Thursday, May 31, 2007
Carter Urges 'Dialogue' in Venezuela
The Carter Center called for dialogue Thursday between President Hugo Chavez and opponents protesting his decision to force an opposition TV channel off the air, while calm returned to the streets after three days of demonstrations.
The Atlanta-based organization founded by former President Jimmy Carter expressed concern about the potential for escalating violence after the government halted broadcasts by Radio Caracas Television on Sunday. Police have repeatedly clashed with angry crowds hurling rocks and bottles since Chavez refused to renew the station's broadcast license.
"Healthy democracies require spaces for political dialogue and debate to allow divisions about the future direction of the country to be addressed in peaceful ways," the Carter Center said.
In parts of Caracas, meanwhile, Venezuelans walked to work along sidewalks littered with rocks and debris from the protests.
Opposition leader Manuel Rosales on Wednesday demanded the release of dozens of students jailed during clashes between protesters and police.
Rosales - the governor of western Zulia state who was defeated by Chavez in December elections - said protesters are demanding not only free speech but also the right to protest "peacefully and democratically."
He noted that a home video broadcast on the Globovision network showed unidentified men in the doorway of a government office, apparently Chavez allies, firing guns at unseen targets. "For that there is no justice?" he asked.
As he spoke, about 8,000 student protesters chanting "freedom!" marched through Caracas. Although the march was generally peaceful, there were several scuffles between students and Chavez supporters.
The Carter Center, which has observed past elections here, said it is concerned that "non-renewal of broadcast concessions for political reasons will have a chilling effect on free speech."
"A plurality of opinions should be protected," it said. "The right of dissent must be fiercely defended by every democratic government."
Chavez accused RCTV of helping incite a failed coup in 2002 and violating various broadcast laws. He said his decision to replace it with a new state-funded public channel, TVES, was a step toward "democratizing" the airwaves.
The Carter Center called for dialogue Thursday between President Hugo Chavez and opponents protesting his decision to force an opposition TV channel off the air, while calm returned to the streets after three days of demonstrations.
The Atlanta-based organization founded by former President Jimmy Carter expressed concern about the potential for escalating violence after the government halted broadcasts by Radio Caracas Television on Sunday. Police have repeatedly clashed with angry crowds hurling rocks and bottles since Chavez refused to renew the station's broadcast license.
"Healthy democracies require spaces for political dialogue and debate to allow divisions about the future direction of the country to be addressed in peaceful ways," the Carter Center said.
In parts of Caracas, meanwhile, Venezuelans walked to work along sidewalks littered with rocks and debris from the protests.
Opposition leader Manuel Rosales on Wednesday demanded the release of dozens of students jailed during clashes between protesters and police.
Rosales - the governor of western Zulia state who was defeated by Chavez in December elections - said protesters are demanding not only free speech but also the right to protest "peacefully and democratically."
He noted that a home video broadcast on the Globovision network showed unidentified men in the doorway of a government office, apparently Chavez allies, firing guns at unseen targets. "For that there is no justice?" he asked.
As he spoke, about 8,000 student protesters chanting "freedom!" marched through Caracas. Although the march was generally peaceful, there were several scuffles between students and Chavez supporters.
The Carter Center, which has observed past elections here, said it is concerned that "non-renewal of broadcast concessions for political reasons will have a chilling effect on free speech."
"A plurality of opinions should be protected," it said. "The right of dissent must be fiercely defended by every democratic government."
Chavez accused RCTV of helping incite a failed coup in 2002 and violating various broadcast laws. He said his decision to replace it with a new state-funded public channel, TVES, was a step toward "democratizing" the airwaves.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Al-Qaida Makes New 9/11 Threat
NewsMax - An American member of al-Qaida warned President Bush on Tuesday to end U.S. involvement in all Muslim lands or face an attack worse than the Sept. 11 suicide assault, according to a new videotape.
Wearing a white robe and a turban, Adam Yehiye Gadahn, who also goes by the name Azzam al-Amriki, said al-Qaida would not negotiate on its demands.
"Your failure to heed our demands ... means that you and your people will ... experience things which will make you forget all about the horrors of September 11th, Afghanistan and Iraq and Virginia Tech," he said in the seven-minute video.
Gadahn, who has been charged in a U.S. treason indictment with aiding al-Qaida, spoke in English and the video carried Arabic subtitles. The video appeared on a Web site often used by Islamic militants and carried the logo of al-Qaida's media wing, as-Sahab.
Gadahn, who appeared in an al-Qaida video last September in which he called on Americans to convert to Islam, demanded that Bush remove all U.S. military and spies from Islamic countries, free all Muslims from U.S. prisons and end support for Israel. He said a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq alone would not satisfy al-Qaida.
Ben Venzke at IntelCenter, a U.S. government contractor that monitors al-Qaida messages, said the group likely did not believe any of its demands would be met.
"It essentially allows al-Qaida to say that it has provided fair warning and is thus no longer responsible for the outcome," Venzke said in a statement.
Gadahn, a California native, is the first American to be charged with treason in more than 50 years and could face the death penalty if convicted. He also was indicted on a charge of providing material support to terrorists
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Hillary Clinton Wants a 'Village' Society
Presidential hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton outlined a broad economic vision Tuesday, saying it's time to replace an "on your own" society with one based on shared responsibility and prosperity.
The Democratic senator said what the Bush administration touts as an "ownership society" really is an "on your own" society that has widened the gap between rich and poor.
"I prefer a 'we're all in it together' society," she said. "I believe our government can once again work for all Americans. It can promote the great American tradition of opportunity for all and special privileges for none."
That means pairing growth with fairness, she said, to ensure that the middle-class succeeds in the global economy, not just corporate CEOs.
"There is no greater force for economic growth than free markets. But markets work best with rules that promote our values, protect our workers and give all people a chance to succeed," she said. "Fairness doesn't just happen. It requires the right government policies."
Clinton spoke at the Manchester School of Technology, which trains high school students for careers in the construction, automotive, graphic arts and other industries. The school highlighted one of the nine goals she outlined: increasing support for alternative schools and community colleges.
"We have sent a message to our young people that if you don't go to college ... that you're thought less of in America. We have to stop this," she said. "Our country cannot run without the people who have the skills that are taught in this school."
Beyond education, Clinton said she would reduce special breaks for corporations, eliminate tax incentives for companies that ship jobs overseas and open up CEO pay to greater public scrutiny.
Clinton also said she would help people save more money by expanding and simplifying the earned income tax credit; create new jobs by pursuing energy independence; and ensure that every American has affordable health insurance.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Schwarzenegger 'Green' Deals Questioned
Since he made California the first state to limit greenhouse gases, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has been signing agreements with other state and foreign governments to address global warming.
He has struck deals with Arizona, Oregon, New Mexico, New York, Utah and Washington. He signed one with the United Kingdom even before the California law came into being. And he has made deals with a state in Australia and a province in Canada, where he travels this week to sign two more.
But the Democrats who wrote and passed the global warming bill Schwarzenegger signed into law are not celebrating the governor's dealmaking.
While they appreciate the attention he is bringing to the issue, they say the deals are distracting from the hard work that must be done to put California's law into place.
Moreover, they worry that the governor is using the agreements to help shift the emphasis of the law from strict regulation to an emission trading system favored by businesses that could weaken it.
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez recently warned Schwarzenegger in a letter that his push for a carbon trading market that could include other states and countries was "premature and unnecessary."
"Much of your administration's recent time and attention is singularly focused on establishing a cap-and-trade program," Nunez wrote, referring to a system that would allow businesses to reduce their contributions to global warming by purchasing credits from other firms. "This was not the intent of the Legislature."
Schwarzenegger will sign agreements this week with Ontario and British Columbia during a three-day visit to Canada that begins Tuesday and includes stops in Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver. He also will promote California products and tourism with the state's second-largest trading partner.
Discussing ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will be one of the main topics.
The state's global warming law requires industries, such as utilities, oil and gas refineries and cement manufacturers, to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions over the next 13 years to what they were in 1990.
Scientists say the gases, mostly carbon dioxide, are trapping heat that is melting the polar ice caps and could lead to coastal flooding, drought and other environmental calamities.
While Schwarzenegger acknowledges the dangers, he says companies need flexibility to meet their emissions targets to stay competitive. And he has favored carbon trading markets, like the one being developed in Europe, over the regulatory approach in California's law.
Under a cap-and-trade system, companies that cannot meet their reduction targets would be allowed to buy credits from firms that exceeded their goals.
California's law allows such an approach to be studied, but it says developing regulations to cap emissions takes precedence.
Administration officials say they can develop the new regulations while also fostering future carbon trading markets around the world.
Many environmentalists are suspicious of emissions trading, especially if it means companies are buying credits from faraway places where it is hard to know whether reductions have truly taken place.
"It's a little bit like going on a diet and buying calories from other people," said John White, director of the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies. "The question is who is going to start eating less?"
Because no other state has adopted California's emissions caps, the agreements are largely symbolic, and their effects, if any, are years away.
Administration officials acknowledge the deals are not legally binding. But they say Schwarzenegger is pushing other states and countries to act on behalf of the environment.
The previous agreement with British Columbia, for example, is part of a collaboration with Oregon and Washington to extend a hydrogen highway from British Columbia to Baja California. Fueling stations would be built along the way, so that by 2010 a hydrogen-powered vehicle could travel that route.
Governments also are agreeing in principle to work on climate emission caps, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas tailpipe emission standards.
"You're getting states to make these commitments they wouldn't otherwise make for the sake of sharing some of the limelight with California," said Dan Skopec, undersecretary for the state Environmental Protection Agency.
But the governor's tactics have created concern even among environmentalists who generally support what Schwarzenegger is doing.
"When the Democrats say, 'Hey, governor. Keep your eyes on the prize.' That's important," said Karen Douglas, California legislative director for Environmental Defense.
She said the first order of business must be implementing California's global warming law the way it was written.
"It's our most important job right now," she said.
Since he made California the first state to limit greenhouse gases, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has been signing agreements with other state and foreign governments to address global warming.
He has struck deals with Arizona, Oregon, New Mexico, New York, Utah and Washington. He signed one with the United Kingdom even before the California law came into being. And he has made deals with a state in Australia and a province in Canada, where he travels this week to sign two more.
But the Democrats who wrote and passed the global warming bill Schwarzenegger signed into law are not celebrating the governor's dealmaking.
While they appreciate the attention he is bringing to the issue, they say the deals are distracting from the hard work that must be done to put California's law into place.
Moreover, they worry that the governor is using the agreements to help shift the emphasis of the law from strict regulation to an emission trading system favored by businesses that could weaken it.
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez recently warned Schwarzenegger in a letter that his push for a carbon trading market that could include other states and countries was "premature and unnecessary."
"Much of your administration's recent time and attention is singularly focused on establishing a cap-and-trade program," Nunez wrote, referring to a system that would allow businesses to reduce their contributions to global warming by purchasing credits from other firms. "This was not the intent of the Legislature."
Schwarzenegger will sign agreements this week with Ontario and British Columbia during a three-day visit to Canada that begins Tuesday and includes stops in Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver. He also will promote California products and tourism with the state's second-largest trading partner.
Discussing ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will be one of the main topics.
The state's global warming law requires industries, such as utilities, oil and gas refineries and cement manufacturers, to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions over the next 13 years to what they were in 1990.
Scientists say the gases, mostly carbon dioxide, are trapping heat that is melting the polar ice caps and could lead to coastal flooding, drought and other environmental calamities.
While Schwarzenegger acknowledges the dangers, he says companies need flexibility to meet their emissions targets to stay competitive. And he has favored carbon trading markets, like the one being developed in Europe, over the regulatory approach in California's law.
Under a cap-and-trade system, companies that cannot meet their reduction targets would be allowed to buy credits from firms that exceeded their goals.
California's law allows such an approach to be studied, but it says developing regulations to cap emissions takes precedence.
Administration officials say they can develop the new regulations while also fostering future carbon trading markets around the world.
Many environmentalists are suspicious of emissions trading, especially if it means companies are buying credits from faraway places where it is hard to know whether reductions have truly taken place.
"It's a little bit like going on a diet and buying calories from other people," said John White, director of the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies. "The question is who is going to start eating less?"
Because no other state has adopted California's emissions caps, the agreements are largely symbolic, and their effects, if any, are years away.
Administration officials acknowledge the deals are not legally binding. But they say Schwarzenegger is pushing other states and countries to act on behalf of the environment.
The previous agreement with British Columbia, for example, is part of a collaboration with Oregon and Washington to extend a hydrogen highway from British Columbia to Baja California. Fueling stations would be built along the way, so that by 2010 a hydrogen-powered vehicle could travel that route.
Governments also are agreeing in principle to work on climate emission caps, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas tailpipe emission standards.
"You're getting states to make these commitments they wouldn't otherwise make for the sake of sharing some of the limelight with California," said Dan Skopec, undersecretary for the state Environmental Protection Agency.
But the governor's tactics have created concern even among environmentalists who generally support what Schwarzenegger is doing.
"When the Democrats say, 'Hey, governor. Keep your eyes on the prize.' That's important," said Karen Douglas, California legislative director for Environmental Defense.
She said the first order of business must be implementing California's global warming law the way it was written.
"It's our most important job right now," she said.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Off On Global Warming Trip
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is on an overseas trip to embrace an audience and a topic for which President Bush has shown scant affection: "Old Europe" and global warming.
Pelosi, D-Calif., and seven other House members left Saturday for meetings with scientists and politicians in Greenland, Germany and Belgium on ways to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
The trip comes shortly before a climate change summit next month involving the leading industrialized nations and during a time of increased debate over what should succeed the Kyoto Protocol, a 1997 international treaty that caps the amount of carbon dioxide that can be emitted from power plants and factories in industrialized countries. It expires in 2012.
Bush rejected that accord, saying it would harm the U.S. economy and unfair excludes developing countries like China and India from its obligations. Pelosi, who strongly disagrees with that decision and many other of Bush's environmental policies, told The Associated Press on Friday that she said she wants to work with the administration rather than provoke it.
But Pelosi stopped short of condemning the president's call for slowing the nation's growth rate in carbon emissions, an approach that many say is too meek.
"I think there are better ideas," Pelosi said. "I want to keep the door completely open to working with the president on the issue of energy independence and global warming. ... There are plenty of areas where we can find common ground."
Since Democrats took over Congress in January, both the House and Senate have proposed to push the nation more aggressively to reduce carbon emissions.
Pelosi set up a new House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming and appointed Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., as its chairman. The committee cannot write legislation, but was created to study and offer recommendations on how to deal with global warming.
Markey said Saturday that contrary to the Bush administration, Europeans recognize the scientific consensus that the worst effects of global warming are yet to come if no action is taken.
"The administration needs to explain what alternative science it is still hanging its hat on, because most people believe that hat has already been blown away by overwhelming scientific evidence," Markey said.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee recently approved a bill to obligate the administration to send senior diplomats to international meetings on climate change "with instructions to secure binding commitments for reform," according to a committee statement.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is pushing a nonbinding resolution that would press the administration to work on several diplomatic fronts to combat global warming.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is on an overseas trip to embrace an audience and a topic for which President Bush has shown scant affection: "Old Europe" and global warming.
Pelosi, D-Calif., and seven other House members left Saturday for meetings with scientists and politicians in Greenland, Germany and Belgium on ways to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
The trip comes shortly before a climate change summit next month involving the leading industrialized nations and during a time of increased debate over what should succeed the Kyoto Protocol, a 1997 international treaty that caps the amount of carbon dioxide that can be emitted from power plants and factories in industrialized countries. It expires in 2012.
Bush rejected that accord, saying it would harm the U.S. economy and unfair excludes developing countries like China and India from its obligations. Pelosi, who strongly disagrees with that decision and many other of Bush's environmental policies, told The Associated Press on Friday that she said she wants to work with the administration rather than provoke it.
But Pelosi stopped short of condemning the president's call for slowing the nation's growth rate in carbon emissions, an approach that many say is too meek.
"I think there are better ideas," Pelosi said. "I want to keep the door completely open to working with the president on the issue of energy independence and global warming. ... There are plenty of areas where we can find common ground."
Since Democrats took over Congress in January, both the House and Senate have proposed to push the nation more aggressively to reduce carbon emissions.
Pelosi set up a new House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming and appointed Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., as its chairman. The committee cannot write legislation, but was created to study and offer recommendations on how to deal with global warming.
Markey said Saturday that contrary to the Bush administration, Europeans recognize the scientific consensus that the worst effects of global warming are yet to come if no action is taken.
"The administration needs to explain what alternative science it is still hanging its hat on, because most people believe that hat has already been blown away by overwhelming scientific evidence," Markey said.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee recently approved a bill to obligate the administration to send senior diplomats to international meetings on climate change "with instructions to secure binding commitments for reform," according to a committee statement.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is pushing a nonbinding resolution that would press the administration to work on several diplomatic fronts to combat global warming.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Hillary, Obama Defend 'No' Vote on Iraq
Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama forcefully defended their votes against paying for the Iraq war as the top Republican presidential candidates angrily accused the two of weakness on national security.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., assailed his Democratic foes for embracing "the policy of surrender," while Mitt Romney said the two showed a willingness to "abandon principle in favor of political positioning." Rudy Giuliani argued both "flip-flopped" and said: "They've gone from an anti-war position to an anti-military, anti-troops position."
Campaigning in Iowa, Clinton argued that she backs U.S. troops but it was time to stand firm as the four-year-old war rages on.
"I think it's important for someone like me who's been a strong supporter of the military and has worked hard to get our troops everything they need to start saying, 'Look, the best thing we can do for them is to get them out of the middle of this sectarian civil war,'" said the New York senator, who serves with McCain on the Armed Services Committee.
Her comments met with loud applause from several hundred people at a town meeting in Mason City.
Hours after the Senate vote, Democrats and Republicans unleashed critical, increasingly personal statements challenging their rivals - rhetoric certain to appeal to each party's core voters. McCain even went as far as to correct Obama's spelling of flak jacket.
Obama defended his vote as one for a new Iraq policy for the country and U.S. troops.
