Wednesday, April 30, 2008
French Prisons: Up to 70% of Inmates Are Muslims
Muslims make up only about 12 percent of France’s population — but account for from 60 to 70 percent of all inmates in the country’s prisons.
French prison officials blame that remarkable statistic on the poverty of people who have moved to France from North Africa and other Muslim nations in recent decades.
French Muslim leaders further hold racism and discrimination as the root cause of unemployment and crime rates among the Muslim minority, according to the Islam Online Web site.
In Britain, Muslims reportedly make up 3 percent of the population, but 11 percent of prisoners.
In the Netherlands, 20 percent of adult prisoners and 26 percent of juvenile offenders are Muslims, while the nation on the whole is about 5.5 percent Muslim, according to research by the Open Society Institute, an advocacy organization.
In Belgium, Muslims from Turkey and Morocco account for at least 16 percent of inmates; they make up 2 percent of the general population.
“Sociologists and Muslim leaders say the French prison system reflects the deep social and ethnic divides roiling France and its European neighbors as immigrants and a new generation of their children alter the demographic and cultural landscape of the continent,” the Washington Post observed.
France has had difficulty reacting to the growing numbers of Muslims incarcerated in the country. The prison system has only 100 Muslim clerics for the nation’s 200 prisons, compared with about 480 Catholic, 250 Protestant and 50 Jewish chaplains, even though Muslim prisoners far outnumber prisoners of all other religions.
“It is true that we haven’t attained full equality among religions in prisons yet,” Jeanne Sautiere, director of integration and religious groups for the French prison system, told the Post.
“It is a matter of time.”
The Times of London recently included Paris’ rat-infested La Santé prison — which includes a number of Islamic militants among its large Muslim population — on its list of the “10 Most Notorious Jails in the World.”
Muslims make up only about 12 percent of France’s population — but account for from 60 to 70 percent of all inmates in the country’s prisons.
French prison officials blame that remarkable statistic on the poverty of people who have moved to France from North Africa and other Muslim nations in recent decades.
French Muslim leaders further hold racism and discrimination as the root cause of unemployment and crime rates among the Muslim minority, according to the Islam Online Web site.
In Britain, Muslims reportedly make up 3 percent of the population, but 11 percent of prisoners.
In the Netherlands, 20 percent of adult prisoners and 26 percent of juvenile offenders are Muslims, while the nation on the whole is about 5.5 percent Muslim, according to research by the Open Society Institute, an advocacy organization.
In Belgium, Muslims from Turkey and Morocco account for at least 16 percent of inmates; they make up 2 percent of the general population.
“Sociologists and Muslim leaders say the French prison system reflects the deep social and ethnic divides roiling France and its European neighbors as immigrants and a new generation of their children alter the demographic and cultural landscape of the continent,” the Washington Post observed.
France has had difficulty reacting to the growing numbers of Muslims incarcerated in the country. The prison system has only 100 Muslim clerics for the nation’s 200 prisons, compared with about 480 Catholic, 250 Protestant and 50 Jewish chaplains, even though Muslim prisoners far outnumber prisoners of all other religions.
“It is true that we haven’t attained full equality among religions in prisons yet,” Jeanne Sautiere, director of integration and religious groups for the French prison system, told the Post.
“It is a matter of time.”
The Times of London recently included Paris’ rat-infested La Santé prison — which includes a number of Islamic militants among its large Muslim population — on its list of the “10 Most Notorious Jails in the World.”
Late Nite Jokes
Jay Leno
MSNBC is reporting that the department of Homeland Security is asking boaters to be on the lookout for terrorists in small boats trying to detonate a nuclear bomb . . . $15 billion a year for Homeland Security and all they can do is come up with three drunks on a Wave Runner?
The State department announced the most dangerous place in the world today is no longer the Mideast. It’s now between the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and the microphone.
Of course, the Republicans won’t let this Rev. Wright controversy die. Today they said at the wedding of President Bush’s daughter? He’s going to have to be the minister.
