Who are the "15 new oil & gas explorers" who received $193 million from Alaska in July 2009?

By GottaLaff


There's a story brewing about some shady dealings with Big Oil and SarahPac over at Palingates.

Sarah's old Twitter account "AKGovSarahPalin" has been deleted, but after she resigned, Palingates made a complete PDF-copy of it.

AK is the place to invest. 15 new oil & gas explorers rcvd $193M cash from State for their tax credits in FY09. http://tinyurl.com/l2y68b
10:50 AM Jul 12th from web

That was a sample tweet.

[S]he enjoyed the generosity of a number on Texan business people on June 13, 2009. SarahPac received some large donations on that date [...]

All the above SarahPac donors have connections with the gas and oil industry. [...]

No one has been able to find a list of the 15 new oil and gas explorers who were the recipients of these $193 million dollars. [...]

There may be no connection whatsoever to those companies or people in Giddings, but there are so many coincidences... the timing of Sarah Palin's visit to Giddings, Texas, all the donations to SarahPac on June 13 and this lovely tax break for 15 new investors...

Sarah Palin doesn't believe in coincidences...

That was a sample of what Palingates has documented. Please go read the rest here.

1998 VIDEO: Who tried to control the media in Alaska while governor? Sarah the Changer!

By GottaLaff



I got the link to this video via an e-mail from a reader. Watch Stickler McMicroManage try to justify how the "administration can be the P.R. office":

"...one office will have contact to and contact from the media [...] It's my job to have contact with the media. [...] Coming from a journalism background and working in the media, I see the benefits of having, again, one contact person..."

1. Control freak much?

2. How ironic that you avoided the media at all costs again in 2008... especially after having come from a "journalism background and working in the media." One would think you'd have had more empathy for the profession you aspired to, instead of making their job harder by ducking them.

3. How long after that interview did you decide Bumpits would work out for ya?

VIDEO- Chris Rock on Real Time with Bill Maher: Health care is like flying

By GottaLaff



Rainy, thundery, lightningy day here in SoCal.

Liberalism, atheism linked to IQ

You know if I'm linking to it which way it leans. IQ leaneth for the Liberal.

(CNN) -- Political, religious and sexual behaviors may be reflections of intelligence, a new study finds.

Evolutionary psychologist Satoshi Kanazawa at the the London School of Economics and Political Science correlated data on these behaviors with IQ from a large national U.S. sample and found that, on average, people who identified as liberal and atheist had higher IQs. This applied also to sexual exclusivity in men, but not in women. The findings will be published in the March 2010 issue of Social Psychology Quarterly.

As if that weren't fun enough, here's the bit that makes sense out of all those whacked fundies-

Religion, the current theory goes, did not help people survive or reproduce necessarily, but goes along the lines of helping people to be paranoid, Kanazawa said. Assuming that, for example, a noise in the distance is a signal of a threat helped early humans to prepare in case of danger.

"It helps life to be paranoid, and because humans are paranoid, they become more religious, and they see the hands of God everywhere," Kanazawa said.

Participants who said they were atheists had an average IQ of 103 in adolescence, while adults who said they were religious averaged 97, the study found. Atheism "allows someone to move forward and speculate on life without any concern for the dogmatic structure of a religion," Bailey said.

"Historically, anything that's new and different can be seen as a threat in terms of the religious beliefs; almost all religious systems are about permanence," he noted.

Amen.

Video- President Obama on Strengthening America's Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Hey kids! Get your Sarah Palin bobblehead. Was that redundant?

By GottaLaff

I kid you not:

The Mudflats calls it the Bobblehead of Terror.

But when you think about it, Bobbles McDingBat is already a bobblehead, so the doll is anatomically correct.

My favorite part is her "refreshing refusal to care"... which was made apparent during her numerous quittages and oblivion to facts, class, and ethics:

Product Description

If you thought the Left was terrified of Sarah Palin, wait till they see her like this. Decked out in camo and strapped with a rifle, this sculpted, hand-painted, 7-inch doll represents the former governor's refreshing refusal to care about pleasing the political and press establishments.

While the Sarah Palin Bobblehead Doll is moving her head, will it be liberals shaking at the sight of this one-of-a-kind collectors’ item?

The answer is pretty obvious: “You betcha!”

Shipped securely in custom box to prevent breakage.

Product Details

In stock and ready to ship

7" tall

Base reads- Sarah "You Betcha" Palin

Comes in custom printed box and clamshell

Hand painted and sculpted

Wearing camouflage with hunting rifle

Shipped securely in custom box to prevent breakage.