"So let's put aside the fear mongering and let's put aside the rhetoric and let's put aside the politics and let's come together and ... all of us support the troops," Obama told a labor gathering in Chicago as he called for bringing the troops home. "That's our message to George Bush. That's our message to John McCain. That's our message to Mitt Romney. That's our message to Republicans in Congress."
The Illinois senator, in a statement, said the Republican candidates "clearly believe the course we are on in Iraq is working, but I do not." He then pointed to McCain's recent visit to a Baghdad market under heavy guard as a reflection of a failing policy.
The seemingly endless back-and-forth between the GOP and Democratic contenders came a day after Congress sent President Bush legislation to pay for the war through September. It did not include a timetable for withdrawing troops that Democrats and anti-war activists had sought.
Both Clinton and Obama have faced intense pressure from the party's liberal wing and Democratic presidential challengers who urged opposition to the measure because it doesn't include a timeline to end the war.
One of those rivals, former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, criticized Congress' approval of the war funding bill Friday, saying: "Washington has failed America." He argued in Fort Madison, Iowa, that lawmakers had a mandate as a result of the last election and "that mandate was to stop this war."
The criticism from McCain, Romney and Giuliani served as red-meat rhetoric for the GOP base voters they are courting in their bids for the Republican nomination.
"What is Senator Obama and Senator Clinton's 'Plan B' if we withdraw?" McCain, who backed the measure, said in a telephone interview. "What are their options if the withdrawal fails and we have chaos and genocide?"
Yet, when pressed, McCain suggested he didn't have an alternative plan for success should Bush's recent troop buildup, which he supports, fail. "We are examining many other plans and none of the options are good," he said.
McCain also implied that the country would be less safe if Clinton or Obama became commander in chief.
In a telephone interview, Giuliani, the former New York City mayor, assailed Clinton and Obama for making "quite a significant flip flop" given, he said, that both have indicated in the past that they could be counted on to support troops.
"To switch positions like this and vote against supporting our troops shows that they are more and more in denial of the threat that exists," Giuliani said.
A week ago, Clinton and Obama voted to advance a measure that would cut off funding to force a troop withdrawal by March 2008. Last year, the two voted against setting a timetable for a pullout, and until recently had avoided any notion of eliminating war money.
Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama forcefully defended their votes against paying for the Iraq war as the top Republican presidential candidates angrily accused the two of weakness on national security.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., assailed his Democratic foes for embracing "the policy of surrender," while Mitt Romney said the two showed a willingness to "abandon principle in favor of political positioning." Rudy Giuliani argued both "flip-flopped" and said: "They've gone from an anti-war position to an anti-military, anti-troops position."
Campaigning in Iowa, Clinton argued that she backs U.S. troops but it was time to stand firm as the four-year-old war rages on.
"I think it's important for someone like me who's been a strong supporter of the military and has worked hard to get our troops everything they need to start saying, 'Look, the best thing we can do for them is to get them out of the middle of this sectarian civil war,'" said the New York senator, who serves with McCain on the Armed Services Committee.
Her comments met with loud applause from several hundred people at a town meeting in Mason City.
Hours after the Senate vote, Democrats and Republicans unleashed critical, increasingly personal statements challenging their rivals - rhetoric certain to appeal to each party's core voters. McCain even went as far as to correct Obama's spelling of flak jacket.
Obama defended his vote as one for a new Iraq policy for the country and U.S. troops.
"So let's put aside the fear mongering and let's put aside the rhetoric and let's put aside the politics and let's come together and ... all of us support the troops," Obama told a labor gathering in Chicago as he called for bringing the troops home. "That's our message to George Bush. That's our message to John McCain. That's our message to Mitt Romney. That's our message to Republicans in Congress."
The Illinois senator, in a statement, said the Republican candidates "clearly believe the course we are on in Iraq is working, but I do not." He then pointed to McCain's recent visit to a Baghdad market under heavy guard as a reflection of a failing policy.
The seemingly endless back-and-forth between the GOP and Democratic contenders came a day after Congress sent President Bush legislation to pay for the war through September. It did not include a timetable for withdrawing troops that Democrats and anti-war activists had sought.
Both Clinton and Obama have faced intense pressure from the party's liberal wing and Democratic presidential challengers who urged opposition to the measure because it doesn't include a timeline to end the war.
One of those rivals, former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, criticized Congress' approval of the war funding bill Friday, saying: "Washington has failed America." He argued in Fort Madison, Iowa, that lawmakers had a mandate as a result of the last election and "that mandate was to stop this war."
The criticism from McCain, Romney and Giuliani served as red-meat rhetoric for the GOP base voters they are courting in their bids for the Republican nomination.
"What is Senator Obama and Senator Clinton's 'Plan B' if we withdraw?" McCain, who backed the measure, said in a telephone interview. "What are their options if the withdrawal fails and we have chaos and genocide?"
Yet, when pressed, McCain suggested he didn't have an alternative plan for success should Bush's recent troop buildup, which he supports, fail. "We are examining many other plans and none of the options are good," he said.
McCain also implied that the country would be less safe if Clinton or Obama became commander in chief.
In a telephone interview, Giuliani, the former New York City mayor, assailed Clinton and Obama for making "quite a significant flip flop" given, he said, that both have indicated in the past that they could be counted on to support troops.
"To switch positions like this and vote against supporting our troops shows that they are more and more in denial of the threat that exists," Giuliani said.
A week ago, Clinton and Obama voted to advance a measure that would cut off funding to force a troop withdrawal by March 2008. Last year, the two voted against setting a timetable for a pullout, and until recently had avoided any notion of eliminating war money.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Hillary, Obama 'Waving White Flag'
Republican presidential candidate John McCain assailed Democratic rivals Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama on Friday for voting against legislation paying for the Iraq war, accusing them of embracing "the policy of surrender."
McCain, an Arizona senator who backed the measure, called their opposition to the spending bill "the equivalent of waving a white flag to al-Qaida."
"I was very disappointed to see Senator Obama and Senator Clinton embrace the policy of surrender by voting against funds to support our brave men and women fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan," McCain said in a statement.
Another Republican hopeful, Mitt Romney, also criticized the two - and used the largely derided term of "Democrat Party" instead of Democratic Party.
"Voting against our troops during a time of war shows the American people that the leaders of the Democrat Party will abandon principle in favor of political positioning," said Romney, a former Massachusetts governor.
On Thursday night, Clinton and Obama voted against a measure in the Senate that provides money for the war through September but that lacks a timeline for troop withdrawal, a provision for which anti-war activists had fought.
Clinton, a New York senator and front-runner for the Democratic nomination, explained that she fully supports U.S. forces, but the measure "fails to compel the president to give our troops a new strategy in Iraq."
"Enough is enough," Obama, an Illinois senator, declared, adding that President Bush should not get "a blank check to continue down this same, disastrous path."
Both Clinton and Obama have faced intense pressure from the party's liberal wing and Democratic presidential challengers who urged opposition to the measure because it doesn't include a timeline to pull forces out of Iraq.
A week ago, the two voted to advance a measure that would force the withdrawal of troops by cutting off funding. Last year, the two voted against setting a timetable for a pull out.
With their "no" votes, Clinton and Obama earned praise from the party's left flank, which has been pushing for a quick end to the war and is an important part of the Democratic base in the primaries.
But the two also opened themselves up to criticism from Republicans that they were denying 165,000 troops the resources they need - an argument that could be damaging in a general election.
Republican presidential candidate John McCain assailed Democratic rivals Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama on Friday for voting against legislation paying for the Iraq war, accusing them of embracing "the policy of surrender."
McCain, an Arizona senator who backed the measure, called their opposition to the spending bill "the equivalent of waving a white flag to al-Qaida."
"I was very disappointed to see Senator Obama and Senator Clinton embrace the policy of surrender by voting against funds to support our brave men and women fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan," McCain said in a statement.
Another Republican hopeful, Mitt Romney, also criticized the two - and used the largely derided term of "Democrat Party" instead of Democratic Party.
"Voting against our troops during a time of war shows the American people that the leaders of the Democrat Party will abandon principle in favor of political positioning," said Romney, a former Massachusetts governor.
On Thursday night, Clinton and Obama voted against a measure in the Senate that provides money for the war through September but that lacks a timeline for troop withdrawal, a provision for which anti-war activists had fought.
Clinton, a New York senator and front-runner for the Democratic nomination, explained that she fully supports U.S. forces, but the measure "fails to compel the president to give our troops a new strategy in Iraq."
"Enough is enough," Obama, an Illinois senator, declared, adding that President Bush should not get "a blank check to continue down this same, disastrous path."
Both Clinton and Obama have faced intense pressure from the party's liberal wing and Democratic presidential challengers who urged opposition to the measure because it doesn't include a timeline to pull forces out of Iraq.
A week ago, the two voted to advance a measure that would force the withdrawal of troops by cutting off funding. Last year, the two voted against setting a timetable for a pull out.
With their "no" votes, Clinton and Obama earned praise from the party's left flank, which has been pushing for a quick end to the war and is an important part of the Democratic base in the primaries.
But the two also opened themselves up to criticism from Republicans that they were denying 165,000 troops the resources they need - an argument that could be damaging in a general election.
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
Congratulations to republican presidential candidate Rudolph Giuliani. He celebrated a wedding anniversary today. He also has another one tomorrow, and two on Monday, if I’m not mistaken. Very busy weekend.
It’s starting to get nasty out there on the campaign trail. A new book out by veteran Democratic strategist Robert Shrum claims when asked about gay rights, John Edwards said he was "not comfortable around those people." Do you believe that? How does a guy who spends 400 bucks to get his hair styled not like gay people?
How about this? At a charity auction yesterday someone paid $350,000 to be kissed by George Clooney. I had no idea Ryan Seacrest had that kind of money.
Some of Michael Jackson’s personal processions will be auctioned off in Las Vegas the end of this month. The one thing that Michael won’t be parting with though, is his Pinocchio doll. Do you know about this? Michael will not sell his Pinocchio doll. You know, on the off chance, that one day it might became a real live boy.
Letterman
Beautiful day today. It’s like Regis Philbin: Sunny and 84.
In New York City, it’s Fleet Week. The United States naval fleet is here. They’re here to keep peace on "The View.”
Congratulations to Jordin Sparks. She’s the new American Idol. The moment was spoiled when Paula Abdul tripped over her.
Conan
Last night 17-year-old Jordin Sparks won "American Idol.” She’s the youngest winner ever. To give you some idea how young she is, she called Simon Cowell, "Mr. A-hole.”
Paris Hilton has been spotted carrying a Bible around. A lot of people think she’s only trying to improve her image. Paris denied this and said, "I’m very religious. In fact, I scream out ‘Oh God’ more than anyone.”
Apple Computer is suing the manufacturer of a vibrator called "The Igasm” because they say it infringes on the IPod’s copyright. Legal experts say Apple has a good case because the vibrator holds up to 15 songs.
A 60-year-old woman who just gave birth to twins, says, "Age has been redefined.” Her doctor said, "That’s easy for you to say. You didn’t have to see what I was looking at."
Ferguson
Michael Jackson is in the Middle East. Bahrain. He’s appearing at a private birthday party for $10 million. It’s a children’s birthday party. It’s only $10 million, but it’s all Michael could afford.
A guy in Cairo tried to sneak 700 snakes on to a plane. I wonder where he got the idea for snakes on a plane.
Congratulations to Vice President Dick Cheney. Yesterday his daughter gave birth to a baby boy. Isn’t his daughter a . . . uh . . . I guess I know a lot less than I thought I knew.
Tomorrow is the 30th anniversary of the premier of "Star Wars.” They’re having a huge convention with 10,000 fans. Last night at the convention center they had a 17-hour marathon screening of all the "Star Wars” films. It’s amazing how much fun you can have when you’re not tied down to a girlfriend, or your own apartment, or self esteem . . .
Leno
Congratulations to republican presidential candidate Rudolph Giuliani. He celebrated a wedding anniversary today. He also has another one tomorrow, and two on Monday, if I’m not mistaken. Very busy weekend.
It’s starting to get nasty out there on the campaign trail. A new book out by veteran Democratic strategist Robert Shrum claims when asked about gay rights, John Edwards said he was "not comfortable around those people." Do you believe that? How does a guy who spends 400 bucks to get his hair styled not like gay people?
How about this? At a charity auction yesterday someone paid $350,000 to be kissed by George Clooney. I had no idea Ryan Seacrest had that kind of money.
Some of Michael Jackson’s personal processions will be auctioned off in Las Vegas the end of this month. The one thing that Michael won’t be parting with though, is his Pinocchio doll. Do you know about this? Michael will not sell his Pinocchio doll. You know, on the off chance, that one day it might became a real live boy.
Letterman
Beautiful day today. It’s like Regis Philbin: Sunny and 84.
In New York City, it’s Fleet Week. The United States naval fleet is here. They’re here to keep peace on "The View.”
Congratulations to Jordin Sparks. She’s the new American Idol. The moment was spoiled when Paula Abdul tripped over her.
Conan
Last night 17-year-old Jordin Sparks won "American Idol.” She’s the youngest winner ever. To give you some idea how young she is, she called Simon Cowell, "Mr. A-hole.”
Paris Hilton has been spotted carrying a Bible around. A lot of people think she’s only trying to improve her image. Paris denied this and said, "I’m very religious. In fact, I scream out ‘Oh God’ more than anyone.”
Apple Computer is suing the manufacturer of a vibrator called "The Igasm” because they say it infringes on the IPod’s copyright. Legal experts say Apple has a good case because the vibrator holds up to 15 songs.
A 60-year-old woman who just gave birth to twins, says, "Age has been redefined.” Her doctor said, "That’s easy for you to say. You didn’t have to see what I was looking at."
Ferguson
Michael Jackson is in the Middle East. Bahrain. He’s appearing at a private birthday party for $10 million. It’s a children’s birthday party. It’s only $10 million, but it’s all Michael could afford.
A guy in Cairo tried to sneak 700 snakes on to a plane. I wonder where he got the idea for snakes on a plane.
Congratulations to Vice President Dick Cheney. Yesterday his daughter gave birth to a baby boy. Isn’t his daughter a . . . uh . . . I guess I know a lot less than I thought I knew.
Tomorrow is the 30th anniversary of the premier of "Star Wars.” They’re having a huge convention with 10,000 fans. Last night at the convention center they had a 17-hour marathon screening of all the "Star Wars” films. It’s amazing how much fun you can have when you’re not tied down to a girlfriend, or your own apartment, or self esteem . . .
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Iran: 'Oceans of Nations' Will 'Uproot' Israel
NewsMax -Iran's hard-line president warned Israel on Thursday that other nations in the region would "uproot" the Jewish state if it attacked Lebanon in the summer.
"If you think that by bombing and assassinating Palestinian leaders you are preparing ground for new attacks on Lebanon in the summer, I am telling you that you are seriously wrong," President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told a rally in the city of Isfahan.
"If this year you repeat the same mistake of the last year, the ocean of nations of the region will get angry and will uproot the Zionist regime."
NewsMax -Iran's hard-line president warned Israel on Thursday that other nations in the region would "uproot" the Jewish state if it attacked Lebanon in the summer.
"If you think that by bombing and assassinating Palestinian leaders you are preparing ground for new attacks on Lebanon in the summer, I am telling you that you are seriously wrong," President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told a rally in the city of Isfahan.
"If this year you repeat the same mistake of the last year, the ocean of nations of the region will get angry and will uproot the Zionist regime."
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
Gasoline reached an all time high yesterday. It’s unbelievable. Gas is so expensive in Malibu, I actually some straight guys rollerblading.
Over $4 a gallon in Beverly Hills. You know the company BP. You know what BP stands for? Bend over pal!
President Bush was caught driving his truck without his seatbelt, the other day, at the ranch. That wasn’t even the dangerous part. The dangerous part was Dick Cheney was riding shotgun.
Did you see Paris walking around with the Bible? It wasn’t even the Bible. It’s was a book called "The Bible for Dummies.”
Letterman
Here’s how lovely it is today here in New York City. Earlier today, Jason Giambi tested positive for Hawaiian Punch.
It’s Fleet Week. Everyone’s all excited. The hookers in Times Square were advertising their prices in semaphore.
It’s the only time of the year when people don’t make fun of me when I go out in my sailor suit.
How about this? A 60-year-old woman gave birth with twins. She was in labor for 16 years. The kids came out and asked for the car keys.
Conan
When former N.J. Gov. Jim McGreevey’s wife found out her husband was gay, she went to Hillary Clinton for advice. Hillary, said, "Gay! I wish I had your problem.”
Iraqi leader Jalal Talabani has come to the United States and checked into a weight loss clinic because he’s dangerously obese. A spokesperson says you can’t blame the leader of Iraq for eating every meal like it’s his last.
Yesterday in New Jersey, a 60-year-old woman became the oldest woman to give birth to a pair of twins. Afterwards, the 60-year-old woman said, "It’s nice bouncing something on my knees other than my breasts.
Paris Hilton is going to jail soon. It’s the craze that’s sweeping the nation. She’s carrying a Bible around. Experts say it’s because she’s trying to make people see her in a new light. I think it’s working too, because everywhere Paris goes people say, "Look — that skank is carrying a Bible!”
Ferguson
I had to see an orthodontist today. Apparently I need implants in my mouth. It sounds better than it is.
Yeah, I need implants, and the orthodontist needs a new boat.
Today is the last day of sweeps. That’s when the TV networks put on their best shows to entice the advertisers. If you think tonight’s show is crap, wait until tomorrow.
My friend Drew Carey — it’s his birthday. Drew is 49. Across the waist.
Kimmel
The votes have been counted. After 44 grueling weeks of karaoke and more than 5,000 close encounters with Simon Cowell’s nipples, we have a new American Idol.
It’s hard to believe the season’s really over. It seems like just yesterday that Sanjaya was winning our hearts and poisoning our ears.
The real showdown was on "The View” this morning. When Elisabeth Hasselbeck announced that she was pregnant last month, Rosie O’Donnell announced on her blog that she wouldn’t fight with her anymore, because obviously when someone is pregnant, they can get upset, and there’s always the danger that Rosie might eat the baby.
Leno
Gasoline reached an all time high yesterday. It’s unbelievable. Gas is so expensive in Malibu, I actually some straight guys rollerblading.
