Breitbart: ‘This Message is to Attorney General Holder,’ Investigate ACORN ‘Or Else’

By GottaLaff

"Or else"? Really?

Right-wing activist Andrew Breitbart of BigGovernment.com and other conservative anti-Obama websites [issued] a direct threat, approaching blackmail, to the United States Attorney General, Eric Holder. Breitbart is angry that Attorney General Holder has not opened a federal investigation into ACORN and he issued a threat of releasing more tapes during the 2010 elections, unless Holder complies with his demands.

Blackmail. I'm sure Breitbart wishes it was whitemail, but when you put yourself in criminal jeopardy, beggars can't be choosers.

Breitbart together with conservative operatives James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles, released another heavily edited ACORN tape this week, which seems to show an ACORN employee assisting the two with an illegal prostitution scheme. [...]

“It was Hannah and James and me who were being investigated. That’s why we’ve been forced to offer this latest tape.”

Yes, that's right. Holder made him do it. Holder made him issue a threat, too. It's all the Attorney General's fault, because Breitbart is not in the least bit responsible.

Besides, he's probably just cranky because the paper he works for is shutting down.

“And this message is to Attorney General Holder: I want you to know we have more tapes–its not just ACORN. And we’re going to hold out until the next election cycle — or else, if you want to do a clean investigation, we will give you the rest of what we have. We will comply with you. We will give you the documentation we have from countless ACORN whistleblowers who want to come forward, but are fearful of this organization and the retribution — that they fear that this is a dangerous organization.”

“So if you will get into an investigation, we will give you the tapes, and if you don’t give us the tapes [sic], we will revisit these tapes come election time.”

ACORN is so dangerous, so lethal, such a threat to America that Breitfart, er -bart (typo) felt it necessary to issue a threat of his own... to the nation's head legal guy. Smart move.

Why would he take such a chance? Because he's mad, that's why! Because he and the secret videotapers are being sued, that's why! Because he's a fool, that's why!

There is also an investigation in California launched by Attorney General Jerry Brown at the request of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, which has infuriated Breitbart.

I don't know a whole lot about legal stuff, but IMHO, Breitbart's in a heap-o'-trouble.

H/t: muttlikemeblog

VIDEO: 1,500 uninsured Arkansans line up for a free health care clinic

By GottaLaff

Thank you Keith Olbermann and Keith's producer. And thanks to everyone who donated. I did, and I couldn't be prouder:



C.A.R.E. free clinic, Statehouse Convention Center, Little Rock Nov. 21, 2009

FireDogLake has several interviews of people who came today to receive care.

[W]hile [Blanche] Lincoln considers voting against the bill, free clinics like the one today remain the only option for hundreds of thousands of people in her state. The next free clinic event is scheduled for December 9-10 in Kansas City, Mo.

We need to put the pressure on those members of Congress who feel the status quo is okay, and who are just fine with continuing to increase the profits for Big Insurance.

The video depicts just one result of caving to special interests. Here's another one:

We got our 60

By GottaLaff

All Democrats voted Yes. All Republicans voted No. Final vote: 60-39.

Lieberman voted Yes.

The health care bill will move forward. It's debate time.

Details here.

Glenn Beck to announce ‘big plan' for 2010

By GottaLaff

Maybe FreedomTCOT can tell his friends to blindly follow Blech's Big Plan!

At a rally Saturday at a massive retirement community in central Florida, Beck is planning to unveil what he has billed as a “big plan” for 2010, which is expected to involve the 9.12 Project [...]

Need a visual reminder about what the 9/12 Project looked like? Why, here's one now! And here's a handy quote from the same post:

"I'm sick of being called Hitler and unpatriotic".

Aww, we're sorry we misunderstood you and your unpatriotic Hitler signs!

Looks like Blech is planning on putting on his superduper XXXL activism hat. I hope it covers his face, but that's wish for another post.

Apparently, he's also actively raising money off of all his followers' grassrootsiness:

Beck's Saturday rally, which is set for 3 p.m., is timed to coincide with the kickoff of a tour promoting his new book, “Arguing with Idiots.”

Speaking of idiots...

The 2010 march — called the “We the People Restore Our Constitution March, Rally and 9/11 Memorial” — is planned for Washington’s National Mall. Its other co-sponsor is an online activism group called ResistNet.com.

ResistNet’s Darla Dawald credited Beck with setting in motion the march, but said he’s not involved in its planning. “Glenn doesn’t want it to be about him – always about the people,” Dawald, who is leading march planning for ResistNet, wrote in an email.

That Glenn, he's so selfless, isn't he? What a shrinking violet.

Here's a list of ResistNet's "partners".

Now see if this rings a bell (Hint: Read the first sentence of this post):

Though Drawdy stressed that Beck “is not the leader of” the 912 movement, she added “all he has to do is say something, and they’ll jump.”

No dictators for them, nosirreebob!

