The Political Whore

Was this a wack-job move or the first salvo in her campaign for the presidency in 2012? Depending on your perspective, you can read Sarah Palin’s press conference today either way.

The breathless recitation of right-wing talking points and multiple excuses for skipping out on her job, recited as if her inner tape-recorder were stuck on high speed, could be viewed as a slightly unhinged monologue in the Mark Sanford vein.

Then again, a breathless recitation of right-wing talking points could be just the thing her base wants to hear, and you can already imagine the scenario that’s being shaped for future campaigns: “She couldn’t stand to take part anymore in big-government Obamanomics because she’s a maverick! She’s declaring her independence!”

Never mind that Alaska has been lapping up government welfare for years; suddenly when her erstwhile Democratic opponent was doing the doling out, the money was tainted. And no matter that she’s declaring her independence from a job the voters expected her to complete; she doesn’t play by those conventional rules, people!

See video of the conference after the break. Be sure to hang on for the basketball metaphors. Read the rest of this entry »

Photo: State of Alaska ADF&G

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 on Thursday to deny convicts a constitutional right to DNA testing. It wasn’t a surprise. While acknowledging that DNA can provide powerful new evidence, the majority distinguished between those presumed innocent at the onset of a trial and those already convicted during a trial. In District Attorney’s Office for Third Judicial Dist. v. Osborne, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote, “A criminal defendant proved guilty after a fair trial does not have the same liberty interests as a free man.”

That may be true, but what if the verdict arrived at by the jury was wrong?  Roberts argument is a non sequitur. The purpose of DNA is to provide more certain evidence as to the party’s guilt or innocence. If DNA was not utilized in the court of first instance, how certain is the jury’s verdict of guilty in the first place?

Read the rest of this entry »

What would The Matrix have been like if the machines were Windows users? Click play to find out (and watch out for the paper clip!)

• McCain says to leave Sarah Palin out of it.
• Alaska locates missing and uncounted ballots equaling ONE-THIRD of the total votes cast.
• Obama turns a cold shoulder on the lobbyists.
• Up next on the extortion bailout schedule: the auto industry.
• Google starts crossing the “don’t be evil” line, one flu search at a time.
• Exactly how stupid are Americans? This stupid.
• R.I.P. NASA’s Mars rover.
• Cat fight!

Your vital headlines in political and media news, with updates throughout the day in the update box on the right:

• You can see Russia from one part of Alaska; it’s just that Sarah Palin has never been to that part of Alaska.
• Gorilla Theatre in Tampa shut down by fire marshal.
• Big Film vs. RealNetworks’ new DVD copying software.
• Extending the Crosstown across the Gandy Bridge.
• Legs, legs, legs coming to Tampa Bay’s 10 weathercast?
• The “Newt Gingrich of the Left” on the bailout plan.
• Jay-Z to rawk Miami for Obama.
• The Miami Herald declares that independents rule the Ybor City night scene.
• One Orlando land speculator’s personal bailout, courtesy of FLA taxpayers.
• Everything’s that wrong with newspapers.
• Spokane daily is dropping the AP; rips them a new one.
• Double-shot Wednesday for vids: First up, the anti-Palin, anti-hunting spot:

• And the Democratic reaction to Orlando Congressman Tom Feeney’s “rookie mistake” Abramoff admission: