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Sunday, July 25, 2004

Don't Ya Just LOOOOVE Teresa?
 
Tonight, From Drudge
 
 
XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX SUN JULY 25, 2004 23:33:04 ET XXXXX

TERESA TELLS REPORTER TO 'SHOVE IT'

Teresa Heinz Kerry, wife of Democratic nominee John Kerry, told a reporter to 'shove it' on Sunday evening -- immediately after giving a speech calling for a more civil tone in politics.

Speaking to the Pennsylvanian delegation at the statehouse in Boston, Heinz Kerry delivered an impassioned plea against hate politics:

"We need to turn back some of the creeping, un-Pennsylvanian and sometimes un-American traits that are coming into some of our politics."

"I remember a time when people in political parties in Pennsylvania talked to one another and actually got things done. We have to go back to those days when we can do things properly, for the people need it."

"My prayers for you, for me, for the country, for the world, are that we keep this at a high level, with dignity, with respect and with a great idealism and courage that took our forefathers to build this great nation."

According to multiple sources who attended the event, Heinz Kerry upon finishing the speech pushed her way through the Secret Service to get to Pittsburgh Tribune Review reporter, Colin McNickle. Upon getting to Mcnickle, Heinz Kerry asks, 'Are you from the Tribune Review' Mcnickle says, 'Yes, I am.'

At this point and in an irritated fashion Heinz Kerry says, 'Of course, understandable. You said something I didnt say. Now Shove it!'

Tape of the incident is being edited to air on Pittsburgh's WTAE-TV, and, according to a media source, ABC NEWS is set to run with it thereafter.

A witness of the incident said reporters were "stunned" by Heinz Kerry's outburst, especially in light of the speech she had just given.

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And if you'd like to check out the video of this polite exchange, click here then click the link to watch the madness!

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Sunday, July 18, 2004

Martha Martha MARTHA!
 
Ok, for the sake of this writing, I am assuming that all of you know the basics of the Martha Stewart case. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, come out of the cave and click here. On with the show.
 
First off, let me say, I don’t like Martha Stewart. Her recipes are needlessly complicated and overwrought, her decorating “tips” are blasé and unattractive, and, on a personal note, she creeps me out. Having said that, the fact that she has received a sentence of jail time really bothers me. Let me sum it up for you like this. Martha Stewart was sentenced to 5 months in prison and 5 months house arrest (and a fine). Do you know why? Was it because she cheated the FTC? Because of insider trading? Nope. The government couldn’t make a case for any of the above. Stewart (and her broker, Peter Bacanovic) received the above sentence for LYING TO THE GOVERNMENT. Yes, you can get prison time for lying to the government.  What did she lie about? Well, insider trading, right? The only problem there is that LEGALLY the IT never happened. So, she is sentenced to prison for lying to a government official about something that, according to the law, NEVER EVEN HAPPENED.
 
So remember friends, always tell Johnny Law the truth. Even if it’s none of his business. Because, otherwise, you go to jail. And, apparently, that’s a good thing.

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Wednesday, July 14, 2004

Unsure for Whom to Vote this Novemeber? No Problem, We Just Won't Have Elections!


Homeland Security Confirms Election Delay Talks

VOA News/ 12 Jul 2004

The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed that the Bush administration has discussed possibly delaying the November presidential election if there is a new terrorist attack.

The report, in Newsweek magazine and confirmed Monday, says the discussions were spurred by a letter from U.S. Election Assistance Commission chairman DeForest Soirees.

Newsweek says Mr. Soaries wrote Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge to suggest asking Congress for emergency legislation to allow postponing the election after any attack.

California Congresswoman Jane Harman, the Senior Democrat on the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee, called the plan excessive.

But the Republican chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, California's Christopher Cox, told CNN Sunday the request was a prudent effort to plan for what he called "doomsday scenarios."


More

And EVEN MORE!!

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New Terror Threat Gauge Thingie Proposed to Make Sure We Stay Scared

Report Questions Value of Color-Coded Warnings
By ERIC LICHTBLAU

ASHINGTON, July 12 - The federal government's color-coded threat system is too vague and confusing to help many local and state law enforcement officials prepare for possible terrorist attacks, Congressional investigators said Monday in a report that prompted leading members of Congress to call for an overhaul.

