PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- The earthquake
not only smashed markets, collapsed warehouses and left more than 2.5 million
people without enough to eat. It may also have shaken up the way the developing
world gets food.
Salon Bashes Kucinich Over Health Care Bill Webzine Misinterprets Congressman's Stance,
Owes Huge Apology
NewsFocus.org, Op/Ed by Tim Watts - 031010
Salon Magazine has attacked Ohio Democratic Congressional icon
Dennis Kucinich for his stance on the pending health care bill, without
understanding his true intent. Reporter Alex Koppleman has totally
misinterpreted Kucinich's position, indicting him as the death vote on
health care, even though it is the farthest thing from the truth.
What Koppleman fails to realize is that this is a bad bill,
period. After all of the bullshit that has transpired with the GOP and blue-dog
conserva-Dems doing everything they could to reward their big campaign
contributors in the health insurance industry, you would think Koppleman might
be able to see the integrity behind Kucinich's position.
Does Kucinich's complaint over the current bill mean that he
is against health care? Not even close. Nothing could be farther from the truth
and Koppleman should know that.
Kucinich, along with Michigan Congressman John Conyers, has
been fighting the good fight for national health care as hard as anyone.
Together, the two have sponsored bill
HR 676, by far the hands down best health care policy for Americans
because, 1) it's free to all American citizens, 2) it covers everyone
and is all inclusive with no deductibles, premiums or co-pays, and 3) will cost
this country
far less than any of the other plans proposed, including the current
plan being debated now.
What Koppleman misses is that this current legislation is not
health care for Americans, but insurance care for the wealthy insurance
companies. Nothing more, nothing less.
This is not our only chance at health care. We can vote
on HR 676 anytime Congress develops a moral conscience and a spine. Kucinich is
merely trying to keep these corporations from ripping us off by standing against
a bad bill that would not be the true help we need. The logic that any bill is
better than nothing is seriously flawed thinking because it caves in to the
demands of the insurance giants and provides far more for them than it does for
you and I. With so much at stake, Koppleman's piece has little merit and fails
to address the deeper issues of this exhausting health debate (fiasco).
To see a hit piece like that, in Salon of all places,
was most disturbing. Perhaps its time to give up on Koppleman instead, or even
Salon, if they want to stand by trash like this.
Who needs teleprompters when a studio can simply
insert canned laughter?
I've dealt with sound engineering for 30 years, as a film
maker, interviewer, musician, working with master reel to reel tapes/decks at
EMS Music in Seattle in the 80's as a sound duplication engineer, or setting
sound levels for my and other bands in live situations at shows. I won a
Hollywood award for animation in 2000. I know sound. And it's my opinion that
audio portions of Sarah Palin's March 2nd appearance on Jay Leno's Tonight show
were added or amplified, edited before broadcast to make it appear that Sarah
Palin was more welcome than she was.
NewsFocus:
Her line about the media being broken was the best.
"I think that the mainstream
media is quite broken and I think that there needs to be the fairness, the
balance in there. That's why I joined Fox." You can't make this stuff up.
Ron Paul Rocks CPAC Daily
Beast - Feb 20, 2010 Take a back seat, Michele Bachmann and Glenn
Beck: The biggest star of CPAC so far has been Texas Congressman Ron
Paul. Paul was the first speaker to fill ...
Ron Paul wins straw vote at CPAC The Daily
Inquirer - Feb 22,
2010 Ron Paul, a libertarian who has railed against
spending and the Federal Reserve. He was followed by former Massachusetts Gov.
Mitt Romney, while former ...
Libertarian messenger
walks away with CPAC endorsement
Examiner.com - Feb 20,
2010 Ron Paul's Saturday victory at the Conservative
Political Action Conference may signal the tide is turning for libertarians and
slightly against ...
NewsFocus:
The one and only Republican with a real head on
his shoulders. We do not agree on everything, but we agree on the biggest issue,
get rid of the Federal Reserve.
SENATE BURGLARY: CIA DOMESTIC BLACK-OP TEAM ARRESTED ALL 4 INVOLVED IN SENATE HOMELAND SECURITY BREAKIN
CIA “NOC” AGENTS; CIA PROGRAM MAY HAVE TRAINED DOMESTIC “DEATH SQUADS” VeteransToday.com,
by Gordon Duff STAFF WRITER/Senior Editor
Last week’s breakin at
Senator Mary Landrieu’s office in the New Orleans Federal Building was more than
it seemed, much more. All of the 4 arrested had been trained by the CIA and,
possibly, Israel. One arrested, Stan Dai, is listed as an Operations Officer
of the Department of Defense Irregular Warfare Program and a known expert and
lecturer on, not only surveillance but explosives training, assassinations and
“false flag operations.” If you wanted a plane to crash, an enemy to get sick
and die or a building to blow up, Dai would be the man to know how to make it
happen. Problem is, his skills were being used as part of a criminal conspiracy
inside the United States against members of our own government.
Activist filmmaker arrested in senator's office msnbc.com -
012610
NEW ORLEANS - A conservative filmmaker whose undercover
videos shone a spotlight on alleged corruption by the liberal activist group
ACORN was arrested with ...
Makers of ACORN 'Documentary' Sued in Federal Court CrooksandLiars.com,
by Susie Madrak Monday Jan 25, 2010 7:00am
Remember, James O'Keefe's partner on an
abortion documentary stopped working with him. She said he edited the video in a
misleading way to make it look like things happened that didn't. (Imagine that!)
