Breaking Tweets » Scott Swanson

Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of President Kennedy, has died

Scott Swanson — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 10:26:27 +0000

Per CNN, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the sister of President John F. Kennedy and a champion of the disabled, died today, according to the Special Olympics. She was 88. Born on July 10, 1921, in Brookline, Massachusetts, Shriver was the fifth of nine children to Joseph and Rose Kennedy. She was the founder of the Special Olympics, which started as a summer day camp in her backyard in 1962.

You can feel the saddened hearts of many on Twitter today as users express there shock.

bethsweeney1: The Kennedy family is reporting that Eunice Kennedy Shriver has died. She was 88.

markkottler: Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister to JFK & RFK died at age 88. Founded Special Olympics. No word whether Teddy was there I hope so.

cbabb: Eunice Kennedy Shriver, mother to Maria, sister to JFK and Special Olympics founder, has died at age 88. Rest in God’s peace.

Sanchez08: So sad that Eunice Kennedy Shriver has died at 88. She was such a wonderful woman. She will be missed. Thoughts and prayers to the family.

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Senate confirms Sotomayor for Supreme Court

Scott Swanson — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 21:52:02 +0000

Per CNN, Judge Sonia Sotomayor, who rose from the housing projects of the Bronx to the top of the legal profession, made history Thursday when the Senate confirmed her to become the nation’s first Hispanic Supreme Court justice.Judge Sonia Sotomayor, who rose from the housing projects of the Bronx to the top of the legal profession, made history Thursday when the Senate confirmed her to become the nation’s first Hispanic Supreme Court justice.

Accepting the nomination, Sotomayor thanked Obama for “the most humbling honor of my life.”

WikiPedia, Sotomayor has ruled on several high-profile cases. In 1995, she issued a preliminary injunction against Major League Baseball which ended the 1994 baseball strike. Sotomayor made a ruling allowing the Wall Street Journal to publish Vince Foster’s final note. In 1997, she was nominated by President Bill Clinton to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Her nomination was slowed by the Republican majority in the Senate, but she was eventually confirmed in 1998. On the Second Circuit, Sotomayor heard appeals in more than 3,000 cases and has written about 380 opinions.

Tweets have kept Sotomayor a trending topic for hours. Here’s some of the buzz:

stan2000: RT @antwan323: Let us all share in The President’s joy in the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor. 1st Hispanic in Supreme Crt

libbyh: is it wrong for me to like that soon-to-be-confirmed-Justice Sotomayor is usually smiling in photographs?

angelabaca: I feel like I’m supposed to care that Sotomayor was confirmed, but I really couldn’t care less. PS Time for a redesign: http://bit.ly/4pYcGA (expand)

ajayalexander: Sotomayor has made history! Best of luck to her…Souter’s shoes arent easy ones to fill

MsMayaBella: RT @mebejuanieD: Congrats to Judge Sotomayor =) Forward movement people…that’s what’s up!

libgrrrl: congratulations to #SoniaSotomayor, our first #Hispanic justice! #sotomayor

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Palin steps down as Alaska governor

Scott Swanson — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 04:12:24 +0000

Per CNN, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has stepped down as Governor.

“Now people who know me, they know how much I love this state … I feel it is my duty to avoid the unproductive, typical, politics-as-usual, lame-duck session in one’s last year in office,” Palin said, just moments before Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell was sworn in as governor.

“With this decision, now I will be able to fight even harder for you, for what is right and for the truth,” Palin continued. “And I have never felt you need a title to do that.”

With those comments, Twitterers in Alaska appear to be ashamed of Palin’s actions.

ero2001 (Anchorage) Sarah Palin about to resign in Fairbanks in a few minutes. Nobody likes a quitter. 26 Jul 2009 from web

janesaid6 (Anchorage) Omg sarah palin shut up and stop embarrassing us. 26 Jul 2009 from Tweetie

scannell (Anchorage) Sarah, don’t rush back anytime soon, mkay? #quitstock #tcot #palin #idiocracy 26 Jul 2009 from web

jmproffitt (Fairbanks) I don’t suffer fools easily. Goodbye, Sarah Palin. You are most certainly a fool, but at least you’re no longer my Governor. 27 Jul 2009 from Tweetie

Even Twitterers outside of Alaska tend to be relieved that she is out of office.

dewrag1 this is my kind of day…when the garbage takes itself out….PALIN QUITS!…wow the flies are thrilled! 26 Jul 2009 from TweetDeck

Dylan (Kansas City) So, Sarah Palin quits today. I, for one, would not be the least bit upset if we never heard from her again. 26 Jul 2009 from Tweetie

jim226 I really liked Sarah Palin pre-2008 campaign. I don’t know what happened. So much potential, but she really just sucks now. 27 Jul 2009 from web

ernestsewell (NY)Sarah Palin quits as Governor today. Remember that in 2012 when she wants your vote again. She can’t finish anything! #sarahpalin #politics 27 Jul 2009 from TweetDeck

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Ousted president says his jet denied landing rights in Honduras

Scott Swanson — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:51:35 +0000

Per CNN, a jet carrying deposed Honduran President Jose Manuel Zelaya was unable to land at Tegucigalpa’s airport Sunday evening amid a tense standoff between government troops and Zelaya’s supporters.

