text:
Capcom says RE exceeding expectations, thinks Sony'll cut prices againApparently Capcom thinks Sony'll take another slice out of PS3's price before the end of 2007. Capcom Chief Financial Officer Kazuhiko Abe, in an interview with Reuters at E3, said:
Abe also expects sales of Resident Evil 4 will probably exceed the target of 420,000 units for the current business year until March 2008:
Ooh, yeah? I don't know why they're so surprised; many fans who bought RE4 already bought that game three times already, so what's one more? Anyway, could Abe's pleasant surprise mean future remakes or ports of existing RE games? Who needs new RE games, anyway? Not us!! Comments not appearing? Anti-virus apps like Avast or some browser extensions can cause this. Easy fix: Add [*].disqus.com to your software's white list. Tada! Happy comments time again.
Did you know? You can now get daily or weekly email notifications when humans reply to your comments.
Archie's Mega Man and Sonic 'Worlds Unite' crossover will be bigger than we thought 11:30 AM on 02.24.2015 |


text:
Friday 1st April @ Attic, Stokes Croft, Bristol
Monsterpiece Presents:
Monsterpiece presents the sounds of now from a hand picked selection of local favourites and discoveries from farther afield!!! Cruising through afro-beat, ska, d&b, soul, hip-hop, dancehall and dubstep, this event is guaranteed to have you all dancing like fools...
9pm – 2am
£5 before 10pm, £7 after
100% profit to Temwa, sustainable community development in Malawi
A night of fantastic live music plus stonking DJ sets all for one amazing cause!
Scubaroots is the remedy. The bands uplifting party vibes are guaranteed to warm you up on those cold winter nights and remind you that we do have a summer and it's all going to be ok! The Scubaroots repertoire is defiantly more high grade than highbrow. With tales of debauched wreckage, saucy doctors, dodgy bankers, mary jane and dub star hotels... they play what they feel and feel what they play with their collective tongue firmly in cheek. Escape from planet earth, England, Shepherds Bush...Shepton Mallet...stop by @ Babylon Pharmacy....(now available on itunes, bandcamp and cdbaby for download!) The band have been rocking the festival circuit performing at events such as the Secret Garden Party, Shambala, Bristol Festival, Boomtown Fair, Small World, Endorse it in Dorset, Sunrise and many more winning over the crowds with their eclectic mix of soul tinged reggae, swing ska, electro funk dub and dnb.
United Vibrations
United Vibrations are charting new waters in the ocean of British Music. Inspired by a wealth of different sources, ranging from Drum 'n' Bass and Hip-Hop to rock and afro-beat. They are re-establishing the LIVE element to "Urban", dance music in the UK whilst re-establishing the Afro-Rock connections seemingly forgotten in these parts. Inspired by the Rock and Funk pioneers of the 70's they are forging a new direction for Live music coming out of London. As comfortable in a squat rave as in Ronnie Scotts, these guys are obliterating the established boundaries between, jazz, Rock and dance music, forming their own brand of hi-tempo dance music. They call their music 12tone A play on words, combining the already established terms of 2-tone (80's fusion of Jamaican and British music to form ska), and 12-tone (type of a-tonal composition formed by Arnold Schoenberg).
This band is going where no other has gone before. It has found a way to deliver the intelligence of Jazz through the medium of the popular song, maintaining a rawness more akin to an old skool Hip-Hop track or Punk Rock anthem. UV have built up their following by regularly performing on the streets of London, gaining a reputation for turning pavements into parties!! This raw street energy is flowing through their music. A rare treat not to be missed!
Titan Sound system
Bringing you everything from dancehall, roots and revival to bashment, ska, two-tone and dubstep, this Bristol DJ duo are dedicated to all things rootical. Be prepared: Titan Sound have the bass to make you wind up your waist.
Papa Moomin
Papa Moomin has been making people dance all over the world for the past 10 years. A regular festival and club Dj, one can expect a true melting pot of musical genres expertly woven together.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Results tagged "david bailey"
A large piece of urban riverside land in the heart of east London could be transformed into an area of woodland and a wild flower meadow under an ambitious scheme.
Snapper to the stars David Bailey is thinking hard for the first time in his interview with The Wharf, his face slightly scrunched.
"That's a different question," he says. Note "different" - not good or interesting, or even difficult, yet coming from Bailey any near praise, no matter how flippant or fleeting, is appreciated.
Compressor House, beside the Royal Albert DLR station, has been unveiled as the home for a major exhibition by photographer David Bailey.
Councillors agreed on Monday to give over the space to the East End snapper as part of a wider cultural legacy from the Olympic Games.


text:
In 1744, Louis XV made a solemn promise that, if he recovered from his terrible illness, he would rebuild the ruined church of St-Genèvieve Abbey with a glorious structure that would be dedicated to the patron saint of Paris, St-Genèvieve. After the king regained his health, designers were entrusted with the fulfillment of his promise. The result was one of the most famed constructions in all of France known as the Pantheon. Located on the Montagne St-Genèvieve, the Pantheon has a grand view of the city. The design is like a Greek cross with an enormous portico of Corinthian columns.
The daring plans originally called for a vast building that was intended to be 110 meters wide and 83 meters high. It was also intended to have a vast crypt beneath its floor. Due to financial difficulties, it was only completed after the demise of Soufflot and, when it was finally completed, the government changed its mission from a church to a mausoleum for great Frenchmen. It has since been reverted to a church on two separate occasions only to be turned into a temple once again. Among the famous remains that have been buried there are Voltaire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo and the original architect, Soufflot.
Address: Place du Panthéon, 75005 Paris, France
Opened: 1790
Phone: +33 1 44 32 18 00
Architects: Jacques-Germain Soufflot, Jean-Baptiste Rondelet
$ 200 Price from:
$ 287 Price from:
$ 269 Price from:
$ 223 Price from:
$ 193 Price from:
$ 127 Price from:
$ 216 Price from:
$ 197 Price from:
$ 132 Price from:
$ 150 Price from:
$ 291 Price from:
$ 134 Price from:
$ 165 Price from:
$ 161 Price from:
$ 199 Price from:
$ 119 Price from:
Please provide this reference number to our customer service center representative on request, so we can help you better


text:
"We came into this game saying this was for the county championship," Sylacauga head coach Matt Zedaker said. "We added Childersburg to the mix this year, so we've got three teams in the county now. We defeated Childersburg twice. We defeated Talladega twice. We're not going to the playoffs this year for the first time in 14 years, but we are defending our county championship. We're real proud to walk out of here knowing we're county champs."
Even in the first half Sylacauga had more shots on goal, but the score was tied at halftime 1-1.
A mere seven minutes into the game, Dakotah Moffa was issued a yellow card. Multiple yellow cards were issued for both teams near the end of regulation.
Adolfo Gamino got a good, although lengthy shot, but Talladega goalkeeper was able to deflect the ball.
At 21:34, Matthew Grifitt kicked a hard shot following a foul of Gamino by Moffa. Grifitt kicked it very nearly after the foul was called to try to catch the Talladega defense off guard, but Hammonds came up with the save.
Talladega got on the scoreboard first, 13:40 into the game on a shot by Jack Bailey. Bailey received a cross from Mason McKibbon, who was credited with an assist. Elijah Sanders attempted to make an aggressive save, but was unable to do so.
Sylacauga answered with a goal 2:17 later in the game. Gamino scored on the left side of the goal on a perfectly placed cross from the center of the field. Gamino fired right just beyond the reach of Hammonds.
In the second half, McKibbon made a good shot from the right side of the field toward the left end of the goal, but Sanders made a diving deflection.
Grifitt scored the first goal of the second half at the center of the field. The shot was from long distance, but Grifitt drilled the shot. Hammonds got his hands on the ball, but it bounced off the bottom of the crossbar and into the net for a goal nearly 15 minutes into the half.
At 16:38, Sanders made an aggressive save, as he was left one on one but he made a leaping grab of a ball to get it out of danger.
Sylacauga pulled away with only 2:40 remaining, as Gamino made a nice cross to Bishop Hays for a goal.
Talladega made things interesting when McKibbon scored a goal with 43.9 seconds remaining in the game on a penalty kick that sailed into the far left end of the net, but Sylacauga was able to hold on for the win.
"I saw my team overcome a ton of adversity," Zedaker said. "It's always tough coming in this stadium and playing this team. With their emotions, they've got a great fan base, and it's always one of these types of games. We relaxed a little bit there at the end. We got up 3-1 and they snuck one in on us on a free kick. That was a heck of a kick and it made it a very tight game there at the end. I'm just proud that for the most part my kids kept their head, the emotions they kept within themselves, and they kept playing soccer. That's the main thing we wanted to do: play soccer; not let the emotions and the rivalry of the game get to us, but mainly just do what we need to do as a soccer team and play a pretty game."
Sanders made six saves on seven shots on the goal. Sylacauga had a total of 15 shots on goal.
Talladega head coach Joseph Manning felt his team played well overall.
"We played pretty well," Talladega head coach Joseph Manning said. "There were a lot of mistakes. A lot of things could have went either way. The ball just didn't fall our way. We made good plays, they made good plays. It's just their ball fell in and ours didn't."


