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Monday, February 21, 2005
Great editorial from the Oregonian: Why has the MSM ignored the Gannon story?
The Oregonian:
....Try to imagine this scenario: John Kerry wins the presidency and appoints a press secretary who grants a White House press pass to a fake reporter with a fake name representing a fake news outlet. And what if this "Jeff Gannon," whose real name is James Guckert, gets called upon daily to lob softball questions at White House briefings?Read the rest of this post...
And what if it turns up that Gannon/Guckert has an eyebrow-raising connection to the investigation of the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame?
And what if Gannon/Guckert was involved in setting up Web sites promoting homosexual prostitution? And what if racy nude photos of him start flooding the Internet?
The only thing imaginary about this scenario was the part about Kerry being president. Had it been Kerry whose aide allowed Gannon/Guckert such access to the president, just think of the furor. Conservative Web jockeys, in tandem with talk-radio shouters, would have created a frenzy thrusting the sordid story onto front pages across the land. At the very least, President Kerry's press secretary would be out of a job.
Bloggers on the left are no less bullies than those on the right. But it's possible that mainstream U.S. news organizations resent the liberal-bias tag so much that they're more susceptible to pressure from the right.
Whatever the case, the "Jeff Gannon" story is legitimate: On Jan. 26, at a time of heightened national security, a phony reporter with a pseudonym and ties to the Republican Party got to sit just a few feet from the president at a nationally televised news conference and was called upon -- ahead of dozens of actual reporters -- to ask an inanely sympathetic question.
How does something like this happen? Frustrated bloggers on the left would love to get the White House press corps -- leery, possibly lazy, but definitely not lefty -- to find out.
Open thread
I understand Olbermann reported that Gannon is talking, again, about suing all of us. Which I'm sure will make the White House VERY happy - Gannon helping keep this story in the news for, oh, the next four years. Not to mention, I can't wait to make White House officials, and all those folks in Texas, testify under oath.
Read the rest of this post...
What's wrong with this picture?
At the gay-bashing Web site promoting Bush's social security plan, you see this image:
If you click on the image to talk to Art Linkletter, it takes you here:
A page to give them money. Gee, bait and switch much? Especially when targeting the elderly, this is creepy. Read the rest of this post...
If you click on the image to talk to Art Linkletter, it takes you here:
A page to give them money. Gee, bait and switch much? Especially when targeting the elderly, this is creepy. Read the rest of this post...
The REAL Bush Agenda
PS Ok, this is funny - I only JUST got the following link from DKos! Great minds... Read the rest of this post...
Gay-bashing used to promote Bush's social security plan
Isn't that special? Bush's allies in the social security battle are using gay-bashing to help promote the president's plan. Where is our wonderful pro-gay-hooker president on this issue? Does Bush think gay-bashing is an appropriate way to push his social security plan? What does Vice President Cheney think of bashing his daughter Mary in order to promote the president's plan? And what does Ken "I'm afraid to say on the record that I'm heterosexual" Mehlman have to say about this?
And last, but not least: Jeff, still think these guys love you?
From Daily Kos Read the rest of this post...
And last, but not least: Jeff, still think these guys love you?
From Daily Kos Read the rest of this post...
Mainstream media REFUSES to ask Bush about new "tapes" scandal
A friend in the White House press corps just let me know that in President Bush's first press availability since the secretly-recorded tapes were revealed, and his first press availability since arriving in Europe, the White House press corps failed to ask the president even a single question about the tapes today. Zero. These are the tapes that appear to indicate that Bush doesn't agree with the religious right on gay issues, and that he has smoked pot. How could they NOT ask him a question about this rather big story right now? (Let alone, where's the question about GannonGuckertGate?)
Perhaps Jeff Gannon isn't the only whore covering the White House.
For Immediate Release
February 21, 2005
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT BUSH
AND PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC
IN A PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
Ambassador's Residence
United States Embassy
Brussels, Belgium
7:13 P.M. (Local)
PRESIDENT BUSH: It's my honor to be joining Jacques Chirac for dinner. I thank you for coming, sir. I've really been looking forward to this moment.
Every time I meet with Jacques he's got good advice. And I'm looking forward to listening to you. We've got a lot of issues to talk about: Middle Eastern peace, Lebanon, Iran, helping to feed the hungry, working together to help spread medicines necessary to cure illness. So, Mr. President, thank you very much for your -- coming back for dinner, and thank you for your time.
