Reporter Recants White House Story, Pulls New Book

PPPS (Washington)—In a shocking revelation this morning, our own Political-Beat Pete admitted that he wrongfully claimed credit for asking  a question in a recent White House press briefing. The March 18 story made national news, but the mystery "reporter from Colorado" was not Pete!

Under intensive interrogation by former prosecutor and staff attorney, Pleader Pete, assisted by our national security advisor, Pentagon Pete, Political-Beat Pete admitted that he claimed credit for a fast-breaking story about a reporter in the White House press room actually posing a tough question.

When Pete saw that the no one knew the name of the reporter, Pete jumped in to lay claim and posted his story with the Pundit Pete Press Service. Pete indicated that he had included an old photograph of himself standing outside of the White House security gate, and had altered a YouTube video of the press briefing to make it appear to come from him.


After further questioning, Pete also admitted that he had totally manufactured all of his previous White House Press Briefing stories and made up most of the content for his new book, Is Journalism Finally Dead? The book has been pulled from Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble shelves nationwide.

PPPS is currently examining all of Pete's past expense records, including two White House Press Correspondents' conferences in Las Vegas, and three trips to the Dominican Republic. The investigation has not indicated any involvement in the scandal by PPPS upper management, and appears to have been completely isolated to Political-Beat Pete and one unnamed staff assistant.  Political-Beat Pete has been placed on paid administrative leave.

In a statement released this morning, CEO and Editor-In-Chief, Pundit Pete, who would normally need to sign off on all major stories and travel expenses within the organization, stated simply that he had "no prior knowledge of Political-Beat Pete's outrageous and troubling activities until he first read about it in a (this) PPPS story about to go to press."

In three totally unrelated breaking stories, a Washington Post article indicated that the U.S. Department of Justice spied on Fox News White House correspondent James Rosen, and that a drone similar to the one depicted in this photo, was recently seen circling near the PPPS headquarters in Littleton, Colorado.

In addition, PPPS has just received notification from the IRS of a pending audit of all PPPS operations. As a result, PPPS will need to suspend it's coverage of White House and other national stories to devote staff time to respond to audit questions.

The Mark of a True Leader: Barack Obama

PPPS (Washington)—We thought we would pass on this commentary about true leadership, submitted by a loyal reader, Citizen Pete.

Press Secretary Jay Carney Explains Benghazi Talking Points Memo

PPPS (Washington)—Amid heated questions from the press yesterday (did that really happen?), White House Press Secretary Jay Carney carefully explained the process by which a CIA talking points memo about the attacks on the Consulate Diplomatic Facility in Benghazi, Libya came to be altered before its formal release.

 

Notes: We want to acknowledge the following for contributing to this breaking story:

• Citizen Pete @Pundit_Pete for the quote and Snowlinen @Wadded_Panties for the graphic.
• Susan Rice for her inspiration and her tour of the Sunday news shows, as quoted by BuzzFeed Politics.
• Stephen F. Hayes at the Weekly Standard for first posting the story about the memo changes.
• Johnathan Karl of ABC News for his random act of journalism in further promoting the story.
• Our friend Jay Carney, who once graciously took one more question from Colorado.
• Keith Koffler of the White House Dossier, who posted a live stream of the May 10 Press Briefing.
• And our colleagues in the White House Press Corpse who are engaged every single day in speaking truth to power.

Related Stories and background:

White House Holds Secret Meeting with Reporters - Keith Koffler, White House Dossier

Carney Keeps on Digging - Stephen F. Hayes at Weekly Standard

View the talking points edits for yourself at ABC News.

Spinning Benghazi by Alex Koppelman, The New Yorker
Jay Carney: We Only Made One Change to the Benghazi Talking Points Memo (Video) -Gateway Pundit

Carney still denies White House role in changing Benghazi talking points - Neil Munro, the Daily Caller

Full Benghazi Report (Video & Audio) - Dustin Guthrie (most excellent narration)

War on Babies: Do Democrats and the Press Condone It?

(From ProLife = ProGod Facebook page)

PPPS (Philadelphia)—Qui tacet consentit - If silence implies consent then are the mainstream media and Democrats, in their response to the Kermit Gosnell trial, condoning a war on babies?

You can read the following and decide.

First, the facts.

Abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell is on trial in Philadelphia charged with seven counts of first degree murder involving botched late-term abortions (post 24 weeks) in which the babies were born alive and then murdered with scissors or by other means. The details, which are coming out each day in testimony, are truly disturbing (Grand Jury Report - caution, very disturbing). Both the late-term abortions performed by Gosnell on mostly poor and minority patients and the alleged murders of live-born babies were illegal in Pennsylvania.

Mainstream media would usually eat up such a sensational trial, one involving serial murders, ghastly details, exploitation of people of color, and a highly controversial issue, such as abortion. The story would normally be front-page news for days or weeks.

Seats reserved for press at Gosnell trial - JDMullane photo

But the mainstream media and prominent Democrats remain silent. No major news organization, other than Fox News, has been reporting the story. And those that are beginning to report, appear to be doing so only in response to shaming from conservative bloggers and conversations trending in social media.

Why the press censorhip of this story? And, where are the quotes from Nancy Pelosi, Debbie Wasserman-Shultz, or President Obama about it?

After all, the mainstream media once went wild over a story that Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney used scissors to cut the hair of a classmate as part of a college prank. Now, what do we hear from them about scissors being used to sever the spinal cords of living, breathing babies? Silence.

State Senator Barrack Obama once opposed a bill in Illinois that made infanticide illegal and addressed issues quite similar to those being described in a Philadelphia court room. What do we hear about that in relation to the Gosnell trial? Silence.

At what point do you think President Obama and other Democratic leaders will jump in to decry the horror and propose new legislation? Will it take longer than their interventions on behalf of Travon Martin or the Cambridge Professor, or the Newtown victims?

You decide.

Here are some links to other articles to help you ponder these questions. Note, these are commentary or news stories on blogs, not front page stories or TV news items (we couldn't find those).

Kermit Gosnell trial update: Plenty of media seating still available - Michell Malkin (includes other links)
Philadelphia abortion clinic horror: We've forgotten what belongs on page one. - Column by Kirsten Powers, USA Today (this column and a few others have gone a long way in shaming the MSM)
Another key writer shaming the media has been Mollie Ziegler Hemingway of GetReligion. Here is one of her posts: WPost reporter explains her personal Gosnell blackout
Why Dr. Kermit Gosnell's Trial Should Be a Front-Page Story - by Connor Friedersdorf, the Atlantic 
Why Are the Media Apologizing About Kermit Gosnell Coverage? - by Josh Dzieza, the Daily Beast 
Photo of the Day: Media Row at the Gosnell trial - Ed Morrissey, HotAir
Obama and Infanticide - Ramesh Ponneru, National Review
Trial and the Media's Error - Tony Perkins, Family Research Council

Kermit Gosnell Trial Is A 'Peek Into The World Before Roe v. Wade': NARAL President Ilyse Hogue - Huff Post Politics

Kermit Gosnell - Wikipedia
Grand Jury Report included to document seriousness of the crimes being ignored by the press (CAUTION THIS IS VERY DISTURBING)

Perhaps there is hope that the message is getting through.

Is MSM Awareness A Wave in Tide of God's Mercy? - Elizabeth Scalia - The Anchoress on Catholic Channel

Special thanks to JD Mullane, Columnist for The Bucks County Courier Times and PhillyBurbs.com. A picture is truly worth a thousand words. Thank him on Twitter @jdmullane

And thanks to ProLife = ProGod for the censored illustration.

Update - April 15, 2013 

Before the Gosnell Blackout, There Was Tiller's - Jack Cashill, American Thinker
What Is "News"? - Derek Hunter, Townhall.com
Why Kermit Gosnell hasn't been on Page One - Melinda Henneberger, The Washington Post
Front Row at the Gosnell Horror Show  -  an especially revealing report from a friend, Phelim McAleer, posted at HotAir.  

Update - April 16, 2013 

Kermit Gosnell: Secret Hero of the Left - Jeannie DiAngeles, American Thinker 

Yes, There Is a Gosnell Trial Cover-up by Major News Organizations - Kirsten Powers, The Daily Beast

Powers: Yes, there is a Gosnell cover-up in the media - Ed Morrissey, HotAir

Following is an interesting video from a Christian perspective about when and how to expose evil in an issue like the Gosnell trial. We are very thankful for this video, as it confirms many of the prayers we undertook before creating the PPPS blog post. One of those prayers is posted below.

The Gosnell Trial: Exposing Evil and Loving Others

A prayer about the horrible trial of Abortion Dr. Kermit Gosnell in Philadelphia.

