London Paramedics Use Bicycles

By GottaLaff

This is loverly, mates, and if it helps them financially (The National Health Service in the UK could use a few extra pounds), even better:

The London Ambulance Service (LAS) began cycle patrols in central London in 2002. After trials starting in August 2004, the LAS signed an agreement with BAA, the owners of Heathrow Airport, to provide cover for all its five terminals. (The link is a press release so restrictions on quotes do not apply)

The bicycles are sent to all types of calls within the airport and, where the patient is believed to be in a life-threatening condition, it is sent at the same time as an ambulance so that treatment can be started before the crew arrives.

In cases where the patient is believed to be suffering from a more minor injury or illness, a bicycle paramedic or emergency medical emergency technician is sent initially on his own and can then request further assistance if required—freeing up ambulances to attend other, potentially life-threatening, 999 calls in and around the airport.

All Cycle Response Unit riders have been trained to the International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA) standard. Applicants to the team face rigorous fitness tests in addition to special tuition in subjects as varied as bike-handling and nutrition before being recruited.

The bicycles themselves are the same as those used by the traffic-busting bicycle unit already working in and around the West End of London.

Medical kit carried in the high-visibility yellow panniers that straddle both wheels of the bicycles is both comprehensive and lightweight. Designed to London Ambulance Service specifications, it includes a heart-starting defibrillator, bag-and-mask resuscitator, blood-pressure monitor, burns dressings, oxygen and pain-relieving gas cylinders, and even a maternity pack for delivering babies.

[...]

Cycle paramedics are used in other parts of the UK where their access to pedestrian areas are needed. Edinburgh, especially during the Festival period is one example. They are also likely to be deployed on the Olympics site in 2012.

One word of advice if you are unfortunate enough to need emergency medical attention on a visit to the UK. You may be concerned that you are not being taken to hospital immediately. The paramedics are trained to assess and stabilize patients before transporting them to hospital to achieve the best outcomes. The days of "scoop and run" are over. Oh and the cost for emergency treatment, even if you are an illegal immigrant because you have overstayed your visa will be ... £0.00

Much more here.

Pip pip.

Republican town haller: I'm “a proud right wing terrorist.”

By GottaLaff

What has happened to normal, everyday people on "the other side of the aisle"? Do they even exist any more?

[Rep. Wally] Herger did not hold back on his opinion of the health care plan and the administration’s appointment of “czars” to head various departments and task forces. “Our democracy has never been threatened as much as it is today,” Herger said to a loud standing ovation.

The audience also loudly cheered a man who stood up and declared himself to be “a proud right wing terrorist.” “Amen, God bless you,” Herger responded. “There is a great American.” (HT: Huffington Post)

Headline of the Day- Spoke Too Soon Edition

Man with Britney Spears tattoo steals earring-wearing dog

Oy oy oy.

EU leaders to honor Poland's WWII efforts

Point of honor for me since my dad was a sailor on a torpedoed ship and in a French POW camp during WWII. Many in our family fought with the Polish Underground too.

GDANSK, Poland, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- A total of 14 prime ministers and seven foreign ministers will honor Poland for the country's World War II efforts against Nazi Germany, an official says.

Polish Minister of Culture Bogdan Zdrojewski said the foreign officials will gather in Gdansk, Poland, Sept.1 to honor Poland's fight against invading Nazi forces at the start of World War II on Sept. 1, 1939, Polish Radio reported Thursday.

"This year there are three great anniversaries commemorated in Europe: Sept. 1, 1939; June 4, 1989 (the first free election in communistic bloc) and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Two of them are being held in Poland," Zdrojewski said Wednesday.

(snip)

Zdrojewski said the ceremony is intended to connect the start of World War II in 1939 with the events of 1989, Polish Radio reported.

"The real end of World War II came with the free election in Poland in 1989 and with the fall of the wall which divided Berlin," the culture minister said.

Video- Obama: All 'wee-wee'd up?'

Me, I thought it was a "This little piggy" reference.

Headline of the Day

Nebraska man stole Virgin Mary painting to pay for abortion

Winger heads exploding... 3... 2...1.

Video- Barney Frank's Heated Exchange Over "Cost Of Health Reform"

They have no clue and they don't care.

Memo to readers: Light posting day today

By GottaLaff

Nazis

By GottaLaff

This post is dedicated to those who died at the hands of the real Nazis.

Please go read. It's one you will not soon forget. You might think of passing it along to a few wingnuts and/or their sites.

Chamber of Commerce Slams Waxman’s Requests for Insurer Information

By GottaLaff

Defensive much, Tom? Hitting a nerve, are they?

U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue on Friday pushed back on the effort of two senior House Democrats to get large amounts of potentially embarrassing financial information from health insurance companies.

In a Friday letter, Donohue told House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), chairman of that panel’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, that he was “deeply troubled” by lawmakers’ request for the information and asked that they withdraw it immediately.

Waxman and Stupak on Monday sent letters to more than 50 health insurers asking them to hand over by early September details of their executive compensation packages, conferences and retreats they sponsored, and the profitability of their products.

