(2003) Recounts JFK assassination – He had no idea he was going to tear up when he made the announcement.
That moment was purely extemporaneous in every sense of the way. I hadn’t planned to have a tear in my eye. I wouldn’t have thought of that. I would never have yielded to that if it had been a thought. I would have regretted if I had broken down and couldn’t have continued. The brief show of emotion is perfectly natural.
(2001) LARRY KING: How many days are there where you miss being on?
Every day. Not being on…I don’t miss being on the air. I miss being at the center of gravity where you’re getting these stories together, getting the broadcast together — really setting the agenda for people’s consideration. That’s an important job, and I miss that.
As for his wife, Betsy Maxwell, who he met in 1936, married in 1940 and loved until her passing in 2005:
She was one of the most beautiful people I ever saw in my life. I saw her for the first time … coming down the hall … and I fell in love before I ever knew her name, or what she did, or whether I would ever see her again in life.
“Uncle Walter”
Walter Leland Cronkite, Jr (Nov 14, 1916 – July 17, 2009)
“There were many important stories in the those years that affected the course of mankind that I would like to have covered.”
Roland Burris' comments upon hearing he will be seated. Selected comments from the transcript. Note how he never mentions blagojevich by name.
MR. BURRIS: I'm truly humbled and honored to learn that later this week I will officially be sworn into the United States Senate as the Illinois junior senator. I'm thankful for the opportunity to serve and I ask for your support and prayers, so that I may work with you, my senator -- my Senate colleagues and our new president to succeed at the challenges which face our state and our country.
I would like to publicly thank Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and my long-time friend and Illinois' senior senator, Dick Durbin. Never once did I doubt their intentions were motivated by anything other than doing what was right for the people of Illinois and by what they believed had to be done to protect the Senate as an institution. It will be my honor to both serve with them and to learn from them.
Secretary of State Jesse White, whom I've known for more than 30 years, is also owed a debt of gratitude. He also happen to be someone whose autograph I cherish. Some have criticized Jesse, and I think somewhat unfairly. He stood for what he believed was right, and in our state's best interest. His actions only reinforced what I have always known him to be, an honorable man.
He went on to thank his staff and then spoke directly to The People of Illinois about the doubts about him and his taint by blagojevich. One poll had shown that 52% of Illinoians were against his appointment. That was before barry finally made a stand, which was most assuredly because Burris was taking the press away from him.
...I recognize that my appointment triggered a challenging time for many. Reasonable people can and will arrive at different decisions that although -- were in the best interests of our state. They -- they should not be faulted for doing their best to serve our state in the best way they thought possible.
The single most important reason why I fought, to defend this appointment, was because I believed Illinois people didn't deserve to unfairly be punished again, by delaying their right to have full representation and equal voting rights at such a crucial time for our state and our nation. My motivation is to serve, was pure and had nothing to do with the scandal that preceded my appointment.
...My passion truly is to serve you. I look forward to providing that, every chance that I get. I cannot say enough how humbled and honored I am to be afforded this opportunity to serve.
And finally if you are among the many in Illinois, who are disheartened by the cloud that hangs overhead and darkens our state's image, I ask that you join me in remembering the old saying: "It's always the darkest before the dawn."
I believe that dawn is near and brighter days are ahead for Illinois, and I'm looking forward to serving in the United States Senate.
Quite frankly, how much darker can they get nationally? Well once the truth comes out about barry but by then the whole nation and world will be darkened and disillusioned. The ones who knew all along will be very angry and justifiably so.
QUESTION: today Republican leaders have said the Democrats chose to trust a madman over the people of Illinois. What's your reaction to that?
BURRIS: No, there's no reaction to that. The governor carried out his constitutional duties. He had no choice but to carry out the duties that were -- that were -- that he took an oath to carry out when he was sworn in for governor. That's my response.
He knows how to handle a press conference. He took on Mika and won while smiling like a sweet grandpops. And what about Caroline Kennedy? Can she handle a press conference? And there isn't any positive "taint" about her family name qualifying her for an appointment to the senate?
Q: How do you explain the turnaround in six days?
BURRIS: Well, I think that after all the procedures were -- excuse me -- were brought together, then people recognized that we should get -- move forward and get this action behind us.
