Richmond Gang Rape 911 Caller Speaks: Margarita Vargas Heard About Attack, Reported It

This young lady deserves a medal or financial reward (crimestoppers-type). At the very least law enforcement should provide protection for her to prevent retaliation.

in reference to:

"A 15-year-old girl who was raped, robbed and beaten by multiple attackers outside of her high school homecoming dance was found by police after 18-year-old Margarita Vargas, undaunted by pressure to keep quiet, called 911. Vargas called police after her brother-in-law told her about an attack at Richmond High School in Richmond, Calif. CBS: "I was watching a movie, and my brother-in-law came in and he told me 'I don't know what to do, because there is a girl back there and she has been raped. I'm scared,'" 18-year-old Margarita Vargas said. "I'm like 'We should call the cops because that's the right thing to do.' I didn't think about it twice." Relaying what she knew, Vargas called police without even witnessing the crime. She arrived after police and saw the victim being taken away. Vargas told CNN that she was proud of herself. Referring to a culture of silence, Vargas told CNN that there's a common saying around Richmond "snitches get stitches.""
- Richmond Gang Rape 911 Caller Speaks: Margarita Vargas Heard About Attack, Reported It (view on Google Sidewiki)

New Video on Madeleine McCann Case

This video on the Madeleine McCann was released recently. It is my view that the parents are responsible for the child's death. The result of an accidental overdosing of Madeleine to keep her asleep while the couple dined out. Watch this earlier video (here) and see the obvious guilty giveaway when the father grabs his ear after being asked a question.

Examiner:
"Madeleine McCann has been missing since May of 2007 but her parents are still fighting for answers. The McCann family is preparing a new round of interviews aimed at renewing interest in the search of their daughter Madeleine.

The McCann's said they were encouraged by the Jaycee Dugard story. Dugard was recently found after being kidnapped from California 18 years ago.

Madeleine McCann was taken from her hotel room in Portugal as her parents, Kate and Gerry had dinner in the resorts restaurant. The McCann's were once considered suspects in the case but no evidence linked them to their daughters disappearance. The case is now considered a kidnapping.

Kate McCann is hopeful that a new round of tv exposure will remind people of Madeleine and some one will come forward with new information. Kate McCann has one simple message to anyone who might have information on the disappearance of her daughter. "If you stay quiet you are as guilty as those who took her."'

Transcript: 'This Week' (11-8-09): General George Casey

"'This Week' Transcript with Chief of Staff of the Army General George Casey, RNC Chairman Michael Steele and DNC Chairman Tim Kaine." Excerpt below:

STEPHANOPOULOS: And let me begin by offering our condolences to you and all of the families at Fort Hood. I know you just returned...

CASEY: Thank you very much.

STEPHANOPOULOS: ... from there. And you were able to spend some time with the wounded. What were you able to learn about what they saw and what they did when the shooting broke out?

CASEY: I'll tell you that my trip there on Friday with secretary of the army, John McHugh, was at once gut-wrenching and uplifting. And in talking to the wounded soldiers and in talking to the medical providers and soldiers who are at the site, I came away with what a horrific experience it was for them.

But also I was uplifted by the -- by what they did for each other. And when you talk to the wounded soldiers, the one thing that they all stress was how -- was their reaction, and their reaction in support of each other.

STEPHANOPOULOS: It was immediate.

CASEY: It was immediate. And just stories like medics who were next -- in another building next door at a graduation, their graduation, running from the building toward the crime scene in their caps and gowns, ripping them off as they went so they could get there to support their fellow soldiers.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Let's also get to the latest on the investigation. It's my understanding that Army investigators have concluded that Major Hasan was the only gunman?

CASEY: That is where they are now. But I don't -- I mean, I don't -- I think as the investigation continues, other things could evolve. But I think that is where they are today.

STEPHANOPOULOS: So you believe it was the only gunman right -- at least for right now, not conclusive, are you confident that he acted alone, that there were no other co-conspirators?

CASEY: George, I can't comment on the ongoing investigation. And those facts will come out over time here. We need to let the investigation take its course. And as I said, that will evolve over the coming days and weeks here.

STEPHANOPOULOS: But do you have any better understanding of why the first reports suggested there were two or three attackers?

