Morning Odds and Ends
Photo by Dennis Zaki - www.denniszaki.com
Begich-Gate? Oh, wait. Begich – Gates!
Good grief. Mark Begich has been a busy man. One day jetting off to Afghanistan as a member of the Armed Services Committee to visit troops and meet Hamid Karzai, then back to Alaska to give Secretery of Defense Robert Gates a nickel tour of the missile defense site at Ft. Greely. He also tells us that the Obama administration is a bit frustrated at the lack of progress on Alaska’s gas pipeline. The President says it’s one of his top five priorities. Yeah, what ever happened to that pipeline anyway? Wasn’t it supposed to be one of someone else’s top five priorities? ….Governor? Halloooooo! Hm. Wonder what’s on her mind right now? Let’s check. (I excuse myself for a moment to check on the governor’s Twitter account…tap tap tap….and retrieve….tap tap…..THIS)
AKGovSarahPalinECHL Kelly Cup (AK Aces vs SC Stingrays) Game 6 SOLD OUT, even standing room. Highest hockey game attendance in Sullivan Arena history.
The Jaunt East
Let’s not forget, in addition to the Aces game, the governor has other things to think about. She’s busy getting ready for her trip to New York for the “Founders Day” celebration in Auburn on Saturday, at the home of William Seward (of “Seward’s Folly” fame). OK, he only visited Alaska once, and no, they’ve never celebrated “Founders Day” in Auburn before. But, heck….now’s as good a time as any. Not much going on in Alaska apparently, and the father of SarahPAC mouthpiece Meg Stapleton happens to live there and is running the event! What luck!
The next day, she’ll be on Long Island speaking at a fundraising dinner for the developmentally disabled.
About 1,000 people are expected for the Sunday dinner at Flowerfield in St. James, Lombardi said. Guitarist Dave Mason is also expected to attend and perform…
Stapleton said she could not reveal the rest of Palin’s schedule “for security reasons.”
So we know exactly where she’ll be on Saturday and exactly where she’ll be on Sunday, but the rest of her schedule cannot be revealed “for security reasons?” I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what top secret hijinks the governor is up to. Keep that window open on Twitter.com!
Another Mystery…
An anonymous Republican Senator is blocking the confirmation of Hilary Tompkins as the solicitor of the Interior Department. This is not sitting well with Jim Bingaman, Energy & Natural Resources Chair.
Bingaman said one or more Republican senators have placed the procedural “hold” on the nominee for a post he described as one of Interior’s most important. Bingaman praised Tompkins’ expertise and noted that she would be the first American Indian and second woman to hold the position.
“I’m obviously disappointed there has been an objection raised,” Bingaman said. “It’s unclear why anyone would object to confirming Ms. Tompkins. … More than four months into the new administration, the department should not be without its top legal [adviser]. Ms. Tompkins should not be the victim of anonymous holds.”
Senator Lisa Murkowski who is the ranking member of the Energy & Natural Resources Committee says she is not the ‘anonymous blocker’, and doesn’t know who is. Do ‘anonymous blockers’ wear PJs too?
Panda-Man Sex Scandal Rocks the GOP?
I don’t know quite what to say about this one. I’ll just let you read the link. But it does leave one with the distinct impression that Democratic sex scandals usually seem pretty ho-hum compared to the ones that crop up on the other side of the aisle.
I’m pretty sure it’s Jeff Bingaman. Though there are lots of Jim Bingamans to choose from: http://www.google.com/search?q=jim+bingaman&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
Wow AKM you are busy!
I seriously think Mrs. Palin has attention deficit disorder…
And yeah, what is up with Republicans and furries?
Begich and Gates–great.
Sarah on Twitter–insipid as usual.
Sarah at Founder’s Day–Will she wear a corsage bigger than her head?
Repubs blocking a minority woman from a legal position–No surprise. Idiots.
Panda-Man–Eeeeeeewwwwwwwww . . . . . .
Uh Oh…Not sure i want to go there..:))
I am pretty certain that Sarah will be shopping during the unaccounted for time(security reasons)
Another day, another bout of amazement (?) at the hijinks of GINO…
GOP- not just for pedophiles anymore. Now they recruit pedophiles in bear suits. Talk about a sad day in politics…
As for Palins security… you mean she’s leaving the house without a big gun? Oh yeah, forgot, she wears her weapons on her feet.
