Media Matters: Dobbs’ promoting racist conspiracies

July 29, 2009

Updated list of birth certificate posts

Who owns Media Matters?

The smell of their desperation in going after Lou Dobbs comes right through the screen. They can’t possibly expect people to believe they are not in barry’s pocket…or vice versa. They’ve set up their little Let’s take it out on Lou Dobbs anti-birther site: “Dobbs Conspiracy” and the banner is “CNN’s Dobbs Problem”.

Why are they so panicked about this?

If barry’s legit – why the need for such madness?

CNN is second only to MSNBC/NBC as barryTV. Non-barryfans stopped watching it over a year ago when they made clear they hated “Hillary” and were in love with barry. People who watch Lou Dobbs aren’t about to be signing their don’t pick on barry petition nor are they about to stop watching Lou Dobbs. And they are sick of the probarry bias, which this is just enforces.

What site tracks down who owns these media outlets and how much their employees gave to barry? Huffington post didn’t wait long for their pay to play by hiring David Axelrod’s son.

Anyway. Here’s their video equating Lou Dobbs with G. Gordon Liddy “convicted felon”, Alan Keyes “habitual fringe candidate”, Orly Taitz and the lady in red, which ends with “You’re in good company, CNN”.

What is the investigative benefit of this?

How can they possibly believe they can ever be looked at as any type of neutral investigative whatever?

This is a direct personal assault and there is no way to hide it. Whoever owns Media Matters is in barry’s pocket and that’s what this is about. Period.

And here they flat out call Lou Dobbs a racist:

We need to present CNN with an overwhelming public response to Dobbs’ relentless promotion of these conspiracy theories tinged with racism.

That is beyond wrong and by saying it they are no different than the lady in red.

What does CNN think about being called a network that sanctions the promotion of “conspiracy theories tinged with racism.”?

MSM’s outrage = birther recruitment

July 22, 2009

It’s so predictable it’s funny.

It’s so predictable they can’t possibly be aware they are doing it.

It’s so predictable the Independents the folks who voted barry in are starting to get the picture.

And who is causing the drop in barry’s numbers?

His own MSM minions.

They are still so obamerized they can’t see folks have had enough of barry himself appearing on TV. Why is it that even though nobody’s watching summer TV, the networks weren’t exactly jumping on covering THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES? Like FOX did not last time.

Why did the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES have to barter two days before his faux “press conference” aka staged questions for an earlier time to at least get CBS to agree to cover him?

Susan Boyle.

And for sure folks have had more, more, more than enough of the talking heads who say barry is God and actually bow to him.

How long is it going to take for them to get this?

There is a certain poetic justice to it, though. They propagandized and embargoed so that folks voted for him and now their propaganda and manic nastiness is turning them off.

Word to MSM: Folks are getting the fact that the COLB barry posted is not the real birth certificate. They are getting the fact that you lied to them and are continuing to do so. They are getting the fact that the “factcheckers” are sympathetic to the cause. They are getting that the factcheckers are changing their “facts”. They are getting that the lawsuits that have been brought were not dismissed because his birth certificate was deemed legal. And most importantly, they are getting that the lawsuits would have gone/would go away if barry produced/produces his birth certificate.

And that is what is drawing them in. Simple logic. Why doesn’t he just produce it? And they are beginning to wonder why the media is attacking instead of asking that simple question themselves.

This isn’t the same birther craziness. More and more folks are looking into it. Folks are reading old posts all the way back to before the election with Donofrio and Wrotnowski. Even the usual anti-birther bots aren’t out refuting every post.

Why?

Read the message boards.

See how many more posts like this are popping up: I voted for him…I think he is a citizen…I think those birthers are deranged…but I’m beginning to wonder why he hasn’t just released it. He needs to just release it and be done with it.

And the ones to worry about are the ones: I voted for him…I think he is a citizen…I think those birthers are deranged…but Obama has lied about a lot of things. Why did he lie that it was a birth certificate when it wasn’t? Why is he still lying about it? Why isn’t he releasing it so at least the military doesn’t have to worrry about it. He needs to just release it and be done with it.

What this site is about

July 24, 2009

Hello.

Folks seem to think this is some rightwing nutjobs birther website and have been writing some, dare I say wacko? comments, most of which are not publishable.

The profanity is not a problem, the rants on unrelated issues are not a problem, the personal attacks on our words are not a problem, and although not pleasant to read and oftentimes simply unbelievable to fathom, the personal attacks on us as human beings are a cyber reality.

But the misunderstanding and lack of understanding of what this site is about is a problem.

Folks who do not agree with the folks questioning why barry hasn’t just released his birth certificate and why he has been fighting in court for nearly a year to prevent its release, are doing themselves a disservice by not understanding the difference.

So just to be clear:

Citizens Against Pro-Obama Media Bias is not affiliated with, nor endorsed by, any candidate, political party or organization and is not associated with any movement, cause or website.

We established this website to document and prove the pro-Obama media bias, which has been done many times over–even to where the media has admitted it themselves.

Doubters: Ask yourself if Secretary Clinton or Governor Palin would have been allowed to be president/VP without their birth, medical and/or school records made public. The answer is an obvious and resounding no. More information was dug up about Gov Palin in the weekend following the GOP Convention than is still known about barry. Even Joe the Plumber was vetted more thoroughly.

This is our original site and we started around the Conventions. It was not being crawled by Google and Technorati stopped pinging it completely despite multiple requests to look into the matter – never once receiving an email response (which is their right) so went over to wordpress in mid-December.

There we’ve had our URL’s hijacked by bogus sites, had a series of “Orly Taitz” posts deleted and have periodic problems with posts going missing.

We also have concerns our site may somehow be linked to pornographic sites(s) because of the referrers, such as Facebook.com/porn and Wrestling Divas.com and some extremely disturbing search terms: rape videos, bestiality, sex with young children, mutilated slave girls, nude Chris Matthews, naked Tom Delay. None of us have Facebook accounts and there has never been, nor will there ever be, adult content on this site.

The closest thing to nudity are some images of Henrik Stenson in his skivvies taken in public during an official PGA Tour event that he is fully aware of and finds humorous. And by the traffic, so do a lot of other people across the globe. And there’s the soldier in pink boxers.

The birth certificate issue has emerged as the most fundamental example of the MSM’s lack of vetting of barry, which is why we have been following it. Not because we are sore losers (I have never voted) or racists or homophobes or think he was born in Kenya or is a Muslim (why should it matter if he were?) or believe that he is Constitutionally ineligible to be President.

What matters is the MSM has been completely corrupted and have intentionally allowed him to go unvetted.

Any sane reasoning person knows he is hiding something by not releasing his records — but that DOES NOT MEAN HE IS INELIGIBLE TO BE PRESIDENT.

At this point, I don’t even care what is on it. What are the chances “the first black president” who happens to be descended from Muslims and is now happily using his middle name, is about to be removed from office? It’s a matter of national and global security. It’s why he went to the Arab world early and often.

What does matter is that the MSM is holding him to a different standard than they have any other president. He is the only president whose actual physical location of birth is unknown – as in hospital – if in fact he was born in one. But the MSM is absolutely certain he was born in Hawaii and can rant and rave and destroy the reputations of folks who just want barry to be vetted like every other president – but become curiously silent when asked which hospital barry was born in in Hawaii. And it seems the “factcheckers”: snopes, UPI and barrypedia have had a sudden enlightenment as to the hospital requiring a change in their “facts”.

And the Fight The Smears website set up solely to deal with the birth certificate issue? Gone. “Wasn’t needed anymore.”

Well, clearly it is because Robert Gibbs – the man who speaks for the President of the United States – doesn’t know where he was born – except for sure it was in Hawaii.

In the July 13th, 2009 press briefing, Robert Gibbs responded to the question: “Would you tell us which Hawaiian hospital he was born in?” with “I don’t know the name of the exact hospital.” And then went on to talk about (in reference to barry’s Hawaii birth) “the pursuit of Noble Truth” and the “knowing clarity that comes with that certainty”.

And the media wonders why folks are so angry?

But, by far, the worst thing the MSM did was intentionally embargo facts that could potentially have hurt barry’s chances of being elected. That was not only wrong – it was criminal.

The New York Times admitted to it when they wrote about the ACORN story they had refused to print in October 2008. Then they tried to justify it by saying it wouldn’t have mattered.

Then why did they do it?

