John Hill: An Exercise in Irresponsible Journalism

Case Study 1: Over the 'Hill'

It seems that John Hill's career as a reporter has ended and now he is trying his hand at screenplays. He has a flare for the flamboyant, and a preference for fiction over facts. In an article he wrote to smear US Senator David Vitter and create the appearance of GOP division, John "Capote" Hill chose a wild cast of characters to source.

When Hill wrote, "Some top Republicans are discussing whether to ask U.S. Sen. David Vitter to resign and packaging a deal with Democratic Gov. Kathleen Blanco to appoint a place-holding Republican to take his place," he cited former Governor Dave Treen, Vincent Bruno, Christopher Tidmore, and Mike Bayham as "top Republicans". You have to forgive Mr. Hill if his GOP rolodex is a little thin, he does spend most of his time in Kathleen's lap...

Let's look at these characters:
Dave Treen - Former Governor, but left elected office for the last time in 1983...24 years ago! He was defeated by Vitter for Congress in a bitter contest in 1999 and left with thousands in debt. His brother is a whole other story...

Vincent Bruno - Served time in the federal pen for a scheme to bribe a judge. Mr. Bruno admitted to payroll fraud as an employee of the Orleans Levee Board and he was fired from the NOPD for violating office policy. Seriously, how bad do you have to be to be fired from the NOPD?

Christopher Tidmore - Quasi-journalist that first broke a rumor that is still yet unfounded. Between his "newspaper" and "radio" program, his audience amounts to seven (he, his mother, and the voices inside his head). The only thing more irresponsible than his reporting is his wardrobe.

Mike Bayham - Where do you start with Mr. Bayham? At nearly 40 years old, Mikey still hasn't outgrown the College Republicans. Mike's idea of a hot Saturday night is dreaming up party resolutions over a nice cup of Treen Kool Aid.

GOP Solidly Behind Vitter

Support for US Senator David Vitter continues to pour in from Republican elected officials, party activists, and citizens from throughout Louisiana. Early media reports to the contrary have proven reckless and unfounded.

"Any talk of David Vitter resigning or me being appointed to his Senate seat is ridiculous. It's just not going to happen." - Former Governor Dave Treen

"My prayers are with David and his family during this tough time. He is an effective Senator for Louisiana, and I look forward to continuing to work with him." - Congressman Jim McCrery




"David is doing the right thing taking some time to be with his family. I look forward to his returning to work soon and know he'll continue to dedicate himself to working tirelessly on behalf of the people of Louisiana."
- Congressman Rodney Alexander



"My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this trying time. Your great work for our state should not get lost in the current frenzy. You have been and will continue to be a great advocate for the State of Louisiana in the US Senate." - Secretary of State Jay Dardenne



“I am honored to call David Vitter a friend and supporter. I am proud of his service to this state and his strong record of reform. True Christians should be forgiving. I look forward to the day when David can get back to work and the day when the healing is complete.” -State Representative Mike Strain


"Senator Vitter has been a strong leader for our state. I continue to support the work he's doing on important issues like the recovery of our region and immigration reform. My prayers are with David and his family."
- State Representative Steve Scalise

Your Second Cup

• Nobody Is Dumping Vitter (Gannett) - John Hill has dropped his best Vitter-bash effort this morning. Seriously , your best sources are two bitter, washed up old men (the Treens) and a never-has-been quasi-journalist (Tidmore)? I always expect less from John Hill.
• Attorney For NOLA Madam Denies Vitter Involvement (The Advocate) - “David Vitter’s name was never picked up on a government wiretap nor is it listed in any transcript or court document as part of the Canal Street brothel case,” Mosca said Wednesday.
• Legal Trouble Unlikely For Vitter (Times-Pic) - Sen. David Vitter, R-La., isn't likely to face any criminal liability over allegations by the operator of a former Canal Street brothel that he was a customer, or his own apology for his connection to an alleged Washington, D.C., prostitution ring.

