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Friday, April 03, 2009

UNFRIKINGBELIEVABLE!!!! Hey Women how do you like still living in the dark ages even in Israel!!!!!!

JERUSALEM — Two women serve in Israel's new Cabinet, but some Israelis would rather not see them.
Newspapers aimed at ultra-Orthodox Jewish readers tampered with the inaugural photograph of the Cabinet, erasing ministers Limor Livnat and Sofa Landver.
Ultra-Orthodox newspapers consider it immodest to print images of women.
The daily Yated Neeman digitally changed the photo, moving two male ministers into the places formerly occupied by the women.
The weekly Shaa Tova simply blacked the women out, in a photo reprinted Friday by the mainstream daily Maariv.
No response was available from the two papers.
During the election, campaign posters featuring female candidate Tzipi Livni were defaced near ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods.

Blagojevich Tried To Extort Rahm Emanuel: Lawyers

President Barack Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, was the congressman targeted by an alleged extortion plan described in the indictment against former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, according to attorneys familiar with the case.
At the time, in 2006, Emanuel was the congressman from the 5th District on Chicago's North Side. The attorneys spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because the congressman isn't named and the information is secret grand jury material.
The indictment says the congressman sought a $2 million grant for a school. But Blagojevich allegedly told a lobbyist to tell the lawmaker his brother would have to raise campaign funds or the grant wouldn't go through.
Some of the funds were later released, even though no fundraiser had been held.
The White House declined to comment on the indictment. LinkHere

Rep. Alan Grayson Vs. Cavuto: "A Stuck Pig Squeals Loudly"

The Fox Machine is at it again!!!!!!
Watch Grayson versus the Thug:

"I wish they would take their talent and practice their talent in Russia or China and bankrupt them instead of us."

LinkHere

Ahahahahahah I love it, Barack and Michelle are driving the thugs on Fox crazy.

OleLadySquawking
Michelle Obama for president in 2016! that should give Hannity a heart attack. And then she gets Congress to change the age rule and it will be Malia and Sasha.
Listen to him if you have the stomach!!!!!!!!

Thursday, April 02, 2009

Obama signs autograph

Indian Prime Minister Asks For Obama's Autograph
How big an international star is President Obama? Even other world leaders want his autograph. When Obama met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh this afternoon, the soft-spoken leader noted that his daughter wanted his American counterpart to autograph something for her.
The open-press portion of the meeting treaded easy ground. Obama highlighted the importance of the two countries’ relationship and praised Singh's leadership in his remarks. Singh emphasized that the United States and India were two democracies with common values, and he expressed great respect for Obama.

Leahy: Commission Into Bush-Era Torture "Not Going To Happen"

Yesterday, the website Consortium News published an article by Charlotte Dennett pouring some cold water on the hope many liberals have that Congress will form a truth and reconciliation commission to investigate Bush-era torture and other instances of wrongdoing. Dennett reported that, at a meeting with Sen. Patrick Leahy, the Judiciary committee chairman had said the idea was dead in the water. "[I]t's not going to happen," Leahy reportedly said.
Today, Leahy released a statement addressing that article: "In contrast to reports circulating on the Internet, Leahy said he is continuing to explore the proposal."

He's not the one responsible for AIG Demise

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

Maddow Presses Colin Powell Over His Role In Approving Bush Admin Interrogation Policy (VIDEO)

Powell refused to acknowledge his role in these meetings, and claimed ignorance about long-released legal memos that specifically authorized torture. Choosing his words carefully, he would say only that, "at least from the State Department standpoint," it was important to stand by the Geneva Conventions. Powell also questioned whether tactics like sleep deprivation, stress positions, or waterboarding were "criminal" -- despite specific U.S. statutes and international law forbidding torture LinkHere

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

Go Wank Yourselves, It Was Your Corrupt Justice System, Georgies Corrupt Justice System, If I Remember Right.

"Mark Begich should resign his position to allow for a new, special election,
Alaska Republicans call for election redo
The Republican Party leader in Alaska today called for Democratic Sen. Mark Begich to step down from the seat he narrowly won in November over Republican Ted Stevens so a special election can be held.

