Pop musicians Travis Barker (former drummer of Blink 182) and DJ AM (aka Adam Goldstein) were severely injured Friday night in an airplane accident that killed two flight crew members and two members of the musicians’ entourage.
Reports indicate that a tire blew out on their Learjet, causing it to skid out of control at 80 mph on the runway at Columbia, S.C., where the plane had just been cleared for takeoff. Pilot Sarah Lemmon, 3l, co-pilot James Bland, 52, security guard Charles Still, 25, and Barker’s assistant Chris Baker, 29, were killed instantly.
Rusty’s being mobbed, I tell you! Campbell Brown, David Gregory, Keith Olbermann — these objective news people are just chomping at the bit to run with that story. Fourteen satellite trucks are parked outside Chez Shackleford as reporters await some word — any word — on how Rusty cracked this big scoop.
Barack Obama, who has deployed more than 50 staffers in North Dakota in an attempt to become the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry the state since 1964, is pulling out.
LA Times blogs expands the list of states where Hope came up short:
Earlier, Obama halted television advertising in Georgia. Idaho was conceded a Democratic write-off early on, as is Alaska now.
The FBI searched the residence of the son of a Democratic state lawmaker in Tennessee over the weekend looking for evidence linking the young man to the hacking of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s personal e-mail account, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press on Monday. . . . Experts said the hacker apparently left an easy trail for investigators. “He might as well have taken a picture of his house and uploaded it,” said Ken Pfeil, an Internet security expert. “He should have just set up a big beacon that said, ‘Here’s my house,’ or confessed. If they can’t catch this guy based on all the information posted on the Web then all bets are off.”
Grand Jury in Chattanooga could reportedly hear testimony this week into the alleged hacking of the personal e-mail of Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. . . . A federal grand jury is set to convene in Chattanooga on Tuesday.
Of course, these are the same people who shriek about the government monitoring terrorists. . . . Hacking terrorists = bad Hacking political rivals = GOOD!
The man who traced the IP address of the hacker who accessed Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s e-mail account last week confirmed today that it belongs to an Illinois company that provides Internet service to the Knoxville, Tenn., apartment complex where the FBI served a search warrant early Sunday. Gabriel Ramuglia, the webmaster of Ctunnel, an Athens, Ga.-based proxy service used by the hacker to mask his or her identity, acknowledged that the IP address he found in his server logs belongs to Pavlov Media, an Internet service provider based in Champaign, Ill. According to its Web site, Pavlov Media provides Internet, television and phone services to The Commons at Knoxville, a complex that specializes in apartments for students of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
PREVIOUSLY (11:17 a.m.): Thursday, it was reported that David Kernell, the son of a Democratic state legislator in Tennessee, is at the center of an investigation into the hacking of Sarah Palin’s e-mail account. Yesterday, it was reported that the FBI served a search warrant at Kernell’s apartment in Knoxville.
UPDATE: Just got off the phone with Justice Department spokeswoman Laura Sweeney, who was able to confim that “investigatory activity took place in Knoxville over the weekend.”
In keeping with policy of not commenting on active investigations, Ms. Sweeney said she “can’t be more specific than that.” However, she did say that the Department has had several media inquiries. “It’s a pretty big news story,” she said. No further official Department comment is to be expected unless and until someone is charged in the case.
UPDATE II: Linked by Instapundit. Thanks. You’d think that somebody at the Associated Press could bother to report this story, instead of leaving it to bloggers and Tennessee-based media.
WASHINGTON (AP) Law enforcement officials say the FBI has searched the home of the son of a top Democratic state lawmaker in Tennessee as part of its investigation into the hacking of Sarah Palin’s personal e-mail account. The officials say agents searched David Kernell’s Knoxville home over the weekend.
