Saturday, April 3, 2010
Poll: Californians take generally positive view of healthcare reform
Plenty of time to let the good news get around.
A new Times/USC poll shows voters saying by a 46%-29% margin they would be more likely to vote for a politician who had backed the health bill. On immigration, the poll found continued polarization.
Reporting from Sacramento - California voters have a generally positive view of the massive federal healthcare package signed into law by President Obama last month, providing a potential boost statewide to the Democrats who pushed it through Congress, according to a new Times/USC poll.
Republican leaders, campaigning against the bill, have warned Democrats that their votes would weigh them down in November's elections. Although that may be true in more conservative parts of the country, the opposite appears to be developing here.
By a margin of 46% to 29%, California voters surveyed said they would be more likely to vote for a politician who had supported the health bill. And just over half the voters polled said they believed the country would be better off because of the bill.
Video- Biden’s job prediction on Jon Stewart show back in November comes true
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Joe Biden Pt. 1 | ||||
| ||||
And no, he didn't have it in his pocket because of the Census jobs- they were only 48k out of 162k jobs created. Relevant bit is around 2:50.
Vice President Joe Biden predicted the economy would be creating jobs by February or March of 2010 in an appearance on “The Daily Show.”
It looked like a risky bet when Biden told Jon Stewart on Nov. 17, 2009, that the economy would be adding jobs by February or March.
“We had 740,000 jobs lost the month we took office...it continues to go down,” Biden told Stewart. “We'll be creating jobs by February or March of next year.”
On Friday, that call proved correct when the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the economy added 165,000 jobs in March.
(snip)
When Biden made the comment, the economy had just lost more than 200,000 jobs in November, and it hadn’t had a positive month in nearly two years. The economy lost at least 200,000 jobs per month from July 2008 to October 2009.
$chool group'$ rea$on for Palin $peech: It need$ the money
By GottaLaff
Selfy McPayMe wants money, Stanislaus State wants money. Everyone wants money:
Tax records show leaner times for the college foundation now drawing fire for paying Sarah Palin an undisclosed sum to speak at Stanislaus State.Overall collections by the California State University Stanislaus Foundation fell by more than half over the past decade, tax records show. Fewer contributions, in turn, crimp the foundation's ability to help students and the Turlock-based university. [...]
Now, the non-profit foundation hopes to regain momentum with Palin's June 25 appearance.
I suppose that must mean they think they'll sell out:
One university official said Friday that the $500 -a-head event in the school's 300-seat cafeteria was sold out but that names were being taken for a waiting list...See? What'd I tell you?
Although, I have my doubts:
[U]niversity spokeswoman Eve Hightower later indicated the event wasn't sold out.
See? What'd I tell you?
I bet there are even a few people who aren't so thrilled Selfy's making an appearance:
Not all buzz, though, is positive. Some, in particular, question the speaking fees Palin has commanded since she quit her job as Alaska governor 18 months before her term expired.See? What'd I tell you?
The Stanislaus State foundation is not obligated to reveal Selfy's speaking fee, but we're all well aware that she's been getting right around $100,000 for providing an endless supply of nonsensical run-on sentences enhanced by visual aids (read: hand notes).
But hey, it's all worth it if they can add to their coffers. Especially the non-profit ones.
For foundation officials, the controversy could be a price worth paying if it boosts their non-profit coffers.
See? What'd I tell you?
Justice Stevens says he'll decide soon on retiring
By GottaLaff
This is one time I am adamant about not wanting President Obama to compromise. We can't afford to have another Supreme Court judge who carries so much as the scent of leaning right:
Justice John Paul Stevens says he'll decide soon about retiring — for his own peace of mind and to give President Barack Obama and the Senate plenty of time to replace him.
I take that to mean it will be sooner than later.
Video here.
