Breaking News!
Senate Panel Digs Deeper Into Miers Questionnaire; "Look's Like President's Handwriting".
Inadequate and Incomplete Answers Spark Investigation; Experts Brought In To Compare Penmanship of Miers, Bush
Shortly after rejecting her judicial questionnaire, the Senate Judiciary Committee called for a special investigation, as a number of Harriet Miers responses appear to be in the handwriting of President Bush.
Senators Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, the committee chairman, and Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont, the senior Democrat, sent Ms. Miers a letter yesterday, citing a number of answers provided by Ms. Miers as "inadequate," "insufficient" and "insulting."
They called into question what they said were incomplete responses about her legal career, her work in the White House, her potential conflicts on cases involving the administration and the suspension of her license by the District of Columbia Bar.
Upon further review, it became apparent to some of the committee members that the handwriting was different on some of the questions and that it looked familiar. Soon the members were openly saying that it appeared to be the penmanship of President Bush.
The President, who has come under harsh fire and charges of cronyism for selecting Miers as his Supreme Court nominee, has repeatedly stated that Ms. Miers "has the same judicial philosophy" as me and that he "knows her heart" as an attempt to quell the growing dissent - mostly from his own Republican Party and conservative base - against Miers.
Miers, in accepting the nomination, had been serving the President as White House Council. Previously, she had been personal attorney to Bush, and has been closely associated and/or working with him since his days as Governor of Texas.
"At first look," said Committee Chairman Specter, "some of her answers looked like they were taken from Cliff Notes."
Sources close to the Senate tell The Garlic, that as more members of the judiciary committee began reviewing Ms. Miers questionnaire, concern grew, over the answers and, then the apparent difference in the handwriting.
Miers is reported to have once gushed that President Bush "was the most brilliant man she had ever met."
"Between that," said Senator Leahy, "and that the President keeps saying he knows her so well, we have to look at if he helped her with the questionnaire."
Some members of the committee are calling for the investigation to look at the handwriting of Karl Rove, Special Council to the President and, presently, widely speculated to be indicted in the CIA Agent Leak Case.
Rove has come under fire with the Miers nomination for reportedly guaranteeing conservatives, including Focus On Family President James Dobson, the Miers was a solid conservative and could be counted on to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Spector and Leahy both indicated that, if the investigation turns up that the President did provide some of the answers on the questionnaire, while not a criminal act, is a breach of ethics and that the committee would likely disqualify Miers.
"She's going to have to explain the difference in the handwriting." said Specter.
Specter and Leahy would not confirm or deny if the committee has requested handwriting samples from Rove and, surprising, the First Lady, Laura Bush.
The First Lady has emphatically endorsed Miers, and her nomination to the Supreme Court.
The White House sidestepped questions about the Miers questionnaire and if the President assisted Miers and wrote in some of the answers.
"I can assure you," said Scott McClellan, White House Press Secretary, "that the President doesn't use Cliff Notes."
"I don't even carry a pen," shouted President Bush, as reporters pressed him this morning on the reports that he may have written some of Harriet Miers answers to the Senate Judiciary Committee's questionnaire.
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Thursday 20 October 2005
Top Ten Cloves: Things Overheard On Donald Rumsfeld's Visit In China
9. I thought he would be taller
8. I think they sent him over here to avoid him being indicted in their CIA Scandal
7. Before he leaves, we need to schedule the visit from Karen Hughes, we're running low on Tupperware
6. Rumor has it that he and his aides are torturing the hotel staff
5. He thinks America is so high and mighty … How can he say that when they jail their reporters too …
4. Careful what you say to him … We don't want him to have American Military invade and occupy us …
3. He keeps asking, when are we going to take him to Disneyland Hong Kong
2. Ask him for their plans on how to flood cities so we can get rid of our poor too
1. See if he knows who we can call to get a Chinese version of "The Simpson's"
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Tuesday 18 October 2005
Breaking News!
Miller To Leave 'Times' With Movie Deal In Hand
Signs On To Star In Memento Sequel; Not Sure If She Will Continue Freelancing For Bush Admn.
Miramax announced this morning that they have signed now former New York Times reporter Judith Miller, who will star in an upcoming sequel to the 2000 hit film, 'Memento'.
Miller, who was jailed for 85-days in the CIA Agent Leak Case, gave her notice of resignation to 'Times' editor William Keller.
Keller, who along with New York Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr., publicly defended Miller during her recent jailing over the refusal to divulge confidential sources in the CIA Agent Leak Case, said he was "disturbed" by the news of Miller's sudden resignation.
"I haven't spoken directly to Judy yet," said Keller, who is meeting with 'Times' correspondents in Asia, "but if this is not a hoax, then I would have to say there may have been some other things Judy didn't tell us about."
Miller, who has been under increasing fire by other journalists as being a "shill" for the Bush Administration, in its' run-up to the invasion and occupation of Iraq, recently said in a personal account published in last Sunday's 'New York Times', that she couldn't "recall" who gave her the name of CIA Agent Valerie Plame.
"Mr. Fitzgerald asked me about another entry in my notebook, where I had written the words "Valerie Flame," clearly a reference to Ms. Plame. Mr. Fitzgerald wanted to know whether the entry was based on my conversations with Mr. Libby. I said I didn't think so. I said I believed the information came from another source, whom I could not recall."
Libby was part of a group called "The White House Iraq Group", whose members included Karl Rove, Andrew Card, Condoleezza Rice, James R. Wilkinson, Stephen Hadley, Karen Hughes and Mary Matalin.
