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16 May 2011 16:00

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Politics: Gabrielle Giffords watches husband’s launch, sees staffers

  • It was emotional to see the congresswoman for the first time in four months but it was also very inspirational. To actually see her and talk with her, it was a very moving experience.
  • Mark Kimble, communications staffer for Gabrielle Giffords • Speaking about seeing Giffords for the first time since the January shooting that nearly killed her. Giffords was staying at a hotel in Florida so she could watch her husband, Mark Kelly, launch in the shuttle Endeavor at the Kennedy Space Center. While there, she was able to meet with some of her staff that she hadn’t seen since the fateful day, likely an intensely emotional reunion for all involved. That she made the trip is testimony both to the amazing care and rehabilitation she’s received, as well as the incredible and improbable success she’s had in recovery. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

16 May 2011 15:48

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Politics: Newt Gingrich, whatever you want him to be

  • “I oppose the Obamacare mandate”: That quote is very telling, because the truth is, Newt does oppose the Obamacare mandate — because it’s Obama’s. Hearing him musing about the merits of a health insurance mandate just a day before, on Meet The Press, may make you think there’s some sort of hypocrisy, or flip-flop here, but there isn’t. You see, this mandate we’ve got now… it’s Obama’s! Seriously, though — this is nothing new for Newt. You may remember his utter reversal on whether he would intervene in Libya, a clear instance of him espousing policy beliefs simply to appear opposite Obama, rather than having any conviction or integrity behind them. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

16 May 2011 15:11

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Politics: Bin Laden conspiracy theories predictably rampant in U.S.

  • 19% of Americans think Osama might be alive, poll says source
  • » Distrusting against all odds: The penchant for some of the population to prefer any explanation, even a bad one, that makes a chaotic world make sense to them is nothing new. That said, there’s one very salient reality behind this story that makes the doubts notably, patently absurd. Let’s imagine, for a moment, that Osama bin Laden is alive. Why then has al-Qaeda conceded that he’s dead? All they’d need to do to deal a complete and utter deathblow to America’s credibility, domestically and internationally, would be to produce a live bin Laden. It would be catastrophic, and would cast Barack Obama as a liar and fraud of the highest order, a win which they’d never in a million years pass up. But they won’t, and can’t — the guy is dead as dirt.
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

16 May 2011 14:56

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Politics: John McCain is having none of this torture talk

  • I have sought further information from the staff of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and they confirm for me that, in fact, the best intelligence gained from a CIA detainee… was obtained through standard, non-coercive means. … it was not torture or cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of detainees that got us the major leads that ultimately enabled our intelligence community to find Osama bin Laden. I hope former Attorney General Mukasey will correct his misstatement.
  • Senator John McCain • Speaking on the effort made by some — former Bush administration Attorney General Michael Mukasey among them — to claim that “enhanced interrogation” (or torture, as it was unabashedly known and is in many quarters still known today) was vital to gaining knowledge of Osama bin Laden’s whereabouts. This is the sort of non-partisan candor that made him popular from the start, and it’s well-founded; the effort by some to cast torture as key to the bin Laden raid, a claim made absurdly quickly after his death, when reports of what had happened in the compound were changing by the moment, was as clear and crass an attempt at hijacking a national narrative as you can get. (note: Mukasey has responded) source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

15 May 2011 11:52

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Politics: In this post, we call Newt Gingrich’s bluff on food stamps

  • What I said is factually true. And to hide behind the charge of racism? I have never said anything about President Obama which is racist.
  • 2012 presidential candidate Newt Gingrich • Defending himself from charges of racism after he referred to Obama as the “Food Stamp President.” Gingrich claimed is was “factually true” because one in six Americans receive them. OK, Newt, we checked your numbers and you’re right — over 44 million people out of roughly 307 million received food stamps in February 2011, a record level that’s jumped by nearly 20 million since 2008. (Though we’ll add this much: The number is closer to one in seven, brah.) But the problem is tone, Newt. By calling a president a “Food Stamp President,” you make an attack that sounds less like a reasonable criticism and more like a broadside: Would you have said this about Clinton? Or Bush? Exactly. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 May 2011 15:08

