Friday, March 31, 2006
Latinos Sent $56B Back Home
The Inter-American Development Bank says Latin American and Caribbean workers living abroad sent a record $53.6 billion home last year, up 17 percent from 2004.
The IDB presented the figures Thursday at a seminar in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, where the bank's Board of Governors holds its annual meeting next month.
The IDB says Mexico is still the leading recipient of those remittances in Latin America, with its expatriates sending more than $20 billion home last year. The figure marks an increase of about 20 percent from 2004.
The bank noted that some 25 million people born in Latin America and the Caribbean have moved abroad and that two thirds of them send money home on a regular basis.
Officials noted, however, that many migrants and their families still remain outside the formal financial system, and that fewer than 10 percent of those residents who receive money transfers have access to bank accounts, credit or home loans.
The Inter-American Development Bank says Latin American and Caribbean workers living abroad sent a record $53.6 billion home last year, up 17 percent from 2004.
The IDB presented the figures Thursday at a seminar in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, where the bank's Board of Governors holds its annual meeting next month.
The IDB says Mexico is still the leading recipient of those remittances in Latin America, with its expatriates sending more than $20 billion home last year. The figure marks an increase of about 20 percent from 2004.
The bank noted that some 25 million people born in Latin America and the Caribbean have moved abroad and that two thirds of them send money home on a regular basis.
Officials noted, however, that many migrants and their families still remain outside the formal financial system, and that fewer than 10 percent of those residents who receive money transfers have access to bank accounts, credit or home loans.
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
According to the latest statistics there are now eleven million illegal immigrants in the United States. Here's the part that surprised me, over half of them are on the Yankee pitching staff.
President Bush is down in Mexico right now. I just don't think President Bush "gets it". He stepped off Air Force One, he looked around and said, "Wow, you've got a big problem with Mexican immigrants down here too!"
In France, rioters looted stores. Actually to be politically correct you cannot call them looters anymore. You know have to call them undocumented shoppers.
Yesterday disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff sentenced to nearing six years in prison. See that shows you the unpredictable life of a Washington lobbyist. One day you are getting a million bucks from the tobacco lobby and the next day you are being traded for a couple of cigarettes.
Some sad news, after a three year run, hooters airlines has announced it is calling it quits and closing it's doors. Today President Clinton said, "This means the terrorist have won."
Major League Baseball has launched an investigation of possible steroid use. The rumor is there are as many as ten players not on steroids.
Leno
According to the latest statistics there are now eleven million illegal immigrants in the United States. Here's the part that surprised me, over half of them are on the Yankee pitching staff.
President Bush is down in Mexico right now. I just don't think President Bush "gets it". He stepped off Air Force One, he looked around and said, "Wow, you've got a big problem with Mexican immigrants down here too!"
In France, rioters looted stores. Actually to be politically correct you cannot call them looters anymore. You know have to call them undocumented shoppers.
Yesterday disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff sentenced to nearing six years in prison. See that shows you the unpredictable life of a Washington lobbyist. One day you are getting a million bucks from the tobacco lobby and the next day you are being traded for a couple of cigarettes.
Some sad news, after a three year run, hooters airlines has announced it is calling it quits and closing it's doors. Today President Clinton said, "This means the terrorist have won."
Major League Baseball has launched an investigation of possible steroid use. The rumor is there are as many as ten players not on steroids.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Watergate's Dean Blasts NSA Wiretapping
Nixon White House counselor John Dean, testifying in favor of a Democratic resolution to censure President Bush, asserted Friday that Bush's conduct in connection with domestic spying exceeds the wrongdoing that toppled his former boss from power.
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, fired back by telling Democrats: "Quit trying to score political points."
The Senate, Dean said, should censure or officially scold Bush as proposed by Sen. Russell Feingold's resolution. But if that action carries too much political baggage, some senatorial warning is in order, Dean said.
"The resolution should be amended, not defeated, because the president needs to be reminded that separation of powers does not mean an isolation of powers," Dean said in prepared remarks. "He needs to be told he cannot simply ignore a law with no consequences."
Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said Feingold's resolution has no merit.
"But it provides a forum for the discussion of issues which really ought to be considered in greater depth than they have been," Specter said at the session's open.
At issue is whether Bush's secretive domestic spying program violates the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
Bush has said the National Security Agency's secretive wiretapping program is aimed at finding terrorists before they strike on American soil by tapping the phones of people making calls overseas. He has launched a criminal investigation to find out who leaked the program's existence to the New York Times, saying it compromised national security.
Feingold told the panel that censure is not only an appropriate response, but Congress' duty.
"If we in the Congress don't stand up for ourselves and the American people, we become complicit in the lawbreaking," Feingold said. "The resolution of censure is the appropriate response."
But Hatch said that passing a censure resolution would do more harm than good.
"Wartime is not a time to weaken the commander-in-chief," he said.
The title of Dean's 2004 book, "Worse Than Watergate: The Secret Presidency of George W. Bush," made his view of the administration clear even before the wiretapping program became public.
After The New York Times revealed the program in December, Dean wrote that "Bush may have outdone Nixon" and be worthy not just of censure but impeachment.
"Nixon's illegal surveillance was limited; Bush's, it is developing, may be extraordinarily broad in scope," Dean wrote in a column for FindLaw.com in December.
Dean served four months in prison for his role in Watergate, a political scandal that involved illegal wiretapping, burglary and abuse of power aimed at Nixon enemies. Administration officials were implicated in the ensuing cover-up.
Nixon resigned Aug. 9, 1974, less than two weeks after the House Judiciary Committee began approving three articles of impeachment against him, charging obstruction of justice as well as abuse of power and withholding evidence.
Dean was summoned to the hearing by Feingold, D-Wis., the author of a resolution to censure, or officially scold, Bush. The measure would condemn Bush's "unlawful authorization of wiretaps of Americans within the United States without obtaining the court orders required" by the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said punishing the president, rather than making sure the FISA law has provisions to check Bush's power, is counterproductive.
"Censure is destructive," Graham said. "Censure breaks us apart at a time when we need to be brought together."
The only president ever censured by the Senate was Andrew Jackson, in 1834, for removing the nation's money from a private bank in defiance of the Whig-controlled Senate.
The censure resolution has attracted only two co-sponsors, Democratic Sens. Tom Harkin of Iowa and Barbara Boxer of California. The Senate's other 41 Democrats have distanced themselves, many saying they want to first see the results of a Senate Intelligence Committee investigation of the matter.
Privately, Democrats in the House and Senate have said that embracing a censure resolution before the facts are known would damage their credibility this election year.
For his part, Feingold has accused those Democrats who have not embraced his proposal of cowering.
Nixon White House counselor John Dean, testifying in favor of a Democratic resolution to censure President Bush, asserted Friday that Bush's conduct in connection with domestic spying exceeds the wrongdoing that toppled his former boss from power.
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, fired back by telling Democrats: "Quit trying to score political points."
The Senate, Dean said, should censure or officially scold Bush as proposed by Sen. Russell Feingold's resolution. But if that action carries too much political baggage, some senatorial warning is in order, Dean said.
"The resolution should be amended, not defeated, because the president needs to be reminded that separation of powers does not mean an isolation of powers," Dean said in prepared remarks. "He needs to be told he cannot simply ignore a law with no consequences."
Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said Feingold's resolution has no merit.
"But it provides a forum for the discussion of issues which really ought to be considered in greater depth than they have been," Specter said at the session's open.
At issue is whether Bush's secretive domestic spying program violates the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
Bush has said the National Security Agency's secretive wiretapping program is aimed at finding terrorists before they strike on American soil by tapping the phones of people making calls overseas. He has launched a criminal investigation to find out who leaked the program's existence to the New York Times, saying it compromised national security.
Feingold told the panel that censure is not only an appropriate response, but Congress' duty.
"If we in the Congress don't stand up for ourselves and the American people, we become complicit in the lawbreaking," Feingold said. "The resolution of censure is the appropriate response."
But Hatch said that passing a censure resolution would do more harm than good.
"Wartime is not a time to weaken the commander-in-chief," he said.
The title of Dean's 2004 book, "Worse Than Watergate: The Secret Presidency of George W. Bush," made his view of the administration clear even before the wiretapping program became public.
After The New York Times revealed the program in December, Dean wrote that "Bush may have outdone Nixon" and be worthy not just of censure but impeachment.
"Nixon's illegal surveillance was limited; Bush's, it is developing, may be extraordinarily broad in scope," Dean wrote in a column for FindLaw.com in December.
Dean served four months in prison for his role in Watergate, a political scandal that involved illegal wiretapping, burglary and abuse of power aimed at Nixon enemies. Administration officials were implicated in the ensuing cover-up.
Nixon resigned Aug. 9, 1974, less than two weeks after the House Judiciary Committee began approving three articles of impeachment against him, charging obstruction of justice as well as abuse of power and withholding evidence.
Dean was summoned to the hearing by Feingold, D-Wis., the author of a resolution to censure, or officially scold, Bush. The measure would condemn Bush's "unlawful authorization of wiretaps of Americans within the United States without obtaining the court orders required" by the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said punishing the president, rather than making sure the FISA law has provisions to check Bush's power, is counterproductive.
"Censure is destructive," Graham said. "Censure breaks us apart at a time when we need to be brought together."
The only president ever censured by the Senate was Andrew Jackson, in 1834, for removing the nation's money from a private bank in defiance of the Whig-controlled Senate.
The censure resolution has attracted only two co-sponsors, Democratic Sens. Tom Harkin of Iowa and Barbara Boxer of California. The Senate's other 41 Democrats have distanced themselves, many saying they want to first see the results of a Senate Intelligence Committee investigation of the matter.
Privately, Democrats in the House and Senate have said that embracing a censure resolution before the facts are known would damage their credibility this election year.
For his part, Feingold has accused those Democrats who have not embraced his proposal of cowering.
Late Nite Jokes
Letterman's Top Ten
Top Ten Things Overheard During George W. Bush's Trip To Cancun
10. "Once you get a little buzz going, my poll numbers don't look so bad"
9. "Secret service! He's choking on a nacho"
8. "NAFTA? Don't they make auto parts?"
7. "I'll have a non-alcoholic pina colada...just kidding, juice me up, Pepe!"
6. "Holy crap, how'd they move these pyramids from Egypt?"
5. "When do I get to meet Zorro?"
4. "Cozumel? Isn't that the chick I made Secretary of State?"
3. "Couldn't we have stayed home and gone to Chi-Chi's?"
2. "As president of the United States, I pledge to do whatever's necessary to help the Cancunians!"
1. "Feels great to get away after three straight weeks of work"
Letterman's Top Ten
Top Ten Things Overheard During George W. Bush's Trip To Cancun
10. "Once you get a little buzz going, my poll numbers don't look so bad"
9. "Secret service! He's choking on a nacho"
8. "NAFTA? Don't they make auto parts?"
7. "I'll have a non-alcoholic pina colada...just kidding, juice me up, Pepe!"
6. "Holy crap, how'd they move these pyramids from Egypt?"
5. "When do I get to meet Zorro?"
4. "Cozumel? Isn't that the chick I made Secretary of State?"
3. "Couldn't we have stayed home and gone to Chi-Chi's?"
2. "As president of the United States, I pledge to do whatever's necessary to help the Cancunians!"
1. "Feels great to get away after three straight weeks of work"
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Rep. Cynthia McKinney Smacks Policeman
Rep. Cynthia McKinney and a police officer scuffled Wednesday after the Georgia Democrat entered a House office building unrecognized and refused to stop when asked, according to U.S. Capitol Police.
McKinney, a sixth-term congresswoman who represents suburban Atlanta, struck the officer according to one account, a police official said, adding there were conflicting accounts. The officer, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the incident, spoke only on condition of anonymity.
No charges were filed, police said.
McKinney issued a statement Wednesday night saying she regretted the confrontation.
"I know that Capitol Hill Police are securing our safety, and I appreciate the work that they do. I have demonstrated my support for them in the past and I continue to support them now," she said.
Capitol Police spokeswoman Sgt. Kimberly Schneider said only that senior officials have been made aware of the incident and are investigating.
Members of Congress do not have to walk through metal detectors as they enter buildings on the Capitol complex. They wear lapel pins identifying them as members.
McKinney routinely doesn't wear her pin and is recognized by many officers, the police official said, adding that she wasn't wearing it when she entered a House office building early Wednesday.
By one police account, she walked around a metal detector and an officer asked her several times to stop. When she did not, the officer tried to stop her, and she then struck the officer, according to that account.
In her statement, McKinney said most members of Congress expect Capitol police to recognize them. "I was urgently trying to get to an important meeting on time to fulfill my obligations to my constituents. Unfortunately, the police officer did not recognize me as a member of Congress and a confrontation ensued," she said. "I did not have on my congressional pin but showed the police officer my congressional ID."
McKinney was defeated in 2002 after she implied on a talk radio program that the Bush administration might have had advance notice of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. She won back the seat two years later with 64 percent of the vote.
Republicans circulated an e-mail noting that McKinney's party the same day announced an election-year "affirmation" of their commitment to shoring up the nation's security.
"On a day when the Democrats unveil their national security agenda, it's probably not a good idea to allegedly strike a police officer," said Ron Bonjean, spokesman for House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.
Hank Johnson, a DeKalb County, Ga., commissioner who is running against McKinney in this year's Democratic primary, said voters "must hold Ms. McKinney accountable for her continued pattern of irresponsible and reckless behavior.
"For years, it's the people of the Fourth District who have suffered and been shortchanged because of our representative's behavior in Congress," Johnson said. "It's why she is ineffective in Congress."
Rep. Cynthia McKinney and a police officer scuffled Wednesday after the Georgia Democrat entered a House office building unrecognized and refused to stop when asked, according to U.S. Capitol Police.
McKinney, a sixth-term congresswoman who represents suburban Atlanta, struck the officer according to one account, a police official said, adding there were conflicting accounts. The officer, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the incident, spoke only on condition of anonymity.
No charges were filed, police said.
McKinney issued a statement Wednesday night saying she regretted the confrontation.
"I know that Capitol Hill Police are securing our safety, and I appreciate the work that they do. I have demonstrated my support for them in the past and I continue to support them now," she said.
Capitol Police spokeswoman Sgt. Kimberly Schneider said only that senior officials have been made aware of the incident and are investigating.
Members of Congress do not have to walk through metal detectors as they enter buildings on the Capitol complex. They wear lapel pins identifying them as members.
McKinney routinely doesn't wear her pin and is recognized by many officers, the police official said, adding that she wasn't wearing it when she entered a House office building early Wednesday.
By one police account, she walked around a metal detector and an officer asked her several times to stop. When she did not, the officer tried to stop her, and she then struck the officer, according to that account.
In her statement, McKinney said most members of Congress expect Capitol police to recognize them. "I was urgently trying to get to an important meeting on time to fulfill my obligations to my constituents. Unfortunately, the police officer did not recognize me as a member of Congress and a confrontation ensued," she said. "I did not have on my congressional pin but showed the police officer my congressional ID."
McKinney was defeated in 2002 after she implied on a talk radio program that the Bush administration might have had advance notice of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. She won back the seat two years later with 64 percent of the vote.
Republicans circulated an e-mail noting that McKinney's party the same day announced an election-year "affirmation" of their commitment to shoring up the nation's security.
"On a day when the Democrats unveil their national security agenda, it's probably not a good idea to allegedly strike a police officer," said Ron Bonjean, spokesman for House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.
Hank Johnson, a DeKalb County, Ga., commissioner who is running against McKinney in this year's Democratic primary, said voters "must hold Ms. McKinney accountable for her continued pattern of irresponsible and reckless behavior.
"For years, it's the people of the Fourth District who have suffered and been shortchanged because of our representative's behavior in Congress," Johnson said. "It's why she is ineffective in Congress."
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
Gas prices continuing to go up, $3.10 a gallon today. In fact, you know those 500,000 people who were marching in downtown L.A. this past weekend? Turns out they weren't protesting, they were commuting! Just trying to get to work.
President Bush watched the protest on the news and he thought it was Cinco de Mayo.
Yesterday, President Bush gave a big speech about immigration reform. Is President Bush the best person to be talking about entering another country illegally?
The good news, congress is cracking down on illegal immigration. The bad news, a head of lettuce will not cost three hundred dollars.
President Bush is headed to Cancun, Mexico. Did you have the same thought I had? Uh oh. He's drinking again.
You’d have thought if any president would have gone to Cancun during spring break it would have been Bill Clinton.
Getting ready for Easter? In St. Paul, Minnesota, city hall removed a display of an Easter bunny, pastel eggs and a sign with the words "Happy Easter" because they might offend non-Christians. Good thing. You certainly don't want anything Christian tainting a city called St. Paul.
How come people want to take the God out of Easter but no one wants to take the Satan out of Halloween?
Letterman
How many people here are a secret love child of Randy Johnson’s?
A casino in Vegas now has a 510 dish buffet. 510 dishes! Another thing that will endear us to the starving third world.
There is so much food at the buffet that Elvis showed up!
There was a total eclipse of the sun today. President Bush said that the eclipse proves the unreliability of solar power.
President Bush is heading to Cancun, Mexico. He is looking for tequila of mass destruction.
Conan
President Bush is currently in Mexico. Today he visited the Mayan ruins. Apparently he is learning from mistakes because he promised that FEMA would help the Mayans rebuild.
Leno
Gas prices continuing to go up, $3.10 a gallon today. In fact, you know those 500,000 people who were marching in downtown L.A. this past weekend? Turns out they weren't protesting, they were commuting! Just trying to get to work.
President Bush watched the protest on the news and he thought it was Cinco de Mayo.
Yesterday, President Bush gave a big speech about immigration reform. Is President Bush the best person to be talking about entering another country illegally?
The good news, congress is cracking down on illegal immigration. The bad news, a head of lettuce will not cost three hundred dollars.
