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Wednesday, September 28
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Stephen Spruiell at NRO's Media Blog writes: The indictment centers around a money swap that took place between the Texans for a Republican Majority PAC (TRMPAC), to which DeLay has ties, and the Republican National State Elections Committee (RNSEC). TRMPAC sent $190,000 to RNSEC, and RNSEC then sent the same total amount in seven checks ranging from $20,000 to $40,000 to Texas House candidates in 2002. Travis County DA Ronnie Earle, a Democrat, calls this money laundering, because the money that TRMPAC sent to RNSEC came from corporations, which are barred from contributing to campaigns in Texas.
What you won't hear in the press is that A) This is a perfectly legal move, and B) the Democrats did the exact same thing. An Institute on Money in State Politics study reveals that on Oct. 31, 2002, the Texas Democratic Party did the same thing when it sent $75,000 to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and received $75,000 back from the DNC the very same day. Also read MM's extensive post on this which inludes an email DOJ official Barbara Comstock that states: Ronnie Earle argues that Tom DeLay conspired to make a contribution to a political party in violation of the Texas Election Code. There was no contribution to a political party in violation of the Texas Election Code. There was no conspiracy. Ronnie Earle is wrong on the facts. Ronnie Earle is wrong on the law. She goes on to explain why she believes this.
Posted - 9/28/2005 07:09:27 PM - Permalink | |
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The latest scandal to be ignored by the MSM, Democrats stealing the Social Security number of Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, is addressed by Michelle Malkin in her latest column, on her blog, and by Captain Ed on blog and column.
Posted - 9/28/2005 06:09:49 PM - Permalink | |
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In The Washington Times we find yet another story about media coverage of the Katrina disaster: Media, blushing, takes a second look at Katrina. Interesting is a link El Rushbo made testerday between the media coverage and Michael Brown's testimony yesterday. Brown reponded to a question by stating FEMA are not armed first responders and he could not place them in danger by sending them into what the media reported to be a dangerous, merderous, rape filled, warzone. We can place some of the blame for the slow response squarely on the media's shoulders, more specifically, cable news outlets for passing on unchecked, unfiltered exaggerated rumor. Don't forget William Jefferson is the same guy who interfered with rescue efforts -the results of which got one truck stuck, caused a chopper full of the injured and rescued to hover over his home for 45 minutes, then having a second truck come out to get him- all to visit his upscale New Orleans home to salvage a laptop, clothing, and a trunk the size of a refrigerator.
Posted - 9/28/2005 06:48:45 AM - Permalink | |
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Tuesday, September 27
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More on post-Katrina media coverage from Ben Stein at The American Spectator: "Josef Goebbels would have been happy with much of the mainstream media in the past few weeks since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast."
Posted - 9/27/2005 05:49:06 PM - Permalink | |
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Two stories, one in the La Times, Katrina Takes a Toll on Truth, News Accuracy and one at NOLA.com, Rumors of deaths greatly exaggerated, with the subhead, " Widely reported attacks false or unsubstantiated, 6 bodies found at Dome; 4 at Convention Center." And at E&P: Media Mea Culpa: Reports of N.O. Violence ExaggeratedIn other media related news, The NY Times Relents, Admits Geraldo Not Guilty of a (Literal) 'Nudge'. This after the tape showed no nudge or even and indication of one. Related stories: Kurtz and NYTimes pub editor, Byron Calame, back Geraldo.
Posted - 9/27/2005 04:35:00 PM - Permalink | |
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Tuesday, September 20
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The war Howard Fineman referenced in his Newsweek article, Democrats' Dilemma (also renamed Beltway vs. Blogosphere), has exploded as Cindy Sheehan turns on the hand that fed her. Democrats seem to be walking into walls on this one. Dems that once cheered Sheehan on are now, strangely, distancing themselves from her, questioning her motives, and describing the Sheehan phenomena as a snowballed out of control media circus. Last night on O'Reilly, one Democrat strategerist, Mary Ann Marsh, suggested that Sheehan should continue her vigil by camping out in front of the White House - she inferred Sheehan should only be attacking Bush and the Right. She went on to say Bush should indeed meet with Sheehan, but for some reason, Hillary Clinton should not. Sheehan recently called to get troops out of "occupied New Orleans". Patty-Patty Buch-Buchs has a column on this subject.
Posted - 9/20/2005 06:41:30 AM - Permalink | |
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Monday, September 19
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Terrorlodeon? Or maybe Islamolodeon. Atlas Shrugs: Inculcate them Young, Globally, World Domination
Posted - 9/19/2005 06:30:00 PM - Permalink | |
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Sunday, September 18
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UKs Telegraph has a Chris Hitchens column: 'Galloway is a hot, blustering bully - but I'm staying on his case until the very end'. Hitchens recently appeared at a debate with Saddamite George Galloway. C-Span2's Book TV will be airing the Hitchens Vs. Galloway debate over the weekend as well as early Monday morning(5:30am ET). The BBC also aired some of the debate, listen to it here. The audio, in Podcast MP3 format can be downloaded here (right click, then 'Save As') courtesy of Democracy Now! Watch the Realplayer video from DN here. Visit HitchensWeb and Slate Magazine for more info on Christopher Hitchens. Pam of Atlas Shrugs was there.
