Arnelle Simpson, left, daughter of O.J.Simpson, and Carmelita Durio, sister of O.J. Simpson listen during closing arguments in O.J.’s trial at the Clark County Regional Justice Center Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008, in Las Vegas. O.J. Simpson is charged with twelve counts including kidnapping, armed robbery and assault with a deadly weapon stemming from an alleged incident involving the theft of his sports memorabilia. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, Pool)

By KEN RITTER
Associated Press Writer
LAS VEGAS  –  O.J. Simpson’s fate is in the hands of nine women and three men in a Nevada court.

Thirteen years to the day after he was acquitted of killing his ex-wife and her friend, a Clark County jury was to begin deliberating Friday whether the 61-year-old former football star and golfing buddy Clarence “C.J.” Stewart are guilty of the armed robbery and kidnapping of two sports memorabilia dealers.

Each faces five years to life in prison if convicted of kidnapping, or mandatory prison time if convicted of armed robbery.

On Thursday, prosecutors told the jury that Simpson planned — and Stewart helped carry out — a plan to retrieve personal items that Simpson lost after squirreling them away after his Oct. 3, 1995, acquittal in Los Angeles of slaying Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.

Prosecutor Chris Owens said Simpson brought a gang of men together to the Palace Station on Sept. 13, 2007, to retrieve items he lost while trying to hide it from the family of Ronald Goldman and the California court that levied a $33.5 million civil wrongful death judgment against Simpson.

Owens told told the jury to convict Simpson, denouncing him for “arrogance” of thinking he could commit a crime “against the dignity and the peace of the state of Nevada.”

“The kind of arrogance … that would make them think they could come in and get away with this kind of crime and that nobody would report it and they thought they could spin it that, ‘It’s all OK; It was my stuff.’”

Simpson’s lawyer, Yale Galanter, told the jury the prosecution didn’t prove Simpson was guilty in the criminal case that he said “has taken on a life of its own because of Mr. Simpson’s involvement.”

“Every cooperator, every person who had a gun, every person who had an ulterior motive, every person who signed a book deal, every person who got paid money — the police, the district attorney’s office, is only interested in one thing: Mr. Simpson,” Galanter said. “He has always been the target of this investigation, and nothing else mattered.”

Galanter reminded the jury of a surreptitious recording of police investigators in the hotel room after the incident. “They’re making jokes. They’re saying things like, ‘We’re gonna get him,’” he said.

In rebuttal, Owens downplayed that recording, saying it could have been worse. “Anytime you involve something with celebrity like this, it’s typical for anybody to start talking about jokes and things of that nature, but you got to hear all of that,” he said.

Owens said that rather than police and prosecutors being out to get Simpson, they were careful and waited to get facts.

“Mr. O.J. Simpson as a victim?” Owens scoffed. “He tends to think of himself as a victim.”

Stewart’s lawyer, Brent Bryson, presented his 54-year-old client as the trial’s forgotten man.

“I want to take an opportunity to introduce you to the other defendant in this case, Mr. Clarence Stewart,” Bryson said in closing arguments.

In 12 days of testimony Sept. 15, the jury has heard 22 often colorful witnesses — including seven of the nine people who were in the cramped hotel room. They’ve listened to numerous replays of secret recordings of Simpson before, during and after the alleged robbery.

Neither Simpson nor Stewart testified, and jurors were instructed not to consider that when judging the case.

Clark County District Court Judge Jackie Glass, who rejected several mistrial motions and kept a tight rein on the proceedings, read 41 legal instructions to the jurors and six alternates before lawyers began closing arguments.

In his closing, District Attorney David Roger focused on Simpson as the leader of a conspiracy, and said none of the men with him cared about the memorabilia he was after.

“But there was one person, and that was defendant Simpson,” Roger said, raising his voice. “He is the person who put these crimes together. He is the one who recruited these individuals to help him commit the crimes.”

Two witnesses who said they brought guns testified.

