Same-Sex Marriage Bill REJECTED in New York State Senate
UPDATE: City To Remove 14 Blocks Of Bike Lanes On Bedford Ave.
Catholic League Pissed at PETA
Hamster Rides The 4 Train
Bouncer Beatdown at Jay-Z's 40/40 Club
Clinton receives flowers before departing North Korea (Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service/AP)
After former President Bill Clinton made a "surprise trip" to North Korea and secured the pardon of two imprisoned U.S. journalists, Euna Lee and Laura Ling, the trio made their way back to the United States. Their plane arrived in Burbank, California this morning, where the women made a tearful reunion with their families. Ling made a statement, expressing her and Lee's gratitude and remarking on the drama of their ordeal, "Thirty hours ago, Euna Lee and I were prisoners in North Korea. We feared that at any moment we could be prisoners in a hard labor camp. Then suddenly we were told that we were going to a meeting," and then spoke of seeing Clinton. Here's video:
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Lee and Ling, journalists for Current TV (a media venture co-founded by former Vice President Al Gore, who was also present for the reunion—video of his remarks after the jump), were arrested in March on the grounds of illegally entering North Korea; they were sentenced to 12 years in labor camps in June. The former president's "private mission"—though it was arranged with the White House—was a high-profile visit to isolated North Korea. Clinton, who apologized (according to North Korean media; while the U.S. says he didn't) for Lee and Ling's actions, met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il. Kim, in turn, held a state dinner for Clinton; the AP reports, "Kim smiled broadly for a photo standing next to a towering Clinton. He was markedly thinner than a year ago, with his graying hair cropped short. The once-pudgy 67-year-old, who for decades had a noticeable pot belly, wore a khaki jumpsuit and appeared frail and diminutive in a group shot seated next to a robust Clinton."
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who has been tangling with North Korea, told reporters in Kenya that she was "very happy and relieved" about Lee and Ling's release: "I spoke to my husband on the airplane and everything went well. We are extremely excited. It's just a good day to be able to see this happen." And President Obama was happy about the women's return and thanked former President Clinton and Vice President Gore for their efforts (video of Obama's remarks also after the jump).
The former president's role is being analyzed; Donna Brazile said, "Bill Clinton still has the juice... I hope this is a sign of things to come given all the fires that this country faces. People trust him, and he has an important role to play. And this shows President Obama’s determination to try all kinds of diplomacy, including third-party diplomacy." And Rep. Peter King (R-Long Island), who worked with Clinton on a Northern Ireland peace deal, told the Daily News, "He's popular, he's an ex-President, and he's the husband of the secretary of state. He can be utilized in a semiofficial or unofficial way, yet he has all the trappings and aura of being a high-ranking government official...I give him a lot of credit, and this shows he can be used in the future."
Former Vice President Al Gore on the release of Euna Lee and Laura Ling:
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
President Obama discusses the release:
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
Billy Boy gets all the ladies
Why do we allow US foreign policy to be compromised by reckless actions of so-called 'journalists' in this instance and on the Iranian border last week?
Anyone with sense would know to stay far clear of the border of these two countries.
Don't do the crime if you can't serve the time!
Are you joking? Foreign policy is not seriously compromised when a roguish government detains a reporter. Those reporters likely have no classified knowledge, and probably do not know anything that the arresting government's intelligence community does not already know. It is extremely important that courageous reporters place themselves in the nations that are least open to us. I think only a troll or a despot would assert that such reporting constitutes a crime.
If a North Korean 'journalist' were to enter the USA illegally, our government would rightfully detain and eventually imprison them.
What's good for the goose is good for the gander.
Perhaps you are not aware that the CIA for years used journalists, even credible journalists, to gain intelligence. I know. I have talked to some.
This current crop of free-lance journalists were foolish and reckless to go near the border. We know what goes on inside these regimes. These rogue journalists are selfishly compromising US foreign policy in order to publish their next book, which you can be sure is already being considered.
Unfettered journalism is a key part of US policy, no? The world should know what really happens inside these regimes. Without people willing to take the risk, all we'd have is official propaganda.
The only evidence we have that the journalists were, in fact, on the NK side of the border is the word of the North Korean government. Given that the DPRK has a long and amply documented history of kidnapping foreign nationals out of foreign soil for political gain, their word is far from inherently trustworthy.
True, but like I said earlier:
Why would anyone with even the slightest bit of common sense go anywhere near that border? It's either dumb or selfish or reckless. Same with the three 'journalists' captured near the Kurdistan/Iran border. If you go looking for trouble, you'll often find it.
But if anyone is that dumb or reckless or selfish, they shouldn't expect the US govt to bail them out every time, especially if it involves compromising our position or policy.
Instead of being hailed as victims or heros, they should be reprimanded for their selfishly reckless behavior.
"Looking for trouble" is pretty much the job description for a journalist. It's why people occasionally still find some of them admirable. (And conversely, the few who we do find admirable are the ones who most often look for trouble.) The China/NK border is host to any number of ongoing humanitarian disasters that both governments would be happy to have swept under the rug: my hat's off to anyone with the brass ones to go wading into that mess.
