I've been sifting through my emotions in a feeble attempt to pen words to describe the inner aching and anger I am experiencing with regard to the Resident Elect's touted appearance on arab television. Reviewing the tape ad nauseum rendered me speechless. Why have millions of Americans forgotten the fear and ensuing unity that we experienced post 9/11? Forgive and forget? Are we so complacent because our shores have remain unscathed for eight years? There is a cry of the Jewish people who lived through the horrors of the Holocaust, you know, that "episode" of history that is mocked by many in the arab world. "NEVER AGAIN" is the motto and it would serve our country well to adopt this credo. The nation has now elected a man who seems to effortlessly allow himself to admit his Muslim heritage, which was denied, debunked, decried all throughout the primaries and general election. For anyone to dare to "accuse" the man of lying about his roots has been tantamount to heresy. Yet in the tape of his interview, ears do not deceive. Would this be a cause celeb if it were not for his denial of such? Simply, no. I am reminded of the man's grandiose speech as he created his own pulpit in Berlin while still a candidate. The pomposity of the man astounds. What stood out for me as he read his teleprompter was the manner in which he APOLOGIZED for America.
America holds itself to a high moral ground, and principles that no other nation adheres to, and yet this invisible man with years missing from his calendar is sorry for who we are and what "we've done" to incite the flames of fear globally. How is this different than his wife's proclamation that she hadn't been proud of America before her husband was running for the presidency?
A wonderful read follows from the Wednesday, January 28th edition of Townhall.com:
The Day America Lost the War on Terror
by Ben Shapiro
"On Nov. 4, 2008, America lost the war on terror. President Barack Obama’s feckless, pathetically apologetic perspective on foreign policy spells the end of the quest for liberty in the Middle East. It spells the end of America’s moral leadership in the global war for freedom. And it spells the end of a hard-fought campaign to protect America. Our enemies must be happily celebrating their great good fortune in America’s election of this platitudinous, morally relativistic, Jimmy Carter carbon copy in the midst of battle.
On Jan. 26, 2009, Obama granted his first television interview as president of the United States to Al Arabiya, the Dubai-based television network part-owned by the Saudi government. In the interview, he demonstrated with the utmost clarity that his understanding is inversely proportional to his arrogance.
He started by humbling America before the world. “(A)ll too often the United States starts by dictating,” Obama said, shame for his country dripping from his lips. “So let’s listen.” There was no call for the Muslim world, which has sponsored genocide after genocide, terrorist group upon terrorist group, to listen.
Obama apologized for President Bush’s “Islamic fascism” terminology, equating Muslim terrorism with nonexistent terrorism by Jews and Christians: “the language we use matters. And what we need to understand is, is that there are extremist organizations -- whether Muslim or any other faith in the past -- that will use faith as a justification for violence. We cannot paint with a broad brush a faith as a consequence of the violence that is done in that faith's name.” There was no call for the Muslim world to actively fight terrorism -- honesty is not the Obama administration’s policy.
Obama repeated the Clintonian line that the Palestinian Arab-Israeli conflict could be solved by pressing Israel into negotiations with terrorists -- a foolish conceit that has cost Israeli and Palestinian lives. He talked about getting rid of “preconceptions” regarding the Israeli-Arab conflict -- code for embracing negotiations with Hamas. He pledged to talk with Iran -- on the same day that Iran’s government spokesman branded the Holocaust “a big lie.” He bought into the Muslim-sponsored notion that the Palestinian Arab-Israeli conflict lies at the heart of all trouble in the Middle East. He praised the one-sided Saudi peace plan as an act of “great courage.”
Most sickeningly, Obama openly jettisoned his constitutional role as the caretaker for America’s national interest. Instead, Obama posed himself as an honest broker between America and the Muslim world. “(T)he United States has a stake in the well-being of the Muslim world, that the language we use has to be a language of respect,” he said. “I have Muslim members of my family. I have lived in Muslim countries.” Obama didn’t stop there. He stated that his job is to speak for the Muslim world, defending them from Americans’ negative perceptions: “And my job is to communicate to the American people that the Muslim world is filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives.”
No, Mr. President. Your job is not to communicate to the American people that the Muslim world harbors us no ill will. That is their job. The Muslim world must demonstrate with its words and actions that they do not wish America replaced with an Islamic state. They must demonstrate that they do not support terrorism against America and our allies.
Your job is to protect and defend the United States of America. That is your sworn duty.
And you abrogate your sworn duty every time you go on Arab television stations and apologize for America’s foreign policy. You abrogate your sworn duty every time you force American allies to negotiate with terrorists. You abrogate your sworn duty every time you pledge to protect the interests “not just of the United States, but also ordinary people who right now are suffering from poverty and a lack of opportunity” -- the same ordinary people who elect Hamas, prop up the Ayatollahs, supported the Taliban, recruit for al-Qaida, and live off of the beneficence of Hezbollah. Not all Muslims are “extraordinary people,” and the interests of suffering Muslims do not always align with American interests.
On Nov. 4, 2008, Americans elected their first international president. They elected a man who does not seek to preserve American values. Leftists perceived George W. Bush as an imperialist for American interests; by the same token, Obama is an imperialist for “global interests.” In a war to save America from implacable foes, Obama’s Global Interest Imperialism dooms American exceptionalism to the ash heap of history. With it may go the last, best hope of Earth. "
Brilliantly stated and in response to the following:
My hopes were that Secretary of State Clinton would temper this man's reckless behavior. As of now, that remains to be seen.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Not Left, Not Right, Just Sick
I will never let the fear of what anyone might think of me stop me from expressing my views. With that said, let the record state that I am pro-choice. I am not a Democrat anymore, and we know who is to thank for that. I am not a Republican either, though more and more I tend to lean right, but not far enough to label me as such. Labels don't suit me, parties are only good when there are people in attendance that I respect. The following video NEEDS to be seen, MUST be taken seriously, and if you dare to think that this has one iota of relevance to womens rights, then you are demented. For all of you lovelies that proclaim the torture of terrorists is against our moral principles as Americans, I present this to you.
This is a demonstration of partial birth abortion which occurs in the second trimester. My pro-choice stance is based on science and the rights of women to choose to end a pregnancy BEFORE crucial formations have taken place in the fetus. No one is against life. Normal people are pro-life, so the moniker used by hard line right wingers is mislabeled. Why am I posting this here? The Resident Select voted to pass the infanticide bill twice, one of the few votes he bothered to show up for in the Illinois legislature. This fraud is now sending our tax dollars to help fund abortions overseas, one of his first acts in office. Shows you where his priorities are. Past three months, all bets are off, and the abortion becomes a very different procedure, as you can see above.
O'killa. Keep those terrorists safe, let the babies die?
This is a demonstration of partial birth abortion which occurs in the second trimester. My pro-choice stance is based on science and the rights of women to choose to end a pregnancy BEFORE crucial formations have taken place in the fetus. No one is against life. Normal people are pro-life, so the moniker used by hard line right wingers is mislabeled. Why am I posting this here? The Resident Select voted to pass the infanticide bill twice, one of the few votes he bothered to show up for in the Illinois legislature. This fraud is now sending our tax dollars to help fund abortions overseas, one of his first acts in office. Shows you where his priorities are. Past three months, all bets are off, and the abortion becomes a very different procedure, as you can see above.
O'killa. Keep those terrorists safe, let the babies die?
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Obama In Your Pocket!
You've all seen the Obama collectible items being hawked in every venue, on most television stations, innumerable street corners, and bathrooms near you.
Well, this "find" is a must! Everyone needs inspiration now and then in these dark economic times. The antidote is ready to be administered!
Plagiarism and soaring bullshit aside, here is my gift to you, oh lovers of the resident select.
Pocket Obama (10 copies)
$49.50
"Printed in a size that easily fits into pocket or purse, this book is an anthology of quotations borrowed from Barack Obama's speeches and writings. POCKET OBAMA serves as a reminder of the amazing power of oratory and the remarkable ability of this man to move people with his words. His superb and captivating oratory style has earned comparisons to John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, and this historic collection presents words that catapulted his remarkable rise to the American Presidency. It is an unofficial requirement for every citizen to own, to read, and to carry this book at all times.
Includes themes of democracy, politics, war, terrorism, race, community, jurisprudence, faith, personal responsibility, national identity, and above all, his hoped-for vision of a new America. POCKET OBAMA is a portable, everyday primer for readers who want to examine the substance of his thought and reflect on the next great chapter in the American story."
SAVE $10.00 on the purchase of this exclusive 10-copy pack.
Pocket Obama (10 copies)
Item #POB3245
Availability: Ships in 24 hours
Please visit http://historycompany.com and let them fill your order today. Why not send one to a friend?
Someone, please wake me up from this nightmare.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Racism and The First "Reich"
One of the myriad of the resident select's economic advisors is the inimitable Robert Reich. Reich has built quite a dossier over his career, and is a very accomplished, astute liberal. A bit of trivia, it is told that our Hillary actually dated the short man back in their Ivy League days. Man, did she trade up! Here's a bio outlining the life and resume of Obama's crony-at-large. Yes, another former Clintonite. O'no! is really the master of change.
Now to the meat. Mr. Reich is a proponent of reverse racism, urging the politicos to approve monies for our infrastructure thereby creating employment, but here's the rub. He suggests that the positions to be created do not go to "white male construction workers." Did you really expect the resident select to be an inclusive dictator?
Robert Reich: "I have nothing against white male construction workers"
Showing once again how fine the line is between "progressive" and "outright anti-white racist", former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich said this in his congressional testimony on January 7 :
" I am concerned, as I’m sure many of you are, that these jobs not simply go to high-skilled people who are already professionals or to white male construction workers. … I have nothing against white male construction workers. I’m just saying that there are a lot of other people who have needs as well. … Criteria can be set so that the money does go to others, the long term unemployed minorities, women, people who are not necessarily construction workers or high-skilled professionals."
Note also, of course, that many low-skilled construction workers are illegal aliens from Mexico, and the corrupt Mexican government would be a major beneficiary under Reich's plan as it would keep many of their nationals employed in the U.S. and sending money home to Mexico. Perhaps Reich should reconsider his citizenship options.
Hey, if you're a white guy who'd like to feed your family, consider food stamps. Seems those who have no problem accepting welfare may soon have no excuses for not working...and in the process, you are shit outta luck.
Now to the meat. Mr. Reich is a proponent of reverse racism, urging the politicos to approve monies for our infrastructure thereby creating employment, but here's the rub. He suggests that the positions to be created do not go to "white male construction workers." Did you really expect the resident select to be an inclusive dictator?
Robert Reich: "I have nothing against white male construction workers"
Showing once again how fine the line is between "progressive" and "outright anti-white racist", former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich said this in his congressional testimony on January 7 :
" I am concerned, as I’m sure many of you are, that these jobs not simply go to high-skilled people who are already professionals or to white male construction workers. … I have nothing against white male construction workers. I’m just saying that there are a lot of other people who have needs as well. … Criteria can be set so that the money does go to others, the long term unemployed minorities, women, people who are not necessarily construction workers or high-skilled professionals."
Note also, of course, that many low-skilled construction workers are illegal aliens from Mexico, and the corrupt Mexican government would be a major beneficiary under Reich's plan as it would keep many of their nationals employed in the U.S. and sending money home to Mexico. Perhaps Reich should reconsider his citizenship options.
Hey, if you're a white guy who'd like to feed your family, consider food stamps. Seems those who have no problem accepting welfare may soon have no excuses for not working...and in the process, you are shit outta luck.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Gitmo, Cultists, and Facebook...Why I Need A Life
Rick end of week one, how'd he do?via Twitter - 3:03pm - Comment - Show Comments
(to my readers: this is rick sanchez's twitter comment on his facebook page. today's question was designed to elicit a response from facebooker's on how the resident elect is doing)
Connor Holleb at 3:04pm January 23
I say hi mister. I am king! Be he has nothing. Good show!
Angela Jones at 3:05pm January 23 via Facebook Mobile
he is doing good...taking initiative...hope that he keeps it up!
Bruce A. Smith at 3:06pm January 23
I believe he has done a great job at least he is trying to fulfill his promise. Go President Obama
Machlie Darkchocolatefbaddict Bastien at 3:07pm January 23 via Facebook Mobile
Rick Sanchez Is CNN King! Then Anderson Cooper!! ;) Keep Up the Amazing work!
Nick Guillory at 3:07pm January 23
That was cool watching you type a status out...
