• Del.icio.us Links

    links for 2010-06-28

    • Weigel claims that at one point he was conservative, and the record suggests that at one point he actually was. In fact, he even went so far at one point as to claim he was a “rabid conservative” who gets “a contact high from attacking silly liberals”. (Rabid, you know, like Sarah Palin.)

      But one thing seems to be missing throughout what is a pretty voluminous catalog of blog posts and articles written by Weigel during his “conservative” phase, and that is any significant elaboration on or promotion of conservative policy or principle.

      Given that Weigel voted for Ralph Nader in 2000 before voting for Kerry in 2004 and Obama in 2008, might Weigel’s stint as a “rabid conservative” best be explained as a college-era whim, a way to fit-in with the peers he wished to associate with?
      +++++++
      Well, I don't think the New York Times will hire him.

      (tags: Dave_Weigel)
    • Dave Weigel has a piece up at Big Government about the latest kerfuffle.

      I developed a soft spot for Weigel because of his honesty in handling issues revolving around James O’Keefe and Brad Friedman. We know he has contempt for O’Keefe, yet when Brad Friedman dishonestly tried to spin a Weigel piece against O’Keefe, Weigel stood up for the truth.

      Yet the Big Government piece leaves the toughest questions unanswered. Like: what about his participation in a list-serv that lefties used to “get their story straight”? Was this why Weigel seemed to focus on the identity of the cameramen in the Etheridge story? Was that the Journolist approved spin?
      ++++++
      I think we know the answers, Patterico and Breitbart has answered them about the Leftist Cabal of Journolist

    • In the first (and still best) “Austin Powers” film, a United Nations representative makes a faux pas and calls the film’s villain “Mr. Evil.”

      “It’s Dr. Evil,” he huffs. “I didn’t spend six years in Evil Medical School to be called ‘mister,’ thank you very much.”

      This is how I feel when I’m referred to as a “blogger,” sometimes with a political qualifier like “liberal” or “conservative” attached. I’m a reporter. I’ve been a reporter since high school. Like a lot of other people, I lucked into some reporting jobs that took advantage of the speed of the web — thus, I blogged. And I left the Washington Post because I was intoxicated by this medium by and the privileges of reporting. The leak of my private e-mails wouldn’t have been possible 10 years ago; but then, neither would have my career been possible.
      ++++++
      The Weigel apologia

    • "The story is not Dave Weigel. The story is Journolist," conservative Internet entrepreneur Andrew Breitbart said Monday in a brief telephone interview, explaining why he published Weigel's account of the career trajectory that led Weigel from libertarian Reason magazine to the Washington Post and now to unemployment.

      It was Weigel's sarcastic e-mails to Journolist, the supposedly off-the-record e-mail group run by Ezra Klein, that resulted in his forced resignation Friday from the Post.

      Breitbart said Journolist functioned as a "cabal" through which liberal reporters and editors colluded to counteract the influence of alternative media voices like Matt Drudge and Rush Limbaugh.
      +++++++
      Read it all

    • Former Washington Post writer David Weigel has attempted to explain away his Journolist e-mails attacking conservatives by claiming he was a trash-talking thoughtless jerk. If you think that self-damnation was bad, at least it was much better than admitting something even closer to the truth which would be that he deviously allowed people to think of him as a conservative. In fact, he is still lamely making that conservative claim in his Big Journalism article but first the jerk confession:
      +++++++
      I agree with Dan Riehl – a pretty lame apology.

      I guess the guy wants to get another journalism job but he should have thought about that before engaging his keyboard.

      (tags: Dave_Weigel)
    • As unconfirmed reports of an imminent Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities pick up steam in the Middle Eastern media, a US-based strategic intelligence company has released a chart showing US naval carriers massing near Iranian waters.

      The chart, published by Stratfor and obtained by the Zero Hedge financial blog, shows that over the last few weeks a naval carrier — the USS Harry S Truman — has been positioned in the north Indian Ocean, not far from the Strait of Hormuz, which leads into the Persian Gulf. The carrier joins the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, which was already located in the area. The chart is dated June 23, 2010.
      ++++++
      Not really a surprise and this happened before under President Bush. But, will Israel pull the trigger?

      (tags: iran Israel)
    • Carly Fiorina, the Republican standard-bearer in the effort to unseat Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, held a Latino-themed town hall in Sacramento on Saturday afternoon and unveiled a new Spanish-language websitein her bid to win Latino votes.

      The former Hewlett-Packard executive did not, however, take a stance on a path to legalization for the estimated millions of illegal immigrants already in the United States. “First, we have to secure the border,” she stressed. Next, the country needs “a temporary worker program that works,” she added.

