FACT CHECK: Palin's Book Goes Rogue on Some Facts

Lies just keep coming. I don't think Republicans (and lots of Democrats) nowadays don't know what the truth is.

in reference to:

"PALIN: Says she made frugality a point when traveling on state business as Alaska governor, asking ''only'' for reasonably priced rooms and not ''often'' going for the ''high-end, robe-and-slippers'' hotels.THE FACTS: Although travel records indicate she usually opted for less-pricey hotels while governor, Palin and daughter Bristol stayed five days and four nights at the $707.29-per-night Essex House luxury hotel (robes and slippers come standard) overlooking New York City's Central Park for a five-hour women's leadership conference in October 2007. With air fare, the cost to Alaska was well over $3,000. Event organizers said Palin asked if she could bring her daughter. The governor billed her state more than $20,000 for her children's travel, including to events where they had not been invited, and in some cases later amended expense reports to specify that they had been on official business.------PALIN: Boasts that she ran her campaign for governor on small donations, mostly from first-time givers, and turned back large checks from big donors if her campaign perceived a conflict of interest.THE FACTS: Of the roughly $1.3 million she raised for her primary and general election campaigns for governor, more than half came from people and political action committees giving at least $500, according to an AP analysis of her campaign finance reports. The maximum that individual donors could give was $1,000; $2,000 for a PAC.Of the rest, about $76,000 came from Republican Party committees.She accepted $1,000 each from a state senator and his wife and $30 from a state representative in the weeks after the two Republican lawmakers' offices were raided by the FBI as part of an investigation into a powerful Alaska oilfield services company. After AP reported those donations during the presidential campaign, she gave a comparative sum to charity."
- FACT CHECK - Palin's Book Goes Rogue on Some Facts - NYTimes.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Transcript: Obama Tokyo Press Conference (11-13-09)

President Obama held a press conference in Tokyo along with the Japanese PM, HATOYAMA. Complete transcript. Excerpt below:

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, first of all, I am impressed that the Japanese journalists use the same strategy as American journalists -- (laughter) -- in asking multiple questions.

Let me, first of all, insist that the United States and Japan are equal partners. We have been and we will continue to be. Each country brings specific assets and strengths to the relationship, but we proceed based on mutual interest and mutual respect, and that will continue.

That's reflected in the Japan-U.S. alliance. It will be reflected in the resolution of the base realignment issues related to Futenma. As the Prime Minister indicated, we discussed this. The United States and Japan have set up a high-level working group that will focus on implementation of the agreement that our two governments reached with respect to the restructuring of U.S. forces in Okinawa, and we hope to complete this work expeditiously.

Our goal remains the same, and that's to provide for the defense of Japan with minimal intrusion on the lives of the people who share this space. And I have to say that I am extraordinarily proud and grateful for the men and women in uniform from the United States who help us to honor our obligations to the alliance and our treaties.

With respect to nuclear weapons and the issues of non-proliferation, this is an area where Prime Minister Hatoyama and I have discussed repeatedly in our meetings. We share, I think, a vision of a world without nuclear weapons. We recognize, though, that this is a distant goal, and we have to take specific steps in the interim to meet this goal. It will take time. It will not be reached probably even in our own lifetimes. But in seeking this goal we can stop the spread of nuclear weapons; we can secure loose nuclear weapons; we can strengthen the non-proliferation regime.

As long as nuclear weapons exist, we will retain our deterrent for our people and our allies, but we are already taking steps to bring down our nuclear stockpiles and -- in cooperation with the Russian government -- and we want to continue to work on the non-proliferation issues.

Now, obviously Japan has unique perspective on the issue of nuclear weapons as a consequence of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. And that I'm sure helps to motivate the Prime Minister's deep interest in this issue. I certainly would be honored, it would be meaningful for me to visit those two cities in the future. I don't have immediate travel plans, but it's something that would be meaningful to me.

You had one more question, and I'm not sure I remember it. Was it North Korea?

