Willie is back.
Good morning everyone! Happy Monday to you! Joining us for today's show: Mark Halperin, John Heilemann, Matt Lewis, Bill Kristol, Robert Gibbs, Secy. Tom Perez, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Doug Oberhelman, Ayad Akhtar, David Ignatius, Janine Davidson, Dominic Chu, Radhika Jones, Paul Rieckhoff, Ann Hornaday, Dionne Searcey and more
UK Police in Turkey are in search of three girls
travelling together en route to Syria and the thought is that they are joining
ISIS. I am baffled as to how this ISIS group can attract new people let alone
young people to join it. That is just baffling to me. There is a light sprinkle
of snow right now after a few inches of heavy snow came down on Saturday night
which I had no clue about that forecast. There were also some decent moments at
the Oscar Awards show last night. I liked the opening number a lot but what was
with that dynamic between that Ana Kendrick girl and Kevin Hart later on and
what was with that joke or skit that had Neil Patrick Harris in his underwear.
That was a random and gratuitous joke that allowed the world to see his almost
naked body which take no offense please, we could have done without that one.
Also, it was great seeing Glenn Greenwald on stage and holding that Award. That
Documentary film won purely based on the content and them getting that Edward
Snowden interview before that story broke. That film was like pulling teeth.
They sat around that hotel room in Hong Kong for so long that I got distracted
and side tracked. I did not necessarily think the production was done well at
all. I did not see the other ones but all of them looked good quite frankly. I
will say that ‘Treason” joke by Neil Patrick was a low blow. Next, I loved what
Patricia Arquette said after she won. That was perfect and great for the likes
of Mika. Plus, it was needed to be said in a huge event setting like the
Oscars. I also liked what John Legend said about incarcerated people and how
there are more blacks incarcerated than when something was going down during the
Selma years. That was brilliant and again, it needs to be said to the world.
What else? Was it me or did Scarlett Johansson's dress look like she had sweaty
breasts? Plus, is Emerald a color or is it a stone? Last, I wish (Lady) Gaga
would have changed that arrangement of that song even though her vox are sick
and it was done great. I just when she does her way of singing songs. Like that
cheek to Cheek song she did at the Grammy award Show with Tony Bennett. She’s
great though. The rest of the show was normal and great. We get to see Louis
(Borgdorf) on that red carpet which as you know, annoys me to see for some
reason. Just the fact that he has that gig annoys me. Not even the way he deals
with it. I wish he did not have that job for some reason and I am not sure why.
I guess he just annoys me but that will come later on during the
show.
El Shabab made a threat to take over malls again like they did in Kenya last year. The Mall Of America was under huge security watch yesterday.
Lets move on to politics and lets talk Scott Walker. He is just losing it badly or he is poising himself for this weeks CEPAC and I get that why would anyone ask if someone is Christian or not? It’s a dumb question but even still, they )Presidential Candidates) need to be able to answer them but what is next, are they going to ask if he was born in America again? This is what he said:
“I’ve actually never talked about it or I haven’t read about that,” Walker said, his voice calm and firm. “I’ve never asked him that,” he added. “You’ve asked me to make statements about people that I haven’t had a conversation with about that. How [could] I say if I know either of you are a Christian?” Walker said such questions from reporters are reflective of a broader problem in the nation’s political-media culture, which he described as fixated on issues that are not relevant to most Americans. “To me, this is a classic example of why people hate Washington and, increasingly, they dislike the press,” he said. “The things they care about don’t even remotely come close to what you’re asking about.” Walker said he does not believe that most Americans care about such matters.“People in the media will [judge], not everyday people,” he said. “I would defy you to come to Wisconsin. You could ask 100 people, and not one of them would say that this is a significant issue.”
After the interview was completed, Walker spokeswoman Jocelyn Webster telephoned The Washington Post to say the governor was trying to make a point of principle by not answering such kinds of questions, not trying to cast doubt on Obama’s faith. “Of course the governor thinks the president is a Christian,” she said. “He thinks these kinds of gotcha questions distract from what he’s doing as governor of Wisconsin to make the state better and make life better for people in his state.” Walker’s comments Saturday came after a week in which he was asked repeatedly whether he agreed with former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani when he said at a private dinner last Wednesday that he was not sure whether Obama loves his country. Walker was a guest at the dinner. Walker again declined Saturday to weigh in on Giuliani’s characterization of the president’s patriotism and background.
