The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Israeli Jets Hit Convoy in Syria; Also, People Are Mean to Matt Lewis on Twitter

Posted on | January 30, 2013 | 17 Comments

Big stories have been breaking all day:

So you’ll forgive me if I got so busy that I forgot to blog about the most important news today: Matt Lewis has given up on Twitter!

It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment it happened — but at some point, Twitter became a dark place.
It’s a lot like the transformation of the 1960s. It started out being about free love, sharing ideas, and changing the world, but somehow we ended up being more about Altamont and Charles Manson.
Somewhere along the line, our optimism faded.
Once everyone was on Twitter, everyone’s problems were on Twitter. The early adopters might have been tech-utopians, but the succeeding waves were angry cynics and partisan cranks who used the technology to make the world even louder and worse than it was before Twitter.

Hmmm. This happened “at some point,” perhaps shortly after Lewis decided to call Michelle Malkin “execrable,” maybe?

Just a wild guess there.

What gets into people’s heads to make them do stupid stuff like that? Damned if I know. Of course, I’ve done stupid stuff before, but . . .

This is one of those things that defy explanation. It’s permissible to disagree with Michelle Malkin, but to lump her into the same category of odium with someone she hates? And then to write a Daily Caller item calling Ben Howe a troll? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?

Never mind your motives. How does it look? Petty and narcissistic, and also as if maybe you’re suffering from testosterone deficiency.

Maybe I’ve become so used to being dissed, snubbed, screwed over, backstabbed, stalked, harassed and defamed that I consider it routine. Maybe I should object to it more often than I do. But in the long run, you’re either on the team or you’re not, and if you’re going to be on the team, there are some irritations you just have to learn to put up with, as a necessary condition of membership. Meanwhile . . .

Israeli jets strike convoy along Syrian border
— CNN

SYRIA CONFIRMS ISRAELI JETS
BOMBED MILITARY SITE
— Associated Press

Arms Shipment Was Target as
Israel Bombed Syria, U.S. Says
— New York Times

This could actually be more important than “why we can’t have nice things,” but don’t tell that to Matt Lewis. You might hurt his feelings.

Category: Matt Lewis

Anonymous Spokesman Barrett Brown Is Sane Enough to Stand Trial, Judge Rules

Posted on | January 30, 2013 | 22 Comments

September 2012: Barrett Brown threatens an FBI agent in video

In September, Barrett Brown was arrested after a bizarre video meltdown in which he threatened to “destroy” an FBI agent. Brown is a former spokesman for the Anonymous hacking group, and his paranoid rant about HB Gary and alleged FBI informant Jennifer Emick was apparently inspired by an IRC chat with Neal Rauhauser. In October, Brown was indicted for threatening the FBI agent. In December, Brown was charged in connection with the LulzSec hacking of Stratfor. Last week, Brown was indicted against for an obstruction of justice charge.

Now facing as much as 100 years in prison on these charges, Brown appeared in federal court today in Dallas, Texas:

In a brief hearing this morning, United States District Judge Sam Lindsay found former self-proclaimed Anonymous spokesperson Barrett Brown mentally competent to stand trial. . . . At the same time, Brown was arraigned and pleaded not guilty to his newest charge, concealing evidence, for which he was indicted last week. . . .
In response to questions, Brown told the judge that he understood he was there in order for the court to determine his mental competency after a prison psychologist at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fort Worth recently issued a report recommending he be found competent. . . .
Brown told the judge that in Fort Worth he was “under the sporadic care of a psychologist,” after spending a week and a half under medical supervision while undergoing withdrawal from Suboxone, a drug used to treat opiate addiction. “I was addicted to Suboxone,” he told the judge.

Brown will face two separate trials, one in April and another in May, on the federal charges against him. More reporting from the Dallas Morning News and the Associated Press/KFDM.