Donohue blasted the request as “ill-advised and economically destructive.”

“No citizen — individual or corporate — should be singled out for harassment and intimidation by the government simply because they disagree with powerful committee chairmen or seek to persuade others to embrace their viewpoint,” he wrote.

Where to even begin? The Mustache of Justice is getting in the way of Big Insurance's, um, "business practices", huh? Hey Tom, if they have nothing to hide, then what's the problem? Isn't that what the rest of us are always told?

And speaking of harassment and intimidation... how about cancer patients who get their health insurance pulled? Think they don't feel a little harassed and intimidated? How about those of us who pay through the nose to maintain ours? Or those who can't afford any to begin with...?

Yeah, "retreats" and bonuses are a real priority. Pass that on to a child whose mother just died because she couldn't get treatment, okay, Donohue? Then have a nice, relaxing retreat. With any luck, you'll need it by the time Waxman and Co. are done with you.

Much more here.

Shallow Thoughts: One Term President?? edtion

By GottaLaff

Today's Shallow Thought:

It's been about 7 months since President Obama took office, but this is what has been monopolizing the headlines over the past few days: One-term president? Message to corporate media: I have teens in my theater classes who create less drama.

That was today's Shallow Thought. Thank you for wading in.

I Was There For You

By GottaLaff

I am friends with someone on Twitter who calls herself Blondetwit, and we're pals for good reason.

Go read this post by her, at her blog.

Then come on back and let me know what you think. And please, comment on her site and let her know, too.

I'm letting her know what I think by referring readers to her wonderful post.

Thank you, Blondetwit. You are a gem.

Video- Rick Santorum compares Obama to Hugo Chavez

Still struggling for credibility there Rickie? Via Newshounds.

Video- President's Weekly Address: Myths and Morality in Health Insurance Reform

New Freeper meme: President Obama isn't a citizen if he's not circumcised

By GottaLaff

Yes, it's come to this. It's all about the President of the United States' penis. Where's a good mohel when you need one?

Well, I guess this proves Prez O's not a Jewish Muslim.

Please... Just. Go. Read. But be careful, you may acquire a serious case of teh stupid.

No kidding- Canceled Sanford Book: Manifesto Of A Rising Conservative Star

By GottaLaff

(click on image to enlarge)

Via TPM, we discover that Senor Argentina Sanford, hoping to become el Presidente Sanford, had a book deal. Key word: Had. Dis. As(s). Ter:

[...] South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford was about to publish a serious book, as befits anyone with serious presidential aspirations. But then Sanford went hiking the Appalachian Trail. His wife left him, the press hounded him, his presidential hopes evaporated, and his book deal was cancelled.

Unfortunately for the publisher, Viking, the proofs for its Spring 2010 catalog had already gone to press, complete with a glowing write up of Within Our Means. [...]

Sanford would have explained through "personal" examples "how the GOP went astray over the last eight years." One can only imagine.

"Governor Sanford's down-to-earth voice and common sense principles will give conservative readers a much-needed sense of hope," the catalog promises.

They could always sell it as fiction.

You can read the entire entry here.

Quickie: Reconciliation edition

By GottaLaff

Today's Quickie:

Tom Daschle, who met with President Obama today, now says the only way to get health care reform through might be through the reconciliation process. And he says he discussed the possibility with Obama.

That was today's Quickie. Will you still respect me in the morning?

Rep. Virginia Foxx calls health care "distracting"

By GottaLaff

How many ways can this poor excuse for a human being make herself look like an even bigger fool? It's mind-boggling, the things that pop out of her mouth. This is the same genius who said, "There are no Americans who don't have health care," and that Matthew Shepard's murder was "a hoax."

Now this... keeping in mind that yes, she is an elected official. Enough people voted for her that she ::shudder:: won and took office. As impossible as it seems, she, like Michele Bachmann, represents actual voters:

Yesterday in a “telephone town hall,” Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) not only repeated her opposition to Democratic proposals for health care reform, but characterized all federal government incursions into health care as unconstitutional. In fact, she said that attempting reform was nothing more than a “distraction” from more important issues:

FOXX: The Constitution doesn’t grant a right to health care, and most of us are living as much by the Constitution as we can. It also doesn’t give the federal government the authority to deal with health care. As you may know, the 10th amendment, it says if it isn’t mentioned in the Constitution to be done by the federal government, it’s left to the states or the people. [...]

I think one of the problems we have in this country right now is the fact that the federal government is trying to do too much. We need to leave things to the states and the localities. … And unfortunately, we are distracting ourselves from looking after the defense of this nation because we are dealing with issues that should, by right, be the state and individual’s.

She needs one of these for what comes out of her mouth:

Report Reveals CIA Conducted Mock Executions, Harrowing New Details

By GottaLaff

The CIA's inspector general's report on post-9/11 interrogation tactics is due out Monday. Today I had lunch with Jason Leopold, who told me that in that report, it is made clear that torture does not work. Okay? Clear now? Torture. Does. Not. Work.

