Shooting at D.C. Holocaust Museum
injures guard, suspect
Story Highlights:
Shooter is 88-year-old white supremacist, law enforcement officials say
Man with "long gun" entered museum, fired at guard, police spokesman
says
Security guard and shooter were wounded in exchange of gunfire, police
say
Shooting suspect is one of those wounded, officials say
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/06/10/mus ... index.html
Today's Headlines
Moderator: Priests of Syrinx
Country Lawyer Trumps Democrat Star
in Virginia Democratic Gubernatorial Primary
By BOB LEWIS
www.townhall.com
For four years, Democratic State Sen. R. Creigh Deeds has coped with
losing the closest statewide race in modern Virginia history to Republican
Bob McDonnell.
Now that the rumpled, rough-around-the-edges country lawyer whipped
former legislator Brian J. Moran and master Clinton fundraiser
Terry R. McAuliffe in Tuesday's Democratic gubernatorial primary, Deeds
has the chance to avenge his 2005 loss in the attorney general election -
a margin of 323 votes out of 2 million cast.
Deeds started far behind and was so underfunded this year he sometimes
drove his own car to campaign events and had to furlough campaign
workers so he could afford TV ads. He emerged in the closing weeks as
bad blood between McAuliffe and Moran - along with a Washington Post
endorsement sent undecided primary voters in large numbers toward
Deeds, who stayed clear of his foes' crossfire, strategists for the
campaigns said.
However, the line between him and the committed social conservative
McDonnell is clearly drawn. And the stakes for both parties are enormous.
"The contrast could not be more stark, and Bob will attempt to portray
himself as a moderate," Deeds said in an interview Wednesday with The
Associated Press. "Bob is tied to the economic and social policies that did
so well for (former President) George W. Bush."
Deeds says he doesn't obsess about the hair-breadth 2005 loss that
lingered until a statewide recount resolved it one week before Christmas.
In that race, as in Tuesday's improbable primary victory, he surged in the
final days of the campaign in which McDonnell spent nearly twice the
money Deeds did.
Since March, the centrist Deeds battled back from last place against the
former Democratic National Committee chairman and Clinton White
House insider McAuliffe and former Democratic legislator Moran.
McAuliffe raised nearly twice the money Deeds did, made three campaign
swings with former President Bill Clinton and toured with rapper will.i.am.
Yet on Tuesday, McAuliffe got about half as many votes as Deeds.
Now, money won't be lacking. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine chairs the
Democratic National Committee and has millions of DNC dollars to help
Deeds keep the office in Democratic hands for a third term in a row. And
the Democratic Governors Association has endowed a state political
action committee with $3 million since March, with one mission: attack
McDonnell.
For the first time in decades, a Democratic nominee will have the aid of
not only a president of his own party but both U.S. Senators and six of
the state's 11 U.S. House members. But the once-dominant GOP is
determined to end an eight-year losing streak, with the Republican
Governors Association giving McDonnell $3 million and the promise of
more.
November's Gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey are the
first voter referendums on President Barack Obama and the Democratic
Congress. Any doubts about Obama's personal interest in the race were
erased by a Wednesday morning phone call from the president that
forced him to truncate a news conference.
Deeds has a few things in common with McDonnell. He has usually backed
Virginia's strongly pro-gun laws. He never wavered on his support for the
2006 constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. But he's
intent on portraying McDonnell as a right-winger beholden to Christian
broadcaster Pat Robertson.
"Bob McDonnell has a social and economic agenda that will take us back
whether it comes to rejecting stem cell research for solving the diseases
of the future or standing against a woman's right to choose, even in the
event of rape or incest," Deeds said.
That, McDonnell said, is a stale attack in an election about improving the
state's business climate in a poor economy with rising unemployment.
"It's unfortunate that Creigh would choose this line of attack right out of
the blocks," McDonnell said.
Republicans, though, are already portraying Deeds as a puppet of labor
unions and other major Democratic donors and the liberal, big-
government orthodoxy that comes with their money.
