Cheney’s Dilemma–No dick or that is His Name? : NO QUARTER: "...And why in the world would the CIA send Ambassador Joe Wilson to Niger to find out if there was any credibility to the report? What the hell qualifies Joe Wilson? OK, just because he was the acting Ambassador in Iraq and faced down Saddam Hussein and saved American hostages does not mean anything. Just because Joe Wilson was the U.S. point person in Iraq for monitoring Iraq’s efforts to acquire nuclear weapons does not mean he is that qualified. He may have been one of the more informed people in the United States about Iraq’s nuclear activities and its efforts to acquire uranium yellow cake, but that is no reason to send him on a mission to Africa.
And what in the name of Allah does Joe Wilson know about Africa? Ok, let’s ignore the fact that he served as foreign service officer in several countries in Africa, he was an Ambassador in Africa and he was in charge of Africa at the National Security Council. Just because he followed the issue of uranium exports from Niger and their possible use in nuclear proliferation does not qualify Joe Wilson to do anything but drink green tea..."
Friday, October 30, 2009
Clinton Does Good?
Clinton ‘Broke the Ice’ With Pakistanis Angry Over U.S. Role - Bloomberg.com: "...Meetings with hundreds of Pakistani students, professionals, community leaders and journalists exposed Clinton to public ire over the use of air strikes on suspected terrorist hideouts in Pakistan’s tribal areas and over perceived heavy- handed conditions attached to billions of dollars of U.S. aid.
Clinton’s willingness to hear out the tirades and try to explain the U.S. point of view won her respect, said Mohsin, who was among leading editors invited to air their opinions.
“Whether the charm offensive works,” she added, “will depend on how consistent America’s commitment is to impact peoples’ livelihood...”"
Clinton’s willingness to hear out the tirades and try to explain the U.S. point of view won her respect, said Mohsin, who was among leading editors invited to air their opinions.
“Whether the charm offensive works,” she added, “will depend on how consistent America’s commitment is to impact peoples’ livelihood...”"
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Kucinich On Health Care
"...We compromised on single payer by backing a public option, and now we are being asked to compromise the public option with negotiated rates. In conference, we will likely be asked to compromise negotiated rates with a trigger. In each and every step of the health care debate, the insurance companies have won. If they get hundreds of billions of dollars in new taxpayer subsidies, they get to raise their premiums, and increase their co pays and deductibles, while the public is forced to pay for private insurance, then the insurance companies win big.
“If this is the best we can do, then it is time to ask ourselves whether the two-party system is truly capable of representing the American people or whether the system has been so compromised by special interests that we can’t even protect the health of our own people. This is a moment of truth for the Democratic Party. Will we stand for the people or the insurance companies?”..."
“If this is the best we can do, then it is time to ask ourselves whether the two-party system is truly capable of representing the American people or whether the system has been so compromised by special interests that we can’t even protect the health of our own people. This is a moment of truth for the Democratic Party. Will we stand for the people or the insurance companies?”..."
The Rise Of Fattism
BBC NEWS | UK | Magazine | Why are fat people abused?: "...It might surprise some people that the person doing the kicking was a middle-aged woman, who was also travelling alone. But it might not stun those who are already significantly overweight.
'Fat people are fair game for everyone,' says Ms Coupe, who weighs 22 stone (139kg). 'Yes, I've had beer cans thrown at me by youngsters, but the abuse doesn't just come from the obvious places.
'The normal rules about behaviour, respect and common courtesy don't apply to us...'"
Since this is another club that I don't want to be a member of, I can speak to this with some authority. I took crap from people in a K-12 environment-- I certainly don't put up with it today, though it rarely happens anymore. Still, from Jay Leno talking about our asses to airlines charging extra, yeah, it does seem that it is ok to make any sort of stupid comment about people's weight. The only time in my civilian life when my weight was reasonable was during a period of a few years when I ran upwards of thirty miles a week. That, folks, takes a tremendous amount of time, and no it is not as simple as "don't eat," which is rather akin to telling a smoker to quit smoking by not breathing. Trust me-- no one wants to be fat but until a magic bullet is found society is just going to have to tolerate us.
'Fat people are fair game for everyone,' says Ms Coupe, who weighs 22 stone (139kg). 'Yes, I've had beer cans thrown at me by youngsters, but the abuse doesn't just come from the obvious places.
'The normal rules about behaviour, respect and common courtesy don't apply to us...'"
Since this is another club that I don't want to be a member of, I can speak to this with some authority. I took crap from people in a K-12 environment-- I certainly don't put up with it today, though it rarely happens anymore. Still, from Jay Leno talking about our asses to airlines charging extra, yeah, it does seem that it is ok to make any sort of stupid comment about people's weight. The only time in my civilian life when my weight was reasonable was during a period of a few years when I ran upwards of thirty miles a week. That, folks, takes a tremendous amount of time, and no it is not as simple as "don't eat," which is rather akin to telling a smoker to quit smoking by not breathing. Trust me-- no one wants to be fat but until a magic bullet is found society is just going to have to tolerate us.
The Truth Of The Polls
Black Voice News Online - Polls: Wide Support For Public Option Healthcare Huckabee Halftruth said this morning that all the polls showed the country against the public option and that the nation has once again become conservative. I wonder...
What It Is All About
Howard Kurtz - Holding democracy hostage - washingtonpost.com: "The best description I've ever seen of the United States Senate is as a group of 100 people, each armed with a nuclear weapon.
We're seeing that now, as one member after another expresses doubts, concerns and reservations about the health care bill, all of which entitles them to special hand-holding and extra media attention..."
We're seeing that now, as one member after another expresses doubts, concerns and reservations about the health care bill, all of which entitles them to special hand-holding and extra media attention..."
Obama At Dover
Barack Obama meets coffins of soldiers killed in Afghanistan at air force base | World news | guardian.co.uk: "Barack Obama last night came face to face with the true cost of the war in Afghanistan, as the remains of 18 US soldiers and drug enforcement agents were unloaded from a military aircraft and returned to US soil..."
I'm sure some people will complain that O should've left the photographers behind, and maybe they are right. But I wonder, did either of the Presidents Bush ever meet the body of a warrior in such a fashion? And, yes, that is the way you truly understand the cost of war. Next step, attend a funeral.
I'm sure some people will complain that O should've left the photographers behind, and maybe they are right. But I wonder, did either of the Presidents Bush ever meet the body of a warrior in such a fashion? And, yes, that is the way you truly understand the cost of war. Next step, attend a funeral.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Good,Small Info On HC Costs
Sorry. No words. It's an AP article they say you can't have any. The Associated Press: Health care issues: The cost of health insurance
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Hell Freezes Over: Automotive Edition
Ford Fusion beats Camry, Accord in reliability rating | Detroit Free Press | Freep.com: "Ford Motor Co. has secured its position as the only domestic automaker with world-class reliability, according to a report released today by Consumer Reports at a lunch event in Detroit hosted by the Automotive Press Association..."
