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November 30, 2007
It's Begun!
We're at the Fall Meeting, where presidential candidates, along with Governor Dean, will be speaking today. We're webcasting the speeches live, and you can watch them right here.
Don't miss Governor Dean!
Posted by Michael Link at 10:47 AM | Comments (6)
Friday Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 9:17 AM | Comments (232)
November 29, 2007
Leahy Moves Forward
ThinkProgress reports:
Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) today said that several current and former White House officials, including Karl Rove and Josh Bolten, “must comply with committee subpoenas to testify” about the U.S. attorney scandal. He declared that President Bush had no role in the firings, therefore their excuses of “executive privilege” were “not legally valid.” This ruling “clears the way for Leahy’s panel to vote on whether to advance the citations to the full Senate.”
Posted by Michael Link at 2:39 PM | Comments (7)
Which One Is it Gov?
Mitt's twists and turns on abortion leave the voters wondering where he really stands:
Romney, in a direct mail piece he's distributed to South Carolina Republicans, brags he's the: "The only major presidential candidate who supports the Republican Party's pro-life platform: A constitutional amendment banning abortion nationwide."Last night, Romney said:
"We should overturn Roe v. Wade and return these issues to the states. I would welcome a circumstance where there was such a consensus in this country that said we don't want to have abortion in this country at all period? That would be wonderful. I would be delighted … to sign that bill. but that's not where we are. That's not where America is today. Where America is ready to overturn Roe v. Wade and return to the states that authority."
Posted by Michael Link at 12:25 PM | Comments (5)
Thursday Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 9:30 AM | Comments (187)
November 28, 2007
Debate Night Open Thread
Chat away, the CNN/YouTube debate starts shortly...
Posted by Michael Link at 7:51 PM | Comments (175)
Gov. Dean's Question
With the Republican CNN/YouTube debate tonight (be sure to liveblog at PartyBuilder), Gov. Dean joined in on the fun and asked this question:
Posted by Michael Link at 4:34 PM | Comments (5)
The Immigration Run Around
Mitt and Rudy's ever-evolving positions:
Who would have guessed two years ago that as the 2008 Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary hove into view, Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani would be leading an effort to turn the 21st-century GOP into a party of anti-immigration Know-Nothings?Attacking illegal immigration never used to be a priority for either man. Romney ignored the issue when he ran for the Senate in 1994 and for governor of Massachusetts in 2002. In a Boston Globe interview in 2005, he noted that illegal immigrants "contribute in many cases to our economy and to our society." As recently as last year he favored a sensible path to legalization for most undocumented immigrants in the United States.
Posted by Michael Link at 4:24 PM | Comments (3)
Giuliani's Fantasy Land
Rudy describes an imaginary NYC in new ad. From Factcheck.org:
Rudy Giuliani's latest TV ad falsely claims New York City experienced "record crime ... until Rudy." In fact, the city recorded its highest rates of both violent crime and property crime years before he took office. The downward trend was well established before he was sworn in.The ad also claims New York is "America's most liberal city," but his campaign offers no evidence showing that the city is more liberal than, say, San Francisco; Berkeley; Washington, D.C.; or Detroit, all of which rank as more liberal in a study of voting behavior in the 2004 elections. In that study, New York ranked 21st among cities with populations of more than 100,000.
Giuliani's ad also repeats some boasts we've found to be misleading in the past. It claims he cut taxes by $9 billion but counts several tax cuts that he didn't initiate or sign, and one that he lobbied against before changing course. It also boasts that he cut welfare rolls by 60 percent but fails to note that the reduction in New York was a bit less than it was for the nation as a whole.
Posted by Michael Link at 1:01 PM | Comments (3)
Democratic Party Launches FlipperTV
Today, as web video takes center stage at the Republican CNN/YouTube debate, the Democratic Party launched FlipperTV -- allowing anybody the opportunity to view all of the video we're recording of Republican presidential candidates on the campaign trail in the early states.
From our release:
For months now, Democrats have been tracking the Republican presidential frontrunners in the field, compiling a video library of candid moments as they campaign across the country. Found at FlipperTV, www.democrats.org/flippertv, Americans can now watch and download this video and use the footage as they wish, putting raw material into the hands of the American people to hold these candidates accountable for their comments and actions.By crowdsourcing, the DNC is seeking to engage people by making data available for their own personal use, enabling users to sort through the video and expose the Republican frontrunners' flip-flops, contradictions, and policy positions that show how out of touch Republicans are with the American people. FlipperTV will allow activists and voters to download video to their computers, edit it to create new user-generated video, and judge the candidates' flip-flips and exaggerations for themselves.
We don't want this video sitting in the basement when activists like you can take it out and chop it up, and maybe even discover something we missed. It's just one more way we're holding the Republicans accountable for what they say on the campaign trail.
Posted by Michael Link at 9:30 AM | Comments (2)
Wednesday Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 9:19 AM | Comments (231)
November 27, 2007
Tuesday Evening Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 6:14 PM | Comments (151)
FNC= Freddie News Channel
On Fox News this weekend, Fred Thompson claimed Fox News was biased -- against him. Huffington Post ran the numbers and here's what they found:
In October, the first full month after officially launching his presidential bid, Thompson had more than an hour of on-air television face time, something matched by only four other presidential candidates. Almost 95 percent of that was spent on the Fox News Channel, National Journal reported. By comparison, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney appeared on-air for 48 minutes during October, and only 43 percent on Fox News. Even former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani - who some have claimed receives, how to put this, preferential treatment by the Fox higher-ups - got less play from the network than Thompson. The former mayor was personally on Fox News for 53 minutes in October, roughly 90 percent of all his airtime.
I think Fred's still bitter from this:
Posted by Michael Link at 12:20 PM | Comments (5)
More Bernie Problems
How many skeletons does this guy have?
The city will pay $125,000 to settle a suit by a former Correction Department officer who claimed that disgraced ex-Commissioner Bernard Kerik sidetracked his career because he's African-American.Former Deputy Warden Eric Deravin agreed to the payout on the day his federal racial discrimination trial was set to start in Manhattan.
Posted by Michael Link at 11:05 AM | Comments (5)
Tuesday Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 9:34 AM | Comments (104)
November 26, 2007
PB Rescue Open Thread
Read them all, and chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 5:54 PM | Comments (118)
Bush's Deal For Long-Term Iraq Presence
TPM Muckraker has been on the story all day: "After years of obfuscation and denial on the length of the U.S.'s stay in Iraq, the White House and the Maliki government have released a joint declaration of 'principles' for 'friendship and cooperation.'"
And the "War Czar" says that they don't plan on seeking "any congressional input" on this.
The AP has more:
President Bush on Monday signed a deal setting the foundation for a potential long-term U.S. troop presence in Iraq, with details to be negotiated over matters that have defined the war debate at home — how many U.S. forces will stay in the country, and for how long.
Posted by Michael Link at 4:54 PM | Comments (25)
Broken Record Alert
Giuliani, once again, exaggerates NYC fiscal record:
While careful in his wording about cause and effect, Giuliani has repeatedly linked his fiscal policies, including some tax cuts he initially opposed, with the economic growth New York City enjoyed during his mayoralty. [...] He doesn't note, however, that his tenure as mayor, from Jan. 1, 1994, through Dec. 31, 2001, overlapped the longest economic expansion in U.S. history (March 1991 to March 2001).
