Donated!

Donated! Thank you, Dennis.

Will do! I’m from Orygun and have more than decent Congressfolk (Wyden, Merkeley, and Wu), but Kucinich and (dare I say) Sanders best represent me.

Yeah! Thank you.

Am very excited about this investigation. It was a guts move on Dennis’s part.

I’m in – I’ll do it when I get home instead of on my work computer.

Go Dennis!

I am definitely in for a little bit of year-end cheer for Dennis and FDL Action as well!

Looks like I was number 95, so we only we need a few more to get 100 donors to thank Dennis for his brave action. Democrats need to initiate these investigations, we cannot cede this ground to the faux-populists of the GOP teabagger set.

What are we looking for in this investigation what do we expect to find? GOP and Dem have their beaks in this if they try and stop the investigation is Dennis willing or able to ( I don’t know the rules ) to cite people for a conflict of interest and get them not not vote to kill the investigation?

According to the latest CNN/Opinion Research poll (Dec 16-20, 2009, pdf), only 27% of Americans have a favorable opinion of Sect Geithner and only 28% have a favorable opinion of Fed Chair Bernanke. Does that include a little holiday cheer bump?

Almost to 100…let’s go people!

Leadership in both parties has kept any kind of investigation into these government sponsored entities (GSEs) from happening.

Names of people trying to kill the investigation. Names of people with a financial interest in Freddie and Fannie. Names of people who have a financial interest in Freddie and Fannie who contribute money to Dems and GOPers who are trying to kill the investigation.
Names of third parties who do business with Freddie and Fannie and who contribute to Dems and GOPers who want to kill the investigation.

The numbers are that high? :)

Done. This is a good cause.

Maybe Dennis could put the investigating material online so the Lake, Koz, all the Econ blogs etc could look and help sort through the material faster?

I love that description, that he ‘just doesn’t give a fuck’. Man, if only that’s true, we might be in for a hell of a show.

wow. kucinich, unlike many other committee chairs comes to hearings prepared and actually has good hearings with antagonistic witnesses. one of my favorite hearings was one from just over a year ago (nov 2008) where kucinich and issa tag teamed each other (talk about strange bedfellows and left/right working together against corporate bailouts) with details, facts and follow up questions in an awesome hearing with kashkari. hell did indeed freeze over that day. my favorite line was from kucinich to kashkari:

“no one questions that you are working hard. our question is who are you working for?”

here’s the link to the diary for that old hearing (with links to cspan archives, etc): Kucinich subcommittee to question Treasury’s Kashkari on TARP

edit to add: i don’t have much to donate, but will pitch in $10 if someone will match me.

Maybe I expect the Powers that be to pull out all the stops to kill this investigation. I expect Rahm to phone Dennis and threaten him soon. What I would give to have that phone call or private conversation recoded and put on the net.:)

If they couldn’t get his vote for HCR I don’t know that they’ll get him to shut up on this.

Though they might just pull a Bush admin trick and refuse to show up for hearings.

Dennis should have been VP the thought of him being President in case anything happens to Obama would stop all the right wing hate speech.

Random question:

Which writers get paid on FDL? All of the front page bloggers, or just some of them?

Great more I don’t know, I don’t recall ala Monica Goodling and Gonzo.

And do they get paid extra if they have to read Sarah Palin’s book or listen to Glen Beck?

Will Dennis coordinate with the blogs? We can help push stories and investigate.

I give no longer money to politicians.

If a politician wants what I will give, my vote, he or she can behave responsibly.

Jane, your approach down the line has been to work within the system.

That is superficially the way to go.

The better way is to realize and accept and embrace that the system’s fucked. And to work toward a better system.

I disagree not with your objectives.

I disagree that working within the current system will yield good results.

Are you an FDL stockholder? Why would this information be of any interest to you? Why is it any of anyone’s business, really, how Jane organizes her website?

transparency.

Do all of you forget that Dennis went to Syria to criticize American soldiers on their national TV? I guess he doesn’t give a fuck.

It’s important because what people write can be influenced by their paycheck.

When I read an article, I want to know who the author is working for.

That’s fair.