Irony And Karma Deja Vu For Limbaugh
The Buzz Log - Rush Was Punked: “Obama Thesis” Hoax - Yahoo! Buzz
"It must have seemed so perfect. An obscure blogger unearths some pages of President Obama's college thesis. The report supposedly comes from big-time journalist Joe Klein of Time magazine. And the thesis has some real gems: like Obama's disdain for the Constitution. The whole thing was nothing more than a satirical post on a humor blog. But Rush Limbaugh, who quoted from the supposed thesis on his radio show, sure wasn't laughing. Here's how it went down..."
"It must have seemed so perfect. An obscure blogger unearths some pages of President Obama's college thesis. The report supposedly comes from big-time journalist Joe Klein of Time magazine. And the thesis has some real gems: like Obama's disdain for the Constitution. The whole thing was nothing more than a satirical post on a humor blog. But Rush Limbaugh, who quoted from the supposed thesis on his radio show, sure wasn't laughing. Here's how it went down..."
Terrorism "Say What?"
Two charged by U.S. in plot to attack Danish paper | U.S. | Reuters: "Two Chicago men have been arrested and charged for allegedly plotting to attack a Danish newspaper that published cartoons about the Prophet Mohammed, the U.S. Justice Department said on Tuesday..."
The Daily Flashback
The Cold War Never Ended - Reason Magazine: "...Although uniformly anti-Soviet, some conservatives too were guilty of a Cold War–induced moral blindness, defending authoritarian governments in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Iberia as bulwarks against communist expansion. Columnist Pat Buchanan celebrated the authoritarian leaders Augusto Pinochet of Chile and Francisco Franco of Spain as “soldier-patriots” and referred quaintly to the racist regime in South Africa as the “Boer Republic.” Others accused America’s most anti-Soviet president of impuissance. As early as 1983, neoconservative writer Norman Podhoretz proclaimed that Reagan’s policies toward the Soviet Union amounted to “appeasement by any other name.”
When the whole rotten experiment suddenly failed, eventually bringing to an end not just Moscow’s Warsaw Pact client governments but the proxy civil wars it fought in the Third World, instead of engaging in overdue self-criticism many commentators clung to shopworn shibboleths..."
When the whole rotten experiment suddenly failed, eventually bringing to an end not just Moscow’s Warsaw Pact client governments but the proxy civil wars it fought in the Third World, instead of engaging in overdue self-criticism many commentators clung to shopworn shibboleths..."
Blaming The Other Guy
This post reminds of the famous academic Two Letters management advice: It Was Clinton’s Fault : NO QUARTER:
"Republicans chafing over Obama’s continued finger pointing at the failings of the Bush Administration need to look in the mirror and check their own glass house. Why? Because 9-11 happened because of Bill Clinton.
"Republicans chafing over Obama’s continued finger pointing at the failings of the Bush Administration need to look in the mirror and check their own glass house. Why? Because 9-11 happened because of Bill Clinton.
Now I do not believe that. But when you try to discuss the failures of the Bush Administration in taking action that might have prevented 9-11 there are many on the right who insist this was Bill Clinton’s fault and Bush was just an innocent by-stander.
So I don’t want to hear any crocodile tears from Republicans and Conservatives about Obama refusing to accept responsibility for the mess he inherited from Bush. If it is good for the goose it is good for the gander..."
Monday, October 26, 2009
Saving The Insurance Industry
Obama told us so « The Confluence
"...I’m baffled that anyone is surprised. He told us loud and clear that helping the insurance companies was his priority. When he was an Illinois’ State Senator working on that state’s attempt at expanding coverage, this was the contribution he was proud of:
"...I’m baffled that anyone is surprised. He told us loud and clear that helping the insurance companies was his priority. When he was an Illinois’ State Senator working on that state’s attempt at expanding coverage, this was the contribution he was proud of:
“We radically changed [the health care bill] in response to concerns that were raised by the insurance industry.” (Obama, 2004/05/19, report from Sep. 23, 2007)"
Sunday, October 25, 2009
It's The Teachers' Fault
Well, that's the way most people will read this essay on what really is causing this recession. Naturally, the public bears no responsibility when its tax money is misused in public education or private education or when the public is more interested in tax cuts than giving students a competitive education: Op-Ed Columnist - The New Untouchables - NYTimes.com: "...Bottom line: We’re not going back to the good old days without fixing our schools as well as our banks."
The Whining Of Wall Street
Who cares if Wall Street 'talent' leaves? - Oct. 23, 2009: "...Yet even as they were running themselves into the ground, the firms managed to pay out more than $12 billion in bonuses -- including 1,606 million-dollar-plus bonuses, according to a report from the New York attorney general's office.
'Even a cursory examination of the data suggests that in these challenging economic times, compensation for bank employees has become unmoored from the banks' financial performance,' the report said..."
'Even a cursory examination of the data suggests that in these challenging economic times, compensation for bank employees has become unmoored from the banks' financial performance,' the report said..."
No Party Says No
Republicans Stand Firm on Public Option Resistance, Despite Emergence of Compromise Plans - Political News - FOXNews.com: "Don't expect a Republican change of heart on government-run health insurance any time soon..."
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Hope For Blindness
Gene therapy transforms eyesight of 12 people with rare visual defect -- latimes.com: "A single injection in a patient's eye brings 'astounding' results. The findings may offer hope for those with macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa..."
Friday, October 23, 2009
Looking Foxward
For all you Fox News Is Fair And Balanced advocates, peruse this article:
The Media Can Legally Lie: "...According to Akre and Wilson, the station was initially very excited about the series. But within a week, Fox executives and their attorneys wanted the reporters to use statements from Monsanto representatives that the reporters knew were false and to make other revisions to the story that were in direct conflict with the facts. Fox editors then tried to force Akre and Wilson to continue to produce the distorted story. When they refused and threatened to report Fox's actions to the FCC, they were both fired.(Project Censored #12 1997)
Akre and Wilson sued the Fox station and on August 18, 2000, a Florida jury unanimously decided that Akre was wrongfully fired by Fox Television when she refused to broadcast (in the jury's words) “a false, distorted or slanted story” about the widespread use of BGH in dairy cows. They further maintained that she deserved protection under Florida's whistle blower law. Akre was awarded a $425,000 settlement. Inexplicably, however, the court decided that Steve Wilson, her partner in the case, was ruled not wronged by the same actions taken by FOX..."