"Any nominee that would emerge from that three-person primary would
be two things: one, a skillful candidate, but two, someone who will
accede to and adopt a lot of positions outside the mainstream," said Ed
Gillespie, a former Virginia and national Republican Party chairman and
special counsel to President George W. Bush.
in Virginia Democratic Gubernatorial Primary
By BOB LEWIS
www.townhall.com
For four years, Democratic State Sen. R. Creigh Deeds has coped with
losing the closest statewide race in modern Virginia history to Republican
Bob McDonnell.
Now that the rumpled, rough-around-the-edges country lawyer whipped
former legislator Brian J. Moran and master Clinton fundraiser
Terry R. McAuliffe in Tuesday's Democratic gubernatorial primary, Deeds
has the chance to avenge his 2005 loss in the attorney general election -
a margin of 323 votes out of 2 million cast.
Deeds started far behind and was so underfunded this year he sometimes
drove his own car to campaign events and had to furlough campaign
workers so he could afford TV ads. He emerged in the closing weeks as
bad blood between McAuliffe and Moran - along with a Washington Post
endorsement sent undecided primary voters in large numbers toward
Deeds, who stayed clear of his foes' crossfire, strategists for the
campaigns said.
However, the line between him and the committed social conservative
McDonnell is clearly drawn. And the stakes for both parties are enormous.
"The contrast could not be more stark, and Bob will attempt to portray
himself as a moderate," Deeds said in an interview Wednesday with The
Associated Press. "Bob is tied to the economic and social policies that did
so well for (former President) George W. Bush."
Deeds says he doesn't obsess about the hair-breadth 2005 loss that
lingered until a statewide recount resolved it one week before Christmas.
In that race, as in Tuesday's improbable primary victory, he surged in the
final days of the campaign in which McDonnell spent nearly twice the
money Deeds did.
Since March, the centrist Deeds battled back from last place against the
former Democratic National Committee chairman and Clinton White
House insider McAuliffe and former Democratic legislator Moran.
McAuliffe raised nearly twice the money Deeds did, made three campaign
swings with former President Bill Clinton and toured with rapper will.i.am.
Yet on Tuesday, McAuliffe got about half as many votes as Deeds.
Now, money won't be lacking. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine chairs the
Democratic National Committee and has millions of DNC dollars to help
Deeds keep the office in Democratic hands for a third term in a row. And
the Democratic Governors Association has endowed a state political
action committee with $3 million since March, with one mission: attack
McDonnell.
For the first time in decades, a Democratic nominee will have the aid of
not only a president of his own party but both U.S. Senators and six of
the state's 11 U.S. House members. But the once-dominant GOP is
determined to end an eight-year losing streak, with the Republican
Governors Association giving McDonnell $3 million and the promise of
more.
November's Gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey are the
first voter referendums on President Barack Obama and the Democratic
Congress. Any doubts about Obama's personal interest in the race were
erased by a Wednesday morning phone call from the president that
forced him to truncate a news conference.
Deeds has a few things in common with McDonnell. He has usually backed
Virginia's strongly pro-gun laws. He never wavered on his support for the
2006 constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. But he's
intent on portraying McDonnell as a right-winger beholden to Christian
broadcaster Pat Robertson.
"Bob McDonnell has a social and economic agenda that will take us back
whether it comes to rejecting stem cell research for solving the diseases
of the future or standing against a woman's right to choose, even in the
event of rape or incest," Deeds said.
That, McDonnell said, is a stale attack in an election about improving the
state's business climate in a poor economy with rising unemployment.
"It's unfortunate that Creigh would choose this line of attack right out of
the blocks," McDonnell said.
Republicans, though, are already portraying Deeds as a puppet of labor
unions and other major Democratic donors and the liberal, big-
government orthodoxy that comes with their money.
"Any nominee that would emerge from that three-person primary would
be two things: one, a skillful candidate, but two, someone who will
accede to and adopt a lot of positions outside the mainstream," said Ed
Gillespie, a former Virginia and national Republican Party chairman and
special counsel to President George W. Bush.
Don't start none...won't be none.
H/T to Anita MonCrief
Happy 39th Anniversary ACORN
Schumer, Gutierrez and Waters Honored for Governing
the "ACORN Way" at Anniversary Celebration
If there are any lingering doubts that ACORN has been an organization
that was squarely in the tank for Democrats, ACORN (which has never
been coy about its thuggery and aspirations of political power) has
offered proof in their own words.
