Video: Barbara Walters to Sarah Palin: "You have a way with Words"

Along with "you betcha," add another phrase to the growing list of Sarah Palinisms: "back assward."

Barack Obama rewards big donors with plum jobs overseas

Business as usual. Obama is indebted for all that money he raised. Running for office has become a pact with the devil. They are owned before ever entering office. All that talk about "change" was typical empty rhetoric.

in reference to:

"He may have promised to change Washington, but President Barack Obama is continuing one of its most renowned patronage traditions: bestowing prized ambassadorships on big donors. Of the nearly 80 ambassadorship nominations or confirmations since Obama’s Inauguration, 56 percent were given to political appointees and 44 percent have gone to career diplomats, according to records kept by the American Foreign Service Association. The latest nomination came this week, when Beatrice Wilkinson Welters was nominated to serve as ambassador to the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. Welters, a longtime advocate for underprivileged children, and her husband, Anthony, an executive with UnitedHealth Group, generated between $200,000 and $500,000 in donations to Obama’s presidential campaign and an additional $100,000 for his Inauguration, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan group that tracks political giving."
- Barack Obama rewards big donors with plum jobs overseas - Jeanne Cummings - POLITICO.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Computer Glitch Plagues East Coast Planes

This is scary. And don't trust the government to figure out what's going on. You have to wonder whether it's cyberterror related.

in reference to:

"According to the FAA and air traffic controllers, a flight system developed a problem at around 6 a.m. which is affecting the computer system which processes flight plans electronically, reports CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes. This system is located in Atlanta and generates the flight plans for all flights on the East Coast. The backup system is in Salt Lake City. Controllers in the congested New York area are putting about 20 miles between planes in the air instead of the typical 8 miles, to create extra safety buffers, Cordes reports."
- Computer Glitch Plagues East Coast Planes - CBS News (view on Google Sidewiki)

Byrd becomes longest-serving member of Congress

He is poster child for term limits. He started out as a racist then changed his spots in order to survive politically. He became Mr. Pork because of his long tenure in the Senate. Meanwhile, West Virginia ranks 49th among states in per capita income.

in reference to:

"West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd has been around so long that nearly all lawmakers in Congress can remember reasons they love him - and many can recall how they once bitterly opposed him.The veteran Democrat on Wednesday became the longest-serving member of Congress in history, as he logged day No. 20,774, surpassing the record of Arizona Democrat Carl Hayden, who served in the House of Representatives and the Senate from 1912 to 1969.As the senior senator, Byrd, who will turn 92 on Friday, is the Senate president pro tempore and third in line for the presidency. Although he's been ailing lately and missed most votes this year, he's been back in recent weeks. He was the floor manager for this year's homeland security spending bill, and he heard tributes Wednesday from his colleagues.His legacy, scholars say, is that of a lawmaker who changed with the times. A youthful Ku Klux Klan member, Byrd fought and eventually voted against the landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act, as well as against the confirmation of Thurgood Marshall as the first black Supreme Court justice in 1967."
- Byrd becomes longest-serving member of Congress - Sacramento Politics - California Politics | Sacramento Bee (view on Google Sidewiki)

S.C. Panel Finds Governor Should Face Ethics Charges

Let's see if South Carolina enforces the law. Or whether political clout wins the day.

in reference to:

"A South Carolina ethics panel said Wednesday that Gov. Mark Sanford should face charges he violated state laws tied to a three-month investigation into his travel and campaign finances. The State Ethics Commission did not provide details of its decision or the specific charges Sanford would face during a hearing of the panel early next year. Officials said those details — which should include whether the accusations involve civil or criminal allegations — will be released next week. The commission found probable cause exists on several allegations."
- S.C. Panel Finds Governor Should Face Ethics Charges : NPR (view on Google Sidewiki)

Nelson: I'm Comfortable Being Lone Democrat To Derail Reform

Nelson: I'm Comfortable Being Lone Democrat To Derail Reform

One of the key moderate Senate Democrats, Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) said on Wednesday that he was pleased with the changes party leadership had made to its version of health care legislation, specifically on matters of deficit reduction. But the Nebraska Democrat, whose vote has been elusive to pin down so far, said he would be comfortable being the lone Democrat to prevent the bill from passing a Republican filibuster.