Posted - 9/18/2005 02:44:00 PM - Permalink | |
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Saturday, September 17
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Posted - 9/17/2005 04:08:00 PM - Permalink | |
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This hits REAL close to home for me - a U of M student, 29 year old Egyptian Mahmoud Maawad, has been jailed for possible terrorism ties and/or planning. WaPo runs an AP story with the headline "Student Arrested After Pilot Uniform Found", with this: A university student from Egypt was ordered held without bond after prosecutors said they found a pilot's uniform, chart of Memphis International Airport and a DVD titled "How an Airline Captain Should Look and Act" in his apartment.
The FBI is investigating whether Mahmoud Maawad, 29, had any connection to terrorists. He is awaiting trial on charges of wire fraud and fraudulent use of a Social Security number.
U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Thomas Anderson ruled that Maawad be held without bond.
"It is hard for the court to understand why he has a large concentration of those (aviation) items, and nothing else to indicate Mr. Maawad plans to stay in the community," Anderson said.
Maawad had ordered $3,000 in aviation materials, including DVDs titled "Ups and Downs of Takeoffs and Landings," "Airplane Talk," "Mental Math for Pilots" and "Mastering GPS Flying," FBI agent Thad Gulczynski testified.
The company reported Maawad to authorities when he didn't pay for $2,500 of merchandise it had delivered, Gulczynski said. So it seems the guy was busted by mere chance, after not paying for stuff he had ordered. The Memphis Flyer has a bunch of little details on the guy, calling a "bogus" student: Terrorism Task Force Busts Bogus U of M Student. Another AP story has the following Describing what agents found, Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Parker argued yesterday against releasing Maawad, saying the acts and circumstances of the case are "scary."
Parker said Maawad, a 29-year-old Egyptian, has been in the country illegally since 1999 and had used a phony Social Security number to enroll in schools and open a bank account. The NY Times had a few more tidbits: A criminal complaint says Mr. Maawad used a debit card in June, July and August to order $3,300 worth of merchandise from Sporty's Pilot Shop in Batavia, Ohio.
An affidavit for a search warrant lists items including a private pilot course, flight simulator software, a flight gear bag, maps of the Memphis airport, a $239 leather Navy flight jacket, a DVD titled "How an Airline Captain Should Look and Act" and instructional programs on airplane terminology. This is the second time a suspected terrorist has been arrested in Memphis this year. UPDATE- The NY Times may have it wrong - they reported the orders came from "Sporty's Pilot Shop in Batavia, Ohio," but I have it on good authority that should be "Spotty's USA in San Diego." Mick Wright has a great post about this guy, where he lived and worked, what he bought, and much more. UPDATE- Mick Wright of Fishkite writes: NY Times has it right. The Commercial Appeal reported it wrong, and that's where I got the information: "Spotty's USA in San Diego" should be "Sporty's Pilot Shop in Batava, Ohio." I don't know how the CA messed it up so badly. So the NY Times is indeed correct - the place this guy was getting his aviation gear, etc. from was in Batavia, Ohio - right outside Cincinatti, to the east in Clairmont County (the same area in which Iraq War vet Paul Hackett, Democrat, lost the race for a seat in Congress to Republican Jean Schmidt).
Posted - 9/17/2005 02:54:00 PM - Permalink | |
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Thursday, September 15
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Salon.com - Reporters gone wild, the actual video file is here (in .mov format).
Posted - 9/15/2005 06:16:50 AM - Permalink | |
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ABC News: "Amid Katrina Chaos, Congressman Used National Guard to Visit Home - Two Heavy Trucks, Helicopter Were Involved in Lawmaker's Trip at Height of Crisis". This comes in the midst of FBI raids on his homes and office. Here's a real interesting aspect of the story - from the Times-PicayuneThe Washington Post has reported that a sting had been in the works for a year and that the FBI raid found a large amount of cash in Jefferson's freezer. [emphasis added] And this from ABC: The water reached to the third step of Jefferson's house, a military source familiar with the incident told ABC News, and the vehicle pulled up onto Jefferson's front lawn so he wouldn't have to walk in the water. Jefferson went into the house alone, the source says, while the soldiers waited on the porch for about an hour.