ACORN's 39th Anniversary celebration took place on June 17th, 2009 in
Barackistan, and it was filled with a who's who of Democrats.
Keynote Speakers and Honorees included:
-- Sen. Charles Schumer
-- Rep. Luis Gutierrez
-- Rep. Maxine Waters
Glenn Beck covered it (although Fox News was not allowed inside) and
here is his video report from outside the gala event:
http://www.foxnews.com/search-results/m ... nniversary
Sadly for new puppies everywhere, the announcement was also another
nail in the coffin of the Main Stream Media, as the RSVP at the bottom is
that of The Advance Group, a major firm specializing in public relations.
The Advance Group has many contacts in the MSM, but this event has
been surprisingly kept under wraps.
How is it possible that ACORN, who is in the middle of a ground war with
bloggers and right leaning newspapers across the country (MSM reports
only when they have to), has managed to plan a major event in
Barackistan with little media scrutiny?
The ACORN ties of each honoree or member would require another
10 to 15 posts.
I suspect this once-in-a-generation opportunity involves radical change in
America, and a quick look at the honorees gives the appearance that this
is actually a victory party. Like many high ranking Democrats, Charles
Schumer has quite a history with ACORN.
In addition to high profile Democrats with a pattern of doing favors for
ACORN, the newly formed ACORN Advisory Committee is made up of
familiar faces.
For space and time reasons, I will not touch upon Andy Stern, President of
SEIU, but his presence on the committee should be duly noted. However,
former head of Obama's Transition Team, John Podesta continues to
openly support the "non-partisan" group.
Henry Cisneros, another member of the committee served as the
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under President
Clinton. ACORN's own website describes this access to Democrats in
power in a section called "Insider Opportunites."
A little investigative reporting by the MSM would uncover the roots and
seeds for the housing collapse at this very gathering. Each one of the
honorees or committee members has put ACORN's goals and aspirations
to power over the true needs of the people.
ACORN and its cronies were aware of what was happening, but chose to
capitalize on a historic power grab, as this December 2006 quote from an
ACORN year end report illustrates (emphasis mine):
?In 2006 we saw the cracks begin to form in the subprime mortgage
market with foreclosures on the rise and hundreds of billions of dollars in
ARMs resetting. All signs indicate that in 2007 things will be even worse
and the system could rupture. We need to be right there when it does.?
Congratulations to Schumer, Gutierrez and Waters; your association with
ACORN has left you with a myriad of things to celebrate: Foreclosures,
fraud, missing tax dollars and a legacy of thuggery.
Happy 39th Anniversary ACORN
Schumer, Gutierrez and Waters Honored for Governing
the "ACORN Way" at Anniversary Celebration
If there are any lingering doubts that ACORN has been an organization
that was squarely in the tank for Democrats, ACORN (which has never
been coy about its thuggery and aspirations of political power) has
offered proof in their own words.
ACORN's 39th Anniversary celebration took place on June 17th, 2009 in
Barackistan, and it was filled with a who's who of Democrats.
Keynote Speakers and Honorees included:
-- Sen. Charles Schumer
-- Rep. Luis Gutierrez
-- Rep. Maxine Waters
Glenn Beck covered it (although Fox News was not allowed inside) and
here is his video report from outside the gala event:
http://www.foxnews.com/search-results/m ... nniversary
Sadly for new puppies everywhere, the announcement was also another
nail in the coffin of the Main Stream Media, as the RSVP at the bottom is
that of The Advance Group, a major firm specializing in public relations.
The Advance Group has many contacts in the MSM, but this event has
been surprisingly kept under wraps.
How is it possible that ACORN, who is in the middle of a ground war with
bloggers and right leaning newspapers across the country (MSM reports
only when they have to), has managed to plan a major event in
Barackistan with little media scrutiny?
The ACORN ties of each honoree or member would require another
10 to 15 posts.
I suspect this once-in-a-generation opportunity involves radical change in
America, and a quick look at the honorees gives the appearance that this
is actually a victory party. Like many high ranking Democrats, Charles
Schumer has quite a history with ACORN.
In addition to high profile Democrats with a pattern of doing favors for
ACORN, the newly formed ACORN Advisory Committee is made up of
familiar faces.