The Media Can Legally Lie: "...According to Akre and Wilson, the station was initially very excited about the series. But within a week, Fox executives and their attorneys wanted the reporters to use statements from Monsanto representatives that the reporters knew were false and to make other revisions to the story that were in direct conflict with the facts. Fox editors then tried to force Akre and Wilson to continue to produce the distorted story. When they refused and threatened to report Fox's actions to the FCC, they were both fired.(Project Censored #12 1997)
Akre and Wilson sued the Fox station and on August 18, 2000, a Florida jury unanimously decided that Akre was wrongfully fired by Fox Television when she refused to broadcast (in the jury's words) “a false, distorted or slanted story” about the widespread use of BGH in dairy cows. They further maintained that she deserved protection under Florida's whistle blower law. Akre was awarded a $425,000 settlement. Inexplicably, however, the court decided that Steve Wilson, her partner in the case, was ruled not wronged by the same actions taken by FOX..."
Good News For The Internets Toobs
Why You Should Care About Net Neutrality - ABC News: "...Thursday, in a bold move, the FCC proposed regulations to ensure that broadband providers -- the companies providing high-speed Internet connections to our homes -- deliver Internet traffic to subscribers in a nondiscriminatory manner..."
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Naked Short Selling
Even though it is incredibly important, financial reporting generally leaves me dazed and confused. After reading this article, I'm just dazed: Wall Street's Naked Swindle : Rolling Stone
Backlashing US
Secret Service under strain as leaders face more threats - The Boston Globe: "The unprecedented number of death threats against President Obama, a rise in racist hate groups, and a new wave of antigovernment fervor threaten to overwhelm the US Secret Service, according to government officials and reports, raising new questions about the 144-year-old agency’s overall mission..."
Is there another McVeigh out there?
Is there another McVeigh out there?
Pay Cuts And Not
Hey Feinberg, what about Goldman? - Oct. 22, 2009: "The Obama administration's pay czar is imposing tough cuts on 175 big earners -- but many on Wall Street are still on track for a banner payday..."
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Al Hits A Homer
Think Progress » Franken Schools Right-Wing Analyst On Medical Bankruptcies In Countries With Universal Care: ‘It’s Zero’:
"...FRANKEN: I think we disagree on whether health care reform, the health care reform that we’re talking about in Congress now should pass. You said that the way we’re going will increase bankruptcies. I want to ask you, how many medical bankruptcies because of medical crises were there last year in Switzerland?
FURCHTGOTT-ROTT: I don’t have that number in front of me, but I can find out and get back to you.
FRANKEN: I can tell you how many it was. It’s zero. Do you know how many medical bankruptcies there were last year in France?
FURCHTGOTT-ROTT: I don’t have that number, but I can get back to you if I like.
FRANKEN: Yeah, the number is zero. Do you know how many were in Germany?..."
"...FRANKEN: I think we disagree on whether health care reform, the health care reform that we’re talking about in Congress now should pass. You said that the way we’re going will increase bankruptcies. I want to ask you, how many medical bankruptcies because of medical crises were there last year in Switzerland?
FURCHTGOTT-ROTT: I don’t have that number in front of me, but I can find out and get back to you.
FRANKEN: I can tell you how many it was. It’s zero. Do you know how many medical bankruptcies there were last year in France?
FURCHTGOTT-ROTT: I don’t have that number, but I can get back to you if I like.
FRANKEN: Yeah, the number is zero. Do you know how many were in Germany?..."
Depressing Report
Another entry from the "No Kidding" Department: Recession Will Be 'Full-Blown Depression': Strategist - General * Europe * News * Story - CNBC.com: "This global recession will turn into a 'full-blown depression,' Nicu Harajchi, CEO of N1 Asset Management, said Friday, adding that global stimulus hasn't come down to Main Street..."
The closest thing to Main Street stimulus has been "Cash For Clunkers." How about some "Cash For Public Works" or "Cash For Teacher's Aides?" Or "Cash For Manufacturing Jobs?"
Update:
In the comments for this post, Alessandro Machi outlined a darn good idea methinks:
The closest thing to Main Street stimulus has been "Cash For Clunkers." How about some "Cash For Public Works" or "Cash For Teacher's Aides?" Or "Cash For Manufacturing Jobs?"
Update:
In the comments for this post, Alessandro Machi outlined a darn good idea methinks:
"It's actually simpler than that. Just waive all interest rate charges on EXISTING consumer credit card debt for anybody who is trying to pay down their credit card debt. (however the banks can't waive interest and then have someone run up even more credit card debt that they will never pay off)
This would instantly divert 15-25 billion dollars a month into local economies. The local economies would be strengthened not by bailouts and stimulus packages, but by one person's paycheck stretching farther.
The banks would not lose out as their customer default rates would shrink almost overnight. As people had more of their paycheck money to spend, they in turn could stimulate their own local economies through their own sweat equity.
This in turn means as this additional 15-25 billion dollars a month goes into local economies the people who are then being paid to do jobs or services could start to pay off their loans. It really is that simple."
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
The Near Death Experience
A friend of mine once said that she wanted to die during a faculty meeting. Naturally, I asked why. Her response: "I'd never know I was dead." This ain't that: Doctor says near-death experiences are in the mind - CNN.com
Palin Heading Into Lion's Den
Will Big O engage Sarah Palin in foreign policy Jeopardy like that, uh, person Charlie Gibson did? Or will it be a love fest? I say "Beware Sarah." Sarah Palin to go on Oprah Winfrey show to chat up new book 'Going Rogue: An American Life'
Quit Rolling Those Dice! (Not Politics)
Then again, maybe it is politics...
"We've seen some fancy applications for Microsoft's Surface, the touchable, strokable, caressable computing device/big-ass table, but not a single one has made us twitter in nerdy glee like Surfacescapes. Created by a team at Carnegie Mellon University, it's an implementation of Dungeons & Dragons in 3D, something that has of course been done dozens and dozens of times before, but this is different. Way different. It brilliantly brings the tabletop style of play to Surface, with players moving real figurines over virtual battlefields, rolling virtual d20s and d6s to deal real damage against digital dire wolves and the like, opponents who can move and attack automatically. Sure, it takes some of the imagination out of the experience, but it'll also make re-rolling your character a heck of a lot easier -- not to mention eliminating the dungeonmaster's folder of magic, mystery, and crudely drawn maps..."