McCaindenburg Plunges Toward Fiery Death

In what seems to be another nail, in an endless series of nails, in the coffin of Sen. John McCain's Presidential aspirations, his campaign manager and chief strategist have resigned.

In statements, Terry Nelson, a veteran of President Bush's successful 2004 re-election effort, said he resigned as campaign manager effective immediately and John Weaver said he stepped down from his post of chief strategist on Tuesday.

This follows yesterday's news that Texas renegade, Ron Paul, had more cash-on-hand than McCain. "Streamline" all you can, John. The Fat Lady will soon sing.

Where's Roy Fletcher when you need him?

Sicko!

If you ask 100 people if our current health care system is broken, 100 people will say "yes." We here at OrN are not looking to defend the status quo, however, it's no surprise that Michael Moore's film, Sicko, does nothing to advance the serious debate. America's king of half-truths and outright lies focuses his newest "mockumentary" on the shortfalls of the American health care system and proposes his novel solution...universal health care (big surprise). Moore continues to rely on emotion over fact and values sensationalism over honest, open dialog.

From the New York Times article, What's Lacking In 'Sicko',

WHEN it comes to economic decisions, there are always trade-offs. Gain one thing and you lose something else. This is particularly true in health care, a market in which a scarce good is ridiculously expensive, but needed by everybody.

The central argument of Michael Moore’s movie “Sicko” — that the cure to the nation’s health care problems is a single-payer system — is hardly novel and is certainly worth consideration, whether or not you agree with it. But in comparing the American system with single-payer plans of other countries —Britain, France, Canada and Cuba — Mr. Moore left out the trade-offs, characterizing those countries as health care paradises.

The elisions have been noticed — and criticism is coming not just from Mr. Moore’s most bellicose and dogmatic detractors.

Kurt Loder, the film critic who is best known as the anchor of “MTV News,” wrote a scathing critique of the film for MTV’s Web site. “ ‘Sicko,’ ” he allowed, “does a real service” in portraying victims of American insurance companies — like the people who died because their only treatment options were deemed “experimental” and therefore not covered.

But the film as a whole, he concluded, is “breathtakingly meretricious,” in large part because of its characterizations of other countries’ health care systems.

When “governments attempt to regulate the balance between a limited supply of health care and an unlimited demand for it, they’re inevitably forced to ration treatment,” Mr. Loder asserted. He ticked off a number of negative anecdotes and statistics to counter the positive ones offered by Mr. Moore. Mr. Loder cited the short film “Dead Meat,” which presents anecdotes of failure in the Canadian single-payer system. In its one-sidedness, “Dead Meat” (available online at onthefencefilms.com) might have made for a nice double feature with “Sicko,” and left moviegoers with a more complete understanding of the complications of deciding on a health care system.

Mr. Moore also decided to ignore or gloss over problems in other countries, like France’s high taxes and Britain’s cash-short hospitals.

This all makes an otherwise “emotionally compelling film not necessarily an intellectually gratifying one,” wrote Darren Barefoot, a Canadian blogger (darrenbarefoot.com).

Your Second Cup

• Suing Ourselves Into Prosperity: Man Files Lawsuit Against Blanco's Road Home Program and Contractor (Times-Pic) - Donald C. Massey of Metairie, wants a federal judge to appoint a special master to take over the slow-moving program, and order the company to implement 21 measures aimed at helping homeowners get their money.
• Pelosi Not Taking $%!+ From Anyone (WaPost) - Edging Away From Inner Circle, Pelosi Asserts Authority: Democrat Speaker has evolved from a somewhat tentative political figure reliant on a small circle of advisers to the undisputed leader of the House's fractious Democratic majority.
• Democrat Chairman Proposes 50-cent Increase In Gasoline Tax! (The Hill) - House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.) will propose a new carbon tax that would increase the gasoline tax by 50 cents, the lawmaker said in an interview on C-SPAN's ‘Newsmakers’ airing Sunday.
• Federer Is The Man (ESPN) - So dominant is Federer that he has now appeared in nine consecutive Grand Slam finals, winning seven. He also has won 34 consecutive matches at Wimbledon -- a staggering achievement if you really think about it -- and a record 54 straight matches on grass.