Anyway, now he and his newest collaborator can
explain to a federal judge why he broke Pennsylvania's wiretap laws:
The Philadelphia-office director of the
anti-poverty group ACORN filed a civil lawsuit late Thursday in federal district
court alleging that two conservative filmmakers
violated state law when they recorded an interview with her without her consent
and then disseminated it. ...
(Read
More)
NewsFocus: This should not
be decided by any political party. This regards our right to fair
elections, thus "We the People" should be involved.
Call and write a good Congressman or Senator,
if you can possibly find one. (Suggestions, Dennis Kucinich, Ron Paul, Al
Franken, Bernie Sanders, Marcy Kaptur, Alan Grayson, Brad Sherman, or perhaps
John Conyers. Good luck elsewhere.)
Franken's anti-rape
amendment becomes law
RawStory.com, by
Stephen C. Webster -122109
Over
the unexplained objections of 30 Republican Senators, an anti-rape amendment
authored by Senator Al Franken (D-MN) became law Monday with President Obama's
signature on the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010.
The provision was
sparked by the gang-rape of a 19-year-old Kellogg, Brown & Root
employee by her coworkers in Iraq. After returning to the United
States, Jamie Leigh Jones found she couldn't sue the company
because of a clause in her employment contract.
Franken's amendment
to the Defense Appropriations Act prohibits companies from using
employment contracts to bar litigation over sexual assault or
discrimination.
When the Senate took
up Franken's measure, 30 Republicans voted against it. None
cared to explain why, with some suggesting it's simply not
the government's business to rewrite employment contracts.
...
Palin Earns First Ever Lie of the Year Award CafeSentido.com -
122309
But then also, this lie is rooted in the false claim that
healthcare reform is a plot to ration care. And on top of that, there's the
unsavory fact that ...
Obama Year One: Betrayal and Failure (Part I)
IntelDaily.com - 122109
Promising change after
eight George Bush and Republican dominated years, Barack Obama won the most sweeping non-incumbent
victory in over 50 years along with congressional
...
Was Snubbing Howard Dean A
Mistake? msnbc.com -
Mark Murray -
121609
Over the past few days, much of the political
psycho-analysis has focused on Joe Lieberman, wondering if his
drubbing in the 2004 presidential primaries and his defeat in
the 2006 Senate primary helped shape his opposition to the
public option and, ...
Move On Trying To Raise One Million Dollars To Help Beat Joe Lieberman
CrooksandLiars.com, by
Logan Murphy Thursday Dec 17, 2009 10:00am
Senator Joe Lieberman is relishing the spotlight as he gleefully
continues
his assault on the American people and our health care. He is bought and
paid for by corporate lobbyists and loves the thought that he, and he alone, can
do so much damage to health care reform -- but he needs to be held responsible
for his actions.
NewsFocus
Op/Ed:
It's way past time to kick this political douche bag to the curb. Send him back
to Israel to care for his real constituents, or let him get onto his new
lucrative lobbying job. America needs Senators and Congressmen with moral
integrity, people that actually give a damn about our country, instead of
protecting a terrorist state.
Bush aides floated bogus Gore rumor
RawStory.com 121709 Revealed: Bush officials e-mailed bogus rumor blaming Gore for
failure to kill Bin Laden
Palin: Questioning Obama's birth certicate legit
RawStory.com,
Friday, December 4th, 2009 -- 8:32 am
In a radio appearance Thursday, former Alaska governor and
GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin said questions about President
Obama's birth certificate -- a spurious attempt to argue that he's not a US
citizen and thus ineligible for President -- are fair game for debate. ...
Sarah Palin arrived in North
Carolina Sunday by way of Asheville. She was slated to have a
much-touted dinner with
Franklin Graham and his father
Billy. While this is a video made by a fan (so pardon the
drippiness) it does provide a good view of the plane she
arrived on...and the call number. You may also see some
"interesting" dynamics at play:
"Linda, Thought I would let
you know. The plane Sarah flew in to Asheville had the N
number 262SP. The SP does not stand for Sarah Palin but the
plane is owned by
Samaritans Purse. I checked it out at the FAA registry.
Wonder if that plane is being used at Rochester and other book
signing destinations? Samaritan donations being put to good
use to haul Palin's carcass around."
As if that was not interesting
enough, he wrote back later:
Tried to check the flight
activity for this airplane (N262SP) at
Flightwise.com. The flight activity for this plane is blocked
by the owner. Guess he doesn't want anyone to know where he is
flying. ...
President Barack Obama is “getting bad advice from… clowns”
on Afghanistan and “sucking up to the wrong people” on health
care, U.S. Rep. John Conyers told a Detroit radio audience
this morning, ...
Op-Ed Columnist Daisy Chain of Cheneys New York Times -
Maureen Dowd -
Oct 13, 2009
It's hard to believe that the Bush dynasty, which limped
away in disgrace after smashing our economy and the globe,
has spawned another political dynasty.
Keep America Safe Indict Dick Cheney!
InformationClearinghouse.info, by Scott
Horton
If you enjoy fear-mongering, here’s a not-for-profit organization for you:
Keep America Safe. William Kristol and Liz Cheney are the dynamic duo behind
it.
Continue
Jeez, all we need now is one less liberal to push those damn
Blue Dogs into doing the right thing.
From Rep. Wexler's site:
“Today, I am announcing that I will be accepting the
position of president of the Center for Middle East Peace and will leave
Congress effective in January of 2010." ...