Fast-track budget tool would kill bipartisanship, GOP says

RamboLiberal :
What a bunch of freakin' hypocritical whiners. Conveniently forgot when you stomped all over the Democrats in Congress for nearly 12 years!
Obama tried to extend a hand to you jerks. Screw you Republicans! Let the Democratic freight train roll!
Kangaroo Said: Right On
Source: CNN
A congressional tactic described as a "freight train" to run over the minority party could derail any hopes of bipartisanship with the Obama administration, some Republicans warn.

"Reconciliation" is a procedure that could put some of President Obama's major initiatives, such as overhauling health care, on the fast track to becoming law if lawmakers adopt it in their budget resolution.

The process would allow senators to cut off debate on some legislation with 51 votes -- a simple majority -- instead of the 60 usually required.

Senate Republicans said they worry the process effectively could silence any voice they have in negotiations since Democrats would not need their votes to move ahead with Obama's agenda. (The Democrats have 58 votes, including two independents, and Republicans have 41.)

Surprise recusal from judge


EXCLUSIVE: Rove-connected judge recuses self from appeal in case critics call political prosecution

There were startling new developments on Wednesday in a case of alleged political prosecution of a Mississippi attorney.Once-prominent attorney Paul Minor, jailed on charges of bribery, has alleged that his prosecution was politically motivated and timed to Mississippi's gubernatorial elections. He has also alleged that there was direct involvement by former Bush White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Karl Rove.
Surprise recusal from judgeThe United States 5th Circuit Court of Appeals was scheduled to hear an appeal of the case today. Scheduled to serve on the three-judge panel were Judges Will Garwood, Priscilla R. Owen, and Catherina Haynes. This morning, however, only hours before oral arguments were to be presented, Judge Owen recused herself from the case.In August of last year, Raw Story reported on Judge Owen's possible conflicts of interest, including connections to former Bush White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Karl Rove:

"I hope that [Holder] will take a look at some of the other cases that are buried on his desk."

With the Department of Justice's decision to dismiss ex-Sen. Ted Stevens' corruption conviction on account of prosecutorial misconduct, another apparent victim of Bush-era DOJ wrongdoing, convicted former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, is hoping that Attorney General Eric Holder will turn to his own case for review.
In an interview withTPMmuckraker Wednesday evening, Siegelman said, "There seems to be substantial evidence of prosecutorial and other misconduct in my case, that would dwarf the allegations in the Stevens case."
Holder made the decision to dismiss Stevens' October conviction for failing to disclose $250,000 in gifts from an oil executive and others on Tuesday in light of a failure on the part of the prosecution to disclose all of its evidence to the defense.
"After careful review, I have concluded that certain information should have been provided to the defense for use at trial," said Holder in a released statement Wednesday. "In light of this conclusion, and in consideration of the totality of the circumstances of this particular case, I have determined that it is in the interest of justice to dismiss the indictment and not proceed with a new trial."
In a released statement, Stevens said, "I always knew that there would be a day when the cloud that surrounded me would be removed. That day has finally come."
Siegelman said he supports Holder's decision but added, "I hope that [Holder] will take a look at some of the other cases that are buried on his desk."

"For years, New Yorkers have done everything in our power to get this guy to leave town."

He then ended the segment by saying, "If you're heading out from Uptown, take 42nd Street west to Ninth Avenue take a left, go down four blocks, Lincoln Tunnel's on your right, and you know what? Here's my EZ-Pass. Get the fuck out of here." LinkHere

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Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Republicans don't want ex-AIG chief testifying

House Panel Investigates Bush Administration Role In AIG Collapse... GOP Doesn't Want Ex-CEO Greenberg Testifying... Company Launches Pre-Emptive Strike, Attacks Greenberg's Credibility
A House oversight panel is investigating the role Bush administration officials and regulators played in the collapse of American International Group. The first step of the investigation begins Thursday, House Oversight and Government Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Towns (D-N.Y.) tells the Huffington Post, when the committee hears testimony from former AIG CEO Hank Greenberg.
In November 2004, the Bush Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission agreed not to prosecute AIG for allegedly helping companies fudge their books. In exchange, AIG agreed to host a government-appointed auditor in company meetings. At the time, Greenberg said it brought "finality to the claims raised by the SEC and the Department of Justice."
Towns said that Greenberg should be able to identify Bush administration officials involved in the decision-making around the settlement. Towns added the committee wants to know what Bush administration regulators knew about AIG's credit default swaps and other highly risky positions that brought the company down.
Asked if he would be directly pursuing Bush administration officials, Towns said: "No doubt about it. That's the reason I want to talk to Greenberg first. He might even point some folks out. That's of great interest to us."