NOTE: Purchasing "Sarah Palin "You Betcha" Hunting Bobblehead Doll" from WND's online store also qualifies you to receive a FREE 3-month trial subscription to our immensely popular monthly print magazine, Whistleblower. Watch for the FREE offer during checkout.

Oooo, I'm shaking alright... with laughter. You betcha.

Here's the best part:

$39.95 Discount Price $22.95

But there's an odd discrepancy when you scroll further down the page:

Sarah Palin Bobblehead Doll - $19.95

Ohhh, there's another one! Which is also ... discounted!

$19.95 Discount Price $17.97

No matter how you look at it, Bobbles McDingbat is cut rate.

VIDEO distraction: Fox's Geraldo Rivera's EpicFall.. into "filthy" water

By GottaLaff

Vintage ClusterFox hurricane coverage in action:



"I'm gonna be a star on YouTube now."

Yup.

"We know what Obama will be announcing next week"

By GottaLaff

Greg Sargent:

In another sign that Obama and Dems have already decided to try to pass reform via reconciliation without Republicans, the White House has held no post-summit discussions of any kind with GOP leaders, Republican aides tell me, suggesting Obama advisers are no longer trying to reach a compromise. [...]

So I guess we know what Obama will be announcing next week.

It is pointless to try to reach a compromise when only one side does the reaching.

That's not compromise, that's capitulation.

VIDEO- Judd Gregg, Republican: "51 votes for your position, you win."

By GottaLaff

Oh, did you think that quote was recent? Silly you:

"The idea that it is outside the rules to proceed within the rules is a very unique view on the rules... The point is this: If you've got 51 votes for your position, you win."

-- Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH), defending the use of the budget reconciliation process to pass legislation in 2005.

I'm convinced.

Unless of course, we're in the minority. And therein lies the controversy.

PhotOh! The Tea Party in a nutshell

By GottaLaff

This was sent to me in an e-mail... which I accidentally lost, so sadly, I can't credit the sender.

A picture's worth 1000...

"Please God, destroy filthy america, fully and finally! "

By GottaLaff

As ahuntre said to me in a tweet, "words from the lunatic fringe":

GodSmack: america’s Tsunami


THANK GOD FOR WAILING SIRENS IN DOOMED aMERICA!

Tsunami is coming!

GodSmack!

Prepare for LOTS of that! After you have much, you will wish for death, then after more sorrow and grievous sights, you WILL see death, then hell. Woe unto you!

And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. Revelation 9:5-6

Re 18:8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

Praise the Lord for his righteous judgments!

Please God, destroy filthy america, fully and finally!

Now that's what I call loving your fellow man.

President Obama is insulted on a regular basis, called terrible names, accused of being a traitor, and worse, ad nauseam, yet loons like this aren't called out... unless it's by the occasional blogger.

So where are all those Tea Party protesters demanding patriotism now?



H/t: ahuntre, Gr8RDH

Bush: "I have no desire to see myself on television"

By GottaLaff

Finally, Boy Georgie and I can agree on something! I don't want to see him on the Tee Vee Machine either.

Presenting a "Former" (I prefer Ex):

"I have no desire to see myself on television. I don't want to be a panel of formers instructing the currents on what to do... I'm trying to regain a sense of anonymity. I didn't like it when a certain former president -- and it wasn't 41 or 42 -- made my life miserable."

-- Former President George W. Bush, quoted by CBS News, referring to Jimmy Carter's criticisms of his administration's handling of the Iraq war as a "flat out disaster."

For someone who's trying to find anonymity, he has no problem making news by insulting a former president.

Oh, and Georgie? Your life already was miserable.

John Linder (R-Ga.) to retire

By GottaLaff

And another one bites the dust:

Veteran Rep. John Linder (R-Ga.), an early ally of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and an outspoken fiscal conservative, announced Saturday he was retiring. [...]

The 18-year congressman represents a heavily Republican seat in the sprawling suburbs east of Atlanta that is likely to stay in GOP hands.

Enjoy spending more time with your family.

Tea Partiers: The one year anniversary

By GottaLaff

It's been a year since the Tea Tantrumers started their whining, and in that year we've witnessed the birth of:

• Laughably ridiculous attire
• Laughably ridiculous branding
  
• Laughably ridiculous naivete about the usage of the term "Tea Bag"
  
• Rampant hostility
• A stunning array of misinformation
• More media coddling and shameless promotion than usual
  
• Illiterate, vulgar, racist signage
• Disturbing public gun-toting swaggertude
• Corporate ownership of a so-called "grassroots movement"
• Outright lies
• An overwhelming number of white faces at rallies
• Cacophonic outshouting of reasonable speakers who wish to actually communicate at town hall meetings
• Loutish Tea Tantruming politicians who don't seem to grasp the meaning of democracy or the U.S. Constitution
• Half-governors who can't decide whether the GOP should "absorb" the Tea Tantrumers like a big Sham Wow, or whether the Tea Tantrumers should take over the GOP
• Epic humiliation
  
• ... and unsuspecting members who don't realize they're being exploited and will be discarded like yesterday's shriveled old used tea bags:

Tea Party organizers say hundreds of events, ranging from protests, rallies, candidate forums, grassroots training seminars, and even movie screenings of a Tea Party documentary, are expected to be held nationwide.