President Bush is headed to Cancun, Mexico. Did you have the same thought I had? Uh oh. He's drinking again.
You’d have thought if any president would have gone to Cancun during spring break it would have been Bill Clinton.
Getting ready for Easter? In St. Paul, Minnesota, city hall removed a display of an Easter bunny, pastel eggs and a sign with the words "Happy Easter" because they might offend non-Christians. Good thing. You certainly don't want anything Christian tainting a city called St. Paul.
How come people want to take the God out of Easter but no one wants to take the Satan out of Halloween?
Letterman
How many people here are a secret love child of Randy Johnson’s?
A casino in Vegas now has a 510 dish buffet. 510 dishes! Another thing that will endear us to the starving third world.
There is so much food at the buffet that Elvis showed up!
There was a total eclipse of the sun today. President Bush said that the eclipse proves the unreliability of solar power.
President Bush is heading to Cancun, Mexico. He is looking for tequila of mass destruction.
Conan
President Bush is currently in Mexico. Today he visited the Mayan ruins. Apparently he is learning from mistakes because he promised that FEMA would help the Mayans rebuild.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Democrats Vow to 'Eliminate' Osama bin Laden
Congressional Democrats promise to "eliminate" Osama bin Laden and ensure a "responsible redeployment of U.S. forces" from Iraq in 2006 in an election-year national security policy statement.
In the position paper to be announced Wednesday, Democrats say they will double the number of special forces and add more spies, which they suggest will increase the chances of finding al-Qaida's elusive leader. They do not set a deadline for when all of the 132,000 American troops now in Iraq should be withdrawn.
"We're uniting behind a national security agenda that is tough and smart and will provide the real security George Bush has promised but failed to deliver," Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said in remarks prepared for delivery Wednesday.
His counterpart in the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the Democrats are offering a new direction - "one that is strong and smart, which understands the challenges America faces in a post 9/11 world, and one that demonstrates that Democrats are the party of real national security."
The latest in a series of party policy statements for 2006, the Democrats' national security platform comes seven months before voters decide who will control the House and Senate and as Democrats seek to cut into the public perception that the Republicans are stronger on national security.
Bush's job approval ratings are in the mid- to high-30s, and Democrats consistently have about a 10-point lead over Republicans when people are asked who they want to see in control of Congress.
With the public skeptical of the Iraq war and Republicans and Democrats alike questioning Bush's war policies, Democrats aim to force Republicans to distance themselves from Bush on Iraq and national security or rubber-stamp what Democrats contend is a failed policy.
"The Democrats are going to take back the security issue," said Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
Republicans have vowed not to let that happen. They characterized the Democrats' platform as tough election-year talk that isn't backed up by the party's record.
"This is more of the same from the party that opposes this president's effort to keep our country safe," said Tracey Schmitt, a Republican National Committee spokeswoman. "The bottom line is while this president campaigns against the terrorists, Democrats remain focused on campaigning against this president."
Overall, the Democratic position paper attempts to make the case that the Bush administration's "inadequate planning and incompetent policies have failed to make Americas as safe as we should be."
It covers party policy positions on homeland security, the war on terror, the military, Iraq and energy security, but it contains many of the same proposals Democrats have offered over the past year.
The platform also lacks specific details of how Democrats plan to capture bin Laden, the al-Qaida mastermind who has evaded U.S. forces in the more than four years since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
For months, House and Senate Democrats have tried to craft a comprehensive position on national security, but they have splintered, primarily over Iraq.
Republicans have sought to use that division to their own political advantage, claiming that Democrats simply attack the president and his fellow Republicans without presenting proposals of their own.
Congressional Democrats promise to "eliminate" Osama bin Laden and ensure a "responsible redeployment of U.S. forces" from Iraq in 2006 in an election-year national security policy statement.
In the position paper to be announced Wednesday, Democrats say they will double the number of special forces and add more spies, which they suggest will increase the chances of finding al-Qaida's elusive leader. They do not set a deadline for when all of the 132,000 American troops now in Iraq should be withdrawn.
"We're uniting behind a national security agenda that is tough and smart and will provide the real security George Bush has promised but failed to deliver," Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said in remarks prepared for delivery Wednesday.
His counterpart in the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the Democrats are offering a new direction - "one that is strong and smart, which understands the challenges America faces in a post 9/11 world, and one that demonstrates that Democrats are the party of real national security."
The latest in a series of party policy statements for 2006, the Democrats' national security platform comes seven months before voters decide who will control the House and Senate and as Democrats seek to cut into the public perception that the Republicans are stronger on national security.
Bush's job approval ratings are in the mid- to high-30s, and Democrats consistently have about a 10-point lead over Republicans when people are asked who they want to see in control of Congress.
With the public skeptical of the Iraq war and Republicans and Democrats alike questioning Bush's war policies, Democrats aim to force Republicans to distance themselves from Bush on Iraq and national security or rubber-stamp what Democrats contend is a failed policy.
"The Democrats are going to take back the security issue," said Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
Republicans have vowed not to let that happen. They characterized the Democrats' platform as tough election-year talk that isn't backed up by the party's record.
"This is more of the same from the party that opposes this president's effort to keep our country safe," said Tracey Schmitt, a Republican National Committee spokeswoman. "The bottom line is while this president campaigns against the terrorists, Democrats remain focused on campaigning against this president."
Overall, the Democratic position paper attempts to make the case that the Bush administration's "inadequate planning and incompetent policies have failed to make Americas as safe as we should be."
It covers party policy positions on homeland security, the war on terror, the military, Iraq and energy security, but it contains many of the same proposals Democrats have offered over the past year.
The platform also lacks specific details of how Democrats plan to capture bin Laden, the al-Qaida mastermind who has evaded U.S. forces in the more than four years since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
For months, House and Senate Democrats have tried to craft a comprehensive position on national security, but they have splintered, primarily over Iraq.
Republicans have sought to use that division to their own political advantage, claiming that Democrats simply attack the president and his fellow Republicans without presenting proposals of their own.
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
Welcome to the "Tonight Show”. It's refreshing to see a crowd gathered in L.A. that's not an immigration protest.
This past weekend there were half a million illegal immigrants on the streets of Los Angeles. And that was before the protest march. That was Friday.
Over a half a million people gathered. It looked like career day over at Wal-Mart.
The cover story of this week's "Time” magazine is about global warming. It's pretty frightening story. They say if current warming trends continue, by the year 2015, Hillary Clinton may actually thaw out.
In women's NCAA semifinal games, the Connecticut Lady Huskies beat the Georgia Lady Bulldogs 77-75. Lady Huskies and Lady Bulldogs - it sounds like clothes sizes at Lane Bryant.
Letterman
Sunday Major League Baseball is back! Barry Bonds says that his life is in shambles. Which is interesting because right on the side of the bottle of steroids there’s a warning that says, "May cause shambles.”
Are you watching the Senate debate on immigration? Every time "undocumented worker” is said Ted Kennedy takes a shot of tequila.
June 1st is the start of the hurricane season. The National Weather Service says it will be another busy season. President Bush is already busy stockpiling excuses.
Andrew Card has resigned. Finally someone in the Bush administration with an exit strategy.
President Bush actually gave Card two choices. One, resign. Two, go hunting with Dick Cheney.
Conan
Today President Bush personally swore in 30 immigrants becoming American citizens. There was one awkward moment when President Bush said, "You may kiss the bride.”
Leno
Welcome to the "Tonight Show”. It's refreshing to see a crowd gathered in L.A. that's not an immigration protest.
This past weekend there were half a million illegal immigrants on the streets of Los Angeles. And that was before the protest march. That was Friday.
Over a half a million people gathered. It looked like career day over at Wal-Mart.
The cover story of this week's "Time” magazine is about global warming. It's pretty frightening story. They say if current warming trends continue, by the year 2015, Hillary Clinton may actually thaw out.
In women's NCAA semifinal games, the Connecticut Lady Huskies beat the Georgia Lady Bulldogs 77-75. Lady Huskies and Lady Bulldogs - it sounds like clothes sizes at Lane Bryant.
Letterman
Sunday Major League Baseball is back! Barry Bonds says that his life is in shambles. Which is interesting because right on the side of the bottle of steroids there’s a warning that says, "May cause shambles.”
Are you watching the Senate debate on immigration? Every time "undocumented worker” is said Ted Kennedy takes a shot of tequila.
June 1st is the start of the hurricane season. The National Weather Service says it will be another busy season. President Bush is already busy stockpiling excuses.
Andrew Card has resigned. Finally someone in the Bush administration with an exit strategy.
President Bush actually gave Card two choices. One, resign. Two, go hunting with Dick Cheney.
Conan
Today President Bush personally swore in 30 immigrants becoming American citizens. There was one awkward moment when President Bush said, "You may kiss the bride.”
Monday, March 27, 2006
'Demanding' Kerry Won't Do Ketchup
John Kerry’s list of travel demands makes Dick Cheney "look like a travelin’ rube,” according to the Smoking Gun, an online site that has obtained both the vice president’s and Senator Kerry’s lists of demands.
Kerry’s demand list was compiled during the 2004 presidential campaign and circulated by the would-be president’s advance team to prepare hotels for a Kerry visit.
The documents reveal that Kerry "hates celery,” and instructs, "NEVER order Tomato based products OR sandwiches [sic].” Thus, ketchup, the condiment that made Mrs. Heinz Kerry’s previous husband enormously wealthy, is out of the question.
Kerry does like fruits – especially bananas, apples, oranges and grapes.
If he’s going to have bottled water, and hotels are instructed that "bottled water must be everyplace that JK is,” he prefers Poland Spring. "No Evian,” hotels are instructed.
And don’t dare give him a "regular old stationery bike." "JK,” as the documents refer to him, "would prefer a recumbent bike these days.”
As for his hotel room, accommodators are told, "The phone and the ability to order movies in-suite should always be turned on and ready to go for JK’s arrival.”
"I know this may seem trivial,” the primer continues, "but these things make JK very happy.”
John Kerry’s list of travel demands makes Dick Cheney "look like a travelin’ rube,” according to the Smoking Gun, an online site that has obtained both the vice president’s and Senator Kerry’s lists of demands.
Kerry’s demand list was compiled during the 2004 presidential campaign and circulated by the would-be president’s advance team to prepare hotels for a Kerry visit.
The documents reveal that Kerry "hates celery,” and instructs, "NEVER order Tomato based products OR sandwiches [sic].” Thus, ketchup, the condiment that made Mrs. Heinz Kerry’s previous husband enormously wealthy, is out of the question.
Kerry does like fruits – especially bananas, apples, oranges and grapes.
If he’s going to have bottled water, and hotels are instructed that "bottled water must be everyplace that JK is,” he prefers Poland Spring. "No Evian,” hotels are instructed.
And don’t dare give him a "regular old stationery bike." "JK,” as the documents refer to him, "would prefer a recumbent bike these days.”
As for his hotel room, accommodators are told, "The phone and the ability to order movies in-suite should always be turned on and ready to go for JK’s arrival.”
"I know this may seem trivial,” the primer continues, "but these things make JK very happy.”
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
We are now down to the Final Four. Not college basketball, the number of people who still think President Bush is doing a good job.
Dick Cheney is so desperate to get his 18% approval rating up that He is now thinking of shooting an IRS agent.
A leak in the Alaskan Pipeline last week spilled 265,000 gallons of crude oil into the artic tundra. British petroleum, the company that runs The oil operation, said that the spill was too small to be detected by their maintenance equipment. But just large enough to rise the price of gas fifteen cents a gallon this week.
Wal-Mart is now hiring 150,000 people to work in their stores in China. Illegal immigrants thought the Rio Grande was tough to swim across. Wait until they try the Pacific Ocean.
Scientists believe they may have located the actual Noah’s Ark from the Bible in Eastern Turkey. Of course, Noah was the biblical figure said to have built the giant vessel to try and save people and animals from a great flood - or as FEMA would call him, "A showoff."
Leno
We are now down to the Final Four. Not college basketball, the number of people who still think President Bush is doing a good job.
Dick Cheney is so desperate to get his 18% approval rating up that He is now thinking of shooting an IRS agent.
A leak in the Alaskan Pipeline last week spilled 265,000 gallons of crude oil into the artic tundra. British petroleum, the company that runs The oil operation, said that the spill was too small to be detected by their maintenance equipment. But just large enough to rise the price of gas fifteen cents a gallon this week.
Wal-Mart is now hiring 150,000 people to work in their stores in China. Illegal immigrants thought the Rio Grande was tough to swim across. Wait until they try the Pacific Ocean.
Scientists believe they may have located the actual Noah’s Ark from the Bible in Eastern Turkey. Of course, Noah was the biblical figure said to have built the giant vessel to try and save people and animals from a great flood - or as FEMA would call him, "A showoff."
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Seized Iraqi Documents Made Public on Web
The federal government is making public a huge trove of documents seized during the invasion of Iraq, posting them on the Internet in a step that is at once a nod to the Web's power and an admission that U.S. intelligence resources are overloaded.
Republican leaders in Congress pushed for the release, which was first proposed by conservative commentators and bloggers hoping to find evidence about the fate of Iraq's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs, or possible links to terror groups.
Web surfers have begun posting translations and comments, digging through the documents with gusto. The idea of the government turning over a massive database to volunteers is revolutionary - and not only to them.
"Let's unleash the power of the Internet on these documents," said House Intelligence Chairman Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich. "I don't know if there's a smoking gun on WMD or not. But it will give us a better understanding of what was going on in Iraq before the war."
The documents' value is uncertain - intelligence officials say that they are giving each one a quick review to remove anything sensitive. Skeptics of the war, suspicious of the Bush administration, believe that means the postings are either useless or cherry-picked to bolster arguments for the war.
The documents - Iraqi memos, training guides, reports, transcripts of conversations, audiotapes and videotapes - have spurred a flurry of news reports. The Associated Press, for instance, reported on memos from Saddam Hussein in 1987 ordering plans for a chemical attack on Kurds and comments from Hussein and his aides in the 1990s, searching for ways to prove they didn't have weapons.
Hoekstra said it took months of arguing with intelligence officials before he and John Negroponte, the new Director of National Intelligence, agreed to make the documents public. None contain current information about the Iraqi insurgency, and U.S. intelligence officials say they are focusing their limited resources on learning about what's happening on the ground now.
There are up to 55,000 boxes, with possibly millions of pages. The documents are being posted a few at a time - so far, about 600 - on a Pentagon Web site, often in Arabic with an English summary.
Regardless of what they reveal, open-government advocates like the decision to make them available.
It's a "radical notion," said Steve Aftergood at the Federation of American Scientists government secrecy project, which tracks work by U.S. intelligence agencies. That "members of the public could contribute to the intelligence analysis process. ... That is a bold innovation."
Champions of the Internet as a "citizen's media" embraced the step, too.
"The secret of the 21st century is attract a lot of smart people to focus on problems that you think are important," said Glenn Reynolds, the conservative blogger at Instapundit.com and author of "An Army of Davids: How Markets and Technology Empower Ordinary People to Beat Big Media, Big Government and Other Goliaths."
"It's kind of like a swarm. It's a lot of individual minds looking at it from different angles. The stuff that's most interesting tends to bubble to the top," he said.
A self-described Iraqi blogger translated one of the documents for the American blog pajamasmedia.com - a Sept. 15, 2001, memo from the Iraqi intelligence service that reported about an Afghan source who had been told that a group from Osama bin Laden and the Taliban had visited Iraq.
Some remain doubtful, suspecting that the administration only releases information that puts President Bush and his arguments for war in a good light. The Iraq Survey Group found no stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction after the war, and the Sept. 11 commission reported it found no "collaborative relationship" between Iraq and al-Qaida.
"I would bet that the materials that they chose to post were the ones that were suggestive of a threat," said John Prados, author of the book, "Hoodwinked: The Documents That Reveal How Bush Sold Us a War."
Prados, an analyst with the National Security Archive, a non-governmental research institute, dismissed the documents: "The collection is good material for somebody who wants to do a biography of Saddam Hussein, but in terms of saying one thing or the other about weapons of mass destruction, it's not there."
One of several conservative blogs devoting attention to the release, Powerline.com, set up a separate page to catalog its findings and news reports on what the documents reveal.
"These documents are going to shed a lot of light on a regime that was quite successful in maintaining secrecy," said John Hinderaker, one of three men who run the site. "Before the first Gulf War, Saddam was perilously close to getting nuclear weapons and people didn't know it. The evils of the regime will be reflected."
But he also cautioned the optimistic. "When you're dealing with millions of pages of documents," he said, "it's a big mistake to think you can pull out one page or sentence out of a document and say 'Eureka, this is it.'"
The federal government is making public a huge trove of documents seized during the invasion of Iraq, posting them on the Internet in a step that is at once a nod to the Web's power and an admission that U.S. intelligence resources are overloaded.
Republican leaders in Congress pushed for the release, which was first proposed by conservative commentators and bloggers hoping to find evidence about the fate of Iraq's nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programs, or possible links to terror groups.
Web surfers have begun posting translations and comments, digging through the documents with gusto. The idea of the government turning over a massive database to volunteers is revolutionary - and not only to them.
"Let's unleash the power of the Internet on these documents," said House Intelligence Chairman Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich. "I don't know if there's a smoking gun on WMD or not. But it will give us a better understanding of what was going on in Iraq before the war."
The documents' value is uncertain - intelligence officials say that they are giving each one a quick review to remove anything sensitive. Skeptics of the war, suspicious of the Bush administration, believe that means the postings are either useless or cherry-picked to bolster arguments for the war.
The documents - Iraqi memos, training guides, reports, transcripts of conversations, audiotapes and videotapes - have spurred a flurry of news reports. The Associated Press, for instance, reported on memos from Saddam Hussein in 1987 ordering plans for a chemical attack on Kurds and comments from Hussein and his aides in the 1990s, searching for ways to prove they didn't have weapons.
