Breaking News Thread

[Flynbyu]

dead people vote here.

Cement shoes.



~Brian

[Flynbyu]

Umm. yeah "call in Gay??"

Let us know how it goes Krandall.

Peels 1

Krandall 0

~Brian

[socalrappy700]

Update:

Fitzgerald: 'New low' in Illinois politics
December 9, 2008 at 12:08 PM

U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald said today that federal authorities arrested Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich this morning because the governor went on "a political corruption crime spree" that needed to be stopped.

Fitzgerald said secret tape recordings showed Blagojevich was attempting "to sell the U.S. Senate seat" that President-elect Barack Obama recently vacated. Fitzgerald said, "We make no allegations" that Obama was aware of any alleged scheming by Blagojevich.

The governor has the sole power to pick Obama's replacement under the state constitution.

"The conduct would make Lincoln roll over in his grave," Fitzgerald said, quoting Blagojevich as saying the Senate seat is "a bleeping valuable thing. You just don't give it away. ... I've got this thing and it's bleeping golden."

Blagojevich wasn't against the corrupt deal for the Senate seat, he was against "being stiffed in the corrupt deal," Fitzgerald said.

The remarks came at a news conference to discuss charges against Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris. Blagojevich and Harris are scheduled to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan.

Robert Grant, FBI special agent in charge of the Chicago office, characterized Illinois' place in the pantheon of political corruption.

"If it isn't the most corrupt state in the United States, it's certainly one hell of a competitor," Grant said. "Even the most cynical agents in our office were shocked."

Grant said he called Blagojevich about 6 a.m. and told the governor two FBI agents were outside his door and that they had a warrant for his arrest.

After initially asking, "Is this a joke?" Grant said, Blagojevich was "very cooperative."

Grant said the arrest of Blagojevich should serve as notice that "business as usual will no longer be tolerated. That selling your office for personal gain is a thing of the past."

Fitzgerald said the investigation into Blagojevich continues, but authorities acted today to avoid further harm taking place.

"I was not going to wait until March or April or May to get it all nice and tidy" and bring charges, he said. "I think that would be irresponsible."

Fitzgerald thanked the Chicago Tribune, which had been reporting on the investigation, for honoring a rare request about eight weeks ago not to report on certain aspects of the investigation that he said could have been jeopardized.

Tribune Editor Gerould Kern said today that the newspaper delayed publishing some stories at the request of the U.S. attorney's office during the course of reporting on the accelerating investigation of Blagojevich.

"On occasion, prosecutors asked us to delay publication of stories, asserting that disclosure would jeopardize the criminal investigation," Kern said. "In isolated instances, we granted the requests, but other requests were refused."

In the criminal complaint, authorities allege that Blagojevich and Harris sought to pressure the Tribune to fire editorial writers who were critical of his administration. Tribune Co. had been negotiating with the Illinois Finance Authority to purchase Wrigley Field as part of the company's efforts to sell the Cubs baseball team.

Kern said today he never experienced any pressure over the Tribune editorials.

"There was never an instance where I was contacted or called, where any influence at all was placed against me. There were no instances of that."

Kern said he became editor July 18 and since then there's "never been any hint of that. I was as surprised as everyone else when I saw that."

Kern said nobody from the Blagojevich administration ever contacted him about the editorials.

"I never got a complaint. I never got any contact whatsoever from Blagojevich, no complaint--nothing from inside Tribune Co."

Kern pointed out there were no staff reductions in the editorial board. "The facts are what they are."

[Flynbyu]

Bleeping = f*cking.



What a dumb ass. I can't believe that shit!

~Brian

[Krandall]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081210/ap_on_go_co/congress_autos

WASHINGTON – Majority Democrats and the Bush White House have finalized a deal to spend $15 billion on emergency loans for struggling U.S. automakers, congressional officials said Wednesday. Among some Republican lawmakers, stiff opposition lingered.

The White House did not go as far as to say the deal was final, although it did report "very good progress." The measure could see a House vote later Wednesday and be enacted by week's end.

