Murder Attempt Kills Journo's Sister

post from IraqSlogger.com on 01 September 2008 06:37:16 PM. © IraqSlogger.com

Below is full text of a statement issued today by the Paris-based Reporters Without Borders organization, known by its French initials, RSF.

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Under the republicans you could be next!

post from uncomfortably numb on 01 September 2008 06:35:24 PM. © uncomfortably numb

Activists should know better than to practice violence, when all successful protests are and always should be non-violent...Aided by informants planted in protest groups, authorities raided at least six buildings across St. Paul and Minneapolis to stop an "anarchist" plan to disrupt this week's Republican National Convention.read more | digg story

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Associated Press in Full Spin Mode Over Fournier

post from MyDD on 01 September 2008 06:31:35 PM. © MyDD

It's never a great sign when a news organization is forced to create talking points to deal with ongoing criticism over the actions of one of its reporters, editors or bureau chiefs, but according to The Politico's Michael Calderone, the pushback against[...]

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McCain's VP Pick Hires Attorney For Troopergate

post from Daily Kos on 01 September 2008 06:31:08 PM. © Daily Kos

So, what does it say about Senator McCain's judgment that he selected a running mate who felt that she needed to hire a lawyer just over three days after she was selected?

JUNEAU, Alaska -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the GOP vice presidential candidate, has hired a private practice attorney to defend her and members of her staff in the investigation into the firing of her public safety commissioner.

The state Legislature is investigating whether Palin fired Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan after he refused to fire a state trooper who had divorced Palin's sister.

Update: As it turns out, she hired the attorney two weeks ago, but just revealed it today. Ah, what a day for a holiday news dump! For much more on this story, check out hungrycoyote's diary here.

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Obama-Biden Chemistry Test

post from Garling Gauge on 01 September 2008 06:29:56 PM. © Garling Gauge

Great TIME article on the growing relationship between the elder Biden and precocious Obama.©2008 Garling Gauge. All Rights Reserved..

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Poll: Obama/Biden Take Eight-Point Lead

post from uncomfortably numb on 01 September 2008 06:29:47 PM. © uncomfortably numb

Latest polling data looking strong for them.CBS) Democratic nominee Barack Obama's lead over Republican John McCain has grown after the Democratic convention, which 71 percent of Americans say they watched. Obama and his running mate Joe Biden now lead McCain and Sarah Palin 48 percent to 40 percent, according to the latest CBS News poll. read more | digg story

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Palin Lawyers Up in TrooperGate

post from TalkLeft on 01 September 2008 06:28:00 PM. © TalkLeft

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has retained counsel to represent her in an legislative investigation into whether she abused her power in Troopergate.

Anchorage attorney Thomas V. Van Flein has requested a copy of all witness statements and documentary evidence from the Legislature's investigator, Stephen Branchflower.

Sen. Hollis French, an Anchorage Democrat, responded on behalf of Branchflower, saying he instructed Branchflower not to comply with the request.

Lawyering up is the smart thing to do. She probably should have done it months ago. Retaining a lawyer bears no connection to guilt. No inference of wrong-doing should be drawn from it. [More...]

When the government sets its sights on you, the smartest thing you can do is shut up and let a lawyer speak for you. The jails are filled with people who thought if they could only tell their side of the story, investigators would see it their way.

Palin is facing a legislative investigation, not criminal charges. But the charges relate to abuse of power and it is quite unusual that a candidate for Vice-President of the United States would be under investigation during the campaign.

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Gustav Hits St. Paul

post from Talking Points Memo on 01 September 2008 06:27:00 PM. © Talking Points Memo

Just a very odd day here all the way around. Cindy McCain and Laura Bush just finished up their perfunctory appearances in front of the delegates, some of whom didn't bother coming in for the truncated two-hour session. The hall itself was mostly empty,[...]

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Party On, GOP

Republicans sure know how to party.

As residents of New Orleans were fleeing Hurricane Gustav, top Republican party officials donned pink boas and swigged vodka shots at a wild whirl of corporate and lobbyist-paid parties this weekend in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Really, you can't have a good party without pink boas and vodka shots. Attendees at the "corporate and lobbyist-paid parties" apparently didn't get the memo that Republicans are supposed to feign concern for those whose lives are being disrupted by Hurricane Gustav.

Here's the funniest line of the linked ABC story: [more ...]

Yet, last night lobbyists for the National Rifle Association, Lockheed Martin and the American Trucking Association put on a raucus six-hour party at a downtown bar featuring music by the band "Hookers and Blow." There was no evidence of any actual prostitutes or cocaine. [emphasis added]

How diligently do you suppose the reporters looked for the "evidence"? Interestingly, ABC reporters weren't allowed into the party at "a Minneapolis restaurant where waiters wore pink wigs and guests danced through the night as they wrapped themselves and their partners with pink boas."

More party news from ABC:

Along the Mississippi last night, corporate lobbyists for the chemical industry were entertaining Ohio Republicans on two large yachts. ... Saturday night, 22 big corporations sponsored a pig roast and "booze cruise" for California Congressmen and delegates on Lake Minnetonka, west of Minneapolis.
There appeared to be no plans to cancel any of the lavish corporate parties planned for Republicans, although some lobbyists said they would invite Red Cross representatives and raise money for its relief efforts.

Parties are a political tradition at the national conventions for both Democrats and Republicans (although pink boas may be unique to the GOP). In light of John McCain's efforts to scale down the festivities for fear of bad press in the wake of Gustav, some might question whether the parties should have been canceled. Not so for the GOP delegates who want to have their fun no matter what's happening on the Gulf Coast.

Many delegates at a party Saturday night for GOP convention CEO Maria Cino said they saw no reason to stop the good time because of events in New Orleans. "Everyone goes through hard times," said Wisconsin delegate Jeff Larson.

Jeff Larson: a model of GOP sensitivity.

Another Republican guest hid his face from cameras, wrapping a pink boa around his eyes and nose.

At least convention officials were forthright when speaking with ABC about the party atmosphere that so concerned John McCain:

Asked about the appropriateness of the gathering, Republican National Committeeman Tony Parker walked away from ABC News cameras, saying, "I don't want to talk with you."

That's tellin' 'em, Tony.

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John and Gustav hit the trail

Even if it's going to make life more difficult for affected states, Senator McCain is determined to turn Gustav into a campaign event. It's not the first time.[...]

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