Quote-O'-The-Day: Former FEMA Fool edition

By GottaLaff

Heckuva quote, Mary:

"He was a fool when he stepped off the plane in Louisiana 4½ years ago, and unfortunately for him, he apparently still is."

-- Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), quoted by Politico, on the attempted comeback of former FEMA Director Michael Brown.

Many of us are still trying to figure out why he was allowed back on the Tee Vee Machine in the first place.

O'Keef Watch: Connected white people rule

By GottaLaff

UPDATE:

Via an e-mail news alert:

Federal prosecutors have filed reduced charges against conservative activist James O'Keefe and three others accused of trying to tamper with the phones in Sen. Mary Landrieu's New Orleans office, the Associated Press reports.

For more information, visit washingtonpost.com:

Via MSNBC, he pleaded guilty to get the reduced charges.

ORIGINAL POST, BUMPED UP FROM AN EARLIER DATE:

Connected white people, indeed, "rule", and the injustice is nauseating. How nice for relatives of U.S. attorneys that they get breaks the rest of us don't.

Imagine if these little conservative brats had been "unconnected", "liberal" African Americans who approached a white employee... while duping the public into thinking they were dressed as pimps/hookers at the time.

Now imagine those same African Americans popping into a U.S. Senator's office to snoop around with a hidden camera, checking out the phones. Yeah, that would have gone over well:

Louis Moore, the magistrate judge for the federal district court in New Orleans, agreed Wednesday to motions on behalf of the four to extend the time by which the U.S. attorney's office for the Eastern District must seek a felony indictment, press misdemeanor charges or drop the case.

Moore said the extension, which was unopposed by prosecutors, would offer the parties "additional time to conduct informal discussions and discovery and avoid or lessen additional proceedings," suggesting the possibility of a plea deal that would likely spare the four from facing felony charges.

At the time of their arrest Jan. 25, O'Keefe, 25, Joseph Basel, 24, Stan Dai, 24, and Robert Flanagan, 24, were charged with entering federal property under false pretenses for the purposes of committing a felony, a crime that carries a maximum term of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Whitewash.

H/t: Cody

ACORN Pimp/PhoneGater James O'Keefe's race problem

By GottaLaff

Salon.com has a new post up. Here's a nibble... that you'll want to spit out:

Now an activist organization that monitors hate groups has produced a photo of O'Keefe at a 2006 conference on "Race and Conservatism" that featured leading white nationalists. The photo, first published Jan. 30 on the Web site of the anti-racism group One People's Project, shows O’Keefe at the gathering, which was so controversial even the ultra-right Leadership Institute, which employed O'Keefe at the time, withdrew its backing. But O'Keefe and fellow young conservative provocateur Marcus Epstein soldiered on to give anti-Semites, professional racists and proponents of Aryanism an opportunity to share their grievances and plans to make inroads in the GOP.

According to One People's Project founder Daryle Jenkins, O'Keefe was manning the literature table at the gathering that brought together anti-Semites, professional racists and proponents of Aryanism.

This little twerp never fails to reveal an even dirtier, scuzzier, more repugnant side to him.

In an online diary that has since been scrubbed from the Web (but not before being captured on Daily Kos), he wrote that he was forced to live on an all-black dormitory floor after refusing to live with the gay roommate he was initially assigned. O’Keefe claimed his next roommate was “an Indian midget ... who smelled like shit.” The roommate left, however, and was replaced by “a greek kid.” The new roommate complained to a residential administrator that O’Keefe had called his neighbors “niggers,” prompting the school to expel him from the dorm.

This is the new conservative darling, huh? They can have him. May he bring them exactly what they, and he, deserve.

All you need to know about little Jimmy Olsen can be found in my previous posts here.

VIDEO: Part 2: Sean Hannity Interviews PhoneGater/ACORN Pimp James O'Keefe

By GottaLaff



He really, reeeeaaaaalllly wants to go into details, but he can't. And he really, reeeeaaaaaallly just wants to get to the truth, 'cause that's the kind of guy he is.