"I'm very comfortable having my vote, whatever it is, whichever way it goes," Nelson said, in response to a question from the Huffington Post. "I've said that from the beginning. There are other ways. I just have to make a decision based on what I think is best for the people of Nebraska and the people of our country. And then we will let the chips fall wherever they fall."

Afghans say poverty, not Taliban, main cause of war

This is the story for just about every place there is war. The fools in Washington don't understand this. That is why they send American troops to die around the world to cure the world's problems when they should be sending books and building schools.

in reference to:

"Most Afghans see not Taliban militants but poverty, unemployment and government corruption as the main causes of war in their country, according to a report by a leading aid group released on Wednesday. After three decades of war, Afghanistan remains one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world. It is also one of the most corrupt. Unemployment stands at 40 percent and more than half the country live below the poverty line. On top of that, violence is at its highest levels since U.S.-backed Afghan forces toppled the Taliban in late 2001. The report, based on a survey of more than 700 ordinary Afghans by British charity Oxfam and several local aid groups, found that 70 percent of people questioned viewed poverty and unemployment as the main drivers of the conflict. Nearly half of those surveyed said corruption and the ineffectiveness of their government were the main reasons for the continued fighting, while 36 percent said the Taliban insurgency was to blame. The 704 respondents from around the country were allowed to give multiple answers on reasons for the conflict. "The people of Afghanistan have suffered 30 years of unrelenting horror. Afghan society has been devastated," said Grace Ommer, Oxfam Country Director for Afghanistan."
- Afghans say poverty, not Taliban, main cause of war - Yahoo! News (view on Google Sidewiki)

"Pink Slips for Congress" Campaign Hits Dem and GOP Offices

Are you angry? Then do something about it. Don't be fooled by conspiracy theorists, like WorldNetDaily and the teabaggers. They are just trying to make money. You can solve the problem all by yourself. Here's how: impose a term limit on members of Congress. Any member of the House whose been in office more than 8 years (or 4 terms), and any Senator who's been in office 12 years (2 terms), vote them out in the next election. And you don't have to vote support someone from another party. Just vote them out in the primaries or general elections. Most people who in are Congress get re-elected every 2 or 6 years regardless of whether they do a good job or not. So it's up to you.

in reference to:

"A conservative Web site announced yesterday it has sent millions of "pink slips" to members of Congress, conveying citizens' dissatisfaction with certain legislative activity and the country's current anti-incumbent mood. Conservative site WorldNetDaily is running a campaign to send members of Congress a "pink slip" warning that if they vote for "government health care," "cap and trade," "hate crimes," or "any more spending," their "real pink slip will be issued in the next election." Since September, WorldNetDaily has offered to send pink slips to all 535 members of Congress on behalf of readers for a price of $29.95. The organizers of the campaign held a press conference on Tuesday to announce that it had sent out 5 million pink slips. The press conference, held on Capitol Hill, was attended by Republican politicians including Reps. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), Steve King (R-Iowa) and Trent Franks (R-Ariz.)."
- "Pink Slips for Congress" Campaign Hits Dem and GOP Offices - Political Hotsheet - CBS News (view on Google Sidewiki)

More than $98 billion in improper gov't payments

What are you going to do about? The government doesn't care because they know they won't be held accountable. And don't be fooled by all those small government talk from Republicans. They waste money just as well as Democrats.

in reference to:

"More than $98 billion in taxpayer dollars spent by government agencies was wasted, much of it on questionable claims for tax credits and Medicare benefits, representing an increase of $26 billion from the previous year. In all, about 5 percent of spending in federal programs in fiscal year 2009 was improper, according to new details of a government financial report that were released Tuesday. Saying the overall error rate was similar in 2008, officials attributed the $26 billion jump to some changes in how to define improper spending as well as an increase in overall spending due to the recession. President Barack Obama is expected to sign an executive order within the next week aimed at cracking down on government waste and fraud, particularly in Medicare and other benefit programs. In the 2009 report, the government officially reported questionable Medicare payments of roughly $36 billion, but that amount will be revised upward to about $48 billion next year as the Health and Human Services Department fully converts to a new methodology that imposes stricter documentation requirements."
- More than $98 billion in improper gov't payments - Yahoo! News (view on Google Sidewiki)

Transcript: 'Countdown' with Keith Olbermann (11-17-09)

Here's the complete transcript for Keith Olbermann's 'Countdown' program (11-17-09):

OLBERMANN: Have you decided yet whether you`ll vote for the health care reform bill?

