Massacre at Ft Hood – UPDATE

UPDATE

Today, ABC came out with a story attributed to “a senior lawmaker” accusing the CIA of having evidence Hasan attempted to contact the al Qaeda earlier this year, although by what means and what level of contact was unknown. From the report:

One senior lawmaker on the House Intelligence Committee, said that he requested the CIA and other intelligence agencies brief the committee on what was known, if anything, about Hasan by the U.S. intelligence community, only to be refused.

That story was later changed to identify the “senior lawmaker” to be Republican Rep. Pete Hoekstra, a frequent critic of the Obama administration.

Not long after release of the ABC report, Hoekstra spoke:

“President Obama said people should not jump to conclusions about what happened at Fort Hood, but the administration is in possession of critical information related to the attack that they are refusing to release to Congress or the American people,” Hoekstra said. “I intend to push for intense review of this and other issues related to the performance of the intelligence community and whether or not information necessary for military, state and local officials to provide for the security of the post was provided to them.” Hoekstra said he was concerned that more information had been provided, piecemeal, to the news media by anonymous sources than had yet been provided to the Committee.

Since publication of ABC’s report, the CIA has dismissed Hoekstra’s claim as “bogus” .

The CIA is denying an ABC News report that the agency has refused to brief Congress on any knowledge it has about Nidal Malik Hasan, the Army major suspected in the shootings at Fort Hood last week. “This is a law enforcement investigation, in which other agencies — not the CIA — have the lead. Any suggestion that the CIA refused to brief Congress is flat wrong,” CIA spokesman George Little tells TPMmuckraker in a statement.

It’s apparent another slippery threshold has been passed – and another concerted effort by the right wing Republicans to tie, somehow, this massacre to the Obama Administration.

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A note of thanks to VetVoice for giving this blog the national attention needed to spread my word!

Medicare Part E

One of the most interesting conversations going around today is the talk about rebranding the concept of a Public Option regarding health care reform.

It’s easy to understand why. The term “Public Option”, a worthy phrase when introduced last year, was meant to convey the thought of health care coverage for everyone who doesn’t have it.

Unfortunately, after months and months of unsubstantiated right wing attacks and claims of socialism, tyranny, and so on the phrase has taken on a new, and more disturbing connotation at the hands of the Republican Party, the tea party crowd, and various right wing Obama haters in the Fox media group and elsewhere.

Rather than allowing this to continue, isn’t it time to come up with a new name for health care reform for all?

From The Hill:

House Democrats are looking at re-branding the public health insurance option as Medicare, an established government healthcare program that is better known than the public option.

The strategy could benefit Democrats struggling to bridge the gap between liberals in their party, who want the public option, and centrists, who are worried it would drive private insurers out of business.

While much of the public is foggy on what a public option actually is, people understand Medicare. It also would place the new public option within the rubric of a familiar system rather than something new and unknown.

The idea has bubbled up among House Democrats and leaders in the past week, most prominently in a caucus meeting last Thursday.

Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.) spoke out last week in favor of re-branding the public option as Medicare, startling many because he has loudly proclaimed his opposition to a public option.

Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), the veteran chairman of the House Transportation Committee, also voiced his support, as did House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.).

John Schadl, a spokesman for Oberstar, explained the congressman likes the idea because people are familiar with Medicare.

What a great idea! Medicare itself has garnered a reputation as government healthcare at it’s finest…even to the point of Americans forgetting what it actually is. Remember these comments from a town hall protester?

Keep your goddam hands off my Medicare!

It’s not a new issue or idea, but it’s definitely one whose time has come.

Welcome to Medicare, Part E

For Everybody

Black Friday

It’s that time of the year…

This year’s Black Friday ads are out:

http://www.blackfriday.info/sales/

As a former frequent shopper on Black Friday, I didn’t go last year after a bad experience at our local Target the year before. After getting out of bed at 3am and waiting in line for three hours I was one of the so-called “lucky ones” to buy what I thought was a great deal on a 20″ HDTV with built-in DVD player for the bedroom. Over the next two days it was returned three times for the same model. Seems likie the TV was so cheaply built nothing liked to work, especially the DVD player. I finally got my money back and went to Best Buy and bought a much better HDTV…and Best Buy matched the $199 price!

This year I’m committed to go again…for the right deal. So let’s see what’s out there: 

After reviewing some of this year’s ads, I find the best deals for kid’s toys will again be at Wal-Mart and Toys R Us.

At Target, I found this which would be a nice gift for the better half since we’re wineaholics. If you’re into espresso, this looks like it’s well worth the early morning trip.

I’m not much of a K-Mart shopper, but if you’re in the mood for directions, this doesn’t seem to be a bad deal either.

Best Buy has disabled links to their sale products, but you can get an overview here. And, remember…most big box electronics retailers honor Black Friday prices online so you don’t even need to leave the house!

Old Navy often warrants a Black Friday trip and this year, although there’s not much of a selection, there’s a lot of great deals.

My favorite place to shop, Macy’s, has some great deals, especially on bedding.

Of course, there’s lots more out there to look over. So, have fun, and shop smart!