Unbelievable what the Queen “Tweets!” A pathetic excuse of a Governor. Her day will come. There is a lot happening behind closed doors yet to be revealed.
Sarah will be visiting the poolboy and sipping margaritas under a high security blanket. Wink. Wink.
AKM, about “the Obama administration is a bit frustrated at the lack of progress on Alaska’s gas pipeline. The President says it’s one of his top five priorities…”?
A later Twitterpate by Palin reveals this missive on the state of Alaska website from Galvin and Irwin. Not being as familiar with the nuances of AGIA as you surely must be, I leave it to you to comment…
Oops, left out the URL:
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/pdf/BegichLetter-GaslineProgress_May2-2009.pdf
While it might sound like some kind of a cliche, “You can’t make this stuff up!”
Part of Sarah’s itinerary is “secret?” Sarah has secrets? A scheduled lobotomy?
If twitter would hurry up with this new feature , we would know exactly where the twat was tweeting from………
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stanley-bing/good-news-fellow-paranoid_b_210397.html
I wonder when “real” Republicans are going to stand up and have some self-pride. They are being represented by wingnuts and are OK with it. Even glad to support it. They can’t ALL be nuts, can they?
The furry threat is well known in republican circles…
http://blogs4brownback.wordpress.com/2007/10/03/furries-a-twisted-freakshow-of-utter-depravity/
Its been a big topic of discussion and is now over 1,000 comments….
sample: “I think that anyone who pretends to be an animal is someone who does NOT want to be human. They are filled with hate for themselves and for everyone else, especially the baby Jesus.
I think these people should be kept in pens and be used as a food source for Ethiopians, Zimbabweans and other dammed peoples, in the hopes that if they are kept alive a bit longer maybe some of them would convert.
Comment by Happy Clam — October 3, 2007 @ 12:19 pm | Reply”
“panda-ing” to the base?
London Bridges Says: June 3rd, 2009 at 11:53 AM While it might sound like some kind of a cliche, “You can’t make this stuff up!” Part of Sarah’s itinerary is “secret?” Sarah has secrets? A scheduled lobotomy?
Maybe she’s getting her 2001 tubal ligation reversed.
Disclaimer: The above comment is pure speculation….
To quote Sargeant Schultz: “I don’t know anything!” (for sure. I just highly suspect)
Once again I’m reminded of a line by Wojohowitz on the old TV series Barney Miller: “Once you accept that you can point to any item in the Sears catalogue and there’s somebody somewhere who wants to sleep with it – nothing shocks you.”
I guess I’m not to that level of acceptance yet …
Yup – Those Rethugs like walkin’ on the wild side………
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/58121/the_david_vitter_diaper_diaries/
Wow, Palin must have a lot of time on her hands today.
She’s Tweedledum’d AGAIN!
And it’s no surprise, now that we know the composition of her investigative team and Personnel Board:
“We won. Another expensive, time consuming false ethics charge thrown out. Remember the one: I wore my coat w/Arctic Cat logo & was charged?”
13 minutes ago from TwitterBerry
When she is in Auburn, NY: I am sure she’ll be stayin at the Stapletons and Megaphone will be drag her through the sleepy little town & probably have a little par-tay for her. Security reasons: just look in the Auburn phone book for the Stapletons address.
RE: #21…….the twit news: argh….. no surprise. As with other corruption stories, just because someone throws the case out, or deems it false doesn’t make it so. Would be refreshing to have investigation/board not picked by the GuiltyOne(s).
Forget ethics complaints. Palin needs a vote of no confidence.
Maybe Alan’s been watching old South Park reruns…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPmbL5G8rJY&feature=related
Sorry… couldn’t find a better clip…
Sen Murkowski is full of 100% bs that she doesn’t know who is holding up the appointment. That is a big 100% bs cake with lots of 100% bs frosting on it!! A ranking member of the committee, she is just plain full of ____ (fill in the blank) that she doesn’t know who is blocking the appointment. Alright, here is a slight slice of “maybe you really don’t know excuse” – well find out, make it public knowledge, deal with the problem and get it solved!! What a lousey excuse – geez, do your _____ job.
