2, I've got a lot of questions about why this NIE on Iran's non-functioning nuclear weapons program was released. I'm happy about it, but I want to understand the reasons behind it. I see several possibilities. some of which I copped from Stratfor, but I tend to agree with because they seem logical. Possibilities:
-- Maybe as has been reported, Congress forced this NIE release. But that rings hollow to me, no matter how much Joe Biden beats his chest about this. As we've seen time and again, this administration doesn't do anything, including release this NIE, unless it wants to do so.
-- It could be an as yet unseen major diplomatic initiative with Iran and the U.S. which is going positively. This is what Stratfor postulates. We do have more 1 x 1 time coming up with Iran over Iraq. Evidence for this theory is we've caved or compromised with Iran and Syria on a Lebanese president, supposedly; problems with Shi'ite guerrillas in Iraq are falling, supposedly; positive comments from generals in Iraq about seeing less Iranian intervention and arms; and we released some of the Iranian diplomats or spies we were holding. Also note that aside from an anonymous comment or two, none of the Europeans seem to have much to say about this, which could indicate they're in on whatever's going on. It should be noted that some of the ravings on Debka support this. They are positively apoplectic over this NIE report and they're reporting it's a major policy change, although they attribute it to Bush turning into a surrender monkey.
-- Perhaps the intelligence services and defense establishment, with their backs against the wall, decided to try to derail Bush and Cheney's drive for war against Iran. This idea is all over the blogosphere, and even Stratfor thinks this is possible but unlikely. Personally, I think this is the least likely of all possibilities. According to everything we've heard, Cheney and his stovepipes go thru the DIA as well as at the CIA. No way could the Bushies get 16 agencies agreeing on this, without dissent, if Bush and Cheney wanted the spy agencies to tow a specific line. I've heard of Adm. Fallon's supposed comments about no war with Iran, I don't buy it. I've heard rumors the Joint Chiefs would resign in that event, I don't buy it. From the way Afghanistan was conducted, to the Iraq war and its implementation, to 60 years of Pentagon history -- the military industrial complex including the brass and the spies do what the White House orders. The only time there's been major conflict about this in the past is when the generals have been too gung ho. When you don't follow orders, you get fired. On top of all that, believe it or not, today's military is still shot through with kool-aid drinking Republican ideas. I do not believe that 16 intelligence agencies would agree to rebel against the White House.
-- Now, my personal theory: gross incompetence at the White House. Look at how this has played out so far over the last couple years followed by the NIE bombshell 2 days ago -- "Iran's getting nukes! War with Iran! Iran's getting nukes! War with Iran! Iran's getting nukes! War with Iran! -- Interruption from NIE: Iran isn't getting nukes, now back to the program. -- Iran's getting nukes! War with Iran!" I mean, Bush didn't even break stride during his press conference even in the face of the evidence that's just been presented. I really think it's gross incompetence and Bush's stupidity. They've got a plan. They believe in it. They ask for a couple NIE's to support what they believe. The NIE comes out and it refutes what they believe. But they don't care, they don't mind. They still have a plan and they still believe in it, no matter what the facts are. The question is, will the public now continue to support the Bushies in their pursuit against Iran? I don't think so. I think they will be forced to change to diplomacy, real diplomacy, not throwing carriers in the Gulf and threatening WWIII. I also base my incompetence theory on Bush's track record so far. Secret successful diplomacy from this administration? Hah! I wish! No, gross incompetence from the Bushies fits.
Posted by Brian Bell at December 5, 2007 09:22 AMAm I the only one that rich irony in Peter
Prolly, since you're the only one bothering to read what the idiot scribbles here between Cheeto runs.
Posted by iamcoyote at December 5, 2007 09:34 AMBBell, I agree with you incompetence theory, its the most plausible. I'm more inclined to call it "My Way" than incompetence (although, I guess, they both end up the same way). For his entire 7 years, Bush has selected what dovetails with his "Way" and dumped everything/everybody that didn't. I think thats the story here. As with the CIA PDB about Bin Laden, and Katrina ( both also in an August, Bush's ritual vacation time), Bush didn't want to know about a new NIE didn't support his "Way" for bombing Iran. Ask Joe Wilson what happens to people who burst Bush's bubble. But it still doesn't explain who/how and upon whose authority it got released. Bush or Cheney told McConnell to announce the NIE would never see the light of day....then the next week it did and I can't believe Bush would OK that. Now, Bush has just totally blown off the findings of the NIE, as if they were a dream sequence, and gone on with his sabre rattling without a pause. It's really breathtaking, but in a very scary movie way.
