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45 Qaeda suspects held in Turkey
Today's Headlines
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-Lurid Crime Tales-
Sen. Stabenow's husband tells police he had sex with prostitute
Another day, another Democrat with a hooker . . . or so it seems these days.

TROY, Michigan (AP) - The husband of U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow told police he used the Internet to make a date with a prostitute and paid her $150 for sex at a hotel in Troy.
A step or two down from the "Emperor's Club."
A police report says Troy officers stopped 46-year-old Thomas Athans on February 26th during a stakeout of the hotel. They ticketed him for driving with a suspended license but didn't file any sex charges.
Yet.
They say he's cooperating with investigators. Police arrested a 20-year-old woman in the hotel room on a prostitution charge.

Athans co-founded the liberal TalkUSA Radio network two years ago.
The what? never heard it. Never heard of it. Is that anything like Air America, only with even fewer listeners?
So far, there's no comment from the office of the Democratic senator.
At least, none that can be printed in a family newspaper.
Posted by: Mike || 04/02/2008 14:43 || Comments || Link || [10 views] Top|| File under:

#1  They arrested the hooker ,but not him?
Posted by: Unoper Grundy5377 || 04/02/2008 15:48 Comments || Top||

#2  I had no idea that the economy in Michigan was this bad.
Posted by: bman || 04/02/2008 15:55 Comments || Top||

#3  well, have you seen Debbie?
Posted by: Frank G || 04/02/2008 18:37 Comments || Top||

#4  well, have you seen Debbie?

She has a sort of Dr. Ruth quality about her. Just sayin'!
Posted by: Jumbo Thalet2606 || 04/02/2008 19:31 Comments || Top||

#5  Debbie is hideous (photo @ article link) -- my question is where's the hooker photo? I want to check for an Adam's apple.
Posted by: regular joe || 04/02/2008 19:35 Comments || Top||

#6  Another HRC supporter nailed. There's a pattern going on here ....
Posted by: lotp || 04/02/2008 19:43 Comments || Top||

#7  Neither of them is a prize physical specimen, as you can see here. Pic of the prostitute included at that link FWIW
Posted by: lotp || 04/02/2008 19:45 Comments || Top||

#8  btw - at AOSHQ, much fun in comments was had with the location of the sting:
"at the Residence Inn near Big Beaver and Interstate 75"

YJCMTSU
Posted by: Frank G || 04/02/2008 21:19 Comments || Top||

#9  like this:
Whats even funnier is that Big Beaver is exit #69 on I75. I shit you not.
Posted by: unclerudy at April 02, 2008 02:37 PM
Posted by: Frank G || 04/02/2008 21:36 Comments || Top||

#10  That is CLASSIC, Frank

The gawds must be on our side, even with McCain as our front runner. First, Spitzer, then the new NY Governor (just hours into his term) and now this and rumors of Bill Clinton exploding at the superdelegates in Chicago.

Man, I can't wait for some popcorn and Denver 2008!
Posted by: BA || 04/02/2008 21:50 Comments || Top||

#11  typical; Kwame in Dee-troit, Stabenow's idiot old man, NY governors', minus that idiot Craig the dems are really being consistent this primary season.
Posted by: Broadhead6 || 04/02/2008 22:56 Comments || Top||


-Short Attention Span Theater-
Spears reportedly back with former manager
Fresh off her successful appearance on CBS's "How I Met Your Mother," there is yet another sign Britney Spears could be returning to top of her game. The pop star has reunited with her former manager, Larry Rudolph. "It's true," a source close to Britney told E! News. "They are working together."

Spears and Rudolph had a roller coaster of a professional relationship that ended with the pop star publicly blaming him for pressuring her to enter rehab, according E! News.

Rudolph is credited with taking Spears from just a small-town former-Disney actor and turning her into the world-famous pop star that she became. The duo, who worked together for almost nine years, parted ways around the time Spears married now ex-husband, Kevin Federline.

Jamie Spears, the singer's father and co-conservator, has been an outspoken supporter of Rudolph, according to E! News. It is not known if Jamie was involved in the reunion of Spears and her former manager.

Posted by: Fred || 04/02/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:


Pregnant Jamie Lynn Spears, 16, shows off her new engagement ring
Britney Spears' 16-year-old pregnant sister Jamie Lynn showed off her sparkling new ring yesterday following news of her engagement last week. The Zoey 101 star kept her buddy baby bump under wraps in an oversized top and jogging shorts while on a shopping trip in her home town of Kentwood, Louisiana.
Posted by: Fred || 04/02/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Usually, the engagement and wedding precedes the pregnancy. It works best if screwed-up children are not having children.
Posted by: JohnQC || 04/02/2008 11:47 Comments || Top||

#2  Old bluegrass tune lyrics: "The wedding, it was formal, they painted the shotgun white..."
Posted by: M. Murcek || 04/02/2008 12:44 Comments || Top||

#3  Be looking for a good used trailer soon....
Posted by: Kelly || 04/02/2008 14:02 Comments || Top||

#4  Nice ring. Wonder what she paid for it?
Posted by: Grunter || 04/02/2008 14:14 Comments || Top||


-Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
New Energy Source Proved in Australia
A report published last year by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that similar resources in the U.S. alone could generate up to 100,000 MW of power.