Tweets from Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, provide context on the situation.

puchito1029 (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) Honduras es tierra de Paz. Manuel Zelaya no termina de entender esto. Esto no le hace nada bien a Honduras. Quedate lejos Mel. (Honduras is a land of Peace. Manuel Zelaya not yet understand this. This does not do anything right to Honduras. Stay away Mel.) 06 Jul 2009 from web

Rikkilulu (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) should we have to put up with a foreign plane violating airspace, specially a military plane from Venezuela,Would they allow it? #crisishn 06 Jul 2009 from web

puchito1029 (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) The media has it all wrong and are doing a terrible job covering Honduras. The Honduran people need our help NOW. http://tr.im/helphonduras 06 Jul 2009 from web

Bllq21 (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) #Honduras: Dictator Micheletti has blood on his hands after his military killed civilians today! via @manueltreto 06 Jul 2009 from twhirl

OskrC (Tegucigalpa, Honduras) Manifestantes congragados en las inmediaciones de Toncontin iniciaban a dispersarse después que ejército impidió aterrizaje de Mel (Demonstrators in the vicinity of Toncontin began to disperse after the army prevented landing Mel) 06 Jul 2009 from TwitterFox

Earlier, tweets were flowing in that shots had been fired near the airport and at least one person had been killed.

iJeffry (Texas) [GRAPHIC] Pic of boy killed at Zelaya rally in Honduras http://twitpic.com/9fzyb (via @rodrigomx) 06 Jul 2009 from Tweetie

Whitney86: (Undisclosed) Thousands supporters of overthrown Honduras Pres. at airport as military curfew starts, media reports killed, many wounded 06 Jul 2009 from TweetDeck

inscripcion (Nevada) One killed in #Honduras protest, more wounded-medics http://bit.ly/UaEmr 06 Jul 2009 from web

Twitterer @phnx0221 posted a link to photos of the protest here, while others continue to discuss the crisis.

Rosental (Texas) #Honduras military shown on teleSur shooting their weapons hundreds of times, as demonstrators were throwing stones at Tegucigalpa airport 06 Jul 2009 from TweetDeck

AbsintheSpirit (Undisclosed) Violence brok’out among huge crowd surrounding the airport-Military forces fired shots and tear gas->30 wonded/1 journalist killed #honduras 06 Jul 2009 from web

1D4TW (Montreal) Would love to know the sacred “constitutional law” that permits exiling a citizen and barring his return. #Zelaya #Honduras 06 Jul 2009 from web

There are still many unconfirmed reports of what is going on at the airport, and the situation around Zelaya’s aircraft at this time.

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Riots erupt in China’s Xinjiang region

Scott Swanson — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 21:49:09 +0000

Per New York Times, at least 1000 rioters clashed with the police on Sunday in a regional capital in western China after days of rising tensions.

Police rushed on Sunday to restore order in the northwestern Chinese city of Urumqi where an unknown number of people attacked passers-by and torched vehicles, state media reported.

Much of the region is closed to journalists and independent observers, making it difficult to verify the government reports. Several journalists who have entered the region have been detained or forced to leave.

Tweets are starting to flow in over the rioting. Check back to BT for up-to-date information.

tingliucs (Washington DC) Riots in Urumqi, capital city of China-controlled Xinjiang Region. http://bit.ly/HF9Y1 05 Jul 2009 from web

henryhu89 (CHINA) RIOTS HAPPEN IN XINJIANG’ CAPITAL,WEST RELIGION OF CHINA.CHINATHREE HAN PEOPLE DIED,IT’S SAYD THAT CAPITAL BE ABOUT TO EMERGENCY 05 Jul 2009 from mobile web

_SeanKelly @jonah_kessel (California) Civilians die in China riots: Three civilians have died in rioting in the region.. http://tinyurl.com/pgcmlu 05 Jul 2009 from web

One Twitterer posted a link to the following video of the scene on Sunday:

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Steve McNair, former NFL QB, found dead in his home

Scott Swanson — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:01:27 +0000

Per CNN, former Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair has been killed. He apparently suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head in downtown Nashville. Further details surrounding the incident are unclear to police at this time.

Twitterers around the United States are shocked and saddened by the loss of McNair, 36.

ghost82 (Omaha, Neb.) Wow, Steve McNair, one of my all-time favorite players dead at 36, terrible to hear 04 Jul 2009 from web

gilbertgaldo (Los Angeles, Caif.) RT @abc7: Former football star Steve McNair is dead, killed in an apparent murder-suicide. What is going on in this world? 04 Jul 2009 from TweetDeck

Meth0d381 (New Jersey) OMG… Steve McNair is dead… WTF???? 04 Jul 2009 from web

TankJohnson99 (Undisclosed) lord have mercy steve mcnair found shot dead in his home in nashville. 04 Jul 2009 from mobile web

history_geek (Nashville, Tenn.) I live in Nashville–learned about Steve McNair from Twitter. So interesting, so sad. 04 Jul 2009 from web

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Iran Supreme Leader aide claims Mousavi is U.S. Agent

Scott Swanson — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:45:32 +0000

Hossein Shariatmadari, an aide to Supreme Iran Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, claims that Mir Hossein Mousavi is a U.S. Agent, per the Associated Press.

According to Shariatmadari, there are “undeniable documents” proving that Mousavi is acting with instructions from the U.S. Government and committing crimes against Iran.

But Twitterers are finding this claim hard to believe.

SooHooSan (Undisclosed) Hossein Shariatmadari believes Mir Hossein Mousavi is a U.S. agent. I believe Hossein Shariatmadari is a bonified idiot. 04 Jul 2009 from web

alienInfix (New York, N.Y.) Ha! These dudes are funny: “Hossein Mousavi.. has been publicly called a U.S. agent” RT @ABC http://tinyurl.com/mypxjr #IranElection #gr88 04 Jul 2009 from TweetDeck

mohamedsahlawi (Dubai, U.A.E.) Iran Newspapers: Mir Hossein Mousavi has been publicly called a U.S. agent (Khamenei & Ahmadinajad = Unbelievable) 04 Jul 2009 from web

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