KaJo Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:05 PM
London Bridges Says: June 3rd, 2009 at 11:53 AM While it might sound like some kind of a cliche, “You can’t make this stuff up!” Part of Sarah’s itinerary is “secret?” Sarah has secrets? A scheduled lobotomy?
Maybe she’s getting her 2001 tubal ligation reversed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I’ve also heard rumor of a 5 yrs old hysterectomy scar…? I’m sure just speculation…
How long will Obama be in Saudi? Is it possible? Could he be bringing the U.S.A.’s foremost energy expert to join in the meetings?
The Panda video… is it a preview of the next GOP convention?
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/597704/the_panda_song/
“We won. Another expensive, time consuming false ethics charge thrown out. Remember the one: I wore my coat w/Arctic Cat logo & was charged?”
Everybody pray or send karmac energy to the ACLU of Alaska so they can find the right goods to CLEAN HER CLOCK!
Puff piece about Lisa on politico today.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/23260.html
Go, go, gadget Family Values!
You know, I was just thinking it’s be funny to find where SP eats her lunch of a weekday, rent the apartment that overlooks that place — if one is available for renting — and then tie a dollar bill to a fishing line and see if I could land a governor.
Doesn’t it make you wonder why, all of a sudden, bing, bing, bing………eithic complaints are getting ruled on………why did it take so long? why now all together? isn’t it on a case by case process?
WTF, were they sitting on them, ignoring them? was this some weird plan used to raise money in the “trust fund”, trust, lol, was this used for publicity and sympathy? if they were so frivolous why is she gloating over her major victories.
something is amiss with all this, don’t you think?
0whole1 Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:59 PM
Go, go, gadget Family Values!
You know, I was just thinking it’s be funny to find where SP eats her lunch of a weekday, rent the apartment that overlooks that place — if one is available for renting — and then tie a dollar bill to a fishing line and see if I could land a governor.
————–
Don’t forget to smear a little something stinky to the back of the bill.
Paula Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:54 PM
“We won. Another expensive, time consuming false ethics charge thrown out. Remember the one: I wore my coat w/Arctic Cat logo & was charged?”
Everybody pray or send karmac energy to the ACLU of Alaska so they can find the right goods to CLEAN HER CLOCK!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
YES! Because I’m damn OUTRAGED RIGHT NOW!
Personally, I REALLY, REALLY thought the Arcitic Cat conflict of interest ethics complaint had teeth. I still do! And I hope the FBI goes after her, there was OBVIOUSLY thought and planning that went into that whole “walking billboard advertising deal”. You can not convince me Arctic Cat didn’t know the value of this “free” ha ha, advertising, it was an endorsement! I hope this one bites her, too bad it’s just ethics, I’d love to see the punitive damages if it’s federally illegal.
It was cold, I just wore a warm coat, gag……liar, liar pants on fire. Is is okay to lie if your a christian? or does she convince herself “somehow” that it’s okay to tell half truths and lies.
I dislike her even more now. I hope her political party tears her to shreds in the primaries, she deserves it and has it coming.
and it wasn’t “just” a coat, it was a whole custom made outfit. B*tch.
sorry to go off topic AKM……I’ll go to the open thread.
But on topic………that frickin letter she had the commissioner and Irwin write to chew out Begich is pitiful smackdown. Bipartisan, bla bla bla……. I hope he comes back with something.
No no NO!!! I really thought the cat coat would stick??? Say it ain’t so? I sure hope this does not discourage anyone from filing further complaints which I am sure are to come.
What a sad day……….I just read this over on the ‘team-you-know-who” site and of course they are having an online party that their dear queen is looking like she won another complaint.
I wouldn’t exactly call it winning. Is it? Is it over? Nothing else can be done?
Crying in my dinner.
I am FAR less inclined to believe that it was “her coat with an Artic Cat logo” that she just dragged out of the closet that particular day.
NOPE! It was a full on, bright neon, SCREAMING advertisement ENSEMBLE from head to toe, made ESPECIALLY for her to wear on THAT particular day. Didn’t the rest of her Klan have similar advertising-wear?