(Hot Fractured Rock)HFR mines Earth’s heat with wells up to 10 km deep into hot rock, connecting the wells to a fractured-rock region that has been stimulated to let water flow through it. This creates a heat exchanger that can produce large amounts of hot water or steam to run electric generators on the surface. It requires little fuel and emits no carbon dioxide. “This would be a breakthrough if they’re able to produce hot fluid at a sustained production flow rate that exceeds what has been achieved before,” says Tester.
Posted by: Bobby || 04/02/2008 08:58 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under:

#1  But it will cool off the innards of the Earth! Can you hear the enviros screeching?
Posted by: M. Murcek || 04/02/2008 10:31 Comments || Top||

#2  There's a town in Germany that started sinking after starting up a geothermal project. Walls cracking in lots of buildings, etc. It will be interesting to see how these deeper geothermal projects work out over the long haul.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/30/wgreen130.xml
Posted by: Darrell || 04/02/2008 10:51 Comments || Top||

#3  It occurs to me that it might be a good idea to do these experiments in uninhabited areas, given the possibility of earthquakes and soil subsidence.
Posted by: Zhang Fei || 04/02/2008 11:19 Comments || Top||

#4  Deeper ones likely cause less issues. Like Oil Wells.
Posted by: OldSpook || 04/02/2008 11:23 Comments || Top||

#5  hope the environmental impact report covers Graboids
Posted by: Frank G || 04/02/2008 12:20 Comments || Top||

#6  Apparently, the only thing they are taking out is heat. Cooling, if one could measure it, is not likely to have as much subsidence as extraction.
Posted by: Bobby || 04/02/2008 12:39 Comments || Top||

#7  “This would be a breakthrough if they’re able to produce hot fluid at a sustained production flow rate that exceeds what has been achieved before,”

I'm sure I saw that text in a spam for V14gr4
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 04/02/2008 14:14 Comments || Top||

#8  BP, that was the best laugh I've had all day. Well played, sir (or madam).
Posted by: eltoroverde || 04/02/2008 15:01 Comments || Top||

#9  I think the magic word here is 'stimulated'. I recall the Soviets wanted to do this kind of 'stimulation' with underground nuclear explosions.
Posted by: Phil_B || 04/02/2008 16:44 Comments || Top||

#10  Last I heard only a few days ago they were running into drilling problems because of the heat and pressure.
The site is approximately in the middle of nowhere.
Posted by: Aussie Mike || 04/02/2008 17:16 Comments || Top||

#11  one 50MW station by 2012

better than nothing but we're pretty far away from a big deal
Posted by: mhw || 04/02/2008 19:50 Comments || Top||

#12  CRACK IN THE WORLD [movie]? X-/Ultra-Violet Solar Rays?

For some myster reason, I have AUSTIN POWER's "DR.EVIL's" Underground Complex in my head.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/02/2008 19:53 Comments || Top||


Africa Subsaharan
Mugabe ready to step down after losing presidential election
Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe is ready to step down after he accepted defeat in the country’s presidential election, a senior source in the ruling party and diplomats told AFP on Tuesday.

An official in Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party said the long-ruling president was prepared to step down, but was still trying to win agreement from the army’s chief of staff Constantine Chiwenga. “He is prepared to step down because he doesn’t want to embarrass himself by going to a run-off,” the source said on condition of anonymity. “There is only one person still blocking him, the army chief of staff.”

Deal reached: Two senior diplomats in the capital, Harare, meanwhile confirmed that a deal had been reached for Mugabe to step aside, in favour of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. “Everything indicates that Mugabe will leave power smoothly,” said one of the sources.
Posted by: Fred || 04/02/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under:


'No deal' for Mugabe to step down
Zimbabwe's opposition leader and a government minister have denied reports that a deal has been reached for President Robert Mugabe to step down.

Morgan Tsvangirai said he believed his Movement for Democratic Change had won Saturday's election but declined to declare himself the winner. He said his party would reveal their tally of results on Wednesday. Bright Matonga, Zanu-PF's Deputy Information Minister, also rejected reports of a deal. Parliamentary results released so far show that the MDC has 82 seats, including five for a breakaway faction of the party, against 78 for Zanu-PF, with 55 still to come.
Posted by: Fred || 04/02/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under:


Zimbabwe poll heads to runoff -- projections
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai will beat President Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe's crucial election, but be forced into a runoff vote in three weeks, according to a ruling party projection. Two ZANU-PF party sources said on Tuesday the projection showed Tsvangirai falling short of the 51 percent needed for outright victory. It was similar to projections by an independent monitoring group.

No official results have yet emerged on Saturday's presidential poll. The opposition charges that the delay veils attempts by Mugabe to hang on to power by rigging the vote.

Mugabe, in power for 28 years, faced his most formidable challenge in the election, with both Tsvangirai and third candidate Simba Makoni, a former finance minister, accusing him of reducing the population to misery by wrecking Zimbabwe's economy.

Official results on Tuesday showed ZANU-PF with a narrow lead of two seats in the parliamentary poll with 131 out of 210 constituencies declared. But a breakaway opposition party took another five seats.

A third government minister lost his seat and results showed the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) making some inroads into Mugabe's traditional rural strongholds.

Two senior government sources who asked not to be named said their projections showed Tsvangirai getting 48.3 percent, against Mugabe's 43 percent, with Makoni taking eight percent. "What this means is that we are looking at a re-run because he did not win with a margin of over 51 percent that would have given him the job straight away," one of the sources said.

