Saturday, September 05, 2009
Number 89: Five more U.S. banks seized
Sept. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Lenders in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Arizona collapsed, pushing the number of bank failures to 89 this year amid continuing fallout from the worst economic slump since the Great Depression.
Illinois lenders InBank of Oak Forest and Platinum Community Bank of Rolling Meadows; Vantus Bank of Sioux City, Iowa; First Bank of Kansas City, Missouri; and First State Bank of Flagstaff, Arizona were shut by regulators, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. was named receiver, the agency said in statements yesterday. Closing the lenders, with combined assets of $1.1 billion and deposits of $982 million, will cost the deposit insurance fund about $401 million.
Read on.
Illinois lenders InBank of Oak Forest and Platinum Community Bank of Rolling Meadows; Vantus Bank of Sioux City, Iowa; First Bank of Kansas City, Missouri; and First State Bank of Flagstaff, Arizona were shut by regulators, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. was named receiver, the agency said in statements yesterday. Closing the lenders, with combined assets of $1.1 billion and deposits of $982 million, will cost the deposit insurance fund about $401 million.
Read on.
Visitor logs show Christian leaders and super lobbyists had Bush’s ear
CREW is now able to document those meetings exactly. “The newly released records show Mr. Payne visited President Bush on four separate occasions: December 12, 2001; April 2, 2002; May 8, 2003; and December 15, 2004. Mr. Payne’s White House visits also included visits to Karl Rove on August 6, 2002, and December 18, 2003. A separate set of records from visits to the vice president’s residence shows Mr. Payne attended a holiday reception hosted by the Cheneys on December 10, 2002; an event at the residence on December 14, 2006; and a holiday party hosted by the Cheneys on December 13, 2007.”
The visitor logs also reveal almost 200 visits to the Bush White House by leaders of the religious right, 35 of which were visits with President Bush himself. The visitors included such familiar names as James Dobson, Gary Bauer, the late Jerry Falwell, and leaders of the Traditional Values Coalition, Concerned Women for America, the Family Research Council, and the American Family Association.
The largest number of vists were from the chairman and the executive director of the Traditional Values Coalition, who between them visited the White House a total of 69 times from 2001 to 2008, including 8 visits with President Bush.
Documents related to the settlement can be accessed at this link.
Read on.
The visitor logs also reveal almost 200 visits to the Bush White House by leaders of the religious right, 35 of which were visits with President Bush himself. The visitors included such familiar names as James Dobson, Gary Bauer, the late Jerry Falwell, and leaders of the Traditional Values Coalition, Concerned Women for America, the Family Research Council, and the American Family Association.
The largest number of vists were from the chairman and the executive director of the Traditional Values Coalition, who between them visited the White House a total of 69 times from 2001 to 2008, including 8 visits with President Bush.
Documents related to the settlement can be accessed at this link.
Read on.
Planet Wingnut News for Saturday
Bachmann: Dems Are Sabotaging Me Because I Might Become President
TPM:
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) finally explained Thursday why Democrats don't want her in office: They're scared she'll become the first female president.
TPM:
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) finally explained Thursday why Democrats don't want her in office: They're scared she'll become the first female president.
"They want to make sure no women, no woman becomes president before a Democrat woman," Bachmann said, "and so they're doing everything they can to, I think, sabotage women like Sarah Palin, perhaps women like myself, or similarly situated women, to make sure that we don't have a prominent national voice."
Bachman was speaking on Mike Gallagher's radio show.
Beck Includes Senate-Confirmed Staffer (Twice) In His Photo Of ‘Czars’ ‘Not Confirmed By Congress’
On his Fox News show yesterday, Glenn Beck featured one of his patented spooky-music video packages, this time fearmongering about the Obama administration’s “czars.” “He has 37 czars to oversee and advise him directly,” said Beck. “Never before have there been so many executive posts that were not confirmed by Congress and who answered only to the president.”
On his Fox News show yesterday, Glenn Beck featured one of his patented spooky-music video packages, this time fearmongering about the Obama administration’s “czars.” “He has 37 czars to oversee and advise him directly,” said Beck. “Never before have there been so many executive posts that were not confirmed by Congress and who answered only to the president.”
Many of the positions he refers to as czars are actually long-standing positions. Additionally, in Beck’s photo gallery of czars, he includes Elizabeth Warren, who in her position as chair of a Congressional oversight panel, works for Congress — not the White House. Beck also includes Cass Sunstein, who “cruised” through his confirmation hearing for his nomination to head the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, but his final confirmation is being held up by Senate Republicans.
Additionally, in his photo gallery of “czars,” Beck included two pictures of director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy John Holdren, who was also confirmed by the Senate.
Sen. Franken calms the mob and has civil discussion on healthcare reform
This certainly would not make the news...
Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) draws an unruly crowd at the Minnesota State Fair into a calm, productive discussion on health care reform. From DustyRice.com.
Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) draws an unruly crowd at the Minnesota State Fair into a calm, productive discussion on health care reform. From DustyRice.com.
SPB News for Saturday
Rep. Lynch (D-MA) Takes Out Papers To Run For Kennedy's Seat
Bush Hires Ex-Journalist Glassman To Run Think-Tank
State Dept Fires 8 Contractors For Lewd Conduct In Kabul
Major Networks To Air GOP Response To Obama's Speech
Boehner Asks Rangel To Relinquish Gavel Over Ethics Probe
Kucinich renews call to end Afghan War
Reports: Jindal's church-hopping cost taxpayers $180,000
Past Garrido abductions revealed
Allegedly drugged, raped 14-year-old girl in '72; case never went to trial.
Ex-US soldier gets life in rape-murder
Convicted of 14-year-old Iraqi girl's death and killing of her family in 2006.
Supreme Court Opens Up to C-SPAN
A new justice joining the Supreme Court is something of a mixed blessing, it turns out. While Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. called it "an exciting part of life at the Court," Justice Clarence Thomas noted, "You have to start all over; the chemistry is different," and Anthony Kennedy added, "It's stressful for us, because we so admire our colleagues." These comments and more will be aired starting Oct. 4 on C-SPAN, part of a weeklong series of programs on the Court that resulted from unusual access to the Court.
NC, SC school boards offer Obama speech ‘opt-outs’
Outraged parent believes race is a factor; One teacher is embarrassed over ‘opt-out’ notes
In response, schools in several southern states are giving parents an “opt-out” option for their children.
In Simpsonville, South Caroline, for example, the Bells Crossing Elementary school principal issued robocalls to parents telling them that letters would be sent home for them to sign if they did not want their children to watch the President’s speech.
An outraged parent, Chuck Hamilton, contacted Raw Story to complain about what he believes is a racist response to a African American president. “It is obvious to me that had this been Bush, or any other white Republican, the phone call and letter home would not have happened,” Hamilton wrote in an email.
But Bells Crossing Elementary School is not alone in its reaction to the President’s upcoming speech.
A call to the Greenville Country School Board confirmed that all schools in that district are receiving calls from their own principals and having letters sent home.
Susan Richards, a spokesperson for the Greenville Country School Board declined to answer questions as to why the board felt it necessary to take these measures. “You will have to speak to the Director of Communications, but he is not available right now.” A message was left for the Director, who has not responded.
Read on.
In response, schools in several southern states are giving parents an “opt-out” option for their children.
In Simpsonville, South Caroline, for example, the Bells Crossing Elementary school principal issued robocalls to parents telling them that letters would be sent home for them to sign if they did not want their children to watch the President’s speech.
An outraged parent, Chuck Hamilton, contacted Raw Story to complain about what he believes is a racist response to a African American president. “It is obvious to me that had this been Bush, or any other white Republican, the phone call and letter home would not have happened,” Hamilton wrote in an email.
But Bells Crossing Elementary School is not alone in its reaction to the President’s upcoming speech.
A call to the Greenville Country School Board confirmed that all schools in that district are receiving calls from their own principals and having letters sent home.
Susan Richards, a spokesperson for the Greenville Country School Board declined to answer questions as to why the board felt it necessary to take these measures. “You will have to speak to the Director of Communications, but he is not available right now.” A message was left for the Director, who has not responded.
Read on.
Top Ashcroft Aide May Plead Fifth In Trial Of Abramoff Crony
TPM:
Did the Abramoff scandal extend into the highest reaches of the Justice Department?
John Ashcroft's chief of staff at DOJ may plead the fifth in the trial of Kevin Ring, the Team Abramoff operative accused of bribing lawmakers and public officials, according to court documents.
A motion filed this week by Ring's lawyers and examined by TPMmuckraker states:
Counsel for Mr. Ayres and counsel for Ms. Ayres [Ayres's wife] have indicated that each would invoke their Fifth Amendment privilege if subpoeaned.