Oh, and he's not a fan of jail applesauce.

VIDEO: Part 1: Sean Hannity Interviews PhoneGater/ACORN Pimp James O'Keefe

By GottaLaff

Don't forget now: It's an ongoing investigation. And hey, Baby James just wanted to get to the truth. By breaking into the phone system of "the people's office". Why all the fuss?



H/t: Hippie_Cyndi

Meet the Landrieu PhoneGaters' mentor

By GottaLaff

Mentoring can be so rewarding. It's such a moment of pride when you see your charges venture out on their own:

Justin Elliott of TPM Muckraker points to a new story in the New York Times about Ben Wetmore, a 28-year-old conservative activist who let anti-ACORN provocateur James O'Keefe and his merry band crash at his New Orleans home prior to their arrest for allegedly attempting to tamper with Sen. Mary Landrieu's phones.

According to the New York Times, Wetmore was a mentor to a network of right wing provocateurs who embraced various forms of political theater to dramatize their issues on college campuses. Marcy Wheeler's commenter cinnamonape connected the dots between Ben Wetmore and James O'Keefe last Friday. [...]

Though Ben's claim to have encouraged phone pranks to disrupt lefty speakers should raise red flags. He was a campus activist who traveled around advising college conservatives on disruptive tactics. [...]

But in another cached post, Ben seems to be seriously advocating a dirty tricks robocall to sway elderly voters by impersonating Barack Obama

Wait. His name is... Wetmore? I couldn't have thought of a better one myself.

There's a lot more to read. And for even more, go to TPM.

H/t: Wolfrum

Veterans Today- Landrieu Senate Burglary: CIA domestic Black-Op Team Arrested

By GottaLaff

(Photos via)

I'm not sure what to make of this, but here is the headline over at Veterans Today.com:

ALL 4 INVOLVED IN SENATE HOMELAND SECURITY BREAKIN CIA “N-O-C” AGENTS

CIA PROGRAM MAY HAVE TRAINED DOMESTIC “DEATH SQUADS”

That sure seems like a huge deal. What about evidence to back it up?

Last week’s breakin at Senator Mary Landrieu’s office in the New Orleans Federal Building was more than it seemed, much more. All of the 4 arrested had been trained by the CIA and, possibly, Israel. One arrested, Stan Dai, is listed as an Operations Officer of the Department of Defense Irregular Warfare Program and a known expert and lecturer on, not only surveillance but explosives training, assassinations and “false flag operations.” If you wanted a plane to crash, an enemy to get sick and die or a building to blow up, Dai would be the man to know how to make it happen. Problem is, his skills were being used as part of a criminal conspiracy inside the United States against members of our own government. [...]

What is not initially known is whether this was the first attempt or, as is much more likely, an additional incursion to plant new bugs as the ones in place were missing key conversations. Also, it is not known how many “black ops” crews are being run by the CIA inside the United States in violation of their charter or if their operations are being limited to spying on Democratic lawmakers or if operations of a more threatening nature have been performed but remain undiscovered.

Additionally, as this was a covert op against US government investigations of, not only terrorism and terrorism funding but major financial crimes against the United States, it is unclear who the recipient of the “product,” an intelligence industry term for “output” or information put up for “distribution” might be. Potential buyers could be the Republican Party, Israel, Turkey, India, Russia, China, Venezuela, North Korea or financial institutions involved in massive money laundering schemes being investigated by the Senate’s Committee on Homeland Security of which Senator Landrieu is a member. [...]

With much of the CIA’s former leadership now employed by Blackwater/Xe, a company owned and controlled by Republican party leadership, the lines between domestic and foreign intelligence operations have become blurred.

Please go read the whole thing.

I'd like to know a whole lot more. It's good to have facts and more facts, and the tone of this piece is urgent, but more information is needed. Still, the background on Dai is, well, intriguing.