NewsFocus: this is puzzling news to say the least.
Did someone find pictures? This is disturbing and hard to understand.
Republican Crowd Goes After Senator Lindsey
Graham
Wow! The town hall mentality turns against Republican Lindsey
Graham.
Very good to see some conservatives wake up. Yay for the Ron Paul crowd.
Senate Passes Al Franken Amendment Only Republicans Have The Lack of
Moral Compassion To Vote No, 30 In All, Including Extramarital Affair Senators
John Ensign And David Vitter Post Chronicle -
Mitch Marconi -
100809 Senate passes Franken amendment (VIDEO) - Senator Al Franken
pushed through an amendment on Tuesday that is designed to withhold defense ...
"I love
this country," Franken says.
"But you have to love your country
like an adult loves somebody, not like a child loves its Mommy. And right-wing
Republicans tend to love America like a child loves its Mommy, where everything
Mommy does is okay. But adult love means you're not in denial, and you want the
loved one to be the best they can be."
Will the media ever report about how low in the polling Republicans have
sunk?
CrooksandLiars.com, by
John Amato Saturday Sep 26, 2009 7:00am
We constantly are seeing polling down from the major news
services that follow President Obama's approval ratings and it is an
important stat to keep track of, but can you tell me what the media is not
covering? How low the Republicans have been polling ever since they became
the party of "Waterloo."
The Democratic leaders do have terrible polling
numbers, Nancy Pelosi has a 34% approval rating in
DKOS's new poll and Harry Reid has a 31% approval rating, but let's take
a look at the Republican leadership, shall we?
Ex-Dem fundraiser sentenced in NYC to 24 years The Associated Press -
Larry Neumeister -
092909
NEW YORK — Former Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu was
sentenced Tuesday to more than 24 years in prison by a judge who accused him
of funding his fraud by manipulating the political process in a way that
"strikes at the very core of our democracy. ...
On Sept. 12, a group called FreedomWorks – with
a little help from Glenn Beck at Fox News – organized a “taxpayer” rally
in DC to protest the “irresponsible government takeover of our nation’s
healthcare, devastating new energy taxes, and trillions of dollars in red
ink.” When the mainstream media didn’t pick up on the story, several
conservative bloggers began distributing a photo of protesters clogging the
DC mall. Problem: the photo is from a totally different event.
Michelle Malkin and the anatomy of the 2 million protester lieMedia Matters for America
CNN: There Is A Dark Fringe To These Tea Party Events
When will these people wake up and realize they have been duped by FOX.
Newt would like to arrange a private dinner with you at
the historic Capitol Hill Club on the evening of October 7, 2009 in
Washington. You’ll
dine privately with Newt at this exclusive venue and he’ll take the occasion
to present you with your well deserved award and have your photo taken
together. (Read
More)
The Real Reason Congressman Joe Wilson Shouted "You Lie" No, It Wasn't A Spontaneous Act, It Was More likely A Premeditated
Act
NewsFocus Op/Ed, by Tim Watts 091009
For South Carolina Repugnant Congressman (R) Joe Wilson
to claim his disorderly conduct during a presidential address was
spontaneous is a disingenuous accounting of his actions. Like the organized
town hall disruptive protests, and like the concerted efforts to lie about
death panels and threats to Medicare, this was once again the right-wing
dirty tricks team employing a calculated effort to save face as Obama
appealed to America in an effort to correct the lies told by key Republicans
on health care reform.
Many were relieved to hear President Obama set the record
straight, but many died in the wool right wingers did not want to
hear the truth. By having a member of their party shout out that Obama was
lying, it gave validation to those who did not want to believe him anyway.
Just like Congressman Boustany's GOP rebuttal after the presidential
address, it too ignored Obama's attempt to correct the malicious falsehoods
that were propagated by the far right. This in essence gives the die-hard
faction of the right an open door to keep their misperceptions of the plan
alive, by giving a false substantiation to their misguided views. There is
thus no reason to believe Obama since their party openly denied his claims
during and after the speech. This has the effect of neutering Obama's effort
to enlighten a portion of Americans that have been deceived by the right.
If someone would have acted this way during any one of Bush's
speeches, which did contain lies, it is safe to say they would have
been immediately tasered and shipped off to a detention facility at
Guantanamo Bay. As repulsive as it was for many on the left, Democrats had
civility and applauded during Bush addresses, even standing for ovations,
something Republicans failed miserably at for President Obama. Way to stay
classy GOP.
Keith Olbermann Sets Joe Wilson
Straight
Way to go Keith! Sick 'em boy!
Joe Wilson Shows The GOP's True Colors
Did Democrats ever stand up and call Bush a liar, even though he was?
The Right Has Gone Absolutely Bat Shit
Crazy The Wing-Nuts Are Proving They Are Hypocrites And Lunatics
Reagan Spoke To The School Kids. So Did Bush Sr. Why So
Worried About Obama?
Keith
Olbermann Exposes The Right-Wing Fear Mongering
The GOP looks pretty damn stupid right about now.
"The story of America isn't
about people who quit when things got tough. It's about people who kept going,
who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than
their best,"President Barack Obama.
Poll: GOP Unpopular, Majority Still Back Obama
CNN News, By Paul Steinhauser - 040909
WASHINGTON -- Despite the drop in President Obama's
approval ratings, Republican policies are still not as popular as Democratic
policies, according to a new national poll.
