The Hollywood Liberal

Sunday Talking Heads: April 25, 2010
Financial Reform, Debt Commission

by Tony Cyphert at flickr (click it for cute)

Duck weather here, how about there?  But April showers bring May flowers – or so Mama said.  Do hope they at least bring us a bouquet of Bankster hearings.

Speaking of which, today’s main topics are financial reform and the Debt Commission.

Washington Journal: 7:45am – Gail Russell Chaddock, Christian Science Monitor, Senior Congressional Correspondent & Scott Wilson, Washington Post, White House Correspondent.  8:30am – Ben Baldanza, Spirit Airlines, President & CEO.  9:15am – Laura Hayman, University of Massachusetts – Boston, Associate Dean for Research.

ABC’s This Week: Bank Reform. White House Economic Adviser Austan Goolsbee defends the President’s plan. Then Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN). Roundtable: George Will, Paul Krugman, Cynthia Tucker, and former Fox VP of Business News Alexis Glick.

Amanpour.

CBS’ Face The Nation: Lawrence Summers, Director, National Economic Council, Thomas Friedman, Michael Lewis.

Chris Matthews: Katty Kay BBC; Andrew Sullivan The Atlantic; David Ignatius The Washington Post; Kelly O’Donnell NBC News.  Topics: Does Obama Want A Fight On Wall Street Reform Or To Move On To Immigration?  Is the Extreme Anti-Washington Rhetoric Seditious?

CNN’s State of the Union: Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D-MI). Topics include the economy in Michigan as well as the speculaton of Gov. Granholm being a possible Supreme Court nominee.  Then Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ).

Fareed Zakaria – GPS: Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner.  Roundtable: Eliot Spitzer, Slate columnist and former NY governor and attorney general; Andrew Ross Sorkin, the chief mergers and acquisitions reporter for the New York Times and author of Too Big to Fail; Martin Wolf, Financial Times’ chief economics commentator; and Amity Shlaes, Bloomberg columnist and senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Fox News Sunday: The Debt Commission with Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles.  Then Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY).  Fox News AllStars: Brit Hume, Mara Liasson, Bill Kristol, Juan Williams.

NBC’s Meet The Press: Financial Reform with the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee, Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) & Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL).  Roundtable: David Brooks, Erin Burnett, Michele Norris, Evan Thomas.

Newsmakers: The top Republican on the House Appropriations Cmte. Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA), talks about the role of the bipartisan Debt Commission and his views that it is essentially “a political tool and not a real tool.”

Q & A: Presidential historians Richard Norton Smith and Douglas Brinkley. They talk about their work and their profession.

Religion & Ethics: Catholic Abuse Scandal.  Muslim Home Schooling.  Haiti: A Personal Journey.  “My Jesus Year” A rabbi’s son searches for “true spirituality” among Christians.

60 Minutes: The Narrative – A former member of a Muslim extremist group tells Lesley Stahl the reason for the increase in home-grown jihadists like the U.S. Army major accused of shooting 13 at Ft. Hood is an ideology called “the narrative,” which states America is at war with Islam.  Boosting Brain Power – More people are illegally boosting their brain power by using prescription “smart drugs” like Ritalin and Aderall, meant for those with attention deficit disorders.  Competing Against Time – Byron Pitts reports from the construction site of the future Bay Bridge from San Francisco to Oakland, CA, where there’s a race to complete the new, earthquake-resistant span alongside the old structure.

To The Contrary: Topics:  1- Title IX muscles up; 2- More Democratic female candidates than Republicans; 3- Ending elder abuse.  Panelists: Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD); Conservative Commentator Tara Setmayer; Global Summit of Women President Irene Natividad; and Independent Women’s Forum’s Nicole Kurokawa.  TTC online extra: Immigration Reform On Deck? Will it hurt Democrats to take up immigration reform before the mid-term elections?

Univision’s Al Punto: Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL); State Rep. Steve Montenegro (R-AZ); President Bill Clinton; Actor and Activist Edward James Olmos.

Virtually Speaking: Eve Gittelson and watertiger.  “Eve is a high profile Daily Kos diarist writing about health care. watertiger blogs at dependablerenegade.com [and FDL].”

C-SPAN’s Book TV.

FDL Book Salon: America’s Cold War: The Politics of Insecurity. “The United States dealt effectively with the threats of Soviet predominance in Europe and of nuclear war in the early years of the conflict. But in engineering this policy, American leaders successfully paved the way for domestic actors and institutions with a vested interest in the struggle’s continuation.” Chat with Campbell Craig and Fred Logevall about their new book, 5pm ET.

FDL Movie Night Monday: Prodigal Sons.  “Filmmaker Kimberly Reed dives headfirst into an unflinching portrait of her family that is absolutely engrossing and marks her coming-out, in more ways than one. Returning home to a small town in Montana for her high school reunion, Reed hopes for reconciliation with her long-estranged adopted brother. But along the way PRODIGAL SONS uncovers stunning revelations, including a blood relationship with Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth, intense sibling rivalries and unforeseeable twists of plot and gender.”  Chat with  Kimberly Reed and host Lisa Derrick, 8pm ET.

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Late Late Night FDL: The Screwball
Woody Woodpecker in The Screwball. This Universal Pictures Walt Lantz Productions cartoon was released on February 15, 1943.

Woody Woodpecker in The Screwball.  This Universal Pictures Walt Lantz Productions cartoon was released on February 15, 1943.

Produced by Walter Lantz.  Directed by Alex Lovy.  Animated by Verne Harding.  Written by Ben Hardaway and Milt Schaffer.  Vocal Talent by Ben Hardaway (Woody Woodpecker), and Mel Blanc (Woody’s Laugh).  Music by Darrell Calker.

What’s on your mind?

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Palin E-Mail Hacker Could Get 50 Years Behind Bars
Remember that guy who allegedly broke into Sarah Palin’s Yahoo e-mail account back in 2008? Well, it turns out he’s in federal court in Knoxville, Tenn., facing 50 years in the slammer if convicted of the criminal charges. Palin spent 45 minutes in the witness box Friday, declaring that the hacking had caused a major disruption in her personal and political life. —JCL The Guardian: Sarah Palin today addressed the jury at the criminal trial of the man accused of hacking into her email account during the 2008 presidential election campaign. Palin spent 45 minutes in the witness box in a federal court in Knoxville, Tennessee where David Kernell, 22, faces up to 50 years in prison if found guilty of four charges. Palin told the court that the “disturbance” to her email had disrupted her personal and political life. “If the intent was to disrupt it, it was successful. It caused a huge disruption in the campaign,” she said. Read more

Remember that guy who allegedly broke into Sarah Palin’s Yahoo e-mail account back in 2008? Well, it turns out he’s in federal court in Knoxville, Tenn., facing 50 years in the slammer if convicted of the criminal charges.

Palin spent 45 minutes in the witness box Friday, declaring that the hacking had caused a major disruption in her personal and political life. —JCL

The Guardian:

Sarah Palin today addressed the jury at the criminal trial of the man accused of hacking into her email account during the 2008 presidential election campaign.

Palin spent 45 minutes in the witness box in a federal court in Knoxville, Tennessee where David Kernell, 22, faces up to 50 years in prison if found guilty of four charges.

Palin told the court that the “disturbance” to her email had disrupted her personal and political life. “If the intent was to disrupt it, it was successful. It caused a huge disruption in the campaign,” she said.

Read more

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• April 16, 2010 Gays Get Hospital Visitation Rights
• March 25, 2010 President Obama Calls for ‘End to Repression’ in Cuba

Death by Firing Squad
In a throwback to Utah’s Wild West past, convicted murderer Ronnie Lee Gardner has requested, as per state law, to be executed by firing squad. The request sets the stage for what almost certainly will be a contested debate on capital punishment. Gardner would be only the third person to be killed by the method in the U.S. since 1976. —JCL The BBC: A convicted murderer in the US state of Utah has chosen to be executed by firing squad. When given a choice between lethal injection or being shot, Ronnie Lee Gardner told the judge: “I would like the firing squad, please.” Of the 35 US states that have the death penalty, Utah is the only one to give firing squads as an option. Critics say the method is a relic from the state’s Wild West past and should be abolished. Read more

In a throwback to Utah’s Wild West past, convicted murderer Ronnie Lee Gardner has requested, as per state law, to be executed by firing squad. The request sets the stage for what almost certainly will be a contested debate on capital punishment. Gardner would be only the third person to be killed by the method in the U.S. since 1976. —JCL

The BBC:

A convicted murderer in the US state of Utah has chosen to be executed by firing squad.

When given a choice between lethal injection or being shot, Ronnie Lee Gardner told the judge: “I would like the firing squad, please.”

Of the 35 US states that have the death penalty, Utah is the only one to give firing squads as an option.

Critics say the method is a relic from the state’s Wild West past and should be abolished.

Read more

Related Entries

• April 16, 2010 Gays Get Hospital Visitation Rights
• March 25, 2010 President Obama Calls for ‘End to Repression’ in Cuba

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Civil Rights Advocates Vow To Challenge Arizona Immigration Law
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Numerous Fox Newsers embrace and defend racial profiling aspect of AZ immigration law

In recent days, numerous Fox News personalities have voiced support for Arizona’s new controversial immigration law that requires law enforcement to demand immigration papers of those they suspect to be in the country illegally, which many argue will lead to racial profiling. In doing so, these Fox News figures have embraced and defended the law, including the potential for racial profiling, by arguing, among other things, that “people may have to endure some inconvenience.”

Law and “racial profiling … will go hand in hand”

Arizona Republic: Law “will require anyone whom police suspect of being in the country illegally to produce” immigration documents. An April 24 Arizona Republic article reported:

Arizona’s immigration law, now considered the toughest in the nation, makes it a state crime to be in the country illegally and requires local police to enforce federal immigration laws. It will require anyone whom police suspect of being in the country illegally to produce “an alien registration document,” such as a green card or other proof of citizenship, such as a passport or Arizona driver’s license.

It also makes it illegal to impede the flow of traffic by picking up day laborers for work. A day laborer who gets picked up for work, and traffic is impeded in the process, would also be committing a criminal act.

NY Times: “Opponents have called it an open invitation for harassment and discrimination against Hispanics.” As the New York Times noted on April 24: “Opponents have called it an open invitation for harassment and discrimination against Hispanics regardless of their citizenship status.” The Times added: “It requires police officers, ‘when practicable,’ to detain people they reasonably suspect are in the country without authorization and to verify their status with federal officials, unless doing so would hinder an investigation or emergency medical treatment.”

Arizona Daily Star: “Racial profiling, SB 1070 will go hand in hand.” The Arizona Daily Star wrote in an April 16 editorial that the bill “would turn legal residents into police targets, as well as those who are here illegally. It would foment racial profiling of Hispanics. … Civil libertarians and immigrant-rights groups say the Arizona bill will spur racial profiling. We agree, and we doubt that many of its provisions are constitutional.

Fox Newsers embrace and defend law’s potential for racial profiling

Crowder: Nothing wrong with law’s racial profiling. During the April 23 edition of Fox News’ Hannity, Fox News contributor Steven Crowder said that there’s racial profiling in the law and “I don’t think there’s really anything wrong as far as racial profiling, stopping people who are coming in illegally. I mean, you’re not looking for a blond haired, blue eyed Swede most of the time.”

Gutfeld: Racial profiling a no-brainer. On the April 21 edition of Fox News’ Hannity, Red Eye host Greg Gutfeld said of the law: “A lot of the critics are saying this is racial profiling. Duh! They’re coming from another country. That’s what you do. You have to look at them and see who they are before you know they’re legal or illegal. I don’t think that’s a fair criticism.”

