Diane Feinstein gets nod to chair intelligence panel - SF Gate

Diane Feinstein gets nod to chair intelligence panel - SF Gate: “California Sen. Dianne Feinstein has been tapped as the chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Majority Leader Harry Reid said Monday, a post that would give her immense clout over U.S. intelligence agencies and the power to shape policies on wiretapping and the treatment of detainees.

Feinstein's promotion was welcome news for other state Democrats, as well as Republicans who plan to run for governor in 2010. The 75-year-old senator has flirted with the idea of running for governor but has told friends and allies she would be unlikely to make a bid if she got the top post on the intelligence panel.

She would be the first woman to lead the committee in its 32-year history.”

--- That paves the way for a gubenatorial battle between SF Mayor Gavin Newsom and Cal AG Jerry Brown.”

Eddie Neon Blues at Jack London Square,Oakland Ca (Free show)

Eddie Neon Blues at Jack London Square,Oakland Ca (Free show): “Wednesday Dec 17th 8 PM show at "Silk Road Lounge."
101 broadway Jack London Square, Oakland Ca .

R&B / Blues with some funk and jazz edges.
Eddie & his Blue Roux horn section will do 2 free sets
Merry Christmas to Oak Town Y'all

http://www.myspace.com/eddieneonbluesband”

Oakland Raiders Disintegrate - Assistant's resignation leaves Tom Cable fuming - Inside Bay Area

Assistant's resignation leaves Tom Cable fuming - Inside Bay Area: “ALAMEDA — Former Raiders coach Lane Kiffin won't be receiving a Christmas card from current Raiders coach Tom Cable anytime soon. Not after the manner in which Kiffin lured away assistant offensive line coach James Cregg to join him at the University of Tennessee.
Cregg phoned Cable after Sunday's game against the New England Patriots and informed Cable of his resignation, effective immediately. Cable likened it to quitting on the Raiders.
"You got to understand offensive linemen," Cable said during his weekly news conference Monday. "This is our world. If I can speak freely here, it's about pride, it's about commitment, it's about trusting everybody next to you. So, to walk ... out of here is about as bad a deal as you could possibly do to that group of guys."
Cable didn't mince words when he gave his thoughts on Cregg, Kiffin and the way the situation unfolded.
In response to Cregg's resignation, Cable called in former Kiffin loyalists Mark Jackson and Stephen Reaves — Kiffin's brother-in-law — and fired them Monday morning. Jackson was the director of football development, and Reaves was an office assistant.”

--- This just shows how much of a mess the Raiders organization is. Cable should not have made that move, but that's the Raider way it seems.

Delayed raid on "Your Black Muslim Bakery" likely cost Chauncey Bailey his life - Inside Bay Area

Delayed raid likely cost Chauncey Bailey his life - Inside Bay Area: “OAKLAND — The August 2007 raid on Your Black Muslim Bakery was postponed 48 hours to accommodate the vacation schedules of two senior SWAT commanders, a delay that likely cost journalist Chauncey Bailey his life, according to police sources and a lawyer representing an officer deeply involved in planning the raid.
During the delay between the first scheduled date, Aug. 1, and the raid Aug. 3, a masked gunman killed Bailey — a slaying in which authorities believe bakery leader Yusuf Bey IV was involved.
Officers familiar with the raid's planning and execution say Bailey's killing could have been prevented if not for the delay. While police did not know Bailey was being targeted, they strongly suspected bakery members had begun a killing spree that had resulted in two July 2007 deaths and described the need for the raid as paramount.
Police have for 15 months denied delaying the raid.
"I was never given any other date" other than Aug. 3, Assistant Chief Howard Jordon told Bay Area News Group-East Bay in October 2007.”

President-elect Obama Announces Stephen Chu, Carol Browner, and Lisa Jackson

President-Elect Barack Obama continues to introduce members of his cabinet, today officially bring in Dr. Stephen Chu, Lisa Jackson, and Carol Browner. Dr. Chu is a legend in the halls of Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory and known for his leadership and knoweldge. Ms. Jackson is a policy-driven public official who reportedly improved the formerly politicized New Jersey EPA Department. And Carol Browner is a well-known environmental public official having served as the head of the EPA under both Clinton Administrations, the longest serving head of the EPA in history. Nancy Sutley, Los Angeles's deputy mayor for energy and environment, will chair Obama's White House's Council on Environmental Quality.

If you're keeping score, Obama has introduced three women and one man today. I also have to add that I think Obama's appointing more Asians and women to top posts that ever before, but they're also trail-blazers in their fields.