A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Friday
morning indicates the GOP has gained some ground in polls in recent months,
but Democrats still hold the advantage on key issues such as the economy and
health care.
Fifty-two percent of people questioned
say the president's policies will move the country in the right direction.
An equal percentage feel the same way about the policies of the Democrats in
Congress.
What do Americans think of Republican
policies? Forty-three percent say the GOP's policies will move the country
in the right direction. Nearly half of those polled said congressional
Republicans would move the country in the wrong direction. ...
Pat Buchanan: Did Hitler Want War?
Why did Warsaw not negotiate with Berlin, which was hinting at an offer of
compensatory territory in Slovakia? Because the Poles had a war guarantee from
Britain that, should Germany attack, Britain and her empire would come to
Poland's rescue.
HOLDER NAMES TORTURE PROBE PROSECUTOR
BradBlog.com 082409 Conyers, Nadler 'applaud', call for 'broad mandate to
investigate abuses... where[ever] it may lead'. ...
Congressman: Obama violating law by not
investigating Bush officials
RawStory.com, By
John ByrneAugust 24, 2009
President Barack Obama will be “violating the law” if his
administration declines to investigate Bush officials for their role in
torturing detainees, a prominent House Democrat said in a little noticed
interview Friday. ...
Conyers calls
for Bush criminal investigation
The Raw Story - 072409
The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee has called for both
a criminal investigation and a blue-ribbon panel to look into "Bush
administration abuses of power and misconduct."
Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) told the National Press Club Friday
that both avenues should be pursued because a criminal investigation would be
done in private, while a blue-ribbon "9/11-type" panel would work publicly and
would create a public record of the Bush administration's actions.
Limbaugh: Folks, this is
Mussolini-type stuff. This is the President of the United States -- who
cannot deal with opposition, there will not be any, he is going to silence
it -- sending his union thugs out to physically assault, and in some cases
to, in all cases, intimidate average Americans who just want some answers.
Actually, Limbaugh has historical
references exactly reversed. "Mussolini-type stuff" involves organizing gangs of
thugs on behalf of established business interests to assault and intimidate
union organizers. At least, that was what happened when Mussolini did it.
Limbaugh: It's right out of Adolph Hitler's playbook. Now, what are the
similarities between the Democrat Party today and the Nazi Party in
Germany? Well, the Nazis were against big business. They hated big
business and of course we all know that they were opposed to Jewish
capitalism. They were insanely, irrationally against pollution. They were
for two years mandatory voluntary service to Germany. They had a whole
bunch of make-work projects to keep people working, one of which was the
Autobahn. They were against cruelty and vivisection of animals, but in the
radical sense of devaluing human life, they banned smoking. They were
totally against that. They were for abortion and euthanasia of the
undesirables, as we all know, and they were for cradle-to-grave
nationalized healthcare.
David Brooks: Limbaugh health care rhetoric 'insane' CrooksandLiars.com, by
David Sunday Aug 09, 2009 7:00pm Conservative columnist David Brooks thinks Rush
Limbaugh has gone too far in comparing President Barack Obama to Hitler.
Brooks was stunned by the comparison when he first saw it on NBC's Meet the
Press Sunday. "I hadn't seen the Rush Limbaugh thing. That is insane.
What he's saying is insane," said Brooks.
Brooks went on to criticize
Sarah Palin for saying that health care reform would create a "death panel"
to euthanize older Americans. "Again, that's crazy. The crazies are
attacking the plan because it'll cut off granny, and that's simply not true.
That simply is not going to happen," explained Brooks.
Hey, Did You Hear That Democrats Won The Election?!
InformationClearinghouse.info, by David Michael Green
That George Bush, man – what a monster, eh? I mean, could you even have
imagined a president so destructive? It’s actually worse than you thought,
though. Lately, there’s been a spate of fresh revelations about some of the
incredibly disastrous policies that were executed by the Bush
administration.
Read More
Bombshell: Rep. Jane Harman Caught on Tape Agreeing to Lobby for Alleged
AIPAC/Israel Spies? Harman was allegedly heard saying she'd 'waddle into' the AIPAC case in
return for support for her bid to become chair of the Intelligence Committee
Alernet, by Jeremy Scahill - April 20, 2009
This is a huge story: Representative Jane Harman, a hawkish, influential
“Blue Dog” Democrat “was overheard on an NSA wiretap telling a suspected Israeli
agent that she would lobby the Justice Department reduce espionage-related
charges against two officials of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee,
the most powerful pro-Israel organization in Washington,” according to a report
from CQ
Conservative Democrat Alleged To Support
AIPAC For Intel Chairmanship
Democrats willing to call out their own when left is out of line.
UPDATE:
Minnesota court rules in favor of Franken over Coleman Think Progress - Apr
13, 2009
One Response to “Minnesota court rules in favor of Franken over Coleman in
US Senate race.” This race became a farce as soon as the recount started.
...
ED NOTE: Weasel Hypocrisy At Work Flashback- Remember When GOP Fought To Stop FL Statewide Recount
In 2000? Fast Forwardto present... The
GOP fought for a full statewide recount in the Coleman-Franken election. Not
just a few counties as the Dems were only allowed in 2000, but a full
statewide recount. They received their full statewide recount and still lost! Now they want to go to Federal Court to hold the process of seating Franken
up for years. <sigh>
Kucinich Wants House To
Investigate Assassination Claims Cleveland Congressman Wants Cheney And
Bush Investigated The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com - 031609
Dennis Kucinich wants the House Oversight and Government
Reform Committee to investigate allegations by investigative reporter
Seymour Hersh that the White House operated an 'executive assassination
ring' during the presidency of George W. Bush. ...