A projection by the independent Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) had Tsvangirai taking 49.4 percent and Mugabe 41.8 percent with Makoni on 8.2.
Posted by: Fred || 04/02/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:


Mugabe 'chose poll rig over coup'
ZIMBABWE's ruling party edged ahead of the main opposition yesterday in official election results, amid reports that President Robert Mugabe and the security forces had decided to rig the outcome of the poll as an alternative to a military takeover to keep him in power.

Riot police in armoured carriers patrolled two of Harare's opposition strongholds overnight, and residents were told to stay off the normally bustling streets.

Three days after the most important vote since the country won independence from Britain, 109 out of the 210 parliamentary constituencies had been declared, showing the ruling ZANU-PF party two seats ahead of the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change.

No results have been announced for the presidential vote, in which Mugabe faces the most formidable political challenge ofhis 28 years in power - from his old rival, Morgan Tsvangirai, and from ruling party defector Simba Makoni.
Posted by: Fred || 04/02/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under:

#1  All three of the Muggabe articles above.

"Believe it WHEN you see it, not before".
Another way to say it, "Talk is cheap, Show me."
Posted by: Redneck Jim || 04/02/2008 13:03 Comments || Top||


Bangladesh
AL, BNP threaten poll boycott if leaders not released
Bangladesh’s main political parties are threatening to launch a movement defying the state of emergency and to boycott elections scheduled for later this year if their top leaders are not freed soon.

The parties are the Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by former prime ministers Sheikh Hasina and Begum Khaleda Zia respectively. Both women have been in jail since last year on corruption charges, and if convicted will be barred from contesting the elections. Following a meeting late on Monday, the Awami League said a planned nationwide signature campaign and hunger strike to press for Hasina’s release could turn into a mass movement to press for her freedom.

“We urge the government to release Hasina by April 4 to avoid the movement,” said senior Awami leader Tofayel Ahmed, hinting at possible street protests and other actions now banned under the emergency. Retired brigadier-general Hannan Shah, a senior BNP leader and staunch Khaleda loyalist, said his party was also prepared to take “any appropriate action” to get her out of jail. “We will leave no stone unturned to force the release of our beloved leader and will not take part in elections while she is behind bars,” Hannan told BNP members on Monday.

Political analysts say if one group defied emergency rule, others would swiftly follow suit. The government has showed no sign of yielding yet.
Posted by: Fred || 04/02/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under:


China-Japan-Koreas
China lays out conspiracy claims against Dalai Lama
China accused Tibetan groups on Tuesday of planning suicide attacks following last month's riots and protests but did not answer key questions about its evidence for such allegations. A spokesman told a news conference in Beijing that police had seized guns, bullets and explosives in some Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and repeated the accusation that the Dalai Lama was linked to Tibetan groups that had organised the recent unrest.

An aide to the Dalai Lama immediately denied what he called "baseless" allegations, and the U.S. State Department said the Dalai Lama was a man of peace who wanted only to talk to China.

Posted by: Fred || 04/02/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Is it that the Dalai Lama lives it large schmoozing with Hollyweirdos while "his" people are supposed to non-violently endure Chinese fascist rule?
Posted by: Excalibur || 04/02/2008 10:36 Comments || Top||

#2  The Dalai Lama is like making most of the Crop Circles over there. I mean the real crop circles, not the ones Ruby Tuesday mowed, the McCoy, the real deal the big guys, you know the ones.

/Elvis ona Tractor, we riding
Posted by: Zebulon Angavick7428 || 04/02/2008 14:21 Comments || Top||


Europe
Ukraine and Georgia face uphill battle on NATO bid
Posted by: Fred || 04/02/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Oh, you mean "Buffer Zone North" and "Buffer Zone South"...
Posted by: Chief Running Gag || 04/02/2008 10:35 Comments || Top||

#2  FOX NEWS AM/BRIT HUME > Exclusive of po-ing the Russians, the admission of any new NATO Member -States may require a NEW STRATEGIC CONCEPT/
RETHINK OF NATO, BOTH IN MISSION AND ESPEC AS A CONTINENTAL + GLOBAL ORGANZ.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/02/2008 19:57 Comments || Top||

#3  I still don't understand how it really is in US or European national interests to bring nations in NATO that we are unlikely to defend and whos membership antognizes the Russians. Unless this is some kind of bargaining chip to get the Russians to stop selling to Iran and shut up about missile defence I just don't understand it.

We'd be better off trying to get some exSoviet stans to arrange their own security alliance that might be allied with NATO but otherwise remain neutral, and equip itself with Russian gear to thus not antagonize the Russians and provide a buffer with Europe that is pretty far East.
Posted by: rjschwarz || 04/02/2008 20:00 Comments || Top||


Fifth Column
Ted Turner Goes Stark Raving Mad
Interviewed Tuesday for Charlie Rose's PBS show, CNN founder Ted Turner argued that inaction on global warming "will be catastrophic" and those who don't die "will be cannibals."

He also applied moral equivalence in describing Iraqi insurgents as "patriots" who simply "don't like us because we've invaded their country" and so "if the Iraqis were in Washington, D.C., we'd be doing the same thing." On not taking drastic action to correct global warming:
Not doing it will be catastrophic. We'll be eight degrees hottest in ten, not ten but 30 or 40 years and basically none of the crops will grow. Most of the people will have died and the rest of us will be cannibals.
Turner ridiculed the need for a big U.S. military, insisting "China just wants to sell us shoes. They're not building landing craft to attack the United States," and "even with our $500 billion military budget, we can't win in Iraq. We're being beaten by insurgents who don't even have any tanks."