Commenter in "New Yorker" seeks info on tortured, murdered uncle/detainee's body
By GottaLaff
In an apparent oversight, however, the identity of the manager of the Salt Pit at the time of Rahman’s death appeared recently in a public document. The officer, who continues to work for the C.I.A., is mentioned by name in a footnote in the October, 2009, legal response to allegations of unprofessional conduct filed by lawyers for Jay Bybee, the former head of the Office of Legal Counsel. The Bybee document was released last February by the Justice Department. Apparently unnoticed at the time, it revealed both the surname of the Salt Pit manager and the identity of the victim, Rahman.
[UPDATE, April 1, 6:40 P.M.: In an interesting disappearing act, unspecified government officials have now mysteriously redacted the name of the C.I.A. officer in charge of the Salt Pit from the public record described above. The document is easily accessible on the House Judiciary Committee’s Web site (pdf). But where footnote No. 28 previously identified the surname of the Salt Pit manager, as of April 1st, the name has been blacked out. The victim’s name, however, is still visible. It was evidently too late to keep that out of the public eye after the A.P. story.]
The story is horrendous, the deeds unspeakable. But something on that page caught my eye in Comments:
can you please tell us about the death body of rehman from where we can get it i am his nephew
Posted 3/31/2010, 11:32:10pm by
Think about that for a moment.
A news story about the death of a detainee at a black site causes a person who identifies himself as family, as the nephew of the victim, to try to locate the body after eight years... in a comment under the post.
He is asking for help in getting the body of a family member back. In Comments.
Assuming "sulimankhail" is who he says he is, what does this tell you? How does it make you feel that torture and murder has been done in our name... and now a prisoner's relative has to leave a comment under a story in the New Yorker in order to find the remains of his uncle?
I'm ashamed, and I am sickened.
A related story drives the point home:
Michael Sulick, head of the CIA’s National Clandestine Service, told a student audience last week that the spy agency has seen no fall-off in intelligence since waterboarding was banned by the Obama administration.
Be proud, BushCo.
****
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.Election 2010 approaching, Democrats outdo GOP on campaign funds
By GottaLaff
Those disorganized Democrats, they can't do anything right.
Oh wait. They passed health care reform. They're turning the economy around. They passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. They're getting us out of Iraq... you get the idea.
And now, they're out raising the Rushpublics:
With eight months to go before congressional elections, House and Senate Democratic candidates exceed in virtually every important campaign fundraising category. Democratic House lawmakers appear likely to reverse their seven-cycle record of being outspent by House Republicans, according to recent finance reports.
Of course, that could change, but for now, let's put on our thinking caps and figure out why this is happening.
Could it be the....
...controversy over lavish and questionable expenditures by the Republican National Committee -- including chartered airplanes and a young Republicans' night out at a bondage-themed nightclub in Hollywood...
Why yes, yes that very well could be a factor.
What about their constant Party of No-itude? Check!
Here comes the H word again... However:
One wild card this year is the impact of last year's Supreme Court decision lifting limits on direct expenditures by corporations or unions on advertising supporting particular candidates. Some Democrats are concerned that corporations might open their checkbooks for their favorites, but an internal Republican fundraising presentation for party leaders in February predicted it would have "NO direct effect on . . . [Republican] parties or candidates."
Likewise, spending this year by regulated advocacy groups, known as "527s," is hard to predict, particularly since a federal court said on March 26 that such groups can now accept unlimited contributions by wealthy individuals.
Stay tuned.
You can read many more details here.
ACORN: Our national organization is alive and well
By GottaLaff
Earlier I posted a segment from The Rachel Maddow Show in which she blasts the GOP for out and out lying about James O'Keefe's Big Pimpy ACORN Moment. She also slammed the media for perpetuating those and other lies, and went on to report the real news, correcting the misinformation about the organization (and other topics).
Good for her. She deserves a damn medal for that and all the other work she does to expose all the "bull pucky", as she put it.
Here is some more truth for you. It's a rarity, so enjoy it while you can:
After months of budget problems and criticism from the right, the community organizing group Acorn plans to release a letter next week clarifying its path forward and stating that its local chapters may be closed, but the national organization is alive and well.
