Reason Morning Links: Carnage in Baghdad, Primary To Fill Kennedy Seat, Good News in the Cancer Wars

• Obama warns Pakistan: Crack down on Taliban, or U.S. will use force on other side of the Afghan border.
• Car bombs kill at least 127 in Baghdad.
• Winner of today's Democratic primary in Massachusetts expected to coast in election to fill seat of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy.
• Cancer incidence, death rates in the U.S. continue to fall.
• Senate compromise expected to kill off the "public option."

Comments

[Editor]

Cancer incidents

Well, at least you didn't say "incidences."

[Radley Balko]

Fixed -- thanks!

[brotherben]

So much more Tiger "news" and no link or prompt for a discussion? My gosh people. Can we focus on what's important?

[Warty]

Obama warns Pakistan: Crack down on Taliban, or U.S. will use force on other side of the Afghan border.

PEECE CANADATE

[Kyle Jordan]

This brought a hearty laugh forth from me. Bravo Warty.

[wylie]

The part of the story we never heard was how Obama threatened the Nobel committee with a swirly if they didn't award him the Peace Prize.

Then he stole their lunchmoney and gave them all a wedgie.

[Kyle Jordan]

"Senate compromise expected to kill of the "public option."

You know, folks were saying the "public option" will be killed or is dead a couple of months back. I'll believe it when I see it.

[EscapedWestOfTheBigMuddy]

Moves slow and back from the dead...I'd say it's a zombie.

[Attorney]

What's all this about the EPA?

[Kevin]

They are supposed to declare CO2 some sort of pollutant. Which means they can impose all kinds of restrictions on it.

I live in NW Indiana, which is industry heavy and doing worse off than most areas of the country. This would devistate our local economy.

[Attorney]

Now I know what my grandparents meant when they used to talk about being "afraid to open the paper each day."

[SugarFree]

SugarLinks? (pt.1)

Feministing commenters on their favorite sexual positions for obese women.

I am 21 years old and have only ever had sex in the missionary position. I am wonderfully curvy (most notably my thighs and butt) and every time I have tried a different position it has not worked out very well.

Research shows that buying organic turns you into a jerk.

...subjects who made simulated eco-friendly purchases ended up less likely to exhibit altruism in a laboratory game and more likely to cheat and steal.

[Kyle Jordan]

"I would not take your sex in the shower attempt to be representative. Sex in the shower is tricky to say the least."

No, it's not. You pick her up or you bend her over slightly against the wall or shower door. Me thinks miss "curvy" has a curvy stomach to go with those curvy thighs and butt. And just how "curvy" is she if her beau can't enter her from behind?

[The Gobbler]

Hell yes! Did it years ago standing up. She slips, so basically, I'm caring the full of her weight on my johnson. Pulled a groin muscle. Still hurts a little now and again.

Be careful out there.

[Warty]

Fantastic gag/cruel gift alert:

[8+] Author Profile Page ticker said:

There is a new book coming out from the women who founded Babeland, called Moregasm--it has a whole huge chapter of positions, complete with tips on what is good and what is bad about each. It's really fantastic. With drawings and also real-people models.

(Unpaid plug! I just thought it was a great book. Professor's advice also good of course)

And the good old slouchfuck:

[5+] Author Profile Page scarleteacher said:

A few ideas from a super-curvy gal that have worked for her:
--Try having him sit down on the couch and sliding down a little into a comfortable slouch. Try getting on top this way---you'll have the back of the couch to hang onto, which several women I know say makes woman on top a lot easier and more enjoyable.

[anon]

My favorite position for "wonderfully curvy" women is no where near me.

[Nick]

Wonderfully curvy is another way of saying, "I'm an excellent cook."

[Slut Bunwalla]

"Wonderfully curvy" means "I'm incredibly, disgustingly obese, but society is prejudiced against me and I feel completely entitled to be 'proud of my body' and possibly angry when men aren't attracted to me".

[CaptainSmartass]

No comments about how "wonderfully curvy" women give great beejays? Of course, they have to!

[brotherben]

Obama warns Pakistan: Crack down on Taliban, or U.S. will use force on other side of the Afghan border.

Ahhh, the Thailand, Cambodia, Laos strategy.

[Obama's Chicken Hawks]

Remind me how that movie went again? I keep forgetting.

[wylie]

They brought jack black in on an ox while robert downey distracted the guards, allowing the rest of the team to slip in unnoticed.

