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Michael Steele: “there’s nothing wrong with a government shutdown” Anyone think the Republicans aren’t building up to the “big reveal” next week? There will be a government shutdown because… [something here] is the Democrats fault. “I personally think there’s nothing wrong with a government shutdown. I’ve been an advocate for it over six, seven months now for the simple reason it is the shocker. It is the reality check that the spenders need to have, that those who are trying to chart a different course need to have, whether they are Republicans or Democrats in the Congress. “Republicans right now have an opportunity to put down some bright-line markers here on spending. I hope they do. I haven’t seen it yet. I’m hoping that we will see it in the next week.” – Michael Steele, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, today on ABC’s Top Line It is amusing to hear Steele complain about ‘the spending’ and ‘the spenders’ when what the Republicans are defending happen to be their spending priorities (the wealthy) — priorities that they need everyone who’s NOT wealthy to pay for.
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Michael Steele: “there’s nothing wrong with a government shutdown”

Anyone think the Republicans aren’t building up to the “big reveal” next week? There will be a government shutdown because… [something here] is the Democrats fault.

“I personally think there’s nothing wrong with a government shutdown. I’ve been an advocate for it over six, seven months now for the simple reason it is the shocker. It is the reality check that the spenders need to have, that those who are trying to chart a different course need to have, whether they are Republicans or Democrats in the Congress.

“Republicans right now have an opportunity to put down some bright-line markers here on spending. I hope they do. I haven’t seen it yet. I’m hoping that we will see it in the next week.”

– Michael Steele, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, today on ABC’s Top Line

It is amusing to hear Steele complain about ‘the spending’ and ‘the spenders’ when what the Republicans are defending happen to be their spending priorities (the wealthy) — priorities that they need everyone who’s NOT wealthy to pay for.

And now it’s snowing in Japan Members of the Japan Self Defense force walk through the snow-covered ruins of Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, days after the area was devastated by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami March 16, 2011. (via producermatthew) NPR / AFTERSHOCKS: There have been nine earthquakes of 5.0 magnitude or above today in the same region struck by last Friday’s massive, 9.0 temblor, the U.S. Geological Survey reports. The hardest quake today registered 6.0. BBC 1507/ BEWARE THE IODINE PEDDLERS: The Associated Press reports that the nuclear scare is proving to be a sales bonanza for traders in iodine, face masks and radiation meters. This is particularly the case in Russia, where people have painful memories of the false securities given in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster. “It is a pity that certain businessmen are trying to profit on the situation,” Olga Shekhovtseva, an Emergencies Ministry spokeswoman in Russia’s Primorsky region, told AP. BBC /1446 THE MISSING: The mayor of Ishinomaki, in the devastated Miyagi prefecture, has told Kyodo the number of missing in that town alone is likely to reach 10,000. CNN / THE DISPLACED: [9:15 a.m. ET Wednesday, 10:15 p.m. in Tokyo] The governments in Iwate, Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures have asked the Japan Prefabricated Construction Suppliers & Manufacturers Association to build almost 33,000 homes to temporarily house those displaced by the quake and tsunami, Kyodo News service reports. At least 430,000 people are staying in shelters across eight prefectures, according to Kyodo. CNN / THE RADIATION IN THE WATER: [6:48 a.m. ET Wednesday, 7:48 p.m. in Tokyo] Tests revealed traces of radiation in tap water in Fukushima city, 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the Daiichi nuclear plant, the local government said Wednesday. The Fukushima prefecture’s nuclear department said amounts of radioactive cesium and iodine that are not harmful to the human body were found in water samples taken at 8 a.m. Wednesday (7 p.m. ET Tuesday). Government officials said the traces found are connected with the nuclear plant. A measurement of the tap water supply taken later in the day found no traces of iodine or cesium.
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And now it’s snowing in Japan

Members of the Japan Self Defense force walk through the snow-covered ruins of Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, days after the area was devastated by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami March 16, 2011. (via producermatthew)

NPR / AFTERSHOCKS: There have been nine earthquakes of 5.0 magnitude or above today in the same region struck by last Friday’s massive, 9.0 temblor, the U.S. Geological Survey reports. The hardest quake today registered 6.0.

BBC 1507/ BEWARE THE IODINE PEDDLERS: The Associated Press reports that the nuclear scare is proving to be a sales bonanza for traders in iodine, face masks and radiation meters. This is particularly the case in Russia, where people have painful memories of the false securities given in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster. “It is a pity that certain businessmen are trying to profit on the situation,” Olga Shekhovtseva, an Emergencies Ministry spokeswoman in Russia’s Primorsky region, told AP.

BBC /1446 THE MISSING: The mayor of Ishinomaki, in the devastated Miyagi prefecture, has told Kyodo the number of missing in that town alone is likely to reach 10,000.

CNN / THE DISPLACED: [9:15 a.m. ET Wednesday, 10:15 p.m. in Tokyo] The governments in Iwate, Fukushima and Miyagi prefectures have asked the Japan Prefabricated Construction Suppliers & Manufacturers Association to build almost 33,000 homes to temporarily house those displaced by the quake and tsunami, Kyodo News service reports. At least 430,000 people are staying in shelters across eight prefectures, according to Kyodo.

CNN / THE RADIATION IN THE WATER: [6:48 a.m. ET Wednesday, 7:48 p.m. in Tokyo] Tests revealed traces of radiation in tap water in Fukushima city, 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the Daiichi nuclear plant, the local government said Wednesday. The Fukushima prefecture’s nuclear department said amounts of radioactive cesium and iodine that are not harmful to the human body were found in water samples taken at 8 a.m. Wednesday (7 p.m. ET Tuesday). Government officials said the traces found are connected with the nuclear plant. A measurement of the tap water supply taken later in the day found no traces of iodine or cesium.

Pentagon: Some Troops In Japan Given Potassium Iodide

producermatthew:

No United States service members currently conducting relief missions in Japan are showing symptoms of radiation poisoning, but some crew members are being given Potassium Iodide tablets as a precaution, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

Additionally, the Pentagon said US forces in Japan are not permitted within 50 miles of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant without special authorization.

(Information via Reuters)

latimes: California Department of Public Health officials have opened a phone hotline to address concerns about local radiation exposure in the aftermath of the nuclear power plant crisis in Japan. The number is (916) 341-3947. The Times’ interactive map shows the likelihood of fallout radiation in Hawaii and Los Angeles.
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latimes:

California Department of Public Health officials have opened a phone hotline to address concerns about local radiation exposure in the aftermath of the nuclear power plant crisis in Japan. The number is (916) 341-3947. The Times’ interactive map shows the likelihood of fallout radiation in Hawaii and Los Angeles.

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