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MinM
MinM's Journal
MinM's Journal
October 14, 2015
Karl Rove and his team successfully refocused attention away from Bush and his AWOL...
The fact that Karl has such intimate knowledge of these documents fits in with this piece written 10-years ago:
October 1, 2005 (onlinejournal.com)—Former CBS News anchor Rather says CBS wouldn't allow him to do a follow-up story on Bush's Texas Air National Guard (TANG) files.
Speaking at the National Press Club on September 26, Dan Rather responded to a question posed by moderator Marvin Kalb concerning the controversial TANG files of George W. Bush. Kalb asked Rather why he did not return to the story and investigate those who created the guard files, passed them off to a former TANG officer and hence to CBS's 60 Minutes, and tipped off right-wing bloggers before the airing of the pre-2004 election exposé by 60 Minutes. Rather responded, "You'll have to ask CBS that question."
Rather stated it was his desire to continue to delve into the story and the set-up. [font color=blue]According to CBS insiders, the original TANG files were scanned by GOP dirty tricks operatives using a sophisticated text scanner that changed the original IBM typewriter Courier font to a Times Roman font, automatically created a "th" superscript for date numbers, and created margins and pagination.[/font] An independent panel commissioned by CBS and headed by former GOP Attorney General Richard Thornburgh never concluded the documents were bogus.
In fact, the [font color=darkred]GOP operatives had to be very careful in their dirty tricks operation:[/font] forging or counterfeiting official government documents is a felony. However, scanning original documents technically does not fall under the category of counterfeiting. Nevertheless, the [font color=blue]GOP quickly tipped off right-wing bloggers, including Free Republic.com, that the CBS documents were forgeries. In doing so, Karl Rove and his team successfully refocused attention away from Bush and his AWOL status in the Guard and on to Dan Rather and 60 Minutes.[/font] [font color=red]People like Karl Rove and, as reported by The New York Post, long time GOP dirty tricks operative Roger Stone, got away with the entire caper, thus eliminating Bush's phony military record as a campaign issue[/font]...
http://www.onlinejournal.org/Media/100105Madsen/100105madsen.html
Speaking at the National Press Club on September 26, Dan Rather responded to a question posed by moderator Marvin Kalb concerning the controversial TANG files of George W. Bush. Kalb asked Rather why he did not return to the story and investigate those who created the guard files, passed them off to a former TANG officer and hence to CBS's 60 Minutes, and tipped off right-wing bloggers before the airing of the pre-2004 election exposé by 60 Minutes. Rather responded, "You'll have to ask CBS that question."
Rather stated it was his desire to continue to delve into the story and the set-up. [font color=blue]According to CBS insiders, the original TANG files were scanned by GOP dirty tricks operatives using a sophisticated text scanner that changed the original IBM typewriter Courier font to a Times Roman font, automatically created a "th" superscript for date numbers, and created margins and pagination.[/font] An independent panel commissioned by CBS and headed by former GOP Attorney General Richard Thornburgh never concluded the documents were bogus.
In fact, the [font color=darkred]GOP operatives had to be very careful in their dirty tricks operation:[/font] forging or counterfeiting official government documents is a felony. However, scanning original documents technically does not fall under the category of counterfeiting. Nevertheless, the [font color=blue]GOP quickly tipped off right-wing bloggers, including Free Republic.com, that the CBS documents were forgeries. In doing so, Karl Rove and his team successfully refocused attention away from Bush and his AWOL status in the Guard and on to Dan Rather and 60 Minutes.[/font] [font color=red]People like Karl Rove and, as reported by The New York Post, long time GOP dirty tricks operative Roger Stone, got away with the entire caper, thus eliminating Bush's phony military record as a campaign issue[/font]...
http://www.onlinejournal.org/Media/100105Madsen/100105madsen.html
October 8, 2015
Group: IRS should probe shadowy pro-Schuette spending
Washington group says Schuette-supporting Michigan Advocacy Trust skirted law, files complaint with IRS
WASHINGTON — A national watchdog group is calling for an investigation into a tax-exempt Michigan political organization, saying it has spent millions on TV ads featuring Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, targeting his opponents, but failing to disclose any of its donors as required by law.
