Meg Whitman Says Fresno Is Awful Like Detroit, Fears Oakland Too

(First on Zennie62.com)

Meg Whitman, the California gubernatorial candidate and former eBay CEO, already loathed in this space for her passive-agressive Oakland campaign headquarters, is under fire now for a statement she made about Fresno, California, saying "It's awful..it looks like Detroit."

The comment was ill-considered in several ways: First, she made it before the Editorial Board of The San Jose Mercury News. Second, she insulted a not one but two cities: Fresno and Detroit. Third, it's the second time she's dissed a California city in some way.

The first time was in Oakland, when Whitman's staffers set up an office on Lakeshore that looks like a fortress and at one point had signs that reported 24-hour surveillance, but with the word misspelled! Here's the video:



Jerry Brown Fails To Capitalize

Meg Whitman's many shortcomings and history of issues have not been drilled into the collective conscious of Californians. The one person who can do this is her California gubernatorial challenger Jerry Brown. But Brown has failed to do this while being hammered by her ads attacking his character. When Brown finally came out with his own ads, they weren't about Meg Whitman, but about Jerry Brown.

So because Jerry can't get away from the view that it's all about him, he's trapped by Meg Whitman's strategy. He is answering her ads, thus going on the defensive. Everything he's done has been defense, not offense. He waited to answer her ads, which is like playing "rope-a-dope," then when he did, didn't even try to throw a political punch.

Yes, people want to know what you're going to do for California, but the explanation on TV is from a policy wonk. Not me. Whoever came up with that one didn't do Jerry any favors.

Jerry, here's Meg Whitman, teetering. What are you going to do?

David Letterman Wants $1 Million From Joaquin Phoenix For Pub Stunt

David Letterman, obviously smarting from being used as part of what turned out to be Actor Joaquin Phoenix's publicity stunt / meltdown interview of February 12th, 2009, asked for $1 million in compensation for the use of the interview in Phoenix's new film I'm Still Here.

The problem is that the now famous (or infamous depending on how you see it) interview where Joaquin Phoenix came out in dark glasses, a lot of hair, and saying very little of substance, was read by many as the start of Phoenix's personal problems. Here's the interview:



In reality, it was actually part of the documentary / mockumentary produced and directed by Casey Affleck. While it was reported that David Letterman was "in on it," by his monologue writer Bill Scheft, Letterman said that was not the case on Wednesday's The Late Show With David Letterman. Before we continue, this is what Scheft said to Nuvo.net:

NUVO: Tell me what it was like backstage after the Joaquin Phoenix appearance.

Scheft: First of all, that was all an act.

NUVO: Even Dave's part of it?

Scheft:: Yeah. Think Andy Kaufman without shaving. That's what he was doing. And Dave knew about it and Dave loved it because he could play along. He could do whatever he wanted with it. And he did, and it was great television. But I will take credit for the line, "I think I owe Farrah Fawcett an apology." That line was mine. I gave that to him during the break.

Dave loves that. He had a ball. He likes anything that's good television, and he knew that's good television.

I've told people that (everyone was in on the joke), and not only don't people believe me, they tell me that I'm wrong and that (Phoenix) is a schizophrenic and he needs help and he's going to end up like his brother. I said no. I saw the segment notes. It's an act. I saw Ben Affleck's brother taping the whole thing from offstage.

In on it or not, David Letterman tore a new one on Joaquin Phoenix about it and his take was hilarious.

Letterman made Phoenix squirm in his chair, saying he hasn't seen the movie, reminding him of "the incident" and finally landing the haymaker: asking for $1 million as a video licensing fee. Why? Because Letterman claimed he didn't know it was a stunt. Yeah, he figured Joaquin Phoenix was acting, but he didn't know it was for a movie.

Now, Letterman wants bucks.

"But David," Joaquin said, "I don't have a million dollars." Letterman was unfazed, saying "Oh. You'll find it somewhere."

While Wednesday's Letterman show was such that it may have been the continuation of the joke, I'm not sure David was entirely kidding about the million bucks. But it's fair to assume all of that was worked out before the release of I'm Still Here, there's always that bit of doubt that maybe not all the bases were covered.

Classic Television

Whatever the case, Wednesday's The Late Show With David Letterman was classic television: funny, provocative, and unforgettable. If I'm Still Here is as funny as that segment with Letterman, Phoenix and Affleck may have a cult film on their hands.

Obama Terror Attack Quote Shows Stupidity Of The Right-Wing

(Post originally at Zennie62.com)

Obama Terror Attack Quote: the definition of "absorb" - keep that in mind.

The Internet's ablaze with news, blog, and soon video and audio chatter about President Barack Obama's quote in Bob Woodward's new book Obama's Wars. The Right Wing of the blogsphere's especially excited over the so-called statement by the President that America "could absorb" a Terrorist attack.

The right, looking for whatever edge it can get politically, is prone to great leaps in misjudgement. Want an example? Look no further than Senator John McCain's selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate. Not to digress, the problem of Couch Potato Conservatives rests in their lack of desire to think. Thus, failing to ask one simple question: what's the definition of "absorb."