text: Will Mariota be able to prove that he's more than just... Will Mariota be able to prove that he's more than just... by Don Banks Five front-runners to post the 2015 NFL combine's faste... Five front-runners to post the 2015 NFL combine's faste... by Will Laws A woman fell from a stadium, a man saved her; here's wh... A woman fell from a stadium, a man saved her; here's wh... by Michael Rosenberg Off-season Primer: AFC East Off-season Primer: AFC East by Doug Farrar From Dez Bryant to Mike Wallace, WRs bring most intrigu... From Dez Bryant to Mike Wallace, WRs bring most intrigu... by Don Banks Off-season Primer: AFC North Off-season Primer: AFC North by Chris Burke Off-season Primer: NFC East Off-season Primer: NFC East by Chris Burke Off-season Primer: NFC North Off-season Primer: NFC North by Doug Farrar Off-season Primer: NFC South Off-season Primer: NFC South by Chris Burke MMQB: Four days in the wild world of a Super Bowl ticke... MMQB: Four days in the wild world of a Super Bowl ticke... by Robert Klemko It's not clear if the NFL can punish Greg Hardy now tha... It's not clear if the NFL can punish Greg Hardy now tha... Off-season Primer: AFC South Off-season Primer: AFC South by Doug Farrar Teams, players, prospects and other storylines to watch... Teams, players, prospects and other storylines to watch... by Doug Farrar Eddie George gives a dramatic play-by-play of the Music... Eddie George gives a dramatic play-by-play of the Music... 2015 NFL Mock Draft 4.0: Projecting the first two round... 2015 NFL Mock Draft 4.0: Projecting the first two round... by Chris Burke Close Tweet0 Share0 Comment0 Share0 Share0 Stumble It0 Print0 More NFL A last-minute look at storylines to watch in draft's first round by Peter King Twitter Email Posted: Thu Apr. 26, 2012 NEW YORK -- The two-month NFL Draft season, which seems to get longer and more ridiculous every year, mercifully peaks tonight in midtown Manhattan, when commissioner Roger Goodell will step to the podium at Radio City Music Hall shortly after 8 Eastern to announce Andrew Luck as the first pick in the 77th league draft."I'm really ready for this to happen," Ryan Tannehill said over breakfast in Manhattan this morning. "I'm ready for the media hoopla to be over, all the debate, all the arguing you see on TV. We're football players. This whole experience has been fun, but I can't wait to get this over and play the game."There will be drama; we just don't know what it is yet. But it figures to center around these draft positions, teams or players:The Vikings, at 3. Minnesota has more holes to fill than a potholed St. Paul street after a brutal winter. GM Rick Spielman has been trying to drum up interest in the pick so he can get multiple choices in the first two rounds, but most teams below him have the same feeling he does: This draft is 75 picks deep with potential year-one rookie starters, and I'm hearing no strong evidence that any team is inclined to climb this high to blow it all on one player.The one exception here, at No. 4 with Cleveland, could be Alabama running back Trent Richardson. But I look for Minnesota to stay put, ignore the bleatings of people like me who say the Vikes should take a corner here, and draft USC tackle Matt Kalil. Then the Vikes could pick a big corner like Montana's Trumaine Johnson with the 35th overall pick, to match up with the Calvin Johnsons and Jordy Nelsons of the NFC North.Trent Richardson. He might be the best back to come out since Adrian Peterson, which is why you hear teams like the Jets frothing all over him. Barring a great offer, look for Cleveland to stay put and take Richardson or Oklahoma State wideout Justin Blackmon. I love Mike Mayock's Wednesday-night scenario for the pick-heavy Browns (league-high 13 choices in all): Blackmon at No. 4, Boise State running back Doug Martin at 22. As tempting as it would be for the Browns to trade out of the pick and gather more nuggets, they'll either go Richardson or Blackmon here ... which could leave the Bucs with a Richardson-or-Morris Claiborne dilemma at No. 5.The Rams, at 6. All drafts have shelves, and many NFL people think this is the end of the top shelf. It's six players deep. St. Louis would be happy if a team would come up and deal for the last of the six top guys (Blackmon or Claiborne, most likely), if it would net them one more one pick in the second round. The Rams have the 33rd and 39th overall picks right now. If they stay, look for them to go Blackmon. If he's gone, it'll be a tussle between Fletcher Cox and Claiborne.The desperate-to-deal Jags, at 7. "We'll definitely have more trades this year than last year because of the fixed costs of rookies now,'' one GM said this week. Well, that wouldn't be hard. Last year, there were four first-round trades made, the ninth consecutive year the league saw fewer than 10 trades in the first round. In the 10 years between 1993 and 2002, the NFL averaged 11.7 trades per first round.There's no question teams will be more comfortable moving around because of price certainty, and because trading up doesn't mean you're necessarily taking on millions more in a risky, unproved player. Normally, I'd say this would help Jacksonville -- and it could, if a desperate team like Dallas decides Alabama safety Mark Barron is worth its second-round pick (45th overall) to move up eight spots in the first round to acquire him.Ryan Tannehill. It's likely Tannehill goes to Miami at No. 8, obviously. If he doesn't, I don't see how he gets past the 11th pick. Not that Kansas City will take Tannehill; I don't believe the Chiefs will. But GM Scott Pioli will have interest in dealing down from 11 (he moved from 21 to 26 last year for a third-round pick), and if Tannehill or Barron is here, I guarantee he'll get a taker for the pick.Players who could move. The player trade market wasn't helped by the Eagles taking a seventh-round pick for a quality cover corner, Asante Samuel, on Wednesday. (It was a money deal. Philadelphia owed Samuel $21.3 million over the next two years, and figuring he'd be cut if he didn't get sane about his contract, the 31-year-old Samuel accepted a three-year, $18.5 million deal with Atlanta.) That's not good for the Colts, who'd love to get a good pick for 32-year-old Dwight Freeney. So consider the player trade market officially depressed.The Colts and the 3-4. Consider GM Ryan Grigson's first draft a success, obviously, because of drafting Andrew Luck. But for weeks the Colts have mentally moved on to other priorities. Their roster is terribly suited to play coach Chuck Pagano's 3-4 defense. In an ideal world, they'd be able to trade back from No. 34 (their second-round pick) to get two picks in the top 80, because they need quantity to play the 3-4. They need a nose tackle, a versatile inside linebacker who can stop the run, and a big defensive end. That's not too much to ask, is it?Janoris Jenkins. I spoke with one team Wednesday interested in taking Jenkins, the troubled cornerback, in the top half of the second round. "But I don't think he gets out of the first round,'' the club official said. Could Jenkins slip into the bottom of the first round? I don't see it, but so many teams in the lower third of the first round -- Pittsburgh, Detroit, Denver, Houston -- have a cornerback need.He's going to have major financial problems, having to care for four children by three different mothers already, and the team that drafts him has to make sure he can put his past marijuana problems in the rear-view mirror. I can't see anyone taking him in the first, but I'm told a few teams have gotten comfortable with Jenkins in the last couple of weeks. Look for New England, Carolina, St. Louis, Buffalo and Dallas to be tempted.Those are a few of the storylines that will develop tonight. More are sure to come, which is why ESPN and NFL Network will have game-like ratings for the draft.Teams will have 10 minutes per pick in round one. On Friday (7 p.m. ET), teams get seven minutes per pick in round two and five minutes per choice in round three. The final four rounds kick off Saturday at noon, with five minutes per pick again. Promoted Stories Comments More NFL


text:
More Images
Hill's Prescription Diet Therapeutic Weight Reduction Program was one of two weight-loss petfood lines introduced into the veterinary channel at Global Pet Expo 2011 in Orlando, Florida, USA, in March.
Packaged Facts' March 2011 report, Pet Food in the US, 9th Edition, shows the underpinnings of the US pet industry are strong, and the outlook is especially good for all things related to pet health. In the case of pet supplements and petfood, this is true to such a degree that some pet owners view these products as safer, holistic alternatives to pet medications.
For example, long-term administration of traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications can induce gastrointestinal toxicity, kidney failure and liver disease. As a result, before going the NSAID route, pet owners often turn to supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin in pill, treat or food form.
In Packaged Facts' May-June 2011 Pet Owner Survey, 22% of dog medication purchasers and 28% of cat medication purchasers agree that they prefer to try holistic/natural pet treatments before resorting to pet medications. Over half of dog medication purchasers (51%) and cat medication purchasers (59%) agree that high-quality petfoods are effective in keeping their pets healthy (Table 1).
Numerous negative health conditions stem from overweight/obesity in dogs and cats, including osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, respiratory disorders, cardiovascular disease, non-allergic skin disease and many forms of cancer. Not surprisingly then, one of the biggest preventive health thrusts in petfood is weight loss.
At the American Pet Products Association's 2011 Global Pet Expo, two major petfood companies featured new weight reduction programs under way in the veterinary channel: Purina, with Project Slim Down, and Hill's, with Prescription Diet Weight Reduction Program. The latter relies on pre-measured meals, and in February 2011 Hill's carried this emphasis over into the pet specialty channel with the Science Diet Weight Loss System for Dogs.
(Table 1) Packaged Facts asked dog and cat owners whether they agreed with this statement: "High-quality petfoods are effective as a preventive pet health treatment." (Totals may not add up to 100% due to rounding.)
Other marketers continue to segment established petfood lines with weight formulas, including Blue Buffalo (Blue Wilderness Natural Evolutionary Diet Dry Dog Food with LifeSource Bits Healthy Weight formula and Blue Adult Dry Cat Food Weight Control formula), Mars (Pedigree Dry Dog Food for Adult Dogs with Healthy Nuggets Kibble Healthy Weight formula) and Nutro (Nutro Ultra Holistic Superfood Dry Kibble Dog Food Weight Management formula).
Trends including natural, no wheat, no gluten, hypoallergenic and meat first combine in one of hottest holistic health-related trends in petfood today: grain free. According to Datamonitor's Product Launch Analytics, during the first seven months of 2011, 35 lines representing 167 SKUs carried grain-free claims, up from 9 reports/45 SKUs in all of 2010.
Grain free first showed up on the new product radar in 2007, when only two lines representing 8 SKUs appeared (Table 2). Going the grain-free route now are all-new brand lines such as Dogswell's Nutrisca, Petcurean's NOW!, Merrick's B.G. (Before Grain) and Ainsworth's Back to Basics, as well as extensions to lines including Fromm's, Pinnacle, Canidae, Sojos, Evanger's, Natural Balance, Halo Purely for Pets, California Natural, WellPet and Dave's.
Looking ahead, petfood marketers will continue to come down squarely on the side of health and wellness in seeking to communicate value to consumers. Driving much of the growth in the market will be functional petfoods and treats boasting whole foods and holistic ingredients such as omega fatty acids and fruits and vegetables.
At the same time, we will also see more action in veterinary diets targeting specific medical conditions, including Hill's Prescription Diet, Iams Veterinary Diets, Royal Canin Veterinary Diets and Purina Veterinary Diets. This emphasis will increasingly position petfood, along with pet supplements, at the front line of consumers' pet health regimen in terms of both prevention and treatment.
Get more
Read more market information at www.petfoodindustry.com/marketreport.aspx.
Tomato pomace has the potential to provide additional nutrition and health benefits
The lowly pea appears to be an effective ingredient for the next generation of dog and cat diets
What is this quiet, unassuming ingredient, and should it be there?
Petfood companies who promote their support of causes in their marketing campaigns are staying innovative in these uncertain times
Aunt Jeni's Home Made promotes the health and longevity of pets with their natural and raw lines of products
Learn about more companies and how they are lending a helping paw and claw to their own cause campaigns
US trade data show petfood faring relatively well
See the full results of the survey sent to the Petfood Industry audience on sustainability.
It's the finishing touch that can meet both owner and pet needs.
The question is whether they provide additional benefit to the dog or cat
(Table 2) According to Product Launch Analytics from Datamonitor, the number of new grain-free petfood products has grown in both reports and SKUs since first tracked in 2007.
--- Thank you for your patience ----
If you have any issues logging in or any other need feel free to contact us.