The report by the General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress, cited widespread concern among federal, state and local officials about the quality and timing of threat information they received from the Department of Homeland Security. A survey sent to 84 agencies, states and United States territories as part of the study found that the warnings were often vague and inadequate, and had "hindered their ability to determine whether they were at risk" and what protective measures to take in response.

Representative Christopher Cox, the California Republican who leads the House homeland security committee, said in releasing the report that the officials overseeing the threat system needed to "make it work better or get rid of it."

More

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I LUV Cops!



Police kill wrong man in bed

Suspect's uncle slain after cop apparently mistakes soda can for gun

By Sean Kelly
George Merritt and Howard Pankratz
Denver Post /Tuesday, July 13, 2004 -

A Denver police officer likely mistook a soda can for a weapon before shooting and killing a 63-year-old man in his bed, Police Chief Gerry Whitman said Monday.

Frank Lobato was shot once in the chest Sunday night during a police search for a domestic-violence suspect. Lobato, a career criminal and formerly homeless man whom neighbors said was disabled, was not involved in the domestic dispute.

Instead, officers were searching the home at 1234 W. 10th Ave. for Lobato's nephew Vincent Martinez, who was wanted on suspicion of domestic violence, assault and false imprisonment. Martinez, 42, was captured Monday evening.

Some neighbors and community members called the shooting questionable - and worse.

"I think it is disgraceful," neighbor Rose Salaz said. "I don't see how they can just go into people's houses shooting people. ... They are supposed to protect us."

The shooting comes weeks after the city and police announced reforms to the department's use-of-force policy in the wake of controversy surrounding police shootings.

Whitman and District Attorney Bill Ritter took the unusual step of calling a news conference to lay out some of the facts about the incident, the third fatal police shooting this year. But they answered few questions.

"It has now been determined that the party who was shot was not armed at the time of the shooting," a subdued Whitman said, reading from a prepared statement. "The officer stated that after he fired the shot, he heard an object fall to the floor on the other side of the bed. A beverage can was recovered from the floor in the area of the bedroom."

Ritter, standing next to Whitman, promised a full investigation to determine whether Officer Ranjan Ford Jr. broke any laws when he fired the fatal shot. No criminal charges have been filed against a Denver police officer for an on-the-job shooting during Ritter's 11-year tenure.

Ford, 33, came to the department in 2001. He has no prior shootings and no discipline problems, police said.

Before his hiring in Denver, Ford had been an officer in Jasper, Texas. Jasper Police Chief Stanley Christopher said Ford was a model officer there.

"I wish I had a dozen like him," Christopher said. "I'm telling you, he was a great officer. We really hated to see him go."

Ford was born in Boulder and attended Fairview High School, according to the application he submitted to become an officer in Denver. He speaks Singhalese, the native language of Sri Lanka. According to his application, he worked as a police officer and corrections officer in Texas beginning in 1993. Ford works in District 6 downtown.

"Knowing him as well as I do, if something happened, he was in fear for his life," Christopher said. "He's not a hot-dog. He's not a John Wayne-type."

Police were called to the home in the South Lincoln housing project by Martinez's wife, Cathy Sandoval, who said Martinez beat her and held her against her will for 17 hours on Sunday.

PROFILES
The shooting victim
Frank Lobato, 63, a Denver man, was shot in his bed when a police officer apparently mistook a soda can for a weapon. Neighbors say Lobato was disabled. The shooting comes just weeks after the city and police announced reforms to the department's use-of-force policy after controversial shootings.
The police officer
Ranjan Ford Jr., a member of the Denver Police Department since 2001, is described as a model officer with no history of shootings or discipline problems. The Boulder native previously was a corrections officer in Texas and a police officer in Jasper, Texas.

The circumstances
Police were searching the home at 1234 W. 10th Ave. for Vincent Martinez, a nephew of Lobato. Martinez was sought after Martinez's wife of two months, Cathy Sandoval, called police saying Martinez beat her and held her against her will for 17 hours Sunday. He was apprehended Monday night.