Tea Party activists trace the birth of their movement to a couple of anti-stimulus protests across the country in mid-February of last year. Those small demonstrations were followed days later by business news correspondent Rick Santelli’s televised rant on February 19, 2009 about the federal government’s Wall Street bailout. Santelli's outburst inspired anti-big government activists to hold Tea Party protests across the country 8 days later. [...]

As the movement has grown, tensions have been rising among various Tea Party groups. Rival factions are battling over who will carry the movement’s banner, and others worry that powerful groups are "astroturfing" what they think should remain a grassroots group. [...]

Activists in the Tea Party movement tend to be male, rural, upscale, and overwhelmingly conservative, according to a recent national poll. [...] Tea Partiers GOP leanings, the poll suggests, may pose a problem for the Tea Party movement if it tries to turn itself into a third party to compete with the two major parties in this year's general election.

All the ingredients for not-success.

Happy birthday. Enjoy your cake.

Immorality of the Right: Special Comment by my 72-year-old friend

By GottaLaff

My impassioned 72-year-old Twitter pal, who goes by the name 42bkdodgr, would like to share his feelings about the way the GOP has (mis)behaved lately. 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:

Immorality Of The Right

For some time I have given much thought about writing a Special Comment on the Immorality of the Right. There are so many topics that could be covered in such an article, such as their positions on (a) health care, (b) women’s rights and (c ) gay rights. But a couple of things happened in the last few days that really shows, the immorality of the Republicans.

Unemployment Insurance coverage and COBRA benefits ends for many Americans on February 28, and they need Congress to approve extensions of both programs for their benefits to continue.

Yet there stands Sen. Jim Bunning, single-handily blocking a unanimous consent vote of the Senate for a 30 day extension of coverage. The Senate needs this time period to address the issue of continuing the benefits of the long term unemployed for the remainder of the year.

It is estimated that 1.2 million Americans will lose their benefits, which they surely need, if both extensions aren‘t approved. Sen. Bunning is against extending the benefits as it will increase the country's deficit by $10 billion unless there is an offset to it.

Yesterday, Sen. Bunning received the support of Sen. John Cornyn who said "I admire the courage of the junior senator from Kentucky... Somebody has to stand up finally and say, ‘No more inter-generational theft!’"

I have to wonder: Where were their concerns about the growing deficit during the Bush Administration?

You may say, these are only two Republicans who seem to be against the extension of benefits. My response is, the Republican leadership knows how important this extension is for the American people, and they could have put the clamps on Senator Bunning if they so desired, but their silence is deafening. Is it any wonder why Senator Reid took these items out of the jobs bill?

The Senate has recessed for the weekend without taking any action on the extension of benefits; which mean thousands of Americans will wake up Monday morning without any funds to pay their bills, and many will be without any health coverage.

By not extending COBRA coverage, the Republicans just increased the number of Americans without any health insurance. Just what this country doesn’t need, more people foregoing medicines and doctor visits while putting more stress on our emergency rooms.

What the Republicans fail to realize is, their inaction will not only affect those receiving benefits, but also their immediate family members. In many cases those unemployed are receiving financial assistance from their parents, and some have moved in with their parents because they can no longer afford either the rent or mortgage payment.

In many instances their parents are senior citizens who are trying to deal with our tough economic times and now will have a greater burden placed upon them. The additional people affected is never discussed by our politicians or the media. When they say 1.2 million American will be affected, it is much greater than that, by an unknown numerical factor.

Today is a very sad day for America, when Republicans show they have very little care for people in need. I wonder how they can look themselves in the mirror?

Republicans are the modern day Neros: They fiddle away their time while the country crumbles to the ground.

Many thanks again for another thoughtful, relevant piece, 42bkdodgr. You often say what many of us are thinking and feeling, and we thank you for your unique perspective.

AUDIO: The Ed Schultz Radio Show with Lizz Winstead & Laffy

By GottaLaff

Can you tell this means a lot to me?

Seriously, what a blast, and what an honor. Lizz Winstead is so gracious, such a generous, sweet, funny pal, she nearly... nearly... made me get over my nervousness.

Okay, no she didn't, but she made it a whole lot easier.

I hope you like it:

Mid Day Distraction

U.S. military OKs use of online social media

Ha! They used Twitter to announce it's okay to use Facebook and vice versa.

Washington (CNN) -- U.S. military personnel are officially allowed to tweet.

That's the upshot of the Pentagon's long-awaited policy on rank and file personnel using online social media, unveiled Friday. The new rules authorize access to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other social media Web sites from nonclassified government computers -- as long as such activity doesn't compromise operational security or involve prohibited activities or Web sites.

Until now, the military's various branches and departments had differing policies regarding social media use. The Marine Corps, for instance, prohibited use of social media sites from its computers in 2007, according to the Pentagon.

The Pentagon announced the policy Friday via social media such as Facebook and Twitter, in addition to using the Department of Defense's Web site, said spokesman Bryan Whitman.

Raw Video: Quake-Stricken Chile in Ruins

Alot of this crap happening lately.

Saturday Links

Why do I feel like a nap already?

The fiancee formula: Academics work out the best time to propose

Galleria mall is giant greenhouse, raising organic crops in Cleveland

Health warning over calories and fat in cinema snacks

Most states fail dental health

Robert Mugabe mocks a nation facing famine with a birthday feast broadcast on TV

Lore of Bacon Festival sizzles as national fans catch a whiff

Iris scans may prevent mistaken release of inmates

Cost of faith: How recession has affected church finances

Cartoon of the Day

Click to enlarge, via.

Video- Hannity & Huckabee Trash Obama Over Atheists Meeting With White House

The explanation of this clip on YouTube is "Is the Obama administration distancing itself from religion? Mike Huckabee responds." What a pile of poop.

Video- President's Weekly Address: The Olympic Spirit, the Spirit of Bipartisanship, and Health Reform

VIDEO: Rush Limbaugh Spanks Himself and Squeals

By GottaLaff

Boss Limpdong has officially lost it.

When Keith Olbermann returns, I fully expect him to edit the relevant segment out and use it as his new little corner clip:




H/t: MADNews101

Kuwait Needs to Speak Up on Guantanamo

By GottaLaff

Lt. Col. Barry Wingard has graciously given me permission to post his latest op-ed in full:

With the Obama administration's January 2010 deadline for closing Guantanamo Bay now in the past, two Kuwaiti detainees remain imprisoned in Cuba where they have been held without trial for more than eight years. While the U.S. government is primarily responsible for the suffering these Kuwaitis have endured, the Government of Kuwait is also responsible for allowing the injustice to continue.

As is universally recognized, Kuwait is a close and faithful ally of the United States. The United States liberated Kuwait following the Iraqi invasion of 1990. More recently, Kuwait provided critical support as a staging area for the U.S. military during the Iraq War.

To be fair, the Emir of Kuwait has sought the return of the Kuwaiti detainees in face-to-face meetings with both President Bush and President Obama. The Emir has also sent a letter to the U.S. government requesting that all Kuwaiti citizens detained at Guantanamo be returned. Other Kuwaiti officials have repeated that request to their counterparts in the U.S. government.

The Government of Kuwait has also fulfilled all of the conditions the U.S. government established for the return of the Kuwaiti detainees. Perhaps most significantly, Kuwait established a state-of-the-art rehabilitation center that provides access to education, medical care, group discussions, and physical exercise to help detainees recover from their long ordeal in Guantanamo.

But while Kuwait has clearly made an effort to secure the return of its citizens, these efforts have not been strong enough. Contrast Kuwait's quiet, diplomatic approach with that of Saudi Arabia, which openly criticized the U.S. government and demanded its citizens back. As a result, more than 100 Saudi detainees were transferred from Guantanamo to Saudi Arabia.

Despite the close ties between the United States and Kuwait, the United States does not appear eager to send Kuwaitis home. For example, on September 17, 2009, a U.S. federal judge ordered the immediate release of Fouad Al Rabiah, an innocent Kuwaiti who was interrogated in "enhanced" ways at the hands of his U.S. captors. Rather than immediately returning him to Kuwait, the U.S. government delayed and stalled Mr. Al Rabiah's transfer, forcing his attorneys to ask that U.S. officials be held in contempt of court. It was not until December 9, 2009, almost three months after the judge's order, that Mr. Al Rabiah was finally released from Guantanamo and returned to Kuwait. Still, even with a Federal judge's opinion that the United States had no authority to detain Mr Al Rabiah, the Kuwaiti government refused to demand his return.

