Re-posting from the "Um, No" thread:
You know, the thing that struck me about Bloomberg's introduction of Obama was its symbolic and tactical brazenness.
So, get this: Barack goes to the world capitol of the financial services industry -- New York City. His speech is quite noteworthy because he essentially promises impose massive (not to put too fine a point on it) regulation on the whole financial services sector. Later today, Barack gave an interview in which he revealed plans to DOUBLE the capital gains tax, indicated he would start cutting federal spending with the defense budget, entertained the idea of giving a credit card to every federal employee to cut costs, defended his pro-trade credentials, and declared that he was 'non-ideological.'
Guess what the media focused on: Obama/Bloomberg ticket speculation. And that's exactly what the Obama campaign wanted. They were able to check the "Economy" message box today -- eliminating the distance between he and Clinton while also reassuring his Wall Street friends that he wasn't going to mess up their flow -- and the quite newsworthy (controversial, really) things they announced didn't actually make news. All because Michael Bloomberg ran interference by giving the introductory remarks Obama's speech.
Barack Obama played the MSM (well, new media too) like a piano today. Hats-off. Honestly. Although, a demerit for cowardice for the Bloomberg gambit. Clever distraction, yes, but he (Obama) should have embraced the controversy his speech could have generated had he presented it without subterfuge. In the end, Barack, Wall Street will not be your friend.
Posted by dry_fish at March 27, 2008 09:08 PMAs is proven here every day, you see ONLY what you want to see. Let's hope all of the passionate Hillary supporters heard her when she pleaded with her backers to support the Democratic candidate, once the race is finally finished, against John McSame. Whichever one of them wins. Kudos to her!
Posted by DeminNewJ at March 28, 2008 03:44 AM"Think Progress" Hmmm.
Is this the same blog that has to post apologies for getting things wrong?
Naw ! Couldn't be. You fellas use it.
Posted by jj at March 28, 2008 07:04 AMYeah, blackwater fever , the old disease from Africa and Asia. Another foolish post Turkana.
Posted by peter at March 28, 2008 07:12 AMOkay folks tell me why Puerto Rico is being allowed to change its Democratic primary date and method without any sanctions? Aren't the rules, the rules?
Posted by peter at March 28, 2008 08:00 AMFALLUJAH, Mar 26 (IPS) - Iraqi doctors in al-Anbar province warn of a new disease they call "Blackwater" that threatens the lives of thousands. The disease is named after Blackwater Worldwide, the U.S. mercenary company operating in Iraq. "This disease is a severe form of malarial infection caused by the parasite plasmodium falciparum, which is considered the worst type of malarial infection," Dr. Ali Hakki from Fallujah told IPS. "It is one of the complications of that infection, and not the ordinary picture of the disease. Because of its frequent and severe complications, such as Blackwater fever, and its resistance to treatment, P. falciparum can cause death within 24 hours."What Iraqis now call Blackwater fever is really a well-known medical condition, and while it has nothing to do with Blackwater Worldwide, Iraqis in al-Anbar province have decided to make the connection between the disease and the lethal U.S.-based company which has been responsible for the death of countless Iraqis.
The disease is most prevalent in Africa and Asia. The patient suffers severe intravascular haemolysis -- the destruction of red blood cells leading to kidney and liver failure. It also leads to black or red urination, and hence perhaps the new name 'Blackwater'.
The deadly disease, never before seen in Iraq on at least this scale, seems to be spreading across the country. And Iraq lacks medicines, hospitals, and doctors to lead a campaign to fight the disease.
Okay folks tell me why Puerto Rico is being allowed to change its Democratic primary date and method without any sanctions? Aren't the rules, the rules?
Why would a neo-con be so concerned?
Posted by Seven of Six at March 28, 2008 10:58 AMWhy would a neo-con be so concerned?
Really, who cares what peter ratfucker-wannabe thinks? I know you feel sorry for the little guy, he can't help that he's mentally challenged, but you have no obligation to notice him, SoS. You're way too nice a guy, sometimes.
Posted by iamcoyote at March 28, 2008 11:25 AMSeven, BF has been around for years. It has always been quite offensive to the body. It's alway had the effects with urine coloration. There's nothing your IPS story that wasn't covered in a broad sense at least in the 1951 article linked. The technical names for things may have modernized, but its the same junk. Read it... it's the same thing...just repackaged. In other words, we didn't create this stuff and its not foreign to the region.
Posted by peter at March 28, 2008 11:50 AMguess pants pissing peter is now a medical expert, LOL
"...His speech is quite noteworthy because he essentially promises impose massive (not to put too fine a point on it) regulation on the whole financial services sector. Later today, Barack gave an interview in which he revealed plans to DOUBLE the capital gains tax...."
maybe dry-fish can explain why those actions amount to "reassuring his Wall Street friends"? Those proposals sound like something John Edwards would say.
Posted by Gay Veteran at March 28, 2008 11:58 AMIsn't it funny how they were able to name this "new disease" exactly what it was named before with the very same aflictions presented.
"[Blackwater fever during antimalarial treatment in Abidjan (West Africa): report of 41 cases]
UFR Sciences médicales - Département pharmacologie médicale et clinique, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. daubreyt@voila.fr
Intravascular haemolysis, particularly blackwater fever is a rare but severe clinical syndrome, occurring after ingestion of antimalarials. A resurgence of this affection which occurred frequently during the colonization has lately been noticed. We have conducted a prospective study in order to identify the main antimalarials which are responsible for this syndrome. We reported 41 cases from 1996 to 2000, among which 80% of blackwater fever cases were associated with quinine ingestion or similar structural molecules. Their causal role is well established. For the other molecules it is difficult to underscore their role. The mortality rate is around 18%. The morbidity is high because 90% of patients have suffered from renal failure. Among them, 47% required dialysis. We are facing a public health issue thus a rational use of antimalarials is necessary."
Link
Posted by peter at March 28, 2008 01:02 PM