Sarah Palin Wins an Emmy!

Great news for the Great White Female Hope of the Republican Party!

Sarah Palin wins an Emmy! Congratulations, Sarah!

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wait. That wasn’t Sarah?

A Reminder for LOST Fans

Now that spoilers are coming in daily for the final (sniff) season of LOST be sure to join Howey’s LOST Tribe for all the latest scoop!

And we don’t do a people search on our members!

Is It Really About Health Care? Part II

Update: 3:50pm:

I’ve been notified that one of the Fantastic Three, PrivateDick, otherwise known as Jeffrey, has posted this video from the Tampa incident yesterday, stating the protesters were innocent and that the SEIU was guilty of “inciting violence” at the rally.

Hello? I know you’re psychotic babbling will be believed by the other two and a half members of your little group, but did you actually watch the video?

Here’s the scene from across the room and from behind the protesters. As you can see…nobody was hit. The protesters were merely shut out of the room.

I believe what we’re witnessing is called “disturbing the peace”, or “inciting a riot”. What’s your excuse for what was happening outside the doors? Where the real violence occurred? From Tampa Bay.com (Please note the highlighted parts):

Bitter divisions over reforming America’s health care system exploded Thursday night in Tampa amid cat calls, jeering and shoving at a town hall meeting.”Tyranny! Tyranny! Tyranny!” dozens of people shouted as U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, struggled to talk about health insurance reforms under consideration in Washington, D.C.

“There is more consensus than there is disagreement when you get right down to it,” Castor offered, immediately drowned out by groans and boos.

She pressed on, mostly unheard among screams from the audience estimated by Tampa police to be about 1,500.

“Tell the truth! Tell the truth!” “Read the bill!” “Forty-million illegals! Forty million illegals!”

The spectacle at the Children’s Board in Ybor City sounded more like a wrestling cage match than a panel discussion on national policy, and it was just the latest example of a health care meeting disrupted by livid protesters. Similar scenes are likely to be repeated across the country as lawmakers head to their home districts for the summer recess.

Thursday’s forum/near riot was sponsored by state Rep. Betty Reed, D-Tampa, and the Service Employees International Union, who apparently had hoped to hold something of a pep rally for President Barack Obama’s health care reform proposal.

Instead, hundreds of vocal critics turned out, many of them saying they had been spurred on through the Tampa 912 activist group promoted by conservative radio and television personality Glenn Beck. Others had received e-mails from the Hillsborough Republican Party that urged people to speak out against the plan and offered talking points.

An overflow crowd of critics was left waiting outside the building — and in some cases pounding on the meeting room doors — while health care reform activists complained that Democrats and union members were guided into the room for prime seats. Tampa police officers maintained control the entire night.

It’s not about health care, you fool. It’s about hate. And bigotry. Two things you know well.

Ch Ch Ch Changes

Are coming soon.

In the next couple of days I’ll be changing the look, format and feel of this blog. I’ve been fortunate enough to be asked to take on a venture that’s going to take up a lot of my time but result in a new direction for this blog.

Stay tuned for an important announcement, especially you LOST and TVT&B fans!

See you in another life, brotha!

A New Stonewall?

Following my post Remembering Stonewall (click to read) news comes from Ft. Worth, Texas; reporting a police raid on The Rainbow Lounge, a newly-opened gay bar in the city early in the morning of the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.

Citing reasons for the raid, the police passed it off as an “alcohol beverage code inspection”, and managed to arrest several patrons for “public intoxication”  and accusing them of “grabbing a police officer in the groin area” among other ridiculous hate-filled charges.

BULLSHIT!

Video here:

More from Waylon Hudson of The Bilerico Project:

The newly opened Rainbow Lounge was hosting a birthday celebration for Todd Camp, the founder of Q Cinema, and screening documentaries about the Stonewall Riots to commemorate the 40th anniversary of one of the defining moments in LGBT history. Witnesses say the police showed up with a paddy wagon and began to roughly arrest men, focusing mainly on “effeminate men.”

One bar patron, Chad Gibson, is in a local hospital with a fractured skull and brain hemorrhage after being “choked, pulled back, then slammed into a wall” by police during the raid. Police say he was resisting arrest and made “sexual advances to officers”, a claim witnesses dismiss as outright lies. They say Gibson, who weighed “maybe 160 pounds soaking wet”, did not resist and merely stumbled when police grabbed him by the arm.

In total, seven people were arrested for public intoxication and at least a dozen more were restrained.

A Facebook page dedicated to this  incident has been established to cover the brutal acts of the Fort Worth Police firsthand.

Please Help

A very nice woman in the Daytona Beach area, who has endured several cancer surgeries, is about to be evicted from her home. As soon as this Friday, the 26th.

Any donation, in any amount, would be appreciated.

Please donate via PayPal to:   missjesmi@gmail.com

Thanks!

Getting Lost

The latest edition of Getting Lost from TV Guide. All UnLocke or Man in Black…Intrugiing…I love the Egyptian theory. It ties in with my earlier island theories!

more about "Getting Lost", posted with vodpod