Lord, thank you for your love.
Thank you Lord, that you hold your little ones in your presence that they would not feel pain.
Thank you for your grace, that you forgive all of us our sins, even the most evil among us, and including me.
Thank you Lord for revealing the truth about abortion to me and to our nation.
Let me see with your vision Lord, and let me respond always in love.

 

Update - April 25, 2013 

Now that the trial is nearly over, the MSM is reluctantly reporting on it.

MSNBC Finally Covers Gosnell Trial in Primetime Five Weeks After it Began - Noel Sheppard, NewBusters

Kermit Gosnell Murder Trial Update: Pa. judge corrects charges tossed out in abortion case - CBS News

Gosnell defense rests in Philadelphia abortion provider case - USA Today
Abortion Doctor Kermit Gosnell Ends Defense With No Witnesses - ABC News

Defense Rests in Gosnell Trial with No Witnesses - Dr. Susan Berry, Breitbart

 

Update - April 26, 2013 

From our friend and fellow blogger SUPERMEXICAN, we bring you this breaking news item in the War on Babies and a photo worth a thousand words:  Planned Parenthood Awards ‘Margaret Sanger’ Award to Short German Offering Final Solution for Undesirable Children

 

The photo is of four key Women Warriors in the War on Babies (from l. to r.): Former Democrat Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi; Award Winner Dr. Ruth Westheimer; HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius; and Planned Parenthood President and prominent Democrat, Cecile Richards.

 

Another article about Planned Parenthood  by Janice Shaw Crouse posted at American Thinker: Planned Parenthood's Horrific Ironies Exposed by the Gosnell Trial

 

Remarks by the President today at the Planned Parenthood Conference in DC.  We noted 36 references to women, three references to family, zero references to men or fathers, and zero references to abortion in the speech. 

Perhaps the speech should be titled:  

President Obama Vows to Wage War Against the War on Women Which Threatens Planned Parenthood's War on Babies

Here is a short video clip from the speech. 

 

The President of the United States Asks God to Bless an Abortion Factory - Rush Limbaugh

 

Update - April 28, 2013 

The truth about late-term abortion  - Kyle Smith, New York Post

This undercover video by LiveAction.org is very revealing.

 

Update - April 29, 2013 

Are there more abortion doctors like Kermit Gosnell? And do we want to know? - Melinda Henneberger, Washington Post 
Palin Hammers 'Radically Pro-Abortion' Obama for Planned Parenthood Speech - William Bigelow, Breitbart
Inhuman: Undercover in America's Late-Term Abortion Industry - Investigative report by LiveAction

 

Update - April 30, 2013 

The Firestorm Over Late-Term Abortions - Michelle Goldberg, the Daily Beast  

Gosnell's abortion atrocities no 'aberration': Column by Kirsten Powers, USA Today

New Voices on the Issues - Racism

PPPS (Littleton)—In this, the second in our New Voices on the Issues series, we tackle the sensitive subject of Racism in America.

*************************************************************

Citizen Caryn

Our first new voice on the topic comes from the co-founder of the Bridge to Nowhere Tea Party, and one of the wisest people we know, Citizen Caryn, who created this window decal to combat racism.

 

We think it would make an excellent substitute for the race card that certain individuals and politicians are so fond of using.

*************************************************************

Anita MonCrief

Our next contribution is from Anita MonCrief whom some of the PPPS staff have had the great pleasure of meeting at CPAC 2012, and again at CPAC 2013.

Anita is one of the most courageous people we know, having been a whistleblower while employed at ACORN, and one who is continually providing a unique, but sometimes unpopular, perspective. Here is one example of her most excellent commentary.

Cultural Slave Catchers and Defining Blackness

A Tribute to the Iron Lady and Her Friend the Gipper

PPPS (London)—With the passing of former Prime Minister of Great Britain, the most honorable Margaret Thatcher, we thought we would honor her with this picture with her friend and fellow conservative, Ronald Reagan.

 "..... and then I told Gorby, just wait 'till my friend Ron gets here, 'cause boy, when we're standing together, you're gonna wish you were ...... Back in the U.S.S.R."

We miss them both.

Will Colorado Citizen's Lawsuit Have Chilling Ramifications for Freedom Of The Press?

PPPS (Denver)—A Colorado Citizen today filed a shocking lawsuit in the Federal District Court in Denver today, challenging the very foundation of the 1st Amendment right guaranteeing freedom of the press.

PPPS - Could individual on right be Citizen Pete?

