Armed man arrested outside Asheville airport as Obama leaves

I know this happened yesterday, but there are some new details coming out I wanted to get out there. This shit just never ends.

Police began questioning McVey after noticing his car's Ohio license plate and other equipment, including a digital camera on the dashboard and four large antennas on the trunk lid, according to the case summary.

McVey got out of the car and started talking on a handheld radio attached to a remote earpiece, and the officer noticed he was wearing a sidearm. The officer and Secret Service agents asked for McVey's identification, and when they ran his driver's license number through a computer, it did not come back as valid, according to the summary.

When the officer asked what he was doing, McVey stated “he heard the president was in town. He stated he wanted to see the president,” according to the summary.

While searching his Pontiac Grand Prix, investigators heard police department radio traffic, “indicating he was monitoring our frequency when he arrived.” Officers also found a siren box under his steering wheel, several pieces of paper with agency radio frequencies written on them and a sticky note in the cup holder with rifle scope formulas on them, according to the case summary.

Bleiweis said McVey's intentions were unclear, but the case remains under investigation.

AUDIO-The Michelangelo Signorile Show: Laffy on the Radio with Lizz Winstead

By GottaLaff

Here is the audio of the Michelangelo Signorile Show that I did with Lizz Winstead (in for Signorile).

It was a veritable Palinpalooza:



It was like two girlfriends chatting. Lizz is so gracious, so much fun, and I thank her again for inviting me to join her.

For the record, Not Joe the Not Plumber is no longer a McCain supporter. I took my info from a report that has since been corrected.

Major thank you to Tim Corrimal for grabbing this off Sirius/XM for me.

Report: Hazmat incident at Rep. Weiner's district office

By GottaLaff

My pal Gr8RDH just passed on a tweet from Ben at Politico:

benpolitico: Hazmat incident at Rep. Anthony Weiner's district office.

She said that Talking Points Memo just retweeted it, which means they give it credibility and are repeating the message.

More details when they become available.

UPDATE:

Law enforcement officials say a package with white powder was sent to Congressman Weiner's Queens office today.

A preliminary review shows the letter in part complained about the historic health care legislation passed by Congress this week, according to the source.

NYPD and FBI spokesman are only confirming that they are responding to the scene.

UPDATE BY PADDY- They found the powder to be non-hazardous.

VIDEO: "There will be a civil war" if health care reform passes

By GottaLaff

TPM's Evan McMorris-Santoro talked to Kris Fisher of Oakville, Virginia.:



Do these people, these "citizens", realize that we have a Congress that was elected by American voters, legally?

And that their side lost? Fair and square? Or doesn't their brand of patriotism cover stuff like one person, one vote?

That's called "democracy". Say it with me, Kris. De-moc-ra-cy. Or in her case, deMOCKracy.

They lost.

They lost.

Let me say that one more time, so that even Kris the Protester can understand it.

They. Lost.

Deal with it without the threat of violence, okay? Can we all manage that? Or is peaceful coexistence passé?

'Kthanksbye.

VIDEO- Senator Tom Coburn threatens Democrats

By GottaLaff

I'm sorry, what? Coburn's issuing threats? Really?



Please note his little posse chuckling when he throws around threats to Democrats.

Classy stuff, Tom, and a tad extreme.

This comes from utter desperation, knowing the Dems are about to score a big health care win. The GOP is like a scared animal lashing out blindly at anything and anyone who they thing "crosses" them. That's their mentality, assuming they have any mental capacity left at all.

Video- The Party Crashers Speak

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

I am just all broke up for their situation. Poor, poor things.

Breitbart: ‘This Message is to Attorney General Holder,’ Investigate ACORN ‘Or Else’

By GottaLaff

"Or else"? Really?

Right-wing activist Andrew Breitbart of BigGovernment.com and other conservative anti-Obama websites [issued] a direct threat, approaching blackmail, to the United States Attorney General, Eric Holder. Breitbart is angry that Attorney General Holder has not opened a federal investigation into ACORN and he issued a threat of releasing more tapes during the 2010 elections, unless Holder complies with his demands.

Blackmail. I'm sure Breitbart wishes it was whitemail, but when you put yourself in criminal jeopardy, beggars can't be choosers.