CASEY: My understanding from being down there and talking to the investigators and General Cone was there were two or three soldiers that were seen running from the area, and people assumed that they were running from the police. And they just checked them out and have since decided that they weren't part of this.

Transcript: 'Face The Nation' (11-8-09)

Senators Lindsey Graham and Jack Reed appeared on Face The Nation. Read the complete transcript. Excerpt below:

REED: I believe we’re going to pass health care reform. I believe we must do this because it’s essential to not just the quality of life, here, but our economic success in the future.

Senator Reid, Harry Reid , has introduced a public option. There’s strong support there. But we are far from the end of the debate in the Senate. It will take time. It will be careful, thorough and deliberate. I hope that a public option is part of the final bill.

SCHIEFFER: But, candidly, right now, you don’t have the votes in the Senate for that. Am I not correct in saying that?

REED: I think there’s a discussion about, as Senator Snowe suggested, a trigger to the public option. Senator Reid has suggested an opt-out by the states. There is a debate, or an active debate, about how the public option might come about.

But, overwhelming, 60 percent of the American public want a public option. And I think we should be listening to them as much as listening to ourselves.

SCHIEFFER: Well, let’s get the take from Senator Graham. Senator Graham, your friend the independent Democrat Joe Lieberman, on this broadcast last Sunday, said no health care reform legislation is better than health care reform with the public option.

Where do you think this is going in the Senate?

GRAHAM: Well, let’s start with the House bill. The House bill is dead on arrival in the Senate. Just look at how it passed. It passed 220-215. It passed by two votes. You had 40 -- 39 Democrats vote against the bill. They come from red states, moderate Democrats from swing districts.

They bailed out on this bill. It was a bill written by liberals for liberals. And people like Joe Lieberman are not going to get anywhere near the House bill. It cuts Medicare about $500 billion. It’s over $1 trillion in new spending. It does have the public option. So the House bill is a non-starter in the Senate.

SCHIEFFER: Senator Lieberman also said, on that, that, if it came to filibustering to keep that bill from passing in the Senate, he’d join in that. Would you also be planning to do that if it looks like the public option thing’s going to pass? GRAHAM: And let me tell you why Joe feels that way and I do. I think the public option will destroy private health care. Nobody in this country in the insurance business can compete with a government- sponsored plan, where the government writes the benefits and politicians will never raise the premiums. It will be a death blow to private choice.

And all of these bills depend on reducing Medicare $400 to $500 billion over 10 years. Seniors are not going to like that. That’s unnecessary. So I just think the construct out of the House and what exists in the Senate is not going to pass. And I hope and pray it doesn’t because it would be a disaster for the economy and health care.

Transcript: 'FOX News Sunday' (11-8-09)

Senator Joe Lieberman appeared on FOX News Sunday. Read the complete Transcript. Excerpt below:

WALLACE: Congressman Van Hollen, what’s the message from the vote last night? The House, for the first time in history, passing a major overhaul of health care reform, but with only one Republican voting for it and 39 Democrats voting against it?

VAN HOLLEN: Well, the message was clear. It’s time to begin to fix what has been a broken health care system for millions of Americans. Between the year 2000 and 2008, we saw premiums double for Americans during that period of time.

Insurance company profits were over 400 percent. So we’ve had a great system for insurance companies. They get to say no to you based on your pre-existing condition. They get to dig into the fine print of your insurance policy when you need it the most and say you’re not covered. They’ve enjoyed an antitrust exemption that we eliminated.

So this is a message to the American people. It’s time to bring down your costs, which will allow more people to afford health insurance.

WALLACE: Congressman Pence, what’s the message from last night? And what about those Democrats from conservative districts who ended up voting for the bill? Are you going to make them pay in the next election?

PENCE: Well, Chris, I think the message from last night is that the Democrats didn’t get the message in August or last Tuesday.

I think from this past summer we saw the American people express overwhelming opposition to a government takeover of health care. They attended town hall meetings, rallies across the country, and then this last Tuesday.

I mean, the historic reversals that Democrats saw in just 12 months in New Jersey and Virginia, again, was an effort by the American people to send a message to this party that they’re tired of the borrowing, the spending, the bailouts, the takeovers.

