VIDEO: Bunning still not answering questions

By GottaLaff



What? No "finger" action? What a gentleman:

CNN's Dana Bash and a CNN camera crew again tried to get Bunning to comment more extensively on the controversy but the senator emphatically declined.

He only shoots off his mouth on his terms.

To respond to those who have been wondering whether he represents the Senate's Grumpy Obstruction Party, and is not just a crazy old coot lone wolf, the answer I've been hearing is yes, he has their support. And the reason he is the designated loud mouth is because he's leaving, just as we've all been saying.

See how well he represents "the people"? America first!

The silliness of Climategate

By GottaLaff

Tim Rutten has a good op-ed in the L.A. Times today about "ClimateGate" (oh puh-leeze). Let's watch as he dissects the latest inane Meme-O'-Doubters:

The impact of this autonomic red-blue division often is amplified by the fact that we Americans are, by and large, technologically advanced but scientifically illiterate. Our national conversation is dominated by a culture of assertion rather than a respect for evidence reasonably assessed. Thus the endless wrangling over self-evident nonsense like creationism. [...]

In fact, the scientific consensus on the issue is broad and deep. Nor does it rely on science done at the Climatic Research Unit at East Anglia. Even if something untoward occurred there, we have two other scientific organizations providing baseline climate data -- both of which happen to be funded and directed by the U.S. government. One is NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, and the other is the Global Historical Climatology Network -- operated not by the EPA or the Interior Department but by the Commerce Department. Their historical data essentially matches that compiled at East Anglia.

So what are we to believe: that huge numbers of British and American scientists have entered into a conspiracy to dupe the world on climate change? Why? What would they stand to gain? [...]

Who benefits? Is it really any accident that Palin and most of the GOP lawmakers trying to discredit the science on global warming come from states enriched by petroleum production and industries with sizable carbon footprints?

Please go read the whole thing here.

Let's go all hypothetical for a moment. Even if global warming is a "hoax", how could we not benefit from the-- here comes that E word-- evolution of green power sources? Why is clean worse than dirty? Because critics say it's more expensive? Not in the long run. The health costs alone, resulting from inhaling and ingesting filth, are worth making the transition. And replacing finite supplies of fossil fuels with infinite quantities of sun and wind makes a whole lot of sense.

Unless, of course, you're Sarah Palin or the other beneficiaries of Big Oil.

VIDEO- David Plouffe: Left Will Come Home for Democrats

By GottaLaff

Today on ABC’s “Top Line,” David Plouffe said that liberals will become believers again by election time: (Sorry for the double video... I can't fix it, and don't want to mess it up)

“Of course there’s some people upset. But I think, I think people will look at the balance of his leadership to help us lead through the economy -- that we finally got health insurance done,” said David Plouffe, the author of a new book about the Obama campaign, “The Audacity to Win.” [...]

But I think, you know, he’s great at having a longer-term strategic approach,” he said. “I think most Democrats are going to see, on the economy, on health care, you know, by next fall we’re going to begin to have our combat troops out of Iraq --something people aren’t focused on. I think that the left of the Democratic Party is going to say, ‘This guy, through his leadership, through his ideas, has done a great job.’ ”

Chess, not checkers.

Patience.

Trust.

However, no matter what Plouffe says, I disagree with many of President Obama's decisions. That doesn't mean I don't support him, and I do believe that he has already done some great things for this country.

Not to mention, I am thankful every single day that we don't have a McCain/Palin White House.

The very thought....

White House v. CIA; Panetta Threatened to Quit

By GottaLaff

CIAy-ay-ay!

A "profanity-laced screaming match" at the White House involving CIA Director Leon Panetta, and the expected release today of another damning internal investigation, has administration officials worrying about the direction of its newly-appoint intelligence team, current and former senior intelligence officials tell ABC News.com.

Amid reports that Panetta had threatened to quit just seven months after taking over at the spy agency, other insiders tell ABCNews.com that senior White House staff members are already discussing a possible shake-up of top national security officials.

"You can expect a larger than normal turnover in the next year," a senior adviser to Obama on intelligence matters told ABCNews.com.

