Captain's Quarters

Captain's Quarters:

"The Democrats still have a Fox problem. They want to beat the network down as a
'propaganda' outlet despite its #1 rating for prime-time news, and despite the
connections that several prominent Democrats have forged with the network to
broaden their appeal to middle America:"

While it is true that Fox News leans to the right, if the Democratic party is going to survive and grow it has to find some way to reach beyond an audience of the left. I think that liberals have to find a way to reach conservatives views and conservatives have to find a way to reach liberals. Failing communication across borders, you end up with two countries, living side by side.

Keira Wins Her Libel Suit | POPSUGAR - Celebrity Gossip & News.

Keira Wins Her Libel Suit POPSUGAR - Celebrity Gossip & News.:

"Keira has won a suit against British tabloid The Daily Mail for an article
in which the magazine accused her of causing the death of a 19-year old girl who
died from anorexia. The article showed a picture of Keira in a bikini paired
with a headline that read, ''If Pictures Like This One of Keira Carried a Health
Warning, My Darling Daughter Might Have Lived.' "

Be careful not to say that Keira is too skinny. In fact the last time I saw a picture of her, she was the image of health, she glowed like a baby under a heat lamp.

Bill Maher

Mischa? In French Elle

Hot but crazy...

WP: Blackwater employees open fire in Baghdad - washingtonpost.com Highlights - MSNBC.com

WP: Blackwater employees open fire in Baghdad - washingtonpost.com Highlights - MSNBC.com:

"The Interior Ministry, which regulates security companies for the Iraqi
government, has received four previous complaints of shooting incidents
involving Blackwater in the past two years, according to Hussein Kamal,
undersecretary for intelligence affairs. But in an interview before last week's
shootings, Kamal said Iraqi authorities have been hampered by a Coalition
Provisional Authority order granting contractors immunity from the Iraqi legal
process."

I understand the role that this contractors play in Iraq, and I understand that there are times when deadly force is just something that comes as a part of that. What I don't understand is why they need this immunity from prosecution under the Iraqi justice system. Are they concerned that the justice system isn't going to treat them fairly. I think that for the stability of the country, there needs to be more control over these forces.

ABC News: Face-to-Face with Iran -- After 27 Years

ABC News: Face-to-Face with Iran -- After 27 Years:

"When U.S. ambassador Ryan Crocker sits down for a one-on-one meeting with
his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Gazemi Ghomi, Monday — marking the first time in
27 years since both sides have talked — there's one thing everyone agrees on:
It's going to be contentious. "

I think this is a good step for America, for the Middle East and for the world as a whole. I think that we look childish when we refuse to talk to one of the major power brokers in the region. If we are to reach a sustainable peace in Iraq, or the greater Middle East then these discussions are a must.

FOXNews.com - Chicago Cop Arrested After Allegedly Attacking 15-Year-Old - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News

FOXNews.com - Chicago Cop Arrested After Allegedly Attacking 15-Year-Old - Local News News Articles National News US News:

"Gallegos' son was involved in a 'verbal altercation' with the teen, which
allegedly prompted the attack, according to police. Prosecutors told the court
Gallegos attacked Eduardo Cardenas in an alley as the teen walked with two young
women, throwing the boy against a garage and then punching him in the face. They
also said he kicked Cardenas after he fell to the ground.
A lawyer
representing Gallegos at Sunday's hearing, Jim Thompson, said he disagreed with
the prosecution's version of events, saying Cardenas had threatened Gallegos and
his family. As he left the courtroom, Thompson declined to comment to
reporters."

Unless your life is in danger, there is no reason for an adult to attack a 15-year-old teenager. There are more details in the case, that will come out over time, but he is an adult, and a police officer, he who should know better. I think his actions were wrong.

Crooks and Liars » Giuliani To Get The Harriet Miers Treatment

Crooks and Liars » Giuliani To Get The Harriet Miers Treatment:

"Now, heading into 2008, the Right is facing what some of them see as an
even more ominous threat: the prospect that Rudy Giuliani could win the GOP
presidential nomination. And just as they did with Miers, right-wing activists -
especially anti-choice Catholic ones - are gearing up to launch an all-out
attack in an effort to deny Giuliani the nomination…read on…"

The momentum against Giuliani seems to be growing on the right. On the left I don't that many people are aware of who he is and what he did in the city of New York before 9/11. I don't think that America can trust him as a president, what we need is someone that can bring people together and that is not Giuliani.

Hot Air » Blog Archive » Blogging the Qur’an

Hot Air » Blog Archive » Blogging the Qur’an:

"This will be a weekly feature — to be posted every Sunday at Hot Air — with
within-post updates as warranted. I intend this to be a participatory
exploration of the Qur’an — a two-way conversation. Thus I welcome feedback and
criticism in the comments section, in e-mail correspondence, and on other blogs,
and will answer questions and respond to the most thoughtful comments,
criticism, and challenges. Next week: chapter one, the Fatiha, the most
important prayer in Islam."