Galanter argued that Simpson never intended to commit a robbery but wanted to reclaim personal mementos of his career and family life that were being peddled by memorabilia dealers Bruce Fromong and Alfred Beardsley.

Witnesses told of Simpson’s repeated declarations that he did not see any guns and did not know guns were to be present in the hotel room.

Galanter told the jury that the incident got out of hand because of former co-defendant Michael McClinton, who has admitted displaying a gun during the confrontation.

“For whatever reason, Michael McClinton takes over,” Galanter said, “and when McClinton takes over, he starts yelling and screaming and giving people orders and telling people to bag stuff up. And O.J.’s saying, ‘Don’t take anything that’s not mine.’”

In this Jan. 8, 2008 file photo, James Earl Jones is shown on the first day of rehearsal for the new Broadway production of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” in New York. The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) announced Thursday Oct. 2, 2008, that James Earl Jones, whose acting prowess and iconic voice are world-renown, will receive the Guild’s most prestigious accolade, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award for career achievement and humanitarian accomplishment. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) 

By The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES  –  James Earl Jones, who has voiced some of entertainment’s most memorable characters, will receive the 2008 Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award.

SAG President Alan Rosenberg called Jones “a vocal presence without peer” and lauded his TV, film and stage work.

“His long and quiet devotion to advancing literacy, the arts and humanities on a national and local scale deserves our appreciation,” Rosenberg said Thursday.

Jones, who said he was mute as a child because of a stuttering problem, credits reading with helping him find his voice.

“Through a love of reading, I was able to overcome my muteness and pursue a career in which my voice would be my most prominent asset,” the 77-year-old actor said.

He is known to fans of all ages as the voice of Darth Vader in “Star Wars” and Mufasa in Disney’s “The Lion King” as well as CNN.

Jones has collected myriad acting honors, including two Tony awards, three Emmys, an Oscar nomination and the National Medal of Arts.

He will be presented with the Life Achievement Award at the Screen Actors Guild awards on Jan. 25.

Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., arrives at his headquarters in Arlington, Va., Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008. McCain and Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama returned to Washington for the vote on the financial rescue plan in U.S. Senate late Wednesday. At left is a Secret Service agent. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

WASHINGTON  – 
Asked why he has been falling in polls since the financial crisis, Republican presidential candidate John McCain sums it up this way: “Cause life isn’t fair.”

McCain chuckled as he made the remark Thursday on the Fox News morning show “Fox & Friends” - not that trailing Democratic rival Barack Obama in a series of new polls is a laughing matter for the GOP campaign.

An Associated Press-GfK poll released Wednesday showed Obama surging to a seven-point lead, 48-41, over McCain one month before the presidential election. Three weeks ago, McCain had a slight edge over Obama in the AP-GfK survey.

Other surveys also showed Obama ahead of McCain nationally and beating him in several swing states, including Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania and Iowa.

“Look, we’re doing fine,” McCain told Fox News. “We were up in the polls, and then we were down in the polls, and we were up in the polls, and down in the polls … you know, we can’t worry about the day-to-day tick-tock.”

McCain added: “I think we’re doing fine. We’ve got a lot of work to do. I always love being the underdog, and I think we’re going to be up late on election night. But I’m very happy with where we are.”

The voter registration deadline is Monday, October 6th and the push is on to get people registered. 

On Wednesday, October 1, The Hip-Hop Caucus set out to register voters at the Downtown Lockeroom in NE, D.C.  The theme was “Respect My Vote!”  While volunteers worked the large crowd  stressing the importance of being a registered voter, they had the chance to meet TI who stopped by to sign his C.D.

Hip-Hop Caucus Volunteers Ashia Williams and Shatira Gilmore 

Shatira Gilmore and TI

TI at Downtown Lockeroom NE, D.C.

