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Obama: Smoke and Smears



Is this any way to run for President of The United States of America?

The Obama campaign has been employing an unusual strategy for the last two months or so. Whenever Obam is criticized by anyone, the campaign regurgitates a press release asking McCain to keep to issues, to please not go back on his word to run an honest, positive campaign, and oh, by the way, please destroy, disavow and discredit the person or entity who dared criticize the Messiah.

This laughable strategy works because it has the full and complicit backing of the Mainstream Media and--on 2 or 3 occasions--McCain, who panicked instead if standing up like a man and ridiculing the practice. The ultimate example of this may have occurred in the last few days.



Recently, an author by the name of Jerome Corsi released a book that shot to the top of the Best Seller list. The book, The Obama Nation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality, is highly critical of Obama. So naturally, instead of the candidate dealing with the contents, the DNC Rapid Response Team (yep, we are not kidding, )fired off a press realease. As reported by Charles Johnson of Little Green Footballs,
(The Corsi Letter), the email stated,

From: DNC Rapid Response Team
Subject: Fight Swift Boating

Friend —

Yesterday, you learned about the right-wing’s latest attack: extremist Jerome Corsi and his book of the same old smears and lies.

This morning, when asked about the book, all John McCain could say about Corsi’s outrageously false attacks was, “Gotta keep your sense of humor.” Despite pledging to run a respectful campaign, McCain is just standing by while Corsi and his publisher, former Dick Cheney aide Mary Matalin, poison this presidential race.

Now we here at DBKP were a bit taken aback, by that statement. It reeks of innuendo and prevarication; it is unclear who asked the question or why. The implication is that a reporter asked it, and indeed, the Wall Street Journal later reported that to be the case. If so the reporter is a dolt who should be fired for incompetence or for planting a question.

Because Corsi is not a Republican.

And even if McCain were the head of the GOP--which he is not--exactly what could he do?

Jerome Corsi is a member of the Constitution Party. In fact, Corsi intensely dislikes Bush and Cheney and has said so on numerous occasions and in no uncertain terms--as any political reporter should know. Corsi even competed for the nomination of President of the Constitution Party. But this Obama lie is all over the media.

As for McCain and Corsi, Corsi accused John McCain for being an Islamic frontman for Hezbohhah because of his support of Kosovo independence.No love lost there. The head of The Constitution is a fellow named Chuck Baldwin (http://www.baldwin08.com/).

Maybe Obama can take it up with him.

As for McCain's reaction, it is entirely appropriate: the "cry-baby-make-it-stop" campaign style of Obama has become obnoxious. Not only should McCain laugh at this incredible gaffe and attempted smear, so should the whole country.



As for Obama, why don't you put away the teleprompter, stop hiding behind the curtain, and answer Mr Corsi's questions. Better still, challenge him to a debate.

Then we can all laugh.

by pat
image: RidesAPaleHorse

"Mr. McClellan announced his resignation at the side of Mr. Bush on the White House lawn, but in sometimes emotional remarks he did not say what he would be doing or who would be succeeding him. It was unclear if Mr. McClellan had acted on his own or had been encouraged to leave after his two years and nine months as Mr. Bush's chief spokesman."
--New York Times, on Scott McClellan's resignation, April 19, 2006

Former White House Press Secretary, Scott McClellan, counts the number of former
colleagues' backs he's climbed on to promote his book.

Much as we tried to ignore the self-promotional stylings of Scott McClellan and his whirlwind Mainstream Media circus tour, the former White House Press Secretary's appearance on Meet the Press forced our hand.

McClellan's replies about meetings he never attended--events of which, many times, he had no first-hand knowledge--and his willing guesstimates of what happened when, where and why, can only be excused as someone eagerly trying to hitch a ride on a fast-moving gravy train.

What's else can an ex-White House Press Secretary do when he's got a bunch of books to peddle and not much of a story? McClellan's chose the PT Barnum route: rather than producing the Incredible Reptile Woman, he conjures up recollections of What Happened when he wasn't present. Old Phineas Taylor would have been proud--or jealous.

But that's more than enough for a Mainstream Media that's eager to buy what he's selling.

