Friday, April 18, 2008

Other Items

Complaints made last year against Nelson City Police have been deemed unsubstantiated.
That conclusion has been drawn from a final report issued today by the Nelson City Police Board in relation to the Kyle Snider case.
Complaints were lodged on Snider's behalf, a war resister who was living Nelson at the time, after alleged misconduct in connection to his arrest back in 2007.


The above is from Chris Carr's "No Public hearing into NCP complaint" (KBS Radio). First, unless the entire press has been wrong, that is "Kyle Snyder." Second, it's no surprise. The whitewash began long ago (see here) and in terms of what happened to Kyle and Joshua Key, you can refer to Gregory Levey's "Northern exposure: American soldiers are fleeing the Iraq war for Canada -- and U.S. officials may be on their trail. North of the border is no longer the safe haven it was during the Vietnam era" (Salon).

Turning to elections. Several things but let's start with Shailagh Murray and Perry Bacon Jr.'s "Obama Looks To Turn Debate Into a Victory" (Washington Post)

But just as they did last weekend, when Obama was engulfed in controversy over his remarks about small-town bitterness, he and his advisers sought to turn potential trouble into an advantage. In Thursday's narrative, Obama saw Clinton's performance as a metaphor for the kind of politics he wants to move beyond.
He called Washington a town of "gotcha games," "anything goes" and "slash-and-burn politics." Clinton, he said, "looked in her element" on the stage at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia as he grappled with uncomfortable questions.

More weak words from the 'virgin' Barack. (12 years in political office and he wants to play the virgin.) It's more of the same nonsense from Bambi. So why did it get a big laugh when he stated it? That's not in the article. Jeralyn (TalkLeft) posts the video and note the laugh at "looked in her element" -- note what Bambi's doing while he's saying that:



He's flipping the bird and he knows he's doing it. The trashy candidate just got trashier. For those who want to say, "Maybe it was an accident . . ." -- from Kat's post last night:

ABC's David Wright, reporting on the reaction to his network's debate last night, notes this from Prince Bambi today:

At a town hall meeting in North Carolina today, Obama shrugged off Wednesday night's confrontation, though with evident disdain.
"When you're running for president you gotta expect it, and so you just kind of let it ..." he said, stopping midsentence and brushing off his shoulders as the crowd applauded.


He stopped mid-sentence and gestured. Just as he did when he flipped the bird while talking about Hillary Clinton. If the Bully Boy did something like that (and he has), the left would call him out (and they have). There have been no standards for Barack, just feather kisses and Patricia J. Williams lying (claiming he voted against the 2002 Iraq authorization and screaming at the poor caller, the MidEaster woman, who 'dared' to correct Professor Patti) and going cross-eyed with desire at his academic 'credentials.' Barack knew what he was doing and so did the audience, that's why they are laughing. And, again, note how prissy he is in the video. Is he's trying to become president of the United States or of ColbyCo?


The following has a March 29th event edited out of the excerpt, there are two events this weekend. From Women's eNews:

A Women's Questionnaire for Democratic Candidates
(WOMENSENEWS)--Women's individual life journeys refract our view of what constitutes "women's issues." As a voting bloc, women will determine who will be the next president. Women usually vote in higher numbers than their male counterparts--in the 2004 election, women were 60 percent of voter turnout--and to date, record numbers of women of all ages have voted in the primaries.
Breadwinners might dwell on the unmet need for high-quality affordable child care. Caregivers might talk about their social contributions being undervalued and having no safety net. Women in every walk of life who are not safe at home might focus on the failure of the legal system to offer better protection.
Power of the Women's Vote Forum, Bryn Mawr College

[. . .]

April 19, Saturday, 11:00 am to 2:30 pm - Woman to Woman Voter Turnout Workshop - State College

Workshop will be presented at a location in State College, Pennsylvania by WomenVote PA in conjunction with AAUW. Please contact Dot McLane at dotmclane@comcast.net for more information or to register for this workshop.

April 20, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm - Power of the Women's Vote Forum - Bryn Mawr College, Thomas Great Hall

WVPA is proud to co-sponsor this event. Speakers participating in the forum include: Liz Abzug, Founder of the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute for Disadvantaged Women; Judge Ann Butchart, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas; Joanne Epps, Professor of Law, Temple University; Risa Vetri Ferman, District Attorney, Ontgomery County Rita Henley Jensen, Foundation andamp; Editor-in-Chief of Women's eNews; Carol Tracy Executive Director, Women's Law Project; Senator Connie Williams, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and Lynn Yeakel, Chair of Women's Health andamp; Leadership, Drexel University. Refreshments will be provided. Register by contacting sheila_mcdaid@comcast.net.
How will such concerns be met by the next president?
That's the big question behind all the following queries from readers, staffers and advocates gathered by Women's eNews.
This Sunday, April 20, two days before the Pennsylvania primary, Women's eNews will co-sponsor a nonpartisan forum on the power of the women's vote at Bryn Mawr College, just outside Philadelphia. Editor in chief Rita Henley Jensen will moderate the discussion among a family court judge, a law professor, a district attorney, a former member of Congress and the head of a women's legal rights organization. Representatives of Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama are expected to make appearances as well.
Jensen will offer each a print-out of this posting and ask for an e-mailed response from the campaign, to be posted on our Web site.


I believe that's a press release. If it is, we'll note it in full tomorrow morning but there are too many things to note this morning to include it in full.

Francisco notes Howard Woflson's "HUBdate: In Her Element" (HillaryClinton.com):

The Reviews Are In: After last night’s debate in Philadelphia, Hillary was described as "the winner," having a "strong presence," and "in her element." Read more.