text:
L.A. and Online: Studio BeautyMix
by Mollie Chen
What Space NK is to British (and now, New York) beauty addicts, Studio at Fred Segal is to L.A. product fiends. Founder Robin Coe-Hutshing was in town last week (during a blizzard, no less) to share a few exciting announcements, starting with the shop's brand-new name, Studio BeautyMix. In the 25 years since she entered the business, Coe-Hutshing has become known as kind of a beauty oracle, with a knack for finding the best niche brands and for divining the trends light-years before anyone else. Dr. Hauschka, REN, Kiehl's--she found them all when they were just babies and got thousands of L.A.-ers hooked.
Lately, Coe-Hutshing has been hard at work on her own beauty products. Last month, she launched Burn Voyage, a line of destination-inspired candles--I'm in love with Pink Sunset, which smells like summer in Hawaii. She's also working on a body-softening collection (not moisturizers, mind you, but softeners; she promises they'll be the ultimate creams) and the new Memoire Liquide Reserve fragrance. My favorite Coe-Hutshing creation, though, is her "Go Go" bag, which she designed with a friend from Japan. The black travel-size cosmetics case can both expand to fit a passel of products and squish down to hold only the essentials. It comes with a foldable tote that can double as a laundry bag, and there are a million pockets for storing floss, nail clippers, razors, and anything else you might need. The case will be available in April, which, incidentally, is also when Studio BeautyMix will finally go live with its retail Web site.


text:
Wiggly Graph,Not so Wiggly Actually--veinglory
Monday, January 26, 2009
This may be my bias showing, but I think any publisher whose authors report their sales may well be a step up from those that don't. I also think there is something to be said for a smaller press whose sales show an upward trend.
I know some press owners have instructed authors not to communicate with watchdog sites or included non-disparagement and other clauses into author's contracts that prevent this. Or reference might be made to sales figures being "confidential"--which they are: to the author. This means the author can usually choose to disclose them to whomever they wish. Of the 63 epublishers currently listed only a handful are well represented in the EREC dataset. And in order to provide publisher-specific data I need a bare minimum of 5 books by 3 different authors from that press--preferably a lot more.
I would like to give a shout out to those who have reported data in the past. If you look at the graph below, relating to sales achieved by ebooks that have been on sale one year or more, you can see the dataset is dwindling a bit. In order to fairly reflect the sales of presses whose performance is improving I count only data for book that was reported within last last 365 days. The yellow arrows show epublishers that have dropped from the publisher-specific data set due to lack of data. If you have sales data you could add, or update, I would really appreciate it.


text:
If you're looking for the perfect Holiday Park on the border of Hampshire and Dorset, take a look at Hoburne Naish... with its cliff-top location, dazzling views and nearby beaches, it's the ideal destination for all kinds of family holidays.
Whether you want to relax in a luxury holiday lodge, spacious static caravan, chalet or apartment – you'll love all that's on offer. From fantastic indoor and outdoor pools (plus a brand new indoor paddling pool just for the kids), to a fitness room, mini bowling, tennis and football – there's so much to do in the Park. Then there are our professional entertainers and Sammy Seahorse – always on hand to keep the whole family happy.
While you're here, make time to explore the beautiful surrounding counties of Dorset, Hampshire and the bustling town of Bournemouth. Then come back and enjoy a tasty bite at the Smugglers' Retreat (our very own traditionally styled pub!).
Think of it as a home from home, which you can enjoy again, year after year...
Or call 0844 288 1920
Hoburne Naish Christchurch Road New Milton Hampshire (Sat Nav BH25 7QT) BH25 7RE
The following types of accommodation are available at this park:
Naish has to be the best place in the world. We first went there in 2005 and it was great but now it is just the place to be! We come back every year for a great holiday! The kids love it.
† Calls may be recorded for training purposes.


