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5/3/08
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Top Story
Transition to New President in Wartime Concerns the Military
The nation's top military officer warned yesterday that the transition to a new
American president will mark a "time of vulnerability" as the United States
fights two wars, and he said military leaders are already actively preparing for
the changing of the guard. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Navy Adm.
Michael G. Mullen, said the U.S. political transition will be "extraordinarily
challenging," particularly as the military is engaged in
Iraq
and Afghanistan and faces interference in both countries from
Iran.
Uh huh. I’m sure
Bush would love to just forget the whole election thingie and stay the war
president forever, especially since he’s about to start another one.
The World
US strike takes out militant holdout in Baghdad
BAGHDAD - The U.S.
military fired guided missiles into the heart of Baghdad's teeming Sadr City
slum on Saturday, leveling a building 55 yards away from a hospital and injuring
nearly two dozen people.
Turkey: More than 150 Kurdish rebels killed in Iraq
ISTANBUL, Turkey -
The Turkish military says a raid in northern
Iraq
earlier this week killed more than 150 Kurdish rebels.
Hundreds of Palestinian troops take up positions in Jenin
JENIN, West Bank -
Hundreds of flag-waving Palestinian troops took up positions in the former
militant stronghold of Jenin on Saturday, part of President Mahmoud Abbas'
attempt to assert control over once lawless West Bank towns and encourage an
Israeli withdrawal.
A first for Saudis: Mozart performed publicly and women come
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia
- It's probably as revolutionary and groundbreaking as Mozart gets these days. A
German-based quartet staged Saudi Arabia's first-ever performance of European
classical music in a public venue before a mixed gender audience.
Major powers agree new incentives offer to Iran
Major powers agreed
on Friday to make a new offer of incentives to Iran to halt its sensitive
nuclear work and a European diplomat said helping Tehran develop civil atomic
power remained at the heart of the proposal.
NATO soldier, 8 civilians killed by roadside bombs in Afghanistan
Nine people are dead
and 10 were wounded after roadside bombs hit a NATO patrol and two other
vehicles in Afghanistan,
officials said.
Afghan claims explosion causes more damage to Buddha statue
KABUL, Afghanistan -
The United Nations on Saturday was investigating reports that a controlled
explosion of old ordnance has caused more damage to one of the famed Bamiyan
Buddha statues that were destroyed by the Taliban seven year ago.
Dalai Lama envoys prepare for China talks
NEW DELHI (AFP) -
Two Dalai Lama envoys will hold talks with Chinese officials Sunday in southern
China, a spokesman for the exiled Tibetan leader said, even
as Beijing kept up its barrage of criticism against him.
UN calls for Myanmar referendum to be inclusive
UNITED NATIONS - The
U.N. Security Council on Friday called on Myanmar's military government to
ensure that "fundamental political freedoms" are respected in this month's
referendum on a new constitution.
Jakarta, US at odds over 'spy' lab
Negotiations over
whether a controversial US military laboratory should remain in
Indonesia
have reached a knife-edge, as officials argue about biological sample-sharing
and the diplomatic status of staff in the facility.
Conservatives lead in opinion poll
TORONTO (Reuters) -
The Conservatives were ahead of the Liberals in an opinion poll published on
Saturday, but neither party has enough support to be sure of winning a majority
in Parliament.
Bolivians vote Sunday; 1 country or 2?
SANTA CRUZ DE LA
SIERRA, Bolivia — This divided country faces a constitutional crisis Sunday when
its richest and second most-populous province votes whether to declare itself
autonomous from President Evo Morales's national government, a referendum the
president has called illegal.
Cuba puts first computers on sale to the public
HAVANA (AP) - Cubans
are getting wired. The island's communist government put desktop computers on
sale to the public for the first time Friday, ending a ban on PC sales as
another despised restriction on daily life fell away under new President Raul
Castro.
Despite peace, Belfast walls are growing in size and number
BELFAST, Northern
Ireland - Lee Young, 8, and Cein Quinn, 7, live barely 200 yards apart, but they
have never met, and maybe never will.
Zimbabwe opposition still undecided on run-off
HARARE (Reuters) -
Zimbabwe's main opposition party said on Saturday it was still undecided on
whether its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, should take part in a run-off election
against President Robert Mugabe.
U.N. pact for rights of disabled comes into force
UNITED NATIONS
(Reuters) - A U.N. convention aimed at ensuring equal rights for the world's 650
million disabled people in work, education and social life went into force on
Saturday.
The Nation
Bush details $70 billion war funding request for 2009
WASHINGTON -
President Bush sent lawmakers a $70 billion request Friday to fund U.S.
operations in Iraq and Afghanistan into next spring, which would give the next
president breathing room to make his or her own war policy.
Pentagon Considers Adding Forces in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is considering sending as many as 7,000 more American
troops to Afghanistan next year to make up for a shortfall in contributions from
NATO allies, senior Bush administration officials said… The shortfalls in troop
commitments have cast doubt on claims by President Bush and his aides that NATO
was stepping up to provide more help in Afghanistan, where the government of
President Hamid Karzai faces a resurgent threat from the Taliban and remnants of
Al Qaeda.
