Police were called to Britney Spears' home Thursday night in a custodial dispute that lasted nearly three hours before an intoxicated Spears reportedly turned over her children to ex-husband Kevin Federline. Officers were called to the home around 8 p.m., and the 26-year-old singer turned over the children around 10:50 p.m., Officer Jason Lee, a police spokesman, told City News Service.
Aerial footage from KTLA-TV showed Spears being lifted in a gurney into an ambulance. It was unclear where she was being taken. Lee said Spears was under the influence of an unknown substance, and no injuries were reported. The incident involved a family dispute that police worked to resolve "peacefully by court order," he said.
An Associated Press photographer outside the gated community that includes Spears' house saw six police cars, an ambulance and a fire truck enter around 10:30 p.m. A dispatcher with the fire department referred calls to the police department.
Spears and Federline are fighting over custody of their sons, 2-year- old Sean Preston and 1-year-old Jayden James. Federline, 29, has temporary custody of the children because Spears, who has limited visitation rights, has defied court orders. The two were married in October 2004 and divorced in July. Calls to attorneys for Federline and Spears were not immediately returned.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/04/2008 09:46 ||
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Britney's Attorneys have asked the Judge to let them resign from the case, citing "Communication Problems" with Britney. From Fox News this morning.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
01/04/2008 10:35 Comments ||
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#2
Is this really WoT-related? I'd like to think that at least Rantburg is one Britney-free zone on the internet...
We're in an existential war with a vicious, merciless enemy. Someone like me, utterly lacking a sense of humor, makes the logical assumption that the members of our society would be taking an interest in the war being waged against us. Instead, attention is focused on Britney's trainwreck, Paris' talents as documented on video, Lindsey's crack additiction, and any number of minor beauty queens, celebrities, starlets, and beauzeaux.
To me this sets up an intellectual problem: Those people are trying to kill us. Under their system my beautiful granddaughters would grow up to wear burkas (or at least the chador) and to function as baby-making machines. My grandsons would grow up at the service of the state as personified by the Caliph and his Grand Vizier. Their finest hour would be when they explode in the service of their friendly neighborhood holy men. Yet my fellow Merkins don't seem to care, particularly.
I am simply not smart enough to understand this. Obviously I'm missing something. Obviously more data is required.
Anybody heard from Lindsey lately?
Posted by: Fred ||
01/04/2008 10:58 Comments ||
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#4
Yeah, she (gasp!) swigged from a bottle of champagne at midnight on New Years' Eve, called her AA sponsor, and then did some Italian actor 'til dawn.
10:01 AM CST on Friday, January 4, 2008
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES Lindsay Lohan rang in the New Year drinking champagne in Italy, her lawyer says, but is "back on track" in terms of sobriety.
Yep. Ya have my word on it. Just like the last time. And the time before that. And the previous time preceding the previous time...
A video obtained by The Associated Press shows Lohan, who spent much of 2007 in and out of rehab, taking a swig from a champagne bottle while in Capri, Italy. "After being handed a champagne bottle while on a dance floor in Italy on New Year's Eve and drinking from it, the good news is that Lindsay immediately stopped, called her sponsor, and got herself back on track," her attorney, Blair Berk, said Thursday in a statement. "There is no magic cure here."
Hope they don't have to send her back to jail. She might have to do four hours this time...
"Unfortunately, Lindsay has to share her 'one day at a time' with the entire world," Berk said.
So she'll always have an excuse...
Lohan, 21, was in Italy to receive an award at the Capri Hollywood International Film Festival.
Ummmmmmm...for what?
But wait. There's more...
When she isnt sneaking champagne or smooching cuties in Capri, Hot Lips Lindsay Lohan is bumming bills from her pals. A source told Gatecrasher that the once wealthy actress is openly mooching money from her friends even after running up $736 bar tab on the Italian island.
A $736 bar tab? Another minor slipup, I'm sure she's right back up on Ye Olde Track...
Perhaps Lindsays monetarily challenged condition is the result of a broken endorsement deal. According to another Gatecrasher tipster, Ariva (makers of a smoking-cessation tobacco lozenge) paid Lindsay five figures to shill their cigarette-quitting cure. Ariva reps deny the deal, Gatecrasher reports, possibly because of all the recent paparazzi pics of her smoking.
No, Lindsay. They're supposed to help you stop smoking.
Ooooooooh...
If it comes down to this stuff or reading about Muzzie daddy cutting his daughter's throat for wearing a tube top, I'll take this. These broads put themselves in the position.