Hoekstra said it took months of arguing with intelligence officials before he and John Negroponte, the new Director of National Intelligence, agreed to make the documents public. None contain current information about the Iraqi insurgency, and U.S. intelligence officials say they are focusing their limited resources on learning about what's happening on the ground now.
There are up to 55,000 boxes, with possibly millions of pages. The documents are being posted a few at a time - so far, about 600 - on a Pentagon Web site, often in Arabic with an English summary.
Regardless of what they reveal, open-government advocates like the decision to make them available.
It's a "radical notion," said Steve Aftergood at the Federation of American Scientists government secrecy project, which tracks work by U.S. intelligence agencies. That "members of the public could contribute to the intelligence analysis process. ... That is a bold innovation."
Champions of the Internet as a "citizen's media" embraced the step, too.
"The secret of the 21st century is attract a lot of smart people to focus on problems that you think are important," said Glenn Reynolds, the conservative blogger at Instapundit.com and author of "An Army of Davids: How Markets and Technology Empower Ordinary People to Beat Big Media, Big Government and Other Goliaths."
"It's kind of like a swarm. It's a lot of individual minds looking at it from different angles. The stuff that's most interesting tends to bubble to the top," he said.
A self-described Iraqi blogger translated one of the documents for the American blog pajamasmedia.com - a Sept. 15, 2001, memo from the Iraqi intelligence service that reported about an Afghan source who had been told that a group from Osama bin Laden and the Taliban had visited Iraq.
Some remain doubtful, suspecting that the administration only releases information that puts President Bush and his arguments for war in a good light. The Iraq Survey Group found no stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction after the war, and the Sept. 11 commission reported it found no "collaborative relationship" between Iraq and al-Qaida.
"I would bet that the materials that they chose to post were the ones that were suggestive of a threat," said John Prados, author of the book, "Hoodwinked: The Documents That Reveal How Bush Sold Us a War."
Prados, an analyst with the National Security Archive, a non-governmental research institute, dismissed the documents: "The collection is good material for somebody who wants to do a biography of Saddam Hussein, but in terms of saying one thing or the other about weapons of mass destruction, it's not there."
One of several conservative blogs devoting attention to the release, Powerline.com, set up a separate page to catalog its findings and news reports on what the documents reveal.
"These documents are going to shed a lot of light on a regime that was quite successful in maintaining secrecy," said John Hinderaker, one of three men who run the site. "Before the first Gulf War, Saddam was perilously close to getting nuclear weapons and people didn't know it. The evils of the regime will be reflected."
But he also cautioned the optimistic. "When you're dealing with millions of pages of documents," he said, "it's a big mistake to think you can pull out one page or sentence out of a document and say 'Eureka, this is it.'"
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Figures on Incarcerated Illegals
One of the more popular claims by illegal immigration proponents is that those who enter the U.S. by breaking the law are invariably "hard-working" and "law-abiding" once they get here.
That argument, however, has one major flaw. According to Justice Department statistics and the analysis of immigration experts, the "law-abiding" claim often isn't true.
As Investors Business Daily reported in March 2005:
"The U.S. Justice Department estimated that 270,000 illegal immigrants served jail time nationally in 2003. Of those, 108,000 were in California. Some estimates show illegals now make up half of California's prison population, creating a massive criminal subculture that strains state budgets and creates a nightmare for local police forces."
Citing an Urban Institute study, director of research for the Center for Immigration Studies Steven Camorata noted in 2004: "Roughly 17 percent of the prison population at the federal level are illegal aliens. That's a huge number since illegal aliens only account for about 3 percent of the total population."
Former California Gov. Pete Wilson places the percentage of illegal aliens in U.S. prisons even higher. In 2001, he told Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly:
"We had problems related to the costs of educating children who were acknowledged to be in the country illegally, healthcare costs. One in five in our prison population were illegal immigrants who had been convicted of a felony after entering the country illegally."
The Federation for American Immigration Reform also turned to the Justice Department to get statistics on criminal aliens. They report:
"In March 2000, Congress made public Department of Justice statistics showing that, over the previous five years, the INS had released over 35,000 criminal aliens instead of deporting them. Over 11,000 of those released went on to commit serious crimes, over 1,800 of which were violent ones [including 98 homicides, 142 sexual assaults, and 44 kidnappings].
In 2001, thanks to a decision by the Supreme Court, the INS was forced to release into our society over 3,000 criminal aliens [who collectively had been convicted of 125 homicides, 387 sex offenses, and 772 assault charges]."
Up to a third of the U.S. federal prison population is composed of non-citizens, according to Federal Bureau of Prisons statistics - but not all non-citizen prison inmates are illegal aliens.
As to the "hard-working" claim, CIS notes: "The proportion of immigrant-headed households using at least one major welfare program is 24.5 percent compared to 16.3 percent for native households."
Investor's Business Daily concurs: "Once [illegals] get here, they are 50 percent more likely to be on welfare than citizens."
One of the more popular claims by illegal immigration proponents is that those who enter the U.S. by breaking the law are invariably "hard-working" and "law-abiding" once they get here.
That argument, however, has one major flaw. According to Justice Department statistics and the analysis of immigration experts, the "law-abiding" claim often isn't true.
As Investors Business Daily reported in March 2005:
"The U.S. Justice Department estimated that 270,000 illegal immigrants served jail time nationally in 2003. Of those, 108,000 were in California. Some estimates show illegals now make up half of California's prison population, creating a massive criminal subculture that strains state budgets and creates a nightmare for local police forces."
Citing an Urban Institute study, director of research for the Center for Immigration Studies Steven Camorata noted in 2004: "Roughly 17 percent of the prison population at the federal level are illegal aliens. That's a huge number since illegal aliens only account for about 3 percent of the total population."
Former California Gov. Pete Wilson places the percentage of illegal aliens in U.S. prisons even higher. In 2001, he told Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly:
"We had problems related to the costs of educating children who were acknowledged to be in the country illegally, healthcare costs. One in five in our prison population were illegal immigrants who had been convicted of a felony after entering the country illegally."
The Federation for American Immigration Reform also turned to the Justice Department to get statistics on criminal aliens. They report:
"In March 2000, Congress made public Department of Justice statistics showing that, over the previous five years, the INS had released over 35,000 criminal aliens instead of deporting them. Over 11,000 of those released went on to commit serious crimes, over 1,800 of which were violent ones [including 98 homicides, 142 sexual assaults, and 44 kidnappings].
In 2001, thanks to a decision by the Supreme Court, the INS was forced to release into our society over 3,000 criminal aliens [who collectively had been convicted of 125 homicides, 387 sex offenses, and 772 assault charges]."
Up to a third of the U.S. federal prison population is composed of non-citizens, according to Federal Bureau of Prisons statistics - but not all non-citizen prison inmates are illegal aliens.
As to the "hard-working" claim, CIS notes: "The proportion of immigrant-headed households using at least one major welfare program is 24.5 percent compared to 16.3 percent for native households."
Investor's Business Daily concurs: "Once [illegals] get here, they are 50 percent more likely to be on welfare than citizens."
Friday, March 24, 2006
Saddam-Bin Laden Pact
U.S. forces in Saudi Arabia were attacked by al Qaeda twice in the months following Saddam Hussein's decision to approve Osama bin Laden's request for help in attacking "foreign forces" in Saudi Arabia.
An Iraqi intelligence document released last week states that bin Laden met in Sudan with senior Iraqi intelligence agents on Feb. 19, 1995, where he requested help in conducting "joint operations against foreign forces" in Saudi Arabia.
Saddam "was informed of the details of the meeting in our letter 370 on March 4, 1995," the Iraqi intelligence memo explains.
The document goes on to state:
The approval was received from the Leader, Mr. President, may God keep him . . . . We were left to develop the relationship and the cooperation between the two sides to see what other doors of cooperation and agreement open up."
Reporting on the bombshell document on Wednesday, ABC News noted:
"Given that the document claims bin Laden was proposing to the Iraqis that they conduct 'joint operations against foreign forces' in Saudi Arabia, it is interesting to note that eight months after the meeting — on November 13, 1995 — terrorists attacked Saudi National Guard Headquarters in Riyadh, killing 5 U.S. military advisors. The militants later confessed on Saudi TV to having been trained by Osama bin Laden."
Unnoted by ABC: Eight months after the Riyadh attack, 19 U.S. servicemen were killed when a large truck bomb blew up the Khobar Towers military barracks in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
In August 1996 - two months after the Khobar attack and a year-and-a-half after he entered into his "joint operations" agreement with Saddam - bin Laden issued a Declaration of Jihad outlining his organization's goals.
Topping his agenda, according to PBS: "Drive US forces from the Arabian Peninsula, overthrow the Government of Saudi Arabia, liberate Muslim holy sites, and support Islamic revolutionary groups around the world."
Bin Laden also declared that Saudis have the right to strike at U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf.
U.S. forces in Saudi Arabia were attacked by al Qaeda twice in the months following Saddam Hussein's decision to approve Osama bin Laden's request for help in attacking "foreign forces" in Saudi Arabia.
An Iraqi intelligence document released last week states that bin Laden met in Sudan with senior Iraqi intelligence agents on Feb. 19, 1995, where he requested help in conducting "joint operations against foreign forces" in Saudi Arabia.
Saddam "was informed of the details of the meeting in our letter 370 on March 4, 1995," the Iraqi intelligence memo explains.
The document goes on to state:
The approval was received from the Leader, Mr. President, may God keep him . . . . We were left to develop the relationship and the cooperation between the two sides to see what other doors of cooperation and agreement open up."
Reporting on the bombshell document on Wednesday, ABC News noted:
"Given that the document claims bin Laden was proposing to the Iraqis that they conduct 'joint operations against foreign forces' in Saudi Arabia, it is interesting to note that eight months after the meeting — on November 13, 1995 — terrorists attacked Saudi National Guard Headquarters in Riyadh, killing 5 U.S. military advisors. The militants later confessed on Saudi TV to having been trained by Osama bin Laden."
Unnoted by ABC: Eight months after the Riyadh attack, 19 U.S. servicemen were killed when a large truck bomb blew up the Khobar Towers military barracks in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
In August 1996 - two months after the Khobar attack and a year-and-a-half after he entered into his "joint operations" agreement with Saddam - bin Laden issued a Declaration of Jihad outlining his organization's goals.
Topping his agenda, according to PBS: "Drive US forces from the Arabian Peninsula, overthrow the Government of Saudi Arabia, liberate Muslim holy sites, and support Islamic revolutionary groups around the world."
Bin Laden also declared that Saudis have the right to strike at U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf.
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Hillary Clinton: GOP Immigration Bill Would 'Criminalize Jesus'
2008 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is blasting a GOP-backed immigration bill, claiming bizarrely that the legislation would "literally criminalize . . . . probably even Jesus himself."
Clinton invoked the biblical theme on Wednesday while restating her opposition to a bill sponsored by Rep. James Sensenbrenner that would make illegally entering the U.S. a felony.
Surrounded by what the Associated Press described as "a multicultural coalition of New York immigration advocates," the former first lady ripped the GOP bill as "mean-spirited" - insisting that it flew in the face of Republicans' stated support for faith and values.
"It is certainly not in keeping with my understanding of the Scriptures," she declared, before adding: "This bill would literally criminalize the Good Samaritan and probably even Jesus himself."
After being passed by the House, the Senate is set to take up Sensenbrenner's bill, H.R. 4437.
The legislation would instruct law enforcement to seek out illegal aliens and cut federal funding for cities, such as San Francisco, that have sanctuary laws.
Other provisions include the creation of a border fence, the elimination of the diversity visa lottery system and the indefinite detention of some immigrants.
In 2003 Mrs. Clinton blurted out during a radio interview that she was "adamantly opposed to illegal immigrants." But her actions never lived up to the tough talk.
Two weeks ago Clinton announced her support for a defacto amnesty program that she said would grant illegal aliens "a path to earned citizenship for those who are here, working hard, paying taxes [and] respecting the law."
2008 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is blasting a GOP-backed immigration bill, claiming bizarrely that the legislation would "literally criminalize . . . . probably even Jesus himself."
Clinton invoked the biblical theme on Wednesday while restating her opposition to a bill sponsored by Rep. James Sensenbrenner that would make illegally entering the U.S. a felony.
Surrounded by what the Associated Press described as "a multicultural coalition of New York immigration advocates," the former first lady ripped the GOP bill as "mean-spirited" - insisting that it flew in the face of Republicans' stated support for faith and values.
"It is certainly not in keeping with my understanding of the Scriptures," she declared, before adding: "This bill would literally criminalize the Good Samaritan and probably even Jesus himself."
After being passed by the House, the Senate is set to take up Sensenbrenner's bill, H.R. 4437.
The legislation would instruct law enforcement to seek out illegal aliens and cut federal funding for cities, such as San Francisco, that have sanctuary laws.
Other provisions include the creation of a border fence, the elimination of the diversity visa lottery system and the indefinite detention of some immigrants.
In 2003 Mrs. Clinton blurted out during a radio interview that she was "adamantly opposed to illegal immigrants." But her actions never lived up to the tough talk.
Two weeks ago Clinton announced her support for a defacto amnesty program that she said would grant illegal aliens "a path to earned citizenship for those who are here, working hard, paying taxes [and] respecting the law."
Late Nite Jokes
Letterman
Did you fill out one of those March Madness office pool sheers? Mine isn’t going to well. I somehow ended up with the Knicks.
We have a new Secretary of the Interior, his name is Dirk Kempthorne. Dirk Kempthorne. Don’t laugh but wasn’t he one of the gay cowboys?
He’s pro industry and pro oil. Today he opened Mount Rushmore for oil drilling in Lincoln’s nose.
Get this – three out of five Americans believe President Bush should be impeached. When he heard that he said, "Cool, I love peaches!”
Another poll has found that three out of five Americans believe in hell. You know it as Jet Blue.
Letterman
Did you fill out one of those March Madness office pool sheers? Mine isn’t going to well. I somehow ended up with the Knicks.
We have a new Secretary of the Interior, his name is Dirk Kempthorne. Dirk Kempthorne. Don’t laugh but wasn’t he one of the gay cowboys?
He’s pro industry and pro oil. Today he opened Mount Rushmore for oil drilling in Lincoln’s nose.
Get this – three out of five Americans believe President Bush should be impeached. When he heard that he said, "Cool, I love peaches!”
Another poll has found that three out of five Americans believe in hell. You know it as Jet Blue.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Bill Clinton: Hillary's the Boss
Ex-president Bill Clinton has agreed that when it comes to speaking out on controversial issues, his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton, will have the last word from here on out.
Mr. Clinton has promised to clear all future pronouncements with his wife after he embarrassed her by lobbying for the Dubai Ports World deal, which she publicly opposed.
"He knows it's Hillary's time now," an adviser close to both Clintons told the New York Daily News, which said Mrs. Clinton invoked her veto power out of fear that her husband's wayward comments might hurt her 2008 presidential bid.
"Hillary has final say," said the adviser, explaining that even Bill's staff has been warned not to comment on anything without first clearing it with Hillary's office.
"That was true in the White House during [Hillary's 2000] Senate campaign," another longtime aide told the News. "If he said the sky was blue and she said the sky was purple, then the sky was purple."
Mr. Clinton was clearly in the doghouse last week, when he tried to claim that he and his wife were in complete agreement over the ports controversy.
"I supported Hillary's position, and the news reports to the contrary were wrong," he insisted during an interview with NY1. But he didn't deny a report that he tried to recruit his former spokesman Joe Lockhart to help the deal sail through.
The Dubai ports episode isn't the first time Bill's comments caused trouble for his wife. Last September, while addressing a group of Arab students in Dubai, Mr. Clinton called the Iraq war a mistake.
Then, in a separate interview with the Ladies Home Journal, he said he thought the U.S. would lose.
"The odds are not great of our prevailing there," he predicted, calling the war his wife voted for "a quagmire."
Hillary spokeswoman Ann Lewis confirmed that the senator is now in the driver's seat, telling the News: "She is the elected official. She makes the ultimate decisions."
Mr. Clinton's spokesman Jay Carson tried to put the best face possible on his boss's new second banana status, explaining: "Anyone who says he is doing everything he can to help her get re-elected is absolutely right."
Ex-president Bill Clinton has agreed that when it comes to speaking out on controversial issues, his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton, will have the last word from here on out.
Mr. Clinton has promised to clear all future pronouncements with his wife after he embarrassed her by lobbying for the Dubai Ports World deal, which she publicly opposed.
"He knows it's Hillary's time now," an adviser close to both Clintons told the New York Daily News, which said Mrs. Clinton invoked her veto power out of fear that her husband's wayward comments might hurt her 2008 presidential bid.
"Hillary has final say," said the adviser, explaining that even Bill's staff has been warned not to comment on anything without first clearing it with Hillary's office.
"That was true in the White House during [Hillary's 2000] Senate campaign," another longtime aide told the News. "If he said the sky was blue and she said the sky was purple, then the sky was purple."
Mr. Clinton was clearly in the doghouse last week, when he tried to claim that he and his wife were in complete agreement over the ports controversy.
"I supported Hillary's position, and the news reports to the contrary were wrong," he insisted during an interview with NY1. But he didn't deny a report that he tried to recruit his former spokesman Joe Lockhart to help the deal sail through.
The Dubai ports episode isn't the first time Bill's comments caused trouble for his wife. Last September, while addressing a group of Arab students in Dubai, Mr. Clinton called the Iraq war a mistake.
Then, in a separate interview with the Ladies Home Journal, he said he thought the U.S. would lose.
"The odds are not great of our prevailing there," he predicted, calling the war his wife voted for "a quagmire."
Hillary spokeswoman Ann Lewis confirmed that the senator is now in the driver's seat, telling the News: "She is the elected official. She makes the ultimate decisions."
Mr. Clinton's spokesman Jay Carson tried to put the best face possible on his boss's new second banana status, explaining: "Anyone who says he is doing everything he can to help her get re-elected is absolutely right."
