Even as Israelis and Palestinians plunged deeper into conflict, U.S. President-elect Barack Obama remained silent, refusing to budge from his one-president-at-a-time mantra.
Obama takes office on January 20 but has not commented on the Middle East crisis since Israel launched attacks on Gaza nine days ago. His advisers insist that only President George W. Bush can speak for America until then.
The Palestinian death toll in nine days of Israeli attacks has risen to more than 500. Hamas, which ended a six-month ceasefire, has fired rockets deeper into Israel than ever before, hitting major cities and killing four Israelis.
While most prominent U.S. politicians have backed Israel, critics have noted that Obama joined Bush in condemning the killing of civilians in attacks in November in Mumbai, India. They would have liked him to say something about the fate of Palestinian civilians caught in the fighting.
The president-elect also has commented on the global economic crisis and his plans to try to pull the U.S. economy out of recession.
Asked about the apparent contradiction, an Obama transition aide who asked not to be named said on Sunday: “President Bush is our nation’s president until January 20, and he is responsible for our nation’s diplomacy with the world.
“During this transition period, we are not engaging in any action that could send confusing signals to the world about who speaks on behalf of the United States.”
Domestic politics and international diplomacy could be factors in Obama’s silence. He may hope the crisis will reach a turning point where a new president, untarnished by previous comments, can make a difference with a fresh start.
He also knows any statement is fraught with traps.Even as Israelis and Palestinians plunged deeper into conflict, U.S. President-elect... more
When he ran for president, Bill Richardson touted more than an adventurous style and impressive resume. He was the guy who embraced flaws as a strength, the one who said the American people “don’t want blow-dried candidates with perfection.”
A federal grand jury investigation into what could be a serious flaw, however, has led New Mexico’s governor to a tough decision to leave the national political stage–at least for now.
Richardson on Sunday scrapped his nomination to be Barack Obama’s commerce secretary. A federal grand jury is looking into how a California firm that contributed to Richardson’s political activities won a lucrative state government contract.
The former U.S. diplomat sounded diplomatic in announcing his decision. He said he has done nothing wrong, but figured a dragged-out confirmation could slow down Obama’s work. And so Richardson withdrew, spoke with pride about sticking with his job as governor, and told Obama he’s still eager to serve down the line.
“The governor is confident that he will be cleared,” said Richardson’s spokesman, Gilbert Gallegos.When he ran for president, Bill Richardson touted more than an adventurous style and... more
City officials say the most publicized rat warning sign in Chicago has vanished.
Earlier this week, Chicago Sun-Times photographer John White shot a picture of Gov. Rod Blagojevich ducking out of his Ravenswood Manor home to avoid passing through a news media gauntlet.
The photo showed Blagojevich next to a city sign that said, “Warning” and “Target Rats” with a picture of a rat inside a bull’s-eye.
On Friday morning, Blagojevich left his house by the same back door, but the rat sign had been taken down, even though it was posted in a city-owned alley.
City officials say they suspect the governor or somebody close to him saw White’s unflattering picture and yanked down the sign.
They plan to put up another sign.City officials say the most publicized rat warning sign in Chicago has vanished.... more
DETROIT — Chrysler LLC received its $4 billion low-interest federal loan Friday, helping the auto maker continue funding its operations.
“This initial loan will allow the company to continue an orderly restructuring, while pursuing our vision to build the fuel-efficient, high-quality cars and trucks people want to buy,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Robert Nardelli in a statement.
Undisclosed issues in Chrysler’s application process slowed the payout, which was slated to be made by the end of December. General Motors Corp. received a loan payment of $4 billion on Wednesday and is scheduled to receive more money during the next two months.
Chrysler has been hurt more than GM and Ford Motor Co. by the U.S. recession because it relies on North America for about 90% of its sales. Tight credit and a weak economy are keeping consumers away from showrooms.