Just a little bit more about this, it sounds like a good experience and a great way to gain knowledge and understanding of Islam. I hope that he is able to maintain that balance and allow the book to speak to the readers of the blog, while explaining it but not packaging it.

Michael Moore as Dan Rather? | NewsBusters.org

Michael Moore as Dan Rather? NewsBusters.org:

"One thing is certain. Moore, the director of the new anti-healthcare industry
movie “Sicko,” thinks he qualifies. He said in the June 1 Entertainment Weekly
that he embraces bias and one-sided story telling. “In my case, it’s going to
take 20 or 30 years to figure out what I came up with, because while it’s
journalism, it’s also satire couple with a large sprinkling of opinion to create
a work of art,” said Moore."

I don't think that he is a journalist. I think that he provides interesting debate and information for the country but I don't think that he is a journalist. I think every honest journalist attempts to get both side of the story, and it isn't enough to say that they have their own forum some where else.

This is Wrong

Wallace & Immigration

Ron Paul on Real Time

Kathy Griffin: Split-Screen Made Rosie Leave The View - Kathy Griffin, Rosie O'Donnell : People.com

Kathy Griffin: Split-Screen Made Rosie Leave The View - Kathy Griffin, Rosie O'Donnell : People.com:

"Revealing a conversation she had with O'Donnell about how the show's producers split O'Donnell's image
with Hasselbeck's
during their fight, Griffin said: 'And that's what it was. I said, 'What was
really it?' And she said, 'The split-screen.' She said, 'I don't want to do Hannity and Colmes. ' ' "

I don't understand Rosies point here, was it better when they were just shooting the camera back and forth. The thing is that when two people are talking like they were you have to have them both on camera, or you miss something. Viewers don't get to the whole picture of what is going on, when the reactions are so intense and being felt by both people at the same time. Switching back and forth only confuses the viewers and makes it harder to watch. I think that this is a lame reason, and I doubt it is the real reason she is leaving.

X17 XCLUSIVE - Lindsay's Dad Talks To X17online (X17 Online)

X17 XCLUSIVE - Lindsay's Dad Talks To X17online (X17 Online)

Lindsay needs to find God, get better, clean house and start all over again
with the people who were there for her at the beginning: her family. Too many
people are around Lindsay for the wrong reasons. They want to see what they can
get from her instead of caring about Lindsay herself. I’m her father. I don’t
want anything from her but her love and to be her father first. I’m here for
Lindsay as a father and a father only.
And it’s about time that her mother
Dina stop building up the walls of division between myself and my
children—especially Lindsay. And if Dina really cares about out
children--especially Lindsay-- then she should do the right thing so we can both
be there as parents. Because what Lindsay needs are both parents. I wish Dina
would put things aside and act the way God wants us to: right the wrongs and
notcompound the wrongs.
I hope Lindsay finally gets the help that she needs.
I want her to know that her Daddy is here for her.

The only thing about this letter that I question, is if it may be true that he mother is a part of the problem. I think her mother doesn't want to confront her, afraid of losing the spot in the lime light. I think that Lindsay could probably learn a lot from her father right now.

» Svedka Vodka Won’t Be Sponsoring Lindsay’s Birthday on The Evil Beet: Celebrity Gossip with an Evil Twist

» Svedka Vodka Won’t Be Sponsoring Lindsay’s Birthday on The Evil Beet: Celebrity Gossip with an Evil Twist:

"Svedka Vodka, the company which had planned to sponsor Lindsay Lohan’s
21st birthday party, has decided, in the wake of her DUI, that perhaps heralding
the legal drinking right of an alcoholic who’s not afraid to get behind the
wheel is not the best business decision."

I don't think it was a very good decision from the beginning. Using someone who is currently under the drinking age, and has a reputation for drinking to promote your alcohol sounds like an attempt to make under age drinking seem acceptable. It is too bad it had to go this far before they pulled out.

I’m Not Obsessed

I’m Not Obsessed:

Rosie would like you to know:

"that she is OK now
how she hates looking at the split screen
how she
wished The View team was more like how a Broadway show crew interacts - “cover
each other”
her last pre-taped show happens to be Elizabeth’s birthday
that she missed out saying goodbye to the staff and producers
the
moustache drawing
that she didn’t trash her dressing room "

I am glad that she is off the show, while I wish her well and hope that she can get a new project soon. I think that a solo show may work better for her, she does not play well with others. I was behind her for her feud with Trump, but when she started throwing the insults at Elisabeth instead of having and honest discussion I had to back away. I think there are probably a number of things that she needs to think about changing in her life.

