Greta Van Susteren: Tucker Carlson Neglected to Tell Politico That Mike Tyson's a Convicted Rapist

Yeah, that does seem to be a significant omission.

See Greta, "Journalism and Judgment – filling in the blanks for Tucker Carlson to Politico":

Tucker neglected to include in his remarks to Politico this am – and which I am now completing for him – is that it is a convicted rapist (not Peyton Manning!) who is spewing the most vile violence against women. Maybe Tucker wants to troll the prison to see what pretty things they have to say about women? And he can call that news? I am sure he can find some really, really, really famous rapist in prison to get a quote or two about women.

And Tucker's a friend of Greta's! Who needs enemies??!!

And Josh Painter has a huge roundup of reactions, at Texans for Sarah Palin.

The Politico story's at Memeorandum.

Mike Tyson's 'Disgusting' Comments Violently Sexualizing Sarah Palin on ESPN Radio

Well, I'm definitely late to this story.

Greta Van Susteren has the headline, "Tucker Carlson’s THE DAILY CALLER’s DISGUSTING POST." And the entry's still up at Daily Caller, with a disclaimer, "Mike Tyson: Sarah Palin met ‘the wombshifter’." I'd rather not link, only because I agree with Greta that Daily Caller's probably circling the drain and no need to prolong the agony at this point. This is the kind of stuff you'd see from TMZ types or folks like A.J. Daulerio at Deadspin.

Anyway, R.S. McCain's on the story, "HOLY. FREAKING. CRAP."

And Dan Riehl's in the thick of things with a number of posts, but read this first: "Link and Post Removal Notice." Also, "Daily Caller Runs For Cover Over Vile Palin Smear, Threatens Blogger With Lawsuit For Exposing It."

There's a Memeorandum thread, although this should be a bigger story than it is so far. Mike Tyson grotesquely and viciously attacks Sarah Palin. I don't even have the vocabulary to describe it.

More from Sissy Willis, "Greta Van Susteren takes Tucker Carlson to the woodshed."

We're All Journalists Now

At GigaOM, "Freedom of the press applies to everyone — yes, even bloggers" (via Glenn Reynolds):

In the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, released just a few weeks ago, the judges pointed out that the First Amendment’s protection for freedom of the press “encompasses a range of conduct related to the gathering and dissemination of information,” and that citizens have the right to investigate government affairs and share what they learn with others. Judge Kermit Lipez also specifically noted that these protections don’t just apply to professional journalists. He said in his decision:

[C]hanges in technology and society have made the lines between private citizen and journalist exceedingly difficult to draw. The proliferation of electronic devices with video-recording capability means that many of our images of current events come from bystanders [and] and news stories are now just as likely to be broken by a blogger at her computer as a reporter at a major newspaper. Such developments make clear why the news-gathering protections of the First Amendment cannot turn on professional credentials or status.

We couldn’t have put it any better ourselves (although we have tried a number of times). The advent of social news-distribution tools like Twitter and Facebook, not to mention blogs and YouTube and other web services and social networks, have powered what Om has called a “democratization of distribution” that makes virtually anyone into a publisher.

RTWT at the link.

RELATED: From Carol Rose, "Victory for liberty and the right to videotape public officials."

DaTechGuy Covers Andrew Breitbart in Lexington Massachusetts

Good stuff:

Check that link for the full report.

Libyan Rebels Enter Bani Walid in Final Push

At Telegraph UK.

F*** You, Douglas! — W. James Casper = COBAG = Repsac3!!

I'm just now getting to this, but W. James "Costanza" Casper = RACIST = Repsac3 had an entry for "civility week" earlier, at my blog post on "Tolerance of Islam":

Fuck you, Douglas...

You post about me, I'll almost certainly comment, like it or don't...

Cope.

(If you really wanted to be left alone, you wouldn't engage, would you?)

This is someone who has completely abandoned the slightest adherence to social norms and decency. So, for the record: I've never said no interaction. Idiot RACIST Repsac3 is BANNED from commenting at American Power. That is, NO ENGAGEMENT AT MY COMMENT THREADS, DUH!! Bird-brained W. James Casper, whose immorality is boundless, again reminds us of George Costanza. Click the image to watch. Unable to control his impulses, George eats a chocolate eclair out of the garbage pail. Jerry says to him, "Well, you my friend have crossed the line that divides man and bum. You are now a bum." And in our most recent despicable attack by RACIST Repsac3, our sick obsessive stalking asshat (and non-friend) has crossed the line that divides a restrained and respectable citizen from a profane and clinically deranged progresssive cobag: "You are now a complete cobag."

Congratulations!