For space and time reasons, I will not touch upon Andy Stern, President of
SEIU, but his presence on the committee should be duly noted. However,
former head of Obama's Transition Team, John Podesta continues to
openly support the "non-partisan" group.
Henry Cisneros, another member of the committee served as the
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under President
Clinton. ACORN's own website describes this access to Democrats in
power in a section called "Insider Opportunites."
A little investigative reporting by the MSM would uncover the roots and
seeds for the housing collapse at this very gathering. Each one of the
honorees or committee members has put ACORN's goals and aspirations
to power over the true needs of the people.
ACORN and its cronies were aware of what was happening, but chose to
capitalize on a historic power grab, as this December 2006 quote from an
ACORN year end report illustrates (emphasis mine):
?In 2006 we saw the cracks begin to form in the subprime mortgage
market with foreclosures on the rise and hundreds of billions of dollars in
ARMs resetting. All signs indicate that in 2007 things will be even worse
and the system could rupture. We need to be right there when it does.?
Congratulations to Schumer, Gutierrez and Waters; your association with
ACORN has left you with a myriad of things to celebrate: Foreclosures,
fraud, missing tax dollars and a legacy of thuggery.
Don't start none...won't be none.
U.S. Military Set to Intercept North Korean Ship
Suspected of Proliferating Missiles, Nukes
The USS John McCain, a Navy Destroyer, will intercept the ship Kang Nam
as soon as it leaves the vicinity off the coast of China, according to a
senior U.S. defense official.
FOXNews.com
Friday, June 19, 2009
The USS John McCain, a navy destroyer, will intercept the ship Kang Nam
as soon as it leaves the vicinity off the coast of China, according to a
senior U.S. defense official. The order to inderdict has not been given
yet, but the ship is getting into position.
The ship left a port in North Korea Wednesday and appears to be heading
toward Singapore, according to a senior U.S. military source. The vessel,
which the military has been tracking since its departure, could be
carrying weaponry, missile parts or nuclear materials, a violation of U.N.
Resolution 1874, which put sanctions in place against Pyongyang.
The USS McCain was involved in an incident with a Chinese sub last
Friday - near Subic Bay off the Philippines.
The Chinese sub was shadowing the destroyer when it hit the underwater
sonar array that the USS McCain was towing behind it.
That same navy destroyer that was being shadowed by the Chinese is
now positioning itself for a possible interdiction of the North Korean
vessel.
This is the first suspected "proliferator" that the U.S. and its allies have
tracked from North Korea since the United Nations authorized the world's
navies to enforce compliance with a variety of U.N. sanctions aimed at
punishing North Korea for its recent nuclear test.
The ship is currently along the coast of China and being monitored
around-the-clock by air.
The apparent violation raises the question of how the United States and its
allies will respond, particularly since the U.N. resolution does not have a
lot of teeth to it.
The resolution would not allow the United States to board the ship forcibly.
Rather, U.S. military would have to request permission to board -- a
request North Korea is unlikely to grant.
North Korea has said that any attempt to board its ships would be viewed
as an act of war and promised "100- or 1,000-fold" retaliation if
provoked.
The U.S. military may also request that the host country not provide fuel
to the ship when it enters its port.
The Kang Nam is known to be a ship that has been involved in
proliferation activities in the past -- it is "a repeat offender," according to
one military source. The ship was detained in October 2006 by authorities
in Hong Kong after the North Koreans tested their first nuclear device and
the U.N. imposed a subsequent round of sanctions.
The latest tension follows a Japanese news report that North Korea may
fire a long-range ballistic missile toward Hawaii in early July.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday the military is "watching"
that situation "very closely," and would have "some concerns" if North
Korea launched a missile in the direction of Hawaii. But he expressed
confidence in U.S. ability to handle such a launch.
Gates said he's directed the deployment of the Theater High Altitude Area
Defense, a mobile missile defense system used for knocking down long
and medium-range missiles.
"The ground-based interceptors are clearly in a position to take action.
So, without telegraphing what we will do, I would just say ... I think we
are in a good position, should it become necessary, to protect the
American territory."
FOX News' Jennifer Griffin and Justin Fishel contributed to this report.
Suspected of Proliferating Missiles, Nukes
The USS John McCain, a Navy Destroyer, will intercept the ship Kang Nam
as soon as it leaves the vicinity off the coast of China, according to a
senior U.S. defense official.