At least the comedians have the guts to speak out. So much for the news
media.
Republicans Say Dems Trying To Divide
Their Party
Let's Compare That Charge With Republicans Trying To Divide
Our Country For The Last Eight Years (Karma has a way of coming around to
bite GOP in the ass)
Poll: Attacks On Rush Limbaugh Are Working San Francisco Chronicle - Mar
13, 2009
Weeks ago, we were among the first to question the strategy of the Dems
attacking Rush Limbaugh. What's the point of attacking a talk-show host who
is ...
Dem Poll: Rush Limbaugh Is a Drag on the Republican Party U.S. News & World Report - By
Paul Bedard, Mar 11, 2009
By nearly 2 to 1, Americans view Rush Limbaugh negatively,
according to a new Democracy Corps poll that pours gas on an
...
Why Do People Listen To Rush Limbaugh? AlterNet - 8
hours ago 031409
AlterNet readers had a lot to say about a recent article
explaining the popularity of Rush Limbaugh. Despite the fact that he
is batshit crazy, ...
'Watchmen': Why Rush Limbaugh isn't gonna like it Entertainment Weekly - Mar
8, 2009
Pretty soon those people -- mighty Rush Limbaugh, perhaps? explodin' Bill
O'Reilly? -- may come to see Watchmen as a ripe target. Me, I think it's
just more ...
Media Tries to Undermine Obama Agenda Beyond Chron - Mar
10, 2009
Consider a recent showing of Chris Matthews’
Hardball on MSNBC. Matthews has been criticized for pro-Obama
comments, and seems to be using his show to prove ...
Bilderbergers Excite Conspiracists
Politico, Kenneth P. Vogel - March 16, 2009 The highest levels of the Obama
administration are infested with members of a shadowy, elitist
cabal intent on installing a one-world government that subverts
the will of the American people.
It sounds crazy, but that’s what a group
of very persistent conspiracy theorists insists, and they point
to President Obama’s nominee for Health and Human Services
Secretary, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, as the latest piece of
evidence supporting their claims.
Breaking: Coleman’s unsecured
donor database revealed... Minnesota Independent - 1
hour ago 031109
By Paul Schmelzer 3/11/09 8:12 AM In late January, allegations
were leveled that former Sen. Norm Coleman’s campaign faked the
crash of its website, claiming droves of disenfranchised voters
brought down the server seeking info on whether their votes
...
Hannity Ready To Pronounce Obama's Presidency A Failure News Hounds - Mar 10, 2009
Those “we like America” folks at FOX News were spreading a lot of hate on
last night's (3/10/09) Hannity, “a special on President Obama's first 50
days! ...
The Obama first 100 days halftime report Examiner.com - Mar 10, 2009
All things considered, my halftime verdict is that, as yet another
administration pick withdraws, it is still amateur hour as President Obama
continues to ...
Obama
vs. Limbaugh: Poll finds it's no contest
By Steven Thomma, McClatchy Newspapers 031109
WASHINGTON — The deepening recession is taking a slight toll on
President Barack Obama's standing, but he's still twice as popular as arch
nemesis Rush Limbaugh, according to a new McClatchy-Ipsos poll. ...
Obama spanks Limbaugh (in new poll)Christian Science Monitor
Santelli Rant Against Obama On CNBC Was
Staged Right-Wing Group
Alleged Behind Publicity Stunt For New Right-Wing Website
Playboy, by
Mark Ames and Yasha Levine
What hasn’t been reported until now is
evidence linking Santelli’s “tea party” rant with some very
familiar names in the Republican rightwing machine, from PR
operatives who specialize in imitation-grassroots PR campaigns
(called “astroturfing”) to bigwig politicians and notorious
billionaire funders.
...
Big-$ Corporate Lobbyists Line Up To
Torpedo Obama Proposals Health Care, Agribusiness, Mining and
Defense Groups Raise War Chests to Sway Legislators and the
Public
Wall Street Journal, by Brody Mullins and Scott
Kilman 022609
WASHINGTON -- Industries from health care to
agribusiness to mining that stand to lose under President Barack
Obama's policy agenda are ramping up lobbying campaigns to
derail or modify his plans. ...
Burris admits he tried to raise cash for Blagojevich
Los Angeles Times, CA -
Feb 17, 2009
Carlos T. Miranda / AP “I welcome the opportunity to go
before any and all investigative bodies,” Sen. Roland Burris said. The
Illinois senator says he did ...
Obama Makes First Presidential Address To
The Nation
Obama speaks about the state of the economy and the stimulus.
Senator says he tried to raise campaign cash for Blagojevich
Chicago
Tribune - 2 hours ago 021809
By Ray Long, John
Chase and Monique Garcia | Tribune reporters Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill.,
talks to the media about an affidavit that he filed Feb. 5 with the Illinois
House committee.
Time For Coleman To Do The Right Thing And Admit
Franken Won MN Taxpayers Don't Need A Useless Legal Challenge During The Economic
Crisis
Even Conservative Blogs Are Saying The Road Is Uphill For
Coleman
TPM, By
Eric Kleefeld,
February 6, 2009, 1:53PM
The Coleman campaign appears to have found a genuine example
of a particular type of absentee ballot being treated differently throughout
the state, in their central claim of Equal Protection -- but it seems like
they're effectively fishing for votes for Al Franken.