Read more »
Did the Abramoff scandal extend into the highest reaches of the Justice Department?
John Ashcroft's chief of staff at DOJ may plead the fifth in the trial of Kevin Ring, the Team Abramoff operative accused of bribing lawmakers and public officials, according to court documents.
A motion filed this week by Ring's lawyers and examined by TPMmuckraker states:
Counsel for Mr. Ayres and counsel for Ms. Ayres [Ayres's wife] have indicated that each would invoke their Fifth Amendment privilege if subpoeaned.
Read more »
Friday, September 04, 2009
On cue: GOP Congressman is asking for Van Jones' resignation
The GOP are like clockwork. It was a matter of time that a GOP lawmaker want Van Jones, Obama's green jobs czar, who called the GOP a-holes, to be fired. Didn't the GOP want Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner fired? Now, if the Van Jones never called the GOP an a-hole, would the GOP probed into Van Jones' petition on the "truther" movement? Think about it. Time for Obama to have some cajones to respond concerning his green jobs adviser. Van Jones is no stranger of being outspoken and vocal. But, with Van Jones's gaffe, he opened the door to Fox News to go from the juglar of Van Jones since Van Jones' Color of Change organization launched a campaign after Glenn Back for advertiser to stop running ads on Beck's show.
Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), one of the first GOP to speak out, said this. Via Major Garrett of Fox News:
Van Jones should resign and if he is unwilling to do so, the president should demand his resignation.
And another GOP fired a letter to Sen. Sanders concerning Van Jones:
Here's the letter:
September 4, 2009
The Honorable Bernard Sanders
Chairman
Green Jobs and the New Economy Subcommittee
Committee on Environment and Public Works
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Bernie:
Recent news reports call into question the fitness of Van Jones, the Special Advisor for Green Jobs at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, to perform the duties entrusted to him. I request that the Senate Green Jobs and the New Economy Subcommittee conduct an oversight hearing of Mr. Jones’ behavior and comments to reassure the American people that their government is safe from his divisive, incendiary and ultimately counterproductive sentiments.
Today, news outlets are reporting that Van Jones signed a petition from the so-called “Truther” movement which suggests that the Bush administration “may indeed have deliberately allowed 9/11 to happen, perhaps as a pretext to war.” I can imagine few sentiments more repulsive to our brave fighting soldiers and the victims of the 9/11 terror tragedy than to think the U.S. government deliberately allowed the events of 9/11 to occur. Of course Mr. Jones in hindsight is embarrassed by the public disclosure of his participation in the petition drive and now asserts he did not read the fine print of the petition. Even if true, how can the American people trust a senior White House official that is so cavalier in his association with such radical and repugnant sentiments?
Unfortunately, this episode is just the latest in a pattern of Mr. Jones’ incendiary remarks that only divide Americans and make positive change for the future more difficult. Earlier this year in a speech in Berkeley, California on energy, Mr. Jones referred to Republicans in crude scatological words unfit for print. Last year, Mr. Jones in a radio interview stated his goals as a “complete revolution” to “transform the whole society” away from capitalism. These recent comments remove the credibility of his assertions that his past radical statements and actions such as the creation of the group Standing Together to Organize a Revolutionary Movement (STORM) rooted in Marxism and Leninism merely reflect youthful sentiments in the distant past.
Despite Mr. Jones’ continuing erratic and outrageous behavior, he occupies a senior “czar” position in the White House. He obtained this position without U.S. Senate advice and consent and without oversight of his activities. And yet, Mr. Jones is responsible for directing administration policy and spending on tens of billions of dollars in taxpayer funding regarding environmental policy and green jobs programs. Many hold out the prospect of green jobs as one of the few practical benefits of pending cap and trade legislation in the face of groups such as the National Black Chamber of Commerce which predict that such legislation will destroy over 2.5 million net jobs, even after the creation of potential new green jobs.
While I am skeptical of the ability of green jobs programs to provide meaningful numbers of new jobs without heavy continuing taxpayer subsidies or mandates that destroy millions of traditional jobs, I hope you agree that we cannot risk whatever new green jobs are in our nation’s future to unsound and unpredictable leadership.
Refusal to conduct an oversight hearing by the Subcommittee would heighten concern over whether this administration is committed to mainstream, inclusive, positive leadership and policies. While we may differ in our policy prescriptions to protect the environment and spur job creation, I hope you will agree that the Senate and our Subcommittee have a responsibility to ensure that administration stewards of taxpayer funds and government policy are capable of the jobs entrusted to them.
I look forward to your consideration and response to this request. Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Christopher S. Bond
U.S. Senator
Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), one of the first GOP to speak out, said this. Via Major Garrett of Fox News:
Van Jones should resign and if he is unwilling to do so, the president should demand his resignation.
And another GOP fired a letter to Sen. Sanders concerning Van Jones:
Here's the letter:
September 4, 2009
The Honorable Bernard Sanders
Chairman
Green Jobs and the New Economy Subcommittee
Committee on Environment and Public Works
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Bernie:
Recent news reports call into question the fitness of Van Jones, the Special Advisor for Green Jobs at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, to perform the duties entrusted to him. I request that the Senate Green Jobs and the New Economy Subcommittee conduct an oversight hearing of Mr. Jones’ behavior and comments to reassure the American people that their government is safe from his divisive, incendiary and ultimately counterproductive sentiments.
Today, news outlets are reporting that Van Jones signed a petition from the so-called “Truther” movement which suggests that the Bush administration “may indeed have deliberately allowed 9/11 to happen, perhaps as a pretext to war.” I can imagine few sentiments more repulsive to our brave fighting soldiers and the victims of the 9/11 terror tragedy than to think the U.S. government deliberately allowed the events of 9/11 to occur. Of course Mr. Jones in hindsight is embarrassed by the public disclosure of his participation in the petition drive and now asserts he did not read the fine print of the petition. Even if true, how can the American people trust a senior White House official that is so cavalier in his association with such radical and repugnant sentiments?
Unfortunately, this episode is just the latest in a pattern of Mr. Jones’ incendiary remarks that only divide Americans and make positive change for the future more difficult. Earlier this year in a speech in Berkeley, California on energy, Mr. Jones referred to Republicans in crude scatological words unfit for print. Last year, Mr. Jones in a radio interview stated his goals as a “complete revolution” to “transform the whole society” away from capitalism. These recent comments remove the credibility of his assertions that his past radical statements and actions such as the creation of the group Standing Together to Organize a Revolutionary Movement (STORM) rooted in Marxism and Leninism merely reflect youthful sentiments in the distant past.
Despite Mr. Jones’ continuing erratic and outrageous behavior, he occupies a senior “czar” position in the White House. He obtained this position without U.S. Senate advice and consent and without oversight of his activities. And yet, Mr. Jones is responsible for directing administration policy and spending on tens of billions of dollars in taxpayer funding regarding environmental policy and green jobs programs. Many hold out the prospect of green jobs as one of the few practical benefits of pending cap and trade legislation in the face of groups such as the National Black Chamber of Commerce which predict that such legislation will destroy over 2.5 million net jobs, even after the creation of potential new green jobs.
While I am skeptical of the ability of green jobs programs to provide meaningful numbers of new jobs without heavy continuing taxpayer subsidies or mandates that destroy millions of traditional jobs, I hope you agree that we cannot risk whatever new green jobs are in our nation’s future to unsound and unpredictable leadership.
Refusal to conduct an oversight hearing by the Subcommittee would heighten concern over whether this administration is committed to mainstream, inclusive, positive leadership and policies. While we may differ in our policy prescriptions to protect the environment and spur job creation, I hope you will agree that the Senate and our Subcommittee have a responsibility to ensure that administration stewards of taxpayer funds and government policy are capable of the jobs entrusted to them.
I look forward to your consideration and response to this request. Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Christopher S. Bond
U.S. Senator
Alberto Gonzales, the concert opera; This is not a joke.
But if law and politics is your bag (and we know that you know that it is), you might be intrigued enough to take a flyer on The Gonzales Cantata, a concert opera about Alberto Gonzales’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearings.
Here’s the deal: The Gonzales Cantata, playing at this year’s Philadelphia Fringe Festival, is a 40-minute choral work based on the hearings that punctuated the U.S. attorney-dismissal scandal back in 2007. (Actually, every word sung is from the transcript of the hearings.) Click here for WSJ reporter Evan Perez’s story on the hearings, which links to a whole trove of other goodies. (Scroll to the bottom of the post to watch a video clip of the Cantata. Other clips can be found through the show’s very cleverly designed Web site.)
