Morning Coffee 02/11/08

February 11th, 2008 · No Comments

Gordon Brown backs archbishop in sharia law row

The Archbishop of Canterbury received the backing of the prime minister today as a “man of great integrity” as he prepared to address the Church of England’s 550-strong national assembly and counter the furore prompted by his comments on sharia law.

When the Prime Minister of England starts bowing to Mecca, you know you’ve got a problem. I’ve always been suspicious of that guy. Totally irrelevant: Does the Archbishop look like a demon to anyone else? Kind of spooky.

New head for Clinton campaign

Hillary Clinton replaced her campaign manager Sunday, shaking up the leadership of a presidential bid that has experienced financial difficulties and fell short of an early goal to wrap up the Democratic nomination by last week’s Super Tuesday contests.

The departure of campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle, a longtime aide whose tenure with the former first lady goes back to Bill Clinton’s first presidential campaign in 1992, was announced hours before rival Barack Obama won Maine’s caucuses.

I dunno….maybe Senator Shrilldebeast isn’t doing as well as she thought she would cuz, well…..nobody likes her? It’s also possible that B. Hussein is doing well cuz nobody has a clue what he’s talking about, it just sounds good.

Roy Scheider, of ‘Jaws’ Fame, Dies at 75

Roy Scheider, a one-time boxer whose broken nose and pugnacious acting style made him a star in “The French Connection” and who later uttered one of cinematic history’s most memorable roles in “Jaws,” has died.

Scheider died Sunday at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences hospital in Little Rock, hospital spokesman David Robinson said. He was 75.

“You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” R.I.P.

US May Ask Death for 9-11 Suspects

Among those held at Guantanamo is Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the suspected mastermind of the attack six years ago in which hijacked planes were flown into buildings in New York and Washington. Five others are expected to be named in sworn charges.

“The department has been working diligently to prepare cases and bring charges against a number of individuals who have been involved in some of the most grievous acts of violence and terror against the United States and our allies,” Whitman said.

I think a public execution would be in order!

Dallas residents find property tax loans a fast track to foreclosure

Its mortgage paid off, the $36,000 house served as home base for the family’s comings and goings for nearly 20 years. But Mr. Sauls lost it a little more than a year after taking out a property tax loan.

The loan company that seized his home is part of an industry that specializes in offering high-interest loans to mostly poor homeowners who owe delinquent taxes. Such companies can be quick to foreclose when their customers miss payments.

Although, evidently legal, this sounds like a major scam, preying on the uninformed.

Chavez Threatens to Cut Off Oil Sales to U.S., Calls Exxon Mobil ‘Outlaws’

President Hugo Chavez on Sunday threatened to cut off oil sales to the United States if Exxon Mobil Corp. wins court judgments to seize billions of dollars in Venezuelan assets.

“If you end up freezing (Venezuelan assets) and it harms us, we’re going to harm you,” Chavez said, directing his words to U.S. President George W. Bush. “Do you know how? We aren’t going to send oil to the United States. Take note, Mr. Bush, Mr. Danger.”

Is this clown on medication?

‘Sweeping change’ is needed, Jindal says

Continuing the theme of his campaign, Gov. Bobby Jindal asked lawmakers Sunday to join him in delivering an overhaul of Louisiana ethics laws, a move the Republican chief executive casts as the first step in projecting a new image for a state saddled with a history of corruption.

“Today we take the first step toward building a better Louisiana where our ethics laws are the gold standard, letting the rest of the world know that corruption will no longer find a home here,” Jindal said in opening a special legislative session that could last through March 1.

Ethics and Louisiana politics have never been hand in hand. Good luck, Governor!

Blogger may test shield law

In the statement, which Matthews posted Feb. 3 on his blog at thaddeusmattews.com, Cox said he killed Vidulich in self-defense after his attempt to extort the officer went awry. Cox told Vidulich he wanted money for his help in returning sexually explicit photographs stolen from Vidulich’s home in July, according to the statement.

Cox’s account raised doubts about Police Director Larry Godwin’s claim that the young man was simply a “brutal killer” who targeted Vidulich.

“I believe that there was a plan to frame this kid,” Matthews said.

The times I have read his blog, I always got the feeling “this is one very angry man”. That being said, I think the shield law should apply to ALL forms of media, even us lowly blogger types.

Despite thirst for capital, US grows warier of sovereign wealth funds

White knights or vultures? Sovereign wealth funds from the Middle East and Asia, which gave a lifeline to US financial houses rocked by a mortgage crisis, are coming under tight US scrutiny. The spotlight is on the fledgling, cash-flush China Investment Corporation (CIC), which US lawmakers fear could snap up strategic assets in the credit-tight US and threaten American security and sovereignty.

Vultures. Definitely vultures. Can’t we sink or swim on our own? Is it necessary for the U.S. to go begging for money from nations that would rather see us destroyed?

Source: Morning Coffee 02/11/08