Monday Reads
Posted: April 7, 2014 Filed under: morning reads, U.S. Politics, War on Women | Tags: Anita Hill, Diane Feinstein, Game of Thrones, Michael Hayden, Mickey Rooney, Sexism, Susan Merk, Thomas Greason, Women 47 CommentsGood Morning!
Well, the women in Game of Thrones may be looking towards a year of kick ass revenge. The women of the United States of Superstitious nonsense still have to deal with mansplaining and not being taken seriously. These two stories just iced my cupcakes this weekend. First, CIA stooge Michael Hayden accused Senator Dianne Feinstein of being “too emotional”. This is basically the most hackneyed insult a man can throw at a woman in power.
Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-Ca.), chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, may be too “emotional” to have produced a fair report on the CIA’s use of torture, former CIA Director Michael Hayden said Sunday.
Speaking on “Fox News Sunday” about a Senate Intelligence Committee report which criticizes the CIA program as excessive and ineffective at fighting terrorism, Hayden said Feinstein “wanted a report so scathing that it would ensure that an un-American brutal program of detention interrogation would never again be considered or permitted.”
“That motivation for the report may show deep emotional feeling on the part of the senator, but I don’t think it leads you to an objective report,” Hayden said.
Hayden claimed a lack of knowledge about the report itself, but admitted that key information in the hunt for Osama bin Laden from a detainee who was later tortured by the CIA was actually attained before he was ever turned over to the CIA.
Still, Hayden said he believed that “the totality of information, including information from this program” led to finding bin Laden.
This tidbit came directly after my reading this bit of nonsense from a Virginia Republican.
A Republican Virginia lawmaker accused an elderly constituent of intellectual laziness after she urged him via email to support the expansion of the state’s Medicaid program, the Loudoun Times-Mirror reported on Tuesday.
“How intellectually lazy are you?” state Thomas Greason (R) wrote Susan Merk as part of a series of emails between the two. “You are the problem. Good luck to you. You can not insult your way to ‘victory.’ If you are not willing to have a civil discussion, please do not write me again. It is a waste of my time.”
Greason’s remarks were the culmination of a contentious correspndence. Merk, a resident at a retirement community in Loudoun County, wrote Greason on March 24 saying it was “imperative” that lawmakers vote to support the state program under the Affordable Care Act. But Merk took issue with Greason’s response, in which he opposed such a move because the law “as already proven to be inefficient, costly, and an utter disaster.”
“This reply is pitiful — it’s nothing but partisan rhetoric, false accusations and invalid excuses,” Merk wrote back. “I will be sure to vote you out the next time you’re up for election.”
Greason’s ensuing response took a more aggressive tone towards Merk.
“Pitiful because I am willing to enter a dialogue with you?” he wrote. “All you liberals are the same. As soon as someone doesn’t agree with you, you shut down communication, call the other side names, take your ball and go home. I understand and am saddened by this approach at the federal level … but your reaction below is THE problem. I did not have to write you back … but I did. I think discussing differences is the only way to solve problems.”
On Monday, Greason told the Times-Mirror that he “must have been having a bad day” when he wrote his latest response to Merk.
I really get tired of the way these politicians treat older women. I hope their wives/mothers/daughters/grandmothers give them a good what for.
Against a backdrop of sex, politics, and race, ANITA reveals the intimate story of a woman who spoke truth to power. Directed by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Freida Mock, the film is both a celebration of Anita Hill’s legacy and a rare glimpse into her private life with friends and family, many of whom were by her side that fateful day 22 years ago. Anita Hill courageously speaks openly and intimately for the first time about her experiences that led her to testify before the Senate and the obstacles she faced in simply telling the truth. She also candidly discusses what happened to her life and work in the 22 years since.
93 year old Mickey Rooney has died.
Rooney had been in ill health for quite some time.
He was one of the most famous child actors in entertainment history. He play the role of Andy Hardy in 20 films.
