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Sen. Larry Craig Wrap Up

The Press Conference

The Press Has Known Since 1982

Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) was arrested in June at a Minnesota airport by a plainclothes police officer investigating lewd conduct complaints in a men's public restroom, according to an arrest report obtained by Roll Call Monday afternoon.

Craig's arrest occurred just after noon on June 11 at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. On Aug. 8, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct in the Hennepin County District Court. He paid more than $500 in fines and fees, and a 10-day jail sentence was stayed. He also was given one year of probation with the court that began on Aug. 8.

A spokesman for Craig described the incident as a "he said/he said misunderstanding," and said the office would release a fuller statement later Monday afternoon.

After he was arrested, Craig, who is married, was taken to the Airport Police Operations Center to be interviewed about the lewd conduct incident, according to the police report. At one point during the interview, Craig handed the plainclothes sergeant who arrested him a business card that identified him as a U.S. Senator and said, "What do you think about that?" the report states.

A Banned Documentary

Connections between male prostitutes and the White House emerged again in early 2005, when James Dale Guckert, working under the pseudonym Jeff Gannon, was given privileged access to the White House despite his lack of suitable press credentials. Gannon first came under scrutiny when he repeatedly gave President Bush softball questions during press conferences - leading many to charge Gannon was a White House plant. Photos emerged of Bush embracing Gannon and appearing very affectionate towards him during meetings. It later came out that Gannon had previously placed ads on homosexual escort service websites.

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Thursday, August 30, 2007

Sen. Larry Craig's Online Profile

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Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Sen. Larry Craig invloved with molesting teen Pages in '82

Sen. Larry Craig's 1982 denial that he was involved in homosexual activity with teenage pages: "When I have people telling me that a whole series of false accusations are being made against my character, frankly, it makes me made as hell."

Click on the screen below

Who has been keeping a eye on this pedophile the last 25 Years?

5,100 Boy Scout leaders removed for abuse

Raw story is reporting

"Thousands of secret Boy Scout files ... were turned over to the brothers' attorney" as a result of the suit, CBS reported, and the attorney told CBS his analysis showed troop leaders were being tossed out for suspected abuse every three days before 1991 and every 2 days since then.

Read The Whole Story CLICK HERE

Just Say No to Judge Southwick

Dear Ronald,

Alberto Gonzales is finally gone, but George Bush is still trying to pack the Federal courts with lifetime appointments for far-right ideologues.

Last year the Senate confirmed Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court to replace Sandra Day O'Connor, and he has voted with rightwingers Antonio Scalia, Clarence Thomas, John Roberts, and Anthony on every major case.

It's time for the Senate to Just Say No to Bush's right-wing judges, starting with Mississippi Judge Leslie Southwick.

Please email your Senator today.

Bob Fertik

This Mississippi judge said that being gay was an acceptable reason to have your children taken away.

Should he be appointed to the Federal bench?

Tell your Senators to vote
NO on Southwick's
nomination

Dear friend,

In Mississippi a few years ago, the courts took away a woman's 8-year-old child.

Why? In part because the child's mother was a lesbian.

Two of the judges in the majority went so far as to write and sign an additional opinion, unnecessary to the case's outcome, which stated that the mother must accept the fact that losing her biological child was a possible consequence of her sexual "choice."

One of those two judges was Leslie Southwick. And today, Southwick is dangerously close to being appointed to the Federal bench by President Bush.

Only the Senate stands in the way of his confirmation, and we have just a few weeks to convince them to vote NO.

Make sure your Senators return from their August break with a full inbox saying NO on Southwick's nomination!

America's highest courts are meant to be protectors of justice, not prejudice. Yet Southwick's record as a Mississippi judge raises serious doubts about his ability to apply the law fairly to all Americans. In this case alone, Southwick:

Went so far as to cite Mississippi's irrelevant and outdated sodomy laws, which have since been invalidated.
Focused on "the practice of homosexuality" - refusing to even mention gay individuals as human beings.
Cited Mississippi's law prohibiting same-sex couples from adopting children - even though this was not an adoption case!

The American Psychiatric Association has long held that sexual orientation is not a "choice," and that lesbian and gay parents are just as successful as their heterosexual counterparts.

Yet Judge Southwick disregarded widely accepted science in favor of his personal bias. This man MUST NOT be given the responsibility to protect the basic rights of gay and lesbian Americans.

Help protect GLBT civil rights by writing your Senators today.

If approved to the Court of Appeals, Southwick's appointment would be for life. That's why I'm asking you to take action today - and when you're done, please forward this message on to everyone you know.

Thank you.