Twin Cities
IndyMedia Creates New Documentary Film On RNC Protest Abuses New Documentary Film Called "Terrorizing
Dissent" Is Released Independent film production tackles the ugly horror from
the 2009 RepublicanNational Convention. The abuse of power
by authorities against innocent and unarmed citizens is disturbing. ...
Global Energy War: Washington's New Kissinger The appointment of US Marine General James Jones
by Rick Rozoff Global
Research, February 2, 2009
Lost amid the national and international fanfare accompanying
the inauguration of the 44th president of the United States is attention to
the person who is slated to be the next major foreign policy architect and
executor, retired US Marine General James Jones. ...
Obama Signs First Piece of Legislation
Washington
Post - 4 hours ago -12909
By Debbi Wilgoren and
Amy Goldstein President Obama this morning signed a law that expanded the
time frame in which workers can sue for discrimination they have experienced
based on gender, race, national origin or religion.
Obama Signs Equal-Pay Legislation
New York Times
Obama Signs Equal Pay Legislation
This is a bill that has been sorely overdue in America.
RNC Chairman calls for shakeup
The Hill 020509 Top staffers at
Republican National Committee told to submit resignations.
New RNC chair Michael Steele lays out early GOP goals
Los Angeles Times Blogs, CA -
Feb 2, 2009
So some of you may have missed the new chairman
chatting with Chris Wallace on "Fox News Sunday." Steele indicates
his early focus will be on recapturing ...
New DNC AD Highlights
Partisanship From GOP On Stimulus
Ad will likely raise a few eyebrows.
Backlash Against Bush Apparent in RNC
Washington
Post - 12 hours ago 012809
By Perry Bacon Jr. As
they begin meeting in Washington today, many members of the Republican
National Committee are focusing their ire against what they considered
George W. Bush's anti-conservative policies and trying to dump the man he
tapped to run ...
Bush backlash seen at RNC meetings
United Press International
The President Orders Transparency
New York Times, United States -
9 hours ago 012209
In a welcome series of orders, Mr. Obama directed
federal agencies to err on the side of transparency, not the Bush-era
default of secrecy and delay, ...
Obama Overturns Bush Records Secrecy Order By
Cernig Thursday Jan 22, 2009 6:00pm President Barack Obama, in his first full day
in office, revoked a controversial executive order signed by President Bush
in 2001 that limited release of former presidents’ records.
The new order could expand public access to records of President Bush and
Vice President Dick Cheney in the years to come as well as other past
leaders, said Steven Aftergood, director of the Project on Government
Secrecy at the Federation of American Scientists. …
Obama appoints key hotspot envoys
BBC News -
29 minutes ago 012209
US President Barack
Obama has named his two key envoys - to the Middle East, and Pakistan and
Afghanistan. George Mitchell, who negotiated an end to Northern Ireland's
Troubles, has been charged with moving forward the Middle East peace
process.
US economy tops Obama's agenda on first day at White House
guardian.co.uk, UK - 8
hours ago 012109
There is speculation the White House will name the
former senator George Mitchell as his Middle East envoy. Within hours of
taking office, Obama's...
First things first; Obama puts hold on military tribunals
Examiner.com - 5 hours ago
012109
Word came late yesterday that the White House Chief of
Staff, Rahm Emanuel, had put a hold on all of the last minute Bush
Administration regulations to ...
Obama warns of challenges
Reuters -
1 hour ago
By Caren Bohan
PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Barack Obama warned on Saturday that America faces
"a time of great challenge" as he launched pre-inauguration festivities with
a special train trip to Washington, where in three days he will become
president of
Dear Mr. President:
Like FDR three-quarters of a
century ago, you're taking charge at a moment when all the old certainties
have vanished, all the conventional wisdom been proved wrong. We're not
living in a world you or anyone else expected to see. Many presidents have
to deal with crises, but very few have been forced to deal from Day One with
a crisis on the scale America now faces ....
Last Sunday President-elect Barack Obama was asked whether
he would seek an investigation of possible crimes by the Bush
administration.
"I don't believe that anybody is above the law," he
responded, but "we need to look forward as opposed to looking backwards."
I'm sorry, but if we don't have an inquest into what
happened during the Bush years - and nearly everyone has taken Obama's
remarks to mean that we won't - this means that those who hold power are
indeed above the law because they don't face any consequences if they abuse
their power.
Let's be clear what we're talking about here. It's not
just torture and illegal wiretapping, whose perpetrators claim, however
implausibly, that they were patriots acting to defend the nation's security.
The fact is that the Bush administration's abuses extended from
environmental policy to voting rights. And most of the abuses involved using
the power of government to reward political friends and punish political
enemies.
FRANKEN SOFTENS ANTI-TORTURE STANCE: IT'S
OK IF IT'S BILL O'REILLY
Citizens for Legitimate Government -
12 hours ago 010808
MINNEAPOLIS – (PTSD News) – Apparent Minnesota Senator-elect
Al Franken said today that he has changed his mind about the
legitimacy of the use of torture. ...
Al Franken Outwits Ann Coulter... Again
New MN Senator will give Republicans something to think about.
Coleman Sues over Minnesota Senate Recount
Results
Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.)
filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging the
recount results of the Minnesota Senate
race that declared Democrat Al Franken the ...