Even after looking over the Cantata’s Web site, we still had questions. Who did this? Why the Gonzales hearings? And for the love of Giuseppe Verdi, why an opera?
So we called up the name on the Web site, and a woman named Melissa Dunphy answered. Not only, it turns out, does Dunphy, 29, handle press inquiries but she thought up and wrote the Gonzales Cantata while an undergraduate at West Chester University in Pennsylvania. We took it from there.
Read on.
Here is the snippet of the concert opera. All I can say is brilliant and well poignant to a man who sold his soul to Bush:
Breaking: CREW and Obama Administration reach historic settlement
From an email today from CREW:
Dear CREW Supporter,
Yesterday, the Obama administration and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) settled four ongoing cases regarding public access to White House visitor records. The most significant development is the commitment by the Obama administration to affirmatively post visitor records on-line on an ongoing basis, bringing a historic level of transparency to the White House.
The agreement stems from lawsuits CREW filed after the Bush and later the Obama administration refused to provide White House visitor records in response to CREW's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. Visitor records are created by the Secret Service as part of its statutory responsibility to protect the president, vice president, their residences, and the White House generally.
After President Obama took office, CREW sought records of visits to the White House by health care and coal executives to determine the degree of their influence on health care and energy legislative proposals. The government initially refused to turn over these records, but now has agreed to release them, as well as the Bush era records, as part of the settlement. In turn, CREW has agreed to dismiss all the pending litigation.
CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan praised the White House saying, "The Obama administration has proven its pledge to usher in a new era of government transparency was more than just a campaign promise. The Bush administration fought tooth and nail to keep secret the identities of those who visited the White House. In contrast, the Obama administration - by putting visitor records on the White House web site - will have the most open White House in history."
CREW is proud to have been part of this historic decision and will continue its work for a more open and transparent government.
Thanks for all you do,
The CREW Team
Dear CREW Supporter,
Yesterday, the Obama administration and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) settled four ongoing cases regarding public access to White House visitor records. The most significant development is the commitment by the Obama administration to affirmatively post visitor records on-line on an ongoing basis, bringing a historic level of transparency to the White House.
The agreement stems from lawsuits CREW filed after the Bush and later the Obama administration refused to provide White House visitor records in response to CREW's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. Visitor records are created by the Secret Service as part of its statutory responsibility to protect the president, vice president, their residences, and the White House generally.
After President Obama took office, CREW sought records of visits to the White House by health care and coal executives to determine the degree of their influence on health care and energy legislative proposals. The government initially refused to turn over these records, but now has agreed to release them, as well as the Bush era records, as part of the settlement. In turn, CREW has agreed to dismiss all the pending litigation.
CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan praised the White House saying, "The Obama administration has proven its pledge to usher in a new era of government transparency was more than just a campaign promise. The Bush administration fought tooth and nail to keep secret the identities of those who visited the White House. In contrast, the Obama administration - by putting visitor records on the White House web site - will have the most open White House in history."
CREW is proud to have been part of this historic decision and will continue its work for a more open and transparent government.
Thanks for all you do,
The CREW Team
Schmidt v. Krikorian hearing continues to Oct. 1
Another update: FBI whistleblower Sibel Edmonds could testify; More suggests FBI testimony as well..[h/t Brad Blog]
From Thursday, Brad Blog reports:
UPDATE 3:02pm PT: As hearing was running very long, Krikorian team asked for a continuance to another day. Craig tweets "Hearing is being continued to Oct. 1."
Well, well. As The BRAD BLOG reported previously, Sibel Edmonds will be back in the country by then, and likely able to testify LIVE on the stand, if the Commission allows it. Krikorian wanted her to do so originally --- and she was willing to do so as well --- but she was gone, and the Commission refused to extend original hearing date. Now, this could get very interesting...
UPDATE 7:16pm PT: In response to an email query about testifying in the case, if called, Edmonds wrote back to us tonight:
1- If I'm asked I will certainly testify.
2- I will suggest that Krikorian party depose the FBI agents who have first hand knowledge of the relevant matters. I know these agents, and I know they will tell the truth under oath. In fact, they may be glad to finally find an outlet for the truth and what's been covered up for many years. They pursued these cases avidly, seeking criminal indictment (justice) for the involved treasonous US officials...
ALSO: Jon Craig's full coverage of today's hearings, for tomorrow's Cincinnati Enquirer, is now published here
Outrage over Obama school speech was missing during Bush and Reagan school addresses
Good point!:
In my deep memories of elementary school and junior high I had remembered listening to Presidents Reagan and Papa Bush speak to all of us on television. I had recently doubted those faint memories as I told myself that surely those two Presidents must not have spoken to school children. After all if they had attempted to speak to school children their conservative base must have decried the "indoctrination" of school children and threatened to pull their kids out of school in response. It turns out I was wrong on both fronts. Presidents Reagan and George H. W. Bush did in fact speak to school children in national addresses, and conservatives at the time did not react the same way they are reacting to the Obama school address.
In the video below Fox News (known for their liberalism) reports that both Reagan and Bush addressed the nation's schoolchildren. Now conservatives may claim that the situation was different in that the Reagan and Bush addresses were non-partisan. First, most of the objections I have seen about the Obama address are not about the content of his message but rather the whole idea of students being "forced" to listen to the President. Second, President Obama's address much like that of Reagan and Bush is being previewed as a politically neutral message about hard work, setting educational goals, and staying in school. For anyone who doubts the truthfulness of that claim they can check the White House website on Monday where they have promised to pre-release a copy of the speech for parents to see.
In the video, Fox's Goler notes Bush, Reagan also gave speeches broadcast to classrooms nationwide:
In my deep memories of elementary school and junior high I had remembered listening to Presidents Reagan and Papa Bush speak to all of us on television. I had recently doubted those faint memories as I told myself that surely those two Presidents must not have spoken to school children. After all if they had attempted to speak to school children their conservative base must have decried the "indoctrination" of school children and threatened to pull their kids out of school in response. It turns out I was wrong on both fronts. Presidents Reagan and George H. W. Bush did in fact speak to school children in national addresses, and conservatives at the time did not react the same way they are reacting to the Obama school address.
In the video below Fox News (known for their liberalism) reports that both Reagan and Bush addressed the nation's schoolchildren. Now conservatives may claim that the situation was different in that the Reagan and Bush addresses were non-partisan. First, most of the objections I have seen about the Obama address are not about the content of his message but rather the whole idea of students being "forced" to listen to the President. Second, President Obama's address much like that of Reagan and Bush is being previewed as a politically neutral message about hard work, setting educational goals, and staying in school. For anyone who doubts the truthfulness of that claim they can check the White House website on Monday where they have promised to pre-release a copy of the speech for parents to see.
In the video, Fox's Goler notes Bush, Reagan also gave speeches broadcast to classrooms nationwide:
Group to protest AZ pastor who asked for Obama's death
Not all of Arizonians agree with Pastor Anderson's remark that he hopes Obama dies of cancer like the late Senator Kennedy..
On Sunday, a Valley group calling themselves "People Against Clergy Who Preach Hate" will host a "love rally" outside the church of the Tempe pastor who has advocated for the death of President Barack Obama.
"I know it sounds corny," said group member Leonard Clark, 44. "We're calling it a love rally because we're not going to be out there yelling at them. It's about saying not all clergy in Arizona preach this kind of hate. I think people need to know that there are a lot of good people here in Arizona we're not all carrying guns . . . we're not going to shoot you."
That sentiment and Anderson's sermons shocked Clark and his friends into forming the "People Against Clergy Who Preach Hate" group on Facebook
"I couldn't believe my ears this is . . . a man who was hoping that our president would die," Clark said. "We're all very concerned that we're being painted with the same brush as this man who is preaching an extremist ideology."
As of Wednesday, the Facebook group had 293 members from Arizona and across the country.
Clark has run for political office and has also gained national notoriety for blogging against the Iraq War while he was stationed in Iraq in 2005 with the Arizona National Guard.
The Phoenix veteran said he saw the influence of radical clergy in Iraq and that he felt obligated to speak out against Anderson because he fears that religious extremists are endangering American's security.
"I saw people die to keep this country safe," he said. "In Iraq when I'd see someone blow someone up I used to think what could make somebody strap a bomb to themselves. (Then) we'd come to different sites where some imams were shouting (hate) on a loudspeaker. I'd think this is what happens with the radical religious."
Read on.
On Sunday, a Valley group calling themselves "People Against Clergy Who Preach Hate" will host a "love rally" outside the church of the Tempe pastor who has advocated for the death of President Barack Obama.
