RSSDean Defends Dean; Democratic Unity
After making more ridiculous comments, Howard Dean refuses to back down. Dean has decided to defend himself against against Republicans by saying,
Republican critics were trying to divert attention from their own failures.
However, Dr. Dean that explains Republicans but what about your own party?
Democratic Party boss Howard Dean, under fire for blunt comments about Republicans, refused to back down on Wednesday and said Republican critics were trying to divert attention from their own failures.
Republicans attacked Dean for saying in San Francisco on Monday, when asked about the lack of outreach to minorities by political parties, that Republicans are “pretty much a white, Christian party.”
Republicans accused Dean of trying to divide Americans by religion and faith. Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia called the comments “Howard Dean’s games of division and hate.” House Speaker Dennis Hastert’s spokesman, Ron Bonjean, said “Dean likes the taste of his own foot.”
Even Democrats grumbled about Dean’s judgment and choice of words.
To be honest it would appear more that Howard Dean is dividing the Democratic Party as well. Go to it Howie, keep on talking. Let the Democratic Civil War begin.
After that, Democratic Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware said Dean did not speak for him or a majority of Democrats, and Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico and former vice presidential nominee John Edwards also distanced themselves from Dean. All are potential 2008 presidential contenders.
With Democrats gaining strength in public opinion polls and winning some battles on Capitol Hill, party officials hoped to concentrate on their policy agenda and not spend time defending Dean, who will appear before Senate Democrats at a private luncheon on Thursday and the Democratic National Committee’s executive committee on Saturday.
“Did he make a mistake with these comments? Absolutely,” Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut told CNN on Wednesday. “Howard is doing a good job … he could have chosen better words.”
Now it appears that because the division is beginning to occur in a public way, The Democratic Party is going to show a pseudo show of unity that frankly no one is buying. Damage control is now in effect for the Dem’s.
WASHINGTON — A round of criticism from fellow Democrats and major donors about Howard Dean’s four-month tenure as Democratic National Committee chairman has prompted Senate leaders to rise to his defense at a public event planned for today.
Originally scheduled as a private meeting between Dean and the leadership team of Senate minority leader Harry Reid of Nevada, today’s session instead will now include a news conference and photo opportunity as a public embrace of Dean, who has rocked the political world over the past week with provocative condemnations of the Republican party. On recent occasions, Dean has said many Republicans ”never made an honest living in their lives,” described the Republican Party as ”pretty much a white, Christian party,” and declared that House majority leader Tom DeLay of Texas, who is facing ethics questions but has not been charged with any crime, ought to go back to Houston where he can serve his jail sentence.
”I do not agree with those comments,” said Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the House Democratic whip. ”A party chairman’s job is to organize the party, to support policy-makers.”
Despite criticism of his remarks since the weekend from Hoyer and other congressional Democrats, Dean yesterday refused to back down, asserting in an interview on NBC’s ”Today Show” that Republicans are ”outside the mainstream.” In an interview last month with the Globe, the former presidential candidate said Republican policy makers had ”gone off the deep end,” and called the party’s stance on gay marriage and other cultural issues ”despicable.”
Some leading Democrats and major donors are concerned that Dean is jeopardizing the party’s ability to reach beyond its traditional base to win close elections, particularly for the White House. Dean has repeatedly said his goal is to build the party’s ranks not only in Democratic-dominated states, but also in culturally conservative regions where Republicans usually prevail.
Most of the criticism of Dean has come from prospective presidential candidates in 2008, such as Senator Joseph Biden of Delaware, who said Dean does not speak for the majority of Democrats, and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who said Dean is not the spokesman for the Democratic Party.
”Time will tell” whether Dean has undercut his standing, said Harold Ickes, a longtime Clinton adviser who supported Dean’s bid for DNC chairman. ”There are people who are unhappy about it and think his comments are less than helpful. Some of his comments will reinforce the view that he sometimes talks before he really thinks through the implications.”
Press Conference in Aruba at 4:00pm; Natalee Holloway
Because the first one went so well, there will be another one. We will call it a mulligan.
Attention American Public: Another press conference!
There has been another press briefing announced for 4 PM.
(I believe) In this press briefing the Aruban government will make a statement.
Interested in tuning in?
http://www.arubadag.com or http://www.promoaruba.aw
*Note: Be on time, I noticed that the Real player can’t handle to much users at once, you wouldn’t be able to hear it live.
Thanks Amy
*** Update: We will be live blogging it for those who cannot get on the audio link.
Prelude to Press Conference … (Prime Minister Oduber will be speaking)
4:08 pm – (Prime Minister) A cordial beginning and the Aruban Government stands behind the family of Natalee Holloway. Local and International (US) efforts doing everything to find her.
“We will not tolerate anything that harms our friends from the United States or other International visitors”.