The mere fact they did it proves their absolute corruption.

And that is only one example from one media outlet.

And it continues.

Ask yourself why the MSM is going after the “birther nutjobs” instead of simply asking–demanding if need be (as in doing their job)–that the White House release a copy of the original birth certificate?

Instead, the AP, Reuters, CNN, MSNBC, CBS, NBC, ABC, NY and LA Times prefer to stake their reputation (relative word) on newspaper notices from 48 years ago?

How reliable was the NY Times “letter from the Mayor of Paris” re: Caroline Kennedy from just seven months ago when a simple text message would have verified the hoax?

What would MSM be doing if it were Secretary Clinton or Governor Palin?

What isn’t known about Secretary Clinton?

And how many “confidential” hospital records were obtained in reference to the absolutely insane allegation (made by folks who can’t count to nine) that Gov Palin did not give birth to Trig? How many folks in the media and elsewhere are still looking into his birth certificate?

And folks wonder why the right side is angry?

Anyway. Apologies if you made it this far – it wasn’t meant to turn into a rant. The media is our focus – and one can only take so much, which is why we follow other things.

barry humiliates TV/radio correspondents at “roast”

June 19, 2009

barry at the 2009 Radio and TV Correspondents’ Dinner. John Hodgman’s roast of barry.

Incredulous performance. Not at all unexpected or out of character — but shocking in that he completely humiliated the people who have gone out of their way to get him elected. And he did so with obvious glee.

The person who laughed the most was barry — a fact not lost on the camera crew, who made sure to film folks who were pist, embarrassed, shocked and not even close to laughing. It looked like a classroom of first graders being made fun of for wetting their pants.

The leader of the free world had a regular riot making 6th grade fat, ugly and toilet jokes. He joked about joking with world leaders about Gitmo detainees. He joked about the folks in the room losing their jobs. He joked about the husband of his strongest Kennedy ally. He joked about his Secretary of State’s fractured elbow and how it might have been intentional.

His longest joke was about his pal Brian Williams…sorta. It was just a segue to talk about himself and what a great leading man he is. No joke. The video ends abruptly after his unbelievably insensitive and in no way funny joke about the tanking radio/TV business – which is happening in large part because of the media’s love affair with him.

The question is: was it enough for them to see he doesn’t care about anyone but himself?

That nothing is sacred to him — not them, not their families, not the American people, not even the Office of the Presidency?

That the person they have created on paper, on video, in the blogosphere and inside their head does not exist?

That sooner or later the truth is going to be revealed and each and every one of them will be exposed as having been corrupted?

Unfortunately, I don’t think public humiliation is going to be enough to wake some of them up. It will be business as usual: barry rocked, we laughed, fun had by all. No matter their spin – more folks than the sadly disillusioned maroon-haired kid walked out of there with a much different view of barry than they had when they walked in.

BARRY: I want to express my appreciation for the opportunity to tell jokes that weren’t funny enough for me to to use when we did this five weeks ago. [laughs] Whatever.

That ‘whatever’ should have clued them into what was coming.

Jokes may not be as good — but neither is the guess list.

I’m just joking!

Not said as a joke – not taken as one.

For me there’s no contest. Why bother hanging out with celebrities when I can hang out with the people who made me one?

I know where my bread is buttered.

Plus we have our own luminaries here in attendance.

Time for Ivy League educated humor.

The Junior Senator from Wyoming, John Barrasso’s here. [preplanned whisper by Gibbs] I’m sorry. He skipped this evening. He’s the George Clooney of the junior senators from Wyoming.

He laughs. They don’t. He doesn’t care. He mocks them for spinning the news in his favor.

Despite the flood of new media – your programming is more relevant than ever before…at least that the impression when I read the blogs every morning.

CHUCK TODD, initially turns pink with pride for being picked and then turns red when barry suggests he has a face for radio. How barry thanks the chief of barry TV.

MIKA MOMMY BRZEZINSKI – the only actual joke. Except to barry – look at his face.

We both have partners named Joe who used to be in Congress and who don’t know how to stop talking.

WOLF BLITZER he uses to insult his favorite target – LARRY SUMMERS. (Summers knows barry is clueless.) He said Wolf’s situation room is cooler because:

[barry's doesn't] have the bandwidth to turn Larry Summers into a hologram.

Ivy-league educated President of the United States reduced to fat kid jokes about a person he appointed. I don’t even think the women Summers insulted would find joy in that.

Next a classy joke about his Secretary of State who broke her elbow, requiring surgery. ANDREA MITCHELL can’t contain herself.

Secret Service spotted Richard Holbrooke spraying WD-40 all over the driveway…Hillary’s ready to settle [her personal injury lawsuit].

Next about BRIAN WILLIAMS, which LEON PANETTA enjoys and which got the loudest applause…until they realized it was just so barry could talk about himself. And what was intended as a joke, with their latest time spent together and the looks on both of their faces, came off as a fantasy….

A few nights ago I was up tossing and turning, trying to figure out exactly what to say. Finally, when I couldn’t get back to sleep, I rolled and asked Brian Williams what he thought.

The truth is Brian Williams is a terrible house guest. He put an empty milk carton back in the fridge, leaves his wet towels all over the Roosevelt Room…we’re pretty sure he clogged the toilet and didn’t tell anyone.

I must say the whole thing was worth it. “Inside the White House” is my favorite new show…there’s just something really compelling about main character…interesting narrative…

And he keeps right on about him and mentions shows that are not news insulting them yet again.

In fact, the show has been such a hit other shows want to film their own:

ABC has a show “Dancing with the Czars”

TLC has something called “John & Kate with Peter Orszag”

Nick at Nite’s play on an old classic “Leave it to Uighurs” [pronounced weegers - more detainee humor]

And then to show that nothing is sacred to him he disses his strongest Kennedy ally’s husband and then the press. Again.

Of course, they’ll all be competing with Governor Schwarzenegger’s new reality series, “I’m a Celebrity… Get Me out of Here!”

That’s how I feel tonight.

As much as they deserve their comeuppance – it was tough to watch their leader do it to them in their house and on camera. Toward the end, folks looked disgusted and more than a few had to have walked out of there having seen the light.

It’s possible that some of these could have been funny, but none of them were delivered in the spirit of jest. They were meant in a decisively cruel way. But how many of them will be honest enough to admit it to themselves? To each other? To the blogosphere? How many will confront him about it?

This is as hysterical as his daughters’ going on a joyride as an explanation for Air Force One’s terrorizing flyby over Manhattan.

It’s nothing personal but this dinner conflicts with my date night…I was supposed to be going out with Michelle for Thai food…in Bangkok.

Then he takes a shot at RAHM EMANUEL, which he makes sure to do at every opportunity, just like Larry Summers. He mentions pictures of Rahm riding a camel.

I admit, I was a little nervous about the whole situation. I said at the time, ‘This is a wild animal known to bite, kick and spit. And who knows what the camel might do?’

The camera shows ERIC HOLDER trying not to laugh because he knows he’s on camera – but he also knows about the no love lost relationship between barry and Rahm. How Rahm doesn’t show barry the respect of a president and how he will always get away with it because he knows exactly who barry is and what he has done. Hence barry’s cowardly attacks in public.

Then — this is impossible to believe — he actually jokes about the Gitmo detainees and how all of the world leaders said to him:

“No thanks, but have you considered Pulau?”

Pulau has done him a favor already accepting some. And who is going to step up now? Watch the incredulous face of the young guy with maroon hair turn into disillusionment. Sad really.

Then, if possible, it gets worse. Just listen how barry laughs at them – his guests – and it is real ridicule. He makes a direct assault on their livelihoods — something that determines whether they can stay in their homes and feed their children, which is as hysterical as someone getting up and “joking” about his assassination.

We’ve been working around the clock to repair our major financial institutions and our auto companies – but you probably wouldn’t understand the concept of troubled industries working as you do [smirk - laugh] in the [emphasis] radio and television industry.

Silence. Instead of sensing the classlessness of his “joke” he taunts them.

Ho-ho-ho. We don’t joke about that, huh? That’s not funny!

