The Other McCain

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

VIDEO: New Ad Slams Barney Frank on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

Posted on | October 26, 2010 | 4 Comments

Category: Election, Massachusetts, Video

Man in Kentucky Head-Stomping Incident Identified as Paul Supporter Mike Pezzano UPDATE: MoveOn.org Activist Was Charged in Greenpeace Vandalism UPDATE: Rand Paul Describes ‘Crowd Control Problem’ at Event (Video)

Posted on | October 26, 2010 | 33 Comments

My Kentucky conservative friend Lisa Graas reports she got an e-mail from a Tea Party activist identifying the man, and offers photographic proof. Please note that Pezzano is allegedly the man in the plaid shirt who wrestled MoveOn activist Lauren Valle to the ground, not the guy who stomped her.

Meanwhile, quite predictably, I find myself accused by the Left of being pro-head-stomping or, to borrow a phrase coined by my Twitter friend Ken Gardner, I’m guilty of “headstomperism.”

My initial reaction to this Political Theater of the Absurd incident in Lexington was to make a joke. I joke about everything. Ask anyone. Joking is a lifelong habit with me. I joke about cancer. That doesn’t make me pro-cancer.

UPDATE: Eric Boehlert of Media Matters:

A very clever guilt-by-association tactic, you see? In point of fact, Andrew Breitbart immediately condemned the Kentucky head-stomping via Twitter and yet Boehlert, with this insinuation that Breitbart “must be so proud,” tries to implicate Breitbart with words and deeds he neither authorized nor endorsed.

UPDATE II: Wow. The plot of this story just got infinitely more complicated. MoveOn.org activist Lauren Valle is accused of criminal trespassing in Louisiana:

Sheriff Craig Webre and Harbor Police Chief John Callais announced the arrest of seven Greenpeace activists in Port Fourchon. A complaint came in at approximately 12:45 PM stating the seven had boarded a vessel at Port Fourchon and painted messages with an unknown substance on different areas of the ship. The messages were directed to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. A representative for Salazar was at Port Fourchon this morning while other dignitaries congregated in Galliano with Secretary Salazar and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano regarding the ongoing oil spill impacting the Louisiana coastline. . . .
The seven had been seen in the area for the past week and had been repeatedly warned by law enforcement not to hamper clean up operations and not to trespass. Greenpeace is known for pre-planning and coordinating similar protests to bring attention to environmental issues. Pictures of the vandalism appeared on the Greenpeace website within minutes of the arrest of the activists.

Via Gateway Pundit and Alabama Right News.

UPDATE III: Lisa Graas: “Unconfirmed report that KSP have apprehended the assailants.” Good. Then we can expect to have a complete official account of the incident.

Given the nature of the May vandalism in Louisiana — which seems to have aroused security concerns for two Cabinet secretaries — Valle’s actions in Kentucky take on a completely different cast. Environmentalists have been known to commit acts of violence and, in the mob scene outside the Lexington debate, some of Paul’s supporters might have feared that this wild-eyed person shoving her way through the crowd was trying to do some kind of weird Squeaky Fromme thing.

UPDATE IV: Rand Paul describes the mob scene in Lexington:

“I will tell you that when we arrived, there was enormous passion on both sides . . . people yelling and screaming . . . It was a bit of a crowd control problem.”

Look, as a reporter who’s been out on the campaign trail — in 2008, I sat just a few feet from Hillary Clinton at a press conference and actually talked to Chelsea in West Virginia — I have enormous sympathy for the kind of “crowd control” issues surrounding these events.

When I was covering the big rally in Searchlight, Nevada, I remember Sarah Palin being hustled through a phalanx of security without time to say “hello” or shake hands with her supporters. Even with a press pass dangling around my neck on a lanyard, I was careful not to make any move that Palin’s security might interpret as potentially threatening.

Now imagine if some crazy woman at Searchlight had come shoving through the crowd wearing a blonde wig and carrying a sign mocking Palin.

You see what I’m talking about? I’m not advocating, endorsing or defending the stomping of heads. I’m just saying that this mob scene in Lexington was exactly the sort of situation where these kinds of incidents happen. It’s unfortunate and wrong, but it is ridiculously misleading to politicize this incident as if it were somehow typical of those “crazy right-wingers,” which is what Boehlert, et al., are attempting to do.

UPDATE V: Let me remind you of the American Spectator column I filed about the Searchlight rally in March:

With few exceptions, what brought reporters to Saturday’s rally was the opportunity to do what they have been doing in their Tea Party coverage for more than a year: Highlight negative “gotcha” moments to discredit the movement as a dangerous collection of hate-filled, misinformed lunatics, meanwhile asking attendees questions along the lines of, “Who do you consider to be the leader of your movement?”
In that sense, Saturday was a two-for-one press-corps special, providing the media a chance to play “gotcha” with Palin, the GOP’s 2008 vice-presidential candidate who is widely presumed by reporters to be a Tea Party leader, if not in fact the leader. Palin did not disappoint either fans or detractors at Searchlight, using her speech to assail the media for promoting Democratic claims that the movement is . . . well, a dangerous collection of hate-filled, misinformed lunatics.
“We’re not inciting violence,” Palin proclaimed from the windswept stage that organizers had erected on the back of a flatbed truck. “Don’t get sucked into the lame-stream media lies.”