They moved in for the kill.
Q Mr. Burris, did you have to make any deal not to run in 2010?
BURRIS: The only request that was made of me from Senator Reid and Senator Durbin was that I make my testimony before the Illinois house impeachment committee and secondly that I would clear up the signature from the secretary of state's office and that was it. Q Senator, your lawyers indicated Friday that you had formed a campaign committee. Might you run in 2010?
BURRIS: Well, we had to form a fund-raising committee because of the, you know, needed expenses that we'll have. And we're also forming a legal -- legal defense fund committee, too.
They asked about the asterisk - he reiterated it was a legal appointment and that there is "no such thing as taint." And that there's "nothing in the statute about taint." He said he relishes the chance to once again be a public servant. They asked how he was going to overcome the skeptics. He responded that, "My actions will speak louder than my words." He mentioned all the letters and phone calls he has received congratulating him.
As one of those People of Illinois, I love Mr Burris' appointment. He's a joy to watch and he makes me smile. You want to see transparency - he's it - naked ambition and all. Why does the press question a p0litician's ego and ambition? Why else would they think they could win office?
They asked again about a run in 2010 and he said he wants to "get my Senate legs under me, and we'll make that decision at the proper time." His comment about why his appointment was not pay-to-play should have tipped them off he has no money. They asked him about whether he was going to get to go to the Inauguration. He chuckled and gives a little insight of what is really going on behind the scene.
Q: Two weeks ago, you weren't even planning on going to the Inaugural.
BURRIS: I was waiting on my tickets from Obama. (Chuckles.) Q And now what? How -- are people calling you?
Q: What about those Inaugural tickets?
BURRIS: (Chuckles.) Q Are you going to get some tickets to the Inauguration? And were you planning --
MR. BURRIS: (Chuckles.) Now do you want me to state that publicly? (Laughs.)
(Laughter.) Q (Off mike.)
MR. BURRIS: Because I do not know at this point what the situation is with the tickets. Q (Off mike) -- looking for some?
BURRIS: Yes.
I bet they never thought about it. Who took the tickets that would have been allotted to the jr senate appointee? Now that it is public they have no choice but to get him tickets. And Bobby Rush? He explained how they got around Jesse White, the Illinois Secretary of State's signature. They asked about how frustrating it has been over the last several weeks. He answers sincerely - though talking in the third person is a tad off and he has a habit of it.
BURRIS: I look upon that as a learning experience and a part of life. And I cherish that type of experience, because that has made Roland Burris tougher. That made me be able to appreciate what the people of Illinois really want in their leadership. So I have no regrets for what I went through. It has made me more humble and made me to be prepared to even work harder to serve the people of my state.
They tried to get him to comment about the race issue that Rush brought up and he dodged it by enumerating his credentials. He said previous that he has never made race an issue in his campaigns - although he did once in 1998. See here. And in case you haven't made it by Oak Woods Cemetery to see his mausoleum, here's a summary of his previous campaigns. And here's his list of accomplishments.
BURRIS: Well, Charles, I plan to distinguish myself in the Senate the same way I did as attorney general and as state comptroller and as the vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee, as the president of the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers, as the president of the National Association of State Comptrollers, as an exchange student to the University of Hamburg, where I studied international law in the German language. That's how I plan to handle that situation.
He can handle himself, smiling the whole way. He will make a fine senator and he will continue to frustrate the press' attempt to frazzle him. He is the Magic Man, afterall.
They're commentating along with Sen Clinton's testifying.
MARK WHITAKER: She is putting not only Congress but the rest of Washington on notice that she's going fight for the State Department turf, and also that she is-when you listen to these questions-that she's going to do more homework and know more about all these issues than anybody else. This is really an very impressive performance in terms of showing that she is really going to be strong in reasserting the prerogatives of the State Department.
MICHELLE BERNARD: Prior to recent history we didn't make women's rights a part of our foreign policy. It will be very interesting to see what she will do with her new power and her managerial skills in Islamic countries where women's rights are a major issue. And she's going to make it a part of our national security efforts at the State Department.
barama talks about how the Prime Minister of Israel made fun of Condolezza Rice by talking to Bush to make Rice abstain on the agreement she helped craft.