Here are all of the possible definitions:

1. To take (something) in through or as through pores or interstices.
2. To occupy the full attention, interest, or time of; engross. See Synonyms at monopolize.
3. To retain (radiation or sound, for example) wholly, without reflection or transmission.
4. To take in; assimilate: immigrants who were absorbed into the social mainstream.
5. To learn; acquire: "Matisse absorbed the lesson and added to it a new language of color" (Peter Plagen).
6. To receive (an impulse) without echo or recoil: a fabric that absorbs sound; a bumper that absorbs impact.
7. To assume or pay for (a cost or costs).
8. To endure; accommodate: couldn't absorb the additional hardships.
9. To use up; consume: The project has absorbed all of our department's resources.

Of all nine choices, the one that most fits President Obama's statement is Number 6: "To receive (an impulse) without echo or recoil." That's not what America was able to do in the case of 9-11 and means that such an attack could happen and ultimately no one would be killed, certainly not the 3,000 lives lost on September 11, 2001.

Memories are short, and some Right-Wing blogger contemporaries show a weakness of cognitive thought that is the result of a poorly funded national educational system coupled with an inability to avoid the impulse for anti-intellectualism.

In other words, some of them are just being stupid. Note that "being stupid" is a temporary state of mind, not a permanent one, which means the problem can be repaired. Read on.

Before 9-11 we didn't have the Transportation Services Administration, The Department Of Homeland Security, or WiFi, smart phones, or any number of systems that help prevent or absorb possible terrorist attacks. Now we have those systems in place and they work.

Obama Not Inviting An Attack, But Read The Book

All of this is taken out of context because you and I don't know the full context of the book's prose. Some at the New York Times do, but only share their observations with us, not Bob Woodwards's book itself. Thus, we're left to guess at the context, at least for those of us thoughtful enough to realize we don't know it.

The Right should cool its jets, unless it wants to see an unearthing of every scary, stupid, and idiotic comment made from members of its brethren since September 11th 2001.  By using patient, thoughtful consideration of words, The Right Wing can avoid such displays of lack of intellect in the future.

Zennie Abraham Asks Did Jesse Jackson Jr. Have Giovana Huidobro As Mistress?

Zennie Abraham (Zennie62Media CEO and builder of ZENNIEREPORT.COM ZENNIEREPORT.COM) Asks Did Jesse Jackson Jr. Have Giovana Huidobro As Mistress?
Before we get to the whole Giovana Huidobro mistress thing, some Jesse Jackson Jr. house cleaning is in order.

If you recall that moment two years ago, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. was on CNN to say he did not try to pay for the Illinois Senate seat held by now President Barack Obama.

According to the Chicago Sun Times, an Oak Brook businessman named Raghuveer Nayak told the FBI that he had a conversation with Jackson where allegedly Jackson said he would have Chicago's Indian community raise the $1 million for Governor Rod Blagojevich, and Jackson would raise another $5 million after he was in the Senate.

The question is why would Raghuveer Nayak wait so long to make his claim, rather than come out with it just as Jesse Jackson Jr. was on television two years ago? Whatever the reason, it places Jackson Jr. in a bad light because at trial Robert Blagojevich, Friends of Blagojevich chair specifically pointed to an episode where two Indian fund-raisers met him, offering money on behalf of Jesse Jackson Jr.

And Who Is Giovana Huidobro?

The FBI interviewed Giovana Huidobro as part of its Blagojevich corruption investigation. The FBI was trying to confirm Raghuveer Nayak's allegations regarding the Jackson Jr. offer to Blagojevich. Giovana Huidobro is a friend of Jesse Jackson Jr. - a social acquaintance as described by Nayak to the FBI.

Giovana Huidobro is also a former model and the hostess at Ozio, the cigar club and restaurant that's a lot like 1930 Shanghai, the San Francisco club that closed a year ago.

Jackson had Huidobro flown in for Chicago, and in his statements admits that he had an affair with her, but that was in the past:

"The reference to a social acquaintance is a private and personal matter between me and my wife that was handled some time ago. I ask that you respect our privacy.

"I know I have disappointed some supporters, and for that I am deeply sorry. But I remain committed to serving my constituents and fighting on their behalf."

Now that the information's out, is it of any value considering that it's old news? The FBI is more interested in Jackson Jr.'s attempt to buy the seat, it seems. But even then, there's no crime against talking about such a business deal if it never took place.

The question is why didn't it happen? If it was that the players figured it was not legal and backed off, why would the Federal Government prosecute anyone? That's what's confusing here.

But more on Ozio later.

Teresa Lewis to be first woman executed in US since 2005 By Nikky Raney

Photo of Teresa Lewis from SaveTeresaLewis.org

Teresa Lewis, 41, is scheduled to be executed on Thursday, September 23; she will be the first woman to be executed in the United States since 2005.

Tuesday, September 21, U.S. Supreme Court refused to halt Lewis' execution.

