Thursday Open Thread

Political Spin: The Media's Election Night After Party

Excerpt:
The races themselves almost seem incidental, so hungry is our political establishment on both sides of the aisle for a chance to trumpet their agendas. I've often wondered why, in such a large country, we can't just accept the fact that people who call themselves Democrats or Republicans in one part of the country may not have the same ideological beliefs as those in another part - that the membership in a political party is an affiliation of similarly minded people in the truest sense of the word, rather than a brain washing syndicate that attempts to indoctrinate its ranks from coast to coast the way fascist dictators do.

The people of New Jersey and Virginia and New York's District 23 know these people running for office better than anyone on the national level ever could. When the smoke clears, and the cameras and the reporters are gone, the voters don't care about the national agendas - they care about what's happening on their streets, in their school systems, and in their neighborhoods and downtowns.

But reporters don't call regular citizens to ask them what they are thinking. They call experts and analysts instead. Then they call Sarah Palin and Glen Beck and Keith Olbermann to get the final word on the matter. They use old articles for research. They listen to other journalists and op-ed writers, and end up publishing coverage that reinforces a binary version of reality, as if we are not a multi-dimensional, multiple narrative population who may or may not act in ways that protect our own self-interests.

http://simplifythepositive.blogspot.com/2009/11...

Rybak files for governor
Posted at 5:05 PM on November 5, 2009 by Tom Scheck
Campaign 2010, Minnesota Governor

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak has filed paperwork with the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board notifying them of his intent to run for governor.
The filing is not a surprise, since Rybak has appeared at a number of events with other candidates for governor. He also didn't shy away from his interest in the job. Rybak was elected to a third term as Mayor of Minneapolis on Tuesday night. He is the tenth DFLer to enter the race for governor. Rybak's paperwork says Charlie Zelle, who owns Jefferson Bus Lines, is Rybak's campaign chair.
Skip
Rybak jumped into the race on the same day that the Campaign Finance Board met privately to discuss a complaint against him. Deputy state Republican Party Chair Michael Brodkorb says the Campaign Finance Board told the party that it would meet to discuss the GOP complaint. Republicans allege that Rybak violated campaign finance laws by not formally declaring his candidacy earlier. They say he wanted to avoid the appearance of running for governor while he was campaigning for re-election as mayor.
WEESeeYou, GOP. Y’all scurred for your boy Pawlenty, and you should be.

Go for it, R.T!

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/sp...

A Dozen Demonstrators Arrested At Pelosi’s Office — Shredded Copies Of Health Bill

Looks like the demonstrators really are serious about storming the Congressional barricades.

A dozen people were arrested this afternoon in or just outside of Nancy Pelosi’s office, some for unlawful entry and others for disorderly conduct, the Capitol Police confirm, adding that some of the arrested were throwing papers around.

Four demonstrators were arrested for refusing to leave her office in the Canon House Office Building, and eight more were arrested for unlawful or disorderly conduct, Capitol Police spokesperson Kimberly Schneider tells our reporter, Amanda Erickson.

Apparently those who were arrested outside her office were also throwing papers in the hallway, the spokesperson says. It couldn’t immediately be determined what sort of papers the demonstrators were tossing or why the paperwork ticked them off.

This is less serious than arrests at Pelosi’s office in the Capitol itself would have been, but a dozen for unlawful entry and disorderly conduct is definitely noteworthy. More soon.
http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/house-republi...

Rage, rage against the dying of the white......

Their actions aren't going to change things anymore than the Tea Bagger's did. Hopefully security is handling business and everyone is safe.

How Conservatives View Mad Men
By BooMan Thu Nov 5th, 2009 at 11:29:58 AM EST
It’s worth the read even if you don’t watch Mad Men

If you haven't seen the AMC show Mad Men, you aren't going to understand this post. The show follows a Madison Avenue advertising firm through the early 1960's, exploring the culture and prejudices of the time. I find the show interesting because my father was working himself up to an executive position on Madison Avenue during this period, but I can't really picture him as a member of the cast. In any case, we all know the period; civil rights protests, the Bay of Pigs, the Cuban Missile Crisis, advisors in Vietnam, the Pill, the assassination, Marilyn Monroe. It was the period just before the great cultural rupture that played out most dramatically in the 1968 Democratic convention, and in the inner city riots. For conservatives, it is the moment of maximum of sentimentality. They see it as the last period when they felt comfortable about the nature and direction of this country.

Mad Men disturbs them because it displays the crass materialism, instinctual sexism, and lazy racism of the period in unvarnished terms. They aren't mean enough to dispute the shortcomings of the era, but they think portraying it as flawed is smug. Who are we to pass judgment on the people of another era? It's like doing a show about the Founding Fathers and harping on their slave ownership. I agree that historical treatments should avoid sanctimony, but they shouldn't shamelessly romanticize either. I think the show has a good balance.

http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2009/11/5/11...