Posted by Michael Link at 1:23 PM | Comments (3)
Trent Lott to Resign
Sen. Trent Lott will be resigning from the Senate before the end of the year, before the end of his term, leading to a lot of speculation about the reasons for such a sudden departure.
One rumor:
A Lott friend said part of the reason, and a factor in the timing, is a new lobbying regulation, signed by President Bush in September, extending the existing lobbying ban for former members of Congress from one to two years. The lobbying ban takes effect at the beginning of the year.
What a way to go out...
Posted by Michael Link at 11:53 AM | Comments (1)
Afghanistan Reaches Crisis Proportions
While our resources are bogged down in Iraq, the focus on Afghanistan has been lost. Yet White House officials privately express pessimism about the situation there, according to the Washington Post. And the National Security Council "concluded that wide-ranging strategic goals that the Bush administration set for 2007 have not been met."
According to a new report by the Security and Development Policy Group, the conflict has reached "crisis proportions" with "the resurgent Taliban present in more than half the country and closing in on Kabul." At the same time, the reports state, they're finding it easy to recruit new followers.
If that wasn't enough, Reuters reports that they're "increasingly using Iraq-style tactics, such as roadside and suicide bombs, to powerful effect."
All of this makes for a more problematic situation as we remain bogged down in Iraq. According to Stars and Stripes, "NATO's leaders have for years asked member nations to ante up more troops, aircraft and other military assets for its war in Afghanistan."
Posted by Michael Link at 10:00 AM | Comments (30)
Monday Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 9:33 AM | Comments (184)
November 25, 2007
Sunday Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 8:57 AM | Comments (166)
November 24, 2007
From the Archives
Posted by Michael Link at 11:15 AM | Comments (11)
Saturday Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 8:56 AM | Comments (154)
November 23, 2007
Friday Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 8:55 AM | Comments (286)
November 22, 2007
Thursday Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 8:53 AM | Comments (216)
November 21, 2007
Who's On Giuliani's Payroll?
A firefighter who supported Rudy Giuliani to the NY Times ends up on the Giuliani payroll.
John R. Orlando, who serves with Engine 216 in Brooklyn, New York, has been cited prominently as a Giuliani supporter. Last June, in a New York Times article detailing the mixed reviews Giuliani has among the city's 11,000-membered firefighting force, Orlando said he regularly saw Giuliani at fires despite suggestions otherwise.Orlando was also quoted as saying the "bottom line is, I think he's been more of a friend to firefighters than I've seen in the news. I don't think all the criticism is warranted."
Did those comments come with a reward? Three months after he praised Giuliani, Orlando found himself on the former mayor's payroll. On September 28, 2007, the Giuliani campaign paid one John R. Orlando more than $1,580 for what they deemed on a campaign filing as "political strategy consulting."
When asked about the arrangement -- after repeated attempts for comment -- Giuliani spokesperson Matt McKeon questioned the question.
"Are you suggesting that firefighters aren't capable of political strategy?"
Posted by Kombiz Lavasany at 2:23 PM | Comments (6)
Who's Payroll Is Rudy Giuliani On?
More of Rudy Giuliani's business partners start to emerge from the shadows.
Nine days after registering his presidential exploratory committee last November, Rudolph Giuliani appeared in Singapore to help a Las Vegas developer make a pitch for a $3.5 billion casino resort.Though the bid ultimately failed, and there was nothing illegal about the involvement, it drew Giuliani into a complex partnership with the family of a controversial Hong Kong billionaire who has ties to the regime of North Korea's Kim Jong Il and has been linked to international organized crime by the U.S. government.
Posted by Kombiz Lavasany at 2:14 PM
Wednesday Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 9:53 AM | Comments (266)
November 20, 2007
The One Person Convinced of Rudy Giuliani's Greatness is Rudy Giuliani
Glenn Greenwald catches this pretty remarkable statement from Rudy Giuliani.
The other part of this show worth observing is how Giuliani for years has talked about 9/11 as though it is his personal event, and clearly sees its greatest significance as being all about him and his personal greatness (at 10:30):GIULIANI: My very first feeling, when I first thought about it, maybe within an hour of the event -- was what a shame that I have to deal with this towards the end of my administration. And then immediately I said to myself -- No, that isn't the right feeling. Actually, thank God that I'm as experienced as I am. And this is what I know how to do.
Posted by Kombiz Lavasany at 4:54 PM | Comments (10)
9/11 Heroes Plan To Speak Out About Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani has for too long exaggerated his work as a mayor focused on public safety. Now firefighters and 9/11 families plan to speak out about Rudy Giuliani's actual record on protecting New Yorkers and first responders.
A group of 9/11 firefighters and victims' family members with eyes on derailing Republican Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign is close to a decision on forming an entity that would run issue ads in key early nominating states."TV made him a hero, and we'll use TV to take him down," New York Fire Chief Jim Riches told ABC News.
...
He and other members of the anti-Giuliani group claim 9/11 first responders were given bad radios and that that prevented them from hearing evacuation orders when the World Trade Center buildings were about to collapse. They also contend Giuliani rushed cleanup work and misled people about air quality at Ground Zero, where recovery workers, including Riches, say they contracted illnesses.
Posted by Kombiz Lavasany at 4:29 PM | Comments (5)
Tuesday Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 8:52 AM | Comments (297)
November 19, 2007
Health-Flop: Giuliani's New Healthcare Position That's Completely Different Than His Old Position
Giuliani had a regressive position on Health Care, after surviving prostate cancer he attempted to do right to the public and charged the city with helping to insure uninsured New Yorkers. The NY Times recounts Giuliani's shifts in position.
But in the spring of 2000, during his second term and soon after he received a diagnosis of prostate cancer, he suddenly announced that the city would embark on one of the most aggressive efforts in the country to enroll children and adults in public health programs like Medicaid and Child Health Plus, the state insurance program for children.…
Mr. Giuliani's effort as mayor to triple the number of New Yorkers with health insurance through government programs appears nowhere in his own description of his record on his presidential campaign Web site. And Mr. Giuliani has attacked efforts in Congress to expand the children's health insurance program that his administration doggedly expanded, calling it "socialized medicine." During Congress's recent battle on the issue, Mr. Giuliani aligned himself with President Bush to limit coverage. Mr. Giuliani's campaign declined to make him available for an interview for this article.
Posted by Kombiz Lavasany at 6:18 PM | Comments (3)
Dirty Trick Headaches: Republican Can't Trust Themselves To Play Fair
Last week I wrote about push polls against the Romney campaign that impugned his religious beliefs, now we find out that Romney may be behind it's own dirty trick.
For starters, they note, the company behind the phone calls, Western Wats, is based in Orem, Utah, and its former executive, Ron Lindorf, is the founder of the BYU School of Business; meaning the anti-Mormon calls were, suspiciously, coming from a company with strong connections to the Mormon community. In addition, Western Wats' past client list includes several high-profile Romney supporters. The company has worked for Allan Bense, the Florida House Speaker who chairs Romney's Florida Statewide Steering Committee, and has made calls for Michigan State Representative Gary Newell, who serves on Romney's Michigan Leadership Team.Then, they say, there is the money. A review of campaign finance data reveals that Hugh Black, a programmer at Western Wats has donated $500 to the Romney campaign, while Jeffrey Welch, a business manager, offered up $500 of his own. Amanda Earnshaw, a dialer (the job title is often emphasized by others) maxed out with $2,300. And Neil Hahl, who is currently on the board of American Capital Strategies, which acquired Western Wats in 2005, gave $4,600, half of which was returned.