15mins later Osama was in chains. Or something like that.

[Rich]

To sweeten the deal for liberals, people 55 and older would be able to "buy-in" to Medicare and purchase coverage in the popular government program for the elderly.

This "buy-in" idea could be taken further. For example, people might "buy-in" for coverage by SNAP (food stamps).

[SugarFree]

SugarLinks? (pt. 2)

Ashley Dupre: Marriage Counselor

My biggest problem with the Tiger story is this - I read he met one of the girls at a Perkins. That blows my mind. Did Tiger swing by the Perkins to pick up a whole pie for dessert? Was he taking his grandfather to lunch? And in the meantime, he found a foxy waitress to flirt with, and maybe bang in the bathroom? I don't get why someone so famous and wealthy would troll a highway-side type restaurant for someone to screw. I can only hope that his string of infidelities stems from a greater problem with his mental or emotional health and not just his poor judgment, because at least then there would be hope for him.

And, most importantly:Details for the NYC Feministing Holiday Happy Hour

Get rid of the stupid "no more than two links rule."

[Mean Boy]

Why not just get yer own blog?

[Kyle Jordan]

I'd read the SugarBlog.

[Bergholt Stuttley Johnson]

http://hrsugarfree.blogspot.com/

[Kyle Jordan]

Cool. Thanks for the link.

[John]

Tiger really met one of his g/fs in a Perkins? That is bizzare.

[SugarFree]

She's the brunette in red along the top of the "Tiger's Girlfriends" graphic most news outlets are using.

[Magick It Away]

Yes... a person meeting a person at a place where people cook and serve food and where people go to eat food. Fucking amazing.

[anon]

Because Perkins is where millionaires go to eat.

[Magick It Away]

What the fuck else was he doing there?

[Slut Bunwalla]

I dunno, my grandpa is pretty wealthy and he LOVES Perkins. Maybe this is a Thing. Maybe rich people secretly love eating at Perkins.

[dbcooper]

Is a Perkins like an Applebees or something?

[SugarFree]

More like a Denny's or a Jerry's, but not quite a Waffle House or Huddle House.

[dbcooper]

So the kind of place you go for brunch if you were in the middle of nowhere, especially if you were hungover?

[SugarFree]

Yes. But they'd call it "breakfast served all day" because brunch is for fancy city folk.

[Ska]

That's pretty much my experience with Perkins. Road trip Ihops.

[brotherben]

Foxnews is reporting a a bombing in Pakistan at an intel office.

[Rich]

Until Johnny Longtorso shows up: Pelosi Endorses 'Global' Tax on Financial Transactions.

(My appy polly loggy if this has been covered.)

[Johnny Longtorso]

I'm somebody!!!! 🙂

Via Instapundit:

http://deceiver.com/2009/12/07.....rbonhagen/

...Taking a private jet to a conference on stopping global warming is a bit like traveling in a sedan chair carried by indentured servants to a summit on stopping human trafficking. Except we're the ones they want to enslave. If they get their way, they'll crush us with taxes, make our energy bills skyrocket, and otherwise cut our standard of living back to 19th-century levels. "Okay, you guys sit there shivering in the dark while we whoop it up with some Copenhagen hookers!" All because "the science is settled," when anybody with an Internet connection can find out for themselves just how unsettled the science really is. And, of course, because it's just not fair that we live better than any other human beings in the history of the world. Why don't you feel more guilty?

If the only way to save the planet is to help destroy the planet, then? maybe we're not really destroying the planet? These guys don't really believe what they're saying ? that we're on the verge of a global apocalypse because of anthropogenic global warming, or man-made climate change, or whatever they're calling it this week ? or else they'd never burn another ounce of fuel in their lives....

[Johnny Longtorso]

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/283333

For the delegates to the Copenhagen Climate Change Summit, inconvenient truths abound. Not the least of which is the prediction that attendees will generate a carbon footprint equal to all of Morocco's for 2006....

http://network.nationalpost.co.....hagen.aspx

...But the Copenhagen Diagnosis, which is billed as an update to the last report of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, has a credibility problem. The Climategate gang - the same crew now discredited by emails that emerged showing a conspiracy to cook the books - had a dozen of its members in charge of producing the Copenhagen Diagnosis. More credibility problems: The Copenhagen Diagnosis relies on data from the Hadley Centre of the UK meteorological office and the Climate Research Unit of East Anglia University - two bodies that may now need to set aside the data altogether and start over....

