A US satellite reportedly recorded a checkpoint shooting in Iraq last month, enabling investigators to reconstruct how fast a car carrying a top Italian intelligence official and a freed hostage was traveling when US troops opened fire."Month's captivity"? More like a paid vacation with her terrorist pals. Good ole Giuliana, if her mouth is open, she's lying. (Hat Tip: Betsy's Page)
The report, which aired Thursday on CBS News, said US investigators concluded from the recording that the car was traveling at a speed of more than 60 miles (96 km) per hour.
Giuliana Sgrena has said the car was traveling at a normal speed of about 30 miles an hour when the soldiers opened fired, wounding her and killing Nicola Calipari, the Italian agent who had just secured her release from a month's captivity.
Al Gore saved this country once already from attacks on the judiciary, and he'll do it again. That's what he told a fervent MoveOn crowd yesterday afternoon at a Capitol Hill hotel ballroom.Think of it! A whole auditorium filled with folks wearing tin foil beanies!
The relaunched 2005 Al Gore is much like what the late Michael Kelly observed during the 2002 media blitz: "Gore, the thinker of big thoughts; Gore, the visionary; Gore, the radical; Gore, the bold man of the left." This time around he is also Gore, the Southern statesman, wise from his years in the Senate and back with a selective Tennessee twang. He is Gore, "one of the most consequential leaders of our time," as a MoveOn supporter introduced him. Gore the philosopher-poseur may not may not be running for president in 2008. Yet more than a few "Gore 2008" buttons (with the old 2000 campaign graphics) could be spotted among the faithful (and only one "Clark '08" pin).But some things never change:
Revamped or not, some old habits die hard. His speech had familiar features: annoyed and overbearing looks, speaking over a cheering audience, begging the question, and righteous defensiveness ("How dare they!). Gore is still a one-man debate squad, arguing every point and working himself into a sweat by the end of his 52-minute harangue.Did we dodge a bullet with this loon or what?
Ali Noorani, executive director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, called the vote "a step in the process," but said he was confident that the tuition breaks had the support of a majority in the House.Ali really meant 400 illegal alien students, but apparently he's easily confused. You also have to wonder why, if he wants to raise money to support citizens of foreign lands, he doesn't just call Sally Struthers?
"In our view, the most important thing that can happen is that 400 immigrant students go to college in September of this year. That is our goal. To reach that goal, the budget is just one of many vehicles to do that," he said.
Banks across the United States are writing loans based on individual taxpayer identification number, or ITIN. They are easy to get, even if you are ineligible for a Social Security card.I wonder if sending money to Al Qaeda counts?
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In addition to accepting ITINs, banks are being flexible when they look at credit reports, since many immigrants don't have a traditional credit history. For instance, say lending sources, the bank may consider rent and utility bill payments, or a history of sending money to family overseas as evidence that a customer is a good risk.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. is helping a group of Midwest banks to develop ITIN programs.Ya think? There's more in Banks Find Mortgage Clientele in Undocumented Immigrants which adds some of those heart warming "welcome the new neighbors" stories we all know and love. Funny, none of the stories ever seem to involve the "new neighbors" that we wouldn't want to have.
Freddie Mac, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., is studying whether to buy the mortgages from banks, spokesman Douglas Robinson said.
Without the participation of a major institution like Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae, the Federal National Mortgage Association -- which together hold 37 percent of U.S. residential mortgage debt -- the spread of ITIN mortgages will be limited, Paulson said. Right now, most banks making the loans must hold onto them, rather than selling them for cash that could be used for additional mortgages.
"This is a bottleneck in this market," she said.
Welcome!!!!! posted by "Huff" on Mon May 9 2005 at 09:00 PDTSheesh, even the lefties are making fun of it.
Hi everybody! Allow me to introduce my innovative new publishing venture, a groundbreaking "group blog", where over 250 creative minds from every corner of my Rolodex weigh in on topics ranging from the political to the personal, and anything in between! Well, that's enough from me - let's blog!
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Great New Experiment in Democracy, posted by "Huff" on Mon May 9 at 09:02 PDT
The "blogosphere" is the biggest leap forward in journalism since the days of Tom Paine, a unique opportunity to tap directly into the cultural bloodstream. But I'm not here to put words in anyone's mouth, I'm just providing the megaphone!
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A New Kind of Communication, posted by "Huff" on Mon May 9 at 09:07 PDT
Instant, interactive, intelligent, informed; reaching out across the political spectrum. What? Did everybody forget their passwords already?
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I can't think of anything to say, posted by G Paltrow on Mon May 9 at 09:21 PDT
Arianna: its rlly uncool whn my cell rings during pilates. i said id post whn & if i had something to say. rt now im just too busy. stop bugging me.
Gwynniex
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Another Cutting Edge Contribution, posted by "Huff" on Mon May 9 at 09:23 PDT
Cantankerous, unafraid and always outspoken, that's Gwyneth (Paltrow) to a tee! You can expect to be hearing a lot more from her on Huffingtonpost.com, on a whole variety of subjects!
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OH MY GOD ARIANNA Posted by G Paltrow on Mon May 9 2005 at 12:22 PDT
Did you just like take that text I sent you and post it on your stupid frigging blog? That was private! How dare you! Don't post this email either!
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The better way to proceed is to make the filibuster radioactive politically by letting the Democrats talk themselves to death. Give them enough rope and they will hang themselves by their vocal cords.C'mon, I can hardly wait!