Over $4 a gallon in Beverly Hills. You know the company BP. You know what BP stands for? Bend over pal!
President Bush was caught driving his truck without his seatbelt, the other day, at the ranch. That wasn’t even the dangerous part. The dangerous part was Dick Cheney was riding shotgun.
Did you see Paris walking around with the Bible? It wasn’t even the Bible. It’s was a book called "The Bible for Dummies.”
Letterman
Here’s how lovely it is today here in New York City. Earlier today, Jason Giambi tested positive for Hawaiian Punch.
It’s Fleet Week. Everyone’s all excited. The hookers in Times Square were advertising their prices in semaphore.
It’s the only time of the year when people don’t make fun of me when I go out in my sailor suit.
How about this? A 60-year-old woman gave birth with twins. She was in labor for 16 years. The kids came out and asked for the car keys.
Conan
When former N.J. Gov. Jim McGreevey’s wife found out her husband was gay, she went to Hillary Clinton for advice. Hillary, said, "Gay! I wish I had your problem.”
Iraqi leader Jalal Talabani has come to the United States and checked into a weight loss clinic because he’s dangerously obese. A spokesperson says you can’t blame the leader of Iraq for eating every meal like it’s his last.
Yesterday in New Jersey, a 60-year-old woman became the oldest woman to give birth to a pair of twins. Afterwards, the 60-year-old woman said, "It’s nice bouncing something on my knees other than my breasts.
Paris Hilton is going to jail soon. It’s the craze that’s sweeping the nation. She’s carrying a Bible around. Experts say it’s because she’s trying to make people see her in a new light. I think it’s working too, because everywhere Paris goes people say, "Look — that skank is carrying a Bible!”
Ferguson
I had to see an orthodontist today. Apparently I need implants in my mouth. It sounds better than it is.
Yeah, I need implants, and the orthodontist needs a new boat.
Today is the last day of sweeps. That’s when the TV networks put on their best shows to entice the advertisers. If you think tonight’s show is crap, wait until tomorrow.
My friend Drew Carey — it’s his birthday. Drew is 49. Across the waist.
Kimmel
The votes have been counted. After 44 grueling weeks of karaoke and more than 5,000 close encounters with Simon Cowell’s nipples, we have a new American Idol.
It’s hard to believe the season’s really over. It seems like just yesterday that Sanjaya was winning our hearts and poisoning our ears.
The real showdown was on "The View” this morning. When Elisabeth Hasselbeck announced that she was pregnant last month, Rosie O’Donnell announced on her blog that she wouldn’t fight with her anymore, because obviously when someone is pregnant, they can get upset, and there’s always the danger that Rosie might eat the baby.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
Earlier today, President Bush unveiled his tough new immigration policy. He wants to deport Jimmy Carter.
I guess you know by now, over the weekend, Jimmy Carter called President Bush and his administration the worst in history. President Bush’s approval numbers have dropped as low as 28 percent. That’s the lowest for any president since . . . Jimmy Carter, so he knows what he’s talking about.
It’s been a rough week for President Bush. He was caught driving, by reporters, not wearing his seatbelt. He was down on his ranch, driving around without his seatbelt on. His aide says that he just refuses to buckle up. You know, Bill Clinton had the exact same problem.
Democrats announced that they are going to have six debates in six different cities all around the country. The good news . . . Hillary Clinton will use a different accent for each city.
Letterman
It’s Fleet Week. There will be ships in the harbor until Memorial Day or until they’re stolen.
New York City is going green. All the cabs are converting to hybrids. I was in a low-emission cab this morning. I wish I could say the same for my driver.
Did you hear about Paula Abdul? She tripped over her Chihuahua and broke her nose. She’s going to be fine, but the doctor told her to wait at least six weeks before having sex with a contestant.
She broke her nose, but the good news is she did not spill her gin and tonic.
Letterman's Top Ten
Top Ten Suprises In Al Gore's New Book (Presented by Charles Barkley)
10. Dedicated to his "soulmate" Lindsay Lohan
9. 52 chapters . . . to match his waist size
8. Chastises Bill Clinton for not sharing the hot intern action
7. After the 2000 election, shaved his head and checked into rehab
6. All proceeds go to Paris Hilton's legal defense fund
5. The threat that keeps him up at night? A massive Fritos shortage
4. In his opinion there's no species more endangered than the Yankees pitching staff
3. Besides the internet, also claims to have invented Keno
2. If Blake loses "American Idol," plans to appeal to the Supreme Court
1. Brags that he has now written more books than President Bush has read
Conan
All the presidential candidates are campaigning hard. Barack Obama recently spent two days campaigning in New Hampshire. Every where he went Barack was greeted with "Go Barack,” "Beat Hillary,” and "Hey, look — it’s a black guy!”
The president of Iraq, Jalal Talabani, is apparently dangerously obese; so he came to the United States to check into a weight loss clinic. Talabani says he came here because "America may not know how to run Iraq, but they sure as hell know how to run a fat camp.”
A new comic book has come out that features Latino super heroes. Apparently the Latino Batman lives in Cuba and drives a ’63 Chevy.
Paula Abdul has apparently broken her nose after tripping over her dog. When asked how the accident happened, Paula said, "My dog was trying to drink out of the same toilet I was throwing up in.”
Ferguson
New York City announced they are making all the taxi cabs hybrids. This is a big step toward eliminating pollution . . . Now all they need to do is get the drivers to wear deodorant, get the people to stop urinating in street.
The whole place will smell like Ryan Seacrest’s handbag!
The first "American Idol” finale was on tonight and I watched it. The sparkly outfits, the tears, the highlighted hair — and that’s just Ryan Seacrest!
Kimmel
It's night two for Ozzie Osbourne. Ozzie was here with us last night, and unfortunately, I couldn’t understand most of what he said, so tonight we’re going to do it over again.
Paula Abdul tripped trying not to step on her Chihuahua Tulip, and she broke her nose. They’re saying this is the most serious Chihuahua-related incident since Paris Hilton tripped over Tinkerbell and fell into a sex video.
I saw a shocking picture of her today. She was not only carrying books, one of the books is the Bible. I’m pretty sure she stole it from one of her parents’ hotel room.
She’s been carrying these books around for a couple of days now. She keeps trying to stuff them into the VCR.
Leno
Earlier today, President Bush unveiled his tough new immigration policy. He wants to deport Jimmy Carter.
I guess you know by now, over the weekend, Jimmy Carter called President Bush and his administration the worst in history. President Bush’s approval numbers have dropped as low as 28 percent. That’s the lowest for any president since . . . Jimmy Carter, so he knows what he’s talking about.
It’s been a rough week for President Bush. He was caught driving, by reporters, not wearing his seatbelt. He was down on his ranch, driving around without his seatbelt on. His aide says that he just refuses to buckle up. You know, Bill Clinton had the exact same problem.
Democrats announced that they are going to have six debates in six different cities all around the country. The good news . . . Hillary Clinton will use a different accent for each city.
Letterman
It’s Fleet Week. There will be ships in the harbor until Memorial Day or until they’re stolen.
New York City is going green. All the cabs are converting to hybrids. I was in a low-emission cab this morning. I wish I could say the same for my driver.
Did you hear about Paula Abdul? She tripped over her Chihuahua and broke her nose. She’s going to be fine, but the doctor told her to wait at least six weeks before having sex with a contestant.
She broke her nose, but the good news is she did not spill her gin and tonic.
Letterman's Top Ten
Top Ten Suprises In Al Gore's New Book (Presented by Charles Barkley)
10. Dedicated to his "soulmate" Lindsay Lohan
9. 52 chapters . . . to match his waist size
8. Chastises Bill Clinton for not sharing the hot intern action
7. After the 2000 election, shaved his head and checked into rehab
6. All proceeds go to Paris Hilton's legal defense fund
5. The threat that keeps him up at night? A massive Fritos shortage
4. In his opinion there's no species more endangered than the Yankees pitching staff
3. Besides the internet, also claims to have invented Keno
2. If Blake loses "American Idol," plans to appeal to the Supreme Court
1. Brags that he has now written more books than President Bush has read
Conan
All the presidential candidates are campaigning hard. Barack Obama recently spent two days campaigning in New Hampshire. Every where he went Barack was greeted with "Go Barack,” "Beat Hillary,” and "Hey, look — it’s a black guy!”
The president of Iraq, Jalal Talabani, is apparently dangerously obese; so he came to the United States to check into a weight loss clinic. Talabani says he came here because "America may not know how to run Iraq, but they sure as hell know how to run a fat camp.”
A new comic book has come out that features Latino super heroes. Apparently the Latino Batman lives in Cuba and drives a ’63 Chevy.
Paula Abdul has apparently broken her nose after tripping over her dog. When asked how the accident happened, Paula said, "My dog was trying to drink out of the same toilet I was throwing up in.”
Ferguson
New York City announced they are making all the taxi cabs hybrids. This is a big step toward eliminating pollution . . . Now all they need to do is get the drivers to wear deodorant, get the people to stop urinating in street.
The whole place will smell like Ryan Seacrest’s handbag!
The first "American Idol” finale was on tonight and I watched it. The sparkly outfits, the tears, the highlighted hair — and that’s just Ryan Seacrest!
Kimmel
It's night two for Ozzie Osbourne. Ozzie was here with us last night, and unfortunately, I couldn’t understand most of what he said, so tonight we’re going to do it over again.
Paula Abdul tripped trying not to step on her Chihuahua Tulip, and she broke her nose. They’re saying this is the most serious Chihuahua-related incident since Paris Hilton tripped over Tinkerbell and fell into a sex video.
I saw a shocking picture of her today. She was not only carrying books, one of the books is the Bible. I’m pretty sure she stole it from one of her parents’ hotel room.
She’s been carrying these books around for a couple of days now. She keeps trying to stuff them into the VCR.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Jimmy Carter 'Worst' in U.S. History
Former President Carter recently lashed out at the Bush administration, calling it "the worst in history" in international relations.
But Investor's Business Daily believes the "worst" label applies to Carter.
In an editorial headlined "Carter: Our Worst Ex-President?" the newspaper slams the ex-president for his book "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid," saying "Carter has deservedly been hammered for his twisted anti-Israel beliefs. Now, his namesake Carter Center has been rocked by the departure of a number of well-respected board members, angry over the book."
Calling the book "a doozy," IBD says it is permeated with anti-Israel bias. It also rips Carter for telling a "truly big whopper" in claiming that the late Yasser Arafat, Hamas and others in the Palestinian leadership are men of peace.
"This is an absurdity, by any stretch of the imagination. These are men of terror, and should be treated as such," IBD says.
"Carter on page 62 recounts a meeting with Yasser Arafat in 1990. He quotes Arafat, uncritically, saying: 'The PLO has never advocated the annihilation of Israel.' Arafat blames the idea on 'Zionists.'
"Since Carter lets this lie go completely unchallenged, he must believe it. In fact, the very reason for the PLO's founding was to eliminate Israel. There are many other lies, large and small."
The editorial, which kicks off a 10-part series about Carter, concludes:
"We're pretty sure Carter's reputation will remain in tatters, given his anti-Israel diatribes. The peanut farmer from Georgia, once the leader of the free world, now seems a very small man indeed."
The 10-part series also states:
"So Jimmy Carter calls the Bush administration "the worst in history." This from the man who wrecked the world's greatest economy and made a nuclear Iran and North Korea possible."
"When it comes to economic performance, there's no contest: Apart from the early years of the Depression, Jimmy Carter's brief tenure as president was the worst in the 20th century."
Former President Carter recently lashed out at the Bush administration, calling it "the worst in history" in international relations.
But Investor's Business Daily believes the "worst" label applies to Carter.
In an editorial headlined "Carter: Our Worst Ex-President?" the newspaper slams the ex-president for his book "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid," saying "Carter has deservedly been hammered for his twisted anti-Israel beliefs. Now, his namesake Carter Center has been rocked by the departure of a number of well-respected board members, angry over the book."
Calling the book "a doozy," IBD says it is permeated with anti-Israel bias. It also rips Carter for telling a "truly big whopper" in claiming that the late Yasser Arafat, Hamas and others in the Palestinian leadership are men of peace.
"This is an absurdity, by any stretch of the imagination. These are men of terror, and should be treated as such," IBD says.
"Carter on page 62 recounts a meeting with Yasser Arafat in 1990. He quotes Arafat, uncritically, saying: 'The PLO has never advocated the annihilation of Israel.' Arafat blames the idea on 'Zionists.'
"Since Carter lets this lie go completely unchallenged, he must believe it. In fact, the very reason for the PLO's founding was to eliminate Israel. There are many other lies, large and small."
The editorial, which kicks off a 10-part series about Carter, concludes:
"We're pretty sure Carter's reputation will remain in tatters, given his anti-Israel diatribes. The peanut farmer from Georgia, once the leader of the free world, now seems a very small man indeed."
The 10-part series also states:
"So Jimmy Carter calls the Bush administration "the worst in history." This from the man who wrecked the world's greatest economy and made a nuclear Iran and North Korea possible."
"When it comes to economic performance, there's no contest: Apart from the early years of the Depression, Jimmy Carter's brief tenure as president was the worst in the 20th century."
Monday, May 21, 2007
Iran to Buy Russian Air Defense System Via Syria
Syria has agreed to supply Iran with at least 10 out of 50 air defense systems that Damascus is in the process of buying from Russia, Jane's Defense Weekly reported in this week's edition.
The weekly publication quoted a source close to the deal as saying that while most of the Pantsyr-S1E systems were earmarked for Syrian Air Defense Command, "the end user for 10 of the systems is Tehran."
The source said Moscow had not been officially notified of the reported Syrian arrangement with Tehran, which flowed from a November 2005 strategic accord between the two countries on military and technological cooperation.
Jane's said Iran would take delivery of the systems in late 2008. To reward Syria for its middleman role, Tehran would part-finance Syria's Pantsyrs as well as paying for its own.
Iran is locked in confrontation with the United States over its developing nuclear program and delivered its latest warning to Washington last week that it would retaliate severely if attacked.
Iran denies U.S. accusations that it is trying to build atomic weapons under cover of a civilian nuclear program.
Washington emphasises it wants to resolve the standoff through diplomacy, but has not ruled out military action to destroy Iran's nuclear infrastructure.
Jane's said Syria struck a $730 million deal with Russia earlier this year for some 50 Pantsyr-S1E self-propelled short-range gun and missile air defense systems.
Russia, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council with veto power, is a key player in international diplomacy over Iran's nuclear ambitions.
A Security Council resolution in March urged all states to exercise "vigilance and restraint" in the supply, sale or transfer of weaponry to Iran, including missile systems.
Syria has agreed to supply Iran with at least 10 out of 50 air defense systems that Damascus is in the process of buying from Russia, Jane's Defense Weekly reported in this week's edition.
The weekly publication quoted a source close to the deal as saying that while most of the Pantsyr-S1E systems were earmarked for Syrian Air Defense Command, "the end user for 10 of the systems is Tehran."
The source said Moscow had not been officially notified of the reported Syrian arrangement with Tehran, which flowed from a November 2005 strategic accord between the two countries on military and technological cooperation.
Jane's said Iran would take delivery of the systems in late 2008. To reward Syria for its middleman role, Tehran would part-finance Syria's Pantsyrs as well as paying for its own.
Iran is locked in confrontation with the United States over its developing nuclear program and delivered its latest warning to Washington last week that it would retaliate severely if attacked.
Iran denies U.S. accusations that it is trying to build atomic weapons under cover of a civilian nuclear program.
Washington emphasises it wants to resolve the standoff through diplomacy, but has not ruled out military action to destroy Iran's nuclear infrastructure.
Jane's said Syria struck a $730 million deal with Russia earlier this year for some 50 Pantsyr-S1E self-propelled short-range gun and missile air defense systems.
Russia, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council with veto power, is a key player in international diplomacy over Iran's nuclear ambitions.
A Security Council resolution in March urged all states to exercise "vigilance and restraint" in the supply, sale or transfer of weaponry to Iran, including missile systems.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Younger U.S. Muslims Back Suicide Attacks
One in four younger U.S. Muslims say suicide bombings to defend their religion are acceptable at least in some circumstances, though most Muslim Americans overwhelmingly reject the tactic and are critical of Islamic extremism and al-Qaida, a poll says.
The survey by the Pew Research Center, one of the most exhaustive ever of the country's Muslims, revealed a community that in many ways blends comfortably into society. Its largely mainstream members express nearly as much happiness with their lives and communities as the general public does, show a broad willingness to adopt American customs, and have income and education levels similar to others in the U.S.
Even so, the survey revealed noteworthy pockets of discontent.
While nearly 80 percent of U.S. Muslims say suicide bombings of civilians to defend Islam can not be justified, 13 percent say they can be, at least rarely.
That sentiment is strongest among those younger than 30. Two percent of them say it can often be justified, 13 percent say sometimes and 11 percent say rarely.
"It is a hair-raising number," said Radwan Masmoudi, president of the Washington-based Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy, which promotes the compatibility of Islam with democracy.
He said most supporters of the attacks likely assumed the context was a fight against occupation - a term Muslims often use to describe the conflict with Israel.
U.S. Muslims have growing Internet and television access to extreme ideologies, he said, adding: "People, especially younger people, are susceptible to these ideas."
Federal officials have warned that the U.S. must be on guard against homegrown terrorism, as the British suffered with the London transit bombings of 2005.
Even so, U.S. Muslims are far less accepting of suicide attacks than Muslims in many other nations. In surveys Pew conducted last year, support in some Muslim countries exceeded 50 percent, while it was considered justifiable by about one in four Muslims in Britain and Spain, and one in three in France.
"We have crazies just like other faiths have them," said Eide Alawan, who directs interfaith outreach at the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Mich., one of the nation's largest mosques. He said killing innocent people contradicts Islam.
Andrew Kohut, Pew director, called support for the attacks "one of the few trouble spots" in the survey.
The question did not specify where a suicide attack might occur, who might carry it out or what was meant by using a bombing to "defend Islam."
In other findings:
Only 5 percent of U.S. Muslims expressed favorable views of the terrorist group al-Qaida, though about a fourth did not express an opinion.