If you don’t want to be stereotyped, don’t act like a stereotype. Being aware that Democrats wish to depict Tea Party activists as violent yahoos, it is therefore incumbent on Tea Party activists to strive to avoid behaving like violent yahoos. Ed Morrissey at Hot Air:

Absolutely indefensible. Regardless of the woman’s intent, she has as much right to be in that public venue as Paul’s supporters. They have no right to assault her just because she’s holding a ridiculous MoveOn sign or even approaching the candidate. . . .
Paul has his own security with him, as the video seems to show, and they knew better than to react to an obvious provocation, and especially not to overreact to it.

Permit me a mild protest at an attempt to view this incident through the lens of “rights.” (George Donnelly takes it from a Randian perspective.) It is absolutely correct to say that the people who accosted Valle should (and by the time of my next update, almost certainly will) be facing criminal charges. So there is no question as to the legal rights involved here.

Yet human nature often causes otherwise sane and peaceful people to react in fight-or-flight mode to perceived threats. Once that adrenaline rush hits the neural system, autonomic reflexes take hold and people do things in the heat of the moment that they would not attempt to justify, except as an unthinking reflex.

We may expect when this case is processed through the legal system, the Paul supporters will offer just such a defense: Acknowledging the wrongness of their violence, yet pointing to the extenuating circumstance that they were reacting to a sudden provocation — a provocation which, unlike their own reactions, was premeditated.

UPDATE VI: Rand Paul issues new statement condemning violence and warning of deer hazards for gonzo reporters.

(Maybe I misquoted that last part.)

Category: Crime, Election, Kentucky, Senate

NBC4: Subtle Anti-Murray, Pro-Moran Slant

Posted on | October 26, 2010 | 3 Comments

by Smitty

This News-4 story from 25 October looks fairly balanced:

For reference, here is the contentious clip:

Now, let’s fisk NBC-4:

Time Comment
0:08 “…claims Moran said…” No, actually, Moran did say that about military service: “What [Republicans] do is that they find candidates – usually stealth candidates – that haven’t been in office, haven’t served or performed any kind of public service. My opponent is typical.”
0:19 “…comments at a community appearance…” Why the attempt to draw attention away from the audience? Is NBC undaware that the ‘community’ in question was the Arlington County Democratic Committee? This was far more  than random folks down at the Alexandria Farmer’s Market, where I have personally been along with Murray to, you know, meet people. Moran’s audience were all insiders. Moran’s audience knew who they, (Republicans) are, and why Murray’s lack of the secret handshake and decoder ring would be detrimental to ACDC’s interests.
0:27 “…instead, his lack of community involvement…” If Jim Moran would like to issue a fresh statement describing exactly how the dealmaking skills accrued over 20 years in Congress exceed the leadership and managerial skills of a career of public service in the military, such a statement would be both enlightening and nothing whatsoever like what Moran is on record as saying.
If Moran attempts to imply that there are other criteria for serving in Congress to be met, those would also be interesting to know. Is a Boston accent one of them, or is Moran’s accent a mere Kennedy-esque affectation? Oh, wait, Moran grew up in Massachusetts, so maybe Murray’s Oklahoma origins aren’t so strange.
0:40 “…seek the seat of Virginia Congressman Jim Moran…” Speaking of Massachusetts, didn’t we go through this drill in January with “the Kennedy Seat”? VA-8’s seat belongs to all constituents, not merely the occupant, for all that occupant’s body language screams otherwise.
1:20 Watch the whole video. When you recall the Democrat insider audience, the second half is as devastating as the President’s “bitter clingers“, explored in detail here.
1:46 “…his comments have been distorted” Is he referring to his record of public service in general, or this incident in particular? One wonders. He means every odious, condescending word and dismissive gesture in that clip, right at face value, judging by every time I’ve seen him personally or on TV.
2:00 “…decided not to be involved…” Patrick Murray is running for office. Jim Moran is running for office. If running for office is deciding not to be involved, then Moran is confessing extreme detachment on his own part. But will this form of projection find traction with conscious voters?
2:07 “…that’s what I was saying…” Other that the fact that this is not what he said in the clip, one can find no objection with Moran’s explanation. Are we going to believe Moran, or our lying ears?
A fine acting performance, though.  Anyone unaware of Moran’s dented wastebasket personality might be taken in by the show of contrition here.
2:28 “…sticking by his statement that Murray isn’t qualified because he hasn’t been active in community issues.” First, that’s a fresh statement.
Second, unless Operation Community Issues is some hush-hush project known only to carefully briefed Democrat voters in VA-8, the statement is nonsensical. Patrick Murray has all of the necessary chops to function effectively in the next Congress. More importantly, he lacks the taint of the PMA scandal and all of the other murky activities clouding Moran’s record.
2:38 “…voted locally for the first time” The specifics of military residence, I can speak from experience, get into nit-noid detail. Moran’s effort to imply some extra-legal residence requirement is a laughable attempt to distract from the fact that Moran is way past time to retire. And retire Jim Moran we must.