FOXNews.com
Friday, June 19, 2009
The USS John McCain, a navy destroyer, will intercept the ship Kang Nam
as soon as it leaves the vicinity off the coast of China, according to a
senior U.S. defense official. The order to inderdict has not been given
yet, but the ship is getting into position.
The ship left a port in North Korea Wednesday and appears to be heading
toward Singapore, according to a senior U.S. military source. The vessel,
which the military has been tracking since its departure, could be
carrying weaponry, missile parts or nuclear materials, a violation of U.N.
Resolution 1874, which put sanctions in place against Pyongyang.
The USS McCain was involved in an incident with a Chinese sub last
Friday - near Subic Bay off the Philippines.
The Chinese sub was shadowing the destroyer when it hit the underwater
sonar array that the USS McCain was towing behind it.
That same navy destroyer that was being shadowed by the Chinese is
now positioning itself for a possible interdiction of the North Korean
vessel.
This is the first suspected "proliferator" that the U.S. and its allies have
tracked from North Korea since the United Nations authorized the world's
navies to enforce compliance with a variety of U.N. sanctions aimed at
punishing North Korea for its recent nuclear test.
The ship is currently along the coast of China and being monitored
around-the-clock by air.
The apparent violation raises the question of how the United States and its
allies will respond, particularly since the U.N. resolution does not have a
lot of teeth to it.
The resolution would not allow the United States to board the ship forcibly.
Rather, U.S. military would have to request permission to board -- a
request North Korea is unlikely to grant.
North Korea has said that any attempt to board its ships would be viewed
as an act of war and promised "100- or 1,000-fold" retaliation if
provoked.
The U.S. military may also request that the host country not provide fuel
to the ship when it enters its port.
The Kang Nam is known to be a ship that has been involved in
proliferation activities in the past -- it is "a repeat offender," according to
one military source. The ship was detained in October 2006 by authorities
in Hong Kong after the North Koreans tested their first nuclear device and
the U.N. imposed a subsequent round of sanctions.
The latest tension follows a Japanese news report that North Korea may
fire a long-range ballistic missile toward Hawaii in early July.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday the military is "watching"
that situation "very closely," and would have "some concerns" if North
Korea launched a missile in the direction of Hawaii. But he expressed
confidence in U.S. ability to handle such a launch.
Gates said he's directed the deployment of the Theater High Altitude Area
Defense, a mobile missile defense system used for knocking down long
and medium-range missiles.
"The ground-based interceptors are clearly in a position to take action.
So, without telegraphing what we will do, I would just say ... I think we
are in a good position, should it become necessary, to protect the
American territory."
FOX News' Jennifer Griffin and Justin Fishel contributed to this report.
Don't start none...won't be none.
ABC:
Obama's 'state-run television network'?
40 congressmen send letter blasting in-White
House coverage of health reform
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: June 23, 2009
11:10 pm Eastern
By Drew Zahn
? 2009 WorldNetDaily
A newly formed group of U.S. Congressmen called the Media Fairness
Caucus fired off a letter of protest to ABC News today over the network's
planned coverage of President Obama's health care reform initiatives,
declaring the scheduled programming "gives the appearance of a state-
run television network."
"Without giving time to an opposing viewpoint," the letter signed by 40
U.S. Representatives states, "ABC News' programming on June 24 will
amount to a day-long infomercial for the president and his government-
run health care plan."
"We urge you," the letter concludes, "to give the American people the
facts and let them make up their own minds, not tell them what to think."
As WND reported, ABC News announced last week that the network will
devote hours of news coverage tomorrow to the president's plan, televise
a primetime "town hall" discussion on the topic called "Questions for the
President: Prescription for America" and anchor its nightly "World News"
program from inside the White House.
Critics raised red flags
immediately, especially after it was learned
that Republican legislators would not be allowed time on ABC News for
rebuttal to the president's plan.
"This 'special' will feature Obama government officials promoting the
president's proposal for government health care. No opposing views are
allowed on the program," said Roger Hedgecock, chairman of the Radio
America Free Speech Foundation, in a statement. "For ABC News to
present only the Obama government side of this important issue would
betray the public interest in a free press."