If the United States was reluctant to release a demonstrably innocent man, it most certainly will be in no rush to repatriate my client, Fayiz Al Kandari, whose habeas case is still pending despite Fayiz having spent more than eight years in Guantanamo.

At this critical time, the United States is turning its back on its faithful ally. The United States may be legitimately reluctant to return detainees to countries such as Tunisia or Libya where former prisoners may face further torture or persecution. But there are no such concerns about Kuwait. To the contrary, Kuwait treats its returned detainees humanely and helps reintegrate them into society with a rehabilitation program modeled after the successful Saudi program.

No one likes to tell their friends they are wrong. But there comes a time in every relationship when a little push back is necessary. And the friendship survives. Now is the time for the Government of Kuwait to take a stand. It might be outside its comfort zone, but it is the right thing to do for its two citizens still imprisoned at Guantanamo.

****

Lt. Col. Barry Wingard is the U.S. military attorney for Kuwaiti detainee Fayiz Al Kandari who still awaits his day court more than eight years after he was sold into US custody. The views presented are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the United States Department of Defense or its components.

****

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.

Weird Evening Distractions

Funky stuff that caught my eye. That damn Moroder is inextricably entwined with my teens. Ugh.

Curmudgeonly essay on "Why the Internet Will Fail" from 1995

14 Celeb Underwear Ads: the Best and Worst

UV-glowing skulls stamped onto thousands of pounds' worth of UK bank-notes

Tiger Woods loses Gatorade sponsorship

Tofu Wrestling

Revealed: The sacred junk food diet of the pharaohs

Want one! Messenger bags made from old life vests

Video- Obama Was A Secret CIA Agent In Pakistan In 1981

I'm with Oliver, awesome².

Video- Drumline in the White House: Raw Footage

Got me moving.

An 8 person drumline from Virginia State University plays in the Cross Hall of the White House before an event honoring Historically Black Colleges and Universities. February 26, 2010.

Reconciliation: Setting the record straight

By GottaLaff

Another little truth tidbit via Greg Sargent:

Steve Benen to anyone who will listen: It’s not the entire health reform plan that would be passed via reconciliation. It’s merely the fix to it.

I love truth tidbits. They're so tasty and yet add nothing to one's body weight.

By the way, we are listening. We get it. Now if only the majority of Americans and Congress would.

275,000 adult Americans will die

By GottaLaff

My posts are short and (maybe not so) sweet today because of time and tech issues. Apologies.

With that, here's a not so sweet little nugget from Greg Sargent:

Under-reported story of the day? New study finds that without comprehensive health reform, more than 275,000 adult Americans will die over the next decade because of lack of insurance. In fairness, the study was done by the liberal Families USA.

Okay, fine, it's a study by a liberal group. So, not so liberally, 100,000 will die? 50,000? 200,000? 3?

We need effective health care, health insurance reform immediately. Putting it off, or even watering it down too much, would be tantamount to that apathetic crowd that ignored a rape in progress.

Help. Help. Help. Help.

PhotOh! Shameless Ed Schultz fangirl post

By GottaLaff

I am unapologetically gaga over this. Ed also tweeted something similar just now on Twitter, and I am flattered beyond belief:

(click on image to enlarge)

What an honor.

And Lizz Winstead could not have been a more generous, hilarious host. I love today.

Go ahead, tease me. I don't care.

VIDEO- Rep. Trent Franks: Blacks Worse Off Now Than Under Slavery

By GottaLaff

Via Mike Stark of StarkReports.com:



How do these people get elected, and re-elected?

Slavery, said Franks, "is a crushing mark on America's soul, yet today half of all black children are aborted. Half of all black children are aborted. Far more black children, far more of the African American community is being devastated by the policies of today than were being devastated by the policies of slavery."

"This is the abortion president," he says at the beginning of the video. He later says, "No wonder I get a little uncivil." A little?

By the way, Trent, the reason there are more "black children" aborted is that the African American community has less access to birth control.

But anyway...

He's just reacting to things, Franks says.

"The abortion president." No words...

I guess Franks is "the idiot congressman". It's okay to say that. I'm just reacting.

Sarah Palin compares beer summit to health care summit

By GottaLaff

Michele Bachmann and BeerCan McClueless just keep topping themselves:

"I think Michele Bachmann summed it up very well earlier today. She suggested that maybe the beer summit was more productive and fruitful than what we saw today coming out of the health care summit."

-- Sarah Palin, in an interview on Fox News.

This from someone (or two) who is never productive and sports a "beer head" full of froth.

