A bunch of gems over the past week for our general amusement. First, Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Penn.) and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) appeared together on a Philly radio station last week for our entertainment. During the town hall meetings last year Specter left with a few gems of video clips. He’s back at it again telling Bachmann to act like a lady. Where is his mind? 1952…
This past weekend White House press secretary Robert Gibbs 
appeared on “Fox News Sunday”, he defended the decision to read alleged bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab his Miranda rights after just 50 minutes of interrogation. He claimed that valuable information was gathered by the experienced investigators. I will give him the benefit of the doubt and not argue the whole Miranda rights issue here. All I want to do is point out that the Director of National Intelligence, Dennis Blair was not even made aware of the decision.
From the DNI’s own website:
The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) serves as the head of the Intelligence Community (IC), overseeing and directing the implementation of the National Intelligence Program and acting as the principal adviser to the President, the National Security Council, and the Homeland Security Council for intelligence matters related to the national security.
This man is the “principle adviser” on all matters relating to national security and he wasn’t made aware of any decisions made in the hours after capturing the underwear bomber. Even sadder might be the fact that Blair said the elite federal High-Value Interrogation Group should have been called in after Abdulmutallab arrest. This group put together by the Obama administration, was created to deal with terror suspects captured abroad. Even if they were called, FBI director Mueller said the team was not ready for action.
How about another story of bureaucratic incompetence? Living in D.C., I was aware of some of the problems the metro was having with crowding, poor availability, and operator’s texting while driving. I was not aware of their financial problems until this weekend when President Obama appointed two federal representatives to the Metro’s board of directors. The reason this government agency run transit system (WMATA, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority) needs to have federal representatives has something to do with the 40 million dollar gap in the budget. I’m not sure who made the decision, but the Metro is undergoing construction to extending it out three different ways. Unrelated to the construction costs, President Obama figured 1.5 billion dollars will help get the Metro through the difficult period of time.
I also wanted to share this Chris Matthews interview with Howard Dean. Thanks Johnny, for the heads up. Chris Matthews does a nice job of cornering Howard Dean in spinning issues to favor his opinions. Try to figure out Dean’s rational yourself, he claims Scott Brown’s victory in Massachusetts is a victory for progressives. The good stuff starts at about the 4 minute mark.
Finally last night, Keith Olbermann warns elected officials of the danger of Bill O Reilly. “He was dangerous to George Tiller, he is dangerous to Nancy Pelosi.” Only on MSNBC…
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MacGregor
Johnny M
Timmy K
I found all these stories interesting for differing reasons over the last one, but one more you didnt pick up was the left’s over-reaction to the “freeze” that Obama is proposing be put in place on domestic non-defense spending.
Here is an article that I commented on that hits to that point: http://www.mediaite.com/tv/keth-olbermann-foxes-president-obama-on-spending-freeze/
And my comment:
Thanks Tommy for pointing this out. I havent understood the impulse reaction from the Left and failure to point out how minimlistic this is and doesnt really effect any of the spending they feel will stimulate the economy. It should be a fairly simple reaction to this news that seems to be going off track; the right should aknowledge that this is a good plan, however suggest that it doesnt go far enough. And the left shouldnt use half-quotes, out of context against the President. It makes the left seem further from reality in regards to budget deficits.
The other thing I dont like that Maddow, Olby, and other liberal commetators have done over this dispute is come to the conclusion, “the people voted against a freeze when they voted against McCain.” What proof is there that this was the issue that unfied all voters against McCain? Its a far-reach to assume a vote for Obama meant a vote for all liberal policies, as nearly every policy poll shows.
I won’t be able to check up on Olby and Maddow as much anymore so I appreciate you letting me know what their up to. Are they just that mad about the spending freeze? Do they not realize the discretionary spending was hitting unsustainable levels? That is saying something because president Bush increased spending almost every year.
my God, i thought you were going to chip in with some decisive insght at the end there, not leave it with we leave it to you to decide.
Sorry, It has been a busy time. I don’t think there is any insight needed when it comes to Olbermann.