China fears unrest – with good reason.
Chinese riot cops.
As much as I dislike China, more specifically the Chinese government, I have to admit they’ve been pretty consistent and candid about one fact: They have to keep GDP growth at at least 8% or risk facing wide-spread social disorder.
In an article on the McClatchy News site, Tom Lasseter notes the unease Chinese officials and other observers are feeling:
Lots of export factories will be shut down, and a lot of migrant workers will lose their jobs,” said Ma Yang, the director of a Beijing-based migrant workers advocacy group called On Action. Ma paused and considered his words: “If the government does not provide assistance to help them through this economic transition, it will create a lot of social problems.”
As a side note, this weekend I was in an REI store (not by my choice) and I happened to notice that all of the products on offer were made in China. ALL of them. At last, I found a flashlight made in the good ol’ USA, albeit with a caveat attached: “Some” of the parts “might” be imported. SIGH!
Anti-Abortion Extremist Predicts Violence if Abortions are paid for in the Health Bill.
Mr. Terry's sick handiwork.
(My question in all this is why the hell an aide to Nancy Pelsosi ever agreed to meet with these nutbags. And, a great example of right-wing crassness was “Ms. Roe” of Roe vs. Wade fame bringing up the Speaker’s Catholicism.)
By Jonathan Allen | July 28, 2009 4:21 PM
Randall Terry, the controversial former head of Operation Rescue, is predicting that extremists would retaliate with violence if a health care overhaul allows taxpayers to foot the bill for abortions. Terry offered his forecast during an unusual meeting on Tuesday between two dozen or so anti-abortion activists and an aide to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., during which Terry spilled hundreds of miniature plastic babies from a small faux casket onto a conference table in a room adjacent to Pelosi’s personal office in the Cannon Building. During the meeting, Terry warned of ominous repercussions from extremists if House provisions that would expand insurance coverage for abortions are made into law.
“If you force people to pay their money” he said afterward, “there are people who will resort to acts of violence.”
Huge Regional Thrift Set to Collapse
Guaranty Bank, the second largest in Texas has been ordered to turn itself over to the FDIC.
Pig Flu Pandemic: Blame it on the Kids
It’s all the fault of the little rugrats. They are super-transmitters, apparently.
DC awash in the pig flu
Health officials in Washington say the number of cases are comparable with the seasonal flu in fall / winter.
US tips the 1 million mark in pig flu cases; resistance to drug found
So says the CDC.
If the figures are correct, it is reassuring news, because it indicates that the fatality rate from swine flu is even lower than thought, says BBC medical correspondent Fergus Walsh.
Oh, I am reassured no end. What happens when the damn thing mutates?
Funny thing, I immerse myself in news on a daily basis and heard nothing of this from US outlets. If you want to know what’s going on in your own country, best look to the Brits for the info.
Also, check out: Roche Finds First H1N1 Case With Resistance to Tamiflu.
Day Old Bread – Odds and Ends 06/08/09
- Can’t make the payment? Light a match!
- Palin kicked out of Republicanist fund raising dinner – again.
- Right wing on the upswing in meaningless EU elections.
- ChiComs put Ray Nagin on lockdown in Shanghai. Has the mayor been “Shanghaied”?
- Apparently we’re letting some of the big banks pay back their TARP money. Let them give it all back, dammit!
- Laura Bush thinks Sotomayor is OK.
- Can’t afford your car payment? Torch the damn thing!
- Right Wing Israeli government stands in the way of Mideast Peace, while simultaneously claiming to have a new plan in the works.
- Canadian nurses meet to discuss possible violence surrounding flu pandemics. Now, they’re talking.
- Government selectively tracks the pig flu.
- Officials said to be preparing for second wave of flu. 1918 here we come.
- Coming to a jailhouse near you – Rikers Island overrun with the pig flu.
- I am irritated with the President on DADT, but I understand his strategery.
Day Old Bread – Odds and Ends – 05/29/09
- Paul Krugman is not worried about inflation.
- My boy Berlusconi is in hot water again. L’affaire Noemi?
- GM Readies For Bankruptcy.
- While Confederate mushmouth Dick Shelby is ringing the socialism alarm bells - again, over the deal. His alternative? Let it fall.
- Gold on 3 month high. Silver closing in on $16.00 per ounce?
Daily Gloom – 04/24/09
- Shred them! Just say “NO”!
- Geithner says banks have sufficient capital.
- Then, why aren’t they lending it out?
- Do we even want them to lend it out, asks Robert Reich?
- “There are three ways to fix the banking system; liquidation, reorganization and subsidization. Geithner has rejected all three.” – a very interesting read – slowly, though – there’s a lot to digest.
- One Irish newspaper says a majority of Irish people expect “civil unrest” this summer.
Bill Hits the Nail Right on the Head
Embittered.
From
the Los Angeles Times
Opinion
The GOP: divorced from reality
The Republican base is behaving like a guy who just got dumped by his wife.
By Bill Maher
April 24, 2009
If conservatives don’t want to be seen as bitter people who cling to their guns and religion and anti-immigrant sentiments, they should stop being bitter and clinging to their guns, religion and anti-immigrant sentiments.
It’s been a week now, and I still don’t know what those “tea bag” protests were about. I saw signs protesting abortion, illegal immigrants, the bank bailout and that gay guy who’s going to win “American Idol.” But it wasn’t tax day that made them crazy; it was election day. Because that’s when Republicans became what they fear most: a minority.
Of Pirates and Other Barbarians
- Avast, matey!
- Pirates seize two more ships.
- Convoys called for in battle with Somali pirates.
- Wingnut flack Golberg struggles to compliment the Prez after being tongue-lashed yesterday by Boss Limbaugh.
- At least Rollins is man enough to admit the President acted decisively and correctly.
- Roger Simon also has high praise for the commander-in-chief.
- Young couple executed by Taliban for the crime of eloping.
Spanish Inquisition Into Bush Torture Tactics Begins
No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!
Apparently Doug Feith didn’t, as a probe by Spanish prosecuters apparently caught the Bush neocon star by surprise.
OK, I just can’t resist.
Political Bag 03/26/09
My favorite member.
- People got the hate on Rush. The Democrats know it and they are using it to their advantage.
- Meanwhile, Boss Limbaugh Attacks “Barack Ogabe” and his “Angry” wife.’
- Batshit-Crazy Michelle Bachmann introduces bill to combat non-existent push on dollar.
Day Old Bread – Odds and Ends – 03/24/09
Williams-Sonoma Net Income Plummets 90%. Are you kidding? Yard sales in my neighborhood are booming with this stuff for pennies on the dollar.- Bishop to skip Notre Dame graduation over Obama’s views. Yes, but diddling altar boys was just okie-dokie, right Excellency?
Batshit-Crazy Congresswoman Fails in Jedi Mind Control Experiment on Treasury Secretary
You gotta love Michelle Bachmann. Those eyes, those crazy eyes. This is a long clip but worth it to see her crazy ass in action. Oh, and Michelle, check out the part of the Constitution that starts with, “All legislative power herein granted…”