In a complaint sent Wednesday to IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) claims the Michigan Advocacy Trust has violated federal law by not telling the IRS or the Michigan Secretary of State how much it has spent on political ads or who its contributors are.
“(Groups) that spend most of their time and money on politics must disclose their activities and donors,” CREW Executive Director Noah Bookbinder wrote in the complaint, which was shared exclusively with the Free Press. “(Michigan Advocacy Trust) is trying to elude the law’s disclosure requirements.” ...
As an independent group, MAT has no direct ties to Schuette or any other candidate, and Schuette declined to comment on its activities. Little is known of its structure. But MAT, which spent at least $3.7 million on TV ads in 2010 and 2014 favorably portraying Schuette and criticizing his opponents, is part of what critics say is a surge in “dark money” seeking to influence elections anonymously across the U.S. ...
http://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2015/10/08/bill-schuette-michigan-advocacy-trust-political-ads/73526000/
WASHINGTON — A national watchdog group is calling for an investigation into a tax-exempt Michigan political organization, saying it has spent millions on TV ads featuring Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, targeting his opponents, but failing to disclose any of its donors as required by law.
In a complaint sent Wednesday to IRS Commissioner John Koskinen, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) claims the Michigan Advocacy Trust has violated federal law by not telling the IRS or the Michigan Secretary of State how much it has spent on political ads or who its contributors are.
“(Groups) that spend most of their time and money on politics must disclose their activities and donors,” CREW Executive Director Noah Bookbinder wrote in the complaint, which was shared exclusively with the Free Press. “(Michigan Advocacy Trust) is trying to elude the law’s disclosure requirements.” ...
As an independent group, MAT has no direct ties to Schuette or any other candidate, and Schuette declined to comment on its activities. Little is known of its structure. But MAT, which spent at least $3.7 million on TV ads in 2010 and 2014 favorably portraying Schuette and criticizing his opponents, is part of what critics say is a surge in “dark money” seeking to influence elections anonymously across the U.S. ...
http://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2015/10/08/bill-schuette-michigan-advocacy-trust-political-ads/73526000/
September 19, 2015
To be fair to Cindy the burner phones, and the male prostitute ..
cover story, were all Todd Courser's doing. Of course Cindy went along with it.
The bigger concern is that the cover-up continues. What did the GOP leadership in the House know? What did AG/GOPvernor-in-waiting Bill Schuette know? What did Governor Snyder know (the 'onetoughnerd' was conveniently out of the Country when this all got "fixed"
?
Which explains why Sam Singh and others in the House voted against expulsion pending a real and thorough investigation. Now those fears have been realized. Since there was no real investigation or other penalties Courser and Gamrat are now able to spin this any way they want and run for their open seats (as another DUer pointed out thanks to the crazy gerrymandering in this State they stand a good chance of winning those solidly Red districts).
At least Cindy Gamrat was always up front about being a teabagger. 
September 18, 2015
The Michigan Panthers were great...
The only pro football championship in nearly 60 years for the State of Michigan.
Donald Trump ruined that model where you drafted local players and played in the spring and summer instead of going head-to-head with the NFL. Trump ruined that like he has everything he's touched.
At least we still have Courser & Gamrat.
Michigan Panthers
The Michigan Panthers were great...
The only pro football championship in nearly 60 years for the State of Michigan.
Donald Trump ruined that model where you drafted local players and played in the spring and summer instead of going head-to-head with the NFL. Trump ruined that like he has everything he's touched.
At least we still have Courser & Gamrat.
September 16, 2015
Gov. Paterson's decision to go nuclear on Caroline Kennedy was a hatchet job run by a pricey out-of-state consultant who specializes in political scandals, disgruntled administration sources said.