Now Sandoval said she is saddened and worried by the outcome. A relative is dead, and her angry husband is in jail.

"I'm worried he will think this is my fault," she said before her husband's capture Monday night.

The situation began when Sandoval and her husband of two months returned from an evening of drinking around 2 a.m.

Martinez was jealous because Sandoval had talked to people at the bar, Sandoval said. Once home, he became violent and he hit, choked and threw plates at Sandoval until about 10 a.m., she said.

For the rest of Sunday, Martinez refused to let Sandoval leave. She did not get out until about 6:45 p.m., when her mother arrived to return Sandoval's two children.

Once out of the house, Sandoval called police and agreed to meet them at a nearby McDonald's. She said she gave police permission to enter her home, and told them that her husband and his uncle Lobato were in the apartment.

Salaz said she watched police officers use a ladder to enter the apartment. They were in the apartment about a minute before she heard a shot, she said.

"People were out running around, grabbing their kids" when the shot went off, Salaz said. "Then, you could hear the officers inside yelling 'Put your hands up!"'

Salaz and other neighbors knew that Martinez had already jumped out a window and run away before three officers, including Ford, entered through the same window. Police had surrounded the building, but an officer walked around to the front, allowing Martinez an opportunity to flee, neighbors said. It was at least 25 minutes after Martinez ran away before the officers went in, Salaz said.

Sandoval said Lobato was in the room during the day as Martinez held her captive.

Lobato had a lengthy criminal record dating back to 1959, including arrests for drugs, assault and burglary. He had been in prison several times. His most recent arrest came in May on shoplifting charges.

On Monday night, Lobato's niece and grandniece said Lobato needed daily medication to keep his mind clear enough "to where he could cope."

Lobato was probably confused by the officers if he was aware of them at all, his niece Denise Cogil said, adding that the family has contacted an attorney in preparation for a lawsuit.

The shooting stirred echoes of the infamous 1999 shooting of Mexican immigrant Ismael Mena, who was killed during a no- knock drug raid at the wrong address. The city of Denver paid a $400,000 settlement to the family of Mena, who shot at police officers before he was killed and was discovered to have killed a man in Mexico.

Mayor John Hickenlooper, who has championed police reform, issued a statement Monday commending Whitman for being forthcoming about the shooting and promising continued investment in resources and training for police officers.

"This situation involves two tragedies: a brutal case of domestic violence and a loss of life," Hickenlooper said.

City Councilman Rick Garcia, chairman of the public safety committee, said his committee is planning to review further police reforms next month.

"For this action to happen does not bode well for the Police Department or the city," Garcia said. "I'm terribly distraught about it."


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Saturday, July 10, 2004

Fahrenheit 9/11:

Bottomline, wait for the DVD



I saw F 9/11 tonight. I have to say, I was quite underwhelmed. I didn't really learn anything new. It was just the basic Bush-Saudi-Oil continuum we've all heard ad infinitum, with a little class warfare thrown in for good measure. Overall, the movie was watchable, with few lies and distortions (well, few for Moore, we've got to look at it in context). Look, I don't like Michael Moore. He's a socialist narcissist, and that's not a great combination. But he did make some good points. However, he offers no solution, as is his modus operandi. Here's my big problem though. It all comes down to the same 2 legs good, 4 legs bad crap being secreted by both sides. OUR SIDE IS RIGHT ALL THE TIME NO MATTER WHAT. Whether it's Hannity and Savage, or Moore and Franken (whatever flavor you like your idiots in) the message is the same. And therefore, the problem is the same. They just don't get it. All the big guys, the Gores, the Bushes, the Saudis, the Kerrys, the Murdochs, the Lutzs, the Gateses, the Clintons, they're all on the same side. The game is divide and conquer, and we are losing, my friends. Until we can get people to drop this partisan shell game and realize that all the power brokers exist for one purpose, that being KEEPING POWER, we can't win. As long as we pretend that there's a difference between the R's and the D's, there's simply no hope. Sweet dreams

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Outfoxed

An upcoming film, OUTFOXED: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism, purports to expose the Republican/Right Wing bias of the Fox News Channel. Click here for a run down of the NYC showing and some more tidbits. (sarcasm)I must say, I'm incredibly shocked. Fox News, a company owned by renowned non-politico Rupert Murdoch, would be biased toward the Republicans. Wow, I'm so blown away.(/sarcasm)

Those of you who know about HTML will laugh hilariously now. The other 2 of you, go learn to code.

