An Ol’ Broad’s Ramblings
Morning Coffee 9/17/07
Blackwater license being pulled in Iraq
The Interior Ministry said Monday that it was pulling the license of an American security firm allegedly involved in the fatal shooting of civilians during an attack on a U.S. State Department motorcade in Baghdad.
The ministry said it would prosecute any foreign contractors found to have used excessive force in the Sunday incident.
I read this whole thing. I’m still confused. Were the “civilians” shooting at folks, or did the ‘contractors’ just start shooting into the crowds? How can you tell if they are civilians or not? They don’t wear uniforms, and if there is gun fire coming from them, wouldn’t it be prudent to shoot back?
Clinton to offer health care plan
With a price tag of about $110 billion per year, Clinton’s “American Health Choices Plan” represents her first major effort to achieve universal health coverage since 1994, when the plan she authored during her husband’s first term collapsed.
The former first lady says she has learned from that experience, which almost derailed Bill Clinton’s presidency and helped put Republicans in control of Congress for years to come. Aides say she has jettisoned the complexity and uncertainty of the last effort in favor of a plan that stresses simplicity, cost control and consumer choice.
Even if that woman was a doctor, I wouldn’t hand over MY health and well being to her! Having an over bloated gubmint in charge of health care is absolutely ludicrous! It’s not about health care, it’s about CONTROL! And she, or anyone else, has NOT earned the right to control MY life!
Microsoft Must Share Code With Rivals
Microsoft lost its appeal of a European antitrust order Monday that obliges the technology giant to share communications code with rivals, sell a copy of Windows without Media Player and pay a $613 million fine – the largest ever by EU regulators.
The EU Court of First Instance ruled against Microsoft on both parts of the case, saying the European Commission was correct in concluding that Microsoft was guilty of monopoly abuse in trying to use its power over desktop computers to muscle into server software.
I call BS!! If I invented something, is it MY fault that others can’t come up with a similar idea? Is it MY fault they can’t figure it out? Do I have to pay because THEY want the ‘formula’? If I were Gates, I’d close up shop over there, and let them sort it out since the EU doesn’t much care for free enterprise.
Muslim Brotherhood’s papers detail plan to seize U.S.
Amid the mountain of evidence released in the Holy Land Foundation terrorism financing trial, the most provocative has turned out to be a handful of previously classified evidence detailing Islamist extremists’ ambitious plans for a U.S. takeover.
A knot of terrorism researchers say the memos and audiotapes, many translated from Arabic and containing detailed strategies by the international Islamist group the Muslim Brotherhood, are proof that extremists have long sought to replace the Constitution with Shariah, or Islamic law.
Does anyone still believe we AREN’T fighting a war of religions, and culture?
Greenspan book: GOP ’swapped principle for power’
Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan slams President Bush and today’s Republicans, while calling Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton “the smartest presidents” he worked with, according to an advance copy of his upcoming book.
He further says the GOP deserved the stomping it took in November’s congressional elections — a ballot that saw both houses of Congress wrested from Republican control — because the party “swapped principle for power.”
Sadly, I’d say I have to agree. That’s why the party needs to be retrieved from those who deserted US!
Iran ‘war’ warning overshadows UN nuclear talks
ElBaradei said it was “regrettable” that Iran had refused to follow UN Security Council declarations ordering Iran to halt its enrichment activities which can help the development of a bomb.
But ElBaradei did not mention French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner’s warning Sunday that the world should brace for a possible war over the Iranian crisis.
“We have to prepare for the worst, and the worst is war,” Kouchner said in a French radio and television interview.
France??? This is France?? The same France that was spitting out chicken feathers? Hmmm……
Top GOP candidates to skip ‘Values Voter’ forum
Top-tier GOP candidates Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, John McCain and Mitt Romney have all opted not to take part in tonight’s Values Voter Presidential Debate in Ft. Lauderdale.
When asked Thursday why he will not attend the event, Thompson replied: “Debates are important, but let’s don’t let the tail wag the dog here. Standing up there ten in a row, you know, like a bunch of seals waiting for someone to throw you the next fish is not necessarily the best way to impart your information to the American people.”
I have to agree. All these debates are telling us nothing that we didn’t already know. Enough! When it comes closer to the election, let me know, and I’ll pay attention. I listen to what they say, what they write, what is written about them. I don’t need the dog and pony show.
Study: Most students draw a blank on Constitution Day
Constitution Day is here and many teenagers know little about commemorating the document’s signing.
A study being released Monday by a foundation that focuses on journalism and the First Amendment found that 51 percent of high school students questioned had not heard of the day when they are required by law to learn about the Constitution.
The occasion is usually observed on or around Sept. 17, the day the document was adopted in 1787.
Guess what Jr is going studying today! 
Not in public school, but AT HOME!
As much as I find the EU (just everything) a sham. They’re right. Microsoft is guilty as hell of monopolistic practices. And everyone is suffering because of it.
Remember when Clinton made a grandstand and went after MS? Bush forgave everything. Shortly thereafter hackers started asking why the NSA had a vested interest in the desktop operating systems.
Oh no. I’m a conspiracist… aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaugh!
[...] can you tell if they are civilians or not? They dont wear uniforms, and if there is gun source: Morning Coffee 9/17/07, An Ol Broads [...]
Sorry Kate, but I have to disagree with you on the values voters debate. I, for one, and I know quite a few others, think it’s a shame that certain candidates felt it not necessary to go to this debate when they’ve done the others. Quite the slap in the face. The debate was very informative. As for Fred, does this mean he won’t get involved in any debates? Will he just act his way through commercials and we should vote on him based on that?
How many people are actually paying close attention to the debates? I find it odd that there have been so many so early. I’ve got burn out! :/
Keep enjoying the kool aid Kate
Ya know, if I didn’t know you better, I’d say you were being insulting.
Aw, Kate, I would have made one of those smiley faces if I knew how.
But there is only honesty in my statement. Our big, open tent, party threw us under the train, once for not thinking the dabate was worth their time, and once again, for coming out with all these reasons afterwards for not being there. This is where the kool aid comes in. Time flies so fast and before we know it the election will be upon us. I want to know what makes these guys tick. I don’t want rehearsed speeches and commercials. Granted, that’s a lot of what you hear in a debate, but there’s a lot that comes out that isn’t rehearsed and it gives you a better sense of the person. After hearing Alan Keyes at the debate, I will be looking him up more often. The fire in his voice is amazing. I found more to like and not to like about the other candidates as well. But for some reason, no one in the Republican Party sees the merit in this debate, but they’re asking us to host house parties for certain candidates for other debates. Again, shows us their lack of concern for the values voters. I honestly believe the Republican Party will continue to spiral downwards with this attitude.
It does sadden me to see you say you’re a pro life right wing christian and yet you showed no interest in the debate.
I love ya, hon!
What’s not to love?
Well, honestly, I’ve got so much going on around here right now, I don’t have time to blink. I have watched other debates, and you know full well I’m a “wingnut”
I had NO idea homeschooling was so much work for the ‘mom’. And we haven’t even gotten 100% started yet. :/