In a brief phone conversation, Lee Stranahan — who attended today’s hearing in Dallas — told me that the question of competence was essentially uncontested by Brown’s public defender. Brown is reportedly being treated with Zoloft, an anti-depressant, and another drug, Risperidone, an anti-psychotic medication used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Is it possible that, while not contesting Brown’s current mental health condition as competent to stand trial, his attorney is prepared to argue that Brown was psychologically impaired at the time he recorded his threats against the FBI agent?

The video rant that led to Barrett Brown’s September arrest:

PREVIOUSLY:

 

Category: Barrett Brown, Conspiracy Theories, Crime

Obamanomics Fails — Unexpectedly!

Posted on | January 30, 2013 | 23 Comments

Remember how, right before the election, we had about three weeks of media hype about declining unemployment and hopeful signs of economic recovery? Yeah. They lied through their teeth:

Real gross domestic product — the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States — decreased at an annual rate of 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012 (that is, from the third quarter to the fourth quarter), according to the “advance” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Ed Morrissey at Hot Air:

Most economists predicted that the economy slowed in Q4, but I don’t know that anyone expected a negative number. Business Insider notes that the expectations were around 1.1% for Q4, which would have been a big drop in itself from Q3?s 3.1%.

It’s the old “hide the decline” trick. Only a fool could trust federal government economic reports during a Democrat president’s re-election campaign. The predictable headline:

U.S. Economy Unexpectedly Contracts in Fourth Quarter

Next question: How will the media blame this on Republicans?

 UPDATE: Well, that didn’t take long. Dan at Gay Patriot points out that Team Obama is already “looking for someone else to blame“:

The White House on Wednesday blamed the devastation from Superstorm Sandy and disruptions from deep scheduled spending cuts for the surprise 0.1 percent drop in gross domestic product (GDP) in the fourth quarter of 2012. It was the first such contraction since early 2009 when the country was in the grips of the Great Recession.

I’d say this is the equivalent of “the dog ate my homework” excuse, but let’s not talk about Obama and dogs and eating, eh?

Category: Barack Obama, Economics, Media Bias

Paul Broun Will Seek Georgia Senate Seat Vacated by Retiring Sen. Saxby Chambliss

Posted on | January 30, 2013 | 15 Comments

Andrew O’Shea of Viral Read broke the story last night: At an event in Gwinnett County, Republican Rep. Paul Broun announced he will seek Saxby Chambliss’s seat in 2014. Actually, Broun’s wife Niki announced the news, as Jim Galloway of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes.

There is expected to be a multi-candidate GOP primary for the Chambliss seat. Everyone expects Rep. Tom Price to run and, at last weekend’s National Review Institute Summit in D.C., one of my Georgia sources told me that Rep. Tom Graves is under heavy pressure to get in the race. Graves is said to be reluctant, but is a favorite of the Club for Growth and could get tacit backing from Gov. Nathan Deal, who hates Tom Price.

The Byzantine backroom maneuvering here will be interesting to watch: Broun might be seen as splitting the Christian conservative vote that would be essential to Price in the Senate primary, and that might leave Graves to mop up a lot of the economic conservative/Tea Party vote.

At least two other House Republicans, Rep. Lynn Westmoreland and Rep. Phil Gingrey , are said to be weighing Senate bids, as is Rep. Jack Kingston. So as many as five House members may get in the Senate primary, which could clear the way for lots of other Georgia Republicans, especially state legislators, to run for the vacated congressional seats, and thus produce a massive statewide scramble for offices.

Congratulations to my friends at Viral Read on their exclusive, which got them linked today at the Weekly Standard.

Category: Election, Georgia, Senate

HookerGate: Is FBI Raid Connected to Menendez’s Dominican Jailbait Scandal?