I think its an innocent question khin has been here awhile Jane can answer or not answer. Details of how FDL spends political money that stuff we should not let anyone know.
We all hope the front pagers make enough so they don’t have to eat ramen noodles every day and wear three sweaters in the winter.

Bite me!

[modnote: now, now. let's not go too far.]

We must remember that congressional subpoena power only works if they’re willing to, you know, enforce it.

I will match it selise.

Going to do it now.

Yes, but it’s also not a standard commonly adhered to. Do we ever ask to see the salaries and pay structure for the New York Times, or the WaPo?

I can see it being useful to know, and of course, in any of these situations, conflicts should be disclosed, but it seems odd to single out FDL for financial transparency.

If FDL is their only income then no bias if there is a second job that would bring up a conflict, so would any cash payments received from outside sources or investments. What FDL pays as long as front pagers are happy is fine by me.
Possible Conflicts of interest should be reported somehow that might be a diary though.

LOL, yeah, I sometimes feel bad for Blue Texan with all the reading he does on some of the nuttiest websites on the toobz. Makes my head hurt thinking about it.

True will Dennis be willing to force Rahm to testify or go to County Jail for refusing to testify? If that happens the Lake will be busy all night:)

thanks!!!

me too (going there now).

Agreed he needs combat pay and health insurance in case he starts losing IQ points listening to Beck.

Oh what the hell.

selise, I said in the other thread I wouldn’t, but if you’re looking for a matcher, I’m in.

Back in a minute.

I don’t know that it would be the County jail. The Capitol has its own cops, and presumably its own cells, though I doubt they get much use.

My guess is we get no-shows in the event of any serious investigation. Though even that would be progress at this point.

I’ll volunteer my own situation if it’ll help you. I’ve written a few things that have appeared on the front page of FDL. No one has ever paid me to write a single word at FDL or at any other blog. I think for myself and thank everyone at FDL for all the great work they do.
In fact, not only have I not ever been paid to express my views here, I have made contributions to various FDL actions. I made a contribution to Dennis today.

Yes, but it’s also not a standard commonly adhered to. Do we ever ask to see the salaries and pay structure for the New York Times, or the WaPo?

We should though, Friedman alone has tons of conflicts of interest or rather he did before the global economy killed his wife’s billion dollar company:)
His wife should ask for a divorce nobody sold globalization and global banking like he did.

Mostly, I just want to know if the regular front page bloggers are generally paid, or whether pay is only a privilege of certain bloggers. A simple answer would suffice.

I was #105. Looks like we made it.

Ok, done. $10.00 do Dennis, $10.00 to FDL PAC & $5.00 tip.

Wasn’t sure if you were just giving 10 to Dennis or 10 to each. Just took the safe route. You’ve been matched.

Woo hoo! #105. Awesome.

I informed one of Dennis’s staffer so he knows it’s happening and they’re watching. Most excellent.

Thanks for this information. However, by your description, you are not really a regular blogger. I’m more curious about regular bloggers like, for example, Jon Walker.

Yeah, I laughed myself silly at his economic comeuppance, though of course in the real world it means a lot of actual decent human beings lost their jobs, while he merely went from Grotesquely Wealthy and Overvalued to Obscenely Wealthy and Overvalued.

Since his wife’s company was involved in malls and such I’m not sure globalization had a ton to do with the company’s downfall, but still, hey, sometimes, purely at random, the right thing happens to the right person for the wrong reason.

Suck. On. That. Eh, Tommy?

Are you looking for a job? Seriously, if you’re so concerned about people getting paid to exercise their “free speech,” take on the K Street lobbyists, why don’t you?

Oh, guess I was late. You were already matched.

Oh well, you’ve been rematched. *g*

looks like we made it

Looks Like We Made It (sry)

Yeah, well. Take a look at my comment @ 50. Jon works his ass off and is one of the best policy analysts in the blogosphere.

Yeah, as for me, I couldn’t care less how much a person’s being paid, unless it presents a conflict of interest, or they lie about it. Like how many pundits claim to be ‘blue collar guys’ while pulling down seven figures.

Other than those cases I can’t see it being any of our business.

#110…..and glad to participate.

Haven’t heard that song in forever…..

Being paid can influence a person’s writing regardless of how smart they are.

I have no problem with being paid per se, but in general, I want to know whether all or just some of the regular bloggers here are paid. We need to know at least that much.

It would sure be nice if folks asking questions didn’t get get a bunch of flak for asking a question, but I suppose some feel the questions are inappropriate maybe???

I dunno, but if that’s the case, then I’d like to make a suggestion. Perhaps we could make a list of all the questions or topics that are inappropriate so we know beforehand not to ask them or if we do anyway that we can expect such flak.

IMO, the person asking that question didn’t deserve some of the… less than friendly.. responses. IMO. But if we have a list of inappropriate topics/questions, then when someone goes there anyway, hey, FIRE AWAY.

Maybe we should try for 150.

I agree. I couldn’t care less what anyone is making. I only wish I could give FDL more money.
I can not place a value on the work done by the people who write for FDL. Best in the toobz.

I’m sincerely not trying to be unfriendly, if you were referring to me.

I tried to lay out what I think matters on the compensation issue in a civil tone. As I said, pay itself just doesn’t bother me; I only care in certain limited circumstances.

Heh, believe me, I’m oddly calm today. It’s been a good day, things are coming together nicely. So any hostility that may have crept in can be blamed on internet communication demons.

I’m so mellow I have that Manilow youtube up in the background and I’m not feeling the least bit homicidal.

indeed he is!

Yeah, this place has kept me sane with so much of the Dem establishment and so many liberal blogs going off the rails on HCR.

If people honestly can’t see the problems with these bailouts and handouts and so forth, at least in basic civics terms, then they really are drinking the kool aid.

I am shocked by how many of us so called “progressives” that are drinking the kool aid. I don’t know what I would do without this place. Really.

On a side note, I listened to Manilow too. hahahaha….

thank you! you rock OFG!!!

(note to whoever is tracking numbers – please add 1. i donated directly at kucinich webpage).

We need to know at least that much.

Why? Are we required by law to read FDL posts, the way we will all soon be required by law to buy the private insurers’ shitty products without the choice of a public health insurance plan?

Actually, these questions are rhetorical. They’re meant more as the answer to your question than to continue this conversation.

Bad economy less mall shopping less financing for new malls. What caused the bad economy globalized bank gamboling that housing prices would go up forever and the U.S would never have a nationwide downturn in the real estate market.
How does Tom keep his job?

I’m so mellow I have that Manilow youtube up in the background and I’m not feeling the least bit homicidal.

LOL!

Exactly. I read posts and think for myself. I don’t need to know how much Paul Krugman is being paid to know when he’s full of shit.

good call.

Yeah but I think the proximate cause for the mall company was the collapse in commercial real estate, which was, and still is, riding an enormous bubble (though smaller than it used to be).

A lot of additional retailers will no doubt die off this spring, since the holiday returns have been disappointing from what I’ve read.

How does Tom keep his job? I have no clue. He’s a tool. Everytime I try to read his stuff I feel like I’m having a series of micro-strokes deep in my brain. Why anyone would pay him to churn that out, short of a bitter hatred for all humankind, is beyond me.

Yeah I’m wondering if there was something in the bottled tea I had with lunch.

How does Tom keep his job? I have no clue. He’s a tool. Everytime I try to read his stuff I feel like I’m having a series of micro-strokes deep in my brain. Why anyone would pay him to churn that out, short of a bitter hatred for all humankind, is beyond me.

Agreed Tom is a big part of the reason I hope the front pagers get paid well:)

Has to be something, cause if I had Barry Manilow’s “songs” anywhere near my ears, evan at my most Zen moments I’d be throwing bricks at the source of that crap.

EDIT: Oh, and I wasn’t even aware that you had responded at all to that question!!! lol, I skim a lot and end up looking right past comments sometimes.

Argh. Ok, now that song is stuck in my head, or rather, one damn line of it, and the homicidal urge is back a bit.

I can’t do that. Youtube is too far away and my laptop too dear to me.

Meanwhile, we’ve broken the 100-supporter mark and are well our way to 150.

Thank you, Dennis!

Done. Couldn’t do it earlier in the day.

and he just doesn’t give a fuck.