But last night on a narrow partisan vote the Democrats put their liberal, big government agenda ahead of the American people.

WALLACE: So are you going to go after those conservative Democrats, moderate Democrats, in Republican-leaning districts who voted for this bill?

PENCE: Well, look. I don’t -- I don’t know if it’s about -- I think the American people are deeply frustrated with a liberal establishment in Washington, D.C. that is ignoring their will.

Nancy Pelosi last night said that they were answering the call of history. Well, I -- I’ve got to tell you, if Democrats keep ignoring the American people, their party’s going to be history in about a year.

WALLACE: Congressman Van Hollen, I’d like you, first of all, to respond to that, but also -- yes, you did pass a bill, but the Senate is considering a very different bill, with a very different public option, and very different taxes -- a number of measures.

So how much have you really moved the process forward?

VAN HOLLEN: Well, first, just in response, the message from the last election was loud and clear. The American people were tired of us pushing big issues under the rug, not dealing with the major challenges...

WALLACE: You’re talking about 2008 or 2009?

VAN HOLLEN: I’m talking about 2008 election, the 2008 elections, when President Obama and the larger majority went into Congress. You know, with all due respect to Mike and his party, when President Bush -- and they had a lock on the Congress.

They did nothing about these issues, these rising costs, the fact that insurance companies could essentially abuse consumers. They did nothing about it.

And people back in 2008 said it’s time to step up on some of these issues. And that’s what we did last night.

And I would point out that in terms of the elections last Tuesday, there were only two races in the country where what we’re doing in Congress at the federal level was at the center of debate, and those were the two congressional races. Both members of Congress won. Both of them voted yes last night on health care reform, so...

Video: Warship Built from Twin Towers’ Remains

MSNBC Video: Warship Built from Twin Towers’ Remains

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Health Care Passes House

The Republican lies and distortions failed. The Senate should also likely pass similar reforms.

in reference to:

"In a victory for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House narrowly passed landmark health care legislation Saturday night to expand coverage to tens of millions who lack it and place tough new restrictions on the insurance industry. Republican opposition was nearly unanimous. The 220-215 vote cleared the way for the Senate to begin debate on the issue that has come to overshadow all others in Congress. A triumphant Speaker Nancy Pelosi likened the legislation to the passage of Social Security in 1935 and Medicare 30 years later. "It provides coverage for 96 percent of Americans. It offers everyone, regardless of health or income, the peace of mind that comes from knowing they will have access to affordable health care when they need it," said Rep. John Dingell, the 83-year-old Michigan lawmaker who has introduced national health insurance in every Congress since succeeding his father in 1955."
- Health Care Passes House (view on Google Sidewiki)

Republican Uses Baby As Prop During Anti-Health Reform Speech

This video shows Republican John Shadegg using a baby as prop to make his lame argument as health care reform. This is what the bankrupt Republican party has stooped to.

in reference to:

"Republican Uses Baby As Prop During Anti-Health Reform Speech"
- YouTube - Republican Uses Baby As Prop During Anti-Health Reform Speech (view on Google Sidewiki)

Video: Man Drives Car into Courthouse

This video clearly shows a man casually driving his car into a courthouse, as if it were a parking lot. Was he drunk? Is he rebelling against the criminal justice system? Who knows. When asked he basically says: because it was there.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

House poised to pass historic health care bill

So much for the Democratic majority. Its all the same. Change is just a word to get elected.

in reference to:

"House poised to pass historic health care bill"
- House poised to pass historic health care bill - Yahoo! News (view on Google Sidewiki)

Police report says wrong-way driver a pot smoker

You still think marijuana is not dangerous?

in reference to:

"New York State Police investigators said in a written report that a woman who killed seven people plus herself in a crash on the Taconic State Parkway was a regular marijuana user.The report says Diane Schuler's husband told police his wife "smoked marijuana once in a while to relieve the stress of work and the kids."Schuler's sister-in-law told police she "didn't believe in medicine and used marijuana to relax," usually smoking after her children went to bed."
- Police report says wrong-way driver a pot smoker - KansasCity.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Video: Teen charged in brutal beating death of nun