text:
Closing Arguments Before Super Tuesday
Updated 6:20 p.m.
By Zachary A. Goldfarb
Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) said Sunday that he can unite the Republican Party, but Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, said McCain was only wearing "conservative garb."
On the Democratic side, Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) said that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) had a "history" of galvanizing Republicans in opposition, while Clinton said she is experienced both in policy and in taking fire from the right.
The leading candidates for each party's presidential nomination used appearances on the Sunday talk shows both to underscore why they should be elected and to portray their rival in starkly different terms. The stakes were high for the candidates just ahead of Super Tuesday, when nearly half of the United States will cast votes.
Romney portrayed the GOP contest as "a battle, in some respects, for the heart and soul of the Republican Party."
"[I]f we want a party that is indistinguishable from Hillary Clinton on an issue like illegal immigration, that we're going to have John McCain as a nominee," Romney said, pointing to a number of issues -- including campaign finance and global warming -- where McCain has been at odds with some members of the GOP.
Romney claimed that "the voices of conservatives across the country, radio talk show hosts, magazine columnists and so forth, ... are coming out for me in record numbers."
But the most recent Washington Post-ABC News poll shows McCain leading Romney among Republicans nationally by a 2 to 1 margin, and the Arizona senator said that he is hopeful he can wrap up the nomination Tuesday. "We got a lot of good momentum and a lot of endorsements, and crowds who are enthusiastic, and we're working hard, and I'm guardedly optimistic," McCain said.
"We've got to unite the party," McCain said. "And I think you can reach out to all parts of the party and not, quote, pander."
McCain said he would have trouble winning in November if conservatives were to turn their backs on him.
"But I am confident we are already seeing many of the conservatives. ... [W]e carried Florida in a Republican-only primary. We got very large percentage of the, quote, conservative vote," McCain said. "I'm confident that, once they examine my record and as we unite against a common opponent, that we'll do fine with that. "
The Post-ABC poll showed McCain ahead of Romney among conservatives, but a number of the senator's positions have alarmed some prominent Republicans. Pressed on those Sunday, McCain said he would veto any tax increase passed by a Democratic Congress and would appoint Supreme Court justices without any litmus test.
Responding to calls he should drop out of the race, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee said that it's Romney who should exit.
"I'm leading in the states that are going to be real critical on Super Tuesday throughout the South, substantially ahead of Mitt Romney in these states," he said. "And I think it's ludicrous for him to suggest that, with only 8 percent of the delegates counted and us being very close to the same delegate count, that somehow that makes me irrelevant?
"The fact is, he spent $100 million to have the same market share that I have for $7 million," Huckabee added. "Now, anybody with a Harvard MBA ought to know what the business model on that is. It's time to pull the plug on a business that is just not selling that well."
In the Democratic race, Obama said Clinton is a "polarizing figure" among Republicans. By contrast, he said, "what we have found ... is that the tone that I take, the ability to disagree without being disagreeable, the willingness to listen to Republicans about some of their ideas, ... creates a different climate ... [that] can attract independents and Republicans in a way that Senator Clinton cannot."
"That broadens the political map," Obama said. "I think it bodes well for the election."
Clinton, meanwhile, said she was more than ready for the fight with Republicans. "I've been taking the incoming fire from Republicans for about 16 years now, and I'm still here, because I have been vetted, I have been tested," she said.
She added, "The question is, who has the strength and experience to change America for the better, to put us on the right path."
Clinton said there isn't "any doubt" that former president Bill Clinton would not be a co-president, "just as there wasn't any doubt" about her role when her husband "was the president and the commander-in-chief."
And she belittled Obama's stance favoring possible talks between the president and the leaders of regimes such as Iran and Syria.
While "it's imperative" to have open talks with those regimes, she said, it's foolish to pledge that the president would engage directly in those talks. She accused Obama of distorting history in claiming that, as a presidential candidate in 1960, then-Sen. John F. Kennedy (D-Mass.) favored such an approach.
"I'm always a little amused when Senator Obama goes around quoting President Kennedy, when he was running for the presidency, about how you should never be afraid to negotiate," Clinton said. "But then if you look at the actual transcript of what President Kennedy said in the debates with Vice President Nixon, he said he would not meet with [Soviet leader] Khrushchev unless there had been a lot of groundwork laid."
Obama was asked whether he thinks an Obama-Clinton - or Clinton-Obama - ticket is possible. He did not exactly challenge the notion.
"I think it would be presumptuous for me to think that Senator Clinton was interested in taking a vice presidential slot at this point. And I think she is running actively for the presidency, as I am. But I think that there's no doubt that Democrats are eager to unify against the Republicans," Obama said.
McCain and Clinton both were on "Fox News Sunday," and they had a brief encounter, in which they agreed that, should they face each other in the general election, they would disagree.
"I think we'll have a very respectful but very spirited debate," McCain said. "I think that Senator Clinton would be the first to acknowledge, as she's already mentioned in several appearances and debates with the Democrats, that we'll have very significant differences. And I think the American people will see those differences and make a judgment."
"I agree with that," Clinton said. "John and I will have a respectful debate, but we do have serious differences about the direction of the country and what we think should be done.
McCain also appeared on CBS's "Face the Nation," and Clinton was also on ABC's "This Week." Romney appeared on ABC and CNN's "Late Edition," and Obama appeared on CBS.
By Post Editor |
February 3, 2008; 2:00 PM ET
Previous: Romney Lashes McCain Over Washington Record |
Next: Bush Calls McCain a 'True Conservative'
Campaign Diaries has just completed a state-by-state look at Romney's viability post-Tuesday. His chances are very slim, but he could survive if he does well in Missouri, California and Georgia. Full analysis: http://www.campaigndiaries.com/2008/02/gop-delegate-race-romneys-survival.html
Posted by: Campaign Diaries, Taniel | February 3, 2008 2:59 PM
Feb 3, 11:40 AM EST
Clinton health plan may mean tapping pay
By CHARLES BABINGTON
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton said Sunday she might be willing to garnish the wages of workers who refuse to buy health insurance to achieve coverage for all Americans.
The New York senator has criticized presidential rival Barack Obama for pushing a health plan that would not require universal coverage. Clinton has not always specified the enforcement measures she would embrace, but when pressed on ABC's "This Week," she said: "I think there are a number of mechanisms" that are possible, including "going after people's wages ..."
Posted by: Martinedwinandersen | February 3, 2008 3:24 PM
Hillary Clinton has lately been loudly proclaiming her fealty to the Democratic Party's best traditions on human rights.
However, just two years ago, Hillary--the purported "expert" on international relations--said there should be "lawful authority" for torture in some cases.
(See, for example, www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0907/Hillary_and_torture_audio_version.html)
Her stand was opposite to that of every other major Democratic presidential candidate in 2007-2008, and the heat she took for it caused her to make one of her famous "flip flops."
Posted by: Martinedwinandersen | February 3, 2008 3:26 PM
There is no incentive for Sen. Obama to accept an offer of the vice presidency from Hillary Clinton, as unlikely a prospect as that is anyway.
Hillary Clinton in the White House means a co-presidency with Bill.
Why would anyone what to take a position that, while it may be a heartbeat from the presidency, is also third fiddle in influence and power?
Who with any self-respect would accept being second-guessed and undercut by Bill Clinton?
The Clinton-Obama ticket idea is being floated by Hillary's trained seals in part to create a sense of moral equivalency between the two candidates--to the enormous detriment of Barack Obama.
The Clintons have nothing to say to a generation of young people looking for authenticity, honesty and transparency in their leaders and in their government.
That's why more and more, young people are turning to Barack Obama.
Posted by: Martinedwinandersen | February 3, 2008 3:30 PM
McCain For President!!
Do you want to see how clear his message is?
Do you want to learn how much of a straight talk is he?
Do you want to learn how much Honesty this man has to share with everyone?
Then watch this video and learn..
and if there is any doubt then watch this one also
McCain For PRESIDENT!!!
Posted by: Roger | February 3, 2008 3:30 PM
There is a Huckster Born Every Minute
To paraphrase the Jews, this is "bad for the evangelicals."
As far as I can tell, it's mostly secular liberals swooning over Huckabee. Liberals adore Huckabee because he fits their image of what an evangelical should be: fat, stupid and easily led.
Hey! How about adults privately smoking cigarettes in their homes? Huckabee wants a federal law banning smoking!
Huckabee claims he opposes gay marriage and says Scalia is his favorite justice, but The Huckster supports a Supreme Court decision denounced by Scalia for paving the way to a "constitutional right" to gay marriage. I guess The Huckster is one of those pro-sodomy, pro-gay marriage, pro-evolution evangelical Christians.
No wonder Huckabee is the evangelical liberals like.
Huckster's been cavorting with the legacy of the White Citizens' Council -- the Council of Conservative Citizens, a group listed as a white supremacist organization by the Southern Poverty Law Center. That's why the South thinks Huckster is the best candidate if Obama is nominated. Rumours are that McCain will pick The Huckster for VP.
"In the 1930s, the socialist intellectual H.G. Wells called for the creation of a "liberal fascism," which he envisioned as a totalitarian state governed by an oligarchy of benevolent experts. In Liberal Fascism, Jonah Goldberg brilliantly traces the intellectual roots of fascism to their surprising source, showing not only that its motivating ideas derive from the left but that the liberal fascist impulse is alive and well among contemporary progressives-and is even a temptation for compassionate conservatives."
"With someone like Huckabee; with someone who actually takes compassionate conservatism seriously, you've got this vision that the government can do anything it sets its mind to, and that the measure of good public policy is how much you care. That, to me, is a very scary turn of events in American politics."
Posted by: Fllash | February 3, 2008 3:33 PM
If McCain is nominated I will vote for the Democrat.
Posted by: Fred | February 3, 2008 3:35 PM
Mr. Babington appears to be clueless. Hiaray never mentioned garnishing wages but did say subsidizing those who cannot afford. It is evident Mr. Babington has never been a democrat. Stop pretending. Many Obama supporter seems to advertise:
"Hey, I'm not a racist." Â
"Look at me! Â No prejudice here."
"Feminism? Â What's that?"
Other than that man has not offered any substance. Don't believe he was even born when JFK was president.
Posted by: DR | February 3, 2008 3:37 PM
The Clinton Legacy:
As a life-long liberal Democrat, what I remember about the Bill Clinton era is a President who was impeached by the House because he lied under oath about having sex in the Oval Office with a 22 year old intern while conducting official business on the phone. Moreover, the Democrats lost control of Congress under his reign, and the Party literally fell apart- which lead to Gore's defeat in 2000. Yes, quite a legacy for Hillary to tout.
Posted by: Munir | February 3, 2008 3:38 PM
How does this sound for a Dem ticket? - Barack Obama and Kathleen Sebelius. I haven't seen that mentioned in blogs anywhere but IMO it would certainly be attractive, getting the female vote yet not presenting a divisive candidate. Opinions, anyone?
Posted by: Gabrielle | February 3, 2008 3:39 PM
I would love to see McCain speak the truth and re-board the straight-talk express.
Unfortunately he jumped off of it and set fire to it when he decided to begin lying about Romney. The man won't apologize for the completey mis-leading statements made about Romney's Iraq policies. He then has the gall to call Romney a flip-flopper when he now stumps stating "I'm for the tax-cuts even though I voted against the". The man is a complete stranger to the truth. When asked to state why he could fix the economy, McCain proceeded to talk about leading a military group like that has anything to do with the economy. He is completely clueless about all things financial.
He proclaims that he is a leader yet the only things that he as led for the last 20 years have been McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy and the Gang of 14. Is this where we want to be led?
I will vote for democrat for the first time in my life before I vote for McCain.
Posted by: DCWill | February 3, 2008 3:43 PM
I'm an independent and if McCain wins the GOP nomination, I will vote democrat. If Romney wins the GOP nomination and Obama winds the democratic nomination, I would have a tough decision to make. I just can't stand John McCain. I think he's a hypocrite in every sense of the word. His "straight talk" express has derailed and I wish the country would take notice.
Posted by: Jane Watkins | February 3, 2008 3:45 PM
If Mr. Obama is unsuccessful in his presidential bid it would be in his best interest to not remain in the Senate, and take either a vice-president or cabinet position, or perhaps run for Governor somewhere, preferably not Illinois, maybe somewhere in the South, or maybe California. This would put him in an excellent position to run in 2016. Hanging out in the Senate casting votes is political fuel for the furnace if you want to run for president. Just as John Kerry and Ted Kennedy. McCain, Clinton, and Obama are all routinely forced to defend various votes that they have cast as Senators over the years. Governors have a clear advantage over Senators in this regard. McCain if he doesn't win will probably stay in the Senate because of his age. Hillary Clinton will probably do something in the private sector, or perhaps run for Governor of New York. However my bet would be that a Clinton/Obama ticket is a distinct possibility. An Obama/Clinton ticket seems about as likely as a McCain/Feingold ticket. I have also heard that Al Gore will endorse Hillary Clinton after Super Tuesday.
Posted by: blake | February 3, 2008 3:47 PM
The two democratic candidates are like Crack and Subutext; which would you rather take?
Here is a question: John McCain?
Answer: 44.
Posted by: toldber123 | February 3, 2008 4:01 PM
It seems some pople are deluded with respect to the fact Senator Obama is not just as big a political animal as Hillary Clinton as well as the idea possibillity there could be a Cliton/Obama or Obama/Clinton ticket. The events of the past seeral weeks during which Senator Obama has accepted the endorsement of some of the Kennedy clan in the hopes of builidng upon the mythology of President Kennedy and his brother Robert were totally scripted and yes even calcutated -- it provides the Kennedy's with a means of further extending their dynasty and provides Senator Obama with a much needed boost amongst certain voting blocks but does nothing with respect to answer the lingerig question some f us have with respect to wheher or not there is anything behind the rhetoric.
The intensity of the debate between them with respect to matters of substance not to mention his out right disain for her candidacy preclude the possiblity of their running together -- for either one that would be like repeating the error John Kerry made in selecting John Edwards.
Posted by: gerry | February 3, 2008 4:10 PM
Mitt "I'll flip flop on any issue" Romney and Anne "I'm too smart for my own good" Coulter are both GONERS!
Posted by: KYJurisDoctor | February 3, 2008 4:20 PM
Hillary states that she has been tested. She states that she has been exposed and survived the toughest of the Republican accusations. How about this one:
Hillary stood by idly while Bill committed numerous transgression against their marriage. This leads to a assessment on her character that needs to be conducted to understand if in fact she really is fit to hold the highest office in the free world. To start, I am not against a women for President, in fact there are numerous women out there who would easily become a suitable President, if they could be encourage to run. Hillary is not one of them.
To summarize my question on Hillary's capabilities to lead, I ask:
When Hillary stood by while Bill was cheating on her, not once, but numerous times, was it because:
A. She lacks sufficient self esteem, that she is unable to unshackle herself from a man whom would treat their marriage in such a farcical way. If she does have self esteem issues, does that not make her too weak to advance Americas interests against worthy opponents?;
B. That she put up with these transgressions because she has a complete disdain for the institute of Marriage, and does not care how other women see her in how she conducts personal relationships? If this is the case, then is this what Americans wants in a leader, one who doesn't hold dear the institutions and traditions that define the existential American existence of truth, and honor?; or
C. Hillary possesses a pathological condition that precludes her from anything that doesn't benefit herself personally. That the reason she stays in this relationship is because she has coldly calculated that it is in her benefit to maintain it so that she can achieve what it is she so dearly seeks, and that is the Presidency? If this is the case, does that not make her a user, one that can not be trusted to work for the greater good instead of what can benefit herself personally?
These are legitimate questions to ask, because the mentality of the individual that seeks office has to be taking into account to ensure, that if elected, they will go about in ensuring that their decisions take into account the needs of the very people that elected them into office vice what they alone benefit from. Myself personally, she would have possessed more integrity, more desirability as a potential President, had she, once both had left the White House, had proceeded to divorce Bill.
I await the responses from Hillary supporters as to what description, a, b, or c, best describes their candidate.
And no, to detail my comments as being sexist is only avoiding the fact that this question will be asked by Republicans during an election. One of many that will be asked, calling into account her reputation, dealings, and agenda.
Posted by: Larry M. | February 3, 2008 4:22 PM
Actually Blake, I have heard that because of the way the Bill Clinton purposely went about to derail America's signing of the Kyoto Accord, and the subsequent rejections of alternative policies, that he will be coming out in Obama's corner on Tuesday morning. Hmmmm. Who do you suppose is right?
Posted by: Larry M. | February 3, 2008 4:31 PM
A vote for Hillary = a vote for McCain.
Hillary as nominee = a McCain presidency.
Why? Fairly or not, she carries too much baggage and cannot get the necessary Independent, crossover and swing votes required to win the White House. You need these to win!!
DEMS NEED TO THINK VICTORY. If Dems do not want another four years of Republican rule, they must VOTE OBAMA in the primaries. This strategic thinking is how Repubs have won again and again.
Both Obama and Hillary are capable and brilliant. Their platforms very similar. We need change if we're to get out of the quicksand Bush has sunk us into. WE NEED TO WIN IN NOVEMBER.
Dems can only win with Obama. THINK ABOUT IT. VOTE OBAMA.
Posted by: Voice of Reason | February 3, 2008 4:53 PM
Larry. M, your questions demonstrate the callous disregard for objectivity that makes it difficult to take you seriously. Your questions are in the "Have you stopped beating your wife?" type, as you do not allow the person to have an answer that is anything other than confriming of your pre-planned position. If you actually do want a genuine answer, do not frame it so she can only condemn herself regardless of the answer. That's not questioning, that's the type of cynical politics that Obama supporters claim they are rising above.
Will the Republicans be that underhand? Possibly. Does that justify your use of the same despicable rhetoric? Not in my play book. And - at least according to his public statements - not in Obama's either.
Posted by: Anthony Rimell | February 3, 2008 5:07 PM
The NY Times article today about Nuclear Leaks in Illinois shows Obama as a hypocrit not CHANGE. Obama is really all elegant words. More of the same not real change. Change that will help ordinary Americans will only come with Hillary Clinton. Wake up America!
Posted by: wiser | February 3, 2008 5:12 PM
DR - I would recheck your facts. I believe Hillary did indeed say she would push the garnishing of wages for health care.
Gabrielle - I see an Obama/Sebelius ticket as OUTSTANDING!
Posted by: NanD | February 3, 2008 5:16 PM
WASHINGTON (Associated Press):
Also Sunday, Clinton said she might be willing to have workers' wages garnisheed if they refuse to buy health insurance.
The New York senator has criticized Obama for pushing a health plan that she says would not require universal coverage. Clinton has not always specified how she would enforce 100 percent enrollment. But when pressed during a television interview, she said: "I think there are a number of mechanisms" that are possible, including "going after people's wages, automatic enrollment."
DR - There it is - a quote from the lady herself!
Posted by: Anonymous | February 3, 2008 5:31 PM
I don't like McCain because he only offers the same old strategy for foreign policy. I don't like Clinton because everyone says she is no good. And Obama seems like he is just full of a lot of hot air. The more I see this election and find out about these people, the more disappointed I feel.
Posted by: jamie | February 3, 2008 5:45 PM
Dear Larry M and other angry and brainwashed people,
I was joking at the end of my post about the Gore endorsement. I obviously don't have that information. This is only a rumor that has been circulating around. Obviously Al Gore will back someone when there is a clear frontrunner. He is someone who has positioned himself above politics and I am sure that he will not risk his holier than thou aura over endorsing someone who is not the nominee. He is after all still a democrat, and a high rpofile one as well. That said, I am always amazed at how these online discussions always turn into the kind of negative accusatory bickering that Mr. Obama claims he is above and Mrs. Clinton claims she is not involved in. Obviously both of the candidates are going at it as shown by the fact that most of the people who post on these things are just volunteers for the various campaigns re-stating the line that their particular candidate is telling them is reality. And of course, all the angry posts are even more amusing, it is like verbal road rage. TTYL -Blake
Posted by: blake | February 3, 2008 5:49 PM
What is wrong with the electorate? Has America been dumbed down so much that it is possible to be duped by an utter thug like McCain? Let me guess; McCain is being hailed because he ripped off the American taxpayer more than 1 trillion dollars to bail out his fellow crooks in the S&L scandal (Keating 5). Or do so many like McCain because of his lawlessness in sponsoring a bill to give amnesty to 10s of millions of illegal aliens? Or do so many trust McCain's sterling character, seeing the way he committed adultery against his first wife? Wake up America, before we end up with another tyrant bent on destroying the Constitution and our nation as a whole, just to usurp and abuse power for his own gain. If anyone represents what is wrong in Washington, it is certainly McCain. He is an utter arrogant thug that can be seen from 200 miles away, if Americans would only open their eyes half way. Romney is the only one of the remaining candidates that is half-way decent.
Posted by: Aver | February 3, 2008 5:54 PM
Obama has to stay in the Senate because he owes that to his constituency. Anything else would rightly be perceived as carpetbagging. Sorry...right analysis, but it can't work.
Posted by: mike s | February 3, 2008 6:26 PM
The debate brought forward what is, to me,
the essential difference between Obama and Clinton.
It was barely covered by any of the news organizations -
the only one I saw mention it was Frank Rich in the Times -
When they were discussing HOW to get health care
reform enacted - Obama put it all on the table - have
the entire negotiations with the insurance companies,
the pharmaceutical companies, and the HMOs broadcast
live on CSPAN so everyone can see what's going on.
That's the key - it's what is wrong with the process - both
Republicans and "status quo" Democrats operate behind
closed doors - and special interests thus rule the day.
Daylight on the process - and the inherent education of
the electorate is the key - it is the first step in a process
toward single payer state healthcare, which is what we
should have, and what all other western societies have.
Once people realize HOW they are getting ripped off,
they will DEMAND a single payer system. Why is the
insurance industry involved in this AT ALL? It's a scam...
Clinton was against this - saying "I don't think Congress
would agree to that..."
Which is a bunch of crap. Use simple deductive reasoning here -
the only reason to hide the process is if you have something
to hide. I am not surprised at this response from Hillary,
as her campaign (and the Clinton foundation) has taken
massive campaign contributions from these industries -
as she also has from the Oil, Coal and Weapons industries.
This exemplifies what I've been saying all along - the
Clintons are part of the system - they play slightly to the left -
enough to placate the traditional Democratic base - without
really substantially changing anything. They are "our side"
of the crooked coin - a coin wholly-owned by corporate
and super-wealthy interests. They feign toward change -
minor tweaks - yet accomplish nothing long lasting.
That pretty much defines Bill's presidency. I voted for
him twice, but what good did it do us? Health care is still
screwed up. Trickle down economics still trickling. Carbon
pollution is still killing the planet. Education is worse
off than ever.
The stinking Republicans are the worse side of the coin -
blatantly fulfilling the will of the Aristocracy and the
Corporate Oligarchy - but the status quo Democrats -
the Clintons - are just the other side of that coin -
a mere breather, a slight loosening of the strangle hold,
temporarily holding the fort until the next Republican
regime while somewhat placating - but mostly paying
lip service to - the leftist element of the electorate.
If we are to survive as a democracy, and for that matter,
survive as a species, this must change now. Obama is
the best bet we have. He might fail. Bill Clinton was
right when he said he's a throw of the dice. But if we
throw the dice, we might win. With Hillary, the dice
stays firmly in the pocket of the corporate and aristocratic
powers, and we continue to lose, and not too far down
the road, we die.
And, you have to ask yourself, why did Hillary vote
for the war? Why does she accept contributions from
the weapons industry? The oil industry? It's as easy
as two plus two.
Posted by: Walden Greenwood | February 3, 2008 6:30 PM
The only way McCain will unite the Party, will be by realizing he is a Qualified VICE PRESIDENT, and taking his back seat to Romney.
Huckster and Dr. NO, are simply out to be Spoilers to detract from Romney in favor of McPain.
McClown has BLOWN it on the Amnesty Issue and many others. He is just another version of what the Dims are selling, just as "Socialism Light".
Mitt Romney is the only chance this Country has of effecting real Change, and that is why the entire Status Quo has rallied against him!
However, reality is, Mitt will need an insider. McPain as the VP could be that Bridge. He is, as I said, a very Formidible VICE PRESIDENT Choice!
Posted by: RAT-The | February 3, 2008 6:42 PM
Author Garrison Keillor, former NARAL pro-choice America president Michelman endorse Obama
Updated: 5:25 PM ET Feb 3, 2008
Garrison Keillor, host of public radio's "A Prairie Home Companion," has endorsed Democratic Sen. Barack Obama for president, Obama's campaign announced Sunday.
Obama also won backing from a key backer of former candidate John Edwards.
"I'm happy to support your candidacy, which is so full of promise for our country," Keillor, the best-selling author and humorist wrote in a letter declaring his support. "Seven years of a failed presidency is a depressing thing, and the country is pressing for a change and looking for someone with clear vision who is determined to break through the rhetorical logjam and find sensible ways to move our country forward. That's you, friend."
Obama's campaign provided excerpts of the letter; Minnesota holds its caucuses on Super Tuesday.
In the letter, Keillor, whose books are set in the fictional town of Lake Wobegon, said seeing Obama and his family in front of the U.S. Capitol next January is a happy prospect that would "bring an end to a long sour chapter in our history."
"And of course it will be exciting to have a president who can speak with grace and power to the American people," Keillor wrote.
Obama addressed a crowd of nearly 20,000 at the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis on Saturday. A poll by Minnesota Public Radio and the Humphrey Institute released last week showed slightly behind rival Hillary Rodham Clinton, 40 percent to 33 percent.
Separately, Kate Michelman, former president of NARAL Pro-Choice America who was a top supporter of Democrat John Edwards, endorsed Obama.
In a blog entry on huffingtonpost.com, Michelman said she decided to back Obama because he is prepared "to lead in a different way than we have seen for decades. Not out in front with us behind him, but rather with us beside him."
That difference, she said, "separates just any president from a great president; and right now, we need a great president."
Edwards suspended his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination last week.
Obama said he was proud to have Keillor's and Michelman's support.
Posted by: Martinedwinandersen | February 3, 2008 6:46 PM
IF Obama is elected President, you won't be able to find any of these endorsing Far Lefties once Obama starts screwing up the country. And he will.
The Democrats nominated two complete Duds to run in 2000 and 2004. If they nominate Obama, it will be three for three.
Posted by: PoliticalPuck | February 3, 2008 7:17 PM
IF Obama is elected President, you won't be able to find any of these endorsing Far Lefties once Obama starts screwing up the country. And he will.
The Democrats nominated two complete Duds to run in 2000 and 2004. If they nominate Obama, it will be three for three.
Posted by: PoliticalPuck | February 3, 2008 7:17 PM
IF Obama is elected President, you won't be able to find any of these endorsing Far Lefties once Obama starts screwing up the country. And he will.
The Democrats nominated two complete Duds to run in 2000 and 2004. If they nominate Obama, it will be three for three.
Posted by: PoliticalPuck | February 3, 2008 7:17 PM
IF Obama is elected President, you won't be able to find any of these endorsing Far Lefties once Obama starts screwing up the country. And he will.
The Democrats nominated two complete Duds to run in 2000 and 2004. If they nominate Obama, it will be three for three.
Posted by: PoliticalPuck | February 3, 2008 7:17 PM
IF Obama is elected President, you won't be able to find any of these endorsing Far Lefties once Obama starts screwing up the country. And he will.
The Democrats nominated two complete Duds to run in 2000 and 2004. If they nominate Obama, it will be three for three.
Posted by: PoliticalPuck | February 3, 2008 7:17 PM
Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius would indeed be a great running mate for Obama. She was in fact raised as a possibility in a recent Washington Post column on the developing v-p competition.
Posted by: oldhonky | February 3, 2008 9:45 PM
Next attack to Iran is ready to go.
I found the book The shell game.
also I found unfair broad casting for republican debate on CNN
( MSNBC is also suggested )
Why Giuliani dropped out ?
We can not ignore those all facts.
Why MacCain goes to middle eastern ?
Because he's like Ciuliani who on part of plan?
Posted by: pora | February 3, 2008 11:38 PM
New York Times reporting:
February 4, 2008
Obama, Cultivating California Spirit, Eases Clinton's Grip on State
By JOHN HARWOOD
LOS ANGELES -- In the iconography of American politics, California more than anyplace is where candidates, in Mario M. Cuomo's words, "campaign in poetry." Odes to the state's embrace of youth, change and possibility linger in Democratic presidential lore.
Like Robert F. Kennedy, George McGovern and Gary Hart in races past, Senator Barack Obama has embraced that imagery in his effort to upset Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Democratic primary here Tuesday, a prize that polls over the weekend suggested was suddenly within his reach. "California has always represented the future in this country," Mr. Obama, of Illinois, said here. "I've got a little piece of California in me." ...
Posted by: MARTIN EDWIN ANDERSEN | February 3, 2008 11:52 PM
In answer to Gabrielle's question - no I will not vote for Obama at the top of the ticket. I'll take John McCain before I'd take him. And I'm a 43-year-old white female, mother of two. I have never voted Republican in my life. But if Obama is the Dem nominee, I will not cast my vote for another Jimmy Carter. If Hillary is at the top, she has my vote.
Posted by: Christina | February 4, 2008 12:39 AM
Capitol Punishment
Current Corrective Laws Revisited.
The Eternal Battle for Good over Evil continues. It's Time to dust of Sparky, crank up the dial and cook some really hurtful criminals. I'll do the Job, just offer.
Life, Liberty and the Pursuits Towards Happiness. Roughly translated, Civilized Society Governed by Laws established by Our Countries Founding Fathers, written in The Constitution of The United States of America.
These Laws and Implied Protections are granted to Any Lawful Citizen of said Lands.
Flash forward to Today year Two-Thousand Eight;
The current Nation Wide Governing Elected Officials have become hog tied, blow hards, frightened, submissive, inept, fat, lazy, greedy and corrupt and generally self centered from enacting out of Fear of Condemnation from certain subversive organizations, who's Objective and Focus appears to be for the continuation of confusion, chaos and fostering of fear in Society.
Take any example of a criminal action resulting in the murder/death of any other Human being. That is not right.
Therefore, someone is surely Guilty of this action and no one rides through life free. Everyone pays in some form.
The perpetrators of deadly crimes have to be accountable and no longer allowed to victimize Civilized Society. Groups multiple times champion, loyal to One , their own egos using the criminal as a tool. Generally these criminals are lifers in the craft of Evil doings.
The Death Penalty is not barbaric, It the capturing of the Evil Spirits that escaped and returning them to Our Natural Creator. Either that or what? Place them in prisons to learn how to commit more Deadly and Sadistic acts? I say NFW!!!
My point is not to change or amend into uselessness the Judicial Systems. It's to Fine Tune and Tweak our current laws and grow new teeth to better Protect Our Law biding Citizens. Society has become to submissive, inept, fat, lazy, greedy, corrupt and generally self centered. So we turn to Our Elected Officials.
Talk, talk, talk when will you all be true of your Words?
I wrote this sincerely, in the hope collectively, maybe one day soon, it will be done.
Posted by: A True Crime | February 4, 2008 11:30 PM
The Dallas Morning News is reporting that the Clinton campaign is instructing its volunteers to elbow their way into controlling the caucus voting procedure in each Texas precinct on Primary night. The Obama campaign does not use that tactic according to its volunteers. Read for yourself at
Posted by: Felipe Mendez | March 2, 2008 11:29 PM
Hello, of course I came to visit your site and thanks for letting me know about it.
I just read this post and wanted to say it is full of number one resources. Some I am familiar with. For those who don't know these other sites they are in for a treat as there is a lot to learn there.
Posted by: Male Enhancement | March 4, 2008 11:08 PM
Posted by: ISHMAel back | March 5, 2008 12:15 AM
Posted by: ISHMAel back | March 5, 2008 12:15 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.