Here is the McCain campaign’s documentation for the ad:
· Barack Obama: “And, You Know, In Terms Of My Toughness, Look, First Of All, I Come From Chicago.” (MSNBC’s “Hardball,” 4/2/08) · Barack Obama Assuring Democrats He’s Tough Enough Because “He’s Been Schooled By Chicago Politics.” “The feistier, more sarcastic tone came as worried Democrats urged Obama to get tougher and show more passion. Obama has tried to assure donors and voters that he’s been schooled by Chicago politics. ‘I’m skinny but I’m tough,’ he says.” (Kathleen Hennessey, “Obama Mocks McCain In Nevada Stops,” The Associated Press, 9/18/08) · The New Yorker: “Obama Had Won His First Campaign By Using Old-Fashioned Chicago Machine Tactics At A Time When The Notion Of Machine Politics Was Increasingly Anachronistic.” (Ryan Lizza, “Making It,” The New Yorker, 7/21/08) ANNCR: His economic adviser, William Daley. Lobbyist. Mayor’s brother. · OBAMA ECONOMIC ADVISER: As An Obama Adviser, Former Commerce Secretary William Daley Participated In A Meeting Of Barack Obama’s Top Economic Advisers Last Week. “The press conference followed Obama’s meeting with top economic advisors and his running mate Biden, who participate d by phone. The meeting participants included former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin; Gene Sperling, former National Economic Advisor for Pres. Bill Clinton; former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers; Laura Tyson, the former Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors and former Fed Chair Paul Volcker; Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett; former Commerce Secretary William Daley; former Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill; and Joseph Stiglitz, former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers.” (Domenico Montanaro, “Obama: Tax Cuts, Stimulus Needed,” MSNBC’s “First Read” Blog, http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com, Posted 9/19/08) · ECONOMIC ADVISER AND CHICAGO MAYOR’S BROTHER: Daley Serves As An Obama Adviser For Economic Policy And Is The Brother Of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. “At his stop in New Mexico, Obama sought to keep the focus almost exclusively on the economy, appearing with a panel of experts that included William Daley, brother of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and a former U.S. commerce secretary.” (John McCormick and Jill Zuckman, “Rivals Spend Day As Frequent Fliers,” Chicago Tribune, 2/2/08) · LOBBYIST: Daley Was The Chief Lobbyist For SBC. “Then this spring, Whitacre and his chief lobbyist, SBC President William Daley, produced banner headlines with an effort to bypass the Illinois Commerce Commission and appeal directly to the Illinois General Assembly for relief. … In late 2001, he hired William Daley, a Clinton administration Cabinet member and the Chicago mayor’s brother, charging him with lobbying for change.” (Michael Oneal And Jon Van, “Tone-Deaf Approach Hinders SBC,” Chicago Tribune, 7/6/03) · LOBBYIST: While Serving As SBC President, Daley Also Led A $40 Million Lobbying Effort For Industry Deregulation. “Last week those three companies, led by SBC President William Daley, summoned chief executives of several large vendors, including Christopher Galvin of Motorola Inc., to a Washington dinner where they outlined plans to launch a $40 million marketing and lobbying offensive to abolish industry regulations.” (Jon Van, “SBC Competitors Seek Congress’ Help,” Chicago Tribune, 11/1/03) · LOBBYIST: From 2002 Through 2005, Daley Was A Registered Lobbyist For Fannie Mae. (U.S. Senate Office Of Public Records Website, soprweb.senate.gov, Accessed 7/27/08) ANNCR: His money man, Tony Rezko. Client. Patron. Convicted Felon. · MONEY MAN: Tony Rezko Was “One Of The Biggest Fundraisers” For Barack Obama. “‘This was discussed a lot. They wanted to have a good showing,’ said a source familiar with the fund-raiser [Rezko held for Obama], speaking on condition of anonymity. ‘Tony was one of the biggest fund-raisers.'” (Chris Fusco and Tim Novak, “Rezko Cash Triple What Obama Says,” Chicago Sun-Times, 6/18/07) · MONEY MAN: Barack Obama Has Admitted To $250,000 Worth Of Campaign Funding Provided By Tony Rezko. “For the first time, Sen. Barack Obama put a figure Friday to the amount of campaign contributions that indicted political fund-raiser Tony Rezko raised for the senator’s campaigns, and the number — about $250,000 — was far more than he previously acknowledged.” (Tim Novak, Chris Fusco, Dave McKinney and Carol Marin, “More Rezko Dough Found,” Chicago Sun-Times, 3/15/08) · CLIENT: Barack Obama Did Legal Work On Some Projects Involving Tony Rezko’s Company, Rezmar. “But Obama did legal work on real estate deals while at Davis’ firm, according to biographical information he submitted to the Sun-Times in 1998. … And he did legal work on Rezko’s deals, according to an e-mail his presidential campaign staff sent the Sun-Times on Feb. 16, in response to earlier inquiries. The staff didn’t specify which Rezmar projects Obama worked on, or his role.” (Tim Novak, “Obama And His Rezko Ties,” Chicago Sun-Times, 4/23/07) · PATRON: “As A State Senator, Barack Obama Wrote Letters To City And State Officials Supporting His Political Patron Tony Rezko’s Successful Bid To Get More Than $14 Million From Taxpayers To Build Apartments For Senior Citizens.” (Tim Novak, “Obama’s Letters For Rezko,” Chicago Sun-Times, 6/13/07) · PATRON: Barack Obama Paid $300,000 Less Than The Asking Price For His Mansion, While Tony Rezko’s Wife Rita Paid Full Price For A Vacant Lot Next Door On The Very Same Day. “Two years ago, Obama bought a mansion on the South Side, in the Kenwood neighborhood, from a doctor. On the same day, [Antoin ‘Tony’] Rezko’s wife, Rita Rezko, bought the vacant lot next door from the same seller. The doctor had listed the properties for sale together. He sold the house to Obama for $300,000 below the asking price. The doctor got his asking price on the lot from Rezko’s wife.” (Tim Novak, “Obama And His Rezko Ties,” Chicago Sun-Times, 4/23/07) · CONVICTED FELON: Tony Rezko Was Convicted Of Wire And Mail Fraud, Money Laundering, And Aiding And Abetting Bribery. (Bob Secter and Jeff Coen, “Rezko Convicted,” Chicago Tribune, 6/5/08) ANNCR: His “political godfather.” Emil Jones. Under ethical cloud. · POLITICAL GODFATHER: Illinois State Senate President Emil Jones Is “Barack Obama’s Political Godfather.” “Ethics legislation is stalled in the Illinois State Senate, bossed by Barack Obama’s political godfather, Senate President Emil Jones who put the brakes on the measure and may let it die. Obama called Jones from the road in Nevada this morning. Jones indicated to Obama–according to the Obama team — he would bring the bill to a vote and would support it.” (Lynn Sweet, “Obama Urges Political Godfather Emil Jones, Illinois Senate President, To Pass Stalled Ethics Package,” Chicago Sun-Times’ “Lynn Sweet” Blog, http://blogs.suntimes.com, Posted 9/17/08) · POLITICAL GODFATHER: “When Obama Praised Jones As ‘My Political Godfather,’ Jones Began Using The Theme Music From ‘The Godfather’ As His Cell-Phone Ringtone.” (Ryan Lizza, “Making It,” The New Yorker, 7/21/08) · ETHICAL CLOUD: “[S]tate Senate President Emil Jones, Serves Under An Ethical Cloud. He Has Several Family Members On The State Payroll And Uses His Clout To Aid Their Business Interests.” (Ron Fournier, “Obama’s Life And Record In Springfield, Ill., Hint At The President He Would Be,” The Associated Press, 6/16/07) ANNCR: His governor, Rod Blagojevich. A legacy of federal and state investigations. With friends like that, Obama is not ready to lead. JOHN MCCAIN: I’m John McCain and I approve this message. · INVESTIGATIONS: Governor Rod Blagojevich Has “A Legacy Of Federal And State Investigations.” “The bill of particulars against Rod Blagojevich is numbingly familiar. His is a legacy of federal and state investigations of alleged cronyism and corruption in the steering of pension fund investments to political donors, in the subversion of state hiring laws, in the awarding of state contracts, in matters as personal as that mysterious $1,500 check made out to the governor’s then-7-year-old daughter by a friend whose wife had been awarded a state job.” (Editorial, “Removing a governor,” Chicago Tribune, 10/28/07) · INVESTIGATIONS: In June 2008, A Federal Judge Unsealed Records That Showed That Blagojevich Was Questioned By Federal Agents For His Involvement With Tony Rezko. “Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been interviewed multiple times by federal investigators looking into allegations that he and key members of his administration offered contracts and state work in exchange for campaign fundraising help, according to documents unsealed Thursday. The documents were made public in the Antoin ‘Tony’ Rezko criminal case on the same day that Blagojevich held a major fundraising event at the River East Arts Center. Similar events in past years have reaped millions of dollars for the governor’s campaign, much of it coming from firms that landed lucrative state contracts and individuals given coveted state jobs or board appointments.” (Jeff Coen and Bob Secter, “Feds Quizzed Blagojevich,” Chicago Tribune, 6/27/08)
UPDATED & BUMPED (AGAIN):Ace and Dan Riehl find the smear artist has deleted his YouTube accounts — evidence of what criminologists call “conciousness of guilt.”
Michelle Malkin has a thorough roundup. More coverage at Hot Air, Jim Treacher, Gateway Pundit, and Powerline. Who’s not covering it? Well, the left side of the blogosphere is oddly silent, and so far the MSM has managed to ignore the exposure of Obama’s fake grassroots.
UPDATED & BUMPED:Here it is! Rusty links an Obama-connected PR firm to this video pushing the bogus claim that Sarah Palin was a member of the Alaska Independence Party:
The “convention welcome” clip you see in the video is actually something Palin recorded as part of her ceremonial duties as governor, rather than an endorsement of the party. Rusty explains it all, and produces a large amount of evidence to suggest that this is part of an extensive smear campaign launched by Team Obama, at a time when polls showed Palin boosting the GOP ticket.
UPDATE II: Took about an hour from the time Rusty put up his post until the YouTube video was deleted. “Crisis management”!
PREVIOUSLY:Ace is hinting at something kind of big. It does seem like a lot of “coincidences” keep helping Axelrod’s candidate. I can’t wait to see the big scoop.
That’s one of the mildest f—ing things a Democratic lawmaker had to say in an e-mail about the motherf—ing bailout proposal. But what the f— can you expect from a motherf—ing Democrat?
What a difference a week can make. Seven days ago, Democrats were in a state of political panic after Sarah Palin’s selection as running mate had helped push John McCain ahead in the polls. Now it may be the Republicans’ turn. Relentless media criticism of Palin seems to have succeeded, at least temporarily, in turning Palin from an asset to a debit for the GOP ticket. Barack Obama’s campaign has unleashed a heavy wave of attack ads. Most of all, daily headlines about the financial crisis have shaken voters’ confidence in the economic status quo, increasing the appeal of Obama’s theme of “Change.” As with the previous panic among Democrats, last week’s Republican panic was driven by slumping poll numbers. . . .
Progressive argument: While screaming “racist” at the top of your lungs, cite a study of the Community Reinvestment Act conducted by a law firm that specializes in CRA-related litigation. Surprise, surprise — the law firm’s study says CRA had nothing to do with the subprime mortgage crisis. And anyone who says different is a bigot.
Next up: Vegas casinos will underwrite a study on how playing video poker has therapeutic benefits for senior citizens. Think otherwise? You just hate old people.
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