Monday, February 28, 2005
Jeff/Jim
So now Jeff/Jim claims to be “baaaaaaack!” For someone who did not want to be in the media spotlight, he sure likes being in the spotlight.
A little history on Jeff/Jim... Jeff Gannon is not his real name. His real name is James Dale Guckert (pronounced “Gookert”). He claimed to use Jeff Gannon because it was easier to pronounce. (I wonder why Christiana Amanpour didn’t go with Christy Smith?) He was a “reporter” for Talon News, the now-defunct website that regurgitated Republican talking points as if they were genuine news. Talon News was part of GOPUSA, run by Bobby Eberle, a financial and political supporter of all things GOP. Jeff/Jim asked extremely softball and leading questions that allowed Scott McClellan and President Bush to wiggle out of those tough questions. He also seems to have been issued press pass before Talon News was founded. If a proper security check had been accomplished, it would have easily found that he owed more than 20,000 in back taxes to the state of Delaware. A little further digging would have found out some more interesting information.
It is this information that Jeff/Jim claims invaded his privacy. What is this information exactly? Jeff/Jim advertised his services as a male escort – for other men. This information was not in some private diary or journal. This information was available to anyone with a bit of time and who could access Google. Jeff/Jim advertised his services as a male-for-male escort for $200 per hour or $1200 per weekend. On a review website, at least four men reviewed him and his anal sex capabilities. Undoubtedly, he has many more male clients than that.
His being an escort is not the prime issue. It is merely the part of this “fairy”-tale that makes it interesting. The bigger issues are how did a man who owed more than $20,000 in back taxes get to ask questions to the President? I know for a fact, stuff like that would delay or halt a security investigation. How did someone who has never been credentialed get access to the White House for two years? How did he get access to scoops before others in more established venues did not – including other conservative writers?
Every time I have seen Jeff/Jim on television, giving interviews even though he said he would not, he basically lies. When asked point-blank whether he was an escort who had sex with men, he defers to answer the question. He claims his lawyers told him not to. Also, his story changes each time he tells it – if ever so slightly. Jeff Jim says:
“They dug deep for dirt, dredging up things long past and erecting a fantasy world worthy of a Vince Flynn novel. What they found is domain names and sexy pictures from which sprung rumors and conspiracy theories.”
Some of the sites advertising his services were active until very recently (within the last few weeks). Bloggers and others Googling on the Internet did not have to dig far. Most of the information was found within a few hours. I read about Jeff/Jim initially on World O’ Crap. Americablog then took over and carried the ball from to where it is today. The pictures were not merely “sexy.” They were downright pornographic. They showed Jeff/Jim nude, urinating, and with an erection. I do not have a problem with those kinds of pictures. However, most of America would. As I said earlier, Jeff/Jim had anal and/or oral sex with male clients – at least four of whom submitted reviews and commented on his “services.” These are not rumours or conspiracy theories. This is the truth. All of these pictures and websites were on public servers. Jeff/Jim paid to have the information put on those servers. Jeff/Jim advertised his rates were $200/hour and $1,200 per weekend, not anyone else. Anyone with an Internet connection could find them. None of this information was in any way private. If bloggers could find this information about Jeff/Jim, the US government should have been able to, also.
If Bill Clinton had allowed a male prostitute, who owed $20,000 in back taxes and had practically no journalism (a two-day class in journalism was all Jeff/Jim received) experience and not credentials, into the pressroom to ask him softball questions, the media would have had a field day. All the major paper would have HUGE headline on the front cover. Congress would have commenced hearing.
I think the only reason Jeff/Jim is sorry about this whole affair was that he got caught. I do hope Jeff/Jim tries to sue blogs like the DailyKos and Americablog. If he does, they will more than likely question Jeff/Jim. I wonder if he will tell the truth on the stand, because up until now, Jeff/Jim has done nothing but tell half-truths and lies.
So now Jeff/Jim claims to be “baaaaaaack!” For someone who did not want to be in the media spotlight, he sure likes being in the spotlight.
