Sickening: AC360 Monday 09 28 09

Welcome to the daily AC360 review and summary

I love the way AC360 opened up today. Anderson Cooper  stood next to a giant screen announcing the different segments of the night with images of stories on screen. It was well labeled and clear to understand. I don’t know if this is new or if they have done this before (I don’t remember this…) but I’ve heard and seen that in France, the way anchors present the news has now changed since last week. They now sit on their desks as they present the news…not on the chair but on the table…and that for the entire show. Ok not important but I just wanted to mention that just because.

Not so great though, Anderson Cooper  tonight reports about the deadly gangs in Chicago schools. A ‘sickening’ scene about teenagers  fighting has been caught on tape, a 16 year old teenager, Derrion Albert, died as he was beaten to death, and no one did anything about it. This will be one of the main stories tonight.

Tonight’s other main stories:

– CRIME & PUNISHMENT (sub segment: digging deeper) :Film Director Roman Polanskiwas arrested in Switzerland over the weekend and now faces extradition. He fled to Switzerland 3 decades ago after being convicted of drugging and sodomizing a 13 year old girl.

– KEEPING THEM HONEST: Teen fighting violence in Chicago: a deadly beating is caught on tape (see above)…is the system failing ???

– EXCLUSIVE: Investigation by CNN of a domestic terrorist’s confessions inside the Earth Liberation Front.

– 360 RAW POLITICS: Iran’s latest challenge to the world: new missile testing…will President Obama be able to stop this before Israel launches a strike

 

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT – Lisa Bloom, Jeffrey Toobin, Joel Brodsky

Film Director Roman Polinski faces extradiction to the U.S. for a crime committed 3 deacades ago

Film Director Roman Polanski was arrested this weekend in Switzerland while on his way to a film festival to receive an award. He was convicted in 1977 for unlawful sex with a 13 year old girl. He fled the United States for Switzerland more than three decades ago after being accused of drugging and sodomizing a 13 year old girl. His accuser no longer wants to see him prosecuted. He now faces extradition to the U.S., AC360 analysts help us see clear in this story in the digging deeper sub segment of crime and punishment.

Sub segment: DIGGING DEEPER – Lisa Bloom, Jeffrey Toobin, Joel Brodsky

Jeffrey Toobins, CNN’s Senior Legal Analyst, says that it is likely he will be extradited as his crime and situation is covered in the extradition treaty. Furthermore, Polanski had pleaded guilty and needs thus to come back to the States.  Lisa Bloomalso agrees with him and says this is a legal matter (and not a political one as Brodsky states below) and that he is guilty and faces at least one year. Bloom further explains that the Swiss authorities have already done the provisional arrest of Polanski which means they will comply with U.S. authorities on extraditing him. The only one who disagrees in the panel is Joel Brodskywho says that this is a political matter and that the government in Switzerland needs to sign off this extradition approval before it can take place, and that he doesn’t think this will happen. Watch the clip:

 

KEEPING THEM HONEST – Joe Johns, Ronald Holt, Pete Carroll

A very graphic and disturbing video(don’t watch it if you’re very sensitive please…I couldn’t watch more than 2 seconds) was recorded by a student outside a community center. The scene is about a teenager being beaten to death. He was kicked and stomped upon on the pavement until he died. 4 teenagers are now in custody. The victim is a 16 year old sophomore. What should  be done to stop this violence? Why is this being allowed to continue? Why are people responsible for teens in Chicago not doing their part ?

Joe Johns talks to the mother of the victim and reports on this vital issue:

AC360 has been reporting and doing specials on the ground about this for years…what does the city, the parents and others need to do to fix this? Anderson Cooper talks to Joe Johns who gives us the answer:

Anderson Cooper also talks to Ronald Holt(whose son was killed in 2007) and Pete Carroll (USC Head Football Coach)

Ronald Holt made a very interesting point in saying that the kids’ violence is to blame on their dysfunctional parents who do not know how to live in society. See video below.

Coach Carroll has an organisation where he walks on the streets of LA and talks to the kids to learn about this issue and also reach out to them…he tells Anderson what he has learned:

EXCLUSIVE – Drew Griffin

Investigation by CNN of a domestic terrorist’s confessions inside the Earth Liberation Front.

360 RAW POLITICS:

I haven’t got the Anderson Cooper 360 segment on this, but here’s the CNN video about this so you don’t miss out on the action. CNN’s Octavia Nasr looks at the Iranian missile launch and how it may affect the region:

 

360 News & Business Bulletin – Erica Hill

Here are the other stories CNN and AC36O are following:

– Secret Services are investigating a Facebook Poll which asks people if President Obamashould be killed, they 5secret Services) are taking this serioulsy and Facebook has removed the third party application allowing users to create their own polls. The poll has been taken down on Saturday

– Travolta Trial: a video could be played tomorrow (well today now)  in court showing two people trying to extort money from Travolta after his son’s death. They tried to take 25 millions from Travolta.

– Sully’s flying again. Remember the pilot who made an emergency landing on the Hudson River in NYC back in January? Well, he’s going back to work and is now a manager on top of a pilot.

– Sarah Palin Finishes her Memoir that will go on sale on November 25th. Official title: Going Rogue

I know it’s none of my business, but if you want my honest opinion, I don’t like the title.