In this image released by The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, correspondent Gwen Ifill from the PBS program, ” The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer,” is shown. (AP Photo/The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer)

Debate Moderator Plans January Release

NEW YORK — Many are questioning PBS anchor Gwen Ifill’s ability to be objective when she hosts Thursday’s vice-presidential debate after news that Ifill is planning to publish a book that some see as supportive of presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Ifill is moderating the 9 p.m. debate between VP candidates Sarah Palin and Joe Biden. Her book, “The Breakthrough,” is due out in January.
Ifill writes in her book that “the black political structure of the civil rights movement has cleared the way for post-racial politicians to ascend to new heights,” according to FoxNews.com.

FOX News political analyst Michelle Malkin blasted Ifill in a column for Wednesday’s National Review. Malkin says, “There is nothing ‘moderate’ about where Ifill stands on Barack Obama. She’s so far in the tank for the Democratic presidential candidate, her oxygen delivery line is running out.”

Naturally, there’s plenty of opinion lighting up the blogosphere Wednesday. Below is a sampling of the reaction to Malkin’s post:
mkwintexas says, “Gwen should, but obviously does not have, the good sense to have waited until AFTER the debate if she wanted to exploit her ignorance.”

wacotexan says, “There is subliminal messaging here. Even in the McCain / Obama debate, the camera made Obama appear larger than McCain so it would look like he stood out. Ridiculous!! Could you get a less impartial host??”

cindylu says, “I think that Gwen is professional enough to be able to conduct this debate in an objective manner. She is a class act.”

jonathan21 says, “This seems like typical Fox News reporting - writing a book about black politicians being able to come forward as a result of racial equality is not per se a “pro Obama” book. It’s a pro equality book. Which is a good thing no? What the Republicans do time and again is make excuses for their failings.”

bleegreerjr says, “Even if the moderator swears on her objectivity, it speaks volumes of her integrity that she would not step down simply due to the appearance of this fiasco.”

Ifill Recovering From Broken Ankle

Ifill has a broken ankle, but she’ll still serve as the upcoming vice presidential debate’s moderator.

The veteran PBS newswoman tripped in her Washington area home while walking downstairs Monday, carrying material she was using to prep for the debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin.

Despite the pain, doctors have given her the OK to travel to St. Louis, where the vice presidential debate is scheduled for Thursday.

“Another crazy twist in a crazy week,” Ifill said, confirming her injury in an e-mail.

Ifill is moderator of PBS’ “Washington Week” and senior correspondent on “The NewsHour.”

Vice Presidential candidates Sen. Joe Biden and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will debate Thursday night in St. Louis. (Campaign Photos)

Poll Shows Trust in Alaska Governor is Slipping

ST. LOUIS  –  Sarah Palin is heading into her debate with Joe Biden, easily the most-anticipated vice presidential face off ever, weighed down by fresh evidence that voters are developing serious doubts about her readiness for the job.
Last-minute preparations are underway at Washington University in St. Louis and the anticipation is growing.

“It’s one of the first elections that any of us get to vote in. So we’re really excited anyways,” Washington University junior Kayla Joyce Brinkley told MyFoxSTL. “And plus I think with the candidates and the way they appeal to younger voters, everyone’s even more excited.”

A new AP-Gfk poll released Wednesday found that just 25 percent of likely voters believe Palin has the right experience to be president. That’s down from 41 percent just after the GOP convention, when the Alaska governor made her well-received debut on the national stage.

There’s a potential bright side: Thursday night’s debate in St. Louis gives her a chance to overcome the doubts in a 90-minute showcase, the first time most Americans outside Alaska will see her in a lengthy give-and-take session.

The downside: A poor performance debating Biden, the Delaware senator, former presidential candidate and longtime foreign policy expert, could cement a negative image for the rest of the campaign.

Palin has been preparing at Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s retreat in Sedona, Ariz.

Biden was doing his own intensive preparation near his home in Wilmington, Del., though he was going to Washington for Wednesday night’s vote on the economic rescue package.

As for Palin’s prospects, “the expectations are set so low for her, she could fake everyone out,” said Scott Reed, who managed the presidential campaign of Republican Bob Dole in 1996.

