Daily Nonsense

David Letterman:   Top Ten Signs President Bush Doesn’t Care Anymore: "10. Hasn’t taken off his Iron Man costume since Halloween.
9. The menu for the White House Thanksgiving dinner? Corn dogs and Beefaroni.
8. Drew a picture of Garfield on Dick Cheney’s bald head.
7. He’s barely trying to ruin the economy anymore.
6. Spent the entire weekend in the Oval Office pardoning himself.
5. Saw Osama at Arby’s drive-thru but didn’t feel like chasing him.
4. Spends cabinet meetings scanning classifieds for next job.
3. Primary focus is surpassing Hank Paulson’s high score on ‘Guitar Hero.’
2. Asking Obama, ‘How soon can you bail me out of the White House?’
1. Started dating hefty interns."

Jay Leno:   "I tell you," the "economy is bad. … In fact, today — you know the White House turkey? Turned down the pardon. Said all his money’s in the market. Nothing left to live for."

Yikes!  There is apparently an oft forgotten little clause in the U.S. Constitution (Article One, Section Six) that prohibits senators from taking a civil office if that legislator has ever voted to increase the pay for that job.  Could this preclude Hillary from accepting the post of Secretary of State?

There is also some ‘legal’ precedent that allows for Congress to lower the wage for that particular job.  This is some kind of smoke and mirrors band-aid that means Hillary wouldn’t benefit financially from the higher salary she’d previously voted on.  I’m far, far, far from being a legal expert, but the text in the article below seems unambiguous.

Obama likely to name Hillary Clinton to Cabinet. But wait! Can he?

The president-elect, no-drama Barack Obama, is expected to name his new secretary of State, all-drama Hillary Clinton, as early as tomorrow as part of the week’s rollout for his national security team.

But can he?

As pointed out by a number of bloggers in recent hours, including our eloquent friend Susan over at Wake Up America, there’s a clause in the U.S. Constitution (Article One, Section Six) that prohibits senators (or representatives) from taking a civil office if the legislator has voted to increase the pay for that job.

"No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the Authority of the United States which shall have been created, or the Emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time; and no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office."

A president-elect who’s a former part-time constitutional law professor, even one without his BlackBerry, presumably is aware of this prohibition, obviously designed to prevent double-dipping and raising your own salary, which is only allowed in Wall Street banks.

And Obama surely knows of its historical precedents.

And if Obama makes the appointment of his former bitter rival, she’ll no doubt take office as the point person for U.S. foreign policy.

But the appointment of the loser of the Democratic presidential nomination by the winner of that nomination and of the subsequent general election wouldn’t be properly Clintonian without some extra dramatic flourishes. This is likely only the beginning of such chapters.

Apparently, President Nixon ran into the same problem when he wanted to appoint Ohio’s Republican Sen. William Saxbe as attorney general.

The solution back then, since dubbed the "Saxbe fix," was for Congress to pass another law (not without some outspoken dissent from Democratic senators, by the way) reducing the AG’s pay so Saxbe wouldn’t benefit financially from the higher salary he’d previously voted on.

Similar fixes occurred when President Jimmy Carter named Edmund Muskie secretary of State and H. Clinton’s own husband Bill named Lloyd Bentsen to head Treasury.

So much for the actual money aspect and strict construction.

We’re not lawyers. But we do speak English. And to our eyes that constitutional clause doesn’t say anything about getting around the provision by reducing or not benefiting from the increase of said "Emoluments."

It flat-out prohibits taking the civil office if the pay has been increased during the would-be appointee’s elected term. Period. Which it has.

This seems more like a TV scriptwriter’s trick to keep everyone hanging around through the commercials starting tomorrow.

– Andrew Malcolm

[Thanks, LA Times]

In spite of the promises by Detroit and the lavish spreads in Popular Mechanics, the flying car I was promised in the July 1957 is really no closer to a reality now than it was then.  Sure, there are some one off solutions, but honestly, who can afford to drive or fly something with the price of gas today?

In the 8 long years since still President Bush has been in the White House, my automobile desires have turned down a different path.  One that makes both good economic sense and good environmental sense.  For the most part, those dreams have centered around the ‘Smart Car’ type of vehicle. 

Small, urban and with great fuel economy, the only detracting factor has been the long distance potential of these vehicles.  In short, there is non long distance potential.  If I owned one of these as my only vehicle and wanted to visit my sister in Portland I would have to consider alternative transportation methods.  Train, bus or maybe even a rental car.  Not the best of choices as far as I’m concerned.

But now, the story is a little different.  Volkswagen AG is announced the forthcoming production of a diesel-electric hybrid that promises almost 70 miles to the gallon.  That was not a typo – 70 miles to the gallon.  Just where do I sign??

Coming Soon from VW: A 69.9 MPG Diesel Hybrid

By Chuck Squatriglia

It’s official – Volkswagen is unveiling a hybrid to challenge the mighty Toyota Prius. And not just any hybrid, but a diesel-electric hybrid it says will deliver 69.9 mpg.