[brotherben]

There was a college econ professor on teevee this morning (msnbc I think) saying that the hundreds of billions made by the U.S. govt from carbon credit sales would offset the deficit and maybe even could be given to people in ongoing issuances of stimulus checks.

[CoyoteBlue]

And PONYS!!!

[CaptainSmartass]

Yes, let's have the government steal from industry, then give (some of) that money back to the proles. What could possibly go wrong?

[SugarFree]

Where's the link about the guy who pelted Palin with produce?

Gawker calls him a hero.

[Warty]

He reminds me of something for some reason.

[SugarFree]

I get more of this vibe from him.

[Beezard]

Whilst one can't deny the simple poetry and storied history of a thrown tomato, I think our hero missed a good chance to make his 15 minutes much more entertaining by throwing something more potentially iconic(ala the shoe guy).

My personal suggestion would have been a baby seal, or perhaps some sort venison dish.

For peak irony (with a slice of possible fatality) I'd go with the kitchen sink.

[Pro Libertate]

Was Palin able to uncannily dodge the produce?

[SugarFree]

It hit a policeman instead.

[Beezard]

waa waa waaaaaa.

[Pro Libertate]

Wow, what is it with these Republican politicians and their catlike reflexes? You just know that Obama, for instance, would get hit.

I think Bush may be the Batman. Not sure what that makes Palin.

[Slut Bunwalla]

Huntress?

[Pro Libertate]

Catwoman?

[wylie]

I think it's more attitude than reflexes.

R's expect stuff to be thrown at them, and act accordingly.

D's could never imagine why anyone would want to throw something at them.

[brotherben]

I can't find a link yet but just heard on Foxnews on the teevee that Moodys Investor Services is warning that the U.S. treasury will lose its triple A rating in 2013 if it continues carry such a high deficit. I am ignorant of many things in finance but this seems real big to me.

[CaptainSmartass]

More from Bloomberg:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/.....16pDNNrMig

[brotherben]

Thanks for the link. The only one I found was the wsj and it was incomplete. (do you have to register to get the whole story?)

[Nick]

They should have lost their triple A rating in 1913.

[John]

Johnny Longtorso,

Instapundit had another link last night on AGW. Very interesting graphs putting current temps in perspectives.

http://www.foresight.org/nanodot/?p=3553

[kinnath]

Amazing really

[Beezard]

Car bombs kill at least 127 in Baghdad.

If the new Iraqi government wants to be taken seriously, they should really consider making car bombs illegal.

[chernobyl rintoo]

You Are Getting Overcharged At The Grocery Store!

Unfortunately, I am in the same exact situation as millions of Americans. I have three credit cards completely maxed out one other 4/5 maxed out, I just can't understand why every time I go to the supermarket (twice a week) the prices on everything keeps going up 30 cents at a time, I dread to open my utility bills, I am afraid to check my car's gas gauge and the thought of putting the heat on in the house send a shiver down my spine. Yes, these are truly the worst times I ever recall in my life. Knowing that so many of you guys are in the same situation provides no comfort for me either. Two weeks ago my mom gave me the sampler program from the company at http://unitedstatesdiscounts.com and this has absolutely helped me significantly. It has helped to eliminate the price increases on many things and in most instances I am paying less for food and merchandise than I did five years ago. It has taken away so much stress from my life. I hope that my message will help others here out of this difficult time.

eRuIvaPrwcFhh

[Pro Libertate]

A car bomb ban? Look, I oppose car bombs as much as the next guy, but a right to bear car bombs is protected in the Iraqi constitution.

[Beezard]

Ok, maybe not an outright ban. But some sort of license (I mean we need licenses for cars, why not car bombs?)or some sort of punitive fine is needed to dissuade people from setting them off in crowded areas.

The money made from said fees can then be used to pay for schools.

[Pro Libertate]

Oh, so you just want to tax car bombing? Isn't that really a prior restraint of car bombing? And won't it have the unintended result of the government favoring car bombing as a revenue source?

[wylie]

but a right to bear car bombs is protected in the Iraqi constitution

I gotta get my hands on a copy of that. I bet there's all sorts of crazy fun stuff in it.

[OneTinySpark]

Obama warns Pakistan: Crack down on Taliban, or U.S. will use force on other side of the Afghan border.

We're gonna spread happiness.
We're gonna spread freedom.
Obama's gonna change it.
Obama's gonna lead em.