BEAT 360 + Shot COMBINED:

thanks AC360, I was getting tired of typing…this will lessen my work…I needed to highlight that in bold red because it’s more important than all the other news…(being sarcastic…okay ??)

No Erica, I won’t set my TEVO or whatever else, you’ll only get pictures tonight. I’m too tired now.

Miss Piggy flies through the air during a pig contest

 

 

 

See you tomorrow…(tonight actually)

Behind-the-Scenes Photos of Anderson Cooper and Bill Clinton

These photos are taken from ac360.com

 

 

Dontcha wish your grin was hot like MINE ? Ahmadinejad CAUGHT on tape

Iranian President Ahmadinejad made headlines everywhere in the world as he was caught off guard and infamously grinned earlier this week. In the video below, he smiles uncomfortably, blinks his eyes a lot and looks visibly embarassed when asked by an American reporter LIVE on camera that his secret nuclear facility in Iran is about to be exposed by President Barack Obama, France’s Nicolas Sarkozy and Britain’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Ahmadinejad did not want to answer the questions, simply stating that President Obama is ‘wrong’…

The video below (much better than a photo):

 

 

 Ahmadinejad always seems to have a grin to me, look at the photos below…but yes he really had that ‘busted’ grin today, without a shadow of a doubt. I didn’t now Ahmadinejad well but after seeing this video I truly have no respect for him whatsoever (not that I had any before), and he came across as rather immature and childish.

 

 

 

A Big Interview, Nuclear Secrets, Ahmadinejad’s Grin, SERIOUSLY Silly Crew Dancing, 2 Shots…let me catch my breath…AC360 25 09 09

Anderson Cooper. How are you?

Yes I’m reporting on your reporting/anchoring of yesterday’ show in case you read this. I would like to thank you for bringing us unbiased stories where you make sure that you don’t tell us things that just don’t exist…just like for the Census Worker Mystery Death story. I always thought you did an excellent job at being faithful to bring us the story as it is and not sugarcoat it or lie about it for the sake of making a headline. Although I know it’s not my fault, I’m sorry that people keep saying CNN sugarcoats/sensationalises/makes up stories. I’ve never felt this coming from you and whoever says the opposite is deaf or blind, possibly both. I and everyone who reads this blog truly love your reporting style, even when we joke around about things. At the end of the day, it is so refreshing to have an anchor who is so into his reporting, who visibly cares about the people he reports about but who knows how to stay incredible cool, calm and collected. I’ll end by saying thank you.

About Iranian President Ahmedinejad, I find it hillarious that people never know how to spell and pronounce his name…i once heard someone call him “Ahmadpyjama” on a forum.

This said….on to yesterday’s show and I hope you’re not upset I didn’t post the photo of you and Kelly having dinner. No I don’t have anything, just messing with ya.

Lastly Cooper and everyone else, I’m not Aaron with all his techy top notch material so my photos are not of a quality as high as his…bet ya can’t wait for him to report Tuesday…

Welcome to the daily Friday AC360 09 26 09 recap…

Anderson Cooper announces the stories of the night:

– A shocking new report in the mysterious death of a Kentucky Census Worker.

– Irani leaderAhmedinejad says that he’s done nothing wrong after getting fire from US, France and Britain who say he’s building a secret underground nuclear plant.

– More

Starting with Irans’s Nuclear Secrets Revealed:

(sorry your eyes are closed, Andy…)

 

DIGGING DEEPER ON THE NUCLEAR SECRET STORY:

 

At some point, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is caught off guard at a question from the wife of an Israeli soldier kidnapped by Hezbollah at a news conference at the United Nations, urging him to use his influence over the guerrilla group to allow aid workers to see her husband.

Ahmadinejad ignored her, saying “next question.” and was visibly caught off guard…

Here’s the photo below…I personally think Ahmadwhatever always seems to grin but that’s just me

Amahdinejad's smirks as caught off guard

 

BREAKING NEWS – Anderson Cooper & David Mattingly

Census Worker was found dead naked and bound with the word ‘Fed’ written on his body. Shocking new details.

 

 

THE BIG 360 INTERVIEW

Anderson Cooper interviews former U.S. President Bill Clinton about Afghanistan and much more, don’t miss it…

A couple of shots from the interview, much more photos in the other Anderson Cooper interviews Bill Clinton blog post:

360 NEWS & BUSINESS BULLETIN – ERICA HILL

(I’ll let you discover those in images…)

 

 

 

THE SHOT

That’s right…not one shot but TWO !!!

1st one…

 

2nd…is yesterday’s shot (the baby dancing to Beyoncé one that made me laugh to tears)…ok so that’s technically only one shot…sorry I put your hopes up to only let everything crash on the floor. BUT WAIT before you become depressed with sadness, this one shot actually has the 360 crew dancing….and I love dancing so you’ll excuse the hundreds of photos about this :)…can’t stop laughing… STOP MAKING ANDERSON COUGH you naughty crew…yup got the video too…and I’m out of time…

 

 

 

 

 

Anderson Cooper Interviews Former U.S. President Bill Clinton

Hi everyone,

Last night’s show summary coming ! In the mean time…here is Anderson Cooper’s exclusive interview with Bill Clinton discussing essentially about the Iran situation, about not sending more troops to Afghanistan and why he changed his mind about same sex marriage. Bill Clinton seems to now have changed his opinion on the issue and says he is now for legal same sex unions.

