Patterico's Pontifications

7/29/2008

Murderer of “Let It Be” (and Alleged Murderer of Lana Clarkson) Endorses Obama

Filed under: 2008 Election,Crime — Patterico @ 10:47 pm



First it was William “Cold Cash” Jefferson. Then a convicted murderer about to be executed for his crime.

And now Phil Spector becomes the latest to endorse Obama.

Did Obama and The Dems Fudge Their June Fundraising Numbers?? Seems So. (Updated: Seems Not)

Filed under: General — WLS @ 8:48 pm



[UPDATE BY PATTERICO: I could be wrong, but this guest post by WLS seems like an Emily Litella moment in light of the update. So I’m not going to take it down, but I’m tucking it in the extended entry, because it appears that the main thrust of the post has been overtaken by the update at the end. In other words: “Never mind.”]

I appreciate the update — the question I couldn’t seem to find the answer to on my own seems to have been hiding on me in plain sight.  But, for the reasons I express in a comment, I’m still not convinced the fundraising news is all candy and roses in the Obama camp.  — WLS

(more…)

Cyrus Sanai to Cover Judicial Conference Involving Alex Kozinski

Filed under: General,Judiciary,Kozinski — Patterico @ 8:42 pm



Law.com reports that Judge Alex Kozinski is taking a low profile at a judicial conference which will be covered by, among others . . . Cyrus Sanai:

Adding to the prickly situation, Beverly Hills attorney Cyrus Sanai, a Kozinski critic and the one who accessed and leaked the Kozinski Web site, obtained press credentials from the LA Weekly to cover the event.

The circuit agreed to allow Sanai to attend as a reporter, for the LA Weekly, part of an alternative newspaper chain. The circuit gave him press credentials but kept a close watch on him during Monday’s opening session.

Lawyers may attend only by invitation of the circuit but it is open to media coverage. The conference traditionally does not hold press briefings and the only opportunity to ask questions would be in the routine, public question and answer sessions at the end of each panel presentation.

Sanai said, “I’m on my best behavior. They made it clear that if I interrupt or try to ask questions I can be bodily removed.” There are plenty of U.S. Marshals, who act as security for all circuit conferences, to make good on the promise.

Sanai said the LA Weekly is not interested in a story about him, so he'll be focusing on other aspects of the conference, which concludes Thursday.

Interesting.

P.S. I have gotten tired of the threatening nature of comments surrounding this topic, so any comment that sounds like a threat — to sue someone, to investigate someone, to go after someone’s bar card, or anything else along those lines — will be summarily deleted.

UPDATE: Kozinski reportedly canceled a scheduled Q&A session. Also, according to the linked story, Kozinski ordered Sanai ejected from a welcome reception, which reporters had been told in advance they could not attend.

More Evidence of Politicization in Hiring at DoJ

Filed under: General — Patterico @ 8:13 pm



Ed Morrissey has the story here.

Blogger Interviews L.A. Times Blog Editor Tony Pierce on the John Edwards Love Child Story

Filed under: Dog Trainer,General — Patterico @ 8:11 pm



Bloggasm interviews L.A. Times blog boss Tony Pierce about his effort to muzzle his bloggers on the John Edwards love child story. Quotable:

I asked Pierce if the metro desk had the chance to follow up on the story, and if so, would he send out another post allowing his bloggers to write about it. He said that to his knowledge the LA Times reporters hadn’t found any additional information and expressed some skepticism of the National Enquirer story’s authenticity.

“I was really just reminding the bloggers that they write for the LA Times and they happen to be using blogging as a publishing platform,” Pierce said. “This isn’t something you would normally see in a newspaper more than once. We already wrote the one post quoting the National Enquirer and I don’t think you’d see more than that if there were no blogs and this was just a newspaper. That’s what I was just saying to them, that until we have a better source, let’s hold off on being part of the speculation.”

But near the end of our interview he interjected and said that he probably could have worded the email better.

Read it all. It’s short, interesting, and it’s original journalism by a blog, which I like to see. Advances the debate, which is all to the good.

Obama Speaks at Unity ’08, Part II

Filed under: 2008 Election — DRJ @ 7:47 pm



[Guest post by DRJ]

Following up on my prior post regarding Barack Obama’s speech at the Unity ’08 conference of minority journalists in Chicago, I wanted to highlight one part of the article in the Tribune’s The Swamp.

In a Q&A session with journalists, Obama said this about his recent European tour and meetings with foreign leaders:

“Obama expressed confidence that he was well received by foreign leaders. “If you talk to the people I met with, they feel confident that I know what I’m talking about and what I’m doing,” he said.

He said meeting with foreign leaders is “part of the job” he is applying for, so he should not be questioned on whether he showed too much audacity in making the trip.

“Now, I’ll admit we did it really well, but that shouldn’t be a strike against me,” he added.”

Some complained when President George Bush said he “got a sense of [Putin’s] soul” at their first meeting but I think that pales in comparison to candidate Obama’s audacious mind-meld with foreign leaders.