“Palin needs to clear the bar and reframe the debate around Barack Obama and his tax and spend record,” he said. “She’s got to show a grasp on the issues and she’s got to talk about Obama. Most importantly, she’s a reformer. She’s got to get back to that.”

Democrats, meanwhile, were doing what they could to dispel the notion that Palin is a sub-par debater. The Democratic National Committee e-mailed news stories to reporters describing her able performances in debates in 2006 when she was running for Alaska governor.

And Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, one of Obama’s most prominent surrogates, tried to lower expectations for Biden on a conference call with reporters.

“My friend Joe Biden has a tendency to talk forever and sometimes say stuff that’s kind of stupid,” McCaskill said.

Asked to clarify her remarks, McCaskill said she meant them “affectionately.”

In an emotional twist, Biden’s son, Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, was to deploy this week for Iraq, where he’ll serve a year as a member of the state’s Army National Guard.

In the new poll, the declining sentiment for Palin was noticeable even among Republican likely voters: Just 47 percent now believe she has the right experience to be president, down from 75 percent in the previous survey. Initially, Palin’s selection was widely praised by Republicans and especially conservative voters who have been wary of McCain.

The poll of 808 likely voters was conducted Saturday through Tuesday and had a sampling error of 3.4 percentage points.

A series of interviews with CBS News anchor Katie Couric recently raised questions about how well-informed she is on a range of issues the next president will face.

In a segment that aired Tuesday, Palin declined to cite a newspaper or magazine when asked what she had read regularly before McCain picked her as his running mate, saying only that she had read “most of them.”

Pressed for an example, Palin told Couric: “I have a vast variety of sources where we get our news, too. Alaska isn’t a foreign country, where it’s kind of suggested, ‘Wow, how could you keep in touch with what the rest of Washington, D.C., may be thinking when you live up there in Alaska?’ Believe me, Alaska is like a microcosm of America.”

In an interview Wednesday with NPR, McCain said he had turned to his running mate for advice many times. And in a testy exchange with the Des Moines Register editorial board Tuesday, amid questions about Palin’s credentials, McCain replied, “If there’s a Georgetown cocktail party person who, quote, calls himself a conservative who doesn’t like her, good luck.” Palin has echoed the anti-Washington sentiment, telling Couric the tough coverage she’s received is attributable to “media elite, the Washington elite” not knowing who she is, rather than her gender.

The 90-minute televised debate was to take place at Washington University in St. Louis, with PBS anchor Gwen Ifill serving as moderator.

Ifill herself has come under criticism (read the story)as the moderator from some conservatives because she is writing a book on blacks and politics, with a chapter on Obama.

Associated Press Writer Sam Hananel in Washington contributed to this report.

Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, gestures while speaking at a rally at the University of Nevada in Reno, Nev., Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

By The Associated Press

Washington Redskins' linebacker Jason Taylor is helped off the field in the second quarter of an NFL preseason football game against the Carolina Panthers on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Washington Redskins defensive end Jason Taylor appears likely to miss a second straight game as he recovers from calf surgery.

Taylor did not practice Wednesday and was limited to doing some jogging along the side of the field. Asked if he has ruled Taylor out for Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles, coach Jim Zorn said: “I think that, but I wouldn’t say that because we just don’t know.”

“He’s got to heal,” Zorn said. “He would be optimistic, but if he doesn’t practice I can’t imagine him playing this week, so it may be another week. Again, he’s out here running, and that’s more than I thought he was going to do this week.”

Taylor had emergency surgery to drain blood near his ankle after getting kicked in the calf in the win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2. The league’s career sack leader among active players sat out last week’s victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

Also unable to practice Wednesday were cornerback Shawn Springs and right tackle Stephon Heyer.

Springs did a solid job frustrating Terrell Owens in the win over Dallas before leaving in the second half with a strained calf, while Heyer aggravated his sprained shoulder during his limited action on special teams. Jon Jansen started the game because of Heyer’s injury, and Zorn has been noncommittal as to which player will start when Heyer is back to full health.