text:
This is one of those times when a single reply says it all.
Go to Admin » Appearance » Widgets » and move Gabfire Widget: Social into that MastheadOverlay zone
President Barack Obama on Thursday ordered a redoubling of U.S. counter-terrorism efforts in the face of a "credible but unconfirmed" threat ahead of the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
U.S. officials, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the threat involved Washington D.C. and New York City, which were targeted in al Qaeda attacks a decade ago this Sunday that killed nearly 3,000 people.
A counter-terrorism official said intelligence pointed to possible car bomb attacks and added the threat information came from Pakistan's tribal areas. A manhunt was underway for two or three suspects, who one person familiar with the matter said were suspected of having links to al Qaeda.
But U.S. officials used strong caveats when discussing the threat information privately, with a national security official cautioning that experts thought the threat would ultimately not check out.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg also stressed that the threat had not been corroborated, even as he announced heightened security measures "some of which you may notice, some of which you may not notice."
"There is no reason for any of the rest of us to change anything in our daily routines," he told a news conference.
Still, Bloomberg asked citizens to report suspicious or dangerous activity, adding: "Over the next three days we should all keep our eyes wide open."
The White House said Obama was briefed on specific threat information on Thursday morning, and noted that the U.S. government had already "enhanced its security posture" ahead of the anniversary.
"Nevertheless, the President directed the counterterrorism community to redouble its efforts in response to this credible but unconfirmed information," a White House official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said "we're hyper-vigilant to this specific report that's just coming in." He told MSNBC television that the U.S. government was taking all necessary precautions, without offering details.
Documents discovered in Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, after he was killed in a raid in May by Navy SEALs, highlighted his persistent interest in attacking the United States around the anniversary of the 2001 attacks. But it is unclear if the plans ever evolved beyond aspiration.
"As we know from the intelligence gathered following the Osama bin Laden raid, al Qaeda has showed an interest in important dates and anniversaries, such as 9/11," said Jan Fedarcyk with the FBI's New York field office.
Bloomberg said he spoke with the head of New York's public transportation authority, which was hiking security. He added: "For the record, I plan to take the subway tomorrow morning."
New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly announced measures including more bag inspections on the subway, more bomb-sniffing dogs on patrol and increased deployment of radiation monitoring equipment.
"There will be increased focus on tunnels and bridges and infrastructure in general, as well as landmark locations, houses of worship and government buildings," he said.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which said only last week that there was no credible information that al Qaeda was plotting an attack around the September 11 anniversary, declined to offer details on the threat.
It cautioned that there were always threat reports before important dates like the anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
"Sometimes this reporting is credible and warrants intense focus, other times it lacks credibility and is highly unlikely to be reflective of real plots under way," spokesman Matt Chandler said.
"Regardless, we take all threat reporting seriously, and we have taken, and will continue to take all steps necessary to mitigate any threats that arise."
A second law-enforcement source played down an ABC News report about missing rental trucks — saying the vehicles had been recovered and there was no connection to terrorism.
(Additional reporting by Jeremy Pelofsky, Alister Bull and JoAnne Allen in Washington and Michelle Nichols in New York; editing by Anthony Boadle)
This is one of those times when a single reply says it all.
No shit Sherlock !
right you are! Dr. Watson
Will the American people be satisfied with Watson-ism, second best, or will they rise as a tide gainst continual flotsam status ?
Our might is cast before foreign shores to benefit an enigma we call war ?
I neither can wrap that in a riddle nor hide the truth of man at his best is the lowest form of life on this planet.
So what do we do now ?
Is it the CIA or al Qaeda that likes important dates and anniversaries?
I always mix those two up, color revolutions and all.
Isn't it true that most "terrorist" operations broken up by the FBI were actually instigated and not even possible without the FBI's implanted assets providing knowledge and access to materials otherwise unavailable?
Increased focus on houses of worship? Will you let them naked body scan and search your bags before repentance and salvation?
Clearly the thieves are back in the temple.
Ahhh…it's time for the annual drumroll to commemorate deadly treason in high places…! / : |
Carl Nemo **==
More people die from falling out of bed in the USA each year than from terrorist attacks.
Clearly, all of this nonsense is a money grab to keep the war industry in this country (which currently makes up about 15% of our GDP) gainfully employed.
In the process, they've turned our country into an amrmed camp that nobody wants to visit, let alone live in.
One definition of terrorism is: "…those violent acts which are intended to create fear (terror), are perpetrated for a religious, political or ideological goal".
By continually peddling all these warnings and telling us to be "vigilant" (over what no one seems to know) isn't such fear mongering ALSO considered terrorism? Isn't perpetrating all that fear accomplishing a "political" goal…that of keeping the Military Industrial Complex fully funded and humming along?
…food for thought.
You got it.


text:
Search tips: All event media is contined within the event. Searching for the event will obtain images, audio quotes and press releases.
Latest ITU Releases
- ITU renews sport development programme for 2015 (Feb 19)
- Jabra joins 2015 ITU World Triathlon Series as global partner (Feb 02)
- ITU joins IOC in fight against illegal betting (Jan 21)
- Cuba attracts international crowd with triathlon (Jan 20)
- ITU opens bidding for new ITU Multisport World Championship festival (Jan 16)
- ...archived releases
Latest Event Releases
Media Contacts
- Print,PR, photos and athlete interview enquiries:
- WTS TV Production:
Pre-Race Information
- 2015 Mooloolaba ITU Triathlon World Cup
14 Mar 15 - 2015 New Plymouth ITU Triathlon World Cup
22 Mar 15 - 2015 ITU World Triathlon Auckland
28 Mar 15
Post-Race Info / Photos
- 2015 ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi
06 Mar 15 - 2014 Tongyeong ITU Triathlon World Cup
18 Oct 14 - 2014 Cartagena ITU Triathlon World Cup
12 Oct 14
Other Information
All media accreditation is handled locally by the local organising committee. To find the media contacts for an event please use the Triathlon.org events search and follow the link to Media Info.
If you are having any difficulty or wish to comment on the site please get in touch via the contact tab


text:
The debate over civilian casualties from drone strikes continues
The Jamestown Foundation's Terrorism Monitor released a study last week claiming to shed new light on the accuracy of the CIA's drone strike campaign in northwest Pakistan. The authors of the Jamestown study compiled a database of statistics on civilian and militant casualties from drone strikes, relying on both Western and English-language Pakistani news reports about drone strikes -- a methodology broadly similar to the one used by both The Long War Journal and by The New America Foundation. The study found that only 68 casualties (4.95%) could be clearly identified as civilian, and concluded that "the [drone] strikes have not only been impressively accurate, but have achieved and maintained a greater proportionality than either ground operations in the area or targeting campaigns elsewhere."
Charli Carpenter, an associate political science professor at University of Massachusetts - Amherst who specializes in human security, has offered a thought-provoking critique of the Jamestown study. First, Carpenter questions the study's assumption that "all children under 13 and women" should be classified as civilians:
Numerous scholars, myself included, have shown how misleading it is to assume all women are civilians and all men and older boys are combatants; and to build this gendered stereotype into one's dataset immediately prejudices the data in favor of finding fewer civilian deaths.
On the one hand, this is a valid critique -- clearly, there have been teenage-aged males and older men killed who are not militants, and it is entirely possible that some women killed in drone attacks may have been involved in supporting militant activities (which is why it's better to track all confirmed civilian casualties regardless of age or sex).
However, it should be understood that some assumptions are defensible when conducting a study of civilian casualties from "covert" airstrikes in an extremely inaccessible, isolated, and remote region. Given that Taliban factions immediately surround and cut off access to the area in the aftermath of each attack, objective identification of each casualty by an independent source is impossible. Scholars attempting to establish an accurate estimate of civilian casualties are forced to rely on either often thinly detailed Pakistani and Western press accounts or the Taliban's own propaganda, which predictably claims that virtually all casualties are civilians. So while somewhat arbitrary classifications may be problematic, given the restrictions facing researchers I think they are also a defensible method of estimating (note: different than counting) civilian casualties.
Carpenter also takes issue with the study's categorization of "suspected militants," explaining that this phrase implies that:
[T]he US is carrying out a mass murder campaign against individuals suspected of committed crimes, in the absence of any sort of effort to determine whether or not they are actually guilty. In short, what renders these individuals putative "legitimate targets" appears to be nothing more than the suspicions of those with their fingers on the trigger. Oh, and possessing testicles.
Sarcasm aside, Carpenter's claim is undoubtedly driven by the substantial secrecy about the CIA's process for selecting targets for drone strikes. Yet it is disingenuous to say that there is an "absence of any sort of effort" on the part of the CIA to determine if the people they are killing are "actually guilty." Alleging that CIA officials are carrying out a "mass murder campaign" against Pakistanis on little more than "suspicions" is no less absurd than assuming every suspected militant is a terrorist.
A reasonable person would assume that the CIA is at least attempting to verify, corroborate, and ensure that the intelligence that feeds these strikes is accurate, and then determining that the intelligence is convincing enough to carry out an armed strike. Since we don't know how the CIA chooses targets, we have no way of gauging the accuracy or validity of that intelligence or decision-making process, but insinuating that the CIA is flying drones around Pakistan killing people on a whim requires a substantial amount of bad faith.
Finally, Carpenter accurately notes that the study is actually measuring the concept of "distinction" or "discrimination," and not the concept of "proportionality."
The distinction principle measures the ability to hit combatants while minimizing the costs to civilians. Proportionality measures the overall good of an attack relative to its overall negative side-effects.From a human security perspective, I would argue the appropriate measure for an analysis of proportionality would not be the number of civilian death to combatant deaths, but rather the number of civilian deaths by drone strikes to some estimate of the number of Pakistani civilians who will not now die as a result of militant activity.
I leave it to the number crunchers to figure out how to calculate this.
While I don't think such a number is quantifiable, an even better metric would also take into account the lives of Afghan civilians and citizens of Western countries who would have perished in additional terror attacks organized by Taliban and Al Qaeda leadership in Pakistan.
For reference, since the start of the intensified CIA drone campaign in Pakistan in mid-2008, well over 7,000 Pakistani civilians have been killed in terrorist attacks (detailed data here)-- and that's with the pressure of drone strikes. The highest scholarly estimate of the total number of Pakistani civilians killed by drone strikes (the New America Foundation's "high" estimate) is 535.
How many more Pakistani, Afghan, and Western civilians would have been killed in the absence of these strikes? Would the additional deaths be higher or lower than the number of civilians killed by drone strikes? Your guess is as good as mine.


text:
Technical Support Engineer
Job Description
Ecessa has an immediate opening for a Technical Support Engineer to join our growing team. The Technical Support Engineer (TSE) is an integral member of the Ecessa Support team, managing the total support experience of Ecessa's client base. The TSE plays a significant role in driving high customer satisfaction, critical incident management, and liaising with different internal teams to provide quality service. The selected candidate will work with collaborative teams and individually to perform technical activities that impact the configuration of the micro-appliance while also troubleshooting technical difficulties experienced by the customer. The individual should possess great verbal and written communication skills and technical problem solving skills.
Provide assistance to customers experiencing issues with their Ecessa service by phone and email.
Configure and assist with the installation of the Ecessa service into a customer's network.
Assist customers with the design of their network and the integration of the Ecessa service.
Act as the technical sales support with pre-sales "Webinars" and telephone conferences, providing technical detail when needed.
Assist additional teams with internal network maintenance and product feature (user acceptance) testing.
Be available during scheduled on-call duties on weeknights and weekends.
Skills and Requirements
Minimum 2 year degree in computer networking or equivalent.
Solid understanding of networking technologies, LAN/WAN connectivity, and networking.
Linux experience is preferred but not required.
Ability to influence and manage a client while remaining calm and advocating best practices.
Display good judgment skills by setting realistic timeframes and putting the customer first.
Consistently demonstrate good written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to relay complex technical information to people with varying skill and knowledge levels.
Must be a team player with ability to solve complex problems.
Self-motivated, timely, detail-orientated, and strong organizational and multi-tasking skills.
Comfortable working within a structured environment with established policies and procedures.
Additional Information
Employment Type: Full time
Function: Support
Location: Greater Minneapolis – St. Paul Area
Minimum Required Education: Associates Degree
Job Level: Entry Level, Junior, or Mid-level
Expected Travel: None
Hours: Monday-Friday, multiple shifts available, weekend rotation, and occasional overtime
Open Positions
Technical Support Engineer


text:
We were lucky enough to join a homeschool co-op early on. Instead of buying all of our homeschooling supplies new, we went to the homeschooling curriculum sale at the end of every school year. We stocked up on literature and art supplies and sometimes we'd buy a whole year's worth of curriculum (except for the student's workbook which would need to be purchased new).
Through the years we bought most of our supplies at discounted prices. We also bought art projects and musical instruments. It was a great way to save money on supplies. Not to mention how much we learned about all the different curricula that's out there.