VW’s been experimenting with hybrids of the gasoline-electric variety since the early 1990s, but the Golf hybrid it will unveil next month at the Geneva Motor Show is the first production model the German company’s rolled out. Volkswagen isn’t offering much in the way of details, but the car is expected to have a  parallel hybrid drivetrain with a 2.0 liter engine. Look for it to have an all-electric mode at low speed, start-stop capability, regenerative braking and a 7-speed DSG double-clutch transmission, according to Auto Express and AutoBlog Green.

What’s all the techno-jargon mean? The Golf Hybrid will get almost 70 mph mpg (ed. note: D’oh!) while meeting Europe’s stringent Euro V and America’s Tier 2 Bin 5 emissions standards, making it green enough even for California. The car is said to emit just 89 g/km of CO2. (For comparison, the Prius emits 104 g/km and Honda Civic Hybrid emits 116.)

The hybrid Golf may be just the start.

According to Britain’s Channel 4, VW is considering the hybrid drivetrain in a Jetta and Audi A3. DailyTech says it also could appear in the VW Tiguan and Audi Q5 crossover utility  vehicles.

Auto Express says the Golf hybrid will be offered for sale in Europe by the end of next year. No word yet on when we might see it on this side of the pond. VW hasn’t released a picture of the hybrid, so we’re offering a shot of its diesel Golf Bluemotion.

[Thanks, Wired]

• Evolution T-Shirt $10.00 + S/H @ uNeeTee
• Deluxe Green Laser Pointer $15.97 + S/H @ Yugster
• 3-in-1 Pen Pen Flash Drive & Laser Pointer $12.99 + S/H @ I Have to Have That
• 5-Disc CD Changer w/MP3/WMA Playback $21.95 + S/H @ MidnightBox.Com
• Foiled Again! T-Shirt $10.00 + Free S/H @ Shirt.Woot
• Men’s Tungsten Carbide Comfort Fit Ring $27.00 + Free S/H @ DiamondShark
• Linkman Pro PC Bookmark Organizing Software FREE @ Giveaway of the Day
• Waiting For His Return T-Shirt $9.00 + $2 S/H @ TeeFury
• 1GB DDR2 667 Mhz Desktop Memory $7.99 + S/H @ Pacific Geek
• Compaq Dual Core 1.6ghz Laptop 1gb 120gb DVDRW $329.99 + S/H @ Cowboom
• Kenwood KDC-MP208 In-Dash MP3/CD receiver $77.00 + S/H @ 6th Ave Electronics

The most recent controversy to surround disgraced ex Attorney General stems from a lawsuit filed against him by 8 individuals who applied for, but were refused, positions with DOJ’s Honor Program and Summer Law Intern Program. 

A June internal investigation has revealed that certain candidates were excluded because of their liberal-leaning resumes.  Whoops!  Violating department policies and civil service law to exclude Democrats again.  That brings the total individuals wronged by Alberto due to political party collateral damage to 17.

I wonder if there is any single thing that Alberto accomplished during his brief tenure that can overshadow all of these political fuck-ups?  Probably not.  Yet another stunning legacy from the still president Bush administration.

Leahy, Conyers Want Info On DOJ Paying Gonzales’ Legal Bills

By John Bresnahan

Nov 24, 2008

(The Politico) Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) want Attorney General Michael Mukasey to give them the details on how much the Justice Department is spending to defend former AG Alberto Gonzales.

Gonzales has been sued by eight individuals who applied for, but were turned down, positions with DOJ’s Honor Program and Summer Law Intern Program. An internal investigation found that several former high-ranking DOJ officials may have improperly sought to block the hiring of liberal applicants for these prestigious entry-level positions inside Justice.

As with previous cases where former officials are sued over job-related actions, the Justice Department is paying up to $24,000 per month for Gonzales’ private attorneys, according to media reports. The two Democrats want information on the agreement between DOJ and Gonzales over the legal fees.

"Following the publication of the Inspector General [Glenn Fine's] report, several individuals whose applications for employment through these programs were turned down during the period that the hiring process was improperly politicized have filed suit against Mr. Gonzales and others who held senior positions at the Department at the time,’" Leahy and Conyers wrote. "Recent press accounts indicated that the Department of Justice has decided to pay up to $24,000 a month for a private attorney to represent Mr. Gonzales in connection with this lawsuit. As far as we can tell, the Department has thus far failed to confirm or publicly account for any aspect of this arrangement."

The two chairmen want to know who at DOJ approved the agreement with Gonzales, and why, if IG Fine found that the alleged politiicization of the hiring process may have violated DOJ policy, "did the Department determine that the conduct at issue in this lawsuit was within the scope of Mr. Gonzales’s employment and that his representation is in the interest of the United States? "

Copyright 2008 POLITICO

[Thanks, CBS News]

You really have to wonder what she was thinking.  When President George H.W. Bush officially pardoned the first Thanksgiving turkey in 1989, it became a cute little White House tradition and photo op for the President and his family. 