“You will continue to hear from Acorn — in the mail, on the Web, and in the media,” says the letter, a draft of which was provided to The New York Times. “And we need your continued support to counter the vicious antifamily, antiminority, anti-immigrant attacks of the Republican right.”
Ding!
That's really what this is all about, isn't it? The Rushpublics feel threatened by the possibility of a white minority, and by a diverse electorate that tends to vote Democratic.
Their remedy? Lie, turn voters against an effective group, a grassroots organization, that gives people who might not otherwise have one, a voice... or at least the means to muster one up.
The letter, which will be sent to the 120,000 or so members on Acorn’s e-mail list and to tens of thousands of dues-paying members, says that in many of the states where Acorn’s local chapters closed, 16 new, independent but allied organizations have been formed to continue grass-roots organizing.
Know what else? California Representative Darryl Issa is bellowing and kvetching about how this new team is not severing ties with Old ACORN. Wrong.
They're not using ACORN money, and the lawyers and accountants they are using have not been involved with ACORN previously. Plus, their boards of directors are nearly all non-Acorn members.
And that's the truth:
VIDEO: Rachel Maddow and her Amazing Bikini Graph
By GottaLaff
Lerve, lerve, lerve this segment:
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Itsy bitsy teenie weenie economic graph bikini....
VIDEO- Maddow calls b.s. on GOP: Attacks on ACORN, "Climate-Gate" were "bull pucky"
By GottaLaff
Once again, Rachel Maddow nails it:
"Let's have the great debate about the role of government... only you can't threaten to shoot people. And you have to stop making stuff up."
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Those are awfully important revelations, aren't they? The ones Rachel covered in the video? They're stories one might expect MSNBC to go out of their way to report hourly, right?
Apparently not.
All morning, MSNBC concentrated on those other "big" stories, the ones about iPad and Tiger Woods.
Meanwhile, ACORN is no more, and voters believe that Climate-Gate was real. They continue to believe lies that the corporate media drive, repeat, perpetuate incessantly, lies that affect our elections and the well-being of the entire planet.
That is not news. That is propaganda. And it is not only unacceptable, it is toxic.
Bonus Mid Day & Fundraising Thread
We are running our quarterly fundraiser so if you are able and so inclined, donations can be made at the widget below, the donate button to the side or email us at thepoliticalcarnival at gmail.com for a irl address.
We also now have a subscription service set up where you can pledge a small (or large) monthly amount to help us out. An extra added shout out THANK YOU to those who have already donated. We appreciate the hell out of you.
Hop to it: White House adding exercise to Easter
Interesting. The National Park Foundation's website just told me that the White House South Lawn is one of our country’s 392 national parks. Never knew that.
WASHINGTON — First Lady Michelle Obama is taking her campaign against childhood obesity to the annual White House Easter Egg Roll.
Besides rolling eggs with spoons, children will get a dose of activities to promote healthy living and exercise, including sports, dancing - and even yoga. White House chefs will be on hand to talk about eating right.
Performers at Monday's event will include pop star Justin Bieber and the cast of the television show "Glee." J.K. Rowling, the author of the "Harry Potter" books, and Olympic speed skater Apolo Ohno will also attend.
The Easter Egg Roll is the largest public event held at the White House each year, with 30,000 people from all 50 states set to attend.
Saturday Links
Honestly, the weather here is just bizarre. In the 70's for the next few days, about 20 degrees warmer than usual.
Dinosaur puppet is part science, part performance
Punch-drunk priest hits a mourner at funeral he was supposed to be officiating
Jewelry made out of used bullets
Caution! Scantily-clad hazard ahead: Italian prostitutes get own road sign to warn motorists
Making chemicals kosher
300-year-old 'saucy' tales found
Area 51 vets speak
The day the Earth froze: An hour-long storm started a mini ice age, say scientists
Japan mayor sets paternity leave 'example'
Even toddlers notice good intentions
Friday, April 2, 2010
Astronomy and Overnight Thread
Credit: J. Hester, P. Scowen (ASU), HST, NASA
Poll-itics: McCain Holds Solid Lead in Primary
By GottaLaff
A new DailyKos/Research 2000 poll in Arizona finds Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) leading primary challenger J.D. Hayworth (R) by a significant margin, 52% to 37%.