New Dems worry defense firms
Defense contractors worry Democrats will
leave them out Andrew
McLemore
Published: Friday January 9, 2009
With so many Democrats taking power, defense
contractors are beginning to worry about their funding.
Many in the industry would like to see
an increase in money for the military included in the roughly $800
billion stimulus package proposed by President-elect Barack Obama.
Bush May Be Gracious Toward Obama, but He's Still Divisive
U.S. News & World Report, DC -
21 hours ago 011009
By Kenneth T. Walsh In his final days as president, George
W. Bush remains an extraordinarily divisive figure. My last column, which
focused on Bush's ...
Clinton Helping Clinton Retire Debt
ABC
News - 3 hours ago 122408
By RICK
KLEIN Sen. Hillary Clinton's in-the-red campaign committee has
found an innovative way to pay down a slice of its debt -- and
is getting help from President Clinton's foundation, among other
groups, in making it happen.
Clinton Reveals Donors
Former President Bill Clinton's charitable
foundation has taken in more than $140 million in the past
decade from foreign sources, including the Saudi royal family
and leaders of a Middle Eastern government now negotiating a
controversial deal with the U.S. government to procure
nuclear-energy technologies.
List Of Clinton Foundation Donors
Former President Bill Clinton's charitable
foundation disclosed the names of 205,000 donors on a Web site
Thursday, ending a decade of resistance to identifying the
sources of its money.
Five more members of Congress being probed in bribery affair
John Byrne
Published: Friday November 28, 2008
Five other members of Congress are being probed in association
with the bribery scandal linked to former California Republican
congressman "Duke" Cunningham, according to a little-noticed
legal filing discovered Thursday.
The Custodians Of Empire
Obama's "New" National Security Team Is Not Very
New
By Tom Engelhardt
The next secretary of state looks to be Hillary Clinton, a hawk
on the Middle East. During the campaign, she spoke of our
ability to "totally obliterate" Iran, should that country carry
out a nuclear strike against Israel. She will evidently be
allowed to bring her own (hawkish) subordinates into the State
Department with her. Her prospective appointment is now being
praised by the likes of Newt Gingrich and Henry Kissinger.
Continue
The Midnight De-Regulation Express
In His Last Days in Power, George W. Bush Wants to Change Some Rules By
Matthew Blake 11/11/08
It’s a Washington tradition. Outgoing administrations try to ram through a
slew of new federal regulations. But the Bush administration has expanded on
this, seeking to push through at least 90 changes that can affect the health
and safety of millions. Here are five examples.
Bush Aides Rush to Enact
a Safety Rule Obama Opposes
New York Times -
18 hours ago
By ROBERT PEAR WASHINGTON - The Labor Department is racing to
complete a new rule, strenuously opposed by President-elect
Barack Obama, that would make it much harder for the government
to regulate toxic substances and hazardous chemicals to which
...
Obama, Bush dine with ex-presidents at White House
Reuters - Jan 7, 2009
By Jeff Mason WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W.
Bush and his successor, Barack Obama, joined all the living US presidents on
Wednesday for a ...
Conversation Topics at the Presidential Power Lunch
ABC News - Jan 7, 2009
By SAM DONALDSON
Talk about a power lunch. The United States Senate likes to think its
hundred members are in the most exclusive club in our political world ...
Transcript of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's closing argument
Chicago Tribune, United States -
3 hours ago 012909
I'm grateful for the opportunity to be here today and present my
closing argument and my chance to talk to you and talk to the people of Illinois
and talk ...
The Man Who Will Replace Blagojevich
NPR - 43 minutes ago 012909
by Cheryl Corley and Michele Norris All Things Considered,
January 29, 2009 · Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn is about to assume the governorship in
Illinois. by Deborah ...
Illinois House impeaches Gov. Rod Blagojevich
The Illinois House voted overwhelmingly Friday to impeach
Gov. Rod Blagojevich, an unprecedented action that sets up a Senate trial on
whether he should be thrown out for abuse of power, including allegations
that he tried to sell President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.
Ask Your House Congressman To
Co-Sponsor H.Res. 1531 Against The Bush Preemptive Pardons
Bill H.Res. 1531 puts the
administration on clear notice that there will be strong push
back from Congress if they should attempt such a scurrilous
stunt. Please submit the following action page to ask your House
member to sign on as a co-sponsor of this measure. Support
H.Res. 1531 Action Page:
http://www.usalone.com/hres1531.php
Why Al Franken Should NOT Be Riding
Private Planes
Bob
Fitrakis/Harvey Wasserman: The tragic and suspicious death
of Karl Rove's election thief in chief should send a clear message to Al
Franken and other key liberals: don't be riding in any small private planes.
Death by air crash now seems to be the favored means of ridding the Rovian
right of troublesome characters. ...
Coleman campaign rejects election judge's ballot Nick Juliano
Published: Wednesday December 31, 2008
With Al Franken holding onto a 49-vote lead in
the Minnesota Senate recount, incumbent Republican Norm Coleman
seems to be pulling out the stops in his attempt to keep as many
likely Democratic absentee ballots as possible out of the tally.
Minnesota High Court Extends Recount Deadline
USA
Today - 1 hour ago 122408
By Dawn
Villella, AP MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The Minnesota Supreme Court is
giving counties a couple more days to sort as many as 1600
improperly rejected absentee ballots before sending them to the
Secretary of State to be included in the US Senate recount
...