Posted by T2 at December 5, 2007 09:55 AMT2, who actually did the releasing, who actually had the authority? I am not a lawyer, but I believe Bush, and Cheney claims Bush has given him the same authority, are the only ones with that kind of declassification authority on something like an NIE for the president. So, presumably Bush or Cheney gave the actual order to release the NIE. The release of the information came from the same area that had authority over its handling as well, and that is the Director of National Intelligence, Donald Kerr. You can see the public rationale at the Director of Naitonal Intelligence's Web site, at http://www.dni.gov/press_releases/20071203_statement.pdf. However, like I said, I think Bush or Cheney had to give the actual order to release it, although Kerr doesn't make mention of that in the press release. And of course, some are claiming Congress pushed the Bushies to release it. But I don't buy that. I think the Bushies got the report, didn't care or understand what it said, and said, go release it. Adds to my incompetence hypothesis.
Posted by Brian Bell at December 5, 2007 10:45 AMIt doesn't make any sense at all....so, that sounds like Bush to me. Bush/Cheney decided that it would leak anyway, so might as well get it out and immediately discount it and go on about their business. Sounds pretty textbook Rove, huh.
Posted by T2 at December 5, 2007 12:02 PMHello all: long time. Far too long. Been in the hospital for unidentified nasty bugs (not of my own creation) for two months. Has Dickhead shuffled off the mortal coil yet? If not, pity.
I have a lot of catching up to do it seems. As John said, "One day at a time, is all we do..."
Posted by tempus at December 5, 2007 12:38 PMglad your back Tempus.....
Posted by T2 at December 5, 2007 12:49 PMThanks T2. I really don't know who to rant at the moment. So many idiots, so little access to the Internet.
Who, or what, is worth tossing feces at? I've been reduced to People magazine during my vacation, with the ubiquitous (no sp. checker, yikes!) Paris (ouvre la jambes) Hilton and the Thing That Cannot Sing (the one who keeps on dropping her drawers at the first camera).
Is KKKarll still available for belly rubs? Just thought I'd ask, its been a while, you know.
Any updates which save me from reading six-week old newspapers would be much appreciated.
Posted by tempus at December 5, 2007 01:07 PMTempus, welcome back. Missed reading your comments. Hope you are doing better now.
I think T2 and Brian are closer to the answer than any others. Makes sense.
Posted by Judith at December 5, 2007 01:31 PM"Any updates which save me from reading six-week old newspapers would be much appreciated."
Well, let's see Tempus. The idiot is still in the WH, Laura is still the ultimate Stepford Wife, Cheney is still crawling out of the cellar every morning to act as Vice-Pres., and Congress can't find their long lost balls. Yep, that's about it. Oh, and Rove is still rewriting history for the Bush legacy, for which the old man is paying him handsomely.
Posted by Judith at December 5, 2007 01:39 PMtempus my man!
Larry (toe-tapping) Craig got sent to Bali!
Can't wait to hear your latest reporting!
I was worried about you.
Posted by Seven of Six at December 5, 2007 02:08 PMSeven, I had a choice of an inter-trachial eshephlogcardiogram or actually voting for Mitt Romney. I chose the lesser of two evils and took the test. My orifices still hurt.
I heard something nasty about high temperatures in AZ these days. Those enviro-freaks are on WD-40 or some other shit. Please tell me thia ia not so. My behavior modification pills are wearing off, and I am being drawn to tbe CNN Breaking News report. Who knew Paris Hilton's dog was a he?
Posted by tempus at December 5, 2007 02:33 PMsince you're the only one bothering to read what the idiot scribbles here between Cheeto runs.
What can I say, I'm easily entertained.
Posted by Simp at December 5, 2007 05:57 PM