Verizon Rejects Abortion Rights Group’s Messages - New York Times

Verizon Rejects Abortion Rights Group’s Messages - New York Times:

"Text messaging is a growing political tool in the United States and a
dominant one abroad, and such sign-up programs are used by many political
candidates and advocacy groups to send updates to supporters. But legal experts
said private companies like Verizon probably have the legal right to decide
which messages to carry. The laws that forbid common carriers from interfering
with voice transmissions on ordinary phone lines do not apply to text
messages."

As long as this is a program where the receivers of the messages have to sign up for the messages and are able to stop them, it should be allowed. If the law allows the interference of private messages by cellphone companies, then the law should be changed. I don't think this is the case, but I am strictly against any kind of text-marketing schemes.

Media Matters - CNN's Sanchez: O'Reilly "screamed at the top of his lungs for a very long period of time"

Media Matters - CNN's Sanchez: O'Reilly "screamed at the top of his lungs for a very long period of time":

"Summary: Bill O'Reilly stated that CNN has gone 'over to the dark side' for its
coverage of O'Reilly's recent statement that he was surprised 'there was no
difference between Sylvia's restaurant and any other restaurant in New York City
... even though it's run by blacks.' O'Reilly said he 'talked to CNN last night'
before the controversy was discussed on CNN's Out in the Open and 'explained the
deal.' He added, 'They went ahead with the racist angle anyway.' Out in the Open
host Rick Sanchez responded to O'Reilly's assertion: 'Never once did we utter
the word 'racist' in relation to Bill O'Reilly,' adding that O'Reilly 'screamed
at the top of his lungs for a very long period of time.'Summary: Bill O'Reilly
stated that CNN has gone 'over to the dark side' for its coverage of O'Reilly's
recent statement that he was surprised 'there was no difference between Sylvia's
restaurant and any other restaurant in New York City ... even though it's run by
blacks.' O'Reilly said he 'talked to CNN last night' before the controversy was
discussed on CNN's Out in the Open and 'explained the deal.' He added, 'They
went ahead with the racist angle anyway.' Out in the Open host Rick Sanchez
responded to O'Reilly's assertion: 'Never once did we utter the word 'racist' in
relation to Bill O'Reilly,' adding that O'Reilly 'screamed at the top of his
lungs for a very long period of time.'Summary: Bill O'Reilly stated that CNN has
gone 'over to the dark side' for its coverage of O'Reilly's recent statement
that he was surprised 'there was no difference between Sylvia's restaurant and
any other restaurant in New York City ... even though it's run by blacks.'
O'Reilly said he "

Bill I don't know if the comment you made was misunderstood or not, but you are not doing much for you cause attacking anyone who disagrees with you. Why not come out, and just say that you are sorry for anyone who was hurt by your words. If honestly is something that is just a misunderstanding, come out and talk about it. Stonewalling isn't going to make this go away, and attacking isn't going to make you look better.

Political Lunch

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Runaround Hsu

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Hot Air » Blog Archive » State Dept and DHS agree: It’s someone else’s responsibility to keep terrorists from getting visas

Hot Air » Blog Archive » State Dept and DHS agree: It’s someone else’s responsibility to keep terrorists from getting visas:

"The State Department and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) both are
rebutting a Government Accountability Office report released last week that said
the U.S. government is not adequately vetting immigrants, including those from
terrorism-sponsoring countries, who win Diversity Visas (DVs).Both agencies also
disclaimed ultimate responsibility for that vetting process."

Yeah, who's job is it then. I think that the leaders of both those organizations should be fired. A leader who pushes responsibility on to others, is not a leader.

Giuliani flip flops on Gun Control

Daily Kos: Rudy Giuliani and the Tragedy of $9.11

Daily Kos: Rudy Giuliani and the Tragedy of $9.11:

"So some nebulous 'someone' decided that a great house-by-house fundraiser for
Rudy Giuliani would be to ask for contributions in the amount of $9.11. Yes,
that's right: have a fundraiser for Rudy Giuliani in the form of paying him
$9.11 in the memory of, well, 9/11. Presumably, this brilliant idea was because
the campaign's original idea of selling bone fragments from Ground Zero on eBay
was shot down, as was the idea of permanently affixing a bronze full-body
sculpture of Giuliani to that twisted set of steel I-beams that looks remarkably
like a Christian cross."

Blame and denials are flying in every direction in this. It is a sad choice of fund raising ploys, and while it could be that Giuliani isn't behind it. My guess is that him, or someone in his camp is behind it.