Breitbart together with conservative operatives James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles, released another heavily edited ACORN tape this week, which seems to show an ACORN employee assisting the two with an illegal prostitution scheme. [...]

“It was Hannah and James and me who were being investigated. That’s why we’ve been forced to offer this latest tape.”

Yes, that's right. Holder made him do it. Holder made him issue a threat, too. It's all the Attorney General's fault, because Breitbart is not in the least bit responsible.

Besides, he's probably just cranky because the paper he works for is shutting down.

“And this message is to Attorney General Holder: I want you to know we have more tapes–its not just ACORN. And we’re going to hold out until the next election cycle — or else, if you want to do a clean investigation, we will give you the rest of what we have. We will comply with you. We will give you the documentation we have from countless ACORN whistleblowers who want to come forward, but are fearful of this organization and the retribution — that they fear that this is a dangerous organization.”

“So if you will get into an investigation, we will give you the tapes, and if you don’t give us the tapes [sic], we will revisit these tapes come election time.”

ACORN is so dangerous, so lethal, such a threat to America that Breitfart, er -bart (typo) felt it necessary to issue a threat of his own... to the nation's head legal guy. Smart move.

Why would he take such a chance? Because he's mad, that's why! Because he and the secret videotapers are being sued, that's why! Because he's a fool, that's why!

There is also an investigation in California launched by Attorney General Jerry Brown at the request of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, which has infuriated Breitbart.

I don't know a whole lot about legal stuff, but IMHO, Breitbart's in a heap-o'-trouble.

H/t: muttlikemeblog

Tea Partier Tweet: Storm the commie White House!

By GottaLaff

Look what my pal Shoq found:

To quote Cody_K, I wonder if the other carpooling soccer moms know.

It's not quite a Secret Service call moment, but wow. How inclusive and bipartisan of ol' "MomPatriot". So very patriotic.

No hostility there, nope. When will the TeaTantrumers realize how they've hurt their party? Then again, they're pretty oblivious to most things.

Obama threat on Twitter?

By GottaLaff

UPDATE: This one is worse. Meet Eric Luke:

This is what Kathy Frendling (@kfrendling) posted not once, but several times on Twitter, among other things:

See, Kathy, the thing is, Twitter is very public, and screen grabs are very easy. Consider yourself on the record.

UPDATE: Kathy the Threater is a real estate agent in Florida:

H/t: txvoodoo

Colorado Tea Party Organizer Issues Racist Threats to Fellow Blogger

By GottaLaff

Smile for the camera, you filthy piece of scum.

Oliver Willis and I are Twitter pals. Oliver Willis is also a fellow blogger. I can't even imagine how he must be feeling right now.

Additionally, when something so despicable and appalling hits this close to home, it makes the irrational hatred out there feel even scarier, more real, and more threatening than usual. It shouldn't make a difference, but somehow it does:

Shaun Conley Of Conley Plumbing In Johnstown Colorado decided to leave a racist, threatening message on my blog. Here is the message plumber Shaun Conley Of Conley Plumbing In Johnstown Colorado left:

The socialists will pull the first trigger. We rightwing extremists will pull the last.

Signed,
Bitter Clinger.

PS: Massa Obama must be proud to know that the slaves on his government plantation are so devoted. ding-ding-ding. Uh oh! Massa O is calling! You’d better step-n-fetchit, bootlick.

Please go read the rest of the post, including the information Oliver provides.

I'm just sick over this.

UPDATE- I got my answer. Here's how Oliver is feeling:

VIDEO- AFL-CIO's Trumka: Which Side Are Democrats On?

By GottaLaff

Per reader Hippie_Cyndi, labor unions are pulling donations for Democrats, especially Blue Dogs, until health care reform is passed. The National Journal is subscription only, so this is all I could get:

Labor unions are showing their increasing displeasure over financing proposals that target their healthcare benefits by launching attack ads against key lawmakers, causing the Senate's leading advocate of taxing such benefits to seek ...

From the YouTube page:

Signalling a shift within the labor movement, the AFL-CIO's Richard Trumka praises Democrats in Washington those who have stood by working people.

He goes on to warn those who have wavered on labor and health care reform about the consequences of stabbing working people in the back and vows labor will not forget their actions.