"I know it sounds corny," said group member Leonard Clark, 44. "We're calling it a love rally because we're not going to be out there yelling at them. It's about saying not all clergy in Arizona preach this kind of hate. I think people need to know that there are a lot of good people here in Arizona we're not all carrying guns . . . we're not going to shoot you."
That sentiment and Anderson's sermons shocked Clark and his friends into forming the "People Against Clergy Who Preach Hate" group on Facebook
"I couldn't believe my ears this is . . . a man who was hoping that our president would die," Clark said. "We're all very concerned that we're being painted with the same brush as this man who is preaching an extremist ideology."
As of Wednesday, the Facebook group had 293 members from Arizona and across the country.
Clark has run for political office and has also gained national notoriety for blogging against the Iraq War while he was stationed in Iraq in 2005 with the Arizona National Guard.
The Phoenix veteran said he saw the influence of radical clergy in Iraq and that he felt obligated to speak out against Anderson because he fears that religious extremists are endangering American's security.
"I saw people die to keep this country safe," he said. "In Iraq when I'd see someone blow someone up I used to think what could make somebody strap a bomb to themselves. (Then) we'd come to different sites where some imams were shouting (hate) on a loudspeaker. I'd think this is what happens with the radical religious."
Read on.
Boner, Pelosi skip healthcare town halls
House Minority Leader John A. Boehner, the face of Republican opposition to Democrats' health care reform plans, has yet to face voters in a traditional town-hall meeting this summer, instead spending his time bolstering his party's chances in the 2010 midterm elections.Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has also skipped the face-to-face interaction with constituents at town halls, instead spending her public time in August visiting clinics and holding roundtables tailored to "stakeholders" in the health care debate.
In avoiding the town halls, the two top leaders of the House have both missed out on the kinds of questions that have been asked -- or in some cases shouted -- at their colleagues during hundreds of events nationwide, as voters grapple with Democrats' proposed 1,000-plus-page rewrite of the nation's health care system.
Boehner spokesman Don Seymour defended the Ohio Republican's summer schedule as an investment in good government.
"As leader, Boehner is leading the fight both in Congress and on the campaign trail against [Democrats' health care reform plans], helping to raise the resources Republicans need to win next year and offer real reforms that curb government spending, create new jobs, and lower health care costs without a massive government takeover," he said.
Read on.
Planet Wingnut News for Friday.
McCain Endorses Claim That Obama Finds Seniors ‘Expendable’: ‘I’ve Never Heard It More Eloquently Put’
This past Tuesday, Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and John McCain (R-AZ) took their nationwide health care road show to Florida, where they teamed up with Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) to participate in a closed-door town hall event at the Palmetto General Hospital in Hialeah. ThinkProgress attended the forum.
During the question-and-answer session, Jim Dolan, president of the Florida Medical Association, expressed his anger with the American Medical Association for supporting President Obama’s health care plan. We “repudiate that action on their part,” Dolan said, speaking for his Florida chapter.
Dolan went on to propagate a version of the false “death panels” myth, claiming that the Obama administration is promoting “dranconian rationing that Rahm Emanuel’s brother, Ezekiel, talks about as though it’s going down to pick up a loaf of bread.” Dolan wondered when are people going to realize that “the people advising this president” feel that the seniors “are expendable.”
Rather than distance himself from Dolan’s false assertion, McCain wholeheartedly embraced it:
McCAIN: Doctor, I know you have a day job, but I’d like to take you with me wherever I go. [Laughter] I’ve never heard it more eloquently put than you just stated the situation.
This past Tuesday, Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and John McCain (R-AZ) took their nationwide health care road show to Florida, where they teamed up with Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) to participate in a closed-door town hall event at the Palmetto General Hospital in Hialeah. ThinkProgress attended the forum.
During the question-and-answer session, Jim Dolan, president of the Florida Medical Association, expressed his anger with the American Medical Association for supporting President Obama’s health care plan. We “repudiate that action on their part,” Dolan said, speaking for his Florida chapter.
Dolan went on to propagate a version of the false “death panels” myth, claiming that the Obama administration is promoting “dranconian rationing that Rahm Emanuel’s brother, Ezekiel, talks about as though it’s going down to pick up a loaf of bread.” Dolan wondered when are people going to realize that “the people advising this president” feel that the seniors “are expendable.”
Rather than distance himself from Dolan’s false assertion, McCain wholeheartedly embraced it:
McCAIN: Doctor, I know you have a day job, but I’d like to take you with me wherever I go. [Laughter] I’ve never heard it more eloquently put than you just stated the situation.
You won't hear about this on the Sunday bobblehead Shows
From the WSJ: U.S. Economy Gets Lift From Stimulus
The U.S. economy is beginning to show signs of improvement, with many economists asserting the worst is past and data pointing to stronger-than-expected growth. On Tuesday, data showed manufacturing grew in August for the first time in more than a year. "There's a method to the madness. We're getting out of this," said Brian Bethune, chief U.S. financial economist at IHS Global Insight.
Much of the stimulus spending is just beginning to trickle through the economy, with spending expected to peak sometime later this year or in early 2010. The government has funneled about $60 billion of the $288 billion in promised tax cuts to U.S. households, while about $84 billion of the $499 billion in spending has been paid. About $200 billion has been promised to certain projects, such as infrastructure and energy projects.
Economists say the money out the door -- combined with the expectation of additional funds flowing soon -- is fueling growth above where it would have been without any government action.
Many forecasters say stimulus spending is adding two to three percentage points to economic growth in the second and third quarters, when measured at an annual rate. The impact in the second quarter, calculated by analyzing how the extra funds flowing into the economy boost consumption, investment and spending, helped slow the rate of decline and will lay the groundwork for positive growth in the third quarter -- something that seemed almost implausible just a few months ago. Some economists say the 1% contraction in the second quarter would have been far worse, possibly as much as 3.2%, if not for the stimulus.
The U.S. economy is beginning to show signs of improvement, with many economists asserting the worst is past and data pointing to stronger-than-expected growth. On Tuesday, data showed manufacturing grew in August for the first time in more than a year. "There's a method to the madness. We're getting out of this," said Brian Bethune, chief U.S. financial economist at IHS Global Insight.
Much of the stimulus spending is just beginning to trickle through the economy, with spending expected to peak sometime later this year or in early 2010. The government has funneled about $60 billion of the $288 billion in promised tax cuts to U.S. households, while about $84 billion of the $499 billion in spending has been paid. About $200 billion has been promised to certain projects, such as infrastructure and energy projects.
Economists say the money out the door -- combined with the expectation of additional funds flowing soon -- is fueling growth above where it would have been without any government action.
Many forecasters say stimulus spending is adding two to three percentage points to economic growth in the second and third quarters, when measured at an annual rate. The impact in the second quarter, calculated by analyzing how the extra funds flowing into the economy boost consumption, investment and spending, helped slow the rate of decline and will lay the groundwork for positive growth in the third quarter -- something that seemed almost implausible just a few months ago. Some economists say the 1% contraction in the second quarter would have been far worse, possibly as much as 3.2%, if not for the stimulus.
SPB News for Friday
Charge: Contractor Who Blew Whistle In Afghanistan Fired
Ahmadinejad Gets Approval For Key Cabinet Slots
More Than Half Of Obama Ambassadors Are Political Appointees
Gov't Says Dealers To Get 'Clunkers' Money By Sept. 30
WH To Report On Jobs Created And Saved On Sept. 10
Imus to simulcast on Fox Business Network
Ahmadinejad Gets Approval For Key Cabinet Slots
More Than Half Of Obama Ambassadors Are Political Appointees
Gov't Says Dealers To Get 'Clunkers' Money By Sept. 30
WH To Report On Jobs Created And Saved On Sept. 10
Imus to simulcast on Fox Business Network
Healthcare-reform opponent says bit-off finger could not be re-attached
MSNBC removes Buchanan column from site — Pat Buchanan has received a lot of criticism recently for his column marking the 70th anniversary of the Nazi invasion of Poland, where the conservative pundit questions whether Hitler has gotten a bum rap. — By extension, MSNBC …
MSNBC removes Buchanan column from site — Pat Buchanan has received a lot of criticism recently for his column marking the 70th anniversary of the Nazi invasion of Poland, where the conservative pundit questions whether Hitler has gotten a bum rap. — By extension, MSNBC …
SC lawmaker accuses Sanford camp of planting Lt. Gov gay smear
TPM:
The fallout from Mark Sanford's Argentinian romance is getting increasingly nasty.
Wednesday, State Senator Jake Knotts, a Republican but a committed Sanford foe, sent a letter to fellow lawmakers, in which he accused unnamed supporters of the bed-hopping chief exec of planting a rumor that Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer -- who would become governor if Sanford steps down -- is gay.