A lighthearted moment for the 6 o’clock news normally filled with war and famine. An opportunity for the POTUS d’ jour to appear a little less of a monster.  But fundamentally, it’s a silly and stupid ‘tradition’ that is better left forgotten.  My guess is it’s the National Turkey Federation and the Poultry and Egg National Board who continue to send the White House a live bird that foster this pseudo-tradition.  Like Americans need a reminder to eat a bird on Thanksgiving…

This last Thursday, Failin’ Palin decided that as governor she could enjoy the same photo op as still president Bush and held a little turkey pardoning of her own.  It all sounds banal, right?  Enough for a page 3 ‘feature’ in the Wasilla Wildlife Weekly perhaps?  Well, that would have been the case had she not totally failed to understand the underlying premise of the pardon itself. 

Her failure?  She pardoned one bird while standing directly in front of the mass wholesale slaughter of hundreds of other fowl victims.

Audiences gobble up latest Palin interview

BACKFIRE: Camera catches slaughter of turkeys after governor’s playful pardon.

By SEAN COCKERHAM
scockerham@adn.com

Published: November 22nd, 2008 02:33 AM
Last Modified: November 22nd, 2008 03:06 AM

It’s being called "gobblegate," "the interview of death," and "Silence of the Turkeys."

Gov. Sarah Palin granted a Thanksgiving pardon to a turkey at a Mat-Su poultry farm on Thursday, a photo-op associated with presidents but done by governors as well.

But by Friday, video of Palin giving an upbeat interview while other turkeys were being slaughtered behind her had turned into an Internet sensation, with the governor once again at the center of controversy.

The video, shot by KTUU Channel 2, had 1.2 million hits on YouTube. It was prominently featured on the home pages of newspapers such as the Chicago Tribune and Denver Post. MSNBC’s "Countdown" paired the video with "breaking news" headlines such as "Gov. Palin picks worst possible backdrop for TV news interview." Countered the conservative site RedState.com: "Media shocked to discover how farming works"

Such footage of any governor would no doubt have drawn interest, but the continuing obsession with the former Republican vice presidential nominee sent this one into the stratosphere.

The governor’s office wasn’t particularly amused.

"It’s unfortunate because it’s been a rough fall and this was meant to be a lighthearted event," said Palin spokesman Bill McAllister.

McAllister said Palin wasn’t aware that the slaughter was going on behind her in the interview — during which Palin was asked if she was concerned about "state programs on the chopping block" and why she wanted to pardon a turkey.

"For one, you need a little bit of levity in this job. … to just participate in something that isn’t so heavy handed politics that invites criticism," Palin replied. "Certainly we’ll probably invite criticism for even doing this too, but at least this was fun."

‘THAT’S JUST LIFE’

Anthony Schmidt, owner of Triple D Farm & Hatchery, where this all took place, said Friday that animal rights activists from around the nation had been calling all day to "say how horrible it was they were killing that turkey and people could see it."

"And I guess, to some degree I understand that. If I had my choice it wouldn’t have been aired, that part of it. But, on the other hand, that’s just life," he said. "Americans are going to consume 46 million turkeys at Thanksgiving. I’m only doing six or seven hundred. Give somebody else a hard time."

Schmidt said he was busy during the governor’s visit and didn’t realize turkeys were being killed right behind the governor, or he would have stopped it. He said the publicity is increasing turkey orders but he doesn’t like the fallout.

"They’re sliming the governor and I think it’s wrong, totally, wrong," Schmidt said. "I mean, come on guys, get a life."

McAllister said the slaughter had not started at the time the cameras were set up. He said that, while the cameras were rolling and a worker at the farm began placing turkeys head-down in a big metal cone to cut their necks and drain blood, Kris Perry, the governor’s friend and director of her Anchorage office, "was actually physically nudging (the KTUU videographer), saying ‘look at this,’ and encouraging him not to frame the shot to include that, or to do something about it later, where he wouldn’t use it," McAllister said. McAllister said KTUU showed the slaughter in its 5 p.m. broadcast, but not at 6 p.m., and pulled the video from its Web site. "So obviously there was concern about it there too."

BEHIND THE SCENE

KTUU News Director Steve MacDonald said the footage was too graphic, out of context, and should not have made it on the air at all. He said the station wasn’t attempting to embarrass Palin and had a breakdown in its vetting system.

"We feel really bad about what happened. We take our reputation very seriously, we take our place in the community very seriously and the last thing we want to do is harm our integrity with our viewers," MacDonald said.

MacDonald said the station’s videographer denies Perry was nudging him during the shot. He said the crew thought Palin knew what was going on behind her but believes McAllister was correct that the slaughter didn’t start until after the interview began.

Democratic blogger Linda Kellen Biegel was at the turkey pardon and didn’t believe Palin was unaware of what was happening. "Give me a break! There is NO WAY she couldn’t have known!" Biegel wrote on her blog, Celtic Diva’s Blue Oasis.

MSNBC’s host David Shuster, substituting for Keith Olbermann on "Countdown," said on his show Thursday night that "governor Palin’s office is now telling our NBC news desk that a photographer asked her if she wanted that as a backdrop and she replied ‘no worries.’ " KTUU’s MacDonald said he’s not aware of that.

Palin spokesman McAllister said she may have said that before the slaughter started, but not after it began.