Oof! "We need to send them a special message... Don't you dare ask for our support next year whenever you're running." Ouchies:

Here you go:

Update: North Korea warning to US and South Korea

By GottaLaff

Those breaking news Tweets come in handy. Now we have the full story:

North Korea has warned that any attempt to shoot down a satellite it says it plans to launch will result in war.

The warning came as the US and South Korea began an annual joint military exercise expected to last 12 days.

North Korea has long described such exercises as provocative but tensions between the two Koreas are now high.

The South and the US believe Pyongyang could be preparing to test-fire a long-range missile under the guise of a satellite launch.

On Friday, the North said that the risk of conflict meant it could no longer guarantee the safety of commercial flights through airspace it controls off the east coast. [...]

In a statement published by the official Korean Central News Agency on Monday, the Korean People's Army warned that it was ready to use force against the South, the US and Japan.

“ Shooting our satellite for peaceful purposes will precisely mean a war ”
North Norean army statement

"We will retaliate any act of intercepting our satellite for peaceful purposes with prompt counter strikes by the most powerful military means," it said.

"Shooting our satellite for peaceful purposes will precisely mean a war."

The army earlier issued a separate statement saying all military personnel had been ordered "to be fully combat ready" in order to defend the nation. [...]

The army added that it would cut off North-South military communications during the exercise period.

The 12-day military exercise involves about 50,000 US and South Korean troops, in what the two allies say is a rehearsal for the defence of the peninsula, the BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul says.

But North Korea is always rankled by the annual drill, our correspondent says, claiming that it is a dry run for an invasion and dangerously provocative.

Some observers in South Korea, though, believe the North may be using the exercise as a pretext to clear the skies, our correspondent adds.

North Korea says interception of satellite would mean war

By GottaLaff

I'm getting a series of Tweets from BNO News:

North Korea says interception of satellite would mean war.

North Korea has ordered its military to be combat ready after a joint US-South Korean move which they called a prelude to war - state media.

North Korea warns it will retaliate against any attempt to intercept a "satellite" it plans to launch.

Shooting down the rocket or satellite North Korea plans to launch would result in an all-out war - state media.

North Korea's army spokesman: "We will retaliate any act of intercepting our satellite for peaceful purposes".

North Korea says it will use "prompt counter strikes by the most powerful military means" if its "satellite" is intercepted.

TrooperGate: Threats to Wooten concern troopers

By GottaLaff

It ain't over 'til it's over:

The state trooper behind the abuse-of-power investigations of Gov. Sarah Palin is getting a reassignment this Sunday following threatening telephone calls to his employer.

Mike Wooten has been on desk duty for his own protection in recent weeks after troopers began receiving hostile calls from Alaskans and people outside the state, according to public safety union officials.

Callers said things like "If I ever see Trooper Wooten on the road, I'm not going to let him stop me," according to union director John Cyr. [...]

"It was clear there was a lot of feeling and misdirected feeling among the public," Cyr said Friday of the phone calls received by troopers. "The department came to us. There were worries about Mike's safety. We agreed -- and Mike agreed -- to do paperwork until after the election." [...]

Palin's spokesman, Bill McAllister, said the governor's office was not aware of the reassignment plans and was unable to comment on it.

"It's probably not appropriate of us to second-guess such a decision," he said. "It's not something the governor's office micromanages."

Wherever Pitiful Palin goes, hatred and hostility seem to follow.

VIDEO: Students told not to speak Obama's name

By GottaLaff

School officials at a Mississippi junior high school threatened to discipline students for speaking the name of president-elect Barack Obama.

WAPT reported:

Reporters with 16 WAPT News received several calls from upset parents that said a school bus driver told the children on a Pearl school bus that if they said Obama'€™s name, they would be written up and taken to the principal's office for disciplinary reasons.

Another parent said that a coach at Pearl Junior High School told students that if they speak Obama's name, they would face expulsion.

In a separate incident, a girl's basketball coach at Pearl Junior High School told students they would be suspended for saying Obama's name.

This video is from WAPT.com, broadcast November 7, 2008.

Those must be the "real" Americans Wardrobe Barbie was talking about.