In his lawsuit, a Colorado resident, named only as Citizen Pete, claimed irreparable harm and mental anguish due to several news organizations, and some individual reporters and news personalities, failure to report information and facts in their possession in a timely manner.

Named in the lawsuit were: ABC News, CBS News, NBC NEWS, MSNBC, CNN, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, NPR, PBS, AP, Politico and the Denver Post.

The White House Press Corpse, 2013 (PPPS photo)

A nearly identical copy of the lawsuit was also simultaneously filed in the Washington, DC District Court naming certain individuals collectively known as the White House Press Corpse, and in the International Court of Justice at the Hague, naming the BBC News, CNN, Reuters News, Al Jazeera, and the Associated Press.

It should be noted that the Pundit Pete Press Service was among the only major news organizations not labeled as defendants in the case.

The lawsuit, which most media pundits are today labeling as outrageous, unconstitutional and frivolous, claims that:

....by not reporting certain facts in the possession of the news organizations and named individuals, We the People, and Citizen Pete in particular, are robbed of information rightfully ours, are unable to accurately evaluate certain news stories, and are deprived of their ability to make rational decisions regarding public policy, public elections, and public polling.

Furthermore, by intentionally withholding certain information regarding specific news stories, the named individuals and news organizations have illegally influenced elections, prevented informed policy discussions, and have allowed certain government officials to evade appropriate indictment and prosecution.

The lawsuit goes on to list certain negative consequences to Citizen Pete resulting from the inaction by the named defendants, and including extreme mental anguish and an extended period of depression, following the November 6, 2012 elections. 

One of the stories not covered.

The lawsuit specifically lists more than 1000 news stories for which information was withheld or where there was a failure to report the stories at all by the defendants. Among them were the following:

• What was in the ObamaCare bill before it was passed.
• That the murders at the Benghazi Consulate were a terrorist action.
• That numerous individuals in the Obama Administration lied about Benghazi.
• Bill Ayers, Reverend Wright, the "Choom Gang"
• Fast and Furious
• Bridge to Nowhere Tea Party and other Tea Party Events
• Black Conservatives
• Anything truthful about Mitt Romney
• A "Colorado reporter's" tough question to Press Secretary Jay Carney
• Citizen Pete's debate with David Axelrod

Several news organizations, including the majority of the named defendants, failed to report the lawsuit story at all today.

A few news organizations, and several prominent pundits have declared the lawsuit to be a fundamental threat to press freedom, stating that no individual or news organization can be compelled to report the facts.

Unrelated Story:

Fox News reporter faces Aurora judge over refusal to reveal sources

Happy Easter from Colorado

PPPS (Morrison, CO)—Happy East from the Sunrise Service at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. (click to enlarge any of the photographs). God bless.

6AM - Some are a bit sleepy but venue is almost full by start of service.

The stage as the service begins.

Ready for the sun (son) rise, 10,000 + worshipers.

After the service - Red Rocks Amphitheatre (stage is at photo center)

Red rocks and the moon.

The setting - red rocks of the Fountain formation and foothills backdrop.

Related Articles:
Denver Post Photo Essay - March 31, 2013

Political-Beat Pete Asks Tough Question of Jay Carney at WH Press Briefing

PPPS (The White House)--At today's White House Press Briefing, our own Political-Beat Pete, after waiting patiently in back with hand raised, finally walked up near the front of the room when it was time for the last question, and asked Press Secretary Jay Carney whether he would take a question from Colorado. He agreed to accept one more question.

White House Press Briefing - March 18, 2013 (PPPS photo)

 

Pete's question was a follow-up to one asked earlier by April Ryan of American Urban Radio Networks about a lack of appointments to the President's Cabinet of minorities. It was the following (paraphrased for now):

As a followup to the question asked by the woman earlier, with very high unemployment in the black community, and when there are government workers who may be furloughed, and there are millions of other Americans unemployed, and families whose budgets have been cut, how does the President justify lavish vacations and a golf trip to Florida at taxpayer expense? Does he plan to cut back on his travel?

After asking the initial question, and as Carney tried to spin out of answering it, Pete interrupted him in good journalist fashion a couple of times. Mr. Carney was doing press secretary gymnastics and was describing how GOP efforts to reduce spending would reduce funds to the sick and elderly when Pete brought the question back to the high rate of unemployment for young people who are black (again, this is a paraphrase for now). Of course, Pete's efforts were in vain, and Secretary Carney never really answered the question of whether or not the President would cut down on his travel going forward.