The White House calls reports of a possible replacement "inaccurate".

According to intelligence officials, Panetta erupted in a tirade last month during a meeting with a senior White House staff member. Panetta was reportedly upset over plans by Attorney General Eric Holder to open a criminal investigation of allegations that CIA officers broke the law in carrying out certain interrogation techniques that President Obama has termed "torture."

A CIA spokesman quoted Panetta as saying "it is absolutely untrue" that he has any plans to leave the CIA. As to the reported White House tirade, the spokesman said Panetta is known to use "salty language." CIA spokesman George Little said the report was "wrong, inaccurate, bogus and false."

They said, they said. That said, I'm on the side of whoever uses salty language, but that's just me.

One CIA official said colleagues involved in the interrogation program were preparing for a far-reaching criminal investigation.

As you know, I've written about that extensively. Stay tuned... and I'm guessing it might be time to buy a few packages of Jiffy Pop.

President Obama stands by his comments on Gates arrest

By GottaLaff

Good for Obama for not backing down:

"I have to say I am surprised by the controversy surrounding my statement because I think it was a pretty straight forward commentary that you probably don't need to handcuff a guy, a middle-aged man who uses a cane, who's in his own home," Obama said. [...]

"I think that I have extraordinary respect for the difficulties of the job that police officers do," the president told Moran. "And my suspicion is that words were exchanged between the police officer and Mr. Gates and that everybody should have just settled down and cooler heads should have prevailed. That's my suspicion."

The president said he understands the sergeant who arrested Gates is an "outstanding police officer." But he added that with all that's going on in the country with health care and the economy and the wars abroad, "it doesn't make sense to arrest a guy in his own home if he's not causing a serious disturbance."

My goodness gracious, how controversial of that no-goodnik Prez O. What a reverse racist Marxist Fascist Affirmative Activist. Impeach him now.

By the way, I hear he's not really a U.S. citizen, and that Kenyans will rule the world as a result. Hide the kids... but not until after the Glenn Beck Show.

VIDEO-- Shuster: "It goes to show how disgusting this entire competition is"

By GottaLaff

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

David Shuster:

"The only jumping off point is jumping off a cliff if we really believe that people at these pageants have anything worthwhile to say to the rest of us. If you really believe that, then that's your jumping off point, and I suggest you jump off the cliff, 'cause this is as superficial as you'll ever see. It's ridiculous! It's crazy!"

1. Hold beauty pageant.
2. Spark controversy.
3. Hold self-indulgent press conference that features both Carrie Prejean and Donald Trump.
4. Put anchors on the Tee Vee Machine.
5. Expose claws.
6. Rawr!

Obama official resigns over photo flap

By GottaLaff

There's always a "flap", which, when you think about it, is better than a flop.:

Louis Caldera, the director of the White House Military Office who authorized the controversial Air Force One photo-op over New York City last week has resigned, the White House announced Thursday.

The White House has also released a photograph taken during the unannounced flyover that caused a brief panic in the city.

Alrighty then. Are we done now?

Census plan gets scrapped

By GottaLaff

Stuff and non-cens(us):

The Obama administration has scrapped plans to have the Census Bureau director report directly to the White House, assuaging the concerns of lawmakers.

Commerce Secretary nominee Gary Locke met with key senators Wednesday to reassure them that the 2010 census would be managed by the Commerce Department, and not the White House.

Locke met with Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and ranking member Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) to defuse concerns that had arisen over stewardship of the census.

Locke provided two key assurances, according to aides: that the census would stay out of the White House’s hands, and that so-called sampling will be used minimally, as an accuracy check. [...]

Debate has been rife over whether Census officials should use sampling, a statistical method by which a population has been estimated based on a smaller section. Republicans say the Constitution calls for “an actual enumeration,” and that sampling makes results less accurate and more susceptible to political bias. [...]

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, called for a House investigation. Many in the GOP feared White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel — who led the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in the 2006 cycle — would be heavily involved in managing the census. [...]

Hutchison emphasized that by law, Congress has oversight over the census even though the executive branch conducts it.