Warmly,

Joe Solmonese
President

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Senator Craig's Complete Arrest Report

Senator Craig's Complete Arrest Report CLICK HERE

Also include is his plea agreement

Florida Republicans to Lose 1/2 Delegates

The Republican National Committee plans to penalize at least four states holding early primaries, including New Hampshire and Florida, by refusing to seat at least half their delegates at the party's national convention in 2008, a party official said Tuesday.

Much of the focus in the primary scheduling fight up to now has been on the Democratic National Committee's moves to penalize Florida by not seating its convention delegates because of the state's decision to move up its primary. But the Republican rules are even more stringent, and the national party said today that it would not hesitate enforcing them.

The actions by Republicans and Democrats to move against states holding early contests is a rare instance of the two parties moving in concert, in this case to regain control over a rapidly evolving primary calendar that has thrust the nominating system into deep uncertainty just months before it is to begin.

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Joe Scarborough:'Element of sleaze' hangs over the Republican Party

The following video is from NBC's Today Show, broadcast on August 28.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Bill Maher on the O'Reilly Factor

Real Time with Bill Maher 08/24/07

Todays' News: 08-28-07: With Bush's Backing Iraq's Maliki Should be Nervous

The GOP's Bathroom Problem Richard Kim - The Nation - Aug 28th, 2007 Republican Senator Larry Craig was arrested in June by an undercover cop investigating lewd conduct in a Minnesota airport bathroom ...more	Sinking Ship Leaves Rat Michael Tomasky - The Guardian-UK - Aug 28th, 2007 Alberto Gonzales lived up to his nickname of Fredo - the sycophantic Mafia sidekick, always trying to please the Don ...more
The Unqualified, the Unscrupulous, and the Bush White House Joshua Kurlantzick - MotherJones - Aug 28th, 2007 Republicans have become so disdainful of government that they no longer care if the bureaucracy is filled with the unqualified and the unscrupulous ...more	With Bush's Backing Iraq's Maliki Should be Nervous Alexander Cockburn - First Post - Aug 28th, 2007 Iraq's Nouri al-Maliki should bid his family tender farewells. If the patterns of US foreign policy are any guide, he is a very poor insurance ...more
Bush's Iraq Reality Gap Editorial - Newsday - Aug 28th, 2007 The glaring disconnect between the on-the-ground reality of Iraq and Bush's public statements about the war is growing wider than ever ...more	All the President's Flunkies John Dickerson - Slate - Aug 28th, 2007 Tolerating incompetence has harmed Bush in any number of ways. The worst of these is locking in the idea that he's oblivious to reality ...more

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BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLICANS

our eyes have seen the mushroom cloud that wasn't really there

we said it must be armegeddon but it was just hot air

we'll out a covert agent if that's what it takes to scare--

fear goes marching on

worry worry where's Osama

we can't seem to find Osama

where o where is Osama

and the fear goes marching on

they had seen him in the mountains of northeast afghanistan

but they chose Iraq instead because Dick Cheney had a plan

with bases in Iraq then we could invade Iran

and the fear goes marching on

worry worry where's Osama

we can't seem to find Osama

where o where is Osama

and the fear goes marching on

visit our youtube Video Osama Been Forgotton

Monday, August 27, 2007

Shake up At justice

Alberto Gonzales resigned as Attorney General today after two and a half controversial years at the helm of the Department of Justice. The National Campaign for Fair Elections hopes Gonzales' departure, and the recent departures of Bradley Schlozman and Wan Kim, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, marks the end of the era at the Department of Justice where politics trumped law enforcement- especially with regards to voting rights. President Bush's nominee to replace Mr. Gonzalez should respect the rule of law and bring accountability and stability back to the department.

While the departure of Gonzales is a positive development, it is only a step: Congress must continue to ask the tough questions necessary to get to the bottom of what has occurred within the Civil Rights Division of DoJ over the past six plus years. Hans von Spakovsky's nomination to the FEC is still before the Senate. Von Spakovsky, you may remember, was a key figure at Justice who, according to six former career employees in the Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division, "played a major role in the implementation of policies that injected partisan political factors into decision-making . . . he was the point person for undermining the Civil Rights Division's mandate to protect voting rights."

In addition to von Spakovsky, the issues surrounding the firing of eight U.S. Attorneys have yet to be resolved. One constant theme that has surfaced in this controversy is that some of the U.S. Attorneys were fired at least in part because they were not aggressive enough in bringing bogus voter fraud cases. Fears of fraud at the polling place have been the fuel that has driven campaigns to pass discriminatory photo ID requirements for partisan political gain.