[Alabama Getaway]

The UN Copenhagen climate talks are in disarray today after developing countries reacted furiously to leaked documents that show world leaders will next week be asked to sign an agreement that hands more power to rich countries and sidelines the UN's role in all future climate change negotiations.

The document also sets unequal limits on per capita carbon emissions for developed and developing countries in 2050; meaning that people in rich countries would be permitted to emit nearly twice as much under the proposals.

The so-called Danish text, a secret draft agreement worked on by a group of individuals known as "the circle of commitment" ? but understood to include the UK, US and Denmark ? has only been shown to a handful of countries since it was finalised this week.

The agreement, leaked to the Guardian, is a departure from the Kyoto protocol's principle that rich nations, which have emitted the bulk of the CO2, should take on firm and binding commitments to reduce greenhouse gases, while poorer nations were not compelled to act. The draft hands effective control of climate change finance to the World Bank; would abandon the Kyoto protocol ? the only legally binding treaty that the world has on emissions reductions; and would make any money to help poor countries adapt to climate change dependent on them taking a range of actions.

The document was described last night by one senior diplomat as "a very dangerous document for developing countries. It is a fundamental reworking of the UN balance of obligations. It is to be superimposed without discussion on the talks".

A confidential analysis of the text by developing countries also seen by the Guardian shows deep unease over details of the text. In particular, it is understood to:

? Force developing countries to agree to specific emission cuts and measures that were not part of the original UN agreement;

? Divide poor countries further by creating a new category of developing countries called "the most vulnerable";

? Weaken the UN's role in handling climate finance;

? Not allow poor countries to emit more than 1.44 tonnes of carbon per person by 2050, while allowing rich countries to emit 2.67 tonnes.

Developing countries that have seen the text are understood to be furious that it is being promoted by rich countries without their knowledge and without discussion in the negotiations.

"It is being done in secret. Clearly the intention is to get [Barack] Obama and the leaders of other rich countries to muscle it through when they arrive next week. It effectively is the end of the UN process," said one diplomat, who asked to remain nameless.

The text was intended by Denmark and rich countries to be a working framework, which would be adapted by countries over the next week. It is particularly inflammatory because it sidelines the UN negotiating process and suggests that rich countries are desperate for world leaders to have a text to work from when they arrive next week.

Few numbers or figures are included in the text because these would be filled in later by world leaders. However, it seeks to hold temperature rises to 2C and mentions the sum of $10bn a year to help poor countries adapt to climate change from 2012-15.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/envi.....anish-text

[Rich]

Few numbers or figures are included in the text because these would be filled in later by world leaders.

Tim Geithner? Kathleen Sebelius?

[Johnny Longtorso]

The CEO of Goldman Sachs?

[Bob Woodward]

Ban car bombs? What's next; we don't let them eat goats?

[Beezard]

it's a slippery slope to be sure.

[WWJGD]

When car bombs are outlawed, only outlaws will have car bombs!

[JB]

I sometimes describe myself as a truck bomb libertarian.

[chernobyl rintoo]

You Are Getting Overcharged At The Store!

Unfortunately, I am in the same exact situation as millions of Americans. I have three cards completely maxed out one other 4/5 maxed out, I just can't understand why every time I go to the supermarket (twice a week) the prices on everything keeps going up 35 cents at a time, I dread to open my utility statements, I am afraid to check my car's gas gauge and the thought of putting the heat on in the house send a shiver down my spine. Yes, these are truly the worst times I ever recall in my life. Knowing that so many of you guys are in the same situation provides no comfort for me either. Two weeks ago my mom gave me the sampler program from the people at h ttp://unitedstatesdiscounts.com and this has absolutely helped me significantly. It has helped to eliminate the price increases on many things and in most instances I am paying less for food and merchandise than I did five years ago. It has taken away so much stress from my life. I hope that my message will help others here out of this difficult time.

dWpfEcbGpwWdgHpeqfa
gPgoFovWxvFrhhRq

[chernobyl rintoo]

Unfortunately, I am in the same exact situation as millions of Americans. I just can't understand why every time I go to the supermarket (twice a week) the prices on everything keeps going up 35 cents at a time, I dread to open my utility statements, I am afraid to check my car's gas gauge and the thought of putting the heat on in the house send a shiver down my spine. Yes, these are truly the worst times I ever recall in my life. Knowing that so many of you guys are in the same situation provides no comfort for me either. Two weeks ago my mom gave me the sampler program from the people at h ttp://unitedstatesdiscounts.com and this has absolutely helped me significantly. It has helped to eliminate the price increases on many things and in most instances I am paying less for food and merchandise than I did five years ago. It has taken away so much stress from my life. I hope that my message will help others here out of this difficult time.

dWpfEcbGpwWdgHpeqfa
gPgoFovWhvFrhhRq

[gsggs]

FowcOwjDpsis

[brotherben]

Car bombs don't kill people. People kill people.