PRESIDENT CHIRAC: (As translated.) Thank you. It's, of course, a great pleasure, it always is great pleasure to meet with President Bush. And let me take this opportunity to thank him for his very warm welcome to me today, as always.
Now, President Bush and I have always shared very -- always had very warm relations, which, in fact, translate, to a certain extent, of relations -- of warm relations that have always been characterized -- the links between our countries and the relations, be they bilateral or transatlantic ones, which have always been excellent between France and the United States.
Indeed, we have struggled for some two centuries, 200 years now, to uphold and keep alive these values which we share, and which our people share and hold very dear to their hearts, and which we are very attached to.
We are present together, that is to say France and the United States, in some of the world's hot spots. I'm thinking of Afghanistan, I'm thinking of the Balkans, of course. But I'm thinking also of what we're doing in Haiti and in Africa. I'm thinking also of our excellent cooperation over the tragedy in Asia, from the tsunami here. And let me take this opportunity to thank the President for all the help that was extended to our military by the American military. For instance, the making available to our military of American helicopters, which made our work that much easier.
So we do share many, many ideals and values. We have many things in common. For instance, we, together, are struggling against the scourge of weapons of mass destruction and terrorism. And we adopted -- we have the same approach to the situation which is prevailing in Lebanon, especially following the murder of former Prime Minister Hariri, who, of course, was a man who enshrined the ideals of democracy, independence and liberty of that country.
Therefore, I am looking forward to a very constructive discussion, and I welcome this new opportunity to meet with the President, and in a broader context, which is that of the continuing dialogue, ongoing dialogue between the United States and the rest of Europe.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Tom.
Q For both Presidents: You talked about Russia, Mr. President, in your speech. What practical things can you do to pressure Russia to go back to a path towards democracy? And should you, for instance, make membership in the WTO contingent on Russia renewing its commitment to democracy? For both Presidents, please.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Part of the WTO requirements are that there be an open market, that there be a liberal economy. And open markets and liberal economies tend to attract countries that are open to the voices of their people.
I look forward to seeing Vladimir Putin in two days. I've got a good relationship with Vladimir; I intend to keep it that way. But as well, I intend to remind him that if his interests lie West, that we share values, and that we -- and those values are important. They're not only important for people that live within Russia, they're important to have good relations with the West.
Q The first question to President Chirac. You have said, sir, yourself, that relations have always been excellent between France and the United States. We get the sense that in recent weeks they have become even better. They have become warmer and that there's a veritable new honeymoon, as it were, taking place.
And to you, President Bush, may I ask the following question: If, indeed, relations have improved, if certainly they are better between France and the United States, are they good enough as yet for that to warrant an invitation to President Chirac to go to the United States, or even to your ranch? (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT BUSH: I'm looking for a good cowboy. (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT CHIRAC: (As translated.) Let me say, repeat what I already said, namely, that our relations are, indeed, excellent. But they have been excellent for over 200 years now, because -- why do I say that? Because they are based upon common values, common values that we share. And these things don't change overnight, with the wave of a wand. Now, of course, that doesn't mean that because we share common values we don't -- we necessarily agree on everything all the time. Of course, we can have our differences, our divergence of opinion. Recently, this was the case; we didn't share the same view over Iraq. But this in no way affects or in no way undermines the bedrock of our relations, namely, our common values and our common vision. And I repeat what I said earlier on, namely, that I feel it's so important that within the broader context of U.S.-EU relations, this relationship should continue to be cemented, broadened and strengthened.
PRESIDENT BUSH: This is my first dinner since I've been re-elected on European soil, and it's with Jacques Chirac -- and that ought to say something. It ought to say how important this relationship is for me, personally, and how important this relationship is for my country.
END 7:23 P.M. (Local) Read the rest of this post...
Perhaps Jeff Gannon isn't the only whore covering the White House.
For Immediate Release
February 21, 2005
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT BUSH
AND PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC
IN A PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
Ambassador's Residence
United States Embassy
Brussels, Belgium
7:13 P.M. (Local)
PRESIDENT BUSH: It's my honor to be joining Jacques Chirac for dinner. I thank you for coming, sir. I've really been looking forward to this moment.