[Via Microsoft Surface Blog]
Monday, October 19, 2009
Fox And Misinformation
It seems that most of the interesting news is about Fox News: Fox News isn't even pretending anymore | Salon: "...According to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, “72 percent of self-identified FOX News viewers believe the health-care plan will give coverage to illegal immigrants, 79 percent of them say it will lead to a government takeover, 69 percent think that it will use taxpayer dollars to pay for abortions, and 75 percent believe that it will allow the government to make decisions about when to stop providing care for the elderly.”
Almost needless to say, all of these things are categorically false. The “death panels” falsehood, for example, was invented by serial misinformer Betsy McCaughey (financed by the right-wing Manhattan Institute with money from tobacco giant Philip Morris), amplified by Sarah Palin, and then broadcast day and night by Fox News. And so it goes, day after day..."
The first paragraph above contains the core worrying point in the entire debacle-- most people cannot discern the difference between fantasy and reality. Lord help us when V returns. Or can you imagine the chaos Special Bulletin would make today, especially if it were broadcast by Fox?
Almost needless to say, all of these things are categorically false. The “death panels” falsehood, for example, was invented by serial misinformer Betsy McCaughey (financed by the right-wing Manhattan Institute with money from tobacco giant Philip Morris), amplified by Sarah Palin, and then broadcast day and night by Fox News. And so it goes, day after day..."
The first paragraph above contains the core worrying point in the entire debacle-- most people cannot discern the difference between fantasy and reality. Lord help us when V returns. Or can you imagine the chaos Special Bulletin would make today, especially if it were broadcast by Fox?
Turnabout In Jihad Iran
BBC NEWS | Middle East | Profile: Iran's Jundullah militants: "The Iranian authorities have accused a shadowy group called Jundullah - the Soldiers of God - of carrying out a suicide bombing on 18 October which killed six commanders of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards..."
Fox Fearing Obama
Charlotte Front and Center: Obama White House Fears Fox News: "...Fox News has its news programs and its opinion programs. The opinion programs have struck a nerve that Obama and this current White House can not tolerate. Fox brought to light the Acorn videos of corruption, and the unraveling of Czar Van Jones White House career long before CNN and other news sources would even admit such issues were newsworthy. We also know that Van Jones would still be positioned in the White House if it had not been for the vetting accomplished from a determined Glenn Beck. Do we think any news from the Tea Parties would have been sufficiently covered without Fox News...?"
Sunday, October 18, 2009
GOP Mouthpiece Is FOX
Obama Team Continues Effort to Isolate Fox News - Political News - FOXNews.com: "Senior Obama administration officials took to the airwaves Sunday to accuse Fox News of pushing a particular point of view, one week after the administration fired its initial salvo to try to isolate the news network by accusing it of being a GOP mouthpiece..."
Recent "Media Tell The Truth" rallies all seem to say that Fox is the only truthful media outlet. The reality is that there is no truthful media outlet. Fox is a GOP operation; MSNBC is a Democratic leaning outlet; CNN speaks for corporate America. The networks all have their focus, too, and most of that is in service to their owner overlords.
Recent "Media Tell The Truth" rallies all seem to say that Fox is the only truthful media outlet. The reality is that there is no truthful media outlet. Fox is a GOP operation; MSNBC is a Democratic leaning outlet; CNN speaks for corporate America. The networks all have their focus, too, and most of that is in service to their owner overlords.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
O'Learning?
It is unfortunate that we have a president that requires on-the-job training. He should have never let the insurers near the table. They should have been on the menu from the start. So does he know what everyone with a smidgen of a brain knew before this whole endeavor began?
Obama Threatens Insurers’ Anti-Trust Exemption - NYTimes.com: "...In unusually harsh terms, Mr. Obama cast insurance companies as obstacles to change interested only in preserving their own “profits and bonuses” and willing to “bend the truth or break it” to stop his drive to remake the nation’s health care system. The president used his weekly radio and Internet address to push back against industry assertions that legislation will drive up premiums.
“It’s smoke and mirrors,” Mr. Obama said. “It’s bogus. And it’s all too familiar. Every time we get close to passing reform, the insurance companies produce these phony studies as a prescription and say, ‘Take one of these, and call us in a decade.’ Well, not this time...”"
Let us hope not. The only way American manufacturing can become competitive again is for the public to underwrite health care the way it is done in most of the industrialized world.
And we need manufacturing and agriculture and the high tech industries to provide a tax base for everyone.
Obama Threatens Insurers’ Anti-Trust Exemption - NYTimes.com: "...In unusually harsh terms, Mr. Obama cast insurance companies as obstacles to change interested only in preserving their own “profits and bonuses” and willing to “bend the truth or break it” to stop his drive to remake the nation’s health care system. The president used his weekly radio and Internet address to push back against industry assertions that legislation will drive up premiums.
“It’s smoke and mirrors,” Mr. Obama said. “It’s bogus. And it’s all too familiar. Every time we get close to passing reform, the insurance companies produce these phony studies as a prescription and say, ‘Take one of these, and call us in a decade.’ Well, not this time...”"
Let us hope not. The only way American manufacturing can become competitive again is for the public to underwrite health care the way it is done in most of the industrialized world.
And we need manufacturing and agriculture and the high tech industries to provide a tax base for everyone.
In Case You Care...
The breasts of McCain explored and commented upon: Meghan McCain says 'Don't call me a slut!' OK, how about attention junkie? | The Dish Rag | Los Angeles Times
Friday, October 16, 2009
Yet Another Crook
Hedge Fund Chief Is Charged With Fraud - NYTimes.com: "By all appearances, Raj Rajaratnam was a self-made billionaire, having built Galleon Group into a giant hedge fund with a specialty in technology companies.
Preet Bharara, the United States attorney, said the charges were “a wake-up call for Wall Street.”
But prosecutors said on Friday that he had profited not from his trading genius but from his Rolodex, and they arrested him on charges of conspiracy and securities fraud in what they called the biggest insider trading scheme ever involving a hedge fund..."
Preet Bharara, the United States attorney, said the charges were “a wake-up call for Wall Street.”
But prosecutors said on Friday that he had profited not from his trading genius but from his Rolodex, and they arrested him on charges of conspiracy and securities fraud in what they called the biggest insider trading scheme ever involving a hedge fund..."
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Fox Wars
One of the few things that I agree with Obama about is Faux News. Herewith, a status report: A Volley Between Fox News and Obama Administration - NYTimes.com.
More GOPer Hypocrisy
Republicans Should Just Say 'No' to Democrats - FOXNews.com: "...Without the Republicans rising up against the “my way or the highway” governing by the Democrats, we would most certainly would have had a socialized health care system in place by now as well as a cap-and-trade bill that would slap a tax on every American with increased energy costs..."
Of course, the GOP, during the reign of Bush The Lesser, never engaged in that sort of behavior-- other than creating their own reality, much like Obama, where they happened to tread.