It appears that now that a Democrat will lead the Commerce Department, concern over the census has dissipated.

Update on Tom Daschle's tax issues

By GottaLaff

Original post here. Liveblogging.

Now CNN is reporting that there was one month of consulting income that Daschle didn't pay taxes on awhile back, $90,000 worth. But he never got the right tax form, or some such thing...

He had a limo and a chauffeur for 3 years that he didn't pay for, that he got from a business associate, who offered to give him his car and driver. He used it 80% of the time for personal use. In June 2008 he looked at it and thought he should be paying taxes on it, so he did.

Plus, he claimed donations to charities that apparently weren't charities.

They've been investigating for about a month now.

But he will be confirmed anyway, Dana Bash reports. Ed Henry is reporting that President Obama is standing by him. Plus, he says, the Senate, being the club that it is, stands by its own.

Anderson Cooper is noting how the Obama team is usually second to none at vetting, and yet this happened.

Mark Halperin is saying it's an embarrassment, but not fatal unless Democrats make something of it.

Paul Begala says that Daschle is a respected senator and gets the benefit of the doubt, as long as Senate Dems don't protest. Reid is supporting him strongly.

The consensus so far is, since the White House and Harry Reid are behind him, he's in. The only glitch would be if Democrats start turning on him. The Republicans, of course, will, they say. And they are so right.

Bill Richardson thought probe would end in December

By GottaLaff

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

This answers one question:

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D), who withdrew his nomination to be secretary of Commerce, said he thought an investigation of a state contract would have been concluded last month.

Richardson said Monday that, when the probe of the contract given to a political donor was not wrapped up then, he decided it was best for President-elect Obama’s incoming administration and the floundering economy for him to withdraw instead of asking for a delayed confirmation.

The governor, talking to reporters at a press conference in New Mexico, expressed that it was painful to withdraw his name from consideration for the Cabinet post. He added that he “underestimated” how long the grand jury investigation would last. [...]

“I had hoped that the CDR investigation would have concluded in December with a clean bill of health for my administration,” Richardson said. “Since the investigation was not finished in December and, as long as the CDR investigation is ongoing, I made the decision to withdraw as the president-elect’s nominee for Commerce secretary rather than ask for a delay in my appointment.”

Why Did Richardson Take Job? Presser at 1:00 Eastern

By GottaLaff

Questions and more questions. Maybe we'll get some answers at 1 pm Eastern? D'oh! That was another question.

The lingering question surrounding New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's acceptance -- and then rejection -- of an appointment by President-elect Obama as secretary of commerce, is why did he want the job in the first place?

Marc Ambinder reports that Obama's team did not expect Richardson "to take the Commerce job in the first place; they saw it as a demotion. But Richardson surprised them by saying yes."

Richardson will hold a press conference at 1 p.m. ET in New Mexico.

Richardson watch: He "was not forthcoming" with Obama team

By GottaLaff

UPDATE:

On MSNBC just now, Ed Henry mentioned that Obama and Richardson spoke on Friday, not Saturday as it says below.

They also remarked on Richardson's surprise at how "quickly things turned around" when Team Obama decided to rid themselves of a problem as quickly as possible, and how it "was the last thing they needed". He repeated that Obama would still like to have Richardson as part of his team down the line.

Another MSNBCer also reported that this wouldn't hurt Obama in the long run, confirming what Jim Warren said previously, which is a confirmation we wanted to hear.

Here's a little more info about the Richardson problem:

Sources tell ABC News that Obama transition officials "feel that before he was formally offered the job of commerce secretary, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson was not forthcoming with them about the federal investigation that is looking into whether the governor steered a state contract towards a major financial contributor."

"Once the investigation became more widely known through national media reports last month... the Obama Transition Team realized the FBI would not be able to give Richardson a clean political bill of health before the new administration is ready to send his nomination up to the Senate for confirmation."

Richardson formally asked President-elect Obama to withdraw his nomination yesterday.

The Obama team realized that last month?