Then it cuts off. I don’t know if it’s the end or they just didn’t want Youtube to watch them being humiliated any more. I’m sure barry said he was just kidding and that they have a tough job because they have to dig for the truth and then thanked them for their unbiased and fair treatment and keep up the good job. As I’m sure they gave him a standing O. As I am sure it will be interpreted as “poking fun at”

RNC Dr Ada Fisher: “it would be a good idea for Mr. Steele to consider stepping aside”

March 6, 2009

RNC Member Dr Ada Fisher was on Rachel Maddow. She sent to 13 members of RNC Chairman Michael Steele’s transition team an email (which was leaked) suggesting Steele should consider stepping aside because the RNC hasn’t been doing their job - raising money for their candidates. Evidently there is a history between them - she not being a great fan of his, which Steele’s spokesman said publicly.

Bits of her email, which she did not realized was leaked. From The Hill:

FISHER: I don’t want to hear anymore [sic] language trying to be cool about the bling in the stimulus package or appealing to D.L. Hughley and blacks in a way that isn’t going to win us any votes and makes us frankly appear to many blacks as quite foolish.

Hughley called the Republican National Convention “literally looked like Nazi Germany“. Steele wasn’t fazed - said nothing and then went on to insult Rush Limbaugh

FISHER: Limbaugh has already promised that ‘His Conservatives’ won’t be giving to the RNC. I would suggest to you that that is a real bet. If we can’t raise money and continue to allow the alienation of the few varifiable [sic] red states remaining, we are foolish.

FISHER: I have never seen such ineptness in our GOP leadership. And I though we handled the 2008 elections very poorly.

She also reportedly called the Limbaugh-Steele clash a “Republican Horror Show”.

From the MSNBC transcript:

MADDOW: “U.S. News & World Report,” yesterday, quoted an unanimous top GOP strategist saying, quote, “If his implosion continues, RNC members are likely to call a special session to dump him for an effective chairman.”

….You will recall that Michael Steele offering the, quote “friggin‘ awesome” Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal some, quote, “slum love.”

Recall Mr. Steele calling civil unions crazy. You‘ll recall him insisting that in all human history, government has never created a job. Hmm. Mr. Steele has also failed to hire staff to run the Republican National Committee and, of course, he memorably has promised more outreach to urban-suburban hip-hop settings via an off-the-hook Republican public relations campaign.

Now, in a new radio interview, Mr. Steele has also said that Republicans over the years, quote, “in trying to be, you know, cool and hip in a Democrat way, we failed.” Mr. Steele then went on to explain how he thinks of the task ahead for the party he leads.

“I‘m putting the party on a 12-step program of recovery. And this is going to take some time, it‘s going to take some effort.”

[...] On top of all this, Michael Steele continues to have a cloud hanging over him from his last run for public office. He’s currently under FBI investigation for possible fraud after he paid thousands of dollars in campaign funds to a firm called Brown Sugar that was controlled by his sister. A former Steele campaign official says that no work was performed in exchange for those payments.

In addition, WBAL in Baltimore is reporting allegations about thousands of dollars Mr. Steele paid to a different firm during that same failed 2006 Senate bid. It was more than $60,000 in payments labeled as political consulting fees, but they were paid to a company that traded commodities. Their business was like trading coffee and minerals and stuff. And the company had forfeited its license to operate in Maryland a year before the payments.

[...] Mr. Steele told the “Washington Post” in an interview publish today, quote, “I’m in the business of ticking people off. That’s why I’m chairman.” Steele also told “The Post”, quote, “Everyone has a role to play, but at the end of the day, all roads are going to lead to this desk.”

Then Maddow talked about how Steele threatened to financially sanction the Rep Senators who backed barry’s bill (Collins and Snowe from ME, Specter PA, ). Snowe asked him if it was true - he said no and then later said yes he wasn’t going to back down from it and then donated $1M RNC dollars to the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Why he needs a staff.

Also, you might recall Steele was in the center of the “Oreo cookie” controversy when he was running for Lt Governor of Maryland that may or may not have happened. The cleaning crew, reportedly, never found a single chocolaty bit.

The interview proper from the transcript:

MADDOW: Joining us now is Dr. Ada Fisher of North Carolina. Dr. Fisher, many, many thanks for coming on the show tonight.

DR. ADA FISHER, REPUBLICAN NAT‘L. COMMITTEE MEMBER: Well, thank you for inviting me. I‘d like to also thank (INAUDIBLE) Hendersonville, North Carolina, for agreeing to let me meet here with you in this public forum.

MADDOW: Sure. You are the first Republican National Committee member to publicly call for Michael Steele‘s resignation as chairman. What are you main concerns about his chairmanship?

FISHER: Well, first of all, let me say that I sent a memo to 13 members of, people who I thought were on Michael Steele‘s transition team and not to the media. So, I was surprised to find that people are quoting from the memo about various things that I said. What I said to the transition team and what I stand behind is I believe that, given all the things that are happening, it would be a good idea for Mr. Steele to consider stepping aside and letting the—and letting the RNC elect a new chairman. And you can call it whatever you want to, but that‘s what the memo said.

My concerns are, number one—that the job of the RNC is to raise money and get our candidates elected. We also have to sit down and talk about what our strategies are. We have been diverted by nipping and sniping from a lot of different sides, and we have not gotten to our primary mission. And if we don‘t get to our primary mission, we won‘t be effective in helping our candidates get elected both in 2010 and 2012.

We also have a challenge, because we have people in local races, from school boards to county commissioners who need our help. And we need to be out in the counties, where I am now, trying to drum up support and get the Republicans energized to take on this task as well. And that is what our mission is and that‘s what we should be doing. And I don‘t think that we have put the time into that.

MADDOW: I know that your memo was not intended for the media. It did leak, which means that somebody who received it decided to let it—to let it get out to the media. What we got from the memo was reported in “The Hill” newspaper. I wonder—given that—what kind of response you have had directly from the people to whom you sent this memo, from the transition team, from other RNC members?

FISHER: I haven‘t received any response from anybody that I know of. And I checked my email at a different computer today about 4:30. So, I haven‘t received anything.

And when you called me, it was the first time that I knew that the memo was leaked. And that‘s just not standard operating procedure nor is it correct. And we need to tighten up our ship and do better.

MADDOW: Well, Mr. Steele‘s transition chairman did say publicly today that—essentially, that you just got a grudge against Mr. Steele, that you have been gunning for him essentially since he decided to run for chairman. That‘s the way publicly he‘s responding. What‘s your response to that?

FISHER: Well, I think that his response is absolutely wrong. I don‘t have a public grudge against anyone. My role at the RNC National Committee woman from North Carolina is to help get our candidates elected.

And if we are not about that business, then we are not doing what we are supposed to. I‘ve also said that we must have transparency in all of our operations because I am accountable to my state and the people in this state. And people want to know what‘s going on. Now—that‘s it.

MADDOW: OK.

FISHER: And I don‘t have a grudge against anybody.

MADDOW: In an e-mail that you wrote—in this email that you wrote, you said and I‘m quoting here from, again, something you did not intend to be public but it is. “I don‘t want to hear anymore language trying to be cool about the bling in the stimulus package or appealing to D.L. Hughley and blacks in a way that isn‘t going to win us any votes and makes us, frankly, appear to many blacks as quite foolish.”

I mean, Mr. Steele made history as the first ever black party chairman. You are one of only three members of the RNC who are African-American. Why do you think he specifically makes the Republican Party look foolish to black people?

FISHER: I think that he makes people—he makes us look—first off, we have an 11^th commandment. And that commandment says we should not speak ill of other Republicans. Mr. Steele has a right to say what he wants as does Rush Limbaugh.

My concern is, we need to focus on our mission and our principles. We need to talk about the fact that this economy is failing and we need to promote what is the Republican response. We need to talk about the fact that we have healthcare coming from the White House, and Republicans need to say this is what our response is. Those are the challenges that we face.

And the Democrats are doing a good job of getting us off-task and off-mission.

MADDOW: Do you think that Mr. Steele should stop talking to the media as long as he is chairman? Would that be—would that be a positive step in your mind?

FISHER: What I think should happen is Mr. Steele and the RNC needs to come together and talk about several issues. If you read the memo further, you would say that—you would hear that we are having a phone conference on Friday. And I asked to talk and discuss these things on Friday in the phone conference. So, I haven‘t received a response to that.

We need to talk to each other not about each other. We need to get it straight what is going to be our mission so that we can go with a unified front and say, this is what we believe. The principles of this party are correct.

I am writing a book now which is called “Commonsense Conservative Prescriptions.” And the subtitle says, “It‘s not what you say, it‘s what they hear based on what they‘ve seen.” And I think that that is one of the dilemmas for the party. We have the right principles. People have not seen us use them and promote them in a way that they can relate to, and we need to do a better job of that.