Every time I meet with Jacques he's got good advice. And I'm looking forward to listening to you. We've got a lot of issues to talk about: Middle Eastern peace, Lebanon, Iran, helping to feed the hungry, working together to help spread medicines necessary to cure illness. So, Mr. President, thank you very much for your -- coming back for dinner, and thank you for your time.
PRESIDENT CHIRAC: (As translated.) Thank you. It's, of course, a great pleasure, it always is great pleasure to meet with President Bush. And let me take this opportunity to thank him for his very warm welcome to me today, as always.
Now, President Bush and I have always shared very -- always had very warm relations, which, in fact, translate, to a certain extent, of relations -- of warm relations that have always been characterized -- the links between our countries and the relations, be they bilateral or transatlantic ones, which have always been excellent between France and the United States.
Indeed, we have struggled for some two centuries, 200 years now, to uphold and keep alive these values which we share, and which our people share and hold very dear to their hearts, and which we are very attached to.
We are present together, that is to say France and the United States, in some of the world's hot spots. I'm thinking of Afghanistan, I'm thinking of the Balkans, of course. But I'm thinking also of what we're doing in Haiti and in Africa. I'm thinking also of our excellent cooperation over the tragedy in Asia, from the tsunami here. And let me take this opportunity to thank the President for all the help that was extended to our military by the American military. For instance, the making available to our military of American helicopters, which made our work that much easier.
So we do share many, many ideals and values. We have many things in common. For instance, we, together, are struggling against the scourge of weapons of mass destruction and terrorism. And we adopted -- we have the same approach to the situation which is prevailing in Lebanon, especially following the murder of former Prime Minister Hariri, who, of course, was a man who enshrined the ideals of democracy, independence and liberty of that country.
Therefore, I am looking forward to a very constructive discussion, and I welcome this new opportunity to meet with the President, and in a broader context, which is that of the continuing dialogue, ongoing dialogue between the United States and the rest of Europe.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Tom.
Q For both Presidents: You talked about Russia, Mr. President, in your speech. What practical things can you do to pressure Russia to go back to a path towards democracy? And should you, for instance, make membership in the WTO contingent on Russia renewing its commitment to democracy? For both Presidents, please.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Part of the WTO requirements are that there be an open market, that there be a liberal economy. And open markets and liberal economies tend to attract countries that are open to the voices of their people.
I look forward to seeing Vladimir Putin in two days. I've got a good relationship with Vladimir; I intend to keep it that way. But as well, I intend to remind him that if his interests lie West, that we share values, and that we -- and those values are important. They're not only important for people that live within Russia, they're important to have good relations with the West.
Q The first question to President Chirac. You have said, sir, yourself, that relations have always been excellent between France and the United States. We get the sense that in recent weeks they have become even better. They have become warmer and that there's a veritable new honeymoon, as it were, taking place.
And to you, President Bush, may I ask the following question: If, indeed, relations have improved, if certainly they are better between France and the United States, are they good enough as yet for that to warrant an invitation to President Chirac to go to the United States, or even to your ranch? (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT BUSH: I'm looking for a good cowboy. (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT CHIRAC: (As translated.) Let me say, repeat what I already said, namely, that our relations are, indeed, excellent. But they have been excellent for over 200 years now, because -- why do I say that? Because they are based upon common values, common values that we share. And these things don't change overnight, with the wave of a wand. Now, of course, that doesn't mean that because we share common values we don't -- we necessarily agree on everything all the time. Of course, we can have our differences, our divergence of opinion. Recently, this was the case; we didn't share the same view over Iraq. But this in no way affects or in no way undermines the bedrock of our relations, namely, our common values and our common vision. And I repeat what I said earlier on, namely, that I feel it's so important that within the broader context of U.S.-EU relations, this relationship should continue to be cemented, broadened and strengthened.
PRESIDENT BUSH: This is my first dinner since I've been re-elected on European soil, and it's with Jacques Chirac -- and that ought to say something. It ought to say how important this relationship is for me, personally, and how important this relationship is for my country.
END 7:23 P.M. (Local) Read the rest of this post...
GuckertGate hits Le Monde
Good article from Le Monde. (Sorry, it's in French.)