UPDATE:
From Tapper's ABC piece:

The Richardson camp says the governor was forthcoming, with sources close to the governor noting that there had been reports about the controversy in local media such as the Albuquerque Journal as far back as August 2008. The governor discussed the investigation with the Obama team, they say, and believes that he and his administration have done nothing wrong. [...]

President-elect Obama did not ask Richardson to withdraw his name from consideration, sources from both camps say, but the fact that the confirmation seemed untenable in the short term was apparent to everyone involved.

There were some discussions about whether the confirmation process could be delayed a few months until the investigation concluded, sources say, but it became clear that wouldn't happen any time soon, and no one wanted to be seen as pressuring law enforcement officials to wrap up their investigation.

The governor spoke with the president-elect several times over the weekend, their last conversation being Saturday, when Richardson told Obama he was withdrawing his name from consideration.

VIDEO-- Bill Richardson watch: The specifics

By GottaLaff

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

Just to catch you up on the specifics of the allegations:

NBC’s Lisa Myers reported last month:

“The allegations now being investigated by a federal grand jury involve whether Richardson as governor steered state bond business to a firm whose founder made substantial contributions to Richardson's political action committee. Two former state officials involved in the bond deals told NBC News that they testified before a grand jury in Albuquerque last week. One official says prosecutors focused on whether Richardson or staff pushed to give business to CDR Financial Products. It specifically asked about what's called pay to play.”

Bill Richardson "avows his innocence".

Dan Rather's $70m lawsuit likely to deal Bush legacy a new blow

By GottaLaff

I didn't realize Bush's legacy could suffer any more than it already has.

Just kidding. Yes I did:

As George W Bush prepares to leave the White House, at least one unpleasant episode from his unpopular presidency is threatening to follow him into retirement.

A $70m lawsuit filed by Dan Rather, the veteran former newsreader for CBS Evening News, against his old network is reopening the debate over alleged favourable treatment that Bush received when he served in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam war. Bush had hoped that this controversy had been dealt with once and for all during the 2004 election.

As Dan once said, "Feeling good about your chances... or are your fingernails beginning to sweat?"

Peter Yarrow, co-author of "Puff the Magic Dragon", responds to "Barack the Magic Negro"

By GottaLaff

Peter Yarrow, of Peter, Paul, and Mary, responds to the disgusting "parody" that you've all heard about (excerpt):

I and my co-writer of "Puff," Lenny Lipton, have been eagerly awaiting an end to the mean-spiritedness, outright disrespect and bigotry that was commonplace prior to this last presidential election. What might have been wearily accepted as "the way it was" in the campaign, is now unacceptable. Obama is not a candidate. He is the President-Elect, and this song insults the office of the Presidency, the people who voted for him, as well as those who did not -- and taking a children's song and twisting it in such vulgar, mean-spirited way, is a slur to our entire country and our common agreement to move beyond racism.

It is almost unimaginable to me that Chip Saltzman who sent the CD, would seriously be considered for the top post of the Republican National Committee. Puff, himself, if asked, would certainly agree.

Peter Yarrow also just said as much on the Thom Hartmann show. Were the Repugs listening? Not likely.

Melissa Etheridge Defends Rick Warren: He's No "Gay-Hater"

By GottaLaff

Via HuffPost:

On the day of the conference I received a call from Pastor Rick, and before I could say anything, he told me what a fan he was. He had most of my albums from the very first one. What? This didn't sound like a gay hater, much less a preacher. He explained in very thoughtful words that as a Christian he believed in equal rights for everyone. He believed every loving relationship should have equal protection. He struggled with proposition 8 because he didn't want to see marriage redefined as anything other than between a man and a woman. He said he regretted his choice of words in his video message to his congregation about proposition 8 when he mentioned pedophiles and those who commit incest. He said that in no way, is that how he thought about gays. He invited me to his church, I invited him to my home to meet my wife and kids. He told me of his wife's struggle with breast cancer just a year before mine.

When we met later that night, he entered the room with open arms and an open heart. We agreed to build bridges to the future.

