Scandal Watch: Scott Brown Accused of Harassment in 1998

By GottaLaff

But will the Senate ethics committee investigate? Don't be silly:

Jennifer Firth, a local mortgage banker who was elected to the Board of Selectmen in 1999, filed a civil defamation suit against Brown in July of 2000, alleging that he had harassed her when she worked on his campaign in 1998, and then tried to smear her reputation around town with forged letters and emails.

I can see the attraction, what with his affinity for the pink leather shorts and all. Who could resist a guy like that?

She also alleged that Brown told several people that he'd had an "intimate relationship" with her and that he had a stack of sexually explicit letters that Firth had sent him. In her suit, Firth says that she'd never been sexually intimate with Brown, nor did she ever send him the aforementioned letters. A 2000 article in the local paper, the Sun Chronicle reported that Brown had denied the charges; for her part, Firth said she felt that filing the suit was "the only way I could stop this."

Allegedly.

But wait! There's more! Two days later....

Two days after the lawsuit was filed, Jennifer Firth's lawyer, Harvey Schwartz, filed a motion to withdraw as her counsel, saying that "to the best of [Schwartz's] knowledge, information and belief, the above allegations [by Firth] are not supported by 'good grounds.'" The next day, Jennifer Firth withdrew her suit. It was dismissed with prejudice, which means it can never be re-filed. Brown told a local newspaper that her lawyer had decided to withdraw after he was presented with letters and e-mail messages that proved she'd been harassing Brown.

Maybe Firth should go before the ethics committee.

Come to think of it, maybe the ethics committee should go before the ethics committee.

Who paid Firth off, I wonder... Or maybe she had no case. Or maybe ... Or maybe...

Rushpublics are so good at making a lot out of allegations and conjecture, enough to ruin careers. Dems on the other hand....

More details, speculation, and the court documents here.

VIDEO: Rep. Grayson breaks down in tears over letters about uninsured dead

By GottaLaff



Rep. Grayson may say things he shouldn't sometimes, but I adore the guy. He is reading stories from the site http://www.NamesOfTheDead.com.

VIDEO: "Clean Coal? Dirty Fraud"... and forged letters

By GottaLaff



This video is a great concise recap of the following:

Last month, Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) announced a congressional investigation of the DC lobbying firm Bonner & Associates. The firm, which has a long history of astroturfing, was caught forging anti-clean energy reform letters — purportedly from groups representing women and people of color — to Congress. Coal front group American Coalition for Clean Coal Energy was eventually revealed to be Bonner’s client in the anti-clean energy campaign. Now, more forged letters have been uncovered.

Today, Markey revealed five new letters, and dozens more may be out there. According to a statement from Markey’s office, the faked letters came from “elderly services and senior centers” and were sent to Democratic Reps. Tom Periello (VA), Kathy Dahlkemper (PA), and Christopher Carney (PA).

This is what we're up against. They play dirty, and, hey! they also dirty our environment. Great combo.

I'm having a boatload of trouble trying to be funny today. I'm beyond steamed at what's been happening in this country of ours, so the humor just isn't bubbling up. If it's okay with you, I'll temporarily refer to myself as GottaScream.

VIDEO: Naked Activists Say Fossil Fuel Lobby Has No Clothes

By GottaLaff

I see Exxon, I see France!

Responding to breaking news that lobbyists forged letters from constituent groups in order to sway votes against the Waxman-Markey energy and climate bill, activists protested outside the offices of Bonner & Associates, the firm reportedly behind the hoax, wearing jackets, ties, and no pants while holding signs reading "The Fossil Fuel Lobby: Naked Fraud" and "Coal and Oil: Stealing Our Future."

"Apparently, the fossil fuel industry's tactics are as fraudulent as their arguments against climate action," said Ricken Patel, Executive Director of Avaaz.org. "I guess they couldn't find real people opposed to green-energy jobs." [...]

This morning, the Charlottesville Daily Progress reported that an employee of Bonner & Associates had forged letters opposing the energy bill and faxed them to Rep. Tom Perriello (D-Va) on the purported letterhead of two Charlottesville-area grassroots groups, the NAACP and Cresciendo Juntos. In reality, neither group opposed the legislation. Bonner & Associates reportedly apologized and claimed to have fired the employee responsible, but the full extent of the fraud is unknown.

This afternoon, Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Chair of the House Select Committee on Global Warming, called for a congressional inquiry into the forged letters, saying, "This fraud on Congress shows that some opponents of clean energy have resorted to forgery and theft to block progress."