[Thanks, The Anchorage Daily News]

• 5 LED Cap Hat Light – FREE + S/H @ 1 Sale A Day
• Emerson Suction Cup Radio FREE + S/H @ Daily Steals!
• Left Hanging T-Shirt $10.00 + S/H @ uNeeTee
• Targus Combo Card Reader with USB Hub $7.95 + S/H @ MidnightBox.com
• 5 of 3 Americans Can’t Do Fractions T-Shirt $12.99 + S/H @ Shirt.A.Day
• Kingston 2GB SD Card 2PK + 23-in-1 Card Reader $14.99 + S/H @ ScoobyDeal 
• Pinnacle Alpine 14-inch Messenger Bag $12.00 + S/H @ UWantSavings
• Nady 2 Channel Wireless Hand-Held Mic System $39.95 + S/H @ MusiciansFriend
• Gamer Kings T-Shirt $9.00 + $2 S/H @ TeeFury
• Bandannas – Red/Blue Western 12 PK $7.99 + S/H @ S&S Worldwide
• Mountainsmith Vibe II Waist Pack $5.99 + S/H @ WildOnionDeal
• Inspired By Peace Key Ring $3.95 + S/H @ The Animal Rescue Site
• Sandisk 2 GB Ultra II SD Memory Card $8.99 + S/H @ PriceGrabber.Com

I’m so overjoyed I’m incapable of commenting!

Cheney, Gonzales indicted for alleged prisoner abuse

(CNN) – Vice President Dick Cheney and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales have been indicted on separate charges related to alleged prisoner abuse in federal detention centers, Willacy County, Texas, District Attorney Juan Angel Guerra told CNN Tuesday.

The indictment stems from Cheney’s investment in the Vanguard Group — an investment management company that reportedly has interests in the prison companies in charge of the detention centers, according to The Associated Press. It also charges Gonzales halted an investigation into abuse at the detention centers while he was attorney general.

Democratic state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. also is charged in the indictment.

Michael R. Cowen, an attorney for Lucio, issued a statement calling Guerra a "one man circus."

"In the March 2008 Democratic Primary, 70 percent of the Willacy County voters elected to remove Juan Guerra as Willacy County District Attorney," Cowen said. "Now, with only a few weeks left in his term, Mr. Guerra has again chosen to misuse his position in an attempt to seek revenge on those who he sees as political enemies."

Cheney spokeswoman Megan Mitchell said, "The vice president has not received an indictment."

Willacy is near the United States-Mexico border.

[Thanks, CNN]

The ‘Big Three’, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, have spent billions of dollars in the past few years betting that the American public doesn’t really want fuel efficiency.

That sounds like a harsh statement, but look at the facts:

1. The Hummer
2. Any Denali
3. Chevy Suburban
4. Ford Expedition
5. Cadillac Escalade
6. No electric car
7. Average MPG by manufacturer.

• Daimler-Chrysler: 24.7 mpg
• Ford: 29.9 mpg
• General Motors: 31.9 mpg
• Toyota: 38.5 mpg
• Honda: 39.6 mpg

The ‘Big Three’ have spent billions and billions to ensure our dependence on foreign oil.  Billions and billions to promote excesses in fuel consumption.  They could have learned, they could have done something.  But they CHOSE not to.

The following article lists 7 Key Questions.  But, CNN has missed one.  Question #8, what’s the payback?  Do you plan to take my hard earned tax dollar and simply continue the way that you have?

Here’s my thoughts:

1. Any bailout will be paid back in full with prime interest rates applied.  And you’ve only got 5 years to do it.
2. The bailed out car manufacturer will have an electric car for sale, nationwide, for model year 2010.  And there must be guarantees of sufficient stock on hand.
3. The bailed out car manufacturer will have a ‘Smart Car’ vehicle for sale, nationwide, for model year 2010.  And there must be guarantees of sufficient stock on hand.
4. Force closure of 50% of your dealerships.  Just stop selling cars to some of the lower producing dealers.

Without 100% compliance you don’t get the money, and if you renege then you get closed down with all assets sold to pay the debt.

Also, read Campbell Brown’s take on the bailout HERE.

Detroit bailout: 7 key questions

As Congress takes a look at whether to help the struggling U.S. automakers, here is what you need to know about what’s at stake for the Big Three.

By Chris Isidore,CNNMoney.com senior writer

Last Updated: November 18, 2008: 9:32 AM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Congress is set to begin a heated debate on whether Detroit’s Big Three automakers — General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler LLC — will be next in line for a federal bailout.

Democratic leaders in Congress are in favor of some kind of help, as is President-elect Obama. But the Bush administration has balked on proposals to let the automakers tap the $700 billion Wall Street bailout approved in October.

Many leading Congressional Republicans have suggested that a better option is bankruptcy, enabling the Big Three to restructure and ultimately emerge as leaner and viable businesses.

How this debate plays out could determine whether this important industry survives — and in what form. Here are some quick answers to seven key questions about the crisis.

What do the automakers want?

The automakers are asking for about $25 billion in loans to help them survive until 2010. Advocates for a bailout argue that if the Big Three can hang on until then, they’ll be in position to be competitive long-term.

