http://redvsblueblog.net/- New Blog Address! Now Live!

The new blog is up and running.

Please update your feeds and bookmarks to this site:

http://redvsblueblog.net/

This is a more simplistic template that is easier on the eyes and hopefully will load much faster than the old template.
Please check out the new site, browse, tell a friend and comment is something gets your ire going.

Thanks for being a faithful reader,
RedvsBlue Blog team....

New Blog Update..The Blog is on the move!

I spent time buying the new domain and trying to set up DynDNS only to figure it out it's a major league pain to use and almost impossible to figure out.

The lesson taken from this, don't even dream of setting up your own webserver unless you have done your homework and know whats going on.

The good thing to come from this experience is the fact the blog will also have the redvsblueblog.com domain name in 60 days.

We have a blog posting account set-up with yahoo and we are finalising the wordpress install as I type this.
We are knocking out some details of a new template and adding back links and some new functionality.

The new blog address will be:
redvsblueblog.net
or
www.redvsblueblog.net
as soon as the dns servers finish setting up.

We expect the Wordpress blog to be up and running on Monday.

Thanks for your patience and please come back to the new blog when it's alive and running...

Thanks,
Redvssblue blog staff

Moving blog to Wordpress, new server, coming to a new domain: redvsblueblog.com

We are currently setting up the blog to run on the wordpress platform on our own server.
We are doing this to have more options and functionality and to have a more stable platform.
Blogger has had another outage today and these outages are quite common with heavy news days or when big events happen.
We expected the Blogger platform to get better when it was purchased by Google and it hasn't happened.
Instead they just leave it alone to churn slowly and die a slow, technology inept death.
Crashes are common and usage or updating has become a real crapshoot.

I will let the readership know when the new blog is up and running as we are in the middle of testing right now.
We will also be moving the blog to a new domain: redvsblueblog.com when the process is completed.

Thanks for being a reader and expect bigger and better things from here in the coming future.

Thanks and Best Wishes..
Redvssblue blog staff

Note to readers...

I have 2 sick kids right now, so getting them back to par is my first priority.
I have to step away from the blog for a day to put all of my attention to their health.
As you may know, we are a husband and wife team at the blog so our resources are as good as what 2 people can do with this blog.

Thanks for your patience.

The blog will be up and running full steam ahead tomorrow.

Thanks and have a nice day..
Redvssblue blog staff..

Giuliani takes step toward '08 bid

AP: Giuliani takes step toward '08 bid - Yahoo! News:

"Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, a moderate Republican best known for his stewardship of the city after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, has taken the first step in a 2008 presidential bid.

The former mayor filed papers to create the Rudy Giuliani Presidential Exploratory Committee, Inc., establishing a New York-based panel that would allow him to raise money to explore a White House run and travel the country.

The four-page filing, obtained by The Associated Press, lists the purpose of the non-profit corporation 'to conduct federal 'testing the waters' activity under the Federal Election Campaign Act for Rudy Giuliani.'"

The Late-Night Comics on the Election Results

The Late-Night Comics on the Election Results:

"'This week, on Tuesday night, in an ironic turnaround, Iraq brought regime change to the U.S.' --Amy Poehler

'What a day for the Democrats. They've won the House of Representatives, they are poised to take the Senate as well, Donald Rumsfeld has resigned, and this just in, Dick Cheney came out as gay.' --Jon Stewart

'President Bush held a news conference where he vowed to work with the new Democratic majority, which, if true, can mean only one thing: the Democrats have a nuclear bomb.' --Amy Poehler

'It's ironic because Republicans always wanted to appeal to minorities. Now they are one.' --Jay Leno

'The only Republican now with a mandate is Congressman Mark Foley.' --Jay Leno

'There were many reports of problems with the voting machines yesterday, especially with touch-screen voting machines. In fact, in Congressman Mark Foley's district, some of the machines were touched inappropriately.' --Conan O'Brien

'Big, big win for the Democrats. Senator Hillary Clinton's overwhelming victory has fueled speculation that she will run for president in 2008. In other words, there was some good news for Republicans.' --Conan O'Brien

'The new Speaker of the House is Nancy Pelosi. She had lunch today with President Bush, but the lunch honestly did not go well. She would not pass him anything he asked for.' –David Letterman

'You know what really gets me, Democrats didn't even win this thing, the Republicans lost it. They ran away from the president. 'Hey, the ship's in trouble, quick, let's drown the captain!' We were this close to Jesus coming back. And you Republicans that turned your back on the president are going to wander in the desert for the next two years. Literally, someone's going to have to replace those troops in Iraq.' --Stephen Colbert "

The Wit and Wisdom of Donald Rumsfeld

The Wit and Wisdom of Donald Rumsfeld

From Rummy himself..

"Goodness, gracious! Stuff happens. It's not my business to do intelligent work. Death has a tendency to encourage a depressing view of war. As you know, you go to war with the army you have, not the army you might want or wish to have at a later time. Freedom's untidy, and free people are free to make mistakes and commit crimes and do bad things.

"I'm not into this detail stuff. I'm more concepty. I don't do diplomacy. I don't do quagmires. I believe what I said yesterday. I don't know what I said, but I know what I think, and, well, I assume it's what I said. If I know the answer I'll tell you the answer, and if I don't, I'll just respond, cleverly."

I'm glad to see he still has such a high opinion of himself. Too bad no one in the real world "or reality" as the Bush White House calls it feels the same way.

The Late Night comedy shows take their shots at the departing Rumsfeld...

"Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld announced he's stepping down. Rumsfeld said, 'I made the decision after it became clear that I couldn't do my job effectively -- and then I waited three years.'" --Conan O'Brien

"Donald Rumsfeld has been let go. Insiders describe Rumsfeld's reaction as shocked and awed. How does that make Rumsfeld feel when George Bush tells you you're not competent enough?" --Jay Leno

"Donald Rumsfeld has resigned and the new Secretary of Defense is a guy named Robert Gates. He's a close friend of the Bush family. Yeah, that always works out pretty well. Rumsfeld took it pretty well. He said he's eager now to move on to try and legalize torture in the private sector." --David Letterman

And even David Letterman from "he Late Show With David Letterman" fame has a going away "top ten" list for Rummy..

Top Ten Reasons Donald Rumsfeld Is Resigning
From the Late Show With David Letterman:
10. Wants to try to salvage his marriage to Britney
9. Ordering the illegal torture of detainees is more of a young man's game
8. Offered Bob Barker's job on "The Price Is Right"
7. Wants to try screwing up the world in the private sector
6. Just demonstrating his exit strategy
5. For a complete list of reasons send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Bob Woodward
4. Congress wouldn't fund his new weapon system: monkeys with jet packs
3. No point in trying to be the most evil guy in the room when you work with Dick Cheney
2. Wanted to go out while he was on top
1. Plans to become Secretary of Sitting on His Ass

Bipartisanship

U.S. Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., to seek leadership post

The Sun Herald | 11/14/2006 | Lott to seek leadership post:

"U.S. Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., formally announced today that he is running for minority whip in Republican leadership elections scheduled for tomorrow morning.

'Sen. Lott is running for Republican whip,' said spokesman Lee Youngblood. His name will be on the ballot. We are closing in on victory.'"

Will John Edwards Announce His Presidential Campaign Tonight?

Political Wire: Will Edwards Announce Campaign Tonight?

Former Sen. John Edwards is scheduled to appear on The Daily Show tonight. It was on the show in 2003 that Edwards announced his presidential bid.