Franken opens first lead in Minn. Senate race
The
Associated Press - 121908
ST. PAUL,
Minn. (AP) - Democrat Al Franken has edged ahead of Republican
incumbent Norm Coleman for the first time in Minnesota's
long-running US Senate recount.
Caroline Kennedy withdraws Senate bid
Washington Post, United States -
13 hours ago 012209
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of slain
President John F. Kennedy, on Thursday withdrew her bid to fill the US
Senate seat for New York ...
Report: Paterson To Pick Kennedy For Senate
MSNBC - Jan 3, 2009
Two people close to governor David Paterson say he will
choose Caroline Kennedy to fill the Senate seat being vacated by Hillary
Clinton. ...
Much Talk of Cuomo for Clinton’s Seat, but Who’s Talking?
By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE New York Times, United
States - 1 hour ago
Few events in politics
unleash as much raw ambition or unravel as many friendships
as the sudden availability of a seat in the ...
The Midnight De-Regulation Express
In His Last Days in Power, George W. Bush Wants to Change Some Rules
By
Matthew Blake 11/11/08
It’s a Washington tradition. Outgoing administrations try to ram through a
slew of new federal regulations. But the Bush administration has expanded on
this, seeking to push through at least 90 changes that can affect the health
and safety of millions. Here are five examples.
Bush Aides Rush to Enact
a Safety Rule Obama Opposes
New York Times -
18 hours ago
By ROBERT PEAR WASHINGTON - The Labor Department is racing to
complete a new rule, strenuously opposed by President-elect
Barack Obama, that would make it much harder for the government
to regulate toxic substances and hazardous chemicals to which
...
Obama Names
Clinton Sec. of State, Keeps Gates as Defense Secretary
Washington
Post, United States - 7 hours
ago
President-elect Barack Obama continued to fill out his cabinet
today, naming Sen. Hillary Clinton his Secretary of State and
retaining Defense Secretary ...
Who Will Protect
Hillary Clinton?
Washington Post, United
States - 6 hours ago
Hillary
Clinton's nomination to serve as secretary of State creates an
unique jurisdictional battle between the US Secret Service,
which protects current ...
Send Bill Clinton to the Senate (Really?)
Washington Post, United
States - Nov 25, 2008
By Karl E. Meyer and Shareen Blair Brysac Amid
the blizzard of résumés blanketing Washington as the Obama era
dawns, there is a superbly qualified candidate ...
More staffers named to new administration
Boston Globe -
2 hours ago
Citing the
economic crisis, Biden announced a new position -- chief economist and
economic policy adviser -- and named Jared Bernstein of the liberal-leaning
Economic Policy Institute to the post.
Big Personalities Join Obama Foreign-Policy Team
President-elect Says He Will Set Agenda
By
Spencer Ackerman 12/1/08
The interplay between the outsized personalities on President-elect Barack
Obama’s national-security team and his ability to set the agenda looks
likely to be a key undercurrent of his entry onto the global stage.
The Custodians Of Empire
Obama's "New" National Security Team Is Not Very
New
By Tom Engelhardt
The next secretary of state looks to be Hillary Clinton, a hawk
on the Middle East. During the campaign, she spoke of our
ability to "totally obliterate" Iran, should that country carry
out a nuclear strike against Israel. She will evidently be
allowed to bring her own (hawkish) subordinates into the State
Department with her. Her prospective appointment is now being
praised by the likes of Newt Gingrich and Henry Kissinger.
Continue
Biden's new role
Joe Biden says he wants a lower-key
but important advisory role for himself as Barack Obama's number
two man.
Full Article
Board keeps faulty ballots from Minn.
Senate count
The Associated Press -
41 minutes ago
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) —
In a blow to Democrat Al Franken, a state board ruled Wednesday
that absentee ballots that were rejected by poll workers won't
be ...
Board Keeps Faulty Ballots From MN Sen. Recount
WCCO, MN -
2
hours ago ST. PAUL (AP) ― In a
blow to Democrat Al Franken, absentee ballots that were rejected
by poll workers won't be included in Minnesota's Senate recount. ...
Farewell Dubya. Now to undo the damage
done ...
Independent, UK -
Nov 4, 2008
“Both McCain and Obama are quite close to
each other.” From a European perspective, she says, the
statements by both senators on working to ending torture...
Claim: Matthews eyeing Senate 11/28/2008 @ 10:09 am
Filed by RAW STORY
MSNBC's Chris Matthews is staffing up for a potential Senate run
in Pennsylvania,
according to the polling
compilation site FiveThirtyEight.com.
Nate Silver, who runs the site, initially reported that Matthews
was "in," but changed his tone somewhat in an update to indicate
that his "sources" say that Matthews is hiring a staff for a
potential run and has not yet made a decision.
Five more members of Congress being probed in bribery affair John Byrne
Published: Friday November 28, 2008
Five other members of Congress are being probed in association
with the bribery scandal linked to former California Republican
congressman "Duke" Cunningham, according to a little-noticed
legal filing discovered Thursday.
Prosecutor who had Cheney indicted
yells at judge
The Associated Press -
Nov 21, 2008
RAYMONDVILLE, Texas
(AP) — A county prosecutor who brought indictments this week
against Vice President Dick Cheney and others pounded his fist
and shouted ...
Hearing set for Monday to oust judge in
Cheney indictment
Houston Chronicle, United States
- Nov 25, 2008
The indictment against
Cheney alleges that his personal investment in the Vanguard
Group, which invests in private prison companies, gives him
culpability ...