Gonzales' departure is clearly a step in the right direction. It is our hope the White House and the leaders in the Senate use this opportunity to restore confidence in our justice system. The country has a tremendous opportunity to fix the problems of the past. With a presidential election a little more than a year away, it is vital the Department of Justice is committed to protecting the rights of every eligible American voter.

Stay tuned, the Senate is sure to take up von Spakovsky's nomination in the fall, and we'll need your help opposing his nomination.

Sincerely,
Jonah Goldman
Director, National Campaign for Fair Elections
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

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Another Republican Busted For Blow Job

UPDATE:
Karsnia entered the bathroom at noon that day and about 13 minutes after taking a seat in a stall, he stated he could see “an older white male with grey hair standing outside my stall.”
The man, who lingered in front of the stall for two minutes, was later identified as Craig.
“I could see Craig look through the crack in the door from his position. Craig would look down at his hands, ‘fidget’ with his fingers, and then look through the crack into my stall again. Craig would repeat this cycle for about two minutes,” the report states.
Craig then entered the stall next to Karsnia’s and placed his roller bag against the front of the stall door.
“My experience has shown that individuals engaging in lewd conduct use their bags to block the view from the front of their stall,” Karsnia stated in his report. “From my seated position, I could observe the shoes and ankles of Craig seated to the left of me.”
Craig was wearing dress pants with black dress shoes.
“At 1216 hours, Craig tapped his right foot. I recognized this as a signal used by persons wishing to engage in lewd conduct. Craig tapped his toes several times and moves his foot closer to my foot. I moved my foot up and down slowly. While this was occurring, the male in the stall to my right was still present. I could hear several unknown persons in the restroom that appeared to use the restroom for its intended use. The presence of others did not seem to deter Craig as he moved his right foot so that it touched the side of my left foot which was within my stall area,” the report states.
Craig then proceeded to swipe his hand under the stall divider several times, and Karsnia noted in his report that “I could ... see Craig had a gold ring on his ring finger as his hand was on my side of the stall divider.”
Karsnia then held his police identification down by the floor so that Craig could see it.

Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) was arrested in June at a Minnesota airport by a plainclothes police officer investigating lewd conduct complaints in a men's public restroom, according to an arrest report obtained by Roll Call Monday afternoon.
Craig's arrest occurred just after noon on June 11 at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. On Aug. 8, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct in the Hennepin County District Court. He paid more than $500 in fines and fees, and a 10-day jail sentence was stayed. He also was given one year of probation with the court that began on Aug. 8.
A spokesman for Craig described the incident as a "he said/he said misunderstanding," and said the office would release a fuller statement later Monday afternoon.

More........

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Chertoff may replace Gonzales

Might there be some trading up at the Justice Department? According to U.S. News and World Report, "buzz among top Bushies is that beleaguered Attorney General Alberto Gonzales finally plans to depart and will be replaced by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff."

Officials claim the Chertoff is a likely candidate because he has little connection to the Justice prosecutor scandal, has friends on Capitol Hill, and is experienced, having served as a federal judge and assistant attorney general.

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Violence To ‘Remain High’ In Iraq Over Next ‘Six To Twelve Months’

NIE: Violence To 'Remain High' In Iraq Over Next 'Six To Twelve Months'

This week, the Bush administration released an update to the National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), entitled, "Prospects for Iraq's Stability: Some Security Progress but Political Reconciliation Elusive." The NIE — which offers the coordinated judgments of the Intelligence Community — observed some "measurable but uneven improvements" in Iraq's security situation, but cautioned that there remains a lack of political progress in Iraq and a failure of the escalation to successfully provide sufficient security for Iraqis.

Read the key judgments of the NIE here. Below, some important findings:

Decrease in Baghdad violence due to sectarian cleansing:

The polarization of communities is most evident in Baghdad, where the Shia are a clear majority in more than half of all neighborhoods and Sunni areas have become surrounded by predominately Shia districts. Where population displacements have led to significant sectarian separation, conflict levels have diminished to some extent because warring communities find it more difficult to penetrate communal enclaves.

Violence to remain high over next six to 12 months:

[L]evels of insurgent and sectarian violence will remain high [over next six to 12 months] and the Iraqi Government will continue to struggle to achieve national-level political reconciliation and improved governance.