All those people--yes, living, breathing people-- like Fayiz al-Kandari (see end of post) who were abused and tortured? It was for nothing. It was ineffective. Even bad people, even the Not-Fayizes, shouldn't be tortured. It yields information that is useless, because the torturees will do anything to make it stop. Wouldn't you?

A long-suppressed report by the Central Intelligence Agency's inspector general to be released next week reveals that CIA interrogators staged mock executions as part of the agency's post-9/11 program to detain and question terror suspects, NEWSWEEK has learned.

According to two sources—one who has read a draft of the paper and one who was briefed on it—the report describes how one detainee, suspected USS Cole bomber Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, was threatened with a gun and a power drill during the course of CIA interrogation. According to the sources, who like others quoted in this article asked not to be named while discussing sensitive information, Nashiri's interrogators brandished the gun in an effort to convince him that he was going to be shot. Interrogators also turned on a power drill and held it near him. "The purpose was to scare him into giving [information] up," said one of the sources. A federal law banning the use of torture expressly forbids threatening a detainee with "imminent death."

According to the sources, the report also says that a mock execution was staged in a room next to a detainee, during which a gunshot was fired in an effort to make the suspect believe that another prisoner had been killed.

Of course, video tapes of waterboarding were destroyed; so much for that evidence.

The purpose of the report was to examine how the CIA program had been conducted, and whether Justice Department guidelines governing the use of harsh "enhanced" interrogation techniques had been followed. According to the sources, the inspector general criticizes some agency interrogators for exceeding official guidelines in the use of extreme tactics on detainees.

Mock executions were not authorized in Justice Department memoranda that outlined the legal parameters that Bush administration lawyers believed should govern the use of "enhanced" interrogations. [...]

The inspector general's report is expected to fuel political debates over whether the tough interrogation methods used during the Bush administration actually worked. According to another source who has seen the document, the report says that the agency's interrogation program did produce usable intelligence.

More here.

***********************

All my previous posts on this subject matter can be found here; That link includes one specific to only Fayiz al-Kandari's story here. Here are audio and video interviews with Lt. Col. Wingard, one by David Shuster, one by Ana Marie Cox, and more. My guest commentary at BuzzFlash is here.

If you are inclined to help rectify these injustices: Twitterers, use the hashtag #FreeFayiz. We have organized a team to get these stories out. If you are interested in helping Fayiz out, e-mail me at The Political Carnival, address in sidebar to the right; or tweet me at @GottaLaff.

If you'd like to see other ways you can take action, go here and scroll down to the end of the article.

Then read Jane Mayer's book The Dark Side. You'll have a much greater understanding of why I post endlessly about this, and why I'm all over the CIA deception issues, too.

More of Fayiz's story here, at Answers.com.

1000s From Canada, Europe Praise Their National Health Care On Global Message Board

By GottaLaff

America can look awfully ridiculous to the rest of the world sometimes. This was especially true from oh, say, 2001-2008. This is another one of those times:

Yesterday, global online advocacy network Avaaz.org attempted to inject a dose of reality into the heated debate over health care reform by launching an interactive database of user-submitted health care stories from Canada, the UK, and other countries with national health care systems. In a marked departure from the outrage, truth-distortion and detraction at recent town hall debates, contributors to the Avaaz message board have sounded surprisingly levelheaded. [...]

The lack of an honest conversation about national health care was not lost on contributors to Avaaz.org, including Dr. Frank Tester:

The debate over health care in the United States is particularly disturbing because it has become a media war where facts are distorted and opponents of what is being proposed appear willing to stop at nothing in order to accomplish their objective of stopping President Obama's initiative.

Of the nearly five thousand comments made on the site in the last 24 hours, the vast majority express one of two things: gratitude towards their government for relieving the fear that comes with not having medical coverage, and dismay at the dishonest debate in the US. Criticism of national health care is all but missing.

See how easy it is to be reasonable, Rushpublics?

Much more here.

H/t: Ellen

Video- President Obama on the Elections in Afghanistan

Audio- Limbaugh Forgets That All Latinos Are Not "Illegal Immigrants"

I hope someone is keeping tabs on this stuff for 2010. Can't wait to tell my sis about this.

Betsy McCaughey loses board seat

Oops.

Dick Armey was forced out of his lobbying shop, and now opposition to health care reform has taken a professional toll on another critic: A New Jersey medical device company, Cantel, just announced that Betsy McCaughey -- the day after sparring with Jon Stewart -- is "resigning to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest during the national debate over healthcare reform."

In Ramadan, the best dates in Egypt are 'Obama'

Interesting to note that the best dates used to be named after the leader of Hezbollah, and the crappy dates are currently named after George W Bush and others...

CAIRO— For the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Egyptian fruit sellers have named their best dates of the year after President Barack Obama in a sweet tribute to the American leader for his outreach to the Muslim world.

Dates are a traditional food for Ramadan -- which begins Saturday in most of the Islamic world -- since the Prophet Muhammad is said to have used them to break the month's sunrise-to-sunset fast each evening.

