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Saturday, January 27, 2007

Bush's approval at a new low

Hmm, I thought his approval ratings were to go up after a State of the Union address...
President George W. Bush concluded his annual State of the Union address this week with the words “the State of our Union is strong … our cause in the world is right … and tonight that cause goes on.” Maybe so, but the state of the Bush administration is at its worst yet, according to the latest NEWSWEEK poll. The president’s approval ratings are at their lowest point in the poll’s history—30 percent—and more than half the country (58 percent) say they wish the Bush presidency were simply over, a sentiment that is almost unanimous among Democrats (86 percent), and is shared by a clear majority (59 percent) of independents and even one in five (21 percent) Republicans. Half (49 percent) of all registered voters would rather see a Democrat elected president in 2008, compared to just 28 percent who’d prefer the GOP to remain in the White House.

I made the jump

Seems like Blogger forced me to make the switch to the new platform. Hopefully things won't go wacky as Blogger is very buggy.

crossing my fingers...

Saturday afternoon with the Smashing Pumpkins

To Spazeboy with love.

Friday, January 26, 2007

Jane Hamsher back in the mix

Watch out Cheney, Jane's comin' to get ya!
First off, I'm happy to report that I'm doing really well, surgery was very successful and I'm recovering very quickly thanks to all the people who have stepped up to help and all of the good wishes and prayers that came my way in the past week. It's hard to know where to begin the list of thank-yous. Much love to Digby and Tom Swan who got me to the hospital and held my hand waiting for surgery (they claim I was cussing Dick Cheney as I was going under but I have no recollection of it), then sat an 8 hour vigil til I came out and were there in the ICU when I woke up. It was a loooong day that only a true friend would devote and I cannot thank them both enough.
She's back!

Ned Lamont lashes out against Bush's troop surge proposal


Ned Lamont made his first public remarks after his mid-term election loss at Yale University Wednesday night. Blasting the Bush/McCain/Lieberman troop surge proposal, Lamont calls the latest move by the President "more of the same" and "out of touch with reality."

The New Haven Indy was on the scene and did such a great write-up that I'll skip typing up my views.
One day after President Bush addressed the nation with his intention to send another 21,500 troops to Iraq to buttress forces already stationed there, former Senate candidate Ned Lamont told a New Haven audience that Bush's strategy was inviting the "nightmare scenario" he hoped to avoid.

Lamont, in his first public speech since his defeat in the November general election to U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, took issue with President Bush's decision to embark on this "new strategy" in Iraq. He spoke to hundreds of members of Yale's Political Union.

"It's the same strategy, just with a few more troops," he said in regard to President Bush's proposed "surge" in troop levels. "It's more of the same, and it's not working."

[...]

Lamont commended the findings of the Iraq Study Group, chaired by Jim Baker and Lee Hamilton, whose report advocated continued support even while most Americans were removed from the line of fire. As a response to President Bush's call for reinforcements, Lamont argued for a renewed debate on the merits of the war and called for the creation of a "bipartisan alternative" to the position advocated by the Administration-which he called "the least likely path to success-a necessity, he said, given that "the American people do not support the war, and they do not support the surge."

[...]

Again and again, Lamont emphasized his belief in the unlikelihood of finding an American-driven answer to the problems plaguing Iraq. "There is no military solution to the situation in Iraq," he said-an opinion, he told those assembled, shared by high-ranking military officials, members of both parties, and "maybe even by Joe Lieberman," he joked.

Here's my video report on the event.

State of the Union follies: The Katherine Harris edition

How pathetic. Katherine Harris career is so low that she's resorting to handing out her card to politicians at the State of the Union.


Read more about this Republican train wreck here.

Chuck Hagel watched my YouTube clip

I guess Senator Hagel got my memo.
One of Hagel's sparring partners is Lieberman, who has infuriated Democrats with his outspoken war advocacy. Two weeks ago, the Nebraska senator was introduced to the Internet video site YouTube when his son, an eighth-grader, showed him a clip from "Meet the Press" that was drawing heavy traffic. It was a showdown between Hagel and Lieberman over Iraq.

If critics of Bush's troop increase have their way, Lieberman asserted, the consequences "for my children and grandchildren, I fear, will be disastrous."

"That's ridiculous," Hagel shot back, "and I am offended that any responsible member of Congress or anyone else would even suggest such a thing. Senator Lieberman talks about his children and grandchildren. We all have children and grandchildren; he doesn't have a market on that."
As of today, my videoclip of Senator Hagel tearing Lieberman to shreds, has been viewed over 47,000 times. Here's a few more stats.

#42 - Top Rated (This Month) - News & Blogs - All
#370 - Most Discussed (This Month) - All
#50 - Most Discussed (This Month) - News & Blogs - All.