The 912 Project website, which is maintained by Mercury Radio Arts, Beck’s production company but hosted by Fox News, lists the march among many other upcoming 912 events, and provides a link for subscribers to sign up.

The FoxNews.com logo adorns the lower right hand corner of the 912 Project homepage, which indicates it is “Brought to you by FOXNews.com” and links to the network’s website.

Big plan, indeed. One might even say corporate.

H/t: Mark Karlin, editor/publisher of BuzzFlash

"I can't wait to follow EXACTLY what Beck tells us"

By GottaLaff

Via where else? Twitter:

There's nothing like authoritarianism and blind followers to ruin a perfectly good country.

Come to think of it, isn't it rather contradictory to follow "EXACTLY" what Blech tells one to do... to avoid impending dictatorship?

Why, I do believe FreedomTCOT's thoughts and actions are being ::dun-dun-dun-n-n:: controlled! Let's not tell him.

H/t: TQNEWS

Not Joe the Not Plumber hopes Palin not running in 2012

By GottaLaff

Not Joe is not hoping for Not Author to not stay out of the 2012 race:

"I hope she doesn't (run) because I think she could do a lot for America outside of office," Wurzelbacher said. "And I think she could rally Americans to get together and make some changes from the grassroots level. I think she could be an incredible rallying point, and I think that's where she could serve America best."

She could do a lot for America outside of America.

"Mainstream media really painted me as a fool," he said. "They did their best to discredit me as a tax cheat, a wife beater, a racist. You know, they said a lot of nasty things about me, and all of them untrue."

I seem to have misjudged the corporate media. There's more accuracy in their reporting than I realized.

Not Joe looks to me to be a future Lou Dobbs voter:

"Do I think McCain was the answer?" he asked. "Absolutely not, especially with the bill he tried to pass with legalizing all the illegal immigrants. He was just pandering to the Hispanic vote, period."

Not Joe is not good with facts... and not inclusive. And that's not American.

VIDEOS: Sen. Al Franken's Remarks on Health Care Reform

By GottaLaff

Have I mentioned lately how happy I am that Al Franken is a U.S. Senator, and how proud I am of the job he's doing?

No?

Well then, I am so happy that Al Franken is a U.S. Senator, and I am so proud of the job he's doing!





Thank you, Firedoglake, for getting these up so quickly.

Is Harry Reid Planning To Sell Out The Public Option?

By GottaLaff

Glass half empty? Or glass completely empty?

It looks like Harry Reid is getting ready to sell out the labor unions, the progressive community, the Democratic base, and the majority of the American people. [...]

There is only two possible conclusions:

• Reid thinks Joe Lieberman, Mary Landrieu, and Blanche Lincoln are bluffing. He believes that in the end when he stand up to them they will fold. (Given Reid’s track record I would not be holding my breath for that)
• Reid is planning to sell out the American people who overwhelming support the public option. He is planning cripple the public option with a trigger or remove it all together. [...] They will be given not only veto power over health care reform, but over every issue the progressive community cares about.

If this is accurate, and he's planning to sell us out, then he just ensured his being voted out of office in 2010.

As the voice of the L.A. Lakers, Chick Hearn, used to say, the outcome of the game is "in the refrigerator: the door is closed, the lights are out, the eggs are cooling, the butter's getting hard, and the Jell-O's jigglin'."

Let's hope the author of that Firedoglake post is wrong, and that the fridge door is still ajar.

VIDEO-- Harry Potter: The Sequel- Democratic health care debate talking point

By GottaLaff



I've heard a number of Dems use this one. Hey, if it works, go for it. Maybe some of the magic will rub off on them.

Poof! A robust public option!

First Oprah, now Bill Moyers

By GottaLaff

Oprah gave us two years' notice. Bill? Only a few months, and I'm way more upset about this one:

Veteran PBS journalist Bill Moyers has announced that he will be ending his Friday night public affairs show “Bill Moyers Journal” as well as “Now on PBS” on April 30, 2010:

Mr. Moyers said he had been planning for some time to retire the program on Dec. 25, but was asked by PBS to raise the funds to continue through April, which he did.

“I am 75 years old,” he said of the decision to end the series, which began in April 2007. The program has recently been having a “good run of it,” he added in a telephone interview on Friday, “so I feel it’s time.” He said he was not quitting television work, although he has no new projects planned.

He's one of the most engaging, well-informed journalists on the Tee Vee Machine. Maybe he'll do specials? Please?

PhotOh! Sarah Palin plays the Blame Game

By GottaLaff

Via our pals at The Mudflats, a masterpiece:

She updates Blogger McGhostWriter's book here.

BREAKING: Blanche Lincoln votes to move health care bill forward

By GottaLaff

I'm watching CSPAN2, and Blanche Lincoln (D-Arkansas) just announced that she will vote to move the bill forward, allowing a debate on health care reform.