WHIG, as the group became known had the mission to "market the war in Iraq" with hyped threats of nuclear mushroom clouds and that Saddam Hussian was seeking to purchase materials to make nuclear weapons.
Miller's front-page reporting, often quoting government sources were later debunked and the 'Times' was forced to correct and clarify five-of-six articles Miller wrote about the alleged Weapons of Mass Destruction that the Bush Administration used as a preamble to war.
Harvey Weinstein, chief of Miramax, said in a statement that he was "elated" to sign Miller for "Memento II", which is the tentative working title.
Miramax purchased the rights to 'Memento', which was produced and released in 2000 by Columbia-Tri Star, now owned by Sony Pictures. The film starred Guy Pearce as a insurance investigator who suffered a head injury during the murder of his wife. He goes through the film, searching for the killers and, to compensate for his lack-of-memory, he tattoos notes on himself and takes Polaroid's to help him remember clues.
"We knew,' said Weinstein, "that this leak case was going to be the biggest political scandal since Watergate and to have one of the key figures of it for the film is just tremendous."
In the sequel, Miller will play an investigative reporter who wakes up in a motel room with no memory. Littered around the room are reporter notebooks and Miller spends the film going through the notebooks - which contain clues in her own handwriting as well as others - to reclaim her memory.
In the shadows, following Miller, is an enigmatic character, wearing a cowboy hat, boots and sunglasses. There is a clue in a notebook about him but she can't remember who gave her the clue.
Miller's departure from the 'Times' comes, perhaps, days before Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald issues either indictments, a report on his two-year investigation or, extends the grand jury, which is due to expire on October 28th.
While Fitzgerald has not leaked any information, or made any statements on the investigation, speculation is running like wildfire that White House Special Council Karl Rove and Lewis "Scooter" Libby, chief of staff for Vice President Cheney, will be indicted.
It has come out in testimony to the grand jury, as told by lawyers who appeared before it, that Rove was the source for Matthew Copper of "Time' Magazine and one of two sources for columnist Robert Novak, who's writing identifying Valerie Plame launched the complaint that started the investigation.
Then-Attorney General John Ashcroft was looking into the leak but was forced to recuse himself under conflict-of-interest ethics by Justice Department staff members. That lead to the appointment of a special prosecutor, who turned out to be Patrick Fitzgerald.
Both Rove and Libby initially denied any involvement in the leak case and Rove, subsequently, has appeared before Fitzgerald and the grand jury four-times.
A spokesperson for Ms. Miller refused comment on the news of resigning and the film role and would neither confirm or deny if Miller will continue to write articles favortable to the Bush Administration as a freelance journalist.
Weinstein offered that shooting for the film will begin next month and, hopefully "timed to be released when the trials start."
"I hope Judith gets called to testify," admitted Weinstein, "Or even, gets indicted herself. You can't buy publicity like that."
When reached for comment, White House Chief of Staff Andy Card refused comment on the case and said only that he hopes "they don't release the film in August".
Former New York Times reporter Judith Miller makes her way through the gathered media, on her way to the set of 'Memento II', which she recently signed to star in.
Top Ten Cloves: What Karl Rove May Do If He Is Indicted
9. Will make a deal with Fitzgerald and give him damaging info on Frist, DeLay and Libby
8. Hide out in Vice President Cheney's Secret Bunker
7. Start a smear campaign that all the members of the Grand Jury are gay
6. Get a job on Fox News and lambaste the Prosecutor as partisan and a cheap shot artist
5. Buy a new suit for the Medal of Freedom Award ceremony that President Bush will give him
4. Plant a bug in his own West Wing office and charge that Special Prosecutor Fitzgerald was illegally taping him
3. Hire Michael Jackson's attorney; If he got Jacko off, he certainly can get these charges cleared
2. Pursue his longtime secret dream to become a cabaret singer
1. Start working on jury pool; Go on Dr. Phil, crying that he can't help himself from leaking classified information and needs help
Monday, October 17, 2005
Monday 17 October 2005
Iraqis Pause Vote Count To Celebrate Chisox Pennant
Many Remember '59 Disappointment; Believe This Is The Year; Will Bring Team To Baghdad With Series Win
There are many important things facing the Iraqi people. Forming a new government, and the historic vote count on a new Iraq Constitution are, perhaps, at the top of the list.
However, there are, in fact, really important things to take into account.
Last night, all business fell to the wayside as hundreds-of-thousands of Iraqis poured out into the streets across the country to celebrate the Chicago White Sox victory over the Los Angeles Angels, of Anaheim and Orange County, California, United States of America that gave them the American League pennant for the first time since 1959.
The historic vote on the new Iraqi Constitution was temporarily suspended, as election officials joined the revelry taking place on the streets.
"This is truly remarkable," gushed Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. "I was only a young boy but I was so crushed when they lost the World Series in 1959. When they went back to Comisky Park, for Game Six, I really thought they would do it."
The Los Angeles Dodgers, behind pitchers Don Drysdale and Johnny Podres, and the hitting of Duke Snider, beat Chicago, 4-games-to-2.
The longer streak is that the White Sox have not won the World Series since 1917.
Talabani said that if the Chicago White Sox win the World Series this year, he'll "bring the team to Baghdad" for a special ceremony.
"We've seen this done by many American Presidents," said Talabani. 'It must be an important feature of democracy, to celebrate with championship teams and we want to be as democratic as we can be."
Neither team owner Jerry Reinsdorf, or White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen, who saw four of his pitchers throw complete games, the first time that has happened since the 1956 Yankees, had any immediate comment on the Iraqi support of the Chicago team.
A spokesperson for the team said that "there are some sections of Chicago I wouldn't want to go in to" and that the team would wait and see and consider the offer after the World Series.