Are the Republicans are so used to dirty tricks, that they may be playing dirty tricks on themselves?
Posted by Kombiz Lavasany at 12:40 PM | Comments (6)
Monday Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 8:01 AM | Comments (358)
November 18, 2007
Sunday Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 8:51 AM | Comments (173)
November 17, 2007
From the Archives
Special edition this week, done a little differently. I wanted to pay tribute to Augustus F. Hawkins, but couldn't find anything on YouTube. After some searching, though, I found some video.
Click here, and then scroll down to to where you can "View a tribute video to Augustus F. Hawkins."
Posted by Michael Link at 3:14 PM | Comments (5)
Saturday Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 7:48 AM | Comments (388)
November 16, 2007
PB Rescue Open Thread
Read them all, then chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 6:42 PM | Comments (67)
Republicans Do What Republicans Do: Push Polls Against Romney
We're not sure why Mitt Romney and his campaign are surprised that Republican campaign operatives would make "push poll" phone calls degrading Mitt Romney's religion. During the 2006 elections the Republican party made millions of calls to voters, trying to suppress the vote, today elements of the party are going after Mitt Romney's religious views.
In an apparent push poll, a research firm has called Iowa Republicans this week praising John McCain and critcizing Mitt Romney and his Mormon faith.An individual in Manchester, Iowa, contacted me on Wednesday night saying he received a call with information about McCain's military service and anti-spending record.
Then there were "lots of negatives on Romney," said the recepient of the call in an e-mail, including mentions of his "flip-flops," hiring illegal immigrants as landscapers and extensive discussion of Mormonism.
Posted by Kombiz Lavasany at 2:48 PM | Comments (7)
One Ugly Mother?
As Atrios might say, behold the World's Greatest Deliberative Body:
Posted by Michael Link at 2:29 PM | Comments (6)
Reid Preventing Recess Appointments
With rumors that President Bush might try to make a recess appointment while Congress is out on a Thanksgiving break, Sen. Reid is taking action to make sure that doesn't happen.
Americablog has more from Sen. Reid:
The Senate will be coming in for pro-forma sessions during the Thanksgiving holiday to prevent recess appointments.My hope is that this will prompt the President to see that it is our mutual interests for the nominations process to get back on track.
While an election year looms, significant progress can still be made on nominations.
[...]
With Thanksgiving break looming, the administration informed me that they would make several recess appointments.I indicated I would be willing to confirm various appointments if the administration would agree to move on Democratic appointments.
They would not make that commitment.
As a result, I am keeping the Senate in pro-forma to prevent recess appointments until we get this process back on track.
Posted by Michael Link at 1:17 PM | Comments (4)
Rudy's Inner Circle of Corruption
Former Giuliani fundraiser pleads guilty to tax charges:
The former head of New York County's Republican Party and a key backer and fund-raiser for Rudy Giuliani when he was mayor pleaded guilty yesterday to tax evasion. [...] In exchange for the plea to felony tax evasion and a misdemeanor violation of the Public Officer's Law, Ortenzio will be sentenced on Jan. 9, 2008, by Supreme Court Justice Laura Ward to five years' probation. If he violates his probation, he could be sent to prison for 11/3 to 4 years and fined $50,000.Over the years, Ortenzio, who owns several meat-processing companies that distributed to the Cipriani restaurants, poured more than $70,000 into mostly Republican campaigns, including several thousand into Giuliani's coffers in his abortive bid for US Senate in 2000.
Posted by Michael Link at 12:03 PM | Comments (2)
Friday Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 9:08 AM | Comments (144)
November 15, 2007
Debate Open Thread
It's at 8PM ET.
Until then, chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 6:39 PM | Comments (67)
Apparently Kerik-Gate has taught them nothing
Loyalty trumps all in Giuliani's circle:
In the Giuliani Kingdom, Carbonetti, 38, may be the key player, but it is a monarchy fortified by numerous other devoted courtiers and confidants who share one thing in common: intense loyalty, dating back years, even before Giuliani served as mayor of New York from 1994 to 2001.They are barely known outside of New York and are, like Carbonetti, not on the campaign's payroll. But they have the candidate's ear and have been pressed into service as surrogates, mega-fundraisers and advisers. They are neither ideologues nor policy wonks, but part of an eclectic tableau of Giuliani's life and career.
Some held powerful jobs in city government and were mocked in New York political circles as the "YesRudys." They couldn't care less.
Their connection to him is anchored in the premise that mutual loyalty and longtime ties trump all else.
Posted by Michael Link at 3:16 PM | Comments (2)
Debate!
Watch the Democratic presidential candidates tonight at 8PM ET on CNN, with Wolf Blitzer moderating, in a debate in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The candidates aren't the only ones preparing. Over at CNN you can watch some video of Blitzer talking about his own preparations for the debate tonight and his plan to make sure the candidates stay on topic.
It's a two-hour debate, so there's plenty of time to discuss a host of issues.
Over at PartyBuilder, they've always got a live-blogging thread for everybody to discuss it in. So you'll want to check in during the debate and share your thoughts.
And over at the NDN blog, Simon Rosenberg shares his thoughts.
Posted by Michael Link at 11:01 AM | Comments (28)
Golf and the GOP
It's yet another investigation into the alleged deals of an Alaska Republican legislator. This time, it's Rep. Don Young involved, and according to "people close to the corruption investigation," they're looking at whether an oil contractor was funneling cash through golf tournaments with cash prizes.
More from the Associated Press:
The case, which surfaced last year as a state bribery investigation, has spread from Alaska to Capitol Hill, where Young and Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens are under scrutiny. [...]Golf outings have often been used by lobbyists and interest groups to curry favor with lawmakers. Politicians, including Young, also use them as fundraisers.
The events under FBI scrutiny, however, were different. Unlike the dollar-for-dollar accounting of golf fundraisers in Alaska, Washington state and Virginia, the events at the Moose Run Golf Course just outside Anchorage were informal and the prizes were cash. There is no record of them on the campaign or personal financial reports that federal lawmakers are required to file.
For those of you thinking "follow the money," the article states that at a recent trial, defense attorneys "suggested Smith laundered money by cashing golf tournament checks at a bar under what he called a 'phony account.'"
Posted by Michael Link at 9:40 AM | Comments (4)
Thursday Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 9:14 AM | Comments (165)
November 14, 2007
PB Rescue Open Thread
Read them all. And vote for shopman.
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 6:05 PM | Comments (110)
What Did the White House Know?
And when did they know it? TPM Muckraker has the story:
Unfortunately for Kerik, the secret of his ties to Interstate began to unravel just about the time of his nomination. On December 2nd, the same day that Bush announced Kerik was his pick, The New York Daily News, which had been digging for six weeks on Kerik's ties to Interstate, sent him a list of questions about those ties.On December 5th, the indictment alleges, Kerik "made various false and misleading statements about his relationship with [Interstate and it's top executives]" in an email to a White House official (who remains unnamed). It was one of several allegedly false and misleading statements that Kerik is charged in the indictment with making to White House officials. However, unlike the other false statements, which appear from the indictment to involves sins of omission -- like failure to disclose -- the language of the indictment suggests that the December 5th email was an affirmative misrepresentation. In other words, in the thick of the vetting process, the White House was asking Kerik about his ties to Interstate.
Five days later, he announced that he'd uncovered his nanny problem.
With all the wrongdoing, it's difficult to figure out the "real reason" Giuliani's friend had to withdraw his nomination.