How can anyone move against debating a bill? Debating. That's what Congress is supposed to do. Share ideas. Discuss. Exchange arguments. Decide. Vote.

Kinda like democracy.

60. Finally.

UPDATE: Lincoln says more votes to come, and she told Reid she will oppose any procedural vote in future if public option still on table. (via Greg Mitchell on Twitter)

AUDIO: Dennis Miller calls Newsweek Palin cover "sexist", then slams Hillary Clinton

By GottaLaff

Remember when Dennis Miller was funny?



Miller said it was 9/11 that changed him. Did it make him sexist too?

But Miller’s hypocritical comments and Palin’s lack of concern with them, give weight to those who argue that Palin and her conservative followers have a selective perception of social bias.

And the media will give them both a pass on this.

Hyp. O. Crites.

Joe Lieberman, "You lie!"

By GottaLaff

Here's what Joe Lieberman, accusing President Obama of pulling a bait and switch, said:

"It’s classic politics of our time that if you look at the campaign last year, presidential, you can’t find a mention of public option," Lieberman said. "It was added after the election as a part of what we normally consider health insurance reform — insurance market reforms, cover people, cover people who are not covered." [...]

President Obama backed the public option during the campaign. For example, the Obama-Biden health care plan proposed a new public plan.

I just know you're a step ahead of me here. Let's say it together:

Traitor Joe is a big fat dog-faced liar.

For that quaint little thing called the truth, go here.

H/t: Glenn Greenwald

VIDEO- Countdown: What Senate holdouts get for moving health care bill forward

By GottaLaff

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

Last night Lawrence O'Donnell ticked off what the holdouts would get in exchange for letting the debate move forward.

Keep in mind, this is just to let debate begin... not voting for a bill. How generous of them. How democratic.

Sen. Mary Landrieu just announced she'll vote "yes" to move the bill forward, but is now speaking critically of the public option as I type this.

Landrieu to back Dems on healthcare vote

By GottaLaff

Yes, good, now vote for the bill:

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), one of two Democratic centrists previosuly not committed to supporting a crucial test vote on healthcare reform Saturday night, will back her party, according to the Democratic leadership.

VIDEO: If Sarah Palin's book could talk

By GottaLaff



Now if only walls had ears...

Coming Attractions: Roadmap to Health Care Reform

By GottaLaff

Via the L.A. Times, an outline of what we will see in the coming weeks:

CLOTURE ON MOTION TO PROCEED
Required to end a Republican filibuster and begin debate on the healthcare legislation

When expected: Today

Votes required: 60

AMENDMENTS
Once debate begins, lawmakers from both parties will be allowed to offer amendments

When expected: Starting Nov. 30 through Christmas or beyond

Votes required: Subject to negotiation, with 60 likely for more contentious amendments

CLOTURE TO END DEBATE ON THE BILL
Required to end a Republican filibuster and move to a vote on the bill

When expected: Just before Christmas, though possibly later

Votes required: 60

ADOPTION OF THE BILL
Would send the Senate bill to a conference committee, where it would be reconciled with the House healthcare bill that passed two weeks ago

When expected: Just before Christmas, though possibly later

Votes required: 51

CLOTURE TO END DEBATE ON CONFERENCE REPORT
Would end GOP filibuster of the conference report that combines the House and Senate healthcare bills

When expected: Sometime in January

Votes required: 60

FINAL PASSAGE
Assuming House approval, would send the legislation to President Obama for his signature

When expected: Sometime in January

Votes required: 51

The article can be found here. I only gave you the accompanying primer.

Mid Day Distraction

Slight NSFW.

Vermont church to sell Tiffany window to help homeless

Imagine the good that could be done with all the treasures stored in the Vatican?

BRATTLEBORO, Vt.—Here's a twist on the old saying, "When a door closes, a window opens." A Brattleboro, Vt., a church is removing a historic stained glass window, so it can open its doors to the homeless.

The First Baptist Church is selling a stained glass window that was installed in 1896. It depicts St. John the Divine and was created and signed by Tiffany Studios.

Proceeds from the sale will be used to repair the church's leaking roof so it can continue to host a winter shelter for people who need a place to sleep and a warm meal.

An antique dealer who specializes in stained glass windows told the Brattleboro Reformer the window could fetch anywhere between $40,000 and $60,000 at auction.

Video- O'Reilly to Palin on why no one questioned Biden's experience during campaign: "Well, he's got a lot of experience"

Oh Sarah, Sarah, Sarah.

Cartoon of the Day

Click to enlarge, via.

Video- Presidents Weekly Address: Traveling Abroad for Our Economy at Home

VIDEO: Sarah Palin's interview with Bill O'Reilly in 200 seconds

By GottaLaff



Thank you TPM!

Great. I can't get it to play. But when I finally do, I'll join you in group snarkage.