Afghan Drug Lord Tricked Americans Into Taking Out Rival

A "high-ranking" member of al-Qaida was seized during a recent US mission in Afghanistan which left five people dead. But the Americans were set up: The tip-off as to his location came from a drug clan who wanted to get rid of a rival.
A secret mission by elite American Delta Force commandos in northern Afghanistan has triggered resentment among German forces, SPIEGEL has learned.
The American forces were tricked by a drug clan into taking out a rival as part of an operation to seize an al-Qaida member. Now German soldiers are paying the price for the operation's civilian casualties.
The raid took place on March 21 in Kunduz province, where German forces are helping with security and reconstruction. A US liaison officer asked the German reconstruction team to keep the Kunduz airport clear but said nothing about the impending mission. Around half an hour later, a Hercules transport aircraft landed at the airfield, together with a whole fleet of combat and transport helicopters, which then took off for the nearby town of Imam Sahib.
If only the world had listened to him

By Robert Fisk

Tom Hurndall had stayed in Rafah. He was only 21 where - in his mother's words - he lost his life through a single, selfless, human act. "Tom was shot in the head as he carried a single Palestinian child out of the range of an Israeli army sniper."
By PAUL J. BALLES

Paul J. Balles argues that if enough ordinary Americans "feel the pinch and connect the dots between their own financial losses and America's continued unbridled support of Israel's devastating war machine, Israel could be forced to make peace with the Palestinians".

Obama Meets Queen Elizabeth II At Buckingham Palace

Republicans Replace Sarah Palin With Newt Gingrich At Major Fundraising Dinner, Trash Her In Private


WASHINGTON — Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is out, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is in as keynote speaker at a Republican dinner this spring.
Palin, the party's 2008 nominee for vice president, had been slated to address the annual Senate-House Dinner in Washington on June 8. The dinner, sponsored by the House and Senate Republican campaign committees, is one of the GOP's biggest fundraisers.
Palin will be replaced by Gingrich. Both are popular figures with the party's base.
A spokesman for the Senate GOP committee, Brian Walsh, said Palin's team informed the campaign committees that her responsibilities in Alaska prevented her from committing to the speech until the end of the legislative session.

"They are tagging us because we are homeless," "It feels like a concentration camp."

Tent City residents gather as the city of Ontario starts the process of sorting out who may stay and who must leave. The city issued wristbands – blue for Ontario residents, who may stay, orange for people who need to provide more documentation, and white for those who must leave. The aim is to reduce the number of people living there from over 400 to 170.
Officials begin thinning out the encampment, saying the city can provide space only for those who once lived there and can prove it.

Hersh: Cheney Has Obama Informant

Hersh: Cheney ‘Left A Stay Behind’ In Obama’s Government, Can ‘Still Control Policy Up To A Point’
“Dick Cheney’s spies.”
In an interview on NPR’s Fresh Air yesterday, host Terry Gross asked investigative journalist Seymour Hersh if, as he continues to investigate the Bush administration, “more people” were “coming forward” to talk to him now that “the president and vice president are no longer in power.” Hersh replied that though “a lot of people that had told me in the last year of Bush, ‘call me next, next February,’ not many people had talked to him. He implied that they were still scared of Cheney.
“Are you saying that you think Vice President Cheney is still having a chilling effect on people who might otherwise be coming forward,” asked Gross. “I’ll make it worse,” answered Hersh, adding that he believes Cheney “put people back” in government to “stay behind” in order to “tell him what’s going on” and perhaps even “do sabotage”:
HERSH: I’ll make it worse. I think he’s put people left. He’s put people back. They call it a stay behind. It’s sort of an intelligence term of art. When you leave a country and, you know, you’ve driven out the, you know, you’ve lost the war. You leave people behind. It’s a stay behind that you can continue to contacts with, to do sabotage, whatever you want to do. Cheney’s left a stay behind. He’s got people in a lot of agencies that still tell him what’s going on. Particularly in defense, obviously. Also in the NSA, there’s still people that talk to him. He still knows what’s going on. Can he still control policy up to a point? Probably up to a point, a minor point. But he’s still there. He’s still a presence. LinkHere