Read more »
Interesting that the State Senator claim that Sanford stirred up the gay rumors about the Lt. Guv. Mike Rogers at Blog Active website has a different story. I posted an article from Mike Rogers that claim that Bauer is a closet gay. Click here.
The fallout from Mark Sanford's Argentinian romance is getting increasingly nasty.
Wednesday, State Senator Jake Knotts, a Republican but a committed Sanford foe, sent a letter to fellow lawmakers, in which he accused unnamed supporters of the bed-hopping chief exec of planting a rumor that Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer -- who would become governor if Sanford steps down -- is gay.
Read more »
Interesting that the State Senator claim that Sanford stirred up the gay rumors about the Lt. Guv. Mike Rogers at Blog Active website has a different story. I posted an article from Mike Rogers that claim that Bauer is a closet gay. Click here.
Iran gets first woman minister as MP.
Iran's parliament on Thursday backed a cabinet proposed by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that includes the Islamic republic's first woman minister and a man wanted in connection with the bombing of a Jewish community centre in Argentina.
The conservative-dominated assembly approved 18 of 21 nominees, propelling Ahmadinejad into his second four-year term as Iran battles its worst crisis since the hardliner's re-election in June.
Read on.
The conservative-dominated assembly approved 18 of 21 nominees, propelling Ahmadinejad into his second four-year term as Iran battles its worst crisis since the hardliner's re-election in June.
Read on.
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Van Jones apologizes for a-hole remark on GOP.
Don't think that Fox News nor Glenn Beck will let this go since Van Jones is part of Color of Change organization that got quite of number of corporate advertisers to drop kick Beck's show. I applaud Van Jones for apologize. His remarks were inappropriate. Also, to add, Van Jones did say that he can be a bit of a-hole. But, this doesn't matter to the wingnuts. They will bellyache and hone in that one of Obama's staff who heads green jobs called the Repubs an a-hole!
In a written statement Van Jones apologized for a comment he made in February in which he called Republicans opposing Obama's reform "assholes." Here is a copy of some of Van Jones apology:
"I apologize for the offensive words I chose to use during that speech," Jones said in a written statement to Politico. "They do not reflect the views of this administration, which has made every effort to work in a bipartisan fashion, and they do not reflect the experience I have had since I joined the administration."
Now, there was no cry from the media when George W. Bush made a similar "asshole" comment toward opponents and to a NYT reporter. From Salon article in 2000:
"There's Adam Clymer -- major league asshole -- from the New York Times," Bush said.
"Yeah, big time," returned Cheney.
Because of the crowd noise, few if any of the audience could hear the remarks. But reporters -- especially those with radio or network TV sound equipment plugged into the microphone -- heard the remark clearly. As of early afternoon Monday, media executives were reportedly deciding whether or not to use the tape.
The Bush campaign had no comment. Gore's campaign, however, was quick to seize on the gaffe.
"Bush promised to change the tone and now he's broken his word twice," said Gore spokesman Douglas Hattaway. "He launched negative personal attacks on Al Gore" both through a recent negative ad against Gore, "as well as on the stump, and now he's using expletives to describe a New York Times reporter in front of a crowd of families. He talks out of both sides of his mouth about changing the tone."
Though he's done a decent job of hiding it in this election cycle, Bush has been known to use salty language. At the Republican National Convention in 1988, he was asked by a Hartford Courant reporter about what he and his father talked about when they weren't talking about politics.
"Pussy," Bush replied.
In a written statement Van Jones apologized for a comment he made in February in which he called Republicans opposing Obama's reform "assholes." Here is a copy of some of Van Jones apology:
"I apologize for the offensive words I chose to use during that speech," Jones said in a written statement to Politico. "They do not reflect the views of this administration, which has made every effort to work in a bipartisan fashion, and they do not reflect the experience I have had since I joined the administration."
Now, there was no cry from the media when George W. Bush made a similar "asshole" comment toward opponents and to a NYT reporter. From Salon article in 2000:
"There's Adam Clymer -- major league asshole -- from the New York Times," Bush said.
"Yeah, big time," returned Cheney.
Because of the crowd noise, few if any of the audience could hear the remarks. But reporters -- especially those with radio or network TV sound equipment plugged into the microphone -- heard the remark clearly. As of early afternoon Monday, media executives were reportedly deciding whether or not to use the tape.
The Bush campaign had no comment. Gore's campaign, however, was quick to seize on the gaffe.
"Bush promised to change the tone and now he's broken his word twice," said Gore spokesman Douglas Hattaway. "He launched negative personal attacks on Al Gore" both through a recent negative ad against Gore, "as well as on the stump, and now he's using expletives to describe a New York Times reporter in front of a crowd of families. He talks out of both sides of his mouth about changing the tone."
Though he's done a decent job of hiding it in this election cycle, Bush has been known to use salty language. At the Republican National Convention in 1988, he was asked by a Hartford Courant reporter about what he and his father talked about when they weren't talking about politics.
"Pussy," Bush replied.
What is wrong with these people????
(h/t Huffington Post - original video from NJ.com)
Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ), the man who recently "let it be known" that he'd step in should Gov. Corzine drop out of the New Jersey gubernatorial race, had his hands full at a town hall meeting in Red Bank last week.
A new low for these meetings may have been set when the crowd shouted down a wheelchair-bound woman with "two incurable auto-immune diseases" who had the gall to ask a question. Read on...
Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ), the man who recently "let it be known" that he'd step in should Gov. Corzine drop out of the New Jersey gubernatorial race, had his hands full at a town hall meeting in Red Bank last week.
A new low for these meetings may have been set when the crowd shouted down a wheelchair-bound woman with "two incurable auto-immune diseases" who had the gall to ask a question. Read on...
Massachusetts AG throws her hat in the ring for Kennedy's Senate seat
TPM:
Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has just announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the late Ted Kennedy's Senate seat, becoming the first candidate to officially announce a campaign.
Coakley paid tribute to the late Kennedy. "As some have noted, no one can fill his shoes, but we must try to follow in his footsteps," said Coakley. "I think we all realize that the urgency of this time is clear, and it is that urgency that drives my decision. Today, I announce my candidate for the United States Senate."
Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley has just announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the late Ted Kennedy's Senate seat, becoming the first candidate to officially announce a campaign.
Coakley paid tribute to the late Kennedy. "As some have noted, no one can fill his shoes, but we must try to follow in his footsteps," said Coakley. "I think we all realize that the urgency of this time is clear, and it is that urgency that drives my decision. Today, I announce my candidate for the United States Senate."
Open thread for Thursday.
Wingnut: 'I got a book here called the U.S.S. Constitution'...
“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than a sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity”----Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Sibel Edmonds' deposition disclosures: Hastert, Burton, Blunt, others 'bribed, blackmailed'
In this first break-down article, we'll look at the answers given by Edmonds during her deposition in regard to bribery and blackmail of current and former members of the U.S. Congress, including Dennis Hastert (R-IL), Bob Livingston (R-LA), Dan Burton (R-IN), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Stephen Solarz (D-NY), Tom Lantos (D-CA, deceased) and an unnamed, currently-serving, married Democratic Congresswoman said to have been video-taped in a Lesbian affair by Turkish agents for blackmail purposes.
In further breakdown articles, we'll look at her disclosures concerning top State and Defense officials including Douglas Feith, Paul Wolfowitz and, perhaps most notably, the former Deputy Undersecretary of State, Marc Grossman, the third-highest ranking official in the State Department. Also, details on the theft of nuclear weapons technology; disclosures on Valerie Plame Wilson's CIA front company Brewster-Jennings; items related to U.S. knowledge of 9/11 and al-Qaeda prior to September 11, 2001; infiltration of the FBI translation department and more...
Though Edmonds was careful to not "discuss the intelligence gathering method by the FBI," she notes in her deposition that her claims are "Based on documented and provable, tracked files and based on...100 percent, documented facts."
Among the specific charges she levels against current and former U.S. Congress Members in the deposition:
Dennis Hastert: "[S]everal categories. The acceptance of large sums of bribery in forms of cash or laundered cash ... to make it look legal for his campaigns, and also for his personal use, in order to do certain favors ... make certain things happen for foreign entities and foreign governments' interests, Turkish government's interest and Turkish business entities' interests. ... other activities, too, including being blackmailed for various reasons. ... he used the townhouse that was not his residence for certain not very morally accepted activities. ... foreign entities knew about this, in fact, they sometimes participated in some of those not maybe morally well activities in that particular townhouse that was supposed to be an office, not a house, residence at certain hours, certain days, evenings of the week."