Gimme some more of that.

max
['Don't Forget To Annoy Your Federal Reserve Today!']

sry

but you do know that he is being paid and who he is being paid by. i really don’t understand why you object to the question. no one has to answer.

fwiw, my bias may in part stem from the fact that i had a hard time trying to get jason to note on his health care daily update posts who he worked for (and prepared those posts for). imo it was important to know that he worked for an anti-single payer K street lobby because that might be why single payer news had never been included.

bottled tea? what brand? sounds like i need some of that! *g*

edit to add: gotta go, but will check back at some point to see if you all broke 150. good luck!

Indeed. 112 last time I checked.

and he just doesn’t give a fuck.

Gimme some more of that.

Agreed. Lots and lots more of that. Please.

Honest Tea, the Jasmine Green Energy variety.

But I don’t think it’s the tea. Maybe there was something in my lunch.

In the spirit of disclosure, I should note that I work for a Pro-Zombie Lobbying group. This bias has… absolutely no bearing on anything here.

When the Huffington Post, the New York Times and Politico release the details of who they pay for what and when, we’ll release ours. When you convince them that this is a necessary element of disclosure, we’ll be only too happy to follow the precedent they set.

Anyone want a matching donation? I told my hetero-lifemate about this at lunch and she’s enthusiastic.

Yep, it’s pretty cool. Very happy about that. Thanks to everyone for their support.

People get PAID to write for Politico?

/snark

I guess I always knew that Jason worked for HCAN so I didn’t think about it but you’re right, if he was preparing the news for them and they didn’t include single payer news as a matter of policy, it should’ve been noted.

But I think that’s a different question than whether someone is paid by us or not. It just is not information typically released by media companies.

I don’t know anything about the Huffington Post, but it’s generally understood that regular contributors to the Times are paid by the Times. Whereas, I have absolutely no idea, even in general, of how FDL functions. And Daily Kos goes further and tells specifically who is paid.

I think this is pretty typical of you. You pride yourself on being “different”, yet your answer is all about what the establishment does or doesn’t do. You could have taken the question on its merits (it has merit: I’d be interested to know which of the people trumpeting your support of Grover Norquist’s campaign against government are paid to do so) but you rarely actually do that. What you do is shift the goalposts and try to make out the questioner lacks something. You are rarely asked to substantiate the positions you take.

So try another question. What difference does it make to whether you are transparent whether someone else is transparent? Why does the lack of transparency at Politico, say, imply that you should not be transparent about who you pay? Please explain the reasoning behind your statement.

WTF. You’re a “media company” now? At least it’s clear what you think you’re doing here.

Not to speak for Jane, but as someone who values their own privacy, I wouldn’t necessarily want everyone in the world to know my personal finances. So if there’s not a compelling reason (like a conflict of interest) or a widely held cultural or industry standard, then I don’t see why FDL needs to disclose its internal finances.

What DailyKos does or doesn’t do is immaterial to what FDL should, or should not, do, to use your own logic.

Why then is it important to know if Lanny Davis is being paid to support a position on a television show? If it’s not, why bring it up?

Yours is an odd defense of transparency, you’re fine with it if the Huffington Post goes first.

It’s worth noting that my question did not involve details–just whether, in general, all regular bloggers here are paid, or only certain ones.

How much they are paid, or even which specific individuals are paid like Daily Kos tells, is not part of the question.

A lobbyist is paid to support a specific position. They are, by definition, compromised. If not, then they’re hardly doing their job.

Being paid to write for a website, or a paper, is not the same thing as being paid to move public conversation in a specific direction by a client with specific financial interests. If you are being paid in that manner, then you have a conflict of interest, whether that pay is from your publisher or a side job, and should be disclosed.

Yes, which puzzles me even more. What do you hope to learn?

If you want to know if there’s a conflict of interest, then a policy on that point is what you need. There are many ways to influence people, only some of them financial. Free meals and trips are popular for Congress, though hiring a spouse or relative is also a perennial favorite.

So I’m not sure why the knowledge of whether someone is paid at all is helpful.

Are you of the opinion that being compensated for work in any way compromises its.. artistic integrity?