Desiree Rogers, White House Social Secretary, Steps Down

By GottaLaff

I had a feeling this was coming, but remember, "change" is a good thing:

Politico reports that Desiree Rogers, the White House social secretary, will be stepping down next month.

Rogers, who took criticism after a couple breached security at the White House's first state dinner, told the Chicago Sun-Times: "As we turn the corner on the first year, this is a good time for me to explore opportunities in the corporate world."

As Ben Smith notes, "the upshot of her departure is to chip away at a Chicago inner circle, headed by Valerie Jarrett and David Axelrod, that has been increasingly the target of Democratic critics who feel Obama has been unable to make political adjustments on the national stage."

Meanwhile, an administration official tells ABC News the leading candidate to replace Rogers is Julianna Smoot, who was the national finance director for the 2008 Obama presidential campaign.

As I've been reading, I've noticed a new talking point is starting to take shape: Obama's losing his inner circle, drip drip drip, his presidency is doomed... again.

Keep in mind, several of the president's staff stated early on that this would only be a two year gig. They're, you know, keeping their word. Remember that? It something that rarely happen for eight long years.

Carly Fiorina trailing in California

By GottaLaff

This makes me oddly happy, mainly because of the FiorinaFail:

A new M4 Strategies poll in California finds Tom Campbell (R) has opened up a big lead over both Carly Fiorina (R) and Chuck DeVore (R) in the Republican U.S. Senate race.

Campbell leads with 32% of the vote, followed by Fiorina at 18.5% and DeVore at 11%.

Now what can we do about Meg Whitman?

Happy Obama Photos

Just 'cause I can. That is a serious picture of Michelle.
Via.

Audio- Beck says Sens. Graham and McConnell have "put on a skirt and heels and started sounding like Nancy Pelosi"

A little close to home, donchathink?

Laffy will be on Ed Schultz radio show within the hour

By GottaLaff

FYI, I will be a guest on the Ed Schultz show at 11:15 or 11:30ish Pacific today, live stream here.

Lizz Winstead is the guest host and invited me on.

That is all.

Ohio issues record number of concealed carry permits in 2009

Wonder if there was anything special about 2009? Or Ohio?

COLUMBUS, Ohio - A record high number of concealed handgun permits issued were issued in the state in 2009.

Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray said the state's county sheriffs issued 56,691 licenses, which surpassed the previous record of 45,497 set in 2004 when the concealed handgun law first went into effect.

"If there's something to take away from these numbers, it is that more and more Ohioans are comfortable exercising the right to carry concealed handguns," said Cordray in a news release.

Video- MSNBC Fact Checks Health Care Summit Claims

Mid Day Distraction

Oh that crazy Hoekstra and his turtle fences!! Background here.

Audio- Beck on Obama's "I'm the president" summit comment: "He's not joking. He's as serious as Chavez"

And you're a crazed right wing radio hack. Glad we've got that all straightened out.

Sen. Jim Bunning holds up unemployment insurance and Cobra extensions on Senate floor: 'Tough s--t'

Fun starts about 422. I didn't get a chance to listen to all of it for the cussing, so let me know in comments if you can hear it. Bunning should get together with McCain and they could start a Cranky Old Farts Club.

Senate Democrats spent Thursday night hammering away at Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) for single-handedly holding up action in the upper chamber – but he blurted out a message to one of them on the Senate floor: “Tough s—t.”

In an unusual display in the normally sleepy chamber, Bunning – without the support of GOP leadership – has blocked efforts to quickly approve a series of extensions to measures that would otherwise expire Sunday, including unemployment insurance and the Cobra program that allows people who lose their health benefits to continue getting coverage.

And that has led to a furious exchange on the floor, with Democrats attacking the senator, who has refused to relent on his objection, in unusually harsh terms.

In a colloquy with Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Sen. Jeff Merkley, a freshman Democrat from Oregon, was pleading for Bunning to drop his objection, when the Kentucky Republican got fed up.

“Tough s—t,” Bunning said as he was seated in the back row, overheard by the floor staff and others in attendance.

A spokesman for Bunning did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Breaking- MSNBC confirms David Paterson will not run for Governor of New York

Hard to come back after you've become a laughing stock. Link when I get it.

Update-

Gov. David Paterson has decided not to seek election to a full term amid a roiling scandal over whether he and his troopers intimidated a woman who'd reported domestic violence against one of his top aides, The Post has learned.

Paterson has communicated to top advisers and supporters that he will pull the plug on his campaign today, multiple sources said -- confirming a Post report.

He's expected to make a statement between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Paterson, who took over the state's top spot when Eliot Spitzer resigned after it was disclosed that he had sex with a prostitute, is expected to say he won't resign.