U.S. rejects Canadian's "child soldier" defense
MIAMI (Reuters) - A
Canadian captured in Afghanistan at age 15 can be tried for murder in the
Guantanamo war crimes court, a
U.S. military judge ruled in
rejecting claims that he was a child soldier who should be rehabilitated rather
than prosecuted.
Have I said
before that this kid has great lawyers?
EPA wants tougher lead rules
WASHINGTON - The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing a major
tightening of the health standard for airborne lead. It says lead levels in the
air have dropped significantly but remain a health concern, especially for
children.
KBR first quarter profits triple.
(Think Progress)
Scandal-ridden contracting firm KBR reported today that its first quarter net
profits more than tripled, from $28 million last year to $98 million this year.
Despite at least a dozen former employees alleging they had been raped by
coworkers in Iraq
and other employees saying coworkers regularly stole gold, artwork, and weapons,
KBR remains in the Pentagon’s good graces: In mid-April, it received a 10-year,
$150 billion contract to support the military overseas.
Lawmakers seek probe of Pentagon public relations program
Forty-one House members are calling on the Defense Department inspector general
to investigate a public relations effort that relied on retired military
officers to defend the administration's Iraq war policies. "When the Department
of Defense misleads the American people by having them believe that they are
listening to the views of objective military analysts when in fact these
individuals are simply replaying DoD talking points, the department is clearly
betraying the public trust," the lawmakers wrote in a joint letter to Defense
Department Inspector General Claude M. Kicklighter on Friday.
FEINGOLD, KLOBUCHAR, ELLISON WORK TO MAKE VOTING EASIER FOR ALL AMERICANS
Bill Allowing
Election Day Registration is Introduced Following Supreme Court Decision
Allowing Laws Impeding the Right to Vote
House to consider broad housing package
WASHINGTON - Democrats, working to build Republican support for a broad
homeowner rescue plan, will pair the bill next week with several housing
measures President Bush has demanded.
Obama, Clinton vie in Guam Democratic caucuses
The early count from Democratic presidential caucuses on Guam showed Barack
Obama delegates ahead with 395 votes to 320 for those pledged to Hillary
Clinton. More than 3,000 votes were expected in heavy turnout at caucuses in the
U.S.
territory, where neither candidate campaigned.
Outside Camp Lejeune, voters anguish over Iraq war
JACKSONVILLE, N.C. —
After five years of war in Iraq, the rhythm of troop deployments and homecomings
in this military community has evolved into a steady pulse.
Clinton takes time for girl talk
CARY, N.C. - Forget
about policy speeches and wooing superdelegates. For Hillary Rodham Clinton,
Saturday morning was devoted to chick chat — a panel discussion with a group of
working moms on topics ranging from girl-on-girl violence to her daughter's
early dating years.
Elizabeth Taylor supports Hillary Rodham Clinton
LOS ANGELES (AP):
Elizabeth Taylor said Friday she is supporting Hillary Rodham Clinton's
presidential campaign, calling the New York senator a smart, strong leader in a
statement issued by her publicist.
Yeah, she
announced it over a year ago, but Obama has been trotting out oldies but
goodies. Why can’t Clinton do the same thing?
Clinton promises 'game-changer'
GREENSBORO, North
Carolina (AFP) - Hillary Clinton on Friday promised a "game-changer" in next
week's nominating showdowns with Barack Obama despite his hefty mathematical
advantage in their gripping White House race.
Obama attacks Clinton's gas tax plan
INDIANAPOLIS, -
Broadening his attack, Barack Obama said Saturday that Hillary Rodham Clinton's
support for a summertime break from the federal gasoline tax symbolizes a
candidacy consisting of "phony ideas, calculated to win elections instead of
actually solving problems."
And HIS plan is?
Obama sounds more like Bush every day—don’t depend on the GOVERNMENT to help you
out.
Obama's appeal to working-class whites faltering, polls show
WASHINGTON - Barack
Obama's problem winning votes from working-class whites is showing no sign of
going away, and their impression of him is getting worse.
Voters say Wright has hurt Obama — but question how much
SANFORD, N.C. -
Black and white voters in next week's primary states agreed on one thing
Wednesday: Barack Obama's preacher had hurt the Democratic presidential
candidate at a crucial time. The question was how much.
McCain is Not Bush, Says Adviser
Republican
presidential contender John McCain will be able to sufficiently distance himself
from the unpopular president of his own party in the upcoming general election,
according to a top adviser to the Arizona senator.
Good luck with
that, McCain adviser!
Economy & Finance
Stocks give up gains from employment report to finish mixed
NEW YORK - Wall Street turned in a mixed performance Friday as
investors set aside some initial enthusiasm over a stronger-than-expected jobs
report to lock in some of their recent gains. Blue chip stocks logged their
third weekly advance in a row as investors grew more confident about the
economy's ability to outrun a deep downturn.
