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‘We can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world’s resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it’
President Barack Hussien Obama
Inaugural Address
January 20, 2009
_____________________
Ron’s post on the self-fulfilling prophesy got me thinking this morning… and then I came across this…
Tell me again why… we didn’t elect the right man at the right time for the right job?
what a relief,...no mtp means I don't have to be frustrated that David Gregory is still the 'moderator'. Of course I am using the term loosely.
Clara-nice to hear from someone from Kansas City. I agree Dick G is pretty bad. When do these guys start having substance. We need to invest in Green Energy which would re-invigorate our economy
Feisty: thanks for the shout-out.
Clara: You have more endurance than I. I gave up on MTP a long, long time ago. I now watch This Week on ABC.
Thank you for your hard work.
I hear you Ron... it's been over a year since I've bothered to get myself aggravated by Gotcha Gregory!
Clara recommended reading the transcripts and I tried that once or twice... problem is I find he comes across just as bad in print! LOL
Thanks...but NO thanks... MTP will ONLY return to my Sunday mornings when they lose the loser...
I cannot tolerate David Gregory. There is something very sinister about his smile when he is asking questions - especially of Democrats. Ms. Cheney will be on This Week. I'm sure she cannot wait to bash the President because according to her he is simply a failure. Yet she cannot seem to see what a dark, dark person her father is. Wonder if anyone will question her about Dick's closed-door meetings with the oil companies. Hmmmmmm.
He should ask Cheney about her fathers meeting with the oil industry that put them in charge for all those years. Big Oil, Wall Street, Big Business is hurting the small guy.
So do I! I made a promise to myself to never watch David Gregory & John King and I have to say I am proud to have not watch an episode of theirs since they took over their respective shows.
I have watched twice in the past year - both times Rachel Maddow was on. So, no, I don't have stamina. But, I keep hoping in 'the week ahead' there will be an announcement of Gregory's retirement. I just don't like him or his style in THIS format. Loved him as Whitehouse Correspondent - old school.
"Meet The Press" pre-empted for the French Open? Mon Dieu!!
As a follow up to the conversation yesterday regarding Joe Scarborough and the dead intern I did some research and this is what I discovered.
I apologize in advance for the length however, for whatever reason links are not accessible with this new format so I've posted the entire article... if you're interested read on... if not skip it!
Special SHOUT OUT to Dottie, PA for being my research buddy! :0)
A Death in the Congressman's Office
Does Anybody in the Press Care About Lori Klausutis?
By Denis Wright and Chris George
Once upon a time, the phrase "investigative reporter" actually meant something. It usually involved hard work, possibly even mentation. Now, it seems, they just make stuff up. Especially on the Fox News Channel, where an uninitiated viewer could easily think she/he had tuned in Comedy Central. It's "Chandra-Chandra-Chandra" with the occasional "Condit is just like Clinton" thrown in. Given our media's 24/7 obsession with the Gary Condit "scandal", you might assume that there is a real dearth of hard news to pursue.
In reality, there is indeed a news story percolating out there. The story bears remarkable and ironic similarities to the Condit/Levy story. Both involve Congressmen, rumors of infidelity, and the fate of a younger female subordinate. The details are so similar as to remind one of two alternate universes. The difference between the two stories? First, in the Klausutis case as not in the Levy case, there is a real body, very dead. Second, the Klausutis case involves a Republican.
The story had a brief flutter in the Northwest Florida press, which ran a few very short stories on Lori's death. With the exception of the Northwest Florida Daily News, they were of the "Aw-what-a-shame/ nothing-to-see-here-move-along-now-folks" variety. But nationally, this mysterious death earned a mere one paragraph mention in The Washington Post's NATION IN BRIEF column:
"FORT WALTON BEACH, FL. - Lori Klausutis, a 28-year-old office worker for Rep. Joe Scarborough (R-Fl), was found dead in the congressman's district office. Police said preliminary findings from the medical examiner's office showed no foul play or any outward indication of suicide."
Unbelievably, that was it. The story was simply dropped. A young female employee of one of Florida's Congressmen had died unexpectedly in the Congressman's office. There were no witnesses to her death and the cause of death was not apparent. Klausutis' boss, Joe Scarborough had recently resigned from Congress prematurely and unexpectedly, amid rumors about his marital fidelity and soon after a divorce. He had also abruptly resigned as publisher of the Independent Florida Sun, claiming that resigning from Congress and as publisher was necessary to spend more time with his sons.
Such circumstances make one pause. Sick to death of the clear bias of the corporate owned media, and suspicious of the odd nature of this death, we began to dig for answers. The more information we discovered, the more unlikely, and the more newsworthy the story became.
Here are the facts. Lori Klausutis had a seemingly happy life. A devoted husband who listed on his online homepage "being married to Lori" as one of the honors he enjoyed, a new home in Niceville and a Catholic congregation where she was a cantor and in whose choir she sang, were some of the elements of the Good Life she enjoyed. Her husband, Dr. Timothy Klausutis, did research and development for the munitions group at nearby Eglin Air Force Base, where he presumably made a good livelihood. Although Lori hailed from the Atlanta, Georgia area where she had attended school, there were numerous family members in the area. According to her obituary in the Fort Walton Daily News, Lori had served as President and, later, Treasurer, for the Emerald Coast Young Republicans and as a aide to Congressman Scarborough, she was active during the Florida recounts. A former neighbor, Barbara Cromer, said "Every morning, I would see her run while I walked. We'd wave to each other as we passed. I loved Lori so much. She was wonderful. She was a kind, generous person, so sweet.