I hope to learn the nature of the organization. This place represents a curious point between a forum for unpaid writers and an organization with a staff like The Nation or the New York Times.

If you don’t think that matters, then think some more.

My dad is a Rush-Beck follower, and sometimes his eyes glaze over when he yells at me for my “fucking liberal thoughts”…..We still argue, but I have to remind him he used to be more ….open minded. Ahem.
I can’t tell you how good it meant to me to send him over here to sign the Rahm Emmanueal petition. He called and said he did it, and was surprised he hadn’t heard about Jane’s letter (not so much Jane, but Grover).
He was all about it…It really brought tears to my eyes.
I think he’s still pissed that he has to see the picture on my mother’s end table of me shaking hands with Fidel’s 3rd son (in Cuba).
If we can come together like this, those bastards will fry. Ante up, tightwads.

I think it matters, though I don’t think it outweighs personal privacy concerns. All social organization matters, on some level, but what you’re asking is quite a bit of personal sacrifice for what appears to be idle curiosity.

Also, I’m not sure what’s with telling me to think, or the hostile tone. I had a serious question. I know artists and writers who legitimately feel that compensation, or things like copyright, corrupt artistic output. I don’t agree, but that’s their perspective.

Firedoglake is certainly unique. I’ll give you that.

Finally got home, and am happy to be #119 on the Dennis Brigade!

Yeah, it really is.

In the good kind of way. Best site on the toobz, IMO. Now anyway. Things always change but for now, best site on the toobz, IMO.

What does this have to do with the topic being discussed? If the United States didn’t have an empire, Dennis Kucinich wouldn’t be able to criticize the soldiers much.

There are some folks that believe our military should never questioned/criticized, and most especially never questioned/criticized in another country. These same folks usually also believe our Commander in Chief should never be be questioned/criticized, and most especially in another country. However, the latter seems to be effective only when one particular party is the President.

There’s a word to describe these folks. It’s authoritarians Republicans.

About that:

Being paid to write for a website, or a paper, is not the same thing as being paid to move public conversation in a specific direction by a client with specific financial interests.

Don’t certain websites and papers consistently “move public conversation in a specific direction?” What sorts of “interests” do publishers and paid writers have?

So you think the Firedogs are curious. Is it the well researched analysis by the many brilliant commentators? Is it the first rate snark and mockery of our incompetent puppet masters. Is it the community organizing of that rabble rousing populist Jane Hamsher?
So many curiosities.

Or it could be some of the curious Seminal Diaries, such as promoting that most important issue of Cousin Marriage.

If FDL or any other media entity paid a writer to take a certain position, it’s a conflict I’d want disclosed. But I don’t think most publishers dictate positions to their writers.

At any rate, it’s been real but it’s also dinner time. I’ll check back to see how the Kucinich thing went later.

In response to OldFatGuy @ 104

In the good kind of way.

That’s what I meant!

He wants to say, “pot meet kettle”.

Wondering when the trolls are going to go away…..

Dear Jane,

MEMO TO JANE: I Gave FireDogLake and Jane Hamsher a Shout-Out Tonight on Sirius/XM Left!!!!

I gave you, Jane Hamsher and FireDogLake a call-out on “Make It Plain” with Mark Thompson on Sirius Left 146 and XM 167. Bruce Dixon from Black Agenda Report was the guest tonight. Black Agenda Report is the featured guest every Wendesday at 7:00 p.m.

Perhaps, you could also make regular appearances on that show as well Jane!!! I am sure Mark Thompsom would be more than willing to get your take and analysis on this healthcare bill along with the Fannie/Freddie mess as well. I let Bruce Dixon and Mark Thompson know that people like yourself, Jane, here at FireDogLake shares the same type of critical view of this Imperial Empire and Obama’s complete support of it, so others do not think its just coming from a few voices here and there out in the wilderness yelling at the sky…It might feel that way but we all have to come together in unison against these awful policies. I heard Jesse Jackson say on Democracy Now this morning that we need to mobilize, organize, and march against these unsettling policies. Jesse Jackson says he “still supports this president,” even though I am not convinced he does. I am sure family harmony with his son might have something to do with his hestiant support of Obama. Jesse Jackson and Dean Baker both on DN! with Amy Goodman today had precise criticisms of the Obama administration’s reckless handling of this housing crisis and more giveaways and no oversight regarding Fannie/Freddie.

