Now if they could just put that effort into something productive...


House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, refers to a large poster as he speaks at a news conference on pending health care legislation on Capitol Hill in Washington, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009.

Yes, I am talking to you,


House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, points to a poster as he speaks at a news conference on pending health care legislation as Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-Mich. , left, listens on Capitol Hill in Washington, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009.

and you too.


House Minority Whip, Eric Cantor, R-Va. , refers to a large poster as he speaks at a news conference on pending health care legislation as other members listen on Capitol Hill in Washington, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009.

Alabama county celebrates official Obama holiday

By BOB JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer Bob Johnson, Associated Press Writer – 7 mins ago

MARION, Ala. – The sign going on the front door at the Perry County courthouse reads: "Closed for the Obama Holiday."

The rural, mostly black county has proclaimed Monday as an official holiday celebrating the election of the nation's first black president, Barack Obama. It's one of Alabama's poorest counties, but it's sparing little during five days of festivities.

County employees, as well as city workers in Marion and Uniontown, will get a paid holiday Monday as government offices close, culminating a series of events including an old-fashioned civil rights rally and march, a golf tournament, a weekend carnival and a parade Monday through Marion.

"I feel great about the holiday," said county maintenance worker Leon Brown. "It's history. It's the first time ever we've had a black president. I hope it's not the last time ever."

snip...
The Obama holiday was proposed by Commissioner Albert Turner Jr., whose father was one of the marchers beaten on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in the 1965 "Bloody Sunday" voting rights march in Selma. Many of the marchers were voting rights activists from Marion upset about the shooting death of Jimmie Lee Jackson during an earlier demonstration in the town.

snip...
"We hold holidays for Columbus and for Lincoln. There's been no event more historic in my lifetime than the election of Barack Obama," Turner said.

snip...
"It's not that we're celebrating Obama. We're celebrating America living up to it's creed that all men are created equal," Turner said.

more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_obama_holida... ;_ylt=ApV_icHbcZAOHzpVML291jVsaMYA

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 05: Anti-abortion demonstrators, including Fr. Norman Weslin (R) of Omaha, Nebraska, refuse to leave Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's (D-CA) office while tearing up copies of the health care reform bill at the Cannon House Office Building November 5, 2009 in Washington, DC. The protesters were voicing their opposition to Congress' health care reform legislation, saying it supports government funding of abortion.


Father Norman Weslin, a Catholic priest from Omaha, Nebraska, lies prostrate outside Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's office on Capitol Hill during a "House Call" rally against proposed healthcare reform legislation in Washington November 5, 2009. Weslin was forcibly removed by Capitol Hill police shortly after.


WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 05: Fr. Norman Weslin (R) of Omaha, Nebraska, is dragged by U.S. Capitol Police after refusing to leave Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's (D-CA) office while demonstrating against the health care reform bill at the Cannon House Office Building November 5, 2009 in Washington, DC. The protesters were voicing their opposition to Congress' health care reform legislation, saying it supports government funding of abortion.


WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 05: Anti-abortion demonstrators are arrested by U.S. Capitol Police after refusing to leave Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's (D-CA) office inside the Cannon House Office Building November 5, 2009 in Washington, DC. The protesters were voicing their opposition to Congress' health care reform legislation, saying it supports government funding of abortion.


WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 05: Anti-abortion demonstrators are arrested by U.S. Capitol Police after refusing to leave Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's (D-CA) office inside the Cannon House Office Building November 5, 2009 in Washington, DC. The protesters were voicing their opposition to Congress' health care reform legislation, saying it supports government funding of abortion.


A shredded copy of the proposed healthcare reform legislation lies in the hallway outside Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's office on Captiol Hill during a "House call" protest against in Washington November 5, 2009.

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 05: A man who collapsed during a rally protesting the health care bill on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol is cared for by paramedics from the Office of the Attending Physician November 5, 2009 in Washington, DC. Thousands of people and most Republican members of the House of Representatives attended the rally to voice their opposition to the House version of the health care reform legislation moving through Congress.


WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 05: A man who collapsed during a rally protesting the health care bill on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol is cared for by paramedics from the Office of the Attending Physician November 5, 2009 in Washington, DC. Thousands of people and most Republican members of the House of Representatives attended the rally to voice their opposition to the House version of the health care reform legislation moving through Congress.


WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 05: Paramedics from the District of Columbia Fire Department use a stretcher to carry a man who collapsed during a rally protesting the health care bill up the West Front of the U.S. Capitol November 5, 2009 in Washington, DC. Thousands of people and most Republican members of the House of Representatives attended the rally to voice their opposition to the House version of the health care reform legislation moving through Congress.



WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 05: Thousands of people from across the country attend a news conference and rally to protest the health care bill on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol November 5, 2009 in Washington, DC. Most Republican members of the House of Representatives led by Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) attended the rally to voice their opposition to the House version of the health care reform legislation moving through Congress.

Doctors' group supports House health care bill
8 mins ago

WASHINGTON – The American Medical Association says it supports the House Democratic health care bill, but it can't give a full endorsement yet.

AMA President Dr. James Rohack said Thursday that the bill is not perfect, but it meets enough of the organization's goals to deserve support, and said the legislation should move forward. But Rohack said it's also critical for Congress to fix a Medicare payment formula that if left unchanged would lead to a 20 percent cut in fees to doctors next year.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091105/ap_on_...

People attending the dedication applaud the unveiling of the statue of the late Fred Rogers of the PBS television program "Mr. Rogers Neighborhood" in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. The statue by renowned sculptor Robert Berks depicts the children's television pioneer changing his shoes as he had done in the beginning of his show.


People attending the dedication mingle around the statue of the late Fred Rogers of the PBS television program "Mr. Rogers Neighborhood" in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009. The statue by renowned sculptor Robert Berks depicts the children's television pioneer changing his shoes as he had done in the beginning of his show.


more info here...


http://www.fci.org/children /

Thousands rally to protest health care bill

By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer Laurie Kellman, Associated Press Writer – 14 mins ago

WASHINGTON – Thousands of conservatives are rallying at the Capitol against the Democrats' health care overhaul plan.

Protesters chanted, "Kill the bill," as they awaited speeches by Republican leaders on Thursday. The campaign-style event kicked off a daylong, GOP protest against the legislation, which Democrats hope to pass in a historic vote Saturday.

The protesters gathered on the lawn near the West Front of the Capitol. One carried a sign reading, "Waterboard Congress." Other signs said, "Vote no to government-run health care."

more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091105/ap_on_...

A group of people sit during a health care protest in the office of Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
(AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)


Linda Larson is arrested during a health care protest at the office of Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
(AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)



Nine Universal Health Care Supporters Arrested At Lieberman's Office
Rachel Slajda | November 5, 2009, 11:04AM

Nine people protesting in favor of universal health care were arrested for unlawful entry this morning after occupying the office of Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), according to Capitol Police.

Protesters chanted "Everyone in and no one out, universal health care now!" and "Represent Connecticut, not AETNA!" as they were taken from the office, ABC News reports.

Lieberman, who votes with the Democratic caucus, has said he does not support the public option and may join Republican efforts to filibuster the Senate health care bill.

These may prove to be just the first of many arrests today, as protesters from the opposite side of the debate meet at the Capitol and flood the halls to confront their representatives.

more...
http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2...

US Press Secretary Robert Gibbs and his son Ethan arrive for a Halloween reception for military families and children of White House and Residence staff hosted by the First couple at the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on October 31, 2009.


White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs wearing Star Wars' Darth Vader costume, with his son Ethan, talks to the media as during a Halloween celebration in the East Room at the White House, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009 in Washington.

No trick: 2,000 kids knocking on White House door
By BEN FELLER, Associated Press Writer Ben Feller, Associated Press Writer – 12 mins ago

WASHINGTON – It's the ultimate trick-or-treating treasure, that one house on the block that offers the coolest candy and surprises galore.

This year it's the big gated place on Pennsylvania Avenue, No. 1600. Welcome to the White House, boys and girls.

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama awaited more than 2,000 children Saturday night from the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. The Obamas themselves were to spend time handing out goodies to the trick-or-treaters on the most famous front porch in America, the North Portico.