After Rose pointed out the Iraqi insurgents "have a lot of roadside bombs that kill a lot of Americans" and wondered "where do you think they come from?", Turner answered:
I think that they're patriots and that they don't like us because we've invaded their country and occupied it. I think if the Iraqis were in Washington, D.C., we'd be doing the same thing: we'd be bombing them too. Nobody wants to be invaded.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 04/02/2008 14:03 || Comments || Link || [14 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Most of the people will have died and the rest of us will be cannibals.

I see his majesty plans to be among the survivors.
Posted by: Excalibur || 04/02/2008 14:19 Comments || Top||

#2  Ted Turner Goes Stark Raving Mad

"Goes"? You mean he wasn't already stark raving mad?
Posted by: Mike || 04/02/2008 14:25 Comments || Top||

#3  Turns out Mad Amthony Wayne is buried in Eris Pa. LOL. A mew name, I has one.
Posted by: Elvis On a Tractor || 04/02/2008 14:33 Comments || Top||

#4  Sounds like the syphillis he contracted from that commie skank movie star he used to be married to has just about finished it's work.
Posted by: tu3031 || 04/02/2008 14:47 Comments || Top||

#5  Turner.... turner....

Isn't he dead?
Posted by: DarthVader || 04/02/2008 15:14 Comments || Top||

#6  Isn't he dead?

Perhaps a confusement between Ted Turner, pancake turner and Rachel Corrie
Posted by: SteveS || 04/02/2008 16:37 Comments || Top||

#7  Considering his main claim to fame is the Time Warner CNN AOL beast created through mergers, the ancient Greek saying of the "God's make great, before they destroy" seems to be playing out rather nicely. Though I'm sure with ego, he views himself as King Lear to the world rather than Willy Loman.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 04/02/2008 16:40 Comments || Top||

#8  Madness.

What sci-fi world is he living in, inside his head?
Posted by: OldSpook || 04/02/2008 17:07 Comments || Top||

#9  "Madness" is too elegant a term -- think inbred jackass
Posted by: regular joe || 04/02/2008 19:38 Comments || Top||

#10  Ten years = Year 2018, weirdly and mysteriously but of course only coincidentally and legally PDeniably [YOU KNOW - A FACT]just in time for RUSS-CHIN's ANTI-US "WAR NOT ONLY POSSIBLE BUT DESIRED"???

AMONG OTHER THINGYS - PERSONAL, REGIONAL + GLOBAL.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/02/2008 21:26 Comments || Top||

#11  Ah, where's my babelfishie... ?
Posted by: twobyfour || 04/02/2008 23:00 Comments || Top||


Home Front: Politix
Bill Clinton has "one of his famous meltdowns" in superdelegate meeting
Phillip Matier & Andrew Ross, San Francisco Chronicle

The Bill Clinton who met privately with California's superdelegates at last weekend's state convention was a far cry from the congenial former president who afterward publicly urged fellow Democrats to "chill out" over the race between his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Barack Obama. . . . "It was one of the worst political meetings I have ever attended," one superdelegate said.

According to those at the meeting, Clinton - who flew in from Chicago with bags under his eyes - was classic old Bill at first, charming and making small talk with the 15 or so delegates who gathered in a room behind the convention stage.

But as the group moved together for the perfunctory photo, Rachel Binah, a former Richardson delegate who now supports Hillary Clinton, told Bill how "sorry" she was to have heard former Clinton campaign manager James Carville call Richardson a "Judas" for backing Obama.

It was as if someone pulled the pin from a grenade. . . .
Posted by: Mike || 04/02/2008 12:31 || Comments || Link || [12 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I think Bill is losing it.
Posted by: DarthVader || 04/02/2008 13:35 Comments || Top||

#2  I thought McCain was the only politician with a temper. At least he's the only one I've read about in the MSM.
Posted by: Rambler in California || 04/02/2008 13:49 Comments || Top||

#3  ...Clinton - who flew in from Chicago with bags under his eyes...

Hey! All bags must be stored in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you. No exceptions!
Posted by: Angie Schultz || 04/02/2008 13:59 Comments || Top||

#4  Quagmire!
Posted by: anonymous5089 || 04/02/2008 14:14 Comments || Top||

#5  I thought Bill was the baggage.
Posted by: Abu Uluque (aka Ebbang Uluque6305) || 04/02/2008 14:51 Comments || Top||

#6  I'm sure this doesn't surprise anyone here. Ever since BHO announced his candidacy, you knew that Billary were just seething with anger that this uppity wonder boy out of nowhere was going to steal the nomination, and the presidency, right out from under their feet. No way they are going to let that happen. Not without a fight that will rival the greatest heavyweight bouts in history.

The cynic in me thinks that Bill has more at stake in this election than just becoming the first "First Gentleman," as ironic that may be.

Perhaps the Faustian bargain he made with his wife during the Lewinsky aftermath has something to do with his desperate rage here. Maybe, just maybe, Hillary is holding something over Bill. Something so terrible and awful that promised to do whatever she asked of him, such as promising to help her become the first female president. Which, as the de facto figurehead of the Democratic party, he would be in a position to do. And now that it is not going as they had planned, perhaps as he had planned, the cracks are starting to appear and the anger, rage, and contempt is beginning to show it's ugly face.