Giuliani Visits New Orleans, Urges End To Illegal Immigration

In a Saturday visit to New Orleans, America's Mayor and Presidential hopeful Rudy Guiliani stressed the need to put an end to illegal immigration before addressing any other challenges surrounding the issues.

"We need to end illegal immigration," he said. "If we do, a lot of things can happen, in terms of how you resolve everything here. But if you don't end illegal immigration, almost nothing is possible, because no matter what you do, things are going to get worse."

The visit marks Guiliani's first visit to New Orleans as a candidate for President. The former mayor of New York was joined by US Senator David Vitter.

"I think all this has to do with competence and leadership and making things work, and I think Rudy has the best proven track record in that, by far, among presidential candidates," he said, Giuliani at his side.

Read full article.

Vitter A New Force To Be Reckoned With

This week, US Senator David Vitter has shown the rest of the country what we have known here in Louisiana for some time. Vitter has proven again that he is a skilled legislator who is fiercely loyal to his constituents and refuses to back down from any fight. Against the likes of John McCain, Ted Kennedy, and his own President, Vitter, and four other junior GOP members, took on a flawed immigration bill that was being stampeded through the upper chamber and wrestled that bull to the ground. Viva Vitter!



Further coverage:

• Junior GOP Senators Defeat Old Guard (Washington Times) - Mr. DeMint, Mr. Vitter of Louisiana and Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, all of them in the class of 2004, spent hours camped on the Senate floor protecting their rights, objecting to Democratic requests and generally making life difficult for Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat.
• Immigration Debate Kindled New Kind Of Rancor (SF Gate) - "Eighty percent of the American people were against this bill," [Vitter] said. "For anybody to suggest that was about racism, I think itself is the height of ugliness and arrogance."
• Senate Hands Bush Major Defeat On Immigration (Reuters) - "The next step is to immediately push the president to take up his word and enforce security at the border," said Sen. David Vitter, a Louisiana Republican who help lead the fight against the bill.

"Throw Momma From The Train"

When asked how the mom should deal with tax cuts that exceed her threshold, Blanco said, "Mama says you better be careful or you're going to lose your project."

"She's not my mama, and she's not my constituent," said Rep. Jim Tucker, R-Algiers, who heads the Republican House delegation. "The people of this state deserve some of those dollars back. I believe if she doesn't come off this $180 million limit, she will be facing a veto override."

Fred Thompson: Man, Myth, Or Legend?

While McCain, Giuliani and Romney have been running for months, Fred Thompson, by all accounts, is ready to throw his hat into the Presidential race. Recent polls show the television star, lobbyist, and former Senator climbing and now in a solid second behind Giuliani.

But what do we really know about the Thompson record? Some conservatives, particularly the socially concerned, have eagerly embraced him. However, now some are questioning the actor's stance on a critical litmus test for conservatives, abortion. Here it is “Law and Order” style...



Fred's response?



We here at OrN are looking forward to the dream becoming a reality. Will the man live up to the myth? You decide.

Your Second Cup

• House GOP Continues To Fight "Mommy Dearest" (The Advocate) - “I like all tax breaks, but we just have to come to a realistic understanding,” the governor said Wednesday morning.
• We're Last, But Not For Long...Cockfighting Ban Passes (Times-Pic) - The long, controversial history of legal cockfighting will come to an end in Louisiana -- and the United States -- on Aug. 15, 2008, if Gov. Kathleen Blanco signs a bill sent to her by lawmakers Wednesday.
• NEWSFLASH! Pelosi Still A Liberal (The Hill) - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is working hard to make sure that the fiery liberal wing of the Democratic Party remembers that she is one of them. She is also going out of her way to reassure opponents of the war that she is on their side.
• Immigration Measure Imperiled Again In US Senate (WaPost) - The Senate yesterday turned back a series of amendments from both parties aimed at substantially altering controversial immigration legislation, but the bill shed supporters as it became mired in procedural problems that left backers concerned about its prospects.

