Change!
In the new era, congressional Republicans discover the virtues of foreign diplomacy ... as a tool against the Obama administration.
--Josh Marshall
Great Moments in AP Journalism
The AP analyzes Chicago's defeat in terms of top ten GOP talking points about Obama. Too overexposed, just a celebrity, etc.
--Josh Marshall
Damage Control
The Hardin, MT, economic development official involved in bringing the American Police Force outfit to town is scrambling to reassure the local citizenry:
People who would believe that the State of Montana, or any town in Montana, would allow, much less invite, a private paramilitary security force to take over police duties, JUST DO NOT KNOW MONTANANS. Montana has more firearms, per capita, than virtually any other state in America. Gun control in Montana is best described as 'Being Able To Hit Your Target." Even many of our women practice gun control in Montana. Montana has more women who have concealed weapons permits, and know which is the business end, than most states have men who have them. Montanans don't post this type of misinformation on the internet, we post pictures of things we kill.
--David Kurtz
Backdraft
Just before an arson expert was supposed to give important testimony to a Texas board investigating the state's handling of a case that may have led to the execution of an innocent man, Gov. Rick Perry stepped in and removed three members of the board and appointed a new chairperson, who cancelled the scheduled testimony. Zack Roth reports.
--David Kurtz
Counterfactual
I wonder if right-wingers would be less stoked if Chicago were part of America.
--Josh Marshall
Not Their Kinda Town
Chicago out in first round in Olympic picking.
Good for Obama, for trying to get the Olympics for the USA and for his home town. But I have to say I'm not terribly surprised if the Olympic big-wigs were not crazy about being big-footed by the American president. Maybe it had nothing to do with it at all. Apparently South America has never hosted the Olympics, making Rio a logical choice.
(I think I may go insane if I hear one more cable news yakker say they're "shocked" and "stunned." I mean, 9/11 it ain't, right? I think we'll recover.)
Late Update: Chuck Todd is saying that as recently as a few weeks ago, the White House had been resisting pressure from Chicago friends and supporters who were pushing for Obama to make a big push for Chicago.
Later Update: We're now living in the post-Chicago Olympics rejection era.
Even Later Update: TPM Reader JC doesn't agree ...
Despite your reaction it is pretty shocking given that Chicago and Rio were the frontrunners and the most recent guesses suggested Chicago had eeked out a bit of a lead.Madrid has hardly been in the conversation.
And what's up with your "big-footed" comment? Heads of state were there from all the finalists.
--Josh Marshall
Who Knew?
It turns out that setting up a paramilitary porn website with all sorts of dubious claims and offers of outlandish services can get you in some trouble. Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock has opened an investigation into whether APF may be violating Montana's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act by making up all sorts of crap on its website.
--Josh Marshall
Palin 2012 FTW!
McCain campaign manager Steve Schmidt: A Palin presidency would be "catastrophic."
Late Update: Here's the video of the Schmidt's comment. Seeing the entirety of his comment, I think it's incorrect to say that he called a Palin presidency "catastrophic" but that her nomination would lead to Republican defeat in 2012, which would be a "catastrophic" result.
--David Kurtz
TPMDC Morning Roundup
President Obama had a brief meeting with Afghanistan commander Stanley McChrystal aboard Air Force One before leaving Copenhagen this morning. That and the day's other political news in the TPMDC Morning Roundup.
--David Kurtz
Letterman's Confession
In case you missed it, on his show last night David Letterman unexpectedly revealed the arrest yesterday of a blackmailer for attempting to extort $2 million from Dave with threats of exposing his history of affairs with female staffers on the show -- affairs Letterman cops to. Watch.
--David Kurtz
What We'll Be Looking Into Tomorrow
Back on again? After Sen. Kerry's attempt to stop him, Sen. DeMint's trip to Honduras to give moral support to the leaders of the recent coup plot appears to be back on.
--Josh Marshall
What Does The Veep Actually Do?
We show you ... in pictures: Joe Biden is on the loose!
--David Kurtz
Wow, That's Funny
Pawlenty on Cash-for-Clunkers: "There's a joke out now that says the main value of the Cash for Clunkers program may be that we'll get a lot of cars with Obama stickers off the road."
--Josh Marshall
Clothespins
TPM Reader JS checks in from New Jersey ...
I claim no expertise on this race but for being a Jersey voter. However, my guess is that Daggett is not doing Corzine as much good as you think he is. Most Daggett votes are coming from Corzine, which I think you observe. Christie is the kind of candidate that Republicans can get behind (wingnutty enough, but not insane), so I don't think that many Daggett votes are coming from him. If Daggett weren't in the race, there would be a run on clothespins to wear in the voting booth, and Corzine would win.
--Josh Marshall
Skeptical
TPM Reader BL is skeptical ...
Is Sacha Baron Cohen doing another movie?Crazy coat of arms. Over the top paramilitary photographs and dubious services. Mercedes with police decals on them. All in the heart of Black Helicopter conspiracy country and on the heals [of] collective wing nut seizure following Obama's election. This is just too over the top to be real.
--Josh Marshall
Hard Luck Mercenary
Michael Hilton
As you know, we've been chronicling the story of Hardin, MT and American Police Force. And you've got to sympathize with the town leaders trying to support a decent-sized but unused prison facilitiy on a tax base of like 3500 people. They only went in with Hilton after they lost out on getting the Gitmo prisoners. So you could say they're kind of desperate. But with all the news coming out about APF chief Michael Hilton's lengthy criminal record and fraud and theft convictions, we've been trying to get in touch with the folks who gave him the contract to find out what was up and whether they're reconsidering the deal.
TPM's Zack Roth just got a hold of Hardin development official Al Peterson, who's still looking on the bright side. Yes, Hilton has a long criminal history, said Peterson. But that was before he got sober.
"He was an alcoholic, and everybody knows that. Did he do some not-the-best choices in his personal and professional life when he was not sober? Absolutely. He made some very unwise decisions."
Read the rest of the story here.
--Josh Marshall
Not To Worry, Not To Worry
Montana town that contracted with American Police Force seeks to reassure citizens: "There are no commandos in the streets."
--Josh Marshall
Recent Archives
October 4, 2009 - October 10, 2009
September 27, 2009 - October 3, 2009
September 20, 2009 - September 26, 2009
September 13, 2009 - September 19, 2009
Top News
- Eight U.S. Troops Killed In Fierce Afghan Battle
- Report: Iran Knows How To Make Working Atom Bomb
- FDIC Chief: End 'Too Big To Fail' Doctrine
- Socialists Trounce Conservatives In Greek Election
- Supreme Court To Examine Terrorism And Gun Rights In New Term
- U.S.: Pakistan Ready For Ground Offensive Against Taliban Insurgents
- Greenspan Expects Unemployment Rate To Top 10 Percent
- Guinea Leader Denies Responsibility In Massacre Of Protesters
- Fired Diplomat: UN Muzzled Criticism Of Afghan Vote
- Former Japanese Finance Minister Found Dead
Jokes
Fox News Laughs Over America's Olympics Defeat
Iran
Graham On Iran: 'Take Military Action' Before They Get Nukes
Afghanistan
Susan Rice: U.S. In 'Intense Negotiations' With Iran
Les Affaires Ensign
Senate Ethics Chair Won't Discuss Ensign Probe
Appearing on CNN's State of the Union this morning, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), who chairs the Senate Ethics Committee, said she's not permitted to offer any details of an investigation of Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) and his reported flouting of lobbying rules after his affair with an aide's wife was discovered earlier this year.
Afghanistan
Eight U.S. Troops Killed In Afghanistan Battle
In the deadliest attack in more than a year, eight U.S. soldiers were killed when hundreds of insurgents stormed two outposts near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. More than 20 Afghan security troops were captured. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.
Iran
Report: Iran Knows How To Make Working Atom Bomb
The New York Times reports that Iran has acquired "sufficient information to be able to design and produce a workable" atom bomb. The newspaper attributes that assertion to "a confidential analysis" by "senior staff members of the United Nations nuclear agency."
American Police Force
Hardin Official Fights 'Outlandish' APF Rumors
A Hardin, Montana official is trying to quell several outlandish rumors about the city's deal with American Police Force to run a local jail. He also tells TPMmuckraker that a local APF staffer has received death threats.
Representative
Graham: Beck 'Doesn't Represent The Republican Party'
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) took another shot at Fox Newsman Glenn Beck Sunday morning. "I'm not saying he's bad for America," Graham said. But "he doesn't represent the Republican Party."
MUST READS from tpm and around the web
Capital Wire
- Ron Paul's Son Rand Rakes In $1.1M For KY Senate Race
- New DNC Ad Slams Sen. Kyl On Women's Health Care
- Airlines Push Back Against Senate's Cap-And-Trade Bill
- TPMDC's The Sunday Show Line-Ups -- 10/4/09
- Poll: Obama More Popular With Jews Than Any Other Religious Group
- Judge Orders Release Of Cheney Interview With FBI
- House Votes Against Releasing Detainee Abuse Photos
- GOP Tried To Recruit Hero Pilot "Sully" For Congressional Bid
- McCain Still Seeking To Make His Mark On The GOP
Financial Wire
- US Factory Orders Drop 0.8% In August
- Personal Bankrupties Top 1M For Four-Year High
- Madoff's Family Members Sued For $199M
- CIT Looks To Cut $5.7B Of Debt In Swap Offer
- Dollar Falls Against Euro Amid US Job Losses
- BOA To Pay $713M In TARP Dividends
- Report: NBC Universal And Comcast In Talks For Joint Venture
- US Fixed Mortgage Rates Drop Below 5%
- Edge Petroleum Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
- GM Sales Crash 45 Percent In September
Robert Reich
Addendum: The Job Numbers For September
The only reason the numbers don't look worse is that 571,000 workers dropped out of the labor force.
Paul Rieckhoff
Congress Gets Paid, Veterans Get Shafted
In 19 out of the last 22 years, Congress has failed to pass the VA budget on time. When the VA budget is late, the nation's largest healthcare provider is forced to wait in limbo,
Dana Goldstein
Journalism's Elitism Problem
It is economically irrational for a highly-educated person with $20K of debt (that's the average student debt burden) to choose journalism over law, consulting, advertising, or public relations.
Ezra Klein
What If They Passed Single-Payer And Didn't Tell Anyone?
That might have just happened, at least at the state level. The Wyden folks quietly slipped in an amendment giving states enormous flexibility to experiment upward.
TPMCafé Reader Voices
Donal
Living in the City
William K. Wolfrum
Report: Faith-Based Initiatives sending Americans straight to Hell
TPM Twitter Rooms
TPM Daily Digest
TPM Approved Sites
- Altercation
- Andrew Sullivan
- Carpetbagger Report
- Conason
- DailyKos
- DemStrategist
- Eschaton
- JuanCole
- JamesWolcott
- MattYglesias
- Kausfiles.com
- ProPublica
- TNR
- WashMonthly
- WashingtonNote
TPM Media
Editor & Publisher
Josh MarshallManaging Editor
David KurtzReporter-Bloggers
Brian BeutlerJustin Elliott
Eric Kleefeld
Josh Marshall
Zachary Roth
Associate Editors
Ben CrawRachel Slajda
Editorial Fellow
Versha SharmaGeneral Manager &
General Counsel
Vice President of Sales
Diane RinaldoDeputy Publisher
Andrew GolisAssociate Publisher
Al ShawResearch Interns
Alex AmendSelena Hill
Andrew Hymas
Jillian Rayfield
Darius Tahir
© 2009 TPM Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