Posted on | January 30, 2013 | 22 Comments

It was the Wednesday before Election Day when the story broke that Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) had been caught patronizing prostitutes during trips to the Dominican Republic aboard the private jet of a Florida ophthalmologist. The mainstream media suppressed the news, as they habitually suppress all news not favorable to Democrats. But it’s a little harder to ignore the story once there’s an FBI raid:

FBI agents late Tuesday night raided the West Palm Beach business of an eye doctor suspected of providing free trips and even underage Dominican Republic prostitutes to U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J. — who has denied what he calls the “fallacious allegations.” . . .
The investigation is believed to be focusing on [Dr. Salomon] Melgen’s finances and the allegations about Menendez’s trips and contact with prostitutes. . . .
Melgen has an outstanding IRS lien of $11.1 million for taxes owed from 2006 to 2009, according to records filed with the Palm Beach County recorder’s office. A previous IRS lien for $6.2 million was released in 2011.
Despite those financial problems, Melgen and his family have contributed at least $357,000 to candidates and committees since 1998, according to Florida and federal campaign records. Of that, the Melgens have contributed about 9 percent to Menendez’s federal campaigns.

More from Matthew Boyle, who broke the story in October:

New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez abruptly left a press conference on Hurricane Sandy aid ahead of other Senate Democrats on Monday. While it’s unclear why Menendez left the presser early, the move came amid building pressure concerning a scandal involving allegations he solicited prostitutes in the Dominican Republic. . . .
Menendez told Breitbart News’ Kerry Picket that he wasn’t “going to dignify that story” when she asked him for comment on the FBI inquiry into his alleged solicitation of prostitutes in the Dominican Republic. Menendez had a similarly abrasive confrontation with The Daily Caller’s Nicholas Ballasy on Monday.

Why haven’t feminist blogs said anything about this? Do they think it’s OK for Democrat senators to have sex with underaged prostitutes? Let’s ask noted feminist hero Harry Reid:

“I always consider the source . . . and all anyone here has to look at is the source where this comes from. It’s — it’s a source that has brought up a lot of non-issues. . . . I’ve told you how I feel about the source of this stuff. It’s really very, very typical for the source.”

Ed Morrissey notes that Harry Reid is selective about his sources:

Let’s remind everyone that this is the same Harry Reid who repeatedly insisted that “sources” told him that Mitt Romney was a tax-cheating felon, while Reid insisted that the burden of proof was on Romney to prove himself innocent.

Right: Who believes what those jailbait hookers say?

UPDATE: Oliver Barie reports at Viral Read:

Mr. Menendez is also under federal investigation for his activities in the Dominican Republic with an underage prostitute. The woman, now of age, provided testimony that she had sexual relations with the Senator several times at the age of 16.
While Mr. Menendez is busy rearranging his plaque in the Senate Chambers and playing the role of de facto Chairman for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a massive storm is brewing. And once again, New Jersey is in the path of destruction.

Linked by Becca Lower — thanks!

 


Category: Crime, Democrats, Dominican Republic, Media Bias, New Jersey, Scandal, Sex

CNN’s ‘Poorly Rated’ @Soledad_OBrien Will Lose Her Show Nobody Watched

Posted on | January 30, 2013 | 61 Comments

Soledad O’Brien, America’s Least Popular Cable TV News Personality™

Jeff Zucker is making big changes at CNN, the cable-news pioneer that has fallen to third place in the ratings: Gone are longtime contributors James Carville and Mary Matalin, as well as Bill Bennett and Erick Erickson, the latter of whom has signed on with Fox News. Now we learn that America’s Least Popular Cable TV News Personality™ will be losing her morning-show spot:

CNN plans to launch a new morning show to replace the poorly rated “Starting Point with Soledad O’Brien,” sources at the network tell POLITICO.
The new show will be co-hosted by Chris Cuomo, who has just joined the network from ABC News, and likely by Erin Burnett, who currently hosts a primetime program on CNN. O’Brien’s own future at the network remains unclear.
“Soledad is very important to the network, and we’re discussing various options with her,” a CNN spokesperson told POLITICO this afternoon.

So, Cuomo and Burnett will anchor the new morning show and yet “Soledad is very important to the network” . . . how?