Or perhaps that's just wishful thinking on my part. One can always dream, can't they?
Posted by: eltoroverde || 04/02/2008 14:58 Comments || Top||

#7  More interesting was the follow on article:
Two months ago, police brass issued a department-wide bulletin that canceled days off on April 9 for all 2,245 members of the force to ensure a major law enforcement presence along the torch route.

On any given day, as many as 600 patrol officers are off duty - and pulling them back on assignment could translate to upward of $360,000 in police overtime.

Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin said he's been told the department's full overtime costs on torch day could top $400,000.

It's the kind of OT that helps explain why 393 police officers - 20 percent of the force - earned more than $150,000 in 2007.

If only it didn't require living in San Francisco...
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 04/02/2008 16:14 Comments || Top||

#8  Mr. Green Bull, that's an interesting theory but I think Bill just wants back in the White House. He loved the Power and he can influence a lot of stuff even though he wouldn't be the actual President. Remember, Hillary once proclaimed "WE are the President!".
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 04/02/2008 19:14 Comments || Top||

#9  Its like being president, without the responsibility.
Posted by: Crolusing tse Tung2745 || 04/02/2008 23:18 Comments || Top||


Moonbat McDermott Must Pay Boehner
A federal judge has ordered Rep. Jim McDermott to pay House Minority Leader John Boehner more than $1 million in legal fees in a decade-long dispute over an illegally taped telephone call. Chief Judge Thomas Hogan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ordered McDermott to pay Boehner $1.05 million in attorney's fees and costs, plus about $40,000 in interest. McDermott, a Washington Democrat, also had to pay more than $60,000 in fines and damages, as well as nearly $600,000 in fees to his own lawyers.

McDermott said Tuesday he would not appeal the judge's ruling. "It's dead," he said of the 10-year dispute with Boehner, R-Ohio. "We're just cleaning up after the parade. We saved the First Amendment, and it costs a piece of change, but that's life in the big leagues."

The Supreme Court in December let stand a federal appeals court ruling that McDermott acted improperly in giving reporters access to an audio tape given to him by a Florida couple who recorded a 1996 telephone call involving then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., and other GOP leaders. McDermott, at the time a senior member of the House ethics committee, leaked the tape to two newspapers, which published articles on the case in January 1997.

Boehner, one of the GOP leaders heard on the call, sued McDermott, and a federal court found that McDermott had no right to release the recording.

McDermott called the court fight with Boehner "a long and costly battle," but said the million-dollar judgment was "a small price to pay in defense of so fundamental a principle, and freedom, as the First Amendment."
Even if we have to dump the law and privacy in the process. What sleaze bag.
Boehner said in a statement that members of Congress have a responsibility not only to obey the law and congressional rules, but also to defend the integrity of those laws and rules when they are violated. Although McDermott was never charged with a crime and maintained that his actions were justified, Boehner took a different view. McDermott "shattered the bonds of trust between our institution and the men and women we represent in the halls of Congress," Boehner said.

McDermott has created a legal defense trust fund to cover expenses related to the lawsuit. A report filed with the House clerk shows the trust fund took in about $56,000 in the final three months of 2007, for a year-end total of about $100,000. McDermott said the fund now has about $400,000 in it.

McDermott, who faces little opposition in his bid for an 11th term from his Seattle district, also has more than $612,000 in his campaign account. The Federal Election Commission has generally allowed lawmakers to use campaign funds to pay for legal expenses connected with their office.

Over the years, Boehner has made a number of attempts to settle the case with McDermott. He insisted on three conditions: that McDermott admit he was wrong, apologize to the House and make a $10,000 donation to a charity. McDermott refused.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, in a 5-4 decision last May, said McDermott's offense in leaking the call was especially egregious since at the time he was a senior member of the House ethics committee. The appeals court, in its ruling, maintained that McDermott "voluntarily accepted a duty of confidentiality" when he joined the House ethics panel. Thus, the court said, he had no First Amendment right to disclose the tape to journalists.

Boehner was among several GOP leaders heard on the December 1996 call, which involved ethics allegations against Gingrich. Two newspapers published articles on the case in January 1997, shortly after McDermott leaked the tape to reporters.
Posted by: Anonymoose || 04/02/2008 09:38 || Comments || Link || [11 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Geez, Jimmy, that's too bad. Too bad your old friend in a sandy foreign land had his head pop off and ain't around anymore to hit up for a coupla of hundred thousand bucks.
Here's a question. How are you gonna pay this? Actually, who are you going to have pay this because your defense fund is kinda looking a little light? And we all know it ain't gonna be you...
Posted by: tu3031 || 04/02/2008 11:22 Comments || Top||

#2  Ethics charges on "Baghdad Jim" McDermott would be proper - censure at a minimum. If it was a republican, they'd be talking about throwing him out of office.

McDermott is another case in point for term limits. 11 terms is FAR too many.
Posted by: OldSpook || 04/02/2008 11:22 Comments || Top||

#3  "Moose! Rocco! Help the judge Congressman find his wallet."
Posted by: Grenter Protector of the Geats4975 || 04/02/2008 13:18 Comments || Top||

#4  What's sauce for the goose...
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 04/02/2008 13:18 Comments || Top||

#5  No boehner jokes?
Posted by: gorb || 04/02/2008 23:25 Comments || Top||


Governor Rendell praises Fox News for its fairness
Expect the KKKos Kiddies to throw a fit.