The last paragraph is the best. It talks about a Washington Post reporter, covering the inaugural balls, who got into serious trouble when he stepped foot out of the "area reserved for journalists." Apparently, journalists were required to have an "escort" when walking outside of their dog-pen they were given by the White House at the event.
Le Monde concludes by saying: "It's not known if Jeff Gannon, who advertised a Web site for male escorts, also had an 'escort' at the ball."
Snap, snap, Le Monde! (And don't get picky with my translation, I'm close enough :-)
The last paragraph is the best. It talks about a Washington Post reporter, covering the inaugural balls, who got into serious trouble when he stepped foot out of the "area reserved for journalists." Apparently, journalists were required to have an "escort" when walking outside of their dog-pen they were given by the White House at the event.
Le Monde concludes by saying: "It's not known if Jeff Gannon, who advertised a Web site for male escorts, also had an 'escort' at the ball."
Snap, snap, Le Monde! (And don't get picky with my translation, I'm close enough :-)
Le malheureux avait commis une faute : il était sorti de l'espace réservé aux journalistes. Au-delà de cette limite, ceux-ci devaient être escortés, "du buffet à la salle de danse et même aux toilettes". Il raconte qu'une personne avec laquelle il parlait s'est figée quand elle a vu qu'il était "accompagné". On ne sait pas si Jeff Gannon, qui a fait de la publicité pour un site d'escort boys, était au bal "accompagné".Read the rest of this post...
LOL This is good
Funny as hell, from the political editor of National Lampoon.
What is being drowned out in this screaming for Gannon's head -- and pen -- and escort Web sites -- is something special he has given all of us incompetent ne'erdowells, something we may have never known if not for Jeff's nerve in breaking up the old-skilled, news-professional boys' club. He has given rise to a realm of possibilities where only hopelessness lived. No longer will inexperience or egregious bias keep us from becoming an important cog in the dissemination of government issued information....Then read his "Questions Jeff Gannon Never Got to Ask":
"In the early 1940's, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and turncoat Jim Jeffries murdered six million Jews and untold numbers of homosexuals. How do work with these obviously insane assassins to pass laws that will only help the American people? And could you also address why misguided Jews, Negroes and Gays blindly support the Democratic party."Read the rest of this post...
"Democrats hate that minorities like Colin Powell, Alberto Gonzales and Condi Rice have gained influential posts under your administration. That's not a question but if you can make one out of it I think it would make for a freakin' dynamite opportunity to slam Jesse Jackson good."
"Gosh, you look really ripped today. What time do you get off? And I have a follow up."
Traffic over the past several weeks
Just thought you'd get a kick out of seeing what the Gannon/Guckert story did to site traffic this month. Once this story is finally over (let's hope that's sometime around 2009) I expect traffic will calm down, though hopefully be at a higher level than it was a few weeks ago, as some of the new visitors will remain (I hope).
The first spike was when I first jumped in to the Gannon story, and the second spike was the day I broke the hooker story.
Read the rest of this post...
The first spike was when I first jumped in to the Gannon story, and the second spike was the day I broke the hooker story.
Read the rest of this post...
Camilla banned from the White House?
This story is just bizarre. As much as I think this White House is wacky, I'm having a hard time believing they'd ban the "royal consort" because she's a divorcee. Give me a break. Then Newt and practically half the GOP couldn't enter the White House. I'd like more confirmation of this, but am posting the link as lots of folks have been asking about it.
Read the rest of this post...
VIDEO: CNN's Reliable Sources on GuckertGate
From Crooks and Liars. This is the show where I debated that wacko from Powerline blog.
The transcript of the show is now online as well here. Read the rest of this post...
The transcript of the show is now online as well here. Read the rest of this post...
Good Gannon summary article AND action alert on gay youth suicide
UPDATE: Maybe, and I say only "maybe," this is already solved. But I don't fully buy it. If you read this article, you see the Bushies now saying there is "no policy" banning any specific words. Well, yeah, there wasn't any "policy" banning words to start with. It was a "suggestion." A suggesetion tied to future funding. So the administration's response that "fixes" this problem may not be a fix at all. I say contact them anyway. You know next time they'll do this again with some other program.
------------------
Please check out the action alert at the end of this article. It's a very good summary article of the entire Guckert scandal, but also the action alert is very important.