Reid Announces Democratic Senate committee assignments

REID ANNOUNCES DEMOCRATS ANTICIPATED COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS FOR 110th CONGRESS

Agriculture
CHAIR: Harkin
Leahy
Conrad
Baucus
Lincoln
Stabenow
Nelson (Ne)
Salazar
Brown
Casey
Klobuchar

Appropriations
CHAIR: Byrd
Inouye
Leahy
Harkin
Mikulski
Kohl
Murray
Dorgan
Feinstein
Durbin
Johnson
Landrieu
Reed
Lautenberg
Nelson (Ne)

Armed Services
CHAIR: Levin
Kennedy
Byrd
Lieberman
Reed
Akaka
Nelson (Fl)
Nelson (Ne)
Bayh
Clinton
Pryor
Webb
McCaskill

Banking
CHAIR: Dodd
Johnson
Reed
Schumer
Bayh
Carper
Menendez
Akaka
Brown
Casey
Tester

Commerce
CHAIR: Inouye
Rockefeller
Kerry
Dorgan
Boxer
Nelson (Fl)
Cantwell
Lautenberg
Pryor
Carper
McCaskill
Klobuchar


Energy
CHAIR: Bingaman
Akaka
Dorgan
Wyden
Johnson
Landrieu
Cantwell
Salazar
Menendez
Lincoln
Sanders
Tester

Environment Public Works
CHAIR: Boxer
Baucus
Lieberman
Carper
Clinton
Lautenberg
Cardin
Sanders
Klobuchar
Whitehouse

Finance
CHAIR: Baucus
Rockefeller
Conrad
Bingaman
Kerry
Lincoln
Wyden
Schumer
Stabenow
Cantwell
Salazar

Foreign Relations
CHAIR: Biden
Dodd
Kerry
Feingold
Boxer
Nelson (Fl)
Obama
Menendez
Cardin
Casey
Webb

HELP
CHAIR: Kennedy
Dodd
Harkin
Mikulski
Bingaman
Murray
Reed
Clinton
Obama
Sanders
Brown

Homeland and Government Affairs
CHAIR: Lieberman
Levin
Akaka
Carper
Pryor
Landrieu
Obama
McCaskill
Tester

Judiciary
CHAIR: Leahy
Kennedy
Biden
Kohl
Feinstein
Feingold
Schumer
Durbin
Cardin
Whitehouse

Intelligence
CHAIR: Rockefeller
Levin
Feinstein
Wyden
Bayh
Mikulski
Feingold
Whitehouse

Budget
CHAIR: Conrad
Murray
Wyden
Feingold
Johnson
Byrd
Nelson (Fl)
Stabenow
Menendez
Cardin
Sanders
Whitehouse

Aging
CHAIR: Kohl
Wyden
Lincoln
Bayh
Carper
Nelson (Fl)
Clinton
Salazar
Casey
McCaskill
Whitehouse

Veterans
CHAIR: Akaka
Rockefeller
Murray
Obama
Sanders
Brown
Webb
Tester

Small Business
CHAIR: Kerry
Levin
Harkin
Lieberman
Landrieu
Cantwell
Bayh
Pryor
Cardin
Tester

Rules
CHAIR: Feinstein
Dodd
Byrd
Inouye
Schumer
Durbin
Nelson (Ne)
Dorgan
Murray
Pryor

Joint Economic
CHAIR: Schumer
Kennedy
Bingaman
Klobuchar
Casey
Webb

Indian Affairs
CHAIR: Dorgan
Inouye
Conrad
Akaka
Johnson
Cantwell
McCaskill
Tester

Alleged anthrax hoaxer may be Free Republic poster

The Raw Story | Alleged anthrax hoaxer may be Free Republic poster:

Sometimes the holier than thou crowd goes a bit too far.
Another gleaming example of very high conservative Republican moral and values.
It's really no wonder they were voted out of power....

***Sidenote-the Free Republic is a huge conservative website, just a little fyi for those who don't frequent the website...

"The man arrested on Saturday for sending more than a dozen envelopes containing 'fake anthrax' to anti-war celebrities, journalists, and politicians may have ties to the conservative supersite Free Republic, RAW STORY has found.

Chad Castagana, a 39 year old Californian named as the FBI's prime suspect in the case, is due in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles today, where procecutors are expected to file criminal complaint against him for sending threatening letters through the U.S. mail. Castagana has an extensive online history, often writing about science fiction and conservative politics, and many bloggers are convinced that he is also a contributor at the conservative activist Free Republic website under the name Marc Costanzo, whose online profile, once available here was suspended after this story first ran this morning."

Falling On The Sword

China sub stalked US Navy carrier group: report

China sub stalked US Navy carrier group: report - Yahoo! News:

"A Chinese submarine stalked a
U.S. Navy aircraft carrier battle group in the Pacific last month and was undetected until it surfaced within firing range, The Washington Times reported on Monday.

The Chinese Song-class diesel-powered attack submarine was seen within five miles of the carrier Kitty Hawk and its accompanying warships on October 26, the newspaper said, citing defense officials."

You Knew This Was Coming

Top Marine: No Plan For Post-Saddam Iraq

Is anyone even shocked? Make sure that you click the link because there's more, along with a video.

As Commander of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force during the lead-up to the war, Hagee was in charge of planning for the Marines' original push to Baghdad. So I asked him about one of the enduring mysteries of the invasion -- why there was no real plan for running the country once Saddam Hussein fell from power.

Unfortunately, Hagee's comments only deepen the mystery. He says he was deeply concerned about who would take charge of major Iraqi cities, like Najaf, as the Marines pushed through them on their way to Baghdad.

Hagee says he asked his boss again and again who would take charge of those cities. He wanted to know what the plan was for Phase IV -- military terminology for the phase that follows the end of major combat operations. Phase IV is, in other words, what comes after "mission accomplished." Hagee says that he sent his questions up the chain of command, as they say in the military -- and never heard back.

The World According To Bush

Administration: Detainees have no rights

Because according to him and his administration, these people aren't even "human," right?

The Bush administration said Monday that Guantanamo Bay prisoners have no right to challenge their detentions in civilian courts and that lawsuits by hundreds of detainees should be dismissed.

In court documents filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the Justice Department defended the military's authority to arrest people overseas and detain them indefinitely without access to courts.

It's the first time that argument has been spelled out since President Bush signed a law last month setting up military commissions for the thousands of foreigners being held in U.S. prisons abroad.

Oddly Enough...

Liberal leaning watchdog group blasts Pelosi endorsement of 'unethical' Murtha

Wow. Isn't this a little redundant? Come on, almost all politicians can be considered 'unethical'. The whole lot, regardless of party ties, can be persuaded to join the 'dark side of the force,' so to speak. If we take out all of the corrupted one, then who would be left?

At least Murtha wasn't out banging pageboys (and that asshole was even re-elected).

In a press release sent to RAW STORY, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) questioned Pelosi's (D-CA) "commitment to eradicating corruption," after her backing of "one of the most unethical members in Congress," over Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md), who would normally be in line for the highly sought position.

In September, CREW compiled a list of lawmakers that it designated as the "20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress" at its Beyond DeLay Web site. Murtha was given a "dishonorable mention" by the group for being "involved in a number of pay-to play schemes involving former staffers and his brother, Robert 'Kit' Murtha."

"Eight incumbents in CREW’s report lost their races to ethics issues," notes CREW's press release.

"Future House Speaker Pelosi's endorsement of Rep. Murtha, one of the most unethical members of Congress, shows that she may have prioritized ethics reform merely to win votes with no real commitment to changing the culture of corruption," CREW's executive director, Melanie Sloan, stated today. "How can Americans believe that the Democrats will return integrity to the House when future Speaker Pelosi has endorsed an ethically-challenged member for a leadership position?"

Sloan concludes, "Rep. Murtha is the wrong choice for this job."

So Is Lieberman Handing Out Threats To The DNC Now?

Lieberman won't rule out GOP caucusing

Like I said when he ran as an Independent, his true colors are shining through at last.

Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut said yesterday that he will caucus with Senate Democrats in the new Congress, but he would not rule out switching to the Republican caucus if he starts to feel uncomfortable among Democrats.

