Brian David Mitchell Pleads Insanity

The Salt Lake Tribune online reports that Brian David Mitchell is pleading insanity.

A back story about Mitchell is that he thinks that he is an angel sent from heaven to correct the Morman  Church by restoring its fundamental values. He and his wife allegedly kidnapped Elizabeth Smarth (14-years-old at the time) and held her captive for nine months.

The thought that this man could be insane does not seem too shocking, but he is just now pleading insanity. To back up this plea The Salt Lake Tribute posts information about Mitchell's early years.

The 57-year-old showed psychosis as a teenager according to Parker Douglas, Mitchell's attorney. Douglas tells The Salt Lake Tribune that Mitchell's grandfather was diagnosed and hospitalized for paranoid schizophrenia.

Insanity doesn't seem too far fetched.

Oakland Mayor's Race: Final Ballot Count Delay Due To Provisional Ballots

The much-anticipated final Oakland Mayor's Race ballot count that was to take place at 4 PM today (and had television media rushing to the Alameda County Registrar's Office at 4 PM just as this video blogger was leaving) has been delayed around 24 hours.

According to David Mac Donald, who was the hero of the Alameda County effort to handle the massive turnout for the 2008 Presidential Election that saw Barack Obama elected the first African-American President of The United States, the reason is a "crowded election."

"We've had more ballots to process in this election, than in any election in history," Mac Donald said. "And the reason is because with Ranked Choice Voting, every voter in Oakland, Berkeley, and San Leandro got three ballot cards. And so it's triple the amount of paper that we have to handle. So it's been a big effort, but we're making a lot of progress. We're getting there."

Mac Donald said that he's received calls and visits from "some of the candidates" who have been watching the count closely.

And for good reason.

When the first round Oakland Mayor's Race ballots were counted, Former Senator Don Perata was ahead of Councilmember Jean Quan 33.96 percent to 24.54 percent, with At-Large Oakland Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan close by at 21.48 percent.   Only a massive transfer of votes in the second round of counting to determine voters second choice could place Jean Quan ahead.  That happened.

When the second round and successive rounds were calculated to get to a 50 percent majority for one candidate first, (now former as of January 2011) Oakland Councilmember Jean Quan took the lead:

10th round (final)

43,825 - 51.09% - Jean Quan
41,949 - 48.91% - Don Perata

9th round
36,816 - 40.21% - Don Perata
28,399 - 31.02% - Jean Quan
26,333 - 28.76% - Rebecca Kaplan

(Transferred 15,426 to Jean Quan / 5,133 for Don Perata, which is the "impossible scenario" some observers offered.)

When that was reported, the Perata camp's collective head sunk, and the Quan supporters broke out the bubby:



And for good reason: Quan will be Oakland's first Asian and female mayor if the lead holds up.

Meanwhile, this blogger fielded calls, emails, and messages of concern that Quan, considered at times aloof and insensitive, was going to be Oakland's new leader.

The difference as of this writing is just 1,876 votes between Perata and Quan. And, according to the Registrar of Voters there were over 10,000 absentee ballots that were counted, but an unknown number of provisional ballots that are being counted.

It's the provisional ballots that are taking more time.

What are they? I can use myself to give an example. The information containing my polling location was incorrect, so in going to what was printed as the correct place, that was closed. In a rush, I went over to vote at another location, where I filled out a "provisional ballot."

The problem for David Mac Donald and his crew at the Registrar of Voters, is that a ballot that was filled out from someone who lives in Livermore, but dropped off in Oakland, creates more sorting work for that person. David Mac Donald's people have to separate those provisional ballots and then count the Oakland-based ballots that deal with Oakland, and those are "Ranked Choice Voting" designed.

Got it?

With all this, it's too early for anyone to celebrate. Still, we have to allow Jean Quan's supporters a moment of partying and drinking, considering their hard work. "Gaming" the Ranked Choice Voting system - telling supporters who to vote for - worked. Moreover, Kaplan and Quan teamed up to battle against Perata, who didn't try to "game" the system. In doing so they set model for future Oakland elections.

Good or bad for Oakland? That's for discussion.

Wade Phillips Fired: Cowboys' Jerry Jones Pulls "Tom Landry Card"

According to just one media source, Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Wade Phillips has been fired of today, according to CBS News Dallas and the AP.