PATRICK MURRAY for U.S. CONGRESS
Jim Moran: half the charm of the typical Democrat. Will it make up for a campaign office that resembles a morgue?

Category: Jim Moran, Patrick Murray, Virginia

VIDEO: Police Frustrated in Search for Missing Blonde Ohio Sorority Girl

Posted on | October 26, 2010 | 2 Comments


Thousands Of Girls Match Description Of Missing Sorority Sister

Meanwhile, in political news, many observers are suspicious about Joe Biden’s latest initiative:


Biden Invites Nation’s Women To Tax Code Discussion At Private Mountain Chalet

Category: humor, Video

LIVE AT FIVE – 10.26.10

Posted on | October 26, 2010 | Comments Off on LIVE AT FIVE – 10.26.10

TOP NEWS

Obama Gets Caustic Welcome In Rhode Island

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Frank Caprio


“He can take his endorsement and really shove it, as far as I’m concerned”
Bernanke: Regulators Looking Into Foreclosure Mess
Fed latest to pile on after state AGs, FDIC…

Obama Touts Job Creation As Midterms Near
Kind of like Typhoid Mary bragging about her public health contributions, am I right?



POLITICS

Obama Defends Failed Immigration Policies

Shameless pandering? Check! Blaming powerless Republicans? Check!

Feinstein Admits Political Climate Is Bad

Jerry Brown’s Wannabee Replacement Wants Ads Against Her Stopped


Democrats Counting On Strength Of Obama’s GOTV Network

West Virginia Likes Joe Manchin – But Not Necessarily In The Senate



THE ECONOMY, STUPID

TIPS Sell For Negative Yield As Investors Fear Inflation

Feds Call For 20% Reduction In Heavy Truck, Bus Emissions

Dollar Trades At 15-Year Low Against Yen

Android Reaches 100,000-App Milestone

Microsoft’s Ozzie Urges Post-PC Applications & Services

Apple’s Drive To Port Apps To Mac Has Developers Worried



SPORTS

Favre’s Ironman Streak In Jeopardy

Diagnosed with two ankle fractures today after loss to Packers

Lincecum To Start Game 1 Of Series For Giants Against Rangers’ Cliff Lee
Cy Young Award winners face off in the opener

Wilbon: This NBA Season Worth Watching From Day One

New Nike Ad With LeBron James Raises Ruckus



FAMOUS FOR BEING FAMOUS

“America’s Got Talent” Contestant Busted For X Possession

Arrested by police after interrogation following wife’s death on Saturday

Lohan Looking For Sponsor – Too Broke For Court-Ordered Rehab?


Matt Damon & Wife Welcome Baby Girl To Family

Katy & Russell Leave India As Wild Wedding Party Draws Investigators



FOREIGNERS

Karzai: Yeah, We Get Bags Of Cash From Iran All The Time

Gunmen Storm Tijuana Drug Treatment Center, At Least Thirteen Dead

Bomb At Pakistani Sufi Shrine Kills Five

French Unions Look Increasingly Futile As Pension Reform Continues To Move Forward



BLOGS & STUFF

Riehl World View – Murkowski Sinks To New Low

Althouse – The Truth About Jon Stewart’s Rally (Video)

Babalu – Yes, Nancy, We Give You All The Credit

Sister Toldjah – So Gene Taylor’s Claiming He Voted For McCain?

Protein Wisdom – Charlie Cook Talks A Lot About The Senate, Doesn’t Really Say Anything


— compiled by Wombat-socho

Category: Live at Five

Do the Kentucky Head-Stomp!

Posted on | October 26, 2010 | 37 Comments

It’s the dance sensation that’s sweeping the nation:

Lisa Graas (who experienced the frightening online wrath of Paulistas during the Kentucky GOP primary) linked this story at her blog.

I’m hesitant to jump to conclusions about what actually happened in this kind of made-for-TV publicity stunt. Who were these “Rand Paul supporters” who roughed up MoveOn.org activist Lauren Valle? Why did police question Valle, and not the guys who roughed her up? At any rate, I remember when Alex Jones sicced a mob on Michelle Malkin during a protest at the 2008 Democrat convention in Denver. Malkin did nothing at all to provoke that attack.