While the Bush Administration is eager to see the final vote count on the constitution, which is being reported as being overwhelmingly accepted and approved by the Iraqi voters, they were also pleased to see the impromptu celebration for the White Sox.
"The President believes," offered White House Spokesperson Scott McClellan, 'that this is a significant step and endorsement of the new democracy. The President sent a message to President Talabani, congratulating him and, even suggested that the new Iraqi government considered making baseball Iraqi's national pastime."
When reached for comment, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfield was also pleased to see the Iraqis celebrating baseball.
'Goodness, who doesn't love baseball," said Rumsfield. "I mean, heavens, it has so much to offer a young democracy. The strategy, the determination … Working throught tough situations … And who's in the Iraqi's bullpen? Who's going to come in and get the save, or get the win? Only the best team in the world - the fighting forces of the U.S. Military …Is that hype? Is that overstating the case? … I don't think so … Not in my ballpark, anyway."
Rumsfield deferred questions as to if the Iraqi's had the proper equipment to play baseball and if the United States Army would compensate them if the purchased the needed equipment on their own.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair said that "it was a good sign" the Iraqi's were embracing American baseball.
"We'll have to work on introducing them to English soccer and cricket."
Senator Rick Santorum weighed in on the Iraqi celebration and White Sox victory.
Santorum, earlier this year, blamed the Boston Red Sox and Boston's liberalism for the Catholic priest scandal of abusing children and his office said that "the Senator is happy to see democracy taking hold in Iraq."
"As to the Chicago White Sox," said Santorum, "We'll just have to look into them to see if they helped cause the abuse as well."
Two Iraqi woman cry for joy after hearing the news that the Chicago White Sox beat the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Orange County, California, United States of America to win the American League Championship and enter the World Series for the first time since 1959.
Top Ten Cloves: Things The Iraqi's Are Doing To Prepare Country For Democracy and Having A Constitution
9. Call the Zambelli's and check for any free dates in January that they can do the fireworks thing
8. Making new flag, with 3 stars on it (and be sure to have the Sunni's star at the bottom)
7. Find out how long it will take McDonald's, Wal-Mart, and JiffyLube to set up and establish franchises
6. Running contest for citizen with best, fourishing penmanship so one distinctive signature will stand out on signed Constitution
5. Scheduling the Assembly members for their knickers and white powdered wig fittings
4. Be sure to tell the guy flying the kite that electricity has already been discovered and to try to come up with something else
3. Amending rules so new President can own slaves
2. Remember to pack High Court with friends and allies, in case there are any future election controversies
1. Changing name of Fallujah to Philadelphiadad and hunting down on eBay, a giant cracked bell to place in it
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Weekend Special - Sautéed Cloves 16 October 2005
As Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald's investigation into the CIA Agent Leak case nears its end, senior members of the Bush Cabinet, in an effort to keep any new charges from arising, have taken to using carrier birds to transmit sensitive information.
Clearly annoyed that conservatives, and members of his own Republican Party, have taken to openly and harshly criticize the choice of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court, President Bush threatened to "give a good backhand to next pencil-necked hack writer or bible-thumping Jesus freak" who says anything negative about Miers or himself.
U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad, talked and negotiated deep into the night, and had successful results ...
in getting a rule change that allowed Muslim pets to vote in the referendum on the new Iraqi Constitution…
Mayor Bloomberg and the New York City Police Department have come under criticism, for, alledgedly, during last weeks' high terror alert, having police officers conduct racial profiling, holding up trains and harassing Arab-looking passengers, badgering them to "show us the bombs"
Only hours after announcing its' new, Video iPod, Apple Computer held a second press conference to say that Treasury Secretary John Snow has been signed to endorse the iPod line.
Apple offered that Snow likes to listen to the Beastie Boys to warm up for hearings.
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Special Announcement - Political Satire in America
Barry Crimmins, with Kurt Vonnegut, Paul Krassner, Art Buchwald, Lewis Lapham, Sarah Jones
Longtime friend of The Garlic, author and satirist Barry Crimmins can be seen this weekend on an upcoming edition of Book TV, on C-SPAN 2. The program will air on Sunday, October 16th at 11AM and 1AM.
The event was recently taped last week at the Concert Hall of the New York Society for Ethical Culture. Crimmins was joined on the panel by Kurt Vonnegut, Paul Krassner, Art Buchwald, Lewis Lapham, Sarah Jones.
Barry Crimmins, was the founder of The Ding Ho, legendary comedy club in Inman Square, Cambridge, MA, which launched Barry nationally, along with Steven Wright, Paula Poundstone, Bobcat Goldthwait, Kevin Meaney, Jimmy Tingle and many, many others. Barry also launched Boston's other fabled comedy club, Stitches, across the Charles River near Boston University.
Barry is also a former writer for Dennis Miller and is currently working with Air America Radio, writing and making commentary for the Randi Rhodes Show. In 2004, Seven Stores Press published Barry's first book, "Never Shake Hands with a War Criminal" and Barry's writing appears frequently in 'The Boston Phoenix' and the 'Cleveland Plain-Dealer'
Barry also been a featured commentator on CNN, NBC, MSNBC and The Phil Donahue Show and has also appeared in Fran Solimita's 'When Stand Up Stood Out', the critically acclaimed documentary about the Boston Comedy scene.
Barry received the Peace Leadership Award from Boston Mobilization for Survival. He has also been honored, along with Ms. Maya Angelou, with The Courage of Conscience Award from Wellesly College and The Life Experience School at The Peace Abbey in Sherborn, Massachusetts. Community Works gave the Artist for Social Change Award to Barry for his years of activism.