Posted by Michael Link at 5:19 PM | Comments (1)
Fred Thompson: I Don't Care
That seems to be the message he's trying to send, judging by the first two seconds of his new ad. It begins with Fred Thompson putting down a newspaper to find -- oh, look at that -- there happens to be a camera ready.
The implication, I suppose, is meant to be that Fred Thompson isn't all that concerned with his ads. Instead, it's the idea that ads are something to briefly do between reading the business section and the funny pages.
It's a theme that's familiar to Thompson, who has a reputation for not having a very strong work ethic. We hear it time and time again, from the candidate himself, but this time it's produced and even intentional.
Which brings up today's story in the Washington Post about the Thompson campaign. Much of it is about the campaign problems -- staff defections, a failed new media strategy, and internal strategy conflicts.
One thing absent from the story? Fred -- making me wonder where he is, exactly, in his own campaign. Exhibit A: The article's title, "Head of 'The House,'" is not referring to Senator Thompson.
Posted by Michael Link at 1:44 PM | Comments (4)
NYFD Shows Up in NH To Fact Check Giuliani's 9-11 Record
From the AP:
A New York City firefighters group critical of presidential contender and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani is bringing its message to the campaign trail in the first primary state.The group, calling themselves 9/11 Firefighters & Families, includes the parents of three firefighters who died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and a current New York City firefighter. Two of the fathers are current or retired firefighters. Another is a retired police sergeant. They plan to hold a town hall-style meeting at Dartmouth College in Hanover to speak out against Giuliani, who was mayor when the attacks occurred.
Posted by Michael Link at 11:59 AM | Comments (2)
Publisher Says Guiliani Supporters Urged Her To Lie To Prosecutors To Protect Rudy Giuliani
Former HaperCollins publisher who had a relationship with Bernard Kerik is accusing supporters of Rudy Giuliani at News Corp of urging her to lie to federal prosecutors about her relationship with Bernard Kerik in order to protect Rudy Giuliani.
The lawsuit asserts that the News Corporation executive wanted to protect the presidential aspirations of Rudolph W. Giuliani, Mr. Kerik’s mentor, who had appointed him New York City police commissioner and had recommended him for the federal post....
One of Ms. Regan’s lawyers, Brian C. Kerr of the firm of Dreier L.L.P., said she had evidence to support her claim that she had been advised to lie to federal investigators who were vetting Mr. Kerik and who might have sought to question her about their romantic involvement. But Mr. Kerr declined to discuss the nature of the evidence.
Bernard Kerik abused his authority during the days after September 11th by using an apartment donated for tired 9/11 workers to have an affair.
Posted by Kombiz Lavasany at 10:36 AM | Comments (3)
Wednesday Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 9:06 AM | Comments (154)
November 13, 2007
Tuesday Evening Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 7:00 PM | Comments (69)
Bush Vetoes Health and Education Bill
Earlier I wrote about how your family owes $16,500.00 for the war in Iraq through 2008. Amazing, then, that President Bush decided that he will veto a health and education bill because he claims to be concerned about spending.
Speaker Pelosi pointed out that this was a "bipartisan and fiscally responsible bill" that provides "education for our children, assistance in paying skyrocketing energy costs, veterans' health care, and other urgent health research on cancer and other serious medical problems."
The Republican strategy is based on one premise: make sure as little gets accomplished as possible -- then try to blame the Democrats for the Republicans' obstructionism. It wasn't too long ago that Bush was complaining about Congress not getting enough done, in his opinion. Yet at every opportunity, from Iraq to education to children's health, he prevents as much as possible from getting done for the American people. And his Republicans in Congress aren't doing much better, attempting to block as much legislation from getting a vote as they can.
The strategy is obvious, but as recent election results showed, they're failing to fool the American people.
Posted by Michael Link at 3:20 PM | Comments (4)
Your Ultimate Kerik -Giuliani Scandal Tip-Sheet
Paul Kiel at TPMMuckracker has put together the definitive list of Kerik scandals. They start with the most recent indictments and work through other scandals from his days as Giuliani's trusted Deputy.
-- Bribery. Accepted $255,000 worth of renovations to his apartment in an upscale section of the Bronx from a mob-connected construction company, Interstate Industrial Corporation, that sought his help in winning city contracts. Kerik was Commissioner of the New York City Department of Corrections at the time. He already admitted to charges from city prosecutors that the payments constituted an illegal gift.
-- Tax fraud. Kerik failed to report $236,269 in rent for his Upper East Side apartment where he lived from December 2001 to December 2003 with his family. One of the city's biggest real estate developers, Steve Witkoff, paid the $9,650 in monthly rent. Kerik asked for Witkoff's help with the apartment while he was still police commissioner of NYC, and the real estate mogul made the payments because the two "anticipated doing business in the future."
With rich irony the NY Daily News also reminded readers that Giuliani named a prison for Kerik.
It is one of the most famous jailhouses anywhere, and there was a time when its official name wasn't grand enough for Rudy Giuliani, back when he was the hero mayor of New York and his police commissioner - the one indicted on 16 counts the other day - had to be a hero, too.That is why Giuliani renamed The Tombs after Bernie Kerik in December 2001. Six years later, that is more interesting than ever, a jail being named after Kerik, just because one of these days he could end up inside one.
Posted by Kombiz Lavasany at 3:00 PM
Rudy's Traffic Jam to the Nomination
Giuliani, counting his chickens before they've hatched:
Rudy Giuliani is the kind of candidate who doesn't display self-confidence so much as he oozes it from every pore. [...] To become that clear front-runner, Mr. Giuliani must confront some questions about his party's mind-set this election cycle, as well as doubts about his unconventional strategy of focusing more on primaries in big states than on the early contests in Iowa and New Hampshire.
Yet don't expect Rudy to pay too much more attention to New Hampshire and Iowa: the campaign's banking on Feb. 5.
Bottom line: they continued to stress that Rudy has "multiple paths to victory" and declined to label their effort as only a "February 5" strategy. We'll find out in a couple of months whether they are right.
Maybe by then he'll have time to brush up on his health care stats.
Posted by Mike Gehrke at 12:12 PM | Comments (2)
Your Family Owes $16,500.00
For the war in Iraq alone.
According to a new report by the Joint Economic Committee, the economic costs of the war will reach $1.3 trillion by the end of 2008. That, of course, doesn't take into consideration what happens if a Republican is elected who isn't even beginning to think about how we can bring an end to this war.
It also doesn't take into consideration the cost in human lives.
All of this, apparently, is the "small price" that Rep. Boehner talked about not too long ago.
In truth, the headline doesn't tell the whole story. Because in reality, we're handing this debt down to future generations.
Posted by Michael Link at 10:03 AM | Comments (43)
Tuesday Open Thread
We're back! Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 9:03 AM | Comments (125)
November 12, 2007
Monday Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 7:39 AM | Comments (136)
November 11, 2007
Sunday Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 7:42 AM | Comments (227)
November 10, 2007
From the Archives
A circus elephant:
Posted by Michael Link at 11:10 AM | Comments (4)
Saturday Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 8:37 AM | Comments (169)
November 9, 2007
PB Rescue Open Thread
Read PartyBuilder. Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 6:58 PM | Comments (105)
Rudy and Bernie: Through the Years
Through the years, Bernie Kerik and Rudy Giuliani have been the best of friends. We've put together this presentation to give a little background that should shed some light on how we got to where we are today, with Kerik indicted "with, among other felonies, fraud, tax evasion, obstruction, filing a false loan application, and making an assortment of false statements when applying for various federal posts, including Homeland Security secretary."
