Thursday News Bucket

17 Comments

1. 

   CabinGirl on January 17, 2008 at 7:42 am

   I’m just nor sure whether it’s on the part of Giuiani supporters or the NYT.

   For months, the Republican establishment in New York and New Jersey marched nearly in lock step behind Rudolph W. Giuliani, the former hometown mayor they were confident would become their party’s nominee for president.

   But as Mr. Giuliani has plummeted from first to fourth — or worse — in some national polls, as he finished near the bottom of the pack in the nation’s earliest primaries, and as his lead evaporated even in Florida, the state on which he has gambled the most time and money, those Republican leaders are verging toward a grim new consensus:

   If Mr. Giuliani loses in the Florida primary on Jan. 29, they say, he may even have trouble defeating the rivals who are encroaching on his own backyard.

   The guy is losing to Ron Paul, and Giuliani’s supporters are only now verging on the idea that he’s a loser?  And worse, this is considered a news flash?  I know he’s from NY and all, but really.

2. 

   CabinGirl on January 17, 2008 at 7:49 am

   Lou Dobbs for President? CNN

   Move over Michael Bloomberg. Another famous figure is the subject of a presidential draft movement: CNN’s own Lou Dobbs.

   Americans for Legal Immigration PAC — a group, according to its Web site, that supports candidates “who make illegal immigration reduction a top priority” — launched a campaign Wednesday designed to convince the CNN anchor to enter the presidential race if a so-called “pro-amnesty” candidate wins the Republican presidential nomination. According to the group, John McCain, Mike Huckabee, and Rudy Giuliani all fall into that category.

   William Gheen, the president of ALIPAC, said the group has over 25,000 active supporters spread across all 50 states and an overwhelming majority of them are ready to support a Dobbs presidential bid. Gheen also expressed confidence in Dobbs’ wide electoral appeal.

   “Lou Dobbs could run and win because he could easily raise the funds and grassroots support he needs to be a historic and viable candidate quickly,” he said. The public is eager to rebuke the DC status quo and would quickly rally to Dobbs.”

   The group has launched an official Web site and is already using it to solicit fundraising pledges for the potential run and showcase Dobbs anti-illegal immigration stance.

   ‘Cuz, you know, the rabid racists of the Republican party need their own guy in the ring…it’s not enough to just have religious extremists and warmongers and fascists running.

   • 

     Alice on January 17, 2008 at 8:30 am

     Gaaaagh.  Can I write in Dan Rather to rebuke the status quo?

     • 

       CabinGirl on January 17, 2008 at 8:50 am

       Sounds like a plan.

       I’m afraid ManEegee’s head will explode when he sees this.

       • 

         Man Eegee on January 17, 2008 at 12:06 pm

         They can have him.  

3. 

   CabinGirl on January 17, 2008 at 7:55 am

   Having done some advertising type work, there’s no way the bulls-eye placement in this ad was an oversight.

   Nice to know what Target marketers think of women.

   • 

     hens teeth on January 17, 2008 at 11:55 am

     pathetic

4. 

   idredit on January 17, 2008 at 9:35 am

   How is this allowed?

   Top Rumsfeld Aide Wins Contracts From Spy Office He Set Up

   A Pentagon office that claims to monitor terrorist threats to U.S. military bases in North America — and was once reprimanded by the U.S. Congress for spying on antiwar activists — has just awarded a multi-million dollar contract to a company that employs one of Donald Rumsfeld’s former aides. That aide, Stephen Cambone, helped create the very office that issued the contract. [.]

   The CIFA contract was awarded just two months after QinetiQ hired Stephen Cambone, the former undersecretary of defense for intelligence and a longtime Rumsfeld aide, as its vice president for strategy. Cambone is the most senior of a savvy group of former high-ranking Pentagon and intelligence officials hired by QinetiQ to manage its expansion in the U.S. market. (See boxes.)