Of course, the GOP, during the reign of Bush The Lesser, never engaged in that sort of behavior-- other than creating their own reality, much like Obama, where they happened to tread.
Stimulus Jobs
WSJ: Stimulus Created Or Saved About 30,000 Jobs - WSJ.com: "About 30,000 jobs have been directly created or saved by contractors who received money from the federal stimulus program, according to new reports today.
The reports cover only a small portion of the $787 billion package: spending on infrastructure and social programs being carried out by contractors. Those companies had been awarded around $16 billion, of which they had spent $2 billion by the beginning of this month..."
The reports cover only a small portion of the $787 billion package: spending on infrastructure and social programs being carried out by contractors. Those companies had been awarded around $16 billion, of which they had spent $2 billion by the beginning of this month..."
T2000's Little Bro'
Your nightmares begin here.
YouTube - iRobot's Soft Morphing Blob 'Bot Takes Its First Steps
YouTube - iRobot's Soft Morphing Blob 'Bot Takes Its First Steps
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
The Weekly Worm Turner
There are so many people belching from the Kool-O'Aid that I feel compelled to create the "Weekly Worm Turner" for those O'fans who have suddenly noticed something. Our first award goes to This Modern World | Salon Comics.
Who's Who Where (In Politics)
Booman Writes a Stupid Post « The Confluence: "...How about defining who we are, because clearly, as Clinton shills, Booman is addressing his temper tantrum to us. Let me clear up some misconceptions for him. We are not Tea Partiers. We are not Birthers. We are not Republicans. And despite what the people who are closest to us politically continue to think, we are not racists. That word continues to be flung around by people who should know better. We know our own hearts and shouldn’t have to keep defending ourselves. But whatever. The evidence should speak for itself. As a scientist, I don’t believe in hiding data and evidence. I haven’t changed a word of what I have written on this site. So, I challenge anyone who doubts my honesty on the issue of race to comb through our archives and find the smoking gun. You won’t find one..."
O Defended On Gay Policy
Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Hold Your Breath | Jamie McIntyre: "...Stewart, like many others, suggests lifting the ban is not heavy lifting, arguing that in the “cornucopia” of issues on that metaphorical platter, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” amounts to “a little of rice pudding off to the side” and admonishes the President that he “could finish that before you get back to the table.”
But what all these critics always miss is that the President can’t change the law that forces gays in uniform to cover-up their sexuality. Only Congress can.
It’s the members of Congress, not the President, who are ignoring the growing sentiment in America to end discrimination against lesbians homosexuals in the U.S. military..."
The comment thread at the post displays an, er, ungay bias.
But what all these critics always miss is that the President can’t change the law that forces gays in uniform to cover-up their sexuality. Only Congress can.
It’s the members of Congress, not the President, who are ignoring the growing sentiment in America to end discrimination against lesbians homosexuals in the U.S. military..."
The comment thread at the post displays an, er, ungay bias.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
About That Global Warming
BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | What happened to global warming?: "This headline may come as a bit of a surprise, so too might that fact that the warmest year recorded globally was not in 2008 or 2007, but in 1998.
But it is true. For the last 11 years we have not observed any increase in global temperatures.
And our climate models did not forecast it, even though man-made carbon dioxide, the gas thought to be responsible for warming our planet, has continued to rise..."
But it is true. For the last 11 years we have not observed any increase in global temperatures.
And our climate models did not forecast it, even though man-made carbon dioxide, the gas thought to be responsible for warming our planet, has continued to rise..."
Insurance Industry Errs
Insurers face blowback after report - Carrie Budoff Brown - POLITICO.com
"In the health care reform debate, where playing nice has been the rule, a scathing insurance industry report looked to critics Monday like a grenade aimed at scuttling progress in Congress.
"In the health care reform debate, where playing nice has been the rule, a scathing insurance industry report looked to critics Monday like a grenade aimed at scuttling progress in Congress.
But it also looked to some like too little, too late.
Not only did the report land many months into the debate — with Democrats on the cusp of passing bills through five committees — it infuriated some of the very people the industry group hoped to influence.
Monday, October 12, 2009
US "Closely Divided?"
The Most Amusing Quote of the Day : NO QUARTER:
"...And another thing. The country is “closely divided”? Barack Obama won the election by 192 electoral votes, Democrats control both Houses of Congress, have a filibuster proof majority in the Senate, and the opposition Republicans have been utterly decimated, and are floundering in the polls.
This is closely divided? This is an environment in which Democrats are going to have to recognize that the president is going to have to break his promises?
Maybe it’s time for some White House advisers to get out of their pajamas and read a newspaper once in a while. They might find out that we actually won the election (and that the blogs - and the gay community - played a key role in that victory).
This governing from a position of weakness and fear “thing” is getting old, fast..."
"...And another thing. The country is “closely divided”? Barack Obama won the election by 192 electoral votes, Democrats control both Houses of Congress, have a filibuster proof majority in the Senate, and the opposition Republicans have been utterly decimated, and are floundering in the polls.
This is closely divided? This is an environment in which Democrats are going to have to recognize that the president is going to have to break his promises?
Maybe it’s time for some White House advisers to get out of their pajamas and read a newspaper once in a while. They might find out that we actually won the election (and that the blogs - and the gay community - played a key role in that victory).
This governing from a position of weakness and fear “thing” is getting old, fast..."
Olympic Nuttery In The Near North
anubis, anubis, anubis: olympic lunacy: "...our provincial government has introduced a law allowing city workers to enter people's homes to remove any anti-olympic signs. i'm not making this up:
OLYMPIC LUNACY
the olympic police are also clandestinely observing any olympic protests. protesters are paid a visit by undercover rcmp olympic security forces. not only are protesters paid a visit, friends and relatives of protesters are also paid a visit. once again, i'm not making this up..."
OLYMPIC LUNACY
the olympic police are also clandestinely observing any olympic protests. protesters are paid a visit by undercover rcmp olympic security forces. not only are protesters paid a visit, friends and relatives of protesters are also paid a visit. once again, i'm not making this up..."
What Would Jesus Do?
Franklin Graham’s big salary: in tune with Christ’s teachings? | CITIZEN-TIMES.com | Asheville Citizen-Times: "But I was stunned by the news last week that Franklin Graham’s total compensation in 2008 was a mind-boggling $1.2 million. That amount of dough for a man working in God’s name seems, well, ungodly..."
Sunday, October 11, 2009
New Battery Type
BBC NEWS | Technology | Tiny 'nuclear batteries' unveiled: "Researchers have demonstrated a penny-sized 'nuclear battery' that produces energy from the decay of radioisotopes..."