Connor Holleb at 3:07pm January 23
Long live Rick Sanchez King! Filet!
Rhonda Thomas Almarode at 3:08pm January 23
He definitely hit the ground running...has taken charge of the White House with a confidence and authority I don't remember seeing before this early on. Go Obama! :)
Carole Ursetti at 3:09pm January 23
He's moving amazingly fast. It's obvious he's been doing his homework and is utilizing his resources. This is the type of leadership we've needed for the last eight years!!
Amy at 3:10pm January 23
rick, would you like opinions from those who didn't buy the hype?
Tina Wunderlich at 3:10pm January 23
better than any president in recent memory - and perfection in completing his campaign promise.
James Christian at 3:12pm January 23
He has definitely come in office prepared. It's great to finally have a President with a high intelligence quotient!
Amy at 3:12pm January 23
when we're attacked again, i wonder what all of you hopey changey people will think of his relaxed stance on terrorism.
Frank J Plummer at 3:15pm January 23
To early to judge on results but I'm impressed with his quick action to control the parasitic lobbyists by telling his staff they cannot take part in decisions they lobbied and cannot work as a lobbyist for two years after leaving.
I really feel bad for the folks whom were denied access to the swearing in ceromony due to the incompetent people who ran it. The x-ray machines kept going down at the Blue Gate which was run by the TSA. The Capitol Police should have opened the gates earlier then 8:15. All the support staff at the gates were there by 6:30 am but they just milled around drinking coffee while the american public froze waiting to be allowed entry. Then people were denied after waiting through all this. I saw better crowd control at the circus.
Rita M Yogananda at 3:18pm January 23
he really means business for this country i think he really loves this country, more so then I thats for sure
Taffi Beautifull Williams at 3:18pm January 23
Hey do are you wishing an attack on us. What type of patriot would do that? And us hopey changey people see a better America without ruining our stance around the world. What did you say when Bush took office and we had an attack? I guess he was relaxed on terrorism as well. Quit being a grinch, and a hater.... Period!
Amy at 3:20pm January 23
taffi, 9/11 was planned before bush took office. know your facts. btw, i'm a dem and a clinton supporter. i'm glad you're worried about how we appear to the world; i'm more worried about the inevitability of being attacked again. the unraveling of our security measures is unspeakable.
James Christian at 3:25pm January 23
Bush just read the book Pet Goat to a group of elementary school kids for nine minutes after he was told about the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Great response there, huh!
Amy at 3:28pm January 23
sorry all you know is derived from the media. i'm sure you were behind the scenes as they scrambled to put a plan in place. again, this was planned before their administration took office, and i have never voted for bush, but he handled the aftermath rather well. are you in ny, james? i lost someone in the towers- we see it differently.
Scott K Reichmeister at 3:29pm January 23
Bush, what a total disgrace to the human race, the USA and the world at large. One of the worst presidents in modern times. Saw a poll, majority of the people of this country feel this guy was a total failure. So true so true.
-Nioshii Wilde at 3:32pm January 23
Amy, you have clearly bought into fear hype, no telling from where but likely the ratings-challenged-by-RickFaux News channel or right wing radio.
Refresher course on FACTS: bush & team had the intell briefing "bin Laden determined to attack inside US..." and he went on vaca, condi played piano, cheney prob went HUI (Hunting Under Influence). No matter when the planning began, he had notice and he did NOT keep us safe. He wasn't inaugurated on Sept 12 2001.
If it's "inevitable" that we'll be attacked again, why are you blaming anyone? And why would we abdicate our American princlple regardless? -N-
Emilia Guerriero Cullen at 3:33pm January 23
"nothing wrong but almost everything right" LOL
Scott K Reichmeister at 3:35pm January 23
I agree, 9-11 was planned years before it happened by the Bush Family and their buddies plus the Neo-Cons. They wanted it to happen, cause how the hell could they have gotten away with what they got away with if not for some major event like that. You scare the population to hell and back and they will let you do anything. It was also for OIL. So glad those SOB's are gone for good.
Amy at 3:36pm January 23
nioshi, i'm sorry that your intellect is lacking. the report you refer to was placed on rice's desk. they had absolutely no warning as to where or when such an event would take place. the mere title of that memo only states their intent. they had attacked us before in the 90's on the watch of bill clinton. i do not blame him either. they attacked the u.s.s. cole and various embassies. who is to blame? you all suffer from bush derangement syndrome, rather than thanking him for sparing us for 7 years.
the elimination of security measures as obama's first act, is deplorable.
principles? these are terrorists.
Eric Stroo at 3:37pm January 23
Our President, in three or four days, seems more in command than Bush did in 8 years
Sonja Bruce at 3:38pm January 23
Amy , your bad attitude and obvious bitterness is exactly what gets people like me fired up and makes us love OUR President even more. Stop being one of those bitter women that give the rest of us a bad name. If anything now is the time to look to the future and at least give this man a chance to make things right. It's time for America to stop being an isolationist country and be aware that yes, the rest of the world is watching. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. Oh, and you're not the only one who lost someone in the 9.11, so stop trying to make it sound like you speak for everyone. If you're so fearful of another attack, I suggest you go to Canada and quit complaining.
Rose Moreno at 3:39pm January 23
C'mon, Rick. Give the guy a chance to catch his breath. Talk to me after the first100 days.
Amy at 3:39pm January 23
scott, i've studied those conspiracy theories too. my conclusion is that bush had nothing to do with the planning of this heinous act. the far left will be the death of us all, and i'm speaking as a now former democrat.
Amy at 3:40pm January 23
sonja, since rick is reading this, i won't respond the way i ordinarily would. consider yourself not worthy to be answered.
James Morris at 3:42pm January 23
Chomsky thinks he is like Bush with the Gaza crisis at least!:
Noam Chomsky: Obama’s Stance on Gaza Crisis “Approximately the Bush Position”
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/1/23/noam_chomsky_obamas_stance_on_gaza
Cry for help unanswered as his kin in Gaza are killed:
http://www.itszone.co.uk/zone0/viewtopic.php?t=102732
Samantha Sharpe Peel at 3:46pm January 23
I think Obama is doing a great job. It's nice to finally be PROUD of our President. Not worried about seeing Obama made fun of on Leno on a nightly basis!
Frank J Plummer at 3:46pm January 23
Regarding terrorisim and how we respond. I'm a Marine Infantry veteren. Nothing boils my blood more then politicians whom never served and scraped thier buddies up and put them in a body bag. I despise people who are so quick to drop bombs in civilian sites when they never witnessed innocent children whose bodies were torn to bits of flesh and blood.We made Sadamm who he was, we gave him the chemical weapons he used on his people. He was not respondsible for 9/11 we all know it was Al Queda! so did we get the leader? nope he still lives after we have backrupted ourselves by allowing defense contractors to rape us and provide terrible support. Next war should be the one against our demons within our country destroying and stealing anything not nailed down.
-Nioshii Wilde at 3:46pm January 23
Amy, I am going to model Pres Obama's behavior and try to find common ground with you despite your evident hostility.
I hope that you find peace within yourself and won't lower yourself and sacrifice your own principles in the face of those who are seduced by their devils rather than the angels within them, ~N~
Scott K Reichmeister at 3:47pm January 23
Amy , think what you want. The Repugs are out. They ruined everything. Do you even see how bad things are out there or are you blind or do you not care cause you are one of those rich people that could care less about the rest of us?
Thom Robinson at 3:51pm January 23
I have to say that all you people that have been changed because of Obama's inauguration and feel the world is a better place or have become an American citizen again have the same feeling when we are attacked again on our US soil. Gitmo is just the beginning. And what a ridiculous comment that he has done more in 3 - 4 days than Bush did in 8 years Eric.
Amy at 3:55pm January 23
i love rick, and i find it hilarious to see that he has such wacky viewers. scott, LOL...yes, i'm one of the kennedy's and i left hyannisport this morning to fly to tuscany for a weekend filled with bliss.
Frank W. Woelkers at 3:58pm January 23
A President With Roller Skates ~ Finally...!!! LOL
Bob Disney at 3:59pm January 23
Wow looking at all the other posts, looks like alot of focus is still in the past, still blaming Bush, or Clinton for 9/11 - we were attacked well before 9/11, our Intelligence Agencies knew every scenario many years before the 1st Trade Center bombing - let's not be naive here - it was all a matter of time, but what is done is done. The American public was not privvy to the reports that were being collected behind closed doors on these threats against America - so we were all let down by the Government and Agencies that are in place to watch over and try to protect us. I agree, that Bush & Guilianii were amazing, and gave America confidence, and the morale boost that we needed after 9/11 - and since then yes, no attacks on our soil - so do we give credit to Bush, or to the public as well who have been more vigilant, and have been more involved since 9/11 - because we knew it was up to us to push the issue with our own governments responsibilities and expectations.Stay involved America
-Nioshii Wilde at 4:03pm January 23
It is interesting, Bob, to see everyone so befuddled by the FACT that Pres Obama is actually keeping his promises. Obstructionist repubs and naysayers need to get with the new paradigm; theirs is collapsing from under them.
At 4p Eastern tomorrow, I'm celebrating the First 100 Hours. Keep up, people! It's gonna be fastbreaks and layups, not just 3-pointers :-D
-N-
Tracey Retzloff at 4:28pm January 23
The world loves us again, nuff said!!
Bob Disney at 4:56pm January 23
LETS NOT GO OVERBOARD TRACEY,LOL
Charlene Gause at 5:04pm January 23
Doing well. One week in and 412 to go..8 years is a must for OBAMA..
Charlene Gause at 5:04pm January 23
Let me retract that... 415 to go....
Tracey Retzloff at 5:05pm January 23
Ok, so I generalized, but we are on the road to love and harmony.
Marcy Katz Rothenberg at 5:10pm January 23
Restoring America's faith in America is a good thing!
Tay Dizz B at 5:16pm January 23 via Facebook Mobile
I believe n america now more than ever. There's a renewed sense of hope in the air of not just the young but the old.
Roland Rydstrom at 5:16pm January 23
the sky is bluer. the snow is whiter. and even my diet coke tastes better.
bin laden loves us. the streets of gaza are peaceful. banks aren't using my money to buy other banks. the detainees in gitmo have promised to return to their homelands and just forget that they hate us. and, apparently, everyone in the world loves and respects us again.
in one week he attended a church service, signed some executive orders, met with the press (although, in fairness, he didn't allow them to ask questions), met with his security and economic teams, and even visited our diplomatic corps IN PERSON.
in short: all things that no other president has ever done. the most important first days for a new president EVER.
(seriously rick: he's doing just fine. i didn't vote for him but i wish him well. and he's even making decisions i can support wholeheartedly. and decisions that, if they really paid attention, would honk off the most rabid of his supporters.
Now, it's rather obvious that I am against the closing of Guantanamo Bay and the CIA secret prisons. We do not know who amongst the prisoners are terrorists or would-be terrorists. There is a proposal to send some to Leavenworth in Kansas, except that most of the population in Kansas doesn't want terrorists hangin' loose in their part of the world. Nor would incorporating jihadists into the general population of a state prison be a great idea, or is it just me? Sending them back to their countries of origin won't be met with trials and captivity; they'll probably be received by a welcoming committee replete with DVD's of American Idol and a Ford Focus for each one. I am also a huge proponent for good old fashioned torture, within reason. Do you really think that the mastermind of 9/11, Khalid Sheik Mohammed, didn't deserve a bit of a sprinkle with some H2O? This is war, folks. Terrorism. Liberal policy suits me just fine, but I tend to be Hillary-ish when it comes to foreign policy and protecting our homeland, or the Hillary that used to think that way and hopefully still does. The jury is out on that one, since she is openly leaning toward diplomacy ala "that one" since swearing in as SoS.
The purpose of this odyssey is to show you a mere snippet, and I do mean teeny, tiny fraction of how psychotic and delusional the Obamabots are. Facebook, my undoing.
Here's an article from cnn.com to support my concern:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A Saudi national released from U.S. detention at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in September 2007 is believed to be a key leader in al Qaeda's operations in Yemen, according to a U.S. counterterrorism official.
Ali al-Shiri was released in 2007 from the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The Defense Department recently estimated that more than 60 terrorists released from Guantanamo may have returned to the battlefield.
According to the counterterrorism official, Ali al-Shiri traveled to Yemen after being released to Saudi Arabia and may have been involved in recent al Qaeda attacks in Yemen, including a car bombing outside the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa last year that killed nearly a dozen people.