Looks like Soledad O'Brien's "____ In America" series is here to stay:

Additionally Soledad O'Brien's "In America" franchise -- which produced "Black in America" and "Latino in America" will be expanded and be its own separate unit in 2010, CNN/U.S. President Jon Klein wrote in a staff email.

The new unit, to be headed up by Bart Feder, the network's vice president of current programming, will add "more than a dozen positions," according to the memo.
http://www.ajc.com/business/shakeup-at-atlanta-...

So basically for as long as President Obama is in office, there is a need to analyze and dissect (in a totally superficial way) all the "others" of America like him?

mmmkay.

America's post-racial now, doncha know!

Someone please tell Andrea Mitchell that she's supposed to report about Hillary Clinton, not drool over her. Thanks.

Ughh! Andrea can't help herself.... she's still reeling over PBO get elected.

Dee Dee Myers does a mild version of drooling of Bubba too. SMDH

Here's what was going on: Andrea, Samantha Gunthrie, Joe Klein and some other white chick was talking about how HRC was catching flack because of the comments she made in regards to Israeli settlements. On one hand she said that the settlements need to stop, but then she turns around and praises Israel for making concessions and supported Netanyahu's position that Israel didn't have to stop constructing settlements. That pissed off the Arabs and they called her out on it so much so that she had to go back to Marracech (sp?) and smooth things over.

So, Andrea was saying that people are looking at every little thing she says, which is ironic because that's what she and the media does to Obama and FLOTUS. These Birkenstock Beckies crack me up, acting as if they're above criticism.

They asked for equality. They got it. Toyota, bishes!

I see. The Beckies want it all WAYS....

W.E.E. Peeps Thursday Link Sweep is up.

Senate panel passes climate bill
Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor November 5, 2009 11:52 AM

The Senate environment committee this morning passed a sweeping climate change bill co-sponsored by Senator John F. Kerry.

The vote came without any Republican support -- in fact, no GOP senators were present because they were boycotting the proceedings until a fuller economic analysis of the legislation.

The panel did not consider any amendments to the bill, which will now be merged with bills being written in other Senate committees, the Associated Press reports.

In the face of the GOP boycott, Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat, announced Wednesday that he, Republican Lindsey Graham, and Independent Joe Lieberman are trying to find a compromise that could draw a modicum of bipartisan support and pass the Senate. In June, the House passed its own version, co-authored by Representative Edward Markey of Massachusetts.

UPDATE: Even though he's working on a more bipartisan deal, Kerry today applauded the committee's Democrat-only 11-1 vote.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalin...

Ok, WSY Fam & folks, You've gotta peep this video! LMBAO!!!

OBAMA DOES THRILLER
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgJ4Q70FBWU

Shudder speed
Rise of the stealthy traffic camera fuels drivers' disgust

By Neely Tucker
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, November 5, 2009

You rip open the envelope and there it is: Another darned photo-enforcement traffic ticket.

The photograph, the zoom-in on the tag, it's you, baby. Your car. Two weeks ago. Forty-one in a 30-mph zone.

It's from your favorite municipality. You can pay $40 now or $80 later. You can also contest it, the infraction letter says, and that's a laugh. You remember seeing that the folks who went down to fight their automated tickets in Montgomery County got convicted 99.7 percent of the time. Like a Soviet election, you think, a sham, a joke, and you, the chump in the parade.

There's something that doesn't smell right about these tickets, but you're not quite sure what.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/ar...

lmao@ the man wearing the monkey mask to work and racking up over $6K in tickets and they can't prove it is him! The explosives were funny too...but it was really bad when they killed the camera installler...lol lol lol..not funny I know. But I really get folks ire!
Rip all those damn cameras down, napping folks for 6 miles over the limit! It's just wrong...and no one ever says what they do with the millions they rake in!


So, Shanti what is up this morning do we have another FortBragg on our hands in TX, or what?

LOL! kinda.... You're spot on about the millions they rake in.. What do they do with all that cheddar, hmmm?

I don't advocate for breaking the law via speeding, but this is ridamdiculous!

Olbermann Hangs With Hannity: "We Get Along Perfectly At The Ballpark

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/05/keith-...

If there's one thing that could bring Keith Olbermann and Sean Hannity together (apart from the occasional CNN-bashing), it's baseball.

Both cable news stars showed up for Game 6 of the World Series Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium.



*Rolling My Eyes*

It's not like they went to the game together, or were hanging together at the game. *shrugs*

As carolinagirl would say, I'm giving them both the *SEOD.*

*whispers* What does SEOD mean?

Side Eye Of Death....LOL

Oh! lol!

Tee,hee, hee. :-)o

Me too!