Six in 10 said they are concerned about a rise in Islamic extremism in the U.S., while three in four expressed similar worries about extremism around the world.
Yet only one in four consider the U.S. war on terrorism a sincere attempt to curtail international terror. Only 40 percent said they believe Arab men carried out the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
By six to one, they say the U.S. was wrong to invade Iraq, while a third say the same about Afghanistan - far deeper than the opposition expressed by the general U.S. public.
Just over half said it has been harder being a U.S. Muslim since the 9/11 attacks, especially the better educated, higher income, more religious and young. Nearly a third of those who flew in the past year say they underwent extra screening because they are Muslim.
The survey estimates there are roughly 2.35 million Muslim Americans. It found that among adults, two-thirds are from abroad while a fifth are U.S.-born blacks.
By law, the Census Bureau does not ask about peoples' religions.
Telephone interviews were conducted with 1,050 Muslim adults from January through April, including some in Arabic, Urdu and Farsi. Subjects were chosen at random, from a separate list of households including some with Muslim-sounding names, and from Muslim households that had participated in previous surveys.
The margin of sampling error was plus or minus 5 percentage points.
One in four younger U.S. Muslims say suicide bombings to defend their religion are acceptable at least in some circumstances, though most Muslim Americans overwhelmingly reject the tactic and are critical of Islamic extremism and al-Qaida, a poll says.
The survey by the Pew Research Center, one of the most exhaustive ever of the country's Muslims, revealed a community that in many ways blends comfortably into society. Its largely mainstream members express nearly as much happiness with their lives and communities as the general public does, show a broad willingness to adopt American customs, and have income and education levels similar to others in the U.S.
Even so, the survey revealed noteworthy pockets of discontent.
While nearly 80 percent of U.S. Muslims say suicide bombings of civilians to defend Islam can not be justified, 13 percent say they can be, at least rarely.
That sentiment is strongest among those younger than 30. Two percent of them say it can often be justified, 13 percent say sometimes and 11 percent say rarely.
"It is a hair-raising number," said Radwan Masmoudi, president of the Washington-based Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy, which promotes the compatibility of Islam with democracy.
He said most supporters of the attacks likely assumed the context was a fight against occupation - a term Muslims often use to describe the conflict with Israel.
U.S. Muslims have growing Internet and television access to extreme ideologies, he said, adding: "People, especially younger people, are susceptible to these ideas."
Federal officials have warned that the U.S. must be on guard against homegrown terrorism, as the British suffered with the London transit bombings of 2005.
Even so, U.S. Muslims are far less accepting of suicide attacks than Muslims in many other nations. In surveys Pew conducted last year, support in some Muslim countries exceeded 50 percent, while it was considered justifiable by about one in four Muslims in Britain and Spain, and one in three in France.
"We have crazies just like other faiths have them," said Eide Alawan, who directs interfaith outreach at the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Mich., one of the nation's largest mosques. He said killing innocent people contradicts Islam.
Andrew Kohut, Pew director, called support for the attacks "one of the few trouble spots" in the survey.
The question did not specify where a suicide attack might occur, who might carry it out or what was meant by using a bombing to "defend Islam."
In other findings:
Only 5 percent of U.S. Muslims expressed favorable views of the terrorist group al-Qaida, though about a fourth did not express an opinion.
Six in 10 said they are concerned about a rise in Islamic extremism in the U.S., while three in four expressed similar worries about extremism around the world.
Yet only one in four consider the U.S. war on terrorism a sincere attempt to curtail international terror. Only 40 percent said they believe Arab men carried out the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
By six to one, they say the U.S. was wrong to invade Iraq, while a third say the same about Afghanistan - far deeper than the opposition expressed by the general U.S. public.
Just over half said it has been harder being a U.S. Muslim since the 9/11 attacks, especially the better educated, higher income, more religious and young. Nearly a third of those who flew in the past year say they underwent extra screening because they are Muslim.
The survey estimates there are roughly 2.35 million Muslim Americans. It found that among adults, two-thirds are from abroad while a fifth are U.S.-born blacks.
By law, the Census Bureau does not ask about peoples' religions.
Telephone interviews were conducted with 1,050 Muslim adults from January through April, including some in Arabic, Urdu and Farsi. Subjects were chosen at random, from a separate list of households including some with Muslim-sounding names, and from Muslim households that had participated in previous surveys.
The margin of sampling error was plus or minus 5 percentage points.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Hugo Chavez Funds $19.7 Million for Danny Glover Films
Venezuela will fund a film directed by Hollywood star Danny Glover about Haiti's 18th-century slave rebellion against French rule, as President Hugo Chavez seeks to revive interest in his region's battles against colonialism.
Venezuela's Congress said on its Web site on Monday it had set aside $19.7 million for two films, one of which was Glover's movie about Haiti's Francois-Dominique Toussaint Louverture, an iconic revolutionary leader in the Caribbean nation.
The film would mark Glover's debut as a feature film director. According to entertainment industry magazine Daily Variety, Glover started Louverture Films to focus on Afro-Caribbean themes and to provide opportunities for minorities.
Glover, co-star of the "Lethal Weapon" films with Mel Gibson, has long expressed political sympathy for Chavez, an anti-U.S. leader who is forging a socialist republic and politicizing the army and judiciary of the OPEC nation.
Chavez has encouraged Venezuelans to become better informed about Latin America's historical independence leaders, drawing parallels between their struggles and his government's antagonism with the United States.
Venezuela will fund a film directed by Hollywood star Danny Glover about Haiti's 18th-century slave rebellion against French rule, as President Hugo Chavez seeks to revive interest in his region's battles against colonialism.
Venezuela's Congress said on its Web site on Monday it had set aside $19.7 million for two films, one of which was Glover's movie about Haiti's Francois-Dominique Toussaint Louverture, an iconic revolutionary leader in the Caribbean nation.
The film would mark Glover's debut as a feature film director. According to entertainment industry magazine Daily Variety, Glover started Louverture Films to focus on Afro-Caribbean themes and to provide opportunities for minorities.
Glover, co-star of the "Lethal Weapon" films with Mel Gibson, has long expressed political sympathy for Chavez, an anti-U.S. leader who is forging a socialist republic and politicizing the army and judiciary of the OPEC nation.
Chavez has encouraged Venezuelans to become better informed about Latin America's historical independence leaders, drawing parallels between their struggles and his government's antagonism with the United States.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Mitt Romney Blasts Immigration Deal
GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney on Thursday blasted the Senate immigration bill agreement as "the wrong approach" for solving the problems of illegal immigration.
Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, said the bill falls short of the goals necessary to secure U.S. borders and ensure that corporations do not provide a safe haven for illegals, regardless of the attraction of cheap labor.
"Any legislation that allows illegal immigrants to stay in the country indefinitely, as the new 'Z-Visa' does, is a form of amnesty," Romney said in a statement on his campaign Web site. "That is unfair to the millions of people who have applied to legally immigrate to the U.S."
Romney hinted that a form of national I.D. may be necessary to get a handle on the overflow of illegal immigrants into the United States and the hiring of illegals by corporations within the country.
"[The] Senate agreement falls short of the actions needed to both solve our country's illegal immigration problem and also strengthen our legal immigration system," Romney said. "Border security and a reliable employment verification system must be our first priority . . .
"I strongly oppose today's bill . . . It is the wrong approach."
GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney on Thursday blasted the Senate immigration bill agreement as "the wrong approach" for solving the problems of illegal immigration.
Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, said the bill falls short of the goals necessary to secure U.S. borders and ensure that corporations do not provide a safe haven for illegals, regardless of the attraction of cheap labor.
"Any legislation that allows illegal immigrants to stay in the country indefinitely, as the new 'Z-Visa' does, is a form of amnesty," Romney said in a statement on his campaign Web site. "That is unfair to the millions of people who have applied to legally immigrate to the U.S."
Romney hinted that a form of national I.D. may be necessary to get a handle on the overflow of illegal immigrants into the United States and the hiring of illegals by corporations within the country.
"[The] Senate agreement falls short of the actions needed to both solve our country's illegal immigration problem and also strengthen our legal immigration system," Romney said. "Border security and a reliable employment verification system must be our first priority . . .
"I strongly oppose today's bill . . . It is the wrong approach."
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Attack Iran Before It Gets the Bomb
Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton said the West must attack Iran before it develops nuclear weapons. Bolton told The Daily Telegraph in Britain that the
European Union needed to "get more serious” about Iran and recognize that its diplomatic efforts to halt Iran’s nuclear program have failed.
Iran has "mastered the enrichment technology now,” he said. "They’re not stopping, they’re making progress and our time is limited.”
He called for painful economic sanctions on Iran, followed by attempts to overthrow the Mahmoud Ahmadinejad regime, and ultimately, military action to destroy Iran’s nuclear sites.
"It’s been conclusively proven Iran is not going to be talked about of its nuclear program,” Bolton told The Telegraph.
"So to stop them from doing it, we have to massively increase the pressure. If the choice is between a nuclear-capable Iran and the use of force, then I think we need to look at the use of force.
President Bush has referred to Ahmadinejad as a 21st Century Adolf Hitler. Bolton struck a similar theme:
"If the choice is them continuing [toward developing a bomb] or the use of force, I think you’re at a Hitler marching into the Rhineland point. If you don’t stop it then, the future is in his hands.”
Bolton acknowledged that military action could impact oil prices and might not succeed, but he added that the risks of using force would be less than the risk of a nuclear Iran.
"Imagine what it would be like with a nuclear Iran,” he said. "Imagine the influence Iran could have over the entire region.”
Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton said the West must attack Iran before it develops nuclear weapons. Bolton told The Daily Telegraph in Britain that the
European Union needed to "get more serious” about Iran and recognize that its diplomatic efforts to halt Iran’s nuclear program have failed.
Iran has "mastered the enrichment technology now,” he said. "They’re not stopping, they’re making progress and our time is limited.”
He called for painful economic sanctions on Iran, followed by attempts to overthrow the Mahmoud Ahmadinejad regime, and ultimately, military action to destroy Iran’s nuclear sites.
"It’s been conclusively proven Iran is not going to be talked about of its nuclear program,” Bolton told The Telegraph.
"So to stop them from doing it, we have to massively increase the pressure. If the choice is between a nuclear-capable Iran and the use of force, then I think we need to look at the use of force.
President Bush has referred to Ahmadinejad as a 21st Century Adolf Hitler. Bolton struck a similar theme:
"If the choice is them continuing [toward developing a bomb] or the use of force, I think you’re at a Hitler marching into the Rhineland point. If you don’t stop it then, the future is in his hands.”
Bolton acknowledged that military action could impact oil prices and might not succeed, but he added that the risks of using force would be less than the risk of a nuclear Iran.
"Imagine what it would be like with a nuclear Iran,” he said. "Imagine the influence Iran could have over the entire region.”
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
Last night the 10 Republican presidential candidates held their debate on Fox News. Now, normally I don’t make predictions, but I’m going out on a limb and say I feel the debate was won by the rich white guy.
They answered some tough questions. Rudy Giuliani had to answer for his position on abortion. John McCain had to answer for his support of immigration reform. And Mike Huckabee had to answer the question, "Who are you again?”
Yesterday was "no gas" day. As a protest for high gas prices, people were asked not to buy gas. In fact, I took the $75 I saved on gas last night and got myself a coffee at Starbucks.
In Lake Luzerne, N.Y., an 18-year-old boy is OK after shooting himself . . . not with a gun. This kid was in his garage, hitting bullets with a hammer. Maybe mindless video games aren’t so bad after all.
Letterman
Anyone here for the Global Warming Summit? Last night the Global Warming Summit scientists panicked when the party ice started melting.
Donald Trump had a new granddaughter over the weekend. I did the math on this: Trump’s new granddaughter will graduate from high school the same year as his next wife.
There was a Republican presidential debate last night. The Republican candidates looked like the evil law firm in a John Grisham movie.
There’s a rumor coming out of Washington that Vice President Dick Cheney, when he was CEO of Halliburton, used to visit prostitutes. This would explain why one girl was paid 2 billion dollars.
Letterman's Top Ten
Top Ten Things Bob Barker Can Say Now That He's Retiring
10. "We get the prizes cheap because they're stolen"
9. "The actual retail price of the retirement watch CBS gave me . . . $17.95!"
8. "Before we give them away, I personally try out every hot tub"
7. "Slip Daddy some cash and the Showcase Showdown wheel lands wherever you want"
6. "Sleeping until noon and playing golf all day? Come on down!"
5. "Howie Mandel may be a younger game show host, but at least I still have hair"
4. "I only wish Regis were alive to see this"
3. "On my last show, I'm going to tell people, 'Go neuter yourselves'"
2. "I'm not only a game show host — I'm also Spider-Man"
1. "Some older people have the good sense to retire . . . unlike Letterman"
Conan
Last night Fox News aired the second Republican presidential debate. My favorite part was when the white guy went after those two white guys, and three other whites guys chimed in.
Mike Huckabee got a big laugh when he said Congress has been spending money like John Edwards at a beauty salon. Then he got an even bigger laugh when he said he was running for president.
Broadway’s Tony nominations came out yesterday. As for the people who care about the Tony nominations? They came out a long time ago.
Paris Hilton is going to jail. It’s been announced that when Paris gets to jail, her cell will only be 8 feet by 12 feet. Which explains why Paris just purchased an 8-by-12-foot ceiling mirror.
Ferguson
Bob Barker is on the show tonight. I love "The Price Is Right.” I always get the people who can’t get into the show as my audience.
Bob Barker is a war hero! Yes . . . the Civil War.
His signature is on the Declaration of Independence.
He was hosting "The Price Is Right” before there was money. Back then, it was called "The Barker System Is Right.” "The retail price of that vegetable is two goats."
Kimmel
It’s a day-by-day body count as to who will come out of "The View” alive these days.
Paris’ mother prepared a statement for Barbara Walters to read. Paris Hilton is still scheduled to go to jail on June 5. Public support for her cause continues to hover around zero percent.
Paris’ psychiatrist says Paris is so distraught, she has been unable to work. She would be unable to work if indeed she did work.
Leno
Last night the 10 Republican presidential candidates held their debate on Fox News. Now, normally I don’t make predictions, but I’m going out on a limb and say I feel the debate was won by the rich white guy.
They answered some tough questions. Rudy Giuliani had to answer for his position on abortion. John McCain had to answer for his support of immigration reform. And Mike Huckabee had to answer the question, "Who are you again?”
Yesterday was "no gas" day. As a protest for high gas prices, people were asked not to buy gas. In fact, I took the $75 I saved on gas last night and got myself a coffee at Starbucks.
In Lake Luzerne, N.Y., an 18-year-old boy is OK after shooting himself . . . not with a gun. This kid was in his garage, hitting bullets with a hammer. Maybe mindless video games aren’t so bad after all.
Letterman
Anyone here for the Global Warming Summit? Last night the Global Warming Summit scientists panicked when the party ice started melting.
Donald Trump had a new granddaughter over the weekend. I did the math on this: Trump’s new granddaughter will graduate from high school the same year as his next wife.
There was a Republican presidential debate last night. The Republican candidates looked like the evil law firm in a John Grisham movie.
There’s a rumor coming out of Washington that Vice President Dick Cheney, when he was CEO of Halliburton, used to visit prostitutes. This would explain why one girl was paid 2 billion dollars.
Letterman's Top Ten
Top Ten Things Bob Barker Can Say Now That He's Retiring
10. "We get the prizes cheap because they're stolen"
9. "The actual retail price of the retirement watch CBS gave me . . . $17.95!"
8. "Before we give them away, I personally try out every hot tub"
7. "Slip Daddy some cash and the Showcase Showdown wheel lands wherever you want"
6. "Sleeping until noon and playing golf all day? Come on down!"
5. "Howie Mandel may be a younger game show host, but at least I still have hair"
4. "I only wish Regis were alive to see this"
3. "On my last show, I'm going to tell people, 'Go neuter yourselves'"
2. "I'm not only a game show host — I'm also Spider-Man"
1. "Some older people have the good sense to retire . . . unlike Letterman"
Conan
Last night Fox News aired the second Republican presidential debate. My favorite part was when the white guy went after those two white guys, and three other whites guys chimed in.
Mike Huckabee got a big laugh when he said Congress has been spending money like John Edwards at a beauty salon. Then he got an even bigger laugh when he said he was running for president.
Broadway’s Tony nominations came out yesterday. As for the people who care about the Tony nominations? They came out a long time ago.
Paris Hilton is going to jail. It’s been announced that when Paris gets to jail, her cell will only be 8 feet by 12 feet. Which explains why Paris just purchased an 8-by-12-foot ceiling mirror.
Ferguson
Bob Barker is on the show tonight. I love "The Price Is Right.” I always get the people who can’t get into the show as my audience.
Bob Barker is a war hero! Yes . . . the Civil War.
His signature is on the Declaration of Independence.
He was hosting "The Price Is Right” before there was money. Back then, it was called "The Barker System Is Right.” "The retail price of that vegetable is two goats."
Kimmel
It’s a day-by-day body count as to who will come out of "The View” alive these days.
Paris’ mother prepared a statement for Barbara Walters to read. Paris Hilton is still scheduled to go to jail on June 5. Public support for her cause continues to hover around zero percent.
Paris’ psychiatrist says Paris is so distraught, she has been unable to work. She would be unable to work if indeed she did work.
Late Night Jokes
Letterman
"Boy, it’s been rainy here in New York City. Rained again today – didn’t it rain yesterday, rained the last four, five days, going to rain tomorrow ... Here’s what I hate when it rains like this: standing water. There is so much standing water in New York City, Mayor Bloomberg, Mayor Bloomberg had to give a press conference sitting on a guy’s shoulders.”
"If I seem a little nervous, here’s what it is: it’s tax time. Are you folks a little uncomfortable? And I don’t know, we were supposed to file Friday, supposed to file today – I don’t know when you’re supposed to file. All I know is I don’t want to go to prison. And my accountant – I don’t know if this is the guy to be doing business with, but he says to me, he says, ‘Don’t worry, ‘he says, ‘If there’s an audit and you end up in prison, I’ll treat you to the conjugal visit.’”