The fact is that after the (Rudy) Giuliani comments last week that were done at Scott Walkers fundraising event, it could be more fair game to ask it than not. I get that its baiting them but again, he needs to be able to answer it. And, I agree with Matt Lewis. You say he is a Christian and then you say who cares and then you say he is awful POTUS. Boom. End of Story. Scott walker is blowing it. And, you know ort knew someone was going to step up to answer it that way which Marco Rubio did just that yesterday. And, cut the crap about the Liberal media please. For over 17 years there was only a right winged media present and all of a sudden in the last few years, there are some left winged or down the middle media outlets but that just started to thrive in the last few years. The Fox news’ of the world had free reign of the entire media landscape for more than ten years.
This conversation about that issue is crazy. I am not sure what to say about it. am borderline letting them go off while I sit back and listen. That was quite a half an hour start to this news week. I guess Rudy’s comments is doing what it set out to do and his pseudo apology got him an article in todays WSJ:
“I’ve actually never talked about it or I haven’t read about that,” Walker said, his voice calm and firm. “I’ve never asked him that,” he added. “You’ve asked me to make statements about people that I haven’t had a conversation with about that. How [could] I say if I know either of you are a Christian?”
Walker said such questions from reporters are reflective of a broader problem in the nation’s political-media culture, which he described as fixated on issues that are not relevant to most Americans.
“To me, this is a classic example of why people hate Washington and, increasingly, they dislike the press,” he said. “The things they care about don’t even remotely come close to what you’re asking about.”
Walker said he does not believe that most Americans care about such matters.“People in the media will [judge], not everyday people,” he said. “I would defy you to come to Wisconsin. You could ask 100 people, and not one of them would say that this is a significant issue.”
After the interview was completed, Walker spokeswoman Jocelyn Webster telephoned The Washington Post to say the governor was trying to make a point of principle by not answering such kinds of questions, not trying to cast doubt on Obama’s faith.
“Of course the governor thinks the president is a
Christian,” she said. “He thinks these kinds of gotcha questions distract from
what he’s doing as governor of Wisconsin to make the state better and make life
better for people in his state.”
Walker’s comments Saturday came after a week in which he was asked repeatedly whether he agreed with former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani when he said at a private dinner last Wednesday that he was not sure whether Obama loves his country. Walker was a guest at the dinner.
Walker again declined Saturday to weigh in on Giuliani’s characterization of the president’s patriotism and background.
Next story is that we are evidently moving closer to closing Guantanamo Prison which is what? 6 years after he (Obama) campaigned on closing it? I think there are 54 more people being allowed to leave and that would leave maybe 60 total in that prison. Next, a few kids OD’ed on X at Wesleyan University. Non story is about the sun damage which we know. Disney hikes ticket prices at theme parks. I think it costs like $105 to go to Disney for the day.
And, Oi. Bill Kristol is on and so Robert Gibbs. They begin talking about Maureen Dowd’s story about Jeb Bush (Jeb Bush’s Brainless Trust) in the NY Times last Friday or Saturday. This outta be good. The question is are we dealing with the bush family? he did do what he did to help his brother win. His dad is too old to make real decisions so its about his ideals only. Bill is actually talking pretty real about it. I love it when he is not going off on talking points. He (Bill Kristol) is smart and good sometimes but he also just goes off which I hate.
LOL. I love Joe’s answers to the same questions that Scott
walker refuses to answer. And, honestly, if they answer it this way, the story
is over. I also agree that when asked questions on the fly, you have to answer
them on the fly and Gibby’s point is great too. They should be seasoned at the
beginning of every day, as to what questions you will get asked during that day.
Especially, when the Rudy comments were said in some speech at his own event.
What would he think is going to asked those days afterward and after it?
As far as minimum wages, they should not be less than $10 an hour and they should be near $15 an hour. I guess $15 is a bit high but I would not pay any staffer at my companies less than $15 an hour. But that is a product of my industry’s and I go above the standard in our industry when I paid employees. I also do everything myself today but that’s because I got rid of all staff years ago to figure out the landscape of these industries I want to thrive in today. I want to hire soon though. I am actually grooming some people now to eventually come on in some roles at Sunset.
Anyway, back to the Oscars. I never saw that ALS movie or movie about the guy that had it but the step dad of my good ex girlfriend that I lived with for many years had it. That sucked. That was the first time I ever knew about it and we did some fundraising events about it back in the mid nineties. That was rough. I wont watch that movie though. I hate movies like that and about kids with cancer and about any health movies or movies about depleting health. I stay away from those flicks.
Regardless, I may agree with Bill Kristol again today. We have drones. We have satellites (I also agree with Joe’s comments about blowing up pipelines to keep ISIS from getting oil and then in turn selling it). We also see the videos where 200 ISIS are gathered in one area. Why don’t we just decimate them then? That makes no sense to me. We should be mutilating their training facilities where bunches of them are housed or where they train people. BTW, the reason the POTUS has to spell things out is because of how we entered Iraq and Afghanistan and not only how we just went in fast and furious under those pretenses, we had no end game. Therefore, the POTUS has to spell this out to the people to make sure we know its not open ended. that’s why I think he spells things out that way and so much.
And, the parents of the woman killed by Isis
(Kayla Mueller). spoke up about it. That policy of not paying ransom for
hostages is a hard one. You can’t do it because it would send a bad message for
these people to do it more and more but at the same time, maybe some
circumstances warrant it. I am not the right person to ask that q to. I would
pay but I just want kidnapped people to be free from it at any cost and at all
costs.
The panel is talking about Scott Walker again and his non answers of the week. Its about the larger issue and if he (Scott Walker) is ready for prime time and remember that these ‘gotcha’ questions are because of what Rudy (Giuliani) said at his event. that’s why he is being asked it. And, when did we call (George) Bush Jr. non patriotic? We called him a war monger that made money off that war. And, Gibbs has a great point in how many times have you seen or heard that question about evolution or someone’s patriotism? Answer it. Being real is what people want to hear. You don’t even need to answer it in ways that anyone wants to hear it. Just be real. They are easy questions and easy to answer if you are real about it. It is not hard. And, BTW, if someone asks about someone being Christian, don’t dance around it. Answer it in ways I guess he is. He says he is one. And, then ask who the hell cares?
I will say this is a great political round table. We are hearing every side of the issue which is great. Good Job Everyone.
And, no way Joe. Sarah Palin was asked about the reading of newspapers because she acted stupid and she said stupid things. If a Dem acted like a fool they would be ass’ed these types of questions. and john Kerry would not be asked it because we know he is educated. And, he has never really said any dumb ass'ed things like we can see Russia from Alaska as part an answer about our Homeland Security. Sarah dug her own thing by her self. That newspaper question was another easy one to answer and she could not or would not way one because she did not want to rock the boat. I will say it again, when you are not real when answering questions, you come off as just that. Not real. Answer the question. no matter what you answer, its fine. You do more damage by not answering things in real ways. We see it all of the time and conversely when people answer anything at all in any way, any damage control is fleeting because again, people want to vote in people real.
As far as the Radical Islam’s rise in the middle east, its totally ideological and not at all because people are broke or down on their luck. Obama is also setting us up to take back the city of Mosul. That should be easier for us because we have a goal. We can enter that city and take it back over like we have done for decades now. I like this Tulsi Gabbard woman. She is hot and she is getting married. Oh well for me and cool, some kid escaped from ISIS somehow? That’s way cool. I wonder why the guy from Caterpillar in on the show today. Aside from that company being the sponsor for that We Build it segment the show does or is doing.
As for the Syria girls, its been claimed that the trio was/is 'not radicalised' at Bethnal Green Academy but also, there is a question too why they are making the trip to be in that ISIS group. Part of the story says that they could be rescuing some other girl already part of it (ISIS).
From left: Kadiza Sultana, Amira Abase and Shamima
Begum flew to Istanbul last week
There is no evidence that three girls, thought
to be heading to Syria to join Islamic State, were radicalised at school, their
principal has said.
Mark Keary said pupils cannot access Twitter or
Facebook on Bethnal Green Academy computers.
"Police have advised us there is no evidence
radicalisation took place at the academy," he said.
Shamima Begum, Amira Abase, both 15, and Kadiza
Sultana, 16, flew from London to Turkey on Tuesday.
UK police officers have gone to Turkey but their role
has not been confirmed.
