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11 Apr 2009 22:37

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Politics, U.S.: The Sarah Palin/Bristol/Levi Johnston thing is officially testy

  • I know the truth about my family. I know details about whether Levi Johnston was allowed to live with my teenage daughter or not. By the way, it would be over my dead body that a kid would live with my teenage daughter.
  • Sarah Palin • In response to a reporter’s question about whether Levi Johnston actually lived with the Palins after the birth of Bristol’s child. Whew. Did a vein just pop in Palin’s forehead or what? Wow. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Apr 2009 11:56

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U.S.: The most unloved N.Y. governor ever: David Paterson

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Apr 2009 20:45

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U.S.: Notable number of the day #1: Charges against Blago

  • 16 federal felony charges against the guy with the hair source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Apr 2009 20:34

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Politics, U.S.: Key piece of commentary on the Blago indictment

  • We can only hope the former governor will not view this indictment as a green light for another publicity tour. Rod Blagojevich deserves his day in court, but the people of Illinois deserve a break.
  • Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois • On the indictment of ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. What, Dick, do you have something against Larry King? • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Apr 2009 20:28

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U.S.: Rod Blagojevich on his indictment: “I’m going to Disney World!”

  • It’s a small world after all, but Blago’s still in big trouble. Everyone’s favorite governmental punching bag was apparently taking a vacation from getting in trouble today in Magic Kingdom, but trouble found him anyway. Prosecutors charged him and five others with a host of scary-sounding crimes, including making Barack Obama’s old Illinois Senate seat pay-for-play. Man, this story will just not die, and we’re loving every minute of it. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

27 Mar 2009 19:04

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U.S.: An ode to New York’s Rockefeller drug laws. We won’t miss you.

  • What were they? Back in the 1970s, Republican Governor Nelson Rockefeller, in an attempt to stem a drug-related “reign of terror,” got a series of laws passed that were the toughest in the nation at the time, and led to a controversial trend towards mandatory minimum sentencing. source
  • What were they? Back in the 1970s, Republican Governor Nelson Rockefeller, in an attempt to stem a drug-related “reign of terror,” got a series of laws passed that were the toughest in the nation at the time, and led to a controversial trend towards mandatory minimum sentencing.
  • Their effect The laws often forced judges to sentence even minor drug offenders with the same broad stroke, filling prisons with first-time offenders getting sent there instead of rehab, which would often have made a lot more sense considering the nature of their crimes. source
  • What were they? Back in the 1970s, Republican Governor Nelson Rockefeller, in an attempt to stem a drug-related “reign of terror,” got a series of laws passed that were the toughest in the nation at the time, and led to a controversial trend towards mandatory minimum sentencing.
  • Their effect The laws often forced judges to sentence even minor drug offenders with the same broad stroke, filling prisons with first-time offenders getting sent there instead of rehab, which would often have made a lot more sense considering the nature of their crimes.
  • Cost savings There’s a lot of reasons the laws are getting peeled back now, but the biggest reason is cost. Keeping prison in prisons isn’t cheap, and repealing this law would cut the prison population by thousands, making more room for inmates like Bernard Madoff. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 2 Comments • Permalink

25 Mar 2009 10:22

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Politics, U.S.: It’s been a while since Bobby Jindal’s come up. Here’s an update.

  • My answer to the question is very simple: ‘Do you want the president to fail?’ It depends on what he is trying to do.
  • Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal • Talking to members of his party last night about whether Rush Limbaugh’s stance on Barack Obama is worthy of criticism. Jindal, post-response, is still dipping his feet into the possibility of a presidential run. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

25 Mar 2009 10:08

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Politics, U.S.: Aww… Blagojevich says he was “hijacked” from office :o

  • Dude was hosting a radio show this morning. Maybe that’s a good second career for the former Illinois governor – drive-time radio host. Anyway, Blago tried diligently to defend himself, took a sympathetic caller (comic D.L. Hughley, who’s been dipping into politico waters lately) and talked about his unfinished new book. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

20 Mar 2009 10:57

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Politics, U.S.: Elliot Spitzer appears to be ready for image rehab

  • He’s on CNN! The former governor of New York, forced out of office last year after a sex scandal with a prostitution ring, had an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria which will air in full on Sunday. They’ll talk about Spitzer’s AIG whistleblowing. Key quote: “Back then I said to people, ‘AIG is the center of the web.’ The financial tentacles of this company stretched to every major investment bank.”
  • He’s on CNN! The former governor of New York, forced out of office last year after a sex scandal with a prostitution ring, had an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria which will air in full on Sunday. They’ll talk about Spitzer’s AIG whistleblowing. Key quote: “Back then I said to people, ‘AIG is the center of the web.’ The financial tentacles of this company stretched to every major investment bank.”
  • He’s on Slate! Spitzer’s other sign of public life is in the form of a regular column he’s writing for Slate. In his most recent column, he discusses how the financial crisis affects governors. “Governors must deal with all the problems confronting our economy,” he says, “but they lack the federal government’s ability to run a deficit.” He may still have a political career yet.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

25 Feb 2009 21:12

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U.S.: Jindal’s volcano remark: An erupting dramabomb

  • $140 million? Necessary? Uh, yeah, dude. Last night, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal made a critical comment about an appropriation in the stimulus bill for “volcano monitoring” during his rebuttal to President Obama’s speech. But locals near major volcanoes say the money is necessary to prepare for natural disasters – something critics say Jindal should know about, given his state’s recent history with Hurricane Katrina. Plus, the money would create jobs, one expert notes. Jindal isn’t backing down, though. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink
 
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