#6
Well, these are the kinds of hijinks that make our enemies despise us even more. Just like we think "honor killings" and burqas are crazy, they think it's crazy to let the likes of Britney and Lindsey out of the house all uncovered like they are just like cat meat.
I myself prefer to let these girls make their mistakes and suffer the consequences than to beat them if they remove their burqas. I'd much rather have a woman who can look me in the eye with confidence and tell me what she really thinks than someone who cowers in fear for her life. I just think it's more challenging, more fun and a lot more real.
It's called freedom and it's flip side is educated, intelligent and empowered young ladies who go quietly about making a better world without ever making the evening news.
BTW, how many residents in that neighborhood do you think wish they had surface to air missiles for that KTLA-TV helicopter?
#9
Yet my fellow Merkins don't seem to care, particularly.
The MSM has done an excellent job of making it hard for average busy people to really grasp what's going on out there. Apart from the trailor trash, that is.
#10
YAHOO NEWS > reports Britney is now in a suicide watch agz her will, wid pics of her on a medical guerney.
As a mere man + US male citizen of the NATIONAL-GLOBAL NEW GIRL ORDER, I remain stupefied as to what is making the curr crop of femme Starlets/Celebs act behave like this.
Share Britney Spears' lawyers in her custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline are quitting.
"That does it! We quit!"
The law firm Trope and Trope asked a court Wednesday to be relieved as Spears' attorneys. The firm says there's been a "breakdown" in communication with the pop princess that makes representing her "impossible," according to the filing, obtained by CelebTV.com.
"We even tried talking to her ass, but that part of her doesn't listen, either!"
A message left with a publicist for Spears' record label was not immediately returned. Spears and Federline have been wrangling for months over custody of their sons, 2-year-old Sean Preston and 1-year-old Jayden James. Federline has temporary custody because Spears, who has limited visitation rights, has defied court orders. The two were married in October 2004 and finalized their divorce in July.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/04/2008 00:00 ||
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Hope mama got her advance up front fer her parentin book...
Spears taken in ambulance after standoff
Come n' get me coppers!
LOS ANGELES - The troubled life of Britney Spears added a new chapter when the intoxicated pop star was whisked away in an ambulance after police were called to her house to help end a nearly three-hour custody standoff involving her young sons.
Made it, ma! Top of the world!!!
The 26-year-old pop star was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Entertainment Tonight reported on its Web site Friday. Cedars spokeswoman Simi Singer said she could neither confirm nor deny the report, citing patient confidentiality laws.
Which could be...ummmmmm...disregarded? For a not so small fee, of course...
Officer Jason Lee of the Los Angeles Police Department told City News Service that Spears appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance. He declined to elaborate. No injuries were reported.
Anti-freeze? Freon? Propane? Fix a flat?
Spears was conscious late Thursday when paramedics took her out of her home in a gurney. Several police cars escorted the ambulance out of the neighborhood, followed by dozens of paparazzi.
Sounds just like when she orders a pizza.
Officers were called to Spears' house around 8 p.m. to respond to the custody dispute with ex-husband Kevin Federline over their sons, 2-year-old Sean Preston and 1-year-old Jayden James, Lee said.
Ha-ha, Britney! Evahbuddy thanks ah'm the "normal one" now! take that, bitch!
By about 10:30 p.m., six police cars, two ambulances and a fire truck had entered the gated-community that includes Spears' house. Several police cars were seen in the area earlier in the night.
Oh, boy! Sounds like a big night at Double Wide Acres...
Spears turned over the children around 10:50 p.m., Lee said.
I'll send the kids out for Colt 40, a Whopper, and a pack of Marlboro Lights...
#2
Wonder how long it would take my wife to reform Britney.
She does pretty good with severe mental patients and gets most of them back into a work environment of some sort.
Doesn't tolerate any back talk and gives better than she gets.....
I know she would have Brittney taking proper meds in a week and off the club scene with her fat ass in 2 weeks (less with police help.)
#3
Personally, I pity her. She was propelled to be a "star" before being even in her teens and never led normal life, apparently her parents caring far more for the money than for her welfare.
Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki says he is ready to talk to the Opposition, but only if there is an end to the violence that has followed last weekend's disputed election. His comments come after a recommendation by the Kenyan Attorney-General that an independent inquiry be held into the vote.