Take a look back...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/barackobamadotcom/...

Productivity at 6-year high, jobless claims fall

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. business productivity in the third quarter grew at the fastest pace in six years and new claims for jobless aid fell to a 10-month low last week, indicating the decline in labor market may be hitting bottom.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/ar...

The increase in productivity is important because it indicates that firms might have to resume hiring much earlier than analysts anticipated. Right now, employers are squeezing more output from a small pool of workers. As the economy continues to grow, there will be pressure to add more workers to the payrolls.

In the worlds of CG -- JOBS BITCHES!

Cracks me up whenever she says it.

What is "things you won't hear on cable news talk shows" Alex??

That is the correct response to the clue "Good News on the Economy." Miranda is our new Jeopardy champion!

Good one, Alex2!

Congress giving homebuyers a $6,500 tax break

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/200911...

WASHINGTON — Buying a home is about to get cheaper for a whole new crop of homebuyers – $6,500 cheaper.

First-time homebuyers have been getting tax credits of up to $8,000 since January as part of the economic stimulus package enacted earlier this year. But with the program scheduled to expire at the end of November, the Senate voted Wednesday to extend and expand the tax credit to include many buyers who already own homes. The House could vote on the bill as early as Thursday.

Buyers who have owned their current homes at least five years would be eligible for tax credits of up to $6,500. First-time homebuyers – or anyone who hasn't owned a home in the last three years – would still get up to $8,000. To qualify, buyers in both groups have to sign a purchase agreement by April 30, 2010, and close by June 30.

"This is probably the last extension," said Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., a former real estate executive who championed the credits.

Good Morning Wee Family! I am back from Las Vegas and have been fighting a head cold ever since. My postings have been long overdue. Hopefully, I can get back into the swing of things very soon. But I see you all have been holding the fort. Keep up the good work!

Hey PBomb! Good to see you back!

Take your time, and take care of that head cold. We'll be here waiting for ya! :-)

Good morning PBomb. Get better soon.

Welcome back from Vegas, PBomb. Clear your head, and join us when you can.

Hey PBomb!

Good to see you.

JPMorgan To Pay $722 Million To SEC Over Charges Of Making Illegal Payments To Win Business

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/04/jpmorg...

WASHINGTON — JPMorgan Chase & Co. has agreed to pay $75 million in fines and forfeit $647 million in fees to settle federal regulators' charges that it made unlawful payments to friends of public officials to win municipal bond business in Jefferson County, Ala.

The Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday announced the settlement with JPMorgan.

The SEC had alleged that JPMorgan and former managing directors Charles LeCroy and Douglas MacFaddin made about $8.2 million in undisclosed payments in 2002 and 2003 to close friends of several Jefferson County commissioners. The money went to local brokerage firms whose principals or employees were friends of the county officials, the SEC said. Starting in July 2002, LeCroy and MacFaddin solicited the county for a $1.4 billion sewer bond deal.

Michele Bachmann's Top Aide Quits

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/04/michel...

The aide who helped turn Rep. Michele Bachmann into a controversial mainstay of cable news has informed colleagues that she's quitting - just as the firebrand Republican congresswoman prepares for her biggest media moment yet.

Michele Bachmann Tells Supporters To "Scare" Congress At Protest

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/05/michel...

Rep. Michele Bachmman (R-Minn.) has told supporters to try to scare her colleagues into voting against health care reform at a protest Thursday, Politico reports.

"Nothing scares members of Congress more than freedom-loving Americans," she said in a conference call with bloggers and activists Wednesday night. She urged reform opponents to confront lawmakers with video cameras. "I think that will absolutely scare these members of Congress so much that Pelosi will not get the votes and it will kill the bill."

my favorite --

"UPDATE:Thousands arrived to rail against health care reform on Capitol Hill Thursday.

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) shook hands among the protesters.

"This is too great," he said.

Outside, Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) led crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance -- which he said drives the liberals crazy.

Akin apparently botched the actual pledge."

Please let there be video of this!

video here --> http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29187...

LOL! "Akin apparently botched the actual pledge." Just imagine what he'd do to the Star Spangled Banner.... Please, someone put these mofos out of their own misery.

Okay, at what point can she get cuffed for inciting a riot and/or violence?

Here we go...

9 tea party goers were arrested!

That's what I was thinking! What will she say next?

Italian court convicts 23 Americans in CIA rendition case
By Craig Whitlock
Washington Post Foreign Service
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 5:41 PM

MILAN -- An Italian court convicted 22 CIA operatives and a U.S. Air Force colonel on kidnapping charges Wednesday in a stern rebuke to the U.S. government's long-standing practice of covertly seizing terrorism suspects abroad without a warrant.