Then, on Friday, July 20th, the body of Lori Klausutis, 28, was found slumped next to a desk on the floor of Florida Republican Congressman Joe Scarborough's Fort Walton Beach office where Lori had served as a constituent services coordinator since May, 1999. Her body was found around 8:00 a.m. on Friday morning by a couple arriving for an appointment. She had been dead for some time. A second employee, who would have normally arrived for work at around the same time, was away on vacation. Police cordoned off the area for investigation, later announcing that there was no reason to suspect foul play, nor were there signs of suicide.
Scarborough's office released a statement several hours after the discovery:
"My staff and family are greatly saddened by the loss of Lori Klausutis. I know Lori will be missed by the thousands of citizens who regularly contact my office to seek assistance with a variety of problems. May God grant Lori's family the grace, comfort and hope that will get them through this difficult time."
The Congressman returned to Florida that same day, and his office was quick to point out that it was not unusual for him to fly home for the weekend.
There was a great deal of ambiguity over whether Lori had suffered past medical problems. Scarborough's press secretary, Miguel Serrano, made mention of health problems in Lori's past, but could not be more specific. In response, Fort Walton Beach Police Chief Steve Hogue is quoted as saying "That's part of our investigation, checking into her medical history." Associate Medical Examiner Dr. Michael Berkland said "She had a past medical history that was significant, but it remains to be seen whether that played a role in her death". Soon after a member of the immediate family rejected out of hand that Lori had any significant medical problems. She was, in fact, quite an athlete, having recently run an 8K with a very respectable time and she belonged to the Northwest Florida Track Club.
The results of the mandated autopsy, however, were deemed "inconclusive" by Dr. Berkland, who ordered more specific toxicology tests. These results were expected by the middle of the following week, around the first or second day of August. Dr. Berkland commented at the time "This turns over several puzzle pieces in the case of her death and reveals more of the picture".
Welcome to the Wheel of Fortune.
Michael Berkland, it turns out, has a very interesting background himself. Recently relocated to Florida, it is a matter of public record that Dr. Berkland's medical license in the state of Missouri was revoked in 1998 as a result of Berkland reporting false information regarding brain tissue samples in a 1996 autopsy report. Berkland does not deny the charges.
It's also a matter of public record that he was suspended from his position as Medical Examiner in the State of Florida in July, 1999.
Quincy, he's not.
Repeated requests to Dr. Stephen Nelson, Chairman of the Medical Examiners Commission, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, have failed to verify that Dr. Berkland's suspension was lifted and that his licensure and disciplinary record are clear at the present time. Dr. Nelson was appointed Chairman of the Commission by Governor Jeb Bush.
As for Lori Klausutis, rumors began to swirl as time passed with no resolution to the case, rumors that included whispers of suicide, some emanating from inside the Beltway. Family members, angered at what they considered unfair and exploitive coverage wrote the editor of the Northwest Florida Daily News, Ralph Routon, saying "For those who knew Lori, the thought of suicide, as your published reports suggested, is absolutely unthinkable. Suicide was contrary to her faith and being. She did not suffer from seizures, nor did she have a history of medical problems." Meanwhile, the final report has been issued that Lori died as a result of a blow to the head because an undiagnosed heart condition caused her to collapse and fall, hitting her head on the desk.
The initial reports from the Medical Examiner's office denied any trauma to the body that would indicate cause of death. But Berkland acknowledged on Monday, August 6th, that Lori had sustained a "scratch and a bruise" on her head and that his original denials were to prevent undue speculation about the cause of death. "The last thing we wanted was 40 questions about a head injury", he said.
And so, what we have here is the death of a healthy young woman who died of a blow to the head and a lie from the Medical Director's office about this blow which was quite obvious to the naked eye. They then had to go search for some reason why she might have "fallen" and hit her head. And they have found an "undiagnosed cardiac arrhythmia". But a number of questions remain to be answered, and we have requested opinions from Dr. Nelson, the Chairman of the Medical Examiners Commission.
The questions are:
- Were Lori's medical records thoroughly examined for any evidence of the pre-existing heart condition? It would seem that someone must have examined her heart if she ran 8Ks.
- Did Dr. Berkland personally examine the site of death in undisturbed condition in order to support his later conclusion that the physical evidence was compatible with his later conclusions?
Presumably the heart valve condition alluded to is Mitral Valve Prolapse. This may be associated with arrhythmias, but rarely with VTach (ventricular tachycardia) or VFib (ventricular fibrillation), the only arrhythmias which would stop the flow of blood to the brain.
Generally, with syncope of whatever cause the "guarding reflex", wherein one raises a hand to protect the head, is preserved.