National government to become more "precarious" over next six to 12 months:

The Iraqi Government will become more precarious over the next six to 12 months because of criticism by other members of the major Shia coalition, Grand Ayatollah Sistani, and other Sunni and Kurdish parties. … The strains of the security situation and absence of key leaders have stalled internal political debates, slowed national decisionmaking, and increased Maliki's vulnerability to alternative coalitions

Refugee crisis will continue to spill over during "next six to 12 months":

Population displacement resulting from sectarian violence continues, imposing burdens on provincial governments and some neighboring states and increasing the danger of destabilizing influences spreading across Iraq's borders over the next six to 12 months.

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Saturday, August 25, 2007

Obama Girl takes aim at Rudy Giuliani

The sexy-sensational YouTube video that appears as the sequel to "I've Got a Crush on Obama" criticizes Giuliani for marrying his cousin. The "Debate 08: Obama Girl vs. Giuliani Girl" music spoof also notes the former New York City mayor's three marriages and previous appearances in drag.

Despite the silly rhymes and contagious beat (which we can't get out of our heads), we find Obama Girl's claims are accurate.

In 1968, Giuliani wed his second cousin, Regina Peruggi, who was the daughter of his father's first cousin. (Think of your son/daughter marrying your cousin's daughter/son.)

Giuliani at different points labeled the family connection as "second cousins once removed" and "third cousins," before he was corrected.

In a 1993 memo for his mayoral campaign, a Giuliani strategist noted the "weirdness" factor of the marriage, according to a memo posted on the Smoking Gun Web site, but such a marriage is completely legal. In New York, even first cousins can wed.

Robin Bennett, senior genetic counselor at the University of Washington, said there is not much scientific research about the risk of developmental difficulties for the offspring of second cousins but she said "for second cousins, the risks are likely similar to the risks of couples from the same ethnic population who also may have common ancestors."

Giuliani and Peruggi did not have any children, and the marriage ended after 14 years. A Catholic priest who was a long-time Giuliani friend granted his request for an annulment on the grounds that the church had never given dispensation for the relatives' union.

Two years later, he married Donna Hanover, a Miami television reporter. But that marriage ended in 2002 with a bitter divorce. Within a year, he wed a third time to Judith Nathan, a former pharmaceutical sales manager turned-Giuliani-speech-writer.

Giuliani's propensity to dress in drag is also well-documented. When mayor in 1997, he appeared as a busty woman at a political roast and even dressed the part for an appearance on Saturday Night Live. Posted At politifact.com

Here's the video:

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Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Message From: John Sweeney president, AFL-CIO

As you may already know, the underground rescue operation to save the six coal miners trapped in the Crandall Canyon Mine has been halted. Tragically, the miners may be buried beneath the Utah mountain forever.

At this difficult time, I ask you for your thoughts and prayers for the miners and their families, as well as for the families of the three rescue workers who gave their lives trying to save the missing.

I also thank you for being someone who cares enough to take action to improve life for working families—on many fronts.

Last year, after 12 coal miners died in the Sago Mine in West Virginia, you helped convince Congress to pass the first major overhaul to mine safety laws in more than three decades, the MINER Act. Since the Bush administration came into office, it has been systematically dismantling workplace safety protections. But you wouldn't allow corporate greed and Bush administration neglect and indifference to go unchallenged.

That neglect and indifference haven't been isolated to workplace safety. Just look at our economy—workers' paychecks are stagnant while our productivity goes up and up. Just think back to the administration's catastrophic response to Hurricane Katrina, the poor conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the nation's crumbling infrastructure, our health care crisis—many, many people are wondering, "What's wrong with America?"

Fortunately, in our democracy, every four years we have a chance to fix what's wrong—by electing leaders, including a president, who put working families first.

We have a very busy time ahead of us, fighting together for health care, good jobs and the freedom to form unions without employer interference—and fighting for a government led by people committed to make America work for working families.

Thank you for all that you've done so far in this fight and for all you will do in the months ahead.

In solidarity,

John Sweeney

President, AFL-CIO

P.S. What do you think the next president should do to make our workplaces safe and healthy? Please share your thoughts on our AFL-CIO Working Families Vote 2008 Forum.

Monday, August 20, 2007

Bob Schieffer: Bush Leading Us Down A Rabbit Trail On The So Called Petraeus report

"Excuse me for getting a little suspicious," Schieffer said, pointing out that "the White House wants the general to deliver the report to Congress behind closed doors while Cabinet officers do the talking in public. And suddenly we're told the general won't actually write the report, but that his thoughts will be included in a summary prepared by the White House."

"This is the report the president has said over and over that he will use to decide where we go from here in Iraq," concluded Schieffer. "Maybe it's because I've been dragged down the old rabbit trail too many times by too many people with something to hide, but this does not sound like we're headed to a straight answer."

The following video is from CBS's Face The Nation, broadcast on August 19.

