Dollar Bill was given 13 years in prison

..the minute the brother's money was found in a freezer, it was a done deal....

Former Louisiana congressman William Jefferson was sentenced Friday to 13 years in prison following his conviction in a corruption case that featured a freezer full of suspected bribe money stuffed into boxes of veggie burgers.

A federal judge in Alexandria, Va., handed down the sentence to Mr. Jefferson, a 62-year-old Democrat ousted by voters last year. He had been convicted by a jury of bribery, money laundering and racketeering in schemes that prosecutors said he devised to enrich himself and his family.

Prosecutors asked for a sentence of at least 27 years, which likely would have amounted to a life term and one that defense attorneys called unprecedented.

Mr. Jefferson's defense attorneys, who had hoped their client's sentence would be less than 10 years, have said they will appeal his conviction. In seeking leniency, they pointed out that Mr. Jefferson ascended from humble beginnings to "the nation's finest educational institutions and its highest corridors of power."

Neil H. MacBride, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, suggested a stiff penalty was in order. "Mr. Jefferson's repeated attempts to sell his office caused significant damage to the public's trust in our elected leaders," he said. "This sentence will begin to repair that damage and to restore that trust." read more here....

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President Obama's speech in Tokyo, Japan (Video)

...and his shoutout to Obama, Japan....

Transcript

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Attorney General Eric Holder's Press Conference on the decisions for 10 Guantanamo Bay detainees. (video/transcript)

Prepared Remarks
Transcript with Q&A

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President Obama Meets with Japanese Prime Minister Hatoyama (Video)

The President meets with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama of Japan on the first stop of his trip to Asia. Following a private discussion, they speak to the press about issues including climate change, nuclear disarmament, and Afghanistan. November 13, 2009.



Transcript

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Why is anyone surprised at this? Wall Street, "No Health Care Reform At All Is Best"

Well, specifically, Goldman Sachs. This is the same organization or BAILOUT BANK, that got preferential treatment by getting the H1N1 vaccine (or swine flu) before millions of AT RISK AMERICANS.

I mean, how low down is that? And Washington, DC does not understand the angst out here, especially on Main Street?

So, why are we surprised that Wall Street, of all places, do not want any health care reform. It is not in their best interest, monetarily.

A Goldman Sachs analysis of health care legislation has concluded that, as far as the bottom line for insurance companies is concerned, the best thing to do is nothing. A close second would be passing a watered-down version of the Senate Finance Committee's bill.

A study put together by Goldman in mid-October looks at the estimated stock performance of the private insurance industry under four variations of reform legislation. The study focused on the five biggest insurers whose shares are traded on Wall Street: Aetna, UnitedHealth, WellPoint, CIGNA and Humana.

The Senate Finance Committee bill, which Goldman's analysts conclude is the version most likely to survive the legislative process, is described as the "base" scenario. Under that legislation (which did not include a public plan) the earnings per share for the top five insurers would grow an estimated five percent from 2010 through 2019. And yet, the "variance with current valuation" -- essentially, what the value of the stock is on the market -- is projected to drop four percent. read more here...

If the Democrats screw health care reform and give us a watered down bill to say, "Reform", they are in a lot of trouble this time next year.

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Jobless claims drop

It is a good thing, but where are the jobs at?

Fewer people are claiming unemployment benefits — but still too many to signal that the economy is close to gaining jobs.

First-time claims for jobless benefits dropped last week to a seasonally adjusted 502,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. That's the fewest claims since the week ending Jan. 3, and below economists' estimates.

Claims would have to fall to the high 400s to indicate the economy could soon produce even a slight gain in jobs, estimates Abiel Reinhart, an economist at JPMorgan Chase. That level of claims could be reached by January, he said, and the economy should start gaining jobs sometime in the first quarter of 2010. read more here...

Job creation MUST come in 2010 for the Democrats to survive the mid-term election. Period.

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President Obama Announces Job Creation Forum (Video)

Before departing on his trip to Asia, the President announces that in December the White House will host a forum of business owners, labor leaders and others to discuss new ideas to ensure that job creation follows recent economic growth. November 12, 2009.



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Carrie Prejean channeling Sarah Palin, on Larry King threatens to leave his show for inappropriate question (Video)

Ah, girl, PUHLEAZE!!!

You got a lot of nerve. Remember you are the one on a video tape that EVERYONE has probably seen in nude, inappropriate poses and now you are going to try to be holier than thou? When folks show up on television trying to peddle their goods, yes, another glorious book writer, expect to be asked the tough questions because it is YOU who is seeking the continued 15 seconds of fame, NOT someone like Larry King.



And Keith Olbermann exposes the stupidity of Prejean, YES HE DOES:



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Sean Hannity fesses up on Fox News after being outed by The Daily Show's Jon Stewart (Video)

I mean what more do you need to know that this network is just a propaganda fraud for the Republican Party. You don't need anymore proof than how Jon Stewart busted Hannity and Fox News and how Hannity tries /to apologize OUT of it. Incorrect video? Shit, Fox News does this ALL THE TIME.



