Retribution: Democrat Punished for Not Supporting Pelosi

This may actual be a resume enhancer in Tennessee. He's showing an independent streak, folks may be willing to give the guy a break considering how unpopular she is nationally and let's face it, why would anyone outside her district want to support this woman any longer? He says he won't support her for House Speaker? C'mon, even John Boehner is stifling the laughter at this point.

A Democratic candidate for Congress accused the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) of pulling its support for his campaign because he said he wouldn't support Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as House Speaker.

State Sen. Roy Herron (D), who's running for the opening seat held by retiring Rep. John Tanner (D) in Tennessee's 8th congressional district, suggested the DCCC's decision to cancel ad buys in the race was tied to his refusal to back Pelosi.

"This morning The Jackson Sun reported for the first time what I’ve repeatedly told citizens: I will not vote for Nancy Pelosi for House Speaker," Herron said in a statement. "If the DCCC pulling ads is the price of independence and following my conscience, so be it. That’s the kind of congressman I’ll be."

Herron's locked in a tough race against Republican Stephen Fincher for a seat that the GOP needs to win if it hopes to pick up the 39 or more seats they need to win back control of the House. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the contest as a "lean Republican" race, with only three weeks to go until the election.

A handful of Democrats have said they wouldn't back Pelosi to remain as leader of the House Democrats, and several more have been noncommittal. Rep. Bobby Bright (D-Ala.) released an ad on Tuesady touting his pledge to vote against Pelosi, and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) has suggested Pelosi's leadership might not be tenable if Democrats sustain heavy losses.

Gee, ya think? Well, Steny Hoyer could well be out of the picture come January, so she may hold on to minority leader status, although that will greatly increase her airfare and liquor costs so she may consider retirement by the time 2012 rolls around.

She won't be missed.

'You Cannot Criticize Israel in This Country and Survive'

This anti-Semitic creep is still apparently drawing oxygen, so that disproves her absurd statement.

In a radio interview, former White House correspondent Helen Thomas acknowledges she touched a nerve with remarks about Israel that led to her retirement. But she says the comments were "exactly what I thought," even though she realized soon afterward that it was the end of her job.

"I hit the third rail. You cannot criticize Israel in this country and survive," Thomas told Ohio station WMRN-AM in a sometimes emotional 35-minute interview that aired Tuesday. It was recorded a week earlier by WMRN reporter Scott Spears at Thomas' Washington, D.C., condominium.

Thomas, 90, stepped down from her job as a columnist for Hearst News Service in June after a rabbi and independent filmmaker videotaped her outside the White House calling on Israelis to get "out of Palestine." She gave up her front row seat in the White House press room, where she had aimed often pointed questions at 10 presidents, going back to Eisenhower.

She has kept a low profile since then.

"(It was) very hard for the first two weeks. After that, I came out of my coma," Thomas said.

Can't tell from the looks of things.

Her latest statements are sure to win her some more awards from her anti-Semitic pals.

Alvin Greene: 'DeMint Started the Recession'

Leave it to MSNBC clown Lawrence O'Donnell to try and prop this nutcase up. Alvin Greene answers every question with "DeMint started the recession," yet offers no evidence of it. Becasue there is none, of course.

Nice to see MSNBC running the little "Deposing DeMint" header at the bottom of the screen. Nothing like openly advocating a political position on a supposed news network.

Oh, and memo to O'Donnell: The snide witch jokes about Christine O'Donnell are pretty stale by now. Just thought you might want to freshen up your lame jokes.

Gays Protest Obama While He Parties With Millionaire Basketball Players

Barack Obama had a big night down in Miami as he engaged in two of his favorite activities: Grubbing money and talking basketball. He would have hit the trifecta if he worked a few holes of golf in.

President Obama enlisted some of the National Basketball Association's biggest names to raise funds for the Democratic Party at a Miami fundraiser Monday night.

Calling himself a "pretty good point guard," Obama and South Florida Democrats gathered at the home of former Miami Heat All-Star Alonzo Mourning where current Heat players Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade were spotted.

"I like you, but when you play the Bulls, I'm rooting against you," Obama told the two men.

Neither the reporter in the room nor a White House spokesman spotted the Heat's other new addition, LeBron James, but former Los Angeles Laker great Magic Johnson was in attendance.

"I am stunned that Alonzo let a Laker in here," Obama joked. "But he said that Magic transcends party lines."

Just more than three weeks out from the midterms, polls indicate that Democrats could use all the help available.

The president is stepping up his fundraising and campaign schedule, making a quick trip to Miami Monday afternoon and returning to the White House Monday evening.

With Democrats in serious danger of losing the House, Obama was expected to raise about $1 million for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and Rep. Ron Klein (Fla.).

The president stuck with the basketball references, telling the crowd that while he's a "pretty good point guard," he needs a team in Congress to help him.

A pretty good point guard, huh? Sure, keep dreaming.

Meanwhile, a group of gays protested just outside the appropriately named Mourning house.

As the president headed toward Mourning’s Coconut Grove residence, where donors had paid as much as $5,000 and $18,000 per person to see him, members of GetEqual, a national LGBT rights organization, along with local activists lined the street holding four 10-foot signs that read “End the Discharges Now” and “We’ll Give When We GetEQUAL” – a reference to the group’s recent campaign encouraging people not to donate money to either the Democratic or Republican parties or their campaign committees until the president signs an executive order immediately stopping the discharges.

There will be plenty of mourning in Democrat circles three weeks from today.

Dopey Streaker May Not Get Paid

Fat and Stupid: No Way to Go through Life

Let's face it. Nobody ever accused these Obamatons of being too bright.

The Staten Island knucklehead who streaked in front of President Obama in a wacky $1 million dare may be getting a raw deal.

British billionaire Alki David was balking Monday at paying Juan Rodriguez, 24, the cash prize for his commando-in-chief stunt Sunday in Philadelphia.

"It's still not confirmed," David, 42, told the Daily News on Monday. "Whether he was in earshot and eyesight of the President is what's being debated right now."

He said it was not clear if Obama even noticed Rodriguez dashing through the massive outdoor crowd in his birthday suit with the name of David's website, Battlecam.com, written on his chest.

In August, David promised $1 million cash to the first person who streaked in front of Obama with the website printed on his body and while shouting "Battlecam.com" six times.

"Apparently, there is a law in Pennsylvania where someone isn't able to profit from an illegal act," said David, citing another likely obstacle to Rodriguez collecting the jackpot.

'The Federal Government Poses an Immediate Threat to the Rights and Freedom of Ordinary Citizens'

No wonder the Obama goon squad wants to make it as if the Chamber of Commerce is the greatest threat known to democracy. Anything to distract the public from the miserable failures of his administration and the Democrat Senate and Congress.

Angry Americans had a field day in a new poll when asked to describe the federal government in one word or short phrase.

It wasn't pretty.

Among the most common words used were "too big," "corrupt," "confused" and "incompetent."

Plenty also branded the government with "bad," "broken," "bloated," "lousy," "a mess," "it stinks" and "wasteful."

New Yorkers were in line with much of the rest of the nation, calling the feds, among other things, "awful," "bad," bickering" and "corrupt."

A New Jersey man, who identified himself as a conservative Democrat, said simply, "A pain."

More than 7 in 10 responded with a negative word or phrase, according to the USA Today/Gallup poll, released yesterday, that asked Americans to give a short, off-the-cuff reaction to the federal government.

"Overall, 72 percent of responses about the federal government are negative, touching on its inefficiency, size, corruption and general incompetence," the pollsters said.