He said yesterday on NBC's "Meet the Press" that he will begin his new term as a Democrat because it would make him part of the congressional leadership. The senator is in line to become chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

"I'm going to caucus with the Democrats both because it's good for my constituents in Connecticut, because I retained my seniority, I become a committee chair, but also I want to continue to work to bring the party back to its historic traditions of strength on national security, foreign policy, and innovation and progress in domestic policy," Lieberman said.

He said that because voters returned him to Capitol Hill as an independent, "I am now an Independent Democrat -- capital I, capital D. Matter of fact, the secretary of the Senate called my office and asked, 'How do you want to be identified,' and that's it. Independent Democrat," the senator said.

With many Senate Democrats having campaigned or raised money for Lamont, as the party's nominee, Lieberman acknowledged that it might be "a little awkward" for him back in Washington.

"They played by the traditional partisan political playbook. And I can't say I enjoyed it, but we're all grown-ups, we've got a job to do, and I'm going to do my best to get that job done," Lieberman said.

Democrats will hold a 51-49 edge in the Senate, so Lieberman, the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2000, could find himself courted by Republicans.

He was asked about the possibility that he might switch caucuses if he became uncomfortable as Democrats sought to enforce party discipline, particularly if the GOP offered to keep him as a committee chairman and respect his seniority.

"I'm not ruling it out, but I hope I don't get to that point. And, and I must say, and with all respect to the Republicans who supported me in Connecticut, nobody ever said, 'We're doing this because we, we want you to switch over,' " he said.

Sure, Joe. They did so because they were honestly worried about your welfare. Pfft.

Smells fishy in any case. If he switches over, we know what will happen then, right? Jeez, the GOP is willing to do whatever it takes to keep their tentacles attached to the Senate.

Guilty For Noe

Jury finds Noe guilty in Ohio Coingate case

Jurors have found a Republican fundraiser guilty of stealing over $2 million in rare coins from the state of Ohio Worker's Compensation fund--and funneling some of the money to the Republican party.

Ex-GOP fundraiser Tom Noe had pleaded not guilty to charges of corrupt activity, theft, money laundering, and forgery.

The indictment's most serious charges carry a mandatory 10-year prison sentence.

Proof That Health Care Is Worthless

I obtained this through a story WTHR (Indianapolis) did on disabled, wheelchair-bound Hoosiers who are getting shafted by Medicaid/Medicare. No big shock there, as we have a disabled son. You and your doctors have to fight for every little thing you really do need in order to live, literally -- though rest assured that these are verbal fights.

Luckily, these days there's an organization in the tri-state (IN-OH-KY) area who's willing to help you get what you need if you can't get it yourself: People On Wheels.

Unfortunately, as according to their website and the report I watched, their jobs are about to get a lot harder:

A crisis in Medicare wheelchair funding is scheduled to take place that will reduce access by our most severely disabled to needed wheelchairs. This change, we believe will end up increasing costs to taxpayers because of hospitalization and nursing home fees that will be made necessary without proper seating.

Furthermore, these cuts will be adopted by Medicaid and insurers as soon as they are instituted. Only a tiny percentage of the $1.2 Billion Medicare mobility dollars are spent on 'complex rehab seating' - those chairs needed by the most mobility dependent to safeguard their health. And, cuts for these, most complex chairs are scheduled to be slashed up to 40 percent.

These are the folks we are most trying to protect. Please click on the link below and print this petition and send it to your Senator. His or her address can be found on our "Links" page under "Contact Your Senators and Representatives".

I'm hoping that our readers will take the time to print out the petition that they include on their website and urge local politicians to do something about this. I'm speaking from firsthand experience when I say that disabled citizens (those who cannot work and cannot afford a better alternative to Medicare/Medicaid, or those who are stuck with Medicare/Medicaid -- because some are forced to take it) have the worst coverage, and they're often denied the equipment they need -- and I mean NEED, as in to continue living -- because everything is too damn expensive, so Medicaid/Medicare refuses to pay the bill.

We fought our own battles with this, back when our son needed a special chair because he's outgrown strollers, and even though he can walk, he can only work short distances. Medicaid refused to believe that he needed the chair. Why? Not because of his health problems. Because the chair is $3600.

Dammit...either force medical companies to lower the prices of the equipment so that we can afford to buy it (the same could be applied to pharmaceutical companies, too, who charge people way too much for their medication), or pay the price. People's lives are on the line here.

Harassment At The Polls?

Pro-Choice Voter Claims Assault, Intimidation By Poll Inspector

We're allowed our own opinions in this country, right? Not according to the jackass who harassed this voter:

A California voter has told RAW STORY that she was verbally intimidated and physically assaulted by a poll inspector after asking that pro-life/anti-abortion stickers outside a polling place be removed or covered.

"There were two cars parked in the driveway adjacent to the poll entrance which had anti-choice bumper stickers on the back windshield. When they opened the poll door, I told them that it was a violation of Election Laws to have electioneering literature within 100 feet of the polling place," said Josan Feathers, a civil engineer and elected member of the San Diego County Democratic Central Committee. The polling place, which has a La Mesa mailing address, is located in the unincorporated area of San Diego's East County, a region dominated by conservative Christians.

Photos indicate the presence of stickers reading "Pro choice, that's a lie, babies don't choose to die" and "Every 4th baby dies from choice" on a vehicle clearly parked beside the poll entrance. The California ballot included an initiative that would have required parental consent for minors to obtain an abortion.

Andrew L. Krotoski, D.D.S., owner of the property and a poll inspector for the County of San Diego, moved one vehicle but declined to move the other, which had a flat tire. After Feathers suggested that he cover the controversial stickers, she recalled, "He went ballistic. He got in my face and started calling me a baby killer and said if I wanted the bumper stickers covered to cover them myself."

Asked whether he called Feathers a baby killer, Krotoski replied, "Of course. She is a baby killer. That's my first amendment right." He maintained that Feathers should not have asked him to move his car, adding that when he refused to cover the stickers on the car with the flat tire, "She just started screaming."

According to Feathers, Krotoski asked for her name and occupation, then called her stupid. "I never screamed. I then told him this was an inappropriate conversation to have at the polling place. He told me to go to hell," she told RAW STORY. "I replied that he was obviously not a religious man, since he told me to go to hell. He retorted that I should burn in hell and to get off his property immediately. He said I was trespassing. At that point he shoved me, pushing me backwards." After she insisted that she had a right to vote in the polling place, Krotoski told her she could not enter his home and that "he would let me vote outside," she added.

Krotoski denies pushing or touching Feathers. He also denies that he tried to prevent her from entering the polling place. "I did not spend eight years at the University of California in the medical/dental/biological field to be an idiot at age 74," said Krotoski, a retired dentist.

But Robert Ito, a voter who witnessed the "loud verbal exchange," confirmed that Krotoski initially refused to allow Feathers to vote. "He told her to leave. That's what I felt was appalling. In fact, he pointed at her and said 'You can't come into my house.' Then he pointed to people behind her and said 'You people can come in -- and she can't.'" Krotoski "got in her face" and told Feathers "you can go to hell," recalled Ito, a Republican who owns a real estate development company.

Well, Mr. Krotoski, it appears that a college degree does not equal "smart," after all. You are obviously an idiot and a liar. A pathetic liar, at that. It also doesn't help that you were outed by a fellow Republican who also found you appalling.

It's times like this that I wonder if we all aren't better off by splitting this country in half, leaving behind 25 liberal states and 25 conservative states. They'd all still have to answer to a central government, but at the very least, people would be able to live with others sharing the same views. We wouldn't be at each others' throats constantly.

It's also times like this that I'm a glad that I choose my battles wisely. Our polling place was in the small office of a trailer park, and the place was surrounded with Republican candidates and literature. All illegal, yes, but as Bill Maher pointed out last night, Indiana is a, heh, very conservative Republican state. It was bad enough that I had to deal with an idiot who kept confusing me with my mother-in-law, even though my name was written underneath my mother-in-law's name. I had to actually point it out to this woman, who still managed to ignore me or forget, as she asked me my name again while I was voting. If that had been my first voting experience, duty or not, I doubt I would have made any return visits in years to come. Not in this state.