A little history on Jeff/Jim... Jeff Gannon is not his real name. His real name is James Dale Guckert (pronounced “Gookert”). He claimed to use Jeff Gannon because it was easier to pronounce. (I wonder why Christiana Amanpour didn’t go with Christy Smith?) He was a “reporter” for Talon News, the now-defunct website that regurgitated Republican talking points as if they were genuine news. Talon News was part of GOPUSA, run by Bobby Eberle, a financial and political supporter of all things GOP. Jeff/Jim asked extremely softball and leading questions that allowed Scott McClellan and President Bush to wiggle out of those tough questions. He also seems to have been issued press pass before Talon News was founded. If a proper security check had been accomplished, it would have easily found that he owed more than 20,000 in back taxes to the state of Delaware. A little further digging would have found out some more interesting information.
It is this information that Jeff/Jim claims invaded his privacy. What is this information exactly? Jeff/Jim advertised his services as a male escort – for other men. This information was not in some private diary or journal. This information was available to anyone with a bit of time and who could access Google. Jeff/Jim advertised his services as a male-for-male escort for $200 per hour or $1200 per weekend. On a review website, at least four men reviewed him and his anal sex capabilities. Undoubtedly, he has many more male clients than that.
His being an escort is not the prime issue. It is merely the part of this “fairy”-tale that makes it interesting. The bigger issues are how did a man who owed more than $20,000 in back taxes get to ask questions to the President? I know for a fact, stuff like that would delay or halt a security investigation. How did someone who has never been credentialed get access to the White House for two years? How did he get access to scoops before others in more established venues did not – including other conservative writers?
Every time I have seen Jeff/Jim on television, giving interviews even though he said he would not, he basically lies. When asked point-blank whether he was an escort who had sex with men, he defers to answer the question. He claims his lawyers told him not to. Also, his story changes each time he tells it – if ever so slightly. Jeff Jim says:
“They dug deep for dirt, dredging up things long past and erecting a fantasy world worthy of a Vince Flynn novel. What they found is domain names and sexy pictures from which sprung rumors and conspiracy theories.”
Some of the sites advertising his services were active until very recently (within the last few weeks). Bloggers and others Googling on the Internet did not have to dig far. Most of the information was found within a few hours. I read about Jeff/Jim initially on World O’ Crap. Americablog then took over and carried the ball from to where it is today. The pictures were not merely “sexy.” They were downright pornographic. They showed Jeff/Jim nude, urinating, and with an erection. I do not have a problem with those kinds of pictures. However, most of America would. As I said earlier, Jeff/Jim had anal and/or oral sex with male clients – at least four of whom submitted reviews and commented on his “services.” These are not rumours or conspiracy theories. This is the truth. All of these pictures and websites were on public servers. Jeff/Jim paid to have the information put on those servers. Jeff/Jim advertised his rates were $200/hour and $1,200 per weekend, not anyone else. Anyone with an Internet connection could find them. None of this information was in any way private. If bloggers could find this information about Jeff/Jim, the US government should have been able to, also.
If Bill Clinton had allowed a male prostitute, who owed $20,000 in back taxes and had practically no journalism (a two-day class in journalism was all Jeff/Jim received) experience and not credentials, into the pressroom to ask him softball questions, the media would have had a field day. All the major paper would have HUGE headline on the front cover. Congress would have commenced hearing.
I think the only reason Jeff/Jim is sorry about this whole affair was that he got caught. I do hope Jeff/Jim tries to sue blogs like the DailyKos and Americablog. If he does, they will more than likely question Jeff/Jim. I wonder if he will tell the truth on the stand, because up until now, Jeff/Jim has done nothing but tell half-truths and lies.
Letter to John Cornyn
Here is my letter to John Cornyn:
Senator Cornyn,
A while back I sent a message with one proposed solution to fixing Social Security. I proposed raising or eliminating the cap on Social Security. The Social Security Administration has released a memorandum (http://www.ssab.gov/financing/2004_update.pdf) by Chris Chaplain and Alice Wade that shows the fiscal feasibility of this.
The memorandum also contains several other suggested corrective actions and their impact on the long-term fiscal health of Social Security. I urge you to please review it.