Mr Kibaki had remained conspicuously quiet since being sworn in on Sunday, so his statement has attracted intense interest. He had no major new announcement to make, but said he was deeply concerned by the "senseless violence" of recent days. He also expressed a willingness to talk to all parties, but only when the political temperature had cooled.
The Opposition says the statement makes no difference. They have also rejected the Attorney-General's offer to set up an independent review of the presidential election results. A party spokesman says they have lost all faith in the institutions of Kenya and want international mediation.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/04/2008 00:00 ||
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China is sending 5,000 metric tons of food aid to Zimbabwe, official media reports, to help the African nation cope with dire food shortages. China's deputy ambassador to Zimbabwe made the announcement, adding that the two countries wanted to increase trade to $500m (£253m) in 2008. More than 3m Zimbabweans, 25% of the population, depend on UN food aid.
An official crop assessment after last year's harvest in May estimated the country had about a 1m ton shortfall. The UN World Food Programme said last year that a poor harvest and the country's worsening economic situation meant hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans were running out of food. It said the crisis was set to peak between November and March.
China has been expanding its presence in southern Africa. Deputy Chinese ambassador Ma Deyun said the food aid "will soon arrive", Zimbabwe's official Herald newspaper reported. She was speaking at a ceremony marking the delivery of 97 Chinese-made trucks, fulfilling an order from the Zimbabwean government.
"The Chinese people will be an equal, sincere and reliable friend... of the Zimbabwean regime people," Ms Deyun said.
#7
In a sense this is good, drain China for a while.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
01/04/2008 7:40 Comments ||
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#8
Kin I get me some wings? N mebbe a pack a dem knockoff marlboros?
Posted by: Farmin B. Hard ||
01/04/2008 8:51 Comments ||
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#9
Chavez said Venezuelans were not yet mature enough for socialism.
Oooooh, that's going to leave a mark.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
01/04/2008 11:26 Comments ||
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#10
Sorry, wrong thread.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
01/04/2008 11:29 Comments ||
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#11
"The Chinese people will be an equal, sincere and reliable friend... of the Zimbabwean regime people," Ms Deyun said. (
Wow! Good for them. About time someone else helps pick up the tab they all expect from us. Sounds like the Chinese are grasping the concept of equality and are demonstrating leadership that others at the UN have failed to do.
Venezuelan helicopters chugged home empty from Colombia on Thursday after a failed mission to pick up hostages held by Marxist guerrillas, a new defeat for President Hugo Chavez who is still smarting from a tough year. The four helicopters marked with Red Cross symbols flew back to Venezuela from the Colombian town of Villavicencio without the hostages they had left to collect from a jungle region.
After several diplomatic spats and a sobering defeat in a referendum on whether he be allowed to run for reelection indefinitely, the leftist Chavez nearly ended 2007 on a high note, drawing widespread praise for brokering the deal to free two women and a child from secret rebel camps. But the plan collapsed on Monday, leaving Chavez exposed to criticism he had trusted the rebels too much.
"President Chavez is having a very difficult time," said Eduardo Gamarra, a Latin America expert at Florida International University. "He may have compromised his own credibility and the FARC may have taken him for a ride.
Chavez hoped the deal would burnish his credentials as a statesman after developing a reputation for frequent diplomatic squabbles and high-profile insults of world leaders. He sent helicopters and foreign envoys into Colombia with much fanfare last week to pick up Consuelo Gonzalez, Clara Rojas and her young son Emmanuel, who was born in captivity about four years ago, his father a guerrilla fighter. The normally vocal Chavez has not spoken since the night the plan crumbled, when he met with relatives of the captives and angrily accused Colombia's conservative President Alvaro Uribe of "dynamiting" the deal.
A handover would have raised hopes that other high-profile captives, including French-Colombian politician Ingrid Betancourt and three U.S. contractors in Colombia's drugs war, could be freed in exchange for jailed guerrillas. Colombia's conservative President Alvaro Uribe told Chavez to ditch negotiations with guerrilla leaders last year but he insisted and won the promised release from the rebels.
When the mission unraveled on New Year's Eve, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, complained of army operations in a large region designated by the rebels to free their captives. Uribe, whose father was killed by the FARC in a botched kidnapping, said the rebels lied and no longer even hold the child hostage.
The FARC, a four-decade old peasant army now funded by cocaine production, says it will still try and slip through army cordons to free the hostages. Chavez has vowed to plan a new, lower-profile release.