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Politics: Chris Christie plays lone wolf in Mitt Romney health-care support

  • Gov. Romney’s speech yesterday was just the type of tone we need. While folks may not agree with what he said, that type of candor is what Americans expect from a serious presidential candidate today.
  • New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie • Offering a big wet kiss to Mitt Romney for his straight-talking approach to health care. Romney made the argument that the health care approach (which Obama based his national health-care plan upon) was the right one for his state — but not necessarily for the country. What’s weird is that Christie was one of the few to offer support to Mitt after the speech, which many on the right really didn’t like. Guess we know who Chris Christie is voting for in 2012. (Hint: Not himself.) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 May 2011 11:01

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Politics: Ron Paul announces presidential run: Now’s his time to shine

  • Time has come around to the point where the people are agreeing with much of what I’ve been saying for 30 years. So, I think the time is right.
  • Rep. Ron Paul • In announcing his third run for president on “Good Morning America.” A campaign event is planned for later today. Let’s face it — even if it doesn’t succeed this time, now’s the time for Ron to do it. His words hold more influence now than they ever have before. He won’t have to fight so hard for press this time. And unlike Newt Gingrich, he doesn’t need gimmicks (I’m announcing on Twitter!) to pull it off. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

12 May 2011 17:08

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Politics: Meghan McCain responds to Glenn Beck’s “vomiting” at the sight of her

  • There really is no need to make something like my participation in a skin cancer PSA into a sexist rant about my weight and physical appearance, because I’m going to let you in on a little secret, Glenn: You are the only one who looks bad in this scenario, and at the end of the day you have helped me generate publicity for my skin cancer PSA, a cause that I feel quite passionate about.
  • Meghan McCain • Responding to Glenn Beck’s rather terrible criticism (if you can call pretending to vomit at the sight of somebody a criticism) of her involvement in a PSA about skin cancer awareness. The spot features a myriad of pseudo-celebrities posing in ways to make them seem nude, without showing anything explicit. Presumably because Meghan is a bit curvier than some of the others, Glenn Beck decided it was a ripe time to pretend to puke for a few minutes. McCain is absolutely right about this. Beck looks like the worst kind of crass antagonist, a millionaire in his middle age acting like some petulant, unfunny little boy because a younger woman doesn’t suit his ideal of beauty. It’s wholly sexist, and utterly shameful. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

12 May 2011 15:29

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Politics: Rep. Joe Barton, the white knight of “b** oil”

  • I don’t think it should be a pejorative. We’ve got this mentality on the liberal side of our political debate: big oil, big insurance, big this, big that.
  • Rep. Joe Barton • Sticking up for big oil (oops!) during a committee hearing today. In all honesty, it’s difficult to take Barton seriously on energy issues, and that’s not just a liberal taking a pot shot at the “R” next to his name. Barton is absolutely soaked in oil cash; if last year’s totals remain true, he’s received more contributions from big oil than any member of the House dating back to 1990, over $1.5 million in that span. That money can buy a lot of loyalty, from apologizing to BP over the gulf spill compensation fund, to trying to turn “big oil” into a slur, something we’ve never thought of as inherently pejorative. Barton also insisted the term wasn’t right, as the largest private oil company, ExxonMobil, is only the fifth largest worldwide, the other four being nationalized. Which makes it unfortunate for Barton that he decried “big oil” instead of “biggest oil.” Oh, and lest you think Joe Barton just hates labels, you know what he hates more? Obamacare! source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

12 May 2011 11:31

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Politics: Democrats take on big oil companies over tax subsidies

  • Businesses should make a profit — that’s what drives the economy — but do these very profitable companies actually need taxpayer subsidies? Energy incentives should help us build the energy future we want to see — not pad oil company profits.
  • Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus • Speaking during a Congressional hearing about big oil profits and tax breaks. The oil industry’s answers during the hearing were predictable. Here’s Chevron’s CEO, John Watson: “Tax increases on the oil and gas industry — which will result if you change long-standing provisions in the U.S. tax code — will hinder development of energy supplies needed to moderate rising energy prices.” So, who’s right, Max or the oil industry? We’re guessing Max is. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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