For the past year, I've been writing about the sweetheart deal back in 1998 the DEA and DOJ gave David Headley, aka Daood Gilani, who this year pleaded guilty in federal court in Chicago to his involvement in the Mumbai terror attacks. (McClatchy has as well.) It's good to see more of the mainstream media now following this aspect of the story. Three weeks ago Pro Publica and the Washington Post obtained some new details, mostly about an ex-wife of Headley's who had reported in 2005 after their break-up that Headley had terrorist leanings.

The New York Times today breaks more new ground , having obtained the transcript of his Nov. 16, 2001 hearing for early termination of supervised release. My favorite paragraph is the one describing what happened at the hearing, which took place one month after the first of three of Headley's ex-girlfriends/wives reported she suspected he had terrorist leanings: [More...]

MSNBC has ended Keith Olbermann's suspension. From their announcement (received by e-mail, no link yet.)

STATEMENT REGARDING KEITH OLBERMANN - SUNDAY, NOV. 7

From Phil Griffin, President of MSNBC:

After several days of deliberation and discussion, I have determined that suspending Keith through and including Monday night's program is an appropriate punishment for his violation of our policy. We look forward to having him back on the air Tuesday night.

Here's Keith six hours ago on Twitter: [More...]

President Obama is interviewed on 60 minutes tonight about the message of the elections.

I just tuned in. He seems very calm and self-confident.

Steve Croft asked him about the droves of people who voted for him in 2008 that voted for Republicans in 2010. He mentioned the young, the elderly and independents. I wonder if that's even true that droves of those groups who voted for him in 2008 switched. I also don't think you can compare a midterm vote on members of Congress to the vote in a presidential election. The turnout is different.

The interview was conducted negatively, all questions seemed designed to put Obama on the defensive. There was too much emphasis on the Tea Party, as if it will be some major permanent force. Why not give Obama a chance to outline his policies and why they are better? There are still a lot of people, me included, who vastly prefer the Democrats' agenda. And I'll bet they turn out in 2012.

Anyway the interview got pretty boring, it was all tax cuts and economy.

One of the dumber things we do is speculation how a different President may have acted if they had been in President Obama's place. No one knows. That said, via Balloon Juice, this Dana Milbank column that plays the "what would Hillary have done?" game, misses the biggest what if - HOLC over HAMP. Milbank writes:

Clinton, for example, first called for a 90-day foreclosure moratorium in December 2007, as part of a package to fight the early stages of the mortgage crisis with a five-year freeze on subprime rates and $30 billion to avoid foreclosures. But an Obama campaign adviser dismissed Clinton's moratorium, saying it would "reward people for bad behavior."

Clinton's more important proposal was HOLC:

Open Thread.

Some [Texas] Republican lawmakers — still reveling in Tuesday’s statewide election sweep — are proposing an unprecedented solution to the state’s estimated $25 billion budget shortfall: dropping out of the federal Medicaid program.

It would certainly "save" money for Texas (I suppose the "folks dying" thing may have a cost.) But it would save the federal government even more:

The Heritage Foundation, a conservative research organization, estimates Texas could save $60 billion from 2013 to 2019 by opting out of Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. [. . .] State Representative John M. Zerwas, Republican of Simonton, an anesthesiologist who wrote the bill authorizing the health commission’s Medicaid study, said [. . .] “Because of the substantial amount of matching money that comes from the federal government,” Mr. Zerwas said, “there’s an economic impact that comes from that. If we start to look at what that impact is, we have to consider whether it’s feasible to not participate.” State Senator Jane Nelson, Republican of Flower Mound, who heads the Senate Public Health Committee, said dropping out of Medicaid was worth considering — but only if it made fiscal sense without jeopardizing care. Currently, the Texas program costs $40 billion for a period of two years, with the federal government paying 60 percent of the bill.

(Emphasis supplied.) Sooo, Texas can save $60 billion and the federal government could save $90 billion. What's not to like? Except of course, all the people dying. But other than that, sounds great.

Speaking for me only

How may times have you said, "If I could turn back time?" Tonight's the night. Daylight Savings Time ends at 2:00 a.m.

Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

BTD's Saturday college football thread is here.

I'll be at the jail most of the afternoon. I wonder if Anwar al-Awlaki will be captured or killed before I get back.

Here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

Via NECF Foundation, here's the English translation of Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula's (AQAP) ““Statement about the Liquidation Devices Operation””““Statement # 29””, claiming responsibility for the cargo bomb plot and the September 3 plane crash in Dubai (Arabic version here):

““Praise Allah and prayer and peace upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and companions:””

““We in al-Qaeda Organization in the Arabian Peninsula celebrate to the Ummah and give it the pleasant news and the anticipated surprise: Allah has graced us to bring down a jet that belongs to the American Company UPS, and that was on Ramadan 25th, 1431, corresponding with September 3rd, 2010, after taking off from Dubai International Airport.””

[More...]

Update: Yemen has deployed hundreds more troops to capture al-Alwaki.

Wanted, dead or alive: A Judge in Yemen has ordered Cleric Anwar al-Awlaki and a relative arrested "by any means" to face terrorism charges in connection with the killing of French engineer Jacques Spagnolo last month. The order was issued as hearings got underway in the trial of a third man accused of the murder. [More...]

I was 6-5 last week (though I nailed my bet the mortgage, stone cold lock - Oregon over USC) and my season record stands at 61-65. Slim pickings this week:

Air Force (-7) over Army, Syracuse (-6.5) over Louisville, Illinois (+3) over Michigan, Boise St. (-21) over Hawaii, South Carolina (-4.5) over Arkansas, Oklahoma (-2) over Texas A&M, Missouri (-4.5) over Texas Tech, and Arizona St. (+7) over USC.

Go Gators!

In the EPL, I'm on Chelsea (2/1 favorite) again over Liverpool.

Open Thread.

My favorite movie of Jill Clayburgh's from the 70's. She has passed away of leukemia at age 66. Way too young.