Guard Randy Thomas (toe) and linebacker Marcus Washington (hamstring) were limited in practice. Defensive end Andre Carter was excused for personal reasons.

By Kirstin Fuller

Great Online Travel Websites!

If you are like me and like to manage your travel dollars all by your lonesome, I have a few ‘unknown’ discount travel websites that can help you save a lot of money on your next vacation. 

The old favorites are still good for great online discounts for quick getaways, honeymoons or family vacations.  Expedia, Hotwire, Travelocity and Orbitz are some of the major discount websites for online travel booking.  In the past few years, new players in the online travel booking game have also made a name for themselves.  I think that SideStep.com, TravelbyJen and Cheap Caribbean are well worth visiting each and every time you are ready to book a vacation. 

SideStep.com (www.sidestep.com) is known as the travelers worldwide search engine.  SideStep.com specializes in the best deals on airfare, hotels, car rentals, and cruises.  What I love about this particular site is that is gives you your results from lowest to highest price range and nonstop, 1 stop and 2 stop options.    SideStep.com even offers suggestions on hotels and activities in your selected city.

TravelbyJen (www.travelbyjen.com) has become the latest rage in online travel booking.  Recently profiled on comedienne ‘Monique’s’ new radio show, TravelbyJen, guarantees the lowest prices on vacations in Mexico and the Caribbean.  This family owned and operated travel agency’s motto is to ‘treat everyone like family.’  My favorite part of the website is the ‘search by destination’ tab that allows you to define your search quickly and efficiently.

Cheap Caribbean (www.cheapcaribbean.com) is another favorite that is known as a one stop shopping port for all vacations Caribbean.  From the Dominican Republic, Aruba, Bermuda, St. Lucia to St. Maarten, CheapCaribbean.com specializes in “luxury vacations for less.”  This websites motto is the lowest possible price, easy reservations and the highest level of customer service.  My favorite feature of this website is the simple fact that they offer to “match any competitor’s price.”  You can’t beat that!

When you are ready to book that next vacation, try an old favorite or one of the newer travel websites and save yourself some money! 

For more information please visit the following websites to book that next dream vacation!
 www.sidestep.com
 www.travelbyjen.com
 www.cheapcaribbean.com

 The Travelin Diva

Visit our travel blog:  www.rsvtravelers.com
www.reservationsmagazine.com

Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., pauses during a news conference on the passage of the Senate version of the bailout package on Capitol Hill Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008 in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci

WASHINGTON (AP) — After one spectacular failure, the $700 billion financial industry bailout found a second life Wednesday, winning lopsided passage in the Senate and gaining ground in the House, where Republicans opposition softened.

Senators loaded the economic rescue bill with tax breaks and other sweeteners before passing it by a wide margin, 74-25, a month before the presidential and congressional elections.

In the House, leaders were working feverishly to convert enough opponents of the bill to push it through by Friday, just days after lawmakers there stunningly rejected an earlier version and sent markets plunging around the globe.

The measure didn’t cause the same uproar in the Senate, where both parties’ presidential candidates, Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama, made rare appearances to cast “aye” votes, as did Obama’s running mate, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware.

In the final vote, 39 Democrats, 34 Republicans and independent Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut voted “yes.” Nine Democrats, 15 Republicans and independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont voted “no.”

President Bush issued a statement praising the Senate’s move. With the revisions, Bush said, “I believe members of both parties in the House can support this legislation. The American people expect and our economy demands that the House pass this good bill this week and send it to my desk.”

The rescue package lets the government spend billions of dollars to buy bad mortgage-related securities and other devalued assets held by troubled financial institutions. If successful, advocates say, that would allow frozen credit to begin flowing again and prevent a deep recession.

Even as the Senate voted, House leaders were hunting for the 12 votes they would need to turn around Monday’s 228-205 defeat. They were especially targeting the 133 Republicans who voted “no.”

Their opposition appeared to be easing after the Senate added $110 billion in tax breaks for businesses and the middle class, plus a provision to raise, from $100,000 to $250,000, the cap on federal deposit insurance.