Chrysler’s majority owner, Cerberus Capital Management LP, is interested in finding a partner for Chrysler.DETROIT — Chrysler LLC received its $4 billion low-interest federal loan Friday,... more
Right-wing flame thrower Ann Coulter blasts incoming First Lady Michelle Obama as a freakish Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis imitator in a book to be published next week.
In her latest screed, titled “Guilty: Liberal ‘Victims’ and their Assault on America,” Coulter accuses the liberal left of playing the victim when in fact, she argues, they are the victimizers.
As usual, Coulter throws plenty of bombs herself.
Lashing out at the President-elect’s wife, Coulter wrote, “Her obvious imitation of Jackie O’s style - the flipped-under hair, the sleeveless A-line dresses, the short strands of fake pearls - would have been laughable if done by anyone other than a media-designated saint.”
Coulter said Cindy McCain, the wife of vanquished GOP nominee John McCain, “dressed well without freakishly imitating famous First Ladies in history.”
Coulter facetiously and snidely refers to Michelle Obama as a “saint” and “Mother Teresa” and suggests that her public service career “advanced in lockstep with the political advancement of her husband.”
In the book, Coulter repeatedly refers to the President-elect as “B. Hussein Obama” and complains that the media “literally wanted to have sex with him.”
Can someone explain to me why Ann “I Really A Man” Coulter seems to think she’s still relevant? Who the hell cares what she thinks . You know folk are reaching when the only thing they can think to complain about is the fact that you dress like past First Ladies. Gosh no. Not that. I don’t know, Michelle Obama could be a drug addicted Stepford Wife who steals from her own charity to feed her prescription drug habit. I’m just saying:Right-wing flame thrower Ann Coulter blasts incoming First Lady Michelle Obama as a... more
WTF??? What’s Samuel L. Jackson doing getting all snuggly with First Lady Elect Michelle Obama and her kids???? He is looking very close to the First Family! Where is Barack Obama during all this?WTF??? What’s Samuel L. Jackson doing getting all snuggly with First Lady Elect... more
Oh, it’s ok, he says…park the tank in front of the fire hydrant. We’re only going to be in there for a minute, they won’t tow us…
Israeli tanks and troops have launched a ground invasion to reoccupy parts of the northern Gaza strip as the military escalated its assault on the Palestinian enclave in an attempt to curb Hamas rocket attacks on Israel.
With Israel’s chief military spokesman warning that the attack would take “many long days”, the Israeli Cabinet also authorized the call of thousands more reservists. As Israeli tanks and infantry crossed into northern Gaza reports began to emerge of fighting between Hamas and Israeli troops. The invasion comes after Hamas warned Israeli forces entering Gaza faced a “black destiny” and vowed that they would be defeated.
Palestinian witnesses said a small column of military vehicles moved across the border firing tracer bullets after dark. The Israeli army said the assault is intended to take control of territory in the north of the Gaza strip from where Hamas fires its rockets.
“The objective is to destroy the Hamas terror infrastructure in the area of operations,” said a spokeswoman, Major Avital Leibovitch. “We are going to take some of the launch areas used by Hamas.”
However, Israel said this is not the start of a reoccupation of Gaza.Oh, it’s ok, he says…park the tank in front of the fire hydrant. We’re only... more
Like many of my fellow bloggers, I don’t have the credentials to argue the legal issues. I’m inclined to believe no matter what the constitution or case law says, if the Senate wants to keep Burris out, it can find the legal way to do it. Politically, on the other hand, I’m betting Burris gets sworn in. And Blagojevich — after providing plenty more fodder for the late night comics (who never doubted the pols would give them more material) — will walk. No conviction. No time. Maybe a plea and small fine.
When I was a much younger man I paid the rent for a lease-holding, unemployed roommate. When I found a better apartment and told the roommate, he changed the locks and locked me out in anger. When I had the superintendent let me in to gather my belongings, the roommate had me arrested for burglary. Hauled off from my place of employment, finger-printed, booked and released, I had to hire a lawyer and show up in court. Three times! The ex-roommate called in sick. On the third the case was thrown out. My only recourse was to file a civil suit that would cost more money and recover none. I walked away with a lesson learned: the law can be used as an ugly weapon.