MADDOW: We‘re just about time, just one last quick question. Are you, at all, concerned about those financial scandals surrounding Mr. Steele? Having spent money on a—given money to a company run by his sister, apparently, for work that was not done, this other allegation about spending $60,000 for consulting with a company that appears to be a minerals commodity trading firm—are you concerned about those things as well?

FISHER: I‘m concerned about how we use and operate money throughout the Republican Party, not just in his case. I ran a campaign and the FEC came down on me for some late reports which were not my fault but related to a third party. So, we got some cleaning up in campaign finance reform to do all along. But I would say to you, if the FBI can investigate Mr. Steele for his finances, somebody needs to look at the Obama campaign and its finances, which are not subject to public scrutiny and should be to the same extent that we are holding Mr. Steele and others.

MADDOW: Republican National Committee member, Dr. Ada Fisher, thank you for coming on the show tonight. I really appreciate your time, ma‘am.

FISHER: Thank you very much.

Burris: (1-8) full impeachment trial testimony (pdf)

February 19, 2009

Here’s Roland Burris’ full impeachment trial testimony in pdf. It’s hard to read because it’s all evenly spaced. The pertinent testimony in response to Rep Jim Durkin’s questioning is below as are the links to the full video testimony of Mr Burris. It was good to watch but the videomaker made them private shortly after they were posted. Don’t blame him. He’s probably getting a huge amount of traffic, which probably means money for him.

(1-5) Jan 5th affidavit to the impeachment committee

(1-6) Refused entry into the senate (video)
(1-7) Jan 7th Press conference denying contact

(1-8) Jan 8th testimony before impeachment committee (partial text)
(1-8) Jan 8th testimony before the impeachment committee (vide0)

Madame Secretary Hillary Clinton sworn in (text)

Swearing-in Ceremony for Secretary of State (Part 2)

Part 1 took place in her office with Madame Secretary's childhood friend and DC Court of Appeals Associate Judge Kathryn Oberly swore her in on her father's Bible. Mr Bill was there. Below in the blue highlight is her friendly dig at Mr Bill. See the video. Mrs Rodham gets a chuckle and looks at S-I-L.

February 02, 2009
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC

(Applause.) Thank you all very much. Thank you. It is an overwhelming honor to be sworn in to assume this position on behalf of our country. I thank my dear friend, Vice President Biden, and I thank President Obama for investing the trust and confidence in me during a particularly challenging time in our nation's history. I look out and see so many friends and colleagues. I particularly want to thank the Speaker and the Majority Leader, Speaker Pelosi and Leader Reid for being here and for providing the leadership that you both are doing in the Congress.

I also want to thank my colleagues in government and my former partners in the Congress. I am very grateful to all the members of the House who are here today, and particularly those with whom I served over eight wonderful years who represent New York. And I'm very grateful to all of you.

And to my friends in the Senate, I see the faces of people with whom I have shared so much, and I am deeply grateful to each and every one of you. But I have to single out the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee who, after all, presided over my confirmation, for which I am very grateful, Senator Kerry. (Laughter and Applause.)

[I would laugh at that line as well! - Susan] And I look forward to working with all of you, particularly the appropriators – (laughter) – who are here this afternoon. We have a lot of work to do and it is such important work that lies ahead. I also want to thank two wonderful friends of mine, governors, Governor Corzine from New Jersey, and Governor O'Malley from Maryland who are here. (Applause.)

And I am particularly honored to have four of my predecessors with us today. I have sought their advice and their counsel and I have to publicly thank each and every one of them. With us today, Secretary Kissinger and Secretary Baker and Secretary Eagleburger and, of course, my dear friend and fellow Wellesley alum Secretary Albright. (Applause.) And I also want to thank Secretary Rice and Secretary Powell and Secretary Shultz, with whom I had a wonderful visit just last week when he came to the seventh floor, and Secretary Haig – all of the former secretaries of state who have been so generous with their time. And I think I can predict I will be asking for advice as we move forward.

Because this ceremony takes place at a real hinge of history time, there is so much that lies ahead in terms of challenges, but also opportunities. When I came into this building for the first time a week or so ago now, I told the assembled State Department employees, and then repeated it again at USAID, that we are all on the same team, and it is America's team. And we have, in the leadership of President Obama, someone who wants us to reach out to the world, to do so without illusions, understanding that the difficulties we face will not be wished away, but meeting them forthrightly and smartly, and that we want to seize the opportunities that exist as well.

I talked in my confirmation hearings about smart power. Well, smart power relies on smart people, and we have an abundance of them in this building and at USAID. But I've also told my teammates in the State family that we're going to have to be smarter about how we do what we must for our country. There are many ways that we can improve on what we do on a daily basis. And I want to work with my friends in Congress on behalf of our Administration to really look for those efficiencies and those changes that will make what we do more effective, more cost-effective, so that we can be out there around the world delivering America's message, certainly doing all we must to protect and defend our security, but also advancing our interests and furthering our values.

So for me, this has been an amazing personal journey. As Joe laughingly referenced, neither one of us thought that we would be standing here together, doing what we are now doing together. Life has a funny way of unfolding and politics is even stranger. So we are joined in this incredible mission on behalf of our President and our country. And it's one where it's not only those of us holding positions, whether elected or appointed, must perform to the very best of our ability. We're asking everyone in our country to think about how each of you can make a contribution so that we ensure that America's future is even brighter than our storied past.

I'm excited by seeing so many familiar faces. There are friends in this audience who have known me my entire life. And there is the next generation, you know, my niece and my two nephews who are here. I get up every morning thinking about what I must do to make this world of ours safer and more prosperous and to make our country all that it can be. As difficult as the times are, I am an optimist. I believe that we can do what we set our minds to do. And so it is the power of our ideals and the intelligence and dedication of our people.

I could not be standing here before you today without all of you, but in particular, the three people who stand with me on this stage. It's literally true I wouldn't be here without my mother. (Laughter.) And so I – (applause) – I'm especially delighted that she can be with me. And to my daughter, who I am just bursting with maternal pride over, but who I look to also for advice and, frankly, for some cultural cues that I might otherwise miss. (Laughter.)

And finally, to my husband, who understands so well the awesome responsibilities resting on the shoulders of President Obama and Vice President Biden and all of us who serve with them. I am so grateful to him for a lifetime of all kinds of experiences – (laughter) – which have given me a – (applause) – which have given me an extraordinary richness that I am absolutely beholden to and grateful for.

So now, let me thank Gladys and her crackerjack protocol operation that put this together. We had to schedule it around two schedules that were hard to mesh: Vice President Biden and Chelsea Clinton. (Laughter.) When we finally got a time when both of them could be in the same place, we rushed to fill it. (Laughter.) So if you're wondering why you didn't get an invitation until Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday, it's because we just had to make sure that we had the main people here.

But I do want to greet all of you individually, and obviously, my family wants to say hello as well. So we're hard at work already, and we're working hard with a great team of people here in this building and at USAID. And we're looking forward to fulfilling the excitement and the promise that the Obama Administration represents here at home and around the world.

Thank you all very, very much.

(Applause.)

Phelps: "I've been waking up to guys yelling into megaphones outside my window at 7am"

February 5, 2009

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I inhaled…frequently. That was the point.

Does anyone deserve this? A single bing hit? Did he snort cocaine like the President of the United States? Here are Micheal Phelps' own words. I think the picture says it all. It is so wrong. Just wrong. I truly wish I could find that person.

(AP) No one should have to feel this way.

Quotes from the Baltimore Sun's KEVIN VAN VALKENBURG

Phelps is actually thinking over the 2012 Olympics all because of the scumbag.

PHELPS: This is a decision of mine that I'm not going to make today and I'm not going to make tomorrow. It's going to require a lot of time and energy and a lot of thinking for myself - but also talking to Bob and talking to my family and just deciding what I want to do.

Yeah, there are still goals that I have in the pool, 100 percent. But I'm not going to let anything stand in my way. If I decide to walk away, I'll decide to walk away on my own terms. If it's now, if it's four years, who knows. But it is something I need to think about and decide what I want to do.

...Seeing my mom reminded me of how it was the day after I got my DUI, and I swore to myself I'd never do that again. This is just a stupid thing of mine that I did, and I have to live with it.

