There is a big time tsunami warning for Japan, Fox News Reports:
Japan’s Meteorological Agency said the first tsunami to reach Japan after the magnitude 8.8 quake off Chile was recorded in the Ogasawara islands. It was just 4 inches high. There were no reports of damage.
Japan put all of its eastern coastline on tsunami alert Sunday and ordered hundreds of thousands of residents in low-lying areas to seek higher ground as waves generated by an earthquake off Chile raced across the Pacific at hundreds of miles (kilometers) per hour.
It was the first such alert for Japan’s coasts in almost 20 years.
Towns along northern coasts issued evacuation orders to hundreds of thousands of residents. Japan’s national broadcaster NHK switched to emergency mode, broadcasting a map with the areas in most danger and repeatedly urging caution.
The 8.8-magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami that swept across the Pacific on Sunday, but little damage was being reported as nations evacuated their coastlines well in advance of the waves. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center already lifted its warning for every country but Russia and Japan, though some countries in Asia and the Pacific — including the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand — were keeping their own watches in place as a precaution.
Thought and Prayers continue for those in the affected area.
President Michele Bachelet declared a state of catastrophe in central Chile after a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck early Saturday.
The most powerful quake to hit the country in a half century cut electricity, water and phone lines to many areas, meaning there was no word of death or damage from many outlying areas.
There have been conflicting reports on the death toll, with some placing the count as high as 122, a number Chilean officials expect to rise.
Early Saturday, Bachelet appealed from an emergency response center for Chileans to remain calm.
“Despite this, the system is functioning. People should remain calm. We’re doing everything we can with all the forces we have. Any information we will share immediately,” Bachelet said.
President-elect Sebastian Pinera said the earthquake caused serious damage to the country’s infrastructure. The historic center, filled with buildings of adobe mud and straw, largely collapsed, though most of those were businesses that were not inhabited during the 3:34 a.m. quake. Neighbors pulled at least five people from the rubble while emergency workers, themselves disoriented, asked for information from reporters.
In the Chilean capital of Santiago, 200 miles northeast of the epicenter, a car dangled from a collapsed overpass, the national Fine Arts Museum was badly damaged and an apartment building’s two-story parking lot pancaked, smashing about 50 cars whose alarms rang incessantly.
Santiago’s airport will remain closed for at least 24 hours, airport director Eduardo del Canto said. The passenger terminal suffered major damage, he told Chilean television in a telephone interview. TV images show smashed windows, partially collapsed ceilings and pedestrian walkways destroyed.
The city’s subway was shut as well and hundreds of buses were trapped at a terminal by a damaged bridge, Transportation and Telecommunications Minister told Chilean television. He urged Chileans to make phone calls or travel only when absolutely necessary.
A tsunami set off by the quake threatened every nation around the Pacific Ocean — roughly a quarter of the globe. Warnings were issued over a wide area, including South America, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand, Japan, the Philippines, Russia and many Pacific islands.
It appears that Hawaii is on alert, video story story via MSNBC:
EWA BEACH, Hawaii – A tsunami threatened the Pacific Rim on Saturday, with an 8.8-magnitude earthquake off Chile sending potentially deadly waves across the ocean at the speed of a jetliner.
Sirens blared in Hawaii to alert residents to the impending waves, with authorities asking people living near the water to evacuate. On several South Pacific islands hit by a tsunami last fall, police began evacuations of the coast.
The first waves in Hawaii are expected to hit shortly after 11 a.m. Saturday (4 p.m. EST; 2100 GMT) and measure roughly 8 feet (2.5 meters) at Hilo. Most Pacific Rim nations however did not order evacuations, but advised people in low-lying areas to be on the lookout.
Thoughts and prayers for all of those in the affected areas. I am monitoring the Amateur Radio Frequencies and looking out for Emergency nets and so forth.