MATTHEWS: Don't you have a hunch Hillary is not going to allow that to happen?
WHITTAKER: Another source of power is the power of her personality. And in talking to people in the transition, close to obama about why he wanted Hillary--obviously there are political reasons--but there's also just her appeal around the world. And when -- he's not going to be able to travel that much in his first year. He's going to have to focus on the economy. But when Hillary Clinton arrives representing the United States, that is going to send a very powerful signal, because people around the world know who she is, knows she's powerful, and know that she will be able to pick up the phone and talk to obama whenever she wants.
BERNARD: She is a very commanding presence - very intelligent - and I think she gives off an aura that says 'I'm in charge - don't mess with me.'
They watch more live testimony by Sen Clinton.
MATTHEWS: Mark Whitaker, how's she doing?
WHITAKER: I think she is doing very well. She clearly knows her stuff. I mean, I keep thinking about how the job of Secretary of State is to sit there and go head to head with world leaders. And we're seeing a little preview of that today. Here she is with all these powerful senators, looking them in the eye, and you really can see that she is going to be very effective as our top diplomat.
BERNARD: When Madeline Albright became the Secretary of State, the big news was the nation's first woman as Secretary of State. We're not looking at Senator Clinton today as a woman. We're not talking about her jewelry or how she is dressed or anything like that. Where talking about the power that emanates with this woman.
I think she is doing an excellent job. I think she is going to make a very effective Secretary of State. I think we're going to see a very, very different Department of State - very strong, very powerful. I'm forward to seeing the tension between the department of State and the Department of Defense, if there is any, on how we're going to handle issues such as Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
MATTHEWS: Well, she walked in the door with 18 million votes.
...the same amount barry got. And it sounds like she's got a lot more going for her on the foreign front than having tea with Ambassadors.
Well Senator Clinton did her usual. She was massively prepared - even without notes - and she displayed an encyclopedic knowledge of the world. They couldn't break her. She has to be the smartest politician on the planet. Her comment on Israel.
CLINTON: On Israel you cannot negotiate with Hamas until it renounces violence, recognizes Israel, and agrees to abide by past agreements. That for me is an absolute. That is the United States government's position and the President elects position.
I'm putting together barama matthews comments. They are diametrically opposed to everything he spouted during the primaries. Don't they ever listen to themselves and what do they actually believe? I wish I knew how to splice videos. I would go back and clip his comments together before and after.
Social Service or Child Protective Services should make a visit to Drew Peterson's house. Stacy's children ages 2 & 4 have been without her for a year and now Peterson's fiance, Christina Raines, 23, has moved in with her children ages 4 & 5. They reportedly met in 2003. They have been dating for four long months - but he frequents the restaurant she works at.
Peterson is alleging her fiance's ex boyfriend "Mike" is stalking him - including at home.
The alleged stalker is NOT THE FATHER OF HER CHILDREN.
How much concern is Peterson showing for all four of those children if the stalker is truly stalking him at home? Especially if he is as jealous and abusive as Peterson claims.
Can't someone intervene on behalf of the children? Someone has to stop this madness and keep those children safe.
Rob Stafford's "A Day in the Life of Drew Peterson" just aired the 10 o'clock news. Peterson tried to portray himself as Mr Mom but the reality that came through - Stacy's children are motherless.
ROB STAFFORD: The spokesman for the Will county states attorney told me today that one of the cases - either the murder of Kathleen Savio and the disappearance of Stacy Peterson will be resolved this year, sooner rather than later. The Grand Jury is still meeting.
Has to be the murder of Kathleen Savio. Then what happens to Stacy's children during the trial and beyond?
UPDATED: Peterson's fiance, Christina Raines' uncle spoke yesterday with Chicago Breaking News' ERICA SLIFE:
JOE RAINES: It's unbelievable. I don't get it, but what are you going do? She's an adult.
It's just crazy that she would make a decision of this magnitude knowing what's out there.
Yes, but her children aren't adults and are relying on her judgment and at the mercy of Drew Peterson's sociopathy. Someone needs to drag her out of there. Her father has had an active role but she is 23.