O’Brien is one of those people who used to work for the “Big Three” broadcast networks — in O’Brien’s case, NBC — and who was therefore automatically considered a “get” when CNN hired her in 2003. But Soledad has since flopped in every time-slot she’s had, and if she had any ratings magic, surely it would have been apparent by now, nearly 10 years into her career as a cable-news ratings albatross.

Strangely, The Atlantic‘s Alexander Abad Santos suggests the unliked O’Brien could get a primetime slot at CNN. Is Jeff Zucker that stupid?

UPDATE: When I say Soledad O’Brien is “unpopular,” here’s what I mean — Monday’s Nielsen ratings:

Fox & Friends …………………………………….. 1,003,000
MSNBC “Morning Joe” ………………………….. 412,000
CNN Headline News “Morning Express” …. 247,000
CNN “Starting Point” …………………………….. 193,000

Soledad O’Brien is not merely behind Fox and MSNBC, she’s even drawing 50,000 fewer viewers than Robin Meade on Headline News.

UPDATE II: Linked by Donald Douglas at American Power and by Ace of Spades who observes:

Now, Soledad O’Brien had crap ratings and so does Piers Morgan; but they’re keeping the portly white guy, eh?

CNN executives were quick to clarify their complaint that Soledad’s audience was “too ethnic.” Translation: “We can’t fire Soledad, because she’ll sue us for discrimination. Also, we resent the inference that we would cancel a show just because it doesn’t draw the audience of high-income young white professionals that adverstisers prefer!”

PREVIOUSLY:


Category: CNN

LIVE AT FIVE: 01.30.13

Posted on | January 30, 2013 | 2 Comments

— compiled by Wombat-socho


TOP NEWS
Mexico Welcomes New Immigration Push

A watch party for Obama’s speech in Las Vegas

Foreign Ministry expresses cautious optimism

Senate Confirms John Kerry As New SecState
Cornyn, Cruz and Inhofe only votes against

Egypt’s Army Chief Warns State Could Collapse
Gen. el-Sissi implies Army will not move to put down anti-Morsi protesters as riots continue, police prove unable to restore order



POLITICS
LaHood To Step Down As Transportation Secretary

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood

Last Republican leaves Obama’s cabinet

Boston’s Mayor Menino Back In The Spotlight

Indiana Couple Fights Charges From State DNR Over Rescuing Injured Baby Deer

New NYC Budget Plans To Cut 2500 Teachers Through Attrition

Obama: Immigration Reform “Within America’s Grasp”

Gun Control Advocates Urge Obama To Bypass Congress

Ted Cruz Introduces Bill To Fully Repeal Obamacare

Governor Perry Proposes Amending Texas Constitution To Allow Return Of Tax Surplus



THE ECONOMY, STUPID
Crude Oil Up Again In Asian Trade: NYMEX $97.53. Brent $114.37
Judge Says Samsung’s Infringement Of Apple Patents Not Willful But Denies Bid For New Trial
Amazon Misses Forecast, But Stock Leaps
RIM Reboot: Blackberry 10 Is Key To Its Survival
Embattled Chesapeake CEO To Step Down
U.S. Approves A123 Sale To Chinese Despite Security Concerns
Private Equity Firms Near Deal To Acquire Twinkies, Other Hostess Cake Brands
Philips Exits Shrinking Home Entertainment Business
Steve Ballmer Does Not Fear Dropbox Or An iPad Without Office
YouTube Prepping Paid Channel Subscriptions?
Apple Doubles Down On iPad, Increases Max Storage To 128GB
Disney Closes Down “Epic Mickey” Studio
Google Maps North Korea With Crowd-Sourced Data
Clearwire Shareholder Asks FCC To Stop Both Sprint Mergers
Pinterest Shows Off New Site Design, Invites Users To Try It Out
Google Drops 15,000 Raspberry Pi Computers On UK Kids



SPORTS
Islanders, Nabokov Keep Favored Penguins Reeling

Islanders goalie Yevgeni Nabokov stopping one of 37 Pens shots

Former pushovers wallop Penguins 4-1
Excitement fading fast as problems mount for punchless Penguins

Are The Yankees Done With A-Rod?