The letter from the Media Fairness Caucus, chaired by Rep. Lamar Smith,
R-Texas, echoes Hedgecock's concern:
"The manner in which the news programming is being presented ? at
the White House with the President and First Lady and without opposition ?
is unprofessional and contrary to the journalistic code of ethics to present
the news fairly and independently," the letter states. "This is not a
presidential news conference open to all news outlets. This is an
exclusive arrangement from which the president and his viewpoint stand
to gain. It's as if ABC News is providing in-kind free advertising for
President Obama."
The Media Fairness Caucus, however, points out that there is a distinction
between the "fairness" that it is calling for in ABC News' coverage of the
health care plan and the equal time restrictions placed upon talk radio
and television under the former, government-imposed "Fairness
Doctrine":
"This is not television commentary or talk radio where the public expects
to hear conservative or liberal opinions," the Caucus writes. "Supposedly,
this is ABC News presenting unbiased news programming."
ABC News President David Westin, in turn, responded to the Caucus'
letter with a public letter of his own:
"Contrary to your assertions, this will not be 'slanted' in any way
?
much less a 'day-long infomercial' or 'in-kind free advertising,'" Westin
writes. "It will be a thoughtful, respectful, probing discussion of the some
of the issues raised by the calls for health care reform. We will include a
variety of perspectives coming from private individuals asking the
president questions and taking issue with him as they see fit.
"We have already heard at some length (on ABC News and other outlets)
from politicians and professional health care lobbyists," the letter
continues. "I can see no reason why we should not hear tomorrow
instead from some of the Americans most directly affected by the plans
being discussed."
Westin's response then accuses "some" of using this controversy as
material for "political high theatre."
"I would have thought that a subject as important as the health care
received by the American people would rise above this sorry spectacle,"
Westin writes. "We are proud to be making a serious effort to go beyond
mere punditry or stylized, bipolar debate."
In explaining the reason for the formation of the Media Fairness Caucus,
Rep. Lamar Smith told Fox News Channel's Bill Hemmer that many
members of Congress are worried "about the liberal media bias that we
see every single day."
"The most recent poll says only nine percent of the American public see
the media are objective and fair," Smith said. "They have a huge
credibility gap, and two-to-one they think the media are liberal, not
conservative."
He continued, "To me, the greatest threat to America is not necessarily a
recession, or another terrorist attack. The greatest threat to America is a
liberal media bias. And I think that because, if the American people
don't get the facts, they can't make good decisions. And if the American
people can't make good decisions, then our democracy is threatened."
Smith also added, "The media have given the Obama administration a
free pass. In fact, President Obama has gotten three times the positive
coverage that President Bush got in his first three months in office.
There's very little criticism."
In somewhat veiled, but clearly related news, the Republican National
Committee released today a national cable ad attacking "a national TV
network" for "turn[ing] its airwaves over to President Obama's pitch for
government-run health care."
Siggy's take: There you have it folks: ABC - The "All Barack Channel"
Obama's 'state-run television network'?
40 congressmen send letter blasting in-White
House coverage of health reform
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: June 23, 2009
11:10 pm Eastern
By Drew Zahn
? 2009 WorldNetDaily
A newly formed group of U.S. Congressmen called the Media Fairness
Caucus fired off a letter of protest to ABC News today over the network's
planned coverage of President Obama's health care reform initiatives,
declaring the scheduled programming "gives the appearance of a state-
run television network."
"Without giving time to an opposing viewpoint," the letter signed by 40
U.S. Representatives states, "ABC News' programming on June 24 will
amount to a day-long infomercial for the president and his government-
run health care plan."
"We urge you," the letter concludes, "to give the American people the
facts and let them make up their own minds, not tell them what to think."
As WND reported, ABC News announced last week that the network will
devote hours of news coverage tomorrow to the president's plan, televise
a primetime "town hall" discussion on the topic called "Questions for the
President: Prescription for America" and anchor its nightly "World News"
program from inside the White House.
Critics raised red flags
immediately, especially after it was learnedthat Republican legislators would not be allowed time on ABC News for
rebuttal to the president's plan.