Blagojevich’s evident glee at the press conference announcing Roland Burris and featuring Bobby Rush — the only person ever to defeat President-elect Barack Obama in any election for any office — reminds me of the evil genius of that long-ago roommate. I know nothing of Chicago politics but I knew something about NYC politics. It’s simply not out of the question that Blagojevich understood he could get a don’t “hang or lynch” Burris quote from a Bobby Rush. My problem with the pick has nothing to do with law or the constitution. My problem is it epitomizes old-school big-city racial politics at its worst. I hope Obama got a lot of R&R on that last vacation of his. This circumstance may be the least of his problems; but for his post-racial presidency it may be the most iconic.
Oh, and, btw, to those who say that Burris should have turned it down, I say right back to you that Charlie Rangel should have announced that he will not run again and saved everyone a whole lot of angst! Burris has nothing to lose!Like many of my fellow bloggers, I don’t have the credentials to argue the legal... more
In case you’ve been in a coma or lost in the desert or have been somewhere with no TV, radio or newspapers, the Big Three, as they’re called, of the automobile industry - GM, Ford, Chrysler - are hankering for a bailout and are asking Congress to pony up somewhere in the neighborhood of $35 million. Their claim was that unless the money is forthcoming, all three of them will go down the tube along with millions of jobs.
After at first coming to town on corporate jets - not a good idea when you’re claiming to be broke - and then, a month or so later, driving or riding to D.C. in hybrid vehicles, they came to our nation’s Capitol with their hands out. Even with the scaled-down transportation, Congress balked at the amount, with the U.S. Senate refusing to go along with the U.S. House (whose motto is, apparently, we’ll spend your money on damned near anything) and so President George W. Bush finally agreed to use some of the “Toxic Assets Recovery Plan” monies to loan Chrysler and GM about $13.4 billion with another $4 billion or so in March if the auto industry comes up with plans to get real and obtain a bottom line that is not sucking mud.
While there are all sorts of explanations as to how the Big Three got into this sorry state, one thing cannot be ignored: The U.S. auto industry has vehemently opposed every attempt to make the industry more responsive to consumers’ needs and wants.
It is by now common knowledge that every time there was a bill introduced to raise the fuel standards, the Big Three reacted as if someone had shoved cattle prods up their collective derrieres and would send in hordes of lobbyists to oppose the measure. Congress would then routinely vote it down. Even the bill that passed this year won’t require new fuel standards for several years. Consequently, most of the autos and trucks manufactured by the Big Three get about 12 miles per gallon - downhill with a tailwind and belching smoke all the way.
From seat belts to air bags to turn signals, the knee-jerk reaction of Ford, GM and Chrysler was to oppose any and all. No matter about public safety or convenience, the general response to Congress was: “Don’t tell us what to do.” Of course, when Congress did tell them what to do, the automakers bragged about the “improvements” and promptly raised their prices.
Now, akin to those “rugged individualists” out West, the auto industry is pleading, “Give us the money and go away” a common cry by those who like the government’s money but don’t like any restrictions or prohibitions.
At this point, it is assumed that government money flowing to Chrysler and GM (for now, Ford doesn’t need any help, which didn’t stop it from going to D.C. for a handout) will have some strings attached but as targets, not requirements. The House bill, which Bush is using as a template, gives some indication of those strings: The automakers will need to promise to manufacture cars and trucks that get better gas mileage, manage things a bit better, seek concessions from the United Auto Workers, which is not at fault for much of anything as members will build whatever comes down the line, and keep knee-jerk negative reactions to consumerism to a minimum.
And, for goodness sake, stop objecting to turn signals.In case you’ve been in a coma or lost in the desert or have been somewhere with no... more
This is pretty hilarious! What a great ad by furniture store Leather Creations in Deerfield, IL. I would almost have to visit this store just based on the ad!This is pretty hilarious! What a great ad by furniture store Leather Creations in... more
I thought I would kick off the New Year with a little jab one of my favorite punching bags (aside from Sarah Palin)… OJ SIMPSON!!!! OJ and I have been corresponding while he is incarcerated, and he said he gets a kick out of the pictures we put up of him. He does seem truly sorry.
