Raw Video: Obama Mixes and Mingles in Singapore

Snort, in the comments at YouTube someone said that it looked like Starfleet Command. Someone does need to start getting the Prez some calories though, he's awful skinny. Maybe protein shakes?

VIDEO- Nicolle Wallace on Palin book: "Not a single thing...is anything I ever said."

By GottaLaff



Everyone seems to be calling Barbie McLipSchmutz a liar these days:

Wallace said Palin's account is completely false.

"It's not even like it's slightly wrong. It's like I feel totally the opposite. I would never disparage the president. I adored him then and I adore him now."

Wallace seemed mystified by Palin's accounts, conceding that there were enough strategy miscalculations during the campaign that Palin "didn't have to make stuff up."

Barbie keeps proving the Theory of Devolution.

Inferior justice system- military commissions- for non-citizens only?

By GottaLaff

Military commissions are inferior to our system of criminal justice. Jonathan Turley said as much in this video, and I've said so in numerous posts. They are secretive, and they allow heresay evidence as well as testimony resulting from torture sessions.

I know this to be true from (declassified) details shared with me by Lt. Col. Barry Wingard, who represents Gitmo detainee Fayiz al-Kandari.

Yet some of the 9/11 detainee trials will be held in federal court and others in military commissions.

Daphne Eviatar at the Washington Independent covers the obvious double standard clearly and convincingly below.

Col Morris Davis, the former chief military prosecutor for the commissions:

[H]aving two different justice systems “establish[es] a dangerous legal double standard that gives some detainees superior rights and protections, and relegates others to the inferior rights and protections of military commissions. This will only perpetuate the perception that Guantanamo and justice are mutually exclusive.”

I've also posted many times about Lt. Col. Darrel Vandeveld. (here, here, here, here, here, and here). Here's what he has to say:

“To say that you’ve achieved the gold standard for certain defendants by holding their trials in federal courts, and the rest can go to Gtmo, doesn’t necessarily resurrect the image of Gtmo or the military commissions as beacons of fairness. And if one of the stated goals in closing Gtmo is to restore America’s moral position in the world, the decision taken today won’t get us closer to accomplishing that.”

Holder's reasoning defies logic:

Holder’s justification for trying the Cole bomber and others by military commission is that in each case, their targets were a U.S. soldier or military installation. But isn’t that what we use our regularly constituted military courts for? Isn’t that why Major Nidal Malik Hassan, who last week apparently shot up 13 soldiers at the Fort Hood military base, is being tried by court martial? The only difference would appear to be that the suspects headed for military commissions are not American citizens. So that’s why they get an inferior justice system?

That decision combined with the implicit acknowledgment in Holder’s announcement yesterday that U.S. federal courts a superior form of justice to the military commissions just highlights a question that’s becoming increasingly difficult to answer: Just what is the purpose of those new military commissions?

I have a feeling we will not be getting a satisfactory answer to that question any time soon.

However, I think I know what it is: To win. The military commission standard is lower, so a successful verdict will be much more likely. Unlike a criminal jury, the decision does not have to be unanimous. Apparently, justice isn't always a priority.

******

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.

Lt. Col. Barry Wingard is a military attorney who represents Fayiz Al-Kandari in the Military Commission process and in no way represents the opinions of his home state. When not on active duty, Colonel Wingard is a public defender in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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.

VIDEO- Jonathan Turley: 9/11 trial critics show "crisis of faith" in the Constitution

By GottaLaff

Turley said exactly what needed to be said. The hysterical critics of using our own criminal court system to try, you know, criminals are showing a disturbing "crisis of faith in our Constitution":

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

Gates Invokes New Authority to Block Release of Detainee Abuse Photos

By GottaLaff

(via)

My dear friend Jason Leopold has an exclusive (which has since made its way into the media) that is making my blood boil:

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has blocked the release of photographs depicting US soldiers abusing detainees in Iraq and Afghanistan, using authority just granted to him by Congress to circumvent the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to keep the images under wraps on national security grounds. [...]

As first reported by truthout, the photographs at issue, include one in which a female solider is pointing a broom at a detainee "as if [she were] sticking the end of a broomstick into [his] rectum."

Other photos are said to show US soldiers pointing guns at the heads of hooded and bound detainees in prisons in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Army's Criminal Investigation Division investigated the matter and "three of the six investigations led to criminal charges and in two of those cases, the accused were found guilty and punished," according to papers Kagan previously filed with the Supreme Court. [...]

