My 3 Little Trouble Makers Were Plotting Against Me This Morning:)

(Pause my Playlist to Hear Video)

Pirate Showdown Exposes Conservative Talking Heads for What They Are: Anti-American Disaster Porn Perverts.

Posted by David Waldman, Daily Kos at 12:18 AM on April 14, 2009.
Republican leaders descend further into sick cynicism.

While all of these pampered fops were sitting, doughy asses-in-chair and having their pusses painted up in TeeVee make-up, so that they could come on the air and go all in against America, actual heroes were at that very moment doing the real dirty work of executing that rescue.

The military had orders from President Obama authorizing lethal force if there was imminent danger.

"At one point, as uncomfortable as the pirates were, they exposed themselves where there was an opportunity," Gortney said.

He gave details of that "exposure" at a news conference Sunday. He said two of the pirates had their heads and shoulders exposed, while the third was visible in the boat's pilot house, through a window.

"The on-scene commander saw that one of the pirates still held that AK-47, was very, very concerned for the captain's life -- and he ordered the shots to be taken," Gortney told CNN on Monday.

Even with the small boat "moving up and down a couple of feet," the SEALs hit their targets. "Remarkable marksmanship," Gortney said.

The moment came at 7:19 p.m. (12:19 p.m. ET) Sunday -- after sundown, military officials say.

Where, exactly, do you think each of these tough-talking blowhards were at 12:19 p.m. ET on Sunday?

I'll tell you where they weren't. They weren't parachuting -- parachuting! -- onto the the deck of the U.S.S. Bainbridge and rescuing Captain Phillips.

Now, look. We can't all be heroes. I wasn't there, either, I can tell you that.

But I certainly wasn't oozing my way into a TV studio, trying to break Bobby Jindal's land speed record for being proven a sick, partisan asshat in near real time, that's for sure.

Almost every clip in this video was being taped or going to air at the very time that U.S. Navy SEALs were executing this mission.

They'll all no doubt be offering mealy-mouthed congratulations today, and insisting that they were really just rooting for this outcome in their own special ways, but I've got two eyes, and I can spot a smarmy opportunist when I see one.

Especially when they trample everyone in their path to get to a TV camera to gleefully predict doom. AlterNet Social Networks:

April 13, 2009 HSUS
Second Chances for President Obama, His Pup.
For the President of the United States, the personal is the political. Nothing he does in his private life is off limits and without implication, it seems.

Take the case of food. Animal advocates, slow foodies, and sustainable agriculture types have been trying to get into his pantry from the beginning. They’ve been more than heartened and encouraged by the First Lady’s decision to plant a vegetable garden on White House grounds and about the healthier fare the new White House chef is preparing for the family. It’s all about a higher standard of personal conduct that sets an example for the American public and it’s also a possible predictor of sounder policies that may flow from Secretary Tom Vilsack and the USDA.

© The White House:
Bo, the Obama family's new dog.
It’s through that same lens that so many animal advocates have had their tongues wagging about the First Family acquiring a dog—the anticipation heightened by President Obama’s own positive pre- and post-election wishes to go to a shelter for a dog for the girls. With all the shelter talk, he set high expectations, especially given that his predecessors never hit that high mark in bringing their pets into the White House. And he and the First Lady acted responsibly in postponing any decision about a dog until they were well settled in their new home, an approach we recommend to potential adopters.

Admittedly, the choice was complicated for the Obamas by daughter Malia’s allergies, and the information circulating about suitable pets for their situation. Nevertheless, the Obamas’ decision disheartened animal advocates. But the circumstances do have some shades of gray for animal advocates, given that the dog, now named Bo, was in a home, but was apparently returned to the breeder because he was just not the right fit. For that reason, we call him a second-chance dog. And we’re happy for Sasha and Malia, who have been exceedingly patient in waiting for a pet to join their family.

Nonetheless, the disappointment in America among our supporters is palpable, and I’ve been getting lots of emails from folks who feel passionately that an opportunity was squandered to help America’s shelters and the animals in them.

Only 20 percent of dogs in homes come from shelters. And there are nearly 2 million dogs euthanized each year. If we just increased that percentage of homes with dogs from shelters—to 30 or even 40 percent—we would solve the euthanasia problem. Obviously, there’s no one to provide a better example to the American public than President Obama, and no one better to say there’s not a thing wrong with dogs at shelters.