Video- Rep. Weiner: Health Care Reform Bill Watered Down on the Altar of 60 Votes

I was very suprised to see GG on Morning Joe for so long this am. I seem to remember some bad blood between him and Scarborough a while back. Video via FDL.

Tea party spazs seek recall of sitting Democratic senators

This is one of those "if only they used their power for good" moments. What a waste of time and money.

Republicans' chances to retake the Senate are limited by the fact that only a third of the chamber is up for re-election this year, but some conservative activists are pushing to force more Democrats onto the ballot in November by trying to recall them.

It's a long-shot approach, the legal hurdles are tremendous - no member of Congress has ever been recalled - and it's limited only to states with recall laws that are broad enough to include federal officeholders.

But the first test comes Tuesday, when a judge will hear oral arguments from the Sussex County Tea Party, which is trying to recall Sen. Robert Menendez, New Jersey Democrat.

"Nine states, including 12 Democratic senators who are not up for re-election otherwise, could all be on the ballot with a recall," said Peter Ferrara, a lawyer for the conservative American Civil Rights Union, which is helping the tea partiers with their case. "Given what they're doing on health care this year, that's just going to be a huge boost to the recall effort."

Most Liberal and Most Conservative Lawmakers

Always an interesting report. Via Taegan-

The National Journal's annual vote ranking study is out.

Liberals: "The most liberal members in the Senate include Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Roland Burris (D-IL), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), all tied for first place. In the House, 8 members share the distinction -- Reps. Rush Holt (D-NJ), Gwen Moore (D-WI), John Olver (D-MA), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Mel Watt (D-NC) and Henry Waxman (D-CA) are tied for the top spot."

Conservatives: "Unlike Dems, GOPers get to fete a clear winner in the most-conservative sweepstakes: This year, Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) takes the prize. He's closely followed by Sens. Jim DeMint (R-SC), Jim Bunning (R-KY) and Tom Coburn (R-OK). In the House, Reps. Trent Franks (R-AZ), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Randy Neugebauer (R-TX), Pete Olson (R-TX), John Shadegg (R-AZ) and Mac Thornberry (R-TX) share the prize."

Cartoon of the Day

Click to enlarge, via.

Friday Links

Pundits suck.

How a happy marriage can cut stroke risk for men

Pentagon fesses up to 800 pages' worth of potentially illegal spying, including peace groups and Planned Parenthood

View on gays in military gets Air Force guest uninvited

Bloomberg: Obama May Prohibit Home-Loan Foreclosures Without HAMP Review The Obama administration may expand efforts to ease the housing crisis by banning all foreclosures on home loans unless they have been screened and rejected by the government’s Home Affordable Modification Program.

Plane insane? Lego fan spends eight months and £3,500 building replica of world's biggest passenger jet

Study: Food 'sin taxes' effective

The baby translator: Emotion detector will tell worried parents why their child is crying

San Francisco Chronicle: Prop. 8 suit closing arguments may be televised Despite a rebuff from the U.S. Supreme Court, the Bay Area's federal judges are again proposing to allow cameras in their courtrooms, a plan that could lead to telecasting of closing arguments in a suit challenging California's ban on same-sex marriage.

Video- President Obama Presents Medals in Arts and Humanities

VIDEO- Palin: "Take over the Republican party, Tea Partiers!"

By GottaLaff

If Bossy McRudderless thinks the Tea Tantrumers shouldn't have a leader, then who is she to bark orders at them?



Shorter McRudderless: "ReaganReaganReaganSeeTheLightReaganReaganReagan. Do what I tell you to do. Reagan."

Oh, and she believes in freedom. She's a believer.

In freedom.

I'm sure the GOP will be armed and ready for that dizzying Tea Coup ride.

You know what else is "uncomplicated", Bossy? Your empty little noggin.

H/t: Coopster04

Obama aides push for criminal court trials of terrorists

By GottaLaff

Good for the Obama administration. Military commissions are not as reliable, something I've discovered after months of following Fayiz al-Kandari's case.

Testimony derived from tortured detainees and heresay upon heresay are allowed in military commission trials. Prisoners make up useless, forced testimony under extreme duress in order to make the suffering stop.

And what is this sudden aversion to our system of justice? American courts aren't good enough for the GOP? And since when did any terrorist ever escape from our supermax prisons?

The Obama administration bluntly urged the Congress on Thursday to steer clear of directing where terrorism suspects should be prosecuted, pushing back against efforts to require military rather than civilian trials.

A bipartisan group of senators has offered legislation aimed at forcing the administration to prosecute terrorism suspects, like the self-professed mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, in special military commission trials instead of traditional criminal courts.