H/t: Tymlee

Dorky Baby Conservatives Just Trying To Embarass Landrieu

David Shuster is down in NOLA reporting on this and is what he is saying. Plus, Jughead there tweeted about it last night, breaking his gag order. These guys aren't that smart. More from TPM here.

A law enforcement official told NBC News that the four men were not trying to intercept or wiretap the calls.

Instead the men, led by O'Keefe, wanted to see how her staff would respond if the phones were inoperative, the official said.

They were apparently motivated by local criticism of Landrieu — some voters reportedly felt it was too difficult to get through to her office to register their views.

Update on ACORN Pimp O'Keefe

By GottaLaff

MSNBC's David Shuster is reporting the latest on ACORN Pimp James O'Keefe and his band of merry felons (earlier post here, original post here):

There was no phone tapping equipment ON the felonious lads.

The so-called "listening device" in the van was actually a walkie talkie.... or cell phone.

Their motive? They were trying to shame Mary Landrieu, but too late... She did that on her own during the health care "debate".

They still face felony charges.

UPDATE: It is not a wiretap case, it is a federal trespass case, per Shuster just now. Additional charges could be brought, and plea deals are possible.

The people upstairs were communicating with the guy in the truck, via walkie talkie or cell phone.

O'Keefe had an exclusive deal with Andrew Breitbart for writing. Breitbart claims he had no idea O'Keefe was up to this, hadn't spoken to him in weeks.

But the question is, did O'Keefe have any financial incentive? They won't just take the word of the 4 guys.

On Keith Olbermann's Countdown, John Dean:

He says it's no prank, pretty serious, more of O'Keefe's entrapment journalism. They went beyond what is legal.

Karl Rove was one of the "early tutors" of this kind of thing, says Dean. Plus, he says, O'Keefe has been enouraged by his elders in the party. "Stupidity.... You'd think we'd evolved in our political intelligence..."

This was a classic criminal conspiracy... but we don't know who all the co-conspirators are. This may be more than 4 people.

This kind of thing has been embraced by the Republican right, although they're distancing themselves now.

Video- New Orleans CBS affiliate reports on O'Keefe arrest, attorney has "no idea at this point" who is paying him

A little schadenfreude with your coffee.

VIDEO- Extra spicy Hardball: Howard Dean, Chris Matthews, Mary Landrieu talk health care

By GottaLaff

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I liveblogged this earlier. Now you can watch the sparks fly.

My take on the health care debate here.

Howard Dean on Hardball: liveblog

By GottaLaff

Howard Dean on Hardball right now. Liveblogging a hot and heavy debate:

There are good things in this bill. But I don't like the giveaways to insurance companies. You are mandated to buy insurance, and could be fined. The insurance companies take a ton of money out and put it to non medical expenditures. They can take out more than 30% of the dollars you pay. Most insurance companies aren't as efficient as Medicare.

There are no reforms on insurance. Even if they offer something, you can't afford it.

I would simply expand Medicare via reconciliation. Simple. That's all you have to do.

We have used it 23 times before...

Chris: Not for a federally funded program.

Dean disagrees: Or, you could start all over again in two years.

Chris: That's demagoguery.

Dean: Lieberman's not the issue. He can do what he wants.

Chris: Why are you afraid to take on Liebrman?

Dean: I'm not. I ran against the guy!

Chris: Every time the Dems unite, Lieberman comes up with something on a Sunday show in front of all the cameras... He's like Lucy in Peanuts, pulling the football, and now you won't even take him on.

Dean: I'm not interested in him, I'm interested in health care. The problem is not 60 votes, or Lieberman. The problem is that Dems aren't tough enough. Republicans would have used reconciliation and had it done by now.

Chris: Why not?

Dean: I don't know.

Chris: It's not for creating new programs.

Dean: I'm asking to do what Bush did, not create new programs.

Mary Landrieu is on now, saying the Dems ARE tough enough, but reconciliation is to reconcile budget numbers, and for deficit reduction. There's still plenty to fight for. Medicare will be strengthened, more people will be covered... I don't like everything in the bill, but it's the closest we've come in 40 years. We're still working with Olympia Snowe...