"He is one of a handful of al Qaeda deputies in Yemen," the official said. "He is one of the top terrorists."
His title is deputy and senior operations commander, the source said.
According to the magazine Sada al-Malahem, or the Echo of the Epics, published by al Qaeda in Yemen, al-Shiri attended a media session in which Yemen commander Abu Baseer was interviewed.
The magazine identified al-Shiri as Baseer's deputy commander and quoted Baseer as announcing that al Qaeda's operations in Yemen and Saudi Arabia have been combined to become al Qaeda on the Arabian Peninsula.
The magazine noted that al-Shiri was released from Guantanamo more than 10 months ago.
He fled a Saudi jihadi re-education program, where he went after his release, a Saudi source told CNN's Nic Robertson.
President Obama on Thursday signed an order mandating that the Guantanamo Bay prison be closed within the year. What to do with the detainees has been a hotly debated topic.
The issue of freed detainees engaging in terrorism is one concern. Another is housing them in prisons inside the United States. Video Watch experts debate the Guantanamo dilemma »
Rep. Bill Young, R-Florida, said he has "quite a bit of anxiety" about the possibility of transferring detainees to U.S. facilities.
"Number one, they're dangerous," Young said. "Secondly, once they become present in the United States, what is their legal status? What is their constitutional status? I worry about that, because I don't want them to have the same constitutional rights that you and I have. They're our enemy."
Obama's decision to close the Guantanamo facility received immediate backing from his general election opponent, Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain.
McCain, in a joint statement with South Carolina GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham, said he supported Obama's decision to "begin a process that will, we hope, lead to the resolution of all cases of Guantanamo detainees."
But Thursday night on CNN's "Larry King Live," McCain said the new president may have been hasty in the decision and should have taken the time to consider everything associated with closing the camp before forcing himself into a timetable.
Specifically, McCain said he thought Obama needed to consider what would happen to the prisoners held at Guantanamo before ordering the facility to be closed.
"So, the easy part, in all due respect, is to say we're going to close Guantanamo," McCain said. "Then I think I would have said where they were going to be taken. Because you're going to run into a NIMBY [not in my backyard] problem here in the United States of America." Video Watch what may happen to Guantanamo's inmates »
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Asked about that issue Thursday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said, "We have developed some options in terms of how many we think could be returned to other countries to take them. That diplomatic initiative has not started. That will await work in carrying out the executive order."
"We have identified a number of possible prisons here in the United States" that could take the detainees. However, Gates added, "I've heard from members of Congress [representing] where all those prisons are located. Their enthusiasm is limited."
(to my readers: this is rick sanchez's twitter comment on his facebook page. today's question was designed to elicit a response from facebooker's on how the resident elect is doing)
Connor Holleb at 3:04pm January 23
I say hi mister. I am king! Be he has nothing. Good show!
Angela Jones at 3:05pm January 23 via Facebook Mobile
he is doing good...taking initiative...hope that he keeps it up!
Bruce A. Smith at 3:06pm January 23
I believe he has done a great job at least he is trying to fulfill his promise. Go President Obama
Machlie Darkchocolatefbaddict Bastien at 3:07pm January 23 via Facebook Mobile
Rick Sanchez Is CNN King! Then Anderson Cooper!! ;) Keep Up the Amazing work!
Nick Guillory at 3:07pm January 23
That was cool watching you type a status out...
Connor Holleb at 3:07pm January 23
Long live Rick Sanchez King! Filet!
Rhonda Thomas Almarode at 3:08pm January 23
He definitely hit the ground running...has taken charge of the White House with a confidence and authority I don't remember seeing before this early on. Go Obama! :)
Carole Ursetti at 3:09pm January 23
He's moving amazingly fast. It's obvious he's been doing his homework and is utilizing his resources. This is the type of leadership we've needed for the last eight years!!
Amy at 3:10pm January 23
rick, would you like opinions from those who didn't buy the hype?
Tina Wunderlich at 3:10pm January 23
better than any president in recent memory - and perfection in completing his campaign promise.
James Christian at 3:12pm January 23
He has definitely come in office prepared. It's great to finally have a President with a high intelligence quotient!
Amy at 3:12pm January 23
when we're attacked again, i wonder what all of you hopey changey people will think of his relaxed stance on terrorism.
Frank J Plummer at 3:15pm January 23
To early to judge on results but I'm impressed with his quick action to control the parasitic lobbyists by telling his staff they cannot take part in decisions they lobbied and cannot work as a lobbyist for two years after leaving.
I really feel bad for the folks whom were denied access to the swearing in ceromony due to the incompetent people who ran it. The x-ray machines kept going down at the Blue Gate which was run by the TSA. The Capitol Police should have opened the gates earlier then 8:15. All the support staff at the gates were there by 6:30 am but they just milled around drinking coffee while the american public froze waiting to be allowed entry. Then people were denied after waiting through all this. I saw better crowd control at the circus.
Rita M Yogananda at 3:18pm January 23
he really means business for this country i think he really loves this country, more so then I thats for sure
Taffi Beautifull Williams at 3:18pm January 23
Hey do are you wishing an attack on us. What type of patriot would do that? And us hopey changey people see a better America without ruining our stance around the world. What did you say when Bush took office and we had an attack? I guess he was relaxed on terrorism as well. Quit being a grinch, and a hater.... Period!
Amy at 3:20pm January 23
taffi, 9/11 was planned before bush took office. know your facts. btw, i'm a dem and a clinton supporter. i'm glad you're worried about how we appear to the world; i'm more worried about the inevitability of being attacked again. the unraveling of our security measures is unspeakable.
James Christian at 3:25pm January 23
Bush just read the book Pet Goat to a group of elementary school kids for nine minutes after he was told about the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Great response there, huh!
Amy at 3:28pm January 23
sorry all you know is derived from the media. i'm sure you were behind the scenes as they scrambled to put a plan in place. again, this was planned before their administration took office, and i have never voted for bush, but he handled the aftermath rather well. are you in ny, james? i lost someone in the towers- we see it differently.
Scott K Reichmeister at 3:29pm January 23
Bush, what a total disgrace to the human race, the USA and the world at large. One of the worst presidents in modern times. Saw a poll, majority of the people of this country feel this guy was a total failure. So true so true.
-Nioshii Wilde at 3:32pm January 23
Amy, you have clearly bought into fear hype, no telling from where but likely the ratings-challenged-by-RickFaux News channel or right wing radio.
Refresher course on FACTS: bush & team had the intell briefing "bin Laden determined to attack inside US..." and he went on vaca, condi played piano, cheney prob went HUI (Hunting Under Influence). No matter when the planning began, he had notice and he did NOT keep us safe. He wasn't inaugurated on Sept 12 2001.
If it's "inevitable" that we'll be attacked again, why are you blaming anyone? And why would we abdicate our American princlple regardless? -N-
Emilia Guerriero Cullen at 3:33pm January 23
"nothing wrong but almost everything right" LOL
Scott K Reichmeister at 3:35pm January 23
I agree, 9-11 was planned years before it happened by the Bush Family and their buddies plus the Neo-Cons. They wanted it to happen, cause how the hell could they have gotten away with what they got away with if not for some major event like that. You scare the population to hell and back and they will let you do anything. It was also for OIL. So glad those SOB's are gone for good.
Amy at 3:36pm January 23
nioshi, i'm sorry that your intellect is lacking. the report you refer to was placed on rice's desk. they had absolutely no warning as to where or when such an event would take place. the mere title of that memo only states their intent. they had attacked us before in the 90's on the watch of bill clinton. i do not blame him either. they attacked the u.s.s. cole and various embassies. who is to blame? you all suffer from bush derangement syndrome, rather than thanking him for sparing us for 7 years.
the elimination of security measures as obama's first act, is deplorable.
principles? these are terrorists.
Eric Stroo at 3:37pm January 23
Our President, in three or four days, seems more in command than Bush did in 8 years
Sonja Bruce at 3:38pm January 23
Amy , your bad attitude and obvious bitterness is exactly what gets people like me fired up and makes us love OUR President even more. Stop being one of those bitter women that give the rest of us a bad name. If anything now is the time to look to the future and at least give this man a chance to make things right. It's time for America to stop being an isolationist country and be aware that yes, the rest of the world is watching. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. Oh, and you're not the only one who lost someone in the 9.11, so stop trying to make it sound like you speak for everyone. If you're so fearful of another attack, I suggest you go to Canada and quit complaining.
Rose Moreno at 3:39pm January 23
C'mon, Rick. Give the guy a chance to catch his breath. Talk to me after the first100 days.
Amy at 3:39pm January 23
scott, i've studied those conspiracy theories too. my conclusion is that bush had nothing to do with the planning of this heinous act. the far left will be the death of us all, and i'm speaking as a now former democrat.
Amy at 3:40pm January 23
sonja, since rick is reading this, i won't respond the way i ordinarily would. consider yourself not worthy to be answered.
James Morris at 3:42pm January 23
Chomsky thinks he is like Bush with the Gaza crisis at least!:
Noam Chomsky: Obama’s Stance on Gaza Crisis “Approximately the Bush Position”
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/1/23/noam_chomsky_obamas_stance_on_gaza
Cry for help unanswered as his kin in Gaza are killed:
http://www.itszone.co.uk/zone0/viewtopic.php?t=102732
Samantha Sharpe Peel at 3:46pm January 23
I think Obama is doing a great job. It's nice to finally be PROUD of our President. Not worried about seeing Obama made fun of on Leno on a nightly basis!
Frank J Plummer at 3:46pm January 23
Regarding terrorisim and how we respond. I'm a Marine Infantry veteren. Nothing boils my blood more then politicians whom never served and scraped thier buddies up and put them in a body bag. I despise people who are so quick to drop bombs in civilian sites when they never witnessed innocent children whose bodies were torn to bits of flesh and blood.We made Sadamm who he was, we gave him the chemical weapons he used on his people. He was not respondsible for 9/11 we all know it was Al Queda! so did we get the leader? nope he still lives after we have backrupted ourselves by allowing defense contractors to rape us and provide terrible support. Next war should be the one against our demons within our country destroying and stealing anything not nailed down.
-Nioshii Wilde at 3:46pm January 23
Amy, I am going to model Pres Obama's behavior and try to find common ground with you despite your evident hostility.
I hope that you find peace within yourself and won't lower yourself and sacrifice your own principles in the face of those who are seduced by their devils rather than the angels within them, ~N~
Scott K Reichmeister at 3:47pm January 23
Amy , think what you want. The Repugs are out. They ruined everything. Do you even see how bad things are out there or are you blind or do you not care cause you are one of those rich people that could care less about the rest of us?
Thom Robinson at 3:51pm January 23
I have to say that all you people that have been changed because of Obama's inauguration and feel the world is a better place or have become an American citizen again have the same feeling when we are attacked again on our US soil. Gitmo is just the beginning. And what a ridiculous comment that he has done more in 3 - 4 days than Bush did in 8 years Eric.
Amy at 3:55pm January 23
i love rick, and i find it hilarious to see that he has such wacky viewers. scott, LOL...yes, i'm one of the kennedy's and i left hyannisport this morning to fly to tuscany for a weekend filled with bliss.
Frank W. Woelkers at 3:58pm January 23
A President With Roller Skates ~ Finally...!!! LOL
Bob Disney at 3:59pm January 23
Wow looking at all the other posts, looks like alot of focus is still in the past, still blaming Bush, or Clinton for 9/11 - we were attacked well before 9/11, our Intelligence Agencies knew every scenario many years before the 1st Trade Center bombing - let's not be naive here - it was all a matter of time, but what is done is done. The American public was not privvy to the reports that were being collected behind closed doors on these threats against America - so we were all let down by the Government and Agencies that are in place to watch over and try to protect us. I agree, that Bush & Guilianii were amazing, and gave America confidence, and the morale boost that we needed after 9/11 - and since then yes, no attacks on our soil - so do we give credit to Bush, or to the public as well who have been more vigilant, and have been more involved since 9/11 - because we knew it was up to us to push the issue with our own governments responsibilities and expectations.Stay involved America
-Nioshii Wilde at 4:03pm January 23
It is interesting, Bob, to see everyone so befuddled by the FACT that Pres Obama is actually keeping his promises. Obstructionist repubs and naysayers need to get with the new paradigm; theirs is collapsing from under them.
At 4p Eastern tomorrow, I'm celebrating the First 100 Hours. Keep up, people! It's gonna be fastbreaks and layups, not just 3-pointers :-D
-N-
Tracey Retzloff at 4:28pm January 23
The world loves us again, nuff said!!