Crooks and Liars » Bill O’Reilly Surprised At Civility Of Black Restaurant Patrons

Crooks and Liars » Bill O’Reilly Surprised At Civility Of Black Restaurant Patrons:

"Summary: Discussing his recent dinner with Rev. Al Sharpton at the Harlem
restaurant Sylvia’s, Bill O’Reilly reported that he “couldn’t get over the fact
that there was no difference between Sylvia’s restaurant and any other
restaurant in New York City. I mean, it was exactly the same, even though it’s
run by blacks, primarily black patronship.” O’Reilly added: “There wasn’t one
person in Sylvia’s who was screaming, ‘M-Fer, I want more iced tea.’”"

What is funnier than the things he is saying is that he doesn't understand what is wrong with what he is saying. I don't know if he is honest in his intent or not. The language he uses though, is clearly questionable.

Mary Katharine Ham on O'Reilly 9/26/07

NYC Councilman Exposes Hannity's Bigotry Re Gibran School

Focus on the Family lays off 30, moves 15 more to new jobs - AMERICAblog: A great nation deserves the truth

Focus on the Family lays off 30, moves 15 more to new jobs - AMERICAblog: A great nation deserves the truth:

"Focus on the Family announced Monday that it is laying off 30 employees and
reassigning 15 others. It also announced that founder James Dobson had been
cleared of accusations that he jeopardized the group's nonprofit status by
endorsing Republican candidates."

Let him and his group endorse the candidate that he feels is best. It is just as likely to harm that candidate as it is to help them anyways.

Mukasey’s Firm Represents Front for Iranian Spies | Air America Radio

Mukasey’s Firm Represents Front for Iranian Spies Air America Radio:

"According to ABC News’ Blotter, “For more than 25 years, U.S. intelligence
and law enforcement authorities say they have suspected the New York-based Alavi
Foundation is a 'front' for Iranian espionage and anti-American activities. For
more than 25 years, court records show the foundation has been publicly defended
and represented by the New York law firm where attorney-general nominee Michael
Mukasey is a partner: Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP.The foundation says
the firm continues to represent it. Mukasey personally handled at least one
matter in court for the foundation. That case, a real estate dispute, began in
1981 when reports first surfaced that the foundation, originally set up by the
Shah, had been taken over by the new Ayatollah and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Mukasey took it to trial in 1984.”"

This is the sort of thing that will anger people on the right. I often have my doubts about talking about lawyers and their pasts. It is most likely the case that every lawyer in the country has some case in their history that could fowl their image. A case that they may have disagreed with, but the legal system unlike the political system doesn't work that way. Lawyers work for clients that they can fight a good case for, not always because they are right, but because they deserve their case to be made.

A Tiny Revolution: Katie Couric, Now And Then

A Tiny Revolution: Katie Couric, Now And Then:

"“Everyone in this room would agree that people in this country were misled in
terms of the rationale of this war...The whole culture of wearing flags on our
lapel and saying ‘we’ when referring to the United States and, even the ‘shock
and awe’ of the initial stages, it was just too jubilant and just a little
uncomfortable. And I remember feeling, when I was anchoring the ‘Today’ show,
this inevitable march towards war and kind of feeling like, ‘Will anybody put
the brakes on this?’ And is this really being properly challenged by the right
people?'"

The problem with much of this talk, and similar talk that blames the government or the media, is who they are. They are the people who created this spirit on patriotism, that allowed a unfortunate war to take place. Who are they, they are us.

A Blog For All: Red Meat Time: Bloomberg Steps In It

A Blog For All: Red Meat Time: Bloomberg Steps In It:

"In his most detailed comments on the Iraq war, Mayor Bloomberg last night
suggested the United States was in the same difficult position as the British in
the Revolutionary War - facing a determined band of insurgents. "

That is true, except Americans are fighting to give Iraqis the same freedoms that we have here. The American force in Iraq is not one of occupation, it is a force of protection against terrorists and other extremists.

TV Squad Daily with Brigitte: 09-25-2007

Worst Person Sept. 25, 2007

Crooks and Liars » Trump On Fox: Bush “Perhaps The Worst President In The History Of This Country”

Crooks and Liars » Trump On Fox: Bush “Perhaps The Worst President In The History Of This Country”:

"Donald Trump, who is no fan of President Bush, gives his unvarnished
opinions on Fox & Friends this morning, which got hosts Steve Doocy and
Brian Kilmeade a little worked up. While it’s clear he’s not considered a
hostile guest, the hosts do their best to push back against his criticisms.
Kilmeade makes sure that Trump isn’t Pro-Saddam and Doocy proclaims the United
Nations hates America!, but The Donald doesn’t miss a beat."

Aren't we past caring about what Donald thinks about Bush?