Max Baucus will return for vote

By GottaLaff

We'll at least have our full 60:

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, who is with his ailing mother in Montana, will return for Saturday's key test vote on health care reform, his office confirmed Friday.

Who's left, Blanche Lincoln? Landrieu is leaning toward allowing debate (how big of her after stuffing her pockets with money from guess who). Blanche, how about it?

Note: Sorry about the misinformation. I've corrected. My head is somewhere else at the moment. Bygones.

H/t: samJtwit

Levi Johnston's mom sentenced to 3 years in drug case

By GottaLaff

Bad news for the Johnston family:

Sherry Johnston was sentenced Friday to three years in prison for dealing OxyContin. [...]

Johnston, who lives in Wasilla, made a deal with prosecutors in August to plead to a single felony count in exchange for dropping the other five felony drug dealing charges against her. The deal called for her to be sentenced to three years of prison time plus three years of probation, which is what the judge gave her.

Johnston will serve her sentence at Alaska's only female prison, Hiland Mountain Correctional Center in Eagle River.

Now Sarah Palin's ghost writer has something to add to the paperback version.

UPDATE: Go here for details that aren't included in this post. Gryphen has the scoop.

Another Gitmo Detainee Wins in Federal Court

By GottaLaff

Good news and hope for those detainees who should not be there in the first place:

Farhi Saeed bin Mohammed, an Algerian national who was captured in Pakistan and turned over to the U.S. military after fleeing from Afghanistan, was ordered released from the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay by a U.S. District Court judge yesterday, according to the human rights group CagePrisoners.

Per Daphne Eviatar: The score is Detainees 31, United States 8.

CagePrisoners is a great site, by the way.

Now about that Fayiz al-Kandari...

******

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.

Putting Obama's poll numbers into perspective

By GottaLaff

Greg Sargent has more on Obama's lower approval numbers:

Gallup adds more context to Obama’s drop below 50%, noting that while only Ford, Reagan and Clinton have hit this point faster than Obama did, all presidents who’ve crossed that threshold rebounded.

(via)

Physicians protesting health care reform in 20 cities tomorrow

By GottaLaff

Here we go. These people are, and will be, doing everything they can to muck up health care reform. The so-called professionals are acting anything but.

Whatever happened to trying to keep patients, you know, alive and properly cared for? (click on images to enlarge)

These physicians sure do appear to be caring, dedicated grassrootsy types, don't they? Except for the fact that they're perpetuating lies and misinformation, and knocking themselves out to deny millions of people access to life-saving procedures, preventive care, medications...

Who is funding them? Anyone know? I'm sure Rachel Maddow covered this, but I can't seem to dig up a link.

UPDATE: 1kecko traced it to docs4patientcare.org who is headed up by someone from United Healthcare. He's still digging. Good work, 1kecko!

UPDATE #2:


(Thank you Wordsmith!)

H/t: 1kecko

VIDEO: Tina Fey sneaks in Sarah Palin impression at Ad Council Dinner

By GottaLaff

Lerve Tina! She spoke at the Ad Council Annual Dinner, and yes, she did her Blogger McCan'tWrite impression:



Money line:

"They recently made a porn movie about Sarah and then this same porn actress, Lisa Ann, played me in a parody of '30 Rock' ... And weirdly of the three of us, Lisa Ann knows the most about foreign policy."

She never disappoints. What a bright, funny, talented woman.

H/t: MWJ1231

Billboard: Prepare for war... against our government

By GottaLaff

Via Think Progress:

This billboard replaces one that warned that the socialist “Obama-Nation” is “coming for you.” It’s unclear who the owner of the billboard is, but the first one was the work of a “Missouri businessman.” (HT: Oliver Willis)

Sometimes free speech gets under my skin. I've ranted about this subject so often I've temporarily run out of rant.

Your turn.

Mary Landrieu will reveal decision on motion to proceed Saturday morning

By GottaLaff

She said she is still neutral, but she sounded bullish.

AUDIO- Laffy on the radio: Palin, ACORN, War on Christmas, more

By GottaLaff



If you missed it, I was on the Radio Machine with the absolutely wonderful Angie Coiro (on San Francisco's progressive station Green 960) Friday night, discussing all kinds of topically topical topics.

I now have a regular radio spot with her every Friday night at 6:45 Pacific!

As Angie's special correspondent and demented sidekick Buttercup, I bring her silly stories along with serious ones every week, and whatever else happens to pop up in the week's news.

VIDEO: Tea Party, the movie

By GottaLaff

This. Is. A. Very Serious Video.

No, it's not a parody.

It is for realz, it is genuine, it is the real article. And it is inadvertently funny:

VIDEO: President Obama, United We Serve, and the NFL Team Up

By GottaLaff



This will air during the Thanksgiving football games:

In support of his United We Serve initiative, President Obama and NFL stars Drew Brees, DeMarcus Ware, and Troy Polamalu team up to highlight the importance of fitness for America's children. The NFLs Play 60 initiative stresses that young people can live a healthy lifestyle by engaging in 60 minutes of physical activity a day. The Presidents United We Serve initiative encourages all Americans to get engaged in their communities and help create a brighter future for our nations youth through service.