'Earlier disappearance'
The girls were all studying for their GCSEs at the east
London school, which reopened on Monday after half term.
The head teacher said the school was "shocked and saddened" by the girls' disappearance."This situation follows the earlier disappearance of a student in December of last year," he said.
"The police spoke to the student's friends at that time and, further to this, they indicated there was no evidence the girls were at risk of being radicalised or absconding."
Mr Keary said it was business as usual for the 1,200
pupils and staff, although "a full programme of briefing sessions" with police
and counter-radicalisation groups was available.
"The priority for all of us is the safe return of the girls," he added.
Twitter message
The girls boarded a Turkish Airlines flight from
Gatwick, and would have needed a visa for Turkey and a passport.
It has emerged that Shamima used the passport of her 17-year-old sister Aklima to travel.
Security services have been criticised after it emerged
that, before leaving the UK, Shamima sent a Twitter message to Aqsa Mahmood, who
left Glasgow for Syria in 2013 to marry an Islamic State fighter.
According to a lawyer for Ms Mahmood's family, her Twitter account has been "monitored" by police since she left Britain.
He said authorities should have seen Shamima's message and taken action before she and her two friends followed.
Their families have made appeals for them to come home.
Another of Shamima's sisters, Renu Begum, said she hoped her sister had gone to Syria to bring back the girl who had gone there from Bethnal Green Academy in December.
Ms Begum said Shamima and her friends were "young" and "vulnerable" and if anyone had tried to persuade them to go to Syria it was a "cruel and evil" thing to do.
'We miss you'
Amira's father, Abase Hussen, said: "The message we
have for Amira is to get back home.
"We miss you. We cannot stop crying. Please think
twice. Don't go to Syria."
In an appeal to Kadiza, her sister, Halima Khanom, said: "Find the courage in your heart to contact us and let us know that you are safe and you are OK.
"That is all we ask of you."
Is the Iraqi Army capable of retaking Mosul?
David Ignatius and Janine Davidson also provide insights and gives details on the strategy to retake the strategic Iraqi city of Mosul from ISIS.
American military officials announced that they are planning an operation in April or May to free Iraq's second-largest city, Mosul, from the group that calls itself the Islamic State, or ISIS. The extremist group has controlled the city since June, and the Pentagon says up to 25,000 Iraqi troops will take part in an offensive to reclaim the city.
Kurdish fighters will be a key part of this operation. The Kurds are a close U.S. ally in this conflict and have already driven ISIS out of other areas in northern Iraq. NPR's Ari Shapiro spoke with Masrour Barzani, who leads Kurdish security and intelligence services, about the approaching operation. Here are excerpts of their conversation.
Kurdish fighters will be a key part of this operation. The Kurds are a close U.S. ally in this conflict and have already driven ISIS out of other areas in northern Iraq. NPR's Ari Shapiro spoke with Masrour Barzani, who leads Kurdish security and intelligence services, about the approaching operation. Here are excerpts of their conversation.
If word came today that it's time to go liberate Mosul, would the Kurdish Peshmerga be ready?
The Peshmerga are ready and have been fighting ISIS for a long time, but the liberation of Mosul is not just about having Peshmergas ready to do their part. We are basically waiting for the rest of the Iraqi troops, the Iraqi army to be ready to come to Mosul. Peshmergas will not enter Mosul alone. We understand that this will create some political sensitivity. So there has to be a Sunni military force to be able to liberate Mosul.
Is the Iraqi army ready?
I wish I could tell you that they are ready, but they are not, and this is very unfortunate. ... Let's not forget that for 10 years the Iraqi army was trained and supported, and unfortunately they did not last for a long time fighting ISIS. Especially in Mosul. Five Iraqi military divisions and one federal police division were completely destroyed or abandoned their posts.
And let's also not forget that fighting ISIS with new recruits is not that easy. So you have to have combat-hardened forces, and those forces that have already been fighting ISIS for quite some time.
Mosul was a city of 2 million people. Do you fear that a fight could flood the region with fleeing civilians?
We have well above 1.6 million IDPs (internally displaced people) in Kurdistan, mostly from southern cities. And any plan to liberate Mosul has to be well calculated and well coordinated. The liberation of Mosul should not really lead to another mass exodus of people elsewhere. That would happen if the operation fails.
