Video: Palin Interview on GMA with Barbara Walters (11-17-09)

Watch a 6 minute video excerpt from the interview done by Barbara Walters on Good Morning America.

Here's a partial transcript:

BARBARA WALTERS [...] Do you ever want to be president of the United States?

SARAH PALIN: That certainly isn't on my radar screen right now. But when you consider some of the ordinary turning into extraordinary events that have happened in my life, I am not one to predict what will happen in a few years. My ambition, if you will, my desire, is to help our country, in whatever role that may be. And I cannot predict what that will be, what doors would be open in the year 2012.

BARBARA WALTERS: Will you play a major role?

SARAH PALIN: If people would have me, I will.

WALTERS: To many, you are a possible presidential candidate. Steve Schmidt, McCain's campaign's senior adviser says publicly, and I quote, "She would not be a winning candidate. And if she was, the result would be catastrophic."

PALIN: Sounds like Steve Schmidt. I guess I really, really disappointed him. And she's the one who was in charged of that vetting, is I was told. So, everyone's entitled to their opinion, though. I know truth. And I'm fine with who I am and where I am.

WALTERS: One way you could have enormous influence is, of course, to have a talk show.

PALIN: I probably would rather write than talk.

WALTERS: Have you been offered your own talk show?

PALIN: There's been lots and lots of offers in these last months coming our way. Some bizarre things.

WALTERS: Like?

PALIN: Funny things. Reality shows.

WALTERS: You say no to that?

PALIN: Absolutely not. I would never. No, I would never want to put my kids through such a thing. Shoot, our life has become kind of a reality show.

Video: Republican Nixon bows to Mao Zedong

Here we have a video of Richard Nixon's "historic" visit to China. And what you see if the Republican bowing to the Communist butcher, Mao Zedong.

in reference to: Bowing to Mao - Ben Smith - POLITICO.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Senate looks at 'shocking' online marketing techniques

We need a consumer bill or rights. We live in a society that puts profit before people. That means consumers take a back seat. The law is still basically, buyer beware. That is no longer acceptable.

in reference to:

"Senate looks at 'shocking' online marketing techniques"
- Senate looks at 'shocking' online marketing techniques - CNN.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Video: Obama Statement in China (11-17-09)

NY Times:

President Obama and President Hu Jintao of China met in private off Tiananmen Square here on a frigid Tuesday morning to discuss issues like trade, climate change and the nuclear programs of Iran and North Korea, in a session that signaled the central role of China on the world stage.

The leaders told reporters afterward that the United States and China were in agreement on a range of issues, but they spoke only in general terms.

At a news conference where both presidents appeared, neither took questions from reporters, staying in line with the minutely stage-managed atmosphere of Mr. Obama’s first visit to China. They said in separate speeches that the two nations would work together to stabilize the teetering world economy, contain the dangers of climate change and prevent nuclear proliferation.

The public pronouncements were full of familiar rhetoric. At the start of their first meeting, Mr. Obama told Mr. Hu: “We believe strong dialogue is important not only for the U.S. and China, but for the rest of the world.”

The leaders greeted each other at the door of the Great Hall of the People after Mr. Obama’s motorcade slithered its way past thousands of onlookers crowding around Tiananmen Square, in front of the giant portrait of Mao, to catch a glimpse of the American president.

The leaders shook hands and walked up the red carpet, Chinese military leaders facing them. At the conference table where the first bilateral meeting was held, Mr. Obama sat flanked by senior cabinet members.

The meeting came the day after Mr. Obama tried to hold a frank and public discussion with Chinese students in Shanghai. The event was called a town hall, but Mr. Obama’s meeting with about 500 students had little in common with the sometimes raucous exchanges that have become a fixture of American politics.

Rachel Maddow Show Transcript (11-16-09)

Read the complete transcript of the Rachel Maddow Show for 11-16-09. Excerpt below:

MADDOW: He should be tried in a military tribunal, not in federal court. Very punchy talking point, right? Awkwardness from Mr. Giuliani is that back in 1994 when the first World Trade Center bombing was prosecuted in federal court, he took the exact opposite position, saying at the time, quote, "I think it shows you put terrorism on one side, you put our legal system on the other and our legal system comes out ahead." Yes, legal system can handle it except when it can`t, and then it`s an outrage.

In the event of terrorism convictions, we have now learned that one of the places administration officials are thinking about housing prisoners is a maximum security prison in Thomson, Illinois, about 150 miles west of Chicago. It`s called the Thomson Correctional Center, a giant prison that`s been largely vacant since it was built in 2001. The prison has about 1,600 empty maximum security cells, and 200 minimum security cells which are the only ones that are being used right now.

Federal officials toured the prison today to see if it might be suitable for, say, some prisoners brought from Guantanamo. It was an idea suggested by the governor of Illinois. It has support from both of the state`s U.S. senators, and residents of Thomson appear to favor the idea since it`s expected to create around 3,000 jobs and to pump about $1 billion into the local economy there.

With all of that support, what would stop something like this from happening? Well, say hello to Republican Congressman Mark Kirk of Illinois. He`s running for the United States Senate there. In one of the -- in one of those "you can`t make this up" moments, Mr. Kirk has now launched a new Web site called NoTerroristsInIllinois.com.

If you type NoTerroristInIllinois.com into your computer, you will be redirected to Congressman Kirk`s campaign Web site. And alongside the big red "contribute" button, you can read a letter to President Obama that reads in part, quote, "As home to America`s tallest building, we should not invite al Qaeda to make Illinois its number one target." We should only imprison people convicted of terrorism in places with low-slung buildings obviously.

Congressman Kirk and three of his Republican House colleagues held a press conference on the issue earlier today.