Sources: Ex-Sen. Stevens' Conviction To Be Voided

The Justice Department will drop all charges against former Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska, NPR has learned.
A jury convicted Stevens last fall of seven counts of lying on his Senate disclosure form in order to conceal $250,000 in gifts from an oil industry executive and other friends. Stevens was the longest-serving Republican in the Senate, however, he lost his bid for an eighth full term in office just days after he was convicted. Since then, charges of prosecutorial misconduct have delayed his sentencing and prompted defense motions for a new trial.
According to Justice Department officials, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has decided to drop the case against Stevens rather than continue to defend the conviction in the face of persistent problems stemming from the actions of prosecutors.
LinkHere

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Congress Wants AIG Mole's Documents

Members of Congress are pushing for access to confidential reports filed over the past several years by a government-appointed auditor who has been sitting in on AIG deliberations.
The auditor, whose presence was first reportedby the Wall Street Journal, was installed as the result of a settlement that deferred prosecution of AIG for allegedly helping financial institutions fudge their books. Deferring prosecution was the Bush administration's preference when it came to enforcing financial regulations.
"Whatever rationale there may have been for confidentiality doesn't appear to apply anymore," Rep. Brad Miller (D-N.C.) told the Huffington Post. "If the idea was that having a government appointed lawyer sitting in the board room would make sure that AIG went forth and sinned no more, it obviously didn't work out that way."
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has requested documents.
Other Democrats in Congress are also requesting the documents, aides say, including Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.).
"That would be some real interesting reading, if we got everything from that mole," said Cummings, who's been chasing AIG since the initial government seizure. "We get so much incomplete information from AIG and maybe this is a way to connect all the dots."

Geithner-Krugman Feud Comes To A Head On Sunday Shows (VIDEO)

The high-profile policy duel between Tim Geithner and Paul Krugman came to a head on Sunday. Following the Treasury Secretary's appearance on ABC's "This Week (read/watch that interview here), Krugman participated in the panel session and made clear that he hadn't yet been convinced.

"It's a plan to rearrange the deck chairs and hope that that keeps us from hitting the iceberg," the Nobel Prize-winning economist said of Geithner's bank plan. "They've done some things very fast, but they've been very small things ... There's no way this could be enough."

Gore recount lawyer declares, 'Senator Franken has won'

Many Democrats, still smarting over the halted Florida recount of 2000, see shades of Bush v. Gore in the battle currently being waged by Republicans to prevent the seating of Al Franken in the Senate. 

David Boies, Al Gore's lead attorney during the Florida recount, attempted to address Democrat fears in a Monday interview on MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show, where he confidently proclaimed, “I don’t think there’s any doubt. I think Senator Franken has won this election.” (emphasis added)   LinkHere

SO MUCH FOR BEING AN 'ALBATROSS'.















SO MUCH FOR BEING AN 'ALBATROSS'
.... In January, Fox News contributor Juan Williamswent after Michelle Obama, describing her as a political "liability" for the president. As Williams argued, the First Lady has "got this Stokely Carmichael-in-a-designer-dress thing going," which may make her "something of an albatross."

So much for that idea. The Washington Post's Lois Romano reports:

Now, 76% feel good about the president's spouse, and only 16% don't.

It seems efforts to smear Michelle Obama (see Bruce, Tammy) aren't connecting.

LinkHere

"Should the Spanish prosecutors be taking notes?"

Turley: Spanish courts may be building case against Cheney
According to constitutional law expert Jonathan Turley, the prosecution of Bush's so-called "torture lawyers" might just give Spanish prosecutors the "low lying fruit" needed to bring a case against Vice President Cheney.
Appearing on Monday night's edition of MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann, George Washington University law professor Turley said that although President Obama is "protecting" the former administration from prosecution, the Spanish investigation could serve as a point of leverage


'Drop Dead'

Nearly 8 years after 9/11, Rush tells NY to 'drop dead'

Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, who has been treated like a GOP leader since Obama's election, didn't mince words when it came to pontificating on a new New York tax plan which reportedly aims at the state's highest earners.

"Drop dead," the self-proclaimed "El Rushbo"wrote on Monday.

"It is totally against women's rights. This law makes women more vulnerable."


"It is one of the worst bills passed by the parliament this century,"

"It is totally against women's rights. This law makes women more vulnerable."

Go Wank Yourself !!!!!!

Netanyahu To Obama: Stop Iran, Or I Will
In an interview conducted shortly before he was sworn in today as prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu laid down a challenge for Barack Obama. The American president, he said, must stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons--and quickly--or an imperiled Israel may be forced to attack Iran's nuclear facilities itself.