So: I’m definitely anti-head-stomping. But if an innocent journalist being attacked by a mob of raging Truthers at a Democratic event wasn’t held against Obama, I’m not sure how Rand Paul can be blamed for these idiots who stomped the MoveOn.org protester.

UPDATE: WCPO-TV reports that there were actually two fights outside the debate in Louisville:

They describe the incident with the MoveOn.org woman this way:

The woman, determined to pose in front of Rand Paul holding a sign that read “Rand Paul Republicore: Employee of the Month,” tripped and fell on the ground after someone grabbed her blonde wig off her head.
She was then stepped on by a man wearing a Rand Paul t-shirt. Police say she refused treatment and later filed an assault report.

OK, so a police report has been filed, and the people involved in the incident are now suspects in an assault case.

UPDATE II: This is becoming a cause célèbre on the Left side of the blogosphere. Joshua Green’s headline at The Atlantic Monthly is “MoveOn Supporter Brutally Attacked by Rand Paul Supporter.” So far as I’m aware, Joshua Green has never written a word about the brutal attack on Kenneth Gladney.

Louisville police are now investigating the incident. The man who stomped Valle will be identified, and we’ll see how the story develops in coming days.

UPDATE III: Lots more news coverage now: CNN, Congressional Quarterly and Politico, among others. Mike Tobin of Fox News quotes a statement from Rand Paul’s campaign: “Violence of any kind has no place in our civil discourse and we urge supporters on all sides to be civil to one another as tensions rise heading toward this very important election.”

RAND PAUL for U.S. SENATE
Pro-Aqua Buddha. Anti-Head-Stomping.

UPDATE IV: One participant in the incident has been identified and I have been accused of “headstomperism.”

Category: Crime, Election, Kentucky, Senate

‘Ran Into Rahm Emmanuel In The Train Station This Morning’

Posted on | October 25, 2010 | 15 Comments

by Smitty

Narrative due to Williscroft:

“Rahm!” I shouted, walking up & sticking out my hand. He took it and gave it a limp-wristed shake, smiling something trite. I gripped hard and didn’t let go.

“You’re in for a pretty hard time come Election Day, aren’t you?” I said, breathing down into his little chimp face.

“We all are, brother,” he said, squirming a little.

“Nah.” I said. “Just you.” Let go of his hoof. “Thanks for f*****g up my country, a*****e.”

And I floated off to my train, feeling FINE!

Category: Illinois

Old School in the New Media: Crime, Scandal & Alyssa Milano Lesbian Kiss

Posted on | October 25, 2010 | 10 Comments

“When I was a kid reporter at the LA Times in the 1960s, some of the veteran photographers and reporters regaled me with tales of how they used to sit in their cars with motors running, radios tuned to the police band, so they could be first on the scene of a gangland slaying or a spouse-stabbing, the bloodier the better. . . .
“There was serious stuff in the papers, too, like Korea and the Cold War and polio vaccine, but much of that was available to everyone and left to the wires to report. The premium, then as now, was on speed.”
— Paul Steiger, Ralph McGill Lecture, Henry Grady School of Journalism, University of Georgia

Thanks to Jack Lail for that useful lecture in a post titled, “Free enterprise just hasn’t been good for journalism.” And I’m afraid the comment by Professor Glenn Reynolds — “Maybe this explains their attitude toward capitalism” — gets the causation exactly backwards.

It is the anti-capitalist attitude that causes the failure of journalism, and not the other way around.

How many journalists have I worked with since 1986 who are no longer working as journalists? Short answer: Lots. Probably even most of them.

Some of them just found other lines of work where they could make more money. Some of them were laid off, victims of mismanaged news organizations. But a lot of them drifted out of an increasingly competitive news environment because they never really had that fire-in-the-belly appetite for competition.

Despite my natural-born laziness, I always understood that news is a business. The newsroom staff is an expense. The revenue comes from advertisers who want the attention of readers. Therefore:

  • The journalist’s value to his employer is directly connected to his contribution to the business of attracting readers.
  • The story is more important than the writer, because the writer is less important than the reader.
  • Advertising will follow the reader.
  • Attracting and satisfying the reader — as the ultimate consumer of the product — is the whole business of journalism.

The stuck-up snobbery of those who don’t appreciate these basic facts of the news business, who feel entitled to a living as a professional journalist because they imagine themselves to be pursuing a calling more noble than the pursuit of profit — well, to hell with all that.

Let ’em join the Peace Corps, if they think journalism is some kind of philanthropic endeavor.

Did you know that this video clip of Alyssa Milano in a lesbian kissing scene has had 1.6 million views? Read more

Category: Celebrities, Fear & Loathing on the Way to Florida, R.S. McCain School of Journalism, Scandal, Sex, Shoe Leather Fund
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