Must Reads

Morning Must Reads: March 13

By Alex RogersMarch 13, 20130

Mark Wilson / Getty Images

The early morning sun rises behind the US Capitol Building in Washington, DC.

Xi Jinping, China’s Communist Party and military chief, has launched a series of speeches celebrating ”The China Dream,” which sets China’s sights on the path to become the world’s top military superpower.
Obama’s approval rating drops to 50%.
Kentucky Democrats on Ashley Judd: “She doesn’t fit the damn state.”
Every state but Hawaii has a tax-break for Girl Scout cookies.
President Obama will meet with the House Republican conference on Wednesday for the first time since June 2011 in an effort aimed at reaching a grand bargain deficit-reduction deal by the summer. Democrats worry he may give up too much on entitlements.
George Prescott Bush, son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, makes his political debut. He is running for Texas Land Commissioner.
How much different countries spend on food and tobacco as a percent of total household spending.
TIME’s Michael Grunwald dissects the new Ryan budget.
“Big Sugar Is Set for a Sweet Bailout.”
It was the bartender behind the “47 Percent” video.

269 comments

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nflfoghorn

3 Like

Danged if she didn't mail it in. As Paulie says, you cannot make this up.

deconstructiva

3 Like

@nflfoghorn "She became an embarrassment to Scott and a distraction from his agenda."

How could she be any worse than what he did to himself and to the poor residents of FL?

forgottenlord

7 Like

Amongst the other notes about Pope Francis, one note I've read is:

"He rides a bus to work, wears an ordinary priest's robe and lives with an older priest in a simple apartment where he cooks his own meals, rather than live at the luxurious residence he was entitled to as Archbishop of Buenos Aires."

Jokes abound about living with another Priest but the fact that he lives simply gives me hope for a refocus on the poor.

paulejb

Obama: Debt crisis? Nah, we’re good for the next 10 years.

Barack Obama was not saying this four years ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kuTG19Cu_Q

forgottenlord

3 Like

@paulejb

Deficit has been cut by a third and is expected to be cut by at least another third before Obama leaves office. Could that be enough for Obama to believe the next 10 years will be fine?

mantisdragon91

2 Like

@forgottenlord @paulejb Shh. Why bring facts and number into the conversation with Paule. That's like offering a vampire some garlic bread.

forgottenlord

1 Like

@mantisdragon91

When was the last time you saw a Vampire flick where Garlic actually worked?

paulejb

"Rand Paul: Tea Party is like the American Revolution – The Occupy movement more like the French Revolution"

http://washingtonexaminer.com/article/2524180

Exactly!

mantisdragon91

3 Like

@paulejb The Tea Party is more like the Spanish Inquisition scared of change and science, but by all means please go on.

nflfoghorn

The GOTP is more like the Linda Blair Revolution.

paulejb

@nflfoghorn

What?

nflfoghorn

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSxuXQCEC7M

nflfoghorn

Stumped, Brainiac?

paulejb

Joe Biden. The gift that keeps on giving. Hey! I guess that imbeciles need representatives too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tMwBseyToU&feature=player_embedded

mantisdragon91

1 Like

@paulejb Of course imbeciles need representatives. How else do you explain the Tea Party members of congress.

SirDonQuixotic

3 Like

Iran to add lawsuit over 'Argo' to cinematic response

First, Iran said it would produce its own cinematic response to "Argo." Now, Tehran plans to sue Hollywood filmmakers who contribute to the production of such "anti-Iran" propaganda films.

State-run Press TV reports that Iranian officials have talked to an "internationally-renowned" French lawyer about filing such a suit.

"I will defend Iran against the films like Argo, which are produced in Hollywood to distort the country's image," said Isabelle Coutant-Peyre.

They would probably feel a lot better if someone explained to them that the majority of the film is highly embellished, and international involvement in the incident is completely marginalized.

forgottenlord

3 Like

@DonQuixotic

My favorite part was this one Iran quote:

""The Iranophobic American movie attempts to describe Iranians as overemotional, irrational, insane, and diabolical..."

Somehow, replying with a lawsuit kinda proves 3 of 4 on that list.

paulejb

@forgottenlord @DonQuixotic

Since bringing in the lawyers is diabolical, it's actually four out of four.

forgottenlord

2 Like

@paulejb

Yeah, but they're French, not Iranian

paulejb

@forgottenlord @paulejb

It's the lawyers that add the diabolical.

forgottenlord

2 Like

@paulejb

When I think diabolical, I also assume that there's some creativity and sneakiness to them - that they're strategizing the long game for an ill-intended result. Calling in lawyers lacks the sneakiness element and is about as unimaginative as you can get.

paulejb

@DonQuixotic

It is fascinating to watch Islamic fanatics utilize the tactics of the American left. They have more in common than either side is willing to admit.

mantisdragon91

3 Like

@paulejb @DonQuixotic Google Republican or Taliban Paule. It seems the Islamist share the right's disdain of women, science and alternative lifestyles.

SirDonQuixotic

3 Like

Dow extends gains for a ninth straight day, the longest winning streak since November 1996, for a record close of 14,455

nflfoghorn

2 Like

Paulie blames it all on Obam--wait, what??

forgottenlord

@DonQuixotic

Well, if it's the 9th straight day of gains and it was a record close 4 days ago....

paulejb

"Let Politics, Not Science, Decide the Fate of Fracking"

http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2013/03/12/fracking_bans_let_politics_not_science_decide.html

It looks like the global warming alarmists have changed their tune.

forgottenlord

1 Like

@paulejb

The problem with fracking, IMO, is not global warming - Green power cannot supply energy needs in the short term and fracking is the least bad of dirty power - but the damage to the local environment with contamination of ground water and local environment as well as, likely, polluting nearby rivers to a dangerous extent.

paulejb

@forgottenlord @paulejb

"...but the damage to the local environment with contamination of ground water and local environment as well as, likely, polluting nearby rivers to a dangerous extent."