Holder and Defense Secretary Robert Gates wrote to Nancy Pelosi and The Boehner:

"The exercise of prosecutorial discretion has always been and should remain an Executive branch function [...] We believe it would be unwise and would set a dangerous precedent for Congress to restrict the discretion of our departments to carry out specific terrorism prosecutions."

In other words, piss off.

****

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.

Intel bill pulled over torture provision

By GottaLaff

Mustn't ever try to punish the torturers, tsk tsk:

House Republicans charged Democrats with trying to sneak a provision into the intelligence authorization bill that would establish criminal punishment for CIA agents and other intelligence officials who engage in “cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment” during interrogations.

Seriously, who would object to that? Wait, don't tell me. Rhymes with Shmepublicans?

Damn those ethical types who refuse to allow interrogators to murder, destroy lives, inflict pain, and damage psyches!

The provision, previously not vetted in committee, applied to “any officer or employee of the intelligence community” who during interrogations engages in beatings, infliction of pain or forced sexual acts. The bill said the acts covered by the provision would include inducing hypothermia, conducting mock executions or “depriving the [detainee] of necessary food, water, sleep, or medical care.”

The language gave Congress the discretion to determine what the terms mean, and it would have imposed punishments of up to 15 years in prison, and in some cases, life sentences if a detainee died as a result of the interrogation.

Republicans criticized the language and the way it was introduced.

I find it so amusing that, when the Rushpublics are in power, procedural tricks, sneaky late night changes, and secret meetings are perfectly acceptable.

If the Dems try to throw something into a bill, fugettaboutit:

“I’m hearing from Republicans that we are somehow sacrificing our national security” through this bill, said Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.). She said the language underscores existing law and enhances national security.

Because Reyes included it in his manager's amendment, Republicans were not able to try to strike it from the bill before passage. The only recourse they had was to try to excise it during the House-Senate conference. The Senate version does not contain similar language.

More details here.

Summit Watch: 257-111, But who's counting...

By GottaLaff

Photo via

Earlier today on Twitter, I made a prediction that one of the talking points after the health care summit would be that the poor GOP didn't get enough talk time. The big bad Democrats were hogging the conversation, as was stated during the meeting by the GOP, several times.

Okay, so that wasn't really much of a prediction, then.

But just the same, I did call it... and the ever dutiful CNN picked it right up and regurgitated it:

Democrats spoke for a total of 135 minutes while President Obama spoke for 122 minutes, for a total of 257 minutes. Republicans, meanwhile, spoke for just 111 minutes, about 30 percent of the total speaking time.

The time discrepancy did not go unnoticed by the top Republican in the Senate

Shortly after President Obama, Vice President Biden and legislators from both parties returned from a lunch break, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's office released a statement detailing how long President Obama had the floor, versus how much time members of each party were allotted during the nearly three-hour morning session.

Let's break it down: The Dems got 135 minutes and the GOP got 111. The president was moderating. And he's the president.

Now let's compare that enormous, terribly unfair 24 minute gap to this post of only 1 year ago:

In a new analysis, ThinkProgress has found that Republican lawmakers outnumbered Democratic lawmakers 75 to 41 on cable news interviews by members of Congress (from 6am on Monday 2/2 through 11pm on Thursday 2/5):

Some observations from our analysis:

– Last week, Fox News came the closest to balance with 8 Republicans and 6 Democrats. But the so-called “fair and balanced” network was not able to maintain such a ratio this week, hosting 24 Republicans and only 11 Democrats.

– The business news networks were particularly egregious this week. CNBC had more than twice as many conservatives, with 14 Republicans and 6 Democrats. Fox Business was even worse, hosting 20 Republicans for just 4 Democrats.

– In the previous study, the supposedly liberal MSNBC favored Republicans 15 to 9. This week, however, MSNBC became the only network to host more Democratic members of Congress than Republicans, with 17 Democrats and 12 Republicans.

[...] Some of the most frequent Democratic guests this week were outspoken critics of the proposed stimulus plans, such as Sens. Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Kent Conrad (D-ND).

Fortunately, the imbalance on the networks is not going unnoticed. A House Democratic leadership aide told Politico’s Michael Calderone yesterday that “what happened with cable last week is that Republican House members were the only show in town.” A “very senior” Democratic aide told The Washington Post’s Greg Sargent that the leadership is “aware of the problem and are taking steps to fix it.” The aide noted that “there is also an onus on producers to remedy this issue.”

Let's not forget this post. Or my post entitled "Mything In Action-- Librul Media. Network news coverage favored Republicans 1992-2004". Or this one.

Call me crazy, but I kinda think they owe us a few minutes.