Teresa Lewis is the only person on death row in Virginia, and will be the first woman executed in Virginia since 1912 when a 17-year-old girl was put in an electric-chair. Lewis will also be the 12th person to die via federal edict since the death penalty was reinstated in the U.S. in 1976.

Lewis plead guilty in May 2003 to two counts of murder: she hired two men, Rodney Fuller and Matthew Shallenberger, to murder her husband and stepson in 2002. Both men were sentenced to life in prison (Shallenberger committed suicide in prison in 2006) while Lewis was given the death sentence since she was the "mastermind" behind the killings.

CBS News reported that Lewis used sex and money to persuade the two men to kill her husband and stepson - even including her teenaged daughter by offering her up for sex with one of the killers.

Two weeks ago Lewis' attorney, James Roap argued that her execution should be prevented due to claims that she is "borderline mentally retarded, with the intellectual ability of about a 13-year-old." He also argued that it is unfair for Lewis to be sentenced to death when the two men who fired the shots received life terms.

Many lengthy petitions were created in attempts to stop this from happening.

A web site created to save Lewis from the death sentence was created and includes this message to Governor McDonnell, who was apart of the decision to refuse reprieve:

"Governor McDonnell, your decision to deny clemency completely ignores the fact that Teresa Lewis is borderline mentally retarded and had a dependent personality disorder, and that a life sentence was given to the man who has repeatedly stated that HE was the mastermind and that “The only reason I had sex with [Teresa] was for the money [and] to get her to ‘fall in love’ with me so she would give me the insurance money. . . . She was exactly what I was looking for.” Killing Teresa now, when this man was allowed to live, is so unfair and unjust that it cannot be permitted."


The web site also lists Lewis' disabilities including documents from Dr. Costanzo, Professor of Psychology at Duke University, where he states Teresa did not "possess the intellectual capacity to calculate and plan these murders."

A piece of evidence that lawyers and supporters wanted the courts to consider was a letter that Shallenberger wrote before committing suicide in jail where he claims full responsibility for the murder plot and blames himself for pushing Lewis into it.

Lewis has been moved from Fluvanna Correction Center for women to Greensville Correction Center in Jaratt where Virgina's death chamber is located.

Fox News Source Jim Hoft Called Dumbest Man On The Internet

Wow. Liberals are really attacking Fox News Source Jim Hoft. The conservative blogger, called Gateway Pundit is also called now the Dumbest Man On The Internet by Media Matters. Why?

Media Matters claims:

Jim Hoft (aka Gateway Pundit) stands out as uniquely incompetent. Hoft runs with (or spawns) almost every inane story that bubbles up in the conservative blogosphere, has proven that he has absolutely no vetting process for the sources he cites, and apparently has a hard time with basic reading comprehension.

Hoft -- who has modeled for a John Deere catalogue and "played a cop on 'Unsolved Mysteries' twice" -- has "never had any training in politics or journalism," but now has the "#8 ranked political blog in the United States" that is "frequently mentioned on top national news shows."

Indeed, in spite of the fact that Hoft embarrasses himself on a near-daily basis and has shown time and again that he is either willfully dishonest or staggeringly inept, he has managed to carve out a role as one of the most-read, most respected writers in the conservative blogosphere. And his influence extends beyond the blogs. Hoft's stories are regularly featured on Fox News' Fox Nation website, and he has been cited as a source on-air by Fox News on multiple occasions.

Holt does stupid things like call Al Sharpton as giving a Nazi salut when it's clear Al Sharpton's just pointing his finger for emphasis. Awful. Just plain terrible.

Just thinking. If Fox News Source Jim Hoft is the Dumbest Man On The Internet, does that mean Fox News is the dumbest program on television?

Vince Cable And Elizabeth Warren Protect Consumers Interests

U.K. Business Secretary Vince Cable is on record as saying he will "shine a harsh light into the murky world of corporate behavior." Elizabeth Warren, Assistant To President Obama and Advisor to The Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said "consumers need good information so that they can make good decisions." Both are working in the interests of consumers on both sides of the Atlantic, and at an unusual time.

Worldwide economic performance is still poor. The traditional market economies of America and Britain, which have lived off an overcommitted credit system for almost a decade, have seen jobs go to newly industrialized countries at such a rapid rate that basic manufacturing industry has shrank, taking many service jobs along with it.

Over that time, banks and financial institutions have developed systems to move money where it's cheapest, including derivatives schemes that permit an investor to bet against their own investments in risky financial situations. Such an activity has reduced the incentive to invest in plant and equipment in American and Britain. Additionally, the same institutions have developed new transactions fees and practices that harm the consumer.

All of this has created the climate for Vince Cable and Elizabeth Warren. The fact that they're needed at all should be of concern to any observer of the International economic condition. The needed component is complete government-aided industrial reconstruction and protectionism.

Having Vince Cable And Elizabeth Warren in power positions watching business is a great step, but only part of the whole. A complete plan for business that does for the private sector what the U.S. Economic Stimulus Package does for the public sector is needed.

Yes, America and Britain need a system of targeted subsidies to key industries that help businesses pay for labor costs, thus increasing the need for labor and upping production.