Chinese officials surrounded a monastery to arrest a tibetan monk who had the audacity to speak publicly about his torture by Chinese special police. Jogme (who only uses one name) appeared in a video detailing his torture and abuse. He then went into hiding until Chinese officials assured him that he could return to his monastery in Labrang without fear of arrest. They then stormed the monastery and took him away.
Continue reading “China Arrests Tibetan Monk Featured on Abuse Video”
Category: Politics
Corruption and abuse are common in the highest ranks of Chinese officials who benefit from one-party rule and a suppressed media. However, it remains important not to take advantages on tape. This lesson was learned by Lin Jiaxiang, party secretary of the Shenzhen maritime bureau in southern China’s Guangdong province, after he first grabbed an 11-year-old girl at a restaurant’s bathroom and then offered to simply pay off the irate father for the use of his daughter. The video is below.
Continue reading “Worker’s Paradise: High-Ranking Chinese Official Under Investigation Before Being Caught on Tape Grabbing 11-Year-Old Girl”
Arkansas voters decided yesterday that it was better to have children remain unadopted than to place them with gay parents. In the meantime, Michigan voted to allow medical marijuana use while Massachusetts decriminalized marijuana use and ban dog racing.
Last night, I helped cover the election with BBC. During the evening, I got into a sharp argument with the editor of Human Events magazine about Sarah Palin. I noted that her selection may have been one of the biggest political blunders of a campaign in my lifetime. Now, exit polls indicate that, if anything, her negative impact on the ticket was underestimated. McCain aides appear to be now lining up to dump on Palin – disclosing more damaging information about everything from her shopping sprees to shocking lack of basic world knowledge.
Continue reading “Exit Polls: Palin Hurt Ticket with Large Number of Voters”
Alaska’s Senate race has Stevens leading with 48 percent of the vote compared with 47 percent for Democrat Mark Begich, with 96 percent of precincts reporting. There more than 40,000 absentee ballots to be counted within 10 days of the election — many of which probably preceded his corruption conviction.
Continue reading “Alaska is Pro-Family and Pro-Felon: Alaskans Decide that Earmarks Are More Important Than Ethics”
While the votes are still being counted, the landslide for Barack Obama did not put a few candidates (like Al Franken in Minnesota) or causes like California’s Proposition 8 over the top. With 63 per cent of the state’s voting district results in, the measure was leading by 52.4 to 47.6 per cent. As of Wednesday at 10:15 am, CBS was still calling the outcome uncertain, however.
Continue reading “California’s Proposition 8 Appears to Have Passed in a Bad Night for Same-Sex Couples”
Obama’s win in Minnesota helped pushed Al Franken close to victory on Tuesday, but perhaps not close enough. Coleman remains 2000 votes ahead and now both candidates must face a recount, which is automatic for any race with a margin of one percent or less in Minnesota.
There now appears to be some serious problems and patterns emerging in key states like Virginia and Pennsylvania. Heavy democratic areas have been polling places shutdown and thousands of voters turned away. Provisional ballots have been given inappropriately to many voters.
Continue reading “Serious Voting Problems Begin to Emerge In Key States”
St. Olaf in Northfield, Minnesota Professor Philip Busse has resigned under pressure after he recounted in an article on Huffington Post how he tore down a McCain campaign sign. He is now only only out of a job but he is charged with misdemeanor theft.
Continue reading “Minnesota Professor Ousted After Tearing Down McCain Sign”
And we thought hanging chads were a problem in 2000. The nudist community in Land O’ Lakes, Florida has formally requested a “clothing optional” polling site. The Caliente Resorts note that nothing in state law requires clothing.
Continue reading “Raw Politics: Nudist Colony Demands “Clothing Optional” Voting”
In 2000 and 2004, GOP activists misled voters with fake fliers that told democrats that they would vote on Wednesday rather than Tuesday. The fliers have appeared throughout Virginia and the culprit has been identified. However, the state officials have decided not to charge the person responsible.
Continue reading “Laugh Test: Virginia Decides Not to Name or Charge Person Responsible for Voter Suppression Flyer”
In Virginia, one of the key swing states in the election, it has been well known for months that there would be a likely record turn out. However, early voting problems are being reported across the state. Much like Ohio in 2004, people are reporting what appears to be a knowing failure to properly staff election offices to accommodate the crowds, forcing people to either leave or wait for hours. I personally witnessed the problem this weekend.
Continue reading “Virginistan: Problems Begin to Appear with Early Voting in Key State”
If SNL with McCain was not funny enough, many people are tuning into the tape below where Sarah Palin speaks to French President Nicolas Sarkozy in what turned out to be a prank call from a Quebec radio station. In the call, Sarkozy speaks about his sex life and shooting animals with Palin, who states that she might be president in eight years. (A curious statement since McCain will not run again in four years. The only person hoping for a two-term run in this election is Obama).
Continue reading “Palin Falls for Prank Call From Faux Nicolas Sarkozy”
John and Cindy McCain were hilarious last night on Saturday Night Live. In the video below, McCain teams up with Tina Fey in a QVC take-off that shows a much funnier side of McCain, who has always done surprisingly well on these shows, as the past clips below show.
Continue reading “Video: John McCain on SNL as “The True Maverick: A Republican Without Money””
Thank God the elections are finally heading to the courts — and legal commentators.
Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) has sued Democratic opponent Al Franken for defamation over Franken’s television ads claiming that Coleman is the fourth most corrupt senator in Washington. This would actually make for an interesting case.
Continue reading “Sen. Norm Coleman Sues Al Franken for Defamation”