That’s because billions of dollars in annual savings won in the 2007 labor agreement with the United Auto Workers union kick in that year, including shifting the responsibility for retirees’ health care costs to union-controlled trust funds.

What’s more, it’s likely that car sales will pick up again by 2010 and that plant closings between now and then will bring the Big Three’s capacity in line with this demand.

How many jobs are at stake?

GM (GM, Fortune 500) has about 120,000 U.S. employees. Ford (F, Fortune 500) has about 80,000 and closely-held Chrysler LLC has about 66,000.

In addition, the three automakers have about 14,000 U.S. dealerships that between them employ another 740,000 workers.

The suppliers used by the Big Three also employ an estimated 610,000 people.

Add that up and you have more than 1.6 million jobs tied to the auto industry.

What happens if there’s no bailout?

GM risks running out of money later this year or early in 2009 without a bailout.

GM burned through $6.9 billion during the third quarter, leaving it with only $16 billion on hand as of Sept. 30. But it needs $11 billion to $14 billion to continue normal operations.

Ford and Chrysler have more cash relative to their needs, mostly from money they borrowed prior to the current credit crunch.

But each of those automakers could also run out of cash during 2009 without federal assistance.

What happens if an automaker goes bankrupt?

There are two types of corporate bankruptcy under U.S. law.

Chapter 11 allows a company to continue to operate as it sheds debts and contracts it can not afford.

In Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the company goes out of business fairly rapidly as its assets are sold off to try to satisfy its creditors.

What are advantages of an automaker going into bankruptcy?

Some argue that bankruptcy judges will be able to force the automakers to shed brands and dealerships as well as get the Big Three out of labor contracts they can not afford.

Other U.S. industries, such as steel companies and airlines, have used bankruptcy in the past to return to profitability without putting federal dollars at risk.

What are the arguments against a Chapter 11 bankruptcy?

Given the current credit crunch, many experts question whether automakers would be able to get necessary financing from lenders to help them during the reorganization process.

There are also doubts whether consumers would buy new vehicles from a bankrupt automaker due to concerns over their resale value and warranty. In effect, an automaker that files for Chapter 11 could eventually wind up going out of business anyway.

What are some of the other broader economic impacts if an automaker goes out of business?

Nearly 2 million Americans get their health insurance directly from one of the Big Three automakers. Most of them would lose that coverage if their company goes out of business. A failure of one of the Big Three could also cause a string of bankruptcies among suppliers.

And beyond the job losses at the automakers, dealerships and suppliers, media companies that generate a lot of revenue from auto advertising as well as retailers in towns where plants are located could also have to cut many jobs. The Center for Automotive Research, a Michigan think tank that supports the bailout, estimates that between 1.4 million and 1.7 million jobs indirectly tied to the Big Three would be lost in the first year following widespread auto failures.

[Thanks, CNNMoney]

Jay Leno:   "The three big domestic automakers are now saying they are working jointly on a new hybrid car. It runs on a combination of state and federal bailout money."

Jay Leno:   "The press is calling Obama the first wired president, as opposed to President Bush, who was the first wiretap president."

Jay Leno:   "Pirates from Somalia hijacked a Saudi Arabian super tanker full of oil and are holding it for ransom. You know what you call someone who hijacks a ton of oil, holds it for ransom? Exxon Mobil."

David Letterman:   "Auto executives, the Big Three, are asking Congress now for bailout money. Things are getting desperate, and if they get any worse, these guys may have to trim their $10 million bonuses."

Conan O’Brien:   "This week, John McCain met with his advisers to prepare to run for reelection to the Senate. Apparently, McCain’s new campaign slogan is, ‘Now 100% Sarah Palin-free.’"

God slammed another door shut in Sarah Palin’s face today when incumbent Republican Senator Ted Stevens conceded the race to Democratic contender Mark Begich, thus bringing an end to 40 years of unethical behavior and malfeasance.

Good riddance to another piece of Republican garbage and good riddance to the fragile hopes of EX vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.  No Washington for you.  You might want to try sucking up to Bill O’Reilly or some other NeoCon Radical Right jackhole.  Someone’s got to want you aside from the Alaskans, don’t cha’ think?

Stevens: ‘It is apparent the election has been decided’
Posted by Alaska_Politics
Posted: November 19, 2008 – 11:48 am

E-mail from Sen. Ted Stevens office:

Senator Stevens’ Statement on Recent Vote Tallies

ANCHORAGE, AK – Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) today released the following statement regarding his campaign and the most recent vote tallies in Alaska:

“Given the number of ballots that remain to be counted, it is apparent the election has been decided and Mayor Begich has been elected.

“My family and I wish to thank the thousands of Alaskans who stood by us and who supported my re-election. It was a tough fight that would not have been possible without the help of so many Alaskans – people who I am honored to call my friends. I will always remember their thoughts, prayers, and encouragement.

“I am proud of the campaign we ran and regret that the outcome was not what we had hoped for. I am deeply grateful to Alaskans for allowing me to serve them for 40 years in the U.S. Senate. It has been the greatest honor of my life to work with Alaskans of all political persuasions to make this state that we all love a better place.

