Nine Republican candidates gathered in Orlando, Florida, last night for yet another presidential debate, this one hosted by Fox News and Google. And, like last week’s match, this event gave viewers a look at the GOP’s dark side, particularly when it comes to gay soldiers. Sure, there were plenty of notable and vaguely disturbing moments from last night. For example, Rick Perry said he endorsed an HPV vaccine that could prevent cervical cancer because he “errs on the side of life,” even though the Texas governor has presided over 235 executions. And then there was the moment when Mitt Romney was asked if he, like many of his opponents, believes President Obama is a socialist. Romney wouldn’t say that…
Read more:
Presidential debate audience members boo gay soldier
After Thursday night’s Republican presidential debate, a handful of pundits declared little-known candidate Gary Johnson winner of “the best line of the night” – for a joke he made comparing Obama’s record on job creation to dog poop. “My next door neighbor’s two dogs have created more shovel ready jobs than this president,” said Johnson, prompting hearty laughter from the audience. “That was the best line” of the night, concluded Fox’s Charles Krauthammer, of the joke, during the post-debate commentary. “Had he said it early on, he might now be a top tier candidate.” Gary Johnson A Dark Horse with a Sense of Humor Slate’s Dave Weigel, in a column entitled, “The Best Line of the Night,” wrote: “The candidate who had been kept out of polite society had just told a poop…
Read more:
Gary Johnson A Dark Horse with a Sense of Humor
Rick Santorum: How he can fix his ‘santorum’ problem
Remember Rick Santorum? (He is running for president.) Well, in some Rick Santorum “news” of the oddly sourced variety, we learn that the former Pennsylvania senator has “contacted Google” to try to deal with his well known “Google problem.” I say “oddly sourced” because here is the Politico article about it, and as you can see, the headline reads “Rick Santorum contacted Google, says company spreads ‘filth,’” and then, in the final paragraph, you have this sentence: “Santorum has acknowledged his widely covered ‘Google problem’ in the past, but his contact with the company is a newer development,” and those are the two mentions of him contacting Google. The reader is sort of left with many questions, like, “Who contacted Google from the Santorum campaign?” and “Who did the Santorum campaign reach at Google?” Both of which are the sorts of questions you traditionally answer…
Read the original:
Rick Santorum: How he can fix his ‘santorum’ problem
Heaven help us. Heaven help Scott Brown. A real live Statist is running for Senate against Scott Brown. Listen to this rant by Elizabeth Warren to a group of her adoring fans. She’s a darling of the left, and I can see why. She claims that all good things are paid for by high taxes on the poor and middle class. Everything bad is ordered by the rich who get a free ride on “us”. I am beside myself watching this video. Thanks to lefty Eschaton for the pointer. He likes it. I can see why. Everything bad we have ever done was because of Bush. There is nothing done wrong since Obama came…
Follow this link:
Elizabeth Warren’s Campaign Takes Off
Constitution Day a great opportunity to learn from history
The Northeastern Junior College Introduction to Mass Media class members announced they will be hosting an event celebrating the First Amendment Friday, Sept. 16 at noon in the NJC cafeteria. The event coincides with Constitution Day which is Saturday, Sept. 17. The event will focus around students expressing their First Amendment right to freedom of speech by writing anything they wish on Post-it notes and then attaching them to a wall in the NJC cafeteria. The Post-it notes will be available to the students several days leading up to the event, which falls one day before Constitution Day. Constitution Day a great opportunity to learn from history Students will be encouraged to express themselves in any way they choose; however, they will also be asked to sign their name to their statement which will also be their pledge to always support freedom of speech. “NJC has always been a place where students are able to express themselves freely, and this is another excellent way for them to do that,” said Dr. Scott Stump, NJC interim president. Also available for students will be a Facebook page where they can freely express themselves throughout the year. “We hope to be able to get students to appreciate our freedom of speech and express themselves by writing their name and their thoughts on the sticky note,” said Adrianne Eager of Gunnison, one of the students in the class. “Our class will be posting these notes on the wall for fellow students to see, think about and in the process, make them aware of Constitution Day,” Eager added.