The notion has Raines' family members worried. Her father, Ernie Raines, filed several police reports with the Bolingbrook Police Department over the weekend requesting well-being checks on his daughter, and to also document that his daughter had moved in with Peterson, said spokesman Lt. Ken Teppel.
Just an observation. What type of home life did Peterson's alleged fiance have that would lead to her have two children so young and find it ok - desirable even - to move in with someone who is her father's age?
Sen Clinton's confirmation hearing is tomorrow - expected to be only one day. Mr Bill's finances have passed major scrutiny though some "clarification" is needed. Kerry expects a "fair and expeditious" hearing. Has Sen Clinton ever been treated "fairly"?
Who do you have more faith in: Sen Clinton or Kerry?
All I got was the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. And to think I was the one who brought barry on the scene. Well, I'm gonna take it out on Hillary just to get back at barry and my ex-bud Joe Biden. I could've at least been Secretary of Commerce. Now me and Dodd are stuck in the Senate and Edwards is in hiding...
Man with no conscience gets to stay in his luxury apartment instead of a cell. Who did more damage: Bernie Madoff or Martha Stewart? Think of all the people who will suffer because of how he ripped off them off. And what type of recourse have they? There should be a special place in hell for someone who steals from charities. Probably why his family gave him up.
Anyway the judge ruled he gets to live in his penthouse under these additional restrictions. From FRANK AHERNS:
Madoff must create an inventory of all the valuable items in his apartment. [a little late]
The government must check the inventory list against the items in his apartment every two weeks.
The government can check Madoff's outgoing mail.
As far as the investor Thierry Magon de La Villehuchet who committed suicide - his brother has an interesting take. I'm not sure how "honorable" it is when you leave behind all the people who lost their life savings because you were had by a Ponzi scheme.
Bertrand Magon de la Villehuchet said a sense of honor led the descendent of French army officers and an ennobled shipping family to commit suicide after he put his friends and family in a "catastrophic" financial situation.
"For him, it was a positive act of honor," said Bertrand, 74, who lives in Paris and received a note from his brother after Thierry's death. "He brought his friends and clients, and a lot of them were his friends, to a catastrophic situation.
"I was bragging at parties that I'd only lost 5 percent this year," Bertrand said at his apartment on the Place des Vosges in Paris. "Now I guess I've lost 25 percent."
Theirry's toxicology is still pending from the autopsy.
How many more victims of Madoff will chose to end their lives? And what about the ones who will smoke, eat, drink and drug themselves to death? Abuse their family? Go postal? It's endless.
German billionaire, Adolf Merckle chose to throw himself in front of a train the day before his company was to be sold.
ARDC Individual Attorney Record of Public Registration and Public Disciplinary and Disability Information as of January 9, 2009 at 11:04:01 AM:
Full Licensed Name: Barack Hussein Obama Full Former name(s): None Date of Admission as Lawyer by Illinois Supreme Court: December 17, 1991 Registered Business Address: Not available online Registered Business Phone: Not available online Illinois Registration Status: Voluntarily inactive and not authorized to practice law - Last Registered Year: 2008
Legally, that second line "Full Former name" is meant for name changes once the attorney has ALREADY registered as a lawyer in lllinois - not previous legal names BEFORE he practiced law. It is meant for name changes as in sex change, marriage and divorce to keep track of the lawyer's entire legal practice history.
It does not refer to name changes PRIOR to his initial registration.
So if he had been adopted in Indonesia and his legal name were to have been changed from barack hussein obama to barry soetero - it would matter legally and ethically in reference to his initial application to the bar - but not in reference to this form.
If he would just release his long form birth certificate and passport records, this would all be over.
So why hasn't he? Especially in light of his claims of transparency? That fact that he hasn't negates his claim.
Why spend money to defend against something that could be cleared up in two minutes with two legal independently corroboratable documents?
The Senate made the final official electoral count - as expected 365-173. Dick Cheney read as his last VP duty:
Pursuant to the Constitution and laws of the United States, the Senate and House of Representatives are meeting in joint session to verify the certificates and count the votes of the electors of the several states.
barry and biden can now be officially inaugurated on 1-20-09.
I wouldn't count on SCOTUS to do anything to change that - no matter how inclined and no matter the evidence. At this point it is too late - which was the point in the delaying.