The guilty verdicts are the only instance in which CIA operatives have faced a criminal trial for the controversial tactic of extraordinary rendition, under which terrorism suspects are abducted in one country and forcibly transported to another.

The CIA began carrying out renditions during the Clinton administration but intensified their frequency under orders from the Bush White House after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. The Obama administration said in August that it would continue the practice, but pledged to take steps to ensure that rendition targets are not tortured, either by the CIA or by foreign spy agencies.

In winning the guilty verdicts, Italian prosecutors took a contrary view, saying they were determined to enforce the law in spite of political pressure from Rome and Washington to drop the case.

"This decision sends a clear message to all governments that even in the fight against terrorism you can't forsake the basic rights of our democracies," said Armando Spataro, the deputy Milan public prosecutor.

The Americans were charged with snatching a Muslim cleric off the street here in 2003 and covertly flying him to Cairo, where he said he was subjected to electroshocks and other physical abuse.

The victim, Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, a radical Egyptian imam also known as Abu Omar, had been under the surveillance of Italian anti-terrorism police. Italian criminal investigators said they were steamed to learn later that the CIA, secretly aided by Italian military intelligence agents, had intervened without their knowledge and thwarted their effort to bring Nasr to trial.

Nasr was subsequently indicted in Milan. He was released from prison in Cairo in 2007 but has been forbidden from leaving Egypt.

The Americans were all tried in absentia but were represented throughout the trial by defense attorneys, most of them court-appointed. The defendants each received a five-year prison sentence, with the exception of Robert Seldon Lady, the CIA's former chief in Milan, who was sentenced to eight years for leading the kidnapping operation.

In rendering the verdict, the judge in the case, Oscar Magi, acquitted three other Americans, including the former Rome station chief for the CIA, saying they were covered by diplomatic immunity.

Spataro said his office would seek to extradite the 23 Americans from the United States. But a formal decision rests with the Italian Justice Ministry, which so far has been reluctant to alienate Washington by asking for extradition.

The U.S. State Department expressed disappointment over the ruling. The CIA had no reaction. "The CIA has not commented on any of the allegations surrounding Abu Omar," said George Little, a CIA spokesman.

Although it is considered unlikely that any of the convicted Americans will spend time in an Italian prison cell, the trial has served as a public embarrassment for the CIA.

According to Italian investigators, the CIA operatives failed miserably to hide their tracks as several of them gabbed on unsecured cell phones, showed their passports to hotel desk clerks and went on vacation in Italian resorts after the kidnapping.

Lady, the CIA's chief in Milan, also left incriminating evidence on a computer seized by investigators from his Italian villa, including flight schedules to Egypt. He did not respond to a message seeking comment.

According to prosecutors, the mastermind behind the abduction was Jeffrey Castelli, the CIA's Rome station chief at the time. Court documents show that he discussed several other possible renditions with Italian intelligence officials, though there is no evidence that they were carried out.

Magi, the judge, acquitted Castelli and two other U.S. defendants, Betne Medero and Ralph Henry Russomando, the former first secretary at the U.S. Embassy in Rome, saying they were covered by diplomatic immunity.

Castelli, who has left the CIA and now works for the Washington office of a Los Angeles-based marketing analysis firm, declined to comment when reached by telephone Wednesday after the verdict.

The Italian judge did not explain why three of the Americans were covered by diplomatic immunity, but not a handful of others who had held official U.S. government posts in Italy. Most of the defendants, operating under assumed names, arrived in Italy a few weeks before the kidnapping.

One of those convicted, Sabrina De Sousa, formerly a second secretary at the U.S. Embassy in Rome, has sued the State Department for failing to claim diplomatic immunity on her behalf. "I am saddened, dismayed and angered that the government I served abandoned me completely and I am being punished for conduct I did not do," she said in an e-mail after the verdict.

The U.S. Defense Department unsuccessfully tried to protect the convicted Air Force officer, Col. Joseph L. Romano, III, by invoking his right to a U.S. military tribunal instead under NATO rules. Romano was posted at Aviano Air Base, a joint U.S.-Italian military installation. "We clearly are disappointed with the ruling," Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell told reporters.

The judge also convicted two Italian defendants, ruling they had acted as accomplices. Five other Italian defendants, including Nicolo Pollari, the former chief of SISMI, the Italian military intelligence service, were acquitted. Magi said they were protected by an earlier ruling by Italy's constitutional court that evidence collected against them was inadmissible under Italy's state secrets law.

Staff writer Peter Finn in Washington contributed to this report.

Good Morning SG2, hope you are doing well. Nice review of Precious. The book has been doing very well. Looks like good things ahead for the movie as well.

Good Morning Rose, Sepia & Wee Team Family! Happy Thursday!

Mornin' RM and SG2! Mornin' WSY Fam!

Have a good one, y'all! :-)