There Prez O goes again, indoctrinating our children.

VIDEO: “Pray for Obama” Psalm 109:8 more like biblical death threat

By GottaLaff

As Frank Schaeffer told Rachel Maddow on Tuesday, the anti-Obama religious rhetoric is “trawling for assassins:”

If you did happen to watch The Rachel Maddow Show the other day, you've been well-informed about the appalling sales pitches, er, threats, um, prayers of some very misguided, very destructive religious extremists:

Diana Butler Bass at Beliefnet explains that Psalm 109 is one of the “imprecatory” prayers, “a lament in the form of petition to destroy one’s enemies.” While perhaps intended to be a joke, she notes that the psalm actually “entreats God to destroy the president”

Zazzle had the good sense and taste to remove the items from their site. However:

CafePress has been carrying the Psalm 109:8 items but pulled the items from their website yesterday, though it appears that as of today they have relisted several items, issuing this statement:

We initially pulled the Psalm 109:8 content from our products today because broader media dialog indicated that these designs potentially suggested violence towards the president. Based on current public discourse and further review of the actual content, we have determined that it is fair political commentary and we are in the process of reinstating this merchandise. As with all of our content, these designs will continue to be reviewed and if at any time their meaning is construed as advocating violence we will revisit our decision.

Based on current public discourse and our determination of what it is fair political commentary, Psalm 109:8 products are still featured on our site. Anti-presidential gear has been a mainstay at CafePress since we were founded in 1999 and has become a key component of political discourse. Our site has become a cultural barometer of public opinion and as such designs often come into question. In managing our content we are trying to protect self-expression, while making sure we are not advocating violence.

Sometimes it's better to consider common decency and the safety of the president than it is to make a quick buck. Sometimes disclaimers just don't cut it. Sometimes the priority should be concern over that one person who could snap after being egged on by your product line.

UPDATE per Xero in Comments, they took them down:

"General consensus has proven that the design does point to a broader interpretation of the Psalm and thus has been deemed inappropriate for sale at CafePress."

H/t: FreeRangeTalk

Sanford impeachment measure to be formally considered

By GottaLaff

Will they dress in top hats and tails?

A special House committee in South Carolina will formally consider an impeachment resolution against Gov. Mark Sanford for the first time next Tuesday, the Republican chairman of the committee told CNN Friday. [...]

The measure currently states that Sanford committed "serious misconduct" by secretly leaving the state in June without informing his staff or establishing a chain of command.

Harrison said "the game plan" is for the four Republicans and three Democrats in the group to finalize the language in the resolution before passing it on to the full Judiciary committee, which will then vote in January on whether the measure should be sent to the full House.

This is what happens when you abandon your state.

Don't cry for me Argentina....

UPDATE: More here. (H/t: Ady)

DCCC outraises NRCC, has $10 million more in cash

By GottaLaff

Via Roll Call and Hotline On Call:

While the DCCC has more debt than the NRCC ($3.3M-$2M), it has a huge cash-on-hand edge. At the end of Oct., the DCCC had $14.5M in the bank, while the NRCC lagged with just $4.2M.

It's nice to share good news.

Sarah Palin "seems to have no first language"

By GottaLaff

Dick Cavett is discussing Sarah Palin on MSNBC:

She seems to have no first language. [...] I feel sorry for John McCain because he aimed low and missed.

The fact that you could take any 5 sentences out of anything she says and place them anywhere else in what she writes without changing the meaning bothers me. [paraphrased]

I've always been a huge Dick Cavett fan. I met him once, and somehow managed to get a laugh out of him. I consider that to be one of my finest achievements.

OFA rai$ing money off of Sarah Palin's book tour

By GottaLaff

It's only fair, after all. We can't let Blogger McCan'tWrite be the only one who rakes in the big bucks. Organizing for America director Mitch Stewart is fundraising off of Palin's ghost writer's book:

The group, the president's political arm at the Democratic National Committee, set a goal of raising $500,000 over the next week "to help push back against Sarah Palin and her allies." OFA said the contributions will be used to respond to those attacks via ads, events, and phone banking congressional offices.

VIDEO: On Oprah, Sarah Palin Admits To Being Naive, Loving Unprotected Sex, and Enjoying Porn

By GottaLaff

Oh this is good. I heard the audio on the Stephanie Miller Show, but didn't realize there was a video to go with it:



Whoever edited this should get a Special Oscar.

H/t: Lizz Winstead and Alicia!

GOP Lays Booby Trap in Health Care Debate

By GottaLaff

Another day, another Conservative steaming pile of misinformation. This time it's all about how the Big Bad Government is going to ration your health care... again. See, now they're going to force women to ignore preventive breast health care and their own common sense.