(snip)

"We love Obama and so we named our best dates for him," said Atif Hashim at his busy shop in downtown Cairo.

Huge barrels in his shop were piled with "Obama" dates, selling for just under $2.50 a pound ($5 a kilogram). For an additional dollar, there is an even better date, labeled on a sign as "Super Obama."

Video- The Colbert Report: Chris Matthews

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Chris Matthews
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Protests

AUDIO: Arizona pastor's sermons call for execution of gays, Barney Frank and the President

By GottaLaff

Via Pam:

Pastor Steven Anderson of Faithful Word Baptist Church in Tempe, Arizona [...] calls for the execution of gays in numerous sermons that you can listen to here.

"The same God who instituted the death penalty for murders is the same god who instituted the death penalty for rapists and for homosexuals, sodomites and queers"

Anderson, while he's memorized The Good Book, he is woefully underinformed about a few legal matters -- he apparently wants Barney Frank to sue his pious *ss off.

"The sodomites are recruiters and you know who they are after? Your children. They are being recruited by the sodomites. They are being molested by the sodomites. They recruit through rape, they recruit through molestation, they recruit through violation"

"Our country is run by faggots. You know who was the man who was the architect of the bailout? His name is Barney Frank, he is a pedophile..."

"That's who just sold our country into fascism. That's who just sold our corporations to the government. That's who sold out our country, a faggot!" [...]

"God Hates Barack Obama, I hate Barack Obama. I hate Him. God wants me to Hate Barack Obama." "Someone who commits murder should get the death penalty."

It's a good thing I can't type today... a real good thing. I'd offend everyone, although not as much as this twerpy twisted little dicklet.

If you have the stomach for it, here's the audio via Good As You:

Obama DoJ Continues to Assert BushCo's "State Secrets" Argument

By GottaLaff

Forgive my not offering more commentary today, but it's hard to type.. wrist issues. As a result, it's a copy-and-paste day. However, you can imagine that I am not thrilled with this:

In legal papers filed in the middle of the night, the Obama administration has weighed in again on the case of Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation et al. v. Obama, asking the judge to drop the case and continuing to wield President Bush's "state secrets" argument that has drawn criticism from civil libertarians, liberals and progressives.

The Saudi charity the Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation, investigated for terrorist financing out of its Oregon offices, sued the government in 2006, alleging it was targeted illegally under the National Security Agency's warrantless wiretapping program. They made this assertion after U.S. officially accidently turned over logs of phone calls. [...]

Jon Eisenberg, one of the attorneys for the charity, said the filing indicated "not only that the Obama administration isn't hedging on the state secrets argument, if anything it's solidified."

The Obama Justice Department continues to assert, as first reported by Politico's Josh Gerstein, that the charity's officials have not yet "set forth specific, uncontroverted facts establishing that they were the targets of, or have been subjected to, warrantless electronic surveillance. Plaintiffs instead continue to rely on the same speculative 'inferences' and conjecture that plainly fail to establish their standing."

There has been some confusion among legal experts about the argument the Obama administration is making, because its lawyers assert they are not relying "on an assertion of the state secrets privilege to cover-up alleged unlawful conduct. The central concern in a case such as this is that the disclosure of whether or not someone is or has been subject to surveillance (and, if so, what type of surveillance) would reveal intelligence sources and methods—in this case, sources and methods concerning alleged surveillance of an entity determined to have provided support to the al Qaeda terrorist organization."

Follow the link for more details.

Hoyer opens door to dropping public option

By GottaLaff

UPDATE: I just called, and I got right through. The guy who answered was wonderful.

1705 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone - (202) 225-4131
Fax - (202) 225-4300
E-mail Congressman Hoyer

H/t: Dr. President

Dems, it's time you learn how to unite and get what you want... for once. GodI'mdisgusted:

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer on Friday left the door open to moving a health reform package without a public insurance option prized by liberals.

Hoyer’s remarks were in contrast to statements Thursday by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who told a San Francisco audience that a public option must be included to win the votes necessary to pass healthcare reform in the House.

Hoyer (D-Md.) emphasized his support for a public option in a teleconference call with reporters, but also said he wants to ensure Congress sends a bill to the president.

A meaningless bill?

Hoyer has long been seen as a voice for centrist Blue Dog Democrats, who have reservations about the public option. [...]

But not including the option could provide problems for Democratic leaders in the House. Sixty members of the party’s liberal wing have signed a letter stating that they won’t support a bill that does not include a public option, and some Democrats have said that underestimates opposition from the left. [...]

Hoyer was cool to suggestions that a healthcare bill be scaled down to improve its chances of passage, a suggested floated by Republicans and a third member of the Democratic House leadership, Majority Whip James Clyburn (S.C.). [...]

But he said if a bill is broke into segments, there’s a risk that key ingredients to drive down costs would be left aside. “If you leave behind reforms that are going to bring down costs, you haven’t dealt with the problem,” he said.

