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Clem's Chronicles: Acetaminophen/Al Franken/Michael Jackson

June 30, 2009 10:21 PM

Happy Tuesday night folks-here's our editorial missive:

ACETAMINOPHEN WARNING AND THE FDA-For years we’ve heard warnings about taking too much acetaminophen. Despite the warnings, John McKenzie tells us on WORLD NEWS, “it remains the leading cause of acute liver failure in the country.” A panel of experts convened by the Food and Drug Administration today took matters into their own hands. In a series of votes, the 37 members of this panel suggest sweeping changes to current dosage recommendations. McKenzie lays it out for us: “Making acetaminophen products containing 1000mg prescription drugs. That would include ..two extra strength Tylenols. Lowering the over-the counter maximum dose to 650 mg and lowering the maximum daily consumption to less than 4000 mg.” Yikes-all of a sudden this drug sounds scary, over-the-counter or not. Should I even use it? Yes, says Dr. Robert Brown at NY’s Presbyterian Hospital who was quoted in McKenzie’s WORLD NEWS piece as saying “(Acetaminophen) is so popular because it’s effective and, compared with other pain relievers, it’s easier on the stomach and has virtually no side effects when taken at the right dose.” Dr. Tim Johnson concurs telling Charles Gibson on WORLD NEWS “well I do want to emphasize that overall, it is a very safe and effective drug, widely used for 50 years now.”

MINNESOTA SENATE RACE FINALLY RESOLVED-Democrat Al Franken’s long road to claim his Minnesota Senate seat came to an end today. And it only took 238 days to sort it out! The Minnesota state Supreme Court, in a unanimous ruling , declared that Franken should be certified the winner. GOP candidate Norm Coleman said he would not contest the court’s decision, saying in a brief on-camera statement that “I join all Minnesotans in congratulating our new U.S. Senator Al Franken.” And while it’s nice for Minnesotans to have closure on this, it’s the national implications that make this story more than a voice-over. Jon Karl, reporting for WORLD NEWS, notes that “with the addition of Franken, Senate Democrats have a supermajority of 60, the biggest they’ve had in more than a generation. That means when Democrats are united, Republicans will be powerless to stop them (with a filibuster).” All well and good for the Democrats, but the key phrase is “when Democrats are united”. Cokie Roberts is quoted in Karl’s WN piece putting in some context: “Democrats disagree with each other on health care, they disagree with each other on energy, they’re going to disagree with each other on taxes so I wouldn’t count on all 60 Democrats in one block.” Karl tells us that Franken is expected to be sworn in on Capitol Hill early next week when Congress comes back from its’ Fourth of July weekend. Karl also notes that Franken becomes “according to the Senate historian, the first professional comedian to serve in the U.S. Senate” 

IRAQ-Some more tonight on the historic transfer of power from US forces back to the Iraqis.  “For the first time in six years”, David Kerley reported on WORLD NEWS, “Iraqis, not Americans, are in charge of security.” While the Iraqis may be in charge, Kerley reminds us “they remain heavily reliant on the U.S. Iraq has no medi-vac capabilities, no high-tech intelligence systems.” But make no mistake-this is not simply window dressing. Kerley says “Several thousand of those who were (U.S.) combat troops yesterday are trainers today and will remain in Iraqi cities. Even more significantly-as of today U.S. forces will no longer work unilaterally. No more raids…or combat operations…unless Iraqi troops are with them, or the Iraqis approve.” But US troops aren’t leaving the country-Kerley adds that “(top U.S. commander in Iraq) General Ray Odierno plans to keep troop strength” near the 130 thousand level we currently have there “through January’s elections.”
 