Visit Barry Crimmins Website
Purchase "Never Shake Hands With A War Criminal"
Visit Seven Stories Press
Visit Book TV
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Wednesday 12 October 2005
Apple Announcement Today May Unveil Miers iPod
Two Colors Offered and Pre-Programmed With Unknown Songs; Possible Video iSqueal Also Talked About
After teasing reporters for weeks, Apple Computer's press conference today, at the California Theatre in San Jose, is expected to announce a new addition to the popular iPod line - a Harriet Miers edition, available in two colors and pre-programmed with unknown songs from unknown artists.
Steve Dowling, a spokesman for the Cupertino company, declined to comment.
The Miers iPod will be available in 'Supreme Court Black' or 'Government-Issue Green' and with a new power system in which the owner will need to change the battery the Frist Monday in October.
One caveat is that the owner of the Miers iPod must play all the song programmed before they can be erased or recorded over.
There is also speculation that certain features of the Miers iPod may be integrated into the Roker, the new iTunes-enabled cell phone from Apple and Motorola, with the user being able to download Supreme Court decisions. The text decisions can be saved and transferred to a hard drive or emailed to friends, with an iTunes song attached as a personal soundtrack.
The prerecorded songs from unknowns may be a nod to Apple's growing battle with the music labels.
Sources tell The Garlic that a majority of the unknown artists are from Warner Music. Warner has been at odds with Apple and its iTune program, believing the music labels should have flexibility and control over the pricing of their music.
Apple has maintained its .99 price for iTunes songs.
Another long anticipated move by Apple may be forthcoming, as there is speculation that Apple will also debut the new Video iSqueal.
As first reported by The Garlic, Apple launched iSqueal back in March, as a means to root out leaks over new Apple product announcements and dissent aimed toward Apple.
The program, allowing users to call a special iSqueal Hotline or email their information, has been hugely popular and, at times, completely overwhelming Apple's iSqueal team and operators.
"They have," says Ralph Centanni, author of "I Scream For iPod", "gotten a lot of information on the objective but they've also gotten a lot of junk as well."
Centanni says the iSqueal Hotline has become a dumping ground for "every complaint imaginable".
"You've got people reporting traffic accidents, divorce cases, people complaining about products that aren't even Apple's … It's been a very challenging program for them."
With Video iSqueal, Apple hopes to root out the nonsensical complaints, believing people will be less inclined to leave such complaints if they have to identify themselves.
"It also gives Apple the opportunity to sell more video tools and software," says Centanni.
Centanni believes the Miers iPod concept came out of the iSqueal files.
"It started with the Roberts nomination, the calls and emails to iSqueal. I think Steven Jobs saw something and, with his flair, came up with the Miers offering. Either that, or he's going after the Conservatives, an older but prosperous market. Maybe there's some kind of blockbuster deal that will follow, like having a big push of Christian Rock on iTunes … It's a market … It's out there."
Webster's Dictionary confirmed debunking a longtime adage, as proof emerged that pigs do not fly, but swim
Google Launches Lobbyist; As Usual, In Beta-Mode and By-Invite Only
May Signal Move To Broaden Google Wallet and Googlets With Expanding Empire
Google confirmed last week that the company has, in its' tradition, quietly launched a Washington Lobbyist to look out for the company's interests and "defend the Internet as a free and open platform for information, communication, and innovation."
The lobbyist, technology-law expert and Washington veteran Alan Davidson, is only operating in beta-mode at the time and Google has not made any predictions when they will unveil the lobbyist as a full running program.
Additionally, only users of Gmail and Google Talk have access to Davidson and only those users can invite friends and family into the Lobbyist program. Each user has 25 invites to offer.
As lobbyists are nothing new, Google's beta-lobbyist is said to be lacking some features and is "no way near" most of the complete and functioning lobbyists dotting the Capital, according to sources.
Google shied away from purchasing an already established lobbyist, preferring to build one from the ground, up, as with most of their programs. And it's also not clear if the lobbyist will be a independent program, or integrated into the Google Desktop Tool Bar
The need for a lobbyist comes at a time as Google expands its' empire.
There's speculation that Google is going to take on the Telecom industry. Google has already launched its' Google Printprogram and has run into trouble as publishers and the Authors Guild has filed suit over copyright infringement.
However, some insider say that it is the Google Wallet, and their new monetary system, Googlets, that may be at the heart of the lobbyist beta program.
In June, as reported by The Garlic, Google launched a pay system to rival eBay's PayPal and, took the extra step to seek having it also serve as legal tender. Googlets are wired with sensors so that a user can pull up Google Maps to research which vendors in their area accept Googlets as payment.
"It's a smart move," says Daria Pannesi, editor of 'In The Loot', the newsletter for high tech dollar traders. "If they're going to establish these 'Google Bars', or whatever they’re called, they are going to need a point person in Washington to get this pushed through."
In the beta-mode, Google's lobbyist will be located on J Street in Washington, not K Street where most of the other lobbyist firms are located. He'll have most of the tool used traditionally by lobbyists and a few extras, such as having the entire history of case law and Supreme Court decisions available for reference via his Google Desktop Search.
"He'll have all those things," says Pannesi, "plus a couple-a-few billion dollars to throw around."
"
Top Ten Cloves: Bush Picking Miers Is Disappointing To The Conservatives like ...