“I wish Mayor Begich and his family well. My staff and I stand willing to help him prepare for his new position.”

[Thanks, Anchorage Daily News]

Jay Leno:   "These wildfires continuing to burn here in L.A. I haven’t seen anything go up in smoke like this since my 401(k)."

Jay Leno:   Once Barack Obama "becomes president, he’ll have to give up all personal communication devices because of security concerns. So, it looks like America’s ready for a black president. We’re just not ready for a BlackBerry president."

Jay Leno:   "Barack Obama says one of his top priorities once he becomes president is closing down Guantanamo Bay. To make sure it closes, he’s going to turn it into a bank."

David Letterman:   Thanksgiving is "a time when people can do nice things for others who are less fortunate. … For example, if you get the opportunity, if you have your Thanksgiving dinner, invite a Lehman brother."

Craig Ferguson:   "Everyone is waiting to see what" Barack Obama has "got planned. We already know his economic plan. It’s designed to help small businesses that make under $250,000 a year. You know, like General Motors and Chrysler."

Conan O’Brien:   Barack Obama "met with former political rival John McCain." Both "men said it was a relief to put their differences aside, sit down, and really make fun of Sarah Palin."

Jay Leno:   Today in Chicago, for the first time since the election, John McCain sat down with President-elect Barack Obama. Pretty impressive. Obama agreed to sit down and talk to McCain without any preconditions."

Jay Leno:   "In fact, when Sarah Palin heard about McCain meeting with Obama, she accused McCain of palling around with terrorists."

David Letterman:   "Everybody is kind of making up and getting back together. Senator McCain and President-elect Barack Obama" even "got together and had a nice visit. And…Obama thanked McCain for choosing that nutty Alaskan chick."

Conan O’Brien:   "At a big photo op…earlier today in Chicago, Barack Obama tried to smooth things over by meeting with his former opponent John McCain." Obama "congratulated McCain on running a good campaign," while "McCain congratulated Obama on being a stupid jerk face."

CNN is reporting that the controversial Senate race between convicted Republican incumbent Ted Stevens and Democratic challenger Mark Begich is still up for grabs.  At last count, Begich was leading Stevens by a margin of 1,022 votes.

But will that be enough to ensure victory?  Apparently, in Alaska there is a 15 day grace period, the longest in the nation, for the arrival of absentee ballots mailed outside of the US.  Could there be enough votes to straggle in to let the ethically challenged Stevens gain victory over Begich?

Remember just how far reaching these results are.  If Stevens wins, Palin could demand his resignation and hold a special election on which she would figure prominently on the ballot.  the book-buring witch could end up in Washington after all, rather than in Hollywood where she belongs.

Alaska, Minnesota set for key steps in unresolved Senate races

• Story Highlights
• U.S. Senate races in Alaska, Minnesota still too close to call
• Wednesday is deadline for Alaska officials to receive absentee ballots
• Minnesota officials mull status of rejected ballots for recount
• Georgia will have runoff election on December 2

(CNN) — Officials in Alaska, one of three states yet to certify winners in the November 4 U.S. Senate races, say they hope to have nearly all ballots counted on Tuesday.

And officials in Minnesota, home of one of the other unresolved races, intend to rule Tuesday whether certain rejected absentee ballots should be considered in a recount scheduled to start Wednesday.

In the Alaska race between embattled Republican Sen. Ted Stevens and Democratic challenger Mark Begich, about 24,000 ballots remained to be counted on Tuesday, said the state’s elections director, Gail Fenumiai.

However, it’s possible a few straggling absentee votes might come in Wednesday in time to be added to the tallies.

The race drew national attention, especially after Stevens was convicted in October of filing false statements on Senate financial disclosure forms. In early returns in the days after the election, Stevens — the Senate’s longest serving Republican — held a narrow lead over Begich, who is mayor of Anchorage.

But Begich took a slim lead last week as officials sorted some 90,000 additional votes — nearly a third of all ballots cast in the state. Those votes included about 60,000 absentee ballots, 9,500 early votes and another 20,000 "questioned" or provisional ballots being checking for validity.

By Friday, when vote counting was stopped for the weekend, Begich had 47.37 percent of votes counted; Stevens had 47.02 percent. The two were separated by 1,022 votes out of more than 290,000 cast, according to the Alaska Division of Elections Web site.

Alaska allows up to 15 days, longer than any other state, after Election Day for absentee ballots to arrive and be counted if they were postmarked by Election Day and mailed from outside the United States. Absentee ballots mailed inside the United States are accepted up to 10 days after the election.

Election officials said that schedule was adopted in consideration of Alaska’s sprawling geography, sparse population and sometimes spotty mail service in remote areas.

"Wednesday is the last day we will accept absentee ballots, but we really don’t expect many to come in," Fenumiai said Monday.

In Minnesota, vote totals last week showed Republican Sen. Norm Coleman 206 votes ahead of his Democratic challenger, Al Franken.

On Tuesday, the secretary of state’s canvassing board is scheduled to hear a request by Franken’s campaign that certain already-rejected absentee ballots be counted during a statewide hand recount scheduled to start Wednesday.