"Ladies and gentlemen, here’s good news – Regis Philbin is coming back to his show next Thursday. Next Thursday, yep, not a minute too soon – they’re running out of guest hosts. They’re already up to the ‘Ts’ in the phone book…As a matter of fact, earlier this morning, Kelly Ripa co-hosted the show with Larry Birkhead.”
"But I think Regis is pretty much ready to go. You know, coming back to a show after you’ve had open heart surgery, that’s tough, but I think Regis is ready to go. Although, they say he’ll probably co-host the first week with a catheter.”
"Prom season – oh my gosh, prom season already, ladies and gentlemen. How many folks remember your – how many folks remember your prom? And did you rent a limousine and have a chauffeur and stuff like that? Yeah, I’m telling you, it brings back nightmares every time it’s prom season because I had the chauffeur and rented the limousine and my date, and later she’s making out with the driver.”
"And then I remember I pinned the corsage on my date, my very first prom. Do you remember your first date, first prom? I pinned the corsage on her, and poof, she deflated.”
Letterman's Top Ten
Top Ten Ways Pope Benedict The Sixteenth Celebrated His 80th Birthday
10. Enjoyed Carvel's delicious "Fudgy The Apostle" cake
9. Excommunicated bishop who said, "You're 80 years young"
8. Watched "Idol" with his kitties Felix and Oscar
7. Spent a quiet evening alone with his hat
6. Glued to the radio to see if he was going to get a birthday shout-out from Scott & Todd In The Morning
5. Just generally poping it up
4. Drift raced the Popemobile through the streets of Vatican City
3. Manicure/pedicure
2. Thanked God he doesn't look as old as Letterman
1. Declared "Holy War" on a bottle of Jagermeister
Letterman
"Boy, it’s been rainy here in New York City. Rained again today – didn’t it rain yesterday, rained the last four, five days, going to rain tomorrow ... Here’s what I hate when it rains like this: standing water. There is so much standing water in New York City, Mayor Bloomberg, Mayor Bloomberg had to give a press conference sitting on a guy’s shoulders.”
"If I seem a little nervous, here’s what it is: it’s tax time. Are you folks a little uncomfortable? And I don’t know, we were supposed to file Friday, supposed to file today – I don’t know when you’re supposed to file. All I know is I don’t want to go to prison. And my accountant – I don’t know if this is the guy to be doing business with, but he says to me, he says, ‘Don’t worry, ‘he says, ‘If there’s an audit and you end up in prison, I’ll treat you to the conjugal visit.’”
"Ladies and gentlemen, here’s good news – Regis Philbin is coming back to his show next Thursday. Next Thursday, yep, not a minute too soon – they’re running out of guest hosts. They’re already up to the ‘Ts’ in the phone book…As a matter of fact, earlier this morning, Kelly Ripa co-hosted the show with Larry Birkhead.”
"But I think Regis is pretty much ready to go. You know, coming back to a show after you’ve had open heart surgery, that’s tough, but I think Regis is ready to go. Although, they say he’ll probably co-host the first week with a catheter.”
"Prom season – oh my gosh, prom season already, ladies and gentlemen. How many folks remember your – how many folks remember your prom? And did you rent a limousine and have a chauffeur and stuff like that? Yeah, I’m telling you, it brings back nightmares every time it’s prom season because I had the chauffeur and rented the limousine and my date, and later she’s making out with the driver.”
"And then I remember I pinned the corsage on my date, my very first prom. Do you remember your first date, first prom? I pinned the corsage on her, and poof, she deflated.”
Letterman's Top Ten
Top Ten Ways Pope Benedict The Sixteenth Celebrated His 80th Birthday
10. Enjoyed Carvel's delicious "Fudgy The Apostle" cake
9. Excommunicated bishop who said, "You're 80 years young"
8. Watched "Idol" with his kitties Felix and Oscar
7. Spent a quiet evening alone with his hat
6. Glued to the radio to see if he was going to get a birthday shout-out from Scott & Todd In The Morning
5. Just generally poping it up
4. Drift raced the Popemobile through the streets of Vatican City
3. Manicure/pedicure
2. Thanked God he doesn't look as old as Letterman
1. Declared "Holy War" on a bottle of Jagermeister
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
XM Radio Suspends Shock Jocks for Condi, Bush Rape Talk
NEW YORK -- Ribald radio show hosts "Opie & Anthony" were suspended for 30 days after a guest spoke about forcing Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and first lady Laura Bush to have sex with him, XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. said Tuesday.
In the latest flap over the commentary of radio shock jocks, the company that carries "Opie & Anthony," XM Satellite, said it "deplored" the remarks made about a week ago on the program, hosted by Gregg "Opie" Hughes and Anthony Cumia.
The hosts issued an apology soon after the original airing, but XM Satellite said it was not convinced the two were sincere.
"Comments made by Opie and Anthony on yesterday's broadcast put into question whether they appreciate the seriousness of the matter," the company said in a statement.
"The management of XM Radio decided to suspend Opie and Anthony to make clear that our on-air talent must take seriously the responsibility that creative freedom requires of them."
Last month, CBS Radio fired radio host Don Imus after he referred to a Rutgers University women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos." CBS Chief Executive Leslie Moonves said at the time CBS was "deeply upset and revulsed by the statements."
But while CBS Radio is a traditional broadcaster bound by U.S. indecency rules, satellite radio has touted its ability to remain a haven of uncensored, freewheeling speech.
Shock jock Howard Stern left CBS at the end of 2006 after signing a $500 million contract with Sirius Satellite Radio Inc., and has said his decision was an effort to flee broadcast censorship.
Sirius, which has agreed to merge with XM Satellite, was not immediately available for comment on the Opie & Anthony decision.
CBS Radio, a unit of CBS Corp., simulcasts a censored daily version of XM Satellite's Opie & Anthony show, and said it still plans to run the program.
The hosts have gotten into hot water before. They were fired from a New York radio station over a sexually explicit broadcast in 2002.
XM Satellite shares closed down 2.5 percent to $10.62, while Sirius closed off 1.4 percent to $2.73, both on Nasdaq.
NEW YORK -- Ribald radio show hosts "Opie & Anthony" were suspended for 30 days after a guest spoke about forcing Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and first lady Laura Bush to have sex with him, XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. said Tuesday.
In the latest flap over the commentary of radio shock jocks, the company that carries "Opie & Anthony," XM Satellite, said it "deplored" the remarks made about a week ago on the program, hosted by Gregg "Opie" Hughes and Anthony Cumia.
The hosts issued an apology soon after the original airing, but XM Satellite said it was not convinced the two were sincere.
"Comments made by Opie and Anthony on yesterday's broadcast put into question whether they appreciate the seriousness of the matter," the company said in a statement.
"The management of XM Radio decided to suspend Opie and Anthony to make clear that our on-air talent must take seriously the responsibility that creative freedom requires of them."
Last month, CBS Radio fired radio host Don Imus after he referred to a Rutgers University women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos." CBS Chief Executive Leslie Moonves said at the time CBS was "deeply upset and revulsed by the statements."
But while CBS Radio is a traditional broadcaster bound by U.S. indecency rules, satellite radio has touted its ability to remain a haven of uncensored, freewheeling speech.
Shock jock Howard Stern left CBS at the end of 2006 after signing a $500 million contract with Sirius Satellite Radio Inc., and has said his decision was an effort to flee broadcast censorship.
Sirius, which has agreed to merge with XM Satellite, was not immediately available for comment on the Opie & Anthony decision.
CBS Radio, a unit of CBS Corp., simulcasts a censored daily version of XM Satellite's Opie & Anthony show, and said it still plans to run the program.
The hosts have gotten into hot water before. They were fired from a New York radio station over a sexually explicit broadcast in 2002.
XM Satellite shares closed down 2.5 percent to $10.62, while Sirius closed off 1.4 percent to $2.73, both on Nasdaq.
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
I had a full colonoscopy today. Not at the doctor’s office. At the gas station near my house!
In Beverly Hills, they just opened an "Armani 76” station.
The Republicans had a debate last night, with 10 candidates. The last time that many rich white guys got together I think Exxon merged with Mobil.
Former President Bill Clinton did a video for his wife Hillary’s presidential campaign, although Hillary’s a little upset about it. It turns out Bill did the video with Paris Hilton.
Letterman
Very hot today. So hot today that Iran is enriching popsicles.
So hot today that Paris Hilton is happy to be going to the "cooler.”
Bob Barker, the host of "The Price Is Right” for the last 35 years, is retiring. That is amazing. What is more exciting than a housewife from Reseda trying to guess the price of a riding mower?
Vice President Dick Cheney has returned from the Middle East. He made a stop in Egypt on his way home. Apparently Halliburton wants to rebuild the pyramids.
Letterman's Top Ten
Top Ten Surprises In The "Heroes" Season Finale
10. One of us gets whacked by Tony Soprano
9. Show's slogan changed to "Save the Cheerleader, Save the World, Save 15% on Your Car Insurance by Switching to Geico"
8. Judges go nuts after the pulse-pounding rumba I do with Billy Ray Cyrus
7. We use our powers to lower gas prices, am I right, people?
6. Devote entire show to figuring out what the hell is happening on "Lost"
5. The telepathic cop wins a new car after reading Pat Sajak's mind on "Wheel Of Fortune"
4. New hero has the ability to reduce acid reflux
3. I beat the crap out of Spider-Man
2. The invisible man gets caught sneaking into dressing rooms at J.C. Penney
1. I use my teleporting powers to bust Paris Hilton out of the slammer
Conan
In New York City, they’re trying to pass a law that would require strippers to pay taxes on the money they earn for lap dances. This law is for every guy who has said, "This lap dance is great, but I wish there was something to fix potholes and build schools.”
In a new video promoting Hillary Clinton’s campaign, former President Clinton says, "There are a lot of things about Hillary that voters may not know.” Then he said, "For instance, she has a smoking-hot assistant.”
In a new interview, actress Ellen Barkin says that when she’s dating a new guy, she likes to have sex before dinner to see if it’s worth going to dinner. Meanwhile, Kirstie Alley says that when she’s dating a new guy, she likes to have dinner before dinner.
Ferguson
There’s a nudist colony in Connecticut trying to attract younger members. The problem is, it’s Connecticut! It’s freezing!
I don’t think being nude all the time is sexy anyway. It’s sexy when you just wear high heels. You too, ladies.
Miami was voted the worst road rage state. You have 20 [year olds] doing 95, and 95 [year olds] doing 20, that’s why.
Bumper stickers can cause road rage. Bumper stickers would be good for the nudists. More like "bum” stickers. You know, "My Other Ass Is Hot.”
Leno
I had a full colonoscopy today. Not at the doctor’s office. At the gas station near my house!
In Beverly Hills, they just opened an "Armani 76” station.
The Republicans had a debate last night, with 10 candidates. The last time that many rich white guys got together I think Exxon merged with Mobil.
Former President Bill Clinton did a video for his wife Hillary’s presidential campaign, although Hillary’s a little upset about it. It turns out Bill did the video with Paris Hilton.
Letterman
Very hot today. So hot today that Iran is enriching popsicles.
So hot today that Paris Hilton is happy to be going to the "cooler.”
Bob Barker, the host of "The Price Is Right” for the last 35 years, is retiring. That is amazing. What is more exciting than a housewife from Reseda trying to guess the price of a riding mower?
Vice President Dick Cheney has returned from the Middle East. He made a stop in Egypt on his way home. Apparently Halliburton wants to rebuild the pyramids.
Letterman's Top Ten
Top Ten Surprises In The "Heroes" Season Finale
10. One of us gets whacked by Tony Soprano
9. Show's slogan changed to "Save the Cheerleader, Save the World, Save 15% on Your Car Insurance by Switching to Geico"
8. Judges go nuts after the pulse-pounding rumba I do with Billy Ray Cyrus
7. We use our powers to lower gas prices, am I right, people?
6. Devote entire show to figuring out what the hell is happening on "Lost"
5. The telepathic cop wins a new car after reading Pat Sajak's mind on "Wheel Of Fortune"
4. New hero has the ability to reduce acid reflux
3. I beat the crap out of Spider-Man
2. The invisible man gets caught sneaking into dressing rooms at J.C. Penney
1. I use my teleporting powers to bust Paris Hilton out of the slammer
Conan
In New York City, they’re trying to pass a law that would require strippers to pay taxes on the money they earn for lap dances. This law is for every guy who has said, "This lap dance is great, but I wish there was something to fix potholes and build schools.”
In a new video promoting Hillary Clinton’s campaign, former President Clinton says, "There are a lot of things about Hillary that voters may not know.” Then he said, "For instance, she has a smoking-hot assistant.”
In a new interview, actress Ellen Barkin says that when she’s dating a new guy, she likes to have sex before dinner to see if it’s worth going to dinner. Meanwhile, Kirstie Alley says that when she’s dating a new guy, she likes to have dinner before dinner.
Ferguson
There’s a nudist colony in Connecticut trying to attract younger members. The problem is, it’s Connecticut! It’s freezing!
I don’t think being nude all the time is sexy anyway. It’s sexy when you just wear high heels. You too, ladies.
Miami was voted the worst road rage state. You have 20 [year olds] doing 95, and 95 [year olds] doing 20, that’s why.
Bumper stickers can cause road rage. Bumper stickers would be good for the nudists. More like "bum” stickers. You know, "My Other Ass Is Hot.”
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Amnesty a 'Slap in the Face' to Immigrants
Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., said during a presidential campaign stop Sunday that he isn't against immigration.
However, Tancredo is against illegal immigration - and its cost to taxpayers.
"Amnesty is coming down the pike," Tancredo said a group of about 20 people at a home in Davenport. "But its a slap in the face to all the people who did it the right way, and to those who are patiently waiting in line to legally get in."
Tancredo, who announced that he would seek the Republican presidential nomination on a Des Moines-area radio show in April, has gained prominence in recent years for his staunch stance against illegal immigration. He has said that immigration will be the main focus of his campaign.
Tancredo said Sunday that he does not apologize for his conservatism, nor for his belief that Americans are not just members of a region, but citizens of a country. He said that the nation's borders are there for to protect Americans, adding that illegal immigration raises health care costs.
Tancredo, a former teacher, also spoke out against President Bushs No Child Left Behind initiative.
"The goals are great," Tancredo said. "But it is not the federal government's role to tell the states what to do. When I say there should be local control of schools, I mean you, as a parent, have control."
Tancredo added that the Department of Education was created by President Carter's administration to appease the National Education Association.
"There is no constitutional role of the federal government to have the Department of Education," Tancredo said. "I dont believe we should have the U.S. Department of Education."
Tancredo said his basic policy about government mirrors that of Thomas Jefferson.
"The government that governs best is that which governs least," he said. "Our government is far too large."
He added that large government just means fewer freedoms and fewer choice. Tancredo said that America has become a welfare state, and national health care would be an even bigger disaster.
"Helping people join health care associations, or starting health saving plans is a great idea," Tancredo said. "I support that, as well as allowing them to buy health insurance from wherever they want. That expands individual freedom and opportunities."
Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., said during a presidential campaign stop Sunday that he isn't against immigration.
However, Tancredo is against illegal immigration - and its cost to taxpayers.
"Amnesty is coming down the pike," Tancredo said a group of about 20 people at a home in Davenport. "But its a slap in the face to all the people who did it the right way, and to those who are patiently waiting in line to legally get in."
Tancredo, who announced that he would seek the Republican presidential nomination on a Des Moines-area radio show in April, has gained prominence in recent years for his staunch stance against illegal immigration. He has said that immigration will be the main focus of his campaign.
Tancredo said Sunday that he does not apologize for his conservatism, nor for his belief that Americans are not just members of a region, but citizens of a country. He said that the nation's borders are there for to protect Americans, adding that illegal immigration raises health care costs.
Tancredo, a former teacher, also spoke out against President Bushs No Child Left Behind initiative.
"The goals are great," Tancredo said. "But it is not the federal government's role to tell the states what to do. When I say there should be local control of schools, I mean you, as a parent, have control."
Tancredo added that the Department of Education was created by President Carter's administration to appease the National Education Association.
"There is no constitutional role of the federal government to have the Department of Education," Tancredo said. "I dont believe we should have the U.S. Department of Education."
Tancredo said his basic policy about government mirrors that of Thomas Jefferson.
"The government that governs best is that which governs least," he said. "Our government is far too large."
He added that large government just means fewer freedoms and fewer choice. Tancredo said that America has become a welfare state, and national health care would be an even bigger disaster.
"Helping people join health care associations, or starting health saving plans is a great idea," Tancredo said. "I support that, as well as allowing them to buy health insurance from wherever they want. That expands individual freedom and opportunities."
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
As of July 1, Allstate Insurance Company will stop selling new policies to homeowners in California because we have too many disasters. They shouldn’t have the right to call themselves "Allstate.” Maybe they should change their name to "Some-states.”
The price of gasoline passed four dollars a gallon in California. Gas is so expensive now a lot of people are only planning summer trips within walking distance from their homes.
Today, President Bush introduced plans to cut the nation’s addiction to oil. And Dick Cheney, who’s in the Middle East, said, "I can’t leave that guy for two minutes and he does something stupid like this.”
Mitt Romney, speaking about his Mormon religion, said that he can’t imagine anything worse than polygamy. He said he can’t imagine anything worse than having more than one wife. Then Bill Clinton gave a rebuttal.
Letterman
New York City was hosting a four-day Global Warming Summit. But today was such a nice day, they canceled it.
Former President Bill Clinton was a speaker at the Global Warming Summit, and he says that he has been very, very concerned about global warming. In fact, earlier this week, another chunk of ice fell off his wife.
Paris Hilton is going to jail. I’ve been thinking about this, and I think, "Paris, being in jail isn’t going to be that bad. It’ll give you plenty of time to read . . . well, it’ll give you plenty of time to write . . . and . . .oh no, you’re in trouble Paris.”
Over the weekend, Donald Trump became a grandfather. They say the new Trump grandbaby is a chip off the old block. She’s already feuding with Rosie O’Donnell.