Continue reading here:
Constitution Day a great opportunity to learn from history
The Republican debate started off on a rocky note when former House Speaker Newt Gingrich slammed CNN’s John King for being questioned about Marianne Gingrich’s “character attack.” After Mr. Gingrich reprimanded Mr. King for using “trash like that” in a presidential debate, the Republican candidates started attacking each other.
Along with Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX), former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum stopped short of dismissing Ms. Gingrich’s interview as immaterial for South Carolina voters to consider in selection a Republican presidential nominee. “These are issues of our lives, and what we did in our lives are issues of character for people to consider,” Mr. Santorum posited.
Mr. Santorum also accused Mr. Gingrich and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney of “playing footsies with the left” on health care. Mr. Gingrich “has been for an individual mandate [...] as late as 2008,” Mr. Santorum added.
South Carolina Republican debate Video South Carolina Republican debate: January 19
In response to Mr. Santorum’s attack, the Georgia Republican fired back that he “led the charge against ‘Hillarycare’ in the House.” Mr. Gingrich added that one can visit healthtransformation.net to “see hundreds of ideas — none of which resemble Barack Obama’s programs.”
Later in the Republican debate, Mr. Santorum slammed Mr. Gingrich for not being careful enough about what he says. “Grandiosity has never been a problem with Newt Gingrich,” Mr. Santorum remarked. “I don’t want a nominee that I have to worry about going out and looking at the paper the next day and [...] worrying about what he’s going to say next,” Mr. Santorum argued.
WASHINGTON—Mitt Romney perpetuated one unsubstantiated claim, about his record at Bain Capital, and more or less corrected himself on another, about President Barack Obama’s health care law, in the latest Republican presidential debate.His rivals flubbed history, Newt Gingrich blaming a Democratic president for a jobless rate he never had, and Ron Paul painting an idyllic picture of life before Medicare that did not reflect deprivations of that time.
A look at some of the claims in the debate Thursday night and how they compare with the facts:06.36 The Washington Post’s E.J Dionne Jr says Gingrich only won the debate by trashing the media.Opinion Leave it to Newt Gingrich to turn a question about second wife’s statement that he had requested an open marriage into an opportunity to go after the media. His gambit worked brilliantly with tonight’s debate audience in Charleston. I suspect it worked with a lot of Republican voters, too.
If Gingrich pulls out a victory in South Carolina, it will be because of this week’s two debates – and because Mitt Romney had once of the worst weeks of his campaign. Romney has made one mistake after another in talking about his taxes and his earnings. He is still tone deaf on matters related to economic class and his own financial situation. It was not the way a candidate wants to close a campaign.06.10 Here’s the inside scoop on what Team Newt really thinks of the Marianna Gingrich interview – a set-up.
Opinion “We kind of feel like it must be a political set-up of some sort,” former Rep. Bob Walker, a longtime colleague of Gingrich’s, said after the debate, referring to ABC News’ brief feature in which Marianne Gingrich claimed Gingrich asked to have an “open marriage.” Asked who might be behind the set-up, Walker said, “I don’t know, but ABC has been pretty favorable to Barack Obama over the years, and maybe they decided this was the time. I don’t know, but the timing is somewhat suspicious…As Newt begins to rise in the polls, it is interesting that a couple of days before the election is when they bring this up.”05.33 (00.33) Did Newt Gingrich win tonight’s debate in the first five minutes? Tim Stanley thinks so, saying his chin wobble said it all.
South Carolina Republican debate Video South Carolina Republican debate: January 19
President Obama Sings Al Green’s ‘Let’s Stay Together’ At Apollo:President Barack Obama pulled out some unexpected singing chops during a fundraiser at the Apollo Theater in New York City on Thursday night (January 19). The President belted out a line of Rev. Al Green’s soul staple “Let’s Stay Together”–Rev. Al Green was also in the audience–and joked about not being ushered off stage by the notorious Apollo Theater Sandman. “Don’t worry Rev I cannot sing like you, but I just wanted to show my appreciation”, the President said lightheartedly. Can a sing-off against Mitt Romney be that far off?