Bob Disney at 4:56pm January 23
LETS NOT GO OVERBOARD TRACEY,LOL
Charlene Gause at 5:04pm January 23
Doing well. One week in and 412 to go..8 years is a must for OBAMA..
Charlene Gause at 5:04pm January 23
Let me retract that... 415 to go....
Tracey Retzloff at 5:05pm January 23
Ok, so I generalized, but we are on the road to love and harmony.
Marcy Katz Rothenberg at 5:10pm January 23
Restoring America's faith in America is a good thing!
Tay Dizz B at 5:16pm January 23 via Facebook Mobile
I believe n america now more than ever. There's a renewed sense of hope in the air of not just the young but the old.
Roland Rydstrom at 5:16pm January 23
the sky is bluer. the snow is whiter. and even my diet coke tastes better.
bin laden loves us. the streets of gaza are peaceful. banks aren't using my money to buy other banks. the detainees in gitmo have promised to return to their homelands and just forget that they hate us. and, apparently, everyone in the world loves and respects us again.
in one week he attended a church service, signed some executive orders, met with the press (although, in fairness, he didn't allow them to ask questions), met with his security and economic teams, and even visited our diplomatic corps IN PERSON.
in short: all things that no other president has ever done. the most important first days for a new president EVER.
(seriously rick: he's doing just fine. i didn't vote for him but i wish him well. and he's even making decisions i can support wholeheartedly. and decisions that, if they really paid attention, would honk off the most rabid of his supporters.
Now, it's rather obvious that I am against the closing of Guantanamo Bay and the CIA secret prisons. We do not know who amongst the prisoners are terrorists or would-be terrorists. There is a proposal to send some to Leavenworth in Kansas, except that most of the population in Kansas doesn't want terrorists hangin' loose in their part of the world. Nor would incorporating jihadists into the general population of a state prison be a great idea, or is it just me? Sending them back to their countries of origin won't be met with trials and captivity; they'll probably be received by a welcoming committee replete with DVD's of American Idol and a Ford Focus for each one. I am also a huge proponent for good old fashioned torture, within reason. Do you really think that the mastermind of 9/11, Khalid Sheik Mohammed, didn't deserve a bit of a sprinkle with some H2O? This is war, folks. Terrorism. Liberal policy suits me just fine, but I tend to be Hillary-ish when it comes to foreign policy and protecting our homeland, or the Hillary that used to think that way and hopefully still does. The jury is out on that one, since she is openly leaning toward diplomacy ala "that one" since swearing in as SoS.
The purpose of this odyssey is to show you a mere snippet, and I do mean teeny, tiny fraction of how psychotic and delusional the Obamabots are. Facebook, my undoing.
Here's an article from cnn.com to support my concern:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A Saudi national released from U.S. detention at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in September 2007 is believed to be a key leader in al Qaeda's operations in Yemen, according to a U.S. counterterrorism official.
Ali al-Shiri was released in 2007 from the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The Defense Department recently estimated that more than 60 terrorists released from Guantanamo may have returned to the battlefield.
According to the counterterrorism official, Ali al-Shiri traveled to Yemen after being released to Saudi Arabia and may have been involved in recent al Qaeda attacks in Yemen, including a car bombing outside the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa last year that killed nearly a dozen people.
"He is one of a handful of al Qaeda deputies in Yemen," the official said. "He is one of the top terrorists."
His title is deputy and senior operations commander, the source said.
According to the magazine Sada al-Malahem, or the Echo of the Epics, published by al Qaeda in Yemen, al-Shiri attended a media session in which Yemen commander Abu Baseer was interviewed.
The magazine identified al-Shiri as Baseer's deputy commander and quoted Baseer as announcing that al Qaeda's operations in Yemen and Saudi Arabia have been combined to become al Qaeda on the Arabian Peninsula.
The magazine noted that al-Shiri was released from Guantanamo more than 10 months ago.
He fled a Saudi jihadi re-education program, where he went after his release, a Saudi source told CNN's Nic Robertson.
President Obama on Thursday signed an order mandating that the Guantanamo Bay prison be closed within the year. What to do with the detainees has been a hotly debated topic.
The issue of freed detainees engaging in terrorism is one concern. Another is housing them in prisons inside the United States. Video Watch experts debate the Guantanamo dilemma »
Rep. Bill Young, R-Florida, said he has "quite a bit of anxiety" about the possibility of transferring detainees to U.S. facilities.
"Number one, they're dangerous," Young said. "Secondly, once they become present in the United States, what is their legal status? What is their constitutional status? I worry about that, because I don't want them to have the same constitutional rights that you and I have. They're our enemy."
Obama's decision to close the Guantanamo facility received immediate backing from his general election opponent, Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain.
McCain, in a joint statement with South Carolina GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham, said he supported Obama's decision to "begin a process that will, we hope, lead to the resolution of all cases of Guantanamo detainees."
But Thursday night on CNN's "Larry King Live," McCain said the new president may have been hasty in the decision and should have taken the time to consider everything associated with closing the camp before forcing himself into a timetable.
Specifically, McCain said he thought Obama needed to consider what would happen to the prisoners held at Guantanamo before ordering the facility to be closed.
"So, the easy part, in all due respect, is to say we're going to close Guantanamo," McCain said. "Then I think I would have said where they were going to be taken. Because you're going to run into a NIMBY [not in my backyard] problem here in the United States of America." Video Watch what may happen to Guantanamo's inmates »
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Asked about that issue Thursday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said, "We have developed some options in terms of how many we think could be returned to other countries to take them. That diplomatic initiative has not started. That will await work in carrying out the executive order."
"We have identified a number of possible prisons here in the United States" that could take the detainees. However, Gates added, "I've heard from members of Congress [representing] where all those prisons are located. Their enthusiasm is limited."
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Re-Elected So Soon?
Surreal. For your viewing displeasure...
Now, the ramifications of this latest Biden flub have caused a very disturbing incident. It was decided that tonight, "that one" would be RE-SWORN in by Justice Roberts, just in case. It has already occurred. After all, if there was any possibility that the one word that was juxtaposed in the swearing in ceremony on Tuesday could nullify O's presidency, well..can you imagine?
Look at O's face during Biden's ( or Bidet as I now call him, since he has a perpetual diarrhea of the mouth problem) gaffe! You know what they say, if looks could kill...
So the $150 million spent on that most grandiose of spectacles aka coronation, was basically a waste. All they had to spend was a couple of bucks, keep Bidet out of the room, and grab the Bible while no one was watching.
January 21, 2009
Obama re-takes oath of office at the White House
Posted: 07:57 PM ET
WASHINGTON (CNN) – President Obama on Wednesday re-took his oath of office after Chief Justice John Roberts flubbed while delivering it at Tuesday's inauguration.
As he did Tuesday, Roberts asked the president if he was ready to take the oath, this time in the White House Map Room instead of the Capitol steps.
"I am," Obama replied, "and we're going to take it very slowly."
The 35-word oath took 25 seconds. The bobbled oath on Tuesday took 30 seconds.
The move was aimed at dispelling any confusion that might arise from Tuesday's take, and erase any question that Obama is legally the president.
"We believe that the oath of office was administered effectively and that the president was sworn in appropriately yesterday," said White House Counsel Greg Craig in a statement. "But the oath appears in the Constitution itself. And out of an abundance of caution, because there was one word out of sequence, Chief Justice Roberts administered the oath a second time."
Obama, waiting on a couch for the ceremony to begin, joked that "we decided it was so much fun … "
After a flawless recitation, Roberts smiled and said, "Congratulations again."
"Thank you, sir," the president replied, and then, after a smattering of applause, quipped that "the bad news for the (press) pool is there's 12 more balls."
Roberts made no comment on becoming tongue-tied Tuesday, but it set tongues wagging.
The oath, as most oaths are, is administered by the one administering it breaking it into phrases that are repeated by the official being sworn in.
Roberts, apparently working without a copy of the oath handy, started out by reciting a six-word phrase, but Obama broke in halfway through and repeated the first three.
That seemed to throw the chief justice off stride, and he proceeded to mix up the order of the words in the next phrase.
The Constitution sets out the language that should be used in the oath: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
Roberts moved the word "faithfully" back nine spots, and used "to" instead of "of." That threw the president off base, and he smiled and paused to collect his thoughts, then decided to follow Roberts' lead.
But the chief justice at the same time attempted to correct himself.
Here's how it went:
Roberts: … that I will execute the office of president to the United States faithfully …
Obama: … that I will execute …
Roberts: … the off — faithfully the pres — the office of president of the United States …
Obama (at the same time): … the office of president of the United States faithfully …
The two got the rest correct, including the non-obligatory "So help you God?" "So help me God."
Reporters, bloggers, and others weighed in. The New York Post offered this headline: "Roberts is the Oaf of Office."
A Washington Post reader complained in a letter to the editor, "What could have been a moment for the ages was marred by Mr. Roberts' thoughtlessness. News outlets will report that the first words of our new president were "confused." Whether through design or an amazing lack of preparation, Justice Roberts's behavior was a disgrace."
And Fox News anchor Chris Wallace said, "We're wondering here whether or not Barack Obama in fact is the president of the United States. They had a kind of garbled oath. It's just conceivable that this will end up going to the courts."
The always-playful legal Web site Above the Law asked readers to answer an online poll. About 48 percent blamed Roberts, just 17 percent blame Obama, and 35 percent said yes to the statement, "They both sucked."
In a congressional luncheon after the swear-in Roberts and Obama exchanged words, and the chief justice appeared to tell the president, "It was my fault."
Mistakes do happen, even in the most meticulously prepared of events.
During the 1941 swear-in, nerves apparently got to then-Supreme Court clerk Elmore Leonard who held the Bible for President Franklin Roosevelt (wives of the president did not have that honor as they do now). After Roosevelt completed the oath, Leonard dropped the book.
No hard feelings were expressed by the president. In fact, when Vice President Joseph Biden joked about the Roberts mix-up at a Wednesday swear-in of White House officials, Obama refused to smile or laugh as others did. His stern expression betrayed his lack of amusement at Roberts' expense.
Take heart, Mr. Chief Justice. You may have many more inaugurals in the future to get it right.
To think, we had 24 hours to stop this:)
Now, the ramifications of this latest Biden flub have caused a very disturbing incident. It was decided that tonight, "that one" would be RE-SWORN in by Justice Roberts, just in case. It has already occurred. After all, if there was any possibility that the one word that was juxtaposed in the swearing in ceremony on Tuesday could nullify O's presidency, well..can you imagine?
Look at O's face during Biden's ( or Bidet as I now call him, since he has a perpetual diarrhea of the mouth problem) gaffe! You know what they say, if looks could kill...
So the $150 million spent on that most grandiose of spectacles aka coronation, was basically a waste. All they had to spend was a couple of bucks, keep Bidet out of the room, and grab the Bible while no one was watching.
January 21, 2009
Obama re-takes oath of office at the White House
Posted: 07:57 PM ET
WASHINGTON (CNN) – President Obama on Wednesday re-took his oath of office after Chief Justice John Roberts flubbed while delivering it at Tuesday's inauguration.
As he did Tuesday, Roberts asked the president if he was ready to take the oath, this time in the White House Map Room instead of the Capitol steps.
"I am," Obama replied, "and we're going to take it very slowly."
The 35-word oath took 25 seconds. The bobbled oath on Tuesday took 30 seconds.
The move was aimed at dispelling any confusion that might arise from Tuesday's take, and erase any question that Obama is legally the president.
"We believe that the oath of office was administered effectively and that the president was sworn in appropriately yesterday," said White House Counsel Greg Craig in a statement. "But the oath appears in the Constitution itself. And out of an abundance of caution, because there was one word out of sequence, Chief Justice Roberts administered the oath a second time."
Obama, waiting on a couch for the ceremony to begin, joked that "we decided it was so much fun … "
After a flawless recitation, Roberts smiled and said, "Congratulations again."
"Thank you, sir," the president replied, and then, after a smattering of applause, quipped that "the bad news for the (press) pool is there's 12 more balls."
Roberts made no comment on becoming tongue-tied Tuesday, but it set tongues wagging.
The oath, as most oaths are, is administered by the one administering it breaking it into phrases that are repeated by the official being sworn in.
Roberts, apparently working without a copy of the oath handy, started out by reciting a six-word phrase, but Obama broke in halfway through and repeated the first three.