HAPPY NEW YEAR FOR 2009!!!!I thought I would kick off the New Year with a little jab one of my favorite punching... more
Bisexual twins, OJ jailed, buh-bye Polaroids, Japanese charity porn, a giant tuber, sexy money, Paula Abdul, and a bunch of cursing news anchors.
infoMania is a half-hour satirical news show that airs on Current TV. The show puts a comedic spin on the 24-hour chaos and information overload brought about by the constant bombardment of the media. Hosted by Conor Knighton and co-starring Brett Erlich, Sarah Haskins, Ben Hoffman, and Sergio Cilli, the show airs on Thursdays at 10 pm Eastern and Pacific Times and can be found online at current.com/infomania. And make sure to check out our facebook profile for special features at infomaniafacebook.com.Bisexual twins, OJ jailed, buh-bye Polaroids, Japanese charity porn, a giant tuber,... more
Contempt in L.A. after Simpson's sentencing
Former football star 'got what he deserved' a decade after murder trial
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Goldman family ‘thrilled’ with O.J. sentence
The Manson deaths: The report from Dec. 2, 1969
O.J. Simpson sentenced to long prison term
updated 7:12 p.m. CT, Fri., Dec. 5, 2008
LOS ANGELES - In the city where O.J. Simpson walked free in one of the most celebrated murder trials of the last century, people said that justice — delayed for more than a decade — was finally served.
Simpson's acquittal in October 1995 in the double murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, remains fresh in the minds of those who remember the "Trial of the Century."
Contempt for the former NFL star was apparent among those interviewed Friday, although most weren't glued to their televisions or radios like they were when the verdict was read in Simpson's criminal murder trial.
It fills my heart with hope when justice prevails.Contempt in L.A. after Simpson's sentencing
Former football star 'got what... more
L’ex campione di football O.J. Simpson, scampato al carcere per l’omicidio della moglie nel 1994, è stato condannato a 15 anni per sequestro di persona e rapina a mano armata. I fatti risalgono al 16 settembre 2007 quando Simpson venne arrestati per furto con scasso perchè insieme a quattro amici si era introdotto in una stanza di un albergo di Las Vegas per rubare alcuni suoi cimeli che, affermò, gli erano stati sottratti.L’ex campione di football O.J. Simpson, scampato al carcere per l’omicidio della... more
No matter how he sugar cotes it, he held someone up with guns. Has justice finally been done?No matter how he sugar cotes it, he held someone up with guns. Has justice finally... more
O.J. Simpson was today sentenced to 15 years in jail in a dramatic conclusion to his armed robbery case. He will be eligible for parole in six years.
Simpson made his statement before sentencing today in his armed robber case in a soft voice.
He appeared ready to break down in tears as he told Judge Jackie Glass that he was "sorry and confused" before going into a rambling, 5-minute self-pity declaration.
"I didn't want to steal anything from anyone ... I'm sorry, sorry," he said.
Judge Glass ruled before sentencing that Simpson cannot be freed on bail pending possible appeal.
The 61-year-old former football star who walked away a free man after a celebrated murder trial learned how much time he will spend in a Nevada state prison for a botched attempt to recover sports memorabilia and personal items from two collectibles peddlers.O.J. Simpson was today sentenced to 15 years in jail in a dramatic conclusion to his... more
The judge claims no retribution for any prior crimes but listening to what he did and what he got, it seems impossible that did not play any factor in the sentencing. He did conduct an armed robbery but nobody was injured and clearly he had ownership of the material in question.
What do you think?The judge claims no retribution for any prior crimes but listening to what he did and... more
OJ Simpson sentenced to prison,ut conflicting reports as to how long, plus video of OJ apology to judge.OJ Simpson sentenced to prison,ut conflicting reports as to how long, plus video of OJ... more