Rooney also teamed up with Judy Garland for “Babes in Arms” which was a huge hit back in 1939.
He was the first teenager ever to be nominated for an Oscar for his leading role in “Strike Up the Band” in 1940.
Rooney and Elizabeth Taylor stared in one of the biggest movies of the 40s — “National Velvet” — which launched Taylor’s career.
That’s about all I can find at the moment, I’m afraid. I’m going to search for some more headlines as the day wears on.
What’s on your reading and blogging list today?
peej
Carissa
bostonboomer
ecocatwoman
grayslady
mablue2
Minkoff Minx
peggysue22
quixote
skydancingguestblogger
Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Here’s some good news from SCOTUS:
Supreme Court declines to hear appeal from photographers who wouldn’t work same-sex ceremony
Think Progress on whether this means anything for the Hobby Lobby case.
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/04/07/3423604/what-to-make-of-the-supreme-courts-decision-not-to-hear-that-anti-gay-photographers-case/
I don’t think you can read anything at all into the SC not taking up this case. Hobby Lobby is too far from it.
Good read Dak, and thanks for pointing out the humiliation and degradation women face in the workplace, and when they are elders living in facilities for the disabled. Men who are out discounting them by telling them their opinions and feelings are wrong, is just part of the “abuse” that girls and women face throughout their lives. I will make sure to call on both Hayden, and Greason. Hayden didn’t even read Feinstein’s report, yet he thinks he can get away with judging her abilities in the work world.
I was searching for more news but the only other thing I could find a lot on was Jeb Bush’s deciding if he wants to run for POTUS which was depressing beyond words. Just couldn’t bring myself to write on that. Republicans are really desperate if they have to bring a Bush back.
That does smell of flop sweat on their part, along with the media. After reading Pierce’s Gobshite post this morning, I think we should call the Sunday shows the Game of Morons.
Did you know that in 1996 Thomas Greason “Tag” was stationed in Fort Polk, La. and his driver was an enlisted female, who brought charges against him, as he was exposing his genitals and was fondling himself in her presence in the car. This happened on the job, and he denied the charges, and then the charges were reduced and delayed, and after ten years the case was dismissed.
The woman still stands with her charges, but nobody believed her. He’s a damn pervert who went free, and voted by republicans into office.
He is not answering phone calls, so I called the democrats of Loudoun to speak up, and pointed out that he was abusing an elderly woman, by telling discounting her feelings about
Obamacare.
Cannot get any info on contacting Michael Hayden……..so I called Dianne Feinstein and her professionalism of 30 some odd years as a public servant.
Good Grief! Greason sounds like he should be in a cage some where and not allowed around women.
Thank you Fannie for speaking out and standing up.
And Greason did exactly what he accused liberals of doing — started name-calling rather than a civil discussion. Not that you can really have a civil discussion with the Rs who won’t face facts.
Dak, I had to take the entire day off after seeing that Jeb Bush shitlines, I mean headlines. I just could not go online at all.
Senator Harry Reid @SenatorReid 1m
Former CIA Director Hayden condescendingly accused @SenFeinstein of being too emotional. She is fearless, thorough, and fair.
R.I.P. Mickey Rooney
A great writer, Peter Mathiessen, died over the weekend.
NYT: Peter Matthiessen, Lyrical Writer and Naturalist, Is Dead at 86
NPR: Peter Matthiessen, Co-Founder Of The Paris Review, Dies At 86
I’ve read some of his dharma pieces.
The Snow Leopard was the first of his I’ve read.
Nice composite on the news. Mickey Rooney and recently Shirley Temple, an era I watched on TV as a kid. The CIA lout, is just that. For several years I did wedding photos, I never turned anyone away, but if I did, it would have been done without malice, actually some of the brides can get quite testy, plus scheduling can be a problem, I know testy bride is being sexist?
Now this is a good cover 🙂
tpm: New Yorker Cover Depicts Obama Spoon-Feeding McConnell Medicine (PHOTO)
They are petulant kids!