As Bruce Dixon pointed out, the corporate media only wants voices on which will back the empire, while others who question it will not be heard, and, even those few who do criticize become marginalized at best or scorned. as Chris Matthews showed a few weeks ago. So, those opposing the oligarchy, the military state, and the corporate state, or all the above, will be drowned out….

Happy New Year Jane!!!!!

Jane–You DEFINITELY DESERVE SOME AWARD!!!!!

If Ben Bernake got an award, we all DESERVE an AWARD!!!!!

All the Best—–

Hey, kewl!

And hope you have a Happy New Year too!!!!

Time Magazine with Ben Bernake on the Cover as The Man of the Year, Costs $5.99 plus state sales tax……

The store I go to is not selling too many of them……I bet sales for this issue unless inflated or bought up to make it look good will not be selling many, either.

If Time Magazine claims this was a big seller, then I will know that is as phony as the poll totals coming from the many viewer/reader polls at the Nation Magazine’s website….

Happy New Year……Peace and Joy to the World!!!!

Good question re financial disclosures. I believe there are rules about such things.

Great job, Congressman Kucinich. I’m from CA and he represents me too. Time to dump Mike Thompson. I donated and hope he gets a lot more than 133, which is the number at this point. Tell your friends.

I fail to see what difference it makes if Jon is a paid employee of FDL or an uncompensated blogger. He put forward his positions, defends them and let others respond to them – clearly a forum where one can take or leave what is said. Are you the type that just accepts what someone writes regardless of how it comports with the facts. Frankly I for one find you question a little offensive and I am not even connected to FDL.

Just something to weigh, while pointing the finger at Fannie and Freddie: Their involvement in mortgage-lending was NOT characterized by issuing mortgages that were insufficiently collaterized_ they are prevented from doing so, as a matter of law. But EVEN if they COULD,the high-risk, “junk”_ nature of same, would result in such debt obligations becoming WORTHLESS in TRADE!Only by comingling said mortgages with other “good,” “WHO knows WHAT,” and “BAD, if not UGLY” CDOs, can such packages of debt be bought, sold, insured, and traded_ by the POUND! But, in order to do THAT, their ratings must be falsified.

What I am saying_ is that it PAYS to keep our eye on the ball! Similarly, if counterfeit hundred-dollar bills are being successfully used in monetary transactions,it is the COUNTERfeiter that should be tracked and prosecuted_ NOT the trading practice, itSELF

Perhaps, Shakespeare said it BEST: “KNOW thine ENEMY!” In THAT regard, I think a reading of the House Oversight Committee’s investigation into the role of the rating agencies in the falsification of CDO/BOND ratings is FAR more revealing and essential, with respect to corrective, and/or punitive action. I am not disparaging Congressman Kucinich, but he is a poodle, compared to Chairman Henry Waxman, when it comes to unleashing the bloodhounds, in pursuit of any conceivable WAY of interpreting, “THIS Land Is OUR Land.”

WELL,… it was ONCE!

Agree!

I don’t see any issue here at all, anyway, one way or another.

For all employees at FDL, paid or not, I say Cheers and Happy, Happy New Year!!!! To all those working diligently here at FDL, I say a BIG THANKS to you all for your decication and devotion to the truth and information…..

Happy New Year!!!!

In re, your posted article, here, Jane: While transparency is quite important, it is understandable why the Government might not have wanted to give the Party of, “SCREW thy NEIGHBOR,” a chance to misrepresent the F/F bailout money_ ESPECIALLY, since the whole PURPOSE of GSEs, like F/F, is to use the implied CLOUT of Government protection, as a MEANS to facilitate homebuilding, and of course, home BUYING. I think it is also important to never forGET that absque hoc (withOUT which)the falsification of bundled CDOs, the scheme to defraud_ COULD never, WOULD never, have gotten off the GROUND!

Does proximate CAUSE, demand proximate weighing, of the scales of Justice? You BET your BLUE suedes it does!