Brothers and sisters the choice is ours now. We have the world's attention. We have the capability to create change, awesome change in this world, but before we change minds we must change hearts. Sure, there are plenty of hateful people who will always hold on to their bigotry like a child to a blanket. But there are also good people out there, Christian and otherwise that are beginning to listen. They don't hate us, they fear change. Maybe in our anger, as we consider marches and boycotts, perhaps we can consider stretching out our hands. Maybe instead of marching on his church, we can show up en mass and volunteer for one of the many organizations affiliated with his church that work for HIV/AIDS causes all around the world.

Maybe if they get to know us, they wont fear us.

I know, call me a dreamer, but I feel a new era is upon us.

I will be attending the inauguration with my family, and with hope in my heart. I know we are headed in the direction of marriage equality and equal protection for all families.

What a sweet, positive message. I loved it and had to share.

Premature condemnation

By GottaLaff

Via Ben Smith, we see discover that-- surprise!-- Rahm Emanuel is in the clear. But that won't matter. Rumors will fly, innuendo will reign, accusations will be flung, and news cycles will be dominated by speculation that suffers from premature condemnation:

George Stephanopolous explains why the Obama camp doesn't seem worried about Rahm Emanuel's dealings with the Blagojevich administration: According to the internal report, he only spoke to Blago once, didn't engage in any negotiations to get Jarrett the Senate seat, and was equally interested in the (fascinating, more standard) wheeling and dealing around his House seat:

The sources add that the report will show Emanuel also had four phone calls with Blagojevich Chief of Staff John Harris. During those conversations, the Senate seat was discussed. The pros and cons of various candidates were reviewed, and the sources say that Emanuel repeatedly reminded Harris that Blagojevich should focus on the message the pick would send about the governor and his administration.

Sources also confirm that Emanuel made the case for picking Obama confidante Valerie Jarrett during at least one of the conversations. In the course of that conversation, Harris asked if in return for picking Jarrett, 'all we get is appreciation, right?' 'Right,' Emanuel responded.

I can just see the Biased Browns of the world stomping their feet, turning on their heels, crossing their arms with a "hmmph!" and whining that it's not fair that all those weeks of eyebrow-raising suspicion have rendered them so journalistically impotent that even a mega-dose of Viagra would be ineffective.

Gay activist's weapon of choice against Rev. Rick Warren: Doughnuts

By GottaLaff

Creative. Peaceful. Constructive. And dee-lish:

The campaign stems from comments made by Mr. Warren, who opposes gay marriage, on NBC’s “Dateline” on Thursday. Asked if he is homophobic, the pastor replied: “Of course not. I’ve always treated them with respect when they come and want to talk to me. I talk to them. When the protesters came, we served them water and doughnuts.”

So one gay rights advocate is encouraging supporters of gay marriage to “return the favor” by sending Mr. Warren gift cards to Dunkin’ Donuts. The gift cards, which cost a minimum of $10, can be personalized with pictures of gay couples and supporters.

The effort was conceived by Tom Leonard, an Internet marketing consultant in Burbank, Calif., who also created ZeroH8.tv, which is working to place ads in support of gay marriage on cable networks in the wake of a new gay marriage ban in the state.

“It sends a good message to him in a nonthreatening way,” Mr. Leonard said. (In any case, the cards are probably preferable to the prediction by Huffington Post’s Jason Linkins that doughnuts will be pelted at the pastor during the ceremony.)

Mr. Leonard said he wasn’t exactly offended by Mr. Warren’s doughnut remarks, but “it’s kind of missing the point.”

“There’s more to it than just coming out and giving doughnuts,” he said. “That’s not really establishing a good dialog. He has not made any changes in his attitude toward things.”

Mr. Obama defended the Warren choice, saying, “It is important for America to come together even though we may have disagreements on certain social issues.”

Mr. Leonard:

“A lot of the comments that we’ve been getting have been, ‘Well, I would rather put my money somewhere else.’” So he added a section to the Web site with other suggested causes, including Planned Parenthood and some hunger-fighting organizations.

Good lord, it's nearly 2009. Recognizing the rights of other human beings shouldn't even be an issue.

The upside: We're talking about it.

A lot. A whole lot.