They were also cheering a decision Tuesday by the Securities and Exchange Commission to ease rules that force companies to devalue assets on their balance sheets to reflect the price they can get on the market.

There were worries, though, that the tax breaks would cause some conservative-leaning “Blue Dog” Democrats who voted for the rescue Monday to abandon it. The bill doesn’t designate a way to pay for many of the tax cuts, and Blue Dogs typically oppose any measure that swells the deficit.

“I’m concerned about that,” said Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., the majority leader.

Raising the deposit insurance limit — along with the SEC’s accounting change — helped House Republicans claim credit for some substantive changes. And with constituent feedback changing dramatically since Monday’s shocking House defeat and the corresponding market plunge, lawmakers’ comfort level with the package increased markedly.

Rep. John Shadegg, R-Ariz., who voted “no” on Monday, said he was leaning toward switching, and Rep. Steve LaTourette,R-Ohio, said he was “getting there.” Several others were weighing a flip, said Republican officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the lawmakers had not yet announced how they would vote.

Leaders in both parties, as well as private economic chiefs everywhere, said Congress must quickly approve some version of the bailout measure to start loans flowing and stave off a potential national economic disaster.

“This is what we need to do right now to prevent the possibility of a crisis turning into a catastrophe,” Obama said on the Senate floor. In Missouri, before flying to Washington to vote, McCain said, “If we fail to act, the gears of our economy will grind to a halt.”

Critics on the right and left assailed the rescue plan, which has been panned by their constituents as a giveaway for Wall Street, and has little obvious direct benefit for ordinary Americans.

Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., a leading conservative, said the step was “leading us into the pit of socialism.”

Sanders, a self-described socialist, said the rescue was fundamentally unfair.

“The masters of the universe, those brilliant Wall Street insiders who have made more money than the average American can even dream of, have brought our financial system to the brink of collapse,” Sanders said, and are demanding that the middle class “pick up the pieces that they broke.”

Still, proponents argued that the financial sector’s woes were already being felt by ordinary people in the form of unaffordable credit and underperforming retirement savings and without the bailout would soon translate into even more economic pain for working Americans, including more job losses.

“There will be no balloons or bunting or parades,” when the rescue becomes law, said Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., the Banking Committee chairman. But lawmakers will have “the knowledge that at one of our nation’s moments of maximum economic peril, we acted — not for the benefit of a particular few, but for all Americans.”

Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., said the intense, at times contentious, 11-day round of bipartisan talks to craft the bailout — which followed dire warnings of impending economic meltdown from Bush’s economic chiefs to congressional leaders — was an “extraordinary experience.”

“This is the way government’s supposed to work, folks, and it did,” Gregg said.

The Senate specializes in high-stakes legislating by enticement, and the long list of sweeteners it added was designed to attract votes from various constituencies.

In addition to extending several tax breaks popular with businesses, the bill would keep the alternative minimum tax from hitting 20 million middle-income Americans and provide $8 billion in tax relief for those hit by natural disasters in the Midwest, Texas and Louisiana.

Tax cuts new and old are favorites for most House Republicans. Help for rural schools was aimed mainly at lawmakers in the West, while disaster aid was a top priority for lawmakers from across the Midwest and South.

Another addition, to extend the deductibility of state and local taxes for people in states without income taxes, helps Florida and Texas, among others.

Increasing the deposit insurance cap was a bid to reassure individuals and small businesses that their money would be safe if their banks collapsed. It was particularly geared toward small banks that fear customers will pull their money and park it in larger institutions seen as less likely to fold.

The FDIC would be allowed to borrow unlimited money from the Treasury Department through the end of next year as a way to cover the increased insurance limit. If used, it would be the first time the agency has tapped Treasury for a loan since the early 1990s.

The rescue bill hitched a ride on a popular measure that gives people with mental illness better health insurance coverage. Before passing it, senators voted by an identical 74-25 margin to attach the massive bailout and the tax breaks.