Researchers at Yale University say that chocolate may be good for pregnant women. However, they say it is not good for women who just look pregnant.
Late Show Top Ten
Top Ten Questions To Ask Yourself Before Having Sex In A McDonald's
10. Should I take her someplace more romantic like Applebee's?
9. Am I going to get "The McClap"?
8. Should we just stay in the car and have sex in the drive-thru?
7. The rats won't mind, will they?
6. Would she rather have had a 'Whopper'?
5. Is this what my dad meant when he said, "Go get a job at McDonald's"?
4. Should I add fries and a soda for an extra 99 cents?
3. Can I tell my wife I was just getting a Happy Meal?
2. Should I see a psychiatrist?
1. Is this going to hurt my wife's presidential campaign?
David Letterman
Are you sick of the presidential primaries? Hillary wants another debate. She has nothing more to say really, she just wants to show off another pantsuit.
The primary season is just dragging and dragging . . . and the election isn’t for another three years.
Last week Pennsylvania, next week my home state of Indiana, then North Carolina, then Canada, then on to Europe.
How about that John McCain. He looks like the kind of guy who walks into a Circuit City and asks, “Do you have typewriter ribbon?”
Conan O'Brien
Tomorrow night on Fox News, Hillary Clinton will be making her first ever appearance on Bill O’Reilly’s show “The O’Reilly Factor.” Hillary should do well because she has years of experience yelling, “Shut up, Bill.”
Today, President Bush gave a news conference about the economy but he stubbornly refused to say the word recession. Instead, Bush said, “Our country is heading towards something that has three syllables and rhymes with refreshin’.”
US magazine says that Nicole Richie has endorsed Barack Obama for president. Richie said, ‘I’d throw my weight behind him but I don’t have any.”
Earlier today, Chinese officials held a ceremony to announce that it's exactly 100 days until the summer Olympics and they’re working hard to clean up Beijing’s pollution. Unfortunately, they had to cut the ceremony short — because the air caught on fire.
Craig Ferguson
Released today: the video game Grand Theft Auto IV. Great news for people who are in the mood to steal a car and beat up a hooker — but don’t want to leave the house.
Hillary Clinton announced today that she’ll appear on “The O’Reilly Factor.” Which should be great, a real confrontation. On one side, a loudmouthed bully who wants to tear apart the Democratic Party. And on the other side, there’s Bill O’Reilly.
Disney they shouldn’t be upset about Miley Cyrus (for Vanity Fair photos). Look at Donald Duck — he hasn’t worn pants for 50 years.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The video game Grand Theft Auto IV went on sale today. They say it answers any questions left unanswered by Grand Theft Autos I, II, and III.
Fans waited all night to buy it. If they were real fans, they’d just steal a car and drive it through the front window of the store and take the game.
It’s a shame kids these days are spending so much time playing video games where they steal cars, and not getting out there in the sunshine and really stealing cars.
Jay Leno
MSNBC is reporting that the department of Homeland Security is asking boaters to be on the lookout for terrorists in small boats trying to detonate a nuclear bomb . . . $15 billion a year for Homeland Security and all they can do is come up with three drunks on a Wave Runner?
The State department announced the most dangerous place in the world today is no longer the Mideast. It’s now between the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and the microphone.
Of course, the Republicans won’t let this Rev. Wright controversy die. Today they said at the wedding of President Bush’s daughter? He’s going to have to be the minister.
Researchers at Yale University say that chocolate may be good for pregnant women. However, they say it is not good for women who just look pregnant.
Late Show Top Ten
Top Ten Questions To Ask Yourself Before Having Sex In A McDonald's
10. Should I take her someplace more romantic like Applebee's?
9. Am I going to get "The McClap"?
8. Should we just stay in the car and have sex in the drive-thru?
7. The rats won't mind, will they?
6. Would she rather have had a 'Whopper'?
5. Is this what my dad meant when he said, "Go get a job at McDonald's"?
4. Should I add fries and a soda for an extra 99 cents?
3. Can I tell my wife I was just getting a Happy Meal?
2. Should I see a psychiatrist?
1. Is this going to hurt my wife's presidential campaign?
David Letterman
Are you sick of the presidential primaries? Hillary wants another debate. She has nothing more to say really, she just wants to show off another pantsuit.