Yet another Rev. Rick Warren post

By GottaLaff

Because I like to be inclusive, here is yet another perspective about the Rev. Rick controversy, and what a controversy it is. Via The Motley Moose:

...I think the comparison to "what if Obama had a racist or anti-semite up there on stage" misses the point.

Nelson Mandela was a master of using white supremacists as stage props against white supremacy. His message was moderate or be marginalized. There is no try.

Obama's statement about being President for all Americans, not just those who support him or voted for him, is much like Mandela's for similar reasons. Both are inheriting a massively divided country threatened with economic ruin and split into cultural factions accustomed to hating each other. Oh ... and both are black men taking over countries long exclusively ruled and owned by whites. [...]

[T]he Catholic Church... places abortion as an even higher sin than war. And won't let women be priests. Warren and the Pope are closer on most issues than they are apart.

But unlike abortion rights, which will remain constitutionally protected thanks to Obama's election, equal rights for gays do not yet exist in the United States. [...]

Someone asked of the inauguration, "why are gays being asked to take a punch in the gut for inclusiveness?" Well, from the view of a lot of folks on the Right, Warren is taking a punch in the gut for inclusiveness by showing up on stage with a bunch of gay-loving baby killers and their Muslim AntiChrist Presleydent.

And remember, it is just a stage. And all on it are merely players. Perhaps Obama will say, be excellent to each other ... or else.

For all we know, Obama might be doing this just to get Warren to talk to Rev. Lowery. You never know where and when an Epiphany can take place.

Christ, Warren might come out of the closet.

Now wouldn't that be an historic "inauguration"?

Another Rev. Rick Warren post: Democrats need period of pyschological adjustment from Bush years

By GottaLaff

Paddy and I were just saying how sick we are of all things Rev. Rick, and how the the issue of the separation of church and state should be front and center. But here I am, posting one more time about Rev. Bigot. Why?

Because Marc Ambinder offers up another facet of the controversy that I found interesting. He titles it "The Left Adapts to Power; Overcoming Learned Pessimism". He begins by referring to a "knee jerk reaction" by many liberals to what they have for so long seen as a slap in the face:

The contrast, though, between the impressively (from that point of view) liberal administration appointments that obama has been rolling out over the past few days and the choice of an anti-gay pastor to speak briefly for one morning (and presumably not about gays, or any other divisive social issue) is fascinating. [...]

The Obama team probably misread the situation a bit, but it's easy to see how they might do so: the transition team obviously wanted two contrasting religious voices for the invocation and the benediction. Seen in this light, the Warren pick is far less controversial.

The deeper dynamic, though, is this: liberal groups are used to being treated like stepchildren in Washington. They are used to being under siege at all times, and it's going to take some adjustment to realize that gay rights are probably not in danger because of things like the Warren pick. (An Obama adviser, discussing this matter with me, urged patience, saying that Obama is committed to the substance of his campaign promises to expand gay rights.)

A little private reassurance would go a long way, and it seems that the Obama team has not accounted for the fact that everyone, on all sides, is going through a period of psychological adjustment from the Bush years.

This includes liberal interest groups accustomed to being slapped around by Bush and taken for granted by Bill Clinton.

When new programs start coming down the pike, and Obama's priorities on gay rights (and on anything else on the progressive agenda) become clear, most of this early defensive posturing will probably be seen as premature and overblown.

Until Barack Obama does something substantial to advance gay rights, groups like HRC can hardly be blamed for feeling the deja vu.

While I appreciate Ambinder's points, I think it goes far beyond that. Rev. Rick is downright offensive, to say the least. Receiving eventual reassurances by Obama and his policies is one thing, but having that bigot right smack in our faces on such a monumental occasion is something else entirely.

In other words, this can't be boiled down to the eventual adaptation of learned behavior by the abused following a lifetime with their abuser.

And unfortunately, I don't think disappointed Obama supporters will feel soothed by dreams of a rosier future while simultaneously playing "polite audience" to a man who dismisses our most basic rights and needs the way a horse's tail idly swats away a fly.

For so many who have felt the intense pain that comes from small-minded hatred and prejudice, the time for healing is now, not January 21st.