What do you say about a society in where priests and nuns are murdered, especially by the young. It would seem that all decency has been lost. It had been a taboo in our society that you don't rob and murder religious people. Even by worst elements in the criminal world. Not anymore. We're behaving like a third world nation.

in reference to:

"Teen charged in brutal beating death of nun"
- Teen charged in brutal beating death of nun - USATODAY.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Survey: only 1/3 of Adults able to get H1N1 vaccine

Shouldn't be happening. Its ironic we're debating health care reform, and millions of Americans are not getting needed vaccines. Doesn't tell you something about the current system? Is this an argument for reform? But will the Democrats "reform" really fix the system?

in reference to:

"Only about a third of adults who have tried to get a swine flu vaccine have been able to get it, according to a national poll released Friday. That's true even for people who are at extra risk for severe complications and should be at the front of the line. The numbers are about the same for parents who tried to get the vaccine for their children, the Harvard School of Public Health poll found. Swine flu vaccine has been available in the United States for about a month, but supplies have been limited because of manufacturing delays. However, availability is picking up, said Dr. Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 38 million doses of swine flu vaccine are currently available, a one-week increase of about 11 million doses. Another 8 million doses are expected next week, she added."
- Survey: only 3rd able to get H1N1 vaccine - Washington Times (view on Google Sidewiki)

237 Millionaires in Congress

Politics is profitable. Just ask the Clintons and Rudolph Giuliani. You think you are electing public servants. The joke is on us. Our government is piggy bank for the powerful and well connected. And Congresspeople are part of that corrupt two party system. When they are not going to jail for illegal bribes and getting caught with hookers, they are busy taking legal bribes from big business. Especially after they leave office - if they leave. Oh, getting elected to Congress is basically a lifetime appointment.

in reference to:

"Even in tough times, it's good to be a lawmaker: According to a report released this week by the Center for Responsive Politics, there are 237 millionaires serving in Congress, according to 2008 figures. That's a slight decline from the previous year, when there were 239 millionaires in the House and Senate. But it still reflects the fact that the average lawmaker is far wealthier than his or her typical constituent. While about one percent of Americans are millionaires, 44 percent of those serving in Congress can claim as much. "The biggest takeaway from all of this is that even thought the collective wealth of members of congress appears to have declined, members of Congress are still so much more wealthy than the average American – and even more wealthy than a lot of wealthy Americans," CRP spokesman Dave Levinthal told Hotsheet."
- 237 Millionaires in Congress - Political Hotsheet - CBS News (view on Google Sidewiki)

Suspect in Orlando office shooting had money woes

You can't tell me this wasn't a copy-cat killing. One day after the Fort Hood killings. And once, easy access to guns made this possible. You combine a disgruntled person and guns, with a media that romanticizes mass murder, this is what happens. Killers are almost portrayed as somehow justified. They're in debt or they are being taunted. It almost makes it okay. When the media should be portraying these people as the weak cowards that they are.

in reference to:

"Suspect in Orlando office shooting had money woes"
- Suspect in Orlando office shooting had money woes (view on Google Sidewiki)

Tom Tancredo Walks Off MSNBC Set Because Of Markos Moulitas (VIDEO)

Shows you how tough Republicans are. They can dish it out but certainly can't take it. Although, it took a blogger to make a Republican politician cry uncle. Democrats haven't shown much of a stomach when it comes standing up to the tea bagging thugs.

in reference to:

"On MSNBC Friday night, David Shuster (filling in for Ed Shultz) addressed hateful signs at Thursday's Capitol Hill "House call" against health care reform. But the discussion escalated into a fight that led a Republican guest to walk off the set. Former Colorado congressman Tom Tancredo refused to criticize Republican leaders for participating in the event, saying there were equally offensive signs at anti-Bush rallies in the past. He said they should talk about the policy, not the signs. Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitas defended health care reform, pointing out that the military uses government-run health care. Tancredo said veterans complained about their health care and would much rather have a private choice. "Tom, I'm a veteran. Okay?" Moulitas responded. "I did not get a deferment because I was too depressed to fight a war I supported in Vietnam. I'm a veteran. They want a more effective V.A. ..." "You're not going to do that. You're not going to try to insult me that way and then pretend like we're just going on and talk about that. You either apologize ..." When Moulitas did not apologize, Tancredo simply took out his earpiece and walked away."
- Tom Tancredo Walks Off MSNBC Set Because Of Markos Moulitas (VIDEO) (view on Google Sidewiki)