4:12 pm – Saturday & Sunday we will ask all churches in Aruba to pray for Natalee & her family, Keep hope alive.
4:14 pm – “Nobody on this Island is above the law, no one will have privilege. The Dutch system is different from the American one. We want to solve the crime”.
4:16 pm – Aruba is known for its safety but we are disappointed at what may have happened. Concerned as a father for Natalee and her family.
4:20 pm – PM is stating that these things happen in countries around the world and that Aruba has passed laws against money laundering and has strict drug laws. It is a concern of Aruba. Wants the media to say good things about the island. He knows that when bad things happen they will be reported.
4:25 pm – PM does not want to comment directly on Carlos And Charlie’s. Any establishment not operating within Aruban standards will be dealt with.
4:27 pm – Question: regarding reports from Fox News regarding Drug cartel influence on putting pressure on Aruban Govt to solve case. (WOW)
PM – stating basically no one puts pressure or influence on Aruban Govt.
4:30 pm – PM “pity that any one is accusing us of drugs or money laundering”
Red – LETS HOPE THE QUESTIONS GET BACK TO NATALEE HOLLOWAY NOT ARUBA
Tom – The PM did a good job of explaining the Islands position, but he tended to do a laundry list of the same accomplishments whenever asked a tough question. They need to bring out the police and judiciary tomorrow am.
Red – Sounds like Aruba is a little miffed at Fox News, I do not think that Bill O’Reilly should be buying any time sharing any time soon.
I would say that this was “damage control” from this mornings Press Conference when the Q&A got extremely heated and contentious. The Prime Minister came in as the voice of reason to quell the MSM from going into hyper-mode. Their was a vast difference between how the two conferences were held. The Prime Minister was in a difficult spot and was trying to stop the bleeding. It is difficult to balance between the needs of the family and his island when the eyes of the world are upon you.
From Fox News, PM: ‘We Will Not Stop Until We Have Answers’
ORANJESTAD, Aruba — Finding 18-year-old Natalie Holloway is currently Aruba’s “No. 1 goal,” the country’s prime minister said Thursday after three more suspects were arrested in connection with the American tourist’s disappearance.
“We stand behind the family of Natalie Holloway in full support,” Prime Minister Nelson Orlando Oduber said. “This investigation must move along swiftly … we will not stop until we have answers. We are shocked and completely distraught.”
Holloway was on a five-day graduation vacation with 100 classmates and seven chaperones when she disappeared without a trace. The Alabaman was last seen at a local bar about 1:30 a.m. Memorial Day, getting into a car with three islanders she’d apparently befriended. Those three islanders were questioned and released last week but were arrested again on Thursday. Two other men are also in custody and being questioned.
As stated during the live blogging,
The Aruba police and other international authorities “are doing everything in their power to find Natalie,” Oduber said, adding that he’s been in touch with U.S. officials like Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Alabama Gov. Bob Riley and Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions.
“The government of Aruba has always made the safety … of our community and our visitors a top priority,” the prime minister said during a press conference that Holloway’s mother also attended. “Aruba has very strong ties to the United States. We will not tolerate any activities that harm our American friends or any of our international visitors, or part of our community at large.”
Natalee Holloway: Image of Computer’s Being Removed
Joran Andreas Petrus Van Der Sloot’s computer being removed from his home on Aruba.
Hat Tip Commentor Jacob
.
Update: It also may be the computer from the other boys house. There is some conflict out there over this fact
UPDATE 2 – Suspects Named
The Dutch suspect, Joran Andreas Petrus Van Der Sloot, a student at Aruba International School, came out of his upper-class home in the northern Montana neighborhood of Oranjestad on Thursday with his head covered in a blue-and-green towel.
Van Der Sloot’s father is a prominent official in the Aruban justice system studying to be a judge. The younger Van Der Sloot, born Aug. 6, 1987, may have been romantically involved with the 18-year-old Holloway the night she disappeared, May 30.
The Surinamese brothers in custody are Satish Kalpoe, born July 30, 1986, and Deepak Kalpoe, born Oct. 6, 1983. They are the sons of a local Aruban business man.
Aruba Attorney General Caren Janssen (search) said the three were arrested at 6 a.m. She refused to say whether they were connected to the two men already being detained in the disappearance, saying more information would be released later Thursday.
Here are their Tickle profiles
http://connect.tickle.com/profile/index.html?id=kuT4swb87RBbcFKD
http://connect.tickle.com/profile/index.html?id=LTwPUchtAc4WlbEa
http://connect.tickle.com/profile/index.html?id=q3Y2zPeocL.P_yBW
FROM AMY : PRESS CONFERENCE TO START AT NOON
From Amy:
To Everyone interested in the Natalee Holloway case
Everybody interested to tune it at today’s press briefings in Aruba, can tune it at noon.