VIDEO: Gibbs explains Obama's "everybody in Washington gets all wee-weed up"

By GottaLaff

And this little piggy went wee wee wee wee all the way home... or not:



At least he didn't get all pissy about it:

President Obama yesterday created a new Internet meme that may make some little piggies want to go wee-wee-wee all the way home.

But the 18th-century children's rhyme "This Little Piggy" was not, as it turns out, the childhood reference the president of the United States and leader of the free world was making when he yesterday told his political troops at Organizing for America, "There's something about August going into September where everybody in Washington gets all wee-weed up. I don't know what it is. But that's what happens."

No. He meant that other definition of wee-wee, a White House spokesman told the Washington press corps today, the one that's got political consultants and journalists across the city cracking jokes like, "Parents across America to their kids at bedtime tonight: 'No more wee-weeing up tonight! or I will call President Obama in the morn!'" [...]

"I think 'wee-weed up' is when people just get all nervous for no particular reason," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs explained Friday.

"We're Number One" may never have quite the same meaning again...

Puns! Weeeeee (wee)!

VIDEO: Conservative group targets Obama's vacation

By GottaLaff

The other day I posted about a memo regarding the impending Swiftboating/John Kerry windsurfing campaign against President Obama, using his Martha's Vineyard vacation as a springboard. I truly hate to say it, but I told ya so:

Conservatives for Patient's Rights, a group founded earlier this year by former health insurance executive Rick Scott, says it will spend close to $150,000 next week to air a 30-second television spot in the Boston media market coinciding with Obama's vacation in the area.

Among the stations the group plans to air the ad on is NESN, the network that will broadcast the four-game series next week between Obama's Chicago White Sox and the Boston Red Sox. [...]

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs brushed aside the ad at Friday's daily briefing.

"I don't think the American people begrudge the president taking some time with his family that's well earned and well deserved for a few days to see and spend time with them," said Gibbs.

Yet another reason why you should re-read this earlier post and take action.

Gunning for trouble

By GottaLaff

Frommer's not alone. Good for the L.A. Times for this editorial:

Who's going to argue about the merits of the public insurance option with a wing-nut carrying the semiautomatic, civilian version of the M-16 military assault weapon?

[...] What has been threatened, though, are the very free-speech rights these gun enthusiasts claim to be dedicated to upholding.

There is a chilling effect on public debate, to say the least, when one side is carrying weapons of mass murder. [...] If Obama were discussing gun control at these events, this might actually make some sense, but what's the relationship between guns and healthcare reform? In reality, the protesters are merely seeking to intimidate their opponents and imply that if they don't get their way, armed resistance is an option. They are, in short, thugs.

[...] Gun control as a political movement is all but dead in the United States, with Democrats -- including Obama -- so cowed by the gun lobby's past success at the polls that they have lost interest in stemming the supply of firearms. That could change overnight if a right-wing extremist at a healthcare town hall loses his head and starts exercising his trigger finger along with his right to bear arms. Those who cherish the 2nd Amendment should hope this frightening trend of armed protest ends before that happens.

Guns and political rallies, which are often emotionally charged events, are a volatile combination. It would be better for everybody involved if participants left their guns at home.

Mid Day Distraction

Video- O'Reilly v. Stewart

Oh, you are so picking a fight with the wrong person Billo. He's ticked over this bit.

U.S. July existing home sale pace fastest in 2 years

Man, a little more good news would sorely be appreciated today.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Sales of previously owned U.S. homes in July notched their fastest pace in nearly two years, an industry survey showed on Friday, the strongest sign yet that housing was pulling out of a three-year slump.

The National Association of Realtors said that sales jumped 7.2 percent to an annual rate of 5.24 million units, the highest since August 2007, beating market expectations for a 5 million unit pace. Sales were at a 4.89 million pace in June.

July's percentage increase was the largest monthly gain since the series started in 1999 and marked the fourth straight monthly advance. The last time sales rose for four consecutive months was in June 2004, the NAR said.

Video- AUC: 'Death Panels'

It's a start, but could have been much better.

Michelle Bachmann is everywhere

I knew it felt like it, but apparently there's proof. Via Taegan.

If you thought you were seeing Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) a lot on cable news, it's because she has been on a lot, CQ Politics reports.

A new study finds that the Minnesota Republican, who has a penchant for making controversial statements, has made 22 appearances on national cable news programs so far this year, matching her total number of appearances for all of 2008. That's one every 9.1 days.

Cartoon of the Day

Click to enlarge, via.

Friday Linkage

So much to do, so little brain.

Iran allows U.N. watchdog access to planned reactor

Mexico Decriminalizes Low-Level Possession

In hot water: World sets ocean temperature record

Appeals Court Orders Church-Run Post Office To Remove Religious Materials

Police: Woman's foot licked outside store

New York Times: Where Elderly Back Obama, Health Bill Anxiety It was karaoke night at the Sunrise Lakes retirement village, and 76-year-old Shirley Scrop, wearing a T-shirt commemorating her granddaughter’s bat mitzvah, was laying down a rap about health care.