'Countdown' Transcript (11-12-09)

Read the complete transcript of 'Countdown' with Keith Olbermann (11-12-09). Excerpt below:

OLBERMANN: We know about this Harvard University study, details of which have come out in two doses: 44,000 Americans die each year for want of insurance. Now, we know that 2,266 veterans die each year for lack of insurance. You have a better chance surviving kidney disease than you do lack of insurance in this country. Why has this so seldom seen couched, presented in the moral imperative terms the same way that the abortion debate is?

GADDY: Keith, it is by some of us seen very much by a moral perspective, but your very question highlights the problem that we`re facing right now, and that is that some people in the religious community understand morality one way and some people understand it another. That`s why the United States Congress is commissioned not to legislate sectarian morality but to legislate policies that are good for the whole nation.

The real question in any debate in Congress ought not be what do the scriptures say, but what does the Constitution say. Not what does it mean to be a good Christian, Jew or Muslim, but what does it mean to be a good American.

OLBERMANN: In relation to Congressman Stupak`s amendment, specifically. The Catholic bishops now say they can`t support any health care plan that includes a provision for abortion. Again, the alternative to that is: no provision, no plan, and another 44,000 Americans dying in the next year because of insufficient insurance and another 44,000 after that.

How does that make sense in terms of, to use a phrase, "right to life"?

GADDY: Well, I understand that every religious tradition ought to have a right to advocate for its moral perspective. But once you jump into the political arena, you have to play politics like everyone else plays. Obviously, the Catholic bishops are deciding to play hard ball politics. Now, they also have a responsibility to take the reciprocal action that comes from that.

And there are other people in this nation who understand pro-life to go beyond the life of a fetus, and include the life of an adult. And this legislation is -- by the broadest definition -- pro-life legislation. It varies from that only in one or two traditions that maximize this issue of abortion as the moral issue that trumps all other moral issues.

OLBERMANN: The Catholic archdiocese of Washington also says it`s not going to be able to continue its social service programs it runs for the district. That means no help with homelessness, with adoption, with health care clinics if the city is not going to change its proposed same-sex marriage law. How does -- explain -- help me understand how that makes sense.

GADDY: I can`t help you understand how that makes sense. Compassion is compassion. And compassion does not take all of its goods and run away when it doesn`t get its way in a political decision that represents the will of the nation.

The Catholic Church is doing the right thing in advocating for its point of view. The Catholic Church is a good citizen of this nation as are other good citizens in the religious community and beyond. And if they lose on this point, that shouldn`t trump their commitment to showing compassion in any community.

OLBERMANN: Lastly, a taste allegory religious question. The Michael Moore film, "Capitalism: A Love Story." He`s got Jesus refusing to heal a sick man because the sick man has a preexisting condition. Is that in good taste? Is it in bad taste? Do you think it makes a religious or moral point?

GADDY: Well, I hope that anybody in the religious community, as well as outside, has a sense of humor. Lord knows we need it these days.

OLBERMANN: Yes.

GADDY: It does make a point. It makes a point that within the Christian tradition, healing is a priority and efforts to establish healing are in the best interest of all people.

S.C. GOP castigates Lindsey Graham

It shows how intolerant the Republicans have become. Bipartisanship is now taboo within the GOP.

in reference to:

"GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham’s decision to work with Senate Democratic leaders on cap-and-trade legislation has sparked a mutiny back home, culminating in an scathing rebuke from the Republican Party in one of the most populous counties in the South Carolina. In a harshly-worded resolution approved Monday, the Charleston County Republican Party condemned Graham for undermining “Republican leadership and party solidarity for his own benefit” and tarnishing “the ideals of freedom, rule of law, and fiscal conservatism.” The resolution recited a litany of grievances against Graham beyond his position on climate change legislation. “Graham has shown a condescending attitude toward his constituents by calling them ‘bigots’ when they opposed his stance on amnesty for illegal aliens,” read one portion of the resolution."
- S.C. GOP castigates Lindsey Graham - Andy Barr - POLITICO.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Source: 9/11 Mastermind to NYC for Trial

This could be security issue. It is also going to be a circus. I'm not sure I understand why he couldn't be tried under a military court.

