2012 Presidential Election

In September 2004, shortly before the November presidential elections pitting George W. Bush against John Kerry, CBS Evening News anchor and managing editor Dan Rather presented a falsified document to the public that purported to show that Bush had gone AWOL from the Texas Air National Guard. As it turned out, the papers were forgeries. Rather retired under heavy pressure. This month, NBC News broadcast a heavily edited tape of George Zimmerman’s 911 call in the Trayvon Martin case. The tape itself was fully available. And NBC News, as we’ve reported, cut the relevant portion of the tape deliberately in order to make Zimmerman look like a racist. Here’s the transcript of the original recording: ZIMMERMAN: This guy looks like he’s up to no good. Or he’s on drugs or something. It’s raining and he’s just walking around, looking about.

“I think the advertiser base is coming back.” Team Boycott had an impressive run, though, no? Sure, they didn’t get Clear Channel to pull him off the air. And only two radio stations nationwide dumped his show. And he lost “fewer than five” national sponsors by Media Matters’s own admission. But hey: It’s not easy to sustain politically calculated fake outrage for weeks Read this post

MADRID (Reuters) – Last year Spanish politicians were full of hope for legislation that promised to clamp down on digital piracy, encourage the creation of local online entertainment outlets and boost a sector which is among the bright spots in a deeply troubled economy. It may not work out that way. Since a new law came into force at the start of this month, internet traffic has anyway been switching away from websites providing links to copyrighted material, which were targeted by the law, towards peer-to-peer or content-sharing services instead. …

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Spain’s anti-piracy law may already be obsolete

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum had a very testy exchange with New York Times reporter Jeff Zeleny at a campaign stop in Wisconsin Sunday evening. In the midst of the encounter, Santorum angrily said, “Stop lying…Quit distorting our words…It's bulls–t!” (video follows with transcribed highlights and commentary): After Zeleny asked Santorum, “You said that Mitt Romney was the worst Republican in the country – is that true,” the former Pennsylvania senator incredulously asked, “What speech did you listen to? Stop lying!” Santorum continued, “I said he was the worst Republican to run on the issue of ObamaCare, and that’s what I was talking about. I have said uniquely, for every speech I give, he is uniquely disqualified to run against Barack Obama on the issue of health care.” “Would you guys quit distorting what I’m saying?” asked Santorum. Zeleny wasn’t listening, and responded, “Do you think he is the worst Republican?” Santorum didn’t let him finish and instead reiterated, “To run against Barack Obama on the issue of health care, because he fashioned the blueprint. I've been saying it in every speech. Quit distorting our words. If I see it, it's bulls—t. C'mon man, what are you doing?” Zeleny then asked, “Who’s distorting your words?” Santorum shot back, “You did by asking me that question.” “You sound upset about something, Senator,” Zeleny replied. “I’m upset when the media distorts what I say,” replied Santorum. “Yeah, I am. I do get upset.” As Santorum kept walking down the line of supporters wanting autographs, he continued glaring at Zeleny adding, “Because you knew exactly what I was saying, and you misrepresented it.” “Are you guys in the business of reporting the truth, or are you here to try to spin and make news?” Santorum asked Zeleny. “Stop it!” Shaking his head in aggravation, Santorum continued, “You know, you guys don’t care about the truth at all, do you? You really don’t. Asking that question shows me you don’t care at all about the truth.”

Link:
Santorum Slams NYT Reporter: ‘Stop Lying’ – ‘Quit Distorting Our Words’ – ‘It’s Bulls–t!’

God love ya, Joe. Yes, I know I’ve already done one palate-cleanser for today, but why not two lightweight posts?  And hey, at least according to Politico, the idea of Joe Biden running for President in 2016 is, to quote their headline, “not so crazy.”  That makes it only slightly less serious than a second term for Barack Obama Read this post

My word, what a cowardly bas**rd this killer is ……The local prosecutor, Michel Valet, said that a religious instructor, his two children and another child, the daughter of the school’s director, were killed in Monday’s attack and that a 17-year-old boy was seriously wounded. The killer “shot at everything he could see, children and adults, and some children were chased into the school,” Mr. Valet said. The suspect pursued his last victim, an 8-year-old girl [Miriam Mosonego...ed], into the concrete courtyard, seizing and stopping her by her hair, said Nicole Yardeni, who leads the regional branch of the Crif, France’s most prominent Jewish association, and who viewed video surveillance footage of the killing. His gun appeared to jam at that point, Ms. Yardeni said. Still holding the girl, the killer then changed weapons, from what police have identified as a 9 millimeter pistol to the .45-caliber. He shot her in the head and left, never removing his motorcycle helmet. “It is unbearable that someone be able to dehumanize children to this point,” Ms. Yardeni said, choking back tears.[ More.. ] h/t @DaveedGR Previous: Four Dead in Attack on Jewish School in France

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France: Horrifying Account of Murder Of 8yr old Jewish School Girl

As the midway point of his premiership approaches, the prime minister’s closest allies and staunchest critics speak frankly to George Parker

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David Cameron: the verdict so far

Arcane parliamentary rules driven by the state parties — not the RNC — could make for a chaotic, circus-like convention Read more: ‘Brokered’ GOP convention? Get ready, say political strategists

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‘Brokered’ GOP convention? Get ready, say political strategists

The last time newspapers spiked leftist Gary Trudeau’s political cartoon series Doonesbury was in 1985 when he parodied the pro-life film documentary, The Silent Scream , which showed an actual abortion. Now that one must have been a hoot. But Trudeau maintains passing up the transvaginal ultrasound = rape meme “would have been comedy malpractice,” as quoted by UPI . Again , more abortion humor.

WSJ: KABUL—A U.S. serviceman walked off his base in southern Afghanistan and opened fire on local civilians early Sunday morning, killing at least 16 people and wounding several more, according to Afghan officials. The serviceman, who went on the shooting spree in a village about a mile away from the U.S. base in the Panjway district of Kandahar province, has since been taken into custody by U.S.-led coalition forces. There are few details at this time. It appears he had some folks in mind when he went AWOL. He later turned himself in. Reading more info from Michael Yon . There is already a lot of talk of Afghan Retribution of this this admittedly horrible incident. But let’s be frank. This soldier is in custody and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. As well he should be. He knew when he turned himself in he was going either to a firing squad or life in prison. Our enemy celebrates this sort of thing . But it points out a lot of about Afghanistan. Our failure there is that we’ve not been willing to win. But admittedly the best you could really hope for in Afghanistan was to send a message to the Taliban and al-Qaeda, Maybe to have a base or two from which to keep them busy. And GTFO if you can. That doesn’t even mention the brilliant strategy of giving Pakistan money to kill us there. I think Rusty said the other day something like, “But trying to paint one side as barbarians and the other side as doing the Lord’s own work just doesn’t apply when it comes to any conflict in the Middle East.” The Afghans are same same, No? 10 Years slogging along there pretending that “Afghanistan can win.” is hard on soldiers. But I don’t think we should do as Michael Yon says and ” pull out our main battle force.” No not quite. We should prosecute this man. But those who might show up to take arms against us are no friends of ours for the most part. They are enemies of the United States. Doesn’t really matter how they got that way? We should protect our forces by reinforcing our “main battle force” and take some time to let the enemies of the United States die in lawful warfare. Then I’m all for whatever. If you’re saying lower our footprint in Afghanistan to a more strategic level because Afghanistan is a hopeless sh*thole. Well then by all means. But don’t lose you head man! Until we make that call, we need follow the course. Prosecute this soldier for his crimes. Support our troops in the field and fight the enemies of the United States to the best of our ability. And we need to state firmly that we intend to do so. More at Long War Journal. UPDATE by SH: ISAF Commander Statement :

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Soldier Goes Off in Afghanistan (Bumped Updated)