Man spells out marriage proposal in Ohio field

Sock Bandit Strikes Arizona Clothesline

Scotland's 'earliest face' found

The Führer's Obsession with Art.'Hitler Considered Himself an Artistic Genius'

Denver sued over Dem convention arrests

CNN: Adult, 2 teens charged with beating elderly black man
Authorities have charged two teenagers and an adult in connection with the beating of a 76-year-old African-American man early Tuesday in Baltimore, Maryland, in an incident police say had a racial connection.

Video- Jon Stewart confronts McCaughey over her "hyperbolic" and "dangerous" health care claims

Ex-Wives and Others Eagerly Await the UBS Tax-Cheater List

You know there's going to be some famous names to make it even more fun.

It's not just the U.S. government that wants to get its hands on the list of Americans who hold secretive Swiss bank accounts. Ex-wives, creditors and former business partners are also salivating over the idea that a settlement between the U.S., the Swiss government and a Swiss bank may lead to the public disclosure of as many as 4,450 U.S. individuals that used the foreign bank accounts to hide money. Prominent New York City divorce lawyer Raoul Lionel Felder says he is already getting calls from clients who want to know what they can do to get their portion of the money they always suspected their ex–loved one had tucked away overseas.

"You see allegations of Swiss bank accounts in divorce proceedings all the time," says Felder, whose clients have included Rudy Giuliani, Robin Givens and the former Mrs. Martin Scorsese. "A lot of divorces are going to get opened up."

Video Trailer- Michael Moore's 'Capitalism: A Love Story'

VIDEO: The Rachel Maddow Show's Kent Jones scores!

By GottaLaff

6 seconds of B Ball fun:

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

Go Kent!

H/t: WillAtWork, MSNBC elf

Justice Dept. OLC nominee Dawn Johnsen, still waits for confirmation, goes back to teaching

By GottaLaff

Remember Dawn Johnsen? Think back... wayyy back. The woman who could nail Bush, remember? I've posted numerous times about her impending confirmation and all the stalling. Ring a bell?

"Dawn Johnsen, whose nomination to head the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel has stalled, reportedly has gone back to Indiana University's law school to teach a class there while Senate Democrats count and recount noses to see if they might be able to muster 60 votes for cloture. Gonna be a tough vote next month, though."
-- Al Kamen, in today's Washington Post "In the Loop" column

If you want an excellent rundown of all the nauseating details, go here

Seller, beware: Feds cracking down on garage sales

By GottaLaff

There goes a source of income for half of my neighborhood:

If you're planning a garage sale or organizing a church bazaar, you'd best beware: You could be breaking a new federal law. As part of a campaign called Resale Roundup, the federal government is cracking down on the secondhand sales of dangerous and defective products.

The initiative, which targets toys and other products for children, enforces a new provision that makes it a crime to resell anything that's been recalled by its manufacturer.

"Those who resell recalled children's products are not only breaking the law, they are putting children's lives at risk," said Inez Tenenbaum, the recently confirmed chairwoman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The crackdown affects sellers ranging from major thrift-store operators such as Goodwill and the Salvation Army to everyday Americans cleaning out their attics for yard sales, church bazaars or — increasingly — digital hawking on eBay, Craigslist and other Web sites.

Actually, I'm all for this. But that doesn't mean I can't snark about it.

Mr. Laffy and I always joke about how people hawk their broken down junk, and people snatch it right up. "Hey, want my dirty, ripped, stained old BarcaLounger? We're sick of it, it's threadbare, it causes back problems, we hate the color, and it's a piece of crap!" "Sure, how much?"

Oh, but I kid. I've bought and sold plenty in my day, but nothing with lead in it. Honest.

And for all you shoppers out there:

MOST DANGEROUS RECALLED PRODUCTS:

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has launched a drive to prevent used goods that have been recalled from being resold. Among thousands of recalled products on the market, the federal agency has identified 11 that it considers very dangerous for children:

Product..........................................................................When recalled

Playskool Travel-Lite Play Yards (portable cribs)...........March 10, 1993

Baby Trend Home and Roam.(portable cribs)...............Dec. 19, 1994

Evenflo Happy Camper Play Yards (portable cribs).......June 25, 1997

Baby Express Portable Cribs and Play Yards...............Feb. 28, 2001

Magnetix Magnetic Building Sets..................................March 31, 2006

Polly Pocket dolls with magnets....................................Nov. 21, 2006

Easy-Bake Ovens..........................................................July 19, 2007

Simplicity Drop Side Cribs..............................................Sept. 21, 2007

Simplicity Bassinets....................................................... Aug. 27, 2008

Hill Sportswear hooded drawstring sweatshirts.............Feb. 12, 2009

Evenflo Envision high chairs..........................................April 2, 2009

Reporters Who Know Tom DeLay-- Quadriplegic Story: Huh?

By GottaLaff

Tom DeLay was on Hardball yesterday, as you can see here, and told a very strange story about protesters at a health care town hall in the '80s who "brought in quadriplegics on gurneys and dumped them on the floor in front of my podium."