Fort Hood: The Victims

Here is a list of the victims murdered at Fort Hood. There seems to be a unwillingness to call this what it is was - terrorism. The American people should demand an explanation as to how all the warnings were ignored. Yet again. Didn't we learn anything from 9-11?

in reference to:

"Fort Hood: The Victims"
- Fort Hood: The Victims - CBS News (view on Google Sidewiki)

If ‘They Stop, We’ll Stop,’ Murdoch Says of MSNBC-Fox Feud

Murdoch gave himself away. Now we know for a fact that FOX is run by a thug.

in reference to:

"Rupert Murdoch says News Corporation will resume its truce with General Electric — if MSNBC stops slinging mud at Mr. Murdoch’s Fox News Channel. Hector Mata/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Rupert Murdoch says Fox News will stop attacking MSNBC if the other channel stops its sniping as well. This contest needs a referee, stat. The two media companies reached a fragile pact to halt personal attacks between the two cable news channels earlier this year. Executives at both companies were said to be fed up with the vicious sniping between Keith Olbermann and Bill O’Reilly, the 8 p.m. hosts on MSNBC and Fox. The feud between those two men sparked a broader rivalry between the top-rated Fox News and the lower-rated MSNBC. After The New York Times reported on the attempts to ease tensions in August, the sniping resumed, but some executives at the companies are still seeking to keep the invective at a minimum. Asked about the feud on a conference call Wednesday, Mr. Murdoch pointed a finger at MSNBC, saying “we did not start this abuse.” But he said the fighting became “personal” and “finally we had to allow people to retaliate.” Then Mr. Murdoch proposed a peace treaty of sorts: “The moment they stop, we’ll stop.”"
- If ‘They Stop, We’ll Stop,’ Murdoch Says of MSNBC-Fox Feud - Media Decoder Blog - NYTimes.com (view on Google Sidewiki)

Wall St swine flu vaccinations spark uproar

Well obviously the lives of Wall St. bankers are more important than the lives of the average Americans. Why else would we given them hundreds of billions of tax dollars. Especially after they plundered the U.S. economy? Nothing is too good for them. Think of it as more trickle down economics. What's good for Wall St. is good for America. "Greed is good."

in reference to:

"News that US swine flu vaccines, meant to be prioritized for the nation's most vulnerable, are being distributed to Wall Street firms such as Goldman Sachs, have sparked uproar. The New York Department of Health said Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley have applied for supplies of the H1N1 vaccine and are eligible because they are large employers with in-house clinics. With H1N1 vaccines often scarce and populist anger already raging at Wall Street for last year's financial meltdown, the news triggered furor. Anna Burger, secretary-treasurer for the largest US healthcare union, the SEIU, said it was "obscene" that powerful and wealthy private organizations got vaccines when "at-risk Americans are either waiting in line for hours or getting turned away.""
- Wall St swine flu vaccinations spark uproar - Yahoo! News (view on Google Sidewiki)

Fort Hood Suspect's Home Searched

This could have been prevented. It is possible this was a terrorist act. In which case, the FBI failed - again - to prevent terrorism on U.S. soil.

in reference to:

"Military officials were starting Friday to piece together what may have pushed an Army psychiatrist trained to help soldiers in distress to turn on his comrades in a shooting rampage that killed 13 people and wounded 30 in Texas. The suspected shooter, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, was on a ventilator and unconscious in a hospital after being shot four times during the shootings at the Army's sprawling Fort Hood, post officials said. In the early chaos after the shootings, authorities believed they had killed him, only to discover later that he had survived. The FBI, local police and other agencies searched Hasan's apartment Thursday night after evacuating the complex in Killeen, said city spokeswoman Hilary Shine. She referred questions about what was found to the FBI. The FBI in Dallas referred questions to a spokesman who was not immediately available early Friday morning."
- Fort Hood Suspect's Home Searched - CBS News (view on Google Sidewiki)