That seemed to throw the chief justice off stride, and he proceeded to mix up the order of the words in the next phrase.
The Constitution sets out the language that should be used in the oath: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
Roberts moved the word "faithfully" back nine spots, and used "to" instead of "of." That threw the president off base, and he smiled and paused to collect his thoughts, then decided to follow Roberts' lead.
But the chief justice at the same time attempted to correct himself.
Here's how it went:
Roberts: … that I will execute the office of president to the United States faithfully …
Obama: … that I will execute …
Roberts: … the off — faithfully the pres — the office of president of the United States …
Obama (at the same time): … the office of president of the United States faithfully …
The two got the rest correct, including the non-obligatory "So help you God?" "So help me God."
Reporters, bloggers, and others weighed in. The New York Post offered this headline: "Roberts is the Oaf of Office."
A Washington Post reader complained in a letter to the editor, "What could have been a moment for the ages was marred by Mr. Roberts' thoughtlessness. News outlets will report that the first words of our new president were "confused." Whether through design or an amazing lack of preparation, Justice Roberts's behavior was a disgrace."
And Fox News anchor Chris Wallace said, "We're wondering here whether or not Barack Obama in fact is the president of the United States. They had a kind of garbled oath. It's just conceivable that this will end up going to the courts."
The always-playful legal Web site Above the Law asked readers to answer an online poll. About 48 percent blamed Roberts, just 17 percent blame Obama, and 35 percent said yes to the statement, "They both sucked."
In a congressional luncheon after the swear-in Roberts and Obama exchanged words, and the chief justice appeared to tell the president, "It was my fault."
Mistakes do happen, even in the most meticulously prepared of events.
During the 1941 swear-in, nerves apparently got to then-Supreme Court clerk Elmore Leonard who held the Bible for President Franklin Roosevelt (wives of the president did not have that honor as they do now). After Roosevelt completed the oath, Leonard dropped the book.
No hard feelings were expressed by the president. In fact, when Vice President Joseph Biden joked about the Roberts mix-up at a Wednesday swear-in of White House officials, Obama refused to smile or laugh as others did. His stern expression betrayed his lack of amusement at Roberts' expense.
Take heart, Mr. Chief Justice. You may have many more inaugurals in the future to get it right.
To think, we had 24 hours to stop this:)
Gov. Paterson, BREATHE!
It was just announced that Caroline Kennedy has withdrawn her bid for Secty. of State Hillary Clinton's former spot as Jr. Senator from NY.
I will now spend my time toasting! The shoo-in has pulled her feet out!
Cuomo, I surely hope the govnah chooses you. Daddy Mario raised a tough man who will protect New York and fight for her economic stability. If not, I can live with Carol or Kristen.
As for Fran Drescher, well honey, hone your skills first.
The media will cover for Caroline, saying that she pulled out due to family concerns, eg, Uncle Teddy's health, but don't believe it for a second.
Bye, bye Miss American Pie.
Show us that you're more than your name and one of the ladies who lunch.
We already have one big poseur in government. He was inaugurated yesterday.
CHEERS!
Kennedy Is Said to Withdraw Senate Bid
By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE and DANNY HAKIMPublished: January 21, 2009
Caroline Kennedy has withdrawn from consideration for the vacant Senate seat in New York, according to a person told of her decision.
On Wednesday she called Gov. David A. Paterson, who will choose a successor to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. Her concerns about Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s deteriorating health (he was hospitalized after suffering a seizure during President Obama’s inaugural lunch on Tuesday ) prompted her decision to withdraw, this person said. Coping with her uncle’s condition was her most important priority, a situation not conducive to starting a high profile public job.
Mr. Paterson had indicated to her that the job was hers if she would accept it, the person said.
She was planning to issue a statement on Wednesday evening.
Ms. Kennedy’s decision comes nearly two months after she, along with several members of Congress and leading political officials, began auditioning to replace Mrs. Clinton in the coveted position.
Her decision to withdraw is certain to startle the political world. Ms. Kennedy had gained the support of some powerful backers in the state, including several labor officials and a top aide to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Kevin Sheekey.
But her pursuit of the seat also set off resistance, with some local Democratic officials suggesting it smacked of entitlement, and polls showing voters preferring Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo for the position. Ms. Kennedy, 51, the daughter of President John F. Kennedy and a resident of the Upper East Side of Manhattan, has never served in public office.
Gov. Paterson plans to announce his selection on Saturday. The governor has been coy about his decision, and while he has praised Ms. Kennedy, he has also spoken approvingly of other candidates, including Mr. Cuomo and Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, who is beginning her second term as a congresswoman from the Albany area.
Mrs. Clinton resigned from the Senate late Wednesday, immediately after being sworn in as secretary of state.
I will now spend my time toasting! The shoo-in has pulled her feet out!
Cuomo, I surely hope the govnah chooses you. Daddy Mario raised a tough man who will protect New York and fight for her economic stability. If not, I can live with Carol or Kristen.
As for Fran Drescher, well honey, hone your skills first.
The media will cover for Caroline, saying that she pulled out due to family concerns, eg, Uncle Teddy's health, but don't believe it for a second.
Bye, bye Miss American Pie.
Show us that you're more than your name and one of the ladies who lunch.
We already have one big poseur in government. He was inaugurated yesterday.
CHEERS!
Kennedy Is Said to Withdraw Senate Bid
By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE and DANNY HAKIMPublished: January 21, 2009
Caroline Kennedy has withdrawn from consideration for the vacant Senate seat in New York, according to a person told of her decision.
On Wednesday she called Gov. David A. Paterson, who will choose a successor to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. Her concerns about Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s deteriorating health (he was hospitalized after suffering a seizure during President Obama’s inaugural lunch on Tuesday ) prompted her decision to withdraw, this person said. Coping with her uncle’s condition was her most important priority, a situation not conducive to starting a high profile public job.
Mr. Paterson had indicated to her that the job was hers if she would accept it, the person said.
She was planning to issue a statement on Wednesday evening.
Ms. Kennedy’s decision comes nearly two months after she, along with several members of Congress and leading political officials, began auditioning to replace Mrs. Clinton in the coveted position.
Her decision to withdraw is certain to startle the political world. Ms. Kennedy had gained the support of some powerful backers in the state, including several labor officials and a top aide to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Kevin Sheekey.
But her pursuit of the seat also set off resistance, with some local Democratic officials suggesting it smacked of entitlement, and polls showing voters preferring Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo for the position. Ms. Kennedy, 51, the daughter of President John F. Kennedy and a resident of the Upper East Side of Manhattan, has never served in public office.
Gov. Paterson plans to announce his selection on Saturday. The governor has been coy about his decision, and while he has praised Ms. Kennedy, he has also spoken approvingly of other candidates, including Mr. Cuomo and Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand, who is beginning her second term as a congresswoman from the Albany area.
Mrs. Clinton resigned from the Senate late Wednesday, immediately after being sworn in as secretary of state.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
White Apologists, Coming to a Town Near You
I wasn't one of those who abided by a self imposed media blackout on coronation day. The reason being, my progeny attends school in the District and was attending the inaugural, leading me to spend a twenty four hour cycle with no sleep while he braved his way through sodom and gomorah, freezing and in pain from high top Timberlands. I tuned in to the spectacle, hoping to see Princess Di at least, but alas, true royalty has gone to a better place. So, I plopped down on the couch, drank bottles of water though I wished they were vodka, and glued myself to the various channels, choosing the least of the gushing offenders. So far, so good. No gunshots, no chemical bombs, no planes in restricted airspace. I literally held out hope that I would catch a glimpse of my kid in the sea of inhumanity; I believe the name for this condition is "crazed mamma syndrome." Once things got underway, I concentrated on the various dignitaries and not so dignifieditaries who came through the Capitol's portal. On Carter, On Kennedy, On Mondale, On Blitzen, and then the superstars appeared. I was momentarily concerned but the crowd gave a roaring welcome to the rightful winner of the Democratic primary, you know her I think. (and of course, Bill.)
Warren, and Feinstein, some african american poet that would never have been there had she been of a different race because I swear, her poetry wouldn't have made it onto Mrs. Edmead's fifth grade wall of prose. It made no sense, not one word of it. The millions were silenced, and probably had some much needed rest whilst she blathered on about nothing. And then, oh yes, rise up children, for here is the creme de la creme of the AUDACITY OF RACISM. The Reverend Joseph Lowery stood at the podium and well, here, take a look.
Now sometimes we forgive the elderly for they know not what they do, but it seems to me that the very people who put "that one" in office are caucasian, or as we say in the hood, white. Still not satisfied? The President has no clothes and the Emperor is wearing Armani. What the hell does it take to stop the reverse racism? We've already endured enough sexism for our collective lifetimes, and Johnny Mac was subjected to endless not-so-amusing tirades concerning his age, skin cancer, and lack of soaring rhetoric.
Now, "that one" had a choice. He could have not been so hearty in his appreciation when he went to thank the geezer after the hate speech. But knowing he can do no wrong and certainly not get chastised for it if he did, he took the easy highway and hugged the hunched over little man. And when I say little, I mean, little of mind.
Did you hear the laughter and applause? The baby bots loved it!
So just for the record, I'm white and I got it right.
Warren, and Feinstein, some african american poet that would never have been there had she been of a different race because I swear, her poetry wouldn't have made it onto Mrs. Edmead's fifth grade wall of prose. It made no sense, not one word of it. The millions were silenced, and probably had some much needed rest whilst she blathered on about nothing. And then, oh yes, rise up children, for here is the creme de la creme of the AUDACITY OF RACISM. The Reverend Joseph Lowery stood at the podium and well, here, take a look.
Now sometimes we forgive the elderly for they know not what they do, but it seems to me that the very people who put "that one" in office are caucasian, or as we say in the hood, white. Still not satisfied? The President has no clothes and the Emperor is wearing Armani. What the hell does it take to stop the reverse racism? We've already endured enough sexism for our collective lifetimes, and Johnny Mac was subjected to endless not-so-amusing tirades concerning his age, skin cancer, and lack of soaring rhetoric.
Now, "that one" had a choice. He could have not been so hearty in his appreciation when he went to thank the geezer after the hate speech. But knowing he can do no wrong and certainly not get chastised for it if he did, he took the easy highway and hugged the hunched over little man. And when I say little, I mean, little of mind.
Did you hear the laughter and applause? The baby bots loved it!
So just for the record, I'm white and I got it right.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Tribute to MY President
Tonight I am so incredibly sad. I know I'm not alone and there is comfort in that. The words to describe this pain escape me, for how does one convey a sense of loss that is not a death nor an ending to a relationship. This is different, I feel hopeless. The PUMA movement began with fervor, vigor and a commitment to deny that fraud and deceit would overtake the electoral process. We did not fail, for we are still committed to our collective ideology.
On a night such as this, when I am trying to be positive that my beloved country will return to economic health and remain safe from domestic and foreign threats, I am finding myself too melancholy to do so. In a few hours, the rightful winner of the Democratic nomination and most assuredly the general election would be rising to shatter the ceiling and take it one step further by penetrating it for the 51 percent of women who have struggled and still do, to attain some measure of respect and equality. We can trust that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will represent the United States with her usual brilliance and aplomb, but she will always be my President.
One of the most horrific days of my life occurred on 9/11/01. I still recall Bette Midler performing a heart wrenching version of a song that inspires me and is my tribute to Hillary. If you watch carefully, towards the end you will see Hillary and Bill sitting with the dignitaries of New York. She was our Senator, and NY will not forget her tireless work and compassion during that time, and the years that ensued.
May G-d speed, Hillary. You are the wind beneath my wings.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Allah and The Invocation
As most of us more-than-speculate, the Resident Select spent a good deal of his younger years being indoctrinated into the teachings of the Koran. I find no need to cite documented evidence; been there, done that. At some point, the opportunist found his way into the evah-lovin' hot bed of Michelle who most likely introduced him to the brethren of the United Trinity Church. Black theology and Islam are not the same, but both breed hatred of others so I think I'll lump them together. However, Trinity does promote itself under the umbrella of Christianity, so I'll give "that one" a break, for a second. Now, there's been much to say over his pick of Rick Warren (high priest of the Saddleback Church and gay basher to the core) to lead the invocation at his inaugural. Hey, you can't please everyone all of the time, and we PUMAs warned many of our own members about "that one's" anti-gay ideology.
And now, to add another dimension to INVOCATION HATE, the man who would be king has invited a known muslim and Hamas supporter to join this most sacred of events. Please take the time to skim the following from Newsbusters.org, dated Jan.18, 2008.