There was no official press release as of this writing, and a number of media people are stumped and confused, even though this is the move many of them wanted.   They should not be surprised; Jones treated Tom Landry the same way, and he was The Dallas Cowboys.

 Fox Sports super-analyst Jay Glazer reflected the confusion when he tweeted five hours ago this:

Jay_Glazer Jay Glazer
Those close to wade who have spoken w him today says he doesn't think anything is going down w him today.

And for the next four hours, Jay's tweets reflected the total state of media confusion around the Sports world:

Jay_Glazer Jay Glazer
They have not yet fired wade but they are strongly leaning toward doing it but again, coaches have been told nothing

Finally, Jay, and everyone else, got the word that Wade Phillips was fired.

And still no official press release from the Dallas Cowboys. But the Dallas Cowboys website is up, reports were that it was down, and reflecting the news that Wade Phillips was fired from the team as head coach.

And the media's surprised over the approach. Why? Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones is pulling his Tom Landry card.

Yep. The legendary Tom Landry. Remember bim? In 1989, the season of the Cowboys worst year before this point in 2010, Coach Landry, this blogger's hero, discovered Jones fired him via a radio program, not by Jones himself.

What's even worse, Jones actually flew Wade Phillips on his private plane from Green Bay, back to the DFW Metroplex Sunday night.

In other words, Jones didn't have the guts or respect for Phillips to fire him personally.

Instead, Jones, who's business acumen I admire, but not his football management skills, asked, of all people, Cowboys Offensive Coordinator Jason "No-Merit" Garrett to be the interim head coach.

Why.  Word in the Cowboys blogsphere is the players don't like Garrett.

It's clear the one change Jerry Jones should have made, the one he needed to make, was to fire himself.  To take himself out of the decision making picture.

Unemployment News: The United States of Inequality

When it comes to the unemployment news in America, our country would more aptly be named: The United States of Inequality. The larger the disparity between the “Haves” and the “Have Nots” - the worse things will continue to get in America.

*From the year 1915 thru 1980, the yearly medium income in the USA rose over $13,000.00 per year. However, between 1980 and 2008, the average income only rose about $300.00 per year.

In 1980 the richest 1 percent accounted for 18% of the nation's income. Today, the richest 1 percent accounts for 24% of the nation's income. The distribution of wealth in America is as out of balance as it has ever been.

In his 2007 book The Conscience of a Liberal, the Nobel laureate, Princeton economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman labeled the post-1979 period the "Great Divergence."

"It's generally understood that we live in a time of growing income inequality, but the ordinary person is not really aware of how big it is," according to Krugman. During the late 1980s and the late 1990s, the United States experienced two unprecedentedly long periods of sustained economic growth—the "seven fat years" and the " long boom." Yet from 1980 to 2005, more than 80 percent of total increase in Americans' income went to the top 1 percent. Economic growth was more sluggish in the eighties, but the decade saw productivity increase by about 20 percent. Yet virtually none of the increase translated into wage growth at middle and lower incomes, an outcome that left many economists scratching their heads.

Today, incomes in the U.S. are more unequal than in Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, not less so. It has barely entered the national political debate. Why? Because politicians are among the “Haves” and really do not give a damn about the “Have Nots” - period. Even the President has neglected to acknowledge the plight of the 99ers.

In the his interview, which aired on 60 minutes yesterday (see video below) - President Obama discussed the unemployment problem in the US, the political ramifications of last Tuesday’s election and the tax cuts he was responsible for giving to all Americans. But tax cuts mean NOTHING to those without any income.
Is there a reporter with access to the President with the “stones” to ask our President, point blank about the terrible suffering of 5 million 99ers in this country with no income now for 8 months and what he intends to do about that?

I am a 99er, so I feel that pain and panic everyday that I cannot find a job. Many, like me are at the point where we barely have gas money left to continue our futile job search efforts, let alone money to pay for rent, food and other survival necessities.

In my article: Tax Cuts for Rich or 12 Million New Jobs
I reported that, (per Demos - a nonpartisan public policy group) You can get 12 million people back to work in this country for the $700 billion a year that the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans would cost.

Isn’t it a much better use of that money to put Americans back to work, so we can begin to pay the income taxes required to eventually PAY DOWN THE DEBT? It is a concept even an idiot could understand, but apparently the Republicans cannot get it at all.