Oprah Talks to Michelle Obama

The Exclusive O Interview

Hit and Run!!!! Ain't that the truth

The Republicans pulled a hit and run on the nation's economy, now they're setting road blocks as the Obama administration works to get us back on track. 

Au Revoir and "Good Luck"

"The president and America are going to listen in London, as well as to lead," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

Monday, March 30, 2009

The Executive Who Brought Down AIG

Source: ABC News
The Executive Who Brought Down AIG
Joseph Cassano Made More Than $300 Million at the Insurance Firm He Virtually Bankrupted
By ANNA SCHECTER, BRIAN ROSS, and JUSTIN ROOD
March 30, 2009
The FBI and federal prosecutors are reportedly closing in on the AIG executive whose suspect investments cost the insurance giant hundreds of billions of dollars. The government is investigating whether or not 54-year old Brooklyn-native Joseph Cassano committed criminal fraud in virtually bankrupting the company.
"He almost single-handedly is responsible for bringing AIG down and by reference the economy of this country," said Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Ca.)
Cassano, who lives in London, made more than $300 million running the infamous Financial Products Division of AIG where he, with about a dozen others, committed AIG to insure what turned out to be more than a trillion dollars worth of junk quality loans held by banks.
"He is the golden boy of the casino," said Rep. Speier. "They basically took peoples' hard earned money and threw it away, gambled it and lost everything. And he must be held accountable for the fraud, for the dereliction of his duty, and for the havoc that he's wrought on America." ABC%20News,%20which%20tracked%20down%20the%20former%20AIG%20Financial%20Products%20czar%20wearing">LinkHere

‘Executive Assassination Ring’ Is Certainly True

Source: Think Progress
Former Cheney Aide Suggests That Hersh’s Account Of ‘Executive Assassination Ring’ Is ‘Certainly True’
Last month, The New Yorker’s Seymour Hersh revealed in Minnesota that former vice president Cheney presided over an “executive assassination ring.” “Under President Bush’s authority, they’ve been going into countries, not talking to the ambassador or the CIA station chief, and finding people on a list and executing them and leaving,” Hersh explained.
Today, CNN interviewed Hersh and former Cheney national security aide John Hannah. Although he expressed regret for revealing the story (calling it a “dumb-dumb”), Hersh stood by his initial statements. “I’m sorry, Wolf, I have a lot of problems with it,” he said about the assassination scheme:
HERSH: I know for sure…the idea that we have a unit that goes around, without reporting to Congress… and has authority from the President to go into the country without telling the CIA station chief or the ambassador and whack somebody. … You’ve delegated authority to troops in the field to hit people on the basis of whatever intelligence they think is good.
Hersh on assassination ring

John Dean: Cheney is guilty of murder if Hersh claims are true (part1)

John Dean: Cheney is guilty of murder if Hersh claims are true (part2)

Limbaugh: 'If Obama Fails, America Is Saved'

The five others accused!!!!

The five others accused -- David Addington, former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney; Jay Bybee, one of the authors of a now-infamous Bush "torture memo;" William Haynes; John Yoo, one of the architects of Bush's 'enhanced interrogation' policy; and Alberto Gonzales, Bush's ex-Attorney General -- have all declined comment on the charges.

Got 20 years everyone?

Just months before the start of last year's stock market collapse, the federal agency that insures the retirement funds of 44 million Americans departed from its conservative investment strategy and decided to put much of its $64 billion insurance fund into stocks.
Switching from a heavy reliance on bonds, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation decided to pour billions of dollars into speculative investments such as stocks in emerging foreign markets, real estate, and private equity funds. ...
Analysts expressed concern that large portions of the trust fund might have been lost at a time when many private pension plans are suffering major losses. The guarantee fund would be the only way to cover the plans if their companies go into bankruptcy.
And who was responsible, exactly?
Charles E.F. Millard, the former agency director who implemented the strategy until the Bush administration departed on Jan. 20, dismissed such concerns. Millard, a former managing director of Lehman Brothers, said flatly that "the new investment policy is not riskier than the old one." ...
Asked whether the strategy was a mistake, given the subsequent declines in stocks and real estate, Millard said, "Ask me in 20 years. The question is whether policymakers will have the fortitude to stick with it."
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