And here's what Governor Dean had to say about this controversy earlier today:
The fact that Rudy Giuliani shepherded the career of Bernard Kerik despite his ethical problems speaks volumes about the Republican Party and its candidates. This scandal represents the latest chapter of the Republican culture of corruption and cronyism that voters have already rejected. From Tom Delay to Scooter Libby to Jack Abramoff to Bernard Kerik, the Republican Party has too often rewarded cronies at the expense of the American people.Rudy Giuliani's attempt to minimize this scandal suggests that just like President Bush, the same Republican culture of corruption would be the norm in a Giuliani White House.
And let's remember, he didn't just try to minimize this, he went further and was actually praising him as late as a couple days ago.
Posted by Michael Link at 5:26 PM | Comments (13)
Cyber Predators For Romney?
Accused 'cyber stalker' an activist for Mitt:
A Republican Party activist from Shelby Township who held a position in the Mitt Romney presidential campaign faces two felony charges for computer crimes.Dave Drwencke, 22, has stepped down from his post as Michigan Youth Chairman for the Romney campaign while charges are pending for alleged "cyber stalking" involving a former girlfriend from Clinton Township.
Police said Drwencke posted several nude photos of the ex-girlfriend and "degrading" comments about her on several Web sites. The woman was contacted by men who saw the online profile and were interested in meeting her.
Mitt Romney, "cleaning up the water in which our kids are swimming."
Posted by Michael Link at 4:51 PM | Comments (3)
Democratic Party Put Romney's Past Positions On EBAY
Having already sold off all his previous positions on every important issue from choice, immigration to the minimum wage the Mitt Romney campaign is asking his supporters to sell off their past on EBay to help fund Romney's campaign. To help remind voters about all of Mitt Romney's old positions the Democratic Party listed a Mitt Romney flip-flop kit on auction at Ebay. This one of a kind, special edition Mitt Romney Flip Flop Kit includes:
* Mitt Romney's Flip Flops on issues ranging from abortion, immigration, tax cuts, the Reagan administration, gay rights, campaign finance reform, climate change, conservatism, gambling, gun control, etc.;* A limited edition DVD of some of Romney’s more infamous flip-flops;
* Flip-Flop flash cards in the shape of flip-flops so you can study on all of Mitt Romney's various positions, courtesy of the Massachusetts Democratic Party.
* A new pair of flip-flops;
* A collectors edition foam flip-flop distributed at campaign events by a rival candidate;
* A replica of the snowman that Mitt Romney is afraid to take questions from at the YouTube debate; and
* A collection of Democratic signs, posters, pins and collectibles.
Posted by Kombiz Lavasany at 10:27 AM | Comments (4)
Rudy Won't Rule Out Kerik Pardon
ABC News is reporting that Bernard Kerik will be indicted, causing more headaches for the Giuliani campaign that continues to stand by him. And if that's not enough, today the NY Daily News reports that Giuliani won't rule out pardoning Kerik if he was convicted and Giuliani was president.
People are tired of Bush-style cronyism that led to Giuliani recommending Kerik for the top Department of Homeland Security post, and for the same reason, this won't play well either.
So what is this whole indictment about? For details, see TPM Muckraker's take on this.
And as a side-note, Giuliani said he'd pardon Scooter Libby. What a platform to run on...
Posted by Michael Link at 10:24 AM | Comments (9)
Friday Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 9:06 AM | Comments (148)
November 8, 2007
PB Rescue Open Thread
It's that time again. Liz writes that the Decider no longer decides. And Jim Callahan has a post up about High School students passionate about Darfur.
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 6:12 PM | Comments (95)
Breaking: ABC News Says Grand Jury Indicts Kerik
This breaking news headline just went up: "A FEDERAL GRAND JURY HAS VOTED TO INDICT EX-N.Y. CITY POLICE COMMISSIONER BERNARD KERIK ON CHARGES STEMMING FROM TAX EVASION AND CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS, SOURCES TELL ABC NEWS."
They'll probably have an article up soon, and you can expect to see a lot more about this in the papers and on the blog tomorrow. We'll also have a chance to see what Rudy Giuliani has to say on the topic. Remember, it was just a few days ago Giuliani was praising the man.
Posted by Michael Link at 6:02 PM | Comments (2)
A Break in the Ranks
The Iowa Christian Alliance bucks Robertson's choice of Giuliani:
The Iowa Christian Alliance is the most powerful grassroots organization in the state, the heir to the Christian Coalition and a voice that, when it speaks collectively, is mighty influential. Pat Robertson is, of course, one of the founders of the Christian Coalition.The ICA's president, Steve Scheffler, is not happy.
Posted by Mike Gehrke at 4:45 PM | Comments (3)
Iraq War Opposition At New High
According to a new CNN poll, "Opposition to the war in Iraq has reached an all-time high."
So far it's dropped down to 31-percent of Americans, with 68-percent opposing. This news is coming soon after this year became the deadliest year for the US since the war in Iraq began.
Posted by Michael Link at 2:56 PM | Comments (5)
Giuliani Heads For the Hills
Feds say Kerik will be indicted:
Federal prosecutors will ask a grand jury today to indict Bernard B. Kerik, the former New York police commissioner, on charges that include tax fraud, corruption and conspiracy counts, according to people who have been briefed on the case.The grand jury, convening in Westchester County, has heard evidence about Mr. Kerik for about a year as part of a broad federal inquiry into a variety of issues, including his acceptance of $165,000 in renovations from a contractor who was seeking a city license.
Prosecutors are also seeking to charge Mr. Kerik, 52, with failing to report as income more than $200,000 in rent that they say was paid on his behalf to use a luxury Upper East Side apartment where he lived with his family around the time he left his city post, the people briefed on the case said.
Posted by Michael Link at 10:53 AM | Comments (4)
Thursday Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 9:21 AM | Comments (170)
November 7, 2007
House Passes ENDA
I think Governor Dean said it best, so I'll just pass along his words from earlier on this historic day:
This is an historic day for our Congress and our country. After more than three decades of debate, the new Democratic Congress today took a profound step toward fairness and equality by passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. The guiding principle of our American democracy is a deep and abiding commitment to promoting equality under the law for every single American. Unfortunately, even though large majorities of the American people and American businesses oppose workplace discrimination, it is legal today in 30 states to fire someone simply because of his or her sexual orientation. This bipartisan bill corrects that injustice by making it illegal to fire, refuse to hire, or otherwise discriminate against employees simply based on their sexual orientation.The significance of today's victory is highlighted by the fact that it comes just one day after voters in states like Kentucky and Virginia rejected mean-spirited, anti-gay attacks by desperate Republicans who tried and failed to use equality as a wedge issue. I am proud that those shameful efforts by Republicans failed once again, and I am proud to lead a Party that continues to fight for equality. In just the last year, our Democratic Congress has turned its back on the Republican Party's divisive marriage amendments, passed a hate crimes law, and has now passed ENDA. As we move forward, the Democratic Party will continue to fight for equal rights for every American, including our friends and family in the transgender community.
Posted by Michael Link at 6:53 PM | Comments (5)
PB Rescue Open Thread
Read them all, then chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 6:05 PM | Comments (85)
Romney Endorser Says Romney's Flip-Flopped and Romney's Family Isn't Sure Who To Support
What a rough couple of days for Mitt Romney, first one of his newest endorsers calls him a flip-flopper.
