Laura Bush flip flops in less than 30 seconds

Via thinkprogress.org

Yesterday in an interview with CNN’s John King, First Lady Laura Bush said “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with singing [the national anthem] in Spanish.” King then reminded the First Lady that her husband said the national anthem should only be sung in English. She quickly reversed her position, telling King “I think it should be sung in English, of course.” Just 25 seconds had elapsed since her first answer. Watch it:

Transcript:

KING: One of the debates in the country right now is about immigration reform, illegal immigration. One of the controversies is this new Spanish language version of the national anthem. Your husband the president says he thinks it should only be in English. But if you go to the state department website you can find it, I think, in four languages. Secretary Rice says she’s heard rap versions.

MRS. BUSH: Well, we’ve all heard different versions like at the Super Bowl every year. I don’t think there is anything wrong with singing it in Spanish. The point is it’s the United States national anthem and what people want is it to be sung in a way that respects the United States and our culture. At the same time, we are a nation of immigrants. We are a nation of many, many languages, because immigrants come and bring their languages.

KING: Is that an issue you disagree with your husband? He says it should be sung in English.

MRS. BUSH: I think it should be sung in English, of course.

World War I critics get pardons

Could this happen again? Laws designed to enhance security after the 2001 attacks encroach on our security. If we cave in to fear and hysteria, liberty will suffer under the guise of security. People are already talking about setting up tent cities to house undocumented workers, who they demand be rounded up.

HELENA, Montana (AP) -- It was a black mark on dozens of family histories that lingered for nearly nine decades -- until a journalism professor and a group of law students examined what happened to citizens who spoke out against the government during World War I.

On Wednesday, nearly 80 people convicted of sedition amid the war's anti-German hysteria received the first posthumous pardons in Montana history, including one who was imprisoned merely for calling the conflict a "rich man's war" and mocking food regulations during a time of rationing.

Governor Brian Schweitzer said the state was "about 80 years too late" in pardoning the mostly working-class people of German descent who were convicted of breaking what was then one of the harshest sedition laws in the nation.

"This should have been done a long time ago," Schweitzer said.

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Jeff Stahler, The Columbus Dispatch

Step into my office and bring your Social Security card

The Decider says the economy is hot, but I'm running into more and more people whose jobs are either being eliminated or they're being outsourced. In my own company, new owners are starting to cut jobs. I suppose they're trying to help save as much money as they can in order to pay for their new acquisition. Anyway, I'm starting to look at he employment sites and employment forums to try to get an idea of what's going on out there. I've been lucky enough to be in my current job for over 15 years, but I'm still too young to retire, unless I can find a way to live on $205 a month. It seems like things haven't changed all that much. The HR people (personnel, as we used to call them) still ask the same formula-like questions. Here is some advice from somebody on Craigslist that makes a lot of sense to me. I agree that if you keep the HR person talking, you have a better chance of getting the job, if only to distract them from asking dumb questions.

Try this on your next interview 05/02 14:43:29

Go into your next interview on a mission to get your interviewer to tell you what challenges the company faces (or your potential department faces) and only then try to weave in your history as it relates to solving their problems. This is the right way to talk about your history.

I teach candidates the way to tell if you "win" or "lose" an interview is by figuring out who does most of the talking (assuming they are answering your questions about the business and not just talking about the weather). There is a funny about social interactions. The more time you spend listening and asking questions to someone, the smarter they will think you are. The more you talk and they listen, the more bored your listener gets. They mentally start thinking about their grocery list. Keep them talking and you win.

Your interviewer will obviously have questions you have to answer, but even these questions give you an opportunity to follow up with another question. Make the discussion about the business and not about you and you win because your interview will really stand out. It's really that simple.

Pefect answer to a consultant's question

Q: Where do you see yourself in five years?

Celebrating the 5th anniversary of you asking me this question.

National Anthem Sung In Spanish At First Bush Inaugural

Via Thinkprogress.org

On Friday, President Bush blasted the idea of singing the Star Spangled Banner in Spanish. But Bush’s highly-scripted 2001 inaugural ceremony actually featured a rendition of the national anthem sung in Spanish by Jon Secada. From Cox News Service, 1/18/01:

The opening ceremony reflected that sentiment. A racially diverse string of famous and once famous performers entertained Bush, soon-to-be First Lady Laura Bush, Vice President-elect Richard B. Cheney and his wife, Lynne, who watched on stage from a special viewing area.

Pop star Jon Secada sang the national anthem in English and Spanish.

Apparently, Secada singing the anthem in Spanish was a regular feature of the Bush campaign. From the 8/3/00 Miami Herald:

The nominee, his wife Laura, erstwhile rival John McCain and his wife Cindy joined Bush on a platform where children sang the national anthem - in “Spanglish,” Secada explained.

This morning, ThinkProgress revealed that, according to Kevin Phillip’s book American Dynasty, Bush himself sang the national anthem in Spanish. Looks like Bush’s conviction that “the national anthem ought to be sung in English” was something he acquired very recently.

Immigrant support day

Today is set aside for immigrants to boycott work, school and shopping to show how much they matter to their communities. But it may not happen. At the last minute, Congress is offering each immigrant, if they'll skip the boycott, their choice of $100 or a tank of gas.

Vouchers should be ready as soon as FEMA answers the phone. (HaBlog)

Experts believe presidential advisor Karl Rove will be indicted this week, because he described his latest testimony before the grand jury as "Hell." But actually, Rove only said that because they wouldn't let him eat any Twinkies while on the stand. (Jake Novak)

The Gallup Poll asked Americans by region if they preferred to see the name Hillary Clinton or Hillary Rodham Clinton on the presidential ballot. The results were not surprising. In the North and Midwest it was Hillary Clinton, in the West it was Hillary Rodham Clinton, and in the South it was When Pigs Fly.  (comedian Argus Hamilton)

New British military officer Prince Harry has no qualms about seeing combat in Iraq. A person of wealth and means actually serving his country in war. Or, as we say in the U.S., "huh?" (Alan Ray)