"I think during this entire primary coverage, starting in Iowa and up to the present -- FOX has done the fairest job, and remained the most objective of all the cable networks. You hate both of our candidates. No, I’m only kidding. But you actually have done a very balanced job of reporting the news, and some of the other stations are just caught up with Senator Obama, who is a great guy, but Senator Obama can do no wrong, and Senator Clinton can do no right."
Posted by: Mike || 04/02/2008 06:15 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:

#1  He isn't getting invited to the next Kos banquet.
Posted by: DarthVader || 04/02/2008 7:32 Comments || Top||

#2  Sad when even the Dems are admitting the MSM is spinning hard for Obama.
Posted by: OldSpook || 04/02/2008 11:24 Comments || Top||

#3  If you look at where Fox News people put their money (political contributions), they still lean to the Democratic party. It just is not at 95-98% as are the national networks and CNN.
Posted by: ed || 04/02/2008 12:23 Comments || Top||


Polls: McCain strong in key Dem states
Posted by: Fred || 04/02/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [6 views] Top|| File under:

#1  He, he, with luck McCain will do better than Reagan did in 1984. :-)
Posted by: JFM || 04/02/2008 5:19 Comments || Top||

#2  Irrelevant at this point. The election is still a long way off. Keep yer powder dry.
Posted by: Spot || 04/02/2008 8:16 Comments || Top||

#3  I know it, it is still far from November and in addition there is ever a "flock coming back to stable" effect. But we can still joke about Democrats doing still worst than in 1984 (one state plus Washington DC)
Posted by: JFM || 04/02/2008 8:53 Comments || Top||

#4  With Clinton and Obama's baggage and negative numbers, I think McCain will do fine baring any meltdowns. As spot said, the race has only just started and there is a lot of ground to cover yet. But if the dhimocrats do fragment like I hope they will over the nomination, it should be a fairly easy victory.
Posted by: DarthVader || 04/02/2008 9:38 Comments || Top||

#5  McCain strong in key Dem states

That's because he are one.
Posted by: RD || 04/02/2008 11:20 Comments || Top||

#6  Exactly, RD. Why would Republicans be happy ? They gave away their candidate slot to a non-right winger. Other than strong on military, we have little to no idea of what McCain will do.
I think McCain is more centered on himself than on a political philosophy. Through the years, McCain has often voted with the liberals in the Senate. When his name is on legislation, we rather defeat or veto the bill. Loose canon seems to describe him best, and as such would he make a good president ? I think not.
Here's a question for ya; Did McCain come up with McCain/Feingold to assure that he would always be reelected ? Would he also grant amnesty for the same reason ?
Posted by: wxjames || 04/02/2008 14:38 Comments || Top||

#7  I am not American so I can only judge on external policies and the thing who matters to me is which candidate gives my daughters the best chances of remaining free and also of not being killed either by terrorists or by Ahmedinajad's nukes.
Posted by: JFM || 04/02/2008 18:20 Comments || Top||

#8  That's about it for me too, JFM.
Posted by: lotp || 04/02/2008 19:40 Comments || Top||

#9  Is there anything that you can do to help your own country reach the same conclusion, JFM?
Posted by: Eric Jablow || 04/02/2008 21:20 Comments || Top||


International-UN-NGOs
U.N. Agency Provided $2.3M Worth of Equipment for Venezuela — Or Did It?
Why did the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) buy $2,375,000 worth of walk-through airport body scanners for the radical leftist Venezuelan government of Hugo Chavez? Or did the agency purchase the high-tech equipment at all? And if not, what happened to the $2.3 million?

According to UNDP, not only did the 2007 purchase take place, it was arranged in order to ensure “objectivity, transparency, efficiency” of the procurement in a country that, under Chavez, supports terrorists in neighboring Colombia and has aligned itself with sponsors of international terror such as Iran and Cuba.

According to UNDP spokesman David Morrison, the contract was awarded by UNDP on behalf of Venezuela’s national customs and taxation authority, after a free and open competition that guaranteed fairness and openness in the deal.

But according to UNDP internal documents examined by FOX News, things didn’t quite happen that way. In the confidential minutes of UNDP’s top headquarters procurement committee, the contract was awarded to a Venezuelan firm named Setronix C.A., without competitive bidding. The same waiver of competition is also cited in internal UNDP procurement records that finalized the transaction.

The highly reputable U.S. defense contracting firm that manufactured the 19 ProVision scanners procured by UNDP, L3 Communications, says that the only shipment of scanning machines it sent to Venezuela under UNDP auspices last year was for the country’s correctional system. A company spokesman said the firm had no information to add about any other Venezuela procurement involving UNDP.

Since March 20, when FOX News first began asking questions about the deal, UNDP has hastily begun publishing an electronic “paper trail” that apparently aims to justify the purchase that may or may not have taken place the way the UNDP says it did — if it took place at all.

The focus of concern is a contract known in UNDP’s financial system as RBLAC/07/066, covering the $2.3 million scanner purchase. UNDP asserts that it did absolutely nothing wrong in the way it handled the deal. In defense of that assertion, a UNDP spokesman in New York referred FOX to a page on the website of UNDP’s Venezuela regional office, which describes a joint UNDP-Venezuela Project #58054, “support for the consolidation of the modernization of the customs system.”