Finally, according to the source, Jefferson emerged with a laptop computer, three suitcases, and a box about the size of a small refrigerator, which the enlisted men loaded up into the truck. [emphasis added] It's strange both story refer to refrigeration devices. This begs the question: Was the congressman rescuing cash from his NOLA home? WaPo covers this as well. (HT: El Rushbo)
Posted - 9/15/2005 06:12:24 AM - Permalink | |
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Wednesday, September 14
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CNN.com - Federal judge declares Pledge unconstitutional. MMalkin has links and comments.
Posted - 9/14/2005 04:33:00 PM - Permalink | |
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Tuesday, September 13
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Via Powerline, Karl Zinsmeister has an interesting article, Europe Learns the Wrong Lessons, in the new American Enterprise Mag. The mags title is " Red America, Blue Europe." Here's the first two graphs out of the article: Nearly one third of Germans under 30 say that the U.S. government ordered the 9/11 attacks. In France, a book insisting that Americans carried out the assault themselves to increase defense budgets becomes a huge bestseller. In Britain, major newspapers carry headlines like "The USA is Now the World's Leading Rogue State."
Asked which countries are the biggest threat to world peace, Europeans name the U.S as often as North Korea and Iran (each are picked by 53 percent). Countries characterized by Euros as less menacing than the U.S. include Syria, Iraq, Russia, China, Afghanistan, Libya. As one American living in Britain, Anglican minister Dwight Longenecker, summarizes: "Our cultural ancestors have become unrecognizable, even hostile, to us." Read it all. Powerline also points to some companion reading - an oped about Germany by Julian Knapp in today's Washington Times.
Posted - 9/13/2005 06:15:41 AM - Permalink | |
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Monday, September 12
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Investor's Business Daily: Mary, Mary, Quite (To The) Contrary
Posted 9/9/2005 - Investor's Business Daily
Politics: Louisiana's senior senator, whose brother is lieutenant governor and whose father was New Orleans' mayor, is blaming President Bush for "the staggering incompetence of the federal government." Come again?
It's understandable that on the Sept. 4 edition of ABC's "This Week," Mary Landrieu said of President Bush, "I might likely have to punch him — literally" if he or members of his administration made any more disparaging remarks about local authorities and their pre- and post-Katrina efforts. Some are and were family.
Brother Mitch Landrieu is lieutenant governor of Louisiana. Father "Moon" Landrieu was not only mayor of New Orleans, but also later became secretary of housing and urban development under President Carter.
If anyone had clout in Washington, it would be this family and this swing-state senator. She could easily have traded her vote on a key issue or nomination for needed funding, a common practice in Washington. If funding for levee repairs was less than adequate, she was in a position to get more.
Likewise, ex-Sen. John Breaux was arguably the most influential senator in Washington during the Clinton years, and could easily have gotten more funding, if nothing else, in an effort to break the growing GOP hold on the South.
But if all money ever asked for was appropriated, as Breaux himself has said, everyone knew that the levee system was designed for a Category 3 hurricane, and not for a "once every hundred years" storm that could put New Orleans under 20 feet of water. And the track record of how money that was appropriated was actually spent is not good.
Despite Landrieu's complaints of budget cuts and paltry funding, the fact is that over the five years of the Bush administration, Louisiana has received more money — $1.9 billion — for Army Corps of Engineers civil works projects than any other state, and more than under any other administration over a similar period. California is a distant second with less than $1.4 billion despite a population more than seven times as large.
In December 1995, the Orleans Levee Board actually boasted to the New Orleans Times-Picayune about all the federal money it had to protect the city from hurricanes. As a result, the board said, the "most ambitious flood-fighting plan in generations was drafted," one that would plug the "few manageable gaps" in the levee system.
The problem was at the local level. The ambitious plan fell apart when the state suspended the Levee Board's ability to refinance old bonds and issue new ones. As the Times-Picayune reported, Legislative Auditor Dan Kyle "repeatedly faulted the Levee Board for the way it awards contracts, spends money and ignores no-bid contract laws." Blocked by the state from raising local money, the federal matching funds went unspent.
By 1998, Louisiana's state government had a $2 billion construction budget, but less than one-tenth of one percent, or $1.98 million, was dedicated to New Orleans levee improvements. By contrast, $22 million was spent that year to renovate a home for the Louisiana Supreme Court.
Where did all the money go? Again, the Times-Picayune says much of the money went not to flood control, but to lawmakers' pet projects, from a $750 million for a new canal lock to a $2.5 million Mardi Gras fountain project that ran $600,000 over budget.
Nine months before Katrina, three top Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness officials were indicted by a federal grand jury in Shreveport and charged, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Louisiana, "with offenses related to the obstruction of an audit of the use of federal funds for flood mitigation opportunities throughout Louisiana."
No reason to wonder why. New Orleans is not called the Big Easy for nothing.