Your ethics board needs to develop a few ethics of their own, IMHO.
And what the HECK is she doing twittering about a damn HOCKEY GAME when people’s homes are literally floating away? Doesn’t she have a plate of cookies to deliver or SOMETHING?
SECURITY REASONS? We can’t know her schedule for SECURITY REASONS? Who does she think she is? The President of the United States? I’m sure the 1000 guest dinner planners aren’t going to step up “security” for her.
What is she worried about? That maybe someone will retaliate for Dr. Tiller’s death because she helps to instigate the hate? If she’s that worried, maybe she should keep her little self in AK and deal with AK. Auburn, NY, other than being a town Seward lived in at one time, has NOTHING to do with AK. She should be throwing a celebratory BBQ in her backyard and inviting Special Olympics kids or something instead.
You know… she’s a HUGE advocate for disabled children!!! (What, so far, has she actually DONE for them, btw?).
I think I just threw up a little. What a putz.
Reminder OT comments, please use the open thread.
Also, there is a new post up on the Arctic Cat ethics complaint dismissal.
Thanks.
BTW: I agree… if it was so “frivolous” a complaint, why all the celebration for its dismissal? Shouldn’t it just be shrugged off as something she KNEW would happen? She’s acting kind of surprised by making a twitter deal of it.
Still laughing about her “security reasons”. Really! Does she think anyone gives a crap about her enough to even bother putting together a sinister plot?
I would bet most are just waiting for the next campaign, gathering their damning evidence to bury her once and for all, and chilling the champagne for election night.
Sorry… thought the Artic Cat stuff was mentioned in this post. I guess I just took off on another blogger’s twitter update.
“Stapleton said she could not reveal the rest of Palin’s schedule “for security reasons.”
I guess next it will be an armored Hummer.
Geeze, who does she think she’s kidding?
O wait.
Bush no longer needs his full body Kevlar suit and Frankinstein shoes, Sarah could buy them second hand.
My apologies for the “twitter” post on the ethics complain result. I forgot there was an open thread…
Sorry…
3 Blooper Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 11:13 AM
I seriously think Mrs. Palin has attention deficit disorder…
And an attentionholic.
Is the twitter-thingy (device and/or service) paid for by the state?
Bretta–I believe so but am not 100% sure.
Not for the faint hearted, but what is it with those repugs and animals?
ilykos.com/story/2009/4/29/725999/-Georgia-candidate-doesnt-think-past-sex-with-mule-will-hurt-his-chances-for-Governor
Just gross!
I’ll try that again!
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/4/29/725999/-Georgia-candidate-doesnt-think-past-sex-with-mule-will-hurt-his-chances-for-Governor
Berlin stated that he was looking for an adult “20 to 25, with a car” — another hopeful guarantee of snagging an adult partner. He did not even turn up — and can’t we all give the “victim” of the stand-up (durn you, Berlin — why don’t you guys ever show?!?!) a little compassion for getting all furred up for nothing? Except for the fact that he apparently misled his on-line buddy about his age. Berlin might very well have figured out that there was a chance the “victim” was underage, and acted responsibly.
Okay, I admit it. Never heard of yiffing as a real-world sort of thing, and am kinda… bemused by it. I mean, it’s gotta be hot in those suits. Definitely a conservative thing, I’m thinking.
But Berlin did nothing wrong! He was just… dating like any on-liner. Made a date, didn’t show. And if he can prove that he was actively looking for an adult partner, and didn’t show up because he wasn’t certain the “victim” was adult — sue your boss, dude! You’ve got a right to a personal life.
As long as we don’t have to watch any videos.
oregonbird – OK. How about two animals that are gay , and raising an offspring to boot.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8081829.stm
Oregonbird
I quote from AKM’s headline
don’t know quite what to say about this one. I’ll just let you read the link. But it does leave one with the distinct impression that Democratic sex scandals usually seem pretty ho-hum compared to the ones that crop up on the other side of the aisle.
I think the story I quoted was on topic. I posted that it wasn’t for the faint hearted, also called it gross.
You know nothing of me or my thought processes. Nor am I cruel.