Birded By CIGNA
CIGNA Employee Flips Off Mother Of Dead Girl Denied Transplant: "A CIGNA employee gave the finger -- literally -- to a woman whose daughter died after the insurance giant refused to cover her liver transplant..."
Palin Still The One
Palin a 'formidable force,' McCain says - News - Charleston Daily Mail - West Virginia News and Sports -
"Last year's Republican nominee for president predicted that Sarah Palin will remain a "formidable force'' in the GOP, despite criticisms that the former vice presidential candidate lacked the substance and policy knowledge needed for national office..."
"Last year's Republican nominee for president predicted that Sarah Palin will remain a "formidable force'' in the GOP, despite criticisms that the former vice presidential candidate lacked the substance and policy knowledge needed for national office..."
No Surprise On O'Bashing
Pundits Batter Nobel Committee for Awarding Obama Peace Prize - Political News - FOXNews.com: "A raft of conservative pundits and even one network anchor used the Sunday morning news shows to batter the Nobel committee for awarding President Obama the Peace Prize before he had a chance to turn his lofty rhetoric into historic accomplishments..."
Saturday, October 10, 2009
O'Bank Barking
Obama urges creation of agency to regulate financial industry -- latimes.com: "...In some of his sharpest comments on the issue, Obama slammed banks and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for trying to block, or at least water down, the proposed Consumer Financial Protection Agency as it heads toward a vote in a House committee next week.
'They're doing what they always do, descending on Congress, using every bit of influence they have to maintain the status quo that has maximized their profits at the expense of American consumers, despite the fact that recently a whole bunch of those same American consumers bailed them out as a consequence of the bad decisions that they made,' Obama said Friday at a White House gathering of key lawmakers, administration officials and other supporters..."
If he keeps talking like that, I may get excited. Or not.
'They're doing what they always do, descending on Congress, using every bit of influence they have to maintain the status quo that has maximized their profits at the expense of American consumers, despite the fact that recently a whole bunch of those same American consumers bailed them out as a consequence of the bad decisions that they made,' Obama said Friday at a White House gathering of key lawmakers, administration officials and other supporters..."
If he keeps talking like that, I may get excited. Or not.
Chinese Hummer
3rd UPDATE: GM Finalizes Deal To Sell Hummer To China's Tengzhong - WSJ.com: "General Motors Co. on Friday finalized an agreement to sell its Hummer truck brand to a Chinese manufacturer, which would mark China's first major entry into the U.S. auto market.
Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co. bought Hummer in a $150 million deal, according to several people familiar with the deal. Under the terms, GM will continue to manufacture the vehicles until no later than 2012, when Tengzhong will take over production..."
Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co. bought Hummer in a $150 million deal, according to several people familiar with the deal. Under the terms, GM will continue to manufacture the vehicles until no later than 2012, when Tengzhong will take over production..."
GOPers Making Fun Of O
It's an AP site so you can't have any words: The Associated Press: Russians praise, GOP mocks, Obama's peace prize
Friday, October 09, 2009
Comment Of The Day
Nobel Gets Punk’d : NO QUARTER: "Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban, also provided a statement in reaction to the Nobel news.”We condemn the award of the Nobel Peace Prize for Obama,” Mujahid said.
“Something has happened here that we all agree with the Taliban and Iran about, and that is he doesn’t deserve the award.” -R. Limbaugh.
PRICELESS!!!"
“Something has happened here that we all agree with the Taliban and Iran about, and that is he doesn’t deserve the award.” -R. Limbaugh.
PRICELESS!!!"
Bad News For Incumbents
Importance of Issues - Rasmussen Reports™: "For nearly two years, economic issues have held the top spot in terms of importance among voters.
But the latest national telephone survey shows that 83% now view government ethics and corruption as very important, placing it just ahead of the economy on a list of 10 key electoral issues regularly tracked by Rasmussen Reports. Eighty-two percent (82%) of voters see the economy as very important..."
You can't clean-up the pig pen if the hogs are still in the lot.
But the latest national telephone survey shows that 83% now view government ethics and corruption as very important, placing it just ahead of the economy on a list of 10 key electoral issues regularly tracked by Rasmussen Reports. Eighty-two percent (82%) of voters see the economy as very important..."
You can't clean-up the pig pen if the hogs are still in the lot.
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Franken Helps Vets
I like Al. A lot.
Al Franken Keeps His Promise « The Confluence: "...Well, the first piece of legislation Al worked on was not on behalf of Goldman Sachs, or Haliburton, or Wall Street. It was for veterans, and it was aimed at making service dogs more affordable for wounded veterans..."
Al Franken Keeps His Promise « The Confluence: "...Well, the first piece of legislation Al worked on was not on behalf of Goldman Sachs, or Haliburton, or Wall Street. It was for veterans, and it was aimed at making service dogs more affordable for wounded veterans..."
O Half-Way
Cannonfire "Strange Days Indeed": "...Once again, we face the old problem: When Republicans are in power, they can (usually) vote like Republicans without fear of losing power. But when Democrats are in power, they must vote like Republicans. Conservatism remains this nation's ideological default position.
We would have been much better off if McCain had won. As long as conservative propagandists can pretend that unregulated laissez faire is an untried ideal, we will never have a return to Keynesian sanity. Since 1980, this nation has remained in psychic thrall to the ideas and ideals of Milton Friedman. We've been hypnotized. Four years of Depression with a Republican in the White House might have forced us, finally, to snap out of our trance. Instead, we're going to get four years of Depression under Barack Obama -- a sell-out whose tepid half-measures have been ludicrously branded 'socialist...'"
We would have been much better off if McCain had won. As long as conservative propagandists can pretend that unregulated laissez faire is an untried ideal, we will never have a return to Keynesian sanity. Since 1980, this nation has remained in psychic thrall to the ideas and ideals of Milton Friedman. We've been hypnotized. Four years of Depression with a Republican in the White House might have forced us, finally, to snap out of our trance. Instead, we're going to get four years of Depression under Barack Obama -- a sell-out whose tepid half-measures have been ludicrously branded 'socialist...'"
Rangel Roasting Slowly
Rangel is one of my favorites and I hate to see him in trouble, but if the criminal shoe fits...
Ethics Committee to Expand Investigation Into Rangel Allegations - Political News - FOXNews.com: "The House Ethics Committee voted unanimously on Thursday to expand its probe of Rep. Charlie Rangel, D.-N.Y., chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee who is at the center of an investigation into a long and stinging list of alleged wrongdoing..."