Well, he’s no Condoleeza Rice. President Obama sang a little Al Green at a fundraiser held at Spike Lee’s house, E! News reports. After singing a little bit of “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green (who was in the audience), President Obama said, “I cannot sing like you, I just wanted to show my appreciation.” Check out the video:
Obama Sings Al Green & Brings Sexy Back to the Election
President Obama can sing, and pretty well for that matter. He showed his appreciation for Al Green on Thursday by delivering lines from “Let’s stay together” at a fundraiser in Harlem’s Apollo Theater.The audience of 1,400 supporters, including legendary singer Al Green, went wild when Obama launched into a perfectly pitched rendition of the classic hit. ( Scroll down for videos)
I…..so in love with you” he sung with a sheepish shy smile. “Those guys didn’t think I would do it. I told you I was going to do it,” Obama said. “”The sandman did not come out. Don’t worry, Rev., I cannot sing like you, but I just wanted to show my appreciation.”
Al Green and India Arie also performed at the fundraiser, one of three events Obama attended on Thursday. Tickets for the events were priced between $100 -$200 but the president’s first fundraiser started at an Upper East Side dinery, with tickets at $500,000. According to Politico, the president raised at least $3.1 million for his reelection campaign through the events.
Some tweeted that the lyrics of Al Green’s “Let’s stay Together,” underscored the themed of the president’s reelection campaign.After surprising himself for actually following through with what may have been an innocent best the president stated,
“I told you I was going to do it! The Sandman did not come out!”Nope, no he didn’t. Watch Obama sing Al Green below.
Obama’s Al Green performance went viral, here’s how people reacted on Twitter:
Piers Morgan: This is AMAZING – and the single most brilliant thing I’ve ever seen any politician do: bit.ly/yIN01E #ObamasGotSoul
Anthony De Rosa: Guy actually has some pipes RT @BarackObama: In case you missed it: President Obama sang a little Al Green last night.OFA.BO/XsgQyv
Emily Bell: If I had a vote, I would be tempted vote for Obama on this alonebit.ly/xF5WTc - should challenge MittNewt to a sing-off
Sharon Carpenter: Who knew Pres. Obama could hold a note?? He sang a few bars of an Al Green song at the Apollo earlier. Not bad at all!
Keith Olbermann: I cringed when I heard about this…but, hey: great 8 seconds!@thinkprogress President Obama sings Al Green youtu.be/T-hDt2E8MoE
President Obama sings Al Green: Let’s stay together in 2012
LOS ANGELES — Lindsay Lohan sported a new accessory Wednesday after a judge revoked her probation: Handcuffs. The actress was taken into custody after Superior Court Judge Stephanie Sautner revoked her probation because she was ousted from a community service assignment at a women’s shelter.
“There has been violation after violation,” Sautner said.Bail was set at $100,000. Lindsay Lohan’s spokesman Steve Honig said it was immediately posted and the actress was later released from Airport Courthouse.
“We’re dealing with someone on probation,” said Lindsay Lohan’s attorney, Shawn Holley. “Most people on probation don’t always do things perfectly.”
A city prosecutor recommended jail time, but Sautner set a Nov. 2 hearing to decide whether Lindsay Lohan should serve another stint behind bars, where she has been sent four previous times only to be released early due to jail overcrowding.
Lindsay Lohan Probation Revoked HANDCUFFED in Court
“If jail meant something in the state of California now, maybe I’d put her in jail,” Sautner said.The development marked the latest legal problem for the 25-year-old Lindsay Lohan, who was given probation for a 2007 drunken driving case and a misdemeanor theft case this year.