Stephen Solarz: "[A]s lobbyist ... acted as conduit to deliver or launder contribution and other briberies to certain members of Congress, but also in pressuring outside Congress, and including blackmail, in certain members of Congress."
Stephen Solarz: "[A]s lobbyist ... acted as conduit to deliver or launder contribution and other briberies to certain members of Congress, but also in pressuring outside Congress, and including blackmail, in certain members of Congress."
Bob Livingston: "Until 1999 ... not very legal activities on behalf of foreign interests and entities, and after 1999 acting as a conduit to, again, further foreign interests, both overtly and covertly as a lobbyist, but also as an operative."
Tom Lantos: "[N]ot only ... bribe[ry], but also ... disclosing highest level protected U.S. intelligence and weapons technology information both to Israel and to Turkey. ... other very serious criminal conduct."
Unnamed Congresswoman: (Though not identified as such during the deposition, Edmonds has since confirmed her to be a Democrat) "[T]his Congresswoman's married with children, grown children, but she is bisexual. ... So they have sent Turkish female agents, and that Turkish female agents work for Turkish government, and have sexual relationship with this Congresswoman in her townhouse ... and the entire episodes of their sexual conduct was being filmed because the entire house, this Congressional woman's house was bugged. ... to be used for certain things that they wanted to request ... I don't know if she did anything illegal afterwards. ... the Turkish entities, wanted both congressional related favoritism from her, but also her husband was in a high position in the area in the state she was elected from, and these Turkish entities ran certain illegal operations, and they wanted her husband's help. But I don't know if she provided them with those."
Unnamed Congresswoman: (Though not identified as such during the deposition, Edmonds has since confirmed her to be a Democrat) "[T]his Congresswoman's married with children, grown children, but she is bisexual. ... So they have sent Turkish female agents, and that Turkish female agents work for Turkish government, and have sexual relationship with this Congresswoman in her townhouse ... and the entire episodes of their sexual conduct was being filmed because the entire house, this Congressional woman's house was bugged. ... to be used for certain things that they wanted to request ... I don't know if she did anything illegal afterwards. ... the Turkish entities, wanted both congressional related favoritism from her, but also her husband was in a high position in the area in the state she was elected from, and these Turkish entities ran certain illegal operations, and they wanted her husband's help. But I don't know if she provided them with those."
Roy Blunt: "[T]he recipient of both legally and illegally raised donations, campaign donations from ...Turkish entities."
Dan Burton: (And others) "[E]xtremely illegal activities against the United States citizens who were involved in [covert] operations that were ... against ... foreign government[s] and foreign entities against the United States' interests."
Hastert, Livingston and Solarz, as Edmonds notes in her deposition, would all go on to become highly-paid lobbyist for Turkey and/or Turkish public interest groups after they left the U.S. Congress.
More from Brad Blog.
More from Brad Blog.
Rep. Lincoln. key Dem in health care talks receives most health industry contributions in 2009
Open Congress website:
As the summer of the Democrats’ discontent winds to a close, the head count for health care reform in the Senate begins in earnest. One of the key Democratic senators on the fence is Sen. Blanche Lincoln, a member of the Senate Finance Committee and one of the most vulnerable Democrats in the 2010 election. Lincoln jumped into the news today with a quote to a reporter stating her opposition to a public option plan in a health care reform bill. “I would not support a solely government-funded public option. We can’t afford that,” Lincoln said. The senior Arkansas senator is also the top recipient of campaign contributions from the health industry among senators this year.
As the summer of the Democrats’ discontent winds to a close, the head count for health care reform in the Senate begins in earnest. One of the key Democratic senators on the fence is Sen. Blanche Lincoln, a member of the Senate Finance Committee and one of the most vulnerable Democrats in the 2010 election. Lincoln jumped into the news today with a quote to a reporter stating her opposition to a public option plan in a health care reform bill. “I would not support a solely government-funded public option. We can’t afford that,” Lincoln said. The senior Arkansas senator is also the top recipient of campaign contributions from the health industry among senators this year.
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Lincoln has received $325,350 in contributions from the health industry, as of June 30. The large amount in contributions underlies a constantly shifting position by the senator on health care reform.
One of Lincoln’s biggest contributors this cycle is the insurance giant Blue Cross Blue Shield. The company’s political action committee and employees have combined to give the senator $29,500 this year alone. Blue Cross Blue Shield and their parent company Wellpoint are vocal opponents of the inclusion of a public option plan in any health care reform bill. Blue Cross Blue Shield is the dominant insurer in Arkansas holding a 75 percent market share.
Planet Wingnut News for Thursday
Beck: I'm a 'clown' who 'wants to make money'
Pat Buchanan Column: Hitler Didn't Want War
Ridge: Take Untrustworthy Jacket Off My Trustworthy Book!
Ridge: Take Untrustworthy Jacket Off My Trustworthy Book!
Steele Dismisses Woman Whose Mother Died Of Cancer: ‘It Makes For Great TV. You’ll Probably Make It. … Enjoy.’
RNC Chairman Michael Steele has strongly condemned Democrats who have criticized the town hall protests by opponents of health care reform. Last month, Steele said:
RNC Chairman Michael Steele has strongly condemned Democrats who have criticized the town hall protests by opponents of health care reform. Last month, Steele said:
We are not inciting anyone to go out and destroy anything. We’re not organizing the town halls; their senators are. But instead of focusing on the fact that people are genuinely concerned about what is going on, this administration has the arrogance, the arrogance to look down at my mother, to look down at my co-worker.
Yesterday at Howard University, Steele encountered his own “genuinely concerned” citizen — 23-year-old college grad/activist Amanda Duzak. Duzak stood up and interrupted Steele, arguing that “everyone in this country should have access to good health care” and cited the case of her own mother who died of cancer six months ago because she couldn’t afford her prescription chemotherapy medications. The audience applauded her.
Steele responded by chastising Duzak and accusing her of pulling antics to get on TV. “So people go out to town halls, they go to the community, and they’re like this. (SHAKES ARMS) It makes for great TV. You’ll probably make it tonight. Enjoy it.” The audience immediately went “Ohhh” and “Oooo.”
Yesterday at Howard University, Steele encountered his own “genuinely concerned” citizen — 23-year-old college grad/activist Amanda Duzak. Duzak stood up and interrupted Steele, arguing that “everyone in this country should have access to good health care” and cited the case of her own mother who died of cancer six months ago because she couldn’t afford her prescription chemotherapy medications. The audience applauded her.
Steele responded by chastising Duzak and accusing her of pulling antics to get on TV. “So people go out to town halls, they go to the community, and they’re like this. (SHAKES ARMS) It makes for great TV. You’ll probably make it tonight. Enjoy it.” The audience immediately went “Ohhh” and “Oooo.”
Fox Pushes Bogus Conspiracy Theory That Nancy ‘Music Czar’ Pelosi Is Banning Patriotic Muzak »
Tuesday the right-wing site The New Ledger published a report about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) “problem” with “patriotic music”. For years, when you would call a congressional office and get put on hold, you’d either hear no music or some patriotic tunes. According to The New Ledger, “the Democratic House leadership” made “a sweeping decision” to replace the patriotic music with smooth jazz.
Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) even sent a letter to House Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Daniel Beard — who, The New Leader points out, “reports to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi” — objecting to the change. But as ThinkProgress reported yesterday, this story is nothing more than a conspiracy theory. We spoke to Beard’s spokesman Jeff Ventura:
The music was changed during recess as a pilot program in an attempt to offer offices a choice of hold music. [...]
This had nothing to do with the leadership — not in the beginning or the final outcome.
I Think They're Trying To Intimidate Your Father! Hannity To Liz Cheney
HANNITY: Now former vice president, Dick Cheney, has made no secret of his disappointment with the current administration. He aired his frustrations with President Obama in perhaps the most explicit terms yet on FOX News this past Sunday. Asked his opinion of the president, he said the following.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DICK CHENEY, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I wasn't a fan of his when he got elected, and my views haven't changed any. I have serious doubts about his policies, serious doubts especially about the extent to which he understands and is prepared to do what needs to be done to defend the nation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANNITY: All right, the White House is not taking that sitting down. National security advisor, Jim Jones, hit back yesterday, telling ABC News that the country is actually safer under President Obama than it was under President Bush. OK. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. JAMES JONES (RET.), NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: We're seeing results that indicate more captures, more deaths of radical leaders, and a kind of a global coming together of the fact that this is -- this is a threat to not only the United States, but to the world at large.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANNITY: And joining me now to discuss all of this is former deputy assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs, somebody who knows the former vice president very well. Liz Cheney is back to us.