WYDEN: I haven`t and it hasn`t been written. We haven`t seen it. And I`ll just tell you, I`m not going to vote for anything that doesn`t protect the typical consumer. I want the typical consumer to be able to say to their insurance company, "I`m giving you an ultimatum. If you don`t treat me right, I`m taking my business elsewhere." These bills don`t do that and they have to.

OLBERMANN: Your colleague, Senator Carper, claimed tonight that conservative Democrats are not likely to support a public option. You don`t know whether or not you`ll vote for a bill without a public option, because you don`t know what the bill looks like. When the majority whip, Mr. Durbin, says, as he did last night, he`s struggling to find 60 votes. His biggest problem there -- is it the conservative members of the caucus or is it the progressive members of the caucus?

WYDEN: I think what Democrats are saying is, we`ve got to have a bill that works for the typical American, not special interest. That means choice. It means competition.

You look, for example, what the House of Representatives did. They came up with a public option that has 6 million people in it. And they`re going to be mostly folks who`ve been sick and haven`t had coverage.

I look -- today, United Healthcare has 70 million subscribers. Now, how in the world are you going to hold the United Health people accountable with 6 million subscribers? United Health is not going exactly be quaking in their boots over that. And I want real choice and real competition because that`s how you hold the insurance industry accountable.

OLBERMANN: Senator Carper says he doesn`t even like the opt-out because it would be government-funded. So, he`s floated yet another compromise that would be a federal entity run by the government that would negotiate rates with providers based on affordability standards in the states. That`s, I guess, in essence, a trigger option without a delay. What`s your reaction to this latest of the 3,000 proposals?

WYDEN: What concerns many is you could come up with a very small pool of individuals and, again, not get a good deal for the consumer and not be in a position to take the insurance companies on. I mean, the reason members of Congress do well is we`re parts of big pools, Keith. We`ve got low administrative costs. The insurance companies can`t cherry-pick. They can`t discriminate against a member of Congress.

So, I`m not for this opt-out approaches that just reduce the size of the pool because it`s going to be even harder to get competition and choice.

Obama: Too much debt could fuel double-dip recession

But you're not helping things, Barack. Monstrous debt and deficits have been strangling the economy for some time and created the conditions that almost led to a depression. And if you want to do something about the economy, stop the outsourcing of our economy to China. We almost become a colony of the Mainland. We are at the mercy of a regime that still calls itself "Communist." You cannot have real economic growth without having industries.

in reference to:

"President Barack Obama gave his sternest warning yet about the need to contain rising U.S. deficits, saying on Wednesday that if government debt were to pile up too much, it could lead to a double-dip recession. With the U.S. unemployment rate at 10.2 percent, Obama told Fox News his administration faces a delicate balance of trying to boost the economy and spur job creation while putting the economy on a path toward long-term deficit reduction. His administration was considering ways to accelerate economic growth, with tax measures among the options to give companies incentives to hire, Obama said in the interview with Fox conducted in Beijing during his nine-day trip to Asia."
- UPDATE 1-Obama: Too much debt could fuel double-dip recession | Reuters (view on Google Sidewiki)

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.

Hunger in U.S. at a 14-year High

And won't get any better any time soon. But at least Wall St. is doing well, again. With our money. The CEOs are getting record bonuses. At the very least those fat cats could open soup kitchens.

in reference to:

"The number of Americans who lacked reliable access to sufficient food shot up last year to its highest point since the government began surveying in 1995, the Agriculture Department reported on Monday. In its annual report on hunger, the department said that 17 million American households, or 14.6 percent of the total, “had difficulty putting enough food on the table at times during the year.” That was an increase from 13 million households, or 11.1 percent, the previous year."
- NYT: Hunger in U.S. at a 14-year high - The New York Times- msnbc.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Sarah Palin tells Oprah 2012 run not on Radar

She might run for dog catcher.

in reference to:

"When asked about her plans for 2012, Palin said that a presidential run in two years is “not on my radar screen right now.” “I am dealing with so many issues that are important to me,” she said. “What I am seeing every day is that you don’t need a title to be important.” Palin – who resigned as governor of Alaska in June – said that she left office “because I wasn’t going to run for a second term” and that she felt she had already become a “lame duck.” “My dad’s quote sums it up: ‘She’s not retreating, she’s reloading,’” Palin said of her decision. Looking back on her run for vice president with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the GOP’s presidential nominee, Palin said the pair lost because “our ticket represented what was perceived as the status quo.” “I wasn’t to blame for losing the race, just like I wouldn’t have gotten credit for winning the race,” Palin said. Palin said she did not take early speculation that she would be McCain’s vice presidential choice “too seriously” because “there were the other names that were really being considered much more seriously.”"
- Sarah Palin tells Oprah 2012 run not on radar - Andy Barr - POLITICO.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

NC searchers find body of missing 5-year-old girl

Another beautiful child found murdered. And again the system failed this child. How could this "mother" get to the point where she would sell her daughter for sex and no one notice. There should have been alarms. This animal of a parent should have been exposed early on. And Shaniya would still be alive.

in reference to:

"For a week, authorities feverishly searched for a 5-year-old girl across central North Carolina, only to find her body Monday off a rural road following accusations the girl's mother offered her for sex. The investigation into the disappearance of Shaniya Davis yielded the arrest of her mother and two other men, though one man was later released. Searchers found Shaniya dumped into the woods 30 miles from her hometown of Fayetteville. Hundreds of volunteers hoping to find her alive left the site of the search dejected, unable to bring Shaniya home to an emotional father, her 7-year-old brother and the dolls she loved to play with."
- NC searchers find body of missing 5-year-old girl - Yahoo! News (view on Google Sidewiki)

Transcript: Obama in China Town Hall Meeting with Chinese Students

Read the complete transcript of President Obama's town hall meeting with Chinese students in Shanghai:

Q: I want to pose a question from the Internet. I want to thank you, Mr. President, for visiting China in your first year in office, and exchange views with us in China. I want to know what are you bringing to China, your visit to China this time, and what will you bring back to the United States? (Applause.)

PRESIDENT OBAMA: The main purpose of my trip is to deepen my understanding of China and its vision for the future. I have had several meetings now with President Hu. We participated together in the G20 that was dealing with the economic financial crisis. We have had consultations about a wide range of issues. But I think it's very important for the United States to continually deepen its understanding of China, just as it's important for China to continually deepen its understanding of the United States.

In terms of what I'd like to get out of this meeting, or this visit, in addition to having the wonderful opportunity to see the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, and to meet with all of you -- these are all highlights -- but in addition to that, the discussions that I intend to have with President Hu speak to the point that Ambassador Huntsman made earlier, which is there are very few global challenges that can be solved unless the United States and China agree.

So let me give you a specific example, and that is the issue we were just discussing of climate change. The United States and China are the world's two largest emitters of greenhouse gases, of carbon that is causing the planet to warm. Now, the United States, as a highly developed country, as I said before, per capita, consumes much more energy and emits much more greenhouse gases for each individual than does China. On the other hand, China is growing at a much faster pace and it has a much larger population. So unless both of our countries are willing to take critical steps in dealing with this issue, we will not be able to resolve it.

There's going to be a Copenhagen conference in December in which world leaders are trying to find a recipe so that we can all make commitments that are differentiated so each country would not have the same obligations -- obviously China, which has much more poverty, should not have to do exactly the same thing as the United States -- but all of us should have these certain obligations in terms of what our plan will be to reduce these greenhouse gases.

So that's an example of what I hope to get out of this meeting -- a meeting of the minds between myself and President Hu about how together the United States and China can show leadership. Because I will tell you, other countries around the world will be waiting for us. They will watch to see what we do. And if they say, ah, you know, the United States and China, they're not serious about this, then they won't be serious either. That is the burden of leadership that both of our countries now carry. And my hope is, is that the more discussion and dialogue that we have, the more we are able to show this leadership to the world on these many critical issues. Okay? (Applause.)

All right, it's a -- I think it must be a boy's turn now. Right? So I'll call on this young man right here.