Know what this really is? Another attempt to divert attention from the battle over politicizing the battle. Shiny keys! See 'em?

Since anti-abortion lawmakers are eager to wipe out a choice that truly matters for women, mammogram-gate conveniently diverts women's attention to health care option that isn't actually under threat. And all the chest-thumping polemics on Capitol Hill end up turning public attention away from what's really making us ill: the politicization of our health.

Now let's take a look at that thing we like to call "truth":

On mammograms, here's what the Task Force actually said:

The USPSTF recommends against routine screening mammography in women aged 40 to 49 years. The decision to start regular, biennial screening mammography before the age of 50 years should be an individual one and take into account patient context, including the patient's values regarding specific benefits and harms.

In other words, recommendations and... choice:

Currently, there's no evidence that the government or the insurance industry will try to curtail coverage for mammograms simply based on the Task Force's recommendations. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius noted as much earlier this week, stating that the Task Force's recommendations don't determine government policy.

But we know how Conservatives hate choice, so all we hear about is how "Obamacare" is gonna get us!

Once again, they plant a poisonous seed and it takes hold. The press needs to wake up and start reporting facts, not talking points.

H/t: Greg Skilling

Majority of Bagram prison detainees to be released

By GottaLaff

Liveblogging Thom Hartmann:

The U.S. military says the vast majority of the 700 detainees from Bagram Air Force Base, arrested in Afghanistan, in prison... of the 700, the vast majority will be released.

Why? U.S. Military brigadier general Mark Martins says because they're fighting more for money than ideology.

In Afghanistan, where we are spending a whole lot of money, the Taliban pays people $5 a day (big money there), so why don't we just give them $5 a day (asks Thom)? Let them be one of the world's primary sources of raw materials for pharmaceuticals. One gallon of gasoline is enough to pay an Afghan to plant trees for 4 months.

This is huge, he says.

We'll let these prisoners out because so few (10-20%) are fighting for ideology, because their family members or friends were killed by U.S. forces, or resent the occupation. They're not defending Islam, they're defending their families, their homes. No country likes to be colonized.

WE threw off the colonizers.

Time for us to wake up. The solution doesn't have to be expensive or difficult.

Washington Times to shut down

By GottaLaff

The Washington Times may go online-only:

The Washington Times, a daily launched in 1982 by Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church, is set to lay off much of its editorial and production staff tomorrow, according to reputable sources within the paper.

The struggling paper, which reportedly has lost billions of dollars in its 27 year history, may be on the verge of a shutdown within 60 days.

Rev. Moon's paper just cratered.

H/t: Babzter

VIDEO: Angry Wingnuts Boo Sarah Palin, Call Her “Quitter”, Chant “Sign Our Books”

By GottaLaff

Looks like Barbie McLipSchmutz is losing a few more of her already low approval ratings points:

Angry crowd shouts at Sarah Palin at her book signing in Noblesville, Indiana on November 19, 2009 after Palin quits and refuses to sign books for around 300 families that spent about 3+ hours getting wristband and another 3+ hours waiting in line to get the Palin book signed. At Borders bookstore it was announced that 1,000 individuals would be given wristbands and could get two books signed each. By the time Sarah Palin quit, there were still about 300 individuals and there families who did not get even one book signed.

Liberal media elitists the farmer and my fellow co-blogger StrangeAppar8us have been collecting hostile comments from Sarah Palin’s Facebook page over in the Rumper Room.

For a nice hefty sampling of said comments, go here.

Yes, Sarah the Quitter strikes again.

Here's part of one comment:

Jordan Harris I just spent 9 hours of my day, $40 of my hard earned money on two of your books, and took the whole day off work to watch you jump on a bus and throw a half-heated wave to the crowd you were avoiding.

I have never felt so disrespected. How can you claim that you are different? You aren’t. You are just as selfish as everyone else in Washington.

Tsk, tsk. Barbie, your true colors show more and more at every tick of the clock. Maybe when you referrred to yourself as one of the people, one of us, you were referring to how "us" behaves on a bad hair, cranky, everything-goes-wrong, hate-the-world, thinking-of-nobody-but yourself day. If that's the case, then yes, you are one of us... at our worst.

And by all means, please keep on doing those Tee Vee interviews. The more we know you....

H/t: Andy Cobb

Ben Nelson will vote for health care bill to proceed to debate

By GottaLaff

Per Greg Sargent on Twitter (his site is down, so no link):

Ben Nelson will vote for health care bill to proceed to debate, his office announces, but stresses it's NOT a vote for the proposal

More soon.

UPDATE: MSNBC confirms that Reid needs only two more votes.