Democrat Hopes Collapse Following Turner Win in New York Special Election

I've used the 1992 comparison previously. George H.W. Bush was defeated for reelection just 22 months after having record approval ratings of near 90 percent. With last night's breathtaking GOP win in NY-9, the left's utter freak out over 2012 has now hit gale force.

There's lots of stuff on this. See Caitlin Huey-Burns, at RealClearPolitics, "GOP Scores Major Upset in NY-9." Also David Seifman at New York Post, "Disaster looms for O in 2012" (via Memeorandum), and Peter Wehner at Commentary, "Panic, Then Rage Ahead for Democrats."

And at Politico, "Dems schvitzing over NY-9 results," and "Twin defeats spark Democratic fears."

BONUS: From Andrew Breitbart, "After Turner Earthquake in Weiner District, Democrats’ Civil War Against Obama Begins."

Michele Bachmann Slams HPV Vaccine Mandate at GOP Debate

She did fine in the debate: "Rick Perry's HPV mandate returns to haunt him."

It's the post-debate comments that weren't Bachmann's best moments. Ed Morrissey's got the main story, "Bachmann: Gardasil causes “mental retardation”." (Via Memeorandum.) And Los Angeles Times has a medical report, "GOP debates HPV vaccine, but medical community gives it OK."

I'll bet Bachmann recovers on this sooner than Perry. The mandate calls into question his bona fides as a small-government conservative. And the debate got heated today among right bloggers and on the Twittersphere.

AoSHQ has this: "Bachmann: I'm A-Goin' to Go Ahead and Push This Lunatic Vaccines=Autism Lie":

Michelle Bachmann is desperate. She's an ambitious, egotistical woman who started running for President just two short years after she first ran for Congress. In the past two months her support went from 13% and rising to 4% and falling.

So she needs something, doesn't she, and Rush Limbaugh warned her off her planned Social Security demagoguery.

So, instead, this bullshit.

And Dan Riehl's got this: "Perry Doesn't Look Ready to Lead America," and "So Much For NRO Being Conservative."

And Tabitha Hale on Twitter: "I think maybe I should abandon Twitter until primary season is over so I still have friends."

It's gonna get heavy like this on the right for a while. Folks are starting to really dig in behind their favorites.

Furor Over Paul Krugman's 9/11 Blog Post

From the letters to the editors, at New York Times:

To the Editor:

Re “The Years of Shame” (“The Conscience of a Liberal” blog, The New York Times on the Web, Sept. 11):

Paul Krugman writes, “The memory of 9/11 has been irrevocably poisoned; it has become an occasion for shame.” I disagree.

I feel no shame about my personal recollections and commemorations of 9/11. My memories of the day have not faded; I recall what I saw with my own eyes in Lower Manhattan. I do not believe that our political system was irrevocably poisoned, or that it is a day of shame.

I remain grateful for the words of comfort that President George W. Bush and Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani provided the nation in the aftermath.

I find no shame in the pursuit of justice since then by two presidential administrations. I may not agree with every policy decision taken since, but American society is sound and our recollections have not been hijacked.

I urge Mr. Krugman to appreciate moments of great leadership, regardless of the leader’s political affiliation.

MICHAEL METS
Glendale, Queens, Sept. 11, 2011

There are two more letters at that link.

James Taranto has commentary, "History's Smallest Monster." And Michelle felt obligated to respond: "A few more words about Koward Krugman."

And at Mediaite, "Megyn Kelly Hosts Fiery Debate Over Paul Krugman’s ‘Years Of Shame’ 9/11 Column." (Click through to watch. Megyn interviews Medea Benjamin, who is completely down with Krugman's desecration, naturally.)

Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld cancelled his subscription to the Times in protest: "Donald Rumsfeld cancels New York Times subscription." And "Rumsfeld Decides to “Go Timesless”."

Paul Krugman responded to the criticism (doubled-down), "More About the 9/11 Anniversary."

9/11 Tributes

From Bruce Kesler, at Maggie's Farm, "My Son, Age 11, Made This 9/11 Video For His 6th Grade Classmates."

RELATED: From Dana Loesch, at Big Journalism, "All Hail Salon, the 9/11 Tribute Police."

EXTRA: At Atlas Shrugs, "INFAMY."

MORE: From Glenn Reynolds, "SO HOW TO NOTE THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11?"

9/11 Media Overkill?

Thomas Ricks complains, "No 9/11 column here, but 2 questions: Where are the memorable 9/11 movies? And did we suffer a national panic?"

And following the links there, at Foreign Policy, "The 9/11 Anniversary Reader: Liberals vs. Neocons Edition."

Perhaps there's some sensationalism, but I learn more about what happened every year. The coverage this year's been especially fascinating precisely because of the ten-year marker.