But, President Obama is a Democrat, right? So Mr. President, what will you do to save the millions of American 99ers? Please, whatever you do - DO NOT compromise with the Republicannots on this outrageous tax cut extension for the top wealthiest Americans!

* Source was The Dylan Ratigan Show, MSNBC 11-8-2010

Keith Olbermann back from suspension on Tuesday

Suspended liberal TV host/anchor Keith Olbermann will return to the MSNBC lineup on Tuesday, four days after MSNBC suspended him for giving money to three Democratic politicians’ campaigns.

MSNBC said in a statement on Sunday that Olbermann had been punished enough off for violating parent company NBC News' policy against making such donations without prior approval.

"After several days of deliberation and discussion, I have determined that suspending Keith through and including Monday night's program is an appropriate punishment for his violation of our policy. We look forward to having him back on the air Tuesday night," MSNBC president Phil Griffin said.

Olbermann is clearly a liberal on his show "Countdown With Keith Olbermann," in which he often takes issue with comments made by conservative media figures such as radio host Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Bill O'Reilly of Fox News - usually attempting to imitate their voices while reading back their own words. (Too funny)

Keith, you have been missed!

TBS Welcomes Conan O' Brien With Open Arms

Who can forget such whimsical, family-friendly characters such as Vomiting Kermit, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, and of course, the Masturbating Bear?

Apparently, NBC can. The network has dropped the Cone Zone comedy host known as Conan O’Brien from their nighttime slot, leaving millions of avid fans in dismay for months on end. Jay Leno may be a veteran, but he never came close to Conan O’Brien and the belly laughs his show has always produced. Jay Leno predicted he has a sense of entitlement large enough to swipe away the coveted nighttime slot from the Conemeister, seemingly only seconds after announcing his retirement. (By the way, whatever happened to that?)

But never fear, Conan is back, and on TBS tonight. Take that, NBC!

While on the Tonight Show, although Conan O’Brien had us rolling in our seats with his effortlessly choreographed jolly opening show jig led by the Max Weinberg Seven, along with his impromptu audience quips, it seems as though Conando was a bit stifled in his prime time spot. Major networks mean more money, but less creative power.

Now that he’s got a new show that is owned by him on TBS, Conan O’Brien bound to bite back like an unleashed beast. Expect to see more loveable puppets (perhaps a Gigglin’ Jay Leno puppet could feature?), side-splitting jokes, and unexpected laughs at every turn. Conan’s even sporting a new beard, which may or may not make an appearance on the show tonight.

Jay Leno, you can keep your Tonight Show. Conan O’Brien was, is, and always will be, the way to go.

The ratings won’t lie, and those opposed would be then forced to “eat their shorts”… so to speak.

Wade Phillips Fired By Media, Not Jerry Jones Or Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Wade Phillips posted one of the most pathetic post-game speeches this blogger has ever heard by an NFL coach after the Cowboys were slammed 45 to 7 against the Green Bay Packers. Now, with a 1 and 7 season so far, the media's calling for Coach Phillips head to be rolled.

Indeed, Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones, who must feel like he's being cursed for making fun of the idea of drafting Tim Tebow, said that people would feel a change.

The Cowboys lost to a good team in the Packers and an excellent quarterback in Aaron Rogers, but the collapse of Dallas was shocking. It started with a 28-point second quarter, and that's when it was apparent the Cowboys were going to be blown out of the building. They were.

The Cowboys suffered their most embarrassing loss of the season, and then on NFL Network Sunday night, Coach Phillips took the podium.



Afterward, NFL Network analysts Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, and Steve Mariucci got into a lively and emotional conversation on what they saw. Irvin said "I want him to tell me how we're going to be better. I didn't hear that." Sanders said he didn't need to be motivated by the coach, and that the Cowboys problem was the players, not the coach. Mariucci said he's "been there" and understands what Phillips is going through.

The thinking here is Wade Phillips should not be fired, but there should be changes in scheme. The Dallas problems are fixable. They lack a good short passing system; Jason Garrett must install one. Defensively, they have to use more exotic coverages, because teams spread them out and force them into a base man-for-man approach. The answer: to blitz.

But the fact is Jerry Jones isn't going to be swayed by the media, and Cowboys players don't think it's going to help either.