Democratic Debate Round Up

Democratic Debate Round Up

ABC News' Russell Goldman: "Dems Come out Swinging on Experience vs. New Vision" LINK

Politico's Richard Allen Greene: "Egged on, rivals bash Obama on experience" LINK

New York Sun's Josh Gerstein: "Democrats Swing Hard at Obama" LINK

Associated Press' Ron Rournier: "It's experience vs. change for Dems" LINK

Associated Press' Philip Elliot: "Obama: Experience can be a bad thing" LINK

Washington Post's Anne E. Kornblut: "Democratic Rivals Caution Against Swift Iraq Pullout" LINK

Wall Street Journal's Jackie Calmes: "Democratic Hopefuls Seek Chinks In Front-Runners' Armor" LINK

Rocky Mountain News' M.E. Sprengelmeyer: "Clinton, Obama become the issues" LINK

Los Angeles Times' Mark Z. Barabak and Peter Nicholas: "Clinton, Obama take center stage at Iowa debate" LINK

Bloomberg's Heidi Przybyla: "Clinton, Obama Warn in Debate Iraq Withdrawal Will Take Time" LINK

Chicago Tribune's Rick Pearson: "Obama fires back on experience issue at Iowa debate" LINK

Des Moines Register's Thomas Beaumont: "Clinton, Obama fend off criticism in debate" LINK

USA Today's Jill Lawrence: "Clinton takes on rivals, Rove in debate" LINK

Washington Times' Christina Bellantoni: "Candidates press Hillary and Obama" LINK

McClatchy Newspaper's Steven Thomma: "Troop pullout not simple for Democrats" LINK

Democratic Debate: Winners & Losers:

Des Moines Register's David Yepsen: "Obama may be biggest debate winner" LINK

Politico's Roger Simon: "Obama rises above sea level" LINK

The New Mexican's Steve Terrell: "An assured Richardson brings his 'A' game" LINK

Washington Post's Chris Cillizza: "Debate Roundup: The Silence of the Pack" LINK

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Sunday, August 19, 2007

the FCC released TEN studies on media ownership

the FCC released TEN studies on media ownership. These studies included:

How People Get News and Information
Ownership Structure and Robustness of Media
Television Station Ownership Structure and the Quantity and Quality of TV Programming
News Operations
Station Ownership and Programming in Radio
The Effects of Cross-Ownership on the Local Content and Political Slant of Local Television News
Minority and Female Ownership in Media Enterprises
The Impact of the FCC's TV Duopoly Rule Relaxation on Minority and Women Owned Broadcast Stations 1999-2006
Vertical Integration and the Market for Broadcast and Cable Television Programming
Review of the Radio Industry, 2007

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Friday, August 17, 2007

In The News 08-16-07: What is Rove Trying to Hide

War in Iraq, Poverty in America Bill Boyarsky - TruthDig - Aug 16th, 2007 They're closing a hospital in my city, but I'm sure nobody in the rest of the country gives a damn ...more	Time for Universal Health Care Editorial - Houston Chronicle - Aug 16th, 2007 The problem is that a quarter of Americans have no health insurance. Their employers don't provide it, and they don't qualify for government insurance ...more
Rove's Partisan Politics by Any Means Necessary Editorial - Daytona Beach News-Journal - Aug 16th, 2007 Karl Rove is still alive, but he is leaving a White House so isolated and emptied that it has the feel of a mausoleum ...more	Time to Change Course in War on Terror Davis Merritt - Wichita Eagle - Aug 16th, 2007 The entire 'war on terror' business got off to a tragic start when, five days after 9/11, Bush talked about 'this crusade' ...more
What is Rove Trying to Hide Marcy Wheeler - The Guardian-UK - Aug 16th, 2007 When asked whether he's resigning because of congressional scrutiny, Rove didn't exactly deny it ...more	Searching for the Miners Editorial - New York Times - Aug 16th, 2007 For too long Bush and the then Republican-controlled Congress allowed mine operators to put off making needed investments to ensure miners' safety ...more

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Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Dan Rather Reports on Touchscreen Voting Machines: The whole one-hour program available now at Voter Action or at HD TV

Dan Rather has a 1 hour report on the problems with Touch Screen Voting on HD TV.
In my opinion, this is THE most important report to date on e-voting.

Voting machine vendor Sequoia's actions in 2000 have set into play repeated election fiascos for voters, and repeated million$ sales for vendors. We have seen a wide scale spread of shoddy electronic voting machines and election failures ever since.