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
'No President Wants War'
"We're making progress [in Iraq], and that's important for the American people to understand," President Bush told a news conference on Tuesday.
Bush said he called the press conference to tell the American people what's on his mind - and "what's on my mind is winning the war on terror."
But one reporter suggested that the president has been lying all along about his "real reason" for going to war.
"Why did you really want to go to war, from the moment you stepped into the White House... what was your real reason?" longtime Washington reporter Helen Thomas asked the president at the news conference.
"To assume I wanted war is just flat wrong, Helen," Bush responded. "No president wants war."
"My attitude about this country changed on Sept. 11," Bush said. After the terror attacks on U.S. soil, Bush said he vowed to use "every asset at my disposal to protect the American people."
Helen Thomas repeatedly interrupted the president as he tried to explain that the Taliban plotted with al Qaeda, and that's why he sent troops to Afghanistan; and that he tried to solve the Iraq problem diplomatically before going to war in that country.
President Bush said Americans must understand that Iraq is part of a wider global war on terror: "If I didn't believe we had a plan for victory, I wouldn't leave our troops in harm's way."
"We're making progress [in Iraq], and that's important for the American people to understand," President Bush told a news conference on Tuesday.
Bush said he called the press conference to tell the American people what's on his mind - and "what's on my mind is winning the war on terror."
But one reporter suggested that the president has been lying all along about his "real reason" for going to war.
"Why did you really want to go to war, from the moment you stepped into the White House... what was your real reason?" longtime Washington reporter Helen Thomas asked the president at the news conference.
"To assume I wanted war is just flat wrong, Helen," Bush responded. "No president wants war."
"My attitude about this country changed on Sept. 11," Bush said. After the terror attacks on U.S. soil, Bush said he vowed to use "every asset at my disposal to protect the American people."
Helen Thomas repeatedly interrupted the president as he tried to explain that the Taliban plotted with al Qaeda, and that's why he sent troops to Afghanistan; and that he tried to solve the Iraq problem diplomatically before going to war in that country.
President Bush said Americans must understand that Iraq is part of a wider global war on terror: "If I didn't believe we had a plan for victory, I wouldn't leave our troops in harm's way."
Late Nite Jokes
Letterman
It’s the first day of spring. Today at Rupert G’s Deli they added chlorine to the soup.
Today is also the third anniversary of the Iraq war. So far so good!
Whatever happened to that mission accomplished thing?
I think now the only way to get rid of the Iraq war is to put it on NBC.
There are two sides in Iraq right now fighting. The side that hates us and the side that really hates us.
Letterman
It’s the first day of spring. Today at Rupert G’s Deli they added chlorine to the soup.
Today is also the third anniversary of the Iraq war. So far so good!
Whatever happened to that mission accomplished thing?
I think now the only way to get rid of the Iraq war is to put it on NBC.
There are two sides in Iraq right now fighting. The side that hates us and the side that really hates us.
Monday, March 20, 2006
U.S. Iraq Casualties Plummet in March
The press is marking the third anniversary of the liberation of Iraq with an avalanche of reports that a sectarian "civil war" has broken out, which, reporters say, means U.S. efforts to bring stability to Iraq are on the verge of failure.
But only a few short weeks ago reporters were measuring success [or, in their case, failure] in Iraq by a completely different standard: the number of U.S. troops killed in combat operations.
So why the shift in focus? It turns out that while the so-called Iraqi civil war has been raging, the number of U.S. casualties has plummeted to less than half of what they were over the previous five months.
In fact, if the current trend continues, March will be the second least deadly month for American GIs since the war began.
According to the Web site Lunaville.com - which keeps the most comprehensive and up to date statistics on U.S. casualties - about one soldier a day (1.1) has died in Iraq during the first three weeks in March.
That's a vast improvement over February's numbers, when U.S. troops were dying at the rate of 2.07 per day. In every month since November 2005, the U.S. death rate has topped 2 per day. In October, it was over 3.
The lowest U.S. troop death rate since the U.S. invaded was in February 2004, when less than one soldier per day (.79) was killed in combat operations.
Big credit goes to the U.S. military: The soldiers on the ground whose efforts to train Iraqis to do the frontline fighting themselves are getting the job done.
Still, don't look for much coverage of this dramatic turn of events - especially from reporters for whom "good news is no news" in Iraq.
The press is marking the third anniversary of the liberation of Iraq with an avalanche of reports that a sectarian "civil war" has broken out, which, reporters say, means U.S. efforts to bring stability to Iraq are on the verge of failure.
But only a few short weeks ago reporters were measuring success [or, in their case, failure] in Iraq by a completely different standard: the number of U.S. troops killed in combat operations.
So why the shift in focus? It turns out that while the so-called Iraqi civil war has been raging, the number of U.S. casualties has plummeted to less than half of what they were over the previous five months.
In fact, if the current trend continues, March will be the second least deadly month for American GIs since the war began.
According to the Web site Lunaville.com - which keeps the most comprehensive and up to date statistics on U.S. casualties - about one soldier a day (1.1) has died in Iraq during the first three weeks in March.
That's a vast improvement over February's numbers, when U.S. troops were dying at the rate of 2.07 per day. In every month since November 2005, the U.S. death rate has topped 2 per day. In October, it was over 3.
The lowest U.S. troop death rate since the U.S. invaded was in February 2004, when less than one soldier per day (.79) was killed in combat operations.
Big credit goes to the U.S. military: The soldiers on the ground whose efforts to train Iraqis to do the frontline fighting themselves are getting the job done.
Still, don't look for much coverage of this dramatic turn of events - especially from reporters for whom "good news is no news" in Iraq.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Bin Laden Sought 'Joint Operations' With Saddam
An Iraqi intelligence document released last week indicates that Osama bin Laden sought to conduct "joint operations" with Saddam Hussein's regime six years before the 9/11 attacks - and was given the green light by the Iraqi dictator.
The document, detailed in the March 27 issue of the Weekly Standard, describes a Feb. 1995 meeting between bin Laden and Iraqi intelligence that was personally approved by "the Honorable Presidency" - an apparent reference to Saddam.
"We discussed with [bin Laden] his organization. He requested the broadcast of the speeches of Sheikh Sulayman al-Uda [who has influence within Saudi Arabia and outside due to being a well known religious and influential personality] and to designate a program for them through the broadcast directed inside Iraq, and to perform joint operations against the foreign forces in the land of Hijaz [Saudi Arabia]."
The document goes on to note that "the Honorable Presidency was informed of the details of the meeting in our letter 370 on March 4, 1995."
The document indicates that Saddam personally granted bin Laden's request for help with propaganda broadcasts and instructed his agents "to develop the relationship [with bin Laden] and the cooperation between the two sides to see what other doors of cooperation and agreement open up."
The 1997 Iraqi intelligence document goes on to report: "Currently we are working to invigorate this relationship through a new channel in light of his present location [Afghanistan]."
The reference by Iraqi intelligence to "joint operations" with bin Laden apparently contradicts one of the 9/11 Commission's most important findings that Saddam had no "operational relationship" with al Qaeda.
An Iraqi intelligence document released last week indicates that Osama bin Laden sought to conduct "joint operations" with Saddam Hussein's regime six years before the 9/11 attacks - and was given the green light by the Iraqi dictator.
The document, detailed in the March 27 issue of the Weekly Standard, describes a Feb. 1995 meeting between bin Laden and Iraqi intelligence that was personally approved by "the Honorable Presidency" - an apparent reference to Saddam.
"We discussed with [bin Laden] his organization. He requested the broadcast of the speeches of Sheikh Sulayman al-Uda [who has influence within Saudi Arabia and outside due to being a well known religious and influential personality] and to designate a program for them through the broadcast directed inside Iraq, and to perform joint operations against the foreign forces in the land of Hijaz [Saudi Arabia]."
The document goes on to note that "the Honorable Presidency was informed of the details of the meeting in our letter 370 on March 4, 1995."
The document indicates that Saddam personally granted bin Laden's request for help with propaganda broadcasts and instructed his agents "to develop the relationship [with bin Laden] and the cooperation between the two sides to see what other doors of cooperation and agreement open up."
The 1997 Iraqi intelligence document goes on to report: "Currently we are working to invigorate this relationship through a new channel in light of his present location [Afghanistan]."
The reference by Iraqi intelligence to "joint operations" with bin Laden apparently contradicts one of the 9/11 Commission's most important findings that Saddam had no "operational relationship" with al Qaeda.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
New Saddam Docs Hint at 9/11 Link
Captured Iraqi intelligence documents ordered released last week by President Bush hint at a link between Saddam Hussein's regime and the 9/11 attacks.
The most intriguing document, dated four days after the 9/11 attacks, is titled "Osama bin Laden and the Taliban."
According to an ABC News translation, an Afghani informant told Saddam's Mukhabarrat intelligence service that Afghani Consul Ahmed Dahastani claimed the following in front of him:
That OBL and the Taliban are in contact with Iraq and that a group of Taliban and bin Laden group members visited Iraq.
That the U.S. has proof the Iraqi government and "bin Laden's group" agreed to cooperate to attack targets inside America.
That in case the Taliban and bin Laden's group turn out to be involved in "these destructive operations," the U.S. may strike Iraq and Afghanistan.
That the Afghani consul heard about the issue of Iraq's relationship with "bin Laden's group" while he was in Iran.
ABC considered the document so potentially explosive that it issued the following disclaimer in it's own report:
"The controversial claim that Osama bin Laden was cooperating with Saddam Hussein is an ongoing matter of intense debate. While the assertions contained in this document clearly support the claim, the sourcing is questionable -- i.e. an unnamed
Afghan "informant" reporting on a conversation with another Afghan 'consul.' The date of the document -- four days after 9/11 -- is worth noting but without further corroboration, this document is of limited evidentiary value."
While the 9/11 Commission insisted that any relationship between Saddam and al Qaeda was not "operational," others aren't so sure.
In May 2003, U.S. District Judge Harold Baer - a Carter appointee - awarded two 9/11 victim families $104 million based on their claim that Iraq played a material role in the attacks.
Evidence introduced at the trial included testimony from former CIA director James Woolsey, along with accounts from Iraqi defectors who claimed they were trained to hijack U.S. airliners at Saddam's terrorist training camp, Salman Pak.
Among those who believe that Iraq had a hand in 9/11: Saddam Hussein's replacement, former interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.
Reacting to a document uncovered by the London Telegraph in Dec. 2003 detailing a link between the Mukhabarrat and lead hijacker Mohamed Atta, Allawi said: "We are uncovering evidence all the time of Saddam's involvement with al-Qaeda.
"This is the most compelling piece of evidence that we have found so far. It shows that not only did Saddam have contacts with al-Qaeda, he had contact with those responsible for the September 11 attacks," he added.
Captured Iraqi intelligence documents ordered released last week by President Bush hint at a link between Saddam Hussein's regime and the 9/11 attacks.
The most intriguing document, dated four days after the 9/11 attacks, is titled "Osama bin Laden and the Taliban."
According to an ABC News translation, an Afghani informant told Saddam's Mukhabarrat intelligence service that Afghani Consul Ahmed Dahastani claimed the following in front of him:
That OBL and the Taliban are in contact with Iraq and that a group of Taliban and bin Laden group members visited Iraq.
That the U.S. has proof the Iraqi government and "bin Laden's group" agreed to cooperate to attack targets inside America.
That in case the Taliban and bin Laden's group turn out to be involved in "these destructive operations," the U.S. may strike Iraq and Afghanistan.
That the Afghani consul heard about the issue of Iraq's relationship with "bin Laden's group" while he was in Iran.
ABC considered the document so potentially explosive that it issued the following disclaimer in it's own report:
"The controversial claim that Osama bin Laden was cooperating with Saddam Hussein is an ongoing matter of intense debate. While the assertions contained in this document clearly support the claim, the sourcing is questionable -- i.e. an unnamed
Afghan "informant" reporting on a conversation with another Afghan 'consul.' The date of the document -- four days after 9/11 -- is worth noting but without further corroboration, this document is of limited evidentiary value."
While the 9/11 Commission insisted that any relationship between Saddam and al Qaeda was not "operational," others aren't so sure.
In May 2003, U.S. District Judge Harold Baer - a Carter appointee - awarded two 9/11 victim families $104 million based on their claim that Iraq played a material role in the attacks.
Evidence introduced at the trial included testimony from former CIA director James Woolsey, along with accounts from Iraqi defectors who claimed they were trained to hijack U.S. airliners at Saddam's terrorist training camp, Salman Pak.
Among those who believe that Iraq had a hand in 9/11: Saddam Hussein's replacement, former interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.
Reacting to a document uncovered by the London Telegraph in Dec. 2003 detailing a link between the Mukhabarrat and lead hijacker Mohamed Atta, Allawi said: "We are uncovering evidence all the time of Saddam's involvement with al-Qaeda.
"This is the most compelling piece of evidence that we have found so far. It shows that not only did Saddam have contacts with al-Qaeda, he had contact with those responsible for the September 11 attacks," he added.
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
Happy St. Patrick’s Day everybody! What a weekend, we have St. Patrick’s Day, the NCAA Tournament, and spring break all at the same time. It’s like the alcoholics trifecta.
According to a survey in the paper today, 10% of all workers had a drink on company time today to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Do you know what you call those employees? Airline pilots!
Everybody drank at work. Not a good day to go in for lasik eye surgery.
Things didn’t go too well at the White House St. Patrick’s Day party - did you hear what happened today? Dick Cheney shot a leprechaun.
The Neverland Ranch has officially closed its doors today. Michael was pretty sad. He said he had a lot of fondling memories of the place.
Now that it’s for sale a lot of the neighbors are worried. They’re afraid some weirdo might buy the place.
This bird flu is pretty is pretty scary. I spent an hour last night rubbing Vicks Vapo-rub on my parakeet.
More bad news for President Bush. His approval rating has now dropped again - it’s now down to 33%. When he was in college his blood alcohol was higher than that.
According to a new survey by the Pew Research Center, Republicans are happier than Democrats. Well sure, they own everything.
That makes sense - if you’re a Republican politician, you get wined and dined by oil companies, bankers, foreign investors. If you’re a Democrat, you have to go to things like rallies for illegal migrant workers and meet with angry lesbians for animal rights. That’s no fun.
Leno
Happy St. Patrick’s Day everybody! What a weekend, we have St. Patrick’s Day, the NCAA Tournament, and spring break all at the same time. It’s like the alcoholics trifecta.
According to a survey in the paper today, 10% of all workers had a drink on company time today to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Do you know what you call those employees? Airline pilots!
Everybody drank at work. Not a good day to go in for lasik eye surgery.
Things didn’t go too well at the White House St. Patrick’s Day party - did you hear what happened today? Dick Cheney shot a leprechaun.
The Neverland Ranch has officially closed its doors today. Michael was pretty sad. He said he had a lot of fondling memories of the place.
Now that it’s for sale a lot of the neighbors are worried. They’re afraid some weirdo might buy the place.
This bird flu is pretty is pretty scary. I spent an hour last night rubbing Vicks Vapo-rub on my parakeet.
More bad news for President Bush. His approval rating has now dropped again - it’s now down to 33%. When he was in college his blood alcohol was higher than that.
According to a new survey by the Pew Research Center, Republicans are happier than Democrats. Well sure, they own everything.
That makes sense - if you’re a Republican politician, you get wined and dined by oil companies, bankers, foreign investors. If you’re a Democrat, you have to go to things like rallies for illegal migrant workers and meet with angry lesbians for animal rights. That’s no fun.
Friday, March 17, 2006
N.Y.C., Boston Gone by 2036
Failed presidential candidate John Kerry offered a startling prediction Friday morning: If the U.S. doesn't change its global warming ways, New York City and Boston will be destroyed due to flooding by 2036.
"I can say to an absolute certainty," Kerry told radio host Don Imus, "that if things stay exactly as they are today absent some unpredictable change in what's going on, within the next 30 years the Arctic ice sheet is gone.
"Not maybe, not if - the Arctic ice sheet is gone," the Massachusetts Democrat insisted, before offering his hair-raising prediction.
"Already you have the Greenland ice sheet beginning to melt ... If that melts, you have a level of sea level increase that wipes out Boston Harbor, New York Harbor - I mean, it's just stunning what we're looking at."
Kerry blamed the Bush administration's environmental policies for the coming destruction of New York and Boston.
"Europe and the other countries are responding," he told Imus. "The United States remains oblivious - at least the administration remains oblivious."
Despite the dire warning, Kerry hasn't done much to change his own global warming ways.
At last report, he and his wife still owned several SUVs, a gas guzzling yacht, five BTU gobbling homes and a private jet.
Like fellow environmentalist RFK, Jr., Kerry continues to withold his support for the proposed construction of a wind farm in the waters off Nantucket, where he and his wife own a mansion.
Failed presidential candidate John Kerry offered a startling prediction Friday morning: If the U.S. doesn't change its global warming ways, New York City and Boston will be destroyed due to flooding by 2036.
"I can say to an absolute certainty," Kerry told radio host Don Imus, "that if things stay exactly as they are today absent some unpredictable change in what's going on, within the next 30 years the Arctic ice sheet is gone.
"Not maybe, not if - the Arctic ice sheet is gone," the Massachusetts Democrat insisted, before offering his hair-raising prediction.
"Already you have the Greenland ice sheet beginning to melt ... If that melts, you have a level of sea level increase that wipes out Boston Harbor, New York Harbor - I mean, it's just stunning what we're looking at."
Kerry blamed the Bush administration's environmental policies for the coming destruction of New York and Boston.
"Europe and the other countries are responding," he told Imus. "The United States remains oblivious - at least the administration remains oblivious."
Despite the dire warning, Kerry hasn't done much to change his own global warming ways.
At last report, he and his wife still owned several SUVs, a gas guzzling yacht, five BTU gobbling homes and a private jet.