Seems as if Yelly McSpeechy's grating stumping and snide nastitude is paying off.
Paddy made a good point to me just now. If J Sid loses the primary, he's freed up to do all the talk shows. Alllll those endless talk shows.
But back to the point of the post... the Tea Tantrumers are made of...
"Real America" fail:
John Forsythe dead; starred in 'Dynasty,' 'Bachelor Father'
By GottaLaff
Photo via
Via an L.A. Times e-mail alert:
R.I.P. Mr. Forsythe.
Via an L.A. Times e-mail alert:
John Forsythe, the actor who made his fortune as TV's affable "Bachelor Father" and the scheming oil tycoon in "Dynasty," has died. He was 92.
Forsythe died late Thursday from complications of pneumonia, following a yearlong battle with cancer, his publicist said.
Despite his distinguished work in theater and films, Forsythe's greatest fame arose from his role of Blake Carrington in the 1981-89 primetime soap opera "Dynasty."
He was also the voice of Charlie on the TV series "Charlie's Angels."
Going back a few years, I knew his daughter Page, a very sweet girl. I am sending hugs to her and the whole family.R.I.P. Mr. Forsythe.
White House Butler Dies
By GottaLaff
The AP reports the death of a former White House butler, Eugene Allen, at the age of 90.
"Mr. Allen and his wife, Helene, were profiled in a Washington Post story in 2008 that explored the history of blacks in the White House. The couple were excited about the possibility of Barack Obama's historic election and their opportunity to vote for him. Helene, however, died on the eve of the election, and Mr. Allen went to vote alone. The couple had been married for 65 years."
How heart breaking that his wife died the night before the election. But at least he got to carry on for her.
R.I.P. Mr. Allen.
VIDEO- Lawrence O'Donnell: "The Republicans... really like scaring you."
By GottaLaff
Lawrence O'Donnell takes Jim DeMint down... and out... with facts:
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
"The penalty for not paying the tax penalty... is nothing... There isn't a real individual mandate in this bill, because there isn't a real penalty for violating an individual mandate.
The Republicans.... reeeaallly like scaring you."
Wham.
H/t: Susie May
VIDEO: Hate Obama? There's a sign for that. Plus, death threats for Congress members.
By GottaLaff
Rather than do several posts on the level of hate in this country these days, one will be enough. A veritable combo plate of vile spew and threatening words.
Have yourself a heaping pot of hostility stew (click on image to enlarge):
An anonymous conservative group has set up a website where, for $2,500 to $3,500, Obama haters can grab a billboard adorned with a cartoon image of Obama’s face and a vitriolic message.
How nice of them to share their "personal" feelings.
So far, the nameless head of the group says their Web site has received more than 1,800 hits and that contributions that go toward paying for the billboards.
Add a dash of death threats to the hostility stew:
U.S. Rep. John Dingell (D-Dearborn) says in the aftermath of passing health care reform, he and members of his staff have been getting death threats so serious, he has contacted the FBI.
“They’ve been very nasty," the 83-year-old congressman tells The Monroe Evening News.
Not sure I've ever heard of a death threat that isn't nasty. Hence, stir carefully.
And now, add an extra splash of extremist nutcase letters:
Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter is among state leaders across the country receiving threatening letters from an extremist group. [...]
As of Wednesday, more than 30 governors had received letters saying if they don't leave office within three days they will be removed, according to an internal intelligence note by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.
Threats beget more threats. Threats beget violence. Violence begets more violence:
The FBI is warning police across the country that an anti-government group's call to remove governors from office could provoke violence by others.
That could end in a disaster.
AUDIO- General Eaton: "I believe now is the time to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell"
By GottaLaff
Kudos, General Eaton:
"It really is a civil rights issue... Discrimination based on sexual orientation is inappropriate in our society."