I see naked people.

The irony of those who being laid bare for all to see were the Big Oil/Coal frauds. I doubt that's the kind of full frontal exposure Bonner and Associates wanted.

H/t: Randi Rhodes

Sarah Palin's pick for AK's Attorney General: “If a guy can’t rape his wife…who’s he gonna rape?” Part 2

By GottaLaff

I got a huge response to this post:

Sarah Palin's pick for Alaska's Attorney General: “If a guy can’t rape his wife…who’s he gonna rape?”

In that post, I linked to Wayne Anthony Ross's response to Leah Burton's testimony about Palin's terrible Attorney General pick. But this is far from over. Check this out (I strongly suggest you follow the link to read the entire letter), via the wonderfully astute and very thorough Shannyn Moore:

From Leah Burton’s Dad:

Mr. Ross,

You may or may not remember the times when we met but I remember you very vividly. The purpose of this communication is over concern for my daughter first and your attempt to be confirmed as the Attorney General, a job for which I know you had long aspirations, as well as thinking you could be the Commissioner of Health and Social Services or the Commissioner of Public Safety, none of which you are qualified for.

I was told today that you deny knowing or associating with the Mad Dads group in Wasilla. Surely records of filings in the court must still be available so that you can produce proof of who you clients were. This, is the same group that my daughter witnessed you addressing and making sexist and demeaning comments in reference to spousal rape and domestic violence, which as I see it means physical abuse of the spouse by the husband. Considering the group to which you were speaking that is the only logical conclusion one could draw from such remarks. I’m also assuming that you may have made these remarks in order to appear as a macho man in front of such a gathering. First of all, I want to caution you on what you say but can’t prove and to advise you that if this kind of slander and attacks on my daughter continue you may well meet a real attorney that knows how to win.

In over 30 years in law enforcement in Alaska, as a police advisor for the U.S State Dept and the Dept of justice, I have met and worked with many quality professionals in the field and let me say that you do not rank among this group. I worked the street as a young patrol officer starting in Ketchikan in 1954, joined the Alaska State Police in 1959 and ended my career by serving two separate terms as Commissioner of Public Safety for the 2 best Governor’s in Alaska, Jay Hammond and Wally Hickel. (In the interest of brevity I will attach my resume for you perusal as I want to establish my bona fides for the remarks I am about to make).

You sir, speak and act like the kind of bully I met many times when responding to domestic violence calls, some of the most dangerous situations police officers are often in. Over the years I brought many an abused spouse and/or children to my own home for my wife to care for, because there was no place else to take them. [...]

Contrary to what you recently told the Judiciary Committee about the Child Welfare workers being hell bent on taking kids away from their families my personal experience was just the opposite. I had to take many children into protective custody,. and even in the most dangerous of situations the welfare workers attitude was that a child was always better off staying with their natural parents regardless of the circumstances. Not a decision that I could always agree with. Therefore I am totally surprised as your comments and I challenge you to provide actual proof that supports that allegation.

[...] The bottom line in this case we found that children were being left in home circumstances in many cases when the right thing to do would have been removal. This resulted in changes of the child protection statutes and policies of the agencies concerned which also included the relationship between children and adult probation sharing of information.

The only conclusion I have been able to come to concerning your remarks about the “frightening” case works is that you really don’t know what you are talking about and are just talking to try to impress someone that you may have an some knowledge about the subject.

In light of the strong reaction from the native and rural communities of the state and your obvious position and bias relative to domestic and children’s issues I find it hard to believe that you could be in charge of the department that is charged with enforcing laws in an impartial or effective manner. I think you should do the state a favor and withdraw your name from confirmation.

Richard L Burton

Commissioner of Public Safety (retired)

RESPONSE BY WAYNE ANTHONY ROSS:

Dick: Thanks for writing. I’ll pray for you and for your daughter. Sounds like both of you have problems. My best to you old friend, WAR

Flippant much, WAR? And where in your response letter did you deny or defend anything that Mr. Burton said about you?

Oh, that's right, nowhere. We'll pray for you (even us atheist commies). Sounds like you have problems.

[Laffy Note: Shannyn has appeared on The Rachel Maddow Show and Countdown (if I'm not mistaken), among others. She's a credible, thorough liberal commentator, observer, radio personality, and activist. Go here to read more about her.]

"Dear Mr. President, please make it rain candy!"