There are several problems with the head injury. Generally, for a closed head injury to cause bleeding inside the skull, there is a much more severe injury on the outside of the skull. Do the autopsy notes, indeed, describe such a severe injury on the outside of the skull? In fact, the only closed head injury which usually may cause bleeding inside the skull involves a fracture of the temporal bone, with rupture of the underlying artery. The most important discrepancy that should be answered is how intracranial bleeding could continue if the cardiac arrhythmia had caused a cessation of blood flow to the brain!
- Were the toxicology studies entirely negative? Was there evidence of any legal or illegal substance in the blood stream which could have caused her to lose consciousness?
- Was she pregnant? If so, were fetal blood specimens obtained to determine paternity?
These are the questions being asked by some in the medical community of Dr. Stephen Nelson and Dr. Michael Berkland, and they continue to go unanswered.
Why is there a complete media blackout on this story? Why the complete preoccupation with the similar but largely speculative Condit/Levy story? What does this say about the state of our press? What does corporate ownership of the press do to what gets to be news? How much of what we think we know as fact is actually based on selective and distorted reporting? How does that "fair and balanced" cable network explain the complete hypocrisy and contempt for truth in their handling of these two similar tales? Will we ever know the truth of how Lori Klausutis died?
Three Pivotal Questions
by the Editors
September 1, 2001 (APJP) -- Over at The American Prospect's message board thread concerning this very article, Phoenix Woman has asked a trolling Scarborough "defender" three pivotal questions. We'd love to know the answers ourselves:
1) If Lori's death was just a simple accident, then why did Rep. Scarborough and his spokesman Miguel Serrano feel the need to go to two different local TV stations within three hours of her body's being found and invent a nonexistent history of chronic medical conditions for
her -- in other words, why did they feel the need to lie about Lori's health?
2) Would you trust without question the word of a Medical Examiner who lost his ME license in two separate states (Missouri and Florida) because he LIED about his autopsy work (for instance, saying he had autopsied some brains when he hadn't)?
3) Why should whoever wrote Ms. Klausutis's obituary feel it was appropriate to mention nearly everything about her life -- EXCEPT where she'd been working since 1999?
A recent check of the Young Republican's web site found no mention of Lori or her contributions, nor any tribute to her memory nor comments about her passing. In fact, you will find no mention of her at all. If you go to The Pensacola News Journal's online pages, one of the few papers that actually covered the story, and search the site for "Klausutis" you will come up empty, even though the same search will pull up numerous stories matching "Scarborough". It seems as though someone wants to erase all traces of Lori Klausutis from the record and bury the story with her.
It's an increasingly puzzling case. We are reminded of the famous Kitty Genovese case, in New York, in 1964, where a young woman pleaded for her life over the period of 30 minutes, while neighbors ignored her cries. The assailant returned three times to stab her. With Lori Klausutis, it seems possible that a corrupt North Florida establishment is determined to keep the lid on the case, even if that means silencing the news. And our esteemed news media, from the supposed mainstream liberal press stalwarts to the near delusional on air shouters of the channel that just reports so that you can decide, willingly turn the other way and ignore Lori Klausutis. But they continue to chatter endlessly in speculation over Chandra Levy. In so doing, they ignore the cries of truth, they deny their viewers access to the truth and they utterly, once and for all, betray our faith and trust in the media.
This report was made possible by devoted citizens who are determined to bring Lori's story to the light of day. Their contributions in research and insight are more appreciated than we can say. Thank you from both of us to each and every one of you.
Excellent writeup of a great story Feisty! Yeah we really should find out just how guilty the Mourning Jerky Joe is in Lori's death, the repugnant one's coverup of his sordid affair really needs to be investigated. A real shame that MSNBC tv harbors this criminal and gives him way too much tv time, he really belongs over at Fox and Freaks with all the conservative loons. Also a real shame that MSNBC tv harbors that criminal hugger Patty Buchanon, just another Nixxon criminal who belongs in prison and not on tv.
I never watch the Mourning Jerk's show, better to wake up to VH1 Classic rocking out than listen to liars. I always switch the channel whenever Patty Buchanon lies for his party of sore losers and criminal huggers. In fact I'm back to watching VH! Classic because there really is nothing important being said at MSNBC tv today. Ahh now some real news programming as I watch the rerun of last night's The Daily Show.
Have a great weekend Feisty and everyone, take a chill pill or two or three and ignore politics for a more enjoyable experience.
Investigate and Prosecute Mourning Jerky Joe for his Crime!
Go L-A-K-E-R-S!
Wow! Thanks, Feisty Redhead. Although I have read some stories about Scarborough the death, I have never seen this story.
Odd that so much attention was given to skewering Condit and murder accusations without a body and yet so little scrutiny of a more mysterious death IN a Congressional office.
Way to GO RED! Excellent! voted!
Wow. How exciting! Isn't it interesting that Teresa Heinz' husband died in a mysterious accident, then a few years later John Kerry marries her? Then runs for president? Hmmmm.
How about that "unsolved" Vince Foster "suicide?"
Does anyone really believe that Joe Biden's wife and kid died in an "accident" in 1972? And why wasn't the story fully investigated before he ran for Vice-Jester?
And don't get me started on Ted "Abandon Cadillac" Kennedy. Why wasn't it ever investigated exactly WHY Ted wanted her dead? Could it be she knew too much?