Posted by: Fred || 04/02/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [5 views] Top|| File under:


Home Front: Culture Wars
This Explains A Lot; Botox Migrates from Face to Brain
Posted by: Phil_B || 04/02/2008 00:34 || Comments || Link || [9 views] Top|| File under:

#1  For a long and healthy life, don't be a laboratory rat.
Posted by: Procopius2k || 04/02/2008 8:48 Comments || Top||

#2  Health tip: avoid introducing toxins into your body. In other news: the sky is blue and water is wet.
Posted by: Darrell || 04/02/2008 9:06 Comments || Top||

#3  Even the thought of injecting a biotoxin into my body makes me nervous.
Posted by: DarthVader || 04/02/2008 10:47 Comments || Top||

#4  This study was leaked by the Obama campaign as a stealth attack on Hillary.
Posted by: DoDo || 04/02/2008 11:14 Comments || Top||

#5  Botox Migrates from Face to Brain

Absolutely Not, I will not stop my injections!
Posted by: Wrinkled Up Olde Bag || 04/02/2008 11:16 Comments || Top||

#6  so, does that mean I should stop using that brown recluse to remove corns from peoples' feet?
Posted by: swksvolFF || 04/02/2008 11:19 Comments || Top||

#7  so Nancy has an excuse?
Posted by: Frank G || 04/02/2008 12:24 Comments || Top||

#8  Seems a lot of them do, Frank G.
Posted by: Deacon Blues || 04/02/2008 19:16 Comments || Top||

#9  This has been known for decades, but still hasn't stopped Hollywood-MSM Celebs [read -women] from using it anyway.
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/02/2008 21:44 Comments || Top||

#10  Kerry used BoTox...just saying..
Posted by: 3dc || 04/02/2008 22:39 Comments || Top||

#11  OTOH, ABC.COM.AU [Australia] > CAFFEINE PROTECTS THE BRAIN.

Fear NOT, Hollywood, COFFEE = JUAN VALDEZ + STARBUCKS WILL SAVE YOU!
Posted by: JosephMendiola || 04/02/2008 23:50 Comments || Top||


iTunes Rival iSlam to Offer Muslim-Friendly Fare
Muslim authorities in the Netherlands, outraged at the release on LiveLeak.com of Fitna, a film about the Koran and jihad, today announced the imminent launch of a new Muslim video and audio service which they claim will eventually rival Apple’s iTunes in its reach and influence.

As part of a proactive strategy to provide wholesome entertainment for Muslim families, an edited version of Fitna will be the first video available through the new online media service dubbed, iSlam.

“We have not edited out any of the blood, gore, explosions, beheadings, bodies dragged through streets, execution-style shootings, female genital mutilation, ritual cutting of children and other normal religious scenes,” said one unnamed Dutch Muslim leader. “But we have removed the horrifying cartoon images of the Prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him.”
Posted by: Mike Sylwester || 04/02/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [7 views] Top|| File under:

#1  I assume April 1 is sacred to Muslims.
Posted by: Excalibur || 04/02/2008 10:29 Comments || Top||

#2  The ISlam playlist consists of exactly one song:

4'33" by John Cage
Posted by: Seafarious || 04/02/2008 11:49 Comments || Top||

#3  My son played 4 min 33 sec in a piano recital last year. Wigged everyone out. John Cage was a genius. Then he played Dixie, heh.
Posted by: Alaska Paul in Hooper Bay, AK || 04/02/2008 23:35 Comments || Top||

#4  He's a clever young man, Alaska Paul. Clearly takes after his father. :-)
Posted by: trailing wife || 04/02/2008 23:51 Comments || Top||


Home Front Economy
Gas Tax to Fight Global Warming?
Motorists in Los Angeles County could end up paying an extra 9 cents per gallon at the gas pump, or an additional $90 on their vehicle registration, under proposals aimed at getting them to help fight global warming.

Voters would be able to decide whether to approve a "climate change mitigation and adaptation fee" under legislation being considered by state lawmakers and endorsed by the board of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The money would fund improvements to mass transit and programs to relieve traffic congestion at a time when transportation dollars from Washington and Sacramento are hard to come by. "At this point the people of the Los Angeles region have just had it when it comes to traffic and air quality," said Assemblyman Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles), author of the legislation, AB2558.

But opponents already are rallying against the measure, saying it exploits public concern about climate change to tap taxpayers for the MTA's regular services: providing bus and rail lines. "This seems to be a cashing in on public sympathies on global warming to generate additional funding for programs that already exist," said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn.

Coupal also objected to the measure's being called a "fee" -- which requires a simple majority for approval -- instead of a "tax," which requires two-thirds approval.

Feuer's bill would allow the MTA board to ask voters either for a fee of up to 3% of the retail price of gas, or for a vehicle registration fee of up to $90 per year. The money would pay for programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Posted by: Fred || 04/02/2008 00:00 || Comments || Link || [4 views] Top|| File under:

#1  Shameless pr!cks.
Posted by: gorb || 04/02/2008 0:49 Comments || Top||

#2  Thanks for the heads up. When I drive to L.A. this summer, I'll be sure to fill up just before I cross in to L.A. county.
Posted by: AuburnTom || 04/02/2008 0:58 Comments || Top||

#3  The state is running a massive deficit. Arnold has sworn there will be no tax increase.