Soon, Scott McClellan will only be remembered as the answer to some question in Mad Liberal Trivia Pursuit.

"Which White House Press Secretary, wrote a book in which he was critical of the press corps for being too accepting of the administration's perspective on the Iraq War--in effect, that he did his job too well--but still got the boot?"

One thing to keep in mind, while reading the excerpt below: during the Libby trial, it was revealed that the identity of CIA employee, Valerie Plame, was leaked by the State Department's Richard Armitage--not the Bush-Rove Twins of Evil.

But that would have spoiled the fun, so MTP's Tim Russert plays along with Scott.

MR. RUSSERT: The president said at the time that “if someone committed a crime, they’d no longer work in my administration.” Do you believe the president should have fired Karl Rove? MR. McCLELLAN: That’s a, that’s a question that the president had to make, and he chose not to. MR. RUSSERT: But what do you think? MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I, I think he should have stood by his word. I think the president should have stood by the word that we said, which is if you were involved in this any way, then you would no longer be in this administration. And Karl was involved in it. That would be a tough decision. I don’t know if, if there was any crime committed. I don’t–I say I just don’t know that in the book. But we had higher standards at the White House. The president said he was going to restore honor, integrity. He said we were going to set the highest of standards. We didn’t live up to that. When it became known that his top adviser had been involved, then the bar was moved. And the bar was moved to “if anyone is indicted, they would no longer be here.” MR. RUSSERT: So you think they should’ve been dismissed. MR. McCLELLAN: I think so. I mean, Scooter Libby was, and I, and I think that he should.. MR. RUSSERT: Well, he resigned. But you… MR. McCLELLAN: Yes. But that was pushed out. MR. RUSSERT: But you believe Rove–Rove should’ve, should’ve left? MR. McCLELLAN: I think the president should’ve stood by his word, and that meant Karl should’ve left.

Some thought Helen Thomas might have been a reason for McClellan's
resignation, but it appears McClellan was capable enough of shooting his own foot.

"I don't know if, if any crime was committed."

Gee, you think, Scott?

Ivy League law schools are probably kicking themselves: how could the finely-tuned mind that churned up that sage observation have evaded their sharp-eyed recruiters?

McClellan will find a willing audience in the MSM and Left Blogosphere for any recollections--or miscollections--that he might be able to summon. But then, McClellan's publisher knew that a boatload of exposure beckoned for anyone from inside the Bush White House willing to criticize the Administration.

Enter Scott McClellan and his wee window of opportunity.

He certainly sucked a lot of commentators into that shrinking hole.

Even the ones who knew better than to make a few observations on his P.T. Barnum-like attempts to sell a few more books.

Before they're rightly consigned to the remainder bins.

by Mondoreb

[hat tip: Crooks & Liars
images:
* bu.edu
* McClelland Resigns, Helen Thomas Reloads
Sources:
* Scott McClellan: Rove should have been fired over his role in the Plame leak
* Scott McClellan: PT Barnum Would Have Been Proud--or Jealous
* 'Meet the Press' transcript for June 1, 2008
* Top Bush Aide Loses a Post in Overhaul
* Scott McClellan

How Anne Rice Erotica Turned into a Movie featuring
Rosie O'Donnell in A Leather BDSM Suit



Once upon a time, there was a best-selling author, who had yet to hit it big, who liked to write dirty novels--er, that is, erotica.

In 1985, she turned out one such novel under the pen name of Anne Rampling: Exit to Eden.

The plot, such as it is summarized below.

Lisa Kelly manages an isolated BDSM resort called The Club that offers its high-end clients an exclusive setting in which they can experience the life of a Master or Mistress.

Prospective sex slaves, paid at the end of their term at Eden (which varies from six months to two years), are presented at auctions by the most respected Trainers from across the world. As Head Female Trainer and co-founder Kelly gets first pick of the new slaves, and chooses Elliot Slater -- with whom she shares an immediate and undeniable chemistry that intensifies throughout their time together, eventually resulting in love.

So, with a kinky BDSM plot and her knack for soft-core, Anne Rice completed Exit to Eden.