Voter Action has issued this press release:

"Voter Action today calls on the United States Congress to launch a full
investigation into the increasing influence and control that private
companies wage in the way we conduct our elections and to determine
whether certain US voting systems companies have committed crimes under
federal and state anti-fraud statutes which should be referred to the
appropriate authorities for prosecution....

Read the full statement

Sign the Petition!

Watch the whole one-hour program at Voter Action or at HD TV

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Thompson: Violating the campaign laws he helped write

Lobbyist Fred Thompson lays out how his impression campaign finance law by circumventing the law which he helped write.

Since former Senator Fred D. Thompson of Tennessee has not yet declared his presidential candidacy, he cannot advertise on television, on radio or in newspapers to promote his political ambitions. But on the Internet, his supporters can turn to his official Web site, www.imwithfred.com, where they are solicited for donations and asked to spread the word to friends, hold fund-raising parties and call talk-radio programs on his behalf.

Visitors to the site can watch his "FredCast" and read "the Fred File" to get his views on issues like the economy and immigration law. Mr. Thompson, a Republican, has been able to set up what looks like a stealth campaign on the Internet because federal election laws and enforcement have failed to catch up with the surge in campaigning in cyberspace. As a result, he has been able to promote his positions and raise money through his Web site, all while technically remaining a noncandidate.

And that status enables him to remain on television on "Law and Order" reruns without NBC facing demands from other candidates for equal time. It exempts him from the more rigorous rules on reporting donors that declared candidates must adhere to.

Fred Thompson: The Money Is The Problem

Today's NYT report on Fred Thompson's "stealth" campaign for President claims that the 1 1/3 term Senator's use of the Internets has allowed him to skirt the law:

Since former Senator Fred D. Thompson of Tennessee has not yet declared his presidential candidacy, he cannot advertise on television, on radio or in newspapers to promote his political ambitions.

But on the Internet, his supporters can turn to his official Web site, www.imwithfred.com, where they are solicited for donations and asked to spread the word to friends, hold fund-raising parties and call talk-radio programs on his behalf. Visitors to the site can watch his "FredCast" and read "the Fred File" to get his views on issues like the economy and immigration law.

Mr. Thompson, a Republican, has been able to set up what looks like a stealth campaign on the Internet because federal election laws and enforcement have failed to catch up with the surge in campaigning in cyberspace. As a result, he has been able to promote his positions and raise money through his Web site, all while technically remaining a noncandidate.

FEC regulations that limit the use of traditional media for campaignlike activity apply to the Web as well. But while regulators can easily monitor the reach and level of spending on television and other traditional forms of advertising, the same is not the case with the Internet, since users determine how much traffic a site like Mr. Thompson's gets. And experts say enforcement is practically nonexistent.

Moinks! Jeepers! And yet the article is completely wrong on this.

There certainly are regulations regarding political activity online. Only, thank goodness, they're not stupid regulations, and they do place certain obligations on candidates, parties and PACs in their online activities. The fact that Fred Thompson has a website isn't the problem, nor, even, that's he's already hiring and firing staffers like a failed candidate.

No, the problem is that once you start raising and spending money like a candidate, and start referring to yourself as a candidate, you're a candidate, and as I've shown before it's pretty clear that Thompson's campaign is in violation of the law.

It's simple: under the law, a "testing the waters" fund like Thompson's is invalid if he raises funds "in excess of amounts reasonably required for exploratory activity or amass funds for use after candidacy is established". Well, not only has Thompson already raised 3.4 million dollars to "explore" -- while only spending $625K of it (and on what, we don't know) -- but he is gallingly already raising money for the general election, which former FEC general counsel Lawrence Noble called "problematic" and "clearly a red flag."

[Indeed, since Thompson hasn't spent $2.8M of what he's raised, the necessary implication is that he didn't need that money for exploratory purposes.]

In the meantime, Thompson gets free airtime on NBC and TNT to pale in comparison to legendary DA Adam Schiff. He doesn't have to file any personal financial disclosure forms, nor does he have to disclose a single expenditure.

Can the FEC save the day? Not really. As the NYT notes towards the end, "Officials at the FEC said it would take action to determine that only if there were a specific complaint lodged against Mr. Thompson. And even then, the resolution of the question could take years. Guilty parties typically enter into settlements and pay fines for infractions."

But as Thompson himself said almost two months ago, "You're either running or not running. I think the steps we're taking are pretty obvious."

Indeed, they are, and it's about time Thompson complied with the law accordingly.

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http://mediamatters.org/items/200704120001

The Return of Imus

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

CONTACT

Karl Frisch (202) 756-4109

kfrisch@mediamatters.org

The Return of Imus?