All of the above certainly is no more ridiculous than this whole thread.
Chuck-U:
How about the Anthrax scientist that "mysteriously" committed suicide....
Anita GF.... Need I remind you? Don't feed the trolls :0))
Chuckles is only a legend in his own mind! Any recognition only encourages his asinine ravings!
We'll chat later... Ciao! Gotta make a popcorn run before the game tonight!
I always forget and feed them anyway! I'll have to watch that-- I'll catch you later :)
So, let me see if I have it straight. You all now hate Chuck Todd, James Carville and...how many other liberals that had the gall to criticize your Messiah? Oh, that's right, David Gregory. And now you dimwits are on here accusing Joe Scarborough, one of the most moderate conservatives there is, with complicity in a murder (not that there ever was a murder).
No wonder it's so easy for Jill from OK and Bill from Fairfax to come on here day after day and make you people look like fools. And your little socialist/leftwing world is so self-contained that you don't even realize it. You just think that anyone who doesn't follow the line that Keith Olbermann tells YOU to follow is a facist. As a result, no lib talking head is safe from your wrath! Oh no! What will they do? Now that you all think of MSNBC as the new facist propaganda network, who but you numbskulls is gonna watch the Home For Politics/Pervert Stings and Prison Docs? Maybe me. MSNBC always did have some pretty hot chicks.
By the way. Good job scaring the hell out of all the illegal aliens. (Good job yesterday Feisty, getting schooled after not having any idea what an "alien" is, or the definition. You took the beating like a good ,middle-aged, under-sexed, bored, overweight woman should). But I digress. The illegals are now so scared from all the LIES, fearmongering and crap coming from the lefties, that they are packing up and leaving AZ all by themselves.
For the most part Scarborough is a self absorbed pompous punk, whose claims of being a big critic of the GOP or Bush does not match reality. Being honest about Bush's ineptitude in Katrina (to any extent Joe places far too much blame on state and local government) is not courageous criticism of W. And while Joe S. will on occasion criticize GOP leaders, he almost always will reflexively dump on a Democrat regardless of whether its relevant to the current topic. Sometimes he will give Democrats and Obama deserved praise, but more often than not he does his best to promote the GOP's spin.
However I don't see any basis to link Scarborough to his staffers death. Unlike the Gary Condit Chandra Levy episode, which was an example of the worst of the 24-7 cable news over blowing the missing white girl story (add in politics, and they go nuts), which only got off the cable news because of the attack on 9-11, there is no valid basis to fuel the speculation. Hatred for someone doesn't justify appearing like a conspiracy nut. Seriously if evidence supported Scarborough's involvement in her death it would have come out. In Levy's case a Congressional intern was missing, but her purse car keys etc were in her apt. Levy's close friends (and family) knew she was having an affair with Condit, which would make him a suspect in her disappearance. InitiallyCondit lied to the family about his affair, (and to police), which understandably helped fuel the families and the police's suspicions. And then cable news went nuts with the story.Eventually Condit was cleared in any involvement in her disappearance and death. None of those factors are here in the Scarborough staff members death.
According to this story a 28 year old staff member was found dead at 8 AM Friday morning in Scarborough's Florida office, Joe flew home from DC that Friday. That is the extent of the actual facts. Questions have been raised without any basis, i.e. was she pregnant, and "If so, were fetal blood specimens obtained to determine paternity?" This was a married women with no allegation, by any source that she was unfaithful to her husband, let alone pregnant with Scarborough's child, and yet because "Denis Wright and Chris George" writes an article (published where) asking that question it becomes legitimate? Regardless of what anyone thinks of Joe Scarborough is it really appropriate to drag this poor dead girl and her husband through the mud to raise questions? Would you want that done to your daughter, sister or spouse?
If her family (husband, parents, siblings) believed that her death was a result of foul play don't you think they would have gone public with their questions? The Levy case gained 24 hour coverage because her parents (good Democrats who helped get her the internship) questioned Condit's involvement, the media didn't invent the suspicions. Their concerns proved wrong, but the concerns were raised by the parents. This young women's husband's a researcher (presumably PhD, it doesn't state the type of "Dr."), if he suspected foul play involving someone in Scarborough's office or a stranger does anyone think he'd remain silent?
The questions raised are either baseless, and demeaning to the young man (i.e. was she pregnant, etc.), or down right stupid. The young women was found dead at 8 AM at the office alone, the other co-worker was on vacation, and Scarborough flew home from DC on Friday-not Thursday. I doubt there is a commercial flight leaving DC that gets you into Penescola (with time to get from the airport to where ever his office was) before 8 AM. But the implication is that Scarborough's flying home the day of the death is suspicious. Anyone whose watched Morning Joe knows that until his family relatively recently moved to NYC, on Fridays Joe flew back to Florida. My Congressman flies home to his district almost every weekend. That is not unusual or suspicious, especially when the wife and kids remain in the district.
Presumably she was home Thursday night, or the article would make a big deal out of the fact she worked late the night before, and failed to come home. One came assume she came into the office Friday morning, and around 8 AM was found dead. Does someone really believe Scarborough was at his office early that Friday morning, and killed her in the office before 8? Or that he killed her Thursday night, and got back to DC to fly home after her death was discovered, and yet no one saw him Thursday, and her husband didn't mention her failure to come home Thursday evening? Come on!