Frist just needs to end the “virtual” filibuster and make the Democrats stage a real one, replete with quorum calls, 24/7 sessions and truly endless debate covered word for word by C-SPAN for all the nation to see — and ridicule.
Moonbat cum laude Cameron Diaz has teamed up with fellow Hollywood moonbat Drew Barrymore in a new MTV eco-tourism series called "Trippin'."I hope the girls had a truly authentic experience!
The program, which premiered on March 28th, features movie stars Diaz and Barrymore jet-setting and SUV-ing to Third World backwaters in Honduras, Tanzania, Nepal and Chile, while praising primitive tribal lifestyles and bashing the developed world's way of life.
During an episode of the program in which the opulent duo visited a remote village in Chile that had no running water, sanitary facilities or electricity, Diaz scolded Americans, saying, "It's kinda gotten out of hand how much convenience we think we need, " while Barrymore gushed how wonderful it was not to have had access to a toilet, "I took a poo in the woods hunched over like an animal. It was awesome," she said. Diaz, clearly looking forward to having the same quasi-religious experience, said,"I am so jealous right now, I am going -- I am going to the woods tomorrow."
In other words: Canadians aren't mature enough to handle the truth, so the nation can only be preserved if they STFU and let their betters in the NaturalGoverningParty do what they want. That's the closest thing the Liberal Party of Canada has to a governing ideology - and it's kind of unnerving to realize that, for a decade, this country was run by Liberals who believe Paul Martin is being too honest.
Some days the documents that drip from the swollen body institutionate that is the European Commission make me laugh out loud.That's the HQ building in Brussels.
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“Rules for use of saunas in Berlaymont”
Now we’re talking. And yes I do have a copy of the rules here in front of me.Woohoo! What better way to kick off the weekend?
“The Berlaymont is equipped (beside the library of the legal services) of 2 suanas, waiting room, cloakroom showers and of an entry hall with modern and functional equipment.”
That explains why they told Michel Petite, he would have freaked if he went down to check some obscure ECJ judgement only to be startled by a vision of Margot in her altogether.
“The sauna No.1 will be reserved for the Commissioners, Heads of Cabinet, Directors-General and their guests.”
Meanwhile Sauna No. 2 is for all other officials and its use is restricted, Men only Tuesday and Thursday. Women only Monday and Wednesday, and for all your viewing pleasure Friday is a free for all.
However that is not all, oh no -There are certainly a lot of possibilities, but I'd rather not speculate. Especially since I'm feeling guilty because the current EU President says that a "No" vote on the EU Constitution plays into the hands of those dastardly Anglo Saxons. No word on the British response.
“It is appropriate to comply with the rules of conduct”.
“Leave your clothes in the dressing room…Nakedness is natural. Sweating makes swimsuits uncomfortable”.
“After warming up you can use the whisk if you please”.
Yes there is a taxpayer funded whisk.
“You can also lie down and even close your eyes for a while if you feel like it.” Ahh, bless.
And this one just send me into fits of giggles,
“have a refreshing drink and a salty snack to your personal taste”.
Are you thinking what they’re drinking?
Kennedy's womanizing ways are a Washington legend. When a supermarket tabloid published pictures of Kennedy getting "amorous" with a woman on his sailboat, one of his colleagues (Senator Howell Heflin) remarked that it appeared that Kennedy "had done changed his position on offshore drilling."It also reminded of one of the details of one of my favorite Teddy events, the waitress sandwich:
In 1985, he and Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd allegedly made a "waitress sandwich" at a DC restaurant while their dates were in the rest room.I'll bet that put a damper on the evening!
I've yet to hear much on radio this morning about this (on Rawlco or on CBC). Instead, they've been pimping the "Canadians don't want an election right now" meme, an assist for Paul Martin's "wait for Gomery" lifeline grab.That appears to be the operative plan. And not just in Canada.
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So, elaborate, please. This alleged dread of elections is conspicuously silent on specifics. What precisely is the source for this Great National Reluctance we are supposed to be gripped with? An aversion to unprotected pencil sharing? The time required to study up on the letter 'X'?
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"Canadians don't want an election now".
They must think we're idiots.
The most striking thing about this story to me was that Kerry and Dayton were simultaneously present on the Senate floor. Rumor has it that Kerry is so determined to run again in three years that he has resolved, after twenty years in the Senate, to begin actually performing his duties there.Who was that tall stiff stranger standing next to the guy with the tinfoil beanie?
Kerry won't be the Dems' nominee in '08. If last fall's election proved anything, it was that Kerry isn't a very good Presidential candidate. The Dems weren't in love with Kerry last year, but turned to him in a panic when Howard Dean imploded. Kerry is finished as a Presidential contender, I think, but he could perform one last valuable service. If he is really so determined to run again that he is angry about losing the endorsement of Mark Dayton, who is retiring next year and by 2008 won't be in a position to influence any voters outside his immediate family, Kerry might be fired up enough to go after Clinton hard during the primaries. That would make his candidacy worthwhile.Sorry, but Hillary will knock him off before he lays a glove on her.
Bill Kristol is so right. If having a temper and disagreeing with career bureaucrats is a disqualifier for holding high public office than most senators should be kicked out.and Kevin Aylward:
The New York Times splashes "confidential e-mails" none of which were sent by Bolton, where some whinny career bureaucrats snivel about the health effects of having their opinions questioned.Wee timorous beasties.
Is that what we've become, an nation of sniveling cowards? God help us if that level of pussification, even by inside the Beltway standards, is what's considered normal.