9. Finding out the Ford Motor Company knew Pinto's would explode if hit in the rear
8. The 1919 Chicago White Sox being paid to lose World Series
7. Kind of their own 'Dewey Beats Truman' moment
6. Joe Namath guaranteeing the Super Bowl and then going out and beating the NFL
5. That Karl Roves smears are smears and not true
4. Bush packing key positions in government with his crony friends … Wait a minute, scratch this one …
3. If Bucky Dent has flied out to left instead of hitting it over the wall …
2. Rosemary Woods really did erase the 18-and-a-half-minutes by accident
1. Elvis isn't in the building and is dead as a doornail
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Tuesday 11 October 2005
FEMA Rushes Aid To Earthquake Victims Within Hours of Strike
"I don't think the ground stopped shaking, and FEMA was there"; "We screwed up, but that's okay," says Paulson
Already under heavy criticism, and a congressional investigation, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sent food, water, medicine and equipment, in error, to earthquake-ravaged Pakistan and they did it in record time.
"I don't think the ground stopped shaking, and FEMA was there already …," said Pakistan Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf.
"They're already in some of the mountain regions, the hard-to-reach places. We haven't even had time to get our own people in there."
The 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck on Saturday, centered near Kashmir and the death toll estimates continue to rise, over 20,000 today and well over 50,000 injured. The quake also caused extensive damage in neighboring India and Afghanistan
"I had the television on - I always have it on, after, you know … - and I heard the words 'earthquake', " said FEMA Director R. David Paulson. "I just grabbed the phone and gave the greenlight to get everything out … I didn't stop to check the location."
"We screwed up, but that's okay," said Paulson. "It's a good screw up. The President would have been sending aid over anyway, we just jumped the gun."
World aid has been pouring into the region, from Britain, China, South Korea, Turkey, Spain, Iran, Russia, the Netherlands, Japan and Germany.
So far, the Bush Administration has sent much-needed helicopters, eight from the United States, including five Chinook transports.
"We sent considerable more aid." said White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, "than we had planned, thanks to FEMA."
The White House wouldn't say if the President will be adding Pakistan, or India and Afghanistan, to his disaster itinerary. The President, accompanied by the First Lady, is in New Orleans today, his eight trip to the hurricane-stricken area.
There is also Guatemala, which was hit by Hurricane Stan and has suffered catastrophic damage, with thousands believed dead after a mountainside collapsed, burying a village in over 20-feet of mud.
"We hear," a source close to the White House said, "that he may send his brother Jeb to Guatemala. Jeb speaks Spanish."
What tipped Paulson off to the mistakenly-sent aid, was when he received the request for translators.
"From when our teams hit the ground," offered Paulson, "We start the clock and we have checklists. One of the first req's we received was for translators and it was only then that we realized we sent the aid out in error. It was beautifully executed but it was a mistake."
"Lose the guy with the taxi doors and meet me in my room in fifteen-minutes ..."
With Red Sox and Yankees Bounced, MLB Postpones Playoffs
Unsure On Next Step, How To Proceed; Television Exec's Voice Pressure For Ratings
Anticipating, and expecting, a world-shaking rematch for the American League Championship, Major League Baseball is stunned today, as both the Boston Red Sox, defending World Series Champions, and the New York Yankees have been eliminated in the divisional playoffs.
Commissioner Bud Selig this morning, announced that the playoffs, the two league championship series, have been postponed, as baseball executives evaluate the situation and look at the options on how best to proceed.
The Yankees lost the deciding fifth game last night to the Los Angeles Angels, of Anaheim and Orange County, California, United States of America, while the Red Sox were swept by the Chicago White Sox last Friday.
Reports are circulating the television executives from Fox Sports and ESPN are livid and applying pressure to baseball's front office to do something. Both networks fear, with neither the Red Sox or Yankees still playing, ground-scrapping ratings, equaling lost revenues.
"This is a bad situation," says Fred Bouchard, editor of 'Glued To The Tube', an industry newsletter that monitors television and rates the ratings.
Selig would not confirm or deny the rumors that baseball was considering passing a special rule that will extend the divisional playoffs, currently a best-of-five series to a best-of-seven match, allowing the Red Sox and Yankees the opportunity to climb back in.
Fans in both cities, Boston and New York have mobbed Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park, hoping, if baseball does extend the series, to purchase tickets.
"With Game 6 and 7 at the Stadium," gushed Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman, "I'll take that any day. I like our chances."
"We'd love the chance to play again," said Theo Epstein, Red Sox General Manager. "It would be alittle unusual, but if they give it to us, we'll take it."
Red Sox fans had been riding a high, since their stirring comeback last year and World Series sweep, breaking the longtime "curse" in winning their first title in 86-years. Since the loss last Friday, a small, but vocal group has kept vigil outside of Fenway Park, chanting "Wait 'till last year".
Epstein added that he is eager to have the playoffs continue, regardless of who remains playing.
"I have my scouting to conduct. There's one player that we're looking at and we need the World Series to end to make that move."
Speculation is running that the Red Sox will go after whoever makes the final out of the season.
In 2004, Edgar Renteria, playing for the St. Louis Cardinals made the final out that gave the Red Sox the series. A few months later, Epstein engineered a trade to bring Renteria to the Red Sox. Ironically, Renteria also made the final out in the Game 3 loss to the White Sox.
If the issue isn't solved this afternoon, and the baseball playoffs remain postponed, both Fox Sports and ESPN say they will run Texas Hold'em Poker shows in place of the baseball telecasts.