Letterman's Top Ten
Top Ten Little-Known Facts About Mitt Romney
10. Name is short for "Mitzi”
9. In favor of tax cuts for hunky white dudes
8. Starts each day by wrasslin’ a gator
7. Made his fortune by selling counterfeit Prada handbags
6. Won NRA endorsement by vowing to shoot twice as many old guys as Cheney
5. Once defeated Chuck Liddell for Ultimate Fighting Championship title
4. Is the model on packages of Jockey underpants
3. When he leaves politics, plans to spend golden years with his hair
2. Would be first Mitt in White House since Mitt Quincy Adams
1. Besides Hillary, only candidate that wears a bra
Conan
President Bush was busy over the weekend. In Virginia he attended some big event, and I guess he got up at one point on the spur of the moment and he conducted a 400-piece orchestra. Apparently, it was the first time ever a 400-piece orchestra has ever played "The Wheels on the Bus.”
The other day a group that researches ancestry said that President Bush is related to Pocahontas. Native Americans were furious. They said, "First you take our land, now you blame us for President Bush.”
The presidential campaign is heating up. Earlier today, Sen. Barack Obama was endorsed by the mayor of Newark, N.J. Afterwards, Obama told the Newark mayor, "Thanks, but do you mind keeping this between us?”
In a new video promoting Hillary Clinton’s campaign, former President Clinton says, "Of all the candidates, Hillary has the best combination of mind and heart. Unfortunately, those are the only two parts of the female body that don’t turn me on.”
Ferguson
Not such a great day for Donald Trump. NBC has canceled "The Apprentice.” You just know all those NBC executives were fighting over who got to say, "You’re fired.”
I’m sure he’ll be all right. His toupee is joining the cast of "Lost.”
This is a big week in television. This is the week all the networks unveil their new shows to the advertisers. They get a preview of all the shows that are going to get canceled in the fall.
Leno
As of July 1, Allstate Insurance Company will stop selling new policies to homeowners in California because we have too many disasters. They shouldn’t have the right to call themselves "Allstate.” Maybe they should change their name to "Some-states.”
The price of gasoline passed four dollars a gallon in California. Gas is so expensive now a lot of people are only planning summer trips within walking distance from their homes.
Today, President Bush introduced plans to cut the nation’s addiction to oil. And Dick Cheney, who’s in the Middle East, said, "I can’t leave that guy for two minutes and he does something stupid like this.”
Mitt Romney, speaking about his Mormon religion, said that he can’t imagine anything worse than polygamy. He said he can’t imagine anything worse than having more than one wife. Then Bill Clinton gave a rebuttal.
Letterman
New York City was hosting a four-day Global Warming Summit. But today was such a nice day, they canceled it.
Former President Bill Clinton was a speaker at the Global Warming Summit, and he says that he has been very, very concerned about global warming. In fact, earlier this week, another chunk of ice fell off his wife.
Paris Hilton is going to jail. I’ve been thinking about this, and I think, "Paris, being in jail isn’t going to be that bad. It’ll give you plenty of time to read . . . well, it’ll give you plenty of time to write . . . and . . .oh no, you’re in trouble Paris.”
Over the weekend, Donald Trump became a grandfather. They say the new Trump grandbaby is a chip off the old block. She’s already feuding with Rosie O’Donnell.
Letterman's Top Ten
Top Ten Little-Known Facts About Mitt Romney
10. Name is short for "Mitzi”
9. In favor of tax cuts for hunky white dudes
8. Starts each day by wrasslin’ a gator
7. Made his fortune by selling counterfeit Prada handbags
6. Won NRA endorsement by vowing to shoot twice as many old guys as Cheney
5. Once defeated Chuck Liddell for Ultimate Fighting Championship title
4. Is the model on packages of Jockey underpants
3. When he leaves politics, plans to spend golden years with his hair
2. Would be first Mitt in White House since Mitt Quincy Adams
1. Besides Hillary, only candidate that wears a bra
Conan
President Bush was busy over the weekend. In Virginia he attended some big event, and I guess he got up at one point on the spur of the moment and he conducted a 400-piece orchestra. Apparently, it was the first time ever a 400-piece orchestra has ever played "The Wheels on the Bus.”
The other day a group that researches ancestry said that President Bush is related to Pocahontas. Native Americans were furious. They said, "First you take our land, now you blame us for President Bush.”
The presidential campaign is heating up. Earlier today, Sen. Barack Obama was endorsed by the mayor of Newark, N.J. Afterwards, Obama told the Newark mayor, "Thanks, but do you mind keeping this between us?”
In a new video promoting Hillary Clinton’s campaign, former President Clinton says, "Of all the candidates, Hillary has the best combination of mind and heart. Unfortunately, those are the only two parts of the female body that don’t turn me on.”
Ferguson
Not such a great day for Donald Trump. NBC has canceled "The Apprentice.” You just know all those NBC executives were fighting over who got to say, "You’re fired.”
I’m sure he’ll be all right. His toupee is joining the cast of "Lost.”
This is a big week in television. This is the week all the networks unveil their new shows to the advertisers. They get a preview of all the shows that are going to get canceled in the fall.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Defense Dept. Blocks MySpace, YouTube
Soldiers serving overseas will lose some of their online links to friends and loved ones back home under a Department of Defense policy that a high-ranking Army official said would take effect Monday.
The Defense Department will begin blocking access "worldwide" to YouTube, MySpace and 11 other popular Web sites on its computers and networks, according to a memo sent Friday by Gen. B.B. Bell, the U.S. Forces Korea commander.
The policy is being implemented to protect information and reduce drag on the department's networks, according to Bell.
"This recreational traffic impacts our official DoD network and bandwidth ability, while posing a significant operational security challenge," the memo said.
The armed services have long barred members of the military from sharing information that could jeopardize their missions or safety, whether electronically or by other means.
The new policy is different because it creates a blanket ban on several sites used by military personnel to exchange messages, pictures, video and audio with family and friends.
Members of the military can still access the sites on their own computers and networks, but Defense Department computers and networks are the only ones available to many soldiers and sailors in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Iraqi insurgents or their supporters have been posting videos on YouTube at least since last fall.
The Army recently began posting videos on YouTube showing soldiers defeating insurgents and befriending Iraqis.
But the new rules mean many military personnel won't be able to watch those achievements - at least not on military computers.
If the restrictions are intended to prevent soldiers from giving or receiving bad news, they could also prevent them from providing positive reports from the field, said Noah Shachtman, who runs a national security blog for Wired Magazine.
"This is as much an information war as it is bombs and bullets," he said. "And they are muzzling their best voices."
The sites covered by the ban are the video-sharing sites YouTube, Metacafe, IFilm, StupidVideos, and FileCabi, the social networking sites MySpace, BlackPlanet and Hi5, music sites Pandora, MTV, and 1.fm, and live365, and the photo-sharing site Photobucket.
Several companies have instituted similar bans, saying recreational sites drain productivity.
Soldiers serving overseas will lose some of their online links to friends and loved ones back home under a Department of Defense policy that a high-ranking Army official said would take effect Monday.
The Defense Department will begin blocking access "worldwide" to YouTube, MySpace and 11 other popular Web sites on its computers and networks, according to a memo sent Friday by Gen. B.B. Bell, the U.S. Forces Korea commander.
The policy is being implemented to protect information and reduce drag on the department's networks, according to Bell.
"This recreational traffic impacts our official DoD network and bandwidth ability, while posing a significant operational security challenge," the memo said.
The armed services have long barred members of the military from sharing information that could jeopardize their missions or safety, whether electronically or by other means.
The new policy is different because it creates a blanket ban on several sites used by military personnel to exchange messages, pictures, video and audio with family and friends.
Members of the military can still access the sites on their own computers and networks, but Defense Department computers and networks are the only ones available to many soldiers and sailors in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Iraqi insurgents or their supporters have been posting videos on YouTube at least since last fall.
The Army recently began posting videos on YouTube showing soldiers defeating insurgents and befriending Iraqis.
But the new rules mean many military personnel won't be able to watch those achievements - at least not on military computers.
If the restrictions are intended to prevent soldiers from giving or receiving bad news, they could also prevent them from providing positive reports from the field, said Noah Shachtman, who runs a national security blog for Wired Magazine.
"This is as much an information war as it is bombs and bullets," he said. "And they are muzzling their best voices."
The sites covered by the ban are the video-sharing sites YouTube, Metacafe, IFilm, StupidVideos, and FileCabi, the social networking sites MySpace, BlackPlanet and Hi5, music sites Pandora, MTV, and 1.fm, and live365, and the photo-sharing site Photobucket.
Several companies have instituted similar bans, saying recreational sites drain productivity.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Sharpton a 'Race-Baiter'
Don Imus' former producer on Friday called Rev. Al Sharpton a "race-baiter" who was looking for attention when he led a campaign to fire the radio host, while Sharpton said Imus and his producer got what they deserved for making a racist, sexist remark on the air.
Bernard McGuirk and Sharpton appeared together for a combative debate on Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes" show. The producer was fired last month for his part in an exchange on the "Imus in the Morning" program in which the members of the Rutgers University women's basketball team were called "nappy-headed hos."
MSNBC took Imus' show off the air on April 11 and CBS fired him from his syndicated radio program a day later for the slur. McGuirk, a 20-year producer and on-air jester for the show that originated on WFAN-AM in New York, called the team "hardcore hos" in the April 4 exchange with Imus. Sharpton held protests and lobbied both networks to fire Imus.
McGuirk called Sharpton a "crude ... opportunist, a race-baiter" who campaigned against Imus to help his own career and raise his profile.
While McGuirk acknowledged that "these words did hurt these girls," he added, "until you, Reverend Al, got involved, they probably never would have heard of it. They would have probably never, quote unquote, got scarred for life until you got involved for your own self-serving interests."
Sharpton said he wasn't looking for more attention - "if you have any recollection at all, I had been in the papers all year," he said. He said Imus and McGuirk may have apologized for the remark, but "forgiveness is not the point. The question is the penalty."
"Consumers have the right to say to advertisers, are your standards going to be where people are attacked based on your gender and race?" Sharpton said.
McGuirk countered that Sharpton "terrorized these spineless, thumbsucking executives" into taking Imus off the air. In an earlier appearance on "Hannity & Colmes," he said the executives "were in a fetal position under their desks sucking their thumbs on their BlackBerrys, trying to coordinate their response."
Sharpton responded: "What he is saying is we want to apologize and we want to decide what the penalty is." He said that most people wanted Imus fired, including a minister who arranged Imus' meeting with the Rutgers team, and many NBC employees.
"Is Al Roker one of these guys hiding under the desk with a BlackBerry?" Sharpton asked.
McGuirk said that Imus "made one small mistake. He ran a red light" and shouldn't have been fired.
He asked Sharpton. "Who elected you the PC police chief? Who elected you to anything?"
Imus has not spoken publicly since his dismissal, but his lawyer has said he intends to sue CBS for $120 million, and said that the network encouraged irreverent, off-color comments on the program.
Don Imus' former producer on Friday called Rev. Al Sharpton a "race-baiter" who was looking for attention when he led a campaign to fire the radio host, while Sharpton said Imus and his producer got what they deserved for making a racist, sexist remark on the air.
Bernard McGuirk and Sharpton appeared together for a combative debate on Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes" show. The producer was fired last month for his part in an exchange on the "Imus in the Morning" program in which the members of the Rutgers University women's basketball team were called "nappy-headed hos."
MSNBC took Imus' show off the air on April 11 and CBS fired him from his syndicated radio program a day later for the slur. McGuirk, a 20-year producer and on-air jester for the show that originated on WFAN-AM in New York, called the team "hardcore hos" in the April 4 exchange with Imus. Sharpton held protests and lobbied both networks to fire Imus.
McGuirk called Sharpton a "crude ... opportunist, a race-baiter" who campaigned against Imus to help his own career and raise his profile.
While McGuirk acknowledged that "these words did hurt these girls," he added, "until you, Reverend Al, got involved, they probably never would have heard of it. They would have probably never, quote unquote, got scarred for life until you got involved for your own self-serving interests."
Sharpton said he wasn't looking for more attention - "if you have any recollection at all, I had been in the papers all year," he said. He said Imus and McGuirk may have apologized for the remark, but "forgiveness is not the point. The question is the penalty."
"Consumers have the right to say to advertisers, are your standards going to be where people are attacked based on your gender and race?" Sharpton said.
McGuirk countered that Sharpton "terrorized these spineless, thumbsucking executives" into taking Imus off the air. In an earlier appearance on "Hannity & Colmes," he said the executives "were in a fetal position under their desks sucking their thumbs on their BlackBerrys, trying to coordinate their response."
Sharpton responded: "What he is saying is we want to apologize and we want to decide what the penalty is." He said that most people wanted Imus fired, including a minister who arranged Imus' meeting with the Rutgers team, and many NBC employees.
"Is Al Roker one of these guys hiding under the desk with a BlackBerry?" Sharpton asked.
McGuirk said that Imus "made one small mistake. He ran a red light" and shouldn't have been fired.
He asked Sharpton. "Who elected you the PC police chief? Who elected you to anything?"
Imus has not spoken publicly since his dismissal, but his lawyer has said he intends to sue CBS for $120 million, and said that the network encouraged irreverent, off-color comments on the program.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
CBS News Boots Bush-Bashing General
Retired Army Maj. Gen. John Batiste has been asked to leave his post as a CBS News consultant after he participated in an ad criticizing President Bush.
In the television ad – sponsored by the VoteVets Action Fund – Batiste declares: "Mr. President, you have placed our nation in peril. Our only hope is that Congress will act now to protect our fighting men and women.”
CBS News’ Vice President for Standards and Special Projects, Linda Mason, told CBSNews.com’s Public Eye: "When we hire someone as a consultant, we want them to share their expertise with our viewers. By putting himself front and center in an anti-Bush ad, the viewer might have the feeling everything he says is anti-Bush. And that doesn’t seem like an analytical approach to the issues we want to discuss.”
Mason said Batiste violated CBS News standards, and asserted that the decision would have been the same if he had appeared in an ad supporting the war.
CBS’s sudden displeasure with Batiste’s active anti-war stance might surprise some, since the General – who commanded the First Infantry Division in Iraq – has said he left the military in protest over American conduct of the war.
Retired Army Maj. Gen. John Batiste has been asked to leave his post as a CBS News consultant after he participated in an ad criticizing President Bush.
In the television ad – sponsored by the VoteVets Action Fund – Batiste declares: "Mr. President, you have placed our nation in peril. Our only hope is that Congress will act now to protect our fighting men and women.”
CBS News’ Vice President for Standards and Special Projects, Linda Mason, told CBSNews.com’s Public Eye: "When we hire someone as a consultant, we want them to share their expertise with our viewers. By putting himself front and center in an anti-Bush ad, the viewer might have the feeling everything he says is anti-Bush. And that doesn’t seem like an analytical approach to the issues we want to discuss.”
Mason said Batiste violated CBS News standards, and asserted that the decision would have been the same if he had appeared in an ad supporting the war.
CBS’s sudden displeasure with Batiste’s active anti-war stance might surprise some, since the General – who commanded the First Infantry Division in Iraq – has said he left the military in protest over American conduct of the war.
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
Today marks the 47th anniversary of the invention of the birth control pill. And for all you women out there that forgot to take yours, Happy Mother’s Day!
According to the latest poll, President Bush’s approval rating has reached a new low of 28 percent. His ratings are so low, today he was named an honorary member of the NBC Primetime Family.
And when told that Prime Minister Tony Blair was stepping down as Britain’s leader, a confused President Bush said, "Hey wait a minute — if he’s the leader of England, who’s the old lady with the crown that was just here?”
Wal-Mart is reporting its worst sales in 28 years — 28 years. Sales are so bad they may have to let some illegals go.
Letterman
I have a big weekend planned. It’s going to be my first conjugal visit with Paris Hilton.
It’s graduation time. A lot of honor students here in new York City. "Yes, Your Honor . . . No, Your Honor.”
Sunday is Mother’s Day. The day we salute the woman we blame for all of our personal problems.
I was going to have Mom come out for Mother’s Day. I thought it would be great fun. But she doesn’t have enough Greyhound miles.
Conan
Big news from England. British Prime Minister Tony Blair has announced that he will step down next month. After hearing this President Bush said, "That’s a shame. He’s the only world leader who took the time to learn English.”
The elections are heating up. In a recent interview, John McCain said the last music he bought was The Beach Boys. While Mitt Romney said the last music he bought was Roy Orbison. Apparently, McCain and Romney are both running for president in 1964.
Anheuser-Bush is being accused of creating a new alcoholic drink designed to appeal to underage drinkers. The critics may have a point: The new drink is called Harry Potter and the Malt Liquor.
Wal-Mart has announced they’re going to open health clinics in some of their stores. Wal-Mart health clinics. Wal-Mart’s health clinics are for those people who don’t want to spend money on those fancy K-Mart doctors.
Ferguson
Paris Hilton was sentenced to jail this week. She’s looking at 45 days in jail: 45 days of surveillance cameras, body searches, sex with anyone who can get their hands on her. Business as usual!
This Sunday, of course, is Mother’s Day. You only have two days left to buy your mother flowers, jewelry, hard liquor . . .
You know what’s popular on Mother’s Day? Brunch. It’s no breakfast; it’s not lunch. It’s the only openly gay meal in America.
The place I go to for brunch has the greatest bagels in L.A. I saw a cockroach there, and I still go there. That’s how great the bagels are. It was a huge cockroach. I think it flew in from New York, that’s how good the bagels are. The cockroach cut in front of me in line!
Kimmel
It’s Mother’s Day on Sunday. Florists do a very nice thing on Mother’s Day. What they do is, they jack the price of flowers up as high as they possibly can so Mom knows you love her as much as you can possibly afford.
I was very smart this year. I bought my mom a dozen roses back in November.
I’ve been keeping them in a freezer. On Sunday, I’ll throw them in the microwave.
Leno
Today marks the 47th anniversary of the invention of the birth control pill. And for all you women out there that forgot to take yours, Happy Mother’s Day!
According to the latest poll, President Bush’s approval rating has reached a new low of 28 percent. His ratings are so low, today he was named an honorary member of the NBC Primetime Family.
And when told that Prime Minister Tony Blair was stepping down as Britain’s leader, a confused President Bush said, "Hey wait a minute — if he’s the leader of England, who’s the old lady with the crown that was just here?”