Judy Smith, a Washington-based PR guru and former Bush White House deputy press secretary, orchestrated the ill-conceived character attack on Kennedy, sources said Sunday...
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/hired-pr-gun-doomed-caroline-insiders-article-1.388600
Scandal
It may be worth remembering that Judy Smith of "Scandal" fame was hired to orchestrate the efforts to sabotage Caroline Kennedy...
Gov. Paterson's decision to go nuclear on Caroline Kennedy was a hatchet job run by a pricey out-of-state consultant who specializes in political scandals, disgruntled administration sources said.
Judy Smith, a Washington-based PR guru and former Bush White House deputy press secretary, orchestrated the ill-conceived character attack on Kennedy, sources said Sunday...
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/hired-pr-gun-doomed-caroline-insiders-article-1.388600
September 16, 2015
Why has there never been a military coup in the United States?
There is a running joke in Bolivia and other Latin American countries that goes like this:
[font color=blue]Q: Why has there never been a military coup in the United States?[/font]
[font color=darkred]A: Because there's no U.S. embassy in the U.S.[/font]
In September 2008, Morales made sure there wouldn't be one in Bolivia, either, and kicked U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg out of the country.
Then, that November, Morales expelled the DEA, arguing that the agency had committed human rights violations, covered up murders and was routinely using its investigative powers to target politicians and movement leaders who were challenging Washington's neoliberal agenda. Morales had made a campaign promise to nationalize the country's natural gas resources and use the proceeds to develop the economy from the bottom up...
http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2015/09/operation-naked-king-us-secretly.html
[font color=blue]Q: Why has there never been a military coup in the United States?[/font]
[font color=darkred]A: Because there's no U.S. embassy in the U.S.[/font]
In September 2008, Morales made sure there wouldn't be one in Bolivia, either, and kicked U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg out of the country.
Then, that November, Morales expelled the DEA, arguing that the agency had committed human rights violations, covered up murders and was routinely using its investigative powers to target politicians and movement leaders who were challenging Washington's neoliberal agenda. Morales had made a campaign promise to nationalize the country's natural gas resources and use the proceeds to develop the economy from the bottom up...
http://boliviarising.blogspot.com/2015/09/operation-naked-king-us-secretly.html
September 6, 2015
On-air challenge: This is a game of categories, based on the word "virgo," which is the astrological sign for this time of year. For each category, name something in the category beginning with each of the letters V-I-R-G-O.
For example, if the category were "chemical elements," you might say vanadium, iron, radium, gold and oxygen. Any answer that works is OK, and you can give the answers in any order.
Last week's challenge: Name a famous movie in eight letters that has had multiple sequels. The title is one word. Rearrange its letters to get a two-word phrase for a satchel. What is it?
Answer: "Superman" —> man purse.
Winner: P.K. Musarra of Philadelphia.
Next week's challenge, from listener Ben Bass of Chicago: Name a well-known U.S. geographical place — two words; five letters in the first word, six letters in the last — that contains all five vowels (A, E, I, O and U) exactly once. It's a place that's been in the news. What is it?
http://www.npr.org/2015/09/06/437878072/send-me-a-sign-born-under-virgo-this-puzzles-nothing-but-trouble
Denali aint just a river in Egypt
In fact I don't think it's a river in Egypt at all ..
***Spoiler Alert***
But ..
***Spoiler Alert***
It
may
be
part
of
the
answer
to
this
weeks
Sunday
Puzzle
from
NPR
On-air challenge: This is a game of categories, based on the word "virgo," which is the astrological sign for this time of year. For each category, name something in the category beginning with each of the letters V-I-R-G-O.
For example, if the category were "chemical elements," you might say vanadium, iron, radium, gold and oxygen. Any answer that works is OK, and you can give the answers in any order.
Last week's challenge: Name a famous movie in eight letters that has had multiple sequels. The title is one word. Rearrange its letters to get a two-word phrase for a satchel. What is it?
Answer: "Superman" —> man purse.
Winner: P.K. Musarra of Philadelphia.
Next week's challenge, from listener Ben Bass of Chicago: Name a well-known U.S. geographical place — two words; five letters in the first word, six letters in the last — that contains all five vowels (A, E, I, O and U) exactly once. It's a place that's been in the news. What is it?
http://www.npr.org/2015/09/06/437878072/send-me-a-sign-born-under-virgo-this-puzzles-nothing-but-trouble
September 5, 2015
Based on Robert Harris' book The Ghost it has Pierce Brosnan playing a thinly veiled Tony Blair (Adam Lang) character. DVD it or stream it.
The Ghost Writer
In response to these DU threads:
Looks like Tony Blair doesn't think much of Bernie Sanders either
Tony Blair warns against moving left as Jeremy Corbyn leads poll
Here's the trailer of a movie from a few years back that was a brutal takedown of the Blair regime.
Based on Robert Harris' book The Ghost it has Pierce Brosnan playing a thinly veiled Tony Blair (Adam Lang) character. DVD it or stream it.
August 30, 2015
Now let's go back about 20 years .. During the only real investigation and trial in the RFK case Scott Enyart's legal team was able to share some research with Larry Teeter (Sirhan's attorney before William Pepper) in his defense of Sirhan. Unfortunately Larry Teeter died before he could do anything with that information. Hopefully William Pepper will be able to use it if he ever gets a re-trial.
Here's some background on the Scott Enyart case from DUer John Simkin:
A few more angles to that Scott Enyart case ..
• Court TV was all set to report on and broadcast that case but the plug was pulled just before the trial started.
• LA Coroner Thomas Noguchi testified for the first time in the Enyart case. The man that could have place right wing nutjob Thane Eugene Cesar in the perfect position to get off the fatal shot (btw Thane Cesar never testified either) was never called to testify in the original trial.
Larry Teeter & Scott Enyart
Good point, 1norcal. In fact it looked like a new trial was going to be granted a few years ago based on the acoustic evidence that proved there was more than 1 gun fired in the Ambassador Hotel pantry that day. Unfortunately the momentum from that acoustic evidence and new witnesses seems to have waned.
Los Angeles (CNN) -- A controversial assertion by convicted Robert F. Kennedy assassin Sirhan Sirhan to win his freedom was challenged this week by the California attorney general who said "overwhelming evidence" exists against Sirhan's claims.
Sirhan's attorneys have said that a second gunman actually assassinated Kennedy in 1968 and that Sirhan was hypno-programmed to fire a gun as a diversion...
[font color=blue]Harris[/font], who is asking a federal court in Los Angeles to dismiss Sirhan's request, [font color=red]conceded in court papers filed Wednesday that his lawyers may be able to show two guns were involved in Kennedy's assassination[/font]. Kennedy was seeking the Democratic presidential nomination when he was killed.
But even if Sirhan's lawyers can show 13 shots were fired in the Kennedy shooting, Sirhan shouldn't be released from prison, Harris said...
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/04/justice/california-sirhan-rfk/index.html
Sirhan's attorneys have said that a second gunman actually assassinated Kennedy in 1968 and that Sirhan was hypno-programmed to fire a gun as a diversion...
[font color=blue]Harris[/font], who is asking a federal court in Los Angeles to dismiss Sirhan's request, [font color=red]conceded in court papers filed Wednesday that his lawyers may be able to show two guns were involved in Kennedy's assassination[/font]. Kennedy was seeking the Democratic presidential nomination when he was killed.
But even if Sirhan's lawyers can show 13 shots were fired in the Kennedy shooting, Sirhan shouldn't be released from prison, Harris said...
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/04/justice/california-sirhan-rfk/index.html
Now let's go back about 20 years .. During the only real investigation and trial in the RFK case Scott Enyart's legal team was able to share some research with Larry Teeter (Sirhan's attorney before William Pepper) in his defense of Sirhan. Unfortunately Larry Teeter died before he could do anything with that information. Hopefully William Pepper will be able to use it if he ever gets a re-trial.