Salmonella scare sparks Hershey recall

Salmonella scare sparks Hershey recall:

That next chocolate bar you eat may contain a little deadly surprise.
Job well done to whomever is responsible for quality control a Hershey.

"Hershey Canada has recalled many chocolate bars and baking products - including Hershey bars, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Oh Henry! bars - because they may be tainted with salmonella.

Hershey Canada Inc. and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) released a list on Sunday of 25 products they say could be contaminated with the bacteria.

Food contaminated with salmonella may not look or smell spoiled, but the bacteria can cause symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea."

U.S. believes Castro has terminal cancer

U.S. believes Castro has terminal cancer - CNN.com:

"The U.S. government believes Fidel Castro's health is deteriorating and that the Cuban dictator is unlikely to live through 2007.

That dire view was reinforced last week when Cuba's foreign minister backed away from his prediction the ailing Castro would return to power by early December.

'It's a subject on which I don't want to speculate,' Felipe Perez Roque told The Associated Press in Havana."

Float Rummy, Float....

`Borat' Banks $29 Million to Stay No. 1 -

`Borat' Banks $29 Million to Stay No. 1 - Forbes.com:

"A make-believe son of the glorious nation of Kazakhstan continues to rule the American box office.

Sacha Baron Cohen's 'Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan' took in $29 million to remain the No. 1 movie for a second straight weekend, distributor 20th Century Fox said Sunday. 'Borat' raised its 10-day total to $67.8 million."

Israel Detonated a Radioactive Bunker Buster Bomb in Lebanon

Israel Detonated a Radioactive Bunker Buster Bomb in Lebanon:

War crimes, anyone?

"The special report was triggered by the radioactivity measurements reported on a crater probably created by an Israeli Bunker Buster bomb in the village of Khiam, in southern Lebanon. The measurements were carried out by two Lebanese professors of physics -- Mohammad Ali Kubaissi and Ibrahim Rachidi. The data -- 700 nanosieverts per hour -- showed remarkably higher radioactivity then the average in the area (Beirut = 35 nSv/hr ). Successivamente, on September 17th, Ali Kubaissi took British researcher Dai Williams, from the environmentalist organization Green Audit, to the same site, to take samples that were then submitted to Chris Busby, technical adisor of the Supervisory Committee on Depleted Uranium, which reports to the British Ministry of Defense. The samples were tested by Harwell's nuclear laboratory, one of the most authoritative research centers in the world. On October 17th, Harwell disclosed the testing results -- two samples in 10 did contain radioactivity.

On November 2nd, another British lab, The School of Oceanographic Sciences, confirmed Harwell's results -- the Khiam crater contains slightly enriched uranium. Rainews24 also took a sample taken by Dai Williams for testing by the Department of Earth Sciences of the University of Ferrara. The testing -- which is still ongoing -- found an anomalous structure: the sample's surface includes aluminium and iron silicates, normal elements in a soil fragment. Yet, looking inside, extremely small bubbles can be found with high concentration of iron. Further testing will clarify the origin of these structures: what seems to be certain at the moment is that they are not caused by a natural process."

Ousted Mac Man Was Computer Illiterate!

Expose: Ousted Mac Man Was Computer Illiterate! -- New York Magazine's Daily Intelligencer:

I'm honestly glad to see the guy go.
I understand that the Mac's make doing certain tasks easier thanks to software that comes with a new Mac purchase.
I and other PC users got a little turned off at the commercials that keeping plugging the fact that a Mac is the best thing since sliced bread.

Be it a Mac or a PC, it whats you do with the technology that counts.
That point gets lost in the multi-million dollar ad blitz.

"Was Justin Long -- the scruffy-faced Mac to John Hodgman's straitlaced PC in those ubiquitous Apple ads --— ousted from his role simply because, as Radar and Gawker suggested the other day, he was an annoying dweeb? Or was it because --— and make sure you're sitting down for this --— the human embodiment of cool computing actually didn't even know how to use one of the machines? Long made the confession at a party this summer. 'I know nothing about computers,' he said at the Strangers With Candy premiere in June. 'I get guys coming up to me saying, 'Dude, what makes you think you're better than PCs?' I don't even know where to begin! I know nothing about either. I'm computer illiterate.' Even worse, technology frightens him. 'It scares me that they control so much of the world. I'm not taking a high road about it. I'm just not smart enough to figure them out."

Editor Found Dead in Mexican Hotel Room

Editor Found Dead in Mexican Hotel Room:

Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time, eesh..

"A newspaper editor was found dead in a hotel room in this Pacific resort city, a day after running stories about organized crime and corruption in the city government.

Misael Tamayo Hernandez, editor of El Despertar de la Costa, was found early Friday nearly naked, with his hands tied behind his back, in a room at the Venus Motel, Zihuatanejo police officials said."

Hope To Live Long Enough?

Palestinian foreign minister accepts proposal for peace conference

Palestinian foreign minister accepts proposal for peace conference - USATODAY.com:

At this point, any dialog is good dialog.
When the people involved in these altercations stop talking, people die.

"The Palestinian foreign minister on Sunday agreed to an international peace conference with Israel - the first time the Hamas-led government has indicated it would consider making amends with the Jewish state.

Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar, of the ruling Hamas group, endorsed a statement by Arab foreign ministers calling for the peace conference during a meeting in Cairo to respond to a U.S. veto of a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Israel's deadly offensive in the Gaza Strip."

Democrats say will push for Iraq withdrawal

Democrats say will push for Iraq withdrawal | US News | Reuters.com:

It's just about time for the nightmare in Iraq to end.
What's really sad is the fact that it took a Dem Congress to bring this about.
We can though, now rest assured that the end is sight and our friends and family in Iraq will be soon coming home for good!

"Democrats, who won control of the U.S. Congress, said on Sunday they will push for a phased withdrawal of American troops from Iraq to begin in four to six months, but the White House cautioned against fixing timetables.

'First order of business is to change the direction of Iraq policy,' said Sen. Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat who is expected to be chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee in the new Congress.

Democrats will press President George W. Bush's administration to tell the Iraqi government that U.S. presence was 'not open-ended, and that, as a matter of fact, we need to begin a phased redeployment of forces from Iraq in four to six months,' Levin said on ABC's 'This Week' program."

Losing It All

Mother Faces Charges After Throwing Toddler Into Traffic

Mother Faces Charges After Throwing Toddler Into Traffic:

"A Roselawn mother has been charged with doing the unthinkable, throwing her child into the street and oncoming traffic.

It happened early this morning on Seymour Avenue.

Police allege the suspect was involved in a verbal altercation with the young boy's father and that then the child allegedly became part of his mother's rage.

Police say she picked her child up and threw him out onto a busy road."

YouTube Wins Senate for the Democrats

Bellwether: YouTube Wins Senate for the Democrats:

I will agree with this piece that Youtube had a huge part in the elections as candidates could no longer control the spin going around.
I don't think it was the sole fact though.
I think it had more to do with the entire picture and was just one of many tools that brought the normal joe power in the election process.
Candidates spent millions on commercials and campaigns hoping to do what one free video on YouTube did...

"With Virginia Senator George Allen Jr.'s concession last week, the Democrats regained control of the Senate for the first time in 12 years. But as much as the Dems should thank Jim Webb, Allen's opponent, the real victor in this campaign was YouTube."
Within days of the video being posted to YouTube, tens of thousands of people around the country had viewed it, and the buzz started to build. A week later the video was picked up by The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, then by the mainstream media, and soon everyone knew of Senator Macaca.

Allen's campaign began to implode, culminating in his concession on Wednesday, handing the Senate to the Democrats. A sea change in American politics was brought about by one short video posted to one website and then broadcast to millions.

