Franken Sued, Burris Blocked, Richardson Debated, Reston On Frost

January 7th, 2009 - by: danny

TUESDAY AFTERNOON: NORMAN COLEMAN IS SUING AL FRANKEN IN MINNESOTA TO UNDERCUT HIS ELECTION TO SENATE

BURRIS SPURNED BBC REPORTS

The new US Congress has opened, amid a row as the choice to fill President-elect Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat was blocked from the chamber’s floor.

Senate Democrats had vowed to prevent Roland Burris taking the Illinois seat because he was picked by scandal-hit Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.

Mr Burris said officials turned him away when he arrived to be sworn in.

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Obama’s Stumbles (by Steve Soto at The Left Coaster)

Simply put, I am appalled at the news that Obama has selected Leon Panetta to head the CIA. The Obama team selected Panetta without consulting any of the congressional Democrats leading the intelligence committees, perhaps wanting to avoid a leak. Yet the choice itself of a political manager who knows zip about the world of intelligence reeks of a White House that wants control of the apparatus through a master beancounter. This is far less desirable than redirecting the Agency’s policies and improving its morale by appointing a capable veteran like Stephen Kappes.

Second, I am equally appalled to see the Obama team try and blame Bill Richardson for underestimating his exposure from a grand jury investigation first reported back in August, the details of which would have been unknown to him. Team Obama is now smoothly throwing Richardson under the bus for their own vetting process and willingness to nominate someone possibly tied to a public and active grand jury investigation. But then, they got what they wanted from Richardson: a Hillary supporter who turned against her, a national Latino political supporter who delivered a key state, who never got the job he really wanted (Secretary of State) and is now not getting any job at all.

IAN WILLIAMS: ANOTHER VIEW ON RICHARDSON

OBAMA WANTS GUPTA

WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama has approached CNN’s chief medical correspondent, Sanjay Gupta, to be the country’s next surgeon general, the cable network said Tuesday.

CNN said it has kept Gupta from reporting on health care policy and other matters involving the incoming Obama administration since learning he was under consideration for the post.

Two Democrats with knowledge of the discussions over the surgeon general spot said Gupta was under consideration but cautioned there was not yet a final decision on who would fill the post. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media on the matter.

Obama’s transition office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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Could Panetta Switch to Commerce? (Political Wire)

Political Wire has learned that early in the Obama transition former White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta was actually angling to be secretary of commerce — not CIA Director. However, now that the leaked news of Panetta’s nomination has apparently ticked off Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA), the incoming chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee — and with the commerce seat now open again — might Panetta be tapped for that job instead?

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CHINA CURBS OFFENSIVE WEBSITE

By James Peng and Mark Lee Wai Yee

Reuters: China, the world’s biggest Internet market by users, announced a nationwide crackdown on Web sites that it says spread pornography, singling out search engines including Google and Baidu for criticism.

China’s Ministry of Public Security and six other government agencies jointly opened a one-month campaign at a meeting today in Beijing. The central government announced the decision through an official Xinhua News Agency report posted on its Web site.

A vulgar tone on the Internet has seriously damaged the physical and mental health of youth, Cai Ming-zhao, deputy press chief of the State Council, said at the meeting. Participants asked all related government agencies to “strictly execute the law,” Xinhua said.

Web sites that refuse to change after receiving warnings risk penalties and closure, Xinhua said.

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JAMES RESTON JR. ON FROST/NIXON

LETTERS

ANNA TAYLOR URGES:

Contact President-Elect Obama and ask him to issue a statement calling for Israel to end its bombing and siege on Gaza” ?

Anybody who’s not ALREADY on the hijacked “Democrats” anti-Israel list might want to AVOID getting on it, considering administrative/bureaucratic retaliation to come.

— As for The CHANGEling Obama — who made a campaign promise to AIPAC that Israel is “sacrosanct”, and was conveniently bubbled up in Hawaii when the IDF assault on Gaza began — His remarks in Israel six months ago signalled support for Israel’s current crushing of Gaza:

OBAMA: “The first job of any nation state is to protect its citizens. And so I can assure you that if — I don’t even care if I was a politician — if somebody was sending rockets into my house where my two daughters sleep at night, I’m going to do EVERYTHING IN MY POWER [emphasis added] to stop that. And I would expect Israelis to do the same thing.”

— Obama’s weeks-long silence on Gaza, more than anything else, has given the IDF carte blanche to shoot fish in a barrel, and wantonly lay waste to the area (including, now, white phosphorus shells and cluster bombs).

Send SHOES — singly, by the pair, by the dump-truck load — to “our” corporate representatives, who condone and carry out state sadism at the behest of their masters.

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FOR YEARS I’V TRIED TO OFFER A DAILY DISSECTION BUT

Now I reaiize I have some serious competition from one UNCLE JAY. I will say Uncle:
WATCH THIS ON YOU TUBE

FINALLY APPEAL FOR DONATIONS (T/h to Mary Ellen ChurchilL)

The GWB Presidential Library

Consider a named donation as holiday gifts for family and friends:
Please Donate to the GWB Presidential Library

Dear Fellow Constituent:

“The George W. Bush Presidential Library” is now in the planning stages and
accepting donations.

The Library will include:

1. The Hurricane Katrina Room, which is still under construction.
2. The Alberto Gonzales Room, where you won’t be able to remember anything.
3. The Texas Air National Guard Room, where you don’t even have to show up.
4. The Walter Reed Hospital Room, where they don’t let you in.
5. The Guantanamo Bay Room, where they don’t let you out.
6. The Weapons of Mass Destruction Room, which no one has been able to find.
7. The National Debt Room, which is huge and has no ceiling.
8. The Tax Cut Room, with entry only to the wealthy.
9. The Economy Room, which is in the toilet.
10. The Iraq War Room. (After you complete your first visit,they make
you go back for a second, third, fourth, and sometimes fifth visit.)
11. The Dick Cheney Room, in the famous undisclosed location, complete with
shooting gallery.
12. The Environmental Conservation Room, still empty.
13. The Supreme Gift Shop, where you can buy an election.
14. The Airport Men’s Room, where you can meet some of your favorite
Republican Senators.
15. The Decider Room, complete with dart board, magic 8-ball, Ouija
board, dice, coins, and straws.

Note: The library will feature an electron microscope to help you locate and view the President’s accomplishments.

Thanks for a tuning in. Thanks to the West Hartford folks who organized a packed screening of IN DEBT WE TRUST Tuesday night. Comments to: dissector@mediachannel.org

The News Dissector