Look I'm not a fan of Scarborough, and I wish Lawrence O'Donnell was the host. If I didn't want to hear from his guest I wouldn't watch his show, but think about it believing that Scarborough was involved in her death is baseless, and frankly makes those willing to suspend reality and believe in this conspiracy theory look foolish!
By the way. Good job scaring the hell out of all the illegal aliens. (Good job yesterday Feisty, getting schooled after not having any idea what an "alien" is, or the definition. You took the beating like a good ,middle-aged, under-sexed, bored, overweight woman should). But I digress. The illegals are now so scared from all the LIES, fear mongering and crap coming from the lefties, that they are packing up and leaving AZ all by themselves.
-------------
Chuck U:
You are a certified hater of females-- the disrespect just oozes in your postings. Why would you say such a thing about someone that you don't even know? You are off limits when you start attacking people referencing their sex lives.
Feisty isn't fat anymore than I'm and you most Certainty know nothing about anyone personal lives. It's a beautiful thing to be a middle age woman; and still look better than these babies (you are probably one). Being a MALE-- I would think that your wick would burn out sooner than us MIDDLE aged females will-- why we're still having children. All you're able to do is look and dream when you get older and hope that you will be healthy enough to take a purple pill. We don't require such desperate measures...
Try commenting with meaningful discourse...if you're capable of doing so.
Thanks Anita! Your my girl...
Block FU... that's what I've done! You'll be MUCH happier :0))
All you have to do is clock on his name and then when it directs you to the Newsvine site CLICK block author...
Thanks for the tip. He is ALWAYS nasty.
There's only one thing worth watching this Sunday, the Lakers whipping the Ancient Celtics in game 2. All of these worthless political pundit shows on Sunday are nothing more than a bunch of irrelevant hot air being bandied about and no fact checking whatsoever. On the weekends I tend to ignore politics and news, time to do other things that are far more satisfying.
I'm really getting sick of Andrea Mitchell and Savannah Guthrie going on and on about showing us those little balls of oil that is really more like a childish attempt at potty humor and I'm definitely not happy that now the media idiots are trying to say they look like balls of chocolate mousse, yeah great let's ruin our image and desire to eat chocolate mousse.
One thing that just tore it with me was Andrea whining about how Obama has to go to the Gulf rather than his Asian trip to Indonesia and Australia. Yes the Gulf oil spill is important, but then so is Obama going to visit the most numerous Muslim nation in the world - Indonesia. After Isreal's illegal pirate attack in international waters against peaceful humanitarian aid ships he certainly needs to reassure Muslim nations that the USA is not going to throw them to the Isreali wolves. He might also learn a useful thing about how Australia dealt with their massive offshore oil spill BP Oil caused a while back.
If MSNBC tv is going to bend over backwards trying to appease rightwing crackpot tea baggers then MSNBC tv is going to lose it's core Liberal viewers and become yet another cheap version of CNN (Fox Lite). I just can't tolerate what MSNBC tv is doing right now and will just wait for Big Ed, Keith and Rachel to bring some sanity back to the channel later tonight.
You need to listen to Hannity if you really want to get P'd off. To hear that squeaky -voiced crybaby, Obama snuck down to the bottom of the gulf, cut the pipe himself, then refused to let anyone try to fix it. But, as the guy in the FedEx ad says- "I di-gress".
I just think it's so odd how we haven't heard any Republicans since the oil spill has started. Could I be wrong or are they trying to stay very faraway from this because all they have said in the past is drill baby drill.
Oh, you'll hear from Republicans. They're the ones who are running back to that Big Government that they otherwise abhor crying for help because BP can't clean up the mess they made.
actually Sarah has twitted and facebooked her statements. She said that Drill Baby Drill meant in Alaska in ANWAR not deep water drilling.
Actually, I believe that the statement for ANWAR and Alaska was "Drill Here, Drill Now".
...either that or that's what Bristol Palin said to Levi Johnston that one night.
Feisty, I don't think for one minute that Joe Scarborough had a thing to do with the tragic death of this young lady, anymore than I thought Condit had anything to do with Chandra's death. How Lori died remains a question for sure. But because Condit was always a prime suspect (wrongly so), it doesn't mean we have to go down the same road with Joe S, if that's what the purpose of this article is about.
Lori's family has every right to know what happened to her. No question. But I've seen speculation all over the internets for years pointing a possible finger @ Joe S. It's wrong.
Is there a bias in the corporate media? No question. And the writers of this article are correct in pointing that out. But I think they are behaving in the same way as the media they deplore are with their not so masked "why isn't anyone grilling Joe S" type suspicions.
I certainly don't know if there was any foul play. This is something the Police Department should have concluded one way or another. They dropped the ball on this and it's wrong. But my feeling is I doubt they were covering something up.
Still crazy after all these years...
Hey Pat!
After the years we've been together I NEVER thought I would say these words... but... I disagree!