Paul M. Weyrich, an elder statesman of the religious right, said yesterday that he believes Mitt Romney has made a sincere conversion from a supporter of abortion rights and gay rights into an opponent of both."I believe that he has flip-flopped in our direction, if you will - the direction of the values voters - and I think he will stay there," Weyrich said in a telephone interview, the first since he endorsed Romney. "I think he has a good deal of presence and ability to explain things, and so I think he's the candidate this year."
Meanwhile, Romney's cousin isn't sure who she's going to endorse.
Heather Krueger, whose last name changed when she married, said she last saw "Uncle Mitt" at a family funeral a decade ago. While she called him an uncle, she said they were actually second cousins.Though Krueger was "getting more and more excited" about Romney's candidacy, she hasn't yet decided whom she will vote for in the January primary.
"I'm staying open," she said.
Posted by Kombiz Lavasany at 5:33 PM | Comments (1)
Extremist Republican Pat Robertson Endorses Rudy Giuliani
With some fanfare Rudy Giuliani accepted the endorsement of one of the most extreme members of the far right, Pat Robertson. Shortly after 2001 Pat Robertson blamed the 9/11 attacks on because the government was more liberal. As Greg Sargent point out he agreed with Jerry Fallwell when Fallwell explained that we deserved an attack.
"God continues to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to give us probably what we deserve," said Falwell, appearing yesterday on the Christian Broadcasting Network's "700 Club," hosted by Robertson."Jerry, that's my feeling," Robertson responded. "I think we've just seen the antechamber to terror. We haven't even begun to see what they can do to the major population."
Falwell said the American Civil Liberties Union has "got to take a lot of blame for this," again winning Robertson's agreement: "Well, yes."
Even some conservatives are asking whether Rudy Giuliani agrees that Americans, and not Al-Qaeda terrorists are responsible for the tragic attacks on 9/11.
[Update] Will Bunch connects two dots and reminds his readers that Robertson called for the assassination of one of Giuliani's business clients.
Posted by Kombiz Lavasany at 5:11 PM | Comments (5)
Giuliani's Business Clinet Come Back To Haunt Him
Despite the fact that he's running for President, presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani is still being paid by his firm, Giuliani and Partners who are representing foreign governments and companies. The Wall Street Journal reports that Giuliani isn't being upfront about details about his clients and the lobbying that his company is being paid to perform, even when it comes to foreign governments.
Rudy Giuliani is one of the few candidates ever to pursue the White House while maintaining a high-ranking role in a private-sector firm.But since he became a candidate for president, the Republican front-runner has rebuffed all calls to disclose details about the clients and dealings of Giuliani Partners, the consulting firm he founded in 2002.
Some of those clients have controversial records. Among those he hasn't disclosed is the government of Qatar, a Persian Gulf state to whom the firm provided security advice, according to the former U.S. ambassador there. Qatar is a strategic U.S. military ally and energy supplier, yet also a country that has been criticized for its conduct toward al Qaeda -- a potential political pitfall for a candidate pitching himself as an uncompromising foe of Islamic terrorism.
Posted by Kombiz Lavasany at 4:43 PM | Comments (1)
The GOP Brand
There's an article in the Politico today about efforts by Republicans in Congress to "re-brand" their party. They're brought in corporate brand experts to advise their party on what course to take.
I'm not going to give them advice. But apparently this "new image" involves fighting for the war to continue endlessly in Iraq, denying children the health care they need, and blocking as much legislation as they possibly can.
And the complaints are exactly the opposite of what you'd think for a party trying to figure out how to appeal to more voters:
Some conservative members are complaining that too many Republicans voted for the expansion of a popular state-run children’s health care initiative that the president and party leaders opposed.
Not only was that a bad policy decision by those who voted against, but it's a bad policy that the American people disagree with by huge margins.
So is this really the future "brand" for the GOP? Denying children access to health care? We'll see if Republicans in Congress continue the path they're on.
Posted by Michael Link at 12:55 PM | Comments (4)
Good News for Democrats
Yesterday's election brought a lot of victories, which means good news for the country.
Democrat Steve Beshear won the Kentucky governorship, and in Virginia Democrats made gains in the state House and gained control of the state Senate. In Mississippi, Democrats took back control of the State Senate and won the attorney general seat.
It's the momentum we need heading into 2008, but we're not going to take anything for granted. As Governor Dean said in his statement today, we're going to keep mobilizing voters in all 50 states.
Still, thanks for helping us build the party in every state. You make these gains possible.
Posted by Michael Link at 11:55 AM | Comments (7)
Deadliest Year for US Troops in Iraq
With new deaths of Americans in Iraq announced yesterday, this year has become the deadliest year for US troops since the war began. The grim milestone is a reminder that violence in Iraq continues.
Total American fatalities have now reached 3,856 Americans, which join those from other nations along with countless civilians.
Despite that this has been the bloodiest year for Americans in this war, the Republicans in Congress continue to block Democratic measures to bring our troops home.
Instead, we've seen Republican leader John Boehner minimize the sacrifice by these brave men and women by calling it a "small price" in both money and bloodshed.
Posted by Michael Link at 9:41 AM | Comments (34)
Wednesday Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 9:31 AM | Comments (152)
November 6, 2007
Election Night Open Thread
Via Swing State Project, for when the time comes:
Until then, chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 5:55 PM | Comments (114)
A Bush Official's Halloween Fun
This is what Julie Myers, head of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement division, awards the "most original costume" prize for:
A top immigration official has apologized after awarding "most original costume" to a Homeland Security Department employee who dressed in prison stripes, dreadlocks and dark makeup for a Halloween gathering at the agency.Julie Myers, assistant secretary overseeing Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement division, was part of a three-judge panel that lauded the costume, worn by a white employee, last Wednesday. She also posed for a photo with him.
She claims she didn't know the employee was wearing the dark makeup when she posed for pictures with him and awarded him with the top prize.
Posted by Michael Link at 3:22 PM | Comments (6)
He Really Knows How To Pick 'Em
Giuliani says he has "confidence" in Bush Foreign Policy:
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, whose foreign policy views have largely meshed with those of President Bush, said he had the strongest degree of confidence in the Bush administration’s ability to defuse the situation in Pakistan. “So this is a cause of great concern for us and I know the administration, they’ll do everything they can to try and keep a stable government there as we move forward toward a democracy in Pakistan or a much more sort of realized democracy in Pakistan,” Giuliani told reporters during a campaign swing in New Hampshire.
Posted by Michael Link at 2:05 PM | Comments (3)
Caging Law Introduced
As many of you know, GOP "caging lists" were discovered shortly before the 2004 campaign. These lists are generally used to suppress the vote by "challenging" the right of individuals to vote.
Today Senator Sheldon Whitehouse introduced the Caging Prohibition Act, which "would prohibit challenges to a person’s eligibility to register to vote, or cast a vote, based solely on returned mail or a caging list." It would also "mandate that anyone who challenges the right of another citizen to vote must set forth the specific grounds for their alleged ineligibility, under penalty of perjury."
Posted by Michael Link at 12:47 PM | Comments (3)
Election Day
As Swing State Project (SSP) and DailyKos point out, today there are state elections in Kentucky, Mississippi, New Jersey, Ohio, and Virginia. Over at SSP, you'll find some important information along with the state blogs that should have lots of coverage.