Iran's Paris Hilton? Zahra Amir Ebrahimi

Iran's Paris Hilton? - Female Beauty:

"Dubbed Iran's Paris Hilton, actress Zahra Amir Ebrahimi's private sex life is causing a storm in Iran. But, unlike Paris, who capitalized on the video and became a star, Zahra Amir Ebrahimi faces ruin, a public lashing and jail.

One of the best-known actresses in Iran, Ebrahimi plays virtuous and honorable characters and had been a shoo-in to receive many more top roles, yet the release of this sex tape has now ruined her career and she is being shunned by tv and film companies. She has been dropped from her role in the top-rated soap, and has been forced to deny a rumor that she tried to commit suicide. "I just want to tell my country's people I am alive."

Dead Man Wins County Board Seat By 12,000 Votes

wcco.com - Dead Man Wins County Board Seat By 12,000 Votes:

"A candidate has won election to a North Carolina county board - despite being dead for a month.

Sam Duncan was the top vote-getter Tuesday for two seats on Union County's Soil and Water Conservation board.

County elections officials knew of Duncan's death, but no one told the voters.

The Democratic Party ran newspaper ads endorsing him the weekend before the election, and literature distributed near the polls included his name.

Party officials say they didn't know Duncan had died when they placed the ads and printed the literature.

He won by 12,000 votes."

Violent LAPD arrest video triggers FBI probe

Violent LAPD arrest video triggers FBI probe (w/ video) | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle:

"Video footage posted on YouTube.com showing a police officer repeatedly striking a suspect in the face during an arrest three months ago has triggered an FBI investigation.

The video shows two officers holding down William Cardenas, 24, on a Hollywood street as one punches him several times in the face before they are able to handcuff him. The struggling suspect yells repeatedly 'I can't breathe!'

The footage, shot by an area resident, came to the FBI's attention Thursday, prompting investigators to open a civil rights inquiry into the Aug. 11 incident, agency spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said."

Video of the beatdown here:

Florida 'Missing' 18,000 E-Votes in Close Race?

PC World - Florida 'Missing' 18,000 E-Votes in Close Race:

"Government watchdog group Common Cause has called for an investigation of electronic voting machines used in Florida's 13th congressional district because of 18,000 missing votes.

About 18,000 people who cast votes in other races in Tuesday's election failed to record a vote for either candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives. At last count, Republican candidate Vern Buchanan led Democratic candidate Christine Jennings by less than 400 votes in the race to succeed Republican Katherine Harris, who ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate."

Stephen Colbert - Democrats Win

YouTube - Stephen Colbert- Democrats Win

YouTube - '60 Minutes' Crew Remembers Ed Bradley

(RIP...)
YouTube - '60 Minutes' Crew Remembers Ed Bradley:

"In all his interviews on '60 Minutes,' Ed Bradley knew exactly what to ask. Lesley Stahl, Steve Kroft and Harry Smith discuss working with him."

Alternative Minimum Tax Targeted

Alternative Minimum Tax Targeted - washingtonpost.com:

"Democratic leaders this week vowed to make the alternative minimum tax a centerpiece of next year's budget debate, saying the levy threatens to unfairly increase tax bills for millions of middle-class families by the end of the decade.

The complex and expensive tax was designed to prevent the super-rich from using deductions, credits and other shelters to avoid paying the Internal Revenue Service. But because of rising incomes, the tax is expected to expand to more than 30 million taxpayers in 2010 from 3.8 million mostly well-off households in 2006."

Political Videos Quickie

Rush Limbaugh Feels Liberated

Bush Admits He Lied About Rumsfeld

Cheer Up Tom Delay

Colbert Tribute to 12 Years of Republican Majority

Follow Up To Senator Edward's Presidential Announcement

YouTube - PRE-SCHOOL POLITICAL AD

YouTube - PRE-SCHOOL POLITICAL AD: "This is a campaign ad for a pre-school class president race in Iowa.

UPDATE: Our video was just featured on CNN Headline Morning News 11/10/06. Thanks to all of our subscribers."

Poll: More evangelicals sour toward Republicans

Poll: More evangelicals sour toward Republicans - Yahoo! News:

I have this question to ponder for all evangelicals.
How does it feel to be used by the GOP?
I'm not asking that to rub it in but to state the fact we (the Dems) have been saying this for years and no one wanted to listen.
Maybe you will listen a little bit the next time around.


"U.S. evangelicals have lost some of their enthusiasm for the Republican Party, a factor contributing to the party's drubbing in Tuesday's congressional elections, a new survey found.

In a Beliefnet poll of 771 evangelical Christians from Tuesday to Thursday, 30 percent said they voted for fewer Republicans than in previous elections. Evangelicals have been a core base of Republican support.

About 15 percent of respondents said they voted for more Republican candidates, while 55 percent said they voted for the same number of Republicans as before."

YouTube - Jane Skinner has something on her mind.

YouTube - Jane Skinner has something on her mind.: "Jane Skinner has something on her mind and wants to share it with everyone on You Tube."

Russia moves closer to WTO membership

Russia moves closer to WTO membership - Yahoo! News:

"It took 12 years of negotiations to get to this point, and details are still being nailed down. Both countries are hopeful that a bilateral pact can be signed next week in Hanoi, where President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin will be attending the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting.

About four months ago, U.S. and Russia had appeared on the verge of an agreement, but it failed to materialize — right before the summit of leaders of the world's wealthiest countries in St. Petersburg, Russia. The collapse strained relations between Washington and Moscow."

"A Thumpin"

McCain Begins Preliminary White House Run

ABC News: EXCLUSIVE: McCain Begins Preliminary White House Run:

"His party may have taken 'a thumpin',' in the words of President Bush, but ABC News has learned that Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and his political team have decided it's full steam ahead for his 2008 presidential campaign though he has yet to make the final, official decision.

Sources close to McCain say on Wednesday in Phoenix, he and a half dozen of his top aides huddled and decided to proceed more formally with his quest for the White House."

GOP furious about timing of Rumsfeld resignation

GOP furious about timing of Rumsfeld resignation:

"'The White House said keeping the majority was a priority, but they failed to do the one thing that could have made a difference,' one House GOP leadership aide said Thursday. 'For them to toss Rumsfeld one day after the election was a slap in the face to everyone who worked hard to protect the majority.'

Exit polling suggested that an overwhelming majority of voters disapproved of the administration's handling of the war in Iraq, and members and aides were frustrated with the timing of the announcement because an earlier resignation could have given them a boost on the campaign trail, they believe.

'They did this to protect themselves, but they couldn't protect us?' another Republican aide said yesterday."

Karl Rove thinks Iraq Wasn't On Voter Minds? In Denial?

The Allen Report - Mike Allen - Politics - Elections 2008 - TIME:

"'The profile of corruption in the exit polls was bigger than I'd expected,' Rove tells TIME. 'Abramoff, lobbying, Foley and Haggard [the disgraced evangelical leader] added to the general distaste that people have for all things Washington, and it just reached critical mass.'

Exit polls showed heavy discontent with the course of the war, and Bush announced the departure of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld the next day. But Rove took comfort in results of the Connecticut Senate race between the anti-war Democratic nominee, Ned Lamont, and Sen. Joseph Lieberman, who ran as an independent after losing the Democratic primary over his support for the war. 'Iraq mattered,' Rove says. 'But it was more frustration than it was an explicit call for withdrawal. If this was a get-out-now call for withdrawal, then Lamont would not have been beaten by Lieberman. Iraq does play a role, but not the critical, central role.'"

IFILM: New Spiderman 3 Trailer!

IFILM presents: Spiderman 3

I thought I would share this new Spiderman 3 preview I found the other day.
This one is better than the shorts that have already been released and includes actual movie footage.
I think this is one of the truly "can't miss" movies of 2007
I know I will be in line to see this when it comes out May 4, 2007.

Lieberman: Call me a Democrat

Lieberman: Call me a Democrat - Boston.com:

"Sen. Joe Lieberman, who won re-election as an independent, has a message for his Senate colleagues in the next Congress: Call me a Democrat.