Just 10 percent of responses were clearly positive, such as "good" or "pretty good."

About 18 percent gave neutral or mixed reactions.

The same poll found that about 60 percent of Americans believe the government is too powerful, and nearly half agree with the statement: "The federal government poses an immediate threat to the rights and freedom of ordinary citizens."

The results highlight the angry and dissatisfied mood of voters, which has fueled the anti-big-government Tea Party movement and put incumbent politicians in jeopardy in next month's midterm elections.

Other than that, everyone loves our government masters. Wash that around in your head for a minute: Sixty percent of the public thinks the government is an immediate threat to your freedom. Not the Chamber of Commerce. Speaking of which, three weeks out from a catastrophe for Democrats, the whining shows signs of desperation.

It should be taken as an axiom of political life that if your argument is about the other side's advertisements, you're losing. If your argument is about who's funding the other side's ads, you're losing badly. And if your argument is about how foreigners might -- lack of evidence notwithstanding -- be secretly funneling cash into the other side's ad, you're losing in a historic landslide.

The Democratic National Committee takes Obama's crude attack and makes it even more witless and ham-handed. In a new TV ad, it accuses the Chamber and Rove of "stealing our democracy," as a shadowy man snatches a woman's purse in a garage. "It appears they've even taken secret foreign money to influence our elections," the ad intones, with images of ominous Chinese currency flashing in the background. "It's incredible: Republicans benefiting from secret foreign money."

If you haven't noticed, the Democrats love the word "foreign," almost as much as "corporate" and "Wall Street."

In a typical Democratic ad, embattled Majority Leader Harry Reid has a new spot labeling Republican Sharron Angle as "a foreign worker's best friend." It's not meant as a compliment. Angle supposedly supports shipping jobs to China and India, home to billions of workers who are inarguably foreign (although it's more doubtful that many of them are stealing US jobs).

Bizarrely, the party that's content to let millions of foreigners cross our southern border to live and work here without our permission has otherwise become a locus of foreigner-baiting political advocacy. Is it possible to be post-American and xenophobic at the same time? Suffice it to say that with the prospect of a November drubbing in the offing, the Obama Democrats are doing all they can to demonstrate they deserve it.

We're waiting for Joe Biden to tell us he stands corrected. We won't hold our breath.

Pity The Global Warming Cult

No legally binding pact likely in Cancun climate meet

Two months before the Cancun climate summit, the cat has been let out of the bag officially: there will not be any legally binding agreements on emission reduction at Cancun.

After a meeting of four emerging economies — Brazil, South Africa, India and China (BASIC) — in Tianjin on Monday, the BASIC countries said the outcome in Cancun should pave the way for a legally binding outcome in South Africa next year.

A global legally binding emission cut agreement is urgently needed to replace the Kyoto protocol.

However, since emission reduction impacts the economy, framing a global agreement is not an easy job as the road ahead is strewn with policy landmines.

And one just blew shit all over al-Gore's face

Via The Deccan Herald

Stupid: Biden Now Lumps Rove Into War on Chamber of Commerce

If these chumps think declaring war on the Chamber of Commerce is a good idea, then by all means, keep it up. We figure it's only a matter of time until they're back attacking Rush Limbaugh and Fox News.

The Obama administration showed little interest on Monday in backing off its public spat with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other groups spending on behalf of Republicans.

Vice President Joe Biden accused the Chamber and a group affiliated with Bush political guru Karl Rove of fronting corporate interests at the expense of working voters.

"Karl Rove has his stable of billionaires, literally, and millionaires pouring tens of millions of dollars into close races," Biden said at a fundraiser in Pennsylvania for Rep. Chris Carney (D), according to a pool report. "The Chamber of Commerce — does it surprise you that insurance companies are against us after we prevented them from taking advantage of the people they're supposed to take care of?"

The vice president's jabs toward the Chamber and Rove, and, by extension, the group American Crossroads, with which Rove is affiliated, signaled the White House has no intention of backing off it its attacks.

The administration, including President Obama, has accused the groups of possibly accepting foreign donations to fund its political advertisements against Democrats. The groups have denied the alleged donations, which would be illegal.

Of course it's nonsense, but desperate times call for desperate measures. It's typical, though, to project your owns sins upon others. When even the New York Times signals you're way out of bounds you clearly are just trying anything that might stick.

It's a new low, even for Democrats.

The Democratic National Commitee is using the same sort of tactic and logic that Sen. Joe McCarthy used in the 1950s: Level a headline-grabbing and unsubstantiated charge, like the State Department is filled with communists, and then say it is up to the State Department and the employees so charged to prove it is not true.

So much for hope and change; this is the politics of fear, slander and divisiveness on the eve of an election that looks as if it could deliver a damning verdict on the first two years of the Obama administration.

When Rove says the White House keeps an enemies list, take his word for it. He should know. He's obviously on it.

Update: So far this insane strategy isn't paying off.

Fifty-six percent of likely voters said they would back an unnamed Republican candidate for Congress in a test of a low-turnout scenario for the crucial midterm elections. Thirty-nine percent in that same model said they would back a Democratic candidate, an increase by one percent over last week.

In Gallup's high-turnout model, Republicans maintain a 53-41 percent advantage among likely voters. That also represented a one percent tick upward in support for Democrats.

The poll suggests that the GOP hasn't lost any steam in its bid to pick up 39-plus seats they need in the House to reclaim the majority. Democrats have claimed that support for Republican candidates has peaked, and that they're primed to make inroads into support for the GOP, though Gallup's weekly effort to track the generic ballot suggests that any Democratic gains have been marginal at best.

Book Tosser an Obama Fan

The great national mystery has been solved. The hyperventilating left can get back to their bong hits now.

The Secret Service says it questioned and released an overexuberant fan of President Barack Obama who had tossed a paperback book near the president at a Philadelphia rally on Sunday.

Spokesman Ed Donovan said the man had written the book and hoped the president would read it. Donovan said agents concluded the man posed no danger.

Obama seemed not to notice the book that landed near him on an outdoor stage after he finished speaking to a large crowd Sunday.

Expect this story to disappear from the radar by sundown. I bet Keef Olberdunce was in the middle of writing a screed about teabaggers and the lack of civility of Obama haters.

Oh well.

Thanks to Doug Powers for the link.

Update: Gateway Pundit identifies the culprit. As your typical Obama supporter he sounds insane.

'This Is the Latest in a Cascade of Ineptitude by the Department of Justice'

One of the rare occasions I agree with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg slammed the state's Board of Elections on Monday for failing to mail out absentee ballots to military and overseas voters from New York City and four additional counties.

"I don’t know whether or not the Board of Elections has failed to send out absentee ballots to the military or anybody else, but if they have failed it really is reprehensible," Bloomberg told Fox News. "We send our young men and women overseas to fight and to die for us and we don’t care enough to make sure they get the right to exercise their franchise? That’s what they’re over there fighting for as much as anything else."

FoxNews.com first reported Sunday that New York had not mailed out absentee ballots to all its 320,000 military servicemen and women and overseas voters, in clear violation of the MOVE Act.

As of Monday at noon, the ballots still had not been sent.

It likely won't make much difference in New York State's Senate and gubernatorial races, but could impact tight Congressional races where the GOP stands a chance at winning some seats. Which is probably why our military won't get a chance to vote.

Change!

Seems to me the Justice Department is looking to suppress the vote. Of course if this occurred during a Republican administration there'd be howls of protest.