Sen. Roland Burris cleared, reprimanded by ethics committee

By GottaLaff

MSNBC is reporting that Roland Burris has been cleared. More from WaPo:

In a three-page "public letter of qualified admonition" issued Friday, the committee formally reprimanded Burris for statements -- some made under oath to an Illinois legislative committee -- in which he denied trying to raise any campaign contributions for indicted former governor Rod Blagojevich for his political committees. [...]

A letter of admonition is the mildest form of rebuke that the ethics committee can administer.

More here.

Mid Day Distraction

Happy 50th birthday to Rocky, Bullwinkle and Friends!! Many more fun clips here .

Video- Rep. Alan Grayson on Auditing the Fed

This could be very interesting.

Video- Stephen Colbert On The Late Show With David Letterman

Miss California pageant gives ad time to gay group

Yeah!!! Princess Jesus Boobies inadvertently did something nice for the Not Opposite Marriage People.

The Miss California USA pageant director who became embroiled in a war of words with former title holder Carrie Prejean has donated 30-seconds of free ad time to the state's largest gay rights group.

(snip)

Keith Lewis, the pageant's executive director, says he would give Prejean the same amount of time if she wanted to provide a pre-taped message.

Lewis, who is gay, accused Prejean of violating her contract when she ignored his advice on how to handle the intense publicity after she said during this year's Miss USA pageant that she was opposed to same-sex marriage.

The Obama Coup: The Online Game

Seems someone had the H1N1 and mistook the fever dream for a "vision". Not that the crazies haven't thrown this stuff around before.

In the game's scenario, 20 million armed American "patriots" begin seizing local and federal government offices. These are the same people whose earlier Tea Party protests had been ignored and dismissed by the mainstream media. Now, they post bounties for government employees. There's fighting in every state. Meanwhile, Lou Dobbs has been disappeared, and Glenn Beck has been found dead of an "aspirin overdose." Rush Limbaugh, Michelle Malkin, Sean Hannity, and Bill O'Reilly have been rounded up, and Fox News forcibly shut down.

(snip)

The website notes that this rudimentary World of Warcraft-type multiplayer game—titled "2011 Obama's Coup Fails"—is merely "an action-packed, satire-filled" entertainment. But it does say, "If current events keep transpiring as they are, then 2011 Obama's Coup may in fact become a dark chapter in American History."

Video- Why Are So Many Media Conservatives So Obsessed With Rape?

Not gonna go there. Via Media Matters.

Video- White House State Dinner Food Preview

It may be that I'm just hungry, but I thought this was interesting. (Much more about the Obama White House and food here.)

Blame for Economy Slowly Shifting

Then we should be focused on creating jobs, si? Via Taegan-

A new CNN/Opinion Research survey indicates that 38% of Americans blame Republicans for the country's current economic problems, 27% blame Democrats and 27% blame both parties.

That's down 15 points for Republicans and up 6 points for Democrats since May.

Said pollster Keating Holland: "The bad news for the Democrats is that the number of Americans who hold the GOP exclusively responsible for the recession has been steadily falling by about two to three points per month. At that rate, only a handful of voters will blame the economy on the Republicans by the time next year's midterm elections roll around."

Video- President Obama Leads Troop Rally at Osan Air Base, South Korea

Lou Dobbs mulling possible run for Senate, White House

By GottaLaff

Senator LouLou? President LouLou? Hell nono:

Recently departed CNN anchor Lou Dobbs on Thursday revealed he was mulling a possible run for the Senate or White House. [...]

But Thursday's news nevertheless confirmed a number of his old viewers' suspicions that he might run as a third-party candidate to represent his home state of New Jersey, or that he might be jockeying for an early position in the 2012 presidential contest.

LouLou the Quitter will attract the same 20% or so that Palin does. That would be the loon vote.

As of now, he's preoccupied with that Matthewsian thrill up his leg, saying that he feels "exhilaration at the wide range of choices".

So do we, after a fashion. Why? Because LouLou the Quitter could very well morph into LouLou the Spoiler, further splitting the vote. And that's fine by us.

H/t: ahuntre

Army Fears Anti-Obama Politics At Palin Event

So why is she doing a fracking book signing on two military bases anyway?

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The U.S. Army now says it will allow media limited access to Sarah Palin's appearance at Fort Bragg.

Army officials had said they would prohibit coverage of Palin's on-post event, saying it would turn into political grandstanding against President Barack Obama.

(snip)

Fort Bragg spokesman Col. Billy Buckner said members of the media will not be allowed to interview the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee and will be barred from talking to her supporters on post.

Buckner said the setup will allow reporters their right to access while preventing the event from turning political.

As the diary on Kos asks-

Would Michael Moore ever be allowed to hold a book signing on a military base? What about John Edwards, Al Gore, even Colin Powell would not be allowed to have press conferences. Who ever approved this should be FIRED.