He needs to talk to General Allardice.
The one thing that was missing: His disapproval of that pesky time line, the year it will take to review and figure out the actual implementation.
H/t
Largest Monthly Job Gain In 3 Years: The Chart
By GottaLaff
Look what Nancy Pelosi gave us today:
This morning, the Department of Labor released the March jobs report showing job gains of 162,000 — the largest job gain in a single month in the past three years.
Robert Gibbs: No more recess appointments
By GottaLaff
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Friday that President Barack Obama will not make any more recess appointments while Congress is out of town for Easter break. [...]
The announcement means that the president will avoid making more appointments such as the ones that angered Republicans last weekend.
Gosharootie, the last thing anyone in the White House would ever want to do is anger the Rushpublics. They've been so compliant and sweet-natured up until now. Wouldn't want to rile 'em up and start something.
Now that Prez O is treating them with so much respect by not acting too aggressively and not making the government work more efficiently, betchabygollywow that the GOP will fall right into line and stop all that silly blocking.
Those fun loving rightie scamps and their antics.
Report: Actor Kal Penn to leave Obama administration
By GottaLaff
Oh, but I kid the White House:
Penn, whose real name is Kalpen Modi, has spent much of the past year working in the White House Office of Public Liaison, which is run by Obama senior adviser Valerie Jarrett.
EW.com reported that the actor is returning to Hollywood to resume his acting career, starting with a Christmas-themed installation of the "Harold and Kumar" series.
At least he didn't say he's leaving to spend more time with his family. Points for originality!
Chris Matthews: "Someone should tell this walrus (Rush Limbaugh) to stop this"
By GottaLaff
This walrus under water makes fun of this administration calls it a "regime"...
You go to war with "regimes". They're tyrannies, they're military coups...
Someone should tell this walrus to stop this.
Now Chuck Todd is rambling on about how this kind of talk just has more of a platform now. Yeah right, Chuck. That's all it is.
Sure, all the technology and outlets contribute, but that wasn't Tweety's point. It wasn't so much about availability, but about the terminology, the vitriol, the extreme language.
Matthews responded, and cited this interview:
Joe McCarthy never used the word "regime".
Indeed. And it's that kind of language that incites threats and violence. It only takes one, and we're fast approaching the breaking point.
Loudmouthed louts like Limbaugh, Beck, and let's not forget Palin and a few Congress members, should be held at least partially responsible if and when a real tragedy occurs as a result.
Military's refusal to discharge lesbian a new Catch-22
By GottaLaff
Don't Ask Don't Tell is not only unfair and ridiculous, it's now becoming a joke:
Lt. Robin R. Chaurasiya wasn't exactly asked, but she told anyway: She is a lesbian, and in a civil union with another woman.
Her commander at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, Lt. Gen. Robert R. Allardice, could have discharged her under the Pentagon's "don't ask, don't tell" policy. Instead, he determined in February that she should remain in the Air Force because she acknowledged her sexual orientation for the purpose of "avoiding and terminating military service."
Convoluted enough for you?
Chaurasiya says that is not why she "told".
Let's recap: Nobody asked, but she told, after which someone told on her, and then she told her commander, after which she would have been discharged had the military decided against it, because they think she told without being asked so she could get out for having told.
Clear?
Okay, let's start again.
A guy she once dated, a former service member, shared a group e-mail with her commander. Chaurasiya mentioned she was a lesbian in that e-mail. There was an investigation, after which she told her commander, in a memo, that she was gay.
"I want to be respected for it, and if I am going to be disrespected I don't want to be here," Chaurasiya said in an interview.
But she didn't get into a relationship or out herself just to get a discharge.
"My intention is not to get out," she said. "But if I am going to be kept in and treated unfairly either from my peers or by the military itself . . . then I want to be loud about it to bring about the change, or I do not want to be here."
Chaurasiya has managed to turn DADT into a well-deserved, albeit bad, punch line.