In this country, we had slavery for God knows how long. And now we look back on it and we say “How brave were they? What was the matter with them? You know, I can’t believe, you know, four million slaves. This is incredible.” And we’re right, we’re right. We should look back on that with criticism. It is a crushing mark on America’s soul. And yet today, half of all black children are aborted. Half of all black children are aborted. Far more of the African American community is being devastated by the policies of today than were being devastated by policies of slavery. And I think, What does it take to get us to wake up?
Man, Election 2010 cannot come quick enough time to get the stupid people out. 😡
Democrats are rightly pissed:
Frank’s comments raised the ire of Democrats.
“To compare the horrors and inhumane treatment of millions of African Americans during slavery as a better way of life for African Americans today is beyond repulsive,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Deputy Press Secretary Stephanie Young said in a statement. “In 2010, during the second year of our first African American President, it is astonishing that a thought such as this would come to mind, let alone be shared.”
…and naturally this damned genius is hiding. 🙄
Frank could not be reached for comment because he is currently on a plane back to Arizona, according to his spokesperson.
So, not only is this man an idiot; he’s a coward too! 🙄
WASHINGTON–White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers told me Friday she will step down next month, after presiding over 330 events in the White House in 14 months.
Rogers is departing after achieving a major goal of President Obama and First Lady Michelle — opening up the White House to make it the “peoples house.”
“As we turn the corner on the first year,” Rogers told me, “this is a good time for me to explore opportunities in the corporate world.”
Rogers told me it has been “an honor and a privilege to serve this president and First Lady, in what has certainly been a historic presidency.”
Rogers, a friend of the First Couple for years, was one of the first Obama administration appointees.
“When I took on this assignment, we talked about the importance of creating the people's house. My work was really to create this framework,” she told me.
“I think I completed that work. Our office has been able to lay the foundation for what will be known as the “people’s house”; and it has already taken shape.”
Rogers tenure was marked by high points–she was a moving force behind a White House music series–and a low point, when the Obama;s first state dinner was crashed by a publicity seeking couple, Tareq and Michaele Salahi. Though the Secret Service immediately said it was their fault–agents did not follow security protocols–Rogers got some of the blame.
Japan’s meteorological agency issued a tsunami warning tonight following a powerful undersea earthquake off the coast of the southern island of Okinawa.
The agency said the tremor, at about 8.30pm GMT, was centred about 50 miles east of the city of Naha. They said it measured 6.9 on the Richter scale.
The US Geological Survey reported the quake at a stronger 7.3.
The Japanese agency warned of a possible tsunami of up to 2 metres around the Okinawan coast, Reuters reported.
While some might construe this as an attack on conservatives, I submit that the villains in the effort to reform health care are numerous, and multi-partisan. While Sarah Palin initiated the “Death Panel” hysteria, it was the mainstream media that abetted her, and a handful of Democrats who lacked the sac to leave the provision in the bill. The same dynamic holds true of the larger picture of health care reform.
No matter your point of view on health care, you would have to at least agree that Keith’s story is effective at conveying the idea that we have to do something, that the status quo is unacceptable. When the bravado and the posturing are set aside, we agree more than we disagree.
There may be some who will accuse Keith of manipulation here, or worse, exploitation. This has become a popular way of dismissing powerful stories that challenge our worldview, and it’s cheap. Keith Olbermann, whether you agree with him or not, is obviously exposing something deeply personal, in a sincere effort to make this ordeal have some meaning. How you take it in is your business, not his.
I think this also demonstrates why Keith Olbermann should make an effort not to lower himself, not to be petty or cheap. In this case, many people who could have benefited from hearing the story of Keith’s father now will not. The idea isn’t to be neutered, witless, and inoffensive, as much as it is to use the passion and the biting wit on worthy targets, in a worthy fashion.
Finally, it’s my hope that everyone who reads this will keep Keith’s dad in their thoughts and prayers, just as you would hope for the same were it your loved one who was suffering.