Social Security needs a few minor tweaks to get it back on the right track. Some of the proposals I have seen amount to tearing down the house because the sink needs to be replaced. Replace the sink, not the house.
Sincerely,
Here is my letter to John Cornyn:
Senator Cornyn,
A while back I sent a message with one proposed solution to fixing Social Security. I proposed raising or eliminating the cap on Social Security. The Social Security Administration has released a memorandum (http://www.ssab.gov/financing/2004_update.pdf) by Chris Chaplain and Alice Wade that shows the fiscal feasibility of this.
The memorandum also contains several other suggested corrective actions and their impact on the long-term fiscal health of Social Security. I urge you to please review it.
Social Security needs a few minor tweaks to get it back on the right track. Some of the proposals I have seen amount to tearing down the house because the sink needs to be replaced. Replace the sink, not the house.
Sincerely,
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Wankers
Wanker #1: Jonah Goldberg
Jonah Goldberg recently said on his “CHICKENHAWK REDUX,” “‘a few’ of the reasons I never signed up before the war were my age, my financial situation, my brand new baby daughter and my physical condition.”
Jonah is 35. Practically everything in the military can be is waived, especially when recruitment is involved. I’m sure a recruiter would have loved to submit a waiver for Jonah’s age. If he went to a Marine recruiter, it might have helped the Marines reach their recruitment goal they missed in January.
I doubt Jonah’s financial situation is that dire. Sure, enlisted pay probably is not as much as what he is making now, but I bet he could ask his mother, Lucianne, to help out. His medical, dental, and vision expenses would be covered. He could even get coverage, under Tricare, for his wife and children. Plus, if was sent into combat, he would get combat pay and separation pay. Bonus!
Jonah said he had a brand new baby daughter, but so did quite a few other service men who went to Afghanistan and Iraq. Some of them have never even seen their new children because they were born just after they deployed. If Jonah is so “rah-rah” war, being separated from his wife and children for the good of his country should be worth it, right?
His final excuse in the series is his physical condition. I am sure that after basic training would be in shape and ready to kick some al Qaeda butt! He’d have to run, do push-ups, and pull-up. Those Marine Drill Instructors make him slim and trim by the time he graduated basic training.
Now, he did say, “I never said these were the ‘only’ reasons I didn’t sign up. Merely that these were among them.” So Jonah has other objections to signing up? I wonder what they are? I guess it is alright if other people sign up and go to Afghanistan and Iraq, just as long as he does not have to. His reasons for not signing up are excuses, nothing more. I have known people almost as old as him who have enlisted or have been commissioned. I have known people whose financial situations were better and worse than Jonahs’. I have known people who only glimpsed their children once they returned from their deployment.
I think Jonah’s actions speak louder than his words. He is willing to be a cheerleader from the sidelines, but won’t put on the pad and helmet to get out on the field.
Wanker #2: Howard Kurtz
Howard Kurtz think poor Jeff Gannon/James Guckert is being picked on too much. Kurtz claimed that left wing; liberal bloggers were digging too much into Jeff/James’ personal and business life.
Let me put it bluntly: From what John Aravosis discovered, Jeff/James had a career as a male escort (prostitute, whore, whatever…). He was not just a media whore; he was one in real life, too.
The reason this became an issue was that he drew attention to himself by asking extremely softball/right wing questions. Once he drew attention to himself, bloggers started investigating who he was and how he was able to get into the White House to ask questions to Scott McClellan and President Bush. When they found out he only had day passes and not a permanent pass like the other White House reporters, they started digging more. Jeff/James also claimed he was hiding in plain sight! So, he practically dared the bloggers to find out information on him.
It turns out Jeff/James received his first pass five days after Talon News went online. Wow! I’m wondering if I can get one, too. Then an intrepid blogger came across an AOL website that showed someone that looked remarkably like “Jeff Gannon.” Except this wasn’t Jeff in a nicely pressed suit - he was semi-nude. Commentators remarked that the semi-nude man and “Jeff Gannon” looked remarkably alike; they even wore the same watch. They discovered the name of the AOL website owner was James Daniel Guckert.