Bush Says U.S. Faces a `Tough Economic Period' After Growth, Jobs Reports
President George W.
Bush said Americans are ``facing a tough economic period'' after reports this
week showed the economy lost jobs for a fourth straight month and economic
growth was close to a standstill.
Bush says administration 'clear and candid' on economy
CRAWFORD, Texas -
President Bush, defending his record and his rhetoric, said Saturday that his
administration has been "clear and candid" about the nation's economy.
Media
Permanent link to MTA daily media news
I will be a guest on
Mario Solis-Marich’s KTLK Los Angeles radio show Sunday at 10:30 AM ET.
Click here to listen.
Listen to Mario live
Weekdays
From 3:00 to 6:00 PM ET on KHRO in El Paso, TX
(listen via
Mario’s website)
From 6:00 to 9:00 PM ET on
AM-760 Denver, CO
Sundays from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM ET on
KTLK Los Angeles.
58% Say Obama Denounced Wright for Political Convenience, not Outrage
You can’t fool most
of the people most of the time.
On Sunday TV, One Hot Rivalry Fuels Another
Tim Russert and
George Stephanopoulos plan competing interviews of the Democratic candidates on
Sunday.
I guess Barack
won’t be in church.
1 man, 0.89967 vote
(by Jeff Jarvis)
CJR’s Clint Hendler[:] “The Democratic party’s nominating process is a
kaleidoscope of caucuses, conventions, and primaries, sometimes all in the same
state. And there’s no obvious best way to estimate a popular vote from it all.”
And this: The news organizations and the campaigns, of course, all count the
alleged popular vote differently. This is shameful: undemocratic and
unDemocratic. We must reform the primary system in a unified way. This idea that
each state can and should do its own idiosyncratic thing is a leftover of a
disorganized and unconnected past and it is hurting now. The principle for
reorganization is simple: Every citizen has a right and an opportunity to vote
in a meaningful way in the primary process. One person, one vote, damnit.
Electoral-Vote.com, May 2, 2008
(270 needed to win)
Clinton 291
McCain 236
Tie 11
Obama 264
McCain 263
Tie 11
Click through to
see the maps.
Gallup: McCain opens national lead over Obama
(On Politics, USA Today)
The headline on latest national Gallup tracking poll is that Republican John
McCain leads Democrat Barack Obama in a hypothetical matchup by six percentage
points (48%-42%) and leads Hillary Rodham Clinton by only one (46%-45%).
Former DNC chairs: Hillary would beat McCain today -- Obama wouldn't
(CNN) – Seven former
Democratic National Committee chairs who support Hillary Clinton’s presidential
bid, and the family of one who is deceased, released a letter Friday arguing
that she is the candidate best-equipped to beat John McCain in November. The
letter was signed by former party leaders Kenneth Curtis, Charles Manatt, Debra
DeLee, Don Fowler, Steve Grossman, Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell, and
Clinton adviser Terry McAuliffe. It was also signed by the family of the late
Ron Brown, who served in the Clinton administration. They write that “if the
election were held today, Hillary would beat Senator McCain, but Senator Obama
would lose to the presumptive GOP nominee.”
CNN poll: Obama losing support
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A new national poll suggests the battle for the Democratic
presidential nomination between Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama is a tie…
"Obama has lost his edge,'' said Bill Schneider, CNN senior political analyst.
"Is it because of the controversy over his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright? While
most Democrats have an unfavorable opinion of Wright, only 19 percent say
Wright's statements have made them less favorable to Obama. More than two thirds
say they've had no effect at all. The bigger problem appears to be Obama's
string of losses to
Clinton in big states like Pennsylvania and Ohio. Those losses have not driven
up Clinton's support. But they may have created doubts about Obama's ability to
win," Schneider said. But the poll suggests Wright certainly doesn't help the
Illinois senator.
Obama says Wright might cost him Indiana (McClatchy)
MUNSTER, Ind. — Barack Obama is trying his best to put the controversy over the
Rev. Jeremiah Wright behind him, but he's girding for the chance that his best
won't be enough when Indiana Democrats vote on Tuesday.
Always an
excuse. Never his fault. Do we know anyone else who’s always blaming others
for his failures? Hint: He’s the current occupier of the White House.
Obama can't bluff past Wright issue
(by Roger Simon at Politico)
[In] Obama’s recent interview on “Today” [he] explained why he did not speak out
sooner to denounce Wright… “When the first snippets came out, I thought it was
important to give him the benefit of the doubt.”… Does this make sense? When
Obama heard these “snippets,” why didn’t Obama call Wright immediately and
demand an explanation and express his concerns? Obama has an explanation, but it
simply makes no sense: “Because if I had wanted to be politically expedient, I
would have distanced myself and denounced him right away, right? That would have
been the easy thing to do.” So let me get this straight: Obama did the wrong
thing, because he didn’t want to appear to be doing the politically expedient
thing, which was the right thing… Does Obama really want us to believe this is
how he makes important decisions? Or is this a politician bluffing his way
through a tough moment and trying to get away with it?