So if you've got an election, vote. Then bring your family and friends there. And report back in the comments about the turnout.
Posted by Michael Link at 10:43 AM | Comments (1)
Tuesday Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 9:12 AM | Comments (198)
November 5, 2007
Monday Evening Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 6:31 PM | Comments (74)
Jury Finds Brent Wilkes Guilty
The San Diego Union Tribune's news blog is reporting that Brent Wilkes has been found guilty of using more than $600,000 trying to bribe former Republican congressman Randy Duke Cunningham. (h/t TPM Muckracker)
A U.S. District Court jury has convicted Brent Wilkes on all 13 counts in his corruption trial. The Poway defense contractor had been accused by prosecutors of leveraging more than $600,000 in cash bribes and thousands more in gifts to ousted Rep. Randy Duke Cunningham in exchange for Cunningham's influence in securing more than $80 million in government contracts.
Posted by Kombiz Lavasany at 6:02 PM | Comments (5)
Rudy And Kerik A Relationship of Mutual Adminiration
The relationship between Bernie Kerik and Rudy Giuliani gets weirder every day. Yesterday the conservative New York Post reported that Kerik's website, Kerik and associates uses Rudy Giuliani and President Bush to woo new clients.
Presidential wannabe Rudy Giuliani has distanced himself from disgraced pal Bernie Kerik. But Kerik still wraps himself around his ex-boss on his consulting-business Web site. The city's ex- top cop - who's back in the news because a former lawyer sued him for being a deadbeat - is expected to be hit with federal charges of bribery, tax evasion and obstruction of justice. But all is well with Bernie on Kerikgroup.com. It shows numerous photos of Giuliani and President Bush with Kerik as he markets his "unparalleled expertise and experience in risk mitigation, crisis management and counterterrorism."
As the NY Times told us over the weekend, Rudy Giuliani knew much more about Kerik's legal issues than he's let on officially. Today Giuliani has taken to commending Bernie Kerik's work, work that he was doing while he was defrauding the city of New York City.
"Bernie Kerik worked for me while I was mayor of New York City. There were mistakes made with Bernie Kerik. But what's the ultimate result for the people of New York City? The ultimate result for the people of New York City was a 74 percent reduction in shootings, a 60 percent reduction in crime, a correction program that went from being one of the worst in the country to one that was on '60 Minutes' as one of the best in the country, 90 percent reduction of violence in the jails.""Sure, there were issues, but if I have the same degree of success and failure as president of the United States, this country will be in great shape," Giuliani said.
Posted by Kombiz Lavasany at 3:54 PM | Comments (1)
Fred Thompson's Bernie Kerik?
Fred Thompson's top fundraiser has a lengthy criminal past, as the Washington Post noted on Sunday:
Thompson selected the businessman, Philip Martin, to raise seed money for his White House bid. Martin is one of four campaign co-chairmen and the head of a group called the "first day founders." Campaign aides jokingly began to refer to Martin, who has been friends with Thompson since the early 1990s, as the head of "Thompson's Airforce."Martin entered a plea of guilty to the sale of 11 pounds of marijuana in 1979; the court withheld judgment pending completion of his probation. He was charged in 1983 with violating his probation and with multiple counts of felony bookmaking, cocaine trafficking and conspiracy. He pleaded no contest to the cocaine-trafficking and conspiracy charges, which stemmed from a plan to sell $30,000 worth of the drug, and was continued on probation.
Thompson's campaign said the candidate was not aware of the multiple criminal cases, for which Martin served no jail time. All are described in public court records.
Posted by Michael Link at 12:25 PM | Comments (9)
Hollywood Writers Strike
As profits shift away from television and to the web, you can expect to see new conflicts about how to deal with it. A perfect example comes today, with a strike resulting from the break-down of negotiations between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producer.
In the long-term, this may symbolize the new challenges facing many of today's workers.
Not that the old struggles are over. As the AFL-CIO blog recently noted, each year about 5,700 workers are killed on the job. But today's strike still serves as a way for us to take another look at our assumptions when discussing the future of the labor movement, which working people depend on.
And that means we must keep questioning what issues matter to today's workers. Stephanie, who recently left the DNC, told me a while back about her days as a union organizer. When she would go from home to home trying to start a union, she said the key was always beginning by asking people about what their own concerns were -- because often they wouldn't be what we would expect as outsiders. Not many of us would have guessed this strike would have been born out of issues surrounding DVDs and web video, but in this way the same principle applies to organizing in this modern age.
Posted by Michael Link at 10:50 AM | Comments (5)
Republican Congressman Cuts Off Access To Official Website From Bloggers
Congressman Adrian Smith of Nebraska's third congressional is so upset with a group of bloggers who have been following his votes and keeping him accountable that he's cut off access from to Congressional website from someNebraska bloggers.
A while back, I noticed that whenever I clicked on the link from my website to Adrian Smith's Congressional website, I'd get the following message:Not Found
The requested URL was not found on this server.I'm sure others have noticed this as well if they've tried.
...
I got my response today. Some of it is technical, and I don't understand it, but what the tech wrote is very clear in explaining what they found (emphasis is mine):The problem isn't with your link. It's with THEIR server. It's rejecting (giving a 404) when the link comes from blogspot. He's blocking requests when it comes from bloggers.
Posted by Kombiz Lavasany at 10:36 AM | Comments (5)
Monday Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 9:01 AM | Comments (112)
November 4, 2007
Sunday Open Thread
Thanks, everybody, for attending the One Year Out events yesterday. They were a tremendous success. We appreciate you dedicating your weekend to putting America back on track. In the coming year, we'll be asking for even more help, so thanks for answering that call.
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 8:51 AM | Comments (159)
November 3, 2007
One Year Out Success
There's about one year to go before we elect a new president of the United States, and it just can't come soon enough. With the Republican candidates offering up four more years of Bush's policies at home and in Iraq, we can't be content with watching from the sidelines.
That's why the "One Year Out" events were so important, and they were a huge success by any measure. Thousands of grassroots activists gathered in more hundreds and hundreds of homes across the country to launch the new National Neighborhood Leader program. We unveiled our plan for victory next year, which means utilizing technology and the Internet for mass organizing in neighborhoods all across America. We understand that nobody is better able to reach out than the people who live next door who best know and care about the same local issues.
So after learning the strategy, you took to the streets and spoke in your community. And all of us, collectively, did it all across the country as part of the 50-State Strategy that led to massive gains in 2006.
For 2008, it all began today. From now until election day, you can be sure we'll call on you to step up once again.
So thanks.
Your country needs you, and you're answering that call.
Posted by Michael Link at 11:18 PM | Comments (9)
From the Archives
Posted by Michael Link at 11:21 AM | Comments (3)
Saturday Open Thread
Attend a "One Year Out" event! Then chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 7:59 AM | Comments (195)
November 2, 2007
PB Rescue Open Thread
There are a lot of great posts today over at PartyBuilder. Read them all, then chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 6:46 PM | Comments (50)
Romney Campaign Celebrates Blackwater Ties
Republicans like Mitt Romney just can't bring any change to American foreign policy. Mitt Romney's counter-terrorism advisor is also the vice-chair of Blackwater.
Blackwater's chief executive, Erik D. Prince, has testified before Congress about the killing of Iraqi civilians allegedly by Blackwater agents, but Black, who is vice chairman, has said little on the matter. Asked about the killings during a speech in Texas last month, he declined to comment beyond saying he had confidence in Blackwater agents.Black, who did not respond to requests for an interview, is a fervent promoter of an expanded role for Blackwater, which is not named for him. In April 2006, he stunned a conference of former special forces soldiers by proposing to deploy Blackwater troops to global hot spots, including humanitarian crises such as the massacres in the Darfur region of Sudan.