   (emphasis added)

   Are we surprised?  Not likely. Cambone is one of the bunch who lied all the way to war in Iraq.

   • 

     CabinGirl on January 17, 2008 at 11:53 am

     Not only is it allowed, but it’s the favored way of doing business in BushWorld.

     What do we have, 370 more days of this administration left? (I’ve given up on them ever bringing the guy to an impeachment trial)  Can’t go fast enough for me.

   • 

     dada on January 17, 2008 at 12:00 pm

     it’s perfectly acceptable. consider it as a reward for services rendered, much like this one:

     Ashcroft’s No-Bid Contract:

     Last fall, New Jersey U.S. Attorney Chris Christie awarded his former boss, John Ashcroft, a lucrative no-bid contract to “monitor a large corporation willing to settle criminal charges out of court.” Ashcroft’s consulting company is set “to receive payments of $28 million to $52 million” in the deal, one of the biggest payouts ever reported for a federal monitor.

     In an interview today, former U.S. Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach said the case is suspicious because no-bid contracts are generally awarded only if there’s a strong “reason why there isn’t” a competitive process…

     think progress

     didn’t you get the memo? iokiyr

     and the dlc set can’t wait to get their hands on the levers.

     lTMF’sA

5. 

   Moonwood on January 17, 2008 at 11:49 am

   look for it.

   • 

     CabinGirl on January 17, 2008 at 11:54 am

     Interesting that the older senators are endorsing Obama and not Clinton.  Shouldn’t she have all these connections and chips to call in?

     • 

       idredit on January 17, 2008 at 12:11 pm

       A big endorsement.

       that’s why they’re are sour gripping – painting Obama “the Establishment” candidate.

       The Clintons’ anger is spilling wide open.

       Here in Nevada Clinton gets pissy. And he lies as they try to bend the rules. The Video

       The Carpet Bagger Report highlights the verbatum GOP talkingpoints as the Clinton campaign hits the worst conservative frame yet

       I’m not surprised. BillHill is running for a 3rd term. They’ll say and do anything to their rivals even if they destroy the Party.

       • 

         Real History Lisa on January 17, 2008 at 7:20 pm

         Yeah. Poor Bill swore off extramarital sex until Hillary was in the White House. Uh oh. 😉

6. 

   idredit on January 17, 2008 at 12:39 pm

   the 3 most dangerous things we touch:

   supermarket carts
   at the gas pump
   bank notes

   Cashiers vulnerable to flu from banknotes: study

   so are we.  

   Walk with disposable gloves?

7. 

   Man Eegee on January 17, 2008 at 12:43 pm

   Nothing to see here, just forceful removal of ancestral lands.

   The U.S. Justice Department has sued nine Santa Cruz County landowners, seeking temporary condemnations of their properties in order to do survey work for a fence along the Mexican border.

   The condemnations, filed this week in the Evo A. Deconcini courthouse in Tucson, are part of what is expected to be more than 100 lawsuits filed or planned in Texas, California and Arizona seeking access to private land.

   The suits invoking the government’s right to eminent domain would give federal authorities six months to do survey work and testing for proposed roads, fencing, vehicle barriers and lighting, according to court documents. – linkage

8. 

   Oui on January 17, 2008 at 6:25 pm

   .

   Court allows casino vote that may boost Obama

   LAS VEGAS (Reuters) – A federal judge on allowed Nevada Democrats to hold presidential voting in casino hotels on the Las Vegas Strip, potentially helping Sen. Barack Obama in the next round of the campaign on Saturday.

   For the first time, Nevada Democrats planned to set up nine locations for Saturday’s vote so casino shift workers, who are largely represented by a union that endorsed Obama, could attend caucuses and vote for a presidential candidate.

   A large turnout of casino workers could boost Obama, of Illinois, in his tight race against New York Sen. Hillary Clinton because he is backed by the Culinary Union, which represents 60,000 hotel service workers.

   "But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."