Specter - Loyal Democrat?

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) is flatly denying a report that he pledged to be a 'loyal Democrat' when he talked to President Barack Obama last week about changing parties.

Specter's denial came in an exchange Sunday with the host of NBC's "Meet the Press," David Gregory, who read verbatim from a Wall Street Journal report that quoted Specter as saying to Obama: "I'm a loyal Democrat.I support your agenda." The quotes were attributed to unnamed sources "familiar with the White House."

"You misquote me. I did not say would be a loyal Democrat. I did not say that," Specter told Gregory, somewhat indignantly.

"I did not say, 'I'm a loyal Democrat.' I read once another mistake in a newspaper, some newspaper," Specter said, arching his eyebrows, without elaborating. - Politico Story

Swine Flu - Overblown or Real Danger?

(CNN) -- As the number of swine flu cases rises around the world, so is a gradual backlash -- with some saying the threat the virus poses is overblown.

Workers in South Korea, where one case of swine flu is confirmed, disinfect a terminal Sunday at Incheon airport.

By Sunday, 898 cases of the virus, known as influenza A (H1N1), had been confirmed in 18 countries, the World Health Organization said. The number of fatalities was at 20, including one in the United States.

"There is too much hysteria in the country and so far, there hasn't been that great a danger," said Congressman Ron Paul, a Republican from Texas. "It's overblown, grossly so."

Paul, who was a freshman congressman during a swine flu outbreak in 1976, said Congress voted to inoculate the whole country at the time.

Twenty-five people died from the inoculation while one person was killed by the flu, Paul said, adding that he voted against inoculation. Watch Ron Paul talk about 1976 swine flu »

The United States' only death this year from the virus was a 22-month-old boy in Texas who was visiting from Mexico. The other 19 deaths happened in Mexico.

"I wish people would back off a little bit," Paul said.

Others shared Paul's sentiment, saying the fear of the flu has gotten out of hand.

"We have people without symptoms going into the emergency rooms asking to be screened for swine flu at the expense of people with real illness," said Cathy Gichema, a nurse in Pikesville, Maryland.

"Schools are being shut for probable causes -- sending these kids congregating to the malls. How is that helping?" Gichema said.

Dr. Mark Bell, principal of Emergent Medical Associates, which operates 18 emergency departments in Southern California, said the level of fear is unprecedented. - CNN News Story

I have been wondering and asking the same thing. We have a flu season here were single schools will have an outbreak of 20, 30, or more out with it at a single time. They don't close down those schools. Heck, it doesn't even make the nightly news.

Have we overblown this whole thing?

Rice Defends Administration's Interrogation Methods

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice defended the Bush administration's policies on the interrogation of terrorism suspects Sunday, saying former President George W. Bush would not have authorized anything illegal.

"He was also very clear that we would do nothing -- nothing -- that was against the law or against our obligations internationally," Rice said during an appearance at a Washington school.

A Senate Intelligence Committee report released in April showed Rice was among top Bush advisers who approved the CIA's use of waterboarding -- a technique considered a form of torture for centuries -- on terrorism suspects in its custody. Recently released Bush administration memos showed Justice Department officials argued that waterboarding, sleep deprivation and other coercive practices did not violate U.S. laws against torture.

The disclosures have led to calls for investigations of former Bush administration officials. But Rice said Bush "was only willing to authorize policies that were legal in order to protect the country" after al Qaeda's September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington.

"I hope people understand that it was a struggle, it was a difficult time," she said. "We were all terrified of another attack on this country because September 11 was the worst day of my life in government -- watching 3,000 Americans die because these people attacked us." But she added, "Even under those most difficult circumstances, the president was not prepared to do something illegal." - CNN News Story

This is one of those Damned if you do, Damned if you don't. I personally don't happen to believe that anything that I have read in the memos constitutes wrong doing on the part of anyone involved. However, even if you do call it torture, what do you do. You are in custody of someone that you know has information about a possible attack. If you don't do anything more and an attack happens, then everyone will be attacking you for not doing everything in your power to stop it. If you do something and stop an attack or get information then you are attacked for possible torture. Give me a break.

Napolitano - Supreme Court Nominee?

The homeland security secretary might just like the ring of it. Janet Napolitano declined to rule out being interested in an appointment to the Supreme Court when she was asked on "FOX News Sunday" about speculation that she might be on the list of potential candidates to replace outgoing Justice David Souter.

"I've got my hands full with the flu right now, and I'm just going to stick with that," she said.