It would create a government "car czar" to dole out the loans, with the power to force the carmakers into bankruptcy if they didn't cut quick deals with labor unions, creditors and others to restructure their businesses and become viable.

Congressional Republicans, left out of negotiations on the package, are expressing grave reservations and may seek to block it.

Sen. David Vitter, R-La., promised to filibuster the measure, which could delay a final vote for days.

He said the package has an "ass-backwards" approach to curing what ails the U.S. auto industry.

Nevertheless, Democratic leaders were confident enough that a bill could advance that they set a procedural vote for the House floor later Wednesday. Even still, Sen. Mitch McConnell, the GOP leader, said in late morning that his side hadn't seen the measure yet and wouldn't agree to votes on the measure Wednesday.

"Republicans will not allow taxpayers to subsidize failure," McConnell said, although he added that the auto situation would be addressed by the end of the week.

The congressional officials revealed agreement on a bill only on grounds of anonymity because the deal has not been formally announced.

At the White House, Deputy Chief of Staff Joel Kaplan said the administration and Congress have made "very good progress on a conceptual agreement."

"We'll be talking retail to individual senators to win their support," said Kaplan, who said he expected President George W. Bush to lobby Republicans to vote for the package.

Kaplan said it was critical that the legislation have a clear definition of what is long-term viability for the companies.

A breakthrough came when Democrats agreed to scrap language — which the White House had called a poison pill — that would have forced the carmakers to drop lawsuits challenging tough emissions limits in California and other states, said congressional aides.

Environmentalists already were livid that the measure draws the emergency loans from an existing loan program to help carmakers retool their factories to make greener cars.

Kaplan also said the president was dispatching Chief of Staff Josh Bolten to Capitol Hill to make the case for the legislation with skeptical Republicans.

Kaplan said the Bush administration would work with President-elect Barack Obama's team on choosing the so-called "car czar," acknowledging that Bush's tenure ends in 41 days and the automakers' woes will continue well into 2009.

"We expect to work closely with the president-elect's team on what is the most effective means of implementing this legislation," Kaplan said.

Asked about the role of the "car czar," Kaplan said: "This is not somebody who's going to run the companies. This is someone who is going to bring them around the table, knock heads."

"This is a bridge to either fundamental restructuring or bankruptcy," he added. "They either have a long-term plan that's viable or we get our money back. And if we call our money back, which is required under this bill, then those firms are not going to be able to survive."

[Flynbyu]

Sen. David Vitter, R-La., promised to filibuster the measure, which could delay a final vote for days.

Coon-ass Louisiana Republican douchebag.

Stop f*cking around and loan them the money. Stop trying to get your name on the news. Lend them a hand. I'll be the "Car Czar" and dish funds for free.


~Brian

[Mad Dog]

Sen. David Vitter, R-La., promised to filibuster the measure, which could delay a final vote for days.

Coon-ass Louisiana Republican douchebag.

Stop f*cking around and loan them the money. Stop trying to get your name on the news. Lend them a hand. I'll be the "Car Czar" and dish funds for free.


~Brian

I agree with the sentiment, and I'll second that nomination.

[Flynbyu]

Reading stuff like that just makes me angry.

The faster it's off the news, the better.

~Brian

[socalrappy700]

Damn that is some BS, just to get your name in the paper and sound like you have a pair.   

[socalrappy700]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20081210/pl_politico/27055_1

[Flynbyu]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20081210/pl_politico/27055_1

Get the f*ck outta here!

That would be the only way that ass clown would get a seat in the Senate.

~Brian

[Flynbyu]

~Brian

[Peelz]

~Brian

OMFG!!!!!!!!!!11  Spit-take for sure!!!!!   Horrible...but funny!

[Flynbyu]

Sorry, that was pretty bad.



~Brian

[Peelz]

Sorry, that was pretty bad.



~Brian

I was shocked that you posted that, taking your position on the matter into account. Hilarious you can find humour in it. I did.