Dean: I'd like to know why you denied my people choice. You wouldn't let us choose another program.

Mary: You never had that choice to begin with. Obama never campaigned on the public option.

Dean: Yes he did. Along with employee benefit package.

Mary: Right now there's an option that Congress uses....

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.

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

Mary Landrieu will reveal decision on motion to proceed Saturday morning

By GottaLaff

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

Harry Reid closed in on 60 votes for public option

By GottaLaff

Lawrence O'Donnell and Sen. Clyburn are discussing this as I type, on Countdown:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid closed in on clinching 60 votes for a public health insurance option Friday as two key moderates signaled they wouldn’t stand in his way – clearing a path for Reid to finish work on a bill as early as Tuesday, Democratic officials said.

"The public option is not the question." And yes those pro-public option polls are passed around among Congress members, said Rep. James Clyburn just now on Countdown.

"It's not what will it be, it's what form it will take," he went on to say. "By the end of next week, the House will roll something out with a public option, I'm just not sure which of the four it will be."

And Reid’s efforts got a boost Friday when two key Senate moderates signaled that that they were not inclined to block him.

"I conveyed to Leader Reid that a number of moderates still were extremely concerned about a government-run, taxpayer-funded, national public plan," Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) said in a statement after meeting with Reid. "However, I am encouraged that the conversations taking place over the past week among Senators who back different versions of a public option could potentially lead to a compromise. I believe this compromise should happen sooner, rather than later, so we can get to work on other critical aspects of heath care reform."

An aide to Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) said that, while the senator does not favor a public option with a state exemption, he would not vote to filibuster the bill. This would put Reid closer to the 60-vote threshold.

On Thursday, Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), another key moderate, said he was undecided on the state opt-out but remained to open to a public option. "It depends on the way it is structured," Pryor said.

Sen. Ben Nelson is still being a stick in the mud. And don't even start me on the Snowe flake.

Health Care Hypocrisy Watch: Hurry up and wait

By GottaLaff

Stealing from David Kurtz, because it's worth going to Blogosphere Jail for:

Remember this?

President George W. Bush signed into law Thursday the first major piece of legislation of his presidency, a $1.35 trillion tax cut over 10 years.

Of the six senators begging President Obama to slow down health care reform, four of them -- Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Ben Nelson (D-NE), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), and Susan Collins (R-ME) -- voted for those huge Bush tax cuts.

Their votes were cast on May 26, 2001. Bush signed the tax cuts into law on June 7, 2001. Here we are in mid-July, eight years later, struggling to get health care reform passed by the end of the year.

So whatever these four foot-draggers are saying about why they want health care reform slowed down (and Nelson, for one, was all over the place yesterday warning against "rushing into this"), it's not really about wanting to be more deliberative or avoid ballooning the deficit. All you have to do is look back to 2001. Their records speak for themselves.

The Internets are a bitch, aren't they...?

Senator Mary Landrieu distancing herself from Obama

By GottaLaff

Not all that surprising, but somewhat disconcerting:

Heartbroken Bush campaign ex-officio Matthew Dowd wrote on ABC News.com recently that Barack Obama was running behind his party nationally and therefore that the party's congressional candidates ought to be wary about running with him.

Sen. Mary Landrieu is keeping her distance. (Click on images to enlarge...somewhat)

Last Thursday, an automated Google search for "Mary Landrieu," produced a link to a page on Obama;'s website touting an upcoming Washington, D.C fundraiser for Obama. An aide to John Kennedy, Landrieu's Republican challenger, sent it to reporters. Just two hours later, the link went down, only to reappear with Landreiu's name removed without notice.

Co-hosting presidential fundraisers are among the most vetted events on any politician's calendars - sitting senators don't "accidentally" let themselves get listed as a co-hosts presidential fundraisers. So far as I am aware, Landrieu has not attended a political event with Obama.

When Obama wins, watch how she magically links herself to him every chance she gets.