Top Ten Cloves: Things Vice President Cheney Told Conservatives He Did To Get President Away From Harriet Miers
9. Called New Orleans Republicans to see if they could get President stranded or trapped there during next visit
8. Rigged the baseball playoffs so Houston advances to League Championship
7. Underwent "life-threatening surgery" as a means to distract President
6. Had Secret Service keep President locked in Oval Office under the guise of a 'security breach'
5. Mexican music was piped into Oval Office, thinking it would influence President to name Gonzales
4. Kept dropping subliminal hints that Presidnet should "name Edith"
3. Repeatedly tried to get President drunk so he and Rove could forge documents with good conservative nominee
2. Brought in James Earl Jones to intone over White House PA system that the Higher Father wants him to pick Pricella Owens
1. Got Halliburton to promise President "millions" if he went with Cheney as his nominee
Monday, October 10, 2005
Holiday Special - Sautéed Cloves 10 October 2005
Happy Columbus Day!
Sources say that President Bush has become obsessed with taking responsibility for the government's poor response to Hurricane Katrina, greeting each plane-load of relief worker, to personally apologize and thank them for their work and efforts.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was arrested last Friday for allegedly threatening a subway toll collector during the heightened terror alert. Giuliani claims that he was only questioning the subway worker about the safety precautions and that it was his finger in his coat pocket and not a gun, which he demonstrated for the press.
In the terror alert issued last week, Homeland Security
offered an update on the vulnerability of trains, saying that, along with backpacks and luggage, terrorists may begin disguising bombs as elderly men walking with canes.
Barmaids at an Oktoberfest in Munich show their support for Harriet Miers and her nomination to the Supreme Court.
The Department of Justice is collaborating with the Department of Education, to help young Hispanic children learn about law and justice, with the release of a series of "Donde esta Alberto?" books.
This follows the successful joint effort of the D.O.E. and White House last year, with the popular "Donde está vice presidente Cheney".
Friday, October 07, 2005
Friday 7 October 2005
Breaking News!
In Desperate Move, White House Reaches Out To 'Three Wishes'
With Terrorism, Indictments and Nominations On The Edge, President Signals To Call In Hit NBC Show
Said to be beleaguered, weary and "dripping with anxiety", President Bush signaled White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan this morning to "call in" the hit NBC television series, 'Three Wishes', to see if he can get his administration back on track.
What appears to have pushed President Bush to hang on to only hope and wishes were the reports that Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald has summoned White House Special Council, and longtime advisor to the President, Karl Rove to testify again in front of the Grand Jury looking into the matter of who in the Bush Administration leaked information that identified a covert CIA Agent.
For Rove, this will be his fourth appearance in front of the Grand Jury and there was the added warning by Fitzgerald that his testimony does not exclude him from a possible indictment.
"Well, that would be one wish, certainly," offered McClellan, in a briefing to reporters. "I'm confident the President would want to help Karl out, if in fact, he needs such assistance. I do want to point out that no indictments have been handed down at this time."
For McClellan, this is an about-face, as for months, he insisted that Rove, or others in the White House, were not involved in the leak case.
McClellan did state, that "the President is the only one who will make the wishes" if the show chooses to come to Washington.
When reached, Andrew Glassman, who along with Jason Raff, is an executive producer for 'Three Wishes', was ecstatic.
"Wow, to be able to pitch our wishes tent on the South Lawn, in front of the White House … That would be huge … Phenomenal … I don't know if we'd use it for the Fall or Spring Sweeps but we'll fit it in there alright …"
For President Bush to appear on 'Three Wishes', this would be the second member of the Bush family to appear on a reality television program.
Last month, First Lady Laura Bush appeared on the ABC program, 'Extreme Makeovers: Home Edition' that will air sometime in November.
The program, 'Three Wishes' debuted this season on NBC and is hosted by Grammy-award-winning singer, Amy Grant. Grant, and a bevy of correspondents drop into a town - any town - pitch a 'wishes tent' and put out the word that they will grant three wishes to that town.
The wishes range from giving an unsung hero praise, to life-threatening medical situations. With two episodes aired to-date, 'Three Wishes' has visited Clovis, New Mexico and Sonora, California.
The news of Rove's return to the Grand Jury comes in the middle of a fierce battle the White House is waging, with it's own supporters, over the nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court. Republican members of the Congress and the Senate, as well as influential conservative groups have railed against the President for his choice of Miers, with charges ranging from cronyism to flatly stating Miers is not qualified for the post.
Just yesterday, after a harsh report issued by the Government Accountability Office, Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings ordered conservative journalist Armstrong Williams to endorse and promote the President and Miers in the same manner and spirit he endorsed - for payment - the D.O.E. 'No Child Left Behind program.
Along with taking responsibility, with a special congressional panel investigating the matter, the governments horrendous response to Hurricane Katrina, the President, as the head of the Republican Party, is also facing having his Senate Senate Majority Leader, Bill Frist (R-TN) and his Congressional Majority Leader, Tom DeLay (R-TX) under investigations and indictments for illegal activities.
Glassman believe his 'Three Wishes' program can help the President.
"We've had tremendous results, so far," said Glassman. "I've only had a conference call with Scott, and some others in the White House. I haven't spoken with the President yet."
Glassman indicated that he was sure that McClellan, and the White House, understood, that they get only three wishes.
"That means, between Rove, Frist, DeLay and Miers, someone gets left out, someone doesn't get their wish."
McClellan confirmed the conference call and said that they know they only get three wishes.
"The President is aware of this," stated McClellan. 'I can tell you there is no decision yet on the wishes. President Bush could use the wishes to help out some of the people we have talked about this morning, or, he could go in a completely different direction. He could surprise a lot of people."
No surprise in President Bush giving a forceful speech about the War On Terror and, coincidentally, on the same day, there is an elevated terrorist alert.