We've been talking a lot. I've been able to get back to my family. It's part of my life I need back.

Does he smoke marijuana regularly?

This was stupid, and I know this won't happen again. It's obviously bad judgment, and it's something I'm not proud of at all.

I will say that with the mistakes that I've made in my life, I've learned from them. Every one of them. And I've become a better person.

That's what I plan to do from here. It's definitely not what I wanted, and it's clearly not what my mom wanted.

And what was the scumbag thinking? Did they consider his mother at all? I'm starting to wonder if it was a female. Why would anyone do this? Why haven't they been outed? I just can't get my head around it. And this is what has been happening to Phelps - all because of their selfishness and greed.

I've been waking up to guys yelling into megaphones outside my window at 7 o'clock in the morning. I've been through just about everything you can go through. I've had paparazzi people following me from my house to my mom's house. People knocking on the door. It's crazy.

Knocking on his door and bothering his mother. At least he can find sanctuary in the pool. But how much of it is desire to get in the pool and how much a desire to get away from the press?

It makes me happy. It's a part of me I've always had, and I've always been happy doing it. I like getting up in the morning and having something to do. On Monday we get back to two-a-day [practices], and I'm looking forward to that. I feel more comfortable here. This is my home.

It's good to know his foundation is still going. I hope whoever funds it realizes that the kids will look up to him even more. Yes. The best athlete in the cosmos makes a mistake, owns up to it, says he's sorry, takes his punishment and moves on. What better role model is that? What athlete has done that? And a mother and son cannot be any closer.

I think this is like the DUI, in that it's something I can talk more about and make sure that nobody makes the same mistakes I made. What I've gone through in the last week, no one wants to go through.

I sure hope that's all the scumbags do. Are people this jealous or hateful or greedy or what? An autograph he didn't sign? Why isn't anyone asking what the photographer was doing in the room. If they saw a "crime" being committed aren't they obligated to call the police? I just cannot understand this.

There are always people you can't trust. During the whole thing, I've really been able to see who my friends are, who my family are, and who really loves and supports me. They've stood by my side, from the countless text messages, phone messages, e-mails, those are your friends. All those people who are around during the good times? Those aren't your friends.

Barry the bonger: Pot had helped, and booze; maybe a little blow when you could afford it.

(LISA JACK)

Mitt Romney: barry the bonger sucks

February 6, 2009

MITT ROMNEY: [barry] is off to a rocky start.

The theme 'Yes, we can' seems to have been replaced with 'Well, maybe we can't.

I believe that with all the challenges America faces, the simple solutions and the hope that were sold by the Obama team are inadequate to the task ahead.

Source: CNN

barry's interview with Al-Arabiya (transcript)

January 26, 2009

Mr President's first official interview was to Hisham Melhem DC Bureau Chief of Al-Arabiya Arab TV Network. Evidently Melhem was not aware of it until that morning. I didn't know who he was at the time - but I saw Melhem talking with Andrea Mitchell about Israel and Palestine and he said something like - If the US was doing what it's supposed to -- and then he caught himself. Supposed to? At least now I know his name. I don't bet it's in the transcript though I'm so far behind posting all these things from the drafts it's not worth the time. I didn't find it odd until he caught himself and now look at his first question He's practically begging. Make sure to look for Mr President's comments about oppressed women and children, the need for respect for women, the actual plans he lays out and how he refers to the top diplomat in the world.

VIDEO

MELHEM: Mr. President, thank you for this opportunity, we really appreciate it.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much

MELHEM: Sir, you just met with your personal envoy to the Middle East, Senator Mitchell. Obviously, his first task is to consolidate the cease-fire. But beyond that you've been saying that you want to pursue actively and aggressively peacemaking between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

[listen to the spitting sounds of contempt]

Tell us a little bit about how do you see your personal role, because, you know, if the President of the United States is not involved, nothing happens -- as the history of peacemaking shows. Will you be proposing ideas, pitching proposals, parameters, as one of your predecessors did? Or just urging the parties to come up with their own resolutions, as your immediate predecessor did?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think the most important thing is for the United States to get engaged right away. And George Mitchell is somebody of enormous stature. He is one of the few people who have international experience brokering peace deals.

And so what I told him is start by listening, because all too often the United States starts by dictating -- in the past on some of these issues -- and we don't always know all the factors that are involved. So let's listen. He's going to be speaking to all the major parties involved. And he will then report back to me. From there we will formulate a specific response.

Ultimately, we cannot tell either the Israelis or the Palestinians what's best for them. They're going to have to make some decisions. But I do believe that the moment is ripe for both sides to realize that the path that they are on is one that is not going to result in prosperity and security for their people. And that instead, it's time to return to the negotiating table.

And it's going to be difficult, it's going to take time. I don't want to prejudge many of these issues, and I want to make sure that expectations are not raised so that we think that this is going to be resolved in a few months.

[he talks about hope and absolute confidence and promises great things but when the time comes to produce he says don't get your hopes up.]

But if we start the steady progress on these issues, I'm absolutely confident that the United States -- working in tandem with the European Union, with Russia, with all the Arab states in the region -- I'm absolutely certain that we can make significant progress.

MELHEM: You've been saying essentially that we should not look at these issues -- like the Palestinian-Israeli track and separation from the border region -- you've been talking about a kind of holistic approach to the region. Are we expecting a different paradigm in the sense that in the past one of the critiques -- at least from the Arab side, the Muslim side -- is that everything the Americans always tested with the Israelis, if it works. Now there is an Arab peace plan, there is a regional aspect to it. And you've indicated that. Would there be any shift, a paradigm shift?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, here's what I think is important. Look at the proposal that was put forth by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia --

MELHEM: Right.

THE PRESIDENT: I might not agree with every aspect of the proposal, but it took great courage --

MELHEM: Absolutely.

THE PRESIDENT: -- to put forward something that is as significant as that. I think that there are ideas across the region of how we might pursue peace.

I do think that it is impossible for us to think only in terms of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and not think in terms of what's happening with Syria or Iran or Lebanon or Afghanistan and Pakistan. These things are interrelated. And what I've said, and I think Hillary Clinton has expressed this in her confirmation, is that if we are looking at the region as a whole and communicating a message to the Arab world and the Muslim world, that we are ready to initiate a new partnership based on mutual respect and mutual interest, then I think that we can make significant progress.

[he did not even respect Madame Secretary Clinton by using her title - especially to an Srab man - nor does he honor her by saying precisely what she meant. Mutual respect includes first and foremost how they treat their women and daughters. And what did they learn from barry? Respect?]

Now, Israel is a strong ally of the United States. They will not stop being a strong ally of the United States. And I will continue to believe that Israel's security is paramount.

But I also believe that there are Israelis who recognize that it is important to achieve peace. They will be willing to make sacrifices if the time is appropriate and if there is serious partnership on the other side.

And so what we want to do is to listen, set aside some of the preconceptions that have existed and have built up over the last several years. And I think if we do that, then there's a possibility at least of achieving some breakthroughs.

MELHEM: I want to ask you about the broader Muslim world, but let me -- one final thing about the Palestinian-Israeli theater. There are many Palestinians and Israelis who are very frustrated now with the current conditions and they are losing hope, they are disillusioned, and they believe that time is running out on the two-state solution because -- mainly because of the settlement activities in Palestinian-occupied territories. Will it still be possible to see a Palestinian state-- and you know the contours of it -- within the first Obama administration?

THE PRESIDENT: I think it is possible for us to see a Palestinian state -- I'm not going to put a time frame on it -- that is contiguous, that allows freedom of movement for its people, that allows for trade with other countries, that allows the creation of businesses and commerce so that people have a better life.

And, look, I think anybody who has studied the region recognizes that the situation for the ordinary Palestinian in many cases has not improved. And the bottom line in all these talks and all these conversations is, is a child [and woman, wife, daughter] in the Palestinian Territories going to be better off? Do they have a future for themselves? And is the child in Israel going to feel confident about his or her safety and security? And if we can keep our focus on making their lives better and look forward, and not simply think about all the conflicts and tragedies of the past, then I think that we have an opportunity to make real progress

But it is not going to be easy, and that's why we've got George Mitchell going there. This is somebody with extraordinary patience as well as extraordinary skill, and that's what's going to be necessary.