Like fellow environmentalist RFK, Jr., Kerry continues to withold his support for the proposed construction of a wind farm in the waters off Nantucket, where he and his wife own a mansion.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Libby's Lawyers Subpoena N.Y. Times
Lawyers for I. Lewis Libby Jr., the indicted former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, have subpoenaed The New York Times Co. and former Times reporter Judith Miller for documents concerning the disclosure of an undercover CIA agent's identity.
Libby was charged last fall with lying to investigators and a grand jury about leaking the status of covert CIA officer Valerie Plame to reporters. Miller spent 85 days in jail after refusing to tell a grand jury about conversations she had with Libby about Plame.
Miller later testified before the grand jury, saying Libby had given her permission to do so, and provided the panel with edited notes of her interviews with the former chief of staff.
She retired from the Times in November.
The Times reported Thursday that the new subpoenas seek Miller's notes and other materials, including any other documents concerning Plame prepared by Miller and Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof. It said other materials included drafts of a personal account by Miller published in the Times about her grand jury testimony, and documents concerning a recent Vanity Fair article and her interactions with a Times editor.
Plame's CIA identity was first published by columnist Robert Novak in July 2003, shortly after Plame's husband, former U.S. Ambassador Joseph Wilson, accused the Bush administration of twisting prewar intelligence to exaggerate the Iraqi threat.
Wilson has said he believes his wife's identity was disclosed to undermine his credibility.
Libby lawyer William H. Jeffress Jr. would not tell the Times whether other reporters and news organizations had been subpoenaed.
Representatives for Matthew Cooper of Time magazine and Tim Russert of NBC News told the Times the men had received subpoenas.
A Times spokeswoman said the newspaper's lawyers were reviewing the subpoena. A lawyer for Miller, Robert S. Bennett, said she would likely fight her subpoena.
Lawyers for I. Lewis Libby Jr., the indicted former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, have subpoenaed The New York Times Co. and former Times reporter Judith Miller for documents concerning the disclosure of an undercover CIA agent's identity.
Libby was charged last fall with lying to investigators and a grand jury about leaking the status of covert CIA officer Valerie Plame to reporters. Miller spent 85 days in jail after refusing to tell a grand jury about conversations she had with Libby about Plame.
Miller later testified before the grand jury, saying Libby had given her permission to do so, and provided the panel with edited notes of her interviews with the former chief of staff.
She retired from the Times in November.
The Times reported Thursday that the new subpoenas seek Miller's notes and other materials, including any other documents concerning Plame prepared by Miller and Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof. It said other materials included drafts of a personal account by Miller published in the Times about her grand jury testimony, and documents concerning a recent Vanity Fair article and her interactions with a Times editor.
Plame's CIA identity was first published by columnist Robert Novak in July 2003, shortly after Plame's husband, former U.S. Ambassador Joseph Wilson, accused the Bush administration of twisting prewar intelligence to exaggerate the Iraqi threat.
Wilson has said he believes his wife's identity was disclosed to undermine his credibility.
Libby lawyer William H. Jeffress Jr. would not tell the Times whether other reporters and news organizations had been subpoenaed.
Representatives for Matthew Cooper of Time magazine and Tim Russert of NBC News told the Times the men had received subpoenas.
A Times spokeswoman said the newspaper's lawyers were reviewing the subpoena. A lawyer for Miller, Robert S. Bennett, said she would likely fight her subpoena.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Moussaoui Judge in 'Clinton Hall of Shame'
The Clinton-appointed federal judge who tossed out half the government's death penalty case against convicted 9/11 "20th hijacker" Zacarias Moussaoui on Tuesday has a history of liberal rulings and was once named by Sen. Bob Dole to the "Clinton Hall of Shame."
Even before Judge Leonie Brinkema decimated the government's case by ruling that evidence from key witnesses had been tainted by prosecutorial misconduct, veteran terrorism prosecutor Andrew McCarthy warned Brinkema not to overreact.
Writing about the furor over the prosecution's blunder on NationalReviewOnline Monday, McCarthy said: "It is a tempest in a teapot that is obviously being blown out of proportion — as frequently happens with people philosophically opposed to the death penalty, who often portray every run-of-the-mill error in death-penalty proceedings as if it were Armageddon."
McCarthy added that he wasn't sure that the liberal justice indeed held those views, but noted, "This is only a big problem if Judge Brinkema, for whatever reason, decides to turn it into one."
That's exactly what the Clinton appointee did with her ruling the next day - a move that fits the pattern of liberal decisions that prompted Sen. Dole to name Brinkema ten years ago to what he called the "Clinton Hall of Shame."
Dole cited a 1995 case in which Brinkema gave a mere 21 month sentence to a convicted murderer, instead of the seven-to nine-year term called for by federal guidelines.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit later overturned her ruling.
Dole isn't alone in blasting Brinkema for her judicial activism. "It's my impression that she is highly ideological," complained Delaware State Representative Richard Black three years later.
According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Black was outraged by a 1998 Brinkema decision, that barred the Loudoun County, Va., public library from using filters to prevent adults from viewing sexually explicit material on the Internet.
Noted the Press:
"That decision, and another in which Brinkema struck down as unconstitutional a law that prohibits Virginia employees from using government resources to access sexually explicit Web sites, earned her a mocking 'court jester' award for judicial activism from the conservative Family Research Council."
The Clinton-appointed federal judge who tossed out half the government's death penalty case against convicted 9/11 "20th hijacker" Zacarias Moussaoui on Tuesday has a history of liberal rulings and was once named by Sen. Bob Dole to the "Clinton Hall of Shame."
Even before Judge Leonie Brinkema decimated the government's case by ruling that evidence from key witnesses had been tainted by prosecutorial misconduct, veteran terrorism prosecutor Andrew McCarthy warned Brinkema not to overreact.
Writing about the furor over the prosecution's blunder on NationalReviewOnline Monday, McCarthy said: "It is a tempest in a teapot that is obviously being blown out of proportion — as frequently happens with people philosophically opposed to the death penalty, who often portray every run-of-the-mill error in death-penalty proceedings as if it were Armageddon."
McCarthy added that he wasn't sure that the liberal justice indeed held those views, but noted, "This is only a big problem if Judge Brinkema, for whatever reason, decides to turn it into one."
That's exactly what the Clinton appointee did with her ruling the next day - a move that fits the pattern of liberal decisions that prompted Sen. Dole to name Brinkema ten years ago to what he called the "Clinton Hall of Shame."
Dole cited a 1995 case in which Brinkema gave a mere 21 month sentence to a convicted murderer, instead of the seven-to nine-year term called for by federal guidelines.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit later overturned her ruling.
Dole isn't alone in blasting Brinkema for her judicial activism. "It's my impression that she is highly ideological," complained Delaware State Representative Richard Black three years later.
According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Black was outraged by a 1998 Brinkema decision, that barred the Loudoun County, Va., public library from using filters to prevent adults from viewing sexually explicit material on the Internet.
Noted the Press:
"That decision, and another in which Brinkema struck down as unconstitutional a law that prohibits Virginia employees from using government resources to access sexually explicit Web sites, earned her a mocking 'court jester' award for judicial activism from the conservative Family Research Council."
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
In a remarkable speech over the weekend, Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt recommended that Americans store canned tuna and powdered milk under their beds for when bird flu hits. What? This ranks right up there with "duck and cover” during a nuclear attack. In case of radiation wear a hat.
Powdered milk and tuna? How many would rather have the bird flu?
How many still have their computers unplugged from Y2K?
They said on the news tonight that U.S. spy satellites are being used to track infected birds for bird flu. I just hope they work as well as they did in the hunt for Osama bin Laden. Finding that robin red breast should be no problem.
Analysts now say that killing this port deal has hurt our standing in the Muslim world. Yeah you would hate to see anything hurt our current title of "The Great Satan”.
In front of a crowd in Florida this past weekend, Al Gore said that, "The people of the United States are going to stand up and take our country back.” And then the manager of the karaoke bar took the microphone away and said, "Either sing or sit down buddy.”
People in Utah are very upset with HBO because of the show that follows "The Sopranos” called "Big Love.” It’s about a man in Utah who has three families and seven kids with three different wives. Didn’t that used to be called the NBA?
Are you into this March Madness? Every year over two and a half billion dollars ends up getting bet on this. And that’s just by Wayne Gretzky’s wife.
Mike Wallace is stepping down from "60 Minutes”. What is he…88 years old? CBS was swamped with thousands of calls after the announcement. All from Katie Couric trying to get his job.
To give you an idea how long Mike’s been around when he first reported on the war in Iraq it was called Mesopotamia.
Leno
In a remarkable speech over the weekend, Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt recommended that Americans store canned tuna and powdered milk under their beds for when bird flu hits. What? This ranks right up there with "duck and cover” during a nuclear attack. In case of radiation wear a hat.
Powdered milk and tuna? How many would rather have the bird flu?
How many still have their computers unplugged from Y2K?
They said on the news tonight that U.S. spy satellites are being used to track infected birds for bird flu. I just hope they work as well as they did in the hunt for Osama bin Laden. Finding that robin red breast should be no problem.
Analysts now say that killing this port deal has hurt our standing in the Muslim world. Yeah you would hate to see anything hurt our current title of "The Great Satan”.
In front of a crowd in Florida this past weekend, Al Gore said that, "The people of the United States are going to stand up and take our country back.” And then the manager of the karaoke bar took the microphone away and said, "Either sing or sit down buddy.”
People in Utah are very upset with HBO because of the show that follows "The Sopranos” called "Big Love.” It’s about a man in Utah who has three families and seven kids with three different wives. Didn’t that used to be called the NBA?
Are you into this March Madness? Every year over two and a half billion dollars ends up getting bet on this. And that’s just by Wayne Gretzky’s wife.
Mike Wallace is stepping down from "60 Minutes”. What is he…88 years old? CBS was swamped with thousands of calls after the announcement. All from Katie Couric trying to get his job.
To give you an idea how long Mike’s been around when he first reported on the war in Iraq it was called Mesopotamia.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Feingold Assails Dems on Bush Censure
Wisconsin Sen. Russell Feingold accused fellow Democrats on Tuesday of cowering rather than joining him on trying to censure President Bush over domestic spying.
"Democrats run and hide" when the administration invokes the war on terrorism, Feingold told reporters.
Feingold introduced censure legislation Monday in the Senate but not a single Democrat has embraced it. Several have said they want to see the results of a Senate Intelligence Committee investigation before supporting any punitive legislation.
Republicans dismissed the proposal Tuesday as being more about Feingold's 2008 presidential aspirations than Bush's actions. On and off the Senate floor, they have dared Democrats to vote for the resolution.
"I'm amazed at Democrats ... cowering with this president's numbers so low," Feingold said.
The latest AP-Ipsos poll on Bush, conducted last week, found just 37 percent of the 1,000 people surveyed approving his overall performance, the lowest of his presidency.
Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., tried to hold a vote Monday on Feingold's resolution but was blocked by Democrats. He said Tuesday that Feingold should withdraw the resolution because it has no support.
"If the Democrats continue to say no to voting on their own censure resolution, then they ought to drop it and focus on our foreign policy in a positive way," Frist said in a statement.
Feingold's resolution condemns Bush's "unlawful authorization of wiretaps of Americans within the United States without obtaining the court orders required" by the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
The only president ever censured by the Senate was Andrew Jackson, in 1834, for removing the nation's money from a private bank in defiance of the Whig-controlled Senate.
Wisconsin Sen. Russell Feingold accused fellow Democrats on Tuesday of cowering rather than joining him on trying to censure President Bush over domestic spying.
"Democrats run and hide" when the administration invokes the war on terrorism, Feingold told reporters.
Feingold introduced censure legislation Monday in the Senate but not a single Democrat has embraced it. Several have said they want to see the results of a Senate Intelligence Committee investigation before supporting any punitive legislation.
Republicans dismissed the proposal Tuesday as being more about Feingold's 2008 presidential aspirations than Bush's actions. On and off the Senate floor, they have dared Democrats to vote for the resolution.
"I'm amazed at Democrats ... cowering with this president's numbers so low," Feingold said.
The latest AP-Ipsos poll on Bush, conducted last week, found just 37 percent of the 1,000 people surveyed approving his overall performance, the lowest of his presidency.
Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., tried to hold a vote Monday on Feingold's resolution but was blocked by Democrats. He said Tuesday that Feingold should withdraw the resolution because it has no support.
"If the Democrats continue to say no to voting on their own censure resolution, then they ought to drop it and focus on our foreign policy in a positive way," Frist said in a statement.
Feingold's resolution condemns Bush's "unlawful authorization of wiretaps of Americans within the United States without obtaining the court orders required" by the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
The only president ever censured by the Senate was Andrew Jackson, in 1834, for removing the nation's money from a private bank in defiance of the Whig-controlled Senate.
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
"The Sopranos” came back last night after a two year absence. I don't know what Tony Soprano has been doing for the last two years off. But I think we can rule out dieting.
How many watched last night? Pretty shocking episode. Tony Soprano got shot by junior. If you think about it, the Soprano’s are a lot like the Bush administration. There are wire taps, people going to jail, and the second in command accidentally shoots his best friend.
You may have heard that new age musician Yanni arrested last week for assaulting his girlfriend. Police are now worried about copy cat crimes. In fact, they have John Tesh and Enya under surveillance.
Senator Russ Feingold, who I believe is running for president, he is from Wisconsin, said over the weekend that he is pushing the senate to censure President Bush for spying. Bush said today that he knew this was coming because he has been listening to Feingold’s calls for the last three months.
Do you know that President Clinton was advising Dubai on the ports deal? He was for it. Ironically, do you know when Dubai pulled out? When they saw Hillary coming.
Last week in L.A. authorities shut down Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. Hey guys, what’s the hurry? You thought FEMA was slow to respond to a crisis. More bad news. You know who bought it? The Catholic Church.
Letterman
Let me ask you a question. Do you think it’s too early to hit on Mrs. Milosevic?
The weather is crazy. It’s been unseasonably warm. It was so warm today that Barry Bonds was injecting himself with iced tea.
The Neverland Ranch has been closed in California. Good to see them nip that in the bud.
Leno
"The Sopranos” came back last night after a two year absence. I don't know what Tony Soprano has been doing for the last two years off. But I think we can rule out dieting.
How many watched last night? Pretty shocking episode. Tony Soprano got shot by junior. If you think about it, the Soprano’s are a lot like the Bush administration. There are wire taps, people going to jail, and the second in command accidentally shoots his best friend.
You may have heard that new age musician Yanni arrested last week for assaulting his girlfriend. Police are now worried about copy cat crimes. In fact, they have John Tesh and Enya under surveillance.
Senator Russ Feingold, who I believe is running for president, he is from Wisconsin, said over the weekend that he is pushing the senate to censure President Bush for spying. Bush said today that he knew this was coming because he has been listening to Feingold’s calls for the last three months.
Do you know that President Clinton was advising Dubai on the ports deal? He was for it. Ironically, do you know when Dubai pulled out? When they saw Hillary coming.
Last week in L.A. authorities shut down Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. Hey guys, what’s the hurry? You thought FEMA was slow to respond to a crisis. More bad news. You know who bought it? The Catholic Church.
Letterman
Let me ask you a question. Do you think it’s too early to hit on Mrs. Milosevic?
The weather is crazy. It’s been unseasonably warm. It was so warm today that Barry Bonds was injecting himself with iced tea.
The Neverland Ranch has been closed in California. Good to see them nip that in the bud.
Monday, March 13, 2006
New Iraqi Documents Show Bush Didn't 'Lie'
Newly translated Iraqi documents from Saddam Hussein's regime show that President Bush was factually accurate when he told the nation in his 2003 State of the Union Address that Iraq had recently sought uranium from Africa.
Bush's 16-word statement had formed the basis for the claim adopted by administration critics that "Bush lied" about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programs.
But according to the Washington Times today, an unnamed U.S. official reports that "newly translated Iraqi documents . . . tell of Saddam seeking uranium from Africa in the mid-1990s."
The documents also speak of burying prohibited missiles, a government official familiar with the declassification process told the paper.
In his January 2003 address, Bush told the nation:
"The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa."
The statement prompted former ambassador to Iraq, Joseph Wilson to complain to the New York Times seven months later: "I have little choice but to conclude that some of the intelligence related to Iraq's nuclear weapons program was twisted to exaggerate the Iraqi threat."
The new documents strongly suggest, however, that Wilson was wrong - and that the "Bush lied" mantra adopted by most Democrats since Wilson first made his complaint has been based on bogus information.
Confirmation on African uranium claim offered by Iraqi documents may be just the tip of the iceberg.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Peter Hoekstra told the Washington Times that about 500 hours of Saddam audiotape is still being translated and analyzed by the U.S.
And U.S. Central Command has 48,000 boxes of Iraqi documents, of which the military has delivered just 68 pages to his committee so far.
"I don't want to overstate what is in the documents," Hoekstra told the paper. "[But] I certainly want to get them out because I think people are going to find them very interesting."
Newly translated Iraqi documents from Saddam Hussein's regime show that President Bush was factually accurate when he told the nation in his 2003 State of the Union Address that Iraq had recently sought uranium from Africa.
Bush's 16-word statement had formed the basis for the claim adopted by administration critics that "Bush lied" about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programs.
But according to the Washington Times today, an unnamed U.S. official reports that "newly translated Iraqi documents . . . tell of Saddam seeking uranium from Africa in the mid-1990s."
The documents also speak of burying prohibited missiles, a government official familiar with the declassification process told the paper.
In his January 2003 address, Bush told the nation:
"The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa."
The statement prompted former ambassador to Iraq, Joseph Wilson to complain to the New York Times seven months later: "I have little choice but to conclude that some of the intelligence related to Iraq's nuclear weapons program was twisted to exaggerate the Iraqi threat."