Muslim With Ties to Hamas to Address Inaugural Prayer Service
By Noel Sheppard
January 18, 2009 - 13:14 ET
A Muslim religious leader with alleged ties to the terrorist group Hamas is scheduled to address President Barack Obama's inaugural prayer service on Wednesday.
Given the recent hostilities in Israel surrounding Hamas, irrespective of a just-announced ceasefire, one has to wonder how much attention this matter will get from Obama-loving media which are also largely pro-Palestinian.
Although Politico is getting credit for breaking this story, the American Thinker appears to have been the first to unveil the truth behind Ingrid Mattson Saturday .
Ingrid Mattson, president of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), will deliver a prayer at the National Cathedral during the National Prayer Service on January 21st. The event is part of the festivities for the inauguration of Barack Obama, which occurs January 20. A convert to Islam, Mattson directs the Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations at Hartford Seminary.
ISNA has close ties with the Muslim Brotherhood, a radical Islamist group, and was named an un-indicted co-conspirator in U.S. v Holy Land Foundation, a case that uncovered covert financing of the terrorist group Hamas.
Politico's Josh Gerstein reported the following a bit later in the day Saturday:
Mattson’s group calls itself “the largest Muslim umbrella organization” in North America. However, in May 2007, federal prosecutors included ISNA on a list of nearly 300 co-conspirators filed in a criminal case charging that the Holy Land Foundation of Richardson, Texas, funneled more than $12 million to Hamas.
The U.S. government designated Hamas as a terrorist group in 1995.
A trial in Dallas in 2007 for the foundation and five of its leaders ended with acquittals and mistrials. However, Holy Land and the five officials were convicted of all 108 charges in a second trial last year. [...]
The court has not ruled on the groups’ motion, but in a brief filed last July, federal prosecutor James Jacks said there was ample evidence of the Islamic groups’ ties to the Holy Land Foundation.
“During last year's trial, numerous exhibits were entered into evidence establishing both ISNA's and NAIT's intimate relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood, the Palestine Committee, and the defendants in this case," Mr. Jacks wrote . "They were intimately connected with the HLF and its assigned task of providing financial support to HAMAS. ... That ISNA and NAIT appeared in these documents and share a common history with these defendants is a reflection of the evidence, not any attempt to 'disparage' or 'vilify.'"
Through 1PM EST Sunday, a Google News search identified the Associated Press as the lone major American news outlet besides Politico to print this story, although others have noted Mattson's scheduled appearance at the prayer service without addressing her Hamas connections.
I wonder why.
By contrast, AT's Richard Moran pointed out Sunday that Fox News has reported the full story about Mattson.
Color me unsurprised.
In the end, it will be very interesting to see what coverage this matter gets in the coming days if any.
Stay tuned.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters.
And the partiers are having a ball.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Diverting Attention On Such A Winter's Day
Meme Tagging. The cure for insomnia.
So this is PUMA HELL weekend leading up to crackhead coronation Tuesday. Why play board games to pass the time when you can play shrink and patient, sans couch. I have been tagged ( I should be so lucky) by le bloggeur who most inspires me, Shtuey. It's a good thing the rules are relaxed because Petunia doesn't take too kindly to towing the line. Seems the tagees have to reveal six things about themselves, and ordinarily, I love to spew, but when it's about me, well, I wonder how much I want to send into cyberspace since my damned computer has been hacked for my PUMAtizing antics back when we began. Without further ado, here's much ADO about nothing.
- I'm technically a baby boomer but someone forgot to tell me. Then again, maybe I'm normal and the ladies who lunch sold out. I've been a single, divorced mom for fifteen years, much of it quite entertaining. I've been growing up alongside my son, so having the so called "cool mom" can be somewhat embarrassing to a young man. Then again, I've dated some who were only fifteen years older than him (give or take), so it took me longer to grow up than the way too smart kid that I was blessed with. He is my life, my world, my reason for setting the alarm for the next day, the reason I remain on the east coast, the progeny of my womb who is destined to be Bob Costas Part Deux. As a PUMA since the beginning, I've subjected him to a raving lunatic for a mother, but thankfully, he goes to school and lives in a dorm so he was able to make a prison break during some pivotal times. For all my attempts to wake him from the trance that liberal academia put him in, he voted for O'no!, and he is the only bot I have been able to forgive. To his credit, he has been heard to say that he doesn't worship him at all. I can live with that.
- I'm a native New Yorker with all the pluses and minuses that come with that dubious location, but there is nowhere on the planet where I would have preferred to be raised, other than the French Riviera, Buckingham Palace, Martha's Vineyard (sans Teddy), La Jolla, Maui, or Tuscany. I'm easy to please. I luv NY a lot, and anyone who alludes to the supposed lack of graciousness attributed to New Yorkers has to answer to me. 9/11 was personal for me, and yes it affected everyone, but someone I won't define was trapped in his office and had just a minute to call his mom to say goodbye. He was that kinda guy. Big Jets fan, lover of life, tons of friends, golfer, young and successful, good natured, and had recently lost his dad due a sudden death prompting him to give up his single life freedom to move back to his family home and help his mom. A rare one, taken too early, as were many. Every year on the day that we memorialize the fallen, I send flowers to his family. I missed one year, or maybe two, but maybe not. I watch local tv which broadcasts a ceremony with all of the politicians, families, and friends of the victims, reading the names of the deceased, and ringing a huge bell at the exact times that the towers were hit, then subsequently fell. Pictures are shown for the viewers. It takes hours, but I won't miss it. I need to see and dwell and cry and remember that the small things really are insignificant. Being neurotic, after a day, I return to making the small things huge. His funeral had a turnout rivaling that of a celebrity, and all that was left was put into a small gilded box, for the remains of the over six foot man were gone. F*ck you terrorists, would-be jihadists and all those who keep forgetting how every day we intercept chatter. This event jaded me forever and changed my insides.
- I used to have a thing for sports players. A big thing. I was vacationing in Monte Carlo ( the lush life I haven't had in years and won't again) when Jim Bouton appeared in the lobby of the Loews. I pretended he was a passerby, but I had read "Ball Four", and had a huge crush on the still youngish ex-Yankee. Well, I was sitting in the lobby one evening and he approached me ( he must have been desperate) and proceeded to dangle his room key after a brief conversation about the Boston Celtics. ( was trained to write non-fiction so I can't make this up.) I sat there like a lummox. He walked down the lobby corridor, turned around once to see if I was following, and I still sat there. I remember the number of the room, this was in the 80's. My sense of morality kept me from having a brief interlude and I've regretted it ever since. In years to come, I told my sense of morality to go to hell, and it did. Then Tino Martinez came
along, my favorite first baseman Yankee, and that was also a close call. For some reason, I had no problem with my conscience when it came to non-famous people, but with those I dreamed of, I felt I wasn't worthy. Again, regrets. Lesson to those that read this, assuming anyone does, morality impedes joy, so as long as you're not hurting anyone else, go for it.
- I cannot live without tuna fish sandwiches and diet dr. brown's cream soda. There are no french fries that are comparable to Nathan's...the original one. Food soothes me, and that's not good, but I could be drinking Kamikazes and driving, so what the hell.
- Black. I love black. Black carpet, black clothing, black toenail polish. My mother who was supremely stunning and the belle of everyone's ball, trained me early that a classy woman always wears black with a string of pearls. I never wore the pearls, and I dress like a funky mama, so my mom never approved. She passed away knowing that somewhere along the line, I lost my way, and that made her deeply sad. I will always live with the regret that I didn't make mommy happy for the most part, but she was proud of her incredible grandson, so at least I did something right.
- If I live to see it happen, this is the year that I am going to screw my head on when it comes to forging a healthy adult relationship with a human being of the opposite sex. Here's the juicy part. I was dating and engaged to a very intelligent, Scott Peterson-like charmer. I had finally found the one I was willing to give up my divorcee status for. He was a part of my family, we vacationed, we vowed to be loyal and remain together. Since I always put my mothering first, I didn't always have time for him, but he knew I was devoted. Well, little did I know that I was planning a life with the "tri-state male trollop." I'm pretty sure he hit more zip codes than Roger Maris hit home runs. There were signs, he denied them. His friends tried to tell me in coy ways, his hvac guy slipped up and asked me on the phone if I was the one from NY or NJ, all denied. At some point, things got crazy and mom was misdiagnosed. A two year long saga of pain ensued, during which time he hired some uneducated, unwed mother chiquita who knew he and I were engaged ( I told her when she answered the phone) but decided to sleep with the boss. Talk about a B movie. The details of this sordid saga are book worthy, so I'll save the rest. Suffice it to say, he and I still carried on our relationship without me knowing a thing, for a long time. That's what happens when you're preoccupied and the man in your life is a sociopath. I was Laci Peterson without the murder. I only found out about them when she emailed me two weeks after mom passed away, and decided to send me a picture of the two of them, and an admonition to stay away from "her man." Now mom and dad raised me well so I wasn't accustomed to trailer trash. It's only in recent months that we've stopped all communication, though if given the chance, he would still insist he was leaving her, they were not sleeping together, it's a matter of convenience, and he doesn't love her. His mother is a psychiatrist and that's telling in itself. So, 2009, I'm ready. It's time to forge on, for I no longer give a damn about Alex and Rae, the two losers of Flushing, New York. G-d, that felt good. She has read this blog, and if she gets upset, I might just link her blog here to show the world that she blogs about RUBBER STAMPS AND INK.
I could go on, but I'd have the need to pay someone for reading this, and with the economic instability we're all experiencing...I can't trust "that one" to fund my catharsis.
Ok, now here's the tough part. My PUMA people are mostly on FaceBook, for that is where I created the first PUMA group and forged relationships. We've all been together there for a long time, but most of them are not PUMA bloggers. I've become friendly with some conservative bloggers and they're actually very clever and fun, but this meme is for our family of fierce cats. So, I'm tagging five cats plus one COOL cat who just happens to get it.
sky dancing in a man's world
truth is gold
the black sphere
heidi li's potpourri
deadenders
ms placed democrat
I passed go. Do I collect?
So this is PUMA HELL weekend leading up to crackhead coronation Tuesday. Why play board games to pass the time when you can play shrink and patient, sans couch. I have been tagged ( I should be so lucky) by le bloggeur who most inspires me, Shtuey. It's a good thing the rules are relaxed because Petunia doesn't take too kindly to towing the line. Seems the tagees have to reveal six things about themselves, and ordinarily, I love to spew, but when it's about me, well, I wonder how much I want to send into cyberspace since my damned computer has been hacked for my PUMAtizing antics back when we began. Without further ado, here's much ADO about nothing.
- I'm technically a baby boomer but someone forgot to tell me. Then again, maybe I'm normal and the ladies who lunch sold out. I've been a single, divorced mom for fifteen years, much of it quite entertaining. I've been growing up alongside my son, so having the so called "cool mom" can be somewhat embarrassing to a young man. Then again, I've dated some who were only fifteen years older than him (give or take), so it took me longer to grow up than the way too smart kid that I was blessed with. He is my life, my world, my reason for setting the alarm for the next day, the reason I remain on the east coast, the progeny of my womb who is destined to be Bob Costas Part Deux. As a PUMA since the beginning, I've subjected him to a raving lunatic for a mother, but thankfully, he goes to school and lives in a dorm so he was able to make a prison break during some pivotal times. For all my attempts to wake him from the trance that liberal academia put him in, he voted for O'no!, and he is the only bot I have been able to forgive. To his credit, he has been heard to say that he doesn't worship him at all. I can live with that.
- I'm a native New Yorker with all the pluses and minuses that come with that dubious location, but there is nowhere on the planet where I would have preferred to be raised, other than the French Riviera, Buckingham Palace, Martha's Vineyard (sans Teddy), La Jolla, Maui, or Tuscany. I'm easy to please. I luv NY a lot, and anyone who alludes to the supposed lack of graciousness attributed to New Yorkers has to answer to me. 9/11 was personal for me, and yes it affected everyone, but someone I won't define was trapped in his office and had just a minute to call his mom to say goodbye. He was that kinda guy. Big Jets fan, lover of life, tons of friends, golfer, young and successful, good natured, and had recently lost his dad due a sudden death prompting him to give up his single life freedom to move back to his family home and help his mom. A rare one, taken too early, as were many. Every year on the day that we memorialize the fallen, I send flowers to his family. I missed one year, or maybe two, but maybe not. I watch local tv which broadcasts a ceremony with all of the politicians, families, and friends of the victims, reading the names of the deceased, and ringing a huge bell at the exact times that the towers were hit, then subsequently fell. Pictures are shown for the viewers. It takes hours, but I won't miss it. I need to see and dwell and cry and remember that the small things really are insignificant. Being neurotic, after a day, I return to making the small things huge. His funeral had a turnout rivaling that of a celebrity, and all that was left was put into a small gilded box, for the remains of the over six foot man were gone. F*ck you terrorists, would-be jihadists and all those who keep forgetting how every day we intercept chatter. This event jaded me forever and changed my insides.