MELHEM: Absolutely. Let me take a broader look at the whole region. You are planning to address the Muslim world in your first 100 days from a Muslim capital. How concerned are you -- because, let me tell you, honestly, when I see certain things about America -- in some parts, I don't want to exaggerate -- there is a demonization of America. And everybody is speculating about the capital. (Laughter.) If you have anything further, that would be great.

THE PRESIDENT: Absolutely.

MELHEM: It's become like a new religion, and like a new religion it has new converts -- like a new religion has its own high priests.

THE PRESIDENT Right.

MELHEM: It's only a religious text.

THE PRESIDENT Right.

MELHEM: And in the last -- since 9/11 and because of Iraq, that alienation is wider between the Americans and -- and in generations past, the United States was held high. It was the only Western power with no colonial legacy.

THE PRESIDENT: Right.

MELHEM: How concerned are you and -- because people sense that you have a different political discourse. And I think, judging by (inaudible) and Zawahiri and Osama bin Laden and all these, you know -- a chorus --

THE PRESIDENT Yes, I noticed this. They seem nervous.

MELHEM: They seem very nervous, exactly. Now, tell me why they should be more nervous? [listen closely to see if there is an actual answer]

THE PRESIDENT Well, I think that when you look at the rhetoric that they've been using against me before I even took office --

MELHEM: I know, I know.

THE PRESIDENT-- what that tells me is that their ideas are bankrupt. There's no actions that they've taken that say a child in the Muslim world is getting a better education because of them, or has better health care because of them.

[And their women and daughters?]

In my inauguration speech, I spoke about: You will be judged on what you've built, not what you've destroyed. And what they've been doing is destroying things. And over time, I think the Muslim world has recognized that that path is leading no place, except more death and destruction.

Now, my job is to communicate the fact that the United States has a stake in the well-being of the Muslim world, that the language we use has to be a language of respect.

[Where was his towards his top diplomat? And now he speaks about his Muslimism - before people were racists is they brought up his middle name. I guess it's ok for grandmother Sarah to go back to being Muslim like she said she was in the first place. And it's ONE Muslim country from ages 6-10. All his travels through the Muslim word? Pakistan that he had never spoken or written about until his weak foreign policy experience became an issue? Afghanistan he had never been to prior to his world tour? India he has never been in]

I have Muslim members of my family. I have lived in Muslim countries.

MELHEM: The largest one.

THE PRESIDENT The largest one, Indonesia. And so what I want to communicate is the fact that in all my travels throughout the Muslim world, what I've come to understand is that regardless of your faith -- and America is a country of Muslims, Jews, Christians, non-believers -- regardless of your faith, people all have certain common hopes and common dreams.

And my job is to communicate to the American people that the Muslim world is filled with extraordinary people who simply want to live their lives and see their children live better lives. My job to the Muslim world is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy. We sometimes make mistakes. We have not been perfect. But if you look at the track record, as you say, America was not born as a colonial power, and that the same respect and partnership that America had with the Muslim world as recently as 20 or 30 years ago, there's no reason why we can't restore that. And that I think is going to be an important task.

[Now he obamanates out of everything he just said.]

But ultimately, people are going to judge me not by my words but by my actions and my administration's actions. And I think that what you will see over the next several years is that I'm not going to agree with everything that some Muslim leader may say, or what's on a television station in the Arab world -- but I think that what you'll see is somebody who is listening, who is respectful, and who is trying to promote the interests not just of the United States, but also ordinary people who right now are suffering from poverty and a lack of opportunity. I want to make sure that I'm speaking to them, as well.

MELHEM: Tell me, time is running out, any decision on from where you will be visiting the Muslim world?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, I'm not going to break the news right here.

MELHEM: Afghanistan?

THE PRESIDENT: But maybe next time. But it is something that is going to be important. I want people to recognize, though, that we are going to be making a series of initiatives. Sending George Mitchell to the Middle East is fulfilling my campaign promise that we're not going to wait until the end of my administration to deal with Palestinian and Israeli peace, we're going to start now. It may take a long time to do, but we're going to do it now. We're going to follow through on our commitment for me to address the Muslim world from a Muslim capital. We are going to follow through on many of my commitments to do a more effective job of reaching out, listening, as well as speaking to the Muslim world.

And you're going to see me following through with dealing with a drawdown of troops in Iraq, so that Iraqis can start taking more responsibility. And finally, I think you've already seen a commitment, in terms of closing Guantanamo, and making clear that even as we are decisive in going after terrorist organizations that would kill innocent civilians, that we're going to do so on our terms, and we're going to do so respecting the rule of law that I think makes America great.

MELHEM: President Bush framed the war on terror conceptually in a way that was very broad, "war on terror," and used sometimes certain terminology that the many people -- Islamic fascism. You've always framed it in a different way, specifically against one group called al Qaeda and their collaborators. And is this one way of --

THE PRESIDENT: I think that you're making a very important point. And that is that the language we use matters. And what we need to understand is, is that there are extremist organizations -- whether Muslim or any other faith in the past -- that will use faith as a justification for violence. We cannot paint with a broad brush a faith as a consequence of the violence that is done in that faith's name.

[again obamanates]

And so you will I think see our administration be very clear in distinguishing between organizations like al Qaeda -- that espouse violence, espouse terror and act on it -- and people who may disagree with my administration and certain actions, or may have a particular viewpoint in terms of how their countries should develop. We can have legitimate disagreements but still be respectful. I cannot respect terrorist organizations that would kill innocent civilians and we will hunt them down.

[And the direct mention of what they do to their women and daughters? Respect? Women as reproductive chattle, child marriages, female genital mutilation?]

But to the broader Muslim world what we are going to be offering is a hand of friendship.

MELHEM: Can I end with a question on Iran and Iraq then quickly?

THE PRESIDENT: It's up to the team --

MR. GIBBS: You have 30 seconds. (Laughter.)

MELHEM: Will the United States ever live with a nuclear Iran? And if not, how far are you going in the direction of preventing it?

THE PRESIDENT: You know, I said during the campaign that it is very important for us to make sure that we are using all the tools of U.S. power, including diplomacy, in our relationship with Iran.

Now, the Iranian people are a great people, and Persian civilization is a great civilization. Iran has acted in ways that's not conducive to peace and prosperity in the region: their threats against Israel; their pursuit of a nuclear weapon which could potentially set off an arms race in the region that would make everybody less safe; their support of terrorist organizations in the past -- none of these things have been helpful.

But I do think that it is important for us to be willing to talk to Iran, to express very clearly where our differences are, but where there are potential avenues for progress. And we will over the next several months be laying out our general framework and approach. And as I said during my inauguration speech, if countries like Iran are willing to unclench their fist, they will find an extended hand from us.

MELHEM: Shall we leave Iraq next interview, or just --

MR. GIBBS: Yes, let's -- we're past, and I got to get him back to dinner with his wife.

[again nothing concrete and talks nothing about Iraq so he cannot be pinned down on it. If he was so concerned in 2002, whys isn't he screaming at every chance?]

MELHEM: Sir, I really appreciate it.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you so much.

MELHEM: Thanks a lot.

THE PRESIDENT: I appreciate it.

MELHEM: Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.

Where's the beef? What did you hear other than a typical philosophical stump speech? Did he sound like a president or diplomat? A thinker or a doer? Just look at it visually. Listen to how he says one thing and then obamanates in the next.

Who is the chief face of diplomacy for the United States? What was said of Madame Secretary Hillary Clinton's extraordinary experience and extraordinary skill? Where did he show the Muslim world that a woman needs to be treated with respect, which includes addressing her by her title?

Who appointed George Mitchell?

Mr President gives first interview to Arab TV

January 26 , 2009

barry gives first official interview as POTUS to Al-Arabiya's Washington bureau chief and Lebanese born, Hisham Melhem.

How much was the pay to talk? If the $2M ABC gave him for his first post-Inauguration chat wasn't enough to wake his obamerized press corps this certainly was.

PART 1

munashik

PART 2

Munashik

TEXT

Transcript of blago on Letterman

February 3, 2009

Transcript courtesy of Lynn Sweet. Only covers 3/4 parts. Don't know why. For video and selected quotes see here.

FORMER ILLINOIS GOVERNOR ROD BLAGOJEVICH ON THE "LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN"

Dave: "Listen to this, last week, having been impeached after six years as Governor of Illinois, our first guest was removed from his post and banned from ever again holding elected office in that state. And you think you had a tough week. (audience laughs) Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Governor Rod Blagojevich. Here we go."