      “This is a failure of the first order on the federal government’s part,” Fiorina said. And she’s insisted she won’t mutter a word about legalization until it’s fixed. “There is no point in talking about anything else until we get these first things done,” she said.
      ++++++
      Not really. This has been her position. Secure the border first and then talk about the folks who are already here.

    • One conservative, Charles Fried, a solicitor general in the Reagan administration and a professor at Harvard Law School who worked with Kagan during her tenure as dean there, said he doesn't think Kagan would be an automatic liberal vote on the court.

      "On the big things, one can expect a really independent take which will not just repeat all the slogans that we've seen on the left and on the left of the court," Fried said.

      Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, a former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, wasn't as certain. "Deep down, she's going to be a liberal," he said in an interview. "But, I hope he (Fried) is right."

      Meese was blunter. "I think, based on what we know about her, she would be a 100 percent reliable liberal vote," he said.
      +++++++
      I do not think there is a compelling argument to exclude her from the court

      (tags: Elena_Kagen)
    • With Sen. Robert Byrd's (D-WV) passing this morning, his constituents are mourning the loss of their long-time champion. Someone new will soon fill Byrd's seat, but it will be impossible to replace a man who held his seat for 51 years.

      WV law gives Gov. Joe Manchin (D) the power to appoint Byrd's replacement. If a vacancy occurs within 2 and a half years of the beginning of the next term, the governor appoints a replacement until that next election. But state law says an election must be called if a vacancy occurs more than 2 and a half years before a term expires. Byrd's term would have had 2 and a half years left as of next week — July 3.

      But a special election is unlikely.
      +++++++
      And, the GOP will beat it over the Dems head this November for avoiding an election

      (tags: Robert_Byrd)
  • Day By Day,  Robert Byrd

    Day By Day June 28, 2010 – Breathtaking

    Day By Day by Chris Muir

    Chris, not the Kramer portrait!

    On today’s agenda will be the political machinations regarding replacing long time Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia.

    Under West Virginia state law on handling Senate vacancies, “if the vacancy occurs less than two years and six months before the end of the term, the Governor appoints someone to fill the unexpired term and there is no election”. Otherwise, [Gov. Joe] Manchin would appoint an interim replacement, and an special election would be held in November to determine who held the seat in 2011 and 2012.

    In other words, we are within a week of the threshold established by West Virginia law. If a vacancy were to be declared on July 3rd or later, there would not be an election to replace Byrd until 2012. If it were to occur earlier, there could potentially be an election later this year, although there might be some ambiguities arising from precisely when and how the vacancy were declared.

    Of course, the Democrat Governor will wait and avoid an election. However, there will be judicial review since Byrd vacated his seat when he died  not when the Governor says.


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    • Shocker: CIA's Panetta: Iran has enough uranium for 2 nuclear bombs #tcot http://icio.us/ce5u2d #
    • Sen. Robert Byrd 'seriously ill' – May Derail Financial Reform #tcot http://icio.us/kyaewl #
    • After the #WSOP TOC concluded play for today, I have switched over to Dodgers Vs Yankees. #
    • Intelligence Committee chairwoman Sen. Dianne Feinstein open to delaying Afghan deadline #tcot #cagop http://icio.us/ah4ri3 #
    • @toomuchreality Indeed it is! But for the previous years 9 PM for West Coast worked for CBS. Did they have censor problems live? #bb12 in reply to toomuchreality #
    • @toomuchreality Shame Showtime 2 will be taped for West Coast – guess it will be feeds for me instead of Showtime – Kind of lame tho #bb12 in reply to toomuchreality #
    • @hamsterwatch Yes in previous years we saw the Showtime 2 live at 9 PM to midnight or later and last year it started at 12 midnight. in reply to hamsterwatch #
    • @hamsterwatch Last year was the first year it was taped for West Coasties and it was a flop in my book. The previous years it was live. in reply to hamsterwatch #
    • So, here we go Mexico Vs. Argentina. Somehow I am glad I am not anywhere near a Los Angeles Pub or Bar #
    • Hey Big Brother 12 fans: Do you know if Showtime 2 will have live TV of the feeds nightly to the West Coast? Or taped like last year? #BB12 #
    • Day By Day June 27, 2010 – Declaration 2.0 http://bit.ly/brcYRk #tcot #catcot #
    • Question to Self: If I think soccer/futbol is so boring why am I watching the World Cup matches? #

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    links for 2010-06-27

    • CIA Director Leon Panetta says Iran probably has enough low-enriched uranium for two nuclear weapons, but that it likely would take two years to build the bombs.

      Panetta also says he is doubtful that recent U.N. penalties will put an end to Iran's nuclear ambitions.