Asked what the campaign plans to do if the board decides it will not count rejected ballots, Franken spokeswoman Colleen Murray said the campaign hasn’t ruled out anything, including asking for a postponement of the recount.

Georgia is the other state with a Senate race yet to be resolved. Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss will face Democrat Jim Martin in a December 2 runoff.

[Thanks, CNN]

• Dove of Peace T-Shirt $10.00 + S/H @ uNeeTee
• Stick Scents Diffusers, Holiday Variety Pack $19.99 + S/H @ Amazon
• All-in-One USB 2.0 Card Reader $5.98 + S/H @ EjectIT
• OMG BlacK T-Shirt $10.00 + Free S/H @ Shirt.Woot
• Chenbro Notebook Tilt Stand w/Turntable $12.99 + S/H @ LocoBuy
• mgLaunch PC Software FREE @ Giveaway of the Day
• Popular Music T-Shirt $9.00 + $2 S/H @ TeeFury
• Memorex Blu-Ray Disc Player $139.99 + $5 S/H@ Woot
• Palin Plumber 2012 T-Shirt $12.99 + S/H @ Shirt.A.Day
• Keen Oswego Bag $29.93 + S/H @ REI
• Mystery Hat in a Brown Paper Bag $2.00 + S/H @ Hat.A.Day
• NSFW T-Shirt $9.50 + S/H @ EarlsTees

• Redux T-Shirt $10.00 + S/H @ uNeeTee
• Classic Waterman Ballpoint Pen 2Pk $9.99 + S/H @ Stootsi
• Grunge Dragon Hoodie $15.99 + $2 S/H @ Wahoozi
• Vantec LapCool3 Notebook Cooler Pad $8.99 + S/H @ Tanga
• Cyber-Blue Bluetooth v2.0 Class 2 Slim Dongle $14.95 + S/H @ EjectIT
• Mystery Laptop Bag of Crap $18.99 + S/H @ I Have to Have That
• James Bond DVD or Blu-Ray Special $89.95 or $64.95 @ Amazon Goldbox
• Netgear WPN511 RangeMax Wireless PC Card $8.95 + S/H @ Yugster
• eReminder PC Calendar Software FREE @ Giveaway of the Day
• 7” Digital Picture Frame w/Weather Station $34.99 + S/H @ Sellout.Woot
• VG Pocket Tablet Handheld Video Game $4.98 + S/H @ Amazon
• SanDisk Sansa c150 2GB MP3 Player w/FM $9.99 + S/H @ Retail Killer
• Hey, wait up…you are my best friend T-Shirt $10.00 + S/H @ Shirt.Woot
• OOH SNAP! T-Shirt $8.99 + S/H @ Dirt Cheap Shirt
• Kingston 2GB Micro SD Card with Adapter $2.59 + $5 S/H @ Woot

The length of my comments are commensurate with the length of the article which is oddly enough, commensurate with the length of the ‘Press Conference’.

7.5 minutes, 3 questions, and 3 run on sentence answers.  That’s my girl, keep opening your mouth.

Sarah Palin’s first press conference
9:05 AM Thu, Nov 13, 2008
Christy Hoppe

In Miami at the Republican Governor’s Association, Sarah Palin held her first national press conference. About 100 reporters gathered. The bank of TV camera were two-deep on the risers. And — drumroll please — it lasted three questions and about seven and a half minutes.

Palin when asked what message and motivation she might have for the press conference, as well as interviews in the past two days to Matt Lauer of the Today Show as well as Fox’s Greta Van Susteren and CNN’s Wolf Blitzer and Larry King, she intimated that she would have liked more freedom during the presidential campaign. “I don’t want to talk about the strategy of a campaign that is over,” Palin said.

She said she stood with the other red state governors because she thinks states will offer the solutions of balanced budgets, nonpartisanship and the ideas that will lead the GOP out of the wilderness.

[Thanks, Dallas Morning News]

Jay Leno:   "When they move into the White House, Barack Obama’s going to be getting a dog for his daughters," but "he’s very strict. He said, ‘You are going to have to feed it, you are going to have to give it water, and you are going to have to clean up after him. Do you understand that?’ And Joe Biden said, ‘Yeah.’"

Jay Leno:   "Oh, I tell you," the "economy’s bad. … The economy is so bad, Lou Dobbs moved the show to Mexico."

David Letterman:   "This is an exciting time in Washington." Barack Obama is "very busy." He is "meeting with his advisors and picking out a cabinet. Meanwhile, John McCain is at Applebee’s, blowing on his soup."

Conan O’Brien:   "Barack and Michelle Obama are looking for a church in Washington to attend. … Apparently, the Obamas ask every prospective pastor the same question: ‘Have you ever been videotaped screaming, ‘God damn America?’"

I have been telling friends and family that once Ted Stevens was elected, Governor Palin was going to convince him to step down and hold a special election putting herself on the ballot.  That would satisfy the pundits who are calling for Ted’s resignation and satisfy the burning yearning in Sarah’s soul to become one of the Washington elite.