At 12 PM or is it AM?, anyway it’s at noon.
You can listen live online http://www.arubadag.com or http://www.promoaruba.aw
Live Blog Press Conference:
12:24 pm – 3 suspects detained, ages 17, 18 & 21. Their houses were also raided.
12:33 PM – Press conference in Aruban first and then lets hope English. Although I am not sure if laughter at such a press conference is a good thing, esh.
12:39 pm – tactical reasons why 3 people arrested had not been done sooner and houses searched
12:43 pm – (spokes person) Not closer to knowing what happened to Natalee. Many scenarios still open
12:45 pm – Natalee met the 17 year old in casino the day before.
English Press getting a little frustrated with their comments & questions as Authorities are not allowed to answer much about investigation.
12:48 – Suspicion had grown as to why they Aruba police decided to arrest the 3 males.
12:50 – Aruba is working across its borders (Internationally) with South America in the investigation.
12:54 – Not all suspects arrested were 18 years old, Press asks why they were in Carlos And Charlie’s (good question) JACOB MUST BE LOVING THIS
Press asking whether the bar may be in trouble for having minors there?
PRESS CONFERENCE OVER – wow, total disarray. Looks like the Aruban spokesperson wanted way from the US Press ASAP.
Previously from FOX News … “The three witnesses gave information about the two guys [already in custody] and that is why they were held. If one of those two has an alibi, then the story [given by the three witnesses] doesn’t fit and therefore the two may then be released depending on the proof.”
Police also impounded a gray Honda car. Holloway’s friends reported seeing her leave a nightclub in a silver car the night she disappeared.
This is going to get more and more contentious in the future. The American Press is used to controlling the press conferences and get any info they ask. Between the difference in cultures, Dutch laws and language barriers this is going to be interesting. The tone of the conference was pretty chaotic.
(Red)
Natalee Holloway: How the Laws of the Netherlands Work
Most Americans who are watching the Natalee Holloway disappearance in Aruba are trying to understand the legal process that is happening . We understand the laws of the United States, and are confused by the procedures that are going on in Aruba.
So it was my good fortune to receive an email from a gentleman in the Netherlands who took the time to research and explain the laws of the Netherlands that the Aruban government follows. Here is the email in full,
Hello Tom,
I am from the The Netherlands, however from a family of expats, so the Antilles are not unfamiliar.
The explanation I gave has to do with regular cases here in The Netherlands. For instance, if you are arrested for shoplifting you can be detained by the police for 24 hours. Within that day the DA has to decide what to do with you, press charges or give you a fine (common).
This is something different. The security guards were arrested on the now well known charges and because this is an serious case (strafzaak) in which foul play is suspected they can be held up to 90 days without trail. This is where the ‘judge’ gets involved. This is common in cases where the DA (officier van justitie) has some doubt about the involvement of those two guys. The DA will then request that an special judge reviews the case and make a decision.
These judges ‘rechter commissaris’ will review the case again and if needed hear the witnesses/accused and the DA. If the judge is conviced that something serious has happend he or she can order your detention for approx. three months.
To make matters a little more compicated is this. As an witness to the event your are not obligated to make a statement. You can refuse this. However, with all this mediapressure, you can make yourself suspicious by doing so. When this case is going to trail, and if you are called by the DA or the defense-attorney to make a statement you cannot refuse. (there are exeptions).
That is why I am litte annoyed by comments that the DA is a slacker. This is not the case. Dutch law states that your are innocent unless proven guilty by the court (and up to two appealcourts in the NL and 1 in the EU). The DA has to work with what he/she gets from the police. If they cannot find anything that links you to the case, that is physical proof or good witnesreports, you are free to go. Furthermore I cannot remember a case in the Netherlands where a judge or a DA is sentenced or investigated for corruption of any kind.
So what to read in this arrest of the witnesses? I really don’t know. It can be ordered by the DA to prevent them leaving the Island, but then the rules of resonable supicion come in to play and a case must be made fast. So we’ll have to wait and see if the rechter commissaris makes an appearance once again.
This gets more complicated because two of the guys (students) are from suriname. This former dutch protectorate is independed since 1975 and therefore a partner in this investigation. The suriname justicesystem in based on the dutch one, but unlike the former colonial motherland severly under stress because of allegations of corruption and lack of real power.
Finally I must say this. I can be wrong because of the distance between The Netherlands and Aruba. I cannot stress this enough. If you like you can post this as extra information, maybe someone with more knowhow about the dutch law (a master in the rights/ lawdegree) can update my information and/or correct this where needed.
Gerben
Thank you for the information Gerben, I feel that you have helped many people today understand what is going on and cleared up some of the confusion.
