Talk talk talk... [update: Gibbs]

A common gull [Guardian - British Wildlife Gallery - Niall Benvie - BWPA]

Talk talk talk… wonder what he is saying.

***

Oh… they are so worried.  So so so worried.

A clutch of political and labour leaders in Germany have raised the spectre of civil unrest after the country’s leading institutes forecast a 6pc contraction of gross domestic product this year, a slump reminiscent of 1931 and bad enough to drive unemployment to 4.7m by 2010.

Michael Sommer, leader of the DGB trade union federation, called the latest wave of sackings a “declaration of war” against Germany’s workers. “Social unrest can no longer be ruled out,” he said.

Gesine Swann, presidential candidate for the Social Democrats, said “the mood could turn explosive” over the next three months unless the government takes drastic action.

And of course all the skunks leading the various nations are having the same conversation.  NOT how to help, but how to protect themselves from the people.  And that is Germany, which despite some erosions, has better long term protections in harsh times with rising unemployment than the land of Uncle Sam.  Or St Ob.  Or whoever runs us.

***

From Angry Arab:

I told you so, damn it

““Congressman, the crossings are no longer completely closed. There are many items that are being transported through the crossings. There are, as you know, some items that the Israeli government does not permit to cross,” Clinton responded.

“The best way for us to help the people of Gaza is for Hamas to cease its rocket firing on Israel, to abide by the quartet principles, and the same principles that were adopted by the Arab peace initiative, which I have reiterated several times here today.””

Posted by As’ad at 6:18 AM

****

Oh they will regularize us all… To BITS.  Regularised and pummeled and boxed up… in bits.

…catch this prescient take from the CPIML (Communist Party India – Marxist Leninist) via SMBIVA

[W]hatever else he does on his new beat, ushering liberal democracy in the land of the jirgas, or the greatly discussed objective of sending the girl child to school, is not the priority that the American people and with them the rest of the world are being made to believe to be the purpose of the assignment.

So what is Holbrooke’s mission?

Pakistani analysts, skeptical of US role in the region since decades, say Holbrooke’s mission may not be different from his contributions in Yugoslavia, a country he helped break into several smaller “manageable” pieces along religious and ethnic lines. By that measure Afghanistan and Pakistan offer a rich haul not to speak of India when its turn comes. …

***

UPDATE, 12:30 pm on the Pacific Ocean

I so do not want Gibbs to go home to the family.  From Politico (must check Tapper!)

BRIEFING — MORE TORTURE: Gibbs says there is a “time-honored principle” that “if you follow legal guidance, that you shouldn’t be prosecuted.”

Pressed further, he shows impatience: “I started out the week saying it, I’ll probably end the week saying it, if people knowingly broke the law,” there could be prosecutions.

Asked again about Emanuel’s comments last Sunday, Gibbs gripes he’s trying “not to take it personally that I have to repeat these answers like seven times.” (3:06 p.m.)

Says the president has seen “some glimmers of hope” but the country has “a long way to go.” Predicts job losses for “many, many months.”

“It’s going to take a while to get the economy growing again,” he says. And it’s over. (3:09 p.m.)

More after the jump…

[...]

Asked about planned release of abuse photos, Gibbs blames the judicial system: “The 2nd Circuit court ruled in December 2008 that the photos has to be released. The previous administration lost a court case on that.” (2:30 p.m.)

On stress tests, Gibbs says the review process has mostly been “run by the regulators.” (2:32 p.m.)

Update on Chrysler: Gibbs says the automaker is six days away from president’s deadline.

“This administration will continue to plan for all contingencies,” Gibbs says, adding that there will be an announcement on the deal next week. (2:34 p.m.)
Tapper asks: Why not appeal photo decision? “I’m not minimizing our role in this. I’m…trying to give you and others the appropriate amount of background.” (2:35 p.m.)

More on torture: back to that line about “reflection, not retribution.” (2:38 p.m.)

Gibbs says the president is not concerned that the release of photos and memos will distract from the agenda. (2:39 p.m.)

Challenged on Obama’s limited track record of bipartisanship, Gibbs says Obama will reach out to members of both parties and highlights last night’s bipartisan cocktail party. He says bipartisanship is a two-way street. (2:43 p.m.)

Gibbs engages in a long colloquy on the purpose of reflection and history — with Helen Thomas. Brushes off suggestion that Obama’s desire not to prosecute torture lawyers reflects a lack of appreciation for history. (2:46 p.m.)

Chip Reid asks if torture issue will just “simmer” while Feinstein’s committee investigates. Gibbs says the committee is an “appropriate” place for investigation to occur.

And what about a commission? “The president will always take under advisement whatever Congress decides.” (2:47 p.m.)

Does the president oppose a commission? “I think the president believes we should look forward and I think the president strongly believes that the investigation that is ongoing in the Intelligence Committee is an appropriate place” for that to occur. (2:52 p.m.)

Re: Obama-Boehner exchange yesterday — what’s the status of the Cheney request? “That request was made on March 31, 2009…The classifications will be determined by a number of people, including the director of central intelligence and the national security adviser.” Could take three weeks. (2:59 p.m.)

On Castro remarks: “The president took actions to pursue our national interests by lifting the embargo,” Gibbs says.  [he did?  -- Mcat]

Gibbs calls it “a bit amusing” that leadership in Cuba seems ” a little less sure of themselves.” (3:00 p.m.)

That last from Gibbs is really laughable.

hmm I just read that Cheney has upped the ante.  He has now asked the WH to release two classified docs.  Stepping up from his application to the National Archives March 31.

Does Gibbs EVER make sense?

****

About these ads