LIKE I SAID in the previous post (119): “EYE on the BALL!”

Did we make it to 150?

Not yet. At 131 as of now.

We apparently only got 131 contributors Wednesday.

You are making no sense at all…..You have no real point……

They call what you are doing nit-picking…..

I am sure when you are with others face to face that you do not act this obnoxious…..It’s easy to question people as you are doing here but to be honest all your really doing is absolutely NOTHING, other than bitching and coming across like an ass….Give it a rest there buddy—-there are many other sites out there if this one is giving you brain fits…..

Anyway, be a mature adult now. Why don’t you reveal your real identity?

At least Jane reveals her REAL IDENTITY—You Hide and Complain and BITCH behind a computer screen name….Any Internet coward can make demands of others when they have nothing to offer and are obviuosly have much envy and false pride in their own selves which leads one to make phony charges against people they do not even know. It’s also easy for phonies like you to hide behind your fake names. Chew on that one dude. Attack Jane if you must, but know that not all share your shallow view about her. Jane is working to better this country and is trying to make a difference in what should be a “democracy.” You obviously are too challenged to realize this and would rather focus on trivial matters only important to those who cannot beat Jane on the substance of the arguments she makes.

When you reveal your true identity then talk!!! Who the hell are ya and what does Jane owe you anyhow? According to you Jane amd FDL are “irrelevant” and Jane is only another “establisment hack,” so what would be the point anyway? Me thinks you are a chronic complainer who just likes to bitch and moan and who of course does so behind a fictitious computer name.

Jane does not hide behind a fictitious computer screen name as you do. Therein lies the difference between Jane’s character and your questionable character and integrity….Yeah, easy to bitch under a fake name over the Internet and you want Jane to reveal personal data to someone who writes like a crazy person?

I chipped in what I could.

This is my first blog write every in my life.
I love you on tv and visit your site everyday.
Why not just admit that this site generates money that lets you do your work. Regardless of how much you pay and who you pay, it would probably be easy to find out how many “hits” your site gets and what ad cost is on a site with this many hits. Figuring out revenue from the site visitors would seem pretty straight forward. Your tv appearance with “Whose paying you Lanny” really made me get tingly…..and you are so much better than that Markcos guy on tv…he gets very nervous but you dont anymore….anyway….at the risk of starting off on the wrong foot, i don’t think that not sharing info because Huff post etc doesn’t is a good reason to be a certain way and run your site a certain way. Agree with that much?

I wish that we know who was paid and who was not. It does matter…more than how much they are paid…i don’t think that matters as much to me at least….I wish we had a photoshop percentage on every visual ad that represented how much that reality was altered in the shown image…and maybe that is why I like the idea of knowing if a blogger working for a for profit or not for profit media company is getting a salary or not…..
wow..this blogging is fun….:) and i have not even started to talk major politics yet…

TidBit of the Night from WizardLeft1962: Did you know that?

David Gregory now host of “Meet the Press” on NBC News is married to Beth Wilkinson. Wilkinson was once the general counsel for Fannie Mae!!! How about that folks? An NBC-Fannnie Mac Marriage—a power couple in Washington. Some Georgetown loving going on there! I mean some power incest happening!! The Truth? Go Watch “The News on NBC!!!”

So, according to reports, Gregory met Wilkinson when he was a mere field reporter for NBC, while, covering the Timothy McVeigh trial, and his now wife had been one of the government’s prosecutors on that case. Wilkinson also worked with former Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff at the law firm Latham & Watkins.

You can expect “really tough questions from David Gregory” in all matters related to Fannie/Freddie and those awful lefties criticizing Obama’s bailing out of the banksters and horrible healthcare reform bill!!!!

News and TidBits you will only find at Jane Hamsher’s wonderful FireDogLake blog!!!!

Jane—Happy New Year 2010, and the Best of Health to you!!!

Most excellent! I keep forgetting about this. Thanks for the reminder — I don’t think I knew about the Chertoff business, though. Good to know.

Dear Jane,

Chertoff is going to be on Meet the Press this Sunday as one of David Gregory’s guests!!!!

I did not know the guest list for Sunday when I posted this.