When host Chris Wallace told Napolitano, "That's a non-answer," she replied: "That's all you're gonna get."

She added: "I think the president has many, many excellent choices before him and that's his choice to make."

Napolitano is the former governor and attorney general of Arizona.

Speculation has centered on potential female justices, since only one woman, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, is on the Supreme Court. - FOX News Story

That would be a great move! She has done such a wonderful job in her current post. Less we forget the "Right Wing Extremism"? How about the targeting of returning Vets? The "War on Terror"? She is on a roll in her current position, I am sure she would make a great Justice.

Hopefully this only a nightmare and there is no real thought that this is going to happen.

John Edwards under Investigation for mishandled Campaign Funds

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Failed presidential candidate John Edwards, whose political action committee paid more than $100,000 to his mistress' company, acknowledged Sunday that federal investigators were looking into how he handled his campaign funds.

But the former North Carolina senator said he was confident no money was used improperly.

Edwards' political action committee has been under scrutiny for making payments to a woman with whom he had an affair. Edwards admitted the affair with Rielle Hunter in August after months of denying tabloid reports about the relationship. - FOX News Story

Al Qaeda - Pakistan Insurgency creates Nuke Concern

ISLAMABAD — Senior American officials say they are increasingly concerned Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal may be at risk from a rising Taliban and Al Qaeda insurgency in the shaky nation, the New York Times reported Monday.

Officials told the Times they are worried militants could take possession of the arms during transport or by potentially infiltrating atomic laboraties or fuel-production plants, but emphasized that there was no reason to believe that the arsenal faced an imminent threat.

The Taliban's recent incursion into Buner, a key region 60 miles from the capital, Islamabad, hightened global fears as the whereabouts of all of Pakistan’s nuclear sites is unknown. - FOX News Story

Maybe we should go back to fighting the "war on terrorism". This thing is quickly spiraling out of control and the Administration is letting it quickly slip out of their grasp.

Congress holds Hearings on BCS

Texas Rep. Joe Barton likened college football's Bowl Championship Series to "communism" Friday, even as he made the case that the system is what it is because of money.

In his opening remarks during a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's commerce, trade and consumer protection subcommittee, Barton — the panel's ranking Republican — recalled the hearing he held on the same matter several years ago.

"That time, I had hoped through a spirit of volunteerism, the BCS would decide to go to a playoff system," he said. "That hasn't happened yet. It is interesting that people of good will — I think everybody on whatever side of the issue is a person of good will — keeps trying to tinker with the current system." - Politico Story

Porn Star 'Stormy' Daniels Planning Run for Senator

Sure, it may be a publicity stunt – but if so it's working.

Next week, porn star Stormy Daniels launches her "Listening Tour" across Louisiana. The star of such films as "Operation Desert Stormy" will appear in Baton Rouge on Tuesday and New Orleans on Wednesday in order to "meet with Louisiana men and women and listen to the issues and concerns they struggle with everyday" and gauge a potential run against Sen. David Vitter (R.).

The untraditional path into politics for Daniels, a 29-year-old with no party affiliation at present, began in February when fans launched the website DraftStormy.com to encourage a run.
When POLITICO spoke with Daniels at the time, she seemed intrigued by the idea and said "I wanted to take over the world and I guess 'senator' is a good place to start, right? I've been handed a golden opportunity and I should take advantage of it." - Politico Story

Severe Storms Topple Cowboys Training Facility

CNN) -- An air-supported roof over the Dallas Cowboys' practice field collapsed during a heavy thunderstorm Saturday afternoon, leaving 12 people injured, authorities said.

About 70 people, including more than two dozen of the team's rookies, were in the facility when it was blown down shortly before 3:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m. ET), team officials said.

Two or three suffered serious injuries, but none were believed to be in life-threatening condition Saturday night, said Dr. Paul Pepe, Dallas County's emergency medical services chief.

CNN affiliate WFAA reported Cowboys special teams coach Joe DeCamillis, the son-in-law of former NFL head coach Dan Reeves, suffered a broken back. DeCamillis was seen on a stretcher wearing a neck brace. - CNN News Story

Former VP Candidate Jack Kemp Dies

WASHINGTON — Jack Kemp, the ex-quarterback, congressman, one-time vice-presidential nominee and self-described "bleeding-heart conservative," died Saturday. He was 73.

Kemp died after a lengthy illness, according to spokeswoman Bona Park and Edwin J. Feulner, a longtime friend and former campaign adviser. Park said Kemp died at his home in Bethesda, Md., in the Washington suburbs. - FOX News Story