Wal-Mart is reporting its worst sales in 28 years — 28 years. Sales are so bad they may have to let some illegals go.
Letterman
I have a big weekend planned. It’s going to be my first conjugal visit with Paris Hilton.
It’s graduation time. A lot of honor students here in new York City. "Yes, Your Honor . . . No, Your Honor.”
Sunday is Mother’s Day. The day we salute the woman we blame for all of our personal problems.
I was going to have Mom come out for Mother’s Day. I thought it would be great fun. But she doesn’t have enough Greyhound miles.
Conan
Big news from England. British Prime Minister Tony Blair has announced that he will step down next month. After hearing this President Bush said, "That’s a shame. He’s the only world leader who took the time to learn English.”
The elections are heating up. In a recent interview, John McCain said the last music he bought was The Beach Boys. While Mitt Romney said the last music he bought was Roy Orbison. Apparently, McCain and Romney are both running for president in 1964.
Anheuser-Bush is being accused of creating a new alcoholic drink designed to appeal to underage drinkers. The critics may have a point: The new drink is called Harry Potter and the Malt Liquor.
Wal-Mart has announced they’re going to open health clinics in some of their stores. Wal-Mart health clinics. Wal-Mart’s health clinics are for those people who don’t want to spend money on those fancy K-Mart doctors.
Ferguson
Paris Hilton was sentenced to jail this week. She’s looking at 45 days in jail: 45 days of surveillance cameras, body searches, sex with anyone who can get their hands on her. Business as usual!
This Sunday, of course, is Mother’s Day. You only have two days left to buy your mother flowers, jewelry, hard liquor . . .
You know what’s popular on Mother’s Day? Brunch. It’s no breakfast; it’s not lunch. It’s the only openly gay meal in America.
The place I go to for brunch has the greatest bagels in L.A. I saw a cockroach there, and I still go there. That’s how great the bagels are. It was a huge cockroach. I think it flew in from New York, that’s how good the bagels are. The cockroach cut in front of me in line!
Kimmel
It’s Mother’s Day on Sunday. Florists do a very nice thing on Mother’s Day. What they do is, they jack the price of flowers up as high as they possibly can so Mom knows you love her as much as you can possibly afford.
I was very smart this year. I bought my mom a dozen roses back in November.
I’ve been keeping them in a freezer. On Sunday, I’ll throw them in the microwave.
Friday, May 11, 2007
John Edwards' Proposals Could Cost $1 Trillion
Presidential candidate John Edwards is offering more policy proposals than any other candidate in the primary and his ideas are winning loud applause from Democratic audiences.
The question is whether other voters will cheer when they see the price tag - more than $125 billion a year.
Edwards is quick to acknowledge his spending on health care, energy and poverty reduction comes at a cost, with more plans to come. All told, his proposals would equal more than $1 trillion if he could get them enacted into law and operational during two White House terms.
To put the number in perspective, President Bush has dedicated more than $1.8 trillion to tax cuts. The cost of the Iraq war is nearing $450 billion. And this year's federal budget is about $2.8 trillion.
Edwards says fixing the country's problems takes precedence over eliminating the deficit or offering middle-class tax relief like he proposed when running for president in the last election.
"I think for me, as opposed to the additional tax relief for the middle class, what's more important is to give them relief from the extraordinary cost of health care, from gasoline prices, the things that they spend money on every single day that are escalating dramatically," Edwards said in a recent interview with The Associated Press.
To pay for some of his priorities, Edwards would roll back Bush's tax cuts on Americans making more than $200,000 a year. He also said he would consider raising capital gains taxes to help fund his plans and raise or eliminate the $90,000 cap on individual earnings subject to Social Security taxes to help cover the projected shortfall in the system.
Edwards also has proposed spending cuts such as cutting subsidies for the banks that make student loans for a savings of $6 billion a year. He would also save money by trimming the number of Department of Housing and Urban Development employees, negotiating Medicare prescription drug prices and cutting agricultural subsidies for corporate farms, although the campaign did not yet have estimates of how much that would bring in.
Edwards' ideas have already opened him to accusations of being just another tax-and-spend liberal, a label put on Walter Mondale, the 1984 Democratic presidential nominee who said he would raise taxes and then lost 49 states to President Reagan.
The Republican National Committee accused Edwards of making his first campaign promise to raise taxes. "Edwards' America Will Pay More Taxes," said a news release from the conservative Club for Growth on the day Edwards announced a plan for universal health care that would cost $90 billion to $120 billion.
The cost estimate came from Ken Thorpe, an Emory University researcher who provides outside analysis on health care plans for presidential candidates. The estimate he gave the Edwards campaign was $105 billion to $145 billion in 2010 dollars - the year Edwards' plan would go into full effect. However, the campaign changed it to 2007 dollars.
His plan would require employers to provide insurance or contribute to the coverage of every worker - and it would require every citizen to get coverage. The government would pay for insurance for lower income Americans and tax credits to help subsidize what other families would have to pay for coverage, funded by abolishing Bush's tax cuts for people who make more than $200,000 a year and by having the government collect more back taxes.
Among other annual spending:
$15 billion-$20 billion to help achieve his goal of ending poverty in the U.S. within 30 years.
That includes $4.2 billion to increase the earned income tax credit, which refunds payroll and income taxes to low-income people; $4 billion to create 1 million short-term jobs to help the unemployed climb out of poverty; and $3 billion for $500 work bonds to help low-income workers save.
$13 billion energy fund to develop and encourage more efficiency and renewable energy use.
That includes $3 billion in tax credits for the production of renewable energy and $1 billion to help the U.S. auto industry modernize with the latest fuel-efficient technology. He said the fund would be paid for by selling $10 billion in greenhouse pollution permits and by ending $3 billion in subsidies for big oil companies.
$1 billion rural recovery plan with initiatives like increased investment in rural small businesses, education, health care and resources to fight methamphetamine abuse.
$5 billion in foreign aid to combat international poverty, including $3 billion to help pay for primary education for every child in the world.
Edwards also has promoted other ideas he has in the works, such as an education plan that includes his goal of eliminating financial barriers to college, a border security plan and federal spending on stem cells. But he's yet to announce details or costs.
Still, Edwards has been the most forthcoming Democratic candidate when it comes to describing the details of how he would like to run the country. His chief rivals - Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama - have offered few hints about their policy proposals.
The ideas are the centerpiece of Edwards' plan to position himself as the party's true progressive in the primary. He hopes the big ideas will attract the liberal Iowa caucus goers, online energy and labor endorsements that he's counting on to propel him to the nomination, said Democratic strategist Chris Lehane.
"If the costs become a real issue, it will be a good problem to have for him because the only folks likely to make a real argument against it would be the Republicans, which means his strategy succeeded and he was the nominee," said Lehane, who worked in the Clinton White House and for Al Gore's candidacy in 2000.
Edwards said his spending proposals also would take precedence over eliminating the more than $200 billion deficit. He said he would work to lower the deficit and would not let it grow.
"Those things cost money, and there's a balance between that and the need to reduce the deficit," said the former North Carolina senator. "And so the threshold question is where is the priority? ... If we're going to do those things, I think it's very difficult to eliminate the deficit - in the short term, impossible."
He said he supports House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's requirement that legislation to cut taxes or boost federal benefit programs must be paid for with tax increases or other benefit cuts. But
Edwards has yet to explain how he would pay for all his proposals. That will come later this year when he offers his tax plan, the campaign said.
"There's definitely a lack of numbers in some of his proposals," said Paul Weinstein Jr., chief operating officer at the centrist Progressive Policy Institute. "I think you should be commended for wanting to provide universal health care and to eliminate poverty. I think it would be more legitimate if he would identify some of the ways in which he would pay for these things."
Presidential candidate John Edwards is offering more policy proposals than any other candidate in the primary and his ideas are winning loud applause from Democratic audiences.
The question is whether other voters will cheer when they see the price tag - more than $125 billion a year.
Edwards is quick to acknowledge his spending on health care, energy and poverty reduction comes at a cost, with more plans to come. All told, his proposals would equal more than $1 trillion if he could get them enacted into law and operational during two White House terms.
To put the number in perspective, President Bush has dedicated more than $1.8 trillion to tax cuts. The cost of the Iraq war is nearing $450 billion. And this year's federal budget is about $2.8 trillion.
Edwards says fixing the country's problems takes precedence over eliminating the deficit or offering middle-class tax relief like he proposed when running for president in the last election.
"I think for me, as opposed to the additional tax relief for the middle class, what's more important is to give them relief from the extraordinary cost of health care, from gasoline prices, the things that they spend money on every single day that are escalating dramatically," Edwards said in a recent interview with The Associated Press.
To pay for some of his priorities, Edwards would roll back Bush's tax cuts on Americans making more than $200,000 a year. He also said he would consider raising capital gains taxes to help fund his plans and raise or eliminate the $90,000 cap on individual earnings subject to Social Security taxes to help cover the projected shortfall in the system.
Edwards also has proposed spending cuts such as cutting subsidies for the banks that make student loans for a savings of $6 billion a year. He would also save money by trimming the number of Department of Housing and Urban Development employees, negotiating Medicare prescription drug prices and cutting agricultural subsidies for corporate farms, although the campaign did not yet have estimates of how much that would bring in.
Edwards' ideas have already opened him to accusations of being just another tax-and-spend liberal, a label put on Walter Mondale, the 1984 Democratic presidential nominee who said he would raise taxes and then lost 49 states to President Reagan.
The Republican National Committee accused Edwards of making his first campaign promise to raise taxes. "Edwards' America Will Pay More Taxes," said a news release from the conservative Club for Growth on the day Edwards announced a plan for universal health care that would cost $90 billion to $120 billion.
The cost estimate came from Ken Thorpe, an Emory University researcher who provides outside analysis on health care plans for presidential candidates. The estimate he gave the Edwards campaign was $105 billion to $145 billion in 2010 dollars - the year Edwards' plan would go into full effect. However, the campaign changed it to 2007 dollars.
His plan would require employers to provide insurance or contribute to the coverage of every worker - and it would require every citizen to get coverage. The government would pay for insurance for lower income Americans and tax credits to help subsidize what other families would have to pay for coverage, funded by abolishing Bush's tax cuts for people who make more than $200,000 a year and by having the government collect more back taxes.
Among other annual spending:
$15 billion-$20 billion to help achieve his goal of ending poverty in the U.S. within 30 years.
That includes $4.2 billion to increase the earned income tax credit, which refunds payroll and income taxes to low-income people; $4 billion to create 1 million short-term jobs to help the unemployed climb out of poverty; and $3 billion for $500 work bonds to help low-income workers save.
$13 billion energy fund to develop and encourage more efficiency and renewable energy use.
That includes $3 billion in tax credits for the production of renewable energy and $1 billion to help the U.S. auto industry modernize with the latest fuel-efficient technology. He said the fund would be paid for by selling $10 billion in greenhouse pollution permits and by ending $3 billion in subsidies for big oil companies.
$1 billion rural recovery plan with initiatives like increased investment in rural small businesses, education, health care and resources to fight methamphetamine abuse.
$5 billion in foreign aid to combat international poverty, including $3 billion to help pay for primary education for every child in the world.
Edwards also has promoted other ideas he has in the works, such as an education plan that includes his goal of eliminating financial barriers to college, a border security plan and federal spending on stem cells. But he's yet to announce details or costs.
Still, Edwards has been the most forthcoming Democratic candidate when it comes to describing the details of how he would like to run the country. His chief rivals - Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama - have offered few hints about their policy proposals.
The ideas are the centerpiece of Edwards' plan to position himself as the party's true progressive in the primary. He hopes the big ideas will attract the liberal Iowa caucus goers, online energy and labor endorsements that he's counting on to propel him to the nomination, said Democratic strategist Chris Lehane.
"If the costs become a real issue, it will be a good problem to have for him because the only folks likely to make a real argument against it would be the Republicans, which means his strategy succeeded and he was the nominee," said Lehane, who worked in the Clinton White House and for Al Gore's candidacy in 2000.
Edwards said his spending proposals also would take precedence over eliminating the more than $200 billion deficit. He said he would work to lower the deficit and would not let it grow.
"Those things cost money, and there's a balance between that and the need to reduce the deficit," said the former North Carolina senator. "And so the threshold question is where is the priority? ... If we're going to do those things, I think it's very difficult to eliminate the deficit - in the short term, impossible."
He said he supports House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's requirement that legislation to cut taxes or boost federal benefit programs must be paid for with tax increases or other benefit cuts. But
Edwards has yet to explain how he would pay for all his proposals. That will come later this year when he offers his tax plan, the campaign said.
"There's definitely a lack of numbers in some of his proposals," said Paul Weinstein Jr., chief operating officer at the centrist Progressive Policy Institute. "I think you should be commended for wanting to provide universal health care and to eliminate poverty. I think it would be more legitimate if he would identify some of the ways in which he would pay for these things."
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
How about these fires? Even celebrities have been affected by the fires. Last night David Hasselhoff was lying on the floor eating a flame-broiled hamburger.
The price of gas closing in on four dollars a gallon. Everyone is affected. I saw a gardener using his hands to blow leaves.
Paris Hilton has been sentenced to 45 days in jail. She sent a petition to Gov. Schwarzenegger, asking him to pardon her. Isn’t that amazing? She knew who the governor was!
Letterman
Sunday is Mother’s Day. It’s a day to remind you why you are in therapy.
Looking back, I guess I had a difficult childhood. Thank God I had an imaginary friend. And my mom liked him better.
Did you hear about the guy at Circuit City? An employee at Circuit City busted up a terrorist ring. I’m thinking, no wonder I can never get a salesman to help me pick out an answering machine.
This guy’s pretty good. Not only did he bust up a terrorist ring, he sold them a bunch of crap they didn’t need.
Conan
Prime Minister Tony Blair just announced he will step down next month, which means President Bush will lose his closest foreign ally. Bush was sad, and said, "Now the only foreign leader I can trust is Arnold Schwarzenegger.”
This week a group of Republican congressmen asked President Bush what his Plan B is if the current plan in Iraq doesn’t work. The Plan B discussion was difficult for Bush because it involves two areas where he’s extremely vulnerable: Iraq and the alphabet.
Jessica Simpson announced that she has to avoid eating dairy products because, this is her quote, "It makes me emit gas from all ends.” It’s all in her new book, "Just in Case You Thought I was Hot.”
Republican presidential candidate Duncan Hunter revealed that he drives a Chevy Suburban with 274,000 miles on it. Despite all those miles, the Suburban has a much better chance of making it to the ’08 election than Duncan Hunter.
Ferguson
Last night at the Boston Symphony Hall there was a fight. Between classical music fans! There wasn’t even a video game involved.
The whole country’s going nuts. Even the animals are going nuts. There was a squirrel attack this morning at a California Elementary. He was caught though. If we give in now, the squirrels win.
The British Prime Minister Tony Blair has announced that he’s stepping down. I have great respect for Tony Blair. He helped bring peace to Northern Ireland. If you can get the Protestants and Catholics to work things out, you can solve anything. You can solve the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, and even the ultimate challenge: Rosie and Trump.
Kimmel
Clay Aiken is here tonight. I want to extend a welcome to all of the "Claymates” that are here tonight. They have been camped out to see him since the last time Clay was with us. One lucky fan will go home tonight with one of his kidneys.
Paris Hilton is still on the loose. She checks into jail on June 5, for 45 days. But maybe not 45 days. She can get one day off for every day of good behavior, so she can do as little as 22 days. My guess is she’ll only be in there for four hours. By the time they finish the cavity search, she’ll be in the trunk of a limo and on her way back to the sky bar.
The most famous celebrity legal drama of all still belongs to O.J. Simpson. Friday, O.J. was at the Kentucky Derby. He sat down to eat at a steak house there, and the owner came up said, "Get out of here.” O.J. left very quietly, but according to the owner, his female companion made a bit of a scene. O.J.’s attorney issued a statement saying, "He screwed with the wrong guy.” Yeah. O.J.’s the kind of guy who might kill you. He might take one of those steak knives and polish you off.
Leno
How about these fires? Even celebrities have been affected by the fires. Last night David Hasselhoff was lying on the floor eating a flame-broiled hamburger.
The price of gas closing in on four dollars a gallon. Everyone is affected. I saw a gardener using his hands to blow leaves.
Paris Hilton has been sentenced to 45 days in jail. She sent a petition to Gov. Schwarzenegger, asking him to pardon her. Isn’t that amazing? She knew who the governor was!
Letterman
Sunday is Mother’s Day. It’s a day to remind you why you are in therapy.
Looking back, I guess I had a difficult childhood. Thank God I had an imaginary friend. And my mom liked him better.
Did you hear about the guy at Circuit City? An employee at Circuit City busted up a terrorist ring. I’m thinking, no wonder I can never get a salesman to help me pick out an answering machine.
This guy’s pretty good. Not only did he bust up a terrorist ring, he sold them a bunch of crap they didn’t need.
Conan
Prime Minister Tony Blair just announced he will step down next month, which means President Bush will lose his closest foreign ally. Bush was sad, and said, "Now the only foreign leader I can trust is Arnold Schwarzenegger.”
This week a group of Republican congressmen asked President Bush what his Plan B is if the current plan in Iraq doesn’t work. The Plan B discussion was difficult for Bush because it involves two areas where he’s extremely vulnerable: Iraq and the alphabet.
Jessica Simpson announced that she has to avoid eating dairy products because, this is her quote, "It makes me emit gas from all ends.” It’s all in her new book, "Just in Case You Thought I was Hot.”
Republican presidential candidate Duncan Hunter revealed that he drives a Chevy Suburban with 274,000 miles on it. Despite all those miles, the Suburban has a much better chance of making it to the ’08 election than Duncan Hunter.
Ferguson
Last night at the Boston Symphony Hall there was a fight. Between classical music fans! There wasn’t even a video game involved.
The whole country’s going nuts. Even the animals are going nuts. There was a squirrel attack this morning at a California Elementary. He was caught though. If we give in now, the squirrels win.
The British Prime Minister Tony Blair has announced that he’s stepping down. I have great respect for Tony Blair. He helped bring peace to Northern Ireland. If you can get the Protestants and Catholics to work things out, you can solve anything. You can solve the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, and even the ultimate challenge: Rosie and Trump.