I may have spoken too soon.  The thing I didn’t count on was the Alaskan voters doing the right thing in the face of Mr. Stevens lying and ethical behavior.  For the above scenario to actually take place Stevens would have to win the election and that doesn’t seem likely.

Sarah had mentioned in her ‘interview’ earlier this week that she would keep an eye out for doors which her god might open for her.  Seems to me that this door has been slammed in her face.

Begich takes lead in latest vote count

SENATE RACE: Anchorage mayor swings from 3,000-vote deficit to 814-vote advantage.

By SEAN COCKERHAM and KYLE HOPKINS
scockerham@adn.com

Published: November 13th, 2008 01:20 AM
Last Modified: November 13th, 2008 01:56 AM

Mark Begich made a dramatic comeback Wednesday to overtake 40-year incumbent Ted Stevens for the lead in Alaska’s U.S. Senate race.

Begich, who was losing after election night, now leads Stevens by 814 votes — 132,196 to 131,382 — with the state still to count roughly 40,000 more ballots over the next week.

The state Division of Elections tallied about 60,000 absentee, early and questioned ballots from around the state on Wednesday. The ballots broke heavily in the Democrat’s favor, erasing the 3,000-vote lead the Republican Stevens held after election night Nov. 4.

Stevens is trying to become the first person ever elected to the U.S. Senate after a being found guilty of felony crimes. A Washington, D.C., jury found him guilty a week before the election of lying about gifts on his financial disclosure forms.

The state still needs to count at least 15,000 questioned ballots and an estimated 25,000 absentees. With all the absentee votes coming in, this will be one of the biggest turnouts, if not the biggest in terms of ballots cast, the state has ever seen. That’s despite questions in the media and on blogs about why turnout appeared low on Election Day.

Most regional elections headquarters will count their remaining ballots on Friday. But the most populous region, based in Anchorage, won’t count its ballots until either Monday or Wednesday, state elections chief Gail Fenumiai said.

Begich pushed hard in the campaign for people to vote early, a factor both Democrats and Republicans said contributed to his surge. More than 9,000 of those early ballots weren’t counted until Wednesday to give the state time to double check and make sure people didn’t vote early and then come back and vote on Election Day as well.

Candidates push early voting as a strategy to take away the potential their supporters won’t get around to it Election Day.

The absentee votes counted Wednesday were those that made it in to state officials before Election Day. Many of those might have been cast before Stevens came back to Alaska from his trial in Washington, D.C. Republican strategists credited Stevens’ homecoming, which was followed by rallies and advertisements where he blasted the verdict, as playing a key role in winning back support of voters.

Neither candidate was around Wednesday night as the drama unfolded. Begich was on vacation with his family "at an undisclosed location" and not available on Wednesday night to comment, his campaign staff said. Begich, who is the mayor of Anchorage, also did not return a message left on his cell phone.

Begich will be appearing on national liberal talk shows today to discuss the election. He will be on "The Ed Schultz Show" on radio and "The Rachel Maddow Show" on MSNBC.

Stevens is back in Washington, D.C., where it was well past midnight when the final returns came in. His campaign spokesman said there would be no comment on the turnaround.

Republican Party of Alaska Chairman Randy Ruedrich wasn’t giving up hope for Stevens, saying Begich’s advantage could lessen as the state finishes counting the early votes.

He said remaining mail-in absentee votes "should be much more favorable to Republicans" than the ones counted so far.

But state Democratic Party spokeswoman Bethany Lesser said Begich workers are cautiously optimistic the lead would hold. She noted that the election district based in Nome, which covers Northern and Western Alaska, has not counted any of its absentee ballots yet. Begich beat Stevens in that area on Election Day, just as he did throughout Bush Alaska, a traditional Stevens stronghold that relies on federal appropriations.

Begich also won the voting on all four of Alaska’s military installations on Election Day. That makes the Begich campaign optimistic about overseas absentee ballots from service members.

The state didn’t have a breakdown Wednesday night of where the remaining ballots come from.

Anchorage pollsters Ivan Moore and David Dittman, who had predicted a Begich victory before the election, both said Wednesday night they believe the Democrat would pull it off.

"I think it’s all over at this point," said Moore, who often works for Democrats but didn’t poll for either candidate in this race.

He said mail-in absentee ballots don’t favor Republicans as much as they used to. They historically tended to be from people out of town on business or other reasons, Moore said, adding that they were generally wealthier and more Republican than other voters, he said.

But now a wider variety of people vote absentee, he said. Also, Moore said, questioned ballots tend to favor Democrats, and are often people who have recently moved and might be single, less established, without as much money.

Dittman, who polled for Stevens during the campaign and tends to work for Republicans, also predicted Begich’s lead would widen, but not drastically, as the remaining votes are counted.

While Stevens’ era in the Senate is in danger of ending, another longtime Alaska Republican is returning to Washington, D.C. Alaska Republican Rep. Don Young maintained his solid lead over Democratic challenger Ethan Berkowitz after Wednesday’s count. Berkowitz made some headway but Young still led by more than 15,000 votes.

[Thanks, Anchorage Daily News]