The three-term Connecticut lawmaker defied party leaders when he launched his independent bid after losing to Democrat Ned Lamont in the August primary. During the campaign, he vowed to be an 'independent-minded Democrat' if he were re-elected. In Tuesday's election, Lieberman won strong GOP support and given the closely divided Senate, Republicans are expected to court him.

So will he count as a Democrat or an independent who caucuses with the majority Democrats? In an e-mail message late Thursday, Lieberman spokesman Dan Gerstein said the senator will begin his new term as a Democrat."

?????????

Iraq Al-Qaeda threatens White House

Iraq Al-Qaeda threatens White House | | The Australian:

"AL-QAEDA'S Iraq chief threatened overnight in an audio message posted on the Internet that the terror network will 'blow up the White House'.

'We announce today the end of a phase of the jihad (holy war) and the start of a new one... to usher in the project of an Islamic caliphate and restore Islam's glory,' Abu Hamza al-Muhajer said.

'We swear we will not rest from our jihad... before blowing up the filthiest house, dubbed the White House,' in the course of establishing the caliphate which began with the proclamation of an Islamic state in Iraq, he said."

Top Ten Signs George W. Bush Is Depressed

CBS | Late Show Top Ten Archive: November 09, 2006

Top Ten Signs George W. Bush Is Depressed

10. Speaks wistfully of the days when his approval rating was 33%

9. Barely musters a smile when catching Cheney torture detainees

8. Smug, arrogant smirk replaced by smug, arrogant frown

7. Barely laughs anymore during "Happy Days" reruns

6. Falls asleep during intelligence briefings...actually, he always did that

5. No longer pretends he quit drinking

4. Sits in the Oval Office listening to Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide" over and over

3. When Rumsfeld left yesterday, Bush pleaded, "Take me with you"

2. At lunch with speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi, he hardly touched his fish sticks

1. Asked Bubba if he still had the big chick's phone number

War Crimes Charges Sought Against Rumsfeld Over Prison Abuse

TIME.com: Exclusive: Charges Sought Against Rumsfeld Over Prison Abuse -- Page 1:

"Just days after his resignation, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is about to face more repercussions for his involvement in the troubled wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. New legal documents, to be filed next week with Germany's top prosecutor, will seek a criminal investigation and prosecution of Rumsfeld, along with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, former CIA director George Tenet and other senior U.S. civilian and military officers, for their alleged roles in abuses committed at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison and at the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba."

Live Vote: Should Bush be impeached?

Live Vote: Should Bush be impeached? - Politics - MSNBC.com

I voted yes and you can go vote now.
The poll is still running..
Make your voice be heard.

Yes, between the secret spying, the deceptions leading to war and more, there is plenty to justify putting him on trial.
87%

No, like any president, he has made a few missteps, but nothing approaching "high crimes and misdemeanors."
4.4%

No, the man has done absolutely nothing wrong. Impeachment would just be a political lynching.
7.2%

I don't know.
1.8%

Redistricting Screwed GOP

Redistricting: Home to Roost - WSJ.com

Gerrymandering was supposed to cement Republican control of the House of Representatives, offering incumbents a wall of re-election protection even as public opinion turned sharply against them. Instead, the party's strategy of recrafting district boundaries may have backfired, contributing to the defeats of several lawmakers and the party's fall from power.

The reason: Republican leaders may have overreached and created so many Republican-leaning districts that they spread their core supporters too thinly. That left their incumbents vulnerable to the type of backlash from traditionally Republican-leaning independent voters that unfolded this week.

Gates' CIA Past Could Haunt Him in Confirmation Hearings

CQ.com:

"The president's choice of Robert Gates to succeed Mr. Rumsfeld . . . is deeply troubling," Rep. Rush D. Holt, D-N.J., said in a prepared statement.

"During his tenure at CIA, Mr. Gates developed a reputation for pressuring analysts and managers to shape analytical conclusions to fit administration positions, a fact that led dozens of current and former CIA analysts to oppose his confirmation as CIA Director in 1991," said Holt, who will likely chair an intelligence subcommittee starting in January."

John Bolton Unlikely to Win Senate Approval

News From The Associated Press:

"John Bolton's prospects for staying on as U.N. ambassador essentially died Thursday as Democrats and a pivotal Republican said they would continue to oppose his nomination."

On Thursday, the White House resubmitted Bolton's nomination to the Senate, where the appointment has languished for more than a year. Bush appointed him to the job temporarily in August 2005 while Congress was in recess, an appointment that will expire when the Congress adjourns, no later than January.

Sen. Lincoln Chafee, R-R.I., who was defeated by Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse on Tuesday, told reporters in Rhode Island that he would continue opposing Bolton. That would likely deny Republicans the votes needed to move Bolton's nomination from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to the full Senate.

Gingrich says Bush, GOP to blame for defeat

Gingrich says Bush, GOP to blame for defeat | ajc.com:

"After having watched the majority he engineered in 1994 crumble in this week's elections, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich laid into President Bush and congressional Republicans in an Atlanta appearance Thursday.

Taking questions after a medical forum, the former GOP congressman from Cobb County said four c's — an absence of competence in Republican performance, an absence of candor, corruption and the bad advice of consultants — led to Tuesday's defeat."

"If the president had decided to replace Secretary Rumsfeld he should have told us two weeks ago," Gingrich said. "I think that we would today control the Senate and probably have 10 to15 more House seats. And I found it very disturbing yesterday in the press conference, the explanation that the President gave.

World Welcomes Shift in U.S. Politics

BREITBART.COM - World Welcomes Shift in U.S. Politics:

"The electoral rebuke for President Bush and the resignation of his defense secretary, both deeply unpopular away from American shores over the Iraq war, was celebrated throughout Europe, the Middle East and Asia."

Senate Votes Totals..

Preliminary:

Senate Ballots cast:

31,591,495 (D)

25,054,569 (R)

Mehlman likely to leave RNC

CNN.com - CNN Political Ticker:

"Several Republican sources tell CNN that Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman is all but certain to step down at the end of the year, and the White House already is searching for a replacement or replacements to lead the party into the 2008 presidential campaign cycle.

Two sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Mehlman has made clear to close associates for some time he was likely to leave after the 2006 elections -- and that there is no dissatisfaction with his performance in the midterm cycle. A third source confirmed Mehlman's leaving is a good possibility but said a final decision has not been made. 'It would be wrong to call it a done deal,' this source said."

Blind mice see again after retina cell transplants

Blind mice see again after retina cell transplants | Tech&Sci | Science | Reuters.com:

"British and American scientists have restored vision in blind mice by transplanting light-sensitive cells into their eyes in a breakthrough that could lead to new treatments of human eye diseases.

The mice suffered from eye damage called photoreceptor loss which occurs in macular degeneration, the leading cause of sight loss in the elderly, and other eye disorders.

But instead of using stem cells, which could form into any cell type, the scientists transplanted cells that had reached a later stage of development toward becoming photoreceptor cells.

'We have shown for the first time that it is possible to transplant photoreceptors,' said Dr Robert MacLaren, a scientist and eye surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London."

Legendary East German spymaster Markus Wolf dies

(Former East German spymaster Markus Wolf, who was working over 30 years for the East German foreign intelligence network, poses with his new book in Berlin in this June 2, 1997 file photo. Wolf, aged 83, died November 9, 2006.)
Scotsman.com News - Latest News - Legendary East German spymaster Markus Wolf dies:

"Markus Wolf, the legendary East German spymaster whose Cold War activities earned him the moniker 'The Man Without a Face', has died aged 83.

Wolf's publisher said he had died peacefully in his sleep in the German capital early on Thursday morning, 17 years to the day after the Berlin Wall fell. No cause of death was given.

During his 34 years as a spy, Wolf rose through the ranks of the communist state's Stasi secret police to head its elite foreign intelligence division, running a network of 4,000 spies."