Miami got ugly today

By GottaLaff

Rushing, because I have to leave for work, so a copy and paste:

[W]e witnessed a near-street riot involving the exiting McCain crowd and two Cuban-American Obama supporters. Tony Garcia, 63, and Raul Sorando, 31, were suddenly surrounded by an angry mob. There is a moment in a crowd when something goes from mere yelling to a feeling of danger, and that's what we witnessed. As photographers and police raced to the scene, the crowd elevated from stable to fast-moving scrum, and the two men were surrounded on all sides as we raced to the circle.

The event maybe lasted a minute, two at the most, before police competently managed to hustle the two away from the scene and out of the danger zone. Only FiveThirtyEight tracked the two men down for comment, a quarter mile down the street.

"People were screaming 'Terrorist!' 'Communist!' 'Socialist!'" Sorando said when we caught up with him. "I had a guy tell me he was gonna kill me."

Asked what had precipitated the event, "We were just chanting 'Obama!' and holding our signs. That was it. And the crowd suddenly got crazy."

Garcia told us that the man who originally had warned the two it was his property when they had first tried to attend the rally with Obama T-shirts was one of the agitators. Coming up just before the scene started getting out of hand, the man whispered in Garcia's ear, "I'm gonna beat you up the next time I see you." Garcia described him for us: "a big stocky man wearing a tweed jacket." He used hand motions to emphasize this was a large guy. We went back to look for the gentleman twenty minutes after the incident but didn't find him.

The two Obama supporters had attempted to attend the event with tickets printed from the McCain website. Both were clad in Obama T-shirts, Sorando in a blue "Obama '08" shirt, and Garcia in a white "Obama-Biden" shirt. They were told that the event was being held on private property and that wearing the shirts or carrying the signs they would be asked to either remove the shirts or not attend.

[...]When the rally ended and the crowd spilled out, the disturbance began.

Garcia had a message for his stocky, tweed-clad threatener. "You tell that guy he can find Tony Garcia down at the West Dade library every day from 7 to 7 helping people early vote. I'll be there from 1 to 5 on Saturday and Sunday. You tell him if he wants to kick my ass that's where he can find me. Come beat me up."

Not thirty seconds later, John McCain drove by in his SUV and waved at Garcia on the sidewalk, who was happily waving his Obama sign.

VIDEO: Gramm-pa McCain Florida staff member threatens interviewer

By GottaLaff

From the Things Gramm-pa's Campaign Don't Want You to See Dep't:


The real fun starts at 4:20. And why is it that Gramm-pa's paid volunteers must sign a "confidentiality agreement"?

Obama campaign seeks extra security amid threats

By GottaLaff

Are these the type of people at your rallies who you're so proud of, Gramm-pa McCain? From Philly:

After threats at several field offices around the state, Sen. Barack Obama's campaign is asking labor unions to help provide volunteer security at 27 offices between now and Election Day. [...]

The e-mail said there have been threats at three Philly offices. That's on top of an evacuation this week at the South Philly office after they received a threatening letter that contained a suspicious substance, which initial tests determined was sugar.

Obama spokesman Sean Smith declined to go into detail on the other threats made so far, but said that some had been just crank calls. [...]

"This is standard operating procedure with most campaigns I've worked on," Smith said. "You have people who work very late hours. They're leaving at one, two in the morning. They're senior citizens and young people."

Smith stressed that the campaign wasn't looking for round-the-clock security guards, but for people who would check in on offices a few times a night. He wouldn't detail what unions might be providing support, saying the campaign was still working that out.

Remind me: When exactly did Gramm-pa McTongue repudiate all that vile hate speech? Oh that's right. Never.

Get out the terrorist alert charts

By GottaLaff

Via CLG, October Surprise?

"We have done all the things that we need to do, but the threat is building - the complex plots [to prevent an Obama victory] are building." 'Great' terror plot brewing in UK: Top official 15 Oct 2008 Britain may be faced with a major terrorist attack, a top security official said on Wednesday, as the the Government received a severe setback in parliament in its effort to pass a key counter-terrorism law. "There is another great plot building up again and we are monitoring this," warned Lord West, who advises British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on security matters.

It's election time. Here come the terror alerts.

VIDEO: Right Wingers Threaten Alaskan Women Over Anti-Palin Rally

By GottaLaff

Yesterday's anti-Palin rally got under some unhinged Republicans' skin, to say the least: