American Morning
Who should be this week's "wingnuts"?
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/07/13/john.avlon.art.jpg caption="John P. Avlon is the author of Independent Nation: How Centrists Can Change American Politics and writes a weekly column for The Daily Beast."]
What’s a wingnut?
Someone on the far-right wing or far-left wing of American politics. In a polarized two-party system, they have disproportionate influence and too often define the terms of debate.
With “Wingnuts of the Week,” commentator John Avlon tries to take that power back. Each Friday he joins us on "American Morning" with his wingnut picks – one from the right and one from the left.
Who should be this week's "Wingnuts of the Week"? Tell us in the comments below.
We Listen!
Thursday's American Morning viewers debated CNN’s decision to air Michael Savage’s rebuttal to his ban in Britain. Some were very appreciative of CNN’s “impartial” interview, while others were outraged that CNN would “publicize [Savage’s] raving hate talk.”
- Bernadette: Thank you for the impartial interview with Michael Savage. Mr. Savage, to clarify your words, once they are out on the airwaves you cannot take them back. Clarifying the use of terminology after the fact does not excuse foul, noxious, vicious, malicious and ferocious pronouncements on your part.
- Michael: I'm sure Michael Savage is happy to live in a country that gives you the freedom to be an ignorant hate spewing bigot. As they say in England, Cheers!
- Manetav: I agree with the British. Listen to his show sometime. It’s time we need Fairness Doctrine.
- Michael R: Why on earth would you give ANY time to publicize the raving hate talk of Michael (Weiner) Savage? He claims that his is a free speech issue, but if you've ever listened to him, he never allows callers who disagree to actually speak freely. He does have the right to say WHATEVER he wishes, but must you help him spread his venom?
- Ed: Your clueless interview with this slime ball was in the same level as a "Hannity" type softball interview. Have you listened to the Michael Savage radio show? Pure hateful ugliness and racist comments. Shame on your naiveté on this sorry excuse for a human being.
How do you feel about the controversial radio host, Michael Savage? Would you, as a viewer, have preferred NOT to hear Mr. Savage’s side of the argument? Was CNN wrong in airing his opinion?
Does hand sanitizer kill bacteria and viruses?
From CNN.com blogger, Dick:
“Hand sanitizer has been recommended but the bottles say, “Effective against bacteria,” with no mention of viruses. What gives?”
Answer:
That is a good question. There are not a lot of data actually on how effective those sanitizers are against viruses. There have been some studies done over the years and the conclusion is washing your hands with soap and water is still probably the best idea. If you are having a busy day and it is hard to get to a sink, then carrying a bottle of hand sanitizer would be a good idea.
Radio host Savage demands UK remove his name from banned list
NEW YORK (CNN) — American radio talk show host Michael Savage wants an apology from Britain’s home secretary and wants his name removed from a list of people banned from entering the United Kingdom, he told CNN’s “American Morning.”
“I’ve heard from British attorneys who are salivating to set the record straight and win quite a large settlement should she not remove my name from the list,” Savage said in an interview broadcast Thursday.
He was referring to Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, whose office recently excluded 22 people, including Savage, from entering the country because the government feels they have been “stirring up hatred.”
Savage — who is on the list under his real name, Michael Alan Weiner — is cited by the British government for “seeking to provoke others to serious criminal acts and fostering hatred which might lead to inter-community violence.”
He has made controversial statements against homosexuality, illegal immigrants from Mexico, and Islam. Savage said “borders, language, and culture is the real message of the Savage Nation,” his radio talk show.
Pakistan's president accused of murder by niece
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/05/07/bhutto.fatima.getty.art.jpg caption= "Fatima Bhutto is the niece of Pakistan's former prime minister, the late Benzazir Bhutto."]
The Obama administration is depending on Pakistan’s President Zardari to keep the Taliban from tightening its grip on Pakistan. Now Zardari is being accused of murder by his own niece, Fatima Bhutto. She claims Zardari orchestrated the death of her father, Murtaza Bhutto, and she is fighting to reveal the truth. Fatima Bhutto is also the niece of slain Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
Bhutto spoke to Kiran Chetry about her allegations via phone from Karachi, Pakistan on CNN’s “American Morning” Thursday.
Kiran Chetry: You say Pakistani President Zardari conspired to kill your father. He was indicted for this, but in October of 2007 all of those charges were dropped by then President Pervez Musharraf. You still believe that your uncle did this. Why?
Fatima Bhutto: Well when you look at the evidence, my father was an elected member of parliament and he was known for speaking out against Asif Ali Zardari and his wife Benazir Bhutto’s immense corruption, which at the time was rumored to be somewhere in the realm of 2 to 3 billion dollars stolen from the state. And the trial was proceeding - the trial that Asif Zardari has tried continually to circumvent by not appearing before the judge, by doing this deal with the dictator General Musharraf, which cleared his name. In the middle of the proceeding… and it’s not just my father's case. At the time that this deal was made with General Pervez Musharraf, Asif Zardari was standing trial in four murder cases dealing with the deaths of 11 people, including a high-court judge, including known bureaucrats, and a philanthropist. This is a man with a record. His wife’s government at the time was known actually for empowering the state agencies and security agencies and the police force to attack dissidents, to attack opposition members. And they killed them in what we know here as police encounter killings and extra-judicial murders.
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