“Lindsay is hoping this matter will be resolved on Nov. 2 and the court will reinstate probation and allow her to continue fulfilling her community service,” Honig said.Lindsay Lohan had been ordered in April to serve 360 hours at the Downtown Women’s Center, an agency that helps homeless women. Nine of Lindsay Lohan’s appointments at the center were “just blown off” and she “showed up once and left after an hour,” Sautner said.Lindsay Lohan has since started serving hours with the American Red Cross, but Sautner said that would not count because it was not part of her sentence.
Lindsay Lohan had been ordered in April to serve 360 hours at the Downtown Women’s Center, an agency that helps homeless women. Sautner said nine of Lindsay Lohan’s appointments at the centre were “just blown off” and she “showed up once and left after an hour.”Lindsay Lohan has since started serving hours with the American Red Cross, but Sautner said that would not count because it was not part of her sentence.
“We’re dealing with someone on probation,” said Lindsay Lohan’s attorney, Shawn Holley. “Most people on probation don’t always do things perfectly.”
Lindsay Lohan, aside from a role in last year’s film Machete, has seen her acting career evaporate in recent years. She has been in perpetual trouble since May 2010.The judge, however, admitted that jail is not really a place for Lindsay Lohan because that is now where felons are being sent by the state. The judge said that if the actress does make bail, she must perform two days a week of her 120 hours’ community service at the morgue.
The actress rarely appeared at a women’s shelter for the 360 hours of required service and never showed up at the coroner’s office, where she was supposed to complete another 120 hours.
The judge said she never approved of Lindsay Lohan performing community service with the American Red Cross rather than the women’s shelter and those hours won’t count toward her sentence.
Lindsay Lohan’s attorney, Shawn Holley, said the actress “had to earn a living to support herself and her family” and her opportunities are in Europe.
Rachel Uchitel became a household name during the Tiger Woods sex scandal, but she has put the past behind her this week, marrying a man with an uncannily resemblance to her fiance who perished during the 9/11 attacks. The Daily Mail has photos of the newly married couple, showing Rachel and her new husband Matt Hahn after the event and on the beach later.
“We are really happy and feel extremely fortunate to have one another, Uchitel said.
Las Vegas’ Little White Chapel Tunnel of Love was the scene of the festivities, with Uchitel adorned in a beautiful orange full-length gown that set off her stunning tan. Matt looked Antonio Banderas handsome in his cool gray suit and the couple appeared to be at peace with their chosen marital venue.
Rachel Uchitel and businessman Matt Hahn got married
The wedding, a spur of the moment affair after seeing friends tie the knot during the weekend, drew 12 friends to the Sunday night event.Little White Chapel boasts other celebrity brides and grooms who have used the facility to unite, including Demi Moore and her first husband Bruce Willis, according to the Daily Mail.
This is Uchitel’s second marriage but third altar attempt.Her first marriage with Stephen Ehrenkranz, a New York Stock Exchange trader, lasted only four months, beginning and ending in 2004 despite the fact they knew each other in school as children.
The lawmaker who authored the California Dream Act said Saturday that Gov. Jerry Brown has signed the bill allowing Illegal immigrants attending California universities to receive state financial aid.Brown’s office declined comment, and an announcement on the legislation has not yet been made.
But Assemblyman Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles) said he was notified Saturday morning by the governor’s aides that Brown has approved the measure, which makes illegal immigrants who are accepted into state universities eligible, starting in 2013, for Cal-Grant assistance.
Jerry Brown signs second part of Dream Act
The governor’s action also allows those without citizenship papers to tap into institutional grants while attending the University of California and California State University systems, and to get fee waivers in the California community college system.Cedillo praised Brown as an “incredible leader with the vision and courage” for signing the bill despite its great controversy.
“After having invested 12 years in the high school education of these young men and women, who are here through no fault of their own, it’s the smartest thing for us to do to permit these students to get scholarships and be treated like every other student,” Cedillo said. “We need an educated workforce. This is good for California’s economy and California’s future.”
One legislative analysis predicted the bill will cost an additional $40 million to help students who qualify by graduating from a California high school after having attended school in the state for at least three years. They also must show financial need and meet academic standards.