I remember the Condit 24/7 coverage and the fact that I never even heard about this girl - tells me there's something rottin in the Morning Joe! I'm not saying necessarily that he personally did it... BUT he was definitely involved up to his beady little eye balls!
They ran Condit out of town on a rail and this a@@ gets to slink back home and is then rewarded with his own MSNBC talk show!
2+2 is not equaling 4 for me!
Thanks though for your perspective...
And I know you're a baseball/basketball fan... but let's hear it for those Blackhawk's! :0)
BTW, when I commented on the story posted about the body found in Joe S's office, I did not mean to imply that he had anything to do with it. I just found the disparity between the investigations and the news coverage to be particularly odd considering they happened about the same time.
Jody... Understood! I think there's a whole lot more to this story and neither we nor Laurie's family will ever know what truly happened... 28 year old women usually don't keel over suddenly and if they do the coroner that does the autopsey has a VALID medical license just sayin...
God forbid the jerk was implicated... then we wouldn't have to listen to the right wing Teddy Kennedy ramblings. any longer..
Feisty in certain places in the country ANYBODY can be a coroner. In some places the coroner is also the funeral director. That's why there are TV shows like CSI NY CSI Miami and not CSI Hooterville. Or is it Pensacola ?
Eric, you're killing me!!!!!!!! lol
Whenever I used to get too optimistic about the Red Sox over the years, my uncle would stand there - wherever we were - the living room, a coffee shop - on a corner - didn't matter - he would just sit or stand there and repeat - over and over - every year that the New York Yankees won the World Series - from memory - just to annoy me.
Go Boston Celtics. C'mon guys!!!
JoAnn, I enjoyed your earlier post to me. And while I agree with you there is much there to get turned off by professional sports, I look at the positives of sports. Especially when your home team is in the hunt. It's great for the economy, people stand around @ work talking about it; it's a great way especially to get together with family and friends during the playoffs.
I still believe he deserves the honor of pitching a perfect game and seeing his name in the record books. It as well would be huge for the fans.
Boo Bud Selig. Boo.
Pat -
I think I actually envy your position on this one - I really miss the days when I used to eat, sleep and breathe sports. Started at age 11 with the Phillies, moved on to the 76ers back in those wonderful Wilt Chamberlain/Bill Russell days, took up with the Flyers when they were the new team in town back in the original NHL expansion, and at one point even had season tickets for a number of years. In football, it was initially the Dallas Cowboys - long story, but anyone who thinks politics can get ugly should try being a Cowboys fan in Philly sometime! Eventually moved on from them to the Dolphins and most recently to your Pats, back when Adam Vinatieri was still there - wow, what a clutch player! Tried following him to the Colts, but it was just never the same. Oh, and if Ron, Indiana's listening in - any word on whether he'll be back this year?
I'm not sure exactly when the passion started to disappear - it didn't happen overnight, and I miss it soooo much sometimes!- but no matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to get the feeling back. (Oh, no - now I'm gonna have that Barry Manilow song stuck in my head all weekend.....)
But stories like that one this week make we want to keep trying. Hope that Galarraga has many more great career moments.
And since I've got no vested interest either way, I'll give you a "Go, Celtics!" just for the heck of it!
You have not heard from republicans because the only thing they say is no and they are not allowed to say no to BP or any other oil company.
I have yet to figure out why MTP doesn't air because of the French Open. It's on at 8 in IA and tennis starts at 9 or 10 so we get reruns or those 30-minute ads selling products we don't need which are guarateed to make your life better. When I lived in CA, most of the east coast shows were delayed broadcasts.
My viewing of MTP and This Week has been sporadic for quite awhile. I came to the conclusion that a break from the political battle was healthy. David Gregory seems to be trying harder to grill both sides and to keep his personal views out of the mix but my viewing of any political weekend show is strictly based on guests. I do still watch Fareed Zakarias "GPS" which I find interesting because it is different. That said, I have again returned to my favorite 8 AM Sunday show which is devoid of politics and strong on other stuff--CBS's Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood where musicians, artists, and some silly fluff give me a break from the predictable right/left talking (shouting) chatter and the endless banter of those so-called expert political critics. It's like a fresh summer breeze after a thunderstorm.
Earlier this week I was critical of Chuck Todd's remarks about President Obama. I was not being hyper-sensitive (my view). But I should clarify some of my criticism. First off, I think Chuck is in a difficult situation--he's political director, he has a "political" talk show every weekday morning--the conflict is that he is then expected to be an unbiased White House Reporter. That's a tough balancing act so most of the time I cut him some slack. Why? I've seen him give very different reports (same topic) on NBC with Brian Williams from his report to Morning Joe and again when he reports on Hardball or Countdown--it's like watching different reporters who happen to look alike. I do not object to criticism of policy or decisions the President makes or discussion of the pros/cons. My problem with Chuck's comment last Friday was that it crossed the line into a mean-spirited and personal-- the president was... stupid and arrogant. That's personal thinking. I have no problem with Chuck saying he thought the Pres was not doing a good job handling the oil crisis and why he thought that. But to use the words stupid and arrogant to describe his views was inexcusable. I would have said the same thing if it had been former Pres Bush he was talking about. If Chuck wants to make a personal comment off the air to his coworkers or friends and family, go for it but as the unbiased WH reporter, it is disrespectful. In the era of incivility and disrespectful behavior by so many, the least we can expect is civilily in our journalist's reports.
