Geraldo Rivera is on the scene now.
*** Update ***
As noted in the comments, divulging troop movements could actually be helpful this time around, Gerry.
Positive News
Let’s start the day on an up note, and since that is something I am incapable of right now, go here for positive developments.
And we also use this as an open thread for Joe Albanese (the resident spammer) to post all of his off topic rants.
Tone Deaf But Probably Right
This will be making waves tomorrow:
It makes no sense to spend billions of dollars to rebuild a city that’s 7 feet under sea level, House Speaker Dennis Hastert said of federal assistance for hurricane-devastated New Orleans.
Democratic lawmakers from Louisiana were quick to disagree Thursday and Hastert sought to clarify the comment during the day.
“It looks like a lot of that place could be bulldozed,” the Illinois Republican said in an interview Wednesday about New Orleans with the Daily Herald of Arlington Heights, Ill.
Louisiana Rep. Charlie Melancon called the comments irresponsible and Sen. Mary L. Landrieu urged Hastert to focus on the humanitarian crisis at hand.
Hastert, in a transcript supplied by the suburban Chicago newspaper, said there was no question that the people of New Orleans would rebuild their city, but noted that federal insurance and other federal aid was involved. “We ought to take a second look at it. But you know, we build Los Angeles and San Francisco on top of earthquake fissures and they rebuild, too. Stubbornness.”
Asked in the interview whether it made sense to spend billions rebuilding a city that lies below sea level, he replied, “I don’t know. That doesn’t make sense to me.”
Hastert later issued a statement saying he was not “advocating that the city be abandoned or relocated.”
“My comments about rebuilding the city were intended to reflect my sincere concern with how the city is rebuilt to ensure the future protection of its citizens and not to suggest that this great and historic city should not be rebuilt,” the statement said.
Perhaps the most tin-eared statement to come out of a politician’s mouth in a long time, but absolutely right. Look at New Orleans and ask yourself if it makes sense if it is there.
But it is there, and we will rebuild. But we should discuss how we rebuild.
The Fat Patient and Her Fat-Headed Doctor
Remember the patient I ridiculed for filing a complaint against her Doctor for telling her she is obese? Turns out there is more to the story:
The state is investigating a doctor accused of telling a patient she was so obese she might only be attractive to black men and advising another to shoot herself following brain surgery.
“Let’s face it, if your husband were to die tomorrow, who would want you?” the state Board of Medicine says Dr. Terry Bennett told the overweight patient in June 2004.
“Well, men might want you, but not the types you want to want you. Might even be a black guy,” it quoted him as saying, based on the woman’s complaint.
Certainly paints a different picture.
*** Edited Slightly For Accuracy ***
The Fat Patient and Her Fat-Headed DoctorPost + Comments (25)
Building a Community
I am pretty harsh on Kos and company a lot of the time, but I thought his latest advertising campaign was a classy touch.
Go check out the third blogad (“Support Your Favorite Bloggers”) on Ezra’s site. Read it, and click the ad.
But read Ezra’s post on the Gas tax v. CAFE standards first.
Frampton’s Still Alive
Peter Frampton live in Detroit is on HDNET, and he sounds great. Kinda funny seeing him with male-pattern baldness and spectacles, but he sounds great, nonetheless. He is kinda fruity, too. Not in the fruity means gay kind of way, but in the fruity means fruity kind of way.
FWIW, I think Frampton Comes Alive is second only to Little Feat’s Waiting for Columbus as the greatest live album ever.
The Newest Red Stater
Everyone hop over to Erick Erickson’s site and say congrats, because his wife gave birth to a baby girl last night. Picture here.
Congrats, Erick.