From a non-political person, who has never voted and had not been involved in politics of any sort until Jan 08 - the voting process needs to be changed. Each person's vote is not counted the same. The superdelegates decided this election after the DNC Rules Committee decided to hijack the votes in Michigan and give delegates to barry whose name was not on the ballot and therefore not one vote could have been proved to have been cast for him.
Are any Michiganders suing? If so, what would be their recourse?
It was an illegal primary. A vital and (deciding as far as popular vote) deliberation went on behind closed doors. Absolute corruption. You cannot have a process be clean if one element of it is dirty. The primary results will forever be illegal.
Imagine the outrage if Sen Clinton and barry's positions would have been reversed. It would never happen. No way. Period. That alone reflects its illegality and inherent bias. The Double Standard.
Then there are all the other irregularities with ACORN, bused in voters and the choosing of South Carlina and Nevada as the two primaries moved up. And had they been Michigan and New York? It was an intentional intervention that directly affected the outcome. As was the proven to exist proobama media bias.
Should be:
1 - No caucuses. Completely undemocratic and are subject to coercion and intimidation. They are inherently biased toward some demographics - in this case, Sen Clinton's: seniors, shift workers and single moms, which most definitely the outcome as she won only 1/14. And the one she won - Nevada - had many complaints of barry voter intimidation and is presently being litigated. Again - what is the recourse? So what's stopping someone from doing it as long as nothing happens before the general election?
2 - Every state should have a vote in the primaries. The primary vote is more important and the individual's vote means more because they can vote for whomever they want - not just the final choice. Primaries should take place over the period of two weeks or so - no longer.
3 - Superdelegates should be completely abolished. They decided this election. Period. They could have voted for Sen Clinton just as easily as they both got the same amount of votes - actually more people actually pulled the lever for Sen Clinton - that should not be forgotten much the same that Al Gore's vote count. barry won by virtue of caucus states (13/14) only 4 of which were blue. That is not the will of the democrats. A caucus in Idaho should not count the same as a 100K lead in votes in a blue state like Ohio or Pennsylvania. barry did not get the required number of delegates to win. Period.
4 - ID standards should be the same in every state as should the voting machines and procedures.
5 - Both parties should abide by the exact same procedures and rules for nomination.
5 - Independents should be allowed for whomever they want in every state.
6 - Absolute cap on campaign finances. barry broke his promise and was not held accountable. Say what you want - barry bought the election. He outspent McCain massively at the end and McCain could not fight back. (Neither could Sen Clinton.)
Dr Sanjay Gupta is an excellent choice for Surgeon General. He was in the war zone and performed neurosurgeries on US soldiers and also Iraqi civilians, including on a toddler. He saved a Marine's life who was shot in the head and believe it or not is up walking and talking.
He is still a practicing neurosurgeon and has been on CNN as a regular contributor addressing a broad spectrum of topic to educate the public. He also is known to several generations including the original MTV generation and the present day 15 second attention span twits.
Perfect since the Surgeon General's main role is education and prevention but not necessarily a policy setter - although he was an advisor to First Lady Hillary Clinton. He is a TV celebrity, telegenic - People's most beautiful people, which seems a requirement nowadays, and of course checks off another one of barry's boxes. Years from now Dr Gupta will still be recognized by folks.
Really a simple straightforward pick.
What are the chances he can get barry to stop smoking? Addiction to Nicorette is still an addiction to nicotine and has medical consequences.
I don't know what to say about this. Philip Berg is center spread talking about barry's constitutional (in)eligibility to be POTUS. I'm not sure how SCOTUS is going to fell about this. It's like the Inquirer breaking the story about John adulterer Edwards because the MSM and DNC wouldn't until barry was elected and safely ensconced in Hawaii. They needed edwards to run to dilute the vote in Iowa to give barry a chance along with the bus loads of barry voters bussed in from Illinois and "college students". edwards went through the whole charade knowing he couldn't be president. That is a special type of evil. Imagine if these things were done so that barry lost?
For the record - I believe he was born in Hawaii. But there is a very good reason why he refuses to release his birth certificate and everything else. That needs full disclosure. The ball is in the SCOTUS hands.