Progressive Watchdog Organization Credited with First Bringing Imus' Racist and Sexist Rant to Public Attention Responds

RELEASE AVAILABLE ONLINE, CLICK HERE

Washington, DC – Today, Media Matters for America released the following statement from Managing Director Jamison Foser responding to the news that Don Imus has settled his legal dispute with CBS Radio and that the controversial shock jock may be returning to the airwaves in the near future.

Media Matters is the progressive media watchdog organization credited with first bringing Don Imus' racist and sexist remarks aimed at the Rutgers University women's basketball team to public attention.

"Don Imus' racist and sexist remarks are no less hurtful or harmful than they were last April -- for his apology to actually mean something, he is going to have to change. Lying low for a few months will accomplish absolutely nothing if he returns only to pick the ugly scab of bigotry once again.

"In the wake of his dismissal from MSNBC and CBS Radio, it is important that media outlets considering Imus understand the responsibility they would undertake by airing his program. If he returns to his old ways, it will be on their watch.

"Should Imus return to the public's airwaves, Media Matters will be there to monitor his broadcasts, just as we have done for years. And should he choose to employ the same bigoted language that has long clouded his career, we will be there to notify the American people.

"Ultimately, however, Don Imus is only a symptom of a much larger problem in today's media. Day in and day out, Media Matters exposes racist, sexist, homophobic, and anti-Semitic comments by media figures like Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Michael Savage, and Bill O'Reilly.

"The Imus controversy should serve as a much-needed reminder for news organizations that they have a responsibility to elevate the public discourse rather than forcing it down into the gutter."

Background: Imus Items from Media Matters

Timeline: A week in the life of Imus in the Morning

Thu, Apr 12, 2007 6:00pm ET

On April 12, following MSNBC's announcement the previous day that it would no longer air simulcasts of the Imus in the Morning radio show, CBS -- which owns both the show's home radio station and the show's syndicator, Westwood One -- announced it would cease broadcasting Imus in the Morning due to host Don Imus's description of the members of the Rutgers University women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos." In announcing the decision to fire Imus, CBS president and CEO Leslie Moonves, stated: "From the outset, I believe all of us have been deeply upset and revulsed by the statements that were made on our air about the young women who represented Rutgers University in the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship with such class, energy and talent." Moonves added: "Those who have spoken with us the last few days represent people of goodwill from all segments of our society -- all races, economic groups, men and women alike."

It's Not Just Imus

http://mediamatters.org/items/200704120010

Thu, Apr 12, 2007 6:55pm ET

On April 11, NBC News announced that it was dropping MSNBC's simulcast of Imus in the Morning in the wake of the controversy that erupted over host Don Imus' reference to the Rutgers University women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos." The following day, CBS president and CEO Leslie Moonves announced that CBS -- which owns both the radio station that broadcast Imus' program and Westwood One, which syndicated the program -- has fired Imus and would cease broadcasting his radio show. But as Media Matters for America has extensively documented, bigotry and hate speech targeting, among other characteristics, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and ethnicity continue to permeate the airwaves through personalities such as Glenn Beck, Neal Boortz, Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, Michael Savage, Michael Smerconish, and John Gibson.

Imus apologized for "nappy-headed hos" remark

http://mediamatters.org/items/200704060003

Fri, Apr 6, 2007 12:01pm ET

After reportedly defending his April 4 description of the Rutgers University women's basketball team, which is comprised of eight African-American and two white players, as "nappy-headed hos," on the April 6 edition of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning, host Don Imus apologized for the remark. Imus called his comments "insensitive and ill-conceived," adding that "[i]t was completely inappropriate, and we can understand why people were offended." He further called the comments "thoughtless and stupid." Media Matters for America noted Imus' initial comments at the time.

Imus called women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos"

http://mediamatters.org/items/200704040011

Wed, Apr 4, 2007 6:00pm ET

On the April 4 edition of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning, host Don Imus referred to the Rutgers University women's basketball team, which is comprised of eight African-American and two white players, as "nappy-headed hos" immediately after the show's executive producer, Bernard McGuirk, called the team "hard-core hos." Later, former Imus sports announcer Sid Rosenberg, who was filling in for sportscaster Chris Carlin, said: "The more I look at Rutgers , they look exactly like the [National Basketball Association's] Toronto Raptors."

