The Failed Pacifist

Molly Ivins, R.I.P.

Author and columnist Molly Ivins has died after what is described as "a long battle with breast cancer". She was 62.

Her final column, published January 11, was "Stand Up Against the Surge."

posted by Doran @ 4:27 PM 0 comments

Decisions, Decisions

The prez was on 60 Minutes last night and it seems he wants us to remember that he is the decider. During the nine minute interview, Nick Douglas at the Huffington Post counted 24 times the President used the word "decision", including seven times in a single minute.

Twenty-four "decision"s in under nine minutes. It's an inelegantly noticeable tactic, but more confusingly, it merely emphasizes that the new Iraq plan was Bush's choice.

posted by Doran @ 3:49 PM 0 comments

White House: No Photos of Prez Speech

The White House refused to let photojournalists take still pictures of the President after his speech on Wednesday night. This is described as a highly unusual move, given the importance of the speech. Instead, the press were issued an official photograph taken by Eric Draper, the official White House photographer. Many news agencies, including the AP and Reuters, refused to run the handout image.

Normally after the president gives a televised address, a pool of news photographers takes pictures of the commander-in-chief standing behind the podium. The press was notified late Wednesday that photographers would not be allowed in after the Iraq address, says J. David Ake, assistant chief of bureau for photos at the AP in Washington. Ake says no reason was given for the limited access.

via Romenesko

posted by Doran @ 3:40 PM 0 comments

Condi Hearts Fox

Q'elle surprise! When a microphone was accidentally left open, Condoleezza Rice admitted her true feelings about the boys at Fox News.

"My Fox guys, I love every single one of them."

via gawker

posted by Doran @ 5:27 PM 0 comments

Transmitters Found in Canadian Coins

Small transmitters have been found in Canadian coins carried by at least three U.S. contractors who have visited Canada. The existence of the coins was revealed in a report from the U.S. Defense Security Service entitled Technology Collection Trends in the U.S. Defense Industry.

"On at least three separate occasions between October 2005 and January 2006, cleared defence contractors' employees travelling through Canada have discovered radio frequency transmitters embedded in Canadian coins placed on their persons," the report says.

via /.

posted by Doran @ 4:24 PM 0 comments

Disney Supporting Torture of Minorities?!?

Lots of attention is being focused on Disney for reportedly forcing the shutdown of a web site critical of a KSFO broadcaster who is accused of calling for the the torture and killing of minorities and liberal politicians, such as Nancy Pelosi. Disney says it's a copyright issue, since the web site posted audio of the pro-torture rants. In response, the original poster is calling for a letter writing campaign to advertisers.

To: Wendy Clark, VP-advertising, AT&T

Dear Ms. Clark:

Thanks to radio hosts from KSFO your brand is being associated with torturing and killing people. Would your marketing people be happy to hear your commercial ran after Lee Rogers said this about a black man in Lincoln, Nebraska?

via BoingBoing

posted by Doran @ 7:49 AM 0 comments

National Guardsmen Retreat From Border

The U.S. border in Arizona was reportedly overrun on Wednesday night by gunmen entering from Mexico. While the Border Patrol refuses to say if any shots were fired, the National Guardsmen protecting the site were forced to retreat. The report says the Border Patrol claims the gunmen "quickly retreated", but it's unclear why they would cross the border and force the Guardsmen to retreat, only to return to Mexico.

The Border Patrol says the incident occurred somewhere along the 120 mile section of the border between Nogales and Lukeville. The area is known as a drug corridor. Last year, 124-thousand pounds of illegal drugs were confiscated in this area.

posted by Doran @ 10:09 PM 0 comments