Indiana shows why Obama might lose to McCain (McClatchy)
BROWNSBURG, Ind. — Exhibit A of Barack Obama's problem with white folks:
Indiana, home to a lot of disgruntled Democrats who could help put John McCain
in the White House — particularly people backing Hillary Clinton in Tuesday's
primary.
Suddenly, N. Carolina Is Facing Tighter Race (New York Times)
RALEIGH, N.C. — Just days before the North Carolina primary, the Democratic
presidential contest in this state is suddenly alive with a fresh air of
competition, as Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton seeks to capitalize on a
controversy that polls suggest has whittled away some of Senator Barack Obama’s
support among white voters. Not long ago, Mr. Obama was perceived to hold such
an advantage that some Democrats here wondered whether Mrs. Clinton would bother
to compete vigorously. But the candidates intensified their efforts in the final
weekend — both appeared here on Friday evening — and Mr. Obama was eyeing a
return on the eve of the election.
Clinton deserves some credit for her own rebound (by Tom Baxter, Southern Political Report)
April 30, 2008 — Don’t attribute all of Hillary Clinton’s rebound in the latest
InsiderAdvantage North Carolina poll to the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. She deserves
some of the credit herself… [D]on’t discount the significance of
Clinton’s attack on Obama for
opposing her plan to suspend the federal gas tax, just as he earlier opposed her
proposal to freeze foreclosures… Empathy works, and while Clinton’s plan hasn’t
won much favor from economists, it puts her on the offensive with respect to a
tremendously potent issue.
Clinton’s gas tax
plan makes the oil companies responsible for the taxes, at least temporarily.
She knows, and says, it’s not the long-term fix she proposes, which is an
all-out effort to find alternative sources of energy. But people are tired of
huge oil company profits while they can barely afford to fill their gas
tanks.
THE 'COJONES' PRIMARY
(by Kirsten Powers, New York Post—which endorsed Obama and belongs to Rupert
Murdoch)
May 2, 2008 -- IT's starting to look like a "toughness gap." His chant:
"Yes, we can." Her chant: "Yes, we will." Obama likes to say, "I may be skinny,
but I'm tough." Hillary throws back shots and threatens to obliterate
Iran. He complains about tough
questions from George Stephanopoulos and Charlie Gibson. She sits down with Bill
O'Reilly. A Fox News poll released Wednesday found that 61 percent of Democrats
describe Clinton as "tough," but only 23 percent say that about Obama. The
boys are swooning. The president of an
Indiana steelworkers local
union introduced Clinton as the "individual with [the] testicular fortitude" to
deal with the nation's problems. In his endorsement of Clinton, North Carolina
Gov. Mike Easley enthused, "This lady right here makes Rocky Balboa look like a
pansy." In an ad, the governor gushes more: "She is so resilient, so determined.
She knows how to deliver." Or, as Clinton said in a World Wrestling
Entertainment promo: "The last man standing may just be a woman." Ouch.
Why won’t he debate Hillary?: Obama a chicken? (video)
Super stuck! (by
Mike Madden and Walter Shapiro at Salon)
Democratic superdelegates who haven't yet chosen sides tell Salon about phone
calls from Bill Clinton and high-anxiety nightmares. It seems most are not
enjoying political superstardom.
Remember that
John Lewis was harassed into switching allegiance from Clinton to Obama. No
wonder these delegates are stuck.
What are desperate supporters to do? Oh, I know, how about threatening the superdelegates!
Harmful, Divisive And Fallacious Petition From Color Of Change
(by Big Tent Democrat at TalkLeft)
Color of Change is circulating an outrageous, deplorable and fallacious
petition: “Leaders of the Democratic Party are playing a dangerous game --
risking the credibility of the party to hand Hillary Clinton the nomination
against the will of voters. Heading down this path means disenfranchising
millions of voters and legitimizing a campaign strategy that has displayed a
clear pattern of race baiting and divisive politics.”… Color of Change falsely
smears the Clinton
campaign while engaging in race baiting and divisive politics itself. Color of
Change smears not only Hillary Clinton, but the millions of Democrats who
support her.
What’s a desperate campaign to do? Oh, I know, pander to Republicans, even though you’ve vilified the opposition for being civil to the conservative media.
Obama Woos Republicans in Indiana
(Political Wire)
Sen. Barack Obama's campaign "is applying a grass-roots organizational zeal to
courting Republicans" in Indiana, "much as it has done for younger voters in
previous contests," according to the Wall Street Journal.
What are desperate supporters to do? Oh, I know, hand out a sample ballot that looks like a real ballot, and that already has the candidate’s bubble filled in…
Well, here's something interesting... (by Frank Eaton at BlueNC)
I'm no lawyer, but here's what I can find from the State Board of Elections
Statute regarding sample ballots: “… No person other than a board of elections
shall produce or disseminate a document substantially resembling an official
ballot unless the document contains on its face a prominent statement that the
document was not produced by a board of elections and is not an official
ballot.” And here's a piece of paid literature being distributed at early
polling places around Winston-Salem by paid people for a brand new PAC called
the Winston-Salem Black Political Action Committee:
People have actually been carrying them into the polling places and trying to
turn them in as their ballots, which speaks, i believe, to their resemblance to
actual ballots. Never mind that nowhere on this piece of paper does the word
"sample" appear. The words "official ballot" sure do. Prominently, one might
say. Like, right at the top. Where did this formerly blank ballot come from? Who
is the Winston-Salem Black PAC? Why didn't they file the organizational reports
that were due this week?