By GottaLaff

(via)

Dear Prez O,

You inspire children. That is even better than making it rain candy (preferably Reese's).

Love, Laffy

Thousands of kids detailed their hopes and expectations for President Barack Obama in letters and drawings as part of a worldwide project, with 150 chosen for a free e-book being released on Presidents Day. [...]

The "Dear Mr. President" project was a joint effort between the National Education Association and kidthing.com, which is putting out the book for use with its downloadable media player. A special hardcopy edition of the book will be sent to the White House for Obama, who has done wonders to bring the office of the presidency to life for young people. [...]

Kids ages 5-12 were eligible to participate. Submissions flooded kidthing, including some from other nations.

Lawrence Hitchcock, chief executive officer of the Web site, said more than 4,500 letters were considered for the book on a heart-wrenching range of topics that don't stop at an end to the war and climate change.

Here are some of the sweetest, most poignant letters from the kiddos:

• "I hope that we will have no war ever again. I mean why are we fighting why can't we all be friends."

• "I would appreciate it if you would try to make this a greener planet and try to bring home the troops and end the war. I am very luckey because I am not part of a military family, but it saddens me to hear about all the people who die in Iraque and know that somewhere In the world people are greiving over a lost family member."

• "Dear Mr. Obama, Please Make it rain candy!"

• "My dad's out of work, fix the company, please get more jobs."

• "Please change the immigration laws so my dad can come back from Mexico."

• "I hope Mr. Barack Obama will one day create a holiday for children from around the world."

• "I feel very proud because I know he'll be able to make a change in the country and we'll be a lot more happier. I think he should make people feel more welcome, people who don't really get along with other people."

• "Make fires and earthquakes not exist. Make no tornadoes or any of those things that break things."

• [My dream is that a] "cure for cancer will be found" with Obama in the White House, "Because it took my aunt to a better place on father's day."

• One child drew Obama as the "new sunrise of America."

• One made Earth and labeled it "Obamaland."

• One drew an all-green globe. "I just think he's really, really awesome."

Yes he is. And these children are even awesomer.

Dear Sir Obama...

By GottaLaff

Some very important and heartfelt letters are making their way to P.E. Obama:

Jory John, program director at 826 Valencia, a nonprofit writing and tutoring center, is the editor of the forthcoming "Thanks and Have Fun Running the Country: A Collection of Kids' Letters to President Obama," from which some of these letters are drawn.

Here is some of the finest writing I've seen in a long time:

Dear Sir Obama,

These are the first 10 things you should do as president:

1. Make everyone read books.

2. Don't let teachers give kids hard homework.

3. Make a law where kids only get one page of homework per week.

4. Kids can go visit you whenever they want.

5. Make volunteer tutors get paid.

6. Let the tutors do all the thinking.

7. Make universities free.

8. Make students get extra credit for everything.

9. Give teachers raises.

10. If No. 4 is approved, let kids visit the Oval Office, but don't make it boring.

- Mireya Perez, age 8, San Francisco

...

Dear Obama,

I like you because you won. We saw you on TV. I hope I am your friend.

- Edwin Martinez, age 6, Los Angeles

...

Dear Obama,

If I were president I would have fun, because I could run fast.

- Kenja Zelaya, age 6, Los Angeles

...

Dear President/Mr. Obama,

The best thing about living in the White House would be running around like a maniac. The thing I would like least is the work.

- Holly Wong, age 9, San Francisco

...

Dear President Obama,

I am small, quiet, smart. I love to swim and play basketball. My mom and dad are from the Dominican Republic. I am going to the Dominican Republic next year. I think you should try to change the world by building shelters for the people who live in the streets. It's the beginning of January, and it's cold. Good luck being the president.

- Pamela Mejia, age 11, Boston

...

Dear President Obama,

Here is a list of the first 10 things you should do as president:

1. Fly to the White House in a helicopter.

2. Walk in.

3. Wipe feet.

4. Walk to the Oval Office.

5. Sit down in a chair.

6. Put hand-sanitizer on hands.

7. Enjoy moment.

8. Get up.

9. Get in car.

10. Go to the dog pound.

- Chandler Browne, age 12, Chicago

...

Dear President Obama,

If I were president, I would tell people to not talk too much. It wastes time. I'd also say to war: no more, no more, no more!

- Catherine Galvan, age 6, Chicago

...