Pete got into the White House Press Briefing room after calling for a press pass. He had been told the wrong time for the press briefing and, therefore, only arrived near the end. Then, a seasoned journalist advised Pete to move up and stand along the wall closer to the front. After the man standing next to Pete was granted the last question, Pete was pretty disappointed.

Pete just inside the White House gate w/ his new press pass.

But then just as the Secretary answered the "last question", Pete interjected boldly, "Would you take a question from Colorado?"....and the rest is history.

We will post a copy of our YouTube video of Pete's question and response, as well as a link to the CSPAN recording, which should be available this evening. Pete's question comes near the end of the White House Press Briefing.

Update: Here is the Pundit Pete Press Service Video:

Transcription from the White House Briefing Room (note that Press Secretary Carney fails to even remotely answer Pete's questions):

Q    One question from Colorado.

MR. CARNEY:  From Colorado, sure.

Q    All right.  I wanted to follow up on this young woman’s question about the high unemployment out in places like Colorado, all around the country, especially in the minority communities -- exceptionally high unemployment.  And when there is government workers who may be furloughed, millions of Americans unemployed, and family budgets that have been cut, how does the President justify lavish vacations and a golf trip to Florida at taxpayer expense?  And does he plan to cut back on his travel?

MR. CARNEY:  I can tell you that this President is focused every day on policies that create economic growth and help advance job creation.  We have presided over the past three years over an economy that’s produced over 6.3 million private sector jobs, and we have more work to do.  And this President’s number-one priority is growth and job creation.  When you come to --

Q    But it’s not working in the minority communities.

MR. CARNEY:  Well, the fact is unemployment has come down.  It has not come down nearly enough.  And what we need to do is embrace policies that advance job creation, make secure the middle class, and create ladders of opportunity for those who aspire to the middle class.  We certainly do not need to embrace economic policies that shift the entire burden of deficit reduction onto senior citizens, middle-class families, Medicaid recipients.  The proposal coming out of the House would slash Medicaid by a third.

Q    But it doesn’t affect inner-city jobs.

MR. CARNEY:  It doesn’t?  You don’t think it does?

Q    No.

MR. CARNEY:  People who depend on Medicaid to help take care of their kids who are disabled.  People who depend on Medicaid to take care of their parents who are in nursing homes.  People who are not in the middle class but aspire to it, who depend directly on Medicaid.  I think you need to examine what the Medicaid program actually does.

 Why Was Pete At the White House Anyway?

As Chief White House Correspondent for the Pundit Pete Press Service, Pete of course is no stranger to the White House Press Briefing Room. But, having lost his press credentials a while back because of a change in attitude and a book project he was working on, Pete could only return on a one-day pass. And what is that book project you might ask? Well it's Pete's first, soon-to-be-released book: Is Journalism Finally Dead? - An Insider's Revealing Look at the White House Press Corpse.

Check it out.

On another note:

As Political-Beat Pete was leaving the Northwest Gate to the White House, he encountered another gentleman who was leaving, one who was perhaps a bit more familiar with the White House than Pete. It was Richard Trumka, President of the AFL-CIO labor union.

When Pete asked Mr. Trumka, if like Pete, it was his first visit to the White House, Mr. Trumka lied and said yes.

Or perhaps he misunderstood Pete to ask if it was his first visit to the White House this week. It was Monday, after all.

Related News Articles:

No Plans for Obama to Cut Back on Lavish Vacations and Travel - Katie Pavlich - Townhall 
 
Dodge of the Day: Reporter asks Jay Carney if Obama plans to cut back on lavish vacations and golf trips - Doug Powers at Michelle Malkin

Reporter Asks Carney: Will Obama Cut Back on Lavish Vacations, Golf Trips? - The Weekly Standard

Will Obama Cut Back on ‘Lavish Vacations’ Due to Sequester Cuts, Furloughs? Hear Jay Carney’s Evasive Answer - The Blaze

Pete can be seen asking his question on the left side of this video interview with Dr. Ben Carson shown on Hannity on FoxNews. Pete's question and comments start at  minute 04:55 on the video: Interview with Ben Carson

Here is the press briefing on CSPAN - Pete's question start at minute 39:12 (Pete is off to the left).

Fellow Colorado Blogger Michelle Morin  carried the story. 

Shameless Advertising Section
I used my Samsung Infuse cell phone (1.5 yrs old) to make the video in this story. Pretty good sound and video quality, huh? I'm pretty sure the newer Samsung Galaxy S III  phones are as good or better.

Filibuster Fever in the DC Swamp

Drone Wars (ABC News)

PPPS (Washington)—For nearly 13 hours yesterday, Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) held the Senate floor, and the nation's rapt attention, as he filibustered the nomination of John Brennen for Director of the CIA.

C-Span had it's longest, and most-watched program in years, and the Twitterverse was dominated last night, and still is this morning, by #StandWithRand.

The issue, of course, was not John Brennen, but Attorney General Eric Holder's response to a letter sent to him in January by Senator Paul regarding the question of whether the Administration could use drones to kill American citizens on American soil.

Rather than the obvious responses of "No!" or "Hell No, that would be unconstitutional!", the Attorney General instead finally responded on Monday in a letter with a vague and evasive answer. Here is the a part of that letter.

The question you have posed is therefore entirely hypothetical, unlikely to occur, and one we hope no President will ever have to confront. It is possible, I suppose, to imagine an extraordinary circumstance in which it would be necessary and appropriate for the President to authorize the military to use lethal force within the territory of the United States.

Rand Paul responded by going to the floor of the Senate and speaking up, beginning at 11:47 AM yesterday.

People across the nation were soon watching on C-Span2, gaining an education about Senate filibuster procedures and the constitution, reminiscent of the famous movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.  The real version was easily as entertaining as the movie, with thousands, perhaps millions, unable to leave their TV sets or the live-stream on their computers and mobile devices. It was history in the making, live and unfiltered by the liberal press.

Next door, in a Senate hearing room, Senator Ted Cruz grilled Attorney General Holder about his letter and the drone issue, finally eliciting a reluctant and tepid no on the issue.

Senators Cruz, Lee and Rubio took turns relieving Senator Rand for brief periods on the Senate floor, entertaining viewers with their own statesmanlike and educational lectures on the constitutional issues at hand. They were joined by Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon. Other Republican Senators showed up as well, spurred by #StandWithRand fever, and perhaps some gentle prodding from constituents.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made a brief appearance in hopes that he could derail the filibuster before more American viewers could join in the fun. Democratic Senator Dick Durban, to his credit, stayed on and posed a few questions. And, although Durbin's questions were intended to deflect the issue away from the President, he actually made a few cogent points, which Senator Paul acknowledged, then quickly demolished in his responses.

Senator Ron Johnson, delayed by dinner with the President, showed up near the end at midnight to provide a scathing but educational history of the  intransigence on budget issues displayed in Senator Reid's leadership over the past four years.

The most fun though, could be found on Twitter, where millions worldwide were cheering Senator Paul to keep going. Here are tweet samples from yesterday, last night and this morning found under hashtag #StandWithRand.

Freedom First ‏@MrsFreedomFirst

Thank you! @SenRandPaul Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! #StandWithRand Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Campaign for Liberty ‏@C4Liberty

RT if you #StandwithRand in demanding answers from the White House on unconstitutional drone strikes in US.

You will learn more about Constitution form #StandWithRand filibuster than any knowledge dispensed by our law professor President

Without a teleprompter, for 9 1/2 hours and #RandPaul has yet to drone on like the President does in every speech. #StandWithRand

Don't care if they've adjourned. Still standing and clapping for @SenRandPaul a great Patriot! #StandWithRand

On Nov 6 and each day since the flame of liberty has grown dimmer. Last night, someone brought a torch to the party. #StandWithRand

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Dies - U.S. Selects Special Envoy to Attend Funeral

PPPS (Washington and Caracas)—With the shocking and unexpected death of Hugo Chavez, President (for life) of Venezuela, the world of Latin American diplomacy has been been thrust to the forefront of the many issues facing President Obama this week.

The diplomatic relationship between our two great countries has been turbulent, and it is important to carefully select an envoy to represent the U.S. at the Venezuelan state funeral in Caracas.

Our sources in the White House and U.S. State Department tell us that a lively debate ensued overnight in the White House situation room, overseen by the President himself.

Normally, with the death of a foreign leader, the vice president is sent. But for the following two safety reasons, that option was not available:  

1. The Venezuelan Government's accusation that the U.S. injected Chavez with terminal cancer creates a concern for Vice President Biden's safety.
2. If Vice President Biden were allowed to speak or give advice in the murder capitol of the Western Hemisphere (Caracas), it might further endanger the Venezuelan People.