Click through to
see a larger image of the ballot.
… while pretending that the opposition is trying to suppress voting in that state.
Voter suppression in North Carolina? (The War Room, Salon)
Did a pro-Hillary Clinton
nonprofit group make voter suppression robo-calls to keep Barack Obama's voters
from going to the polls in North Carolina on Tuesday? That's the charge from part of the liberal
blogosphere this week, but it's a charge based on no solid evidence of
wrongdoing… Those who've suggested there was voter suppression at work often
started their coverage from the assumption that the calls were directed at the
primary. In fact, the calls were part of a campaign aimed at 24 states in total,
and they were intended to boost voter registration in general…
Josh Marshall in particular has been flogging this story without context,
implying some sort of nefarious subplot here despite WVWV's long track record of
registering unmarried women and statements from both Obama and Clinton
supporters validating their work… I believe this is the lowest point I have
ever seen the blogosphere sink. There is no reason whatsoever for this mob
mentality to go after one of the most important voter registration efforts out
there designed to empower women ... If they are such an evil anti-progressive
group, why would they award 'female blogger of the year to Digby' and run ads
encouraging women to vote?
Click through for
much more detail.
What are desperate supporters to do? Oh, I know, make up “shit” about the opposition!
Did Sidney Blumenthal cross the line? (by Joe Conason at Salon)
Some bloggers accuse Blumenthal, a Hillary advisor, of spreading right-wing lies
about Obama. But I get his e-mail blasts and the charge isn't fair.
Pennebaker: Clip Doctored
(by Ben Smith at Politico)
I just spoke to D.A. Pennebaker, the director of "The War Room," who said his
film had been doctored to produce a widely-viewed YouTube clip. In a clip from
his film on the 1992 Clinton campaign, posted to YouTube [Friday],
Clinton advisor Mickey Kantor is -- according to subtitles -- seen
referring to Indiana
residents with an expletive and to his colleague George Stephanopolous with a
racial slur. "He does not say that. He does not say that," said Pennebaker,
after viewing the clip… The … expletive, he said, appeared to have been entirely
fabricated, with new audio dubbed onto the original movie.
UPDATE: I spoke to the editor of the video who said that he enhanced, but didn't
alter, the audio in the second portion of the video.
Lambert asks, why
won’t Ben Smith tell us who that editor is? See below.
Kudos (by
lambert at Corrente)
Who was pushing a doctored anti-Hillary video? The same crowd that was pushing
the fake WVWV anti-Hillary smear? The same crowd that pushed the Muslim garb
anti-Hillary smear, that Kevin Drum retracted, but Obama repeated? Honestly,
what’s next from these guys?... UPDATE How very, very odd. WKJM [Whoever
Kidnapped Josh Marshall] isn’t covering this at all. I mean, you’d think that
when a video that has Clinton operatives supposedly insulting IN says before the
crucial IN primary goes viral, and all over the A list, and then the video turns
out to be doctored, there’d be some coverage, any coverage. Say, can’t WKJM just
call up his good friends at the Politico and ask them who the unnamed “editor”
was? Just to put those nasty rumors that the Obama campaign was behind all this
to rest? Nah. Move along people, move along. There’s no story here.
But if the racial slur fabrication doesn’t work, try misassociating Kantor’s use of the word “shit”.
Posted at BuzzFlash as of this morning: “ABC News: Yes, Clinton Advisor Did Call Hoosiers "Sh*t" in clip from '92 5/3”
If Tapper had put down his chicken sandwich and rented The War Room, he'd know
that Mickey Kantor did not call Indiana voters "shit" (Media Matters)
Summary: Referring to the false allegation that in the 1993 movie The War Room,
Clinton campaign adviser Mickey Kantor called Indiana voters "shit," Jake Tapper
wrote on his blog: "Were I not currently eating a chicken sandwich at Liberty
East Restaurant in Charlotte, NC, while working on a World News piece about the
economy and the candidates, I would go to Blockbuster, rent a copy of The War
Room and settle this matter as much as possible." Media Matters for
America
did obtain a copy of the film and does indeed "settle" the matter; Kantor did
not call anyone "shit," and he was not referring to Hoosiers when he said,
"Those people are shitting."
Smear #3: Hillary killed three Hoosiers in the Clinton Library with the Wrench!