Rask, Marchand Help Bruins To Shootout Win Over Devils

At Super Bowl’s Media Day, Spotlight On Head Injuries Shines Harshly

Rangers Get Costly 2-1 Win Against Flyers; Callahan Injured

Minnesota Snaps Losing Streak Against Blue Jackets With 3-2 Win

Leafs Beat The Clock And Sabres In 4-3 OT Victory

Red Wings Beat Stars 4-2 As Filppula Scores 2

Kentucky Quiets Marshall Enderson, Beats #16 Ole Miss 87-74

Gio Gonzalez Under PED Cloud After Miami Clinic Story



FAMOUS FOR BEING FAMOUS
Melissa Gilbert And Timothy Busfield Engaged

Melissa Gilbert and Timothy Busfield

“Little House On the Prairie” meets “thirtysomething”

Noted Jerk Alec Baldwin Expecting First Baby With New Wife

LiLo Claims She’s Too Sick For Court

Ashley Judd Splits From Husband Dario Franchitti

Justin Bieber Gropes Young Fan’s Breast

“Teen Mom” Days Are Numbered

Miley Cyrus And Liam Hemsworth: Secretly Married?

WB Gives Green Light To “Entourage” Movie

“Boy Meets World” Exclusive: Meet Cory & Topanga’s Daughter



FOREIGNERS
UK Military Personnel Headed For Mali On Training Mission
Canada Pledges $13 Million In Mali Aid – None For African Troops
French Troops At The Gates Of Kidal, Last Major City In Northern Mali
Aleppo Massacre Sparks New Calls For End To Syrian Civil War
Australia’s PM Gillard Calls Elections For September 14
Argentina Reaches Agreement With Iran On Investigation Of 1994 Bombing
Anti-Rape T-Shirts In Vogue For India



BLOGS & STUFF
Daily Caller: CNN Drops Carville, Matalin, Erickson
Pat Dollard: Erickson Out At CNN, In At Fox
Allahpundit: Rubio And Limbaugh On Immigration Reform
NRO Corner: Immigration Reform Threatens To Add 7 Million To Obamacare
American Thinker: Why Immigration Is A Political Landmine For The GOP
Michelle Malkin: How The Liberal Media Spread The Sandy Hook “Heckling” Story – And How We Beat It Back
Ed Driscoll: Another Day, Another Deceptive Edit From NBC
Gateway Pundit: Sad. Lefty Mag’s Shooting Photo Is An Old Obama Golf Pic
Andrew Stuttaford: Exile
Phyllis Schlafly: Panetta’s Cowardly Decision
Jihad Watch” #MyJihadInEgypt – Mufti Calls For Anti-Morsi Demonstrators To Be Killed Or Mutilated
Weasel Zippers: Mayor Bloomberg Says Joe Biden Has Balls
Kirsten Powers: Obama Vs. Fox News – Behind The White House Strategy To De-Legitimize A News Organization
Sense Of Events: Obama, Alinsky, And Fox News
Ramesh Ponnuru: Why Republicans Should Ignore Obama
NewsBusters: MSNBC’s Finney Warns “Crazy Crackers” About “Hateful Language”
Sister Toldjah: Aide To Morsi Says Holocaust Was Faked
Atlas Shrugs: The New “New Republic” Drops Jews
Daily Pundit: Democrat Fifth Columnist David Brooks Calls For Second GOP


Category: Live at Five

Smitty’s Pancake Odyssey, Or:
Owning @ChrisLoesch

Posted on | January 29, 2013 | 11 Comments

by Smitty

Can’t let this pass:

Here was my ‘pancake odyssey’ from a couple Saturdays back.

Read more

Category: Uncategorized
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