- I used to have a thing for sports players. A big thing. I was vacationing in Monte Carlo ( the lush life I haven't had in years and won't again) when Jim Bouton appeared in the lobby of the Loews. I pretended he was a passerby, but I had read "Ball Four", and had a huge crush on the still youngish ex-Yankee. Well, I was sitting in the lobby one evening and he approached me ( he must have been desperate) and proceeded to dangle his room key after a brief conversation about the Boston Celtics. ( was trained to write non-fiction so I can't make this up.) I sat there like a lummox. He walked down the lobby corridor, turned around once to see if I was following, and I still sat there. I remember the number of the room, this was in the 80's. My sense of morality kept me from having a brief interlude and I've regretted it ever since. In years to come, I told my sense of morality to go to hell, and it did. Then Tino Martinez came
along, my favorite first baseman Yankee, and that was also a close call. For some reason, I had no problem with my conscience when it came to non-famous people, but with those I dreamed of, I felt I wasn't worthy. Again, regrets. Lesson to those that read this, assuming anyone does, morality impedes joy, so as long as you're not hurting anyone else, go for it.
- I cannot live without tuna fish sandwiches and diet dr. brown's cream soda. There are no french fries that are comparable to Nathan's...the original one. Food soothes me, and that's not good, but I could be drinking Kamikazes and driving, so what the hell.
- Black. I love black. Black carpet, black clothing, black toenail polish. My mother who was supremely stunning and the belle of everyone's ball, trained me early that a classy woman always wears black with a string of pearls. I never wore the pearls, and I dress like a funky mama, so my mom never approved. She passed away knowing that somewhere along the line, I lost my way, and that made her deeply sad. I will always live with the regret that I didn't make mommy happy for the most part, but she was proud of her incredible grandson, so at least I did something right.
- If I live to see it happen, this is the year that I am going to screw my head on when it comes to forging a healthy adult relationship with a human being of the opposite sex. Here's the juicy part. I was dating and engaged to a very intelligent, Scott Peterson-like charmer. I had finally found the one I was willing to give up my divorcee status for. He was a part of my family, we vacationed, we vowed to be loyal and remain together. Since I always put my mothering first, I didn't always have time for him, but he knew I was devoted. Well, little did I know that I was planning a life with the "tri-state male trollop." I'm pretty sure he hit more zip codes than Roger Maris hit home runs. There were signs, he denied them. His friends tried to tell me in coy ways, his hvac guy slipped up and asked me on the phone if I was the one from NY or NJ, all denied. At some point, things got crazy and mom was misdiagnosed. A two year long saga of pain ensued, during which time he hired some uneducated, unwed mother chiquita who knew he and I were engaged ( I told her when she answered the phone) but decided to sleep with the boss. Talk about a B movie. The details of this sordid saga are book worthy, so I'll save the rest. Suffice it to say, he and I still carried on our relationship without me knowing a thing, for a long time. That's what happens when you're preoccupied and the man in your life is a sociopath. I was Laci Peterson without the murder. I only found out about them when she emailed me two weeks after mom passed away, and decided to send me a picture of the two of them, and an admonition to stay away from "her man." Now mom and dad raised me well so I wasn't accustomed to trailer trash. It's only in recent months that we've stopped all communication, though if given the chance, he would still insist he was leaving her, they were not sleeping together, it's a matter of convenience, and he doesn't love her. His mother is a psychiatrist and that's telling in itself. So, 2009, I'm ready. It's time to forge on, for I no longer give a damn about Alex and Rae, the two losers of Flushing, New York. G-d, that felt good. She has read this blog, and if she gets upset, I might just link her blog here to show the world that she blogs about RUBBER STAMPS AND INK.
I could go on, but I'd have the need to pay someone for reading this, and with the economic instability we're all experiencing...I can't trust "that one" to fund my catharsis.
Ok, now here's the tough part. My PUMA people are mostly on FaceBook, for that is where I created the first PUMA group and forged relationships. We've all been together there for a long time, but most of them are not PUMA bloggers. I've become friendly with some conservative bloggers and they're actually very clever and fun, but this meme is for our family of fierce cats. So, I'm tagging five cats plus one COOL cat who just happens to get it.
sky dancing in a man's world
truth is gold
the black sphere
heidi li's potpourri
deadenders
ms placed democrat
I passed go. Do I collect?
Friday, January 16, 2009
Cutting Out The Blarney- An Irishman's Perspective
A British friend of mine forward the following to me. I thought it worthy of sharing.
Nice to know there are Europeans who are not Jews who are seeing beyond the lies.
By Ian O'Doherty
Irish Independent
Monday 5th Janury 2009
So, it's genocide now, is it? Or is it actually another holocaust, something which one typically restrained Palestinian analyst described as "worse than Hitler's war against the Jews"? Are we watching the ethnic cleansing of an entire people? Are we witnessing the deliberate eradication of a race?
Well, no actually, we're not.
Yet the conventional dinner party wisdom which we've had to put up with in the media, both here in Ireland and generally across Britain, is that somehow Israel is the aggressor in the rapidly worsening situation in Gaza.
Footage of air strikes with the ensuing photogenic explosions and dramatic plumes of smoke, quickly followed by clips of collapsed buildings and enraged mourners, makes far better copy than actually looking at the reasons why Israel has done what it's done.
Anyone who devotes only a cursory glance at the news, both print and television, would be forgiven for thinking that, out of spite, might and malice, Israel has decided to destroy the Palestinian people.
The problem with that conclusion -- and it's not something you're going to learn from the BBC and most other outlets -- is that, contrary to the currently popular belief, Israel is actually acting with a ridiculous degree of restraint.
Over the last couple of years, thousands of rockets have been landing on Israeli soil and, finally, they have had enough.
But behind that statistic there is a human dimension which tends to be rather ignored.
I know many people in the southern Israeli town of Sderot and what is remarkable about their stories is not the number or make of rockets which have fallen on them on a daily basis for years, but the psychological carnage this wreaked upon them.
One woman freely admitted to me that she hasn't had a proper night's sleep in more than two years as she and her family now basically live in their bomb shelter and it's hard to tell who she hates more -- the Muslim terrorists of Hamas or the Israeli government which she thinks has abandoned them.
It's a common feeling amongst residents of southern Israeli towns who have been the silent victims of a long campaign of violence, intimidation and murder carried out by Hamas. And now, finally, that the Israelis have said that enough is enough, they are somehow meant to be the aggressors?
There are people of good conscience on both sides of this argument, but one of the main problems in this debate lies in the cowardly tendency of the Western media to apply equivalence to both sides.
Thus, Hamas is seen to be as legitimate a government as the Israelis, and its rocket attacks across the border from Gaza are seen as being part of a yet another, intractable, interminable Middle Eastern dispute.
There's just one problem with that approach -- it's completely wrong.
Hamas is a fundamentalist Islamic organisation intent on the eradication of the state of Israel and all its citizens; a violent fascist regime that allows honour killings and the execution of homosexuals to continue in its sphere of influence. Bankrolled by Iran, it manages to make even Hezbollah look like a moderate organisation.
But Hamas is clever.
As a friend of mine from Sderot pointed out, one of its favourite tactics is to launch Qassams from Palestinian schoolyards -- while the schools are still in session.
Hamas does this, you see, knowing that the IDF can't immediately strike back (they can vector a rocket launch site within 90 seconds) because the last thing the Israelis need is footage of a devastated Palestinian school with dead kids.
And, over the last week, we have seen carefully manipulated footage of dead civilians, with the fact that they were effectively used as human shields conveniently ignored. When Israel pulled out of Gaza -- ironically, the last battalion of IDF troops to leave Gaza contained some people from Sderot -- they were acceding to international and internal pressure. The doves on the Left said it was to prove to Palestinians that they wanted to give Palestinians independence, the hawks on the Right -- and there are some truly scary right-wingers in Israel, even as ardent a supporter of the country as I am will freely admit that -- prophesied that it would lead to carnage.
And, lo and behold, virtually as soon as the last jeep left Gaza the rockets started. And then the blockade began, and the whole damn mess started all over again.
But there's a bigger picture here, something which Israelis have been trying to broadcast to the world, but which, thanks to their spectacular inability to accurately and sympathetically portray their point of view, has not been properly transmitted. It's this -- Israel is the front line of the war between democracy and Islamic fascism.
Would you rather live in a society with a free press, equal rights for women -- and anyone who knows an Israeli woman will know that they're not easily suppressed, anyway -- equal rights for gay people and a proud and stubborn belief in the right of the individual to lead their life in the way that they see fit or would you rather exist in a society where women who dare to speak their mind are executed, where gay people are not just shunned but murdered and where having a dissenting thought marks you out for death?
The civilian deaths in Gaza are to be mourned, and anyone who says otherwise is reprehensible. But in a sick and twisted irony, they are mourned more by Israelis than by Hamas, who know that every dead Palestinian kid is worth another piece of propaganda.
Here in the West, where we share the same values as Israel, we need to start standing shoulder with this tiny oasis of democracy in a vast desert of savagery.
To do otherwise is moral cowardice of the most repugnant kind.
Note: I added the image of Bin Laden and the WTC. In case you didn't know, that is a souvenir or "toy" that is sold throughout Gaza and other middle eastern Israel hating lands.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Bot Bliss
We all have coping mechanisms. Some imbibe, some indulge, some inject, some swallow (pills...dirty mind!). I've been in denial of the inevitable which will occur next Tuesday. No We Can't. Tonight it hit me like a careening car on black ice. It's happening. So I spend another sleepness night, half teary eyed, mostly bleary eyed.
I will share with you a glorious website for those crazy kids who will be partying like it's 1999, err, 2009.
Now I wouldn't want to shortchange the entire experience for those of you who plan on attending. What PUMA would rather be on the French Riviera?
Here you can find a "real" bed for $40 obux a night, plus many other tips for the weary traveler. I'm kvelling for all those who will witness this blessed coronation. Oh, they even provide some snacks for revving up your motors whilst walking the ten miles to The Capitol.
Don't forget to check out all the links on the site because this will be better than your wedding, barmitzvah, deflowering, birth of your baby, your own birth, the first time you inhaled, your first *real* O, your acceptance into MIT, and the first time you found self worth.
Frigging blogger screwed up the location of the pics. You know what? F*ck it. I'm gonna hug a puppy and forget my country disowned what it stood for.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Let's Play Celebrity Jihad
I may have lost my mind but I'm not here to scoop Perez Hilton. Seems our farklempt fatwa fans have decided to target Jewish or Jewish-leaning celebs in England. Shmooze. As if Amy Winehouse isn't on the brink of self-induced oblivion enough, she and Madonna, America's answer to Anglophiles and Kabbalah mistress par excellence have been threatened with good old fashioned jihad beheadings by the ever present Islamic extremists who breed like cockroaches in London. Madonna hired two Israeli Secret Service detail to protect her family. Where is the outrage? Why is this so silent that no one hears? Where are scores of Jewish and/or liberal media mavens to break this obscure story? It starts slowly, it builds into a crescendo. Sewn on emblems emblazoned with the word, "Juden" become de rigeur. The morons of the U.S.A. elect at the very least, a one time Muslim who isn't quite sure what the hell his own identity is. I'm scared. I'm never scared. Those who cannot allow themselves to take this seriously may find themselves having no choice. G-d help us.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
This Is What We Fought For...The Penultimate Hillary Documentary. Get Your Crying Papers.
Today the nation was reminded that Hillary Rodham Clinton has
no parallel. For without the caucus fraud and superdel
payola, she would have been running against the gop and
would have won handily. Her brilliance shone through every
word of her SoS confirmation hearing today. Though David Vitter,
republican fool and prostitute frequenter, tried to give her a tough
time...Hillary prevailed. Grit, fortitude, love of country, and
altruism never seen in a politician. She is our Hillary, and I am
so gut wrenchingly sad that she will not be POTUS this time,
but so very proud of her ability to rise above the fray.