“The sad fact is that New York City's failure will have its greatest impact on those military members serving on the front lines," Eversole said. "They do not have the luxury of receiving their ballots via e-mail and must rely on a notoriously slow postal service to receive their ballots. Without immediate action, there is no doubt that some of these troops will be disenfranchised by New York's failure. It is truly shameful."

Another former Justice Department attorney, J.Christian Adams, weighed in on Monday.

“This is the latest in a cascade of ineptitude by the Department of Justice. Military voters and their families should be enraged,” said Adams, who now is a conservative blogger.

“A credible enforcement operation would have detected problems on October 2. DOJ didn’t detect it, and almost two weeks later, the situation has become critical in New York and other states. The only place they have sued to enforce the law? Guam. ”

Senator John Cornyn weighs in:

"The fact that New York government officials failed to live up to the clear terms of the waiver is shocking, in light of how much our troops have sacrificed in the years since 9/11. This is a clear violation of federal voting rights law. If DOJ does not file a suit to right this wrong as soon as the courts open on Tuesday, then we will know once and for all that DOJ is not serious about safeguarding military voting rights."

New York apparently isn't the only state not in compliance.

You can bet the media that is ignoring this story (everyone but Fox, of course) will be all over stories of manufactured voter suppression stories on election day and what a threat to democracy it is. The so-called "Justice Department" will be all over those stories while they yawn over this outrage.

Derek Jeter's Girlfriend Latest 'Sexiest Woman Alive'

Derek Jeter sure lives a charmed life. Five World Series titles, going for a sixth, assorted other awards and now his arm candy gets her own title.

Like we needed more proof that Derek Jeter is the luckiest man on the planet.

Luscious Minka Kelly -- the Yankee superstar's girlfriend -- squirms seductively on silk sheets for a hot photo shoot in the new Esquire, which dubbed the 30-year-old beauty its "Sexiest Woman Alive."

The former "Friday Night Lights" star revealed to the mag that she once worked in the front office for a surgeon, as a down payment for breast implants -- but later changed her mind, deciding to keep her God-given assets.

More photos here.

You're welcome.

Outpouring of Affection for Cheney After He Appears at California Event

Nothing quite like the compassionate left and their cruelty toward their fellow countrymen.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney appeared gaunt and frail as he defended Bush administration terror policies before a sellout California crowd over the weekend.

Cheney, who suffered his fifth heart attack in February, was seated for the entire event in Bakersfield on Saturday as he chatted with his wife, Lynne.

"She's been my nurse, my negotiator with the medical community, and in return for all of that great help she's given me, today I've agreed to let her interview me," the 69-year-old Cheney said.

Cheney spoke to a capacity crowd of about 10,000 at the Bakersfield Business Conference, where full-day tickets cost $495.

Cheney defended the interception of overseas phone calls and tough interrogation techniques. "All of this turned out to be very controversial," Cheney said, "But it was absolutely necessary."

The Bakersfield event was believed to have been Cheney's first public appearance since his July heart surgery.

Of course this news brings out the ghouls.

THE DEVIL KEEPS HIS FAVIORATE SON GOING AFTER FIVE HEART ATTACKS, WELL GOD WILL END THAT SOON ENOUGH SON OF SATAN, SPAWN OF LUCIFER.

Spelling obviously isn't a strong suit with these haters. This one is more direct:

Why won't this man just die already?

He's obviously hanging on to bother you, that's why.

Was the event during the day? Because obviously it was before he could feed himself from the blood of innocents.

Nice.

Anyone want to start a "DEATHPOOL?"

Don't worry. I'm sure plenty of people have him in theirs.

You should be sitting in a prison cell but this illness will work just as well. Karma is a real **** isn't it Tyrant!

This one would rather see him suffer.

Let the souless fukkk suffer! Just like all those who went to iraq for a fake war and all the families that suffered on both sides. God knows what God does,i'm sure this thing wakes up everyday wishing he would just die from the pain and weakness in his heart but that would be letting him off the hook too easy

Even the illiterate Glenn Beck haters chime in.

i wish he drop dead along with beck.

Paladino Reveals It's the Speedos and Grinding at Gay Parades That Upsets Him

After his idiotic comments Sunday, New York GOP gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino tried to explain himself this morning, and just kept digging a bigger hole.

Carl Paladino says it's the bumping and grinding he finds disgusting.

Appearing on NBC's "Today" Monday morning, the Republican gubernatorial candidate Paladino said he has nothing against gay people in his work or personal life - he just doesn't want to be exposed to their culture.

He specifically signaled out gay pride parades, with marchers wearing "Speedos and grinding against each other."

Paladino reiterated his opposition to same-sex marriage and said children shouldn't be exposed to gay culture.

But Paladino, who has a gay nephew who works for his campaign, said he would have no problem hiring gays in his administration. He called discrimination that his nephew and others face a "very ugly experience."

His comments came a day after he told Orthodox Jewish leaders he doesn't want children "brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality" is acceptable.

Paladino ignited a firestorm Sunday when he declared that being gay is "not the example that we should be showing our children."

There is a way to avoid being offended by what goes on a gay pride parades. Ignore the coverage.

Finally: Obama-Approved Sharia-Compliant Muslim Superheroes

Obviously is anyone complains about this then you're an Islamophobe or something.

Hide your face and grab the kids. Coming soon to a TV in your child's bedroom is a posse of righteous, Sharia-compliant Muslim superheroes -- including one who fights crime hidden head-to-toe by a burqa.

These Islamic butt-kickers are ready to bring truth, justice and indoctrination to impressionable Western minds.

Scheduled for release on the new network The Hub -- formerly Discovery Kids -- which launches today (Time Warner and DirecTV carry it in the city), is a cartoon beloved in the Arab world and received timidly in Britain last year, "The 99."

The program chronicles the adventures of 99 superheroes, each of whom embodies an attribute of Allah.

Jabbar is a Muslim Incredible Hulk. Mumita is wicked fast. But Wonder Woman-style cleavage has been banned from the ladies. And, in this faith-based cartoon, hair-hiding head scarves are mandatory for five characters, not including burqa babe Batina the Hidden.

In another break from standard world-saving fare, male and female characters are never alone together. (Imagine the stoning super-strong characters would dish out.) "The 99" even has the seal of approval of a Sharia board -- which polices Muslim law -- affiliated with an Islamic bank from which the show received financing.

What a great time to come to the United States!

No higher an authority than President Obama praised the work of the comic's creator, Kuwaiti psychologist Naif al-Mustawa. At an April meeting with Arab entrepreneurs, Obama said, "His superheroes embody the teachings of the tolerance of Islam."

There was no stopping it.

The Hub, a joint venture with Hasbro toys, announced in May that it would produce and air episodes of "The 99." But then, murmurs of dissatisfaction turned into a cry.

How can a secular nation endorse a children's show aimed at pushing one religion?

A Times of London columnist wrote last year that the show's mission was "to instill old-fashioned Islamic values in Christian, Jewish and atheist children."

How long until this is being shown in the classroom?

Obama is displayed front and center on the site webpage.

The show's creator has an interesting perspective on Israel.

It is easy to forget that for over 1000 years that only place to be Jewish and safe was among Arabs. The terrible massacre wrought on the Jews in Europe shamed the world and with that shame came support for a Jewish homeland. But one people's gain would soon become another's loss. There is no escaping the fact that the creation of a homeland for the survivors of one of history's most terrible tragedies was in itself a tragedy for the existing inhabitants of that homeland, any more than we can escape the horrible reality of those who were gassed in concentration camps. These are mutual truths. One cannot accept one without accepting the other. To do so would be morally and intellectually dishonest. And frankly, would be the worst kind of fiction.