Gallagher dismisses racial profiling concerns. On the April 23 edition of his Salem Radio program, radio host and Fox News contributor Mike Gallagher told Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace, “Sign it, baby, sign it” and that the Arizona legislature is his “new hero.” After Wallace noted concerns about civil liberties, Gallagher said that “it’s racial profiling, to be sure, cops know if there’s a van full of dark-skinned men with lawnmowers packed into the back of a pick-up truck…that’s what they’re talking about.”

Malkin: “Arizona: Doing the job the feds won’t do.” Michelle Malkin praised the law in an April 23 post on her blog, writing: “GOP Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has signed the nation’s toughest immigration enforcement bill. They’re doing the job the feds won’t do – taking the law and our borders seriously to protect the health, safety, and welfare of our citizens first. Cue the ACLU lawyers, the open-borders lobby, and the race-card players. And watch the Left show you what intolerance is really all about.” Malkin, who wrote the book In Defense of Internment: The Case for Racial Profiling in World War II and the War on Terror, also wrote that some are “whining about Arizona becoming a ‘police state.'”

Hume: “Some people are going to have to endure inconvenience as opposed to everybody.” On the April 19 edition of The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News senior political analyst Brit Hume appeared to dismiss concerns about racial profiling, stating that “if it’s an effective law enforcement technique done in good faith, people may have to endure some inconvenience. What we’re saying here is that some people are going to have endure inconvenience as opposed to everybody having to endure it.”

Some Fox Newsers disagree: Bill is “draconian” and “goes way too far”

While numerous Fox News personalities have embraced and defended the racial profiling aspect of the Arizona law, some Fox News personalities have criticized it. For instance, Mike Huckabee said on Fox & Friends that the courts will find the law “problematic” because “there is no such thing” as “American looking” person. Fox News contributor Fred Barnes said that the bill is “draconian” and “goes way too far.” Fox News contributor Charles Krauthammer said he was concerned about “illegals” but the bill “could lead to a lot of civil rights abuses.” And Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace said on Mike Gallagher’s program: “I’m not sure I like the idea that law enforcement can go up to anybody and say show me your identity card.”

Shady Anti-Financial Reform Group Using Ad Agency That Worked For Swift Boat Vets
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Report: Feds Eyeing Crist Role In Probe Of Florida GOP Spending
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Bloch Attorney: I Am Pleased ‘Unnecessary’ Inquiry Is Over
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Gov. Jan Brewer’s New AZ Fashion Police

The Second Great Depression Myth Rises Again
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Rep. Steve King frustrated that GOP leadership is not fully embracing ObamaCare repeal.
On Thursday, Rep. Steve King (R-IA) appeared on the Scott Hennen Show to express his frustration with his Party’s division over whether to support a full repeal of ObamaCare and register its disapproval with all parts of the law: KING: And this should have happened almost instantly and spontaneously. And instead it’s going slow because there […]

On Thursday, Rep. Steve King (R-IA) appeared on the Scott Hennen Show to express his frustration with his Party’s division over whether to support a full repeal of ObamaCare and register its disapproval with all parts of the law:

KING: And this should have happened almost instantly and spontaneously. And instead it’s going slow because there are Republicans who are arguing they don’t want to have to be opposed to every component of ObamaCare. They want to nuance this a little bit. And whenever you get nuance, you get divided by the enemy. And they scatter you across the battlefield and take you apart. We’ve got to stand on this thing as a central square. And our leadership has been pretty good. Mike Pence has signed on to the bill and he’s been very clear in where he stands. I don’t have John Boehner signed on yet. I don’t have Eric Cantor signed on. A number of the other people in leadership have not.

Watch it:

For all their uncertainty behind closed doors, Republicans are still insisting that they will be running on some form of repeal. Earlier this month, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) said repealing this bill “has to be our No. 1 priority.”

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Financial, business interests step up lobbying against overhaul bill
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