Kimmel
Clay Aiken is here tonight. I want to extend a welcome to all of the "Claymates” that are here tonight. They have been camped out to see him since the last time Clay was with us. One lucky fan will go home tonight with one of his kidneys.
Paris Hilton is still on the loose. She checks into jail on June 5, for 45 days. But maybe not 45 days. She can get one day off for every day of good behavior, so she can do as little as 22 days. My guess is she’ll only be in there for four hours. By the time they finish the cavity search, she’ll be in the trunk of a limo and on her way back to the sky bar.
The most famous celebrity legal drama of all still belongs to O.J. Simpson. Friday, O.J. was at the Kentucky Derby. He sat down to eat at a steak house there, and the owner came up said, "Get out of here.” O.J. left very quietly, but according to the owner, his female companion made a bit of a scene. O.J.’s attorney issued a statement saying, "He screwed with the wrong guy.” Yeah. O.J.’s the kind of guy who might kill you. He might take one of those steak knives and polish you off.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Dean Tells Dems to Embrace Evangelicals
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean says his party needs to attract evangelical Christian voters.
"We ought to reach out to those folks ... and not be afraid," Dean said at a DNC fundraiser Wednesday night at San Francisco's Palace Hotel, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Dean said nearly 30 percent of evangelical Christians now identify themselves as Democratic voters, up from 20 percent in 2004, thanks to an intense effort by the Democratic Party.
"We went out and advertised on Christian broadcast networks ... because in the evangelical movement, young people are changing America -- and they're changing the evangelical movement.
"People don't want to go to church anymore ... and come out feeling bad because they happen to know somebody who's gay," he said, according to the Chronicle. "People want to go to church because they know what they can do about poverty, about Darfur, about the environment."
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean says his party needs to attract evangelical Christian voters.
"We ought to reach out to those folks ... and not be afraid," Dean said at a DNC fundraiser Wednesday night at San Francisco's Palace Hotel, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Dean said nearly 30 percent of evangelical Christians now identify themselves as Democratic voters, up from 20 percent in 2004, thanks to an intense effort by the Democratic Party.
"We went out and advertised on Christian broadcast networks ... because in the evangelical movement, young people are changing America -- and they're changing the evangelical movement.
"People don't want to go to church anymore ... and come out feeling bad because they happen to know somebody who's gay," he said, according to the Chronicle. "People want to go to church because they know what they can do about poverty, about Darfur, about the environment."
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
Welcome to Burbank . . . or "Burnbank” as it’s now called.
The smoke was so thick this morning, I couldn’t see the smog!
Vice President Dick Cheney made a surprise visit to Iraq yesterday. The price of a barrel of oil went down. That’s why Cheney is in the Middle East — to find out what went wrong.
Barack Obama’s wife Michelle has been out there campaigning for her husband and she praised her husband for having a "moral compass.” In fact, Hillary Clinton called her and asked, "Where can I get one of these moral compasses for Bill?”
Letterman
It’s a beautiful day, or as Al Gore calls it, "The last gasp of a dying planet.
Here’s how nice it was: It was so nice today that Spider-Man was having "flies a la mode.”
O.J. Simpson was at the Kentucky Derby. Paris Hilton is in prison. O.J. is still out there running around. Something’s wrong.
Vice President Dick Cheney is on a tour of the Middle East. He’s very popular over there; he’s known as "Lawrence of arrhythmia.”
Letterman's Top Ten
Top Ten Signs A Baseball Player Is Too Old
10. Gets winded putting on his socks
9. Hard slide into second triggers Life-Alert pendant
8. While playing outfield, yells at teamates to get the hell off his lawn
7. When buying performance-enhancing drugs, gets the AARP discount
6. Claims he killed President McKinley with a line drive
5. Often begins sentences, "As Shoeless Joe Jackson once told me . . ."
4. He's almost as old as the hot dogs — seriously, have you ever eaten one of those things?
3. Lost part of his career fighting in World War I
2. During interviews, he thanks the Lord and the makers of super Poligrip
1. When he's in the on-deck circle, asks bat boy, "What did I come in here for?"
Conan
Queen Elizabeth has been in our country. Earlier this week, President Bush hosted a state dinner in Queen Elizabeth’s honor. The guests included Trent Lott, Elisabeth Hasselbeck from "The View,” and the winning jockey from the Kentucky Derby. Which explains why the queen was overheard saying, "This party bites the big one.”
In Iran, President Ahmadinejad is apparently so unpopular, the parliament has voted to take away his power and shorten his term. When he heard this, President Bush said, "That lucky bastard.”
Kind of an odd story: Last night, the Milwaukee Brewers offered all fans, who attended the game, a free rectal examine. To makes things worse, it was also free bat night.
It looks like Paris Hilton is going to jail for 45 days. Prison officials say that while Paris Hilton is in jail, she will be taken to the showers in handcuffs. At least some things for Paris will remain the same.
Ferguson
Earlier tonight on "American Idol,” a special performance by Barry Gibb from the Bee Gees. Say what you want about the Bee Gees, it is very hard to sing that high. It was much easier back in the ‘70s when everyone wore those tight pants.
Bill Clinton has designed a crossword puzzle for The New York Times. It’s very hard: "32 across. Four letter word for Hillary.”
Big story today: Big wildfire in Griffith Park. Unbelievable. The bravery, the skills of these guys. I love firefighters. That’s why I buy the calendars. Local L.A. news people were up there. You do not want to get in between a L.A. news reporter and their big moment on camera. These reporters are fearless. The get very close to the flames with all that hairspray. And the women too.
Kimmel
Are you here for the show, or seeking shelter from the fires?
On "American Idol,” somewhere in the neighborhood of 30,000 hopefuls have been whittled down now to three highly forgettable future cruise ship entertainers.
Most of the city of Los Angeles burned down yesterday. If there’s one good thing about this, it gives our local news channels a chance to shine. They were all over this story, all day and all night, on every detail. They provided us with this edition of "How Is This News?” [Video of reporter: "One woman needed a cell phone. She didn’t grab her cell phone when she ran out of her apartment. Another woman lent her a cell phone. That was truly amazing.”]
Leno
Welcome to Burbank . . . or "Burnbank” as it’s now called.
The smoke was so thick this morning, I couldn’t see the smog!
Vice President Dick Cheney made a surprise visit to Iraq yesterday. The price of a barrel of oil went down. That’s why Cheney is in the Middle East — to find out what went wrong.
Barack Obama’s wife Michelle has been out there campaigning for her husband and she praised her husband for having a "moral compass.” In fact, Hillary Clinton called her and asked, "Where can I get one of these moral compasses for Bill?”
Letterman
It’s a beautiful day, or as Al Gore calls it, "The last gasp of a dying planet.
Here’s how nice it was: It was so nice today that Spider-Man was having "flies a la mode.”
O.J. Simpson was at the Kentucky Derby. Paris Hilton is in prison. O.J. is still out there running around. Something’s wrong.
Vice President Dick Cheney is on a tour of the Middle East. He’s very popular over there; he’s known as "Lawrence of arrhythmia.”
Letterman's Top Ten
Top Ten Signs A Baseball Player Is Too Old
10. Gets winded putting on his socks
9. Hard slide into second triggers Life-Alert pendant
8. While playing outfield, yells at teamates to get the hell off his lawn
7. When buying performance-enhancing drugs, gets the AARP discount
6. Claims he killed President McKinley with a line drive
5. Often begins sentences, "As Shoeless Joe Jackson once told me . . ."
4. He's almost as old as the hot dogs — seriously, have you ever eaten one of those things?
3. Lost part of his career fighting in World War I
2. During interviews, he thanks the Lord and the makers of super Poligrip
1. When he's in the on-deck circle, asks bat boy, "What did I come in here for?"
Conan
Queen Elizabeth has been in our country. Earlier this week, President Bush hosted a state dinner in Queen Elizabeth’s honor. The guests included Trent Lott, Elisabeth Hasselbeck from "The View,” and the winning jockey from the Kentucky Derby. Which explains why the queen was overheard saying, "This party bites the big one.”
In Iran, President Ahmadinejad is apparently so unpopular, the parliament has voted to take away his power and shorten his term. When he heard this, President Bush said, "That lucky bastard.”
Kind of an odd story: Last night, the Milwaukee Brewers offered all fans, who attended the game, a free rectal examine. To makes things worse, it was also free bat night.
It looks like Paris Hilton is going to jail for 45 days. Prison officials say that while Paris Hilton is in jail, she will be taken to the showers in handcuffs. At least some things for Paris will remain the same.
Ferguson
Earlier tonight on "American Idol,” a special performance by Barry Gibb from the Bee Gees. Say what you want about the Bee Gees, it is very hard to sing that high. It was much easier back in the ‘70s when everyone wore those tight pants.
Bill Clinton has designed a crossword puzzle for The New York Times. It’s very hard: "32 across. Four letter word for Hillary.”
Big story today: Big wildfire in Griffith Park. Unbelievable. The bravery, the skills of these guys. I love firefighters. That’s why I buy the calendars. Local L.A. news people were up there. You do not want to get in between a L.A. news reporter and their big moment on camera. These reporters are fearless. The get very close to the flames with all that hairspray. And the women too.
Kimmel
Are you here for the show, or seeking shelter from the fires?
On "American Idol,” somewhere in the neighborhood of 30,000 hopefuls have been whittled down now to three highly forgettable future cruise ship entertainers.
Most of the city of Los Angeles burned down yesterday. If there’s one good thing about this, it gives our local news channels a chance to shine. They were all over this story, all day and all night, on every detail. They provided us with this edition of "How Is This News?” [Video of reporter: "One woman needed a cell phone. She didn’t grab her cell phone when she ran out of her apartment. Another woman lent her a cell phone. That was truly amazing.”]
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Poll: Pelosi Congress Sinks to 35% Rating
People think the Democratic-led Congress is doing just as dreary a job as President Bush, following four months of bitter political standoffs that have seen little progress on Iraq and a host of domestic issues.
An AP-Ipsos poll also found that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is a more popular figure than the president and her colleagues on Capitol Hill, though she faces a gender gap in which significantly more women than men support her.
The survey found only 35 percent approve of how Congress is handling its job, down 5 percentage points in a month. That gives lawmakers the same bleak approval rating as Bush, who has been mired at about that level since last fall, including his dip to a record low for the AP-Ipsos poll of 32 percent last January.
"It's mostly Iraq" plus a lack of progress in other areas, said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., who heads the House GOP's campaign committee. "These are not good numbers for an incumbent, and it doesn't matter if you have an R or a D next to your name."
Democrats agree the problem is largely Iraq, which has dominated this year's session of Congress while producing little more than this month's Bush veto of a bill requiring the withdrawal of U.S. troops. It has also overshadowed House-passed bills on stem cell research, student loans and other subjects that the White House opposes, they say.
"People are unhappy, there hasn't been a lot of change in direction, for example in Iraq," said Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., chairman of House Democrats' campaign effort.
The telephone survey of 1,000 adults was taken Monday through Wednesday and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
People think the Democratic-led Congress is doing just as dreary a job as President Bush, following four months of bitter political standoffs that have seen little progress on Iraq and a host of domestic issues.
An AP-Ipsos poll also found that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is a more popular figure than the president and her colleagues on Capitol Hill, though she faces a gender gap in which significantly more women than men support her.
The survey found only 35 percent approve of how Congress is handling its job, down 5 percentage points in a month. That gives lawmakers the same bleak approval rating as Bush, who has been mired at about that level since last fall, including his dip to a record low for the AP-Ipsos poll of 32 percent last January.
"It's mostly Iraq" plus a lack of progress in other areas, said Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., who heads the House GOP's campaign committee. "These are not good numbers for an incumbent, and it doesn't matter if you have an R or a D next to your name."
Democrats agree the problem is largely Iraq, which has dominated this year's session of Congress while producing little more than this month's Bush veto of a bill requiring the withdrawal of U.S. troops. It has also overshadowed House-passed bills on stem cell research, student loans and other subjects that the White House opposes, they say.
"People are unhappy, there hasn't been a lot of change in direction, for example in Iraq," said Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., chairman of House Democrats' campaign effort.
The telephone survey of 1,000 adults was taken Monday through Wednesday and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Late Nite Jokes
Leno
"Spiderman 3” made $382 million worldwide over the weekend. But then again, so did the guy who owns a Texaco station near my house.
Gas went up 20 cents a gallon this past week. Record highs all across the country. In fact, it is so expensive in Los Angeles, today, I saw Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger carpooling.
As you know, last night, President Bush and first lady Laura Bush hosted the queen of England at a big state dinner. One embarrassing moment when the queen told President Bush she had been on the throne over 55 years and Bush said, "Try Metamucil.”
According to a new study by the University of Washington, 90 percent of children under the age of 2 are couch potatoes. You know what you call these kids? Tater tots.
Letterman
Such a beautiful day here in New York City, Roger Clemens took his money for a walk in the park.
Gas? This summer it could be $4 a gallon. It’s all part of President Bush’s No Oil Company Left Behind program.
Last night at the White House, Queen Elizabeth was there and she met Barbara Bush. I think it was "old bag” night.
This Paris Hilton thing is tearing this country apart. On the one hand, people are calling for leniency. On the other hand, people are calling for lethal injection.
Conan
Queen Elizabeth is visiting Washington. The British press is angry. They’re claiming President Bush disrespected the queen because he accidently suggested she was over 200 years old and then winked at her.
Former President Bill Clinton wrote the clues for a New York Times crossword puzzle. Which explains why the clue for No. 9 down is, "synonym for pain in the ass, rhyming with ‘millary.’”
Donald Trump in the news. Donald Trump announced he is coming out with his own line of Trump steaks. Trump steaks. His steaks come in three sizes: large, extra large, and Rosie O’Donnell.
Yesterday a pilot who is blind flew half way around the world and landed his plane in Sydney Australia. At one point the blind pilot announced to the passengers, "Look out the left side of the plane, and tell me what you see.”
Ferguson
Not such a great day for Ty Pennington. He got arrested for DUI. He woke up this morning with an "Extreme hangover.”
Archaeologists have made a huge discovery in the Middle East. They found the tomb of King Herod. King Herod! The legendary builder of Jerusalem. He was the TY Pennington of his day in many ways.
He didn’t really do any of the work. He was more like the Trump of his day. He had the buildings and would write "Herod” on them.
Archaeology involves finding a lot of broken pots. Which tells us all about history. And it tells us in ancient times people were clumsy.
Kimmel
Billy Ray Cyrus has been eliminated from "Dancing with the Stars.” Don’t tell his heart. His achy-breaky heart. I just don’t think it would understand.
Paris Hilton has been voted out of society for a while. On Friday, a judge sentenced her to 45 days in a women’s detention center for driving with a suspended license. She was not happy about it. She has a petition on her MySpace page and she wants people to sign it and then they’re going to send the signatures to Gov. Schwarzenegger. Her petition says, "She provides hope for young people all over the U.S. and the world. She provides excitement to our otherwise mundane lives.” Where would we be?
We’re circulating a petition. We’re asking Gov. Schwarzenegger to officially declare June 5 "Paris Hilton Is Going to Jail Day.”
Leno
"Spiderman 3” made $382 million worldwide over the weekend. But then again, so did the guy who owns a Texaco station near my house.
Gas went up 20 cents a gallon this past week. Record highs all across the country. In fact, it is so expensive in Los Angeles, today, I saw Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger carpooling.
As you know, last night, President Bush and first lady Laura Bush hosted the queen of England at a big state dinner. One embarrassing moment when the queen told President Bush she had been on the throne over 55 years and Bush said, "Try Metamucil.”
According to a new study by the University of Washington, 90 percent of children under the age of 2 are couch potatoes. You know what you call these kids? Tater tots.
Letterman
Such a beautiful day here in New York City, Roger Clemens took his money for a walk in the park.
Gas? This summer it could be $4 a gallon. It’s all part of President Bush’s No Oil Company Left Behind program.
Last night at the White House, Queen Elizabeth was there and she met Barbara Bush. I think it was "old bag” night.
This Paris Hilton thing is tearing this country apart. On the one hand, people are calling for leniency. On the other hand, people are calling for lethal injection.
Conan
Queen Elizabeth is visiting Washington. The British press is angry. They’re claiming President Bush disrespected the queen because he accidently suggested she was over 200 years old and then winked at her.
Former President Bill Clinton wrote the clues for a New York Times crossword puzzle. Which explains why the clue for No. 9 down is, "synonym for pain in the ass, rhyming with ‘millary.’”
Donald Trump in the news. Donald Trump announced he is coming out with his own line of Trump steaks. Trump steaks. His steaks come in three sizes: large, extra large, and Rosie O’Donnell.
Yesterday a pilot who is blind flew half way around the world and landed his plane in Sydney Australia. At one point the blind pilot announced to the passengers, "Look out the left side of the plane, and tell me what you see.”
Ferguson
Not such a great day for Ty Pennington. He got arrested for DUI. He woke up this morning with an "Extreme hangover.”
Archaeologists have made a huge discovery in the Middle East. They found the tomb of King Herod. King Herod! The legendary builder of Jerusalem. He was the TY Pennington of his day in many ways.
He didn’t really do any of the work. He was more like the Trump of his day. He had the buildings and would write "Herod” on them.
Archaeology involves finding a lot of broken pots. Which tells us all about history. And it tells us in ancient times people were clumsy.
Kimmel
Billy Ray Cyrus has been eliminated from "Dancing with the Stars.” Don’t tell his heart. His achy-breaky heart. I just don’t think it would understand.
Paris Hilton has been voted out of society for a while. On Friday, a judge sentenced her to 45 days in a women’s detention center for driving with a suspended license. She was not happy about it. She has a petition on her MySpace page and she wants people to sign it and then they’re going to send the signatures to Gov. Schwarzenegger. Her petition says, "She provides hope for young people all over the U.S. and the world. She provides excitement to our otherwise mundane lives.” Where would we be?
We’re circulating a petition. We’re asking Gov. Schwarzenegger to officially declare June 5 "Paris Hilton Is Going to Jail Day.”