text:
To Health With That!
Welcome! I'm naturopathic doctor Amy Neuzil*, and I'd like to help you get healthier, feel better and enjoy increased vitality and zest for life. The thing is, your health is all about YOU. Even when I'm your health-chief-of-staff and head cheer-leader, it still comes down to you making decisions about what you want to do with your body, because frankly I can't be with you 24/7. My role then is to help you to understand the best decisions to make for your body (not anybody else's – specifically your body because your body is unique.)
On this website and in the To Health With That! Blog, you will find some information to help you make great choices when I'm not there to nudge you in the right direction (and if you want me there to nudge you in the right direction then check out this info about becoming a new client). The blog is filled with great information that you should know about getting and staying healthy in a way that actually works in real life. There are ideas about simple changes to change your life for the better, shift your thought patterns, your health and your level of joy in life. Also there is some random information thrown in about living a little more on the earth each day and getting closer to the things that really matter. And if this information isn't quite enough, then check out the book.
Also just a little tip – if you have questions about something I write, leave them as comments and I'll get back to you with an answer! A real-live answer from a real-live naturopathic doctor*, without having to make an appointment (at least for most questions). Also if there is anything that you have questions about that I haven't covered then contact me with the form below and I'll see what I can do. Thanks for reading!
'Written by Naturopathic Doctor* Amy Neuzil, who has been one of Austin's most highly acclaimed natural health practitioners for the last decade. Also an author, blogger, teacher, speaker and total freaking goofball. Currently seeing clients at People's Rx Wellness Center at the lakeline location. Dr. Amy* is in Austin, but you don't have to be local to become a client – we can do skype or phone appointments for your convenience.
More information about Becoming a Client
Want to hear more about something in particular from the naturopathic angle? Let me know! I'd be happy to talk about it. After all, that's what I became a naturopathic doctor for.
Interested in any of my other stuff? (Which is limited because there's only so many hours in the day – I mean really.)
Here's Google +: Google
Facebook: Facebook
Twitter: Twitter
Pinterest: Pinterest!


text:
Was Colonel Blake's Death a Secret?
- July 3rd, 2011 at 9:15 am
- Series History
- 9 Comments
I've always assumed that television viewers watching M*A*S*H on March 18th, 1975 — that's when "Abyssinia, Henry" was originally broadcast, for those of you who haven't memorized air dates — were completely unaware of what was in store for Colonel Blake at the end of the episode. After all, the bulk of the cast and crew had no idea that Larry Gelbart and Gene Reynolds had decided to have the character die after his plane was shot down until just before they filmed the scene in question. Based on everything I've heard or read over the year, it really does seem like most people truly were surprised by the shocking turn of events.
But just how much of a secret was Colonel Blake's death? I started thinking about this last week while researching McLean Stevenson's reported cameo appearance on The Carol Burnett Show. How could that series, which was taped in front of a live audience two weeks prior to broadcast, have included a segment in which Blake survived the plane crashing into the ocean, if nobody knew about the character's death? Certainly, Stevenson and the rest of the cast and crew knew. CBS and 20th-Century Fox executives no doubt were aware as well. And the episode was filmed long before it actually aired, so there was plenty of time for the new to come out.
Earlier this month, Rob Kelly posted a scan of a newspaper article from the night "Abyssinia, Henry" was broadcast, which basically revealed that Colonel Blake would die by writing that "the ending is a la Mr. Roberts." If you're familiar with the play, novel or film Mr. Roberts, you'll know what that means. The article was published on March 18th, 1975, the day the episode aired. So anyone looking at television listings and reading the summary for the episode — and also knew what happened to Mr. Roberts — would have had the episode spoiled to some degree.
I've found a March 17th, 1975 editorial in the Evening Independent (St. Petersburg, Florida) in which editor Robert Stiff writes about the season finale of M*A*S*H and McLean Stevenson's departure. Here's an excerpt:
Advance word is that Col. Blake will be discharged from the lovable "M*A*S*H" unit and die in a helicopter crash on his way home to civilian life. [1]
It's not quite accurate but close enough to completely spoil the ending to the episode, more so than an allusion to Mr. Roberts. Stiff condemns the decision to kill off Colonel Blake, arguing that he doesn't need to die in order "for viewers to be given the message that war is not a fun thing" [2]. Interestingly, Stiff also has this to say:
I hope the good colonel departs the series without loss of life because I understand a non-fatal ending of the show has been shot just in case the producers decide to give him a reprieve. [3]
And thus, another M*A*S*H urban legend was born. No, there was not an alternate ending in which Colonel Blake made it home safe and sound. But now we have additional proof that in the days prior to the episode being aired, newspapers were writing that Colonel Blake might be or would be killed off. Imagine my surprise when I found an article from November of 1974 that revealed everything. Entertainment columnist Marilyn Beck, who at the time was syndicated by The New York Times, wrote the following in her November 13th, 1974 column:
"MASH" celebrated the completion of this season's shooting with a cast party at 20th Century-Fox late last week. All the cast and crew were on hand — except for McLean Stevenson, who celebrated his permanent departure from the company by not attending. He left the soundstage as soon as the final camera "cut" was called.
Stevenson is moving on to a new contract with NBC, which he is convinced will bring him greater stardom than he has enjoyed as Lt. Col. Blake on "MASH". As for how CBS will handle his absence from the series, they're "killing" him off. One of the last things shot before the "MASH" company disbanded for hiatus was a sequence in which Blake finally gets his discharge — only to be killed in the crash of a plane bound for home. [4]
I can't say how widely syndicated Beck's column was in 1974 or how many people read it, but anyone who did knew exactly what to expect five months later when "Abyssinia, Henry" was broadcast. Whether anyone remembered reading about the details of Colonel Blake's death after all that time is another matter. Also, Based on the publication date for Beck's column, it is likely that the final scene was filmed on Friday, November 8th.
Works Cited:
9 Comments
Great post RJ! I am really surprised how the ending to the season "leaked" so early. I was also unaware that the episode of Carol Burnett was filmed before the airing of the finale. Great piece of research!
Well, there always was that speculation that it really wasn't Larry Gelbart and Gene Reynolds who decided to kill of Henry, but the network to ensure that Mac wouldn't change his mind about leaving, because they had it with him.
Has anyone seen that show The Truth Behind the Sitcom Scandals? It was done in 2000, I believe, with interviews with Wayne Rogers, Loretta Swit, Larry Linville, Gary Burghoff, and Mike Farrell, with them offering insight into the controversies that surrounded the show, including Henry's death; Gary mentioned how Mac always stood up for those on the set who wouldn't complain, because the actors were always working under such horrific conditions, especially on the Fox Ranch (Loretta even said a crew member or extra nearly died of heat exhaustion one day while filming). There's also contradiction among them, because Gary said the reason Mac left was mostly because of the working conditions, while Loretta said Mac said to her at one point, "I don't want to be number three, I want to be number one" and left to find more starring TV roles. So again, was Henry's death really to show the horrors of war, or a ploy by the networks to ensure they wouldn't have to put up with Mac again? I believe they had Gene Reynolds on the show as well, who ensured them that they did it to show that not everyone got to go home to Bloomington, Illinois, after the war.
But there were some other interesting subjects they touched on: network scrutiny (mainly over the sexual content and jokes), the lawsuits against Wayne and his counter lawsuit against Gelbart and Reynolds, Linville's departure, Gary's male-diva behavior on the set leading to his departure, Loretta wanting out for Cagney and Lacey but the network wouldn't let her out of her contract.
That last one raises questions to me… if the network was okay with Wayne, Mac, Larry, and Gary leaving, why not Loretta? The others were let out of their contracts (or lack thereof with Wayne), so why wasn't Loretta let out of hers? Actually, there's a lot of misinformation surrounding this show… I'll see you guys at the forum…
BDOR, unfortunately that is one of the few M*A*S*H specials/documentaries I have not seen.
Wow RJ, what an interesting article!
It's pretty crappy how things like Henry's death can hit the media and spoil the ending, especially that one article from the end of '74. It totally takes away from the shock factor the viewer receives from watching the episode.
And Big Daddy makes an important point: They let all the other cast members who wanted to leave out, so why didn't they do it for Loretta? Maybe it's because they didn't want her to leave their show just to go be a lead star in another. Cagney and Lacey was also on CBS, so it couldn't have been just to stop her from jumping networks. Also, not that it means much, but if Loretta left that means Alan Alda, William Christopher, and Jamie Farr would be the only original cast members remaining (even though Christopher wasn't in the pilot), though I doubt that had much to do with it.
RJ – I admit I was a little doubtful when I read your thoughtful article about a couple of points, but I did some research and I can verify…
– Abyssinia Henry was shot on November 1, 4, and 5, 1974, which means the date of Marilyn Beck's article makes sense. What made me doubtful and is a bit unusual is that season's generally wrap in Feb/March, not in the prior November. However, I checked a production schedule and that is the wrap date for that season. (That season also started shooting in May, which is unusual).As for the Carol Burnett "insert," if it were shot today, that scene would have been shot without a studio audience and inserted with a laugh track into the appropriate episode. I'm guessing that is what happened, assuming that shot did actually occur (and isn't an urban legend), because air schedules move around and it would be easy to cut a 30 second segment into any show after-the-fact.
Hope that is helpful information.
Dan, I also thought it unusual/unbelievable that filming would have wrapped in November. Glad to have confirmation that it actually did. I wonder if shooting was moved up to accommodate McLean Stevenson, in order to get him back for another year? Just idle speculation…
They were shot roughly July – February, except for that season, which was shot May – November. I don't have a good explanation – there was no work stoppage due to a strike, which did occur later in the series run. The following season was shot roughly July – Feb. It shouldn't have matter to Mac – he was leaving the series and his new series would have followed a similar calendar template, unless it was a midseason series.
Thanks for mentioning my post! That newspaper article really threw me when I saw it–interesting to know there were other possible "spoilers" out there.
The only evidence I ever encountered of an alternate ending scene ever being shot was in a direct conversation I had with Gary Burghoff back around the spring of 1995 when he was doing an art exhibit in Des Moines, Iowa (first time the guy who played Radar had ever been in Iowa, he said). Gary told me that they had already shot a different ending when the cast was given that famous final page of the script. (First time I'd ever heard of this, and to confirm I'd heard this correctly, I asked him back: "They filmed a different ending before the other one???") Gary said that, when he saw what was on the final page, he told McLean that he wouldn't read the lines if McLean didn't want him to, but McLean told him to go ahead and read the lines they had just given for Radar because McLean felt that this final scene is what the series was really all about.
But on the other hand: When Loretta Swit was at the Hollywood Collectors Show in 2002 (…and THAT is a whhhhole other tale in itself….), I asked her about what Gary had told me about an alternate ending being shot for that episode, and she told me that there was no other ending that had been filmed for that one.