A total canard as numerous reports have shown including the report from Obama's EPA.

"U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson told energy industry leaders and environmentalists Wednesday that natural gas fracking can be done without harmful impacts, presenting "an historic opportunity" for the country in terms of energy development and job creation."

http://www.app.com/article/20120223/NJNEWS1002/302230013/EPA-chief-Fracking-can-OK

ARTRaveler

1 Like

I guess we tell the people who have methane gas coming out of their water faucets in Damascus AR that it is all in their hands but, BTW, don't leave the faucet on if you have an open flame near-by.

Those who depend on wells for their water are not as sure as Paulie is that fracking is so great. I have 3 wells within a mile of my house and frankly, I don't want to go on the loczl water system because some business doesm't do their job properly with chemicals they won't identify. And, we have had eartthquakes around here that stopped once they were told to not dump theri waste down injection wells. Other states with fracking and injection wells are also getting a chance to pick up pictures and worry about their houses moving.

paulejb

Sequester Fail:

White House Refuses to Disclose Cost of President’s Golf Outings

'White House press secretary Jay Carney earlier today refused to disclose the cost to the American taxpayers of the president’s golf outings. The question, from ABC’s Jonathan Karl, came on the heels of Carney’s claim that White House tours had been canceled as a result of the sequester because they are “labor intensive.” '

ARTRaveler

2 Like

Giood for President Obama. Maybe it is time to see how much brush cutting and bike riding cost us during Bush2 reign of terror?

paulejb

The Obamacare Application

Think that filing taxes is hard? Than you have yet to see the 15 page application for ObamaCare.

ARTRaveler

1 Like

You obviouslt have\ never filled out the college forms for financial aid. Maybe that is why you have so much time to look up false claims omn dubvious sires?

deconstructiva

6 Like

Too bad I didn't arrive earlier as we can see this thread is ending thanks to that one offender. Good stuff posted earlier, but I'm not going to enable his trollery. Let him argue only with the voices in his head.

MementoMori

2 Like

@deconstructiva If you sort by 'Most Likes' at the top of the list, it hides posts with no 'likes'.

And no one likes paulie, so...

paulejb

@MementoMori @deconstructiva

Awww! No hive drones like paulejb. He must be devastated. Giggle!

paulejb

"Obama’s approval drops as Americans take a dimmer view of his economic policies"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obamas-approval-drops-as-americans-take-a-dimmer-view-of-his-economic-policies/2013/03/12/4ddfd240-8a79-11e2-a051-6810d606108d_story.html?hpid=z1

Really? Where have these folks been for the last four years? Did they know that Obama has been president since January 2009?

ARTRaveler

2 Like

Gee, it dropped from 55% to 50% so it is only 5 times greater than House Republicans and 50 times greater than Sarah Palin, Santorium, and even Jeb "I'm for/against (check 1) immigration" Bush.

paulejb

'Joe Biden on domestic violence: Watch out for stuff that goes beyond your “garden-variety slap across the face” '

http://hotair.com/archives/2013/03/13/joe-biden-on-domestic-violence-watch-out-for-stuff-that-goes-beyond-your-garden-variety-slap-across-the-face/

Seriously, Joe? Seriously? Now you're advocating giving women five across the eyes?

mantisdragon91

@paulejb If he is, he is sure to get a ton of Republican votes seeing as violence against women is higher in states that consistently vote Republican.

paulejb

@mantisdragon91 @paulejb

It is Democrats that treat women like a piece of meat from Bill Clinton to Bobby Menendez.

Tero

3 Like

@paulejb @mantisdragon91

See what I mean mantis?

Tero

6 Like

@mantisdragon91 @paulejb

Resist the temptation. He is far too deep in a pit of ignorance for you to dig him out. Let him go :) Just let him go...

paulejb

The North Korean view of America under Barack Hussein Obama. It seems that the NORKS have been listening to Obama's claims of doom as a result of the sequester.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=oUH15I_R9CY#!

mantisdragon91

@paulejb Or with the Republican claims of what Obama will do to America. Seeing as Republicans and North Korean officials are equally disconnected with reality, I think this explanation is more likely.

SirDonQuixotic

5 Like

@mantisdragon91 @paulejb

Don't feed the troll.

SirDonQuixotic

4 Like

@mantisdragon91 @DonQuixotic @paulejb

Try.

mantisdragon91

@DonQuixotic @mantisdragon91 @paulejb Sorry but this is just too easy to resist.

Tero

1 Like

Soooooooo glad the Canadian contender was not selected as pope. I don't want my country associated so closely with these criminals.

deconstructiva

4 Like

@Tero Too bad Penn Jillette didn't get the nod. He would've cleaned up the mess. So he's an athiest, minor details, picky, picky.

retiredvet

@deconstructiva He'd be kicking a$$ and taking names.

MrObvious

1 Like

@Tero

Yeah, That'd be like electing 'the trailerpark boys' as pope. Canadians do trash (in movies) better then Americans.

Tero

3 Like

@MrObvious @Tero

Electing one of the Trailer Park Boys would be a step up for the catholic church. At least none of them has covered up the sexual abuse of children, nor have they promoted policies in Africa that have led to thousands of deaths...