The Obama administration indicated it would abide by the appeals court order and release at least 44 of the photographs in question, but, in May, after he was pilloried by Republicans, President Obama backtracked, saying he had conferred with high-ranking military officials who advised him that releasing the images would stoke anti-American sentiment and would endanger the lives of US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.

As Truthout previously reported, the Obama administration petitioned the US Supreme Court to hear the case at the same time that the president privately told Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Connecticut) and Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) he would work with Congress to help pass a measure to ensure the photographs could be withheld. [...]

"...[T]he fact remains that public disclosure of the photographs could reasonably be expected to endanger the lives and physical safety of individuals engaged in the Nation's military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The photographs therefore are exempt from mandatory disclosure under FOIA." [...]

Alex Abdo, a legal fellow with the ACLU's National Security Project, said the Obama administration's argument for continuing to suppres the photos "sets a dangerous precedent – that the government can conceal evidence of its own misconduct precisely because the evidence powerfully documents gross abuses of power and of detainees.

Please read the rest here.

Fayiz al-Kandari could have used some of those photos in his own defense during the military commission hearing that he is currently facing.

******

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.

Lt. Col. Barry Wingard is a military attorney who represents Fayiz Al-Kandari in the Military Commission process and in no way represents the opinions of his home state. When not on active duty, Colonel Wingard is a public defender in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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.

VIDEO: The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder - Trailer

By GottaLaff

Boy Georgie's worst nightmare:



Via Vincent Bugliosi, in part:

In The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder, Bugliosi presents a tight, meticulously researched legal case that puts George W. Bush on trial in an American courtroom for the murder of nearly 4,000 American soldiers fighting the war in Iraq. Bugliosi sets forth the legal architecture and incontrovertible evidence that President Bush took this nation to war in Iraq under false pretenses—a war that has not only caused the deaths of American soldiers but also over 100,000 innocent Iraqi men, women, and children; cost the United States over one trillion dollars thus far with no end in sight; and alienated many American allies in the Western world.

Whether or not you agree that this is even feasible, I believe we share Bugliosi's sentiments.

Four words: Throw away the key.

Former McCain campaign manager: Palin claims 'total fiction'

By GottaLaff

John McCain's former presidential campaign manager Steve Schmidt is calling out Barbie McLipSchmutz. This popular practice is becoming a cottage industry of its own.

Now think back a few months... Remember when B-Lip got punk'd by the Sarkozy impersonator? Via CNN:

"Right away, the phones started ringing," Palin writes. "One of the first calls was Schmidt, and the force of his screaming blew my hair back. 'How can anyone be so stupid?! Why would the president of France call a vice presidential candidate a few days out?!'"

In a telephone conversation with CNN's John King, Schmidt said how he is described and portrayed in the book is "fanciful. [And] total fiction."

In the excerpts, Palin also claims Schmidt tried to put her on a strict eating regimen [...]

"Schmidt started in again, telling Randy what an awful pick I was - the "postpartum" problems, the wardrobe "scandal," "legal exposure" for Todd on Troopergate, whatever he meant by that," Palin writes according to the published excerpts.

Poor Babs.So many people are out to get her. Why would anyone ever do that, considering she's been so inclusive and kind to everyone since she pageant-walked her way into our lives.

This is going to be a long book tour.

A Teen's Reaction to the Fort Hood Memorial Service

By GottaLaff

Image via Fort Hood Sentinel

I've previously posted the observations of a remarkable high school student regarding the Ft. Hood shootings. Her insights were unique and poignant. Please read them here and here.

She just IMed me the link to her own blog post on the same subject, and I strongly recommend going over here to read it. Just to tantalize you, here is an excerpt or three:

The United States has been at war in Afghanistan since the fall of my second grade year, and in Iraq for half of the years I have been in school. [...]

My brother wears the same uniform as the grieving soldiers, and he has served at Fort Hood. I lived with him at Fort Hood during one of his trainings for his career as an army truck mechanic. The buildings in the background of the live shots were familiar to me, and I imagined that afternoon what it would be like to attend a memorial for my own brother. [...]

We have not seen military funerals for any of the 5000 military service members killed in combat in Iraq or Afghanistan since I learned to write my name in cursive. Our morning announcements don’t indicate the number of those forever wounded in body or soul in that time. And we have certainly seen no mention of Afghan or Iraqi civilians killed by our military since my adult teeth started coming in.