Your Second Cup

• Republican Delegation Fights Fire With Fire (The Advocate) -

Parents who send their children to private and parochial schools would be able to deduct part of the tuition and fees they pay under a bill that cleared the House on Monday.

The income tax deduction was one of a number of tax breaks that Republicans pushed through at the start of the final week of the legislative session.

GOP lawmakers also advanced tax relief on gifts, college contributions and business utilities.

• Reckless and Nude? (Times-Pic) - A nude driver hit a trooper at a traffic stop in East Baton Rouge Parish and tried to run over two more in Ascension Parish before they ended the early morning chase by shooting out a tire, state police said.

• Sunburn? Just Sue Exxon (Dallas Morning News) -
  

The law firms – and a dozen others nationwide – are getting ready for a predicted explosion of climate-related work tied to government regulation, lawsuits against energy companies and new markets that will trade the rights to emit carbon.

Some lawyers are trying to tie the damage from Hurricane Katrina to global warming – and the energy companies who may have contributed to that warming.

• Paris Is Free! (AP) - The 26-year-old celebutante was greeted by an enormous gathering of cameras and reporters upon leaving the all-women's facility in Lynwood about 15 minutes past midnight. She had checked into the Century Regional Detention Facility late June 3, largely avoiding the spotlight, after a surprise appearance at the MTV Movie Awards.

Now, On To More Pressing Matters...

In a trial that has become proof positive of the need for civil justice reform, a judge ruled in favor of the defendants in the case of the $54 million missing pants.

A Washington, D.C., dry cleaning store that was sued for $54 million over an allegedly missing pair of pants will not have to pay anything to its disgruntled customer, a judge ruled Monday.

Instead, Roy Pearson, who sued over the missing trousers, may have to pay the store owners' legal fees.

Yes, the lunacy of this case is extreme. However, what is no laughing matter is that Louisiana is ranked 48th in judicial fairness by major employers, and jurisdictions like Orleans Parish have been listed as "Judicial Hellholes" by the American Tort Reform Association.

You Second Cup

• Senate committee approves $1.9 billion for Road Home shortfall but continues to look gift horse in the mouth (The Advocate) - The committee — at the Blanco administration’s urging — committed $74.5 million in cash to build a new charity hospital in New Orleans.

  The federal government is critical of the state’s hospital plan, questioning the proposed size and cost. The dispute leaves the state with the choice of going back to the drawing board or possibly giving up $226 million in federal funds for the teaching and research hospital.

• Edwin Will Not Attend Brother's Funeral (Times-Pic) - "It's not that they don't want to let him go," Marion Edwards said. "It's just such a complicated deal."

• '08 Dem Contenders Roll Out Health Care Reforms, Hillary A Little Gun Shy (AP) - When it comes to health care reform, Hillary Rodham Clinton epitomizes the old adage, "once burned, twice shy."
• Immigration Bill On Ninth Life (The Hill) - Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), a key opponent to the bipartisan immigration bill that will be taken up again next week, said Sunday that support for the legislation “continues to erode.”

Your Second Cup of Coffee

Enough said...


Legislative Alert!!!

Dear Friends,

Some legislators want to take control of the State Bond Commission by passing Senate Bill 14 (SB14). They are only doing it because I saved $100 million taxpayer dollars by opposing Commissioner Bob Odom’s Syrup Mill in Bunkie last year.

What does this mean to the average citizen, you ask? It means certain legislators will have more power to run up more state debt. That means higher taxes. Governor Blanco has said that SB 14 is a good bill and a good idea. That’s outrageous.

But taxpayers like yourself can fight back.

