from the desk of U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois
Dear Mr. President,
At a press conference in the White House on January
26, you stated that “there needs to be a nice,
independent relationship between the White House and
the press.” In that same press conference, you called
on a reporter then known as Jeff Gannon, who worked
for an organization called Talon News.
Since that time, the public has learned that the real
name of that reporter is James Dale Guckert, not Jeff
Gannon, and that he had regular access to the White
House press facilities for more than a year. We have
also learned that the questions he posed at White
House press briefings and the stories he filed for
Talon News frequently mirrored Republican Party
talking points, that Talon News is a news organization
in name only and that it has apparently close
connections to the Republican party.
Given the unprecedented level of security in
Washington since 9/11, it is troubling that that a
non-journalist using a false name and working for a
sham news organization could have gained regular
access to the White House for such an extended period
of time.
Another reason the Gannon/Guckert affair is disturbing
is because of what we have recently learned about
apparent efforts by some in your Administration to try
to “buy” favorable news coverage. These other efforts
include paying news personalities Armstrong Williams
and Maggie Gallagher large sums of money to promote
your Administration’s education and marriage
initiatives, and using tax payer dollars to produce
video news releases promoting the new prescription
drug benefit for Medicare beneficiaries and other
policies the Administration regards as
accomplishments. A recent report by the General
Accountability Office called such video news releases
illegal uses of public funds. More recently, we have
heard troubling reports that Social Security
Administration officials may be using public funds and
pressuring public employees to promote your goal of
privatizing Social Security.
As you know, concerns that government officials may be
trying to deceive the public by manipulating the media
can be extremely corrosive to public trust. For that
reason, we respectfully request that you order an
immediate and thorough investigation into the
Gannon/Guckert matter. How is it possible that a man
using a fake name, with dubious journalism
credentials, was able to clear the White House’s
extensive security screening process and gain such
close access to you and your staff for such an
extended period of time? Have there been other,
similar breaches of security and journalism standards?
We appreciate your prompt attention to this important
matter. We urge you to order a full inquiry so that
the American people know the facts.
Monday, February 14, 2005
Difference between men and women
Difference Between Women And Men
1.NAMES
If Laurie, Linda, Elizabeth and Barbara go out for lunch, they will
call each other Laurie, Linda, Elizabeth and Barbara.
If Mark, Chris, Eric and Tom go out, they will affectionately refer
to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla, Peanut-Head and Scrappy.
2.EATING OUT
When the bill arrives, Mark, Chris, Eric and Tom will each throw in
a $20 , even though it's only for $32.50. None of them will have
anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back.
When the women get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.
3.MONEY
A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need, but it's on
sale.
4.BATHROOMS
A man has five items in his bathroom: a toothbrush, shaving cream,
razor, a bar of soap, and a towel from the Marriott.
The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337.
A man would not be able to identify most of these items.
5.ARGUMENTS
A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that... is the beginning of a new
argument.
6.CATS
Women love cats.
Men say they love cats, but when women aren't looking, men kick
cats.
7.FUTURE
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
8.SUCCESS
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can
spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.
9.MARRIAGE
A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change ! and she
does.
10.DRESSING UP
A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the
garbage, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail.
A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.
11.NATURAL
Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.
Women somehow deteriorate during the night.
12.OFFSPRING
Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about
dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods,
secret fears and hopes and dreams.
A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Any married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two
people remembering the same thing.
AND FINALLY....
A couple drove down a country road for several miles, not saying a
word. An earlier discussion had led to an argument and neither of
them wanted to concede their position.
As they passed a barnyard of mules, jack asses, and pigs, the
husband asked sarcastically,
"Relatives of yours?"
"Yep," the wife replied, "in-laws."
1.NAMES
If Laurie, Linda, Elizabeth and Barbara go out for lunch, they will
call each other Laurie, Linda, Elizabeth and Barbara.
If Mark, Chris, Eric and Tom go out, they will affectionately refer
to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla, Peanut-Head and Scrappy.
2.EATING OUT
When the bill arrives, Mark, Chris, Eric and Tom will each throw in
a $20 , even though it's only for $32.50. None of them will have
anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back.
When the women get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.
3.MONEY
A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need, but it's on
sale.
4.BATHROOMS
A man has five items in his bathroom: a toothbrush, shaving cream,
razor, a bar of soap, and a towel from the Marriott.
The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337.
A man would not be able to identify most of these items.
5.ARGUMENTS
A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that... is the beginning of a new
argument.
6.CATS
Women love cats.
Men say they love cats, but when women aren't looking, men kick
cats.
7.FUTURE
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
8.SUCCESS
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can
spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.
9.MARRIAGE
A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change ! and she
does.
10.DRESSING UP
A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the
garbage, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail.
A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.
11.NATURAL
Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.
Women somehow deteriorate during the night.
12.OFFSPRING
Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about
dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods,
secret fears and hopes and dreams.
A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Any married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two
people remembering the same thing.
AND FINALLY....
A couple drove down a country road for several miles, not saying a
word. An earlier discussion had led to an argument and neither of
them wanted to concede their position.
As they passed a barnyard of mules, jack asses, and pigs, the
husband asked sarcastically,
"Relatives of yours?"
"Yep," the wife replied, "in-laws."
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