This war is a joke and thank goodness for people like veteran Chuck Hagel who (unlike many Democrats) has the guts to put idiotic, no military experience, delusional, neo-cons like George Bush's favorite Democrat in his place.

...and it's nice to know that 47,000+ share my opinion.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Friends show love for Krayeske at fundraiser

Friends and colleagues of freelance journalist/blogger Ken Krayeske showed their support for Connecticut's public enemy number one at a legal defense fundraiser held in his honor last Friday night.

As you know, Krayeske was arrested at Governor Rell's inaugural parade by the state police after his name was plastered on a "secret threat list", placed in jail, held on 75,000 bond, and was later released (after the governor's inaugural ball was over) on a promise to appear in court.

Krayeske's arrest has sparked outrage with columnists, talk radio hosts, journalists, bloggers, and politicians expressing their anger and disbelief over the entire affair.

Knowing that if something like this can happen to Krayeske, it could happen to anyone including bloggers (gulp), I decided to pack up my gear and make the trip to the fundraiser at La Paloma Sabanera Coffee House and Bookstore. I had to know more about the most dangerous man in Connecticut and who better to interview than the people who know him best.

Here's my video report (sorry about the small glitches, my computer was a bit sick).


UPDATE: MikeCT at MLN adds this tidbit of info:
Krayeske mentions that on January 30, the day he goes back to court, there will be a rally for free speech at 8 am on the north stairs of the State Supreme Court building. The building is at 231 Capitol Ave, across from the Capitol building (directions).

CTLP catches more flip-flops regarding Krayeske's arrest

At this point, it might be better if the police department keeps their mouth shut.
I wanted to pull out one small part of the article, lest it slide into history without comment:

[Hartford Police Chief Daryl K. Roberts] said Hartford police decided on their own to set bail of $75,000 for Krayeske, which kept him locked up until a state bail commissioner ordered him released without bail.

Roberts said his officers set a high bail because Krayeske was "evasive" and "uncooperative" after his arrest. Krayeske, an anti-war demonstrator who once taught protesters how to behave if arrested, had asked for a lawyer and refused to answer questions.

First of all, this explanation of why the HPD set the bail so high is at odds with the explanation HPD spokesperson Nancy Mulroy gave me on January 9th:

Ms. Mulroy indicated that the original bail was set with an eye toward Mr. Krayeske's previous criminal record. But his criminal record contains only three arrests for non-violent civil disobedience - hardly the stuff that makes for high bail.

So, which is it? Was the bail set high because Mr. Krayeske had previous convictions for acts of non-violent civl disobedience or because he was "evasive" and "uncooperative"?

Someone should tell the police department to put the shovel down before the hole gets too deep.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Krayeske's lawyer responds...

Here's Defense lawyer Norman Pitts repsonds to Hartford Police Chief Daryl Robert's explanation behind Ken Krayeske's arrest.
Lie often and boldly and you just might be deemed to be telling the truth. Isn't that what Orwell taught? Daryl Roberts of the Hartford Police Department appears to have read his Orwell.

Roberts, the chief of the city's police department, testified yesterday before the Connecticut Legislature about the arrest of a client of mine, Ken Krayeske. Krayeske was arrested as he took pictures of the governor during her inaugural parade. One Press Account

Just why he was arrested has become a topic of much discussion in the state. Legislative hearings have taken place before we've even had our first pre-trial.

Three lay eyewitnesses have come forward to say that they saw the arrest. Mr. Krayeske stood taking photographs when he was taken into custody.

A police report by the arresting officer notes that Krayeske was targeted by the state police as a potential threat, as were, apparently, other people designated as activitists. Roberts testified that Krayeske was not targeted for that reason. Who to believe, the arresting officer or the bureaucrat playing spin doctor?

Eyewitnesses say Krayeske was doing no more than taking pictures. The chief testified that the man "breached the parade route." The spin doctor is out of control.

Eyewitnesses say Krayeske was taking photographs when he was arrested. The chief isn't sure whether the man had a camera.

The case is a frightening prism through which to consider civil liberties. One lawmaker at the hearing thought it unfortunate that law enforcement was questioned at all. Had the arrests occurred immediately after 9-11, the lawmaker mused, we'd be congratulating the officer. Perhaps that lawmaker would have. I count him a casualty to the war on terror.

I wish Chief Roberts had competent and admissible testimony to offer in the Krayeske case. Something tells me he'd be singing soprano shortly after his cross-examination began.

The last honest Republican tears Bush/McCain/Lieberman Iraq war plan to shreds

If only more politicians speak out against this insane, idiotic and stupid war.