      He says the penalties could help to weaken Tehran's government by creating serious economic problems. But he adds, "Will it deter them from their ambitions with regards to nuclear capability? Probably not."

      Panetta tells ABC's "This Week" that there is "some debate" as to whether Iran will proceed with the bomb.

      Asked about a potential Israeli military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, Panetta said he thinks Israel is giving the U.S. room on the diplomatic and political fronts.
      +++++++
      Not a shock at all. Bush kicked the can to Obama and he has done nothing to prevent it.

      (tags: iran Israel)
    • If it persists, Byrd’s illness could complicate the financial reform bill’s path to President Barack Obama’s desk. Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, one of four Republicans who voted for the original bill, has said he might vote against the version that emerged from the reconciliation of the House and Senate versions because it adds a $19 billion bank tax.

      Should Brown vote no and Byrd is unable to vote, it would leave the bill one vote shy of the 60 needed to close debate and move to final passage.
      ++++++++
      The Dems working super majority is teetering

      (tags: Robert_Byrd)
    • The chairwoman of the Select Intelligence Committee said she is "absolutely" open to delaying the July 2011 date for a troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

      Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said on Fox News Sunday this morning that if Gen. David Petraeus wants more time in Afghanistan, she'd support him.

      "I would say give it to him, absolutely," she said. "Now, let's talk about the deadline. This is a transition point toward the beginning of a withdrawal or a draw down, as Petraeus said in his transcript before the armed services."

      Feinstein suggested that in the course of such a long war, an extra six months–the time period she was asked about–wouldn't be that long.
      +++++++
      Providing cover for Obama already. What about Gitmo, Senator?

  • Barack Obama,  Day By Day

    Day By Day June 27, 2010 – Declaration 2.0

    Day By Day by Chris Muir

    Chris, we won’t be totally independent from the travesty of the Obama Presidency until 2012 and we can only hope the coming changes in the Congressional midterm elections in November will be enough to forestall his “Big Government” agenda.

    However, I think the economy which is reeling under his spending policies will lead him to mute economic policy initiatives. American debt is too great and everyone, including America’s bankers know it.

    No mon – no fun for Obama and the big, free spending Democrats.

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    links for 2010-06-26

    • I believe it was Jean Giraudoux who first said, "Only the mediocre are always at their best."

      Barack Obama was supposed to be the best, the very best, and yet he is always, reliably, consistently mediocre. His speech on oil was no better or worse than his speech on race. Yet the Obammyboppers who once squealed with delight are weary of last year's boy band. At the end of the big Oval Office address, Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews and the rest of the MSNBC gang jeered the president. For a bewildered Obama, it must have felt like his Ceausescu balcony moment. Had they caught up with him in the White House parking lot, they'd have put him up against the wall and clubbed him to a pulp with Matthews' no-longer-tingling leg.
      ++++++
      Read it all

    • Along with grocery carts and check stands, California's supermarket shopping experience is marked by a simple question: Paper or plastic?

      Soon the answer may be neither.

      California would become the first state to ban grocery, liquor and drug stores from providing free paper or plastic bags under legislation pushed by Democrats and supported by Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

      The goal is to fight litter and lighten the load on landfills by getting shoppers to use reusable fabric bags. Those who don't could buy paper bags for a nickel or more.

      "I think the proliferation of plastic bags is unnecessary, and it's a pollutant, an urban tumbleweed," Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, D-Santa Monica, said of the lightweight bags that can litter yards and clog waterways.
      +++++++++
      Another job killer from the far left controlled California Legislature

    • One of the state's most powerful labor unions, saying it "won't be pushed around" by Meg Whitman, unveiled a scathing ad campaign Friday seizing on an altercation between the former eBay CEO and one of her employees.

      The California Nurses Association said the incident shows how disconnected the GOP gubernatorial nominee is from working people.
      ++++++
      This Saul Alinksy union crap will receive big play in the left-wing lamestream media but Whitman will be able to push back with ads.

      Schwarzenegger never fought back against these tactics and paid the price. Whitman will.

    • The local station which live streamed the Palin speech has issued a complete statement regarding their review of the unprofessional and insulting comments made by technicians and others in the media room after the event. These remarks were picked up by Fox40’s live mic and live-streamed to the world. As you can tell by my original post, I’ve come to my conclusion about the source of those remarks. Fox40 has reviewed the same material and comes to a different conclusion. After the jump I’ve linked and posted their full statement.

      Bottom line–Fox40 insists it wasn’t them. None of the reporters, technicians or anyone else in that media room were associated with Fox40. There is no apology and they do not identify those making the comments.
      +++++++
      Yeah pretty lame but as typical as the local NBC affiliate headlining her speech as a controversy. It is how the MSM rolls.

      (tags: sarah_palin)
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