What do you get for Halloween at the White House?

Not bad, kids: A box of White House M&Ms with the president's signature imprinted on it, a sweet dough butter cookie made by White House pastry chef Bill Yosses, a National Park Foundation Ranger activity book, and a serving of dried fruit mix made up of cherries, apricots, pears, apples and papayas.

Yosses, whose team assembled 2,000 cellophane goody bags, joked that the idea of filling the bags only with healthy treats was vetoed because they didn't want the White House to get egged Saturday night.

more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_obamas_hallo...



A White House pastry chef decorates Halloween cookies with chocolate icing spiders hanging from orange White Houses in the pastry kitchen of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009. The cookies will be given out to Halloween trick-or-treaters at the White House on Saturday.
(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)


White House pastry chef Bill Yosses displays the Halloween White House cookie to be given to trick-or-treaters at the White House in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009.
(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)


Packets containing of boxes of Presidential M&Ms, orange White House Halloween cookies, and dried fruit are ready on a tray in the White House pastry kitchen in Washington Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009, to be given out to trick-or-treaters on Saturday, Halloween.
(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)



Sisters Paola Lipton (3rd R) and Daisy Lipton (2nd R) wait in line with their mother Elizabeth Franco (TOP R) and other local school children for the start of a Halloween reception by U.S. President Barack Obama and his family at the White House in Washington, October 31, 2009.
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES POLITICS SOCIETY)


Local school children Simone Pierre-Louis (L) and Elizabeth Haley (R) take pictures as they wait in line for the start of a Halloween reception by U.S. President Barack Obama and his family at the White House in Washington, October 31, 2009.
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES POLITICS SOCIETY)



Members of the protest group Code Pink taunt local school children with chants about the war in Afghanistan as the children and their families arrive for a Halloween reception by U.S. President Barack Obama and his family at the White House in Washington, October 31, 2009.
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES CONFLICT POLITICS SOCIETY)


Nathalie Willes performs on the Nouth Lawn of the White House as they prepare for the Halloween celebrations at the White House, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)


Performers prepare their costumes, for the Halloween celebrations at the White House, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)


Performers in their Halloween costumes, march on the White House ground as they prepare for the Halloween celebrations at the White House, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

edited to add...


Performers greet local school children as they arrive for a Halloween reception by U.S. President Barack Obama and his family at the White House in Washington, October 31, 2009.
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES POLITICS SOCIETY)


Performers in their Halloween costumes, perform on the North Lawn of the White House during the Halloween celebrations at the White House, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)


Children and their parents line up on the North Lawn of the White House during the Halloween celebrations at the White House, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

edited again to add...


President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama hand out Halloween candy at the White House, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)


President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama hand out candy at the White House, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009 in Washington, on Halloween.
(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

A volunteers decorates the North Portico of the White House in Washington in preparation for Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009.


Workers install Halloween decorations at the North Portico of the White House in Washington on October 31, 2009. US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will greet more than 2,000 children from Washington, Maryland and Virginia schools and their families to celebrate Halloween.


Volunteers decorates the North Portico of the White House in Washington in preparation for Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009.


Volunteers decorate the North Portico of the White House in Washington in preparation for Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009.

http://punditkitchen.com /

Al-Qaeda Outwitted Bush, Neocons

By Robert Parry
October 29, 2009

As security worsens in Afghanistan and Pakistan, it is clear that al-Qaeda and its Taliban allies outwitted President George W. Bush and his neoconservative advisers by tying down U.S. forces in Iraq for five years while the Islamic militants rebuilt their forces for the war on their “central front.”

The growing U.S. casualty list in Afghanistan and the Taliban advances in nuclear-armed Pakistan also underscore the significance of a late 2005 message from a top al-Qaeda operative, known as Atiyah, to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was then leading al-Qaeda’s faction in Iraq.

“Prolonging the war is in our interest,” Atiyah said in a letter that upbraided Zarqawi for his reckless and hasty actions. Atiyah, who is believed to be a Libyan named Atiyah Abd al-Rahman, emphasized the need for Zarqawi to operate more deliberately in order to build political strength and drag out the U.S. occupation of Iraq.