Remember, the author just turned 18. The "professional" punditiots could take lessons.

Fellow Soldiers, family and guests take a moment of silence during a memorial service for 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division Soldiers: Spcs. Jake Velloza, Jeremiah McCleery, and Shawn Sykes, June 18, at Fort Hood’s 1st Cavalry Division Memorial Chapel. Sgt. Karl Williams, 3rd BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs

U.S. Chamber of Commerce: GOP's sugar daddy

By GottaLaff

Click on images to enlarge:

It's self-explanatory, but there are more details and another chart here.

This should be their logo. I'm sure most of them resemble Homer in some way:

Newsweek Senior Editor: Palin's book "disturbing", "vindictive"

By GottaLaff

Image from my pal Micheal Stinson's book Going Rouge

Newsweek Senior Editor Michael Hirsh had a thing or two to say about a thing or two about Barbie McLipSchmutz's saying a thing or two about a thing or two:

"There are a couple things that were somewhat disturbing about Palin that appear in this book," Hirsh observed, "(including) this streak of vindictiveness toward her political enemies, which we see now include many in the (Arizona Senator and former GOP standard bearer John) McCain camp. [...]

"So, 'Going Rogue' is probably an appropriate title," Hirsch said. "Whether it's the kind of president America wants, assuming that Sarah Palin is gearing up for a presidential run, is another question."

On MSNBC this morning, even Barbie groupie Pat Buchanan opined that this book was well, not helpful. He agreed with his Democratic counterpart that she shouldn't have dug up the past again, and that if she were to run in 2012, it will all be used against her... again.

As usual, B-Lip displays her usual stellar judgment and political savvy by coming off as a petulant whiner whose only expertise is damaging her own image.

Joe Biden on the 'The Daily Show' next Tuesday

By GottaLaff

I always enjoy Joe Biden. What a genuinely likable (and smart) guy.

This will be a must-watch for so many reasons. Everyone will be waiting to see what comes out of Biden's mouth (sigh), but he's always interesting, should have a lot to say, and both men have great senses of humor:

Biden will join host Jon Stewart for a sit-down interview on Tuesday, to be broadcast that night.

Biden will be the first sitting vice president to appear on the show, Comedy Central said in a press release, though he had previously appeared on the show six times as a senator. (His last appearance came in August of 2007.)

It promises to be a gaffe laugh a minute.

Couldn't resist. Bygones.

GOP: Trust us, even though we can't verify

By GottaLaff

Remember Ronald Reagan's signature phrase "trust but verify"? Apparently Rushpublics don't think it applies to them when it comes to health care reform:

Senate Republicans cannot say what exactly the budgetary impact of their health alternatives would be, Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) said this weekend.

Way to instill confidence, guys. I'm sure the CBO can help clarify, though, right?

Gregg, the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, emphasized that Republicans believe their healthcare alternatives would bring down costs, though the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) would be unable to score them.

Oh. So we're supposed to just "go with it", huh? The way we did when Boy Georgie got us into an illegal war? That kind of blind trust? And, gosh, why wouldn't we? Your credibility is already so high.

The New Hampshire Republican said that GOP alternatives, which they'll offer as amendments to Democrats' health legislation, "don't cost money."

He's right, you know. Amendments that are worthless don't cost anything.

The CBO score of the House bill suggested that the Republican bill, which in many ways mirrors the Senate GOP's amendments, would bring down the deficit and lower health costs, but still leave potentially tens of millions of Americans without health insurance.

Yep. Nothing says "believe in us" like pulling the rug out from under millions of Americans.

New GOP motto: Trust... but whatever you do, don't verify.

Cartoon Time: Presidents Addressing Students edition

By GottaLaff

Who was the real indoctrinator? One president encouraged children to work hard, the other kept talking about "hard work" (on a fraudulent war), yet froze for 7 minutes during a national emergency:

H/t: Babzter

Mid Day Distraction

At first glance the strange shapes look like a biological sample viewed through a lab microscope.

But in fact this incredible collection of intricate patterns and forms are actually the spectacular features of the alien landscape of Mars.

Scalloped sand dunes, surreal rocky outcrops and giant craters make up a stunning array of views of the mysterious world.