Ethics Committee to Expand Investigation Into Rangel Allegations - Political News - FOXNews.com: "The House Ethics Committee voted unanimously on Thursday to expand its probe of Rep. Charlie Rangel, D.-N.Y., chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee who is at the center of an investigation into a long and stinging list of alleged wrongdoing..."
HC Reform Outlook Improving
Health Revamp Picks Up Momentum - WSJ.com: "The White House-backed drive for a health bill picked up steam Thursday, propelled by a favorable report on its price tag and positive comments by some key players..."
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
When Hollywood Is Not
Following is an excerpt from a nifty essay on the perceived Hollywood and the "real" Hollywood and its support of and lack of support of child-rapist Roman Polanski.
Is Hollywood really a hotbed of support for Roman Polanski? | The Big Picture | Los Angeles Times:
"...There's only one problem: All of those filmmakers, along with Harvey Weinstein, live far, far away from Hollywood and, with occasional exceptions, make their movies outside of Hollywood as well. If you look up the rest of the names on the best-known petition in circulation, it is filled with the names of foreign filmmakers, writers and actors -- including the likes of Pedro Almodovar, Wong Kar Wai, Alfonso Cuaron, Isabelle Adjani and Salman Rushdie -- who also rarely set foot in Hollywood. If critics like Teachout want to claim that high-brow artists and writers have rushed to Polanski's defense, fair enough. But to say that Hollywood is in his corner, as part of a political argument that Hollywood is a liberal elite woefully ignorant of mainstream values, is just hogwash.
Is Hollywood really a hotbed of support for Roman Polanski? | The Big Picture | Los Angeles Times:
"...There's only one problem: All of those filmmakers, along with Harvey Weinstein, live far, far away from Hollywood and, with occasional exceptions, make their movies outside of Hollywood as well. If you look up the rest of the names on the best-known petition in circulation, it is filled with the names of foreign filmmakers, writers and actors -- including the likes of Pedro Almodovar, Wong Kar Wai, Alfonso Cuaron, Isabelle Adjani and Salman Rushdie -- who also rarely set foot in Hollywood. If critics like Teachout want to claim that high-brow artists and writers have rushed to Polanski's defense, fair enough. But to say that Hollywood is in his corner, as part of a political argument that Hollywood is a liberal elite woefully ignorant of mainstream values, is just hogwash.
There's no petition going around with the names of the real Hollywood elite -- A-list filmmakers and studio chiefs like Steven Spielberg, Alan Horn, James Cameron, Amy Pascal, Jerry Bruckheimer, Brian Grazer, Tom Rothman, J.J. Abrams, John Lasseter or Michael Bay -- because the real Hollywood elite isn't supporting Polanski. In fact, they haven't offered the slightest hint of backing for Polanski. It's only European and New York-based artists, who clearly see the world in a very different light than the real Hollywood elite..."
The Other Shoe Is Jewish
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad revealed to have Jewish past - Telegraph: "A photograph of the Iranian president holding up his identity card during elections in March 2008 clearly shows his family has Jewish roots.
A close-up of the document reveals he was previously known as Sabourjian – a Jewish name meaning cloth weaver..."
A close-up of the document reveals he was previously known as Sabourjian – a Jewish name meaning cloth weaver..."
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Some GOP Support For HC Reform
Growing Number of GOP Leaders Back Health-Care Reform - washingtonpost.com: "California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday became the most prominent elected Republican to urge Congress to complete work on health-care reform, departing from the widely held GOP view that lawmakers should scrap the current process and start over again..."
Iran War Poll
Poll: Strong majority back military action in Iran | JTA - Jewish & Israel News: "A strong majority of Americans would support military action to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, according to a new poll.
Asked whether it was 'more important' to 'prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, even if it means taking military action' or to 'avoid military conflict, even if Iran may develop nuclear weapons,' 61 percent chose the first option, according to a poll released Tuesday by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press..."
Let's rephrase this poll a bit: "Would you sacrifice your son or daughter to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons?" If you can't truthfully answer "yes," then you have no business offering an opinion on the subject. (Read the various news reports of the Panama Canal treaty way back when for a primer on nonsense, weapons, and invasions.)
Asked whether it was 'more important' to 'prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, even if it means taking military action' or to 'avoid military conflict, even if Iran may develop nuclear weapons,' 61 percent chose the first option, according to a poll released Tuesday by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press..."
Let's rephrase this poll a bit: "Would you sacrifice your son or daughter to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons?" If you can't truthfully answer "yes," then you have no business offering an opinion on the subject. (Read the various news reports of the Panama Canal treaty way back when for a primer on nonsense, weapons, and invasions.)
The Daily Flashback: Clinton Era
Read this and add a new term, "Purchased Fellows," to your political vocabulary: Anglachel's Journal: The Hacks, the Whores, the Purchased Fellows.
O "I" SpeechIfying
George F. Will - The Obamas' Ego Trip to Copenhagen - washingtonpost.com: "...Both Obamas gave heartfelt speeches about . . . themselves. Although the working of the committee's mind is murky, it could reasonably have rejected Chicago's bid for the 2016 Games on aesthetic grounds -- unless narcissism has suddenly become an Olympic sport.
In the 41 sentences of her remarks, Michelle Obama used some form of the personal pronouns 'I' or 'me' 44 times. Her husband was, comparatively, a shrinking violet, using those pronouns only 26 times in 48 sentences. Still, 70 times in 89 sentences conveyed the message that somehow their fascinating selves were what made, or should have made, Chicago's case compelling..."
In the 41 sentences of her remarks, Michelle Obama used some form of the personal pronouns 'I' or 'me' 44 times. Her husband was, comparatively, a shrinking violet, using those pronouns only 26 times in 48 sentences. Still, 70 times in 89 sentences conveyed the message that somehow their fascinating selves were what made, or should have made, Chicago's case compelling..."
Monday, October 05, 2009
Net Neutrality And The GOP
UPDATE 1-US Republicans seek study before FCC Web rules | Industries | Consumer Goods & Retail | Reuters: "A group of U.S. House of Representatives Republicans urged the Federal Communications Commission to conduct a market analysis before proposing a new rule to maintain an open Internet..."
Climate Vs. The Chamber
Apple Leaving Chamber of Commerce Over Climate Change Stance - washingtonpost.com: "Apple Inc. is pulling out of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce because of the chamber's strident criticism of plans to reduce U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions, the computer giant said Monday..."
Medicare Problem
Donald Palmisano, William Plested and Daniel Johnson: A Public Option Will Make the American Health-Care System Worse - WSJ.com: "...Today, Medicare already reimburses doctors less than what many of their treatments cost to provide. Now the government is saying that additional Medicare cuts are coming—thus forcing doctors to try and make up the difference in volume, by seeing more patients. If you ask patients about this, they understand that more volume means less time with the doctor. That's something that all patients and doctors should oppose. In time, it will be difficult to find a physician..."