Imus' non-defense: The phrase "nappy-headed hos" "originated in the black community"

http://mediamatters.org/items/200704100020

Tue, Apr 10, 2007 6:01pm ET

While acknowledging that it was not "OK" for him to refer to the Rutgers University women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos," Don Imus asserted on the April 10 edition of his show, MSNBC's Imus in the Morning, and on NBC's Today show that the phrase "originated in the black community." Specifically, he stated: "I may be a white man, but I know that ... young black women all through that society are demeaned and disparaged and disrespected ... by their own black men and that they are called that name." Those comments -- and his assertion, during the same show, that "there's a lot of stuff that we can do, but at some point, I stop playing" -- stand in contrast with the contrition he purported to express the day before. On the April 9 edition of the show, Imus acknowledged that his comments were especially objectionable because he mocked a specific group of young women who he said didn't "deserve it." Imus has a long history of ad hominem slurs that target race, ethnicity, and sex.

Imus vow: "[A]t some point, I stop playing"

http://mediamatters.org/items/200704100007

Tue, Apr 10, 2007 11:14am ET

On the April 10 edition of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning, host Don Imus, discussing the decision by MSNBC and CBS Radio to suspend the broadcast of his program for two weeks beginning April 16 in light of the controversy surrounding comments he made about the Rutgers University women's basketball team, said that "there's a lot of stuff that we can do, but at some point, I stop playing." Imus added that he doesn't "deserve to be fired" but that he "should be punished." He ended the segment by saying, "I'm not whining, because I don't feel as bad as those kids feel, and I've said that several times. But, I'm not going to play forever."

NBC, CBS Radio suspend Imus simulcast for two weeks

http://mediamatters.org/items/200704100002

Mon, Apr 9, 2007 8:18pm ET

In the wake of comments host Don Imus made on the April 4 edition of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning -- in which Imus referred to the Rutgers University women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos" -- NBC News announced that "[b]eginning Monday, April 16, MSNBC will suspend simulcasting the syndicated 'Imus in the Morning' radio program for two weeks," according to a statement posted on the NBC Universal Media Village website. Additionally, CBS Radio announced it will suspend Imus for the same two-week period, according to an April 9 Associated Press report. That report asserted that CBS made the suspension "without comment."

Tom Oliphant to Imus on racial slur controversy: "Solidarity forever, pal"

http://mediamatters.org/items/200704090007

Mon, Apr 9, 2007 3:26pm ET

Referring to host Don Imus' April 4 comments on MSNBC's Imus in the Morning -- in which the radio host referred to the Rutgers women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos" -- and the controversy that ensued, former* Boston Globe columnist Tom Oliphant began his appearance on the April 9 edition of Imus in the Morning by stating: "Good morning, Mr. Imus, and solidarity forever, by the way." Oliphant also referred to political pundits like himself who appear on the show as Imus' "constituency."

Fineman to pal Imus: Racist comments aren't OK any more like they used to be

http://mediamatters.org/items/200704090002

Mon, Apr 9, 2007 12:12pm ET

Discussing host Don Imus' April 4 comments on MSNBC's Imus in the Morning -- in which Imus referred to the Rutgers women's basketball team as "nappy headed hos" -- and the controversy that ensued, Newsweek editor Howard Fineman, appearing on the April 9 edition of Imus in the Morning, asserted: "[I]t's a different time, Imus ... it's different than it was even a few years ago, politically," and added that "some of the stuff that you used to do, you probably can't do anymore." Fineman continued, "I mean, just looking specifically at the African-American situation. I mean, hello, [Sen.] Barack Obama's [D-IL] got twice the number of contributors as anybody else in the race," and added, "[T]hings have changed. And the kind of -- some of the kind of humor that you used to do you can't do anymore. And that's just the way it is."

Imus in the Morning's McGuirk: First they came for me...

http://mediamatters.org/items/200704280001

Fri, Apr 27, 2007 8:13pm ET

On the April 26 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes, Bernard McGuirk, who was fired by CBS Radio for, according to MSNBC, "his role in the ugly incident" involving Don Imus, asserted, "it's like the oft-quoted anti-Nazi German pastor who said, you know, first, they came for the Communists, but I wasn't a Communist, so I didn't say anything. Then they came for the Jews, but I'm not a Jew, I didn't say anything. Then they came for the Catholics, but I'm a Protestant. Then when they came for me, there was nobody to speak." McGuirk was responding to a question from co-host Alan Colmes, who asked, "And now you've got JV and Elvis, also CBS properties, who are suspended because of a bit that they did. I wonder if you're closely following that and if you have strong feelings about what should happen in that situation."

FULL IMUS COVERAGE
Media Matters Press Releases, Statements, Etc.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200704090004

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Media Matters for America is a not-for-profit, progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media. Media Matters for America is the first organization to systematically monitor the media for conservative misinformation every day, in real time. For more information

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