Gabrielle Giffords boards plane for Florida
This week was filled with a lot of media hype. Donald Trump stirred up things with allegations of President Obama’s legal status as President. President Obama calls his bluff by petitioning Hawaii to release his official birth certificate.
On a positive note, Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords was seen boarding a Gulfstream under her own power to fly to Florida to watch her husband Mark Kelly pilot shuttle Endeavour on her last flight to the International Space Station.
Syria is the latest nation to break down under the middle east revolution.
Oh and there’s some wedding going on in Britain.
But it’s open mic night. What’s on your mind?
Free Forum Fridays are an open discussion where commenters are invited to bring up topics that may not have been covered in the previous week. Got something on your mind? Throw your opinion out there.
538 Refugees 
Got it! Just read my email!
On a positive note, Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords was seen boarding a Gulfstream under her own power
That was pretty wonderful to see — a distant, grainy image of Gabby walking up the stairs to the plane.
I heard weather today may be iffy for Endeavour ‘s launch — could be too windy. Here’s hoping for a smooth liftoff and a perfect flight. It will be a sad day when the program shuts down.
Can’t agree more, DC. On all counts. Wonderful and amazing to see Gabby walking under her own power. Hoping for a perfect final flight for Endeavour. And it’s tragic to see the end of the shuttle program.
I have a question for Mr. U.
What lake in Oregon is the background picture?
@foppsie
Crater Lake. I took that while hiking the Pacific Crest Trail.
In other news…
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110425/ap_on_re_us/us_texas_transgender_marriage
So, lemme get this straight. Texans insist that marriage be between a man and a woman. Somehow, someone sneaked in a clause in some 2009 legislation that Gov. Perry signed to say that sex-change documentation was sufficient to prove eligibility to marry as their reassigned gender. Now, Texans want to roll back that law and reinstate the 1999 ruling that said that gender is assigned at birth.
So, because they so firmly believe that marriage can only be between a man and a woman, they want to change the 2009 law so that a transgendered woman can only marry…another woman!
I was pretty sure that was Crater Lake. The island is very distinctive. I was up there one year during the last week of May and all you could see was these little wooden triangles sticking out of the snow. They were the roof peaks of the rim cabins. May 25th and 12 feet of snow on the ground.
Gorgeous place BTW.
The only consistency with Texans is inconsistency!
OK what? Nobody going to mention the 800 lb. gorilla in the room? Really?
OK allow me to be the first to say… WTF?
All y’all gonna LOVE this!
Perry’s crying now because his request for federal emergency assistance ain’t at the top of the heap!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42823736/ns/politics-more_politics/
Gator,
What are you talking about?
I think Gator is referring to the President’s shakeup in his national security team.
Was there some sort of national security shakeup?
I’ve been in a news vacuum for the past few days, trying (in vain) to avoid the wedding drama.
What’s the scoop on the security shakeup?
Gates out as SecDef. Panetta moves from CIA to SecDef. Petraeus is the new CIA Director-designate.
Here’s the full story, from the CSM:
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Military/2011/0428/Obama-s-new-national-security-team-faces-major-challenges
Thanks for the link, Everyone! 😉
I don’t see much controversy in any of the new postings. It looks like he’s got pretty much the best choices available to fill the posts. I can’t see anyone objecting to Panetta or Petraeus. Wonder why Gates is leaving?
F__ that! Enquiring minds want to know! You are all full to the brim if you say you aren’t curious. This is palace intrique. Bob Woodward is already pitching a book. He’s on the line… he’s asking “WTF?”. LOL
Enquiring minds want to know! You are all full to the brim if you say you aren’t curious. This is palace intrique.
Not sure what you mean, Gator.
I’m not privy to what President Obama and his national security team have been discussing. Maybe Bob Woodward is. You’d have to read his blog.
I know SecDef Gates indicated, when he agreed to stay on, that he wouldn’t stay until the end of President Obama’s term. He’s making good on that promise/commitment. Once Gates leaves, then the other pieces fall into place pretty neatly. Everyone is working from their areas of strength.
What’s up U or Everyone or whatever. Secret’s safe with me. LOL!
Well, Bob Woodward’s opinion and a dollar will get you a cup of coffee in DC.
Armchair Warlord said:
Well, Bob Woodward’s opinion and a dollar will get you a cup of coffee in DC.
In DC, probably closer to $2.50. More if you insist on Starbuck$.
Heh, true.
Missing the hell out of my beloved Dunkin’ Donuts from where I’m at right now. One hundred times better than Starbucks, that’s for sure. Talk about good reasons to live in the Northeast.
Hi folks, looks like it has been a rather slow couple of days except for the unfortunate people trying to recover from the swarm of tornadoes this week. My heart and sympathy goes out to all who are affected.
Political news tonight: Not a done deed yet, but it looks like Vermont is about to make history with Canada style single payer health care:
http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/vermont_makes_history_passes_universal_healthcare_20110430/
And… Faux News has their special spin trying to make it sound anti-immigrant:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/04/30/vermonts-single-payer-health-care-ignites-debate-covering-illegal-immigrants/?test=latestnews
And, lastly, as expected the fiscal conservatives are already having a field day trying to make it look like the worst thing ever, Check the comments to this My Turn article:
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20110429/OPINION02/104290319/My-Turn-Vermonters-should-share-risks-of-health-care-reform?odyssey=tab|mostpopular|text|FRONTPAGE
Tia
Well, there’s one more reason to consider moving to Vermont!
🙂
The conservative reaction is not unexpected, but it is sad that they feel the need to resort to hyperbole and outright distortions as they attempt to express their ideological dislike of the plan.