(Paul and the orchestra play "My Way" as Blagojevich comes out; he and Dave shakes hands)

Dave: "Why exactly are you here, honest to God? (audience laughs)

Rod: (laughs) "Well, you know, I've been wanting to be on your show in the worst way for the longest time."

Dave: "Well, you're on in the worst way, believe me." (audience laughs, applauds)

Rod: (laughs) "I sure am."

Dave: (laughs) "There's no getting around that."

Rod: "Well, I figured I had to get impeached and thrown out of office to get the chance to get invited by you."

Dave: "I was looking down the records here. Otto Kerner, Democrat, governor of the state of Illinois, convicted on 17 counts of bribery, conspiracy, perjury and charges related to accepting bribes. Daniel Walker, Democrat - he was convicted in 1987 of improprieties related to the First American Savings & Loan Association bank, sentenced to seven years, governor. Governor George Ryan, currently serving a six and a half year prison term at a medium security prison and is scheduled to be out - he'll be out and walking around 2013 (audience, Rod laugh) "Now, I mean, is this just part of the oath of office that you guys take?" (audience and Rod laugh, applauds) "I mean, what - how is this possible? What is that?" (audience laughs, applauds)

Rod: "Well, when you read it that way, it's obviously a dangerous thing and had I known that when I ran the first time, I wouldn't have run. I'd have stayed as a congressman. But I'd like your listeners to know and everybody in Illinois and anyone else who's listening that unlike those, I'll be vindicated." (some audience laughter) "I did nothing wrong." (audience laughter) "I did nothing wrong. And I'll have an opportunity to be able to go in a court to prove that I did nothing wrong."

Dave: "Now, here's my impression, and I'm not a pundit or an expert, but I saw you - I saw you on 'The View,' I saw you on the Rachel Maddow Show, I saw you on the Today Show, I saw you, I think, every other show that is in production currently," (audience laughs) "and the more you talked and the more you repeated your innocence, the more I said to myself, 'Oh, this guy is guilty.'" (audience, Rod laugh; audience applauds) "Now, are you - my point is in having such a high profile during this, you run that risk. Now, I'm not saying I'm everybody, but I had that impression."

Rod: "Well, I can appreciate your position but consider a circumstance that might involve your life. Let's say hypothetically there was another guy who had a talk show on another station from in Burbank, let's say he came from New Jersey. And let's say, let's say he said you weren't funny and he had 20 reasons why your Top Ten List sucks, would you want him just to get away with that or would you want to be able to say it simply isn't true? And I can just tell you that it's a very difficult thing that I've gone through, unimaginable, unexpected, unanticipated and I assert my innocence because it is the truth. And the alternative is to sit in some corner, hide, cower in the fetal position and assume - and accept what people are saying that you did and you didn't do it and I didn't do it, and at the appropriate time, I'll have a chance to prove that."

Dave: "Right, so why not wait for the appropriate time?" (audience laughs, applauds)

Rod: "Well, I get that, yep. I appreciate that. No, I appreciate that. But, again, walk a mile in my shoes - let's say people were saying all those nasty things about you and your lawyers are telling you've got to wait for your court date. At the same time, you've got two little girls - I have a 12 year old and a 5 year old. And they're hearing things about their dad that aren't true. It's very, very difficult to simply sit there and accept the things they're saying about you, taking things out of context and twisting it and to not say, 'It isn't true and I'll prove it's not true,' and I had a chance at my impeachment trial last week in Illinois to bring witnesses, everybody involved in this who I talked to about the senate seat, I wanted them to come in and under testimony, sworn, tell the truth. I wanted every one of those wiretap conversations heard, not two or three, but every one of them. I wanted the whole truth out, and if they would have allowed me that, I could have begun the process of vindicating myself sooner."

Dave: "And why was that not allowed at the impeachment?"

Rod: "It was a political dynamic - there was a decision made to remove me. There's a lot of reasons, and among them is - and I say this to the people of Illinois - I believe my fellow Democrats are going to raise the income tax. That was one of the reasons to get me out. Obviously, this is a political problem for the Democratic party. And, then of course, the other party sees this as an opportunity to embarrass our party. So there were a lot of dynamics that converged, and as a result, I was denied the right to bring in witnesses to prove my innocence."

Dave: "Now, when you say the Top Ten List isn't funny?" (audience laughs)

Rod: "No, I didn't say that. I didn't say that. I said, 'Assume someone accused you.'

Dave: "Okay, all right."

Rod: "No, I think they're very funny. I can give you 20 reasons why I believe that." (audience laughs, applauds)

Dave: "But now, and again, you're dealing with a man who's largely ignorant of these matters, but I was under the impression that the reason you were not able to appropriately defend yourself during the impeachment was because of the scheduled criminal trial that will take place in the spring, and therefore, without that on the docket, you would have been able to defend yourself I so assume with witnesses and whatever means at your disposal but because you will now face criminal charges, they would not allow witnesses in the impeachment. Is that roughly what happened?"

Rod: "That's roughly what it is. They were alleging criminal activity that they were not required to prove up, they denied me the right to disprove it, and this is America where you have the right to confront witnesses and address false accusations, and my position was since you're not going to do it, because the prosecutor has his agenda and that's understandable, then take that off the impeachment and let's move on and wait for the court case, and give me the same presumption of innocence that you enjoy, that Paul enjoys, and that all of your guests enjoy - the presumption of innocence and the right to confront accusers who are falsely saying things that you didn't do."

Dave: "Right now, other people will say, 'Well, what he's doing now, he's working on the jury pool for the spring trial. He's trying to plead his case, trying to prejudice a group of people so that it will be difficult to get an impartial jury for that trial. Anything?" (audience laughs)

Rod: "No, um - your audience obviously likes you, everything you say, they laugh at. And that wasn't all that funny, with all due respect." (Rod, audience laughs)

Dave: (looks at camera) "What? (audience laughs)

Rod: "The trial is probably going to be a year from now, it's not anywhere near imminent, so what I'm doing here is I'm just doing the best I can to clear my name. I have daughters who have a right to know that their dad didn't do some of the things they're saying I did and I'm appealing to the American people to just give me the basic fairness that they would expect for themselves.

Dave: "Now, let's just say - I've heard a lot of these excerpts, these tapes and we have a little bit of audio tape here, and I think it's you on the phone talking to your brother who is Rob, is that correct?"

Rod: "Right."

Dave: "Right, you're Rod, he's Rob, and you're talking about a guy name Johnny Johnston who's a race track operator in Chicago and apparently there's some favor to be done, some money to exchange for a favor that he might want you - does that ring a bell with you?"

Rod: "Well, I mean, I can't talk about the details but - because that would be inappropriate based on the case, but when all of those tapes are heard - and again, I wanted those heard last week in the impeachment trial, all of them. I'm the anti-Nixon. See, during Watergate, Nixon didn't want any of his tapes heard because he had something to hide. Me, I want the full context heard so people understand what this was about. I had conversation with US Senators, with congressmen; I had conversations with all of the different people alleged in that criminal complaint. Let all of them testify under oath about the truth."

Dave: "So, now, as I recall, there were 13 articles of impeachment leveled against you. So you're telling me each one of those was a misunderstanding? Each one of those was something out of context?"

Rod: "I'll be happy to talk about some of them. First of all, they didn't prove up any - not asingle wrongdoing, not one act of wrongdoing. Secondly, they were not allowed to prove any criminal allegations, which they couldn't anyway because I didn't do anything wrong - I wasn't allowed to disprove it. Then they impeached me on going to Canada and getting safe and affordable prescription medicines for our senior citizens. I was the first governor to do that - save 30, 40 50% for seniors on their medicines. The governor of Wisconsin followed me, the governor of Kansas followed me, the governor of Vermont followed me. I worked with John McCain and Ted Kennedy on this issue. So if they're impeaching me on helping our seniors with safe and affordable prescription medicines, then they ought to expel John McCain and Ted Kennedy from the senate. That's one of the articles they impeached me on."

Dave: "And, but, what you're suggesting, regarding these articles, that they were all misunderstood, and the audio clips, that they were all somehow out of context. Is that a fair enough explanation of your defense here?"

Rod: "Well, presumably, there's hours and hours."