Then ate them! (by lambert at Corrente)
Well, so far we’ve had two smear campaigns against the Clinton this week, both
extremely unconnected to the aboveground* Obama campaign and yet, almost
incredibly, breaking just before another major primary: Smear #1, WVMV (for NC);
and smear #2, the doctored “War Room” clip (for IN). Gee, it’s great to see a
new kind of politics in action, isn’t it? Interestingly, the modus operandi was
the same for both campaigns: Smear Hillary by smearing her associates**, then
get the false claims “in the air” by propagating them on the A list. Both
operations were also designed to delegitimize a (potential) Hillary win, through
charges of voter suppression in NC (a tactic used by the OFB [Obama Fan Base],
though quickly forgotten, after Obama losses in NH and NV), and through baseless
charges of racism and hatred (a tactic used by the OFB in all times and all
places for any or no reason). So, I’m guessing that smear #3 is already on the
launching pad, and liftoff will be achieved just in time to ruin everybody’s
Sunday.
NOTE * At this point, let us remember that Axelrod’s day job is corporate
astroturfing.
Drudge Rules Their World: Kantor Video Doctored (by Big Tent Democrat at TalkLeft)
Moral of the story? The Left blogs have lost their way.
James Clyburn Happy to Play His Familiar Part Once More
(by Sean Wilentz, Princeton history professor writing at the Huffington Post)
Last week, Bill Clinton belatedly observed that the Obama campaign "played the
race card on me" in South Carolina, and cited a conversation he had had with
Jesse Jackson to prove his point. [Representative
James Clyburn of South Carolina, the highest-ranking black leader in Congress]
jumped back in, getting the attention of The New York Times by charging that
"black people are incensed" at Clinton and claiming that it is "an almost
'unanimous' view among African-Americans that Mr. and Mrs. Clinton are
"committed to doing everything they possibly can to damage Obama to a point that
he could never win." Clyburn may well be correct about perceptions of the
Clintons among some black voters; but he simply hides how Obama, his campaign,
and their supporters have willfully created that impression.
I hope you will
click through to read this entire article. It’s a recap of all the false racist
charges of racism against the Clintons.
The poisonous campaign of Barack Obama
(by John: south of Melrose at Liberal Rapture)
Reposted from March: By lying overtly and covertly about who he is Obama has
poisoned this campaign and this country. He has used his considerable talents as
an orator to fool the chattering classes and the media. He has used skillful
oratory to blur his questionable past, rewrite our recent history, and open
another gash in the wound of race in America. He has taken the difficult issue
of race and turned it into a Benetton commercial and wonders why Pennsylvania
isn't buying it. He breathlessly compares his grandmother to the putrid Wright
and wonders why his grand "speech" didn't take.
He has taken the low road, while claiming the high one. He has lied about his intentions for the wars if elected. He has lied about his association with his church: Our Lady of Perpetual Resentment. He has plagiarized speeches, lied about both Clintons, lied about NAFTA, and run a dishonest, ruthless campaign. He has willfully associated with bigots, slumlords and terrorists to further his career. (Yes, William Ayres is a terrorist.) He has turned the idea of meritocracy on its head by elevating vagueness and self promotion to messianic heights. He has accomplished nothing of note in his public life and insults those who have.
Fatigue and racism threaten to knock Obama bandwagon off the road
(The Guardian, U.K.)
Barack Obama was showing signs of campaign fatigue. Sitting on a picnic bench in
a park on Pagoda Street,
Indianapolis,
in discussion with a group of 30 supporters, he told a story about the "modest"
background of himself and his wife, Michelle. And 10 minutes later, seemingly
having forgotten, he told them it all again. It is hardly surprising, given that
he has been on the road almost non-stop since Christmas, battling Hillary
Clinton for the Democratic nomination. In recent weeks, he has often seemed
absent-minded, forgetting the names of the towns he is in.
Conversely,
Hillary seems to be enjoying herself. She’s definitely better suited to the
rigors of high office.
Change Oregon Can Believe In?
(by bobbank at MyDD)
Speaking about the need to "Clean up our Water", Barack made this solemn pledge
to the people of Oregon: “[H]e will continue his leadership in protecting
national treasures like the Great Lakes from threats such as industrial
pollution, water diversion, and invasive species.” Oregon to Barack: the Great
Lakes are not in Oregon!... So there you have it… Barack's campaign presented a
hastily constructed copy-and-paste job, with little or no thought given to the
specific issues on the minds of Oregon voters. Change they can believe in?
Hardly.
GREETINGS FROM BROAD RIPPLE VILLAGE:
(by Bob Somerby at the Daily Howler)
[Friday’s New York Times had two articles on potential voters’ assessments of
whether Rev. Wright would have an impact on the primaries in their states. The
Times]sent a reporter to Tarheel towns to get the views of African-Americans.
(Good!) And they sent a reporter to Broad Ripple to get the views of upscale
whites. (Good again!) But what did the Gotham paper do to get the views of less
affluent whites? Simple! Instead of interviewing such rubes, they simply asked
the swells to speak for them! This produced a pleasing second-hand view:
Low-income whites, with their racial bad faith, may well be swayed by this
story! Let’s be clear: If the Times had actually interviewed those down-state
voters, it may well have found racial attitudes mixed in the brew… But the pair
of reports which are offered [Friday] represent a comical type of reporting. And
they represent a perfect follow-up to [Gail] Collins’ sneering about those small
towns.