Doctor who tells Obama supporters to go elsewhere scores low with patients
By GottaLaff
Earlier, I posted about a urologist who encourages Obama supporters to take a hike:
Sign at the office door of Dr. Jack Cassell, a Mount Dora urologist. (Photo by Deirdre Lewis / April 1, 2010)
But wait! There's more! Take a look-see at what his patients think of him (click on image to enlarge):
Dr. No gets 3 thumbs down... not unlike his political party.
Gee, could it have anything to do with his attitude?
H/t: cbn2, Cody
David Shuster To Be “Punished” By MSNBC If He Filmed CNN Pilot
By GottaLaff
This will answer the questions I've been getting on Twitter. Yes, he's M.I.A., and yes, the two issues were connected. This is in reference to my earlier post about David Shuster's filming a pilot for CNN.
MSNBC didn't approve. He's grounded:
David Shuster isn’t anchoring his 3pmET hour – which is significant, because he was there for his 10amET hour.
It appears Shuster may be in the MSNBC doghouse again after reports he shot a CNN pilot recently, which apparently happened without his MSNBC bosses knowing.
There are a few more details at the link.
David keeps getting in hot water over there. He's had his Twitter account yanked (it's still up, last I looked, but he's not allowed to use it), and he's had a couple of other run-ins with the powers that be at MSNBC.
He's too good to lose. Someone will snatch him up, and it's too bad MSNBC hasn't (apparently) treated him with the respect he deserves, despite the, er, scrapes he gets into. From what I've seen, he's done nothing egregious, he's one of their best, and they should be rewarding him for his good work.
UPDATE: His website, which was up two hours ago, has been removed.
You can contact MSNBC here.
H/t: MADNews101
Doctor tells Obama supporters: Go elsewhere for health care
By GottaLaff
Sign at the office door of Dr. Jack Cassell, a Mount Dora urologist. (Photo by Deirdre Lewis / April 1, 2010)
Gee, that's not at all passive aggressive.
"I posted a sign telling Obama supporters to screw off, and if they're gonna go and take it all literally and stuff, well, hey, so be it."
Party of No, meet Doctor No.
So is this one of those Conscience Clause things? I only treat those who I agree with? Nice.
The Hypocritic Oath is alive and well in Florida.
Two words, Dr. Jack: Piss off.
A doctor who considers the national health-care overhaul to be bad medicine for the country posted a sign on his office door telling patients who voted for President Barack Obama to seek care "elsewhere."
"I'm not turning anybody away — that would be unethical," Dr. Jack Cassell, 56, a Mount Dora urologist and a registered Republican opposed to the health plan, told the Orlando Sentinel on Thursday. "But if they read the sign and turn the other way, so be it."
Gee, that's not at all passive aggressive.
"I posted a sign telling Obama supporters to screw off, and if they're gonna go and take it all literally and stuff, well, hey, so be it."
Cassell may be walking a thin line between his right to free speech and his professional obligation, said William Allen, professor of bioethics, law and medical professionalism at the University of Florida's College of Medicine.
Allen said doctors cannot refuse patients on the basis of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or disability, but political preference is not one of the legally protected categories specified in civil-rights law. By insisting he does not quiz his patients about their politics and has not turned away patients based on their vote, the doctor is "trying to hold onto the nub of his ethical obligation," Allen said.
Party of No, meet Doctor No.
So is this one of those Conscience Clause things? I only treat those who I agree with? Nice.
The Hypocritic Oath is alive and well in Florida.
Two words, Dr. Jack: Piss off.
Report: David Shuster taped CNN pilot
By GottaLaff
Oh how I wish David Shuster would stay at MSNBC. I try to avoid the Worst Political News Team on Television as often as possible. I really don't want a reason to tune into CNN unless I have to.
Now I may have to:
CNN has shot a pilot for a new news show featuring MSNBC anchor David Shuster, the New York Observer's Felix Gillette reports.