With the vice president unable to attend, the diplomatic duties normally fall to the secretary of state. However, in the aftermath of Secretary of State Kerry's recent remarks in Germany, and the sensitive issue of freedom of speech in a country reeling from the fall of a dictator, the decision was made by President Obama to forego this option as well.

At times like these, President Obama often turns to his friends in Hollywood to help convey important messages by sending them to meet with foreign dignitaries.

Sean Penn & Hugo Chavez

Our sources indicate that the President personally telephoned Actor Sean Penn late last night to offer his condolences on the passing of Penn's buddy and to offer him the job of Special Envoy to represent the American People at the funeral of President Hugo Chavez. Although he said that he was honored, reportedly, and was already planning to attend, Mr. Penn said that he was too overcome with grief to handle any official duties.

Dennis Rodman on ABC's This Week

Next, President Obama considered appointing U.S. Representative Jose Serrano. However, Special Adviser to the President Valerie Jarrett is rumored to have stepped in and offered up the name of a recent envoy to another troubled country, Dennis Rodman. After a lively discussion in the Situation Room overnight, all parties eventually took Jarrett's suggestion, and President Obama put his seal of approval on the pick, then phoned Rodman.

Early this morning, the White House and State Department simultaneously released this official announcement:

In recognition of the special relationship between our two countries and in acknowledgement of the enormous grief of the People of Venezuela, President Barack Obama appoints Mr. Dennis Rodman as Special Envoy of the United States of America to attend the state funeral of Great Leader President Hugo Chavez.

Dennis demonstrating hug technique.

PPPS correspondent Protester Pete caught up with Dennis Rodman early this mornig as he was rushing to attend an interview at a major network studio. Special Envoy Rodman offered these hasty remarks on his new appointment.

"I never met the dude, but I've always considered Hugo as a personal friend. We're both big baseball fans.  So, yeah, I'll go represent our country. Plus, I give great hugs."


Related Story:
Representative Barbara Lee of California reportedly turned down an offer to attend the Hugo Chavez funeral as part of the U.S. delegation because she will be attending  as a personal representative of Cuban President Fidel Castro, who may be too ill to travel.

Note: Pedro Pete, PPPS Latin American Correspondent also contributed to this article.

Remembering Andrew Breitbart Today

PPPS (Littleton)—Today we honor Andrew Breitbart, journalist and publisher, who spoke truth to power in a most confounding way (as perceived by the left), and who died on this day, one year ago.

Pundit Pete photo 2012

Pundit Pete got to meet Andrew at the BlogBash party in Washington, DC during the 2012 CPAC conference. It was just two weeks before Andrew died.

I confronted Andrew at the party (just after I took this photo) saying, "I want you to know that I resent the way you are always making liberals uncomfortable!"

Andrew, who at first was taken aback, thinking I was an Occupier who had infiltrated the BlogBash party, then smiled and responded "A line like that my friend, will get you remembered."

Andrew then spent some of his precious time listening and laughing at my story about debating David Axelrod at a Rockies game. That was just like Andrew, simultaneously talking, texting and tweeting, yet still finding the time and devoting his full attention to listening to another "journalist".

In so many ways, Andrew Breitbart has inspired bloggers and Tea Party members with the courage to confront the liberal media head on. In early 2009, I joined the Tea Party movement and started this blog to make fun of the media. I had not yet heard of Andrew Breitbart, but instinctively, in very small ways, I had started down the path that would one day lead to my meeting him.

When I eventually heard about Breitbart confronting, challenging and mocking the mainstream media, I was inspired to take this blog to the next level, to confront politicians on their own turf, and to find creative ways of conveying the conservative message.

Andrew Breitbart is everywhere on the pages of this blog, at the Bridge to Nowhere Tea Party, and at the opposition protests and gatherings, the political events, the baseball games, and even the press conferences, where we now have the courage speak up.

Thank you Andrew for your inspiration!
 
Here is Andrew's speech at CPAC 2012.

Update: March 2, 2013 - The video below really sums up why journalists at the Pundit Pete Press Service so admire Andrew Breitbart: he defined our mission.

Please view this short video. H/T to @Ramparts360 for tweeting about and posting on their website, and to Anna Zetchus Smith for taping Andrew at the Perry Bloggers Summit, Austin, TX (January 23, 2010) and posting the video on herYouTube Channel, UnspunWithAnnaZ.