The new documents strongly suggest, however, that Wilson was wrong - and that the "Bush lied" mantra adopted by most Democrats since Wilson first made his complaint has been based on bogus information.
Confirmation on African uranium claim offered by Iraqi documents may be just the tip of the iceberg.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Peter Hoekstra told the Washington Times that about 500 hours of Saddam audiotape is still being translated and analyzed by the U.S.
And U.S. Central Command has 48,000 boxes of Iraqi documents, of which the military has delivered just 68 pages to his committee so far.
"I don't want to overstate what is in the documents," Hoekstra told the paper. "[But] I certainly want to get them out because I think people are going to find them very interesting."
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Congressional Car Leases Fleece Taxpayers
When it comes to socking taxpayers with the tab for a leased car, Rep. Mike Ross is the most expensive member of Congress – the Arkansas Democrat’s Ford Expedition costs $1,248 a month.
Rep. Howard McKeon, Republican from California, is close behind – his Acura costs $1,231 a month – and Rep. Dennis Cardoza, a Democrat from California, spends $1,227 on a Chevrolet truck.
Two Democrats from New York ride in style. Rep. Gregory Meeks’ Lexus costs $1,062 a month, and Rep. Charles Rangel tools around in a $998-a-month Cadillac DeVille.
Another New York congressman, Democrat Anthony Weiner, is near the other end of the scale – his Chevy Impala costs only $219 a month, according to a Knight-Ridder study.
Rep. John Carter, a Republican from Texas, is low man at $210 a month.
But some congressmen don’t use any public funds allotted to their budget to pay for a car, and members of the Senate are forbidden to do so.
When it comes to socking taxpayers with the tab for a leased car, Rep. Mike Ross is the most expensive member of Congress – the Arkansas Democrat’s Ford Expedition costs $1,248 a month.
Rep. Howard McKeon, Republican from California, is close behind – his Acura costs $1,231 a month – and Rep. Dennis Cardoza, a Democrat from California, spends $1,227 on a Chevrolet truck.
Two Democrats from New York ride in style. Rep. Gregory Meeks’ Lexus costs $1,062 a month, and Rep. Charles Rangel tools around in a $998-a-month Cadillac DeVille.
Another New York congressman, Democrat Anthony Weiner, is near the other end of the scale – his Chevy Impala costs only $219 a month, according to a Knight-Ridder study.
Rep. John Carter, a Republican from Texas, is low man at $210 a month.
But some congressmen don’t use any public funds allotted to their budget to pay for a car, and members of the Senate are forbidden to do so.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Vicente Fox Announces Huge Oil Find
Mexico has discovered a huge new oil reserve that will increase its production capacity by nearly 50 percent, President Vicente Fox said Monday night - explaining that he intends to discuss how he'll use his new oil bonanza when he meets with President Bush in two weeks.
"We have excellent news that we will be announcing in a couple of weeks from now," Fox told MSNBC's "Rita Cosby Live and Direct."
He described the find as "a huge new reserve of oil and natural gas in the Gulf of Mexico that belongs to Mexicans" and noted that in his upcoming meeting with Bush, "energy is a key for our discussions."
Fox said his country's largest oil reserve is Cantarell, which is rapidly depleting. "This new reserve that we just have found will totally replace Cantarell with even more quantity then what originally Cantarell had," he told Cosby.
The White House announced over the weekend that Bush, Fox and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will hold an economic and security summit in Cancun on March 30 and 31. Among the items on the agenda: "our common prosperity."
Fox said the oil find would help both the U.S. and Mexico deal with their respective "migration" problems.
"We see that migration is not only moving from Mexico to United States," he explained. "Last year we had to hold over 200,000 Central Americans that cross the border with Mexico, and of course they had plans to work in Mexico for a time and then try to move to United States."
Fox said Mexico's expanding oil industry would help build job opportunities in both his country and Central America, which will ultimately benefit the U.S. "It will help all three of us, that is part of what we're discussing, how can we remain competitive, how we can have plenty of energy and how we use energy to the benefit of people," he told Cosby.
Fox is an unapologetic advocate of illegal immigration, saying it helps both the U.S. and Mexico. Earlier this year he objected to U.S. plans to build a security fence along the Mexican border.
Mexico has discovered a huge new oil reserve that will increase its production capacity by nearly 50 percent, President Vicente Fox said Monday night - explaining that he intends to discuss how he'll use his new oil bonanza when he meets with President Bush in two weeks.
"We have excellent news that we will be announcing in a couple of weeks from now," Fox told MSNBC's "Rita Cosby Live and Direct."
He described the find as "a huge new reserve of oil and natural gas in the Gulf of Mexico that belongs to Mexicans" and noted that in his upcoming meeting with Bush, "energy is a key for our discussions."
Fox said his country's largest oil reserve is Cantarell, which is rapidly depleting. "This new reserve that we just have found will totally replace Cantarell with even more quantity then what originally Cantarell had," he told Cosby.
The White House announced over the weekend that Bush, Fox and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will hold an economic and security summit in Cancun on March 30 and 31. Among the items on the agenda: "our common prosperity."
Fox said the oil find would help both the U.S. and Mexico deal with their respective "migration" problems.
"We see that migration is not only moving from Mexico to United States," he explained. "Last year we had to hold over 200,000 Central Americans that cross the border with Mexico, and of course they had plans to work in Mexico for a time and then try to move to United States."
Fox said Mexico's expanding oil industry would help build job opportunities in both his country and Central America, which will ultimately benefit the U.S. "It will help all three of us, that is part of what we're discussing, how can we remain competitive, how we can have plenty of energy and how we use energy to the benefit of people," he told Cosby.
Fox is an unapologetic advocate of illegal immigration, saying it helps both the U.S. and Mexico. Earlier this year he objected to U.S. plans to build a security fence along the Mexican border.
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
A new world record has been set in the 100-yard dash. It was set by Republicans running from President Bush and the Dubai port deal.
As I’m sure you know by now, the United Arab Emirates are out of this port deal. The ports deal is off. In fact, even Republicans called it the worst deal since the Lakers traded Shaq.
To get even with us the United Arab Emirates is talking about not buying any American made products. Looks like we got them there too. We don’t make any products in America anymore.
A congressional panel was told that 24 people have disappeared from cruise ships over a two-year period. And during that same two-year period, 48 people have disappeared after having shows on NBC.
I read some sour grapes about the Oscars today. It seems a writer for "Brokeback Mountain” told the Los Angeles times that he thinks "Crash” only won because it was set in Los Angeles where academy voters live and can identify with it more. Which makes sense. Because, as you know, no one from Hollywood knows anything about being gay. They just can’t relate.
Paris Hilton is out promoting her new CD it won’t be out until June. One of the featured songs is called "Screwed.” Actually, I think this is the first time the video came out a couple years before the song did.
Leno
A new world record has been set in the 100-yard dash. It was set by Republicans running from President Bush and the Dubai port deal.
As I’m sure you know by now, the United Arab Emirates are out of this port deal. The ports deal is off. In fact, even Republicans called it the worst deal since the Lakers traded Shaq.
To get even with us the United Arab Emirates is talking about not buying any American made products. Looks like we got them there too. We don’t make any products in America anymore.
A congressional panel was told that 24 people have disappeared from cruise ships over a two-year period. And during that same two-year period, 48 people have disappeared after having shows on NBC.
I read some sour grapes about the Oscars today. It seems a writer for "Brokeback Mountain” told the Los Angeles times that he thinks "Crash” only won because it was set in Los Angeles where academy voters live and can identify with it more. Which makes sense. Because, as you know, no one from Hollywood knows anything about being gay. They just can’t relate.
Paris Hilton is out promoting her new CD it won’t be out until June. One of the featured songs is called "Screwed.” Actually, I think this is the first time the video came out a couple years before the song did.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Hillary Clinton's Immigration Flip-flop
2008 presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton complained Wednesday that some Republicans want to impose a "police state" to deal with illegal immigration, arguing instead that illegals should be allowed to earn their U.S. citizenship.
But just three short years ago, Mrs. Clinton took a different tack, boasting that she was "adamantly against" foreigners who enter the country illegally and saying that the U.S. should consider imposing a national ID card system.
"I am, you know, adamantly against illegal immigrants," Clinton said in a Feb. 2003 radio interview.
Clinton said the U.S. "might have to move toward an ID system even for citizens" in order to combat illegal border crossings, or implement "at least a visa ID, some kind of an entry and exit ID."
As of Wednesday, however, the former first lady's immigration policy had clearly evolved.
A position paper issued by her Senate office urged that citizenship be made available for illegals and argued that get-tough immigration policies were impractical.
Saying she opposes "one-sided solutions that simply sound tough," Mrs. Clinton urged the U.S. to create "a path to earned citizenship for those who are here, working hard, paying taxes [and] respecting the law."
In an apparent bid to have it both ways, the top Democrat explained: "I neither support illegal immigration nor the enactment of fruitless schemes that would penalize churches and hospitals for helping the truly needy . . . We should not unduly punish the overwhelming majority of immigrants who work hard, raise families, pay their taxes, and contribute to their communities."
2008 presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton complained Wednesday that some Republicans want to impose a "police state" to deal with illegal immigration, arguing instead that illegals should be allowed to earn their U.S. citizenship.
But just three short years ago, Mrs. Clinton took a different tack, boasting that she was "adamantly against" foreigners who enter the country illegally and saying that the U.S. should consider imposing a national ID card system.
"I am, you know, adamantly against illegal immigrants," Clinton said in a Feb. 2003 radio interview.
Clinton said the U.S. "might have to move toward an ID system even for citizens" in order to combat illegal border crossings, or implement "at least a visa ID, some kind of an entry and exit ID."
As of Wednesday, however, the former first lady's immigration policy had clearly evolved.
A position paper issued by her Senate office urged that citizenship be made available for illegals and argued that get-tough immigration policies were impractical.
Saying she opposes "one-sided solutions that simply sound tough," Mrs. Clinton urged the U.S. to create "a path to earned citizenship for those who are here, working hard, paying taxes [and] respecting the law."
In an apparent bid to have it both ways, the top Democrat explained: "I neither support illegal immigration nor the enactment of fruitless schemes that would penalize churches and hospitals for helping the truly needy . . . We should not unduly punish the overwhelming majority of immigrants who work hard, raise families, pay their taxes, and contribute to their communities."
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
The Dubai port deal is dead. We got our ports back! Both the Democrats and Republicans agree that this was the dumbest idea since somebody agreed to go hunting with Dick Cheney.
Dubai announced they'll sell ownership of those six American ports to another investor . . . The bad news, it's Iran.
They are calling this the biggest set back for the Bush administration all day.
Bush lost because he didn't have the votes in congress. This is historic. This is the first time Bush has been held back by a lack of votes.
President Bush was in New Orleans yesterday, helping with the reconstruction. He was hammering and sawing on a construction site. Dick Cheney tried to help out too, but accidentally shot a guy with a nail-gun.
Here is a very odd story. A woman in Tennessee is now suing a local pharmacy after buying what she thought were birth control patches. They turned out to be nicotine patches. The good news, her new baby is now down to a half a pack a day.
The number of cigarettes sold in the U.S. has fallen to the lowest level in 55 years. The reason, most smokers are dead!
I guess the Marlboro Man is more interested in gay cowboys than cigarettes.
Conan
A new survey says that New Jersey is the most livable state in the U.S. The survey has a margin of error of 100%.
The makers of "Sesame Street” have decided not to have Russell Crow on as host of the show because he is not a good role model. Crow was disappointed because he wanted to host an episode that was brought to you by the letters F and U.
Leno
The Dubai port deal is dead. We got our ports back! Both the Democrats and Republicans agree that this was the dumbest idea since somebody agreed to go hunting with Dick Cheney.
Dubai announced they'll sell ownership of those six American ports to another investor . . . The bad news, it's Iran.
They are calling this the biggest set back for the Bush administration all day.
Bush lost because he didn't have the votes in congress. This is historic. This is the first time Bush has been held back by a lack of votes.
President Bush was in New Orleans yesterday, helping with the reconstruction. He was hammering and sawing on a construction site. Dick Cheney tried to help out too, but accidentally shot a guy with a nail-gun.
Here is a very odd story. A woman in Tennessee is now suing a local pharmacy after buying what she thought were birth control patches. They turned out to be nicotine patches. The good news, her new baby is now down to a half a pack a day.
The number of cigarettes sold in the U.S. has fallen to the lowest level in 55 years. The reason, most smokers are dead!
I guess the Marlboro Man is more interested in gay cowboys than cigarettes.
Conan
A new survey says that New Jersey is the most livable state in the U.S. The survey has a margin of error of 100%.
The makers of "Sesame Street” have decided not to have Russell Crow on as host of the show because he is not a good role model. Crow was disappointed because he wanted to host an episode that was brought to you by the letters F and U.
Thursday, March 9, 2006
Hillary Clinton's Immigration Flip-flop
2008 presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton complained Wednesday that some Republicans want to impose a "police state" to deal with illegal immigration, arguing instead that illegals should be allowed to earn their U.S. citizenship.
But just three short years ago, Mrs. Clinton took a different tack, boasting that she was "adamantly against" foreigners who enter the country illegally and saying that the U.S. should consider imposing a national ID card system.
"I am, you know, adamantly against illegal immigrants," Clinton said in a Feb. 2003 radio interview.
Clinton said the U.S. "might have to move toward an ID system even for citizens" in order to combat illegal border crossings, or implement "at least a visa ID, some kind of an entry and exit ID."
As of Wednesday, however, the former first lady's immigration policy had clearly evolved.
A position paper issued by her Senate office urged that citizenship be made available for illegals and argued that get-tough immigration policies were impractical.
Saying she opposes "one-sided solutions that simply sound tough," Mrs. Clinton urged the U.S. to create "a path to earned citizenship for those who are here, working hard, paying taxes [and] respecting the law."
In an apparent bid to have it both ways, the top Democrat explained: "I neither support illegal immigration nor the enactment of fruitless schemes that would penalize churches and hospitals for helping the truly needy . . . We should not unduly punish the overwhelming majority of immigrants who work hard, raise families, pay their taxes, and contribute to their communities."
2008 presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton complained Wednesday that some Republicans want to impose a "police state" to deal with illegal immigration, arguing instead that illegals should be allowed to earn their U.S. citizenship.
But just three short years ago, Mrs. Clinton took a different tack, boasting that she was "adamantly against" foreigners who enter the country illegally and saying that the U.S. should consider imposing a national ID card system.
"I am, you know, adamantly against illegal immigrants," Clinton said in a Feb. 2003 radio interview.
Clinton said the U.S. "might have to move toward an ID system even for citizens" in order to combat illegal border crossings, or implement "at least a visa ID, some kind of an entry and exit ID."
As of Wednesday, however, the former first lady's immigration policy had clearly evolved.
A position paper issued by her Senate office urged that citizenship be made available for illegals and argued that get-tough immigration policies were impractical.
Saying she opposes "one-sided solutions that simply sound tough," Mrs. Clinton urged the U.S. to create "a path to earned citizenship for those who are here, working hard, paying taxes [and] respecting the law."
In an apparent bid to have it both ways, the top Democrat explained: "I neither support illegal immigration nor the enactment of fruitless schemes that would penalize churches and hospitals for helping the truly needy . . . We should not unduly punish the overwhelming majority of immigrants who work hard, raise families, pay their taxes, and contribute to their communities."
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
Did you hear about this? Vice President Dick Cheney has donated $2.7 million to the hospital at George Washington University. This is very smart, he wants to make sure the next guy he shoots is taken care of first-class.
Republicans in congress want to stop the sale of six of our ports to that Dubai company, even though President Bush still supports the deal...Republican congressman say this issue involves something even more important than loyalty to the president: saving their own asses on election day this November.
Hillary Clinton said today that she didn’t know her husband, Bill Clinton, was giving the Arabs advice on the port deal while she was ruling against it. Can you believe that? Hillary was clueless about a major political event. You know what that means… she could really be the next president of the United States.
President Bush was in New Orleans today. He stunned the crowd when he asked, "What happened?”
According to a new book called "Vital Statistics,” there are now more than one million lawyers in the United States...see, Dick Cheney was just thinning the herd when he shot that lawyer.
Conan
Vice President Cheney has donated two million dollars to the cardiovascular center that treats him. Actually it’s more of an advance than a donation.
Leno
Did you hear about this? Vice President Dick Cheney has donated $2.7 million to the hospital at George Washington University. This is very smart, he wants to make sure the next guy he shoots is taken care of first-class.
Republicans in congress want to stop the sale of six of our ports to that Dubai company, even though President Bush still supports the deal...Republican congressman say this issue involves something even more important than loyalty to the president: saving their own asses on election day this November.
Hillary Clinton said today that she didn’t know her husband, Bill Clinton, was giving the Arabs advice on the port deal while she was ruling against it. Can you believe that? Hillary was clueless about a major political event. You know what that means… she could really be the next president of the United States.
President Bush was in New Orleans today. He stunned the crowd when he asked, "What happened?”
According to a new book called "Vital Statistics,” there are now more than one million lawyers in the United States...see, Dick Cheney was just thinning the herd when he shot that lawyer.
Conan
Vice President Cheney has donated two million dollars to the cardiovascular center that treats him. Actually it’s more of an advance than a donation.
Wednesday, March 8, 2006
GOP Hurting, Democrats Worse
Plunging poll numbers for President Bush, lobbying scandals, the furor over the U.S. ports deal and even Dick Cheney’s hunting accident could all hurt Republicans in the 2006 elections.
But the GOP has one thing in its favor, according to political pundit Michael Barone: The sorry state of the Democrats.
"The standing of the Republican Party is not in great shape,” the Fox News Channel contributor told an audience in Charlotte, N.C. "Perhaps the only thing going for it is [that] the standing of the Democratic Party is not in great shape either.”
Republicans have tended to win a slightly higher percentage of the popular vote in recent elections, said Barone, who believes the key to GOP victory this year will be voter turnout.
And Republicans have been better at using informal volunteer networks to get the vote out, the Charlotte Observer reports.
For example, John Kerry’s popular vote in 2004 was 16 percent higher than Al Gore’s in 2000, but George Bush registered a 23 percent increase over his 2000 vote.
"This huge increase in turnout,” said Barone, "is sort of a silent advantage Republicans have.”
Plunging poll numbers for President Bush, lobbying scandals, the furor over the U.S. ports deal and even Dick Cheney’s hunting accident could all hurt Republicans in the 2006 elections.
But the GOP has one thing in its favor, according to political pundit Michael Barone: The sorry state of the Democrats.
"The standing of the Republican Party is not in great shape,” the Fox News Channel contributor told an audience in Charlotte, N.C. "Perhaps the only thing going for it is [that] the standing of the Democratic Party is not in great shape either.”
Republicans have tended to win a slightly higher percentage of the popular vote in recent elections, said Barone, who believes the key to GOP victory this year will be voter turnout.
And Republicans have been better at using informal volunteer networks to get the vote out, the Charlotte Observer reports.
For example, John Kerry’s popular vote in 2004 was 16 percent higher than Al Gore’s in 2000, but George Bush registered a 23 percent increase over his 2000 vote.
"This huge increase in turnout,” said Barone, "is sort of a silent advantage Republicans have.”
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
Here’s something I didn’t know. Did you know that the winners of the best foreign language film this year got an Oscar and one of our seaports.
While I thought Philip Seymour Hoffman was great in "Capote” my choice of best actor didn’t win. I thought it should have gone to the vice president for his role in "When Cheney Shot Harry.”
President Bush is back. He finished up his trip to India. He accomplished all he wanted to accomplish there. He signed a nuclear agreement, he got their pledge to help fight terrorism and he got his laptop fixed.
As you know, the polls not good for President Bush. He’s now got an approval rating of 34%. His lowest ever. In fact, if the presidential election were held today, he would still beat John Kerry.
In his acceptance speech, George Clooney said he was proud to be out of touch. And today, President Bush said, "Hey, me too?”
More problems for Hillary Clinton. The head of New York state’s leading gay rights group describes Hillary Clinton as a disappointment on same sex marriage. Today, her husband bill described her as a disappointment on opposite sex marriage.
Conan
Madison Square Garden will be torn down and a new garden is going to be built. The good news is that it will be torn down during a Knicks game.
Leno
Here’s something I didn’t know. Did you know that the winners of the best foreign language film this year got an Oscar and one of our seaports.
While I thought Philip Seymour Hoffman was great in "Capote” my choice of best actor didn’t win. I thought it should have gone to the vice president for his role in "When Cheney Shot Harry.”
President Bush is back. He finished up his trip to India. He accomplished all he wanted to accomplish there. He signed a nuclear agreement, he got their pledge to help fight terrorism and he got his laptop fixed.
As you know, the polls not good for President Bush. He’s now got an approval rating of 34%. His lowest ever. In fact, if the presidential election were held today, he would still beat John Kerry.
In his acceptance speech, George Clooney said he was proud to be out of touch. And today, President Bush said, "Hey, me too?”
More problems for Hillary Clinton. The head of New York state’s leading gay rights group describes Hillary Clinton as a disappointment on same sex marriage. Today, her husband bill described her as a disappointment on opposite sex marriage.
Conan
Madison Square Garden will be torn down and a new garden is going to be built. The good news is that it will be torn down during a Knicks game.
Tuesday, March 7, 2006
No Civil War Today in Iraq
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Tuesday rejected suggestions Iraq is engulfed in a civil war and claimed media reports have exaggerated the violence since an attack on a a revered Shiite mosque.
"I do not believe they are in a civil war today," Rumsfeld told reporters at the Pentagon. But he said "there has always been a potential for civil war."
Rumsfeld spoke nearly two weeks after the Feb. 22 bombing of a sacred Shiite shrine in Samarra, which has touched off violent reprisals between sects that have killed hundreds of Iraqis.
Hoping to keep Iraqi efforts to form a unity government moving forward, U.S. officials have acknowledged concern about the violence, but repeatedly denied that they fear a full-scale civil war is erupting.
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Tuesday rejected suggestions Iraq is engulfed in a civil war and claimed media reports have exaggerated the violence since an attack on a a revered Shiite mosque.
"I do not believe they are in a civil war today," Rumsfeld told reporters at the Pentagon. But he said "there has always been a potential for civil war."
Rumsfeld spoke nearly two weeks after the Feb. 22 bombing of a sacred Shiite shrine in Samarra, which has touched off violent reprisals between sects that have killed hundreds of Iraqis.
Hoping to keep Iraqi efforts to form a unity government moving forward, U.S. officials have acknowledged concern about the violence, but repeatedly denied that they fear a full-scale civil war is erupting.
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
Did you all watch the Oscars last night? Or as we call it, the Gay Super Bowl.
You know, the Oscars were seen in over 100 countries, two of which don’t hate us.
Real shocker last night was that "Crash” upset "Brokeback Mountain” to win best picture. They were not happy in West Hollywood. They were looting pottery barns, flipping over Volvos, smashing Liza Minnelli records. It was ugly.
I feel bad for "Brokeback Mountain” - they make this great movie about intolerance and then they get screwed by a movie about racism.
Actually, "Crash” and "Brokeback Mountain” had similar themes. Whether you’re a driver in L.A. or a cowboy in Montana, keep checking your rear view mirror. You don’t know what’s going to be coming up behind you.
George Clooney won for "Syriana”, which was about the CIA and what people will do for oil. Or as Dick Cheney calls it, a love story.
President Bush said that America has caused an incredible transformation in Afghanistan. Everything is being rebuilt, people are getting jobs, kids are going back to school. In fact, the president says it worked so well over there he’s not thinking of trying it in New Orleans.
President Bush was also in Pakistan. Which is a little scary. When they landed there they landed in the dark with the lights off and all the shades pulled down. So if you count the Dubai deal, that's the second time President Bush has been operating in the dark.
Hillary Clinton now says she didn't know her husband, Bill Clinton, was giving Dubai advice on the port deal while she was ruling against it. Hillary not knowing what her husband is doing. Has that ever happened before?
I’m sure you have heard by now, Bill Clinton is looking for 25 interns to work at his library. I was thinking about that, could you fit 25 interns of them in his library?
Clinton says that anyone he hires must be good on the computer…good on the coffee table, good on top of the copy machine…
Leno
Did you all watch the Oscars last night? Or as we call it, the Gay Super Bowl.
You know, the Oscars were seen in over 100 countries, two of which don’t hate us.
Real shocker last night was that "Crash” upset "Brokeback Mountain” to win best picture. They were not happy in West Hollywood. They were looting pottery barns, flipping over Volvos, smashing Liza Minnelli records. It was ugly.
I feel bad for "Brokeback Mountain” - they make this great movie about intolerance and then they get screwed by a movie about racism.
Actually, "Crash” and "Brokeback Mountain” had similar themes. Whether you’re a driver in L.A. or a cowboy in Montana, keep checking your rear view mirror. You don’t know what’s going to be coming up behind you.
George Clooney won for "Syriana”, which was about the CIA and what people will do for oil. Or as Dick Cheney calls it, a love story.
President Bush said that America has caused an incredible transformation in Afghanistan. Everything is being rebuilt, people are getting jobs, kids are going back to school. In fact, the president says it worked so well over there he’s not thinking of trying it in New Orleans.
President Bush was also in Pakistan. Which is a little scary. When they landed there they landed in the dark with the lights off and all the shades pulled down. So if you count the Dubai deal, that's the second time President Bush has been operating in the dark.
Hillary Clinton now says she didn't know her husband, Bill Clinton, was giving Dubai advice on the port deal while she was ruling against it. Hillary not knowing what her husband is doing. Has that ever happened before?
I’m sure you have heard by now, Bill Clinton is looking for 25 interns to work at his library. I was thinking about that, could you fit 25 interns of them in his library?
Clinton says that anyone he hires must be good on the computer…good on the coffee table, good on top of the copy machine…
Monday, March 6, 2006
'Angry' Hillary Clinton Plays Gender Victim
Responding to Republican claims that she may be too angry to win national office, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton told an audience Monday to wear such criticism as "a badge of honor" and suggested that gender played a role in the attacks.
"When you run as a Democrat, and in particular, when you run as a Democratic woman, whether you're running at the local, state or national level, it's likely you're going to draw some unfriendly fire," Clinton said at a breakfast fund-raiser hosted by black and Hispanic women supporters. "People will be attacking you instead of your ideas; they may impugn your patriotism; they may even say you're angry."
She added, "If they do that, wear it as a badge of honor, because you know what? There are lots of things that we should be angry and outraged about these days." She cited, among other things, the federal budget deficit, lobbying scandals in Washington, and the government's slow response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster.
It was the latest volley in a rhetorical back-and-forth between Clinton and leading GOP strategists that began last month, when Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman said Clinton "seems to have a lot of anger" and that American voters tend not to elect angry candidates.
He pointed to comments Clinton made on Martin Luther King Day, when she called the Bush administration "one of the worst" in history, and compared the Republican-controlled House to a plantation.
Top White House strategist Karl Rove later echoed that view, telling Washington Times reporter Bill Sammon in a new book that Clinton could have trouble winning the White House because there is a "brittleness about her."
Clinton, who has not yet said whether she's considering a presidential run in 2008, has responded in various ways. At first, she called the attacks a diversion from Republican "failures and shortcomings." And in a radio interview last week, she said "Karl Rove spends a lot of time obsessing about me," suggesting he spends more time thinking about her political future than she did.
Until now, she has not said she considered any of the criticisms gender-based, although many observers have done so.
They include New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd, who said Republicans "are casting Hillary Clinton as an angry woman, a she-monster melding images of Medea, the Furies, harpies, and a knife-wielding Glenn Close in 'Fatal Attraction.'"
Ross Baker, a political scientist at Rutgers University, said he agreed with Clinton's assessment but questioned whether she should have said anything.
"I think she's right, but whether or not it was prudent to acknowledge it this way is another thing," Baker said. "I think another politician might have dealt with it more humorously, to defuse its influence."
For her part, Republican National Committee spokeswoman Tara Wall declined to address the suggestion gender played a role in the attacks.
"When you vote to consistently raise people's taxes, vote against common-sense judicial nominees and use Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday to divide Americans along racial lines, you're likely to encourage criticism of both your ideas and temperament," she said.
Clinton's comments came the same day Kathleen Troia "KT" McFarland, a former Pentagon official under President Reagan, said she would seek the Republican nomination to challenge Clinton's re-election bid this year.
Responding to Republican claims that she may be too angry to win national office, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton told an audience Monday to wear such criticism as "a badge of honor" and suggested that gender played a role in the attacks.
"When you run as a Democrat, and in particular, when you run as a Democratic woman, whether you're running at the local, state or national level, it's likely you're going to draw some unfriendly fire," Clinton said at a breakfast fund-raiser hosted by black and Hispanic women supporters. "People will be attacking you instead of your ideas; they may impugn your patriotism; they may even say you're angry."
She added, "If they do that, wear it as a badge of honor, because you know what? There are lots of things that we should be angry and outraged about these days." She cited, among other things, the federal budget deficit, lobbying scandals in Washington, and the government's slow response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster.
It was the latest volley in a rhetorical back-and-forth between Clinton and leading GOP strategists that began last month, when Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman said Clinton "seems to have a lot of anger" and that American voters tend not to elect angry candidates.
He pointed to comments Clinton made on Martin Luther King Day, when she called the Bush administration "one of the worst" in history, and compared the Republican-controlled House to a plantation.
Top White House strategist Karl Rove later echoed that view, telling Washington Times reporter Bill Sammon in a new book that Clinton could have trouble winning the White House because there is a "brittleness about her."
Clinton, who has not yet said whether she's considering a presidential run in 2008, has responded in various ways. At first, she called the attacks a diversion from Republican "failures and shortcomings." And in a radio interview last week, she said "Karl Rove spends a lot of time obsessing about me," suggesting he spends more time thinking about her political future than she did.
Until now, she has not said she considered any of the criticisms gender-based, although many observers have done so.
They include New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd, who said Republicans "are casting Hillary Clinton as an angry woman, a she-monster melding images of Medea, the Furies, harpies, and a knife-wielding Glenn Close in 'Fatal Attraction.'"
Ross Baker, a political scientist at Rutgers University, said he agreed with Clinton's assessment but questioned whether she should have said anything.
"I think she's right, but whether or not it was prudent to acknowledge it this way is another thing," Baker said. "I think another politician might have dealt with it more humorously, to defuse its influence."
For her part, Republican National Committee spokeswoman Tara Wall declined to address the suggestion gender played a role in the attacks.
"When you vote to consistently raise people's taxes, vote against common-sense judicial nominees and use Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday to divide Americans along racial lines, you're likely to encourage criticism of both your ideas and temperament," she said.
Clinton's comments came the same day Kathleen Troia "KT" McFarland, a former Pentagon official under President Reagan, said she would seek the Republican nomination to challenge Clinton's re-election bid this year.
Sunday, March 5, 2006
Duncan Hunter Rips Clinton on Dubai Deal
House Armed Services Committee chairman Duncan Hunter blasted former President Clinton on Sunday for advising the Dubai government on how to overcome U.S. opposition to its purchase of some operations at U.S. ports.
Appearing on ABC's "This Week," Hunter told host George Stephanopoulos: "In our hearing just two days ago, your former boss, President Clinton, was referred to by the president of the ports [company] as having made a phone call to the Emir of Dubai."
Hunter noted that the Emir "is the sole stockholder and the director of this company and President Clinton gave him advice on who he should hire to get this deal through."
The California Republican reminded the "This Week" audience a second time of the host's Clinton connection, telling Stephanopoulos: "I don't think President Clinton - your old boss - knows the facts of the transshipments that take place through Dubai, sending nuclear components to all parts of the world - especially to people who don't like America."
Springing to Clinton's defense, Stephanopoulos noted that his old boss had issued a statement supporting a ban on foreign management of U.S. ports.
But a few moments later, Hunter again invoked Clinton's involvement, saying it undercut Democratic efforts to play politics with the ports issue:
"I think that the fact that President Clinton now is on record - at least in our hearing, according to the CEO of Dubai Ports World Corporation - as advising the Emir on how to make this deal go through, I think that makes it difficult for the Democrats to get partisan leverage," he told the former Clinton communications director.
House Armed Services Committee chairman Duncan Hunter blasted former President Clinton on Sunday for advising the Dubai government on how to overcome U.S. opposition to its purchase of some operations at U.S. ports.
Appearing on ABC's "This Week," Hunter told host George Stephanopoulos: "In our hearing just two days ago, your former boss, President Clinton, was referred to by the president of the ports [company] as having made a phone call to the Emir of Dubai."
Hunter noted that the Emir "is the sole stockholder and the director of this company and President Clinton gave him advice on who he should hire to get this deal through."
The California Republican reminded the "This Week" audience a second time of the host's Clinton connection, telling Stephanopoulos: "I don't think President Clinton - your old boss - knows the facts of the transshipments that take place through Dubai, sending nuclear components to all parts of the world - especially to people who don't like America."
Springing to Clinton's defense, Stephanopoulos noted that his old boss had issued a statement supporting a ban on foreign management of U.S. ports.
But a few moments later, Hunter again invoked Clinton's involvement, saying it undercut Democratic efforts to play politics with the ports issue:
"I think that the fact that President Clinton now is on record - at least in our hearing, according to the CEO of Dubai Ports World Corporation - as advising the Emir on how to make this deal go through, I think that makes it difficult for the Democrats to get partisan leverage," he told the former Clinton communications director.
Saturday, March 4, 2006
Halliburton Eyed for Dubai Ports Deal
The Bush administration is working behind the scenes to defuse the Dubai Ports World controversy by having the UAE-based firm team up with an American company.
According to the New York Daily News, which first reported the new White House strategy on Saturday, "one snag may be that sources say the U.S. company best equipped to partner with DP World is Halliburton, once headed by Vice President Dick Cheney."
But a role for Halliburton may not be such a "snag" after all, since the controversial company's involvement has already been endorsed by leading ports security critic, Sen. Charles Schumer.
"I'd take Halliburton over U.A.E. at this point, if I had to take a choice right now," Schumer told the Fox News Channel on Feb. 20.
Schumer explained that Democats hate Halliburton not for any security reasons, but because "they made large amounts of profit" from what he said were no-bid contracts in the Iraq war.
But if the company "can do the best job and they get the [ports] contract on the merits," Schumer said, "I'd pat them on the back."
The News said that any revamped deal "would have to be something along the lines of the Marine One contract, where British-and Italian-owned AgustaWestland had to take on Maryland-based Lockheed Martin to win the contract to build the president's helicopter last year."
But a better example may be Port of Long Beach, where the state-run China Ocean Shipping Company [COSCO] was finally allowed to operate two large terminals at the California port after it teamed up with an American firm.
In 1998, Congress blocked COSCO's initial bid to run a terminal at Long Beach that was formerly operated by the U.S. Navy.
In 2001, however, COSCO entered into a joint venture with Stevedoring Services of America to form a new company, Pacific Maritime Services - which signed a 20 year lease to operate what will eventually be five terminals at the port.
The Long Beach deal allowed the Chinese government-owned company to retain a 51 percent controlling interest in PMS.
The Bush administration is working behind the scenes to defuse the Dubai Ports World controversy by having the UAE-based firm team up with an American company.
According to the New York Daily News, which first reported the new White House strategy on Saturday, "one snag may be that sources say the U.S. company best equipped to partner with DP World is Halliburton, once headed by Vice President Dick Cheney."
But a role for Halliburton may not be such a "snag" after all, since the controversial company's involvement has already been endorsed by leading ports security critic, Sen. Charles Schumer.