President Barack Obama’s top advisers are quietly laying the groundwork for the 2012 reelection campaign, which is likely to be run out of Chicago and managed by White House deputy chief of staff Jim Messina, according to Democrats familiar with the discussions.
For now, the planning consists entirely of private conversations, with Obama aides at all levels indulging occasionally in closed-door 2012 discussions while focusing ferociously on the midterm elections and health care reform, the Democratic sources said. “The gathering storm is the 2010 elections,” one top official said.
But the sources said Obama has given every sign of planning to run again and wants the next campaign to resemble the highly successful 2008 effort.
David Axelrod, White House senior adviser, may leave the West Wing to rejoin his family in Chicago and reprise his role as Obama’s muse, overseeing the campaign’s tone, themes, messages and advertising, the sources said.
This could be taken a number of different ways. Perhaps the White House knows that they might be in trouble and are getting ready to plan the attack now. Either way, it does seem to be a bit early on. However in the interest on fairness, I will point this out:
Even though the planning is still very preliminary, the campaign is likely to launch in just over a year. President Bill Clinton opened his second presidential campaign in the March after his first midterm congressional elections, and President George W. Bush opened Bush-Cheney ’04 a month later in the political cycle.
So, unlike some of the partisan Bloggers, I will not sit here and act like this is some sort of a new thing with Barack Obama. However, it does show that possibly the White House and the President know that the winds are changing and they are wanting to be ahead of the game.
There is a possibility that this could be a violation of the Hatch act.
I really have not been blogging with my normal frequency. It is just because the only thing that is really being talked about, is healthcare. I have said all that I am ever going to say about that. So, here, if you want to go read the hapless nonsense that his being discussed on that subject; please, go here and read till your heart is content, because quite frankly, I’m sick of it all.
Newly-seated Republican Sen. Scott Brown (Mass.) on Monday joined Democrats in voting to move forward on their $15 billion jobs bill.
Brown crossed the aisle after Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) nixed an $85 billion, bipartisan plan in favor of a more narrowly-focused bill.
“I came to Washington to be an independent voice, to put politics aside, and to do everything in my power to help create jobs for Massachusetts families,” Brown said in a statement. “This Senate jobs bill is not perfect. I wish the tax cuts were deeper and broader, but I voted for it because it contains measures that will help put people back to work.”
Democrats needed to poach Brown and and least one other Republican to reach the 60 votes necessary. Centrist Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Olympia Snowe (Maine) also voted for cloture on the proposal.
Reitiring GOP Sens. George Voinovich (Ohio) and Kit Bond (R-Mo.) also voted for cloture.
A Twitter friend said that he’s still better than Teddy Kennedy. Well. The only reason for a Republican Senator is to stop any sort of spending bills.
[…]
Now, I’m hoping that the next big spending bill that comes along Scott Brown body slams. That’s unlikely to happen before the midterms in November. Even Democrats are worried about big spending bills right now.
When Scott Brown starts crafting national health care legislation, or sounding like the liberal lion of the Senate, get back to me. Until then, it’s Massachusetts. We’re still a long way ahead on the deal.
Yes, sigh, Scott Brown. Looks like he hasn’t taken up my suggested D.C. itinerary. But those of us who knew all along what we were getting — a game-changer who vowed to torpedo Demcare, but who was not an ideological conservative — are not surprised. And I pointed out Brown’s moderate record several times on Fox and on this blog during the campaign.
….and for a Final Touch, I received this private message from a Joe Santelli on facebook:
WHO CARES WHAT YOU FUCKING THINK….IT IS MA VOTERS WHO COUNT WITH HIM!