"This 'special' will feature Obama government officials promoting the
president's proposal for government health care. No opposing views are
allowed on the program," said Roger Hedgecock, chairman of the Radio
America Free Speech Foundation, in a statement. "For ABC News to
present only the Obama government side of this important issue would
betray the public interest in a free press."
The letter from the Media Fairness Caucus, chaired by Rep. Lamar Smith,
R-Texas, echoes Hedgecock's concern:
"The manner in which the news programming is being presented ? at
the White House with the President and First Lady and without opposition ?
is unprofessional and contrary to the journalistic code of ethics to present
the news fairly and independently," the letter states. "This is not a
presidential news conference open to all news outlets. This is an
exclusive arrangement from which the president and his viewpoint stand
to gain. It's as if ABC News is providing in-kind free advertising for
President Obama."
The Media Fairness Caucus, however, points out that there is a distinction
between the "fairness" that it is calling for in ABC News' coverage of the
health care plan and the equal time restrictions placed upon talk radio
and television under the former, government-imposed "Fairness
Doctrine":
"This is not television commentary or talk radio where the public expects
to hear conservative or liberal opinions," the Caucus writes. "Supposedly,
this is ABC News presenting unbiased news programming."
ABC News President David Westin, in turn, responded to the Caucus'
letter with a public letter of his own:
"Contrary to your assertions, this will not be 'slanted' in any way
?much less a 'day-long infomercial' or 'in-kind free advertising,'" Westin
writes. "It will be a thoughtful, respectful, probing discussion of the some
of the issues raised by the calls for health care reform. We will include a
variety of perspectives coming from private individuals asking the
president questions and taking issue with him as they see fit.
"We have already heard at some length (on ABC News and other outlets)
from politicians and professional health care lobbyists," the letter
continues. "I can see no reason why we should not hear tomorrow
instead from some of the Americans most directly affected by the plans
being discussed."
Westin's response then accuses "some" of using this controversy as
material for "political high theatre."
"I would have thought that a subject as important as the health care
received by the American people would rise above this sorry spectacle,"
Westin writes. "We are proud to be making a serious effort to go beyond
mere punditry or stylized, bipolar debate."
In explaining the reason for the formation of the Media Fairness Caucus,
Rep. Lamar Smith told Fox News Channel's Bill Hemmer that many
members of Congress are worried "about the liberal media bias that we
see every single day."
"The most recent poll says only nine percent of the American public see
the media are objective and fair," Smith said. "They have a huge
credibility gap, and two-to-one they think the media are liberal, not
conservative."
He continued, "To me, the greatest threat to America is not necessarily a
recession, or another terrorist attack. The greatest threat to America is a
liberal media bias. And I think that because, if the American people
don't get the facts, they can't make good decisions. And if the American
people can't make good decisions, then our democracy is threatened."
Smith also added, "The media have given the Obama administration a
free pass. In fact, President Obama has gotten three times the positive
coverage that President Bush got in his first three months in office.
There's very little criticism."
In somewhat veiled, but clearly related news, the Republican National
Committee released today a national cable ad attacking "a national TV
network" for "turn[ing] its airwaves over to President Obama's pitch for
government-run health care."
Siggy's take: There you have it folks: ABC - The "All Barack Channel"
Don't start none...won't be none.
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ElfDude
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I've been biting my tongue in here , but I'll make two brief comments about that story.
1. It's kind of freaky to watch a news organization completely whore itself out to government like that. We truly are facing days of state-run media now.
2. But I also find it quite disturbing that we now have a group of U.S. Congressmen called the Media Fairness Caucus. As far as I'm concerned, government and news organizations should be as separate as church and state.
1. It's kind of freaky to watch a news organization completely whore itself out to government like that. We truly are facing days of state-run media now.
2. But I also find it quite disturbing that we now have a group of U.S. Congressmen called the Media Fairness Caucus. As far as I'm concerned, government and news organizations should be as separate as church and state.
Aren't you the guy who hit me in the eye?
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Big Blue Owl
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^^^
Agreed!
I'm sad about Michael. I know, I know...ya can only think of the filthy controversies, but....
I have always thought he was bad-ass, especially as a kid. I really believe that in his mind he was a child. He was a 50 year old Peter Pan with a misplaced childhood. I'm sad that he is gone.
Agreed!
I'm sad about Michael. I know, I know...ya can only think of the filthy controversies, but....