(The Atiyah letter was discovered by the U.S. military after Zarqawi was killed by an airstrike in June 2006. To view the “prolonging the war” excerpt in a translation published by the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, click here. To read the entire letter, click here.)

It's easy to see the logic behind Atiyah's advice. In 2002 and 2003, as Bush redirected U.S. military and intelligence resources to Iraq, al-Qaeda and the Taliban gained a valuable respite. After the U.S. invasion, Bush got bogged down in the Iraqi quagmire, giving al-Qaeda and the Taliban more time to revamp and re-arm their forces.

Now, as the Obama administration moves to wind down U.S. involvement in Iraq and shift attention to the Afghan-Pakistan region, that belated interest may be too late to achieve American goals at anything approaching an acceptable cost.


more...
http://www.consortiumnews.com/2009/102909....

Happy Halloween to all my GD friends...


In this photo released by the Wildlife Conservation Society, Darwin, a young rock wallaby, perches on a rock near a jack-o-lantern, at the Prospect Park Zoo in New York, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009. Rock wallabies are native to South Australia and New South Wales.
(AP Photo/WCS, Julie Larsen Maher)


Hudson a-two-year-old polar bear, eats a pumpkin at the Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, Illinois October 28, 2009. Zookeepers fed pumpkins to the zoo's lions, tigers, bears and gorillas, in honor of the upcoming October 31 Halloween holiday.
REUTERS/John Gress (UNITED STATES ANIMALS)


Hudson, a two-year-old Polar Bear devours a pumpkin at the Chicago Zoological Society's Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, Ill. on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009. With Halloween nearing, several of the animals, including lions, tigers, polar bears, brown bears, and gorillas were given pumpkins to enjoy and play with as part of the zoo-wide behavioral enrichment program.
(AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
Photo Tools


Nadaya, a male western lowland gorilla, eats a pumpkin at the Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, Illinois October 28, 2009. Zookeepers fed pumpkins to the zoo's lions, tigers, bears and gorillas, in honor of the upcoming October 31 Halloween holiday.
REUTERS/John Gress (UNITED STATES ANIMALS IMAGES OF THE DAY)


Nadaya, an eight year-old Western Lowland Gorilla enjoys a pumpkin at Chicago Zoological Scociety's Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, Ill. With the Halloween season upon us, several of the animals, including lions, tigers, polar bears, brown bears, and the gorillas, were given pumpkins to enjoy and play with as part of the zoowide behavioral enrichment program.
(AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)


Axhi, a 700lb 14-year-old brown bear, eats a 300lb pumpkin at the Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, Illinois October 28, 2009. Zookeepers fed pumpkins to the zoo's lions, tigers, bears and gorillas, in honor of the upcoming October 31 Halloween holiday.
REUTERS/John Gress (UNITED STATES ANIMALS)


Axhi, a fourteen-year-old Grizzly bear devours a pumpkin at the Chicago Zoological Society's Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, Ill. on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009. With the Halloween season nearing, several of the animals, including lions, tigers, polar bears, brown bears and gorillas were given pumpkins to enjoy and play with as part of the zoo-wide behavioral enrichment program.
(AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)


Whirl, a two-and-a-half-year-old Amur Tiger chases a pumpkin at Chicago Zoological Society's Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, Ill. on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009. With the Halloween season upon us, several of the animals, including lions, tigers, polar bears, brown bears, and the gorillas, were given pumpkins to enjoy and play with as part of the zoowide behavioral enrichment program.
(AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)


Whirl, a two-and-a-half-year-old Amur Tiger chases a pumpkin at Chicago Zoological Society's Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, Ill. on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009. With the Halloween season nearing, several of the animals, including lions, tigers, polar bears, brown bears, and the gorillas, were given pumpkins to enjoy and play with as part of the zoowide behavioral enrichment program.
(AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)


Whirl, a two-year-old-Amur tiger, plays with a pumpkin at the Brookfield Zoo in Brookfield, Illinois October 28, 2009. Zookeepers fed pumpkins to the zoo's lions, tigers, bears and gorillas, in honor of the upcoming October 31 Halloween holiday.
REUTERS/John Gress (UNITED STATES ANIMALS)