Here's some background on the Scott Enyart case from DUer John Simkin:
Jamie Scott Enyart was another witness who was not called to testify in court. Enyart, a high-school student, was taking photographs of Robert Kennedy as he was walking from the ballroom of the Ambassador Hotel to the Colonial Room where the press conference was due to take place. Enyart was standing slightly behind Kennedy when the shooting began and snapped as fast as he could. As Enyart was leaving the pantry, two LAPD officers accosted him at gunpoint and seized his film. Later, he was told by Detective Dudley Varney that the photographs were needed as evidence in the Sirhan trial. The photographs were not presented as evidence but the court ordered that all evidential materials had to be sealed for twenty years.
[font color=blue]In 1988 Enyart requested that his photographs should be returned[/font]. [font color=green]At first the State Archives claimed they could not find them and that they must have been destroyed by mistake[/font]. Enyart filed a lawsuit which finally came to trial in 1996. [font color=darkred]During the trial the Los Angeles city attorney announced that the photos had been found in its Sacramento office and would be brought to the courthouse by the courier retained by the State Archives[/font]. [font color=green]The following day it was announced that the courier’s briefcase, that contained the photographs, had been stolen from the car he rented at the airport[/font]. [font color=blue]The photographs have never been recovered[/font] and [font color=red]the jury subsequently awarded Scott Enyart $450,000 in damages[/font]...
http://educationforum.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=5799&p=61215
[font color=blue]In 1988 Enyart requested that his photographs should be returned[/font]. [font color=green]At first the State Archives claimed they could not find them and that they must have been destroyed by mistake[/font]. Enyart filed a lawsuit which finally came to trial in 1996. [font color=darkred]During the trial the Los Angeles city attorney announced that the photos had been found in its Sacramento office and would be brought to the courthouse by the courier retained by the State Archives[/font]. [font color=green]The following day it was announced that the courier’s briefcase, that contained the photographs, had been stolen from the car he rented at the airport[/font]. [font color=blue]The photographs have never been recovered[/font] and [font color=red]the jury subsequently awarded Scott Enyart $450,000 in damages[/font]...
http://educationforum.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=5799&p=61215
A few more angles to that Scott Enyart case ..
• Court TV was all set to report on and broadcast that case but the plug was pulled just before the trial started.
• LA Coroner Thomas Noguchi testified for the first time in the Enyart case. The man that could have place right wing nutjob Thane Eugene Cesar in the perfect position to get off the fatal shot (btw Thane Cesar never testified either) was never called to testify in the original trial.
August 30, 2015
Charles Guggenheim film commemorates RFK @ 1968 DNC
My mom and author Romain Gary both had premonitions ..
about Bobby getting killed. My mom's was not so much a premonition as it was a recognition that the Today Show was foreshadowing some horrible news.
The morning after RFK was shot we turned on the Today Show like every morning before school (3rd grade). That morning they mentioned something about breaking news regarding RFK in Los Angeles and immediately my mom asked me if he had been killed? I told her that they just mentioned 'breaking news' nothing specific. Of course it turned out that she had guessed where they were going. As did author Romain Gary (a month earlier)...
The FBI vs. Jean Seberg - TIME
In late May, (1968) he slipped off to director John Frankenheimer's Malibu beach house with some Hollywood glitterati, including Shirley MacLaine, Warren Beatty, [font color=red]Jean Seberg[/font] and Seberg's novelist husband, Romain Gary. Unable to leave Kennedy alone, Gary accosted him: [font color=blue]"You know, don't you, that somebody is going to kill you?"[/font] Kennedy fended him off with fatalism. [font color=darkred]"That's the chance I have to take,"[/font] he said.
http://educationforum.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=10067entry103580
http://educationforum.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=10067entry103580
Charles Guggenheim film commemorates RFK @ 1968 DNC
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