What happened to her book when it became a movie still probably gives Rice--the author of the Vampire Chronicles and other horror stories--nightmares.



As with any media property, the promise of a motion picture from a now-best-selling author attracted the film industry.

The film adaptation in 1994 differed greatly from the book, with a new major story line and several new characters added.

The movie was directed by Garry Marshall and starred Dana Delany, Paul Mercurio, Rosie O'Donnell.

Rosie O'Donnell???

Yes, that Rosie O'Donnell.

The film partially utilized the story of the book, with Dana Delany playing Lisa Emerson (Lisa Kelly in the book), and Paul Mercurio playing Elliot Slater. However, half of the film consisted of a new comedic detective story line written by the director.

Several new characters were created, including Dan Aykroyd and Rosie O'Donnell as police officers pursuing diamond thieves to the Eden resort. These characters then start to explore BDSM as well. New dialogue and scenes for the original characters were written to include them in the new story line.

So after a brilliant idea--let the director rewrite erotica into a police comedy featuring Rosie O'Donnell in leather.

Brilliant beyond belief.

Beyond Anne Rice and her fans' belief, anyway.

The book was interesting.

However, the interest in seeing Rosie O'Donnell "start to explore BDSM" put a damper on the film's theatrical take.

It died a quick and well-deserved death.

As did any hopes of Rosie's possible career as a dominatrix.

And they say there is no God.

by Mondoreb
image:
* amazon
* popsugar
* bigplansdie
Source: Wikipedia - Exit to Eden



Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page.

Our sit-down with author Marcus Wilder must have attracted some attention. The Wilder interview was a Q and A session with author about his travels and wanderings in Pakistan, the people and the riveting things he observed.

Apparently, some of DBKP's readers had their interest piqued. Naive and Abroad: Pakistan, Travel in a Land of Mullahs moved up almost 90,000 notches at Amazon, where the book can be obtained.

After some of the eye-openers Marcus disclosed here this past weekend, we're not surprised. Read the interview, get the book. That's our take in the nutshell.

by Mondoreb



Back to Front Page.

Not Only Will "Boys like Pearls" be Provided,
They'll be "Refreshed"?!?

A new book is out on Pakistan and it might raise a few eyebrows--both in the United States and in Pakistan. "Naive and Abroad: Pakistan, Travel in a Land of Mullahs" just came out and Death by 1000 Papercuts had a chance to sit down (in the blogosphere sense) with author, Marcus Wilder. We recruited Noblesse Oblige's Pakistan Powerhouse, Thanos, to join us in questioning the author on his travels and stays throughout Pakistan.

It proved to be both interesting and informative.

MONDOREB: Welcome Marcus to the Land of 1000 Papercuts!

MARCUS WILDER: Thank you for this opportunity.

MONDO: No problem. Let's do it!

LITTLE BABY GINN: What place in your book would you most like to return to and why?

MW: Peshawar, without question. Peshawar is the most interesting city I have seen in a lifetime of travel. I saw Bali before the runways were lengthened to serve 707s. I saw Bangkok before the boom. I knew the
Mexico of the 1950s, the Madrid of the 1960s. Peshawar tops these and everywhere else I've been. Peshawar is a place to hang out.

THANOS: Which group is more feared in
Pakistan, The Taliban, or the ISI [The Directorate of Inter-Services Intelligence] ?

MW: I do not think the peoples of the NWFP [Northwest Frontier Province] fear in the sense we know fear. A Pathan's attitude is that HE is the one to be feared.

The ISI is by far most powerful WHERE THAT POWER CAN BE APPLIED but I did not sense the ISI is feared. In those societies, today's enemy is tomorrow's friend is the next day's enemy. In the book I write that the Pathan's loyalties shift with the mountain wind. The Gabby Afghan was an ISI agent, just doing his job.

[NOTE: The Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence (also Inter-Services Intelligence or ISI) is the largest and most powerful intelligence service in Pakistan. It is one of the three main branches of Pakistan's intelligence agencies. From Wikipedia.]

Pakistan's Northwest Frontier Province
GINN: Which place has changed the most due to Islamist violence?