'You've Got to Get Your Hair Cut. You Look Like a Girl'

Ought to be a fun time for all when the Vikings visit the Patriots later this month.

File this one into the "juicy-details-we hope-are-true" folder.

CBS analyst Charley Casserly reported on today's NFL pregame show that Tom Brady and Randy Moss "had to be separated" recently following an altercation in the Patriots locker room. Moss was traded from the Patriots to the Vikings last week, a surprising move considering the team's on-field success (3-1) so far this season.

"One of Brady's problems with Moss was his behavior as a Patriot," said Casserly. "One of the things overheard was Brady telling Moss, 'You've got to cut your beard.' And Moss counters, 'You've got to get your hair cut. You look like a girl.'"

The report counters the public statements this week -- by both the Patriots and Moss -- that the team's separation from the player was amicable, and that behavior was not a factor in the deal.

"Some things in New England didn't go according to plan," Moss said in his introductory press conference with the Vikings. "And here I am. What me and coach Belichick talked about, I don't really want to make public."

Bill Belichick isn't exactly a fan of Casserly.

The report, of course, is much more than you'd ever get out of the Patriots publicly in reference to Moss. And the Patriots -- if they comment at all -- are likely to refute Casserly's he-said, he-said claims. In reference to a report Casserly made last season about Brady playing with broken ribs, Belichick came out fighting.

"Who's been wrong more than Charley Casserly since he left the Redskins? His percentage is like a meteorologist," Belichick said. "He has no relationship to this team. I'd say less than zero. Based on what? He's never at a practice, never at a game… At least he put his name on it which is more than a lot of guys. But, like he usually is, he was 100 percent wrong."

'Nothing to be Proud of in Being a Dysfunctional Homosexual'

Carl Paladino has been facing an uphill struggle in his New York gubernatorial race against Andrew Cuomo. This certainly won't help his cause.

Flame-throwing Republican Carl Paladino blasted gays Sunday - saying there is "nothing to be proud of in being a dysfunctional homosexual."

"I don't want [children] brainwashed into thinking homosexuality is an equal valid and successful option," Paladino said during a visit with Orthodox Jewish leaders in Brooklyn's Williamsburg.

Paladino, who is running for governor, told the conservative Jewish leaders he would veto a gay marriage bill if it's passed by the Legislature.

Paladino drew a distinction between himself and Democratic rival Andrew Cuomo, saying he boycotted the gay pride parade while Cuomo marched.

"I didn't march in the Gay Pride parade this year. My opponent did. There is nothing to be proud of in being a dysfunctional homosexual. That's not how God created us, and that's not the example that we should be showing our children - and certainly not in our schools," Paladino said.

He went on to zing Cuomo for allowing his daughters to also march in the gay parade.

"My opponent took his daughters to march in a homosexual parade," Paladino scoffed.

Asked whether such comments are appropriate given Saturday's stunning charge that nine members of a sadistic Bronx gang tortured a gay man and two gay teens, Paladino said he does not support gay bashing.

"Don't misquote me as wanting to hurt homosexual people in any way. That would be a dastardly lie. My approach is live and let live," Paladino said.

There are times when politicians need to keep their mouths shut. Or at least think for a second how dumb they're going to sound.

Van Hollen: Democrats Running From Radioactive Obama and Pelosi Proves We're a Big Tent Party or Something

Look at it this way: The only reason Democrats aren't running away from Chris Van Hollen is nobody knows who he is. If he were the House Speaker of the most unpopular Congress ever, he can be sure endangered Democrats wouldn't want to know who he is either. Van Hollen will have some name recognition in 23 days. He'll be the guy from the Democrat Congressional Campaign Committee who just saw his efforts result in the loss of dozens of seats.

The chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee brushed off various members' ads touting opposition to President Obama and Speakers Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), saying that it simply shows the party is a big tent unlike the right.

On CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday, Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) was asked about a variety of the ads, including one from Rep. Bobby Bright (D-Ala.) boasting that he voted with Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) 80 percent of the time.

"We're very proud of the fact that we have an ideologically diverse caucus," Van Hollen said. "As opposed to on the other side where you have this ideological purity test," he added, saying the Republican Party litmus test had been moved even further to the right by the Tea Party movement.

Ideologically diverse? Huh? Uh, Chris, having a party consist of the left, far left, hard left, leftover left and outright socialists isn't a big tent. It's a sinking ship, with you at the helm.

"We have a big tent, and we're problem solvers," he said. "And that is, I think, what voters are looking for."

Is Van Hollen even aware independents have abandoned the Democrats? Does he consider all of them as being far right>

Finally: Obama Gets to Unwind With Some Golf

Poor thing. All those deep-pocket Democrat fundraisers can wear a guy out. Nice to see he can find some time to relax and hit some golf balls.

President Obama hit the golf course Saturday for what, by CBS News' Mark Knoller's calculation, was his 52nd such outing since taking office.

According to the White House pool report, Obama went golfing Saturday with his usual partners: trip director Marvin Nicholson, press aide Ben Finkenbinder and the Department of Energy's David Katz.

Maybe he ought to bring Ace with him some day.

Confirmed: Obama Not the Dumbest White Sox Fan Alive

Here all this time I had Barack Obama pegged as the dumbest Chicago White Sox fan. Well, maybe it's a tie.

A woman claiming a Northwest Side tattoo parlor accidentally inked a backward Chicago White Sox logo on her thigh filed a lawsuit Thursday against the business and the artist.

Elmwood Park resident Eugenia Bebis claims that on June 5 Mystic Tattoo Art & Body Piercing Corp. employee Micah St. John improperly tattooed her a backward Chicago White Sox logo on her thigh, according to a suit filed in Cook County Circuit Court.

Bebis has undergone extensive laser tattoo removal procedures and will require more procedures and a larger tattoo to cover up the laser-faded backward tattoo, according to the suit.

The suit claims Bebis suffered pain from the laser treatments and disfigurement from the backward tattoo and the treatments.

The suit claims, among other things, Mystic Tattoo failed to notice the tattoo was being inked backward and didn’t adequately train and supervise employees.

Probably just mischievous Cubs fans.

'I Am Having the Same Problem That Democrats are Having Across the Country, Which is Ennui'

When did Barack Obama change his name to Ennui?

Republican challengers are suddenly threatening once-safe Democrats in New England and the Northwest, expanding the terrain for potential GOP gains and raising the party's hopes for a significant victory in next month's elections.

Republican advances in traditionally Democratic states, including Connecticut, Oregon and Washington, may not translate into a wave of GOP victories. But they have rattled local campaigns and forced the Democrats to shift attention and money to races they didn't expect to be defending.

Rising sentiment against the party in power has washed ashore even in coastal Oregon, where Democratic Rep. Peter DeFazio won his 10th re-election two years ago with 82% of the vote.

"I am having the same problem that Democrats are having across the country, which is ennui," he said, noting that his opponent's yard signs "are thick" across much of the district. Mr. DeFazio said he is facing the fight of his political life.

Uh, Petey? Your problem isn't boredom or lack of interest. It's the current occupant of the White House, along with Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi. Supreme arrogance and contempt for the people are more a problem than ennui.

House Republican leaders in recent weeks have tamped down expectations, noting that Democrats still have significant financial resources and could prove resilient down the stretch. There is plenty of time for voter sentiment to shift, with three weeks before Election Day.