Colombian cocaine smugglers scuttled a US-bound homemade submarine off the South American country's Pacific coast, Colombia's navy says. It is the second time in a month that Colombian forces, backed by the US Coast Guard, have stopped an underwater craft which was then sunk by its crew members to destroy their incriminating cargo.
In both cases, the smugglers quickly opened the hatches to sink the vessels before they could be boarded by authorities. Both submarines had the capacity to ship 10 to 12 tonnes of cocaine to the world's biggest market.
Colombia's navy has stopped 18 cocaine submarines since 2005. The multi-billion-dollar Colombian narcotics trade funds a guerrilla war in which thousands are killed and displaced every year.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/04/2008 00:00 ||
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so... what happens to shark and whale activities when they get coked up by one of these subs?
Posted by: Mike ||
01/04/2008 6:16 Comments ||
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I understand they are engine-less, towed by boats, simple solution, sink the towboat, leave, let them drown, or starve, can't eat coke, (But they maybe can die happy)
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
01/04/2008 7:44 Comments ||
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#7
I understand they are engine-less, towed by boats, simple solution, sink the towboat, leave, let them drown, or starve, can't eat coke, (But they maybe can die happy)
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
01/04/2008 7:44 Comments ||
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#8
To answer the odd, uninformed comments/questions:
#12
I just had a second think, suppose the idea is to "Sink" them, and then a timer set for(Say) 24 hours blows the ballast tanks and it pops right up again?
I understand Cocaine is NOT soluble in water, so why not?
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
01/04/2008 21:09 Comments ||
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#13
Actually, powder cocaine (cocaine HCL) is quite soluble in water. The free base version (crack) is not.
#1
Interesting that Fred Thompson finished third, without the huge media circus surrounding third-place Hillary.
Posted by: Bobby ||
01/04/2008 6:02 Comments ||
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Facinating that even the third-place Republican beat ALL the Democratic contenders combined.
All that money, energy, and media coverage for a grand total of 13,420 Iowa Democratic voters.
Posted by: Bobby ||
01/04/2008 6:07 Comments ||
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#3
Link screwed, got a big USA map, nothing about caucus.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
01/04/2008 7:48 Comments ||
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#4
bobby, the dems vote isnt total votes its caucus delegates, which is not a one to one turnout thing, its my understanding dems drew 200,000 and repubs about 125,000. But last night was the orange bowl and this is Big 12 territory, most iowans stayed home. the total votes were somewhere around 312,000 from a potential electorate of 1.2 million....which is about 27% turn out. in the final analysis this was the most costly per vote election ever.
#5
You can get either Republican or Democratic vote counts by county just by clicking the appropriate buttons. Sums up the Iowa system eh? ;)
All I can say is that like eating 2 boxes of tricuts in one day, after 24 hours thank God it is over.
All that money, energy, and media coverage for a grand total of 13,420 Iowa Democratic voters. Like shackleberry said, must have stayed home and watched the Orange Bowl.
#7
This race will be different from the last ones for the past 50 years. I think the Iowa and NH primaries will choose the second and third place winners. They don't show the republican party, only the RINO side of it. SC and Florida will be the kingmakers this year. Fred will need to win one or both to make any headway in super tuesday. Whichever Republican wins those states, will be the candidate.
As far as the dhimocrats go, I think Iowa and NH will be their kingmakers. Expect to see Obama or Edwards as the candidate for them.
#8
Our caucus site drew far more than anticipated on a very cold night, exceeding building capacity and parking. We walked at least half a mile one way and the huge line of cars backed up on the highway all gave up. There was an energy I've never seen outside the football stadium.
#12
Huck seems to have won in the counties that get WHO radio (from Des M) reception. There is a program on 4-7pm with a guy named Peace who was pro Huck and anti Mitt.
Jefferson county must have a lot of kooks worried that the NAFTA supercorridor will use their county as a borrow pit (or hazmat depot site).
#16
It matters because the hoard of mediots that go cover the thing demand that it matter. They've been tromping around Iowa, following this campaign and that campaign from bakery to Sons of Norway lodges and who knows what all for the better part of a month... they are going to get some kind of mileage out of it.
Because if not? They've wasted their time. In Iowa.
(Not that I hate Iowa, I'm trying to channel my inner Manhattanite.)
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Delaware Sen. Joe Biden abandoned his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination Thursday after a poor showing in the state's caucuses. Biden was expected to announce his decision to withdraw from the contest at a campaign rally in Des Moines, according to advisers who spoke on condition of anonymity.
So long, Joe, I'd say a few words but I wouldn't want to plagarize anyone ...