VIDEO: Utah Senator Chris Buttars Doesn't Want The Gays Stuffing It Down His Throat All The Time

By GottaLaff

Relevant quote at about 1:15:



Oh no he di-int! Oh yes he did:

Utah senator Chris Buttars has said he might support a bill giving gay people equal rights for jobs and non-marriage related things. His word phrasing of not wanting gays “stuffing it down [his] throat all the time and certainly in [his] kid’s face” leaves something to be desired.

Dare I say it? This one will go down in history.

Via the YouTube page:

Apparently, LGBT Utahns deserve to be allowed to work and rent an apartment, but heaven forbid they be allowed to legally adopt children.

Senate President Michael Waddoups weighs in, too.

And what Waddoups has to say now seems an improvement on his earlier statement to the Deseret News:

However, Waddoups, a property manager, said he wants the "right to protect the image of my company" against gay employees "out flaunting the gay lifestyle" during work hours.

He said he also had concerns about similar behavior among his tenants.

"I'm not going to put up with that on any of my properties," Waddoups said.

Shaking head slowly, sadly.

H/t: Karoli, LJSearles

Going Rouge: Sneak Peek at the Sarah Palin Snow Globe!

By GottaLaff

My sweet pal Micheal Stinson, aka Symbolman, is co-author of the hilarious "coloring and activity book" Going Rouge, already so successful that it's out of stock on Amazon.

But because I have "connections", we get another sneak peek at one of the pages. And we're the first!

Because she tries (and fails) so hard to snow us all:

Not only is this simply swell for Christmas fun and gift-giving, it also dovetails perfectly with the post I just wrote up about Barbie McLipSchmutz's recent influx of cash.

See how that all worked out?

VIDEO: Haley Barbour hems & haws when asked if Palin is qualified to be president

By GottaLaff



Chris Matthews asked a simple question: Is Ex-Governor Facebook qualified to be president? Why, that's so easy that millions answered "no" on their ballots last year without hesitation!

I guess it never dawned on Haley Barbour to mull that one over:

"Uh--eifgx--er, uh... Constitutionally she sure is!"

Um, gee wilikers, we lived in different states called Mississippi 'n' Alaska 'n' stuff, so I never really saw her first hand, but goshngollywow she shore is informed 'n' whatnot! "But let's see who-all runs."

Tweety had to ask him several times. Finally, Governor Sidestep said, "I don't know of anything that DISqualifies her..."

Like what? A birth certificate?

Ben Nelson threatens filibuster

By GottaLaff

He and Joe the Traitor can go take a hike on the Appalachian Trail together:

Spokesman Jake Thompson elaborated a bit, "The abortion language, the public option and some other issues could be reason for him to vote no on cloture for final passage of a health care reform bill."

Dem v. Dem. Attaboy. Make it harder to survive in America.

H/t: Wolfrum

John Ensign Accused of Violating Campaign Finance Laws

By GottaLaff

Via Taegan via ABC News via via via:

The bombshell: "Hampton told McFadden that the money Ensign's parents paid him in the aftermath of the affair was severance -- not a gift -- as Ensign had claimed, which could constitute a violation of campaign finance laws."

Gee, ya think?

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

BREAKING: Oprah is canceling her show in two years

By GottaLaff

Via Twitter, FishbowlDC is reporting:

Oprah is canceling her show in two years

More soon.

UPDATE: ABC News is reporting it too:

Oprah Winfrey to Announce Decision to End Her Television Show in Sept. 2011

UPDATE #2:

The media mogul Oprah Winfrey will end her iconic daytime talk show, “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” in 2011 as she prepares to start a cable channel of her own.

A spokeswoman for Ms. Winfrey’s production company confirmed Thursday evening that Ms. Winfrey will make the announcement on her program on Friday. [...]

“The sun will set on the Oprah show as its 25th season draws to a close on September 9, 2011,” WABC said.

It's all about The Cables.

Sarah Palin's $25.6 million week

By GottaLaff

Via an e-mail from a pal of mine who knows a thing or two as well as a a person or two who knows about a Palin or two:

A HarperCollins insider told Duff McDonald at The Daily Beast that Sarah Palin's "Going Rogue" sold a staggering 300,000 copies on the first day alone, which was Tuesday. [...]

The book - $12 mil
The media - $4.5 mil
Newsweek - $250,000 in magazine revenues
Speaking/Signing fees - $300,000
Radio show in 2010? - $7.5 mil
Brand value - $1 mil

Bottom line: "What’s a week of Sarah Palin worth? A cool $25.6 million, a helluva lot more than a certain someone got for taking off his clothes for Playgirl."

I didn't realize that Barbie McLipSchmutz and Playgirl McHockeyStick were competing financially. The income of a 45-year-old celebrity blogger/former mayor/former beauty pageanter/former vice presidential candidate had better top that of a buff (literally) teenager or her reputation is even more abysmal than I thought.

And finally Barbie can pay off those pesky attorney bills. Now that's what I call success.