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Cable Desks Clerks, “I don’t care about Michelle Obama’s poll numbers!!!”

Damn, I mean really, “Who cares!!”

Is Michelle in charge of anything other than her girls and husband?

Does she make policy and twists arms to the likes of Harry Reid or Nancy Pelosi?

Is she running around the country making speeches on White House policy and legislation?

Is she sittin’ up in the Oval Office tellin’ folks off???

I mean, “DAMN”, who really gives an EFF!!!

But today, all you heard about was Michelle Obama’s falling poll numbers, from the cable desk clerk group. Shit, when was the last time these teleprompter readers was out on the ground getting FACTS for a story, instead of lip reading a story? Huh?

Just let Michelle Obama, be. So far, cable desk clerks, she has performed a bang up job being our FLOTUS (First Lady of the United States).

So, my rant is leave Michelle Obama the hell alone. She is on her way to Asia, China and as usual “ALL EYES WILL BE ON HER”.

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CNN's resident racist, LOU DOBBS, officially GONE (Video)

CNN has been under fire with the hate rhetoric coming from Lou Dobbs. Why he left? We will soon find out, but for the record, I AM GLAD HE IS GONE. Now he can bash minorities 24/7 on his radio program or find a sleazy spot over at the propaganda network of Fox News. Good riddance.



Transcript

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President Obama's Veteran's Day Message (Video)

President Barack Obama (R), First Lady Michelle Obama (L), Vice President Joe Biden (C) and his wife Dr. Jill Biden (2nd-R) participate in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns to mark Veterans Day on November 11, 2009 at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.



Transcript

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Fox News BUSTED by The Daily Show (Video)

Really, if this is not a bullshit propaganda network, then what is it?



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Rupert Murdoch? A racist? Who knew? (Video)

From Keith Olbermann, Newscorp is outrageous and offensive.

And Murdoch, agrees with Glenn Beck that Barack Obama is a racist. And Fox News wonders why they are being discredited?



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The President's coin placed at the marker of each fallen soilder at Fort Hood

The coin was placed at the marker of each fallen soilder at Fort Hood by President Barack Obama.



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Bill Clinton says, ‘Teabaggers Are So Inflamed Because We’re Winning’

No shit.

“The reason the tea-baggers are so inflamed is because we are winning.”

— Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse paraphrasing Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States, in a lunch with Democratic senators Tuesday

Clinton spoke with lawmakers today on the importance of passing health care reform, something he failed to do during his first term. According to Whitehouse and Politico, “Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) said Clinton described the ongoing tea party protests against the Democratic agenda as a sign their party was making progress.”

“The point I want to make is: Just pass the bill, even if it’s not exactly what you want,” he reportedly said. “When you try and fail, the other guys write history.”

Source

President Obama's moving speech at Fort Hood Memorial Service (Video)

YouTube
Transcript




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Ed Schultz snaps on Wall Street bonuses and lack of regulation (Video)

Ed Schultz goes after Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) and these continued bonuses, from the back of the American taxpayer.

The Obama White House needs to turn the light bulb on about Wall Street and these bonuses, AGAIN, with our taxpayer dollars. See, I talk about the Joe and Joesetta, not the champaign clinking crowd of Wall Street and the DC cocktail hour. It is these people that are disconnected with what is going on out here.

Folks still losing their homes at record pace, check.

Savings, retirement funds, 401Ks have shrunk to record lows, check.

Banks and Wall Street still doing what the hell they want and shafting the public, really a check.

Unemployment rate at 10.2% and the real unemployment with underemployment is over 17%, yeah big ass check.

NO JOBS OUT HERE, some out of work for months, some over a year, a disastrous check.

Sure Bush put us in this position, but the likes of Timothy Geithner and Larry Summers is not helping us neither. I am sorry, when you worked with the same people you BAILED out, you end helping them. That is what has happened.

Lastly, the public is angry about this. You can rally the shit out of Wall Street for the Dow Jones, but in the end it just help the status quo, the ones with all the money anyway. And this thinking of it will create jobs, the trickle down effect? Look at those unemployment numbers and tell me, who is really being helped.

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When you thought you heard it all from Michael Steele, now from the Roland Martin interview (Video)

Steele: Whites are scared of me.....

Is this what the Republicans what for leadership? Continue on....



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Damn, burglaries down due to the recession

This is a WTF read, seriously...

Ever since he was laid off in March, Frank Beil has been on the lookout.

He keeps an eye out for cars moving slowly down the street or strangers walking along the sidewalk of his suburban Chicago neighborhood. He wonders about the times he answers the phone and the caller hangs up.

"You don't know if that might be people staking you out, finding out if you're home or not," said the 71-year-old hospital chaplain from Glenview.

Beil is watching for burglars, and police nationwide credit him and those like him for one of the few bright spots of the recession: The number of home burglaries is falling in some cities and towns.