------------------
Please check out the action alert at the end of this article. It's a very good summary article of the entire Guckert scandal, but also the action alert is very important.
But (to continue on the theme of hypocrisy): the administration which boasts that it wants to "leave no child behind," and which pays whorish "journalists" to write that it wants to leave no child behind, announced last week that Charles Curie, the administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSA) would not be allowed to attend a conference in Portland, Oregon organized by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) unless some changes were made in the program.Read the rest of this post...
At issue? The title of a workshop on "Suicide Prevention Among Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals, and Transgender Individuals." In the workshop, focus would be on gay kids who are often driven to suicide due to homophobic environments. The Bush administration demanded that, as a condition for Curie's participation, the words "gay," "lesbian," "bisexual," and "transgender" be struck from the title. The regime, in deference to its Christian-fundamentalist homophobe-fascist supporters, can't be smeared by such contact, you see. Intimidated, the SPRC changed the title to "Suicide Prevention in Vulnerable Populations."
Such are the times we live in. Self-hating gays are welcome in the White House, and equally welcome to commit suicide. But discussion of gayness itself is highly unwelcome. If you'd like to protest this particular stupidity, try:
Charles Curie
Office of the Administrator, SAMHSA
Rockville, MD 20850
Tel: 240-276-2000
charles.curie@samhsa.hhs.gov
Mike Leavitt
Secretary of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Ave. SW
Washington, D.D. 20201
Tel: 202-690-7000
Fax: 202-690-7203
WingNutDaily weighs in on GuckertGate
Regardless of whether you like their story or not, they repeat the basic facts of the story, including mentioning Guckert's Web addresses, and THAT helps get the story out there further.
Read the rest of this post...
Marge's sister is a dyke
NYT on the Simpsons' coming-out episode last night. Minneapolis Star Tribune covers it too.
Read the rest of this post...
My Week, by George W. Bush
Bush is probably actually happy to be in Europe. Let's review his last week:
--Male hooker linked to GOP working out of the White House Press Room;
--Says he would consider raising the Social Security cap which to the DeLay crowd means a tax increase;
--"Friend" releases secret tapes where we learn:
a) he didn't want to kick gays like the rest of the right wing nuts (although that's changed); and
b) his own words indicate a drug past.
And, to top it off, he has become friends with the right wing's chief villain, Bill Clinton. Read the rest of this post...
--Male hooker linked to GOP working out of the White House Press Room;
--Says he would consider raising the Social Security cap which to the DeLay crowd means a tax increase;
--"Friend" releases secret tapes where we learn:
a) he didn't want to kick gays like the rest of the right wing nuts (although that's changed); and
b) his own words indicate a drug past.
And, to top it off, he has become friends with the right wing's chief villain, Bill Clinton. Read the rest of this post...
US immigration from Africa reaches new highs
The Times article says that more blacks are coming from Africa than during the forced immigration from the slave trade. In New York, 1 in 3 blacks are foreign born. When people here (in Europe) ask me what I miss the most about the US, it's the diversity. Sure we have diverse groups here in Europe and of course, in the US we struggle with integration and racism but ultimately, we are a collection of immigrants and that is a uniting factor. One big difference is that in the US, immigrants can get an education, find good jobs, become politicians, etc. and move up.
Europeans love to charge Americans with racism, which does exist, but all too often people here overlook the limited options for education, work (beyond custodial positions, when available) and political representation for immigrants and even second and third generation immigrants from Africa here in Europe. Just last night I spoke with an otherwise liberal-minded European couple who explained that a 99.9% white event called the Conscrit was not racist even though the local community is heavily populated by former North Africans. "It's not racism, it's cultural" was the response. Outside of the the usual racist groups, can you imagine the response that such a remark would receive in the US among educated people? Read the rest of this post...
Europeans love to charge Americans with racism, which does exist, but all too often people here overlook the limited options for education, work (beyond custodial positions, when available) and political representation for immigrants and even second and third generation immigrants from Africa here in Europe. Just last night I spoke with an otherwise liberal-minded European couple who explained that a 99.9% white event called the Conscrit was not racist even though the local community is heavily populated by former North Africans. "It's not racism, it's cultural" was the response. Outside of the the usual racist groups, can you imagine the response that such a remark would receive in the US among educated people? Read the rest of this post...
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