I have always thought he was bad-ass, especially as a kid. I really believe that in his mind he was a child. He was a 50 year old Peter Pan with a misplaced childhood. I'm sad that he is gone.
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ElfDude
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http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=5041118CygnusX1 wrote:The off-duty police officer is a hero.awip2062 wrote:Sounds like Providence to me.ElfDude wrote: And one off-duty cop out with his wife for an early Valentine?s Day dinner. They usually don?t eat there, but they did that night. They usually don?t get dessert, but they did that night. They usually don?t stop at the restroom, but they did that night.
And so it was that Kenneth Hammond was in the hallway
My hat's off to him.
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Walkinghairball
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Here is an informative video for all to see.
Cyg, I hope it works for you too.
http://www.comcast.net/video/we-pay-dea ... 164395465/
I sure am glad that we have smart people running this government. We would surely be up caca creek without a paddle.
Cyg, I hope it works for you too.
http://www.comcast.net/video/we-pay-dea ... 164395465/
I sure am glad that we have smart people running this government. We would surely be up caca creek without a paddle.
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Walkinghairball
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......Follow up to the above......
Ok, so if the guy from California got fired by the President for supposedly "Losing his Confidence", then after a S.N.A.F.U. like the above stimulus checks to some 10,000 DEAD people..............
Just why is the tax cheat Gethner still running his show??????
Ok, so if the guy from California got fired by the President for supposedly "Losing his Confidence", then after a S.N.A.F.U. like the above stimulus checks to some 10,000 DEAD people..............
Just why is the tax cheat Gethner still running his show??????
This space for rent
The video is filtered here Bro. We just got another echelon of cyber-Walkinghairball wrote: ......Follow up to the above......
Ok, so if the guy from California got fired by the President for
supposedly "Losing his Confidence", then after a S.N.A.F.U. like the
above stimulus checks to some 10,000 DEAD people..............
policing, so I'm almost dead in the water.
Anyway, you ain't seen nuthin' yet. That Inspector General firing case
isn't over - not by any stretch of the imagination. Old dude's got a
helluva EEO case. Not to mention the scandal that Chairman Zero took
upon himself...and firing the guy over the phone...what a spineless move.
"Turbo Tax" Tim Geithner is Chairman Zero's choice to implementWalkinghairball wrote:Just why is the tax cheat Gethner still running his show??????
the "Peter Principle." If it goes tits-up, then all "Turbo Tax Tim" has to do
is say "I didn't know," and the blame goes to no one.
Truth is, all roads lead back to Chairman Zero.
Don't start none...won't be none.
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Walkinghairball
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In a nutshell the vid you can't see is about 10,000 dead people being issued stimulus checks because it was drawn up and sent out faster than the Flash on pizza night. Now the government is trying to get those checks out of circulation because, well they are all cancelled by now I'm sure. Some people want to keep them as a souvenir. Do the math..........10,000 checks at $250.00 each. That's a little booboo.
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ElfDude
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Just a couple more of those "more than expected" economic stories.
June 30 (Bloomberg) -- The U.K. economy shrank more than previously estimated in the first quarter in the biggest contraction since 1958 as the recession choked industries from construction to services.
Gross domestic product fell 2.4 percent from the final three months of 2008, compared with the prior measurement of a 1.9 percent drop, the Office for National Statistics said today in London. The median prediction in a Bloomberg survey of 28 economists was for a 2.1 percent decline. Construction activity plunged almost three times as much as originally estimated.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. consumer confidence took an unexpectedly steep slide in June, figures released on Tuesday showed, suggesting the 18-month-long recession had yet to loosen its grip on the economy.
A separate report on April house prices in major cities offered some encouraging signs that the worst of the housing slump may be over, but that was not enough to lift investors' spirits, while another crop of economic data showed business activity in New York City and the Midwest remained weak and retail chains slogged through a rough June.
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Big Blue Owl
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Walked right into a horrible situation (several of them, actually) and spends most waking minutes trying to rectify it. Id love to have an alternate history crystal ball to see how Mr. McCain would have handled all of this.zepboy wrote:Inconsistency . . .
Madoff gets over a hundred years for stealing a few billion dollars.
The current administration walks after stealing trillions.
Hmmmmm . . . .
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