Speaking at the National Endowment for Democracy in Washington, President Bush gave a speech, similar to many he has offered in the past as to "staying the course", and focusing on terrorism, however, the President add that " the United States and its partners had disrupted 10 serious plots since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001." The President did not state any specifics about the plots, or their targets.
Then, a mere few hours later, New York City was rocked with the news of a specific terrorist plot to attack the New York City subway system in the second week of October. Extra police and security were moved into place and Mayor Bloomberg urged residents and subway riders to be vigilant.
McClellan quickly issued a statement after the briefing, that read in part, "The subway terror alert in New York City yesterday was not one of the wishes of the President or, in any way, related to the 'Three Wishes' program the President may participate in."
FEMA came under new criticism today, when relief and construction workers in New Orleans and throughout the hurricane-stricken Gulf Coast charged that no ladders have been provided for the reconstruction effort.
Top Ten Cloves: If The White House Got Ten Wishes ...
9. That the President learns to ride a bicycle properly and not run into Secret Service agents
8. Dick Cheney could, legally, stay in his secret bunker and not have come into the White House
7. Texas jury convicts and imprisons Tom DeLay, getting that greasy slimball out of Congress for good
6. New amendment - Third Term for President Bush
5. Come up with some Whitewater charges that stick to Hillary
4. Go back in time and keep the feeding tube in Terry Schiavo, until, at least, the 2008 Presidential election
3. New Law - Can give support to Pat Robertson to assassinate Huge Chavez
2. Finally, find Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq
1. Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald indicts only Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Thursday 6 October 2005
Spellings, DOE To Have Williams Endorse President, Miers Pro Bono
Hopes to "Satisfy" Blistering GAO Report, To Return Propaganda Funds; Much of Monies Spent in Branson
Coming on the heels of a stern rebuke and blistering Government Accountability Office report citing violations of laws and ethics, Department of Education Secretary Margaret Spellings announced this morning that she will direct conservative journalist Armstrong Williams to "publicly back President Bush's decision and to publicly endorse the nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court."
Williams endorsement will be "pro bono", as a gesture to pay back some of the nearly quarter-of-a-million-dollars he received for promoting the Bush Administrations controversial 'No Child Left Behind' legislation, on his nationally syndicated television show, in nationally syndicated columns, as well as endorsing NCLB in public appearances. During the time Williams was under contract to the DOE, he urged other black journalists to do the same.
"We're not going to do anything under the radar here," said a somber Spellings. "No deals, no back rooms … It's all out in the open and above board."
The contract, a $1-Million deal with the public relations firm Ketchum, which the GAO reports says violated the "publicity and propaganda" law, called for Ketchum to produce prepackaged new reports (also known as video news releases, or VNRs in the industry) that were designed to look like news reports and were used to promote No Child Left Behind.
The Bush administration used similar releases last year to promote its Medicare prescription drug plan, prompting a scolding from the Government Accountability Office, which called them an illegal use of taxpayers" dollars.
For both violations, the GAO directed the Department of Education to invoke the Federal "Anti-Deficiency Act" to begin the process of recovering the misspent taxpayer dollars.
Since the President announced Miers as his choice for the Supreme Court, he's come under a hailstorm of criticism, mostly from conservatives and the Right, and the Administration has been lobbying Cabinet members and Republican congressmen and senators to speak up and defend the move.
Williams, speaking through a spokesperson, confirmed that he will endorse the President and Harriet Miers. He said that he said. "I thought this contract was a blessing at the time."
Williams stated that he did provide Spellings with a "accounting of the monies received". Some of it went to his business expenses and a significant amount was used for "travel and entertainment". Armstrong indicated that he often "entertained" clients with trips to Branson, Missouri, for shows and relaxation.
William's mea culpa and payback will come with guests booked on his show that will also endorse the President and Ms. Miers, as well as writings of endorsement in his columns. Ketchum will contribute in this effort with producing television spots, featuring Williams and other prominent conservatives offering their endorsements of Miers and the President.
Spelling made clear in her announcement today that "No Williams funds were used" in her efforts, earlier this year, to kill off the PBS program ""Postcards From Buster,"
Spellings sent a strongly-worded letter to PBS CEO Pat Mitchell, expressing her "concern" over an episode in which Buster, the animated rabbit, visits a Vermont maple sugar farm run by gay parents. Spellings ominously reminded Mitchell that "the show is being funded in part by the Education Department."
PBS ended up pulling the show, but not before some of its' affiliate stations broadcast the program.
Williams indicated that "he's never seen the Buster show."
In a related matter, Department of Health & Human Services Secretary Michael O. Leavit reached out to Armstrong Williams, and other African-American journalists and commentators to gage their interest in promoting and defending Former Education Secretary William Bennett, who has been under fire since last week, when on his radio program, Bennett made controversial remarks, associating black Americans with crime.
"That's what I said David, we've got one endorsement for the President's Supreme Court Justice nonimation so far ... Just one and I'm not goint to answer the rest of your question ..."
Top Ten Cloves: How President Bush Named Harriet Miers As His Choice For Supreme Court
9. Lost a bet with the First Lady
8. Afraid if he sent up a conservative Hispanic male, would confuse committee with his talk about "Béisbol"
7. Burnt out and delirious from trips to hurricane areas and thought he was saving an evacuee
6. Was thinking along the lines of television and it being Extreme Makeover: Supreme Court Edition
5. Three Words - Magic 8-Ball
4. Confused his 'Short List' with his 'Will Piss Off Conservatives List'
3. As Cheney started going under from anesthesia for surgery, thought he heard him say "Pick Harriet"
2. Showing off for Cabinet; Asked Asked "Higher Father" to speak to group with choice; After 10-minutes and nothing, panicked …
1. Pay-Off: She was in the room - along with Rove, Cheney and Libby - when plans made to leak Valerie Plame's name
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Wednesday 5 October 2005
Accuweather, NWS, NHS Woo Franklin Graham For Hurricane Forecasting
"Pipeline To God Would Corner Market"; Some Say Could Lead To First Weather Emmy"
Saying he could be a "tremendous asset" to the prediction of future hurricanes and major storms, three of the nation's weather giants are pursuing signing evangelist Franklin Graham to their team with, what an industry insider said would be, "the largest contract paid in the weather business."