The expanded battlefield map, however, has prompted a shift in tone. Oregon Rep. Greg Walden, vice chairman of the National Republican Campaign Committee, bluntly predicted his party is heading toward a big win. "The Democrats are standing on a beach with the water going out and there is a tsunami coming their way," he said.

Some Democrats are signaling the potential for a rout, particularly in the House. A new survey by Democratic pollster Stanley Greenberg gives Republicans a six-point edge, 49% to 43%, when likely voters are asked which party they support in House races. That's a margin pollsters generally believe foreshadows large gains. "If the election were held today, it would produce a very unhappy night" for the Democrats, he said.

Not in my house.

'Doing for Justice What Tiger Woods Did for Cocktail Waitresses'

I guess David Paterson is right. Al Sharpton is the kind of guy who uses people for his own selfish needs and dumps them at the curb as soon as he's finished with them. One's a man-whore, the other a media whore.

Gov. Paterson may want to consider a career as a comedian when he leaves office.

The outgoing politician praised Rev. Al Sharpton Friday for "doing for justice what Tiger Woods did for cocktail waitresses" during a birthday celebration for the civil rights leader in Harlem.

Sharpton said he appreciated the comments but added, "I don't know how Tiger feels about it."

"Don't worry governor, I got your back if Tiger comes to Harlem looking for you," Sharpton replied.

A regular laugh riot, these two.

GOP House Gains Now Projected Near 50

Imagine the pain in the New York Times newsroom having to publish this.

Our model now estimates that the Republicans have a 72 percent chance of taking over the House, up from 67 percent last week. Moreover, they have nearly even odds of a achieving a net gain of 50 seats; their average gain in a typical simulation run was between 47 and 48 seats. However, the playing field remains very broad and considerably larger are possible, as are considerably smaller ones.

Republican gains this week are mostly the result of factors at the local level; the national environment is roughly stable. The expert forecasters whose judgment we incorporate into the model continue to revise their characterizations of races, and in almost all cases, the changes work toward the benefit of Republicans. Cook Political, for instance, in a break from its usual convention of not classifying seats held by incumbents as worse than toss-ups, this week decided to classify 10 seats currently held by Democratic incumbents, including the seat held by Alan Grayson in Florida’s 8th Congressional District, as leaning toward the Republicans.

Grayson-Webster Race Now Leans Republican

Gee, you think it was a good idea to call your opponent a member of the Taliban?

Lean Republican. Like a bad disease, this race is so toxic thanks to Grayson that both parties wish they could quarantine it. And House Democrats, who point to Grayson’s self-funding capabilities as an excuse not to get involved, basically can. But for now, the preponderance of evidence suggests that Grayson’s scorched earth “Taliban Dan” attacks against GOP state Sen. Dan Webster are backfiring. Editorial boards have excoriated Grayson for taking Webster’s words grossly out of context by rolling footage of Webster saying “she should submit to me,” when Webster had actually warned husbands against that advice. As one Republican noted, painting Webster as anti-woman is a curious line of attack considering Grayson referred to a lobbyist as a “K Street whore” just last year.

Calling someone a whore? Seems to be a lot of that going around in Democrat circles. Why do Democrats hate women so much?

Obama: Nothing to Offer But Fear Itself

Three weeks from near certain carnage at the polls, Barack Obama is now hiding behind the children. You can virtually guarantee next week's screed with be aimed at seasoned citizens and how those mean old Republicans will be taking away their Social Security.

President Obama pitched education initiatives and funding as key to preparing kids for the jobs of the future, and accused congressional Republicans of standing in the way of goals to graduate more students from college.

In his weekly address, Obama began by saying he was fighting to create jobs and rebuild the economy as American families are struggling. But he said that kids need to be better prepared for the jobs of the future in a global economy. "China and India aren’t playing for second," he said. "South Korea and Germany aren’t playing for second. They’re playing for first – and so should America."

Of course we outspend those nations by wide margins yet thanks to the Obama supporters from the teacher's union we're supposedly lagging behind those other countries. We spend trillions on education yet get little reward for it. But now Republicans are to blame? I haven't seen a single campaign spot anywhere where a Republicans has said he'd cut education spending. But that doesn't stop this liar from just making things up.

"And yet, if Republicans in Congress had their way, we’d have a harder time meeting that goal," Obama said. "We’d have a harder time offering our kids the best education possible. Because they’d have us cut education by 20 percent – cuts that would reduce financial aid for eight million students; cuts that would leave our great and undervalued community colleges without the resources they need to prepare our graduates for the jobs of the future."

The GOP fired back at this nonsense.

"What threatens our children’s future is not the Pledge to America, but rather the reckless spending spree being carried out on the backs of future generations by President Obama and his allies," Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), chairman of the recently unveiled Pledge to America, said.

"Democrats in Washington have been asking our kids and grandkids to pick up the tab for their wasteful stimulus spending that has done nothing to create a more stable economic environment for their future," McCarthy said. "While the President is spending his time engaging in scare tactics, Republicans are offering America’s children a renewed opportunity for prosperity with a plan for economic growth and concrete steps to begin reining in Washington spending.”

Compounding the Idiocy: CNN Looking to Hire Couric?

Already facing disaster with the ill-fated Eliot Spitzer fiasco, the knuckleheads at CNN may have a master stroke at the ready: Hiring the low-rated Katie Couric at some ungodly bloated salary.

Friends of Katie Couric are saying the chances of her remaining at CBS are getting slimmer.

CNN appears especially eager to sign Couric now that the new show starring ex-Gov. Eliot Spitzer is off to a stumbling start.

Jeff Bewkes, the CEO of CNN's parent company, Time Warner, yesterday said that CNN has the money "to pay for some of the biggest talent in TV news" -- just when CBS was saying that the era of the big-salary anchor is ending.

"The Katie Couric deal will be the last big deal of that kind ever done," Les Moonves, the head of CBS, said this week. "Those days are over."

Couric makes a reported $16 million a year, tops among the three network news anchors -- but her contract ends in May.

"People are getting the news elsewhere," Moonves said. "When there were only three networks, you did have that public service component, where we were informing America. Now, there is nothing that Katie Couric is saying that everybody doesn't know already."

Exactly. And at $16 million per, she's probably the most overpaid person in recorded history With business decisions like this it's a wonder any executives at the networks and cable outlets (save for FNC) still have jobs. Granted, it's not a stretch to think Couric could do better than Spitzer, but she'd never compete against O'Reilly. Even the MSNBC clown on at that time would likely fare better.

Fox 5 Reporter Charged With Sexually Assaulting a 4-Year-Old

Yes, a four-year-old.

A reporter for New York City's Fox 5 station has been arrested in New Jersey, accused of sexually assaulting a 4-year-old girl.

Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli says Charles Leaf is charged with aggravated sexual assault on a minor and endangering the welfare of children.

Molinelli says the charges stem from accusations that Leaf sexually abused the girl at his home in Wyckoff.

He was arrested at the home on Tuesday and is being held on $250,000 bail.

The 41-year-old Leaf, a former Marine and a married father of two, joined the station in 2006.

A station spokesperson says Fox 5 management is aware of the matter and is reviewing it.

Let the Fox-bashing begin.

Leaf had most recently been making a name for himself with his reporting on the mosque at Ground Zero. If this story is true he'll be much more famous for all the wrong reasons.

