Home » Archives by category » News (Page 4059)
Stephanopoulos Combats Ann Coulter on Historical Events In Her New Book

ABC's George Stephanopoulos went beyond challenging assumptions from Ann Coulter's newest book “Demonic: How the Liberal Mob Is Endangering America” on Tuesday, as he repeatedly attempted to correct her on historical facts. The former Clinton advisor interrupted her multiple times on Tuesday's Good Morning America to make a point that she was either wrong or lying about history. You are entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts, said the late Democrat Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Yet Stephanopoulos interrupted Coulter as she claimed that the Ku Klux Klan in the South was Democratic. “Started out Democratic, but turned very quickly,” Stephanopoulos asserted. [Click here for audio. Video below the break.] That depends on the meaning of “quick.” The Ku Klux Klan advocated anti-Republican violence in the post-Civil War years, and its resurgence in the early 20th century was due to Democrats; in fact, the Klan had quite a large voice at the 1924 Democratic National Convention. The Southern Klan had strong ties to the Democratic Party, and the South was heavily Democratic into the 1960s. Coulter replied that the Klan never turned Republican and Stephanopoulos abruptly changed the subject. He then hit Coulter for alleging that the Civil Rights movement was an unruly mob while defending violence for the pro-life cause. Coulter corrected him, saying that she was comparing the two groups and not defending violence. Coulter later profiled civil rights icons Martin Luther King and Thurgood Marshall as at odds over the methods they used to achieve civil rights for African-Americans. Marshall made legal arguments and won court cases while King led street protests. Stephanopoulos retorted the two figures “would see themselves as allies.” Coulter replied “They did not,” before backing up her claim by citing a letter where Marshall criticized King. A transcript of the segment, which aired on June 7 at 8:15 a.m. EDT, is as follows: GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: So much to talk about this morning with the always-provocative Ann Coulter. She's had seven best-sellers, never shies away from a hot debate. And you can tell from the title of her new book “Demonic: How the Liberal Mob is Endangering America” that she's ready for a few more debates. And Ann, welcome. I want to get to the book in just a second, but we've got to begin with Congressman Anthony Weiner. You almost predicted it last week. ANN COULTER: Yes I did. Thank you for noticing that. In fact, he used almost the same terms in his press conference yesterday as I did in my column. He Twittered this by mistake, he thought it was a private tweet, sent it to his whole list, panicked, and claimed he had been hacked. STEPHANOPOULOS: Now I think we might be able to agree on at least one thing, that sex scandals know no party. COULTER: (Laughing) No that's true, but I would say, consistent with the theme of my book “the liberals behave like a mob,” that conservatives respond to their sex scandals differently because we don't elevate our leaders. There isn't a sort of messiah worship, a mob characteristic. We're worried about being consistent. We aren't comfortable with contradictory thinking. The only Republican sex scandal where the Republican didn't resign or not run for re-election is Vitter down in Louisiana, and that was – STEPHANOPOULOS: After soliciting prostitutes – COULTER: – but that was seven years earlier. By the time it broke he had – he had apologized to his wife. It was over. It came out when the D.C. Madame releases her list. And by the way, everybody knew there were Democrats on that list. STEPHANOPOULOS: Mark Sanford, governor of South Carolina, held on as well for a long time. COULTER: Well a brief time, but the basic Republican response is not to attack the person who just releases information. And by the way, congratulations to ABC – you guys owned the Weiner story, you did all of the reporting. But the way – I mean, all the reporting on this last week was to attack Andrew Breitbart, attack some random hacker – I don't know who broke the Mark Foley story. I don't know who broke – STEPHANOPOULOS: Actually ABC was on top of that one as well. COULTER: And by the way, we were upset about that, because I believe you guys – that's the only one where I remember the source at all, and the claim was that ABC had it but they held it until the day after Foley couldn't be replaced. STEPHANOPOULOS: Oh, that's not true. Anyway, let's get to the book, “Demonic: How the Liberal Mob Is Endangering America.” You write, and this – I think this is a fair quote to pull from the book. You say basically “Republicans are the party of peaceful order; Democrats are the party of noisy, violent mobs.” And you say it's rooted in the Democrats following the French Revolution, Republicans following the American Revolution. Explain that. COULTER: Yes. Well, the first part is sort of a psychological profile of the Left. So even liberals who are wondering why they behave the way they behave might want to read it, because it explains it, and it's all mob psychology from this French psychologist – or social psychologist, Gustave Le Bon, who is the father of group-think, and Hitler and Mussolini studied him to learn how to incite mobs. And as I was reading a lot of books on mobs and group-think, I mean everything just describes the behavioral patterns of the Left. And then the middle section, I go through the American tradition, which is to write arguments like the Declaration of Independence – that's what we celebrate, what the do the French celebrate? Bastille Day, where a bunch of lunatics stormed an empty prison, because they thought it was unsightly and it was based on rumors. And if you look at the history of the Left in this country – including the Klan in the South, which was Democratic, contrary to revisionist history – STEPHANOPOULOS: Started out Democratic, but turned very quickly. COULTER: Not to Republican. It was never Republican. STEPHANOPOULOS: You take on the Civil Rights movement, and that's where it seems that you fall into some contradictions. You seem to suggest that that is part of the mob, yet this was a peaceful mob almost entirely, yet you seem to express some kind of understanding for anti-abortion protesters who use violence. COULTER: No, no, no, no, no, I'm comparing the two, actually. I think they're very similar. And the reason I raise the Civil Rights movement is that gave mobs a halo, because that was the first time mobs were being deployed – STEPHANOPOULOS: Because it was peaceful. It was civil disobedience. COULTER: No, it was – the cause behind it. Up until then, from the beginning of the Revolution to the Shay's Rebellion to the draft riots here in New York City by Democrats lynching blacks, it was always – the Left, it was Democrats, it was the SDS, the Weathermen, mobs have always been a bad thing. The Civil Rights movement was the first time in this country it started to give street protests – I mean not all street protests are going to be a mob, but my point on this – well, two different things. One is comparing Martin Luther King to Thurgood Marshall who, sort of surprising to me, became a hero of this book because when I was in law school he was just signing on to all of the opinions with Justice Brennan, I just thought of him as a liberal. But his history – I mean, it is the tradition of the American Revolution. He's making arguments, he's bringing court cases, he is winning them. In 1954 he won Brown v. Board of Education. If there had been Republican presidents for that eight years, nine years, from '60-'68, you never would have had the Civil Rights movement. STEPHANOPOULOS: I wish we had more time. I think Marshall and King would see themselves as allies – COULTER: They did not. I quote Thurgood Marshall criticizing Martin Luther King. STEPHANOPOULOS: Ann Coulter, thanks very much.

Continue reading …

As Dominique Strauss-Kahn pleaded not guilty yesterday, the lawyer for the hotel housekeeper accusing him of sexual assault announced his client would take the witness stand. “She is going to come into this courthouse, get on that witness stand, and tell the world what Dominique Strauss-Kahn did to her,” he…

Continue reading …
Say It Without Actually Saying It: Anonymous E-Cards Avoid Awkward Confessions

You know those topics too touchy for words? Say it with a nameless e-mail instead. In the course of daily conversation, there are those topics that you just can’t breach with other people. Perhaps you value their love, respect or friendship (which might be compromised with a certain conversation). Their gnarly odor, their obnoxious boyfriend,

Continue reading …

Parishioners of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Maryland arrived at services Sunday and got an unexpected sermon: Rev. Mark Lewis informed the congregation that he and other church leaders wanted the entire parish to convert to Catholicism. “We didn’t know for sure how people would react,” says one person who…

Continue reading …
Barack Obama suffers shock poll slump as Mitt Romney draws level

US president in dead heat with rival as ABC-Washington Post poll shows public unhappiness with state of economy Barack Obama’s hopes of re-election to the White House next year took a knock on Tuesday with the publication of a poll showing him in a surprise dead heat with one of his Republican rivals, Mitt Romney. The bounce in the polls that Obama received after the death of Osama bin Laden in early May has disappeared. The new poll shows public unhappiness with the slow pace of recovery from recession. Romney’s jump to parity with the president is remarkable given that, until now, there has not been much enthusiasm even among Republicans for him. Only last Thursday did he formally declare that he will be seeking the party’s nomination to take on Obama. During a press conference at the White House with German chancellor Angela Merkel , Obama played down the prospect of a double-dip recession but acknowledged concern about unemployment and petrol prices. The latest unemployment figures show a jump to 9.1% and Obama said he did not know if this was a one-month aberration or reflected a long-term trend. “I’m not concerned about a double-dip recession,” he said. “I am concerned about the fact that the recovery we’re on is not producing jobs as quickly as I want it to happen.” He admitted the economy remained “skittish” and that “recovery was going to be uneven”. Although Obama remains favourite to secure re-election, he could struggle if he goes into next year’s election with unemployment still high. The ABC-Washington Post poll showed Obama and Romney on 47% each among all Americans surveyed, and Romney on 49% and Obama on 46% among registered party members, who are among those most likely to vote. Another poll published by Public Policy Polling shows Romney in the lead in the early key states of the Republican nomination battle. Romney was widely predicted to take New Hampshire and Nevada but struggle in social conservative Iowa and hardline rightwing South Carolina. But the PPP poll shows him on 27% in South Carolina against Sarah Palin’s 18%. Earlier PPP polls showed him with a 6% lead over rivals in Iowa, 15% in Nevada and 23% in New Hampshire. Obama has dropped a long way from the heady days after his 2009 inauguration, when he enjoyed poll approval ratings of 70% to 80%. Over the last year, he has been struggling to get above 50%. The death of Bin Laden gave him a modest bounce, to around 55%. He won in 2008 partly because of a backlash against George Bush and partly because of his rhetorical skills, backed by a strong campaign organisation and high levels of fund-raising. But some of the states he took last time were only by slim margins, and he could struggle to repeat victories in states in the west and midwest and in places such as Virginia. He is already building up his campaign team, setting up organisations in many more states than in 2008, and is hoping to double his campaign funding to a billion dollars. The ABC-Post poll suggests Romney has solidified his position as Republican frontrunner. When Obama was matched against other potential Republican rivals, the president enjoyed a lead. The president was six points ahead of Newt Gingrich among registered voters, nine points head of Tim Pawlenty, 10 points ahead of Jon Huntsman, 11 points ahead of Michelle Bachmann, and 15 points ahead of Palin. As well as unemployment and petrol prices, Americans are expressing concern about the size of the federal deficit, the size of the country’s debt held by China, and continued falling house prices. The poll showed six out of 10 of those surveyed saying they did not believe recovery had yet begun. Sixty-six per cent said they thought the country was going in the wrong direction economically. Barack Obama Mitt Romney US elections 2012 United States US politics US economy Republicans Economics Ewen MacAskill guardian.co.uk

Continue reading …
Libya rebels frustrated by Nato’s safety-first strategy

Rebel leaders in Misrata feel prepared for battle but say they have been told not to cross certain ‘red lines’ Tension between Libyan rebels and Nato commanders is growing over the military tactics being used to put pressure on Colonel Gaddafi’s forces. Rebel leaders in Misrata say they are being urged not to launch further pushes against regime troops to the east of the city, and claim they have been told not to cross certain “red lines”, even though they feel prepared for battle. The frustration on the ground has been heightened by their belief that Gaddafi’s troops are demoralised and depleted after nearly three months of conflict. While coalition officials insist they have not issued any direct orders not to attack, they concede they are worried about civilians being caught up in further chaotic fighting, and do not want rebel troops being accidentally hit in bombing raids by Nato warplanes. These continued on Monday, when Tripoli experienced what was perhaps the heaviest daylight bombardment by Nato since the airstrikes began in March. RAF Typhoon and Tornado jets dropped more than two dozen bombs, targeting the headquarters of the secret police in the heart of the city, and a major military base on its outskirts. The Guardian spoke to rebel commanders from the Black Brigade and the Swehdi Brigade in Misrata, who said they felt constrained from launching pre-emptive assaults. Khalid Alogab, a section commander in the Libyan rebel Black Brigade, said the western alliance had given rebel units firm instructions not to cross into certain areas. “The red line, we cannot cross,” he said. “If we get the order from Nato we can go. We can capture Tarhuga [a town to the east] in two hours.” Alogab said orders had come from Misrata command that the Black Brigade was to stay put, and that the alliance had designated the eastern front as a red line. Salem Shneshah, a Black Brigade medic, added: “We should move, we want to move. But Nato told us we must stay here.” On the far side of Misrata, members of the Swehdi brigade – named after the city’s most famous resistance hero from the last century, Ramadan Swehdi – told a similar story. “Nato say we must be behind the red lines,” said Feraz Swehli, one of Ramadan’s ancestors. Rebel army spokesman Commander Ibrahim Betalmal confirmed that Nato orders, rather than tactical considerations, were preventing his army from pushing forward. “We have been given instructions to stay on the border,” he said. He added: “No doubt Nato will help a great deal in clearing the way forward for us.” Nato says it has not issued formal red lines to the rebels, but acknowledges that there is real danger to their forces if they stray into zones that are being targeted by missile and bombing strikes. The coalition needs to know the areas that are safe to bomb and clear of civilians, said a source. “Nobody wants a return to the kind of confusion there was before. Nato has a very clear duty to ensure that civilians are not caught up in the fighting.” While coalition commanders have great respect for the courage of the rebels, they also fear they remain relatively disorganised. Describing the latest attacks by RAF aircraft in Tripoli, Major General Nick Pope said jets had used guided “paveway” bombs to target a police building from which Gaddafi “was engaged in the brutal repression of the civilian population”. Libya Nato Arab and Middle East unrest Middle East Africa Nick Hopkins guardian.co.uk

Continue reading …
AP Sources: Yemen Leader Hurt Worse Than Thought

Obama administration officials said Tuesday that Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh was more badly injured than thought in a blast at his compound last week. (June 7)

Continue reading …
Jon Stewart on Anthony Weiner: ‘The Story Officially Became Sad’

When it came to covering Anthony Weiner’s recent scandal, Jon Stewart had quite a dilemma. Stewart has been friends with Weiner for decades, but couldn’t simply ignore the story on The Daily Show. So when it came down to it, Stewart said he learned a lesson covering the scandal. (LIST: Top 10 Awkward Press Conferences)

Continue reading …
Circulatory System

Circulatory Travels The Hemobag® – Innovative Blood Salvage Device Max Kamensky – Night City Circulatory System (2 step) Elaine_Holland says: How Yoga benefits the Circulatory System And Why This Is Important … http://bit.ly/jX4BOF

Continue reading …

Sleep

No Comment
Sleep

I Have Depression. Sound We Sleep – She Was Dreaming (Lyrics + Links + Download) Keegan-Shadows And Dreams Stodds92 says: To go back to sleep or to study? That is the question……*rolls back over*

Continue reading …