As I watched him talk, I experienced a major Scooby Doo "whaaa?" moment. I wasn't the only one:

Two journalists who've covered Tom DeLay extensively over the years tell TPMmuckraker they've never heard of his story [...]

"Jan Reid and I (and a researcher) spent a full year, reading clips and running down sources. Nowhere did I see any mention of quadriplegics brought in on gurneys," Lou Dubose, co-author of The Hammer: God, Money, and the Rise of the Republican Congress, tells TPMmuckraker in an e-mail. "We would have used if we had it." [...]

Susan DuQuesnay Bankston, who worked for the Fort Bend Star from the mid-1980s until last year, including as a political columnist, followed DeLay closely over the years and attended many of his town halls. [...] Of DeLay's story about quadriplegics being "dumped" in front of his podium at a town hall, Bankston says: "No incident like this ever occurred." If it had happened, "the chances of us hearing about it were one hundred percent."

It might be really helpful to his image [sic] if Tommy Boy didn't hit the bottle before appearing on national TeeVee shows, hold up his shiny new dancing shoes, and tell whoppers.

Who's up for a new reality show, "Dancing with the Liars"?

Travel Guy Frommer: "Do Guns at Political Events Disturb You? Then Consider Skipping Arizona for Now "

By GottaLaff

When Travel Guy Arthur Frommer states publicly that he won't be traveling to Arizona anymore because of the nutbally assault rifle-toters' little show outside of the Phoenix Obama event, the hotels must be quaking in their fluffy white terry robes:

[...] I am shocked beyond measure by reports that earlier this week, nearly a dozen persons, including one with an assault rifle strapped about his shoulders and others with pistols in their hands or holsters, were openly congregating outside a hall at which President Obama was speaking to the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

For myself, without yet suggesting that others follow me in an open boycott, I will not personally travel in a state where civilians carry loaded weapons onto the sidewalks and as a means of political protest. I not only believe such practices are a threat to the future of our democracy, but I am firmly convinced that they would also endanger my own personal safety there. And therefore I will cancel any plans to vacation or otherwise visit in Arizona until I learn more. And I will begin thinking about whether tourists should safeguard themselves by avoiding stays in Arizona.

I hear Oregon is beautiful this time of year.

H/t: TPM

VIDEO- Freedomworks activist: "It's not a grassroots event. They're all paid." American flags not welcome.

By GottaLaff

Oh my, the deception... How does it feel to be squashed by the Enormous Corporate Foot, Freedomworks flag wavers? Will you believe us now? Silly question.

This is one of those videos you have to watch all the way through:



Big Oil barred Freedomworks recruits/activists from their astroturf event. Can you say, "Schadenfreude"?

Disguising a company picnic as a citizen's energy rally, private security and police barred interested citizens from entering the "astroturf" event. Even though they advertised the event as a public, grassroots rally, and even had emails sent out encouraging people to attend, not even staunch supporters of the industry's stance on climate legislation were allowed in. The only people allowed through the doors were those with petroleum company employee badges and yellow "Energy Citizen" t-shirts that were handed out amongst the employees.

Any converts to liberal fascism? Hands?

Many Republicans voted for 2003 bill with funding for end of life counseling

By GottaLafff

Via The Plum Line:

Looks like top Dems are now making a concerted effort to remind people that multiple Republicans voted for a 2003 bill containing funding for some end of life consultations.

President Obama pointed this out today, and Nancy Pelosi did too, saying: “You know, the language is almost exactly the same as what the Republicans put into the prescription drug bill.”

Hasn’t been much, if any, traditional media pickup of this seemingly relevant fact, though

Why would the corporate media pick those stories up? It might ruffle their owners' feathers, and that would never do.

The preceding post was brought to you by Cialis, CIGNA, and Boniva. Side effects may vary.

Pelosi Says She Can’t Pass Bill Without Public Option

By GottaLaff

It's good to see some Dems keeping the pressure on:

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she won’t be able to pass health-care legislation in her chamber if the measure doesn’t include a government-run insurance plan to compete with private insurers.

“There’s no way I can pass a bill in the House of Representatives without a public option,” Pelosi, a California Democrat, said at a press conference in San Francisco today.

The idea, a central component of President Barack Obama’s effort to overhaul the nation’s health-care system, has emerged as a flash point in his party. Suggestions by administration officials in recent days that the White House might be willing to give up on the public plan drew protests from some House Democrats.

Obama today reiterated his support for the proposal.

“If we have a public option in there it will help keep insurance companies honest,” he told a group of community volunteers in Washington.

From the little I saw of President Obama's live event on the Internets Machine today, he seemed to be emphasizing the public option more, as he also did on the Smerconish simulcast.

His base needs feeding. Hopefully, he's been playing the Rushpublics, making them look like the negative fools that they are, and he'll come in with a strong finish.

However, on Twitter, I'm hearing that during the livestream event, he was preaching to the choir and a bit same ol', same ol'.

Your thoughts?

Video- Sen. DeMint Says America Is Becoming Like Iran And Germany

Do they practice making no sense?

Rupert Murdoch's Compensation Down to Paltry $18 Million

Oh the poor, poor thing! However does he survive? No wonder he's shutting down his London freebie.

LOS ANGELES- Rupert Murdoch, the chief executive and controlling shareholder of News Corp., saw his compensation drop 40 percent in fiscal 2009 as weak earnings reduced his incentive pay, according to an Associated Press review of regulatory filings.

Murdoch, 78, was awarded a compensation package valued at $18 million, down from $30 million a year ago, according to the review of News Corp.'s proxy filed Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

His base salary of $8.1 million was unchanged, but his performance-based incentive pay fell 69 percent to $5.4 million from $17.5 million a year ago.

DNC raises $9.3mil in July

Pretty impressive for as bad a beating as we've endured. Via Ben.

The Democratic National Committee just reported raising $9.3 million in July, substantially raising its fundraising game and one-upping the RNC, which raised $6 million last month.

Video- Michael Smerconish on Obama radio interview

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

Norm Coleman has a new gig... at Al Franken's alma mater

By GottaLaff

Toker Norm goes to Hahvahd:

Former Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman has a new gig — at successor Al Franken's alma mater.

Harvard University's Institute of Politics announced Thursday that the former Republican senator will be part of its latest class of teaching fellows.

Maybe some of their smahts will rub off on him.

Newt Gingrich's op-ed gets slammed by L.A. Times readers

By GottaLaff

Letters to the editor can be so gratifying:

Re “Healthcare rationing: Real scary”:

There are 1,300 insurance companies in the U.S., according to Newt Gingrich, all intent on making a profit with healthcare. They claim to do a better job because private industry works better than government programs.

Why are they afraid of a government option then? Don't they believe in competition anymore? A little competition should force insurance companies to do better.

And if they disappear, I don't think we'll miss them. How many people on Medicare or Medicaid miss them?

*****************

In the late '50s, I played football with Gingrich. As military dependent kids in Germany, the former speaker of the House and I were teammates at Stuttgart American High School. If either of us was ever injured, we'd get immediate and free medical care from military health providers. In fact, all of our medical and dental needs were taken care of by the military healthcare system.

I believe Gingrich's article is disingenuous because he himself benefited from a government-paid healthcare system in his childhood and, of course, later when he became a congressman. Unfortunately, his public attacks against President Obama's approach to healthcare reform never mention this.

*****************

The article by Gingrich misses the point.

Corporate models of competition are not the answer to reform. Unlike business, healthcare is a public-health and safety issue. Just as the police department cannot refuse to help me because I cannot afford to pay for safety and the fire department cannot refuse to help me because my house had a prior fire, healthcare should not be based on private corporate interests and profit.

Like the fire and police departments, healthcare should be taxpayer-supported and equal (as much as possible) for all Americans.

*****************

What's "real scary" about the article is how wrong Gingrich can be. I don't know where he has been lately, but the health insurance companies ration care right now with no oversight.

Want a liver transplant? Sorry, that is experimental. Want that new cancer treatment? Sorry, also experimental. Are you costing the insurance company too much money? So sorry, you forgot to tell us you had a high blood pressure reading years ago. Or we deny payment for the surgery we authorized last month after you have been paying us for 30 years.

I worked in healthcare for 10 years and know how difficult the current system is for doctors, hospitals and patients. We now have a chance for real reform, not to just put Band-Aids on the current system, as proposed in the article.

*****************

I did a double-take reading Gingrich's article warning against healthcare rationing. He first argues that the current plans to reform healthcare will give the government unprecedented and unaccountable control over your healthcare, and then goes on to argue that proposed reforms could lead to cuts in Medicare benefits. The last I checked, Medicare is itself a government program that was passed despite the same arguments against expanding the role of government.

If Gingrich believes that government control is a threat to individual freedom, then why is he defending Medicare?

******************

I wish Gingrich would explain why he thinks I have less freedom with my Medicare and more freedom with my private dental insurance plan.

Based on my experience, just the opposite is true. But then I'm basing my judgment on my own experience in the real world, and Gingrich is mouthing the platitudes of a political ideology.

******************

I have practiced medicine for over three decades, caring for children with catastrophic medical conditions. I have been heartened by remarkable discoveries and innovations and saddened by the loss of public trust in medicine as a profession. I welcome a vigorous debate about national healthcare reform.

Sadly, there's nothing new in Gingrich's attacks on healthcare reform. There is now a possibility for progress and change. Yet opponents like Gingrich would rather fight the same old partisan political battles.

Gingrich says the crucial test of any reform package is whether it will "empower individuals or impose on them." I agree, but let's have a reality check here also. Failure to reform healthcare has imposed huge financial burdens on every U.S. taxpayer. We're now on the verge of substantial reform. And it's legitimate to raise questions about where we're headed. But beware of the attempts to derail progress with scare tactics, personal attacks and bogus claims. Our nation has backed away from reform before, and our system is worse for it.

I'll tell you what the truly scary option is: It's doing nothing.

The writer is the dean of the school of medicine at Stanford University.

I posted every letter. There were none supporting Newtie's op-ed, not one.