BlatherWatch

A message from Michael

It's Stephanie's (Taffy's) birthday!!  It was a beautiful day- August, 13, 2011; friends and family gathered in Lincoln Park for a walk/run on Taffy and lung cancer research's behalf. We got to walk with her- there was much laughing and catching up as old friends gathered. (Though she loved every one of you, being hostess was not her favorite past time, but she did it with grace and aplomb in that last year of her life).

She treasured that day,  and for some of you it was the very last time you saw her walking on this earth., 

This year, Lungevity has graciously scheduled their annual walk/run on Taffy’s birthday, August 11, again at Lincoln Park. 

Though I’ve heard she’s learned to fly, and may be hovering,  she’ll certainly be with us in our hearts. Some of you can’t be at Lincoln Park this year, but you can be generou$ and help make Team No Jello No. 1.

 You may do that by clicking here. 

 And not to worry,  if I don’t hear from you, I’ll be nagging … 

 Her friend, Dr. Jack West has written: [Stephanie”] touched a great many people very powerfully. The way she approached her life and her cancer embodied wisdom, peace, and grace. She was a remarkable person for me to know personally,  and I know that many people here have learned about both lung cancer and their approach to life from her presence here,  which will fortunately live on.

Please help Taffy live forever … and by all means, join us August 11.

Tuesday Potpourri--bloviating ignoramuses and live voter purging

Mitt Romney says he isn't concerned about Donald Trump's commitment to the "birther" conspiracy, as the GOP presidential candidate today hosted a fund-raiser alongside the celebrity business magnate.

Asked on his charter plane whether Trump's questioning of President Barack Obama's birthplace gave him pause, Romney simply said he was grateful for all his supporters.

"You know, I don't agree with all the people who support me and my guess is they don't all agree with everything I believe in," Romney said. "But I need to get 50.1% or more and I'm appreciative to have the help of a lot of good people."

Except that The Donald is more than just a "supporter"--he is a surrogate who has recorded over 30 robocalls on behalf of Mittens. Sunday morning, George Will harrumphed that The Donald is a "bloviating ignoramus." His fellow journalists around the table giggled.

Romney has said in the past that he firmly believes Obama was born in Hawaii, and is thus constitutionally eligible to be president.

Trump, however, is decidedly less sure. The "Apprentice" host has been a vocal proponent of the "birther" conspiracy going back several years, at one point claiming he had "investigators" looking into Obama's records in Hawaii. Obama released the long-form version of his birth certificate in April 2011, showing he was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961. Soon after it was released, Trump announced he would not make a bid for the GOP presidential nomination.

Trump joined Romney and former presidential candidate Newt Gingrich for a campaign fund-raiser in Las Vegas this evening. Romney's campaign also is raffling a chance to have dinner with the celebrity business magnate for supporters who donate $3 to the campaign.

"I want you: Dine with the Donald," a campaign flier proclaims, along with a drawing of Trump in the pose of Uncle Sam.

The campaign offers: "Airport transportation in the Trump vehicle; Stay at the Trump International Hotel & Tower New York; Tour the Celebrity Apprentice Boardroom; Dine with Donald Trump and Mitt Romney."

In Florida, Republican officials are feverishly working to rid the voter roll of Hispanics and Democrats ahead of the November election. Trouble is, they have purged the rolls of people who are very much alive and very much American. Two House Democrats say Gov. Rick Scott is leading a “misguided” effort to purge legal Florida voters, including a World War II veteran from Broward who was required to prove he’s a U.S. citizen. Bill Internicola was born in Brooklyn 91 years ago and received a Bronze Star for fighting in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II, but, according to the state of Florida, he may not be a U.S. citizen.

Internicola received a letter in May from the Broward Supervisor of Elections stating that it received "information from the State of Florida that you are not a United States citizen; however you are registered to vote." The letter was part of a controversial state-led effort to rid the voter rolls of noncitizens. Similar letters were sent to 259 Broward voters. Their ultimate number of voters they hope to remove is around 138,000.

Internicola said he was “flabbergasted” by the suggestion that he wasn’t a citizen. He called the county’s election office and said: "Are you crazy?"

Internicola shared his story at a press conference Tuesday in Davie, where he was joined by two members of Congress: Ted Deutch (D-Boca Raton) and Alcee Hastings (D-Miramar). The Democratic lawmakers say Internicola is an example of Gov. Rick Scott’s “misguided” effort to purge legal voters from the rolls before this year’s presidential elections.

Internicola said he sent Broward a copy of his Army discharge papers. He is one of six voters on the list who have provided paperwork to prove they are citizens, said Mary Cooney, a spokeswoman for the supervisor.

Broward was following the direction of the state Division of Elections, which initially identified roughly 180,000 potential noncitizens by searching a computer database from the state’s Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. But the drivers’ license list doesn’t automatically update when someone becomes a citizen.

The state whittled that list to more than 2,600 voters and forwarded those names to counties. A Miami Herald analysis of the list found it was dominated by Democrats, independents and Hispanics. The largest number were from Miami-Dade, home to the state’s highest foreign-born population.