They were taken by Nasa's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter satellite orbiting 187 miles above the red planet's surface. The craft is on a unique mission to unravel the mystery of Mars' fascinating history.

Scientists believe the planet once hosted life and are searching for evidence of water on the now lifeless desert surface.

Video- First Lady Michelle Obama on Health Care, Aging Women

Roundtable healthcare report angers GOP

Aww, poor babies. They figured the CEO's would be in the tank for them, but shocker, looks like the CEOs live in the real world. Wonder why no one on our side (other than the Prez) is touting this study?

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- A report by the Business Roundtable suggesting Democratic plans for U.S. healthcare reform could cut costs has angered Republicans.

The roundtable, which includes the CEOs of more than 50 large companies, was organized to lobby for pro-business policies. President Obama touted the report Thursday, saying researchers found Democratic legislation would cut costs for business

by $3,000 a year for each worker, The Hill said.

(snip)

"We estimate that if enacted properly, the right legislative reforms could potentially reduce that trend line by more than $3,000 per employee, to $25,435," the report stated.

Two weeks ago, Republicans criticized the roundtable for not being more aggressive in opposing healthcare reform. The report added new fuel.

Video- President Obama's complete speech in Japan 11/14/09

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

Cartoon of the Day

Click to enlarge, via.

Video- President's Weekly Address: Veterans Day and Fort Hood

VIDEO: Sarah Palin's very strange laugh

By GottaLaff

Six seconds of Barbie McBizarro. Correction: Okay, two (my bad):



Yes, I actually took the time to edit those few wacko seconds out of a very long video... and it wasn't easy.

UPDATE (h/t: Watertiger) on the Big Thanksgiving Invitation that caused Barbie to giggle maniacally in the video:

He turned down her offer, saying she's "full of it."

In an interview he just finished with Playgirl editor-in-chief Nicole Caldwell, Levi says of the invite, "You could tell by her laugh she was full of it." The petition to come over for some turkey was part of a segment the former Alaska governor taped for an Oprah episode that airs Monday.

Levi also that it was a "nice gesture, but she didn't mean it" and if he went, it would be "awkward." He also tells Entertainment Tonight, "Either she's telling a little spoof here or she's going to ask me in the next couple of days. I couldn't care less to go with Sarah Palin, but I want to be with my kid. It would probably be a little weird. It would be uncomfortable, but I'd go for my son's sake."

UPDATE #2: LaughingRacoon on Twitter nailed it. She sounds like Tiny Tim.

White House okayed Anita Dunn's Fox smackdown

By GottaLaff

The best thing about leaving a job is being able to say whatever the hell you want:

In a parting shot at Fox News, White House Communications Director Anita Dunn mocked the conservative-leaning network on Friday and laughed off its controversial host Glenn Beck for calling her a Mao enthusiast.

Okay, okay, but what did she actually say? Get to the good part:

"Jon Stewart actually did one of the most amazing pieces of journalism last week or a couple of weeks ago," she said, "in which he looked at the way Fox, on their opinion shows, raises some issue that then gets reported on by their news division as 'a controversy.' ... Now, that's a point of view. That's fine. That's entertainment. It helps their ratings. But I think if you go downstairs and walk through the Newseum that's not traditionally what you think of as traditional news -- to some extent inventing the story."

Anita just called them liars. Right out. She can do that now.

As for her earlier remarks, she got a permission note from her parents:

Elsewhere in her remarks, Dunn acknowledged that her decision to go after Fox News was not an example of her "going rogue." White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs and perhaps even the president himself gave her the green light. She also mocked Fox for proclaiming that it had secured an exclusive sit-down interview with President Obama during his trip to Asia when, in actuality, it was simply part of a rotating pool of reporters.

ClusterFox may be proud of their ratings (being the only available "news" station in many markets/hotels/places of business doesn't hurt), but they can't escape the fact that they are total and utter frauds.

The truth about filibusters

By GottaLaff

Ezra Klein has a terrific column up today that answered a lot of questions I had about filibustering. It's a must-read. Here is one excerpt:

Why don't the Democrats just break out the cots and let the Republicans filibuster?

There's a reason the Senate stopped doing this. Democrats are not going to want to sit around all day and be in the chamber listening to Republicans talk. They don't want to give up fundraisers. They don't want to give up trips. They'd have to give Republicans as much time as they wanted.