I really had no idea who this was...in fact I was seriously confused for a second. I don't even know how I stumbled across it. Pix is courtesy of chickaboomer. Hint: Herr Olbermann's twin ranter.
Why are you letting barry get away with no comment on Hamas-Israel? He had no problem making an immediate statement on Mumbai. But he hasn't made a single comment other than there's only one president like he has on everything else. The timing of the bombing is not at all coincidental - just like Putin's attack on Georgia.
Here's an eye-opening video of how little barry voters knew and strangely how much they knew of his opponents. This would have been a much better video if it was done during the primaries. Folks would come out of the yes-we-can rallies eyes all a'glaze and not be able to recite anything barry said or state his position on anything other than "he voted against the war". Which of course is a fairy tale that will go down as the most blatant fraud perpetrated on The American People (o-baaa-ma sheeples) in presidential election history. The ones who could answer most often said return of the middle class or universal healthcare, which were Sen Clinton's stands. Anyway take the ten minutes to watch. See if you find it funny as in Leno's Jaywalking. Then take it a step further and realize that folks like these spent the last two years making personal attacks on barry's opponents - including the tried and true cries of racism - instead of learning something about barry.
barry has pist off the sect of non-believers with his pick of Rick Warren...and Rev Lowery. The self-proclaimed Grand Uniter has angered a lot of folks in his attempt to pander to the Evangelicals and now it's atheists. I wonder what their other political activism entails. Prayer in schools? Taking "In God We Trust" off those dollar bills barry absolutely resembles? Removing "One nation under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance? Banning the Ten Commandments from Courthouses?
barry's does nothing unless it is politically expedient. He can name it transcending race, post partisanship, team of rivals, Change! and whatever else - it always comes back to one thing: political expedience. What can barry do to get by without having to make an actual declaration that will result in personal consequences. It will be interesting what he does on January 21st when he realizes that he can't hide behind anyone and that he will be the "one president at a time".
He is trying to make history before he has actually done anything. He spent his campaign on documentary worthy presidential recreations. Now he's setting up his 2012 run. Have to applaud his foresight. He had his campaign strategy mapped out in his 1996 book.
Thing is - his pick of Warren has highlighted how little say the LGBT community has and how folks continue to disregard their concerns of being prejudiced against. And if it were interracial marriage? This election has proven that racism is the only prejudice that matters and barry used his race-baiting to perfection - most notably in the primaries. If his race was not about race he doesn't win. Period.
Barack Obama, Dreams of My Father:
Black politicians less gifted than Harold (Washington Chicago's 1st mayor) discovered what white politicians had known for a very long time:that race-baiting could make up for a host of limitations. Younger leaders, eager to make a name for themselves, upped the ante, peddling conspiracy theories all over how the Koreans were funding the Klan, Jewish doctors were injecting black babies with AIDS. [sound familiar?] It was a shortcut to fame, if not always fortune; like sex or violence on TV, black rage always found a ready market....Blacks had no real power to act on the occasional slips into anti-Semitism or Asian-bashing, people would tell me; and anyway, black folks needed a chance to let off a little steam every once in a while - what do you think those folks say about us behind our backs?
Interesting. He has a whole host of limitations starting with the fact that he has never made a unilateral decision of consequence. Look back on all the issues he has changed his position on since February 2007. And prejudice is okay because somebody else is doing it? Didn't work that way in the election. Misogyny and sexism - stop whining. Ageism - punch line. Homophobia - just shut up already.
barry is anything but a uniter. Why did all three of his opponents (and Mr Bill) leave the campaign racists? Were they "letting off a little steam"? And what has he done to unite since he became president-elect? Absolutely nothing except anger more folks - mainly his own base.
Anyway. Eleven non-theist organizations and 29 nontheists led by Micheal Newdow brought suit (12-30) against Chief Justice John Roberts, Sen Dianne Feinstein, Major General Richard J. Rowe Jr., Revs Rick Warren and Joe Lowery. It focuses on the unconstitutionality of "so help me God" as barry's hand rests on Lincoln's Bible. They allege that the use of the Bible during a government ceremony is fundamentally anti-atheist because the Bible condemns nonbelievers.