— DRJ

Obama Speaks at Unity ’08, Part I (Updated)

Filed under: 2008 Election,Media Bias — DRJ @ 7:09 pm



[Guest post by DRJ]

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin published an article about Barack Obama’s recent Unity ’08 speech in Chicago to a group of minority journalists. According to the Star-Bulletin, the speech was notable for two reasons:

First, Obama called on America to “acknowledge its history of poor treatment of certain ethnic groups” like Native Americans as well as “other persons of color” and to offer reparations:

“I personally would want to see our tragic history, or the tragic elements of our history, acknowledged,” the Democratic presidential hopeful said.

“I consistently believe that when it comes to whether it’s Native Americans or African-American issues or reparations, the most important thing for the U.S. government to do is not just offer words, but offer deeds.”

The Star-Bulletin article noted Obama did not mention native Hawaiians in this context. Nevertheless, the journalists – some of whom “waited 3 hours for the 40 minute appearance” – were described as receptive:

“When Obama walked on stage at the McCormick Center, many journalists in the audience leapt to their feet and applauded enthusiastically after being told not to do so. During a two-minute break halfway through the event, which was broadcast live on CNN, journalists ran to the stage to snap photos of Obama.”

The Star-Bulletin stated Obama was given another standing ovation by some of the journalists when he concluded his remarks.

On the other hand, the Tribune’s The Swamp filed a report regarding the same speech but there was no mention of Native Americans or “persons of color” and it had a completely different take on reparations:

“He also expressed reservations about making reparations to African Americans and other groups for past deeds. “The best reparations we can provide are good schools in the inner city and jobs for people that are unemployed,” Obama said.”

Furthermore, instead of media love, the media’s reaction was described as “restrained” despite two standing ovations and a rush to the stage after his speech:

“At UNITY, the applause was restrained, after organizers reminded conference participants that the appearance was being nationally broadcast and they should make every effort to maintain “professional decorum.”

Still, Obama received a standing ovation from many in the audience at the start and end of his appearance. There was also a rush toward the stage after his speech, as Obama shook hands and signed autographs.

One journalist was also overheard wishing him luck, while another squealed, “He touched me!” as she left the ballroom.

Before Obama arrived, a panel discussed the question of journalistic objectivity, including whether journalists should clap for politicians when they appear.

“The mainstream media loves John McCain. They cheer for him all the time. And now we’re going to tell our black journalists, our Hispanic journalists, that they can’t clap for Obama?” African-American columnist Les Payne responded.”

Interesting, isn’t it? I can’t tell if this proves Obama is all things to all people or different things to the same people.

UPDATE 8/2/2008: Obama now says he opposes paying reparations to the descendants of slaves.

— DRJ

Nancy Pelosi’s Planet

Filed under: Environment,Politics — DRJ @ 3:11 pm



[Guest post by DRJ]

House Republican Leader John Boehner thinks he has the votes to pass legislation that will increase domestic oil exploration and production, but earlier this month Speaker Pelosi refused to allow the legislation to move forward to a vote before Congress takes its August recess:

“Just as some Democrats in both the House and the Senate are beginning to heed the American people’s calls for more American energy production, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has threatened to do something quite different. She’d rather “pack it up and go home.”

Two weeks later, Speaker Pelosi is still blocking the energy legislation but instead of sounding like a grade-schooler who threatens to take her ball and go home, her current rhetoric sounds more like Captain Queeg:

“I’m trying to save the planet; I’m trying to save the planet,” she says impatiently when questioned. “I will not have this debate trivialized by their excuse for their failed policy.”

“I respect the office that I hold,” she says. “And when you win the election, you win the majority, and what is the power of the speaker? To set the agenda, the power of recognition, and I am not giving the gavel away to anyone.”

When she became Speaker of the House, Pelosi published a Handbook entitled “A New Direction for America.” Page 29 of the online version of the Handbook states that, in the Pelosi House, “Bills should generally come to the floor under a procedure that allows open, full, and fair debate.” Speaker Pelosi has consistently emphasized her devotion to honesty, integrity and openness.

It’s fine with me if Speaker Pelosi wants to use partisan and Parliamentary tactics to promote the interests she supports but I’m tired of her false insistence that she’s devoted to openness. If she really wants to be the House equivalent of LBJ, the Master [manipulator] of the Senate, then she should go for it. But the truth is she’s not the least bit open when it comes to legislation she dislikes and it doesn’t matter to her how many citizens or Congressional representatives support it.

— DRJ

Major Earthquake (UPDATE: Sort of!)

Filed under: General — Patterico @ 12:11 pm



A few minutes before noon we had a significant earthquake here in L.A. I was questioning jurors in the Compton courthouse when it hit. It lasted a good 30 seconds and the shaking was similar to the Landers quake of the early 1990s. All is fine with me but I am having trouble placing cell phone calls to check on my family.

UPDATE: Preliminary reports are a 5.8 centered near Chino Hills, with no significant damage. Far closer to L.A. than the usual desert quake, which explains the strong swaying for such a relatively middling quake.

UPDATE x2: Wife and kids OK.

UPDATE x3: End result was a 5.4. Really only moderate, but it felt big at the time.

Quake Hits Southern California

Filed under: Current Events — DRJ @ 11:59 am



[Guest post by DRJ]

The jolt of a 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit Southern California at 11:42 AM PDT. The USGS says the quake was centered 29 miles East-Southeast of LA near Chino Hills.

Take care, guys.

UPDATE: I’m closing the comments on this thread since Patterico has posted his first-person-account thread here.

— DRJ

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