Louis Susman, the next US ambassador to London, will not be "an ornament" at the Court of St James, according one of his leading supporters in the senate. Senator Claire McAskill, senator from his home state of Missouri, was addressing criticism that for all his talk of changing the culture of Washington, Barack Obama has too closely followed the tradition of rewarding friends and big money donors with plum overseas posts.Speaking on behalf of Mr Susman at his senate confirmation hearing, she described the former lawyer and Citigroup vice chairman as a "great man".
Senator Claire McAskill, senator from his home state of Missouri, was addressing criticism that for all his talk of changing the culture of Washington, Barack Obama has too closely followed the tradition of rewarding friends and big money donors with plum overseas posts.
Speaking on behalf of Mr Susman at his senate confirmation hearing, she described the former lawyer and Citigroup vice chairman as a "great man".
bold mine
I wrote about about Susman and Obama "rewarding friends and big money donors with plum overseas posts" back in February, U.S. Ambassadorships and Obama's Big Campaign Donors (ET) (DK). My conclusion was from the attention and general comments was this is to be expected and most people couldn't care less.
This yacht was literally left high and dry after its skipper attempted to perform a daring overtaking manoeuvre in choppy seas during a gruelling race. Instead of making up vital ground against 19 rival boats, the Jersey-registered Knight Star found itself perched precariously on a rock.The boat's skipper, Arthur Manning, admitted that there had been an 'embarrassing misjudgement'.
Instead of making up vital ground against 19 rival boats, the Jersey-registered Knight Star found itself perched precariously on a rock.
The boat's skipper, Arthur Manning, admitted that there had been an 'embarrassing misjudgement'.
The paperwork from the Information Commission revealed the names of 31 journalists working for the News of the World and the Sun, together with the precise details of government agencies, banks, phone companies and others who were conned into handing over confidential information on politicians, actors, sportsmen and women, musicians and television presenters, all of whom are named in the paperwork. This is an offence under the Data Protection Act unless it is justified by public interest. Senior editors are among the journalists who are implicated. This activity occurred before the mobile phone hacking, at a time when Andy Coulson was deputy, and the editor was Rebekah Wade, now due to become chief executive of News International. The extent of their personal knowledge, if any, is not clear: the News of the World has always insisted that it would not break the law and would use subterfuge only if essential in the public interest. Faced with this evidence, News International changed their position, started offering huge cash payments to settle the case out of court, and finally paid out £700,000 in legal costs and damages on the condition that Taylor signed a gagging clause to prevent him speaking about the case. The payment is believed to have included more than £400,000 in damages, dwarfing the largest previous payment for breach of privacy in the UK, the £60,000 paid by the News of the World for filming Max Mosley naked with prostitutes. News Group then persuaded the court to seal the file on Taylor's case to prevent all public access, even though it contained prima facie evidence of criminal activity.
Faced with this evidence, News International changed their position, started offering huge cash payments to settle the case out of court, and finally paid out £700,000 in legal costs and damages on the condition that Taylor signed a gagging clause to prevent him speaking about the case. The payment is believed to have included more than £400,000 in damages, dwarfing the largest previous payment for breach of privacy in the UK, the £60,000 paid by the News of the World for filming Max Mosley naked with prostitutes. News Group then persuaded the court to seal the file on Taylor's case to prevent all public access, even though it contained prima facie evidence of criminal activity.
News Group then persuaded the court to seal the file on Taylor's case to prevent all public access, even though it contained prima facie evidence of criminal activity.
How did they manage that? I can understand an out of court settlement, but sealing the file is pretty damn close to suppressing evidence.
Looks like it's a story with strong legs... You can't be me, I'm taken
News of the World bugging led to £700,000 payout to PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor Sun editor Rebekah Wade and Conservative communications chief Andy Coulson - both ex-NoW editors - involved News International chairman Les Hinton told MPs reporter jailed for phone-hacking was one-off case
"If this was in the US, shares in News International would collapse tonight."
John Prescott is to contact police over claims private investigators allegedly working for News of the World reporters intercepted his mobile phone messages.The Guardian alleges News Group Newspapers paid £1m in out-of-court settlements after its journalists were accused of involvement in phone tapping It claims the Professional Footballers' Association's head received £700,000. The paper alleges the former deputy prime minister and thousands of public figures were targeted. A Commons select committee has said it will investigate the claims.
John Prescott is to contact police over claims private investigators allegedly working for News of the World reporters intercepted his mobile phone messages.
The Guardian alleges News Group Newspapers paid £1m in out-of-court settlements after its journalists were accused of involvement in phone tapping
It claims the Professional Footballers' Association's head received £700,000.
The paper alleges the former deputy prime minister and thousands of public figures were targeted.
A Commons select committee has said it will investigate the claims.
Not that hacking into voicemail is quite the same as phone tapping. Although calling it 'phone tapping' is a more newsy narrative.
Ex-Murdoch editor Andrew Neil: News of the World revelations one of most significant media stories of our time | Media | guardian.co.uk
Neil said that former News of the World editor Andy Coulson, now director of communcations at the Conservative party, had questions to answer: "If a journalist comes to you with a great story, one of the first questions you ask is how did you get it. How you got it is relevant to judging its accuracy and preparing yourself for any legal challenge. "If this behaviour was systemic in the newsroom, why would you not know about it, why would you of all people, not know about it? Either you're incompetent or complicit."
Neil said that former News of the World editor Andy Coulson, now director of communcations at the Conservative party, had questions to answer: "If a journalist comes to you with a great story, one of the first questions you ask is how did you get it. How you got it is relevant to judging its accuracy and preparing yourself for any legal challenge.
"If this behaviour was systemic in the newsroom, why would you not know about it, why would you of all people, not know about it? Either you're incompetent or complicit."
Wouldn't it be entertaining for the Tories to see their director of communications on trial or in jail just before the next election?
With Prescott making loud noises and several other pushing this I doubt it will stand.
Unless of course, Brown needs a favour from Murdoch... {hmmm .. scratches chin} keep to the Fen Causeway
The Grauniad is going full tilt on this, just as the Telegraph did on MP expenses. There are excellent profiles of all the players, and descriptions of the relevant laws in addition to the breaking news stories.
Should we open a diary? It might be possible to collate a few historical facts and rumours and assist the Guardian (which might, for once, live up to its name). You can't be me, I'm taken
i read gormenghast camping on dartmoor. perfection.
built up through poe and hawthorne, (in notting hill bedsits).
'modernist', isn't it hilarious how you can use terms like 'modernist' and 'nouvelle vague' about periods deep in the past'? ~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~
it was a phase tho', i don't think i could slow my mind down in that way anymore.
heck 1 page of harry potter did my head in! ~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~