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Saturday, July 03, 2004

Update Time

Well, I guess it’s time to update ye olde blog. Hmm…what to talk about. Saddam Hussein’s first pre-trail hearing? John Kerry’s possible running mate? Sideshow Bob robbing the Quick E Mart? How about a recipe instead?

Glazed Lobster with Charred Asparagus and Lobster Mashed Yukon Gold Potatoes

For the Lobster:
1 (2-pound) lobster, steamed or boiled 6 minutes and cooled in ice water
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 cup clam juice
Glacage, recipe follows
Lobster Mashed Yukon Potatoes, recipe follows
Charred Asparagus, recipe follows
2 tablespoons chopped chives or tarragon, as a garnish
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Split the cooled lobster lengthwise from head through tail. Clean out and remove the green tamale material, the stomach, behind the eyes and the waste line through the tail. Crack the knuckles and reserve the meat for mashed potatoes. Remove the claw from the shell and place it in the lobster body cavity. Drizzle melted butter and clam juice over the lobster. Place on a sheet pan and heat 4 to 5 minutes in the oven.
Pre-heat broiler on high. Remove the pan from the oven and spoon the glacage mixture over the lobster. Place the glazed lobster under the broiler. The sauce should turn color as you watch. Broil to an appetizing light, bubbly brown crust.
Carefully transfer the lobster to a warmed plate. Serve with Lobster Mashed Yukon Potatoes and Charred Asparagus and garnish with either chives or tarragon.
Glacage:
4 egg yolks
Kosher or sea salt
Dash cayenne
Dash dry mustard
12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), melted and warm
Freshly ground black pepper
2 to 3 teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon
1 cup heavy whipping cream
Lobster Veloute, recipe follows
Set a bowl over a pot with simmering water to create a water bath. Place the egg yolks, 1 tablespoon salt, cayenne, dry mustard in the bowl and whip lightly to warm through. Emulsify and distribute the mustard, cayenne and salt. When warm, place in a blender. Turn on medium to high speed and slowly drizzle in the melted butter to attain as thick and homogenized sauce that is possible. Taste, re-season with salt, pepper, if needed, and the lemon juice as necessary. Fold in the tarragon. Use a rubber scraper and transfer to a small bowl and reserve over a pilot light until used.
Whip the cream to medium-soft peaks and place in the refrigerator.
In a medium bowl, blend exactly 1/3 volume of each of the 3 parts. Mix gently to blend and obtain a smooth blended consistency. Reserve warm.
Lobster Veloute:
4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
3 large shallots, sliced thinly
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
2 bay leaves
1 pint lobster stock
1/8 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup clam juice
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter, softened
6 tablespoons flour
In a small saucepan over medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and heat. Add the shallots, garlic and bay leaves and saute until translucent, about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
Place lobster stock, white wine, cooked shallot mixture, clam juice and remaining olive oil in a medium saucepan. Reduce over medium high heat by 1/2. In a small bowl, knead together the butter and flour to make a paste. Slowly whisk 1/2 of the butter flour paste into the reduced liquid. Simmer to attain a medium thick sauce. Add more butter flour paste to thicken or clam juice to thin. Simmer 10 minutes to cook the starch in the flour. Pass through a strainer and reserve warm.
Lobster Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes:
8 ounces yukon gold potatoes, cooked tender and mashed
Reserved lobster knuckle meat
Kosher salt
Fresh ground black pepper
3 tablespoons cream, warmed
1 ounce (1/4 stick) chilled butter, chopped into chunks
Mix all ingredients, season, to taste. Reserve warm.
Charred Asparagus:
6 pieces jumbo asparagus
2 tablespoons virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
Kosher salt
Fresh black pepper
Mix together the olive oil and vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Marinate the asparagus. Char in a hot wok or broil or grill until dark brown on the outside.
Yield: 2 serving

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