Posted - 9/12/2005 05:11:36 PM - Permalink | |
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Sunday, September 11
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A Five-Part Series published June 23-27, 2002 at NOLA.com, the website of New Orleans' Times-Picayune - "It's only a matter of time before South Louisiana takes a direct hit from a major hurricane. Billions have been spent to protect us, but we grow more vulnerable every day." And in the Washington Post, news of money wasted and diverted - Money Flowed to Questionable Projects. Meanwhile, The NY Times had a front page story today that amounted to a long litany of complaints against the federal government, specifically, FEMA. They love repeating that FEMA was absorbed into the Dept. of Homeland Security but somehow fail to mention that it was Congress who voted to do this, Democrats included. The federal government (FEMA included), a juggernaut of red tape, is usually championed by the likes of the NY Times, but the prospect of attacking Bush is just to good to pass up. Jack Kelly writes the federal response to Katrina was not as portrayed - the response was actually faster than it has historically been: Jason van Steenwyk is a Florida Army National Guardsman who has been mobilized six times for hurricane relief. He notes that:
"The federal government pretty much met its standard time lines, but the volume of support provided during the 72-96 hour was unprecedented. The federal response here was faster than Hugo, faster than Andrew, faster than Iniki, faster than Francine and Jeanne."
For instance, it took five days for National Guard troops to arrive in strength on the scene in Homestead, Fla. after Hurricane Andrew hit in 2002. But after Katrina, there was a significant National Guard presence in the afflicted region in three.
Posted - 9/11/2005 04:10:00 PM - Permalink | |
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Friday, September 9
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Answers slowly trickle out, although largley ignored by the MSM, UPI via The Washington Times: " Police from surrounding jurisdictions shut down several access points to one of the only ways out of New Orleans last week, effectively trapping victims of Hurricane Katrina in the flooded and devastated city." In folks couldn't get out due to closed routes/bridges/etc., I assume this compunded the problem with supplies not getting in. so cold.......
Posted - 9/09/2005 07:06:32 PM - Permalink | |
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Randy Balko has a good column up at FOXNews.com, where he points to the Red Cross web site where they state they were not allowed to get the much needed supplies into New Orleans becuase "Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city." Ditto for the Salvation Army.
Posted - 9/09/2005 06:24:51 PM - Permalink | |
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Thursday, September 8
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Thomas Lipscomb at Tech Central Station The Machine Stops (more like grinds to a useless halt).
Posted - 9/08/2005 08:29:27 PM - Permalink | |
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This goes with my previous post: a Us Department of Justice November 29, 2004 Press Release: Shreveport, Louisiana . . . A federal grand jury has returned two separate indictments charging three members of the State Military Department with offenses related to the obstruction of an audit of the use of federal funds for flood mitigation activities throughout Louisiana, United States Attorney Donald W. Washington announced today.
Two of the individuals charged, MICHAEL C. APPE, 51, of Mandeville, Louisiana, and MICHAEL L. BROWN, 61, of St. Francisville, Louisiana, are senior employees of the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. Both APPE and BROWN are charged with conspiracy to obstruct a federal audit; BROWN is additionally charged with making a false statement. The Louisiana Office of Homeland Security are the same clowns that blocked, by order of Blanco, shipments of aid to the Superdome. (see previous posts)
Posted - 9/08/2005 07:56:33 PM - Permalink | |
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GOP.com: In Case You Missed It - WaPo story: Money Flowed To Questionable Projects And Fox News' 'Special Report,' from 9/7/05.
Posted - 9/08/2005 04:48:00 PM - Permalink | |
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Answers are slowly trickling in as to why the supplies never made it to NOLA: Fox News' Major Garrett had some startling news last night on Brit Hume's show. The Political Teen has the video of Garrett. He talked about this on the Hugh Hewitt show as well. NewsMax has posted a story on this - Gov. Kathleen Blanco's Bureaucrats Blocked Food and Water and at All Headline News Red Cross Says " We Were Kept From Superdome By State". And the problems in LA are continuing - this time a dispute about evacuating resident out of a an area flooded with waters contaminated with sewage and other things at 10 times the acceptable level. By all accounts Blanco is finished in more ways than one. The Pundit Guy)has a great post on this and points to an NPR interview (on the Diane Rehm show) with someone from the Red Cross that confirms this: " Audio here (click link on left side of page; the comment is about 35:40 into the show.)" UPDATE- The transcript of Brit Hume's interview with Major Garrett is now up at FoxNews.
Posted - 9/08/2005 06:01:00 AM - Permalink | |
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Tuesday, September 6
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NewsMax: "If one person criticizes [our sheriffs], or says one more thing, including the president of the United States, he will hear from me - one more word about it after this show airs and I - I might likely have to punch him - literally," Landrieu railed on "ABC's "This Week."
Posted - 9/06/2005 06:42:56 PM - Permalink | |
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