in reference to:

"An Obama administration official says accused Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other Guantanamo Bay detainees will be sent to New York to face trial in a civilian federal court. The official tells The Associated Press that Attorney General Eric Holder is scheduled to announce the decision later Friday morning. The official is not authorized to discuss the decision before the announcement, so is speaking on condition of anonymity."
- Source: 9/11 Mastermind to NYC for Trial - CBS News (view on Google Sidewiki)

Spitzer Talk at Harvard Is About, Well, Ethics

This guy has Chutzpah. He obviously has intentions of rehabilitating himself with the idea of getting back into politics.

in reference to:

"It was not until the third-to-last question, from a man toward the back with a long gray ponytail sticking out of his baseball hat, that Mr. Spitzer was asked about the prostitution scandal. “I may sound like a conspiracy theorist,” the man said, asking Mr. Spitzer whether he thought there might be “ulterior motives” behind the timing of the disclosure of the prostitution ring that he said was leaked to the news media.Mr. Spitzer said he resigned “because I thought it was the right thing to do and the actions that led to it were wrong.” He added, “Whatever may have led to their being public didn’t relate to anything I did and doesn’t excuse it.” Mr. Spitzer was asked by reporters after the event whether he should be speaking as part of a lecture series on ethics after his fall from grace.“I was speaking about corporate governance and speaking about the need to understand about what the rationale was for government involvement and when and where it makes sense,” Mr. Spitzer said. “I’ve been asked by some folks to voice some opinions, and I’m honored to do so.”"
- Spitzer Talks to Harvard Students About Ethics - NYTimes.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Web Site Says Justice Department Demanded It Secretly Turn Over Readers' Information

Sounds like something Bush administration used to pull. How low we've descended. Attacks on the Constitution seem to be the norm among Republicans and Democrats. It is a sign of a nation on the decline. At this rate, it won't be long before we have chaos in America. I fear for my country.

in reference to:

"An independent news Web site says the Department of Justice ordered it to release detailed information on its readers -- then directed the site to keep quiet about the demand. Kristina Clair, systems administrator for Indymedia.us, said she was shocked when she received a subpoena from U.S. Attorney Tim Morrison in Indianapolis in January demanding the IP address of every person who visited the site on June 25, 2008. She said she was also instructed "not to disclose the existence of this request unless authorized by the Assistant U.S. Attorney." Clair said she was astonished by the demand. "It's a purely aggregate site, it only pulls data from other Indymedia feeds," she told FoxNews.com. "There's no information fed to the site directly." When she contacted the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a legal advocacy group for digital freedom, she was told the subpoena was riddled with problems. "Not only was this request a plain violation of federal privacy law -- which would require the government to at least get a court order based on a factual showing to get that kind of data; not only did it violate Department of Justice regulations that require subpoenas to media organizations to be vetted by the attorney general; not only did it threaten the First Amendment right to read anonymously of all of Indymedia's users, it also violated Ms. Clair's First Amendment rights by ordering her not to disclose the subpoena's existence," EFF Senior Staff Attorney Kevin Bankston told FoxNews.com. EFF said it sent a letter to Assistant U.S. Attorney Doris L. Pryor on Feb. 13 relaying its concerns with the subpoena and explaining that Indymedia didn't store IP addresses and didn't have the data the government was looking for."
- Web Site Says Justice Department Demanded It Secretly Turn Over Readers' Information - FOXNews.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Swine Flu has Affected 22 million Americans

I won't sensationalize unlike some others. The press keeps using the term Swine Flu, which is incorrect. In this article they choose to say "also known as H1N1."

in reference to:

"Swine flu has swept through about 22 million Americans from April to October, killing an estimated 3,900 people, including 540 children, health officials said Thursday. The analysis represents the government's latest effort to assess a viral outbreak that in just six months has flooded emergency rooms and intensive-care beds in at least 48 states that have reported widespread flu cases. With flu season just beginning, an estimated 98,000 people have been hospitalized, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "We've been tracking influenza for decades," says Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. "What we are seeing in 2009 is unprecedented." What the numbers don't reveal is what will happen next, because no one knows yet when the flu season will hit its peak or how many waves of cases to expect, says Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. "What's going to happen for the rest of the year depends on that pattern." The new national estimates are extrapolations of data drawn from a CDC emerging-diseases network of hospitals, laboratories and health departments in 10 states and from reports of hospitalizations and deaths, Schuchat says. They illustrate the extent to which swine flu, also known as H1N1, is hitting children, who account for 8 million infections, 36,000 hospitalizations and 540 deaths. In a typical flu season, about 80 children die."
- Swine flu has killed 540 kids, sickened 22 million Americans - USATODAY.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

NATO Won't Pledge More Troops for Afghanistan

It seems Europe has more of a plan than the U.S. Government.

in reference to:

"As Obama ponders Afghan"
- As Obama ponders Afghanistan, so does Europe - Yahoo! News (view on Google Sidewiki)

Balloon boy's parents to plead guilty, lawyer says

The father should be doing time. And the press should also prosecutor for enabling this charade. They turned into a giant circus, even interrupting regular TV programming to sensationalize this story.

in reference to:

"The Colorado parents who reported their 6-year-old son floated away in a helium balloon in what authorities say was a hoax to drum up publicity for a TV show will both plead guilty to charges in the case, the attorney for the boy's father said Thursday. Richard Heene, 48, will plead guilty to attempting to influence a public servant, a felony, his attorney David Lane said. Mayumi Heene, 45, will plead guilty to false reporting to authorities, a misdemeanor. Prosecutors have agreed to allow both to serve probation sentences, Lane said. Prosecutors did not immediately return a phone message Thursday morning. Mayumi Heene's attorney, Lee Christian, also did not return a call."
- Balloon boy: Parents, who reported son floated away in balloon to plead guilty, lawyer says -- latimes.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Ralph Nader Owns Bill O’Reilly: I Can Chew Gum And Walk at the Same Time, Unlike You!

Nader gets the best of the bullying O'Reilly.

in reference to:

"Consumer advocate Ralph Nader appears on Bill O’Reilly’s TV show to discuss the Fort Hood shooting, and wastes no time in belittling him.”I wasn’t brought on this program to discuss Fort Hood, I want to plug my book,” Nader admits. Then he proceeds to tell Bill: “Unlike you, I can chew gum and walk at the same time.”O’Reilly then accuses Nader of dodging issues. Nader gets Bill to admit, “I was wrong about Iraq.”"
- Ralph Nader Owns Bill O’Reilly: I Can Chew Gum And Walk at the Same Time, Unlike You! « Dandelion Salad (view on Google Sidewiki)

KBR Improperly Billed Security Services, Senator McCaskill Says

Excecutives of this company should be going to jail. They ran amok during the Bush years. And lets not forget, KBR was a subsidiary of Halliburton. Which was run by Dick Cheney.

in reference to:

"KBR Inc., the largest contractor in Iraq and Afghanistan, improperly billed the Pentagon and was paid about $103 million for armed security guard services, according to a U.S. senator. The Pentagon has recovered $42 million of the payments Senator Claire McCaskill, a Missouri Democrat who is chairman of a contracting oversight panel, wrote Nov. 6 to Defense Secretary Robert Gates. McCaskill said she was concerned “the Department is not moving quickly enough to recover the remaining $61 million” and asked Gates for a status report by Dec. 1 of repayment efforts. The billings were part of the company’s $34 billion contract to provide housing, food, laundry, mail delivery and fuel. The Defense Contract Audit Agency first identified the billings in August 2007. McCaskill said the failure to recover all the money by now “raises questions about the sufficiency” of Pentagon efforts “to recover disapproved costs on other contracts.” The Pentagon audit agency “believes the entire amount should be repaid,” because the contract “specifically prohibits” contractors billing the Pentagon for armed security guards, said DCAA spokesman Navy Lieutenant Commander Darryn James in an e-mail."
- KBR Improperly Billed Security Services, Senator McCaskill Says - Bloomberg.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Afghanistan's future threatened by ex-warlords