Dear Obama,

I have grown up with a very liberal mom and a very conservative dad. Thank you for bringing my parents somewhat closer together. :) You are my idol Mr. Barack - I am partly African-American and I am very happy to see an African-American leading this country.

- Olivia Roper-Caldbeck, age 12, Seattle

...

Dear President Obama,

Could you help my family to get housecleaning jobs? I hope you will be a great president. If I were president, I would help all nations, even Hawaii. President Obama, I think you could help the world.

- Chad Timsing, age 9, Los Angeles

No child left behind. For real this time.

Army mistakenly sent letters to families of fallen soldiers addressing them as ‘John Doe'... 7000 of them

By GottaLaff

No. Wrong. Stop making stupid mistakes like these:

The Army was forced to apologize today after sending approximately 7,000 letters to family members of soldiers killed in Iraq or Afghanistan which mistakenly addressed them as “John Doe.” The letters were sent late last month to inform survivors about private organizations “that offer gifts, programs and other assistance to families that have lost” soldiers.

The biggest mistake of all, of course, was the commander-in-chief [sic] sending them to get killed in the first place.

530 messages for Obama

By GottaLaff

This is so cool:

A performance artist who collected hundreds of postcards from Americans expressing their hopes for the future president has a wish of her own: to meet President-elect Barack Obama and hand over the stack of messages. [...]

To collect the postcards, Oring dressed in the style of a 1960s secretary and used an antique typewriter with carbon paper. She set up a table on street corners, took dictation from passersby and typed their words. [...]

Some of the cards are emotional. Many express ideas for solving the nation's problems or expound on national priorities in next four years. Often they focus on substantial issues and include pleas to end the war in Iraq, create more jobs, improve education and safeguard human rights, women's rights and gay rights.

Here are a few of those messages:

• "Dear Mr. President, I sure hope you're a black dude cuz if you're not, I'm already in Canada," [...]"P.S. Either way, please eliminate the cap on Social Security taxes and find a way to help homeless Americans -- especially those with mental illnesses."
• "Americans are much stronger and more capable of sacrifice than you might think" [...] "Please help us get away from our addiction to oil and preserve our environment."
• "Be wise Mr. President. Our nation is in your hands. Please do not make decisions in haste. Surround yourself with people who will challenge you. Our nation is in need of leadership and wisdom."
• In Chicago after Obama won, the tone of the postcards shifted, with many offering the president-elect their enthusiastic congratulations. One said he was "ecstatic" that a person of color had won the presidency.
• Another said he was "still floating on air" 10 days after the election.
• "I just turned 21, so 2008 was the first opportunity for me to vote..."[...] "I'm proud to be one of the many young Americans to hand you the task of leading America. Change takes time and we understand that it will be a long process. But I understand that you will do a good job."
• "Please help my daughters to feel proud of being an American and please give them a better future"
  
• "Dear President. Be worthy of our trust, please."

IWRC* Palin praised Wooten before she didn't

By GottaLaff

We're all killing time before the Big Debate, so here's an IWRC* tidbit:

Years before "Troopergate" and accusations that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin tried to kick her former brother-in-law out of the state police force, she was praising him as "a fine example" of "high-caliber personnel." In a letter dated July 8, 1999, Sarah Palin commended her future brother-in-law, Mike Wooten, for his hard work at Wasilla's July 4th parade.

"SRA Wooten worked hard to locate and deliver appropriate supplies to use in our parade," the then-mayor of Wasilla wrote to Wooten's Air Force commander. "I believe Mike is a fine example of the high-caliber personnel we are blessed to have in the United States Air Force. He was extremely helpful to our community and I thank you for allowing his assistance," Palin wrote.

And there's this:

The documents also substantiate Palin's sustained use of federal earmarks to fund local projects (she now opposes earmarks on the campaign trail), her personnel moves as mayor and her opposition to environmentalists' efforts to protect Alaska's Steller sea lions.

The unsigned letter is one of hundreds of documents released today to NBC News by the Wasilla city government, dating back to Palin's six-year term as mayor.

More Here.

*"In What Respect, Charlie?"

Dear L.A. Times, About that John McCain...

By GottaLaff

L.A. Times letters:

Re "McCain vows own kind of change," Sept. 5

My head is spinning from having just watched John McCain's Republican nomination acceptance speech. He says the Republicans lost their way when they had total control of the government as they became corrupt and managed government poorly these last eight years.

McCain's logic is that the answer is to elect him so he can bring back the same Republican crowd for a do-over. Now that is really the ultimate in political spin.