[Dustin Widoe]

Wow, OK dude that looks like fun doesnt it??

RT
http://www.be-invisible.ua.tc

[Mad Elf]

I'd like to car bomb anonymity bot.

[Mad Elf]

I'd like to car bomb anonymity bot.

[JB]

Obama = EVIL WARMONGER!!!!!11!1!

[John]

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com.....ec-07-2009

This is funny. If you are going to be a jackass and throw a tomato at someone, have good aim or at least hit someone besides a cop if you miss.

[P Brooks]

Licensing carbombers just ensures excessive profits for existing bombers, at the expense of startups.

[John]

But without licensing, how are we supposed to stop the underground sweatshop car bomb makers? We need to ensure that only reputable and safe car bomb makers are allowed to operate. No one wants to risk an unsafe carbomb.

[a]

Car bombs kill at least 127 in Baghdad.

But I thought the surge worked...

[Hobo Chang Ba]

I don't get it - why don't we tell the Pakistani government that we would give them hefty sums of money upon delivery of our al Qaeda targets in Pakistan? The problem is we aren't bribing them enough to make them take action. Pakistan is like a lazy couch potato - but if you offer him a million dollars to get up, shape up and get a job, he'll more than likely do it. If a complete wipeout of al Qaeda We could give mega-bonuses, free immigration and protection to the soldier(s), police or bounty hunter(s) in Pakistan who bag the big guys. We could also offer amnesty and protection for low-level al Qaeda operatives who turn on their leaders. It's much cheaper, more practical and less illegal to do this than invasion, and it respects Pakistan's sovereignty. Our army can just guard the other side of the border in case they try to flee back to Afghanistan.

[Hobo Chang Ba]

Half-completed sentence:
If a complete wipeout of al Qaeda costs us several hundred billion, it's still cheaper than a war. $150 billion would double Pakistan's annual GDP and would surely encourage government action as well as improving conditions within the country, thus making the Pakistani people likely very supportive of the plan vs an invasion which they would strongly oppose.

[brotherben]

That ignores the main problem in the whole region. The culture war between the west and the Taliban and other Muslims. That is a war we simply cannot win. We shouldn't even be trying.

[Kolohe]

Believe or not, your proposal contains some elements of actual US policy.

[hmm]

# Obama warns Pakistan: Crack down on Taliban, or U.S. will use force on other side of the Afghan border.

Great, lets just piss off all of Asia. That's sure to be a good idea. I'm tired of nation building, can we stop now? Russia is laughing it's ass off at us right now.

[BakedPenguin]

Capuano is counting on some late help from the endorsements of former Gov. Michael Dukakis (D), Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)...

I can't think of too many other state than Massachusetts where those endorsements would help someone.

[GoNavy]

BP,

Do think there is any other state that those endorsments would help? Whoops, just thought of one, my own state of Maryland.

[J sub D]

Car bombs kill at least 127 in Baghdad.

Official buildings located near the other blasts also include the interior ministry, a university and the institute of fine arts.

This is the war we're winning/have won, right?

Better make sure the catering deposit for the homecoming party is refundable.

[The Art-P.O.G.]

Iraq's reminding me of Northern Ireland at this point.

[GoNavy]

That is exactly the thought I had this morning when I heard the report of the blast this morning. There are some exceptions probably, mostly in scale, but like Ulster otherwise. A relatively small number of -dare I write it- terrorists can make pretty tough on everyone.

[GoNavy]

Because Lobster Girl cannot be everywhere at once:
(run the imbeded video)

https://store.intermediaoutdoors.com/shop/ItemDetail.aspx?item=1CFS10&

This should be safe for work. If it isn't, then that probably means you work somewhere that you shouldn't.

[wylie]

I've never seen features of a calendar being promoted before.

"dude, it even has holidays. i gotta get one!"

[R C Dean]

If you are going to be a jackass and throw a tomato at someone, have good aim or at least hit someone besides a cop if you miss.

Oh, I dunno. A cop sounds like a good alternative to me.