The answer is what worked in Bosnia, and even in the U.S., federalism. This will ensure the support of the warlords against the Taliban. It will also pave the way for Democracy. Current Vice President, Joe Biden, offered it as solution for Iraq. Unfortunately, there is no leadership in Washington. They don't think things through. It's always about what's popular or helps politicians to get themselves reelected or line their pockets.

in reference to:

"Warlords helped drive the Russians from Afghanistan, then shelled Kabul into ruins in a bloody civil war after the Soviets left.Now they are back in positions of power, in part because the U.S. relied on them in 2001 to help oust the Taliban after the Sept. 11 attacks. President Hamid Karzai later reached out to them to shore up his own power base as America turned its attention to Iraq after the Taliban's route.With the Taliban resurging, the entrenched power of the warlords is complicating Karzai's promises to rid his new government of corruption and cronies, steps seen as critical to building support among Afghans against the insurgents."
- Afghan future threatened by ex-warlords - South and Central Asia- msnbc.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Lots of Cash Has been Raised for Rep. Stephen Buyer's Scholarship Foundation, but So Far No Scholarships Have been Awarded

This is a complete outrage. And guess what? Nothing will happen to this scum. People are in Congress just line their pockets. They are for sale to the lobbyists in Washington.

in reference to:

"After repeated requests, Congressman Stephen Buyer finally agreed to sit down for a brief interview with CBS News Investigative Correspondent Sharyl Attkisson. The subject: a small non-profit he founded in 2003. Who's paying for it and what are they getting in return? Sharyl Attkisson: Where did the $25,000 to start the foundation come from? Rep. Stephen Buyer: You know what? I was asked that question and I don't recall. Attkisson: How can you not know where the $25,000 came from? Buyer: I don't. Serious. I don't recall. In fact, six years after the Frontier Foundation started, it's collected more than $800,000. Yet it hasn't spent a penny on scholarships. It can be difficult to know where Buyer's re-election campaign ends and his Frontier Foundation begins. His campaign and Foundation shared office space. Until August, his campaign manager also ran his Foundation - inviting select donors to golf outings with Buyer at posh resorts. When nobody from the Frontier Foundation returned our calls, we went to the address listed on their tax forms in Monticello, Indiana and found an empty office."
- Can a Donation Buy Legislation? (view on Google Sidewiki)

5 men charged with sex crimes against children

How many times does this have to happen before we learn to protect children. The first step is too have regular exams of minors (including mental). In addition, we must require children be accounted for. Each child must be accounted for in our society. There must be a mechanism for requiring every adult provide proof of everyone under their roof. For example, a landlord must verify that a child is in fact related to the occupant. Additionally, police should require proof that a minor not in school has a good reason for not being in school. Schools should also help in accounting for every child in the school; especially after they stop attending.

in reference to:

"Five members of a family are charged in Missouri with sex crimes against children, including allegations of bestiality and forcing an 11-year-old to have an abortion.The five men arrested Tuesday are charged with several felonies, including forcible sodomy, rape with a child less than 12 years old and use of a child in a sexual performance.A probable cause statement in the case says a child was forced to have sex with a dog and another had an abortion at age 11.That victim came to the authorities in mid-August, telling investigators she had suppressed memories of the abuse. The probable cause statement says other children corroborated the claims of abuse by all five men.The statement says victims were forced to take part in fake marriage ceremonies with several of their relatives."
- The Associated Press: 5 men charged with sex crimes against children (view on Google Sidewiki)

Jon Stewart Catches Sean Hannity Using Beck Protest Video

The right got caught in another fraud. This kind of deceit is pathological. They think we are all morons. Are we? How is that the teabaggers/FOX/Limbaugh/Republicans keep getting away with this kind deception? Why did it take Jon Stewart to expose? Where is the rest of the media?

in reference to:

"Jon Stewart and his Daily Show crew happened to notice something a little strange about video Fox News' Sean Hannity used to illustrate an interview with Rep. Michele Bachmann about last week's Capitol Hill health-care protest by conservatives. As Stewart points out, some of the video Hannity used appears not to have been recorded at last week's event but in September when a far larger crowd of Tea Partiers converged on the nation's capital. Interesting..."
- Jon Stewart Catches Sean Hannity Using Beck Protest Video - The Two-Way - Breaking News, Analysis Blog : NPR (view on Google Sidewiki)

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Sean Hannity Uses Glenn Beck's Protest Footage
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

Charles Gibson: ‘I Worry About the Lack of Objectivity’ in News Business

Some candid thoughts from a member of the mainstream media. He's right. What's going in the "new business" is not good for America. We need variety of perspectives in news. But, what we have is less. All the result of media concentration. A smaller number of corporations have greater control over what we read and see. The exception being the Internet (blogs, internet, etc.)

in reference to:

"World News anchor Charles Gibson admitted on Tuesday, "I worry about the lack of objectivity and the future of the news business." According to the Boston Herald, the ABC host spoke before the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and said of Fox News and MSNBC: "I don’t like the fact that they’re delivering news based on the conviction of its viewers." He also derided some viewers who "watch news that plays to their own prejudices." With no sense of irony, Gibson attacked Republicans for being obstructionist on health care: "It’s not being very productive to have an opposition party that simply says, ‘We are going to fight the president no matter what on health-care reform. We are not going to give you a single vote and we are going to march in lock step against you." He added that this is "not good for the country.""
- ABC’s Charles Gibson Admits: ‘I Worry About the Lack of Objectivity’ in News Business | NewsBusters.org (view on Google Sidewiki)

Kimberly Munley: Heroine of Fort Hood

She should get the Medal of Honor. Start writing your Congressperson.

in reference to:

"The first picture has been published of Kimberly Munley since she shot the gunman blamed for the Fort Hood killings.The civilian police officer was wounded in the exchange of fire with Major Nidal Malik Hasan. She is shown in the picture with the US defence secretary, Robert Gates.Munley is credited with stopping the shooting rampage that killed 13 people at the Texas base. She is to appear in an exclusive interview on the Oprah Winfrey show today, according to the show's website.The 34-year-old lost a lot of blood after one shot hit an artery in her left leg, doctors have said. She was taken into surgery within minutes of arriving at Metroplex Adventist hospital in Killeen."
- Blaze of publicity for Kimberly Munley, police heroine of Fort Hood | World news | guardian.co.uk (view on Google Sidewiki)

Term Limits Discussed on Dylan Ratigan

A brief discussion on term limits for the Congress on Morning Meeting with Dylan Ratigan. Two panelists debated the merits. The question arose on the issue of revolving door and lack of expertise. Term limits is not a panacea. You have to have term limits along with getting rid of lobbyists. No one debates whether limits were a good thing with the Presidency. Lack of term limits is one of the main reasons we have a corrupt and ineffectual Congress.

- Discuss this post and any other at the Rebeller Forum

Report: Blackwater OK'd $1M plan to pay off Iraqis

This is a major scandal that requires a major and public investigation into Blackwater. And we need to learn the previous administrations involvement with this organization.

in reference to:

"Former top executives at Blackwater Worldwide say the U.S. security contractor sent about $1 million to its Iraq office with the intention of paying off officials in the country who were angry about the fatal shootings of 17 civilians by Blackwater employees, The New York Times reported Tuesday. Four former executives described the plan under the condition of anonymity, the newspaper said. Iraqis had long complained about ground operations by the North Carolina-based company, now known as Xe Corp. Then the shooting by Blackwater guards in Baghdad's Nisoor Square in September 2007 left 17 civilians dead, further strained relations between Baghdad and Washington and led U.S. prosecutors to bring charges against the Blackwater contractors involved. The State Department has since turned to DynCorp and another private security firm, Triple Canopy, to handle diplomatic protective services in the country. But Xe continues to provide security for diplomats in other nations, most notably in Afghanistan. The former executives told the Times that the payments were approved by the company's then-president, Gary Jackson. They did not know if he came up with the idea."
- Report: Blackwater OK'd $1M plan to pay off Iraqis - USATODAY.com (view on Google Sidewiki)