The veteran lawmaker and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee received less than 1 percent of the vote in Iowa's caucuses despite a spirited campaign in which he emphasized his international policy credentials and long career in public service.
Biden campaigned extensively in Iowa, focusing his pitch on his plans for ending the Iraq war and the broad foreign policy experience he gained from decades in the Senate. Biden also noted the many time his rivals acknowledged that they agreed with him. His advisers had hoped for a fourth-place finish and thought even third place was possible.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd
Oh, yeah. Him.
of Connecticut abandoned his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination Thursday after a poor showing in Iowa's precinct caucuses. ``Tonight I am withdrawing from the presidential race but let me assure you, we are not ending this race with our heads hanging but with our heads held high,'' Dodd told about 100 supporters here.
Right. Okay. See ya.
``I am not going anywhere,'' he added, to loud cheers. ``I will be fighting for the United States.''
Rats.
Dodd was never able to break from the pack of Democratic contenders despite his long and distinguished Senate career. He won just 0.02 percent of the state's caucus-goers.
That's a pretty good clue that you should go back to the Senate.
Former Bay State Gov. Mitt Romney jetted around the Hawkeye State yesterday for one last lap to rally the troops as his campaign came to grips with the nightmare potential of losing both early deciding states and sinking untold millions of his personal fortune into those states for nothing. Were in a neck-and-neck race, Romney told a crowd at the Mason City Municipal Airport last night before taking off in a chartered plane headed to a stop in West Des Moines.
Meanwhile, Romney and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, his leading rival for Iowas top spot in the GOP caucus, continued their feud to the bitter end. Romney wasted no time criticizing Huckabees late-night stop in Los Angeles to appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. I guess hes more focused on the caucus in L.A. rather than the caucus in Iowa, Romney told reporters earlier in the day.
Romneys campaign strategy staked the GOP nomination - and his political future - almost entirely on winning the two early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire and using that momentum to raise his profile and propel him through the rest of the primary season. But hes done an about-face. This campaign is going to get started in a big way with the voice of Iowans. But its not going to be over after Iowa. And its probably not going to be over after New Hampshire, either, Romney told the Des Moines Register on Tuesday.
Romney has sunk $17 million of his own money into the campaign as of Sept. 30 and refuses to say how much more since then until figures become public.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/04/2008 00:00 ||
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Romney has sunk $17 million of his own money into the campaign
Posted by: Fred ||
01/04/2008 00:00 ||
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Hugh Hewitt has been calling Giuliani a 1-800 candidate for months now. I assume he will start saying the same about McCain's national numbers even if he wins New Hampshire (all those Independents do make NH numbers unreflective of Republicans numbers as a whole).
Not that Romney has local or national numbers now.
#2
Two words. Illegal immigration. I remember the "solution" to that that he cooked up with his friend Teddy.
I vote for him only if he is my absolute last option.
#5
Voting Republican in California might be a futile gesture too. Unless the nominee is Fred Thompson. We're always ready to vote for candidates with Hollywood connections. Especially if he promises to secure the border.
#3
The Republican establishment has done nothing but spin against Thompson since before he announced his candidacy. I assume this is because everybody saw Thompson as the greatest threat to their pet candidate and still do. Congrats you dumb f*cks, you may have elected Mike Huckabee.
#4
The Huckster still has a gauntlet of primaries to pass before he's the nominee. Eventually someone will get the bright idea to ask him about issues.
Did Fred have any kind of ground game in Iowa? I was hearing about pre-recorded phone messages. Nice use of tech, but annoying when you get a lot of them.
Democrat Barack Obama surged to a four-point lead over John Edwards in Iowa, with Hillary Clinton fading to third just hours before the first presidential nominating contest, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Thursday.
Obama and Edwards gained ground overnight in the tracking poll, and Clinton fell four points to third place -- a finish that, if it held, would deal a dramatic setback to the one-time Democratic front-runner.
Obama was at 31 percent among likely Democratic caucus-goers, Edwards at 27 percent and Clinton 24 percent. No other Democrat was in double digits.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/04/2008 00:00 ||
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38% -> %30 -> %29 ->%2
this in a state where the democratic party is %94 white.
Women under 35 voted in mass for Obama - thank Oprah
Nationally, most black leaders were supporting Hillary. EXPECT a recalculation among both the black voters and leaders.
Obama pledged to move the US off oil for good.
Pledged to exit Iraq.
Both Obama and Huckabee slamed Out-Sourcing, Banks, Big Business, Big Oil - and Oil dependence.
It wasn't explicted stated but, considering the flavor of both Obama and Huckabee's speeches, I think the "free trade" mantra went out the window to be replace by fair trade.
Obama pledged to reframe 9/11 and the war on terror into something but it wasn't clear what. (he mumbled and hedged a bit there)
Obama went on a mumble about global warming but it didn't smooth out to a statement you could stick him too.
#2
This may be off-topic, but I need some help with fact-checking. My good friend, who is conservativem recently bought into the "Change" message of Obama and switched party affiliation. Believe it or not alot of Repubs changed voter registration to vote for him and many places had to get extra forms because they ran out.
I need some help finding quotes and fact-checks about Obama. I don't buy it for a minute and need to be ready for when we get into discussion about it, I'm researching as we speak but any help would be appreciated.
Posted by: Charles ||
01/04/2008 4:48 Comments ||
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Turnout in the Iowa straw poll might have been as high as 325,000 total voters participating, thats 14% of potential electorate. If we use this higher number it would mark this campaign as the most expensive on a cost per vote basis.
Fact; 2.2 million Iowans stayed home; to see the Kansas Jayhawks defeat the mighty VA TECH Hokies.
#6
I was watching a cable show and the people like Bob Woodward, Judy Ruff, Russert, Matthews, etc clearly seemed stunned and somber.
Heh, heh. It must have been a moment for them since they have all deluded themselves that they they are "on the team". So it must have felt like they were rejected by the American people last night, which when you think about it, they were.
haha. No doubt they expected their beloved Clinton Team to pull one out of the hat and bring back the Watergate Party Club.
#7
Charles, I'm not surprised that many republicans bought into the message of Obama. For those not really paying attention, he talks a good game and he's nice looking and seems like a decent guy.
That said, I suspect that many of those Republicans switching their votes to Obama were really just voting against Hillary.
Sen. Obama is currently an empty shirt with a nice voice a nice personality, inspiring buzzwords and the advantage of not being Hillary.
Let's wait for substance (the things he has now are partial plans, e.g. a health care plan that is almost certainly a disaster but we don't know all the details).
The rumor that Fred Thompson will quit the Republican presidential race if he finishes poorly in Iowa is not only false: it rises to the level of a political dirty trick aimed at reducing Thompson-backers turnout in tonights Iowa caucuses. The story, which began as a rumor and caught fire as a result of a piece in todays Politico, said that Thompson was likely to quit after Iowa if he did poorly there, and might endorse Sen. John McCain before next weeks New Hampshire primary. The article painted a glum, almost resigned mood among Thompsons inner circle. Thompson and his top campaign advisor Rich Galen both denied the storys claims today.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/04/2008 00:00 ||
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Anectdotal evidence points to the loss of 2-3 percentage points for Thompson due to caucus goers hearing the rumor but not the refutation - for ecample, no refutation was printed at Politico, and Michelle Makin has yet to correct her blog story and negative comments, or the one on her affiliate, Hot Air.
Sad that Michelle Malkin is now a convienent tool of the smear merchants.
Several Republican officials close to Fred Thompsons presidential campaign said they expect the candidate will drop out of the race within days if he finishes poorly in Thursdays Iowa caucus.
Thompsons campaign, which last spring and summer was generating fevered anticipation in the media and with some Republican activists, has never ignited nationally, and there are no signs of a late spark happening here in Iowa, where even a third-place finish is far from assured.
This reality combined with a fundraising drought left well-connected friends and advisers of Thompson Wednesday evening predicting that he will pull the plug on hype and hope before the Jan. 8 New Hampshire primary.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/04/2008 00:00 ||
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notice they have no names listed. This is the oldest trick in the book - spread a rumor that the candidate doesn't really want the job. I heard Fred Thompson say himself about 10 times today that he has no intention of dropping out.
#3
This wouldn't even have to be a story if he would have campaigned.
As for dropping out, I don't see how he can drop out before at least some of the southern states vote.
Nobody was expecting Iowa or New Hampshire to vote for the republican who eventually wins the nomination. Those states primaries are almost irrelevant to actual Republicans.
Posted by: Mike N. ||
01/04/2008 0:52 Comments ||
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#4
Yah, yah, Thompson's a lazy good-for-nothing bum because he wasn't camping out in Iowa since Jan. 2005... there's an old saying, be careful what you wish for. The start of the 2012 campaign season in January 2009 is going to be a nightmare for any adults still left in the country; will the last one to leave for Canada (or Chile) please turn off the lights?