As for Chris Matthews, he's passionate like many who have TV talk shows and when I find it is simply too crazy and has become illogical, I stop watching for awhile.
Jody, the French Open Men's Final is being broadcast live starting at 9 AM EDT on Sunday.
Jody:
As always, you are right on the money. Well said.
I've been following this bashing of Chuck Todd and it seems to me you folks are being way overly sensitive. Didn't see the show, but have read the transcript of his remarks. And I gotta tell ya, it's pretty clear to me that Todd was referring to the White House staff and not the President specifically. He used the word "they" several times, and in context I think that meant the multiple persons who are responsible for doing various things in the White House -- like keep their boss out of trouble. "They" (a plural) could not possibly have been meant to refer to one person (singular), namely the President.
And if my take is correct, then his criticisms were entirely fair and not over the line. If in his professional judgment Todd thinks the White House staff is acting like the gang that couldn't shoot straight, then it is fair game to point that out. I agree he used harsh words in his criticism, but I disagree that his criticsm was directed at Obam specifically.
Da Noid. Thanks, I thought it was 10.
Bill and Jody -
Not having cable, I didn't see this either, but I think the issue comes down to the multiple roles Jody was talking about and which hat Chuck was wearing at the time. As long as it's made clear that a statement is made in a "commentary" or "analysis" role, I think everyone's entitled to their opinions. It's when Chuck's - or anyone else's - job function is "reporting" that use of subjective terms is wrong, and in this case calling the President "brilliant and humble" would be just as wrong as "stupid and arrogant".
The real problem is that most people don't distinguish between the two any more. Jody, don't know if you saw my reply to an earlier post of yours this week about how far over that line our local Fox affiliate's "newscasts" has strayed of late, but it's getting totally out of hand.
There was a reason why Walter Cronkite was once the most trusted man in America. I can't imagine any current "journalist" ever winning any similar award. But hey - they've conditioned us not to trust anybody or any thing, so they've got no one to blame but themselves.
Hi, Bill. Whether the words were directed at Pres Obama or not, using the words arrogant and stupid crosses the line into mean-spirited and personal as opposed to objective analysis, unbiased reporting. We disagree here because I think the words were directed at the President. When referring to "they" as a group in the WH, that "they" includes the President, so whether intended or not, Chuck called the president stupid and arrogant. That was wrong. As a WH reporter, that person's job is to report on what the WH is doing, ask questions, probe, get the details of what/how/who and report specifics.--opinion of how they should do it or whether the reporter thinks they're not doing it right should be left out of the equation. It's what is wrong with journalism, it has crossed the line between reporting the facts and the reporter telling his/her version of facts with a dose of personal opinion thrown in.
My issue with Chuck is not anything specifically he's said or not said. It's that it seems as though MSNBC has decided a week in advance what lead they are going to run with for the following week and that everyone who appears on the network, (aside from Rachel Maddow it appears), jumps in line with the ongoing narrative whether it makes sense or not.
Yesterday I said that I think it would be a good idea for Robert Gibbs to stop taking questions from MSNBC reporters at his press conferences. That is not because I am particularly angry with MSNBC. It is because Gibbs' control over his press conferences is one of the few tools at his disposal to indicate WH disapproval over that narrative. The Bush WH used that tool on a pretty consistent basis and I haven't really seen much of it from this administration.
Freezing out reporters definitely means that your coverage from those reporters is going to slant negative, but if your coverage from those reporters is going to slant negative anyway and if it is going to slant negative based on something as insubstantial, ephemeral and unverifiable as the 'feelings' of the entire nation, it is your responsibility as the press secretary to use every weapon in your arsenal to strike back at the media corporation who is driving that narrative.
Any presumed 'emotion' by the nation's population is a particularly nasty line of narrative to drive because just as there's no way to prove it, there's no way for the WH to DISPROVE it either. Which means that it's just sort of out there. And if enough people repeat it, then eventually it become's Ron's self-fulfilling prophecy. Fox News does this all the time. They presume thoughts and motivations that may or may not be the case and by the time they've cycled through 10-15 'experts' who all presume the same private thoughts and motivations, those private thoughts and motivations have become status quo in the minds of those watching.
The WH cannot really strike back against Fox News because the viewers of Fox News don't really care whether White House officials answer their reporters' questions or not. MSNBC, however, is still somewhat dependent on the goodwill of the left. And if the White House demonstrates that the goodwill toward MSNBC is undeserved, then the corporation will suffer because of it.
I am not pissed at MSNBC, but tactically, Gibbs needs to gain control over the situation, even if it requires the diminishing of Chuck Todd as MSNBC's Political Director.
Chris Matthews has lost his mind. He keeps asking all of his guest how, who and when will the Spill be stopped! That is pure lunacy.
I used to like Chris and his passion, but he has lost it over this Spill and to keep insisting the President "fix it" is just insanity. The President can't "fix it" Chris!