The bloggers also discovered that a J.D. Guckert and a “Bedrock Corporation” registered several questionable websites. The address of the Bedrock Corporation and Jeff Gannon’s registered web site, “The Conservative Guy,” were the same.
Only a few days later John Aravosis, through his Americablog website, posted the information that showed Jeff Gannon/Jamed Guckert not only registered male escort web site sites, he also was a male escort. From the links to the review site, Jeff/James has had at least four clients.
Kurtz thinks this is a bit unfair to Jeff/James. Please! It’s called investigative journalism. I think Kurtz may have heard of it. I may be wrong, though. How a male escort with basically no journalism background get a press pass every day? Something smells in the White House.
Kurtz wants to play Jeff/James as the victim. Sorry, Howie, it is not going to work. Jeff/James lied to the American public in interviews he gave to CNN and NPR. What else is he not telling the truth about?
Wanker #1: Jonah Goldberg
Jonah Goldberg recently said on his “CHICKENHAWK REDUX,” “‘a few’ of the reasons I never signed up before the war were my age, my financial situation, my brand new baby daughter and my physical condition.”
Jonah is 35. Practically everything in the military can be is waived, especially when recruitment is involved. I’m sure a recruiter would have loved to submit a waiver for Jonah’s age. If he went to a Marine recruiter, it might have helped the Marines reach their recruitment goal they missed in January.
I doubt Jonah’s financial situation is that dire. Sure, enlisted pay probably is not as much as what he is making now, but I bet he could ask his mother, Lucianne, to help out. His medical, dental, and vision expenses would be covered. He could even get coverage, under Tricare, for his wife and children. Plus, if was sent into combat, he would get combat pay and separation pay. Bonus!
Jonah said he had a brand new baby daughter, but so did quite a few other service men who went to Afghanistan and Iraq. Some of them have never even seen their new children because they were born just after they deployed. If Jonah is so “rah-rah” war, being separated from his wife and children for the good of his country should be worth it, right?
His final excuse in the series is his physical condition. I am sure that after basic training would be in shape and ready to kick some al Qaeda butt! He’d have to run, do push-ups, and pull-up. Those Marine Drill Instructors make him slim and trim by the time he graduated basic training.
Now, he did say, “I never said these were the ‘only’ reasons I didn’t sign up. Merely that these were among them.” So Jonah has other objections to signing up? I wonder what they are? I guess it is alright if other people sign up and go to Afghanistan and Iraq, just as long as he does not have to. His reasons for not signing up are excuses, nothing more. I have known people almost as old as him who have enlisted or have been commissioned. I have known people whose financial situations were better and worse than Jonahs’. I have known people who only glimpsed their children once they returned from their deployment.
I think Jonah’s actions speak louder than his words. He is willing to be a cheerleader from the sidelines, but won’t put on the pad and helmet to get out on the field.
Wanker #2: Howard Kurtz
Howard Kurtz think poor Jeff Gannon/James Guckert is being picked on too much. Kurtz claimed that left wing; liberal bloggers were digging too much into Jeff/James’ personal and business life.
Let me put it bluntly: From what John Aravosis discovered, Jeff/James had a career as a male escort (prostitute, whore, whatever…). He was not just a media whore; he was one in real life, too.
The reason this became an issue was that he drew attention to himself by asking extremely softball/right wing questions. Once he drew attention to himself, bloggers started investigating who he was and how he was able to get into the White House to ask questions to Scott McClellan and President Bush. When they found out he only had day passes and not a permanent pass like the other White House reporters, they started digging more. Jeff/James also claimed he was hiding in plain sight! So, he practically dared the bloggers to find out information on him.
It turns out Jeff/James received his first pass five days after Talon News went online. Wow! I’m wondering if I can get one, too. Then an intrepid blogger came across an AOL website that showed someone that looked remarkably like “Jeff Gannon.” Except this wasn’t Jeff in a nicely pressed suit - he was semi-nude. Commentators remarked that the semi-nude man and “Jeff Gannon” looked remarkably alike; they even wore the same watch. They discovered the name of the AOL website owner was James Daniel Guckert.
The bloggers also discovered that a J.D. Guckert and a “Bedrock Corporation” registered several questionable websites. The address of the Bedrock Corporation and Jeff Gannon’s registered web site, “The Conservative Guy,” were the same.
Only a few days later John Aravosis, through his Americablog website, posted the information that showed Jeff Gannon/Jamed Guckert not only registered male escort web site sites, he also was a male escort. From the links to the review site, Jeff/James has had at least four clients.
Kurtz thinks this is a bit unfair to Jeff/James. Please! It’s called investigative journalism. I think Kurtz may have heard of it. I may be wrong, though. How a male escort with basically no journalism background get a press pass every day? Something smells in the White House.
Kurtz wants to play Jeff/James as the victim. Sorry, Howie, it is not going to work. Jeff/James lied to the American public in interviews he gave to CNN and NPR. What else is he not telling the truth about?
Monday, February 14, 2005
Jeff Gannon/James Guckert
Just saw John Aravosis' site, Americablog, has a pretty in depth expose on the most current revelations about Jeff Gannon/James Guckert.
Why does it matter? It matters because he lied to the American public about his past. From what John Aravosis dug up, it appears Jeff Gannon/James Guckert was a male escort (he got paid to "spend time" with men). When asked on NPR, he denied the site registered in his name were his. He claimed they were for clients. They may have been. However, in light of what I saw today, I have my doubts.
How else does this matter? It matters because a man who had a shady past doing something that is illegal (in Washington D.C.) got to have a day pass and was so close to the President. How did he get the day pass? Did no one do a thorough background investigation on him?
It also matters because I have read many comments on Americablog that say this incident is no big deal. What!? Could you imagine the furor the religious "right" would have if this would have happened in the Clinton administration? That they are not up in arms about this tells me that they are nothing but hypochristians. As long as Bush pushes their agenda (even minimally), they'll turn a blind eye to the goings on.
I personally do not care if Jeff Gannon/James Guckert was a male escort to pay his bills. What I do care about is how he got access to the White House and why this thing is not a HUGE issue for the religious right calling on someone in the White House to get impeached. Gotta love the hypocrisy.
Just saw John Aravosis' site, Americablog, has a pretty in depth expose on the most current revelations about Jeff Gannon/James Guckert.
Why does it matter? It matters because he lied to the American public about his past. From what John Aravosis dug up, it appears Jeff Gannon/James Guckert was a male escort (he got paid to "spend time" with men). When asked on NPR, he denied the site registered in his name were his. He claimed they were for clients. They may have been. However, in light of what I saw today, I have my doubts.
How else does this matter? It matters because a man who had a shady past doing something that is illegal (in Washington D.C.) got to have a day pass and was so close to the President. How did he get the day pass? Did no one do a thorough background investigation on him?
It also matters because I have read many comments on Americablog that say this incident is no big deal. What!? Could you imagine the furor the religious "right" would have if this would have happened in the Clinton administration? That they are not up in arms about this tells me that they are nothing but hypochristians. As long as Bush pushes their agenda (even minimally), they'll turn a blind eye to the goings on.
I personally do not care if Jeff Gannon/James Guckert was a male escort to pay his bills. What I do care about is how he got access to the White House and why this thing is not a HUGE issue for the religious right calling on someone in the White House to get impeached. Gotta love the hypocrisy.
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Elections in Iraq
Originally written 8 Feb 05.
I like to plan for the worst and hope for the best. I thought the elections were going to be worse than they were. Thankfully, I was wrong. (When you have a loved one in Iraq, you tend to worry for their safety.) Still, if one person is killed standing in line to vote, that is bad - no matter where it happens. At least 28 people were killed trying to vote in Iraq.
Now I read that the Grand Ayatollah Al Sistani's slate has the lead. Next is the Kurdish slate with 24% of the vote. Finally, Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's slate is running third with about 13% of the vote.
I will wait and see what happens. I do not like some of the developments I am seeing, though. For instance, barbers in Iraq have become a target of extremists. The extremists believe in a strict interpretation of the Koran that states that men should not have their beards.
If Al Sistani's slate of electors wins a huge majority, will they impose strict Islamic law on the citizens of Iraq? Will Iraq look like Afghanistan did when the Taliban ruled? Will it look more like Saudi Arabia? What rights will the people have? Will Christian Iraqis (Chaldeans) be allowed to practice Christianity freely or will they be forced to practice behind closed doors? How about people of other religions? What rights will women have? Will the US be asked to leave?
The answers to these questions will be interesting to see as they happen.
Originally written 8 Feb 05.
I like to plan for the worst and hope for the best. I thought the elections were going to be worse than they were. Thankfully, I was wrong. (When you have a loved one in Iraq, you tend to worry for their safety.) Still, if one person is killed standing in line to vote, that is bad - no matter where it happens. At least 28 people were killed trying to vote in Iraq.
Now I read that the Grand Ayatollah Al Sistani's slate has the lead. Next is the Kurdish slate with 24% of the vote. Finally, Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's slate is running third with about 13% of the vote.
I will wait and see what happens. I do not like some of the developments I am seeing, though. For instance, barbers in Iraq have become a target of extremists. The extremists believe in a strict interpretation of the Koran that states that men should not have their beards.
If Al Sistani's slate of electors wins a huge majority, will they impose strict Islamic law on the citizens of Iraq? Will Iraq look like Afghanistan did when the Taliban ruled? Will it look more like Saudi Arabia? What rights will the people have? Will Christian Iraqis (Chaldeans) be allowed to practice Christianity freely or will they be forced to practice behind closed doors? How about people of other religions? What rights will women have? Will the US be asked to leave?
The answers to these questions will be interesting to see as they happen.
Sunday, February 06, 2005
Rose Spector
I volunteered yesterday for the Rose Spector Campaign. She was running for Texas Representative for the 121st District. I was a poll watcher. Poll watchers are simply supposed to sit and observe the polls. They cannot talk to the voters. Amazingly, my five (plus) hours of sitting and watching the polls went by pretty quickly - considering I was sitting and watching for five hours! Another poll watcher for the Joe Strauss campaign showed up about a couple of hours after I showed up. He said that just sitting and doing nothing was boring. He wanted to get out and electioneer.
I'm happy to say that Rose won handily in one of the precincts I was observing and lost by one vote in another. I went to her campaign party location in a hotel. I saw that the Rose Spector campaign was using paper to get the results. Thankfully, I had my laptop with me and fired up Excel and put in the numbers.
Unfortunately, the numbers did not look good. I hated to be the bearer of bad news. She won just over 30 percent of the vote. Her opponent, Joe Strauss won just over 60 percent of the vote.
I want to thank Byron LaMasters and Karl-Thomas Musselman (of Burnt Orange Report) for letting me know more about her campaign. They did good work advertising for it. I wish Rose could have won, but there will be more elections. We just have to work hard for the next ones.
I volunteered yesterday for the Rose Spector Campaign. She was running for Texas Representative for the 121st District. I was a poll watcher. Poll watchers are simply supposed to sit and observe the polls. They cannot talk to the voters. Amazingly, my five (plus) hours of sitting and watching the polls went by pretty quickly - considering I was sitting and watching for five hours! Another poll watcher for the Joe Strauss campaign showed up about a couple of hours after I showed up. He said that just sitting and doing nothing was boring. He wanted to get out and electioneer.
I'm happy to say that Rose won handily in one of the precincts I was observing and lost by one vote in another. I went to her campaign party location in a hotel. I saw that the Rose Spector campaign was using paper to get the results. Thankfully, I had my laptop with me and fired up Excel and put in the numbers.
Unfortunately, the numbers did not look good. I hated to be the bearer of bad news. She won just over 30 percent of the vote. Her opponent, Joe Strauss won just over 60 percent of the vote.
I want to thank Byron LaMasters and Karl-Thomas Musselman (of Burnt Orange Report) for letting me know more about her campaign. They did good work advertising for it. I wish Rose could have won, but there will be more elections. We just have to work hard for the next ones.