Breitbart's Challenge to New Media: 

Destroy Those Who Would Destroy You

Anna Zetchus Smith

Anna Zetchus Smith

Related: Citizen Pete Debates David Axelrod at Rockies Game

Other tributes:
From Dana Loesch One Year Later  

From RedState Andrew Breitbart, 1969-2012 
From Breitbart - Big Journalism In Memorium - Tribute to Andrew Breitbart

From Warner Todd Huston Ah, Andrew, We'll Always Have Mexico
From Andrew Klavan The Year After Breitbart
From Andrew Marcus What I Learned From Andrew Breitbart 
Also from Andrew Marcus, see his movie Hating Breitbart  
From Lauren Veneziani A Friend in Hollywood 
 

U.S. To Deploy New Weapon in Cyber War With China

PPPS (Washington)—Our sources at the Pentagon indicate the the U.S. may be about to deploy a new weapon in the escalating Cyber War with the Chinese government. Apparently, deployment is only waiting on President Obama's final approval.

Photo courtesy of Pentagon Pete

Citizen Asks Tough Question of Most Transparent Administration In History, Gets Opaque Answer

Kira Davis

PPPS (Littleton)—A citizen from California, Kira Davis, asked a probing question of President Obama yesterday about his 2008 promise of transparency, and got a decidedly muddled (some might say opaque) response. The President did point out, however, that his was "the most transparent administration in history."

Kira's question was part of the fourth annual Google Plus Fireside Hangout With President Obama, in which a few selected citizens get to interact with and pose questions of the President via video link online.

In her last question to the President, Ms. Davis asked how the President had been honoring his 2008 campaign promise to bring transparency to the White House, in light of certain recent examples to the contrary, including the administration's handling of the Benghazi incident.

The President pointed out to Ms. Davis that "This is the most transparent administration in history", and a short clip of this quote appeared last evening on Bret Baier's Fox News Special Report, and at online news sites (although those sites failed to identify the questioner as Ms. Davis).

The President went on to gently explain to Citizen Davis how national security issues sometimes affect transparency, and added:

"Benghazi, by the way is not a good example of that. That was largely driven by campaign stuff, because everything about that... we've had more testimony and more paper provided to Congress than ever before. And Congress is sort of running out of things to ask."

That response must have fully cleared up the Benghazi issue, because the moderator moved on to another citizen, without offering Citizen Davis an opportunity for a follow-up. Here is a video of Ms. Davis' question and the President's full response.

One of our loyal readers, Citizen Pete, who was monitoring the discussion live online, sent in his own follow-up question to the President, which he shared with PPPS.

Mr. President, first of all, I want to commend you on the restraint you used, and on the restraint of other officials in your administration, to successfully prevent what was clearly a bi-partisan issue of national security from becoming a partisan issue in the 2012 Presidential Campaign, as those on the far right and in the Tea Party wanted it to be. With your administration's focus on the more difficult problem of preventing the proliferation of insulting videos, you rose above partisan politics.

My question to you, sir, in light of the fact that on the evening of September 11, 2012, while the Benghazi Consulate was under attack, and the whereabouts of our Libyan Ambassador Chris Stevens was unaccounted for over a period of several hours, the American citizens still do not have an answer to this question: Where were YOU and what were you doing?

Unfortunately, Citizen Pete's emailed question was never asked. Perhaps a member of the White House Press Corpse will pose Pete's question at the next Presidential press conference.

At the beginning of the Google+ Hangout (minute 2:52 in the full session video), Citizen Davis asked a question about gun control. She pointed out that FBI crime statistics clearly show that the vast majority of gun violence is committed with handguns, not assault rifles, and then asked if the President wanted to ban handguns. 

The President responded by saying that he didn't want to ban handguns and that other programs he was proposing, such as increased background checks and other measures, would reduce gun violence, although he admitted that we could never do away with it completely. The President offered this more detailed goal:

"We're talking about making sure we're cracking down on straw purchases."

The President did not elaborate on whether he was proposing a new solution to "crack down" on straw gun purchases, or was planning to expand the existing government program nicknamed Fast and Furious.

We encourage our readers to view the entire enlightening question and answer session using this online link.

More information about Ms. Davis is available on her website and video channel.

Breaking: Could Kira Davis be an Administration plant?

It should be noted that there are some who question whether "so called" citizens who appear in video conferences or townhall meetings with the President could in fact be government employees or campaign workers placed there by the administration.

Our crack team of PPPS researchers has uncovered this official video from one year ago which suggests that "Citizen" Kira Davis may work for the U.S. State Department. Check back for updates as we continue to investigate this matter.