Stunner: Majority of Democrats Say Tea Partiers are Racist

It can't possibly be Democrat policies are being rejected nationwide for a valid reason. There must be some sinister racism behind it.

How pathetic are these people?

Most Democrats think members of the Tea Party movement are racist. Most Republicans and voters not affiliated with either party disagree.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that among all Likely Voters 31% believe most members of the Tea Party are racist. Nearly half (48%), however, say most Tea Party members are not racist. Another 22% are not sure.

But 56% of Democratic voters say most members of the small government, anti-tax movement are racially biased. Seventy percent (70%) of Republicans and 55% of unaffiliated voters reject that assertion and say most Tea Party members are not racist.

Who said leftwing media and blogs don't have any influence? After over a year of falsely accusing Tea Partiers of being racist, Democrat lemmings fall right in line.

Russian Spy Shows Up for Rocket Launch

I could see this babe showing up for nightclub openings or something like that, but a rocket launch?

Anna Chapman, the glamorous Russian spy, has come out of the shadows to wave off astronauts at a launch pad in Kazakhstan, her first appearance at a public event since she was deported from the US in July.

Ms Chapman, whose good looks and eye-catching lifestyle as a spy in the US turned her into a media sensation, watched a rocket blast off with two Russian cosmonauts and a US astronaut to the International Space Station.

Appearing briefly in jeans and a short red coat at the launch site in the Kazakh steppe, she refused to answer reporters' questions at a farewell ceremony for Alexander Kaleri, Oleg Skripochka and Scott Kelly. But her reticence could not hide that she is clearly carving out a high-profile role as a celebrity in Russia. She recently announced she was starting her own website, and has posed provocatively for a Russian magazine.

An official with Russia's space agency, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Ms Chapman was at the launch site in Baikonur as an adviser to the president of FondServisBank. The bank works with space industry companies and was handing out awards, the official said.

Confirmed: Democrat NJ Congressman Recruited Bogus Tea Party Candidate

We noted this story back in July and it was largely ignored by the media. Well, now it's confirmed. What else do you expect from desperate Democrats?

Congressman John Adler's campaign and the Camden County Democratic Committee recruited ""NJ Tea Party'' candidate Peter DeStefano to confuse conservative voters and hurt Adler's Republican challenger this fall, Democratic operatives say.

"The goal was to take 5 percent of (Republican Jon) Runyan's vote,'' said a Democrat with direct knowledge of the Adler campaign and CCDC operations.

"Steve Ayscue designed the plan with Geoff Mackler following his lead.''

Ayscue is a high-profile Democratic consultant who runs the CCDC. Mackler is Adler's campaign manager.

Several South Jersey Democratic operatives with direct knowledge of the Adler campaign and CCDC operations spoke to the Courier-Post on condition of anonymity because of what they described as ethical qualms with Adler's campaign.

"From the beginning, orders have flowed from Cherry Hill,'' said one Democratic operative, referring to CCDC headquarters at Garden State Pavilions shopping center off Route 70.

Adler, who is in a knife-fight with Runyan in the conservative-leaning 3rd district, is aware of the DeStefano plan, Democrats said.

Regional Tea Party groups had never heard of DeStefano until the Adler campaign released partial results of an internal poll last summer that indicated he might be a viable third-party spoiler.

Up until and immediately after a July 19 Courier-Post story on DeStefano's candidacy, the Adler campaign was largely unresponsive to media queries. In early August, at a grand opening of his Marlton campaign office, Adler told the Courier-Post, "I know we weren't part of it.''

The Democratic operatives - one of whom helped Adler's 2008 bid but is not on staff this time around - said there was immediate disagreement among the rank and file about the DeStefano plan.

The bogus candidate is still on the ballot. He sounds like an idiot.

After another failed attempt to meet him Thursday, DeStefano said in an e-mail, "I became a canidate (sic) of my own free will. No one promised me ANTYING (sic) before, during or for after this campaign.

"NO one has rewarded me for becoming a canidate (sic)!"

A Democratic operative with knowledge of the Adler campaign's operation said Ayscue is in charge of the campaign website, Facebook and Twitter accounts promoting the DeStefano campaign. DeStefano announced online he is holding a fundraiser tonight at the Indian Chief Tavern in Medford. Tickets are $50.

Another Rave Review for Parker Spitzer: 'Numbing and Tedious'

Looks like the CNN trainwreck "Parker Spitzer" isn't going over well with a former, um, business associate of Client Number 9.

Kristen Davis wants Eliot Spitzer to put a black sock in it. The Manhattan Madam, who provided the former governor with prostitutes, said his new CNN show, "Parker Spitzer," is unbearable. "The overall reports from the women who used to work for me said being with him was numbing and tedious," Davis told us. "I felt that way about the show." Davis criticized CNN for giving Spitzer a platform to give others advice: "In the first 10 seconds, he tells Obama to fire Tim Geithner -- who is he to tell the president how to run the country when he couldn't get through four years as governor?" Davis said his smile is "actually scary, appropriate for Halloween. Whoever advised him to smile like that should be fired."

Oops: Chafee Campaign Failed to Pay Taxes

Just an honest misunderstanding or something. Stuff like this can be problematic leading up to an election.

Independent Rhode Island gubernatorial Lincoln Chafee's old Senate campaign committee failed to pay federal and state taxes for five years and owes an estimated $18,400 in taxes and penalties, a campaign aide told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Mike Trainor, deputy campaign manager for Chafee's gubernatorial campaign, said the Senate committee failed to pay taxes on approximately $64,400 of investment income from 2004 through 2008. The failure came to light after an inquiry by the AP.

Chafee in a written statement called it an honest misunderstanding. Trainor said it happened because two Chafee campaign treasurers did not understand Internal Revenue Service regulations for campaigns.

"I sincerely regret that the error was made," Chafee said. "I stand accountable and will take full and personal responsibility for paying all monies owed to the Internal Revenue Service and the Rhode Island Division of Taxation.

Trainor said the campaign planned to notify the IRS Friday. He said the IRS would determine how much interest was owed on the federal taxes and penalties, which amount to an estimated $15,900. The state tax owed was $2,500 for the period, or $500 per year, Trainor said.

Trainor said he was not aware of any tax problems with Chafee's gubernatorial campaign, but the campaign was checking following the AP's inquiry.

Chafee is a former Republican U.S. senator who lost re-election in 2006 to Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse. Trainor said most of the interest was earned in the period leading up to the 2006 Senate race, when Chafee had stockpiled millions of dollars in preparation for the campaign.

His main opponent in the governor's race, Democratic General Treasurer Frank Caprio, has paid both state and federal taxes since the 2005 tax year, according to filings his campaign made with the state Board of Elections. The campaigns of his other opponents, Republican John Robitaille and Moderate Ken Block, said their money is kept in interest-free accounts, and therefore they do not have to pay taxes.

New Sharron Angle Ad: Dingy Harry Gives Viagra to Child Molesters

Commenters at the Politico are freaking out over this.

The vote Angle cited was an amendment offered to the major health care bill by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) in hopes of killing it. While the amendment sought to prevent the sale of Viagra to sexual predators using health care funds, there was no portion of the bill authorizing funds to provide the drug to sex offenders to begin with.

Democrats voted to table the amendment in order to continue consideration of the full measure.

Indeed, probably not the best line of attack considering Reid can be pummeled on a thousand different votes.

Angle, meanwhile, has increased her lead to 50-46. Looks like Reid's campaign could use some Viagra. Any incumbents under 50% at this juncture are in deep trouble.