Liz, thanks for being here.
LIZ CHENEY, FORMER DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE, NEAR EASTERN AFFAIRS: Thank you for having me, Sean. Great to be with you.
HANNITY: You know, I find it interesting, because we can't even say it's a war on terror. I mean, Robert Gibbs slipped up the other day. Wasn't -- isn't it supposed to be now an overseas contingency operation? It's no longer a war on terror?
L. CHENEY: Yes, I mean, it is really a very concerning state of affairs, because you have a situation where, through a whole series of policies, you know, bringing terrorists from Guantanamo on to U.S. soil, threatening to prosecute the individual at the CIA who kept us safe since 9/11, not understanding exactly where the responsibility for future interrogations will lie, a whole set of circumstances which have us now moving back to pre-9/11 kinds of policies, dealing with terrorism as a law enforcement matter.
But it's worse than that, because we now know what happened when we dealt with terrorism that way. We've now been through 9/11. We've seen the attacks. So for the administration and President Obama, the attorney general, to now be returning to those days with the knowledge that we have of the consequences is really inexcusable.
Continue reading »
HANNITY: Now former vice president, Dick Cheney, has made no secret of his disappointment with the current administration. He aired his frustrations with President Obama in perhaps the most explicit terms yet on FOX News this past Sunday. Asked his opinion of the president, he said the following.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DICK CHENEY, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I wasn't a fan of his when he got elected, and my views haven't changed any. I have serious doubts about his policies, serious doubts especially about the extent to which he understands and is prepared to do what needs to be done to defend the nation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANNITY: All right, the White House is not taking that sitting down. National security advisor, Jim Jones, hit back yesterday, telling ABC News that the country is actually safer under President Obama than it was under President Bush. OK. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. JAMES JONES (RET.), NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: We're seeing results that indicate more captures, more deaths of radical leaders, and a kind of a global coming together of the fact that this is -- this is a threat to not only the United States, but to the world at large.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANNITY: And joining me now to discuss all of this is former deputy assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs, somebody who knows the former vice president very well. Liz Cheney is back to us.
Liz, thanks for being here.
LIZ CHENEY, FORMER DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE, NEAR EASTERN AFFAIRS: Thank you for having me, Sean. Great to be with you.
HANNITY: You know, I find it interesting, because we can't even say it's a war on terror. I mean, Robert Gibbs slipped up the other day. Wasn't -- isn't it supposed to be now an overseas contingency operation? It's no longer a war on terror?
L. CHENEY: Yes, I mean, it is really a very concerning state of affairs, because you have a situation where, through a whole series of policies, you know, bringing terrorists from Guantanamo on to U.S. soil, threatening to prosecute the individual at the CIA who kept us safe since 9/11, not understanding exactly where the responsibility for future interrogations will lie, a whole set of circumstances which have us now moving back to pre-9/11 kinds of policies, dealing with terrorism as a law enforcement matter.
But it's worse than that, because we now know what happened when we dealt with terrorism that way. We've now been through 9/11. We've seen the attacks. So for the administration and President Obama, the attorney general, to now be returning to those days with the knowledge that we have of the consequences is really inexcusable.
Continue reading »
Watchdog sent letter to CA AG to investigate health insurers that have employees lobby health reform
A California consumers’ rights group says two health insurance companies urged their employees to join political efforts to scuttle health reform efforts, in “likely” contravention of laws forbidding employers from putting political pressure on employees.
Consumer Watchdog, based in Santa Monica, California, sent a letter (PDF) to California Attorney General Jerry Brown asking him to “investigate major health insurers that have asked their workers to lobby Congress—during business hours—to weaken health reform.”
“We write to request that you investigate actions by health insurance companies Anthem/Wellpoint and United Healthcare that may violate the right of employees in California to be free of political pressure by employers,” the letter states.
“Both companies are urging their employees to lobby members of Congress with corporate assistance, including talking points and even the placing of phone calls for the employees. We believe that such individual political persuasion by an employer amounts to illegal coercion under the California Labor Code.”
Read on.
Consumer Watchdog, based in Santa Monica, California, sent a letter (PDF) to California Attorney General Jerry Brown asking him to “investigate major health insurers that have asked their workers to lobby Congress—during business hours—to weaken health reform.”
“We write to request that you investigate actions by health insurance companies Anthem/Wellpoint and United Healthcare that may violate the right of employees in California to be free of political pressure by employers,” the letter states.
“Both companies are urging their employees to lobby members of Congress with corporate assistance, including talking points and even the placing of phone calls for the employees. We believe that such individual political persuasion by an employer amounts to illegal coercion under the California Labor Code.”
Read on.
Pastor: Guv. Jindal should reimburse taxpayers for his helicopter trips to church.
Thinkprogress:
The Lousiana newspaper the Advocate recently reported that Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA) has been using tax dollars to fund helicopter trips to and from church. Now, a Lousianian pastor who heads a national interfaith group, the Interfaith Alliance, says Jindal should reimburse taxpayers for the trips:
The Rev. Welton Gaddy, president of the liberal Interfaith Alliance, sent a letter to the governor this week, saying Jindal should reimburse the state for the trips.
“It appears that you owe the people of Louisiana an apology and the treasurer of the state a reimbursement of at least $45,000 in addition to whatever money was spent in the period not covered by the Advocate’s investigation. No taxpayer money should have been used for your travel,” Gaddy wrote.
The Lousiana newspaper the Advocate recently reported that Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA) has been using tax dollars to fund helicopter trips to and from church. Now, a Lousianian pastor who heads a national interfaith group, the Interfaith Alliance, says Jindal should reimburse taxpayers for the trips:
The Rev. Welton Gaddy, president of the liberal Interfaith Alliance, sent a letter to the governor this week, saying Jindal should reimburse the state for the trips.
“It appears that you owe the people of Louisiana an apology and the treasurer of the state a reimbursement of at least $45,000 in addition to whatever money was spent in the period not covered by the Advocate’s investigation. No taxpayer money should have been used for your travel,” Gaddy wrote.
Sanford: I'm fighting for liberty.
TPM:As part of a fresh round of interviews designed to help save his job, South Carolina governor Mark Sanford suggested a higher power wants him to remain in office, and called his now legendary Appalachian Trail deception "a little white lie". And the embattled Palmetto State Romeo reiterated that he planned to complete his term, which runs through 2010, in order to advance conservative principles -- despite a meeting of GOP lawmakers over the weekend, at which not a single person expressed support for him.
"I feel absolutely committed to the cause, to what God wanted me to do with my life," Sanford told the Washington Times. "I have got this blessing of being engaged in a fight for liberty, which is constantly being threatened."
SPB News for Thursday
Obama To Address Joint Session Of Congress Sept 9
Dying Manson follower Atkins loses bid for release
State Dept. Looking Into Alleged Misbehavior Of Contractors In Afghanistan'People's Veto' Of Same-Sex Marriage Law On Nov. Ballot In Maine
WH Argues Against Releasing Bush-Era Detainee Information
Obama To Discuss Health Care At Labor Day Union Picnic
New DNC Ad: 'Dick Cheney, Wrong Then, Wrong Now'
Lt. Gov. Garamendi Wins Dem Primary For CA House Seat
Iranian Report: Obama Sends Second Letter To Khamenei
Allen Stanford Has Leg Surgery To Remove Aneurysm
Freed US journos break silence
Pair say they were forcibly dragged from China by North Korean soldiers.
Kennedy Memoir Talks of Chappaquiddick, J.F.K. and Other Presidents — In a memoir being published posthumously, Senator Edward M. Kennedy talks remorsefully about the car accident that claimed the life of Mary Jo Kopechne - a turn of events many consider a chief reason that he was never able
GOP calls VA pamphlet a 'death book.' Experts say it isn't While Republicans are calling a Department of Veterans Affairs health planning booklet a "death book" that encourages veterans to kill themselves or forgo care, ethicists and legal and medical experts say it's a reasonable attempt to help America's veterans plan for the end of their lives.
Pfizer Pays $2.3 Billion to Settle Marketing Case The pharmaceutical giant Pfizer agreed to pay $2.3 billion to settle civil and criminal allegations that it had illegally marketed its now-withdrawn painkiller, Bextra. It was the largest health care fraud settlement and the largest criminal fine of any kind ever. It was Pfizer’s fourth settlement over illegal marketing activities since 2002.
Obamas captured in Kennedy-like Oval Office photo An unusual and yet strangely familiar image of life intruding into the Oval Office has been captured by a White House photographer. As Barack Obama looks through papers, his eight-year-old daughter, Sasha, spies on him from behind a sofa. The photograph, released by the White House, was taken by Peter Souza, whose brief is to document the Obama presidency.
