Minnesota Senate Recount

post from DemConWatch on 20 November 2008 09:36:00 AM. © DemConWatch

The Star Tribune (Strib for the locals) has an amazing page filled with every possible number you could want for the recount. I've embedded the summary below which will update automatically.

11/20 3PM: Coleman leads by 156 votes

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http://www.demconwatchblog.com/2008/11/minnesota-senate-recount.html

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GM, Ford, and Chrysler Chiefs Push for Action in
Washington as Congress Debates Another Bailout

post from Jutia Group on 20 November 2008 09:35:42 AM. © Jutia Group

Executives from Detroit’s “Big Three” auto companies – General Motors Corp. (GM), Ford Motor Co. (F), and Chrysler LLC – yesterday (Tuesday) joined Congressional Democrats on Capitol Hill to make the case for an industry-wide bailout that could spare their troubled…

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http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/jutiagroup/~3/459620245/

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Jobless claims jump to 16-year high.

post from Think Progress on 20 November 2008 09:32:00 AM. © Think Progress

New claims for unemployment jumped unexpectedly to a 16-year high last week, the Labor Department reported, with 542,000 new claims for jobless benefits being filed. “Claims above 400,000 are generally considered a sign of recession, and claims have been above that level for 17 weeks,” the AP reports, adding that last year, “claims stood at about 320,000.” The number of people continuing to claim unemployment insurance is expected to reach 3.9 million, its highest level in 25 years.

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http://thinkprogress.org/2008/11/20/jobless-claims-2/

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Election Central Morning Roundup

post from Talking Points Memo on 20 November 2008 09:29:00 AM. © Talking Points Memo

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano is reportedly Obama's pick for Homeland Security secretary. That and the day's other transition news in the TPM Election Central Morning Roundup.[...]

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http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Talking-Points-Memo/~3/Debycwybe_E/245168.php

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Insurance Industry For Universal Health Care

post from TalkLeft on 20 November 2008 09:27:00 AM. © TalkLeft

Steve Benen has a good post on it and what it means. As I have said repeatedly, not knowing a damn thing about health care policy, I leave commenting on this to those who do.

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http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TalkleftThePoliticsOfCrime/~3/75LFU9dTQEo/508

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Post Mortem on the Bush Years: Who was the Worst

post from All Spin Zone on 20 November 2008 09:23:00 AM. © All Spin Zone

It’s almost over, our eight year national nightmare, and it is time to vote. What, you thought voting for President was the only vote that counts? Nope, you can now vote for the worst Bush Administration official. Let’s throw them all in the hopper and try to determine which was worse for America. I’ll set the odds, in no particular order.

Dick Cheney, 1:2 — It’s hard to trump “undisclosed locations,” ramping up a regime of torture, etc.

Mike Brown, 6:1 — the favorite a bit over three years ago, Brownie’s star has fallen a bit.

Alberto Gonzales, 4:1 — Destroyed the intergity of the US system of justice, lied under oath, etc., etc.

Karl Rove, the myth, the man, the legend, 3:1 — This nominee is more about who you hate than who fucked up the most, I suppose.

Colin Powell, 10:1 — Let’s not forget his selling of the War in Iraq, even though he has repented somewhat.

Donald Rumsfeld, 5:1 — Architect of a failed War in Iraq, let Osama walk free

Henry Paulson, 8:1 — the effect of his bloated bailout package is still to be assessed, to be fair, but Paulson was supposed to be more on the ball.

John Ashcroft, 15:1 — Just putting drapes on the statues in the DOJ merits mention here.

Heck, this list could certainly include dozens of others, but I think I’ve got the major criminals up here. Certainly there are some honorable mentions, like Scotter Libby, Josh Bolton, Harriet Miers, etc., etc. But the ones I’ve listed should be enough to vote on. Make your pick, and remember, “all of the above” is not an acceptable answer for the purposes of this vote. You’ve got to make the hard choice.

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http://allspinzone.com/wp/2008/11/20/post-mortem-on-the-bush-years-who-was-the-wo
rst/

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Web Comic: Slow Wave

post from Moue Magazine on 20 November 2008 09:21:34 AM. © Moue Magazine

“Ultravention” by Mrrranda TarrowSlow Wave has a fantastic concept behind it. Readers from around the world submit their dreams (the sort had while sleeping, not aspirations) and artist Jesse Reklaw creates a comic based on that information.[...]

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http://www.mouemagazine.com/blog/2008/11/web-comic-slow-wave/

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More Trouble For Cunningham Buddy

post from TPMMuckraker on 20 November 2008 09:19:00 AM. © TPMMuckraker

Looks like Thomas Kontogiannis -- who's now in jail for helping launder bribes for his friend, former GOP Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham -- has more legal woes. He's been accused in a newly filed lawsuit of participating in a scheme to steal more than $50 million, reports Newsday.

The lawsuit, filed by Manhattan-based DLJ Mortgage Capital, alleges that Kontogiannis and others drew up false loan applications on residential properties in Brooklyn and Queens, which they either owned or planned to develop.

Newsday goes on:

The applications were approved by one of Kontogiannis' mortgage funding firms, which then obtained the money from DLJ and the other institutions, according to court papers.
DLJ and the other lenders eventually discovered that the mortgages were never recorded, the complaint stated, adding that the scheme was only uncovered when monthly mortgage payments ended. A further investigation revealed that many of the properties were then sold by Kontogiannis and the other defendants, DLJ said in its complaint.

Kontogiannis' wife Georgia, and other relatives, are also named as defendants.

Cunningham pleaded guilty in 2005 to conspiracy to commit bribery and is serving an eight year sentence in federal prison.

During Cunningham's recent sentencing, a prosecutor told the judge that there was an ongoing criminal investigation into Kontogiannis' alleged mortgage fraud.

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ngham_bu.php

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NY Times Once Again Gets it Wrong on Clintons

BY TAYLOR MARSHHere we go again. The Times has gotten it wrong so many times lately it’s turning into a journalistic parody. Two days in a row the Times misreported WJC’s transparency on his speaking fees. Today, WJC gave over 200,000[...]

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http://www.taylormarsh.com/archives_view.php?id=28796

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Penny Pritzker Withdraws Name For Commerce

Update (TL): The New York Times reports Pritzger has taken herself out of the running for the position.

Politicial Wire:

CNN reports that Chicago businesswoman Penny Pritzker is President-elect Obama's choice to become Secretary of Commerce.

I do not know what the Secretary of Commerce does. I do know that Pritzker was possibly Obama's largest fundraiser. Still and all, it is good to see another woman in the Cabinet.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only