So be disappointed, but don’t despair for long. Hold him accountable to make other decisions that will have enormous implications for animals. He can still laud shelters and speak about the urgency of supporting them. He can also get Bo neutered, as a reminder of the importance of spay and neuter as a way to combat pet overpopulation. And, at the end of the day, he can actively support policies that crack down on puppy mills, eradicate Class B dealers, enforce laws against dogfighting, promote regulations to ensure safe food for our companion animals, and much more. HSUS.org

**~**(Please Visit Whitehouse.gov & congratulate Obama regarding 1st puppy but hold him accountable - he did set the bar as far as telling the people that a shelter dog was desirable, so many people feel disappointment and they feel that he let the shelter dogs down. Due to the economic crisis, many more thousands (utimately millions) of dogs (and cats) will be needlessly killed and we need to shed a spotlight on this fact and encourage adoption and financial support for our shelters and rescues!

Obama needs to come out and reaffirm his support for our shelters and the protection of companion animals, he needs to denounce puppy mills, and he needs to make a strong statement encouraging people to make adoption their 1st option. Let him know this!**~**)
*~*In Clyde's Memory*~*

Michigan House Bill 4663 will eliminate pound seizure in Michigan animal shelters.

"KODA"

Pound seizure is the practice of allowing shelter cats and dogs to be used in experimental research. HB 4663, called "Koda's Law," is named after a shelter dog that, instead of being placed for adoption, was sold to a USDA Class B Dealer (animal broker) and resold to the University of Michigan, where he was used in the university's Advanced Trauma Life Support Class, and then euthanized. Koda's former family believed that taking him to a shelter would allow him another opportunity to find a home and did not know he would be used in a research experiment. Sadly, this happens to far too many shelter cats and dogs in Michigan.

Companion animals depend on humans for their safety and well-being. Tragically, this dependency is betrayed when shelters allow these pets to be taken by Class B Dealers for resale to research. When Class B dealers and research facilities can obtain cats and dogs -- like Koda -- from animal shelters, it diminishes the shelters' credibility and purpose, and betrays public trust.

Currently only 4 county animal control shelters practice pound seizure (Gratiot, Mecosta, Montcalm and Osceola). Koda's Law will not prohibit legitimate medical research. Research facilities will still be able to obtain cats and dogs from licensees who breed animals for research which is also a cruel practice when there are many other alternatives but first thing's first. This bill simply stops shelter cats and dogs from being used in research. The bill permits several veterinary training/research activities of shelter cats and dogs, including allowing spay-neuter training, correcting pre-existing medical conditions (such as broken bones or illnesses), and allowing blood banks to obtain life-saving animal blood. The cats and dogs are then placed for adoption.

Please go to http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/649021463?z00m=19754642 & sign to show your support for Michigan House Bill 4663 so we can make Michigan the 19th state to outlaw pound seizure. There is also a clickable link in an update on my twitter box from a previous posting! Fill out the comment box & send a strong but polite message. These animals deserve a chance and the shelters OWE them protection and care while they await their second chance!!!

In Clyde's Memory (He & his buddy Sam were shelter dogs before I adopted them. KODA deserved the same chance that my dog's had!)

Limpy (Wolf 253M) was one of the most celebrated wolves in the Druid pack, known by wolf watchers around the world.

This world-famous wolf was gunned down just outside Yellowstone National Park on March 28th, 2008 -- one of the first of more than 100 wolves to be killed when the Bush/Cheney Administration eliminated vital federal protections for wolves last year.

Defenders of Wildlife and our allies stopped the Bush/Cheney plan in court, but now -- just one year after Limpy’s death -- U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has once again eliminated protections for wolves in Greater Yellowstone and the Northern Rockies.

It’s a plan that could lead to the slaughter of more than two-thirds of the wolves in the Northern Rockies and derail efforts to return these magnificent animals to parts of their historic range in Washington, Oregon, Colorado and Utah.

Help Save Wolves Spread the word. Share this video with at least 5 friends and help us get the word out about the threat to wolves in Greater Yellowstone, the Northern Rockies and the American West.

Take action. Urge President Obama to maintain Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in Greater Yellowstone and the Northern Rockies.

Support our work. Make a tax-deductible contribution to help support Defenders of Wildlife’s work on the ground, in Congress and in the courts to save the lives of these wolves. Watch Video & Help! http://action.defenders.org/meetlimpy