State of the Race: Howard Wolfson and Phil Singer assess the State of the Race on a 10am ET conference call with reporters this morning.

Previewing Today in PA: Hillary and Chelsea host a conversation with families in Haverford, PA and host a Block Party outside the Mayfair Diner in Philadelphia. Hillary also appears on Comedy Central’s the Colbert Report at 11:30pm ET tonight.

Young Democrats For Hillary: The editorial board of University of Pennsylvania's The Daily Pennsylvanian endorsed Hillary. "Clinton...is ready to lead this nation now. A successful champion for change...[she] has the ability to turn policy into reality." Read More.

On The Air In Indiana: The Clinton campaign unveiled a new ad in Indiana that highlights Hillary’s commitment to protect American defense manufacturing jobs. Watch here. Read more.

Endorsement Watch: The Operative Plasterers' and Cement Masons' International Association (OPCMIA) endorsed Hillary. OPCMIA President Pat Finley said: "We need a leader with Hillary Clinton's ability to turn around the economy and rebuild the middle class." Salsa icon Willie Colon also endorsed Hillary: "Clinton is more qualified than any other candidate to represent residents of Puerto Rico. 'Hillary has been on the side of our families for over 35 years.'" Read more and more.

Speaking Out: Darrin McCormick, Mayor of Williamson, WV, described Sen. Obama’s comments about Americans in small towns as "demeaning" and "fe[lt] like all Americans will feel the same way." Read More.

In Case You Missed It: "ABC News' Teddy Davis and Talal Al-Khatib Report: Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., maintained at Wednesday's ABC News debate in Philadelphia that his handwriting does not appear on a 1996 questionnaire stating support for a ban on the manufacture, sale, and possession of handguns. The Democratic presidential frontrunner made this claim even though a copy of the original document suggests otherwise." Read more.

On Tap: Hillary will visit North Carolina on Friday to participate in a conversation with Dr. Maya Angelou at Wake Forest University in Winston Salem.

TV . . . Reminder, Leila Fadel will be on Bill Moyers Journal discussing Sadr City (tonight on PBS, check local listings). NOW on PBS (also tonight in most markets) focuses on healthcare. On Fox tonight, Canterbury's Law concludes it's debut season. Julianna Margulies stars (the strong cast also includes Aidan Quinn as her husband) and she's just escaped the threat of disbarment and prison in the previous episodes. I believe all other backstory needed is covered in tonight's episode which is very powerful. Ava and I will be including the show in our commentary on Sunday.

Radio . . . Sunday on WBAI (11:00 a.m. EST), The Next Hour offers Theatres Against War (THAW) presents live excerpts from "Dirt," "The Fifth Column," and "Rapsida" (A play from a Rwandan theater group that uses theater to educate people about HIV/AIDS). Hosted by Joanie Fritz Zosike and Suzanne Hayes while Monday, Cat Radio Cafe (2:00 p.m. EST):
offers:

Representing the PEN World Voices Festival are journalist/playwright George Packer, PEN Freedom to Write and International Programs Director Larry Siems and Sameer Padania from WITNESS, the New York-based international human righs organization; and cast members of the new musical adaptation of Elmer Rice's "The Adding Machine." Hosted by Janet Coleman and David Dozer.

And The Bat Segundo Show . . .

We've passed the 200 show mark. The latest fifteen installments (Shows #189-203) of the Bat Segundo Show, a podcast featuring interviews with today's contemporary writers, filmmakers, and other assorted cultural figures, are now up.
This most recent batch includes a special 75-minute conversation with Nicholson Baker (#200) on a wide range of topics, an interview with independent animator Bill Plympton (#190), a raucous talk with Jeffrey Ford about genre and the great American novel (#191), and inquiries into the sports-industrial complex with Will Leitch (#189). We learn about intimacy with Meryl Streep with director Chen Shi-Zheng and actor Liu Ye (#203) and how to cover the Kentucky Derby with filmmakers Brad & John Hennegan (#202).
We also discover why Richard Price wrote Michael Jackson's "Bad" (#199), find out what it takes to be a nonagenarian actress with Mimi Weddell (#192), investigate Chinese restaurants with Jennifer 8. Lee (#196), look into whether phasers, invisibility, and the Death Star are theoretically possible with noted physicist Michio Kaku (#197), and conduct a live podcast with writer Marshall Klimasewiski (#193). Returning to our show for second appearances are closet geek Jennifer Weiner (#198), giddy short story writer Elizabeth Crane (#195), and anti-earnest crusader Lydia Millet (#194). And, last but not least, litblogger and debut novelist Mark Sarvas talks with us about Harry, Revised, John Banville, James Wood, and elegant variations (#201).
We are sad to report that Mr. Segundo now appears to be deceased, after a protracted battle with the Creator. But there are also rumors now circulating that Mr. Segundo is secretly holed up in a Cuban hospital. The pertinent evidence suggesting Mr. Segundo's demise can be found in Show #199. We leave it to the intelligence of our listeners to figure out how the show will carry on without our dutiful host, or whether Mr. Segundo has perhaps faked his own death in an effort to get people other than Motel 6 authorities to pay attention to him.
The main Segundo site can be found here [. . .] To subscribe to the show with a podcatcher program (for later transfer to your iPod), copy and paste the following URL into your program: http://feeds.feedburner.com/segundo
Please note: You do not have to have an iPod to listen the show! If you go to the main Segundo site, you can save the MP3 to your lovely machine by clicking on the bat picture or, if you're the kind of person who prefers swinging a bat over clicking on one, we do have a user-friendly interface with many listening and streaming options below the capsules.