MW: The Northwest Frontier Province. These have been violent places for as long as anyone knows, but the Afghan war and now Al-Queda brought efficiency to the violence...better tools for violence...more reasons for violence. Not everyone is displeased. Perhaps the more things
change, the more they stay the same.

GINN: Which place would you not want to return to?

MW: Chitral. There is nothing there. I might consider using Chitral as a base for exploring more remote areas. I do not speak well of Chitral in the book.

MONDO: What comment on everyday life in Pakistan can you offer?

MW: I would use this opportunity to talk of the burkah. The purpose of the burkah is to prevent arousing uncontrollable urges
in passing men. Presumably, women cannot be expected to resist these uncontrollably urged men. In fairness, rape is common - burkah or no burkah.

To prove rape, a woman must have four male witnesses. Since the male witnesses are invariably the rapists, this defense tactic never works. If there are not four male witnesses to testify for her, the woman is blamed. She can be flogged. She can be stoned. At a minimum, her husband will beat her severely.

The burkah is not Islamic. Muslims adopted that custom from a primitive tribe they converted to Islam. The damage has been done.

MONDO: Advance publicity about "Naive and Abroad" speaks of this as an 'expose'. What does it expose? Anything in particular?

MW: That does not refer to an incident. The book began as a straightforward travel journal. I read the news daily - on the
Internet - in THE TELEGRAPH, THE TIMES, DER SPIEGEL (In English), THE GUARDIAN, THE NEW YORK TIMES, and THE INDEPENDENT. I read THE ECONOMIST weekly. As I worked on polishing the hand-written travel journal into a book, news articles from these publications kept popping up with information about aspects of Islam and Islamic societies. It was almost as if the book took itself out of my hands. A travel
journal grew into an exposé. What I read in newspapers forced outside reading. You see the result. The book turned itself into an exposé. I deny responsibility.

MONDO: We hear about how Muslims in the Middle East hate America and the eternal question in some quarters seems to be "Why do they hate us?" Did your travels shed some light on this?

MW: If I have a claim to understanding the peoples I met, I would say meeting the peoples...interacting with them as human beings...seeing that from their perspective their point of view is natural and right
gave me some understanding. I have seen up close - under friendly circumstances - how different they are from anyone we know in the West. They were unfailingly kind to me.

It is important to understand that many of these people hate Americans in the abstract, but all fall all over themselves to be kind to the American standing before them. Given the choice between getting a green card or going directly to Paradise, most would take the green card.

THANOS: Do you see the MMA adherents growing or shrinking in power?

MW: I am embarrassed to say I do know just now know what the MMA is.

MONDO: Do you have another interesting tid-bits your book offers to the reader; like your burkah information?

MW: Paradise.

GINN: Paradise?

MW: Not only will seventy-two female virgins be supplied in Paradise, but an unlimited number of boys like pearls as well. The virginity of the females will not be restored, but the boys will be "refreshed." I
never learned what women are promised in Paradise. Perhaps they get to be [one of] the seventy-two virgins.

GINN: What place in Pakistan most seemed like home?

MW: I felt at home - I would not have thought to use that expression, but it fits - in Peshawar, and in the villages. It is easy to feel at home where everyone likes you. Thank you for your question. It makes me think.

MONDO: Marcus, could you tell us a little about yourself? Your background or upbringing?

MW: I am street-fluent in Spanish and German, learned largely on the street. I was born in the Mexican border country of South Texas in 1937. My formative years were the 1950s, probably the best time ever to be a kid in what may have been the best place ever to be a kid. I had a bicycle, a horse, a .22, and room to roam. What more could a boy want, video games?

In the first grade, the Ursuline sisters taught me to read...to love reading. Everything since can be directly or indirectly attributed to - or blamed on - that love of reading. Reading can lead anywhere. I love books, guns, horses, odd places, and beautifu, intelligent women.

I wish I could be as successful with beautiful, intelligent women as I am with guns and horses. Perhaps if I had as much practice with beautiful, intelligent women...

MONDO: Lots of guys would be lining up for that kind of practice. What kind of lifestyle do you lead now?

I have no TV, no cell phone, and no credit cards. My watch, my cameras
and my pen are precision mechanical devices from a more civilized time.

MONDO: Thank you Marcus. A storehouse of unique information about Pakistan, its people and the region in general. More than a travel book, more than a book on radical Islam: Naive and Abroad gives a rare glimpse into a way of life that may soon disappear. The book is Naive and Abroad: Pakistan, Travel in a Land of Mullahs by Marcus Wilder. It available from Amazon and as an ebook from iUniverse.

MW: Thank you.

The book promises "Adventure, Dry Humor, Daring Exposé, Keen Observation, Accurate Reporting, and Informed Commentary". DBKP thinks that is a fair assessment. We'd like to thank Thanos from Noblesse Oblige for his contributions.

Finally, the words any author wants to hear: This is a good read. Go buy the book!

[NOTE: The book is available at Amazon for $15.41,
discounted from $16.95. Any bookseller will order the book at full
retail.

The e-book is available for $6 - yes, six - from iUniverse in
their bookstore. The link is too long to use successfully here. To
save $9, the buyer will have to manually go to the iUniverse site and
click on their Bookstore tab, upper right.]
Want up-to-the-minute news and analysis of Pakistan?
Noblesse Oblige is what you're looking for.
See Thanos' comment #1 on this post for a bit of information to fill in some blanks on a few items here.




Back to Front Page.

Bill Clinton let sex interfere in the carrying out of his Presidential duties? Others, including departed ex-president Gerald Ford, took notice of it? And this is news?

Marketing types at book publishing houses have to drum up business and reporters have to report on something. So Bill Clinton's habits are back in the news. Ford not only had thoughts on Bill Clinton's sex addiction, but also on dumping Dick Cheney. More about Ford's musings from the New York Daily News:

Gerald Ford was disturbed by Bill Clinton's skirt-chasing ways - and thought he should check into a sex addiction clinic.

A new book on the late 38th President reveals he had strong views about the Clintons: He thought Hillary wore the pants and that Bill couldn't keep his zipped.

"He's sick - he's got an addiction. He needs treatment," Ford told Daily News Washington Bureau Chief Thomas M. DeFrank, author of "Write It When I'm Gone: Remarkable Off-the-Record Conversations with Gerald R. Ford."

Also weighing in on the subject was CNN, which had obtained an advance copy of "Write It When I'm Gone," and interviewed author Thomas DeFrank. More from CNN:

Ford privately gave New York Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton high marks, saying she was "tougher and stronger" than her husband, who Ford said he had mixed feelings about, DeFrank said.

While Ford thought Bill Clinton was the best pure politician he had ever seen, he felt Clinton needed therapy for sex addiction.

"He thought Bill Clinton had a serious addiction here and he needed help," DeFrank told CNN. "And Jerry Ford didn't have a vengeful bone in his body. I think his comments about the addiction business were heartfelt on his part."

One suspects the thought might have occurred to more than just Ford. Ford then voiced his concern on Vice-President Dick Cheney.

Former President Gerald Ford suggested to a reporter in 2004 that Vice President Dick Cheney should be dumped from the Republican ticket, according to a new book to be published Tuesday.

Ford preferred former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani because he feared Cheney had become a "liability" to President Bush, according to the book's author.

Somewhere in the New York Times building, a lightbulb goes on over the head of a certain columnist.

Ford revealed that people within the Republican party had called him inquiring if there was a move afoot to dump Cheney from the ticket.

"Ford said to me, 'And they asked me the question in a way that makes it sound like they want me to help make that happen, which I'm not gonna do,'" DeFrank recalled Ford telling him.

"Ford loved Dick Cheney till the day he died. He loved Dick Cheney. And he was not going to be part of a cabal to get rid of Cheney."

Pictures of Maureen Dowd jumping up-and-down in glee while trying to pen her next Evil Dick Cheney column could not be obtained. The book is sure to be worth another thread in the web Dowd continuously weaves in her attempts to snare the despicable, despisable, detestable, disgusting Dick Cheney.

Gerald Ford had a lot of opinions, it seemed. Ones he wanted told after he was gone. And they say: Dead men tell no tales?

by Mondoreb
[image:billc.m8]



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