SEC lawyer who failed to catch Madoff got highest performance rating
TPM:
The SEC attorney who failed, despite numerous red flags, to catch Bernie Madoff's colossal fraud received the highest possible performance rating from the agency -- citing her "ability to understand and analyze the complex issues of the Madoff investigation" -- soon after the probe closed in 2006.
That's according to an SEC inspector general report on the Madoff fiasco, whose executive summary was released this afternoon. The full report will be made available in the coming days.
Read more »
The SEC attorney who failed, despite numerous red flags, to catch Bernie Madoff's colossal fraud received the highest possible performance rating from the agency -- citing her "ability to understand and analyze the complex issues of the Madoff investigation" -- soon after the probe closed in 2006.
That's according to an SEC inspector general report on the Madoff fiasco, whose executive summary was released this afternoon. The full report will be made available in the coming days.
Read more »
Ethics group claims CIA doctors used "human experimentation" during torture sessions
Talkleft:
About those doctors who attended the CIA interrogation sessions at which enhanced technigues, aka torture, were used:
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), a non-profit group that has investigated the role of medical personnel in alleged incidents of torture at Guantánamo, Abu Ghraib, Bagram and other US detention sites, accuses doctors of being far more involved than hitherto understood.
....The most incendiary accusation of PHR's latest report, Aiding Torture, is that doctors actively monitored the CIA's interrogation techniques with a view to determining their effectiveness, using detainees as human subjects without their consent. The report concludes that such data-gathering was "a practice that approaches unlawful experimentation".
About those doctors who attended the CIA interrogation sessions at which enhanced technigues, aka torture, were used:
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), a non-profit group that has investigated the role of medical personnel in alleged incidents of torture at Guantánamo, Abu Ghraib, Bagram and other US detention sites, accuses doctors of being far more involved than hitherto understood.
....The most incendiary accusation of PHR's latest report, Aiding Torture, is that doctors actively monitored the CIA's interrogation techniques with a view to determining their effectiveness, using detainees as human subjects without their consent. The report concludes that such data-gathering was "a practice that approaches unlawful experimentation".
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Is Justice Stevens retiring?
Interesting...
Talkleft:
The AP reports Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, age 89, has only hired one law clerk for the next term, prompting speculation he is retiring.
Usually by now, justices have hired four clerks. Retired justices are alloted one clerk.
In response to a question from The Associated Press, Stevens confirmed through a court spokeswoman Tuesday that he has hired only one clerk for the term that begins in October 2010. He is among several justices who typically have hired all four clerks for the following year by now. Information about this advance hiring is not released by the court but is regularly published by some legal blogs.
Stevens did not say whether he plans to hire his full allotment of clerks or whether he will leave the court at the conclusion of the term that begins next month. Retired justices are allowed to hire one clerk.
Talkleft:
The AP reports Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, age 89, has only hired one law clerk for the next term, prompting speculation he is retiring.
Usually by now, justices have hired four clerks. Retired justices are alloted one clerk.
In response to a question from The Associated Press, Stevens confirmed through a court spokeswoman Tuesday that he has hired only one clerk for the term that begins in October 2010. He is among several justices who typically have hired all four clerks for the following year by now. Information about this advance hiring is not released by the court but is regularly published by some legal blogs.
Stevens did not say whether he plans to hire his full allotment of clerks or whether he will leave the court at the conclusion of the term that begins next month. Retired justices are allowed to hire one clerk.
Levi Johnston: Palin offered to adopt baby, talked about resigning after 2008 election to "triple the money"
In the upcoming (and much-awaited) article in Vanity Fair, Levi Johnston dishes some serious dirt on Sarah Palin. In the excerpts that have been teased out this morning, Johnston, says that Palin didn't like being governor, thinking that it was too hard, and immediately after the 2008 election she began to think about resigning in order to pursue something more lucrative:
Sarah was sad for a while. She walked around the house pouting.
Sarah was sad for a while. She walked around the house pouting.
I had assumed she was going to go back to her job as governor, but a week or two after she got back she started talking about how nice it would be to quit and write a book or do a show and make "triple the money." It was, to her, "not as hard." She would blatantly say, "I want to just take this money and quit being governor." She started to say it frequently, but she didn't know how to do it. When she came home from work, it seemed like she was more and more stressed out.Read more »
On a side note: Speaking of Palin, here is some interesting news...
Sarah Palin will be the keynote speaker at the annual conference of CLSA, a Hong Kong-based brokerage. Many observers were questioning why Palin, who lacks significant foreign policy knowledge, would be invited. Business Insider now reports that CLSA -- well-known for its "cheeky takes on investment research" -- may be playing a practical joke. In the past, they've polled Asian fortune tellers for index targets" and "hired anime cartoonists to draw Japanese research. ... They are a real research firm, it’s just that they love to sprinkle in some hilarity every now and then as a smart marketing gimmick." Read on.
DIANE SAWYER TO REPLACE CHARLIE GIBSON ON ABC'S 'WORLD NEWS'
ABC's "World News" anchor Charlie Gibson is retiring -- and will be replaced by "Good Morning America" anchor Diane Sawyer in January.
ABC has now confirmed the move.
Sawyer, 63, now becomes the second woman to anchor an evening newscast-- joining Katie Couric, who's been anchoring the "CBS Evening News" since September 2006.
Gibson, 66, has anchored "World News" since May 2006, when he replaced Elizabeth Vargas and Bob Woodruff, who'd been severely injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq four months before.
He will anchor "World News" through the end of the year.
There's no word, yet, on how this will affect "Good Morning America," co-anchored by Chris Cuomo and Robin Roberts.
Read on.
ABC has now confirmed the move.
Sawyer, 63, now becomes the second woman to anchor an evening newscast-- joining Katie Couric, who's been anchoring the "CBS Evening News" since September 2006.
Gibson, 66, has anchored "World News" since May 2006, when he replaced Elizabeth Vargas and Bob Woodruff, who'd been severely injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq four months before.
He will anchor "World News" through the end of the year.
There's no word, yet, on how this will affect "Good Morning America," co-anchored by Chris Cuomo and Robin Roberts.
Read on.
Justice League blog mentioned on Open Congress website
I saw on the sitemeter that Open Congress website linked an article that I posted on three bills that President Obama signed. I would like to thank the website for linking the Justice League article to Open Congress website. Justice League does keep up on the President's agenda for this country and the issues that matters the most on this blog as well as tp the public. On a side note: Rep. Alan Grayson is sponsored a bill on the website: H.R. 2245: New Frontier Congressional Medal Act. We do hope that Congress is in favor of this bill. The above pic is the print screen of the link to Justice League. Here is the link to the site. Click here.
K-Fed -- Swimming for two; Open thread
Look at the photos: One is close to head to the show "The Biggest Loser" and the other one isn't. Yup, this is the same person. Holy Fatman! I was emailed this TMZ photo of singer Britney Spears' ex-hubby Kevin Federline aka K-Fed. My goodness he gain weight? I mean, did he eat the children? Time for K-Fed to put that fork down and bag of Cheetos and head to the gym. From TMZ:K-Fed and his one-piece bathing suit were easily spotted relaxing in Miami this weekend -- check out the entire gallery. Read more: http://www.tmz.com/#ixzz0PssJU4PX
Planet Wingnut News for Wednesday.
Bachmann: We should ‘make a covenant, to slit our wrists, be blood brothers’ against health care reform.
Monday, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) delivered a “speech filled with urgent and violent rhetoric” at a gathering sponsored by the Independence Institute in Denver. During what was originally billed as a “personal legislative briefing,” Bachmann “got downright biblical” when describing her unwavering opposition to health care reform:
Monday, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) delivered a “speech filled with urgent and violent rhetoric” at a gathering sponsored by the Independence Institute in Denver. During what was originally billed as a “personal legislative briefing,” Bachmann “got downright biblical” when describing her unwavering opposition to health care reform:
“This [health care reform] cannot pass…What we have to do today is make a covenant, to slit our wrists, be blood brothers on this thing. This will not pass. We will do whatever it takes to make sure this doesn’t pass…Right now, we are looking at reaching down the throat and ripping the guts out of freedom. And we may never be able to restore it if we don’t man up and take this one on.”
Beck guest warns of ‘black genocide’ from health care reform — It appears Fox News host Glenn Beck has found an unlikely ally — an African-American preacher who peddles conspiracy theories about a white plot to exterminate black people. — Beck gave airtime Monday to Dallas-area pastor Stephen Broden …