Quote of the Day

"This House intel hearing is seriously called 'How Disclosed NSA Programs Protect Americans & Why Disclosure Aids Our Adversaries.'"

Spencer Ackerman

Protesters at John Breenan Hearing

Spencer Ackerman took this picture before the start of the John Brennan confirmation. There is already a huge crowd of protesters.

Update: Politico reports that the hearing was temporarily suspended because of the Code Pink protest. How those women are able to sneak into high security places continues to amaze me.

Draft Spencer Ackerman

I left this comment at the Political Whore blog. It is awaiting moderation. Creative Loafing's Sarasota branch is looking for an editor. I recommended Spencer Ackerman.

"Another Florida media job opening, this time at CL."

How about Spencer Ackerman? I know how you appreciate the talent New Republic produced. (Can we hear a shoutout for Gregg Easterbrook) Ackerman was another twentysomething associate editor. TNR had good experiences when Andrew "Bell Curve" Sullivan promoted Stephen Glass and Ruth Shalit to that position. Tell Eason to make the offer. I'm sure CL pays more than Josh Marshall.

I am officially starting the draft Spencer Ackerman to Creative Loafing movement. I'm sure Franklin Foer will give a good reference. I'm sure he's gotten over Ackerman wanting to skull fuck him.

Garcia would go into a panic attack if he had Ackerman for his editor. He has a disdain for TNR and the magazine's penchant for promoting inexperienced young staffings to editors. Which is why I left the comment.

In case people are wondering, I don't want CL to hire Ackerman. That would be insanely stupid. I have progressive blogging friends whom are friends with him. I might get trashed for this post.

Seriously, Ackerman started a blog that's whole sthick was to trash TNR and sent a threatening email to his boss. Why does TNR keep hiring Ivy League kids with no journalism experience? The New York Times and Washington Post hire award-winning journalists from regional newspapers. TNR might want to try that.

Romney's Factually-Challenged Attack on Obama

Josh Marshall does a good job taking apart Mitt Romney's attack on Barack Obama. Romney was interviewed by Sean Hannity about Obama's statement on too many civilian casualities from air raids in Afghanistan. Obama contends more troops are needed on the ground in Afghanistan. NATO forces have become too reliant on air raids because of the lack of ground forces.

Hannity called Obama's statement false. Romney made claim that the Senator's statements are undermining troops. Marshall shows a clip of President Bush and Hamid Karzai agreeing that civilian casualties need to be lowered. Spencer Ackerman interviewed Afghanistan's Ambassador to the United States. Ambassador Said Tayeb Jawad stressed the need for more ground forces and less bombing raids.

Romney's statement didn't surprise me. Much like Rudy Giuliani, his foreign policy is about looking tough and attacking Democrats. There is nothing serious about Romney's foreign policy agenda. It's the sandbox mentality of a kindergartener. One needs to look no further than Romney's statement that his sons are patriotically serving America by working on their father's presidential campaign.

"The good news is, we have a volunteer Army and that's the way we're going to keep it. My sons are adults. They've chosen not to serve in the military in active duty and I respect their decision in that regard. ... And one of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping me get elected because they think I'd be a great president."

This is an unserious man.

Hat tip to Tas.