Accuweather, the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center all want Graham, son of the legendary Billy Graham and head of the Samaritans Purse organization, after his comments that "God is going to use that storm to bring a revival. God has a plan. God has a purpose."
"Having a pipeline to God," said Accuweather Founder and President Joel Myers, "That would allow us to corner the market. We'd be untouchable … Our Neilson's would go through the roof."
Frank Lepore, Public Affairs Officer for the National Weather Service wouldn't comment on the offer made to Graham.
"Having him would be a tremendous asset," said Lepore.
While his organization is in the hunt for Graham, Max Mayfield, of the National Hurricane Center, took a more cautious tone when speaking about Graham.
"He certainly has a unique perspective," said Mayfield. "We have the science and technology end of this handled pretty well. Perhaps he can help fill in some of the background."
In an interview Tuesday, with John King on CNN's 'The Situation Room', Graham embellished his forecasting skills.
"God will use this storm in a way that will benefit the people of New Orleans and the people of Louisiana and Mississippi in a much stronger way in the years to come."
For Accuweather to land Graham, this would be the second coup of the year for them. Earlier this year, Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) filed Senate Bill 786, which will limit the National Weather Service to delivering severe weather forecasts, not daily local forecasts that are profit makers for commercial weather forecasters.
AccuWeather is the largest (325 employees) of 14 commercial weather forcasting companies in Pennsylvania.
Noticeably absent for the Graham pursuit is The Weather Channel.
"We have no changes to our on-air personnel or forecasting staff planned," said spokesperson Kathy Lane.
"I don't see TWC sitting this one out," says Diane Strzesak, who speculates on weather futures for the investor newsletter "Blowing Winds'.
"Whoever lands this guy [Graham], is going to see a huge bump in their stock prices, revenue streams, right down the line. This will raise 'Must-See-TV' to a whole new level."
Tom Shales, the Pulitzer Prize-winning TV critic of The Washington Post agrees.
"We could see the first Emmy given to a weather broadcast."
Graham has refused comment on the speculation of taking on a weather post and there is no date set yet on when the weather services hope to have him signed.
"We still have a few weeks left of the hurricane season, " said Myers. "Then it's winter and the blizzards and we'd love to hear what he has to say on that."
Mirimax announced tofday that former ambassador Joe Wilson, and his wife, Valerie Plame, who are at the center of the special prosecutor's investigation into the Bush Administration leaks, will star as Nick and Nora Charles, in an updated version of the famous 'Thin Man' series.
News In Brief - 5 October 2005
OJ, Vatican Said To Sign Deal, Merge Hunts
O.J. Simpson, coming with the 10th Anniversary of his acquittal on the criminal charges of killing his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, announced he has signed a deal with the Vatican. Simpson was later convicted in civil court on the wrongful death charge counts and has a $33-Million judgment against him.
Simpson has maintained his innocence and, for the past 10-years, has claimed to doggedly pursue the person or persons responsible for the deaths.
A spokesperson for the Vatican later confirmed the arrangement.
Simpson says he will assist the Vatican in their hunt for gay priests, and, in return, the Vatican, with their with their considerable resources, will assist Simpson in his pursuit of the killers.
Earlier this year, Simpson announced that he was outsourcing the job of finding the killers, as a means to be more productive and efficient.
Sources say that it was in this vetting process of hiring a firm that Simpson and the Vatican began their talks. Subsequently, the talks were postponed, due to the death of Pope John Paul II but recently were revived as the anniversary date approached.
Last month, the Vatican announced that the church is now banning gay priests and has formed a posse to visit all churches and seminaries to find and expel such priests.
In a statement released by Simpson, he stated that "be believes the Vatican will be an enormous help and is confident their efforts will be rewarding."
Simpson also said in the statement that "he can spot a gay priest as easy as if someone was handing him a three-dollar-bill."
The Vatican in a brief statement acknowledged their "association with Mr. Simpson" and will bring "all appropriate resources to bear" in assisting him. The also stated that they are giving a special waiver to priest, related to finding the Simpson killers, to "suspend the sacrament of confession" and notify "both Simpson and the appropriate authorities" should a priest hear someone confessing to the killings.
Top Ten Cloves: Things Nicholas Cage Is Going To Have To Do For His Son, Kal-el
9. If he starts wearing tights, that they don't have an "S" on them, it might be time to move to San Francisco
8. Hmmn, the old George Reeves series or the Christopher Reeve movies … Tough choice on what to let him watch
7. Lobby the pregnant neighbor, who is having a girl, to name her Lois Lane
6. Kryptonite-proof the house
5. Start to, instead of swearing in front of the kid, learn to say "Great Caesar's Ghost"
4. Get lead doors and walls for the bedroom
3. Call Neiman-Marcus to see if you can get a retro telephone booth,so the kid has something he can change in every day
2. Figure out how to tell the kid, because of the real estate bubble, he doesn't have a special, secret ice house in North Country
1. Start the kid off slow, by just having him jump over ranch houses