Next:

McCain calls for an end to partisan gridlock and says that he will use all the best ideas and resources, irrespective of the party of source.

I guess that will start right after Palin gets done with her little team-building exercise and stops vilifying the opposition.

The senator must think we're all too stupid to understand or care.

Next:

Re "The imperfect hero," Sept. 4

Like every U.S. pilot flying over North Vietnam, McCain was trained to outmaneuver antiaircraft missiles. But instead of following orders, dodging the missile to save himself, his aircraft and its payload before continuing the mission, McCain disregarded the danger to continue his bomb run.

As your profile so tellingly reveals, this single act of recklessness symbolizes the man and his career: More guts than sense, unbridled contempt for authority, overweening ambition. Not the kind of man I want with his finger on the trigger of America's nuclear arsenal.

Just thought I'd share what I'd read this morning.

Dear L.A. Times: Faith Forum, Jerome Corsi edition

By GottaLaff

The L.A. Times letters are always interesting:

Re "Contrasting styles, views in sharp focus," Aug. 17

Even though I strongly believe in the separation of church and state, I listened with interest to the Saddleback forum on the radio. I was surprised to see how Barack Obama's and John McCain's answers were portrayed in the subhead of the article in The Times.

Instead of saying that Obama was open and thoughtful, it called him "analytical" and "nuanced." Instead of saying that McCain pandered, it said he answered "crisply" to "greater applause." In that forum, did anyone expect that McCain wouldn't get greater applause? I was pleasantly surprised at how much applause Obama did get, without obviously pandering to the audience.

Obama was clearly the more impressive candidate; but you'd never know from your subhead.

And...

I'm shocked that The Times didn't raise the issue of whether a religious official should inject himself into a political discussion. Rick Warren's questions frame the race in an evangelical Christian context -- to the detriment of citizens who don't share those beliefs. The founders separated government from religion not to persecute Christians but to ensure that all could believe, or not believe, as they desired.

As U.S. senators, neither Obama or McCain should be promoting any particular religion. And church officials should not attempt to influence the voting preferences of their flocks, regardless of which religion is doing the influencing. Citizens must be free to select candidates without interference from religion -- not to promote a secular society, but to protect freedom of belief for all.

And...

Re "Character is key, Warren says," Aug. 18

That Warren won't vote for an atheist shows extreme prejudice -- much as a racist won't vote for Obama, but cites reasons other than prejudice to account for his mind-set.

A president does not act alone -- he has a Cabinet, advisors and the Constitution. Human advisors are more likely to give informed advice than the supernatural advi- sor(s) of the ultra-religious.

And finally:

Re " McCain denies flippant remark on 'Obama Nation,' " Aug. 16

McCain quips about Corsi's new book on Obama: "Gotta keep your sense of humor." But in August of 2004, McCain disavowed an ad based on Corsi's "Swift boat" attack on John Kerry, saying: "I deplore this kind of politics. I think the ad is dishonest and dishonorable."

In August of 2004, McCain was not a candidate, and did not benefit from Corsi's smear tactics -- but that was then, and this is August of 2008. He should have swiftly disavowed Corsi, but he missed the boat.

The Bushies' only crime is having the guts to politicize the Justice Department

By GottaLaff

This L.A. Times letter is a doozy. It's referring to this opinion piece about how BushCo politicized the entire system of what used to be U.S justice:

As far as I'm concerned, the Democrats are the lying, spinning, criminal political party. The Bush people's only crime is that they had the guts to politicize the Justice Department, using the opposition's tactics.

May their good work endure.

How patriotic and rational.

You can Iran but you can't hide

By GottaLaff

L.A. Times letter-writers are at it again:

In his article, Graham Allison implies that 500 pounds of low-enriched uranium that Iran has produced so far could easily be converted to highly enriched uranium for bombs.

A couple of clarification points are missing from this article. First, Iranian-produced enrichment material remains under the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Second, converting this fuel to highly enriched uranium would take months. Any changes to the current facilities would be noticed by the IAEA instantly.

Letter #2:

If I were the cynical type, I might say this was just a ruse. The Iranians are unlikely to give up their low-level enrichment program, to which they are perfectly entitled as a signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Then President Bush can say he tried talking directly to Iran but it didn't work.

This could provide political cover for the U.S. or Israel to achieve the neoconservative dream of attacking Iran before he leaves office. [Laffy Note: I agree.]

But that's just if I were the cynical type.

Color me cynical.