"With a lot more unemployed people, a lot more people are staying home, and they see more in their neighborhood," said Sgt. Thomas Lasater, who supervises the burglary unit of the police department in St. Louis County, Mo., where authorities recorded a whopping 35 percent drop in burglaries during the first six months of 2009.

The trend is showing up in communities big and small. read more here...

Never would I have ever thought recession taking thieves out of business...

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Rachel Maddow REMINDS us about the "real" Bart Stupak (Video)

Yes, a Democrat from Michigan who is attempting to upset the apple cart with his STUPID amendment on abortion. Again, this dude must think women are dumb or SOMETHIN'. Well, Mr. Stupak, we are not.

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Wounded Warriors at the White House (Video)

A group of wounded veterans from Walter Reed Army Medical Center show President Obama a thing or two about basketball on the White House court. (public domain) November 9, 2009.



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Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz states the Republicans are clueless on women's issues (Video)

And she is right.

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(Updated) Forget the "Peace Prez" for now, 40K troops to Afghanistan

Per CBS News:

Tonight, after months of conferences with top advisors, President Obama has settled on a new strategy for Afghanistan. CBS News correspondent David Martin reports that the president will send a lot more troops and plans to keep a large force there, long term.

The president still has more meetings scheduled on Afghanistan, but informed sources tell CBS News he intends to give Gen. Stanley McChrystal most, if not all, the additional troops he is asking for.

McChrystal wanted 40,000 and the president has tentatively decided to send four combat brigades plus thousands more support troops. A senior officer says "that's close to what [McChrystal] asked for." All the president's military advisers have recommended sending more troops.

But they also have warned that troops alone will not win the war unless Afghan President Hamid Karzai cleans up his government.

"He's got to take concrete steps to eliminate corruption," Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said last week. "That means you have to rid yourself of those who are corrupt. You have to actually arrest and prosecute them."

Karzai? Clean up corruption? Good luck on that one. And looks like sitting over in Afghanistan for years to come is the possible plan.

UPDATE

Per MSNBC, the White House is pushing back on this story and said no decision has been made. One thing is crystal clear, the media and print think they know the CW (conventional wisdow) in the White House and they have continued to FAIL on that point with facts.

And now from National Security Advisor Jim Jones:

“Reports that President Obama has made a decision about Afghanistan are absolutely false,” Jones said in a e-mailed statement today. “Any reports to the contrary are completely untrue and come from uninformed sources.”

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President Obama weighs in on the Stupak-Pitts amendment

'This is a Health Care Bill, Not an Abortion Bill'

He is absolutely, right.

President Obama said today that Congress needs to change abortion-related language in the health care bill passed by the House of Representatives this weekend that includes tougher restrictions on abortion funding but said there is more work to be done before a final piece of legislation gets to his desk.

"I laid out a very simple principle, which is this is a health care bill, not an abortion bill," Obama said. "And we're not looking to change what is the principle that has been in place for a very long time, which is federal dollars are not used to subsidize abortions.

Saying the bill cannot change the status quo, the President said "there are strong feelings on both sides" about an amendment passed on Saturday and added to the legislation, "and what that tells me is that there needs to be some more work before we get to the point where we're not changing the status quo." read more here....

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10% unemployment is very hard these days

Again, people need to put health insurance into its proper context, if you lose your job today, unless you have boundless resources (or money), you lose your health insurance. It just takes one incident to put you permanently on bankruptcy row. In fact, no one can afford to get sick, at all.

10% unemployment is disastrous and we as a country, need to fix it.

It hurts more to be unemployed now than the last time the jobless rate hit 10 percent.

Americans have more than triple the debt they had in 1982, and less than half the savings. They spend 10 weeks longer off the job. And a bigger share of them have no health insurance, leaving them one medical emergency away from financial ruin.

For these reasons, the unemployed are more vulnerable today to foreclosure and bankruptcy than they were a generation ago.

Donald Schenk knows. He's been without work both times. It's worse now, he says.

Back in the early 1980s, when Schenk lost his job at a phone company, he was able to find several temporary jobs — including one testing pinball machines — to make ends meet until he landed full-time work nearly two years later.

But now Schenk, 55, of the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg, Ill., has been seeking work for a year and a half after losing his information technology job. Potential employers aren't interested "if you are not a perfect fit," he says.

The unemployment rate hit 10.2 percent in October. All told, 15.7 million Americans are out of work. Add in workers forced to settle for part-time work or those who have simply given up looking, and the rate is 17.5 percent. read more here....

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President Obama Announces $4 Billion Investment in Education, November 4, 2009 in Madison, Wisconsin (Video and Transcript)

The President announces the Race to the Top Fund, a program where states will compete for over $4 billion in Federal funds to strengthen America’s schools and put children first. November 4, 2009.



Transcript

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President Obama on the milestone Health Care Legislation passed in the House of Represenatives (Video)

The President speaks to the press about House passage of health insurance reform and new progress towards autonomy in Iraq. November 8, 2009.



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