According to Gillette's report, Shuster and NPR host Michel Martin co-anchor the news show pilot, which "also featured medical and opinion segments, and included appearances by several current CNN contributors, including [Reuters Global Editor at Large] Chrystia Freeland...and Jeffrey Toobin of The New Yorker."
Now if there is one thing I know, it's the Tee Vee Machine. This pilot is a toe in the water and no guarantee of anything. But it is clear that David is thinking about a move, and CNN is entertaining the idea, too.
Gee, if he does end up there, maybe they'll allow him to start tweeting again.
At least that would be a perk for the Twitterverse.
H/t: MADPolitics101
Mid Day Distraction
NSFW. I hope someone is seeing this as Blogger has been down for me since this morning. I can post, but I can't see the blog.
Video- Fox accuses Google of snubbing Jesus
Good googly moogly. When I was in parochial school back in the day, Good Friday wasn't really a "celebratory" kinda day...
Doctor tells Obama supporters: Go elsewhere for health care
Yeah, funny thing that his wife is running for Lake County commissioner as a Republican... h/t stevesmill.
MOUNT DORA — A doctor who considers the national health-care overhaul to be bad medicine for the country posted a sign on his office door telling patients who voted for President Barack Obama to seek care "elsewhere."
"I'm not turning anybody away — that would be unethical," Dr. Jack Cassell, 56, a Mount Dora urologist and a registered Republican opposed to the health plan, told the Orlando Sentinel on Thursday. "But if they read the sign and turn the other way, so be it."
The sign reads: "If you voted for Obama … seek urologic care elsewhere. Changes to your healthcare begin right now, not in four years."
(snip)
Cassell may be walking a thin line between his right to free speech and his professional obligation, said William Allen, professor of bioethics, law and medical professionalism at the University of Florida's College of Medicine.
Allen said doctors cannot refuse patients on the basis of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or disability, but political preference is not one of the legally protected categories specified in civil-rights law. By insisting he does not quiz his patients about their politics and has not turned away patients based on their vote, the doctor is "trying to hold onto the nub of his ethical obligation," Allen said.
"But this is pushing the limit," he said.
Unemployment rate stays at 9.7 percent, 162,000 jobs gained
I'm just thrilled it isn't worse.
The American economy added 162,000 jobs last month, the New York Times reports, while the unemployment rate held steady at 9.7%. While the numbers got a lift from the government's hiring of 48,000 census workers, private employers added 123,000 jobs in the month.
Steve Benen: "The jobs report is easily the best we've seen since the start of the Great Recession late 2007, and the strongest overall in three years. With revised numbers for recent months, March is now the third month to show positive job growth since the start of the economic downturn, but last month's totals far exceeded the modest totals from November 2009 and January 2010."
Friday Links
Blech. The weather is too weird here- almost 80 the past couple days then back to normal (50's) this weekend.
Number of crimes involving Facebook 'leaps 346% in a year'
The sex lives of Victorian ladies: More fun than you might have thought
Gorillas in the midst of grieving: London Zoo's three lonely 'wives' mourn the loss of their mate Yeboah
The Hill: McCain: GOP hopes to sidestep veto in repeal efforts
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on Thursday backed a plan that he says would allow the Republicans to avoid a presidential veto while negating the effects of a new healthcare law. The 2008 GOP presidential nominee backed a plan that would strip funding from the healthcare law, which he says would not take an override to a veto to accomplish. Brooke Buchanan, a McCain spokesperson told The Hill that the move would be done using "fencing language" in an appropriations bill that would get rid of the health bill funding. (ed note- Someone needs to take Grandpa for a loooong walk)
TV host scheduled for beheading
Ouch! The words that are a pain just to read
Study: Toads can predict earthquakes
Kansas City Star: Racist radio ads draw challenge
The Missouri Broadcasters Association has written state Attorney General Chris Koster asking him to determine whether white supremacist Glenn Miller is a “legally qualified” Senate candidate. Miller, of Springfield, has filed as a write-in candidate for the office. He’s bought time on several stations to air ads that demean Jews and non-whites, sometimes using racist language.
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