CNN apologizes for debate slip-up

I've been ignoring this whole dustup because it was nothing both sides don't do. They throw their little tantrums because people are just not nice to them. Then they demand an apology and a promise it will never happen again. But it will and we're on to another little dust devil.

CNN is chickenshit. Because a bunch of wingers are calling for someone's head, they capitulate and express regret. CNN did nothing wrong.

CNN expressed regret Thursday for allowing a Hillary Clinton adviser to ask a question at Wednesday's Republican presidential debate, even as controversy swirled about two other questioners who have declared their support for Democratic candidates.

Retired Brig. Gen. Keith Kerr, who asked why gays should not be allowed to serve openly in the military, is a member of Clinton's steering committee on gay-and-lesbian issues, something her campaign disclosed in a news release in June.

"Had we known that, we probably wouldn't have used the question," said David Bohrman, CNN's Washington bureau chief, who produced the debate. He added that "you could spend hours Googling everybody. What we cared about was that he was real." CNN deleted Kerr's question from a rebroadcast of the debate.

The New York senator's campaign said in a statement that "Gen. Kerr is not a campaign employee and was not acting on behalf of the Clinton campaign."

Kerr, a Californian who said he became openly gay after 43 years in the military, was one of 5,000 people who submitted videotaped questions through YouTube. CNN also placed Kerr in the St. Petersburg, Fla., audience, where he followed up by calling the current "don't ask, don't tell" policy "destructive."

Moderator Anderson Cooper acknowledged the error involving Kerr after Bill Bennett, the conservative author and radio host who is a network contributor, raised it during a post-debate discussion. Bennett said Thursday that his radio producer e-mailed him information from a National Review blog.

"It shouldn't have ever happened," Bennett said. "You've got to vet that sort of thing."

Since when does a citizen, any citizen, not have a right to ask a civil question of any candidate? We aren't talking about vetting here, its censorship.

CNN should have said they don't care what affiliations the guy had. He offered an intelligent question and it deserved an answer so they used it. Jesus H Christ on Absolut*, if a candidate can't take a little heat in a debate, he sure as hell isn't qualified to rule a fucking country.

HRC or any candidate's planting shills to ask questions they want to answer is far worse. No one wants candidates to stack the deck, but CNN says its sorry it didn't do that for the GOP.

* Technically I believe Jesus was more into a nice Bordeaux. But I'm just guessing.

Via The Seattle Times.

I'm at a loss here

Sweet Nancy.

Japan must be part of 'war on terror': Fukuda

When I read this two things immediately come to mind. Being lazy ass, I couldn't wait around for more thoughts.

Firstly we have a country, Japan, with a pacifist constitution. It isn't much globally, but its something and I sincerely hope they stay pacific.

Secondly I wonder what's really operational here. The US takes in tons upon tons of filthy lucre from armament, munitions, warefare sales. Is Fukuda envious? Does he want Japan to start producing such things? It isn't out of the realm of possibilities.

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda Tuesday told a resurgent opposition that Japan must not be a "bystander" in the US-led "war on terror" as he fought to extend a naval mission in the Indian Ocean.

The opposition won control of one house of parliament in July elections and has vowed to defeat government proposals to extend the naval mission providing fuel and logistical support to US-led forces in Afghanistan.

The opposition has so far ignored a government compromise that would stop refuelling operations backing combat troops, restricting support to ships policing the Indian Ocean.

Terrorists are about as much a threat to most people as muggers or traffic accidents.

Where I live there are AK-47 and M16 toting, C-4 explosive wielding, hand grenade carrying terrorists. Am I afraid or brave?

Neither.

This is pure, unadulterated bullshit.

Wake up folks. The politicians are trying to turn you into sheep and you're falling for it.

Via Agence France-Parsse.

Why Do Doctors Get to Decide When a Woman Is Old Enough to Have Her 'Tubes Tied'?

The graphic is my comment.

Women under 30 who have made the decision not to have children often find their requests for tubal ligation procedures denied -- simply for the reason that doctors think they are "too young."

As usual, I'm not finished.

Although expensive, tubal ligation can be reversed so long as one of the most reversible methods are used.

Via AlterNet.

Bush pushes the boat out to welcome Putin

Did you say lobster and sailing?

OK, the headline ain't so bad. Wouldn't have been my choice of words, but it works. Although I doubt Bush did any actual boat pushing.

However, the opening paragraph is horrid:

President George W Bush is hoping that lobster and sailing his father's New England retreat today will help to woo Russia's president Vladimir Putin into putting pressure on Iran to halt its nuclear programme. [emphasis mine]

Oh yeah, a little lobster and sailing should do the trick for foreign policy.

Bush, what a maroon!

(read more)

McCain Says he Would Have Gone Into Baghdad Market Without Escort

Go back John. Prove it.

Sen. John McCain said Monday he would have taken his tour of an Iraqi market last week even if he hadn’t been accompanied by heavily armed U.S. soldiers.

The Republican presidential hopeful said he would have walked through the Bab al-Sharqi market in Baghdad without the military protection, but the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, had recommended the armed escort.

“I’m not notorious for being nervous about going anywhere,” said McCain, R-Ariz. “I’ll gladly go almost anywhere in the world, under any circumstances, but I did respond and do what General Petraeus asked me to do.”

(via True Blue Liberal)

Poll: Character Trumps Policy for Voters

Come on now. All these folks were elected because no one had a clue about their character?

Bill Frist
Roy Blunt
Richard W. Pombo
Maxine Waters
Randy "Duke" Cunningham
William J. Jefferson
Conrad Burns
Bob Ney
Tom Feeney
Gary Condit
Newt Gingrich
Bill Clinton
George H W Bush
George W Bush
Wilbur Mills
Bob Packwood
Richard Nixon
James Strom Thurmond

Now either this poll was poorly worded or, and this is what I think happened, the people told the pollsters what they thought the pollsters wanted to hear. Or, slightly differently, they gave answers that would make them look better to the pollsters.

(read more)