Megatool Rick Sanchez: 'CNN and I Have Decided to Part Ways'

Uh, dude, you were fired.

Rick Sanchez finally has something to say.

The disgraced former CNN anchor came out of hiding to issue a belated statement yesterday apologizing for the "inartful" words that got him fired from the cable news network last Friday.

After admitting that he personally apologized to Jon Stewart on Monday -- after calling him a "bigot" during a radio interview last week -- Sanchez said, "I sincerely extend this apology to anyone else whom I may have offended."

He went on to add that, "Despite what my tired and mangled words may have implied, they were never intended to suggest any sort of narrow-mindedness and should never have been made.

"In the aftermath of these comments, CNN and I have decided to part ways . . . There are no hard feelings -- just excitement about a new future of opportunities. I look forward to my next step with great anticipation."

You've already taken that next step, pal. To oblivion. How weak is that nonsense? I guess after his stupid comments he just decided to ring up management and tell them how excited he is to leaving for a bright new future of opportunity?

Maybe Stewart can give him a gig as a comedy writer.

Drunken Women Brawl Over Male Stripper

Women, alcohol and male strippers: A lethal combo. Oh how I wish there was some video of this.

Police want to talk to the management of Nanaimo's Cavallotti Lodge following a drunken melee that erupted at the East Wellington Road hall on Friday night, featuring more than 100 women and a male stripper.

Nanaimo RCMP spokesman Const. Gary O'Brien said officers responded to a call of an assault at the hall around 10:50 p.m., only to find "between 100 and 150 drunk women" on the premises, watching an exotic dancer as part of a fundraiser for the lodge.

"My understanding is that a big brawl broke out among a number of drunken women who were watching a male stripper event there," said O'Brien.

Police arrested five people they believed were involved in the incident but are not recommending charges to Crown counsel.

"They were drunk, it was an alcohol-fuelled incident and there was no real victim," said O'Brien. "However, we will be following up with Cavallotti because their patrons were extremely intoxicated and we need to warn them about the dangers of over-serving liquor."

Two of the women were kept in the cells at the RCMP detachment until they "sobered up," said O'Brien.

A witness to Friday's escapades who did not want to be identified said one woman stood on her chair to watch the male exotic dancer, who was dressed up as a police officer before he started to remove his clothing. The women behind her took exception because their view of the stripper was obstructed.

Pathetic: Endangered Democrats Claim GOP Is Taking Foreign Donations

A pretty ridiculous claim from a party whose leader raked in more money from British Petroleum than anyone else. Even lamer, the pinheads pushing this story are bought and paid for by convict George Soros.

Just making it up as they go along.

Endangered Democrats in several key Senate races are seizing on what they say is evidence that foreign interests are helping fuel their opponents' campaigns.

Sens. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.) and Ohio Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher (D) have blasted their opponents for benefiting from campaign spending by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which accepts foreign contributions to its general treasury fund.

The criticism is part of a broader Democratic strategy, outlined by White House political strategist David Axelrod in a July meeting with Senate Democrats, to paint Republicans as the defenders of corporate special interests.

Fisher is accusing his opponent, former Rep. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), of getting an indirect boost from foreign-owned corporate interests.

The Democratic campaigns have seized on a report published earlier this week by ThinkProgress, a blog affiliated with the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank.

“This new report is alarming — companies that are directly benefiting from the trade policies that Congressman Portman has fought for may be funding political ads on his behalf,” said Holly Shulman, Fisher’s campaign spokeswoman, in a statement Thursday.

“These revelations suggest that foreign companies — and foreign governments — are trying to influence our elections, and Congressman Portman should call for the Chamber to stop running political ads until this troubling issue is resolved,” Shulman said.

Jessica Towhey, a spokeswoman for Portman’s campaign, said Fisher has wrongfully attacked a trade organization that represents U.S. businesses.

“Lt. Gov. Fisher’s campaign is embarrassing itself with false and inane attacks against Ohio’s job creators,” said Towhey. “While it may be politically expedient to ignore the 400,000 jobs lost in Ohio while Lee Fisher was asleep at the wheel, Ohioans will see through these desperate attempts to cover up a campaign that is failing just as much as Lee Fisher failed as the state’s Job Czar.”

Funny how the Soros thugs didn't protest when Obama was taking money from Palestinians back in 2008. In fact one report said Obama may have received as many as 37,000 foreign donations.

Seems to me attacking the Chamber of Commerce is a form of intimidation, and they're not backing down. They long ago soured on Obama and this is payback time. Expect more of this during dirty trick season.

Change! 89,000 Prisoners and Dead People Received Stimulus Checks

Probably all those dead people who vote in Illinois. Maybe this is an incentive to keep voting.

The Social Security Administration sent about 89,000 stimulus payments of $250 each to dead and incarcerated people — but almost half of them were returned, a new inspector-general’s report has found.

The agency was charged with distributing the one-time payments, worth about $13 billion in total, as part of the economic-stimulus package passed in February 2009. Most of the payments were made in May 2009.

The inspector general found that about 72,000 payments were sent by electronic-transfer and as checks to people who would have qualified to receive them — had they still been alive. The report said that of these payments, about 55,000 were sent because the recipients had died recently, and the Social Security Administration had not been informed of their deaths by states, families or funeral homes at the time the payments were sent. The remaining 17,000 of the mistaken payments were attributed to the SSA failing to properly process death records that it did have.

Another 17,000 payments went to recipients who were in prison at the time the payment was made in May 2009. However, not all of those payments were necessarily against the letter of the law. While lawmakers intended to prevent payments to people in prison, the law included only a provision prohibiting payments to people incarcerated in the three months before the plan was passed — from November 2008 through January 2009.

There’s a startling bright spot in the report: The inspector general estimates that about 41,000 of the payments were returned. It is illegal to spend social-security money issued to somebody else, but such actions are rarely prosecuted for small amounts. At least one person has been prosecuted for cashing a stimulus check not issued to them, in one of the few accusations of stimulus fraud to date.

The downside: The SSA says that the stimulus package didn’t include a provision allowing it to try to retrieve funds that were mistakenly sent out, so it can’t try to retrieve the rest of the money. Money transferred electronically may be sitting untouched in bank accounts of dead people.

Christie Cancels the Tunnel to Nowhere

Thank you, Governor. How refreshing to have a man in office who actually keeps his word and looks to save the taxpayers money.

Gov. Chris Christie today killed the controversial, multi-billion dollar Hudson River commuter train tunnel — America’s largest public works project — ending for now the two-decade-old quest to expand train capacity between New Jersey and midtown Manhattan.

“I have made a pledge to the people of New Jersey that on my watch I will not allow taxpayers to fund projects that run over budget with no clear way of how these costs will be paid for,” said the governor. “Considering the unprecedented fiscal and economic climate our State is facing, it is completely unthinkable to borrow more money and leave taxpayers responsible for billions in cost overruns.

Christie said the tunnel project costs “far more than New Jersey taxpayers can afford and the only prudent move is to end this project.”

James Weinstein, the executive director of NJ Transit, in a statement, said while the state recognized the importance and value of a cross-Hudson transportation improvement project, “the current economic climate in New Jersey simply does not allow for this project to continue considering the substantial additional costs that are required.”

His predecessor, naturally, didn't care that taxpayers would be saddled with another Big Dig fiasco.

Tunnel opponents maintained the project was rushed together so then-Gov. Jon Corzine could get a re-election campaign photo opportunity at a ceremonial groundbreaking in summer 2009. They also said the tunnel, which was to end at West 34th Street in Manhattan, lacked connectivity to Penn Station and Manhattan’s prosperous east side. NJ Sierra Club director Jeff Tittel dubbed it the "tunnel to Macy’s basement."

