BAILOUT HOMEOWNERS? NOW THAT'S JUST CRAZY

Protesters Enter Bear Stearns Headquarters
By REUTERS

NEW YORK (Reuters) - About 60 protesters opposed to the U.S. Federal Reserve's help in bailing out Bear Stearns entered the lobby of the investment bank's Manhattan headquarters on Wednesday, demanding assistance for struggling homeowners.

Demonstrators organized by the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America chanted "Help Main Street, not Wall Street" and entered the lobby without an invitation for around half an hour before being escorted out by police.

"There are no provisions for homeowners in this deal. There are people out there struggling who need help," said Detria Austin, an organizer at NACA, an advocacy group for home ownership.

Bear Stearns employees were alternatively amused and perplexed, taking pictures on their cell phones.

"Homeowners, that's more than $1 trillion (in mortgage debt), you're crazy," one man in a suit screamed at a protester on the street.

MALIKI UNIT - 3 DAYS

Maliki Gives Shiite Militias
72 Hours to Halt Fighting

The fighting threatens to destabilize a long-term truce
that had helped reduce the level of violence in the
five-year-old Iraq war.

***********************************

DEPT. OF 'NO SHIT SHERLOCK'

Cigarette Company Paid
For Lung Cancer Study

The revelation that a researcher’s study was underwritten
by a tobacco company has caused an appearance of bias.

************************

AP's Ron Fournier: Ungracious, Self-Important, Arrogrant, and Overbearing?

Privately, people say that Ron Fournier is ungracious, arrogant, oozes a sense of entitlement, is self-important, aloof, cocky and overbearing.

Why do people say such things about AP reporter Ron Fournier?

Will AP reporter Ron Fournier respond to these charges? Does he deny them?

Nobody expects Ron Fournier to be perfect. But he better never forget that he isn't.

Bush Refuses to Take General's Calls

Phones rings at 3:00 am at the White House. And rings. And rings. And rings. And rings. And rings. And rings. And rings. And rings. And rings.

Voice over:

"According to Jim Miklaszewski of NBC: 'In the end, under pressure
from the White House, Defense Secretary Gates refused
to take General Fallon's calls, making it clear he had to go.'"

"It's Time for a Change"

Fade-in Graphic:

Obama 08

Dear Tim Russert

Dear Tim Russert,

Unless you have some evidence that liberal women over 50 who support Hillary Clinton and black voters who support Obama will vote for John McCain in November if their candidate is not the nominee, please stop saying it on television.

Yours,

Culture of Truth

TWO DEATHLY HALLOWS FILMS!!??

The seventh and final Harry Potter novel will be adapted for the big screen in two parts, reports suggest.

Producer David Heyman told the Los Angeles Times it had been impossible to cram Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows' 608 pages into a single movie. "Unlike every other book, you cannot remove elements of this book," he said.

Fans of the series have been left disappointed in the past when key scenes, including Quidditch matches, were excised for the film adaptations. Star Daniel Radcliffe told the Los Angeles Times that splitting the final book in two was the only sensible option for the film-makers.

"There have been compartmentalised subplots in the other books that have made them easier to cut - although those cuts were still to the horror of some fans," he told the paper. The seventh book doesn't really have any subplots. It's one driving, pounding story from the word go."

The first will reportedly be released in November 2010, with the second part hitting screens the following May.

The first five movies have made $4.5 billion (£2.2 billion) worldwide - making it the biggest film franchise in box office history, surpassing both James Bond and Star Wars.

BUT HAS HE MET ADMIRAL KIRK?

As the Democratic presidential campaign has intensified in recent weeks, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and her supporters have said that Senator Barack Obama has not crossed the “threshold” to serve as commander in chief.

So does Mr. Obama believe that Mrs. Clinton is qualified?

“Yes,” Mr. Obama said. “As I believe Senator McCain is and as I believe I am. Keep in mind though, I think it is fair to say Senator Clinton has deployed this as a political strategy.”

In a news conference with reporters here today, Mr. Obama was flanked by 10 former generals and admirals who are supporting his candidacy. It is the latest in a series of dueling flag-draped events between the Clinton and Obama campaigns as they seek to demonstrate their national security credentials.

Obama Wins Wyoming

IT'S THREE A.M. - A PHONE RINGS IN THE WHITE HOUSE....

[White House Phone rings ]

"Hello! You have reached the White House. If you have an emergency and would like to speak to the President, press 5 now."

[presses 5 ]

"Si usted quisiera hablar al Presidente, ahora presione 5."

[presses 5 again ]

"Thank you."

"For nuclear war, press one."

"For a killer asteroid, press two."

"For deadly plague, press three."

"For zombie surf nazis, press four."

"For all other problems, please remain on the line and an operator will be with you shortly."

[Girl from Ipanema plays softly]

***********************************************************

Meet The Press - March 2, 2008

Meet The Press
March 2, 2008

Russert: i asked Obama about al qaeda in Iraq and he said maybe they could be there

McCain: i have news for Barack it's called al qaeda in iraq

Bush: heh heh heh

Obama: hey they weren't there until McCain invaded

Shrum: we've got to get the hell out of there

Murphy: i've got news for McCain - people don't want to stay in Iraq

Murphy: he has to stop campaigning with evangelists McCain should run as a liberal

Russert: Bill Clinton loved NAFTA but now they have both said its bad

Matalin: Oh Noes!!!

Timmy: what's wrong?

Matalin: they have our oil in Canada!

Timy: oh no!

Matalin: but Obama is being sneaky with Canada

Shrum: go ahead and campaign in favor of NAFTA in Ohio Mary - i dare you

Russert: but cutting off trade!

Shrum: sure you can renegotiate

Murphy: Otto von Bismark!

Russert: people say the economy sucks

Matalin: but they say their own finances are good

Shrum: no they don't

Matalin: ok - but only because the media keep saying it

Carville: that's stupid people know they are in big trouble meanwhile Exxon has the Chief Justice weeping for them

Murphy: of course people are hurting

Shurm: Republicans lie all the time but it won't work this time

Russert: people think McCain is old but honest, Obama is young and charismatic and Clinton is experienced and strong but mean

Carville: that's sad because she is such a warm and nice person

Matalin: McCain is the best american who has ever lived

Tim: no one else better ever???

Matalin: ok there is fred thomspson

Murphy: Obama is like the hula hoop he's got the kids moving their hips

Shurm: Obama is touching people although i don't get it myself

Russert: is he too young?

Shrum: no he's not he's like JFK and people seem to like him

Carville: if you like Bush then you'll love McCain

Shrum: McCain is going to attack Iran!

Russert: he will probably die in office

Murphy: that's true so we should look forward to Presidents Crist or Ridge

Carville: nope Ridge is pro-choice

Matalin: McCain has to have a VP with no ambition

Russert: who will Obama or Clinton choose?

Murphy: an anti-war general or Bayh or Dodd

Shrum: Zinni or Wes Clark

Russert: i say Louis Farrakhan

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