Hot Air » Blog Archive » Hot Air introduces: Blogging the Qur’an

Hot Air » Blog Archive » Hot Air introduces: Blogging the Qur’an:

"Blogging the Qur’an was inspired by Slate’s Blogging the Bible project, but
Blogging the Qur’an will be very different in at least one respect. In Blogging
the Bible, David Plotz is blogging about the Bible as he reads through it for
the very first time. Robert Spencer, on the other hand, read the Qur’an for the
first time in 1981 and has been studying it and the Islamic traditions and
teachings that inform students of the Qur’an ever since."

This sounds like an interesting conversation and I will do my best to bring it to you, along with my comments and hopefully you will add some of your own.

CNN Pipeline is now free - TV Squad

CNN Pipeline is now free - TV Squad:

"Pipeline, CNN's broadband site that was launched in 2005 under a subscription
model, include four live streams plus archived video footage. According to The
Hollywood Reporter, CNN never talked about how many people actually subscribed
to the service, but I must say this seems like a good choice for CNN,
considering how the majority of online content, news and otherwise, is offered
for free and supported by advertising. If you charge, folks will simply go
somewhere that doesn't."

I have been using this service for a couple years now and it is great. I would suggest it to anyone who likes to follow the news.

Cool New TV

Lindsay Lohan Cited For DUI & Busted for Coke | POPSUGAR - Celebrity Gossip & News.

Lindsay Lohan Cited For DUI & Busted for Coke POPSUGAR - Celebrity Gossip & News.:

"Lohan, 20, and two other people were in her 2005 Mercedes SL-65 when it crashed
on Sunset Boulevard around 5:30 a.m., Sgt. Mike Foxen said.
'She was cited
and released because she has been admitted to a local hospital for minor
injuries,' Foxen said.
No one else was hurt and no other cars were involved,
Foxen said. He did not have other details."

This is sad news for me to report. I know most of you have read it already. I hope that Lohan is able to take care of herself, and get her life back on track. The rehab doesn't seem to have helped her, which is sad. I wish her luck in the future, it is also a shame that her mother either loves the attention too much, or is too afraid to stand up to Lindsay. Someone needs to help her in a strong way, I think at this point the court system may be that voice.

Crooks and Liars » Michael Moore Talks “SiCKO” on Real Time

Crooks and Liars » Michael Moore Talks “SiCKO” on Real Time:

"Michael Moore was on 'Real Time' last night to plug his new film, SiCKO, that
examines America's failed healthcare system. Moore hopes the film, which has
been lauded by FOX News of all people, will be less divisive than his others and
spark a national debate about how our corporatized healthcare system is failing
us. "

This is a good interview, I will hold my judgement until I watch it.

Media Matters - Blitzer did not ask Bloomberg about police surveillance of political activists before 2004 convention

Media Matters - Blitzer did not ask Bloomberg about police surveillance of political activists before 2004 convention:

"Summary: During an interview with Michael Bloomberg, CNN's Wolf Blitzer did not
take the opportunity to ask Bloomberg about recent reports that 'the New York
Police Department was secretly monitoring' anti-Bush activists and would-be
protesters before and during the Republican National Convention in 2004 'and not
just at public events.' Summary: During an interview with Michael Bloomberg,
CNN's Wolf Blitzer did not take the opportunity to ask Bloomberg about recent
reports that 'the New York Police Department was secretly monitoring' anti-Bush
activists and would-be protesters before and during the Republican National
Convention in 2004 'and not just at public events.' Summary: During an interview
with Michael Bloomberg, CNN's Wolf Blitzer did not take the opportunity to ask
Bloomberg about recent reports that 'the New York Police Department was secretly
monitoring' anti-Bush activists and would-be protesters before and during the
Republican National Convention in 2004 'and not just at public events.' "

This is very concerning to me. I think this is a vast over step of the legal authority of the Police Departments and the City.

Media Matters - Media blasted Edwards for speech fee but omitted Giuliani speeches, Edwards' explanation

Media Matters - Media blasted Edwards for speech fee but omitted Giuliani speeches, Edwards' explanation

Several media figures have attacked Democratic presidential candidate John
Edwards for receiving a $55,000 fee for a January 2006 speech at the University
of California-Davis -- as first reported in a May 21 entry
to the San Francisco Chronicle's Politics Blog. In several cases, they have not
also mentioned reports that Republican presidential contender Rudy Giuliani
charged Oklahoma State University $100,000 for a speech he delivered in 2006 and
an additional $47,000 for the use of a private jet, as Media Matters for America
has noted. Moreover,
several left out the response by the Edwards campaign, which asserted that
UC-Davis offset the cost through sponsorship and ticket sales to the event.

The point that they are missing isn't that he is a democrat but that the speech was about poverty. The disconnect between taking $55k, for making a speech to get people to do more to relieve poverty strike me as being off. If you want to help the poor, than you give your services for free. If need be you can ask for enough to cover a hotel, and a car rental.

Phil Spector Murder Trial

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