Scott Browns closet gay lover maybe? Hmmmm….Obviously, a Democrat. 🙄
Anyhow, this right here is why I was not falling all over myself to support this guy. Somewhere between the tea party movement and the Scott Brown campaign; the message became a bit muddled. What Scott Brown’s idea of real Conservatism is, and what actually fiscal Conservative values are, are obviously two different things. You have to the learn the language of politics, when a candidate says, “I am going to do the will of the people, who voted for me…” and it is regarding a bill that Conservatives traditionally oppose; that usually means that person is going to go against Conservative principles. Also, when someone says, “Well, the Campaign is over now…” and proceeds to change a position, that is usually a good idea that this person is going to break a campaign promise in a big way. It happened with Barack Obama’s Campaign and now it is happening again with Scott Brown. The bad part is, people were suckered into believing the hype on this guy. I always try and look past the hype, and see what the person is really like. Kind of like Ron Paul; once you get past the hype, there’s really not much there.
Ah well, live and learn, I suppose. Maybe the Tea Party movement can learn from this one. That you do not support someone, unless you REALLY know them first.
The daughter of the man who carried out a suicide plane attack against the IRS in Texas said today she considered her father a hero for standing up to “the system,” although she later back away from that statement.
Joe Stack’s daughter says father’s act was “inappropriate” but understandable.
“His last actions, the suicide, the catastrophe that caused injuries and death, that was wrong,” Samantha Bell, Stack’s daughter from his first marriage, told “Good Morning America” in a morning television exclusive telephone interview that aired today. “But if nobody comes out and speaks up on behalf of injustice, then nothing will ever be accomplished. But I do not agree with his last action with what he did. But I do agree about the government.”
When “Good Morning America” asked if she considered her father a “hero,” Bell, 38, said, “Yes, because now maybe people will listen.” Bell later called “Good Morning America” to retract her statement and say unequivocally that her father was “not a hero.”
Rather, she said the only hero involved in the attack was its victim, Vietnam veteran Vernon Hunter, the only person besides Stack killed in the attack.
“I don’t want to hurt anybody,” Bell said. “We are mourning for Vernon Hunter.”
“His last actions, the suicide, the catastrophe that caused injuries and death, that was wrong,” Bell said in the aired interview. “But if nobody comes out and speaks up on behalf of injustice, then nothing will ever be accomplished. But I do not agree with his last action with what he did. But I do agree about the government.”
No Bitch, your Father was a greedy asshole, who thought he was above paying taxes. This is why he was dead. Of course, the Anti-tax idiots are saying he is a hero too. What tools. Morons, idiots. 😡
You make money, you pay your damned taxes, end of story.
State Delegate Bob Marshall of Manassas says disabled children are God's punishment to women who have aborted their first pregnancy.
He made that statement Thursday at a press conference to oppose state funding for Planned Parenthood.
“The number of children who are born subsequent to a first abortion with handicaps has increased dramatically. Why? Because when you abort the first born of any, nature takes its vengeance on the subsequent children,” said Marshall, a Republican.
“In the Old Testament, the first born of every being, animal and man, was dedicated to the Lord. There’s a special punishment Christians would suggest.
As most of you know, I did not attend CPAC this year, mainly because I just could not afford to make the trek and because I have some personal issues with the whole idea. As they say, politics is local and parts of this sort of a meeting would just grate against me. Therefore, I will just write about the stuff that interests me. Being in the so-called “Social Class” that I am, going to a conference of this sort, listening to a bunch of rich, uppity, white people grovel at a black President and yowl on about big Government, all the while rattling their gold shekels and rubies would just drive me to the spirited beverage. Please note I have nothing against those who are of the wealthy class. In fact, I commend those who have attained such status by running and succeeded at an honest business. However, as someone who has no health insurance and has not had a “real day job” since 2005. I would find it very discomforting to sit and listen to people who have no money issues complain about those who do. In addition, I will confess, I am just not much a crowd person. I have said, jokingly of course, that I am the “Matt Drudge” of the Blog World — Everyone knows me, but no one has met me before.
This brings me to the big question, which I have gotten in the past. “If you are so against Conservative conferences, why are you on the right of the Blogosphere?” First off, let me say that I am not against any sort of Conservative conferences at all. Although I will say, that Sarah Palin was correct in her snubbing of CPAC. The President of the American Conservative Union should resign in disgrace. That is about all I will say about that little situation.