#5
Fred got 13% of the vote, jsut ahead of McCain and the 10% for Paul and 4% for Giuliani.
Romney got 25% and Huckabee (who'd want a President with a name like that?) got 34%.
Say, isn't Huckabee another Governor from Arkansas?
Posted by: Bobby ||
01/04/2008 6:19 Comments ||
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#6
Yeah, just what we need, another fat Governor from Arkansas.
Posted by: Steve ||
01/04/2008 7:27 Comments ||
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#7
The rumor that Fred Thompson will quit the Republican presidential race if he finishes poorly in Iowa is not only false: it rises to the level of a political dirty trick aimed at reducing Thompson-backersâ turnout in tonightâs Iowa caucuses.
The story, which began as a rumor and caught fire as a result of a piece in todayâs Politico, said that Thompson was likely to quit after Iowa if he did poorly there, and might endorse Sen. John McCain before next weekâs New Hampshire primary. The article painted a glum, almost resigned mood among Thompsonâs inner circle.
Thompson and his top campaign advisor Rich Galen both denied the storyâs claims today.
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=24267
#8
3rd place in Iowa isn't the end of the world. Far from it. Now if he is still trailing at the end of January, he is finished.
Personally, I think it will be a race between Thompson, Guiliani and Romney. This is Huckabee's high water mark and he will sink after this. He is too liberal and his only winning conservative point is that he is a minister.
#9
He is too liberal and his only winning conservative point is that he is a minister.
I don't care for the socialist huckster. I saw him on Leno and liked him even less when he played his guitar in an attempt to repeat Bill Clinton's sax moment.
That said, the man is quick on his feet, funny and likeable. Don't count him out, he really is another Bill Clinton.
#10
The fact that Fred T. got any votes is rather remarkable. He spent almost no time campaigning in Iowa, just like Guiliani. This was dumb. Fred's message and honest, down-to-earth demeanor impressed Iowa crowds where he appeared. Problem was he didn't appear much and most people had to drive long distances to see him. He easily could have won Iowa had he tried. Guiliani couldn't have. Iowa pegged him as a NY shuckster from day 1. However, the really good news was that the simps picked Barry Hussein as No.1. If the Dummos nominate Barry, it will provide the only pathway for the Pubs to take the White House. If they pick Fred, or maybe even Huckleberry Hound, and promote crackdown on illegals and strong defense, that's all they need to whip Obama.
#12
FRED! is the only real conservative in the race. Consistent on all core issues and consistent on states rights. The only bone anybody has to pick with him is on campaign finance. I ask those people to consider the $37m Romney has spent trying to buy the Presidency and whether that is any way to choose the office. Though given Romney's bad performance we can all hope he wasted his money the same way Ross Perot did.
#13
This race will be different from the last ones for the past 50 years. I think the Iowa and NH primaries will choose the second and third place winners. They don't show the republican party, only the RINO side of it. SC and Florida will be the kingmakers this year. Fred will need to win one or both to make any headway in super tuesday. Whichever Republican wins those states, will be the candidate.
As far as the dhimocrats go, I think Iowa and NH will be their kingmakers. Expect to see Obama or Edwards as the candidate for them.
#14
I'm surprised that no mention of the CFR membership of Thompson, McCain, Romney, Huckabee, Obama, Clinton, and Edwards.
What about Duncan Hunter, a man with a record, who wants to seal the southern border, which is against CFR plans for a North American Union.
Wake up Rantburgers, take your government back from the CFR and their global givaway agenda.
#15
He is too liberal and his only winning conservative point is that he is a minister.
Damning with faint praise, This slams him into the Baker/Rev Ike/category.(Ouch)
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
01/04/2008 11:18 Comments ||
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#16
What about Duncan Hunter
I like him too, wxjames. I just don't see him gaining any traction. Part of it is the media's fault. They go a whoring after the likes of Ron Paul or Dennis Kucinich and completely ignore a good, solid man like Hunter. Did you notice in the debates that they asked all the questions of Giuliani, McCain and Romney? Once in a while they would throw a bone to Hunter or Trancredo but nothing like Giuliani who is now toast. Then Fred shows up and they all recognize his name because he's been on TV so he gets all the attention. Fred might be OK but I think it's sad that nobody notices Hunter.