Getler: Moyers could have been tougher with Rev. Wright
PBS ombud Michael
Getler says Bill Moyers' interview with Rev. Jeremiah Wright "came across to me
more as a conversation among theologians than it did as a truly probing
interview with a truly controversial person who had said some truly inflammatory
things ...I do feel that there were not enough questions asked and some that
were asked came across as too reserved and too soft, considering the volatility
of the charges."
Someday never comes
(by Jamison Foser at Media Matters)
The news media are so far in the tank for John McCain, many reporters don't
bother even trying to pretend that the presumptive Republican presidential
nominee has faced the level of scrutiny they've given Democrats Barack Obama,
Hillary Clinton, and, when he was in the race, John Edwards. Instead, like
teenagers trying to put off homework so they can go to the mall, they insist
they'll get around to scrutinizing McCain ... eventually… Just wait. Be patient.
Eventually, the nation's largest news organizations will get around to telling
you whether the presumptive Republican presidential nominee is lying, or
flip-flopping, or just flat doesn't know what he's talking about. Not today or
tomorrow, mind you -- but someday.
McCain’s staff and Bush’s staff talk ‘everyday.’
(Think Progress)
At a lunch hosted today by the Christian Science Monitor, former uber-lobbyist
Charlie Black, who is a senior adviser to Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), said that
McCain’s staff talks to the President Bush’s staff “everyday.” Black also said
that before McCain offered harsh words last week about Bush’s response to
Hurricane Katrina, the campaign gave the White House a “head’s up.”
McCain blames Minnesota bridge collapse on earmarks
(by Steve Benen at Crooks and Liars)
Joe Klein recently predicted that John McCain would avoid a cheap and pathetic
style of campaigning. McCain, Klein said, “sees the tawdry ceremonies of
politics — the spin and hucksterism — as unworthy.”… At this point, if McCain is
experiencing any kind of internal dilemma, I’m pretty sure hucksterism is
winning. “Republican John McCain said Wednesday that the bridge collapse in
Minnesota that killed 13 people last year would not have happened if Congress
had not wasted so much money on pork-barrel spending. Federal investigators cite
undersize steel plates as the “critical factor” in the collapse of the bridge.”
O’Reilly: ‘It’s Bull’ That Torture Doesn’t Work (Think Progress)
[Thursday] night, in an interview with Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Fox News’
Bill O’Reilly praised the Bush administration “for doing a good job protecting
Americans after 9/11″ and attributed its success to its “aggressive manner” of
protection, including “Guantanamo, water boarding three times, and other
things.”… O’Reilly then questioned
Clinton’s opposition to
torture, insisting that if the
U.S.
had “an al Qaeda big shot” in custody, he would “dunk him into water” — i.e.,
waterboard him. When told that torture does not produce “high quality”
information, O’Reilly cried, “That’s bull!”.
We have to wonder
how he can be so certain.
Media Matters for America headlines
• Networks again refuse to go on the record about NY Times' military analyst expose
• In criticizing Obama, Will falsely claimed that Social Security taxes are levied on household income
• Maloy: The media's "elitist" cookbook
• Matthews: "[W]hat do you have with McCain? Integrity"
It's Not Enough to Have Free Speech
(by James H. Ewert Jr., In These Times)
When Adbusters found its spoof ads banned by the corporate media, the question
of the right to communicate came into play.
One Country, Two Systems in Hong Kong Press
In Hong Kong’s
boisterous media, daily newspapers and local television news programs regularly
carry photos and reports that would be banned on the Chinese mainland.
Japanese official demoted for 780,000 hits on porn sites
A Japanese civil
servant was demoted for logging more than 780,000 hits on pornographic websites
on his office computer over nine months, an official said Friday.
58 women join EEOC suit against Bloomberg
The number of women accusing Bloomberg LP, the financial data and news service
firm founded by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, of discrimination has risen
from three to 58, with more likely to be added, a judge was told Thursday. The
mayor is not a defendant in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit
claiming discrimination against women who take maternity leave. He resigned as
chief executive to run for mayor in 2001. He retains a 68 percent stake in the
company.
Newspaper Jobs on the Move -- Over the Ocean
The newspaper
staff-cut announcements in recent months has taken on an unsettling ring: In
some cases, jobs are not so much lost as going elsewhere -- often overseas. For
example: Newspapers eager to trim costs now look to farm out ad production work,
but care must be taken to prevent snafus.
So, all you
newspaper editors who kept telling us globalization was such a good thing, how
do you feel now that it’s YOUR jobs going overseas? I can’t wait until someone
in India replaces Tom Friedman.
Earnings: WaPo Q1 Profits Fall 39 Percent; Online Up 8 Percent
(Paid Content)
A dismal economy combined with the usual newspaper industry challenges led The
Washington Post Company's Q1 net income downward 39 percent to $39.3 million
($4.08 per share) from last year's $64.4 million ($6.70 per share). And while
revenue for the period was up 8 percent to $1.063 billion, from Q107's $985.6
million, the increase is due to growth at the education and cable TV divisions,
which made up for declines at the newspaper, magazine and broadcasting
divisions.