On this website, you have the power to find your legislator and immediately send an E-MAIL or FAX telling them to vote against Senate Bill 14. You can also call your legislator directly or leave a message for them at 225-342-6945.

I’m proud to serve as your Treasurer, and I’ll never forget that this is the taxpayers’ money…not the politicians’!

John KennedyState Treasurer

Republic of New Orleans? City Seeks Foreign Aid

Ray Nagin and His Merry Band of Imbeciles are at it again. According to the AP, the Mayor and his administration are "in negotiations" with at least five unnamed foreign governments to make up for a shortfall because "bureaucracy is choking the flow of much-needed federal aid dollars to New Orleans."

Looking over obvious Constitutional questions, is Ray Nagin really the best we have to negotiate with a foreign government?

Buried in the story was this gem from Landrieu flak, Adam Sharp. Apparently, Louisiana 's senior Senator is "working with the government of Saudi Arabia on ways it can help restore New Orleans' City Park." Saudi Arabia, really? You can't make this stuff up.

Uncompassionate Conservatives

Fred Barnes of The Weekly Standard has posted an article on House Republicans efforts to reclaim the mantle of fiscal conservatism and the lengths they are will to go to get there. They have a group of 147 GOP Congressmen that are willing to stand against any attempt to override a Bush veto of Democrat appropriations bills.

...they are willing to be pilloried by Democrats as pitiless, cruel, unfeeling, callous, uncaring, coldhearted, and Scrooge-like to get it. That's how important it is to Republicans to be seen again as politicians who can be counted on to restrain or, better yet, slash government spending, even in the case of popular programs.

It's too early to know if the GOP has finally found its voice, but Congress looks like it's headed for a showdown over the budget later this summer. Whatever the end result may be, it is nice to see signs of life from conservatives in our nation's Capital.

Your Second Cup Of Coffee

• Show Me The Money, NOLA Residents Protest Road Home Shortfall (The Advocate) - Displaced New Orleanian Francine Lamothe and a hundred or so other New Orleans-area residents marched Thursday from the Governor’s Mansion to the State Capitol.
• Rev. Billy Graham's Wife, Ruth, Dies At 87 (AP) - In a recent visit to Ruth and Billy Graham's beloved home in the western North Carolina mountains, her local pastor recalled, the world's most renowned evangelist fumbled the words to the 23rd Psalm — one of his wife's favorites.
• For Wedding Crashers, It's A Can't Miss (The Advertiser) - Bride to walk down aisle at New Iberia Wal-Mart, New Iberia's Kymberlie DeRouen figured she and fiance William Guidry were due for a little good luck. She just didn't know how fortunate they would get.
• Spurs Establish Dynasty, Sweep Cavs - San Antonio 83, Cleveland 82
• US Open Championship - 2nd Round (Oakmont CC, Underway)
  

Thank You Sir, May I Have Another?

Ray “Willy Wonka” Nagin, in yet another stroke of genius, has declared that he wants even more on his plate regarding the recovery of New Orleans. Land previously maintained by the now defunct Orleans Levee Board is up for grabs, and Mayor Wonka would like to see the city take control of the property which includes Lakefront Airport, a number of marinas, and other valuable waterfront land.

Some might question the wisdom of adding responsibility to an administration that faces such financial, organizational, and intellectual challenges. Not to worry says Kenya Smith, Nagin's executive assistant for intergovernmental affairs. The staffer responded to the criticism saying, “the city manages a number of assets very well," citing Louis Armstrong International Airport as an example.

I don't know about you, but we feel better already. For a longer list of "well-managed" assets, we suggest you contact CITY HALL CI HAL .

The Hoff John Georges For Governor

Ok, ok. We here at OrN know that John Georges for Governor can't be taken seriously, but this stuff is seriously funny. Please do not scroll down if nudity or the '80s offends you...we cannot be held responsible.

This seems like a good time to launch the inaugural OrN Caption Contest. E-mail your suggested caption to theivhorsemen@gmail.com. We will post the top five later this afternoon.