Posted by Kombiz Lavasany at 4:36 PM | Comments (1)
The Friday Five: Year Out Edition
Every Friday we're highlighting five events happening around the country, but with the one year out events approaching (tomorrow!), we want to make sure all of you take part. It's going to be our first nationwide organizing push, and we're going to unveil our confidential organizing plans for those who attend.
Here are 5 of the hundreds of events happening around the country. You can find an event to attend -- or start your own -- by clicking here!
- Idaho Democrats - Making It Work-- Hattaway (Boise, ID)
Join hundreds of Democrats from around Idaho as we roll out our strategy for victory in 2008 and beyond. We need every person who cares about the future of the state to attend or host a house party on November 3, and to volunteer to help in the year to come. Please attend!
- year out neighborhood parties (Key West to Summerland, FL)
We are having several parties throughout the Lower Keys to get ready for the 2008 elections. Come out to meet your neighbors, learn what will be on the ballot, and find out what the local dems are doing to get ready.
- “ONE YEAR AWAY” DAY HOUSE PARTY (Charles Town, WV)
Come enjoy an afternoon at a neighbors house in Jefferson County to learn all there is to know about Jefferson County Democrats!
- House Party (Elberta, AL)
We will be viewing a video from Howard Dean on the stragety for the coming year. We will discuss the video, have a question session,and look at canvasing a neighborhood.
- Loree Weber House Party (Raymore, MO)
1 year out house party to be hosted by Loree Weber
Posted by Michael Link at 2:56 PM | Comments (3)
Health Care Group Tells Giuliani To Pull Misleading Ad
From the Concord Monitor:
A state health care advocacy group has asked former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani to pull his latest radio ad, in which he cites inaccurate public health statistics.In the radio ad, Giuliani, a Republican presidential candidate, talks about his battle with prostate cancer, using it as a springboard to explain why he thinks his health care plan is superior to plans proposed by Democratic presidential candidates, which he calls "socialized medicine."
Giuliani's health care smear is just the latest in series of exaggerations:
But here’s what I don’t understand: Why isn’t Mr. Giuliani’s behavior here considered not just a case of bad policy analysis but a character issue?For better or (mostly) for worse, political reporting is dominated by the search for the supposedly revealing incident, in which the candidate says or does something that reveals his true character. And this incident surely seems to fit the bill.
The fact is that the prostate affair is part of a pattern: Mr. Giuliani has a habit of saying things, on issues that range from health care to national security, that are demonstrably untrue. And the American people have a right to know that.
Posted by Michael Link at 2:05 PM | Comments (1)
You Can Tell A Lot About A Person By the Company They Keep
What does Romney’s Blackwater adviser say about him?
Black - who is now Mitt Romney's chief adviser on counterterrorism and national security - is a brash and tough-talking veteran spy. He is also controversial. Black is widely credited with trying to warn then-National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice about Al Qaeda in the summer of 2001, but an internal CIA report last summer criticized his counterterrorist center, saying it lacked an effective strategy before Sept. 11.Now Black is facing more scrutiny for his current role as a top executive of Blackwater Worldwide, the international security firm whose alleged killing of 17 Iraqis prompted a congressional investigation and a demand from the Iraqi government that the firm withdraw from the country.
Romney has called the allegations against Blackwater troubling, but said he is waiting for a State Department investigation to be completed before making an official pronouncement on the firm. But he proudly invokes Black's name on the campaign trail, mentioning his 28 years in the CIA to lend himself credibility on counterterrorism issues.
Posted by Michael Link at 11:59 AM | Comments (3)
Friday Open Thread
Chat away...
Posted by Michael Link at 9:11 AM | Comments (172)
November 1, 2007
PB Rescue Open Thread
Read them all..
Posted by Michael Link at 6:04 PM | Comments (79)
Giuliani Makes Up Facts About Health Care, Continues Using Unture Health Care Statistics
After initial reports that Rudy Giuliani was misrepresenting prostate cancer statistics in his new ad several media sources have started to fact check Rudy Giuliani's latest ad. The Washington Post's fact checker says that Giuliani is, "simply wrong when he claims that his chances of surviving prostate cancer are almost twice as high in the United States as in England, under a "socialized" medical system. We award Giuliani four Pinocchios."
Even after various organizations have shown Rudy Giuliani's facts about health care are wrong, Rudy Giuliani's campaign now says that they'll continue to use the incorrect statistics.
Posted by Kombiz Lavasany at 4:16 PM | Comments (1)
For Giuliani, It’s The Story That Just Won’t Die.
Now Kerik being sued for ‘stiffing’ his lawyers:
Bernard Kerik has one more legal problem on his hands.The scandal-tainted former police commissioner is being sued for allegedly stiffing a law firm on a $202,384.04 tab after its lawyers helped keep him out of jail.
The suit filed yesterday by Fulbright & Jaworski comes as Kerik faces a possible federal indictment on charges of bribery and tax fraud. His problems continue to be a drag on former boss Rudy Giuliani's presidential hopes.
Posted by Michael Link at 2:35 PM | Comments (3)
NYC City Council Starts Investigation of Radios Used By Firefighters On 9/11
Prompted by years of media reports and a recent web video about faulty radios carried by NYC firefighters who were trying to rescue thousands of workers from the twin towers, a member of the NYC City Council is starting an investigation into the radios and whether a no-bid contract led contributed to NYC spending millions on faulty radios.
In the midst of his presidential candidacy, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani now faces a looming government investigation into his handling of the radios used by firefighters on 9/11.The investigation, which will examine how the FDNY ended up using faulty equipment during the terrorist attacks and why Giuliani gave a no-bid contract to Motorola for that equipment, has been endorsed by New York City Councilman Eric Gioia, chair of the city's oversight and investigations committee.
2007-11-01-giuin.jpg"I will do everything in my power to get answers, to get the truth," said Gioia, a Democrat. "These families deserve answers and really the entire city and our country deserve answers."
Posted by Kombiz Lavasany at 1:59 PM | Comments (2)
Mitchell Wade Fined $1,000,000
Many of you will remember Mitchell Wade from the 2006 campaign. His name came up in the campaigns of Rep. Virgil Goode and Rep. Katharine Harris. Harris, in particular, famously had a $2,800 dinner tab picked up by Wade -- she claimed her meal was only about $100.
But the more serious allegation was that Wade violated federal election law by funneling contributions to these candidates. Finally, today, the FEC announced that Mitchell Wade and MZM, the company involved, agreed to pay a million dollar fine, "the second largest penalty ever paid in the 32-year history of the FEC."
As TPM Muckraker adds, "the settlement was a result of a complaint from watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington." And here's more from TPM Muckraker:
The fine is for reimbursing employees at his firm MZM for $78,000 in contributions they made to Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA) and ex-Rep. Katharine Harris (R-FL). Another MZM exec, Richard Berglund, got hit with a $42,000 fine. Both of them have already pled guilty to criminal charges for the scheme. Berglund was sentenced earlier this year to a year of probation and $5,000 in fines. Wade continues to cooperate with the government in its ongoing investigation of his bribery activities, recently testifying against fellow contractor Brent Wilkes at his trial.
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Thursday Open Thread
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