February 02, 2005

CNN honcho enjoys the taste of shoe leather

Eason Jordan, "head honcho what be's in charge" down inside the monolith known as CNN Center, suffered from major foot-in-mouth disease late last week, when he charged that US military forces in Iraq were purposefully targeting US journalists.

Jordan claimed that he personally knew of 12 journalists who had not only been killed by US troops in Iraq, but in fact had been targeted.

During one of the discussions about the number of journalists killed in the Iraq War, Eason Jordan asserted that he knew of 12 journalists who had not only been killed by US troops in Iraq, but they had in fact been targeted. He repeated the assertion a few times, which seemed to win favor in parts of the audience (the anti-US crowd) and cause great strain on others.

Due to the nature of the forum, I was able to directly challenge Eason, asking if he had any objective and clear evidence to backup these claims, because if what he said was true, it would make Abu Ghraib look like a walk in the park. David Gergen was also clearly disturbed and shocked by the allegation that the U.S. would target journalists, foreign or U.S. He had always seen the U.S. military as the providers of safety and rescue for all reporters.

Eason seemed to backpedal quickly, but his initial statements were backed by other members of the audience (one in particular who represented a worldwide journalist group). The ensuing debate was (for lack of better words) a real "sh--storm". What intensified the problem was the fact that the session was a public forum being taped on camera, in front of an international crowd. The other looming shadow on what was going on was the presence of a U.S. Congressman and a U.S. Senator in the middle of some very serious accusations about the U.S. military.

Here's where it gets really bizarre -- the person who finally told Jordan to put up or shut up during the ensuing verbal maelstrom was none other than -- get this -- Congresscritter Barney Frank (Boystown-MA)!

Of course the $64,000 question at this point is whether Jordan will be allowed to stay with CNN or not.

Considering that he has personal relationships with officials across the Middle East, and has been involved in making sure that CNN was front and center, head and shoulders above the other networks in the region in terms of trying to cover the news there, I wouldn't hold my breath.

But in any event, consider this more proof of the downfall of the traditional mainstream media, and more evidence of the rise of the new media. Because without blogs and the internet, this story would be quickly covered up and never see the light of day.

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Blue-stained GOP fingers at the State of the Union?

Neal Boortz began his talk show this morning by extolling the virtues of a caller's suggestion: that the Republicans in the House Chamber all dip their fingers in blue ink, and show said ink-stained fingers in a "V For Victory" sign to President Bush during the SOTU speech tonight.

Neal indicated that he had called the office of Speaker of the House Denny Hastert and placed the suggestion in the hands of the powers that be on Capitol Hill.

This afternoon, Wizbang has word that other like-minded folk are thinking in the same vein (or inkwell, as the case may be).

Rep. Bobby Jindal is planning to demonstrate solidarity with Iraqi voters by dipping a finger in purple ink before President Bush (news - web sites)'s State of the Union speech Wednesday.

In a letter to be circulated Wednesday among fellow lawmakers, Jindal, R-La., said he would have ink available for anyone attending the speech who wanted to make a gesture of support for Iraqis and "people throughout the world who seek freedom."

I wouldn't look for Ted "Jabba The Drunk" Kennedy, John "Ketchup Boy" Kerry, Nancy "Cruella DeVil" Pelosi or Barbara "Cryin' Woman" Boxer to have ink-stained fingers tonight.

But given her flip-flopping to the point of making herself physically ill this week, don't be surprised if Hillary "The Wicked Witch of Westchester" Clinton tried it. After all, she is still working on her transformation into a "more moderate" Presidential Candidate.

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February 01, 2005

Crazy Al joining PETA to boycott KFC

Al Sharpton has made an eight-minute video for PETA, and is calling for a boycott of KFC restaurants in conjunction with the animal rights group.

Mr. Sharpton is joining forces with the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to urge a boycott of KFC, which is owned by Yum Brands of Louisville, Ky. Mr. Sharpton and PETA want the fast food chain to require its chicken suppliers to put in place new standards for the treatment of the 750 million chickens they process for KFC every year in the United States. The rap mogul Russell Simmons is also joining the Sharpton campaign.

"If we give our money to KFC, we're paying for a life of misery for some of God's most helpless creatures," says Mr. Sharpton in an eight-minute video that will be shown outside KFC's around the country.

The organization was eager to enlist Mr. Sharpton because KFC has many stores in largely black neighborhoods and in late 2003 KFC executives told investors they were making an increased effort to market to blacks.

I wonder just how much they're paying Crazy Al not to eat at KFC (and to try to get the rest of us not to eat there).