Cablevision Bids $650 Million For Newsday; Murdoch Won't Match; Zuckerman Status
Uncertain Reports
(Paid Content)
Offering to outspend Rupert Murdoch and Mort Zuckerman by $70 million to acquire
Newsday from Tribune Co., Cablevision Systems Corp. has formally bid $650
million, according to the paper's sources. The two publishers were being given
the chance to up their matching $580 million bids, but AP is reporting now that
News Corp will not go higher. No word yet on Zuckerman. Meanwhile, Cablevision
is declining comment.
Collapsed housing sector is shoring up newspaper classifieds
City Paper points
out that foreclosure notices have replaced ads for cars and condos. Virginia
Press Association director Ginger Stanley says: "There are definitely more than
we've ever seen [and] I've been in the business 30 years." On March 13, about 14
of the 22 pages in Washington Post's classifieds section were devoted to what's
called "trustee's sales."
'National Geographic' Big Winner at National Magazine Awards
Conde Nast Also Does
Well, With Wins for 'New Yorker,' 'Gourmet' and 'Portfolio'
TVGuide No More: Macrovision's Acquisition Of Gemstar Complete; To Be Called
Macrovision Solutions (Paid Content)
TV Guide's fate still hangs in balance, as Macrovision's acquisition of Gemstar-TV
Guide completed [Friday] ... the new resulting company will be called
Macrovision Solutions Corp. No added word about what will happen to the TV Guide
side of the business (print and TV channels), but it is clear Macrovision wants
to retain the TVGuide.com site and its sister online sites… A PR rep would not
comment further.
Viacom’s Profit Increases 33% With Help From a Video Game
Rock Band, a video
game involving players emulating rock ’n’ rollers with toy instruments, helped
increase revenue by 16 percent at Viacom’s media networks business.
Ratings Continue to Slide for Top 10, Including 'Idol'
Rash Report: Many
Programs off by Double-Digit Percentages
I know why
American Idol is slipping. No one believes any more that the votes determine
who’s going home. It’s a lot like our political voting system.
Microsoft ups Yahoo offer above $31 in bid for friendly deal
SAN FRANCISCO - Microsoft Corp. finally dangled a higher takeover bid in
front of Yahoo Inc. Friday, hoping to reach a friendly deal after weeks of saber
rattling.
Higher Offer by Microsoft Brings Yahoo to Table
The companies are in
active merger talks, people involved said, and Microsoft is said to have
increased its offer.
"It drives me crazy to see this stupid MSM/blogging divide"
Sam Mellinger believes far more mainstream media types embrace the Internet than
want to scream at it, "but the exceptions to this rule are loud and easy to
find." The blogger/journalist writes: "I understand the threat of people moving
in, the anger when your stuff is lifted without attribution, or your hard work
piggy-backed by someone who ends up writing that you're an idiot. But just
because someone writes the c-word on some Internet message board doesn't make
all blogs a threat to society anymore than Jayson Blair being a total fraud
makes all newspapers dishonest."
ABC.com Testing Multiple Commercials For Online TV Episodes
(Paid Content)
Disney-ABC Television Group plans to test viewer reaction to the presence of
multiple commercials within long-form online videos on its ABC.com streaming
media player, THR reports. It's fairly standard for videos sites like Hulu to
run only one marketer/one commercial between breaks in full-length streaming
episode. Albert Cheng, EVP, digital media at DATG, concedes that viewer
tolerance might not extend beyond the one-ad-per-pod model for online video, but
he also feels that given the nascent stage of the format, it's premature to
accept this rule as set in stone.
Beware the viral movie campaign
The Internet is the
perfect breeding ground for viral movie marketing. But as movie makers attempt
to create the ultimate viral Web campaign, they risk burning out the audience
before the movie hits theaters.
Nielsen Finally Combines Mobile Web Traffic With PC Online Use
(Paid Content)
Nielsen has released a new reporting service that combines audience measurement
for online and mobile called TotalWeb. The service, which is operated by the
Nielsen Online unit, claims to show the unduplicated, unique audience for more
than 200 major websites across the PC and mobile space, something badly needed
as the two mediums converge… TotalWeb's first report suggests that for a number
of web publishers, mobile internet increases the total size of their audience by
13 percent over PC alone. The data is collected via Nielsen Online's MegaPanel,
which the company describes as a metered internet panel. The report also
measured which categories saw the greatest traffic lift when a mobile audience
is factored in.
Google News Now Looks Beautiful On Your iPhone
(Mashable)
Finally, Google News is now available for iPhone and iPod Touch, for users in
over 30 countries. Wait…iPhone isn’t available in over 30 countries, right? Oh
well, let’s just shelve this one with the rest of unsolved mysteries, like the
fact that Apple sells way more iPhones than its exclusive carrier, AT&T, has
iPhone subscribers.
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