Appeals court agrees to hear Bush appeal in domestic eavesdropping lawsuit

Appeals court agrees to hear Bush appeal in domestic eavesdropping lawsuit - iht,america,US Domestic Spying Lawsuit - Americas - International Herald Tribune:

"A federal appeals court agreed to review a lower court's ruling that kept alive a lawsuit challenging President George W. Bush's domestic eavesdropping program.

The government is appealing U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker's refusal to dismiss the lawsuit even though the Bush administration asserts the case could expose government secrets and put the United States at risk. Walker ruled that warrantless eavesdropping has been so widely reported that there appears to be no danger of spilling secrets."

Lee Boyd Malvo Sentenced to Life in Prison

KLFY TV 10 - Acadiana's Local News, Weather and Sports Leader | Lee Boyd Malvo Sentenced to Life in Prison:

"One of the men suspected of shootings in several states, including Louisiana, has been sentenced to life in prison.

Lee Boyd Malvo was convicted for his role in a three-week string of attacks in the Washington, D.C. area in 2002."

Iraqi Official: 150,000 Civilians Dead

BREITBART.COM - Iraqi Official: 150,000 Civilians Dead:

"A stunning new death count emerged Thursday, as Iraq's health minister estimated at least 150,000 civilians have been killed in the war - about three times previously accepted estimates."

French troops almost fired at Israel jets: minister

French troops almost fired at Israel jets: minister | International News | Reuters.com:

"French peacekeeping troops in Lebanon recently came within two seconds of firing missiles at Israeli fighter jets that approached as if to attack them, French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said.

Speaking to the lower house of parliament on Wednesday night, she said it was the latest in a string of incidents in which Israeli warplanes had 'adopted a hostile attitude' to French and German forces and added it was 'not tolerable'.

'A catastrophe was narrowly avoided by our troops,' Alliot-Marie said, according to a transcript of her comments. A foreign ministry spokesman said the events occurred on October 31."

'Borat' barred from Russian movie theaters

BREITBART.COM - 'Borat' barred from Russian movie theaters:

"Russian authorities have refused to license the 'Borat' comedy film that has taken US box offices by storm over fear it would offend audiences here, The Moscow Times daily reported.

'The film contains material that some viewers may consider offensive to certain nationalities and religions,' the paper quoted Yury Vasyuchkov, the head of the agency that licenses films for theater distribution, as saying on Thursday."

11M Bottles of Acetaminophen Recalled

"The recall affects 11 million bottles containing varying quantities of 500-milligram acetaminophen caplets made by the Perrigo Co. The pills were sold under store brands by Wal-Mart, CVS, Safeway and more than 120 other major retailers, the Food and Drug Administration said. At least one chain started pulling the pills from store shelves Thursday.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or illness. The contaminated pills included metal fragments ranging in size from 'microdots' to portions of wire one-third of an inch long, the FDA said. The FDA could not describe further the type of metal."

Ed Bradley of '60 Minutes' Dies at 65 From Leukemia

Ed Bradley of '60 Minutes' Dies at 65 - washingtonpost.com:

"Ed Bradley, the veteran '60 Minutes' correspondent and one of the pioneering black journalists of his generation, died today of leukemia at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York. He was 65.

Bradley, who had won 19 Emmy awards, covered an incredible array of stories after joining the CBS newsmagazine in 1981, from brain cancer to sexual abuse in the Catholic Church to the high school shootings at Columbine."

Sen. Allen Concedes Defeat in Virginia

ABC News: Sen. Allen Concedes Defeat in Virginia:

"Republican Sen. George Allen conceded defeat Thursday to Democrat Jim Webb, sealing the Democrats' control of Congress and the political downfall of a man once considered a White House contender.

Allen said the 'owners of government have spoken and I respect their decision.'

'The Bible teaches us there is a time and place for everything, and today I called and congratulated Jim Webb,' he said."

YouTube - Extreme Trainsurfer

YouTube - Extreme Trainsurfer

Not a poltical related video, but pretty interesting neverless..
Like they say, "if you got to go out, go out with a bang.."
This guy surely did.

GOP party chair Ken Mehlman is gay?

YouTube - Bill Maher outs GOP party chair Ken Mehlman as gay

Schwarzenegger gains landslide California win

Schwarzenegger gains landslide California win | Top News | Reuters.com:

"California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger won re-election by a landslide after distancing himself from fellow Republican President George W. Bush and taking a moderate stance, results on Wednesday showed.

The former Hollywood star first elected three years ago in an unprecedented recall vote beat his Democratic opponent, State Treasurer Phil Angelides, by 17 points with 99.6 percent of Tuesday's vote counted."

VA-Sen. Jim Webb Wins

Democrats take control of the Senate - Yahoo! News

The new AP count showed Webb with 1,172,538 votes and Allen with 1,165,302, a difference of 7,236. Virginia has had two statewide vote recounts in modern history, but both resulted in vote changes of no more than a few hundred votes.

An adviser to Allen, speaking on condition of anonymity because his boss had not formally decided to end the campaign, said the senator wanted to wait until most of canvassing was completed before announcing his decision, possibly as early as Thursday evening.

The adviser said that Allen was disinclined to request a recount if the final vote spread was similar to that of election night.

Bush Turns On Karl Rove: Is He The Next To Be Forced Out?

Press Conference by the President

"From Bush's afternoon press conference:

Q Thank you, sir. During this campaign season some religious conservatives expressed support and appreciation for the work you've done. But some also expressed that they felt like they expended a lot of effort on your behalf without a lot of results. I wonder if you could tell us what parts of their agenda are still on your radar screen, and if you think they're right to be frustrated? And also, Mr. President, may I ask you if you have any metrics you'd be willing to share about your reading contest with Mr. Rove.

THE PRESIDENT: I'm losing. I obviously was working harder in the campaign than he was. (Laughter.)

AUDIENCE: Oooooh!"

Democrats Take Control of the Senate!

Democrats Take Control of the Senate - Forbes.com:

The Associated Press contacted election officials in all 134 localities where voting occurred, obtaining updated numbers Wednesday. About half the localities said they had completed their postelection canvassing and nearly all had counted outstanding absentees. Most were expected to be finished by Friday.

The new AP count showed Webb with 1,172,538 votes and Allen with 1,165,302, a difference of 7,236.

"Democrats wrested control of the Senate from Republicans Wednesday with an upset victory in Virginia, giving the party complete domination of Capitol Hill for the first time since 1994.

Jim Webb's squeaker win over incumbent Sen. George Allen gave Democrats their 51st seat in the Senate, an astonishing turnabout at the hands of voters unhappy with Republican scandal and unabated violence in Iraq. Allen was the sixth Republican incumbent senator defeated in Tuesday's elections."

Voted or Yuck?

More Short News Bits For You

Openly gay candidates win elections in record numbers

Good. Everyone needs someone to represent them locally and in Washington. Let's just hope that the homophobes who are scared of catching the "Gay Plague" don't worry themselves into a heart attack.

Update: I just noticed this -- Henry Fernandez, who won a seat on the Lawrence Township School Board, making him the first openly gay person ever elected to any office in Indiana. Hooray, hometown voters!

Senate power hinges Virginia recount

Because the race was so close, it's an automatic recount. Sadly though, it could tie things up for weeks because, apparently, the recount can't even get started until November 27th. What the hell.

DeLay: I'd call it a 'Texas whupping,' that's for sure

Yeah, Tom would know. I hope he's preparing himself for an ass-beatin' of another kind when he heads to prison.

Nancy's "100-Hour Agenda" -- Who Will She Take Down?

Payback Time: Who the Democrats Will Target

Halliburton, the CIA and big tobacco companies are among the early targets identified by top Democratic staff to ABC News as likely targets for investigation once the Democrats take control of the House at the beginning of next year.

The staffers say Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), now expected to become speaker, has told top Democratic donors there is a "100-hour agenda" she wants to push through -- taking on the minimum wage, drug and energy prices and corruption.