MICHAEL JACKSON-Thousands of Michael Jackson fans descending upon the Apollo Theatre in New York City this afternoon and this evening for a public tribute to the performer. The Rev. Al Sharpton gave a rousing speech praising the pop star to hundreds of fans who crammed into the theater as others waited in line outside to pay their respects. "Michael made young men and women all over the world imitate us," Sharpton said. "Before Michael, we were limited and ghettoized. But Michael put on a colorful military outfit, he pulled his pants up, he put on the one glove, and he smashed the barriers of segregated music." CNN pool coverage of the event lives in-house. Some 3000 miles away, in Santa Barbara County, California, home of Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, Sheriff's Lt. Butch Arnoldi said authorities met today based on speculation over a possible memorial at Neverland. Jim Avila, reporting on WORLD NEWS, says “Sheriff’s deputies are planning for a large public memorial sometime over the holiday weekend, but they say they have no confirmation from the Jacksons.”
As for reports of a will-Avila notes that “a source close to the Jackson family tells ABC NEWS they now know a will exists…and they expect it to be filed soon.” AP and others suggested the will was filed today, but KABC (who had a reporter at the courthouse) says that no will was filed prior to the court’s 8pm ET closing. 

GOVERNOR TMI – Disgraced South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford was at it again.  In a candid interview with The Associated Press, Sanford admitted to relationships with other women besides his mistress.  He said he "crossed the lines" with a handful of other women during 20 years of marriage, but those relationships weren’t sexual with the exception of his Argentine mistress whom he called his “soul mate.”  On World News AP reporter Evan Berland told Steve Osunsami, “He [Sanford] wiped tears from his eyes and wiped them on the couch and very much seems like a broken man.”  Sanford admitted in the interview that, “This is a lot more than a simple affair.  It’s a love story, a forbidden one, a tragic one.  But a love story at the end of the day.”  But it could also mean Sanford’s day job. Osunsami reported, “South Carolina’s attorney general joined state lawmakers who have been calling for a criminal investigation into the governor’s travel.”  (thanks to George Sanchez for this entry)
 
HONDURAS- The ousted president of Honduras says he will return home on Thursday with the president of the U.N. General Assembly, the head of the Organization of American States and the presidents of Argentina and Ecuador. Miguel Zelaya told reporters after addressing the General Assembly on Tuesday that he wants to finish his four-year term, which ends on Jan. 27, and then will return to his previous life as a farmer. Kirit Radia and a crew are covering Zelaya’s speech at OAS tonight.
Meanwhile in Honduras, Jeffrey Kofman conducted the first US network interview with the “new” Honduran president Roberto Micheletti. Kofman reports: “Speaking mostly in Spanish (apart from a nice line in English in which he tells me "yes, call me Mr. President, I am the President. But you can call me Roberto.") he said this was not a coup, it was a constitutional change of President. He said he will not resign. He is not worried that the world sees him as illegitimate, he has the support (he claims) of his people.  When asked what he will do when President Zelaya returns on Thursday, he said he will not interfere if the AG arrests Zelaya as he said he would. When asked what will happen if Zelaya returns accompanied by UN or OAS officials, he said perhaps the arrest won't happen right away. He worries about Thursday and hopes there won't be bloodshed. He emphatically believes he is the legitimate President. There were pro and counter demonstrations here today without violence.” For more on Kofman’s interview please see his note to the Foreign News DL.

SENATOR ROBERT BYRD RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL- After a month and a half in the hospital with a staph infection, Sen. Robert Byrd, the 91 year-old longest serving senator in history, has been released from the hospital. He’s now at home, where he is continuing his recuperation and physical therapy.
No word yet on when he’ll be back at work on Capitol Hill. But in a statement released by his office, Byrd says, “I am pleased to be home in anticipation of celebrating our Nation’s birthday with my loving family.  I also thank everyone who sent me their good wishes and prayers.” (Zach Wolf)

CIA INTERROGATIONS- Tomorrow the CIA is set to turn over to the ACLU a newly and possibly less  redacted version of the CIA Inspector General’s 2004 report on the CIA's interrogation and detention program. The CIA turned over a heavily redacted version of the report in May 2008 to the ACLU as part of its Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, but a month ago the agency told the court it would take another look at the report with a view toward disclosing more information.  The CIA will give the ACLU an electronic version and the thinking is that the ACLU will quickly post it on its website. (Luis Martinez)

June 30, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (4)

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Posted by: jamescbuilder | Jul 1, 2009 8:15:17 AM

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