Please take note of the above documentary, produced and directed by a 20 year old college student who made a sales pitch and earned the right to film our Clintons
during the tumultuous primaries. The trailer will make you weep, so get ready for the film. It is being released nationwide in select areas, but you can download it for a nominal sum on the internet. Let yourself recall the reason why we PUMAs fell
in love with Hillary.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Israel vs. Hamas - Your Rorshach Test
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Hermann Rorschach created the Rorschach inkblot test in 1921.
The Rorschach inkblot test (pronounced IPA: ['ʁoɐʃax]) is a method of psychological evaluation. Psychologists use this test to try to examine the personality characteristics and emotional functioning of their patients. The Rorschach is currently the second most commonly used test in forensic assessment, after the MMPI, and is the second most widely used test by members of the Society for Personality Assessment. It has been employed in diagnosing underlying thought disorder and differentiating psychotic from nonpsychotic thinking in cases where the patient is reluctant to openly admit to psychotic thinking.
YOU DECIDE.
And You Thought Obama Was Special?
Today's advice is, whenever you feel a bit low or unsure of yourself, book a trip to Chicago. No need to tour Oprahland. Just step out of O'Hare, smell the stench, and instantaneously, your ego will ascend to heights only imagined afore.
The Audacity of Hope, Change, Ego, Acorn, Caucus Fraud, Voting Present, Zero Legislative Accomplishments. Of course we know that none of the above stopped our Resident Select from aspiring to be seated behind the desk in the oval office.
Rahm Emanuel, knife wielder and congressman with a flair for the dramatic, probable sender of dead fish to his intended victims. Ego personified.
Blago...'nuf said.
Now, whoah nelly, we have the illustrious would be Jr. Senator, Roland Burris, who may have been involved in a pay for play "transaction" but will be seated due to his usage of the race card. After all, Blago knew what he was doing, that sly fox. Burris is known around Chitown for his self aggrandizing demeanor and his continuous reminder to all who can't see that he is black, therefore, he deserves to be important. And now the proof, rivaling the big O ( no, not THAT big O) on Bambi's jet...we have the ultimate in self importance. After all, doesn't everyone erect a freaking monument to themselves? On the monument you will find the words, Trail Blazer. Someone, pass the valium.
I seriously can't take it anymore.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Daddy, Can I Play CIA Director? Please?
This is hard for me to pen as I am a rabid Clintonista, but I am losing the few marbles I've retained over the appointment of Leon Panetta as head of the Central Intelligence Agency. Hey, if liberal Dianne Feinstein can plotz over this, so can I.
During the BO/McCain debacle, Panetta was crying out, "IT'S THE ECONOMY, STUPID." (very Carville-esque.) Now, wouldn't that lead someone with a modicum of intelligence to come to the conclusion that Panetta is more inclined to be Commerce Secty or Chief Cashier at Walmart as opposed to the top official responsible for the intel reports? Oh, I must be mistaken. We're not a country in crisis, and terrorism is the silly stuff that fiction writers reap profits from. Here's the latest from the The Hawaii Reporter, news publication of BO's birth state (hah!)
Obama Nominates Leon Panetta for CIA Chief
Mark my words: Panetta will turn the CIA into Obama's secret police.
By Jim Kouri, 1/5/2009 12:34:05 PM
In a nation already suspicious of its intelligence agencies, is it wise to appoint a former Clinton crony as Director of Central Intelligence?
Well, two Democratic officials leaked the story that President-elect Barack Obama has chosen former Clinton White House chief of staff Leon Panetta to run the CIA, according to Los Angeles' newsradio KNX.
Panetta is a surprise pick for the post, with no experience in the intelligence world and a reputation as a "dirty-tricks" maven when he worked for President Bill Clinton.
An Obama transition official and another Democrat disclosed his nomination on a condition of anonymity since it was not yet public, according to KNX.
Panetta was director the Office of Management and Budget in the Clinton Administration, Clinton's chief of staff, and a left-wing congressman from California known for his pitbull demeanor.
He served on the Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan panel that released a report at the end of 2006 with dozens of recommendations for reversing course in the Iraq war and an avid foe of the Bush Administration.
Panetta currently directs the Panetta Institute for Public Policy, based at California State University - Monterey Bay, an institution of higher learning he helped establish.
During the McCain-Obama presidential race, Panetta is quoted as saying, "It's the economy, stupid. People are deeply worried about the economic future of their families and the nation. It is the candidate who honestly addresses this crisis that has the best chance of winning. Voters want to vote their hopes, not their fears. Obama gets it. McCain cannot 'turn the page' on the biggest issue of this campaign."
Now Panetta will possibly be on the front-line of the war on terrorism as the top man at the Central Intelligence agency, something that reportedly infuriates Democrat Senator Diane Feinstein of California, according to Fox News Channel.
During the Clinton scandal, Human Events said this about Panetta:
"The media has lost count of all the shills the Clintons have sent out to do their dirty work with the press and the talk shows, from Leon Panetta and Lanny Davis to David Kendall and Jim Carville. There is no end to the line of opportunists prepared to face the public in defense of a rogue President and a corrupt administration."
Mark my words: Panetta will turn the CIA into Obama's secret police.
Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police and he's a staff writer for the New Media Alliance (thenma.org). His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us
Forgive me Hill and Bill, but Bambi just ain't got this right.
During the BO/McCain debacle, Panetta was crying out, "IT'S THE ECONOMY, STUPID." (very Carville-esque.) Now, wouldn't that lead someone with a modicum of intelligence to come to the conclusion that Panetta is more inclined to be Commerce Secty or Chief Cashier at Walmart as opposed to the top official responsible for the intel reports? Oh, I must be mistaken. We're not a country in crisis, and terrorism is the silly stuff that fiction writers reap profits from. Here's the latest from the The Hawaii Reporter, news publication of BO's birth state (hah!)
Obama Nominates Leon Panetta for CIA Chief
Mark my words: Panetta will turn the CIA into Obama's secret police.
By Jim Kouri, 1/5/2009 12:34:05 PM
In a nation already suspicious of its intelligence agencies, is it wise to appoint a former Clinton crony as Director of Central Intelligence?
Well, two Democratic officials leaked the story that President-elect Barack Obama has chosen former Clinton White House chief of staff Leon Panetta to run the CIA, according to Los Angeles' newsradio KNX.
Panetta is a surprise pick for the post, with no experience in the intelligence world and a reputation as a "dirty-tricks" maven when he worked for President Bill Clinton.
An Obama transition official and another Democrat disclosed his nomination on a condition of anonymity since it was not yet public, according to KNX.
Panetta was director the Office of Management and Budget in the Clinton Administration, Clinton's chief of staff, and a left-wing congressman from California known for his pitbull demeanor.
He served on the Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan panel that released a report at the end of 2006 with dozens of recommendations for reversing course in the Iraq war and an avid foe of the Bush Administration.
Panetta currently directs the Panetta Institute for Public Policy, based at California State University - Monterey Bay, an institution of higher learning he helped establish.
During the McCain-Obama presidential race, Panetta is quoted as saying, "It's the economy, stupid. People are deeply worried about the economic future of their families and the nation. It is the candidate who honestly addresses this crisis that has the best chance of winning. Voters want to vote their hopes, not their fears. Obama gets it. McCain cannot 'turn the page' on the biggest issue of this campaign."
Now Panetta will possibly be on the front-line of the war on terrorism as the top man at the Central Intelligence agency, something that reportedly infuriates Democrat Senator Diane Feinstein of California, according to Fox News Channel.
During the Clinton scandal, Human Events said this about Panetta:
"The media has lost count of all the shills the Clintons have sent out to do their dirty work with the press and the talk shows, from Leon Panetta and Lanny Davis to David Kendall and Jim Carville. There is no end to the line of opportunists prepared to face the public in defense of a rogue President and a corrupt administration."
Mark my words: Panetta will turn the CIA into Obama's secret police.
Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police and he's a staff writer for the New Media Alliance (thenma.org). His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us
Forgive me Hill and Bill, but Bambi just ain't got this right.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Karma Chameleon! Bye Bye, Judas!
Richardson to withdraw as Commerce secretary
New Mexico governor cites pending investigation of business dealings
Richardson to withdraw as Commerce secretary
Jan. 4: NBC News has learned that New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson will withdraw his name as Commerce secretary – and that President-elect Barack Obama will accept this decision. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, tapped in December by President-elect Barack Obama to serve as secretary of Commerce, has withdrawn his name for the position, citing a pending investigation into a company that has done business with his state.
"Let me say unequivocally that I and my Administration have acted properly in all matters and that this investigation will bear out that fact," he said Sunday in a report by NBC News' Andrea Mitchell. "But I have concluded that the ongoing investigation also would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process."
A federal grand jury is investigating how a California company that contributed to Richardson's political activities won a lucrative New Mexico state contract.
Story continues below ↓advertisement | your ad here
A person familiar with the proceedings has told The Associated Press that the grand jury is looking into possible "pay-to-play" dealings between CDR Financial Products and someone in a position to push the contract through with the state of New Mexico.
Richardson said he plans to continue in his role as governor. "I appreciate the confidence President-elect Obama has shown in me, and value our friendship and working partnership. I told him that I am eager to serve in the future in any way he deems useful. And like all Americans, I pray for his success and the success of our beloved country."
Obama said Sunday he accepted Richardson's decision to withdraw with 'deep regret.'
"Governor Richardson is an outstanding public servant and would have brought to the job of Commerce Secretary and our economic team great insights accumulated through an extraordinary career in federal and state office," Obama said.
Richardson, 61, was United Nations ambassador and energy secretary during the Clinton administration, and he is in his second term as New Mexico's governor. He also served seven terms in the House of Representatives.
If he had been confirmed by the Senate as secretary of Commerce, he would have taken over a sprawling department that oversees the National Weather Service, the Census Bureau, economic development programs and more.
One of the nation's most prominent Hispanic politicians, Richardson had pledged at the time of his nomination — in English and Spanish — to work to renew the economy.
Obama on Sunday gave no indication whom he might name to replace Richardson as the nominee but said "we must move quickly to fill the void left by Governor Richardson's decision."
New Mexico governor cites pending investigation of business dealings
Richardson to withdraw as Commerce secretary
Jan. 4: NBC News has learned that New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson will withdraw his name as Commerce secretary – and that President-elect Barack Obama will accept this decision. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, tapped in December by President-elect Barack Obama to serve as secretary of Commerce, has withdrawn his name for the position, citing a pending investigation into a company that has done business with his state.
"Let me say unequivocally that I and my Administration have acted properly in all matters and that this investigation will bear out that fact," he said Sunday in a report by NBC News' Andrea Mitchell. "But I have concluded that the ongoing investigation also would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process."
A federal grand jury is investigating how a California company that contributed to Richardson's political activities won a lucrative New Mexico state contract.
Story continues below ↓advertisement | your ad here
A person familiar with the proceedings has told The Associated Press that the grand jury is looking into possible "pay-to-play" dealings between CDR Financial Products and someone in a position to push the contract through with the state of New Mexico.
Richardson said he plans to continue in his role as governor. "I appreciate the confidence President-elect Obama has shown in me, and value our friendship and working partnership. I told him that I am eager to serve in the future in any way he deems useful. And like all Americans, I pray for his success and the success of our beloved country."
Obama said Sunday he accepted Richardson's decision to withdraw with 'deep regret.'
"Governor Richardson is an outstanding public servant and would have brought to the job of Commerce Secretary and our economic team great insights accumulated through an extraordinary career in federal and state office," Obama said.
Richardson, 61, was United Nations ambassador and energy secretary during the Clinton administration, and he is in his second term as New Mexico's governor. He also served seven terms in the House of Representatives.
If he had been confirmed by the Senate as secretary of Commerce, he would have taken over a sprawling department that oversees the National Weather Service, the Census Bureau, economic development programs and more.
One of the nation's most prominent Hispanic politicians, Richardson had pledged at the time of his nomination — in English and Spanish — to work to renew the economy.
Obama on Sunday gave no indication whom he might name to replace Richardson as the nominee but said "we must move quickly to fill the void left by Governor Richardson's decision."
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Philanthropy As Explained by Bambi's Bunch
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
I was under the impression that our economic outlook is rather bleak.
Shouldn't these fools give their play money to sick and hungry children, animal rescue shelters, or perhaps, g-d forbid, funds for returning troops?
FOLLYWOOD, indeed.
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