Is there some kind of rule in Medicare that says doctors can't charge more? If so, I'd like to know where. All of my medical people have no problem charging more than what my insurance covers, so is Medicare different somehow? Oh, and that "cost of treatment"-- how is that figured and who figures that and what sort of profit margin is built into that calculation?
Is there some kind of rule in Medicare that says doctors can't charge more? If so, I'd like to know where. All of my medical people have no problem charging more than what my insurance covers, so is Medicare different somehow? Oh, and that "cost of treatment"-- how is that figured and who figures that and what sort of profit margin is built into that calculation?
New Health Scare?
Estimated Number of Children With Autism Doubles - ABC News: "Parents are reporting cases of autism at double the rate of the last U.S. government survey in 2003, prompting calls for more research and spawning doubts about the true number of children affected..."
Sunday, October 04, 2009
More On Whoopi's Error
It's 'Rape-Rape', Whoopi - FOXNews.com: "This week, on ABC's 'The View,' co-host and comedian Whoopi Goldberg had the audacity to suggest that Roman Polanski's 1977 sexual assault on a 13-year old girl wasn't 'actual rape.'
'I know it wasn't rape-rape,' Goldberg said. 'Initially he was charged with rape, and then pled guilty to having sex with a minor.' On Wednesday, Goldberg said that she was not defending Polanski but rather trying to clarify the precise charge he pleaded to..."
'I know it wasn't rape-rape,' Goldberg said. 'Initially he was charged with rape, and then pled guilty to having sex with a minor.' On Wednesday, Goldberg said that she was not defending Polanski but rather trying to clarify the precise charge he pleaded to..."
Who's Holding The Bailout Bag?
From the "You Think" Department: Bair Says Creditors Should Help Pay for Bank Failure (Update1) - Bloomberg.com: "Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairman Sheila Bair said regulators should consider making bank holding companies and secured creditors carry more of the cost of bank failures..."
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Why Does The GOP Hate America?
Bad day for USA. Good day for GOP? - Glenn Thrush - POLITICO.com: "Bad day for USA. Good day for GOP?
Remember when Republicans accused Democrats of rooting against America?
Judging from the volume of exultant Tweets and press releases from Republicans today -- you'd think they'd won a doubleheader, what with Chicago losing the Olympics and the unemployment numbers rising unexpectedly..."
Remember when Republicans accused Democrats of rooting against America?
Judging from the volume of exultant Tweets and press releases from Republicans today -- you'd think they'd won a doubleheader, what with Chicago losing the Olympics and the unemployment numbers rising unexpectedly..."
Friday, October 02, 2009
Job Losses Hurt O
Republicans Seize on Jobs as Proof Obama’s Policies Have Failed - Bloomberg.com: " Republicans seized on a jobless report showing mounting losses to criticize President Barack Obama’s policies and shift the blame for U.S. economic woes to his administration rather than his predecessor, George W. Bush... "
Palin Will Fight Back
Palin vs. Schmidt: Bring it on | Midwest Voices: "Sarah Palin may just send Steve Schmidt a great big thank you card for what he said Friday.
Sure, Schmidt was trying to be derogatory when he said her nomination as the GOP's presidential candidate in 2012 would be 'catastrophic' for the party..."
Sure, Schmidt was trying to be derogatory when he said her nomination as the GOP's presidential candidate in 2012 would be 'catastrophic' for the party..."
Fire Tower Bombing
Teens face felonies after posting YouTube of crimes | CITIZEN-TIMES.com | Asheville Citizen-Times: "Six teenagers face felony charges in connection with the attempted firebombing of the Wayah Bald Lookout Tower in Nantahala National Forest in Macon County.
Sheriff Robert Holland said the teenagers filmed the stunt and put the video on YouTube. Federal investigators involved in the case have since taken the clip down."
They were attempting to burn a stone fire tower.
Sheriff Robert Holland said the teenagers filmed the stunt and put the video on YouTube. Federal investigators involved in the case have since taken the clip down."
They were attempting to burn a stone fire tower.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
"Die Quickly" ????
Rep. Grayson: No apology for 'die quickly' remark - USATODAY.com: "Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., resisted GOP calls Wednesday to apologize for saying Republicans 'want you to die quickly if you get sick.'
The freshman congressman said the statement, which he made in brief remarks Tuesday night on the House floor, was triggered after he read an article by Harvard scientists claiming 44,000 Americans die every year because of a lack of health insurance..."
The freshman congressman said the statement, which he made in brief remarks Tuesday night on the House floor, was triggered after he read an article by Harvard scientists claiming 44,000 Americans die every year because of a lack of health insurance..."
Killing Poll Creator ID'd
Secret Service IDs kid for Facebook 'assassination poll' -- no charges - The Oval: Tracking the Obama presidency: "The Secret Service announced today that a juvenile was behind the Facebook posting that asked whether President Obama should be assassinated, calling it a prank that would not lead to prosecution."
More Poor Roman
French Minister Doubts U.S. Fairness to Roman Polanski - ABC News: "France's Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand questioned on Thursday whether film director Roman Polanski would get a fair hearing from the U.S. justice system, which is seeking his extradition on a 32-year-old sex case.
The 'Chinatown' director, 76, was arrested in Switzerland on Sunday at the request of the United States for having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977. He had fled the United States on the eve of his sentencing in 1978, fearing a 50-year jail term.
'There are concerns over the absolutely incredible media lynching to which Roman Polanski was subjected 30 years ago,' Mitterrand told a news conference in Paris..."
On Huckleberry Half-Truth's (Mike Huckabee) radio show this morning, he quoted a survey of French citizens which said the overwhelming majority of French wanted Roman the Child Rapist put away, pointing out that the elites everywhere are out of touch with the thinking of the less powerful.
Update: The French Government has dropped its opposition to the U.S. concerning Polanski.
The 'Chinatown' director, 76, was arrested in Switzerland on Sunday at the request of the United States for having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977. He had fled the United States on the eve of his sentencing in 1978, fearing a 50-year jail term.
'There are concerns over the absolutely incredible media lynching to which Roman Polanski was subjected 30 years ago,' Mitterrand told a news conference in Paris..."
On Huckleberry Half-Truth's (Mike Huckabee) radio show this morning, he quoted a survey of French citizens which said the overwhelming majority of French wanted Roman the Child Rapist put away, pointing out that the elites everywhere are out of touch with the thinking of the less powerful.
Update: The French Government has dropped its opposition to the U.S. concerning Polanski.
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