#17
The media completely ignored Hunter knowing he didn't have enough name recognition to do anything about it. He truly is the best candidate, but even though it is the media's fault, it still remains he doesn't have the name recognition he needs to pull a win. I'm hoping he will run as a VP.
#19
This rumor was a Romney planted smear in Politico that was designed to do exactly what it did - peel voters away from Fred in Iowa.
Its despicable.
FYI, Fred raised almost 2 million the week of Christmas thru newyear.
So the article is a lie.
As for Hunter, he and Thompson are the only candidates that have articulated consistent, conservative, secure policies for the nation.
I'd be proud to have either of them, but its looking like the MSM has buried Hunter by stifling him, and is trying to smear Thompson out of existence, leaving only repubs like Huckabee and McCain unbashed.
#22
as some of you are tired of hearing, Duncan is my congressman (R-Alpine), and I donated (some) to his Pres. candidacy, purely out of loyalty. He's been a great Rep., straight shooter, strong on defense (BIG in San Diego), and anti-illegal immigration (also BIG). He never had a chance as POTUS, but would make a fine VP or SecDef. His son, Duncan Duane Hunter, is running for his seat after he retires this term, and as a Marine reservist 1st Lt., is doing the job we wish a lot of the Congresscritters had to do. I'm pulling for DDH....can you tell?
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/04/2008 17:17 Comments ||
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#23
should've said "and as a Marine reservist 1st Lt. in Iraq"...damn
as Freep notes in April: "Congressional hopeful and Marine reservist Duncan Duane Hunter has been recalled to active duty, but he says going to war won't interfere with his political aspirations.
Hunter, 30, is running for the seat now held by his father, 14-term U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, a conservative who is the ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee. The elder Hunter, who is making a long-shot presidential bid, has said he will leave politics if he does not win the Republican nomination.
It will be the third deployment for the younger Hunter, who joined the Marines in 2002 and is now an artillery captain. He served in Baghdad in 2003 and in the first battle of Fallujah in 2004. He was unsure where he'd be sent this time, but said most likely it would be back to Iraq.
Hunter is one of about 1,800 reservists the Marine Corps recently recalled to active duty, citing a shortage of volunteers to fill some jobs in Iraq.
Posted by: Frank G ||
01/04/2008 17:21 Comments ||
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#24
Hunter as Thompson's Sec Def.
If Thompson wants to throw some red meat out there, all he has to do is say he wants Bolton cleaining up State.
I'm hoping Hunter can get the clue, and drop the bid - and back Fred.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
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Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
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Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Police were called to Britney Spears' home Thursday night in a custodial dispute that lasted nearly three hours before an intoxicated Spears reportedly turned over her children to ex-husband Kevin Federline. Officers were called to the home around 8 p.m., and the 26-year-old singer turned over the children around 10:50 p.m., Officer Jason Lee, a police spokesman, told City News Service. 
Share Britney Spears' lawyers in her custody battle with ex-husband Kevin Federline are quitting. 
China is sending 5,000 metric tons of food aid to Zimbabwe, official media reports, to help the African nation cope with dire food shortages. China's deputy ambassador to Zimbabwe made the announcement, adding that the two countries wanted to increase trade to $500m (£253m) in 2008. More than 3m Zimbabweans, 25% of the population, depend on UN food aid.
Venezuelan helicopters chugged home empty from Colombia on Thursday after a failed mission to pick up hostages held by Marxist guerrillas, a new defeat for President Hugo Chavez who is still smarting from a tough year. The four helicopters marked with Red Cross symbols flew back to Venezuela from the Colombian town of Villavicencio without the hostages they had left to collect from a jungle region.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Delaware Sen. Joe Biden abandoned his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination Thursday after a poor showing in the state's caucuses. Biden was expected to announce his decision to withdraw from the contest at a campaign rally in Des Moines, according to advisers who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Former Bay State Gov. Mitt Romney jetted around the Hawkeye State yesterday for one last lap to rally the troops as his campaign came to grips with the nightmare potential of losing both early deciding states and sinking untold millions of his personal fortune into those states for nothing. Were in a neck-and-neck race, Romney told a crowd at the Mason City Municipal Airport last night before taking off in a chartered plane headed to a stop in West Des Moines.
Democrat Barack Obama surged to a four-point lead over John Edwards in Iowa, with Hillary Clinton fading to third just hours before the first presidential nominating contest, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Thursday. 
Several Republican officials close to Fred Thompsons presidential campaign said they expect the candidate will drop out of the race within days if he finishes poorly in Thursdays Iowa caucus. 