There is a whole lot more than that. Go here if you want an education.

H/t: 1kecko

Republicans Shocked Over Anger at Voting Against Franken’s Anti-Rape Amendment

By GottaLaff



I've posted over and over again about Jamie Leigh Jones' horrific ordeal, and how proud I was of Al Franken for his amendment aimed at punishing rapists like Jamie's.

I also listed the 30 GOP accessories to the defense contractors' rape.

True to form, the Rushpublics just don't get it... at all:

Politico reports that Republicans are now scratching their heads at why the public is so incensed about their “no” votes:

Privately, GOP sources acknowledge that they failed to anticipate the political consequences of a “no” vote on the amendment. And several aides said that Republicans are engaged in an internal blame game about why they agreed to a roll-call vote on the measure, rather than a simple voice vote that would have allowed the opposing senators to duck criticism.

[...]

Thune is also claiming that Franken doesn’t really care about Jones and other rape victims whose employers have blocked them from seeking justice; he and other Democrats just wanted to “create a vote which they could use to attack Republicans.”

So basically, the only lesson they learned is that next time, they have to hide their votes when they decide to screw over women’s rights. That way, they can support their allies in the contracting business and the public will never find out.

Yes, it's Franken who is the villain. What an insensitive schmuck he is, trying to protect women from disgusting, brutal predators (including 30 GOP senators)! Who does he think he is, exposing them like that!?

It's always about their self-servitude. They care nothing about their voters, they care nothing (or very little) about their country. They do, however, have a love affair with power and money.

Have consciences and ethics been completely phased out of their party's genetic make-up? Who are these people, and why did anyone vote for them?

Anyone?

Rudy Giuliani gets one right!

By GottaLaff

Hey, fair is fair. Via Josh Marshall:

I will give Rudy credit for realizing that the most important thing about fighting terrorism is the catch-phrases we use to describe it.

Noun. Verb. 9/11.

Evangelist Alamo sentenced to 175 years on sex charges

By GottaLaff

Occasionally, real justice is done:

Evangelist Tony Alamo is likely to spend the rest of his life in prison after an Arkansas judge sentenced him to 175 years in prison Friday on charges that included taking minors across state lines for sex, according to prosecutors.

Who is this Tony Alamo they speak of, you ask?

Tony Alamo (born Bernie LaZar Hoffman on September 20, 1934^[1][2]) is an American preacher, singer, entrepreneur, religious evangelist, and convicted child sex offender. He and his late wife Susan are best known as the founders of a nominally Christian organization currently known as Tony Alamo Christian Ministries. [...]

On July 24, 2009 Alamo was convicted in the Federal District Court for the Western District of Arkansas, sitting in Texarkana, Arkansas, on 10 counts of Interstate Transportation of Minors for Illegal Sexual Purposes, Rape, Sexual Assault and Contributing to the Delinquency of Minors.

Good riddance.

Tea Partiers to burn Reps. Periello, Pelosi in effigy

By GottaLaff


See how politely the Tea Tantrumers talked over him in this video? Such courteous Americans!

What a wholesome bunch the Tea Tantrumers are! Why, it's just as my friend said a post or two ago. Here's one more example of their compassionate, all-American, rah-rah inclusiveness:

In a move sure to spark controversy, the Danville TEA Party will close their "Fired Up for Freedom" rally by burning Rep. Tom Perriello and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in effigy in response to the passage of landmark healthcare legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. [...]

Danville TEA Party Chairman Nigel Coleman said, "We were outraged to find that Tom Perriello had voted in favor of this bill. I was with dozens of 5th District voters in his office two days before the vote and we pleaded with him to stand with us against the Pelosi plan."

"At this point we feel we have no representation in Congress. It disturbs me to find out that Perriello literally received a pat on the back from Nancy Pelosi before going to the House floor to vote."

And what healthier, more constructive, democratic way to express that than hanging fellow citizens in effigy? Let's everyone get our families together-- moms, dads, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents, tots-- and have a good old fashioned lynching next time! You know, for when effigies just aren't enough...

Via Think Progress:

In July, protesters also hung Democratic Rep. Frank Kratovil (MD) in effigy outside his district office. (HT: Blue Virginia and Firedoglake)

Tea Party Candidate Arrested On Drug Charges

By GottaLaff

My stars and garters, it looks like the Tea Party party is off to a rocky start:

Ezell Harris, a Florida conservative who launched his campaign for Orlando City Council at a Tea Party rally, has been arrested on drug trafficking charges.