Dave: "Well, let's listen to this thing and you tell me whether it's out of context or not. And tell us what we need to know. Go ahead and set up the clip. (audience laughs)

Rod: "You want me to set up the clip? (audience laughs)

Dave: "Yeah, you set it up - this is you and your brother talking about Johnny Johnston, right?" (audience laughs, applauds)

Rod: "I don't know. I don't know, I haven't heard it."

Dave: "Let's take a listen here:" (conversation is played and chyrons appear on screen)

Rob: "Uh, I talked to Lon, and uh he says Johnny Johnston's good for it."

Rod: "OK."

Rob: "He's gonna give you...ya know, he didn't get it. But he said, ya know, I'm good for it. I gotta just decide what, what uh, accounts to get it out of. And Lon's gonna talk to you about some sensitivities legistlatively tonight when he sees you. With regard to timing of all of this."

Rod: "Right - before the end of the year, though, right?"

Rob: "Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah."

Dave: "All right, so what have we got? What are we talking about there?"

Rod: "Well, I mean, you know, again, that speaks for itself - there's not a single criminal act in that conversation. I was afraid you were going to have some of those other tapes where I sounded like Christian Bale..." (audience laughs) "And had I known somebody was listening I would not have said some of those words, but these were private conversations with top staff."

Dave: "But what is it - is money going to change hands?"

Rod: "Oh no, campaign contributions, commitment to raise money."

Dave: "In return for some favorable treatment for the track owners?"

Rod: "No, absolutely not."

Dave: "And why did you need the money before the end of the year?"

Rod: "The way the fundraising works is there's two reporting periods: you report at the end of June, you report at the end of December. And then you ask people who are helping you to meet deadlines. And there was a commitment that had been made actually long before December of this year. And it was just to be able to get it in for the filing reports so you can disclose the contributions that you receive, everything that every politician does."

Dave: "So we listen to that, and you're saying to me that we want to hear the worst so we do hear the worst, but that little exchange couldn't have been more innocent, is that correct?"

Rod: "I think that that speaks for itself and again, there are hours of conversations. If the whole story is heard, you'll see a lot of different things and you know, the end result will show a decision and a process that was right for the people of Illinois. That's why I'm certain of being vindicated."

Dave: "So, in your mind, you're fairly certain that after the criminal trial, you'll be declared innocent and people will say, 'Holy God, we bounced the guy. He was completely innocent. He really should still be our governor.'"

Rod: "Yes, I do believe that and I believe it will be a historic result. And I believe that impeachment that they did last week was a hijacking of a governor elected twice by the people without proving any wrongdoing, without giving that governor elected by the people, not so much about me, but the people who elected me, the right to be able to show that I didn't do anything wrong."

Dave: "Do you use shampoo and conditioner?" (Rod, audience laugh; audience applauds) "Or is it two separate - because they've got a thing, I use it." (audience laughs, applauds)

Rod: (laughs) "Right."

Dave: "We'll be right back with Rod Blagojevich everybody."

DL: "All right. Rod Blagojevich. How do you -- I don't know in terms of protocol whether I address you as Governor, because you in fact did hold the office for a term and a half. Or if I refer to you as Ex-Governor. But what is it - how does it feel like to be introduced as the former Governor of Illinois under the circumstance? It must hurt, right?"

RB: "Of course it does. It's obviously not something I planned on. And everything changed when this happened in early December. But you know, you get up every single day and you keep embracing the truth, and you're confident of what the result will be and you've got to stand strong."

DL: "Right. Do you know Patrick Fitzgerald? Do you know him? Have you spent any time with him?"

RB: "I've met him a couple of - once or twice I've met him."

DL: "And he's the guy that's leading the investigation against you. Is that correct?"

RB: "Right."

DL: "And people, myself included, believe that it all began when Barack Obama became President-Elect Barack Obama, leaving an empty Senate seat. But actually, the investigation has been on-going for quite some time, hasn't it?"

RB: "Yes, it has."

DL: "And when did you first learn of the investigation?"

RB: "Um...first, and let me say this, the U.S. Attorney, the prosecutor - and I used to be a prosecutor, and I view them as the good guys. And I keep thinking that maybe one day, you know, I'll wake up and they'll realize that this is just one big misunderstanding. But they've been scrutinizing Mayor Daly in Chicago, they've been scrutinizing me, as well as other politicians. And that's not necessarily unhealthy. Cause it keeps everybody to make sure they do things right. But this really began some time - I first learned of it, I think back in 2004."

DL: "And why were they looking into your activities then?"

RB: "Not mine, they were looking at a friend of mine - a contributor of mine, and other political figures - on some of his activities. And that was the first inkling of it.

DL: "And what was your reaction then? Were you outraged? Or just business as usual? Or what did you think?"

RB: "No, the first thing I did was I had our Inspector General - an independent Inspector General, that hadn't existed before I was Governor - we created that through the law. Then State Senator Barack Obama helped pass that law. This friend is the friend who is very close to Barack Obama as well. And when I learned of this, the first thing I did was I told my Chief of Staff to have the Inspector General investigate it. And look into it. And then events unfolded and --"

DL: "And so you get a knock on the door one morning and it's the FBI, they're coming to arrest you. I mean, what was that? What time did that happen?"

RB: "It was a little after six in the morning."

DL: "Six AM."

RB: "Yes."

DL: "So you're thinking - what do you think?"

RB: "Well, I went to bed the night before feeling good about the future. Knowing what I was going to do - "

DL: (laughs) "I'm sorry, but boy oh boy."

RB: "Yeah, looking forward to the holidays. Yeah. I hear ya."

DL: "Feeling good about the future..."(yawn) "I think I'll sleep in tomorrow."

RB: "That's right. I laid my running clothes out that night. Because you want to have those psychologically in there in the cold, dark morning -"

DL: "Motivator...get up and go."

RB: "Yeah. Get up and go. My alarm was set for six o'clock. It went off. I told my wife, 'Five more minutes.' Then before the five more minutes was up, the phone rang. And it was the FBI agent and I thought it was a joke. And I thought it was either one of my staffers or a friend. And then he insisted it wasn't. And then the head of the state police detail, who I know, said, 'It's not.' And then they came up and the rest is history. And, let me say this, had they called, I would have been more than happy to go down and address the issues."

DL: "Sure. And you're familiar with the joke: The former Governor is in Illinois Prison, down in wherever it is, the federal penitentiary there in Illinois. And he's working with another inmate and the inmate says to him, 'You know, Governor, the food was better when you were Governor.'" (audience laughs)

RB: "I don't know that joke." (Rod, audience laughs)

DL: "Maybe I screwed that up. Maybe I oughta be impeached!" (audience, Rod laugh) "And what is the possibility of some misunderstanding with your father-in-law? That's intriguing to me. Tell us about that. What are we talking about here?"

RB: "Well, hopefully, out of terrible circumstances there's an opportunity sometimes to repair relationships but, you know, Chicago and Illinois are rough and tumble places. It's obvious based on some of the things you've alluded to already. You know, I have a father-in-law who's a Chicago alderman. And, you know, in the political process, people have expectations of you. And if you were to ask me what my biggest disappointment is - having been Governor is, that the expectations of people who supported you were not as pristine or idealistic as yours were. There wasn't the high purpose to do things like healthcare for children, free rides for senior citizens, things that we've accomplished for people in our state under me as Governor. He was involved in a landfill that had gone, that we had heard was violating some environmental rules. This would have been late 2004. And I had a duty as the Governor to act and not look the other way. On the advice of the EPA, I shut the landfill down. It ultimately went to court. The court sided with us, kept it shut down until they can clean up the environmental issues. He got angry at me and made some accusations, publicly, that created some -"

DL: "Now did that - was that before or after you learned you were under investigation?

RB: "This was a little bit after that. And let me say, it wasn't that I was under investigation, the first inkling, it was that the supporter was. It wasn't me."

DL: "I understand. So how are things with you and Dad now? (audience laughs)

RB: "He's reaching out to his daughter and his grandkids. And wants to be helpful during this hard time."

DL: "And has he owned up to it? Has he acknowledged that, "Yeah, I called him in because I was upset about you closing down..."

RB: "No, He retracted the -"

DL: "Oh, so he retracted it."

RB: "He retracted it a few weeks after it all happened. Look, when you do something like that, you open up a whole hornet's nest and a Pandora's box and it's hard to put those furies back in the box.

DL: Boy oh boy. You - I really wouldn't give your troubles to a monkey on a rock." (audience laughs) "Allright. We'll be right back with Rod Blagojevich, everybody."