More on this throughout the day.

RELATED: See Zilla of the Resistance, "I Will ALWAYS Be A New Yorker - My September 11, 2001 Story." And Yid With Lid, "The Horror of 9/11, I Remember... But Too Many Others Forget."

'It's Civility Week!'

Mandy Nagy is cracking me up!

See, "New Tone: Twitter Users Want Republicans Dead."

Yeah, that is a lot of "new tone" this week, and it's only Wednesday!

Stay classy, progs!

DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz on Fox & Friends: Won't Comment on Teamsters Leader's Violent Rhetoric

Nice Deb has the big roundup: "Video: Debbie Wasserman Schultz Also Not Interested In Condemning Violent Anti-Teaparty Rhetoric":

Not only is she out of her league as DNC Chair, she's really nasty woman.

See also at Althouse, "'We got to keep an eye on the battle that we face: The war on workers'."

I realize "let's take these sons of bitches out" can be interpreted to mean let's vote these terrible people out of office. But "take them out" is not an idiomatic expression that corresponds to "vote them out." Take them out? Maybe that's not the phrase he intended to use, but if it was unintended, it was still a gaffe. A revealing gaffe. Unless you're speaking in a positive way — referring to taking someone out on a date, for example — "take them out" is a violent command. With "sons of bitches" right there, it's unmistakably violent. Now, you can say it's only metaphorical, and all Hoffa really wants is to oust these people from office.

But it was only last January that Obama and many other Democrats were saying that violent metaphors, including a simple target on a map, were dangerous incitements for the unstable irrational folk out there.

Also, "Jimmy Hoffa's "Let’s take these sons of bitches out" speech — take 2."

Mitt Romney at Tea Party Express Rally in Concord, New Hampshire

The Other McCain's got the coverage: "VIDEOS: Pro-Romney, Anti-Romney and Mrs. Romney at Concord, N.H., Tea Party."

At at The Australian, "Mitt Romney plays the callow card."



PREVIOUSLY: "Their Optimism Rising, Republican Voters Look For a Winner."

Their Optimism Rising, Republican Voters Look For a Winner

At New York Times, "G.O.P. Voters Seek a Winner":

MANCHESTER, N.H. — Roy Barbuto is on the hunt. For the past few months, he has been searching for the perfect Republican candidate, and he shows no signs of flagging.



Mr. Barbuto, 61, a service technician here, had already seen Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota (“She was excellent”), the former pizza executive Herman Cain (“He intrigues me, because here is a man who clearly knows what to do businesswise”) and former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts (“If he was elected, he could certainly do the job”). Now, he was finishing up dinner at a house party in Chichester, N.H., waiting to take a measure of Gov. Rick Perry of Texas.



“I’m not just looking for a candidate to beat the president,” he explained. “For me, the purpose of the next president is to restore the pride that this country has always had.”



In interviews with more than two dozen people in New Hampshire and Iowa over the Labor Day weekend, voters said they sensed a new vulnerability to President Obama.



But while they expressed a strong sense of optimism in the prospect of winning the White House, they were looking for a candidate who could not only prevail in a general election, but be a forceful conservative leader for a tumultuous time.

RTWT.



Folks are looking for "someone who can create jobs."



Video Hat Tip: Da Tech Guy, "Voices of the Tea Party: A Sarah Palin supporter."

America's Taken a Hammering Since 9/11, But ...

From Richard Littlejohn, at London's Daily Mail, "America's taken a hammering in the decade since 9/11. But never doubt that it can rediscover its awesome self-belief":

My family connections with the U.S. stretch back almost half a century. I’ve been a regular visitor since 1969, the year of the moon landing and Woodstock.



Although it is a vast continent, there are ties which bind all Americans from New York’s wealthy Upper East Side to the kind of tumbleweed, one-horse towns familiar from movies like The Last Picture Show.



The proud patriotism which European liberals despise and mock is both genuine and sincere. It cuts across class, religious and racial divides.



Most people in the U.S. still subscribe to the notion of American ‘exceptionalism’: the idea that theirs is a unique nation, forged from revolution; underpinned by a properly functioning democracy and the rule of law; blessed with abundant natural resources, human ingenuity and endeavour; and insulated by geography and military might ...



The American Century may have come crashing to a tragic halt on 9/11, but we must all hope the U.S. soon recovers its sense of purpose and self-belief.



I still have faith in the American capacity for ingenuity, enterprise and reinvention. The idea of American exceptionalism may be battered, but it hasn’t been extinguished.



We need a strong, confident, optimistic, outward-looking America. It’s still the planet’s last best hope. If you doubt that, imagine living in a world dominated by those bastions of liberty, China and Russia. The EU is a basket case, riddled with corruption and duplicity.