Now to what I wrote this article for, Ryan Sorba’s anti-gay rant, which you can see here:
Gabriel Malor over at Ace of Spades Blog wrote about this, although from an obviously Anti-Christian stance. As someone who is a twenty-six year veteran of the Christian Faith —- although as it says on my about me page, I do not claim to be a perfect representative of that Christian faith or a spokesperson for it. Let me simple say this, AllahPundit and Mr. Malor are correct in their assessments. The Republican Party got their “tails kicked” in the 2008 election, not because Barack Obama was some sort of awesome candidate. The Republican Party got their “Tails Kicked” because for one, they ran a mushy Moderate Candidate for President and as Glenn Beck rightly pointed out, because the Republican Party got horrifically addicted to spending. What troubles me though, is the fact than Glen Beck will yowl on about spending; but he will not say the obvious, that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are a big part of that spending. Before anyone says it — no, I am not going to pull a Lew Rockwell and say all wars are evil or anything stupid like that. I am fully aware of the reality of the war on terror. I am simply making an observation.
Having said the above, the Republican Party is in a unique situation. Eight years of George W. Bush’s moderate Conservatism, which included some rather humongous “drunken sailor spending,” has put the G.O.P. in quite the spot. Our Nation is in a fiscal mess, thanks to the irresponsible spending of the Bush Administration and now because of the Obama Administration continuation of that reckless and idiotic spending. What the Republican Party needs to do is concentrate on fiscal matters, and let the social Conservatives to fight the battle against Homosexuality themselves. If the Christian Conservatives went to fight against the gay community, let them do that themselves and leave the Republican Party out of it. Let me remind everyone, this is 2010, not 1984. As Pastor James Dobson correctly pointed out, and then quickly retreated from, the social Conservative fight of the 1980’s was simply a holding action —- A holding action that ultimately failed. This proves that which I have believed all along, that one cannot force the hand of morality by legislation or by political pressure. Something astutely observed by the late, great, Senator Barry Goldwater.
Let me wrap this article by saying this here. The Republican Party and the Conservative movement as a whole, needs to pick its battles. A Social Conservative battle is just not one that would be productive to the furtherance of the Republican Party and the Conservative movement as a whole. We need to focus on fiscal matters and get this Government spending to stop, otherwise, we could be in for a very rough time in the next coming years.
Reagan Palooza 2010 kept cranking into the wee hours of Sunday morning on Capitol Hill. Young right-wingers were jammed onto the upstairs dance floor of the Hawk ‘n’ Dove where they partied past midnight after the final day of the annual Conservative Political Action Conference.
The fire-code capacity crowd was drenched in sweat as they writhed rhythmically to the thunderous bass beats pumped out by the sound system beneath the strobing disco lights. Several of the 20-somethings were singing along to the lyrics — “This is all so crazy, everybody seems so famous” — when investigative reporter Matthew Vadum nudged me and shouted into my ear, “This is that Hannah Montana song.” Further research (which is to say, a phone call to my daughter, a college junior) confirmed that the reggae-inflected tune was in fact performed by Miley Cyrus, the teenage star of the popular Disney TV series.
“Party in the USA” was certainly appropriate as the soundtrack for this year’s CPAC, where conservatives signaled that they have regained the confidence they lost in the debacle of 2008.
Young and old at CPAC seemed energized by harbingers that the 2010 mid-term elections will produce a GOP triumph, but at least one middle-aged Republican was hesitant to accept the most favorable interpretation of the auspices and omens.
“Frankly, I’m worried,” David Frum said at an earlier Saturday gathering at Murphy’s Grand Irish Pub near the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel that hosted the record-breaking three-day conference. “But then again, I’m always worried.”
Great story, I highly recommend that you go read it. But more importantly, what does it say, when a man who is, what? 150 million years old? Is doing take off’s on a title of a song, by Prince? It must be a reflection of the moral decline in this country. 😉