Jail records show he is being held on four counts: trafficking in hydrocodone, dispensing illegal drugs without a license, unlawful use of a two-way radio, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Yes, this stellar example of this bunch...

...was making money off of Lorcet and Vicodin that he got as prescriptions. This can't end well.

For the definition of hypocrite, simply look under Harris, Ezell:

On his campaign platform, Harris posts this note: "Prescription drugs have replaced cocaine and other illicit substances as the leading cause of drug abuse deaths in Florida, a new study says. Despite this, the state has no prescription drug monitoring program, and the authors of the study say Florida must do more to curb the abuse of legal medication ... The report makes it clear that lax oversight is allowing Florida’s legal drug abuse problem to grow out of control.

I guess Florida oversight was better than he thought.

Tolerance: Special Comment by my 72-year-old friend

By GottaLaff

My very caring, impassioned 72-year-old Twitter pal, who goes by the name 42bkdodgr, would like to share his feelings about the conservatives' hostile intrusion into what is left of the Republican party, and the resulting split. I am more than happy to oblige.

But first, a personal note from 42bkdodgr:

Many of you may wonder why I chose to use the “ 72 year old friend” as the introduction to my Special Comments. I selected the moniker so readers could see that from my age and life experiences I give a different perspective to the issues of today.

Now for his Special Comment:

Tolerance

In the last couple of month three events have taken place, which for me shows where the Republican Party is heading.

The first event is the New York State 23rd Congressional District election. The local Republican leadership chose Dede Scozzafava as their candidate, whose selection was endorsed by the Republican leadership in Congress and by National Republican Congressional Committee.

Dissatisfied with Ms. Scozzafava positions on abortion, same-sex marriage and taxation; the Conservative wing of the Republican Party led by Sarah Palin and Dick Armey decided to put up their own candidate to defeat the Republican candidate.

We all know how that turned out, the election of Democratic candidate Bill Owens, the first Democrat to hold that District’s seat in over 100 years.

The second event took place on Nov.7th during the voting on the HCR Bill. With all Republicans indicating they would all vote NO on the bill, I wondered if there was at least one representative who knew his constituents were in favor of having a health care reform bill passed.

Well I wasn’t disappointed, a courageous individual, Rep. Anh “Joseph” Cao (R-New Orleans), listening to the needs of his constituents, who were concerned about the rising costs of health care premiums, voted for the HCR Bill with a public option.

Rep Cao did what he was elected to do, represent interests of his constituents and not just support party ideology. I believe there where others who felt the same way but were afraid to go against their party leadership and the conservative wing of the party.

For actually representing the wishes of his constituents, Rep Cao received a lot of hateful words from the right wing of the party. He received such hateful remarks as “The face of an American traitor”, “I will go broke supporting a dog to run against this traitor”, “Go back to Saigon, Vietnam, where you f_ _ _ing belong G_ _K”. Some people even asked that their donations be returned.

The third event involves Sen. Lindsey Graham (R - SC). The Charleston County, S.C., Republican Party censured Sen. Graham for his work with Democrats and GOP moderates. They were upset that Sen. Graham worked with Sen. John Kerry ( D-Mass.) and Joseph Liberman (I-Conn.) on climate change legislation and for also working on a bipartisan basis with members of the Democratic party on immigration reform.

Now what do these three events have in common? Its that the Conservative wing (tea baggers/ Tea Party) of the Republican Party has little or no tolerance for those with different point of views.

The Conservative wing of the Party has indicated they will endorse those Republican candidates in the 2010 primaries who support their ideology (abortions, gay marriage, taxation) or they will select a candidate to oppose them.

When you take into account these three events along with the actions, dress, signs and posters displayed by the protesters at the Town Hall meetings, the 9/12 Rally and the Bachmann “Press Conference” rally, you can see that the Republican Party is slowly being taken over by the far right wing of the party.

When the intentions of a political party’s wing is to drum out those members who have different points of view and expects all followers to be in lock step-- or should I say goose step?-- with their ideology, then the political party that emerges looks no different from a Fascist or Communist Party.

Many thanks again for another timely, thoughtful piece, 42bkdodgr. You never fail to say what so many of us are thinking and feeling.