Paul Krugman, meanwhile, is hyperventilating.

Many reports that Chris Christie is about to scuttle the second rail tunnel under the Hudson. If so, it’s arguably the worst policy decision ever made by the government of New Jersey — and that’s saying a lot.

Of course he's got a selfish motive for wasting our money.

And yes, if anyone should mention it, I am a resident of New Jersey who often visits Manhattan, and therefore has a personal stake in this project. You got a problem with that?

Uh, yes. I'm ashamed you live in my state. What a mealy-mouthed turd. Why have fiscal sanity if it affects Paul Krugman's commuting time?

Update: Krugman has abandoned all hope. I guess insulting Christie didn't have the desired effect.

At some visceral level, I guess I was expecting Christie to back down at the last minute — expecting that there would be a still, small voice in his mind saying, “If we can’t do even this — if we can’t follow through on a project so obviously needed, so clearly in the interests of the state and the nation — what hope is there for America?”

Yes, canceling a tunnel project that isn't paid for spells the end of America.

Good grief.

Top Democrat: We're Totally Unprepared for Dirty Bomb Attack

Back during the Bush days if a Republican mentioned something like this we'd be told they were just doing it to scare voters. But I guess in this election cycle it's OK to do. Frankly, I'm surprised she didn't suggest Tea Partiers would be behind it.

The U.S. is “unprepared” to deal with a radiological or small arms attack even though both are likely to occur, according to a top ranking House lawmaker on intelligence issues.

Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.), the chairwoman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment, said the possibility of a Mumbai-style attack, in which gunmen storm a specific area, is much more likely to occur than a dirty bomb attack, but that both scenarios are serious and real threats to U.S. national security.

“I’m surprised there hasn’t been a successful conventional attack in the United States,” said Harman at a New America Foundation event on Wednesday.

Don't worry, Jane. Since our borders are wide open the bad guys will find a way in. Harman also helpfully draws a map for terrorists while throwing Obama and his band of incompetents under the bus.

Harman, who receives regular classified intelligence briefings, said the White House hasn’t done a good job explaining the European scare to Americans, which she described as “a real threat.”

“[The government] ought to offer people more specific guidance,” she said. “This warning has led to more confusion than was necessary…I wish our own government right now were giving more sensible advice to people to know what to look for and what to do.”

Harman is most concerned that westerners will fly into the U.S. undetected -- via the visa waiver program -- after they’ve received terrorist training in the Middle East. The program allows citizens of certain countries to travel to the U.S. for tourism or business for up to 90 days without having to get a visa.

Several years ago, Harman traveled to New York City and toured three of the city’s major hospitals to inspect the levels of security they use to keep radiological materials safe from theft by terrorists.

“They are not adequately secured,” said Harman of the materials. “It’s not that hard to storm into one of these hospitals, take the source out of the machine and put together a crude bomb and explode it almost immediately, before law enforcement can arrive in adequate numbers.”

Aww: Democrat Decries Release of Racy Photos

Let's look at the bright side. At least she hasn't dabbled in witchcraft, so this probably won't receive much media coverage. Although once Bill Clinton sees these photos he'll be rushing in to campaign for her.

Memo to would-be candidates for public office: beware of costume parties, especially when cameras are snapping away. Krystal Ball (yes, her real name), a Democratic candidate for Congress in Virginia, is dealing with some unwanted publicity this week -- Internet postings of her in a Santa hat and leotard that she says were taken six years ago, just after she graduated from college.

Ball, 29, is blaming her opponent, Republican Rep. Rob Wittman, saying it is all part of a smear campaign against her. But Wittman says he's opposed to the release of the photos and wants the bloggers who put them up to take them down, The Hill newspaper said Thursday.

In the pictures, Ball appears to be holding a leash attached to the neck of a guy that she says is her ex-husband. Ball says she is more angry than embarrassed. The release of the pictures is "sexist and it's wrong," The Hill quotes her as saying.

The rest of the photos are here.

She claims to be unhappy at how women are portrayed.

Krystal Ball's response is to pull a Palin: "It's incredibly sexist" and "outrageous" that these pictures have emerged. She continues: "I'm angry at the way women in this country are unfairly treated in this regard when they step up and run for office."

Tell that to Nikki Haley, Meg Whitman and Christine O'Donnell.

These photos are probably the least of her problems.

Obama Administration Backing Away From ObamaCare

Well, he did say nobody would lose their coverage, right? Uhh, just not the way it was intended, of course.

Maybe they should have read the legislation before it was shoved down our throats.

Nearly a million workers won't get a consumer protection in the U.S. health reform law meant to cap insurance costs because the government exempted their employers.

Thirty companies and organizations, including McDonald's and Jack in the Box, won't be required to raise the minimum annual benefit included in low-cost health plans, which are often used to cover part-time or low-wage employees.

The Department of Health and Human Services, which provided a list of exemptions, said it granted waivers in late September so workers with such plans wouldn't lose coverage from employers who might choose instead to drop health insurance altogether.

Without waivers, companies would have had to provide a minimum of $750,000 in coverage next year, increasing to $1.25 million in 2012, $2 million in 2013 and unlimited in 2014.

"The big political issue here is the president promised no one would lose the coverage they've got," says Robert Laszewski, chief executive officer of consulting company Health Policy and Strategy Associates. "Here we are a month before the election, and these companies represent 1 million people who would lose the coverage they've got."

The United Agricultural Benefit Trust, the California-based cooperative that offers coverage to farm workers, was allowed to exempt 17,347 people. San Diego-based Jack in the Box's waiver is for 1,130 workers, while McDonald's asked to excuse 115,000.

The plans will be exempt from rules intended to keep people from having to pay for all their care once they reach a preset coverage cap. McDonald's, which offers the programs as a way to cover part-time employees, told the Obama administration it might re-evaluate the plans unless it got a waiver.

McDonald's and Jack in the Box didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.

Democrat campaign aides also fared well.

The biggest single waiver, for 351,000 people, was for the United Federation of Teachers Welfare Fund, a New York union providing coverage for city teachers. The waivers are effective for a year and were granted to insurance plans and companies that showed that employee premiums would rise or that workers would lose coverage without them, Santillo says.

H/T Hillary.

'Naked Cowboy' Announces Presidential Bid

Well, at least he won't have to answer that dopey "boxers or briefs" question.

The Naked Cowboy -- Time Square's tighty-whitey wearing, guitar-toting tourist magnet -- announced he's running for President in 2012… as a member of the Tea Party.

The familiar white briefs, boots, cowboy hat, and long hair were nowhere to be seen at a press conference on Wednesday in his old haunt, Times Square. This time the underwear-sporting cowboy, whose real name is Robert John Burck, was garbed in a suit and tie with his cropped hair slicked back.

Burck, who is registered as a Republican in Ohio, slammed President Obama and declared the Tea Party was "the only legitimate grassroots movement."

"America is rapidly transforming into a government-run enterprise," the over-exposed tourist attraction said, adding that "American politicians are selling out America and its most cherished institution, that being capitalism."

On his arm was his on-again, off-again gal pal, Cindy Fox.

According to the 39-year-old, his policies would include closing the borders, making drug tests for welfare recipients mandatory, abolishing unions for government workers, and reversing the recently passed health care law.

Sounds like he's got the vast majority of Americans on his side.