If I was a reporter at the WH press briefing today....
Reporter mXp: Scott, another tape that is purported to be Bin Laden has just been released. He states that he is working on another attack on American soil. In light of today's revelation, I wonder if the President's position about Osama Bin Laden has changed from March 13, 2002, when he stated:
“So I don’t know where he is. You know, I just don’t spend that much time on him. … And, again, I don’t know where he is. I — I’ll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about him.”And your answer Scottie would be.....?
Some milk or corruption with your White House Coffee?
During the oh so scandalous years of the Clinton White House we knew who attended the fundraising "Coffee with Bill" meetings. We even knew what brand of underwear they were wearing. The media demanded it.
Here we have a White House that is
stonewalling and won't answer some very relevant and important questions: When was Jack Abramoff in the WH and who did he meet with?
Earlier this month Scottie Mc
promised to look into it, but then proceeded to change his mind saying Abramoff met with staff -- but we don't discuss staff-level meetings. Questions from the press kept coming and Scottie
kept stonewalling, despite the fact that he indeed
has previously
discussed "staff-level meetings."Why the secrecy Scottie? You tell us that Jackie A came for a few Hanukkah receptions. You even corrected yourself, saying he's only been to two and not three, as previously stated. But you won't tell us why Jackie was in the WH and with who?
In a
Knight-Ridder article Massie Ritsch, a spokesman for the Center for Responsive Politics, says:
As with all of these scandals, the longer it takes them to answer the question, the more interest there will be in the answer. Answer the question and put the questions to rest."
Indeed!
This makes me think back fondly of The Breakfast Club, when Claire
wouldn't tell the others if she was or was not a virgin....
BENDER: Well if you'd just answer the question...
BRIAN: Why don't you just answer the question?
ANDREW: Be honest...
BENDER: No big deal...
BRIAN: Yeah, answer it!
ANDREW: Answer the question, Claire!
BENDER : Talk to us!
ANDREW & BRIAN: Come on, answer the question!
BENDER: It's easy, it's only one question!
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 1929 - 1968
"We are tired of working our hands off and laboring every day and not even making a wage adequate with daily basic necessities of life"
3/18/68
"A living wage should be the right of all working Americans"
3/18/66
Let us not forget
all of Dr. King's messages.
Let's imagine...
... A high ranking terrorist suspect, of say Hamas, is believed to be holed up in the remote reaches of northwestern North Dakota. Israel conducts an airstrike on his supposed location. In the end, it becomes obvious that 18 innocent civilians were killed. Your mother, father, spouse, children or other loved one was a victim. Israeli politicians respond with comments like:
"We apologize, but I can't tell you that we wouldn't do the same thing again."
"It's a regrettable situation, but what else are we supposed to do?"
"We have to do what we think is necessary to take out [hamas], particularly the top operatives."
How would you respond? How would you feel, what would you say?
The US bombing of the suspected location of al-Zawahari in Pakistan has me thinking about how we are conducting the "war on terror," and it's ramifications on our standing in the world. Any thoughts?
The State of Humanity
We can talk of bleeding hearts and compassionate conservatism all we want. I just wonder where the fuck we're going as a nation and a society when crap like this happens.
Apparently some young men attacked several homeless folks in Ft. Lauderdale with bats or sticks. One was killed and two others are in the hospital. The
Sun-Sentinel has a clip of the
surveillance video. It makes me sick.
Back when still living in NYC I would be glued to every NY Rangers game on MSG tv. None is more memorable then Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals. That June day will forever be one of my life's most memorable. The day the "Curse" was broken! Mark Messier was the central player in that amazing season. And who could forget his Game 6 Eastern Conference Finals promise: "We Will Win" splashed all over the NY dailies. The Rangers were down 2-1 at the end of 2 periods. Messier comes out in the 3 period and scores a hat trick! Incredible!
Thank you Mark Messier! You won't be forgotten!
Sen. Georgie Porgie (R - SC)
As if
violating Senate Ethics rules wasn't good enough for him, Sen. Lindsey Graham just loves the sound of his voice so much so - that he went on and on and on until he made
Judge Alito's wife cry. [Crooks and Liars has the video]
...But how will we appreciate The Hair?
Ted Koppel Joining NPR Ted Koppel, who ended a quarter-century run on ABC News' ''Nightline'' in November, will join NPR.
NPR announced Thursday that, starting in June, Koppel will provide commentary about 50 times a year to its programs ''Morning Edition'' and ''All Things Considered'' as well as ''Day to Day,'' its new midday newsmagazine. He also will serve as an analyst during breaking news and special events and contribute to the NPR Web site and the network's podcasts
The Sky Is Purple!
"No man is happy without a delusion of some kind. Delusions are as necessary to our happiness as realities."
Christian Nestell Bovee
Around the blogosphere and in the political world there are those that continue to hold on to their delusions - That the Abramoff scandal is truly bipartisan in nature.
I've laughed at some
bloggers even taking issue with calling him a "Republican Lobbyist."
Even the editor of the National Review has seemed to
acknowledge reality on this issue:
"But this is, in its essence, a Republican scandal, and any attempt to portray it otherwise is a misdirection."
Billmon has an
interesting rundown of it all with media quotes going back to 1995.
hat tip to
TPM
Dumbass of the Day Award
Man's getaway in Lake Michigan is short-lived
Confronted by Milwaukee police behind the Summerfest grounds late last night, a man tried to escape by jumping in the lake, police said. He didn't stay in long before he swam back to shore and police fished him out.
"He came to his senses pretty quickly," Sgt. Phil Hanyard said of the attempted chilly-water getaway.
What would your last words be?
Tell all - I see them on the other side It wasn't bad, I just went to sleepI love you I have read this note by miner Martin Toler Jr. over and over again. I can't help but get teary and feel a chill over my body. The note was probably written in near darkness and while barely conscious. I cannot even imagine what this man was thinking or feeling in those last moments. But whatever was going on, he cared enough to let his family know that "it wasn't bad." In his last moments he wanted to bring relief and comfort to his loved ones. I don't know what else I can say. The emotions and feelings that arise are just too powerful for words.
May you rest in peace Mr. Toler. May all the miners rest in peace.
Two Peas In A Pod?
"Hopefully, the news that the criminal of Sabra and Chatilla has joined his ancestors is final"
--President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran
"The prophet Joel makes it very clear that God has enmity against those who, quote, 'divide my land.' God considers this land to be his.....You read the Bible, he says, 'This is my land.' And for any prime minister of Israel who decides he's going carve it up and give it away, God says, 'No. This is mine.'"
-- Reverend Pat Robertson
Really, what's a year?
Don't most "bloggers" wait a year between posts?