Yes, they knew the risks. And yes, the US government had no obligation to help them out if they got into trouble. But apparently we figured out a way to get them out for the cost of a plane ride and having Bill Clinton be polite to a few crazy people for a few hours. I'm astonished that anyone finds this objectionable.
With all the various partisan derangement syndromes, are you really surprised?
You have to understand that according to "thefacts," we're all miserable, misanthropic and misogynistic commenters around here. He's the brilliant, compassionate, happy-go-lucky example we should all aspire to emulate.
I don't know, looked like Al was getting all the hugs.
Well I'm glad this turned out the way it did.
Welcome home, ladies.
Incredible moment, what an unexpected and awesome outcome!
dont forget that yesterday that jerkoff John Bolten was saying how Clintons visit lowered the standing of the US and other bullshit like that.
Is anyone surprised by that? Bolton (sp?) idea of "negotiating" is to tell other countries "DO AS WE SAY!!!!" and then we'll talk.
What do you think N. Korea got as part of this exchange?
a thousand little blue pills and a fleshlight.
Respect? I think it was a big deal to Kim Jong-Il to have a meeting with Bill Clinton—and for Clinton to apologize (in the eyes of North Korea, since their media says he did) for the journalists' actions. Given North Korea's statement yesterday, they were able to position this as a "humanitarian" decision.
And maybe this will open up North Korea to a dialogue with the U.S.
Yes, this is a very important aspect a lot of people are missing.
jen, the official line is that he did not apologize.
from NYTimes:
"Mr. Clinton’s wife, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, said Wednesday that the administration was “extremely excited” that the women would be reunited with their families. But she denied that her husband had apologized."
Thanks—adjusted to reflect that the "apology" was North Korean media's POV.
Bill Clinton showing up to pick up two Americans being held against their will was understood to be the apology.
The perception of an apology is more powerful than an actual "I'm sorry" to N. Korea and their propaganda.
How would your children or parents feel if you met a Bill Clinton who wanted something from you?
Kim Jong Il wanted this to use as propoganda to show his citizens that he has as much power as any national dignitary, that he bows to no one (metaphorically) and dines with anyone.
North Korea is like a silly child and really no threat. They barely have a running sewer system. But they want to seem like a threat so that they can receive money for not blowing something up. It's a traditional terrorist move.
Remember, Saddam didn't have WMD. Don't forget it.
one or more of the following:
-Michael Jackson's head in a Pickle Jar
-some Hustler magazines (you get sick of the prettiest Korean women eventually)
-plutonium for some more nukes (stuffs damn hard to come by you know)
-a suitcase full of US Dollars (nobody takes NK Won internationally)
-some "private" photos of the Secretary of State
Of course that's what the official line was.
Now can can we resume bombing North Korea?
For KJI, staying bombed is half the battle.
It was nice of Bill to let himself be used as a high-profile (and then highly-praised) pawn in this negotiation, but the real credit should go to Obama and Hillary for figuring out a way to get these two women back home to the U.S. without resorting to belligerence.
the media can't get enough of itself... this story will get way more coverage than if those girls had been tourists, or soldiers.
This story didn't get enough coverage, what are you talking about?
These girls have been there for months and all the media keeps talking about is a dead child molester and his blood sucking family.
haha- I agree with your second point, esp w/ regards to the Today Show
Now that even the Chinese and Russians have had enough of NK's shenanigans, the crackpotocracy has been pressuring the U.S. for unilateral "talks" about its nuclear weapons program; i.e., where the U.S. bribes the North Koreans to knock it off and they take the money while continuing what they were doing.
It'll be interesting to see what this little stunt costs us in the long run. Glad those women/bargaining chips are home safe though.
No one mentioned how they're both married to white dudes...
G-yeah.
Can somebody explain to me why so many middle class and upper class Asian American women are married to White men?
What is that about?
And how come you don't see a lot of middle class and upper class Asian American men married to White women?
And, what happens to the middle class and upper class Asian American guys - who do they marry, if so many of their peers marry outside the race?
Perhaps Jen Chung could chime in here with her perspective on this?
Then they have beautiful half asian babies. I see no downside to this.
So, babies that are 100% Asian aren't beautiful?
Or are less beautiful than half White babies?
And I'm sure all those Asian guys who can't get a date while their female peers go after White men would totally disagree with you about the whole "no downside" thing.
I hope they marry people they love! I can't speak for all of them, but my uncle married a non-Asian and they have two great kids.
gregoryabutler: dunno about your neck of the woods, but out here in northern CA, the genders of asian/white couples are a lot more evenly mixed. Still a little weighted toward asian-f/cauc-m, but the reverse is also very common. I suspect it's mostly to do with demographics and how well-integrated into the power/social structure the local asian population is.
didn't someone post an Asians on blondes link here?
I really hope their story isn't common, but a couple of Chinese-Americans women told me it's very common because their culture often treat women like slaves. They were not personally impressed how father and uncles treated mother and aunties.
I kinda doubt that, I went to Stuy and most of my Asians friends mom seems to wear the pants in the house.
I think that's also the myth that they don't want to date an Asian man because they look like their brother. which is full of BS.
people are still hung on the yoko and john trend
It's because Hollywood has you brainwashed into believing what is beautiful or not. Guess what? Whites are at the top of the list. Blacks are at the bottom. So whenever one can move on up, they do.
Years of movies/tvs/magazines tell us what beauty is. Often times, it's not true beauty, but what looks familiar, that is, what we see repetitively.
That is why good looking people are constantly compared to the looks of celebrities.
Jen's a cute chick, but she's a traitor as well. lol
She's probably more white than she is Asian. Right Jenny?
Yep. We know some people have an inferiority complex to WASPs.
this is great news, no one mentioned the white dudes are married to asian girls. more mixing people!
it appears to me Laura put on make up on the plane and Euna sans make up.
Hah big whoop. Call me when its a Black woman and a Chinese man.
actually, I've just met a Puerto Rican lady who is married to a Chinese man. they've been married for 40 years and the husband speaks little Spanish and English but they're still together.
Interesting. That is indeed rare. Nice to see nonetheless
truly rare, and she was the nicest woman I'd ever met.
she has one son and asked if I had any kids. when I saw the name on the hospital door I thought it would be an Asian woman but nope, that's her married name.
Or a Black man and a Chinese woman....
Actually, I've seen this quite a bit. And their beautiful Black/Asian children!
On a serious note, this whole thing is really strange. Why did Kim Jong Il personally request bill clinton in exchange for the hostages? Was it just to stick it to Hillary for calling him a child?
I'm confused by all of this, actually.
maybe he want's to get at Bill's Pron stash?
isn't kim known for having an extensive porn collection?
I wonder how many Americans will die in the long run because these idiots wandered into North Korea and our fearless leaders decided to sell out long standing policy of not negotiating with terrorists to do a favor for Al Gore?
Um, as we are not at War with North Korea, what are you talking about? How will this cause any Americans to die? As for not talking to the "Evil Axis", Yeaaaaahhhh, that will work. It worked sooooo well in the GW administration, didn't it?
Look: grown ups communicate, even if it's to people we don't like.
"Um, as we are not at War with North Korea"
Neither are we at peace. There is an armistice but no formal peace treaty was ever signed, and the border between SK and NK is still a DMZ.
NK and the UN forces led by the US had a brutal war. Remember it? Many don't.
Getting too close to the NK border was learned the hard way by the crew of the Pueblo who got too near NK's border, you will recall. I guess the journalist never studied their history.
I believe the last American who strayed across it prior to these 'journalists' was a US soldier, who wound up being hatcheted to death.
So, the journalists were pretty lucky in their trespass.
trespass? you spin better than your master bill oreilly.
The soldiers killed in that incident didn't cross into NK.
Yeah, we remember the war, "old man." And we remember that the US and the UN did so incredibly well against North Korea in it. Do you celebrate VNK day? Maybe you want the Army to pick up where it left off 56 years ago?
We have little to fear from North Korea itself, but a visit from a former President and the husband of the current Sec. of State goes a huge way toward legitimizing the leader of a rogue state, which may serve to embolden others who do have the capacity to kill Americans.
Sorry, but I have to call "BS" on that.
This does not "legitimize" NK and will not embolden anyone that did not like us in the first place.
Out of curiosity: Would you just say "Fuck 'em!" and let them rot for 12 years? Or would you "negotiate"?
Going out on a limb: I'm guessing you'd say "Fuck 'em".
What, precisely, was negotiated?
So what do you call the 6-party talks?
Politburo: I call them a forum for negotiations. Which is a different thing from the outcome of negotiations. YMMV.
6-party talks do not involve the President or former Presidents.
Bolten needs to shut up and disappear as Bush did. Bolton's neo-con agenda is dead, deader than the birther's movement.
Oh, and to answer the original question: none. None is the number of Americans who will be killed in the long run by Clinton's visit.
This has been "easy answers to ridiculous questions", #4,894,297 in a continuing series. Please patronize our sponsors!
It must take lots of efforts for Bolton to be consistently Wrong. He beats the odds of (un)successes
no matter how the fucking idiots spin this, this was a good day for america.
We got two idiots out of a jam and rewarded a brutal despot. Great day for America, you're right.
And how did we "reward" him exactly???
The things Bill Clinton will do to pick up babes. One for him, one for Hillary.
Maybe it's just me but that picture is one of the most moving and poignant images I've seen a long time.
It's not just you. Almost everybody is happy about the outcome, except Longacre and "thefacts," the latter a self-described compassionate, magnanimous, beneficent Mr. "I Am Not Miserable" whose personal belief is that the US sacrificed a ridiculous amount of international prestige to save a couple of bitches who deserve to serve hard time.
After the dust settles, I'd very much like to hear from the 2 ladies their version as to exactly where they were when they were arrested by NK, and to see what evidence there is to prove the assertions.
But, as to the negotiations, power plays and/or leverage applied behind the scenes, by either side, I suspect we will never know.
They'll be back...