Have a great weekend…and be sure to come back to see the details of last night’s show.

NewsMachine/Journalistic Adventure/Site Owner

In this part of the interview below you’ll hear Anderson ask Bill Clinton if he has given any advice to President Barack Obama about getting gray hair and about Boris Yeltsin’s personality (something about being half naked in the story)…

GREAT INTERVIEW Cooper !!!!

And many, many, many photos for your viewing pleasure…

Anderson Cooper interviews Bill Clinton

Anderson Cooper interviews Bill Clinton

Anderson Cooper interviews Bill Clinton

Dontcha love Bill ?

Bill Clinton and Yeltsin

Bill Clinton on giving advice to Obama on going gray

A Song for Africa: USA for Africa We are the World

I get so emotional when listening to this song by Michael Jackson and other artists. My love for Africa will never grow dim. God bless Africa. God bless America.

Anderson Cooper wins a News Emmy Award for 60 Minutes Report ‘War Against Women’

Anderson Cooper won a News Emmy award on Monday night for category ‘Outstanding Continuing Coverage of a News Story in a News Magazine’ for his 60 Minutes report entitled ‘War Against Women’, shot in January 2008.

ACTJ would like to congratulate Anderson Cooper on winning this award, and on raising this very important issue to the world. This report made a huge difference. We would like to voice how much this issue on women is important to us, and should matter to everyone. We truly care about what’s going in the Congo, and the violence against women there is unacceptable and a real crime against their basic human rights.

I grew up with several classmates and friends from the Congo, and I have to say these are some of the bravest and most beautiful women you’ll ever meet.

The first time I saw this report, I almost fainted…I couldn’t believe it. So atrocious.This shouldn’t be allowed to happen in the 21st century. The second time I saw it I was at a dentist’s appointment and they had CNN playing on TV in the waiting area. I was very anxious about my treatment but all of a sudden this report came on with Anderson Cooper reporting, and I realized how lucky I am to be safe, even sitting under a dentists’ atrocious torture tools.

Please go to the Helping Women’s Survivors of War  website to see how you can help. Thank you.

View this report in its entirety now on the CBSNEWS 60 Minutes site.

Here’s a clip of this report:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peter Bergen’s Interview with Osama Bin Laden 1997

Some readers have been asking about Peter Bergen’s interview with Osama Bin Laden, after the post ‘BinLadism’ by debugs1. As I’ve said, Peter Bergen is one of the very few journalists who’s ever had a face to face interview with Oama. Here’s a picture of it:

I Love you Michael Jackson: Michael singing ‘Human Nature’ at last Rehearsal

I haven’t posted the blog summary and I don’t think I will, just go to AC360 for all the latest news.

I will post yesterday’s shot, though…it’s Michael Jackson rehearsing for the London ‘This is it’ tour. Anderson wonders if he is lipsynching, I don’t think he is and seeing this just makes me feel so sad and nostalgic as I really love Michael since a little girl…enjoy…

PS: Tonight’s show will be covered as well as all this week, thanks.

Political Analysis AC360 09 21 09

In the meantime, here’s your political analysis in case you’ve already seen the show and want to see George’s take on it, George is our brilliant political analyst.

It would be easy – very easy – to dismiss former Democrat presidential candidate (and actual 2004 Vice-Presidential candidate) John Edwards out-of-hand this morning as just another hypocritical politician who had an affair while his terminally cancer-stricken wife of three decade wondered how many days she had remaining on this earth.

There is no moral defense of Edwards for the affair he carried on while he was running for President and portraying his wife of three decades as his partner and the only other person who mattered in an intimate way usually, but not always, reserved for a spouse.

As discussed on AC360 Monday evening, the “piling on” is pretty much underway and building as people condemn John Edwards for his actions. Repulsion towards his apparent fathering of a child out of wedlock while professing adherence to his marital vows is greeted virtually with universal repulsion. Overlooked, however, is how this pattern of behavior was allowed to develop in the first place.

The question that really must be asked is whether Edwards is wholly different from any of us as we go through our daily lives. Extra-marital affairs may not be our modus operandi, but for each of us, there is almost surely something in our behavior that could be corrected. Instead of concentrating on that, we are focusing on ‘the plank in John Edward’s eye’ as we condemn him and his behavior rather than looking at our own.

The intent here is not to condemn ourselves and excuse Edwards. He behaved poorly and needs to perform penance in some way for his actions. However, we should also look for whatever lesson there for us in his downfall. The most glaring is the constant searching for a hero that resides in so many people, to the point of quickly latching on to support anyone who seems to fill that role.

Andrew Young was an aide to Edwards who initially suffered much personal angst by initially claiming to have had the affair and child that are now apparently being claimed by Edwards. Apparently, Young was not willing to go along with the charade for as long as he did because he believed in Edwards and the latter’s message.

That is the second point that needs to be considered. Just because Edwards was lacking in an area of moral fealty did not mean that he had nothing to offer in other areas of public concern within our society, such as caring for and aiding the poor.

John Edwards made his bed – literally – and, having slept in it already in one sense, now needs to sleep in it alone and make amends for his life. But we should not simply ridicule and condemn him without learning whatever lessons there are that can be applied to ours.

AC360 Monday night

Will be blogged about later tonight…it’s late I know…but it’s my half day/evening off…going to the movies and I couldn’t blog it this morning…I slept !!!

The show tonight will be covered faithfully by Aaron, he always blogs as the show runs, so you’ll get your AC360 and news fix on time…

Wishing you a Cooper-less afternoon…

Site owner

PS: just go to http://www.ac360.com for all the latest news or to http://www.cnn.com

Political Analysis AC360 Friday 09 18 09

The issue of race once again was front and center for a roundtable discussion on Friday’s AC360, kept there by President Obama’s taping of interviews for this weekend with five major news networks notably Fox was not among them). At each interview, the issue of race was at the forefront, prompting AC to ask the question of the roundtable if the issue would be put to rest following this weekend’s airing of President Obama’s comments on it.

For his part, President Obama has publicly downplayed the issue in his comments and clearly seems to want discussion of racism to not be part of the discussion on his health-care reform.

What was notably not said by any of the participants (CNN reporter Joe Johns, Tony Perkins of the conservative Family Research Council and Jennifer Palmieri of the liberal Center for American Progress) is that the issue of racism will probably not subside until the passage of at least another generation rather than the passage of the weekend.

For some reason, the generational aspects of the last election have never been fully explored despite their undeniable presence. In a clear way, the election between Barack Obama and John McCainwas a battle between young and old. Obama attracted many new young voters with his talk of new ideas and progress to be made, while McCain courted the older and more conservative voters with his focus on how wonderful things in the past always have been.

The young responded and Obama won the election. It did not, however, remove the older voters from the American landscape. It is to some degree these older voters who are leading the charge against Obama not just politically but also racially.

For the younger generations, it is not as big a deal, if a big deal at all. Their lifestyles are more cosmopolitan and, frankly, more interracial. When seeing large outings of young people in bigger cities, the crowd includes all racial groups, beyond black and white to Asian, Indian and all others – and it truly seems no big deal to them.

As this generation matures and becomes the “older” generation, replacing those currently holding that title, racism will become less of an issue. But not until then.

Written by political analyst George Curcio

Below is an interesting map with America’s different ethnic groups, taken from: http://www.geocities.com/hispanic_eosh/census1.gif

 

 

AC360 09 18 09: Move on Already!

Welcome to the Anderson Cooper 360 daily summary.

Sorry this is late, the site was down due to maintenance/fixing and I couldn’t post Friday’s show summary earlier.

Before we start, I would like to wish Anderson a speedy recovery. It seems he came down with something as he kept coughing and his voice was hoarse. I’m sick as well since a couple of days and feel completely congested and I can’t stop wanting to sleep, and don’t tell me about those sore muscles…thank God for ‘Nurofen’ (Tylenol/Advil in America)…now that, Miss Prejean, was God ‘choosing’ me to comfort Anderson and all the sick people out there 🙂

MAIN STORIES TONIGHT ON AC360

– Authorities questioning a man who admits having ties to Al Qaeda…was he part of a plot to attack parts of NYC ?

– President Obama trying to focus on healthcare and ‘push past race’

Show tonight not too ‘heavy’ and  a very good mix of stories…the Soledad O’Brien piece was really great and eye opening. Last night’s AC360 was really enjoyable and very informative. Anderson, although a little sick, seems rested and very serene.

Let’s get started…

BREAKING NEWS

The show opened up with the breaking news that terrorists attacks may have been planned against America. A young Aghan national of 24 has admitted having ties to Al Qaeda and is undergoing his third day of questioning. It is probable but not 100% sure that he was connected to the alleged planned attacks against New York City. There is still a lot not known. Anderson talks to Jean Reserve from Denver,  who says there are now 2 pieces of evidence possibly substantiating that the young man is in fact related to the plotted NYC attacks. Najibullah Zazi is at the center of this investigation…CNN’s National Security Analyst Peter Bergen jumps in and talks about what is known in this investigation so far.

Here’s the complete interview…don’t miss it:

DIGGING DEEPER – Joe Johns, Jennifer Palmieri, Tony Perkins

The race discussion again. President Obama wants to get over this ‘race’ debate and finally focus on Healthcare…and how do I agree with him. Although I’m very weary about discussions on ‘race’, I can’t help but feel there is such an enormous subconscious attraction to fit into one race or another for most people today. I don’t think it’s bad and I don’t think it’s good. It’s just how we human beings are…the need to label ourselves…that’s how we form identity…this said…race is so embedded in our cultures that we don’t even recognize when we’re pushing too far. It’s been so common to act a certain way that it’s become the norm and no one should question the ‘norm’, right?

I’ll leave you with the panel discussion of tonight’s AC360’s digging deeper segment…discover for yourself why I’m exhausted of the ‘race’ discussion…and President Obama is very right to want to move on.

By the way, I went to check the AC360 LIVE BLOG and there was some anger over the term ‘mutt’ in there…I totally agree with this. The way multiracial people such as President Obama are viewed and referred to in the Western World is completely retarded. We should take example on places like Brazil when it comes to not forcing people into one race or another…hello…white and black is mixed…and I should be able to fit into anything I choose (whether that’s white, black or mixed)…society’s views on mixed race people comes from the Jim Crow system(yes google that)…One drop of black blood makes you only black…how narrow minded…thus completely denying you of one of your parent’s heritage…but hey…it’s not politically correct to talk about that so I’ll shut up.Some mixed people are seen as white because their phenotypical attributes make them look that…never you’ll hear people call them ‘black’…yet they are in fact mixed ethnically….what does that tell you about us as humans? Yes…we’re very focused on outward appearance.

The term ‘RACE’ is outdated, everyone….MOVE ON !!!

CRIME & PUNISHMENT – Randy Kaye

Very disturbing news tonight again about Annie Le’s murder

 The killer was found and is held on 3 million bond. There are still questions surrounding this investigation. Randy Kaye answers them for you:

UNCOVERING AMERICA – Soledad O’Brien

CNN’s Soledad O’Brien talks to a young boy who wants to find his roots and registers in a program run by Malaak Compton Rock (comedian Chris Rock’s wife) called The Angel Rock Project. This program allows you to trace your ancestry by taking a  DNA test. Very touching.

 

 

360 BULLETIN – Erica Hill

Erica Hill brings us the latest news:

-Bone found on Garrido’s property, maybe linked to other kidnappings in the 80’s.

-Miss California Carrie Prejean says ‘God chose me’…(I won’t elaborate on this, google it)

 

THE SHOT – Wolf Blitzer on Jeopardy

Wolf  Blitzer missed a ‘pasta’ question…ouch!!!

Wolf Blitzer is not so good at Jeopardy it seems…at least not as good as Anderson Cooper !! Enjoy:

Anderson Cooper on Jeopardy…

 

NEXT WEEK’S SHOW MONDAY:

I won’t tell you it’s creepy but there’s something about hearing voices from other realms. Cool.

AC360: Political Analysis of 09 17 09

United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s comments at a press conference yesterday provided the launching point for an interesting discussion during A slower show than last night. Fewer topics, more detail. Maybe Anderson Cooper 360 read my note at the beginning of yesterday’s post.
AC360.

Pelosi likened the attacks on President Barack Obama and his health care reform proposal to anti-gay rhetoric she heard in San Francisco during the 1970s that led to the shooting deaths of Mayor George Moscone and gay Councilman Harvey Milk. Pelosi, who was a local Democrat Party leader at the time, appeared on the verge of tears Thursday as she recalled the deaths of Moscone and Milk in 1978 at the hands of Dan White, at the time a member of San Francisco’s board of supervisors.

ACassembled a group of roundtable participants to discuss Pelosi’s claims. The roundtable participants were Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI), Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA). Republican David Gergen and author Deepak Chopra.

All the roundtable participants seemed in agreement with Frank when he said the analogy was not a direct one, because White had a personal grievance he was seeking to resolve that led to his shooting of Moscone and Milk. The personal nature of the reason for the shooting made it a bit of a different case, Frank noted.

The background of White’s specific case involved White having resigned his seat on the board of supervisors. He then sought to withdraw the resignation and be reinstated, a move that Milk was in opposition to. It should be noted that White, who committed suicide several years later, was a Democrat.

Interestingly, however, Gergen drew what he saw as more of a parallel to Abraham Lincoln, noting that Lincoln’s critic`s drew pictures of him as a monkey and dehumanized him, leading, in Gergen’s view, to Lincoln’s assassination in 1865.

Frank’s analysis of the issue at hand drew itself back to the late 1980s and early 1990s, when Newt Gingrich rose to leadership of the Republican Party in the House and declared war on Democrats, who responded in turn. As a result, acrimony has become more prevalent within each party towards the other, leading to the present situation of minimal discussion and openness to ideas originating from the other party. Frank says the situation in the Senate is much friendlier than in the House as a result.

All seemed in agreement that there are radical elements in both parties that need to be identified and eliminated from being considered as part of their “base.” Frank sees Republicans as having made a mistake by initially associating themselves initially with anyone who opposed President Obama. This has led, in Frank’s view, to conservatives now being associated with fringe elements such as supporters of Lyndon LaRouche, long seen as being on the political fringe. A reluctance to pull back from such associated protesters, in Frank’s view, is hurting the Republican Party overall.

Rep. Rogers did not necessarily agree with Frank’s assessment, saying democrats did not pull back from association with Code Pink protesters during George Bush’s administration, and Republicans are not going to pull back from grass-roots protesters who are trying to pay their bills and do not see a way out of the economic mess they find themselves in, especially with increased government profligacy.

Chopra raised the most interesting point but was almost totally ignored by the others in what he said. Chopra, a supporter of President Obama’s health-care plans, noted that much of what we call end-of-life “care” does not improve life at all – it simply extends it. Chopra’s recognition of this was a call to center the debate on health care and its associated insurance concerns, but he received no recognition for his statement from the others on the roundtable. His comments, however, would provide the basis for a future thoughtful discussion.

Instead, we are concerned with charges of racism and fears of violence when the focus should be on rational debate about the health-care issue. It should be noted that of all the cable news talk programs, Cooper’s would seem the best suited to address the debate. There is rationality to the discussions on his program – whether it is because of the host itself or the late-night hour of its airing – that is does not deteriorate into the yelling and argumentative nature that makes itself prevalent on other talk offerings.

Anderson Cooper 360

Written by political analyst George Curcio

Fight Back Against Unemployment: Anderson Cooper

Anderson Cooper reports

Political Analysis of AC360 09 15 09

“Tea Party Express” backer Mark Williams continues to seek to have it both ways as he organizes protests against President Obama and the United States government. That much was clear in a discussion on Tuesday’s AC360 that included Cooper and Democrat Roland Martin about allegations from former U. S. President Jimmy Carter that racism is part of the argument against Obama.

Williams would not denouce the racist activities of those particpating in the rallies he has helped to organize, saying to do so would make him a censor and contradict the very liberties he supports. Williams then put forth a circuitous argument, saying his protests are not about racism and personal attacks on President Obama, but then saying such attacks are not to be admonished or forbidden.

In essence, Williams is wanting to have his cake and eat it, too, as he says in one breath that racism is not a component of his protests against the government and then exusing racism in those attacks in the next breath. When asked by Martin if he would decry racist behavior, Williams would not give a direct answer, instead circling around the issue and trying to paint it as one of individual rights.

On another front, AC360 looked at whether it was a fruitful use of time or a waste for the U. S. House of Representatives to spend time reprimanding Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) for his outburst during Obama’s speech last week to a joint session of Congress. The answer, essentially, comes from whether you are a Democrat or Republican, and whether you sought to criticize or defend Wilson. As was made clear in a debate between Democrat Paul Begala and Republican Alex Castellanos, it all depends on whether you are seeking to defend Barack Obama and criticize Joe Wilson, or vice-versa.A

Written by George Curcio, Political Analyst

Busted: Mark Williams calls Obama a ‘Nazi’

Please see our political analysis on the Obama anger.

Mark Williams was ‘busted’ by none other than Anderson Cooper on yesterday’s AC360 program on CNN. Mark Williams made a statement that the current Obama administration calls its citizens ‘nazis’…to which Anderson replied: “Aren’t you the one who called President Obama a ‘ 21 century Nazi’, on your website?. Mark Williams did not even have the guts to reply to that and kept denying it by diverting the attention to Obama’s name: Barack Hussein Obama. But one thing is sure, Mark was VISIBLY embarrassed. How pathetic. Anderson Cooper wouldn’t let go and exposed this lying crook to the public. I guess Mark should look at his own mistakes before attacking others about something he’s done himself.

Anger against President Obama…Mark Williams Goes Too Far

Anderson Cooper on Monday night took an interesting look at the anger and protests against Barack Obama that hit irs apex thus far with a protest march in Washington, D. C. this past week.

Cooper discussed the protests and anger with Republican David Gergen, Democrat David Gergen and “Tea Party Express” organizer Mark Williams, promoter of much of the protest. Whereas Carville toed the line in pushing the line of Democrats’ support of President Obama, Gergen took a more analytical approach to looking at the problem, asking if we as Americans are any longer a “governable” people who can honestly and rerspetfully debate serious issues.

The presence of Williams, however, undermined what was otherwise an interesting discussion. Williams defended and tried to amplify the most outlandish of statements that have been made against Obama, including vitriolic and hateful sentiments expressed at wanting to bury the President with the Kennedys. Among other activities defended by Williams were calling Obama a Nazi and a racist. and apparently having no objection to posters that were displayed at the event depicting Obama as an African native that were clearly racist in their nature.

Fomenting the protests seems the key to Williams’ 15 minutes of fame. He has a history of self-promotion that thus far has not proven very successful in elevating him to prominence within political circles, and he seems to have seized upon the idea of promoting and fomenting dissent rallies as a way to rise to prominence.

The unfortunate aspect of this is that Williams is precluding legitimate analysis of how much anger and resentment truly exists against Obama, as well as preventing legitimate debate on contentious issues. Instead, he is whipping a portion of the American public into a frenzy, apparently hoping their discontent becomes personally rewarding for himself under the guide of “democracy in action” (as he liked to term it during his appearance on AC360).

Rather than prompting Americans to label their President a racist and wishing death upon him, Williams would better serve the nation, if that were truly his goal, by focusing on serious debate of the issues at hand, such as health-care reform.

Written by political analyst George Curcio for http://www.acthejournalist.com

Patrick Swayze dies at 57! AC360 09 14 09

Welcome to the daily AC360 recap for 09/14/09

Anderson Cooper is back in the NYC studios. How cool is that ?

Again, I apologize about the watermarks on our videos, we’ll get them removed this week.

MAIN STORIES THAT WILL BE COVERED TONIGHT

– Remembering Patrick Swayze who died at 57 of pancreatic cancer.

– Are the Obama protests crossing the line?

Let’s go !

LOOKING BACK AT PATRICK SWAYZE’ LIFE

 

 

Anderson Cooper: “Patrick Swayze lived a life of ups and downs, on screen and off”

 

BREAKING NEWS

Anderson Cooper speaks to Barbara Walters about Patrick Swayze’s death. Barbara interviewed Patrick earlier this year about his fight with pancreatic cancer.

 

——————————–

– Erica Hill talks about the attention Eric Swayze and the movie ‘dirty dancing’ has been getting on the social networking site twitter.

 

DIGGING DEEPER

The National Cancer Insititute has a new shocking estimate: 35,000 of americans will die of pancreatic cancer this year. In Anderson’s words, this type of cancer is “hard to diagnose, hard to treat and to beat.”

Anderson Cooper speaks to Doctor Antoine Bilchick.

 

POLITICS

The anti-Obama march in Washington this weekend reveals that the anger and fear the american people face is real. One year ago, the Lehman brothers collapsed and took the economoy with it, it seems.

President Obama gave a speech in Wallstreet about the state of America’s economy, saying we are progressing.

President Obama: “The storms of the past 2 years are beginning to break”

 

RAW POLITICS

 

There are some good news as the Dow Jones is up 1,678 and as many experts predict the recession should end this quarter. However, the anger and frustration among american people is still very strong. Candy Crowley reports.

 

A couple of photos:

 

 

DIGGING DEEPER

Anderson Cooper talks to David Gergen, James Carville and Mark Williams of the Tea Party Express.

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

The creepy story of Annie Le’s murder in the medical research building at Yale University. This is too disturbing for me to cover, I won’t dwell here. For the video of this, go to www.ac360.com

Here are some photos:

360 NEWS AND BUSINESS BULLETIN

In other news tonight:

– NY Terror Raids

– Jody Powell dies at age 65. Jodie Powell served as former White House Secretary during the Jimmy Carter presidency (1977-1981)

–Elton John’s adpotion of a HIV positive Ukranian boy has been denied. The Ukranian government said it does not approve of same sex unions and that Elton John is too old to adopt.

-Kanye West’s VMA drama/outburst. See below

KANYE WEST VMA OUTBURST AND ANDERSON’S REACTION:

 

Beyoncé’s reaction:

 

BEAT 360

No Beat 360 Caption Contest tonight.

 

THE SHOT

The shot shows Patrick Swayze on SNL live (Saturday Night Live)

Tomorrow’s show:

Bin Ladism?

Peter Bergen, CNN National Security Adviser said that Osama Bin Ladin “still matters” because his name is a rallying point for Al Qaeda and its rather medieval ideology of wanting to bring the world back to the 7th century.

Thus Bergen cites a rather vague ideological movement called “Bin Ladism.” We agree except that a person cannot be an ideology. Marxism is an ideology because Karl Marx wrote something reasonably rational called “The Communist Manifesto” along with Friedrich Engels. It was a manifesto that was radical and  published at the right historical period when most of the oppressed people of the world then were either hungry or desperate. It is however doubtful if Obama Bin Ladin can match that. Neither does he make make great T-shirt material like Che Guevara who had the guts – at least – to fight and die like a man instead of issuing threatening videos in some obscure cave probably in Pakistan.

No, “Binladism” will not be a lasting legacy, unless one means the same legacy that Charles Manson is probably going to leave. Osama Bin Ladin is NOTHING but a man who suffers from a psychological disorder because he has declared his Al Qaeda crusade as THE Islamic crusade which is definitely something that most Muslims in the world living in the 21st century do not agree with. Osama Bin Ladin only matters to those who suffer from the same insanity he is suffering from. Most Muslims do not wish to live in another century and are rather in touch with reality. Legacy? Duh? The murders committed in September 11, 2001 can hardly be called a “legacy”. To call anything a “legacy” implies “leaving behind something good”. Bin Ladin can die today and history will remember him for what he was (and still is) – a crazy murderer. Al Queda has no ideology to speak of, except some vague concept of a world LITERALLY based on a book allegedly written in the 7th century. Marxism, at least has some good points, “Bin Ladism” has nothing good. Watching a film like “Back to the Future” would be more comprehensible than listening to Osama Bin Ladin’s latest blabber.

Peter Bergen says that it’s important that Osama Bin Ladin be caught and brought to justice and we agree. It would however seem more dramatic for him to use his own pistol and put an end to his earthly existence and enjoy the maidens in the paradise of his imagination. Should he be killed however, that certainly would be better because it would show the world that even legends die. More so, it would certainly trigger a leadership crisis within Al Qaeda which would mean that fanatical mad group would be further divided into several sub-groups which will certainly differ in positions from the legality of naming a Teddy Bear Mohammed to whether children should be child brides. Osama Bin Ladin matters only because he does affect the national security of the America and other countries – including Muslim ones. His being hidden somewhere, probably in Pakistan, perhaps should encourage the US State Department to get tougher towards this country – but not to invade it because that would be another idiotic decision. The latest CNN reports on Afghanistan does show that though there is “the world jihadist movement”,it certainly does not have any definite ideology. The leaders are bound to kill each other over non-fundamental points. The people of Afghanistan, for instance, have obviously chosen individual sovereignty over the rule of the Taliban. On the other hand , even the pro-jihadist Taliban do have fundamental disagreements with Al Qaeda and Bin Ladin’s fruitcake cohorts.

Written by Cynthia Syncip

New AC Photo in Afghanistan

 

This photo can be seen on Flickr

(DoD photo by Lance Cpl. Jeremy Harris, U.S. Marine Corps/Released) 

Anderson Cooper’s Second and Last Tweet from Afghanistan 2009

Anderson Cooper tweeted about 10 hours ago, this Sunday Morning.

andersoncooper

From ac: just got back from afghanistan. Have a hacking cough. Many who go there get it. I think I annoyed lots of people on flight

about 10 hours ago from TwitterBerry

Go to Anderson Cooper’s Twitter Page.

AC360 Friday 09 11 09

 

Welcome to the daily AC360 recap of Friday, 09/11/2009

I apologize for the watermarks on the videos as I’m using a new software and testing it to see if I’ll keep it. The marks will be gone this week. We’ll also have a much higher video quality.

Friday’s AC360 begins with John King filling in for Anderson Cooper.

WHAT WILL BE COVERED TONIGHT:

John King announces today’s big stories:

– New doubts at home about the war in Afghanistan

– Big money for the congressman who shouted at President Obama

Let’s get started !

STRATEGY SESSION

The program opens up with the strategy session segment. John King interviews Michael Ware and David Gergen:

Michael Ware: “They (The Afghan people) want more from America, and they want it quick and then they want you out.”

RAW POLITICS:

On to the raw politics segment of the show, ‘two words, big bucks’. Congressman Wilson picked up 700000 millions plus one million for a total of 1.7 millions for shouting ‘you lie’ at President Obama during a Congress speech. Joe Johns reports, and says Wilson isn’t sorry and uses this money as funds for ‘re-election’.

Joe Johns reports and talks to John King:

Here’s the specific video clip when congressman shouts ‘you lie’ at President Obama:

The next story is an interview by Jonathan Landae who is a correspondent for a newspaper. He talks about his account of being with the troops during deadly attacks in Afghanistan. As everyone knows, August was the deadliest month for American troops in Afghanistan.

Here’s Jonathan Interview in its integrality:

INSIDE THE BATTLE ZONE:

Moving on to the next segment of the AC360 show. Anderson Cooper and Peter Bergen discuss about Khandahar, the birth place of the taliban. Peter Bergen is one of the few journalists who’s ever spoken in person with Osama Bin Laden. You can view more about this at http://www.ac360.com. I think this makes Peter Bergen’s reporting the more interesting.

Anderson and Peter discuss about how the mission in Afghanistan has changed over the past 8 years. 2001 was all about overthrowing the taliban and getting rid of AL Qaeda. The base where Anderson and Peter are reporting from used to be an AL Qaeda base. Now, it has a population of 9000, and has places like Pizza Hut and Burger King. Clearly the place has drastically changed and the taliban has lost most of its power there. AL Qaeda is not today’s priority, in fact no marines ever spoke about it during all of AC360’s trip to Afghanistan. Peter Bergen says that in his opinion, the possibility of an eventual attack of Al Qaeda against America is low.

INSIDE THE BATTLE ZONE II

Anderson Cooper reports about the life of the Marines in Patrol Base Jaker. This is the 1st Batalion, 5th regiment and there are 50 of them in this base. Anderson reveals that their living conditions is less than glamourous and talks to a few marines there. For example, the temperature can go as high as 120 degrees and there is no air conditioning. There is dust all over the place, and food is pre-packaged. One sergeant describes life as being: “work all day and then sleep and then work again in the morning.”

A couple of photos from his report:

 

360 NEWS AND BUSINESS BULLETIN

Erica Hill brings us the news and business bulletin

I apologize but this video doesn’t want to upload to youtube…sorry ! I tried 3 times I don’t know what the problem is.

BEAT 360

Here are tonight’s winners:

THE SHOT

Tonight’s shot is a clip about Anderson’s journey in Afghanistan all throughout the past week. In his Reporter’s Notebook, Anderson Cooper remembers vividly and a little painfully his week spent in Afghanistan close to the combat and on patrol with the troops.

Here are a few pictures of his Reporter’s Notebook:

 

Thanks for tuning in and have a great weekend !!!

The Weekend

I just wanted to wish everyone reading this a good weekend.

Here’s a photo of Anderson in Afghanistan found on Flickr:

(DoD)

Anderson’s Second Personal Blog Post from Afghanistan

FRESH Anderson Cooper blog post. Posted 5 minutes ago on the CNN sites. Anderson Cooper blogged a second time from Afghanistan

One common goal

Posted: 11:15 AM ET

Program Note: Tune in tonight for Anderson’s live coverage from Afghanistan. He is joined by Peter Bergen, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Michael Ware. AC360° tonight at 10 p.m. ET.

U.S. Marines listen to a brief before heading out on patrol in Helmand Province.

Anderson Cooper | BIO
AC360° Anchor

“What’s your blood type?”

It’s the question you’re asked around here a lot. Before getting into a helicopter, before going out on patrol with a new unit. “What’s your blood type?”

The Marines have their blood type sewn into the patches they wear along with their name and rank. Many write it in black marker on the band of their goggles. I know some guys who even have it tattooed on their chests, just above their heart. At first, the question surprised me, now it’s just a routine part of the introduction.

 

READ MORE AT THE ac360 blog