"I'd take Halliburton over U.A.E. at this point, if I had to take a choice right now," Schumer told the Fox News Channel on Feb. 20.
Schumer explained that Democats hate Halliburton not for any security reasons, but because "they made large amounts of profit" from what he said were no-bid contracts in the Iraq war.
But if the company "can do the best job and they get the [ports] contract on the merits," Schumer said, "I'd pat them on the back."
The News said that any revamped deal "would have to be something along the lines of the Marine One contract, where British-and Italian-owned AgustaWestland had to take on Maryland-based Lockheed Martin to win the contract to build the president's helicopter last year."
But a better example may be Port of Long Beach, where the state-run China Ocean Shipping Company [COSCO] was finally allowed to operate two large terminals at the California port after it teamed up with an American firm.
In 1998, Congress blocked COSCO's initial bid to run a terminal at Long Beach that was formerly operated by the U.S. Navy.
In 2001, however, COSCO entered into a joint venture with Stevedoring Services of America to form a new company, Pacific Maritime Services - which signed a 20 year lease to operate what will eventually be five terminals at the port.
The Long Beach deal allowed the Chinese government-owned company to retain a 51 percent controlling interest in PMS.
Friday, March 3, 2006
Bush Didn’t Lie About Levee Breaching
News sources have reported that President Bush lied when he said he wasn’t warned that the levees in New Orleans could be breached during Hurricane Katrina.
But a videotape of a key meeting between Bush and hurricane officials supports the president’s contention that the breaching of the levees was unanticipated.
On September 1, four days after Katrina struck, Bush said: "I don’t think anybody anticipated a breach of the levees.”
The Associated Press on Wednesday claimed that "federal disaster officials warned President Bush and his homeland security chief before Hurricane Katrina struck that the storm could breach levees.”
The Democratic National Committee attempted to make political hay out of the AP report, stating that "during the briefing, National Hurricane Center Director Max Mayfield told the president that the integrity of the levees was ‘a very, very grave concern’ that the president appears to have ignored.”
However, the tape shows that what Mayfield actually told Bush was: "I don’t think any model can tell you with any confidence right now whether the levees will be topped or not, but that’s obviously a very, very grave concern.”
Mayfield told NBC News on Thursday that he warned only that the levees might be topped – that is, the storm surge could push water over the top of the levees – not breached, and that on the many conference calls he monitored, "Nobody talked about the possibility of a levee breach or failure until after it happened.”
Mayfield even told Bush: "The forecast now suggests that there will be minimal flooding in the City of New Orleans itself.”
The Washington Times, commenting on what it called a "hit job” on the president, opined: "If it were true that Mr. Bush heard predictions of levee breaches before the storm hit, then that makes a despicable and costly lie of his statement four days after the hurricane.
"The truth, instead, is that no adviser warned the president of the possibility that the levees could fail. Of course, it makes a juicier story to suggest that the president was warned.”
News sources have reported that President Bush lied when he said he wasn’t warned that the levees in New Orleans could be breached during Hurricane Katrina.
But a videotape of a key meeting between Bush and hurricane officials supports the president’s contention that the breaching of the levees was unanticipated.
On September 1, four days after Katrina struck, Bush said: "I don’t think anybody anticipated a breach of the levees.”
The Associated Press on Wednesday claimed that "federal disaster officials warned President Bush and his homeland security chief before Hurricane Katrina struck that the storm could breach levees.”
The Democratic National Committee attempted to make political hay out of the AP report, stating that "during the briefing, National Hurricane Center Director Max Mayfield told the president that the integrity of the levees was ‘a very, very grave concern’ that the president appears to have ignored.”
However, the tape shows that what Mayfield actually told Bush was: "I don’t think any model can tell you with any confidence right now whether the levees will be topped or not, but that’s obviously a very, very grave concern.”
Mayfield told NBC News on Thursday that he warned only that the levees might be topped – that is, the storm surge could push water over the top of the levees – not breached, and that on the many conference calls he monitored, "Nobody talked about the possibility of a levee breach or failure until after it happened.”
Mayfield even told Bush: "The forecast now suggests that there will be minimal flooding in the City of New Orleans itself.”
The Washington Times, commenting on what it called a "hit job” on the president, opined: "If it were true that Mr. Bush heard predictions of levee breaches before the storm hit, then that makes a despicable and costly lie of his statement four days after the hurricane.
"The truth, instead, is that no adviser warned the president of the possibility that the levees could fail. Of course, it makes a juicier story to suggest that the president was warned.”
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
Are you all ready for the Academy Awards? Today the academy awards crew took those big giant Oscar statues out of storage, sandblasted them, filled in the cracks with putty, painted them, and then placed them at the end of the red carpet. Tomorrow they will do the same with Joan Rivers.
The big story this year at the Oscars is who will win best animated short. Everyone’s hoping that it’s not a Muslim cartoon.
The U.S. Senate voted to renew the Patriot Act. President Bush was over in India and heard about it through a wiretap in the senate.
President Bush today welcomed India into the nuclear community. That’ll make you think twice before knocking off a 7-11. They’ve got nukes now.
There was one tense moment when President Bush was greeted by a huge crowd chanting, "Bush go home. Bush go home." The bad news, these were Americans at our embassy.
In England at a Kanye West concert, two ushers were shot. President Bush said that Kanye West doesn't care about ushers.
The Rolling Stones will be performing in China. A lot has changed since the last Rolling Stones last visit. China built a great wall.
Letterman
President Bush was in India today meeting with the prime minister. This prime minister is a busy guy. At night he works for AOL tech support.
The Academy Awards are this weekend. The 78th version…there will be a lot of new faces, same people, just new faces.
Conan
President Bush was in India this week and he announced he is lifting the ban on Indian mangos. He later went on to say, "That’s been my plan all along, to liberate Iraq and then lift the ban on Indian mangos.”
Leno
Are you all ready for the Academy Awards? Today the academy awards crew took those big giant Oscar statues out of storage, sandblasted them, filled in the cracks with putty, painted them, and then placed them at the end of the red carpet. Tomorrow they will do the same with Joan Rivers.
The big story this year at the Oscars is who will win best animated short. Everyone’s hoping that it’s not a Muslim cartoon.
The U.S. Senate voted to renew the Patriot Act. President Bush was over in India and heard about it through a wiretap in the senate.
President Bush today welcomed India into the nuclear community. That’ll make you think twice before knocking off a 7-11. They’ve got nukes now.
There was one tense moment when President Bush was greeted by a huge crowd chanting, "Bush go home. Bush go home." The bad news, these were Americans at our embassy.
In England at a Kanye West concert, two ushers were shot. President Bush said that Kanye West doesn't care about ushers.
The Rolling Stones will be performing in China. A lot has changed since the last Rolling Stones last visit. China built a great wall.
Letterman
President Bush was in India today meeting with the prime minister. This prime minister is a busy guy. At night he works for AOL tech support.
The Academy Awards are this weekend. The 78th version…there will be a lot of new faces, same people, just new faces.
Conan
President Bush was in India this week and he announced he is lifting the ban on Indian mangos. He later went on to say, "That’s been my plan all along, to liberate Iraq and then lift the ban on Indian mangos.”
Thursday, March 2, 2006
Jimmy Carter Favors U.N. Over U.S.
Former President Jimmy Carter has sided with the likes of Cuba and Egypt and is pressing for a vote in the United Nations against American policy regarding the U.N. Human Rights Commission.
At a recent dinner he attended in New York, Carter discussed the ongoing negotiations concerning an attempt to replace the ineffectual Geneva-based commission with a more accountable Human Rights Council.
Carter assured guests at the dinner – including the ambassadors from Cuba, Pakistan and Egypt – that the U.S. would not dominate all other nations in the council, the New York Sun reports.
But the next day, American’s U.N. Ambassador John Bolton demanded that the five permanent members of the Security Council have permanent seats on the new council.
Carter told the Council on Foreign Relations on Thursday that Bolton’s demand "subverted exactly what I have promised” the ambassadors.
Carter said he called Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and she told him Bolton’s statement was not going to be honored. Despite that assurance, Bolton’s stance "became American policy,” the Sun reports.
Carter told the Council: "My hope is that when the vote is taken, the other members will outvote the United States.”
Bolton has said that the new council must be a clear departure from the discredited Human Rights Commission or efforts to improve the protection of human rights will be undermined, NewsMax reported in January.
Carter’s opposition to U.S. efforts to reform the commission is hard to fathom. Some of the world’s worst violators of basic human rights have won seats on the commission, and current members include Sudan, which is carrying out genocide, and Nepal, whose monarch has suspended basic liberties.
Publications that customarily do not support the Bush administration or Bolton, including the New York Times and the Washington Post, have come out in support of Bolton’s efforts.
The Times declared in an editorial: "When it comes to reforming the disgraceful United Nations Human Rights Commission, America’s ambassador, Jon Bolton, is right.”
Former President Jimmy Carter has sided with the likes of Cuba and Egypt and is pressing for a vote in the United Nations against American policy regarding the U.N. Human Rights Commission.
At a recent dinner he attended in New York, Carter discussed the ongoing negotiations concerning an attempt to replace the ineffectual Geneva-based commission with a more accountable Human Rights Council.
Carter assured guests at the dinner – including the ambassadors from Cuba, Pakistan and Egypt – that the U.S. would not dominate all other nations in the council, the New York Sun reports.
But the next day, American’s U.N. Ambassador John Bolton demanded that the five permanent members of the Security Council have permanent seats on the new council.
Carter told the Council on Foreign Relations on Thursday that Bolton’s demand "subverted exactly what I have promised” the ambassadors.
Carter said he called Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and she told him Bolton’s statement was not going to be honored. Despite that assurance, Bolton’s stance "became American policy,” the Sun reports.
Carter told the Council: "My hope is that when the vote is taken, the other members will outvote the United States.”
Bolton has said that the new council must be a clear departure from the discredited Human Rights Commission or efforts to improve the protection of human rights will be undermined, NewsMax reported in January.
Carter’s opposition to U.S. efforts to reform the commission is hard to fathom. Some of the world’s worst violators of basic human rights have won seats on the commission, and current members include Sudan, which is carrying out genocide, and Nepal, whose monarch has suspended basic liberties.
Publications that customarily do not support the Bush administration or Bolton, including the New York Times and the Washington Post, have come out in support of Bolton’s efforts.
The Times declared in an editorial: "When it comes to reforming the disgraceful United Nations Human Rights Commission, America’s ambassador, Jon Bolton, is right.”
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
Today is Ash Wednesday. Which marks the beginning of Lent. You know what President Bush is giving up for Lent? Our seaports.
President Bush, talking about the port deal, he said we Americans have nothing to fear from the Dubai government running our ports. I know a good way for President Bush to convince everyone of that - let the Dubai government handle his security. Hey if it's good enough for us, it should be good enough for him.
President Bush made a surprise stop in Afghanistan today on his way to India. He didn’t want to. He bought his ticket on priceline.com.
He was only in Afghanistan for four hours. That may not sound like much, but it's more time than he spent in the Texas National Guard.
The forecast this week is a high of 34 and a low of 18. Be enough about the White House approval ratings.
President Bush’s approval rating has fallen to an all time low of 34%. In fact, his ratings are so low his new secret service code name is "NBC.”
Jason Lee is on the show tonight from "My Name is Earl”. He’s that really rare kind of actor. The kind that actually has a hit on NBC.
Letterman
It’s the beginning of Lent and Bode Miller has given up gold, silver and bronze.
Condoleezza Rice down in Washington had her workout at a gym taped for a show. She does a Republican workout. She bench presses bags of laundered cash.
She’s in great shape though. She tosses a medicine ball back and forth with Dick Cheney’s lesbian daughter.
Conan
President Bush made a surprise trip overseas today. It was a surprise trip to Afghanistan. He told everyone that we will not cut and run. He then got on Air Force One and left.
President Bush then went to India. He was met with protests there. As a result most Americans spent the day on hold with computer problems.
Leno
Today is Ash Wednesday. Which marks the beginning of Lent. You know what President Bush is giving up for Lent? Our seaports.
President Bush, talking about the port deal, he said we Americans have nothing to fear from the Dubai government running our ports. I know a good way for President Bush to convince everyone of that - let the Dubai government handle his security. Hey if it's good enough for us, it should be good enough for him.
President Bush made a surprise stop in Afghanistan today on his way to India. He didn’t want to. He bought his ticket on priceline.com.
He was only in Afghanistan for four hours. That may not sound like much, but it's more time than he spent in the Texas National Guard.
The forecast this week is a high of 34 and a low of 18. Be enough about the White House approval ratings.
President Bush’s approval rating has fallen to an all time low of 34%. In fact, his ratings are so low his new secret service code name is "NBC.”
Jason Lee is on the show tonight from "My Name is Earl”. He’s that really rare kind of actor. The kind that actually has a hit on NBC.
Letterman
It’s the beginning of Lent and Bode Miller has given up gold, silver and bronze.
Condoleezza Rice down in Washington had her workout at a gym taped for a show. She does a Republican workout. She bench presses bags of laundered cash.
She’s in great shape though. She tosses a medicine ball back and forth with Dick Cheney’s lesbian daughter.
Conan
President Bush made a surprise trip overseas today. It was a surprise trip to Afghanistan. He told everyone that we will not cut and run. He then got on Air Force One and left.
President Bush then went to India. He was met with protests there. As a result most Americans spent the day on hold with computer problems.
Wednesday, March 1, 2006
80% of U.S. Ports Already Foreign-Owned
Most of the terminals at America's major ports are already foreign-owned, according to a senior official with the largest U.S.-owned ports operator, SSA Marine.
In an interview with National Public Radio on Sunday, SSA Vice President Bob Waters explained that there are 15 major ports in the U.S., comprising about 100 terminals.
We operate seven of those terminals," he said, adding that the next biggest American ports operator, Maher Terminals, manages one terminal.
A dozen additional terminals nationwide are managed by city or state governments.
"Other than that," said Waters, "the rest of the terminals, which comprise about 80 percent of those terminals we're talking about, are operated by foreign entities, primarily shipping lines."
Interviewed on the same program, Joe King, former chief of U.S. Customs' Terrorism Unit, noted that the government of Singapore owns most of a company that operates terminals in Los Angeles and elsewhere.
Two Chinese companies, both with close ties to the Chinese government, manage terminals in New York, Long Beach, and other places, he said.
And the government of Venezuela owns all or part of marine terminal management at ports in Pennsylvania and Maine.
Asked if it was feasible for the relatively small U.S. ports industry to take over management of terminals that are currently foreign-owned - a position favored by Hillary Clinton and other port security critics - Peter Tirschwell, publisher of the Journal of Commerce, said no.
"It would be an extraordinary upheaval," he told NPR. "So large as to be difficult to even contemplate it."
Most of the terminals at America's major ports are already foreign-owned, according to a senior official with the largest U.S.-owned ports operator, SSA Marine.
In an interview with National Public Radio on Sunday, SSA Vice President Bob Waters explained that there are 15 major ports in the U.S., comprising about 100 terminals.
We operate seven of those terminals," he said, adding that the next biggest American ports operator, Maher Terminals, manages one terminal.
A dozen additional terminals nationwide are managed by city or state governments.
"Other than that," said Waters, "the rest of the terminals, which comprise about 80 percent of those terminals we're talking about, are operated by foreign entities, primarily shipping lines."
Interviewed on the same program, Joe King, former chief of U.S. Customs' Terrorism Unit, noted that the government of Singapore owns most of a company that operates terminals in Los Angeles and elsewhere.
Two Chinese companies, both with close ties to the Chinese government, manage terminals in New York, Long Beach, and other places, he said.
And the government of Venezuela owns all or part of marine terminal management at ports in Pennsylvania and Maine.
Asked if it was feasible for the relatively small U.S. ports industry to take over management of terminals that are currently foreign-owned - a position favored by Hillary Clinton and other port security critics - Peter Tirschwell, publisher of the Journal of Commerce, said no.
"It would be an extraordinary upheaval," he told NPR. "So large as to be difficult to even contemplate it."
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
Today was the big final day of Mardi Gras. The drinking, the naked women, the partying all night. Or as Bode Miller called it, "Olympic training”.
President Bush is on his way to India. I guess he had to go. Apparently he lost the lost the phone number for tech support.
President Bush is also going to visit Pakistan. I think he wants to put them in charge of our airport security.
According to a new CBS news poll Dick Cheney’s approval rating has dropped to a record low 18. Not percent. 18 people.
Former President Bill Clinton took out an ad. He wants to hire interns for his presidential library. He’s looking for 25 interns to fill 75 positions.
If you’d like to respond to the ad, go to the Lane Bryant website and click on the link.
One girl was so impressed with President Clinton she sat there during the whole interview with her mouth wide open. She was hired immediately.
It was announced today that the FCC is planning sanctions against three major networks as part of a crackdown after more violations of decency standards. They are cracking down on the three big networks. The good news for NBC - we are no longer one of the big three networks.
Leno
Today was the big final day of Mardi Gras. The drinking, the naked women, the partying all night. Or as Bode Miller called it, "Olympic training”.
President Bush is on his way to India. I guess he had to go. Apparently he lost the lost the phone number for tech support.
President Bush is also going to visit Pakistan. I think he wants to put them in charge of our airport security.
According to a new CBS news poll Dick Cheney’s approval rating has dropped to a record low 18. Not percent. 18 people.
Former President Bill Clinton took out an ad. He wants to hire interns for his presidential library. He’s looking for 25 interns to fill 75 positions.
If you’d like to respond to the ad, go to the Lane Bryant website and click on the link.
One girl was so impressed with President Clinton she sat there during the whole interview with her mouth wide open. She was hired immediately.
It was announced today that the FCC is planning sanctions against three major networks as part of a crackdown after more violations of decency standards. They are cracking down on the three big networks. The good news for NBC - we are no longer one of the big three networks.