In Miami-Dade, 359 voters have provided proof that they are citizens. The county determined on its own that an additional 26 were citizens, while 10 others either admitted they were ineligible or requested to be removed.

Voters have 30 days from the receipt of the letter to provide documentation of citizenship or they will be removed from the rolls.

Any effort to remove names from Broward’s voting rolls draws particular scrutiny because it is the most Democratic county in the state. It has more than 500,000 registered Democrats and could play a pivotal role in the outcome of a close presidential or U.S. Senate contest in November.

Deutch called Internicola an “American hero” and described him as “the face of Gov. Scott’s request to purge our voter rolls."

Internicola said he was born in Brooklyn to an American-born mother and Italian-immigrant father. He traveled to several countries in Europe during World War II working as a medic where his nickname was “Pepsi” — since his last name ends with “cola.” He got married, worked as a vice president of a restaurant chain in New York, had a son and daughter, and said he moved to Florida in the 1980s.

Broward voting records show that Internicola registered in 1991 and has been a frequent voter — including the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections — and in at least a couple of municipal elections. He’s a lifelong Democrat.

We are shocked! shocked, that Florida Republicans would resort to such a thing!

* Hat tip to Amy Stewart of the Miami Herald.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/29/2822073/south-florida-democrat-say-gov.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/29/2822073/south-florida-democrat-say-gov.html#storylink=cpy

Update: Where is George?

George Zimmerman, the Florida man who claims he shot and killed Trayvon Martin in self-defense, has set up a personal website to collect money for his legal expenses, his attorneys told NBC News on Monday.

Several sites purporting to raise money for Zimmerman, 28, have popped up since he shot Martin, 17, on Feb. 26 in Sanford, Fla., but "I cannot attest to the validity of these other websites," Zimmerman writes on therealgeorgezimmerman.com

Attorneys confirmed to NBC News that the site, which domain records show was created Sunday, is real and is operated by Zimmerman himself. It solicits donations through PayPal with a promise that "any funds provided are used only for living expenses and legal defense, in lieu of my forced inability to maintain employment."

There are several links on the website, one of which is labeled "Album." This features a shot of a wall at the Frank W. Hale Black Cultural Center at Ohio State Universitythat was vandalized with a great deal of  graffitti and the words "Justice for Zimmerman" (above) and "Long Live Zimmerman." (below)

Zimmerman’s supporters insist that this case is not about race, so why were they moved to vandalize a black cultural center, and why is Zimmerman endorsing this:

    “A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed” – Henrik, Ibsen...This page is dedicated to persons whom have displayed their support of Justice for All.  

Thank you,  George Zimmerman"

Here's the full statement from Zimmerman on his website:

I am the real George Zimmerman. On Sunday February 26th, I was involved in a life altering event which led me to become the subject of intense media coverage. As a result of the incident and subsequent media coverage, I have been forced to leave my home, my school, my employer, my family and ultimately, my entire life. This website's sole purpose is to ensure my supporters they are receiving my full attention without any intermediaries. 

It has come to my attention that some persons and/or entities have been collecting funds, thinly veiled as my "Defense Fund" or "Legal Fund". I cannot attest to the validity of these other websites as I have not received any funds collected, intended to support my family and I through this trying, tragic time. 

I have created a Paypal account solely linked on this website as I would like to provide an avenue to thank my supporters personally and ensure that any funds provided are used only for living expenses and legal defense, in lieu of my forced inability to maintain employment. I will also personally, maintain accountability of all funds received. I reassure you, every donation is appreciated. 

Sincerely,

George Zimmerman

 

UPDATE: 

In a surprise announcement this afternoon, lawyers for George Zimmerman, the shooter in the Trayvon Martin shooting, said they no longer have contact with their client and are no longer representing him. Craig Sonner said:

"I still believe he was acting in self defense that night .... I just cannot stay representing a client who will not stay in contact with me."

Sonner and Hal Uhrig said they had been told that Zimmerman had directly contacted  the special prosecutor's office that has been investigating the case since March 22. That's not a contact a suspect should make, they said. And the special prosecutor's office told him, they said, that nobody there would talk to him without counsel being present.

Both lawyers said they still believe Zimmerman acted in self defense. They said they would represent him still if he asked them. But for now, he remains without counsel as far as they know.

The lawyers indicated that they did not think Zimmerman would flee the country, but made clear that their former client was not in Florida.

Update #2

Apparently the pictures posted above have been removed by Zimmerman and are no longer on his webpage.

Rent's due at public radio

24/7 blah-blah for money prevails on KUOW... and there's no respite: KPLU is running their pledge drive simultaneously. Send 'em some dough.

Listeners can bitch about these silly panhandlings, but consider this: commercial radio begs for money for nearly 50% of nearly every broadcast hour.

With the Foxification of KIRO, the fade-to-blanding of KOMO, the annihilation of KVI and the over-syndication of KTTH or KPTK, Northwesterners need public radio. (As does the thriving tote-bag industry).

Public radio lets us off easy, they do this but twice a year. What's more, they'll shut up if we send our money to them faster!

Help! a call to alms!

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And since 2005, you've rewarded us with nearly 5 million hits  and over 80,000 comments.

After all these years: Nobody does what we do!