Please feel free to completely ignore all my posts, that is your choice, as it should be.
You are making a good point oregonbird. Assuming the guy was, in fact, looking for consenting adult sexual (or otherwise) companionship and did not know the age of his on-line hookup, then it’s just a guy who happens to have a harmless fetish. And really, that hurts no one. All that the story has, at that point, is the usual sexual hypocricy angle.
austintx
Thanks, my sense of humour is always getting me in trouble. I forget sometimes that some people don’t have the same sort of humour.
UK Lady – Did you see my diaper link. I too , was pointing out the hypocrisy of the far right.
austintx
I did, v. funny. catch you back on open link. Who is RM?.
From AKM’s link on the Panda Man sex scandal:
“In one message, according to the complaint, Mr. Berlin requested pictures of the boy and wrote, “When will your folks be out?” ”
—————————————————————–
According to the complaint, Mr. Berlin was well aware of the “furbaby’s” juvenile status. It’s doubtful whether the question of whether Mom and Dad will be out is a standard question in “adult dating.” His profile requesting 20-25 yo was obviously CYA for this exact scenario of discovery.
Mr. Berlin was fired. Not too many people get fired for consenting adult online dating, regardless of harmless fetishes. Adults do get fired if they are going sexually after a kid online….because it’s illegal. Since they have confiscated the posts between the 15 yo boy and Mr. Berlin, the evidence presented in the short link was presumably only the tip of the iceberg involving this case.
UK Lady…..Your posts are funny, perceptive, never cruel. Keep on posting in your own style, gal. BTW….say”Hi” to UK Man and tell him to throw in his eloquent keyboarding once in a while. Still dazzled by his description of Palin and Obama… who “hove on your horizon and rent asunder your idyllic life”…..(paraphrasing here…haha).
OMG, my parents live in Orie’s District. I used to live in Orie’s District. I have a strong urge to go take a shower.
OMG! I must be living under a rock. I have never heard of this stuff.
LMAO! I guess you really can’t make this stuff up! After reading the link and all the attachments, I am stunned. How many other whackos are out there? Really stunned!!!!
As for the Aces Game twitter…I think it shows us all where here heart and mind is. Cheerleader mentality lives on!!!
oops! wish we had an edit and spellcheck! I meant to say “I think it shows us all where her heart and mind is. Cheerleader mentality lives on!!!” (typo on her).
This was on the AP newswire this morning.
http://www.buffalonews.com/260/story/690166.html?imw=Y
I’ve been trying to hold my tongue on this one…
RM = Rachel Maddow
Lee 323, austintx, sauerkraut
Thanks mudmaties.
The person who berated me was the one who caused the upset about saying Cheney etc., should not be blamed for torture, also had a go at CO Almost native for complaining about Candie wear. Said she must also be a tart or something like that for admitting to having had some vintage Candy shoes. Other stuff before that I think but can’t remember.
austintx
OMG. Those poor dogs. Can’t believe that he was only banned from keeping animals for 2 years, should have been a lifetime ban. Truly some sick people in this world.
UK Lady – Anytime. Many moons ago , someone was real mean to bubbles , and Dr. Truth came forward and straightened that up real quick.
Quote from the story AKM linked: “…According to the criminal complaint, Mr. Berlin proposed traveling to the boy’s home in Harrisburg, about 20 miles from Carlisle, and having sex in the backyard and in a shed on his parents’ property. He also allegedly offered to arrange a meeting in a hotel room so Mr. Berlin could take photos of the boy and another adult having sex.”
While I recognize that we don’t have all the facts in the case, this sounds to me like Berlin surely knew he was dealing with an under-age child. If so, then this is hardly an innocuous fetish.
“But Berlin did nothing wrong! He was just… dating like any on-liner. Made a date, didn’t show. And if he can prove that he was actively looking for an adult partner, and didn’t show up because he wasn’t certain the “victim” was adult — sue your boss, dude! You’ve got a right to a personal life.”
Makes me wonder about certain thought processes.
TBNT Judy
I heart Judy.
I heart you, too, UK lady!
Does twittering make you a twit.
@ 63 austintx Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 4:09 AM
=================
Please give us a heads up if the link you provide isn’t OT — thanks!