JoAnne. Thanks for helping with the clarification. Adding the "humble and brilliant" was a good way to put it because that is equally wrong in the context of "reporter". Yes, I did read your comment about your local FOX stations. It's disturbing to think that we no longer get actual news. I'll have to check the local FOX station to see what they're doing. I rarely watch it except during football season.
Yes, there was good reason why Walter Cronkhite was the most trusted man in America. I never knew which political party he preferred, he was unbiased at all times. For the most part Tom Brokaw, Peter Jennings and Dan Rather (until Bush sent him over the edge) tried to keep things unbiased but right-wing radio and FOX have had a negative impact on the media in general. In order for some truth to get through, other stations like CBS, NBC, ABC, and their cable versions had to start countering so it is more difficult for them to be like Walter Cronkhite.
BTW, Chuck Todd, if you're reading, I still like you--I bought your book last year and enjoyed it. It's just that your words provided an example of what I think is wrong with media reporting. When I see you in front of the White House regardless of what show, then you are the official NBC White House reporter and then opinion should be off the table. When I see you on The Daily Rundown, opinion or criticism is fine.
Regarding Robert Gibbs' daily WH briefings - I would like to see the seating arrangement change with each briefing. The last row comes up to the first row, the first row moves to the second row, and so on. Some reporters NEVER have the opportunity to sit up front and be recognized. It shouldn't be just the major TV network reporters that are always called upon. Other reporters have good questions, too (and sometimes better ones!)
Well gang-- I've got to get moving it's been great today! Thanks First Read really do like the new format. Everyone in my gang-- I'll see you on the Book this weekend! Have a good one!
When I see the name Liz Cheney as a guest, that means I won't be watching because the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and I find both the tree and the apple to be wormy.
Today's job numbers were, in a word, dreadful.
The overwhelming majority were temporary census jobs, and there is a report out now that those numbers were inflated. It can be done, folks, and pretty easily.
Add to that the fact that 322,000 people were moved into the limbo world of disaffected workers, (those who want to work, are ready, willing, and able to work, but have given up because of their belief that there are no jobs to be had), and there is a world of hurt in the employment world.
Fourth quarter gdp was revised downward more than two percentage points, (another 'unprecedented' move from the Obama White House), and first quarter has likewise been revised downward, from weak to downright anemic.
That stimulous plan of Obama's has proven to have stimulated nothing but the deficit.
Well, the folks on this board still worship at his feet. Fortunately for the rest of us, you are now in the minority. Unfortunately for the rest of us. we have to wait until January for the clean-up crew to arrive.
In my mind, the country was in the position of a business with a really rotten management team. Things got so bad, the entire team was repleaced.
Unfortunately for the share holders, the replacements turned out to be theives who are now robbing us blind.
This new crop of Republicans will have their work cut out for them. As an American, I wish them well. I also wish that our thin-skinned president will have the response to that particular brand of criticism that he has shown in the past, and will resign.
What the hell are you babbling about? I understand you dont agree with the job numbers but as your post went on you made absolutely no sense! Please stay coherent!
UCG... just more ofthe usual psycho babble...
NoJO you really need to stop the self medicating there hon... you use to at least be coherant!
Poor No Jo: Still completely ignoring that it was the Republicans, headed by Cheney/Bush that got us in this mess in the first place. Question: is it hard to ignore facts to further the hate that you spew?
I'm tellin you.... NoJOAllBlow is an SNL skit waiting to happen... she writes the material all by herself!
Anyone elsed wondering if Chris Matthews had a breakdown? Not that I'm complaining he's not on tonight but I'm really not in the mood for Chuck Todd either!
The numbers were dreadful. 90% of the jobs created were government census jobs. Those jobs are temporary. They are not sustainable. Without sustainable job creation, our recovery is not sustainable. At the end of the day I saw congressmen saying the terrible numbers mean they will have to spend more government money! If it's not working....just do more of the same! How can they not realize Band-aids always eventually dry up and fall off.
One piece of good news was that while employers weren't hiring, they were extending hours. They will only be able to simply extend hours for awhile, and that could mean more jobs in the future.
More government spending will do more damage than good.
What we need is a business friendly and transparent legislative environment. Employers are uncertain about regulations, taxes, and legislation. They're not going to hire if they're not sure what they'll have to deal with in the future. With the powers that be consistently berating those "greedy businesses" (ie: the ones that create jobs), I think employers are scared. If the government had stayed out most of it, we may have gone through a normal peak and trough business cycle and been out this mess long ago. (Some of their intervention was needed and helped. Much of it was a huge waste of resources and payoffs and pork and simply more band aids won't heal the wound).
I'm happy for the 41,000 who were added to the payroll in private sector jobs. Only 14,959,000 more people to employ and we'll be in good shape.
Blame the Republicians for the oil spil ..they voted to let "their friends " get the standards lowered. and they also voted to DE REGULATE the banking system ....... Hows that DRILL BABY DRILL thingy...working out for ya?
cheney/bush should go to prision !!!
Dreadful? As in, another 700,000 lost in one month??
Does THAT ring a bell, fool?
KeepN it- sorry, last post was supposed to go with NoJo's....
Wouldn't NOJOALLBLOW be a hoot to have at your next dinner party? Being as 'perky' & optimistic as she is... LOL