Why Greg Craig lied

By GottaLaff

Earlier Paddy posted about White House Counsel Greg Craig's leaving. But he had previously said rumors about his departure were dead wrong:

"I have no plans to leave whatsoever. The rumors that I'm about to leave are false. The reports that I'm about to leave are wrong. I have no plans to leave."

-- White House counsel Greg Craig, in an interview just one month ago.

Here's the latest:

A senior official explains to CBS News that Craig lied so as not to undermine his position or authority.

Okay then.

VIDEO Snarkage: Carrie Prejean Sex Tape

By GottaLaff

Not for the kiddies, but Hi! Larious!

Carrie Prejean Sex Tape - watch more funny videos

H/t: Windy City Watch

Quickie: GOP hysteria in a nutshell

By GottaLaff

Today's Quickie:

Thom Hartmann on the Radio Machine just now, commenting on the Rushpublic hysteria over the news that some of the 9/11 suspects will be tried in the U.S. court system:

"They're hysterical because a criminal is going to show up in criminal court and get the death penalty."

Period.

That was today's Quickie. Was it good for you?

Undoing BushCo: Strike against politicization of government by Obama administration

By GottaLaff

For now at least, say buh-bye to "burrowing":

In what may be another small dose of that precious change we can believe in, the Obama administration is taking steps to crack down on one of the Bushies' favored tactics for politicizing government: burrowing.

In the waning days of the Bush administration, we told you about some political appointees who had landed career jobs, with civil-service protections, at their departments -- allowing them to continue to exert influence under the new government, and making them difficult to remove. [...]

[S]tarting January 1, his office will have to sign off every time a political appointee who was appointed during the last 5 years is hired for a career position. Right now, OPM approval is only required during a presidential election year.

Paul Light, an expert on the federal bureaucracy at the Brookings Institution:

... [B]ecause the Obama administration, when it leaves office, will inevitably want to burrow its own appointees into career jobs, "they will rue the day they did this."

For now, though, count this as a strike against the politicization of government that the Bushies raised to an art form.

Chipping away at the toxic BushCo stains. That is change we can believe in.

H/t: muttlikemeblog

Prejean threatened walkout before she stepped on to 'Larry King Live' set

By GottaLaff

When C-Pre glanced over at who I assume was her attorney, gave him a nod (at about 2:05), and mouthed, "We have to leave" (at about 2:24) on the video we posted yesterday, I suspected this had been staged, er, planned:

Upon entering CNN's Washington Bureau Wednesday night, the first words out of Former Miss California Carrie Prejean's mouth to CNN news assistant Christina McAusland were, "You tell Larry if he's not nice to me, I will get up and leave." [...]

She arrived with an entourage of five, (for cable news Green Room context, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., never arrives with a group that large) and barked at a studio operator for touching her hair while setting up her microphone.

Ooo, Diva McDiverson is getting a little big for her fancy pageant walkin', isn't she?

She accused the King staff of lying to her when they sworetogod there would be no phone calls. Those fiends! What could they have been thinking letting a caller slip in? After all, why would C-Pre expect phone calls on a call-in show? Unheard of!

She belittled McAusland saying, "Is the intern talking to me? Oh look at the little intern, look at the little intern trying to explain!"

"I've never been treated so poorly in my whole life," McAusland, who recently accepted an executive producer position at Newsie.com of Media Convergence Group, said.

Poll-itics: Obama Approval Rises in North Carolina

By GottaLaff

Poor Prez O, he's the worst president ever! That's what they keep telling us, right?

New polls from Civitas and Public Policy Polling show President Obama's approval rates on the uptick in North Carolina.

Tom Jensen: "This improvement in Obama's standing means that a year after he took the state in the Presidential race by the smallest of margins he is in more or less the exact same position now that he was then. North Carolinians are evenly divided in their feelings about Obama and if he had to stand before the voters in the state again today it would probably be just as close as it was last year."

Some nosedive, huh?

Protecting Patients' Rights

What a week. We've already seen Blue Dogs take women to the back of the bus (or was it the alley?) with Stupak's impressively Stupid Amendment. Now we're hearing that those who supposedly worry about "too much spending" when it comes to health care--you know, the meatloaf-brains who rejected the public option, which would create competition and actually bring down costs--are now blathering on about embracing "tort reform."

Because you'd really want to take away the rights of victims in a democracy to lower the health care costs by...wait for it...wait for it... ".5%" (according to the CBO).