In this photo provided by the San Francisco Zoo, a chimpanzee goes through a Halloween-theme bag of treats, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 at the San Francisco Zoo in San Francisco. On October 24th and 25th, visitors can watch zoo keepers provide animals with Halloween-theme treats and will be able to get close to spiders, snakes and other animals associated with Halloween.
(AP Photo/George Nikitin, San Francisco Zoo)


In this photo provided by the San Francisco Zoo, a chimpanzee carries a Halloween-theme bag of treats, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 at the San Francisco Zoo. On October 24th and 25th, visitors can watch zoo keepers provide animals with Halloween-theme treats and will be able to get close to spiders, snakes and other animals associated with Halloween.
(AP Photo/George Nikitin, San Francisco Zoo)


In this photo provided by the San Francisco Zoo, a chimpanzee licks gelatin off a pumpkin, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 at the San Francisco Zoo. On Oct. 24th and 25th, visitors can watch zookeepers provide animals with Halloween-themed treats and will be able to get close to spiders, snakes and other animals associated with Halloween.
(AP Photo/George Nikitin, San Francisco Zoo)


Talluah, a female chimpanzee, plays with a ghost costume during the San Francisco Zoo's 'Boo at the Zoo' Halloween celebration in San Francisco, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009.
(AP Photo/Russel A. Daniels)


Of all the places to put a pumpkin patch: You can't blame Rubi for hissing, seeing as she has to wade through an algae bloom to pick her gourd at the London Zoo.
Photo: Sang Tan / AP


It was icky but worth it: Rubi, freshly slimed but none the worse for wear, carves her first jack-o'lantern with her teeth and claws. (London Zoo.)
Photo: Sang Tan / AP



Meerkat Manor of Horrors: Zombie meerkats feed on pumpkin brains at Bristol Zoo Gardens in Bristol, England.
Photo: Matt Cardy / Getty Images

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama poses for a photo during the Fall Harvest of the White House Garden, with students from Kimball Elementary School, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, October 29, 2009.
REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES POLITICS)


First lady Michelle Obama high fives a student from Washington's Bancroft Elementary School as they harvest vegetables from the garden on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009.
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)


First lady Michelle Obama, left, looks on as a girl from Washington's Bancroft Elementary School jumps as she uses tool to dig for sweet potatoes as they harvest vegetable garden on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009.
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)


U.S. first lady Michelle Obama attends the Fall Harvest of the White House Garden with students from Bancroft Elementary School on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, October 29, 2009.
REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES POLITICS)


A girl from Washington's Bancroft Elementary School reacts as she sees the sweet potato being held by first lady Michelle Obama as they harvest vegetables from the garden on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009.
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)


U.S. first lady Michelle Obama holds a sweet potato as she attends the Fall Harvest of the White House Garden with local elementary school students on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, October 29, 2009.
REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES POLITICS)


U.S. first lady Michelle Obama holds an earth worm as she attends the Fall Harvest of the White House Garden with local elementary school students on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, October 29, 2009.
REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES POLITICS)


U.S. first lady Michelle Obama attends the Fall Harvest of the White House Garden with students from Bancroft Elementary School on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, October 29, 2009.
REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES POLITICS)



First lady Michelle Obama walks with with children from Washington's Bancroft Elementary School after they harvested vegetables from the garden on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009.
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)


First lady Michelle Obama helps students from Washington's Bancroft Elementary School as they push a wheel barrow with sweet potatoes they harvested from the garden on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009.
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)


U.S. first lady Michelle Obama attends the Fall Harvest of the White House Garden with students from Bancroft Elementary School on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, October 29, 2009.
REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES POLITICS)


First lady Michelle Obama, left center, claps with children from Washington's Bancroft and Kimball Elementary Schools after their harvest of vegetables from the garden on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009.
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)


First lady Michelle Obama, left center, smiles with children from Washington's Bancroft and Kimball Elementary Schools after their harvest of vegetables from the garden on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009.
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)