"We can't reduce spending! Think of the children!" (I am and there are 50% illegals in some schools)

This message has been approved and brought to you by your California State Donk legislature.
Posted by: USMC6743 || 04/02/2008 1:53 Comments || Top||

#4  Bill Mexico for the illegals and they can stay. That ought to fix the problem.
Posted by: gorb || 04/02/2008 3:07 Comments || Top||

#5  How about a political scalp tax to fight government fleecing?
Posted by: DarthVader || 04/02/2008 7:34 Comments || Top||

#6  The perrsons of Caliphornia deserve what they elect.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble || 04/02/2008 8:15 Comments || Top||

#7  Meanwhile, independent truckers are calling for work stoppages if they don't get fuel cost reduction, including fuel tax reduction.
Posted by: Darrell || 04/02/2008 9:12 Comments || Top||

#8  Lower Alabama got purdy cheep gas thar Tom.
Posted by: Zebulon Angavick7428 || 04/02/2008 9:43 Comments || Top||

#9  Kansas State Motor Fuel Tax (gasoline) 2000: $0.20/gallon - 2008: $0.25/gallon

California State 2000: $0.18/galllon 2008: $0.455/gallon
Posted by: swksvolFF || 04/02/2008 11:09 Comments || Top||

#10  Zebulon, that's true. Unfortunately, my "Auburn" is in upper California, not lower Alabama.
Posted by: AuburnTom || 04/02/2008 13:00 Comments || Top||

#11  Ima sad for you. I can has no tractor jokes?
Posted by: Zebulon Angavick7428 || 04/02/2008 13:05 Comments || Top||

#12  If you accept that man produced levels of CO2 cause gerbil worming (which BTW I don't) then you can only re-internalise the CO2 by hypothecating any tax into CO2 sequestration etc.

General taxation will be extorted from one group, but spent by another and in a less efficient way. This will tend to increase CO2 emissions.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles || 04/02/2008 13:14 Comments || Top||

#13  I watched a NOVA program last night on "global dimming"...no, it wasn't about liberal brain activity, but easily could have been.

The premise was that airborne pollutants are causing a 10% or so reduction in the amount of sunlight reaching the earth. This creates a cooling effect, which, surprise, surprise, offsets the warming effect of greenhouse gasses.

So you see, all climate effect is manmade. If we were to radically reduce airborne particulates, as has been done in North America and Europe with scrubbers, catalytic converters and oxygenates in fuel, then we would REALLY see the effects of global warming.

So the temperature is not going up. It is man's fault that it is not going up. The temperature should be going up due to man's faults/actions, but it is not.

Of course there was not mention of the widespread plant die-off due to the reduction in sunlight energy (which you would expect, no?)...I guess it didn't fit with their scare program. What rubbish!
Posted by: Remoteman || 04/02/2008 13:28 Comments || Top||

#14  Politicians and people complain of the high profits that oil companies make - typically about 8 cents a gallon of gasoline, IIRC. (Of course, when they sell billions of gallons gasoline, they make lots of profits.) This is evil.
Governments make 45 cents/gallon. If they really cared about people having to pay high prices for gasoline, they would reduce taxes.
Posted by: Rambler in California || 04/02/2008 13:53 Comments || Top||

#15  "If they really cared about people having to pay high prices for gasoline"

There's yer problem right there, Rambler....
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut || 04/02/2008 19:35 Comments || Top||

#16  Ima sad for you. I can has no tractor jokes?

ZA7428 (#11): I'm an Auburn Univ. alum. You can proceed with your tractor jokes. Be aware, though, that I'll turn them right around to be Univ. of Alabama jokes, tee-hee.
Posted by: BA || 04/02/2008 21:41 Comments || Top||



Who's in the News
47[untagged]
6Taliban
4Mahdi Army
3Govt of Pakistan
3Global Jihad
2Govt of Sudan
2Islamic Courts
2Hamas
1Iraqi Baath Party
1Iraqi Insurgency
1Jaish-e-Mohammad
1Muslim Brotherhood
1SIMI
1Takfir wal-Hijra
1TNSM
1Abu Sayyaf
1Al-Muhajiroun
1al-Qaeda
1al-Qaeda in Britain
1al-Qaeda in Turkey
1Hezbollah
1Hizbul Mujaheddin

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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.

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Meet the Mods
In no particular order...
Steve White
Seafarious
tu3031
badanov
sherry
ryuge
GolfBravoUSMC
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trailing wife
Gloria
Fred
Besoeker
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3dc
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Two weeks of WOT
Wed 2008-04-02
  45 Qaeda suspects held in Turkey
Tue 2008-04-01
  US charges Foopie with Africa bombings
Mon 2008-03-31
  Iraqi govt lifts curfew across Baghdad
Sun 2008-03-30
  Sadr orders fighters off Iraq streets
Sat 2008-03-29
  Maliki extends ultimatum for gunmen to drop the hardware in Basra
Fri 2008-03-28
  Iraqi forces say kill 120 militants in Basra operation
Thu 2008-03-27
  Twenty killed, 239 wounded in Sadr City clashes in 24 hrs
Wed 2008-03-26
  Maliki overseeing Basra operation
Tue 2008-03-25
  Tater urges 'civil revolt' as battles erupt in Basra
Mon 2008-03-24
  Ayman urges attacks on Israel, U.S.
Sun 2008-03-23
  Rocket, mortar strikes on Baghdad Green Zone
Sat 2008-03-22
  Fatah, Jund al-Sham fight it out in Ein el-Hellhole
Fri 2008-03-21
  Iraqi troops clash with Shiite hard boyz
Thu 2008-03-20
  Binny accuses Pope of leading a crusade
Wed 2008-03-19
  US Marines start deploying in southern Afghanistan


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