This should be a good thing to run on if you’re a democrat facing a tough republican challenge.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/168248/uninsured-rate-lowest-2008.aspx
Maybe it will stop the influx of people using the emergency room for primary care.
Speaking of things to run on as a Democrat, I sure hope people pay attention to state politics this year!
Texas Kaos: Greg Abbott’s Campaign Pervaded by Creeps and Crooks
The entire charter school and vouchers movement is a play to keep children ignorant and to destroy teacher unions.
Not to mention the tons of government money to be siphoned off by the grifters!
Dear Texan friends: We’re doing a live political gabfest in Austin in two weeks: http://slate.me/1fXE952 pic.twitter.com/CxQNW6dOsS
Scholz Biergarten is a cool place. Lots of legislating was done there back when the Democrats ran this state. I don’t know whether to try and attend or check the Texas Tribune’s webcast. Webcast would be cheaper and Emily Bazelton has the only opinion I care about from that group. 😉
Texas Tribune: Prosecutor: Perry Veto of Integrity Funds “Concerning”
Well, isn’t this sweet?
These Masked, Pro-Russian Gunman Are ‘Playing Out The Crimean Scenario’ In Eastern Ukraine
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/armed-masked-protesters-appear-in-east-ukraine-2014-4#ixzz2yECbDW5k
Crap. Putin is such a prick. I hope he can be dissuaded from continuing along this path.
Paul Krugman’s op ed and blog piece is a must read today!
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/07/opinion/krugman-oligarchs-and-money.html
This is actually much more insightful: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/07/opinion/krugman-oligarchs-and-money.html?ref=paulkrugman
We should all heartily approve that message!
dak, sorry to seem thick, but could you please explain this in simpler terms? Why does moderate inflation encourage spending? Is it because low inflation implies low growth and causes people to save rather than spend? I’m trying to understand this but it keeps slipping away from my brain.
Inflation means price increases so people spend more quickly and the purchasing power of financial assets and dollars erode.
Ahhhh! Thank you!
Yqw 🙂
Inadvertent wingnut comedy…
lgf: In Which Peggy Noonan Wrestles the Many-Armed Squid in Ink-Darkened Water
Dallas Morning News: Texas transportation agency’s land deals under federal grand jury investigation
A little unraveling going on down here, finally?
That is good !
Hopeful, especially with Perry’s public integrity veto actions going before a Travis County grand jury next month.
Peaches Geldof Dead at Age 25
RIP, No parent should ever outlive their child.
Our Duck Dynasty Congressman has been caught In flagrante delicto
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/vance-mcallister-kissing-staffer-video
Ah, those family values republicans!!!
At least he wasn’t caught in diapers on a Madame’s List!!!
Not yet!
Noah Shachtman @NoahShachtman 1h
Bad news, Mormons: you no longer get your own planet. But don’t worry, you can still become gods. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/04/07/the-core-mormon-teaching-the-lds-church-didn-t-jettison.html …
I hate this kind of hoopla over expensive drugs. Sounds really good until you get to the kicker: only 4 more months of life. That’s progress?
National Journal @nationaljournal 54s
Sen. Feinstein calls former CIA director’s ’emotional’ comment ‘nonsense’ http://njour.nl/1g1RV3r
Thunder, wind, and rain at my place 🙂
KXAN: Judge stops investigation into Battleground Texas
Personally I think James O’Keefe should be paying for this investigation.
He should be in jail for breaking and entering into landrieu’s office.
I don’t know, those women tend to just stand there and take it. I mean, I have seen how my friend out in the cornfields of Iowa has reacted to things which I thought would have gotten her pissed off years ago..before the whole change over to her tea party/Glenn Beck/conservative christian values thing she has going now. In fact..she is now a genuine Delegate for the state of Iowa..so she will be one of those people actually making the decisions for the big picture. It is fucking frightening.