Someone isn't being straight with the public regarding Krayeske's arrest

Who's buying this load of bull.
Hartford police took full responsibility Tuesday for the arrest of political activist Ken Krayeske at Gov. M. Jodi Rell's inaugural parade, telling legislators that they were not influenced by a state police flier describing Krayeske as someone who might be disruptive.
Although it has to be hard for the chief of police to fall on the sword for the team, his testimony is laughable at best. I'll let the article tell the story.
Hartford Police Chief Daryl K. Roberts testified at a legislative hearing that Krayeske was arrested because he "breached the parade route," a claim disputed by Krayeske and witnesses, not because of a threat assessment by state police.

"He was not arrested based on the picture," Roberts said, referring to a two-page state police flier with Krayeske's photo that was distributed to Hartford and state police on the inaugural parade security detail.
Okay, let me get this straight. Krayeske's arrest had nothing to do with a TWO PAGE FLYER THAT HAS DISTRIBUTED TO HARTFORD AND STATE POLICE OFFICER which had a full description of Krayeske including photos of his current and past drivers license.

Is he serious?
Police initially described Krayeske as aggressively approaching the governor when arrested, but a Courant reporter accompanying Rell saw no such approach. And a witness said Krayeske was arrested after Rell had passed by him without incident as he shot photos from the curb.
Now, lets go back to Krayeske's website, take a look at the pictures he took at the parade (FYI: the metadata information including the time and date stamp are embedded in the images), and hear his side of the story.
If you're still questioning the timing of the arrest, check out the metadata embedded in the photos. My camera isn't set for Daylight Savings Time, so it reads an hour later. The CT Air National Guard was taken before the Rell picture. In about 30 seconds at the spot on the corner of Ford and Pearl, I snapped about 23 photos before my shoot was unceremoniously terminated.
Nuff said.

Lets continue and learn more about how dangerous Krayeske was on the day of his arrest.
Krayeske, who had suggested on a political website that demonstrators protest outside Rell's inaugural ball the evening of Jan. 3, was not released from custody until about 1 a.m. on Jan. 4, long after the ball had ended.

But Roberts said no one asked Hartford police to keep Krayeske in custody until after the ball. He said Hartford police decided on their own to set bail of $75,000 for Krayeske, which kept him locked up until a state bail commissioner ordered him released without bail.

Roberts said his officers set a high bail because Krayeske was "evasive" and "uncooperative" after his arrest. Krayeske, an anti-war demonstrator who once taught protesters how to behave if arrested, had asked for a lawyer and refused to answer questions.
He was dangerous because he did the right thing...refuse to answer any questions and request his attorney.

FYI: If you're wondering why this case is serious, take a look at this.
Legislators invited Boyle, Roberts and other law-enforcement officials to appear before the public safety committee and explain how Krayeske, who managed the gubernatorial campaign of Green Party candidate Cliff Thornton last year, came to be classified a security risk.

Boyle said state police did not consider Krayeske a possible threat until he posted this note on a website: "Whose going to protest the inaugural ball Jan. 3 with me? No need to make nice after watching this documentary."

The documentary referred to an examination of the troubled state juvenile training center.

Boyle said the Web posting prompted his officers to check Krayeske's record, finding that he once had been arrested and fined $50 for protesting at the launching of a nuclear submarine in Groton. On that basis, Krayeske's photo was shown to the parade security detail.
You're telling me that a well-known freelance journalist/blogger and campaign manager for Green Party candidate Cliff Thorton, was arrested based on a posting on a blog?

Is anyone buying this? Well, several Democrats aren't drinking the kool-aid that's being offered...
Rep. Jim Shapiro, D-Stamford, read Boyle a state law prohibiting intelligence gathering for political reasons and questioned the propriety of circulating a flier about Krayeske.

"I think a mistake was made here," Shapiro said. "It may have been an honest one, but I think a mistake was made."
I think Shapiro is being nice here. If you know anything about this case, then you know that the excuses explanation being offered by the police doesn't add up.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Hearing in Hartford on Krayeske arrest and secret list


I just finished watching the hearing on freelance journalist/blogger Ken Krayeske's arrest and my ears are still burning from anger.

I'm keeping my mouth shut unitl I can upload the video BUT someone is LYING and it isn't Ken or the witnesses who SAW HIM GET ARRESTED!

Monday, January 22, 2007

Anti-war supporters send a message to Congress

On January 13, members of Connecticut Opposes the War and as well as hundreds of anti-war supporters (and one Republican operative) filled the Legislative Office Building at the Capitol in Hartford.

Expressing their opposition towards President Bush's troop surge proposal, Democratic state political leaders as well as Congressmen Joe Courtney, Chris Murphy, John Larson made an appearance to reassure the audience that they received the message from November's mid-term election.

Although the video is somewhat dated, the message is too important not to share. Here's a video highlight of the event.

A tale of two senators

In order to show just how out of touch John MaCain is in regards to this stupid war, here's a little video clip I whipped together...

Why is it that Chuck Hagel is the only person who is talking with common sense...