The U.S. has always emerged stronger from wars and economic depression. Despite the traumas of the past decade, it still can.



As we prepare to remember those who died on 9/11, let’s pray nothing else bad happens.

Do RTWT.



I agree with Littlejohn entirely, and the something else bad happening would be Obama's reelection, so it's not as if things are outside of our control. The GOP has work to do, and I won't be sitting on the sidelines. When the going gets rough, Americans roll up their sleeves. But sometimes it feels as though only half the nation represents heartland America, which is the repository of our historical goodness. That other half just hates our exceptionalism and wants to destroy all that has held us together for so long.



More on this later, as always ...

Sarah Palin to Blast Washington's 'Compromised Political Class' in Iowa This Weekend

See Robert Costa, at National Review, "Palin Will Blast ‘Compromised Political Class’ in Iowa."

For a long time I admired Sarah Palin's savvy instincts (and I still do), but I think she's waited too long to announce her intentions for the presidency. Apparently, she'll say in Iowa tomorrow that she's still undecided, and then she'll reprise her basic stump speech about how dumb are establishment politicians and how broken is establishment politics. I can't help thinking that Palin's moment has passed for this cycle, and that she'd be better off announcing definitively that she'll not be a candidate in 2012. For more on that see Doyle McManus, at LAT, "Palin the procrastinator," and Alex Parker, at U.S. News, "For 2012, Sarah Palin's Time May Have Run Out."



And check the video at Right Scoop, "Karl Rove: Palin is hurting herself. She needs to get in or get out."



BONUS: From Tony Katz, at Pajamas Media, "The Sarah Palin “Will She/Won’t She” Tour Begins."

Fear of Terrorism Fades as 10th Anniversary of 9/11 Nears

While that's a good thing, trust in government to protect from an attack remains limited.



See Gallup, "Americans' Fear of Terrorism in U.S. Is Near Low Point."

See also USA Today, "Fewer would trade rights for security than in days post-9/11."

Fresh-Faced Reporters ... You Think?

I'm looking at this New York Times story, which has a pictures of Lindsey Boerma of National Journal, and I'm thinking this young lady might as well be sitting in one of my American government classes. Shoot, she looks like she could be hanging out at the mall with my oldest son on the weekends! Makes you kinda get nostalgic for David Broder. Sheesh!



See: "Covering 2012, Youths on the Bus."

For decades, campaign buses were populated by hotshots, some of whom covered politics for decades, from Walter Mears to David S. Broder to Jules Witcover. It was a glamorous club, captured and skewered in Timothy Crouse’s best-selling “The Boys on the Bus,” about the 1972 campaign.



Now, more and more, because of budget cutbacks, those once coveted jobs are being filled by brand new journalists at a fraction of the salary. It is not so glamorous anymore.



For these reporters the 2012 campaign is both the assignment of a lifetime and the kind of experience that is tying their stomachs in knots. Three of them are just out of college. One just got engaged. And none of them seem quite sure what to expect from more than a year on the road.



“We hear all this stuff, all this advice,” said Rebecca Kaplan, 23, who is giving up her apartment in Washington’s Chinatown for the duration of the campaign. “But I don’t think we’ll fully realize what’s going on until we get out there.”

And see The Other McCain, "A Special Kind of Stupid." (At Memeorandum).

Libyan National Transitional Council

That's the first I've seen of that term, at the description from this video at Telegraph UK:

Also, "Libya: Saif al-Islam Gaddafi vows to continue the war and retake Tripoli."



See also New York Times, "Son Denies Rebels’ Claim That Qaddafi Is Cornered":

TRIPOLI, Libya — A top official of Libya’s transitional government said Wednesday that its fighters had cornered Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi in a desert redoubt 150 miles from the capital and were exhorting him to give up, in what would bring a sense of finality to the prolonged uprising that routed him and his family from Tripoli a week ago.



But one of Colonel Qaddafi’s fugitive sons, Seif al-Islam el-Qaddafi, threw a new if improbable taunt at the rebels even as they said they had closed in on his father, vowing in an audio statement that loyalists would never surrender and insisting that “victory will be near.”



“Our leadership is fine,” he said in the statement broadcast on the Al Rai television channel of Syria and other Arab broadcasting outlets. “We are drinking tea and coffee.”



Seif al-Islam gave no indication in the statement of his precise whereabouts except that he was in a Tripoli suburb, and it was not clear if his remarks had been prerecorded. But the statement itself raised the possibility of more fighting and underscored the ability of the Qaddafis to frustrate the alliance of rebel forces that has become the effective government of Libya.

Maybe folks should hold off on this talk of a "transitional council." You gotta get that old council out before you can transition a new one.