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Cynthia 'Jihad Cindy' McKinney plans to get aisle seat for State of the Union

US Congresscritter Cynthia McKinney (Tin-Foil Wearing Moonbat-GA) plans to park her silly grin along the center aisle of the House chamber hours before Wednesday night's State of the Union speech, as she has each year she's been in Congress.

This year she returns to the aisle after an absence of two years, thanks to her defeat by Denise Majette in 2002. Majette chose not to run for the 4th District seat, instead opting for a shot at the US Senate seat vacated by Zell Miller (Majette lost).

McKinney breaks her neck to get on that aisle so that she can be seen cheesing and kissing the President as he enters. Of course, that won't stop her from making idiotic statements, like the one in 2002 when she charged that President Bush knew about the 9/11 attacks in advance.

When President Bush walks through the doors of the House chamber Wednesday night to deliver the State of the Union address, the congresswoman again plans to be standing in his path, ready to shake his hand and smile for the cameras.

"I don't know that it's anything that's going to change public policy, but it certainly does make the constituents feel good to know I'm there and they can see me participate," McKinney, D-Ga., said Tuesday in an interview with The Associated Press.

At past Bush speeches, the exchange has been relatively playful, but this will be McKinney's first State of the Union since her radio comments in 2002 that the administration profited by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and may have known ahead of time. Some interpreted the comments to indicate she thought Bush let the attacks happen so his friends could profit, but McKinney later insisted that wasn't the case.

She's an idiot. She's full of used food.

Doesn't look like anything's changed.

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US GI hostage story and photo faked; MSM falls for it--again

Looks like this was a fake, now that we've seen the photo, and kudos are due to A Small Victory, Wizbang and Free Republic for calling it.

It looks like this was a GI Joe-type doll on sale on the internet. Note the face, plus the gun and the fact that you don't see anyone's hands in the photo.

In addition, the Pentagon has verified that no soldiers are missing presently.

Score another one for the new media, as the MSM gets scammed again.

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Iraqi terrorists claim to have US GI hostage, threaten beheading

A posting on a jihadist website claims that an Iraqi terrorist group is holding a US soldier captive, and is threatening to decapitate him if male and female prisioners held in Iraq are not freed within 72 hours.

The posting, on a Web site that frequently carried militants' statements, included a photo of what appeared to be an American soldier in desert fatigues seated with his hands tied behind his back. A gun barrel was pointed at his head, and he is seated in front of a black banner emblazoned with the Islamic profession of faith, "There is no god but God and Muhammad is His prophet."

A statement posted with the picture suggested the group was holding other soldiers.

"Our mujahadeen heroes of Iraq's Jihadi Battalion were able to capture American military man John Adam after killing a number of his comrades and capturing the rest," said the statement, signed by the "Mujahedeen Brigades."

"God willing, we will behead him if our female and male prisoners are not released from U.S. prisons within the maximum period of 72 hours from the time this statement has been released," the statement said.

The claim has not been formally verified yet.

UPDATE - 3P ET The Pentagon insists that no soldiers are missing, though this image, supposedly of a US soldier would otherwise disproove that notion.

I'll post video as soon as it's available.

UPDATE: I've got a link to the "fake GI" story here.

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P21: "Profiles of Empowerment"

A new Project 21 piece by Virgil Beato points out the successes of blacks today who do not wave the "Soul Patrol flag of whining" around like a badge of honor.

It points to successful blacks like Dr. Ben Carson, director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Ann Marie Fudge, who is the president of ad firm Young & Rubicam, American Express CEO Kenneth Chenault, who helped the firm weather major losses of both life and property during 9/11, and former US Senate candidate and former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain.

These modern-day heroes also share strong family values. While the American Enterprise Institute estimates close to 70 percent of black children are now born to single mothers, these people have enjoyed long marriages and raised or are raising their children in stable homes with both parents present.

These modern heroes also give back to their community. Cain, for example, an alumnus of the historically black Morehouse College, now serves on the school's board. Chenault serves on the board of CASA, a drug-use prevention group. Carson started the Carson Scholars Fund, Inc. to help Third-World schoolchildren stay academically competitive. Fudge is involved with the Partnership for a Drug Free America and the United Way.

Many high-profile black "leaders" such as Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson seem to regard capitalism as unfair to African-Americans. People such as Cain, Carson, Chenault, and Fudge show the American Dream can work for anyone with enough faith and determination.

But to the Jackson-Sharpton cabal, people like these are not worthy of acclaim, because they aren't on bended knee, whining about the state of black America. They have the "audacity" (I call it courage) to do something about it.

They are truly the leaders that black youth need to know about and seek to emulate.

The full P21 piece is available for your perusal below the fold...

more...

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