All you really need to know is that Blue Dogs/GOPers (is there any difference?) are those in favor of this counterproductive course of action, yet if you do indeed need more, watch the heart wrenching videos recounting the tragic results of medical malpractice. To learn more about the 98,000 lives lost due to medical error each year--or 268 every day--go to 98,000 reasons, a website set up by the American Association for Justice. Once there send a message to your Senator: Remind them you won't have your rights further stripped away so they can scarf down more caviar with their contributors at Big Insurance.

Go here to view more disturbing videos that tell the true story of "tort reform."

Follow my silly ass on Twitter: http://twitter.com/cliffschecter

**Another note: I consult for the American Association of Justice to protect patients' rights from greedy insurance companies

RNC to opt out of abortion coverage

By GottaLaff

Yesterday I posted this:

I previously posted about Focus on the Hypocrites Family providing coverage for abortions. Now this. How will Michael Steele cover his, er, bling this time?

The RNC's health insurance plan "covers elective abortion -- a procedure the party's own platform calls 'a fundamental assault on innocent human life,'" reports Politico.

FEC records "show the RNC purchases its insurance from Cigna. Two sales agents for the company said that the RNC's policy covers elective abortion."

Well now, they'd have none of that. Michael Steele harrumphed that loud and clear:

The Republican National Committee will no longer offer employees an insurance plan that covers abortion after POLITICO reported Thursday that the anti-abortion RNC's policy has covered the procedure since 1991.

"Money from our loyal donors should not be used for this purpose," Chairman Michael Steele said in a statement. "I don't know why this policy existed in the past, but it will not exist under my administration. Consider this issue settled."

Steele has told the committee's director of administration to opt out of coverage for elective abortion in the policy it uses from Cigna. [...]

As of Thursday, the RNC’s plan covers elective abortion – a procedure the party’s own platform calls “a fundamental assault on innocent human life.”

Informed of the coverage, RNC spokeswoman Gail Gitcho told POLITICO earlier Thursday that the policy pre-dates the tenure of current RNC Chairman Michael Steele.

Yes, there was that very special "opt out" element. I see freedom of choice works for Rushpublics... when it suits them:

According to several Cigna employees, the insurer offers its customers the opportunity to opt out of abortion coverage – and the RNC did not choose to opt out.

But rank-and-file Republicans said Thursday before the change was announced that the policy should – and would – be changed.

“We were not aware of this, obviously, and this will, of course, be fixed,” said James Bopp Jr., a Republican National Committeeman from Indiana.

Say wha..? Didn't they read their own policy? Tsk, tsk, tsk. Fine print can be such a pain. But Cigna says they were informed!

Cigna spokesman Chris Curran:

"... Employer clients are informed of the services covered and it is their choice to decide which benefits meet their needs.”

There is no indication that any RNC employee used the abortion coverage, but Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards said it’s “no surprise” that the RNC had been offering it.

The surprise was that they were caught.

Dueling VIDEOS: Attorney General Holder's announcement v. 9/11 families

By GottaLaff

Military commissions allow heresay as well as testimony given after having been tortured. In other words, it's meaningless.

A.G. Holder claims that the Department of Justice has evidence that hasn't been revealed yet.

In that regard, I've heard that, in the case of low level detainees, evidence has been sprung on the defense, heavily redacted documents that the defense had never seen. And of course, the standards are much lower than they are in federal court. Just thought I'd pass that along.

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

Via Invictus:



******

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.

Lt. Col. Barry Wingard is a military attorney who represents Fayiz Al-Kandari in the Military Commission process and in no way represents the opinions of his home state. When not on active duty, Colonel Wingard is a public defender in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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.

Mid Day Distraction

What a bizarre, news free day. It's interesting to see Jones out of character. My nominee for headline of the day-

Craig Ferguson draws more 18-49 viewers than Jimmy Fallon for first time
Looks good on ya Craigy.

Video- Kristol: No trial for Hasan, 'They should just go ahead and convict him and put him to death'

Bill's been around long enough, you think he'd know how these things work.

Video- How The US Funds The Taliban

Via Cspan Junkie.

Video- Glenn Beck Calls Military Behind Obama During Speech "Props"

Because I knew you needed some crazy.

Cartoon of the Day

Click to enlarge, via.

Video- President Obama's comments in Japan