Defense contractors, including Halliburton, the intelligence rationale for the war in Iraq and CIA secret prisons are what one staffer called "uninvestigated scandals."

Note to Nancy and the rest of the Dems: I hope you know what you're doing. I want change and answers as much as you do, but I'm worried that you'll lose credibility with voters if you make your next two years in office about "payback over the Republicans". Here's to your efforts to shut down Halliburton, though, because I wish someone would. Shut down Gitmo Bay, too, while you're at it.

Video Of The Army Times Shifting The Blame Of The War Onto Rumsfeld

Army Times: 'Time for Rumsfeld to go'

Go down the page a little until you reach the javascript link for the video.

Who Actually Won In Minnesota?

Anyone living there have some information? Pioner Press and Star Tribune are obviously reporting his victory, but other sites are saying it's too close to call, and some are showing that Pawlenty lost (like CNN).

Did those two papers jump the gun a little in declaring victory or are these other news sites behind on their information?

And Now Hastert Steps Down

Hastert Will Step Down

House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) will not seek reelection to the Republican leadership when his members return as a minority party after taking heavy losses in Tuesday's elections, a Republican official tells TIME. Hastert, 64, a low-key former high school wrestling coach, was beloved by members as a "good cop," compared to the enforcer style of the longtime number two leader, former Rep. Tom Delay (R-Tex.). But Hastert was badly damaged by questions about how much he had known about former Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) and his contact with pages, and members felt Hastert also handled the aftermath of the revelations clumsily.

The battle to succeed him will be bruising, as members attempt to allocate blame for the Foley mess. Among those seeking to replace him at the top of the House leadership, which will now be the minority leader, are House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), now second in the House leadership, and Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), chairman of the House conservative caucus, the Republican Study Committee. Other possible candidates are Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), now chief deputy whip and one of the most popular and hard-working members of the leadership, and Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex.), now chairman of Energy and Committee.

The Speaker plans to announce his departure this week and perhaps as soon as today, officials said. Leadership elections are scheduled for next Wednesday but are likely to be pushed back to closer to the deadline under party rules, which is Dec. 20.

Who Will Replace Rumsfeld?

Now that Rummy's decided to step down, who's going to take his place? There had been rumors that Lieberman was on a short list of people, but it appears that Bush is going to nominate former CIA director Robert Gates to replace him.

Honestly, who would want to replace Rumsfeld? My husband and I called this months ago when there were the first talks of Rummy stepping down; we mused over the idea of Rummy taking the fall for Bush, and now, that's exactly what it looks like is happening here. We have members of the Pentagon and military brass going on CNN right now, talking about how the Iraq mess is solely Rumsfeld's fault. Well, thank you for effectively playing the scapegoat for your masters, Donald. Once again, Bush gets a "get out of jail free" card while another "family friend" gets sent up the river. Wonderful.

Rummy Screwed The President?

President Bush's Opening Gambit for Surviving Divided Government

Let's hope they didn't mean that literally...wouldn't look to good for the gay-fearing GOP.

One move that could buy the President good will with the Hill and the public would be the departure of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and many people close to Bush hope that happens sooner rather than later. "He has screwed the President," said a loyal member of the Bush team who rarely speaks so bluntly. The President said when asked last week that Rumsfeld would serve the rest of the term, but officials say Bush really could not have said anything else, and that is in no way a guarantee that Rumsfeld will still be running the Pentagon at noon on Jan. 20, 2009, when Bush's successor takes office.

Also, I'm watching CNN right now...Bush is still giving speeches. He's now trying to reassure the military that's stuck in Iraq that we haven't forgotten about them, so they need to calm down...? I guess the military is in an uproar now, wondering when they'll come home? Can't say that I blame them. Bush needs a boot kick to the ass, too, with his line that "we haven't forgotten you". No, Bush...the people haven't forgotten them, but you did for a while.

The Latest News

Rumsfeld is resigning, even though Bush had said that Rummy would be here torturing the military with his "strategery" for the next two years. So Bush lied, was called on it, and keeps right on lying his way through his presidency. He also thinks we'll be staying the course in Iraq...wait, he said we were changing the course there. Which one is it today, Dubya?

Tester (Montana) and Webb (Virginia) have won their respective races, but this won't be final until after the recount is done. By later today though, the Senate should also belong to the Democrats.

The NY Times (subscription required to read the full article -- or just use BugMeNot) has a good article: Blogs Take Lead in Reporting Polling Problems, With Supporting Evidence on YouTube.

Funniest part of the article:

Even so, many of the biggest names in political blogging -- including John Aravosis of Americblog, John Amato of Crooks and Liars, Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit and Mr. Morrissey of Captain's Quarters -- had been corralled by a member of the mainstream news media, CNN, at Tryst, a trendy Washington coffeehouse, last night.

Constantine Stavropoulos, the owner of the cafe, said he had closed its doors for the "blog party," which the network periodically broadcast and streamed online. He said he expected the bloggers -- an attractive bunch, he said -- to linger long after the votes were in.

"Bloggers look a lot better than I thought they would," Mr. Stavropoulos said.

All I can say is that even though it's gloomy outside, it still feels like the sun is shining brightly. It's going to be a marvelous "sanity prevailed and took back Congress" day.

The Purple State

Thank you, my former fellow southern Hoosiers for putting Baron Hill back in the driver's seat in District 9. And every else please remember to be kind to us hicks if our blue boys help the Dems win the House.

This is the old Indiana (please excuse my rushed coloring job):



This is the new Indiana:



Unbelievable, huh?

Senate's No. 3 Republican Santorum Loses

Senate's No. 3 Republican Santorum Loses - Forbes.com:

"Sen. Rick Santorum, a strong voice for conservatives who rose to be the No. 3 Senate Republican, was routed Tuesday by Bob Casey, the anti-abortion, anti-gun control son of a popular Pennsylvania governor.

Santorum, 48, had long defied those who said he was too conservative for the Democratic-leaning state. But the two-term senator and was unable to overtake Casey, the 46-year-old state treasurer, who accused Santorum of pursuing a rigid ideology that put him out of step with most Pennsylvanians."

Sheldon Whitehouse ousts Chafee from Senate seat in Rhode Island

Politics - Chafee ousted from Senate seat in Rhode Island - sacbee.com:

"Lincoln Chafee, one of the few remaining moderate voices among Senate Republicans, surrendered the seat he and his father had held for 30 years, losing Tuesday to Sheldon Whitehouse, who lashed Chafee to President Bush's unpopular policies.

Whitehouse has spent most of his life in public service. Son of a diplomat, and a former state attorney general and U.S. attorney, Whitehouse failed in his bid to become governor in 2002, losing to a fellow Democrat in the primary."

Robert Menendez wins re-election in New Jersey

BostonHerald.com - National Politics:

Menendez wins re-election in New Jersey:

"Democratic Senator Robert Menendez has been re-elected in New Jersey, defeating Republican Tom Kean Junior.
The attack-filled campaign pitted Menendez against the son of a popular former governor. "

Democrat Ben Cardin Wins Open Senate Seat in Maryland, Beating Republican Steele

Voting | Vote | 2006 Elections - FOXNews.com:

"Maryland chose a white anti-war Democrat over a black Republican for the state's open U.S. Senate seat Tuesday, a blow to GOP efforts to recruit black winners in the midterm elections.

Democratic Rep. Ben Cardin, whose made his opposition to the war in Iraq and voter dissatisfaction with President Bush the central themes of his campaign, defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, the first black candidate elected statewide in Maryland."

Katherine Harris Loses Big in Florida

(Time to take the old horse home and call it a day... :))

Katherine Harris Loses Big in Florida:


"Republican U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris lost her long-shot quest for the Senate on Tuesday after a gaffe-prone campaign that saw the former Florida election official shunned by her own party chieftains.

Democratic incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson, who was considered vulnerable until Harris became his opponent, easily won re-election to a second six-year term, according to television network projections"