oh dear, how are fox going to reverse *all* these polls?

CBS/NYT survey finds 60% Americans don’t want public employee unions’ rights take away, while 33 do.

And: 33% have a favorable view of labor unions, while 25 percent hold an unfavorable view.

More here

Graphic from here

And….

More here

And Gallup last week:

thinking of you, majii

Just recently one of this blog’s very best friends, Majii, told us that her “dear brother”, who lived with her, was very ill, but she was hopeful that he would get better.

So sorry to pass this on, but Majii contacted me today to say that she lost her beloved brother last night.

His condition worsened while she was at her last surviving uncle’s funeral in Alabama. She and her daughter are heartbroken.

Majii: “I wanted to let you and the community know what is going on since I will not be posting any comments this week. Thanks for the support you and the community members have given me over the last few months.”

Love and strength to you and your daughter, Majii, may your brother rest in peace.

rest in peace

President Obama ordered special honors in memory of Frank W. Buckles, the last surviving U.S. veteran out of more than 4.7 million who served the nation during World War I. Buckles, who enlisted in the Army at the age of 16, died Sunday at 110 at his farm in West Virginia.

Here is what the President proclaimed:

“As a mark of respect for the memory of Army Corporal Frank W. Buckles, the last surviving American veteran of World War I, and in remembrance of the generation of American veterans of World War I, I hereby order, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, that, on the day of his interment, the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset on such day. I further direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same period at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.”

‘that iraq feeling’

Cartoon from here

Paul Krugman: I don’t watch cable news, or actually any kind of TV news. But I gather that there’s a virtual blackout on the huge demonstrations in Wisconsin, except on Fox, which portrays them as thuggish and violent.

What that makes me think of is January-February 2003, when anyone watching cable news would have believed that only a few kooks were opposed to the imminent invasion of Iraq. It was quite spooky, realizing that hundreds of thousands of people could march through New York, and by tacit agreement be ignored by news networks whose headquarters were just a few blocks away.

And it’s even more spooky to see it happening all over again.

‘public employees should not be vilified’

President Obama speaking at a meeting of governors in the White House, February 28

moon shot

President Barack Obama shakes hands with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in the Oval Office, February 28. The leaders were to discuss the Libyan situation

don’t get too cosy

President Obama speaking at a meeting of governors in the White House, February 28

real classy, nikki!

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley types on her iPad as President Barack Obama speaks at a bi-partisan meeting of governors in the State Dining Room of the White House, Feb. 28

morning, governors

First lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden speak during a bi-partisan meeting of governors hosted by President Barack Obama in the State Dining Room of the White House Feb. 28

cleveland calling