Anderson Cooper The Journalist

Figured out the audio error and I have a short-term fix.  Let’s see how it goes.  It didn’t go so well.  The connection must have jiggled part way through, because it went all black and white.  I’ll have this fixed by next week; I promise.

John King again.

Keeping Them Honest – Joe Johns

Has Barack Obama kept his campaign promise of separating money from the oval office?  The Washington Times has said that people who gave great deals of money to the campaign are being give special access to the White House, including access to the bowling alley.

There are levels of donation to get access.   A private dinner costs $30,000.  The DNC thinks it is no big deal.  Michael Steele, however, is up in arms.  This is nothing new; former presidents have given these sorts of favors all throughout history.

Raw Politics – Paul Begala and Ed Rollins

What’s the big deal, anyway?  Why are people up in arms about a few people sleeping in the Lincoln bedroom?  According to Begala, it’s because Obama explicitly promised to cut these chains while campaigning.

Robert Gibbs, the White House Press Secretary, called the current administration the most transparent in U.S. History.

The main problem here is that Obama is going back on himself.  He promised to be clean as an angel, but the presidency carries with it some dark demons that only a saint can escape.  Pax vobiscum, Obama.

360 Bulletin

California Bay Bridge Closed

Home sales fall (prices rose, though)

ArexIX takes off

Schwarzenegger secretly curses out the legislature.

Keeping Them Honest – Drew Griffin

Back in American Samoa.  Why haven’t American monies been used to implement the warning systems that would have saved dozens of lives here.  About one month after the tsunami, the island is still devastated, despite $200 million having been sent here every year for the past decade and a half.  Locals are telling the US government to send someone to the island to look over the use of their money.  The Samoan delegate to Congress says it isn’t his job to track where the money he lobbies for goes.

This is terrible.  The island is devastated and when Drew Griffin says that we’re sending more mony to Samoa for emergency housing support and I cringed.  CNN has made me a Samoa hater.  Dang.

Crime and Punishment – Jeffrey Toobin and Lisa Bloom

Gang rape in California.  Why didn’t anybody step up to help the victim.  A friend of the victim spoke publicly and with horrible English about the need for police officers.

Toobin spoke about the law that said that the law about reporting sexual crimes only applies to victims under the age of 14.  The girl in California was 15.  Lisa Bloom said that anyone who has transferred or possessed a video of the event is possibly guilty of child pornography or abetting with the crime.

King asked Lisa Bloom if the principal might be accountable for the events hidden in the shadows of their buildings.  Bloom said that schools are responsible for keeping their students safe.

King spoke to the audience, saying that even though it is not a pleasant story, he is committed to covering it.

Digging Deeper – Michael Ware, David Gergen, Bob Baer

Given the violence in America, why are we sending money and troops over there?  Karzai’s brother, a reputed drug lord, is receiving payments from the US government.  Some people are even going so far to say that Karzai is on the CIA payroll.  Ware’s idea is to pay the Afghan locals to revolt against the Taliban, rather than giving the money to Karzai’s brother.  Gergen called pay-offs the dark underbelly of international politics.

UpClose

Palin and Johnston.  Levi Johnston, father of Palin’s grandson, says that when Palin comes home, she asks about her retarded child (meaning her son, Trig, who has Downs).  Palin is supposedly enjoying unemployment, but the nation doesn’t think she’s qualified to be in the oval office.  Her national approval rating is about 30%.  Her book is part of the online book price wars.

360 Bulletin

The federal hate crims measure has made gaybashing a federal crime

The Internet could be affected by H1N1.  Don’t google it!

Walmart is selling caskets.

No headway in the balloon boy case. 

No birthday greeting for Confucious.

The Shot

Two guys in iPhone costumes.