The primary season is just dragging and dragging . . . and the election isn’t for another three years.
Last week Pennsylvania, next week my home state of Indiana, then North Carolina, then Canada, then on to Europe.
How about that John McCain. He looks like the kind of guy who walks into a Circuit City and asks, “Do you have typewriter ribbon?”
Conan O'Brien
Tomorrow night on Fox News, Hillary Clinton will be making her first ever appearance on Bill O’Reilly’s show “The O’Reilly Factor.” Hillary should do well because she has years of experience yelling, “Shut up, Bill.”
Today, President Bush gave a news conference about the economy but he stubbornly refused to say the word recession. Instead, Bush said, “Our country is heading towards something that has three syllables and rhymes with refreshin’.”
US magazine says that Nicole Richie has endorsed Barack Obama for president. Richie said, ‘I’d throw my weight behind him but I don’t have any.”
Earlier today, Chinese officials held a ceremony to announce that it's exactly 100 days until the summer Olympics and they’re working hard to clean up Beijing’s pollution. Unfortunately, they had to cut the ceremony short — because the air caught on fire.
Craig Ferguson
Released today: the video game Grand Theft Auto IV. Great news for people who are in the mood to steal a car and beat up a hooker — but don’t want to leave the house.
Hillary Clinton announced today that she’ll appear on “The O’Reilly Factor.” Which should be great, a real confrontation. On one side, a loudmouthed bully who wants to tear apart the Democratic Party. And on the other side, there’s Bill O’Reilly.
Disney they shouldn’t be upset about Miley Cyrus (for Vanity Fair photos). Look at Donald Duck — he hasn’t worn pants for 50 years.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The video game Grand Theft Auto IV went on sale today. They say it answers any questions left unanswered by Grand Theft Autos I, II, and III.
Fans waited all night to buy it. If they were real fans, they’d just steal a car and drive it through the front window of the store and take the game.
It’s a shame kids these days are spending so much time playing video games where they steal cars, and not getting out there in the sunshine and really stealing cars.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
DNC Ad Shows U.S. Soldiers Being Blown Up
By: Jim Meyers
The Democratic National Committee has sparked outrage among veterans and others across the internet by running an anti-John McCain ad that shows U.S. soldiers being blown up.
After the new ad’s voice-over castigated McCain for suggesting that the United States may stay in Iraq for “maybe 100” years, the footage becomes shocking.
The DNC ad then shows an explosive device detonating near two soldiers standing beside a palm tree. The two soldiers disappear in an explosive fireball. The video also shows images of burning vehicles.
The footage appears similar to film taken by jihadists who videotape IED explosions that kill American combat troops. The jihadists place the video on the internet to tout their "kill Americans" campaign success. The Army estimates that more than 6,500 jihadist Web sites promote violence against America and American troops.
Many U.S. media outlets have refused to air excerpts from such videos for several reasons - including out of respect of the servicemen and women depicted in the videos.
The DNC apparently does not agree. Calls to the DNC for comment and for information about the footage went unreturned.
The Republican National Committee harshly criticized the ad, stating: “It is becoming clear that [DNC Chairman] Howard Dean and the Democratic National Committee will say and do anything to defeat John McCain.” The RNC demanded that the ad be stopped.
The McCain campaign and the RNC contend that the Democrats have been distorting McCain’s comment that the United States may remain in Iraq for "maybe 100” years. Such critics say McCain’s comments have been taken out of context.
The Associated Press reported that he actually went on to say:
“As long as Americans are not being injured or harmed or wounded or killed, it's fine with me, and I hope it would be fine with you, if we maintain a presence in a very volatile part of the world where al-Qaida is training, recruiting, equipping and motivating people every single day."
Republicans also allege that the DNC violates federal election law by coordinating its ad campaign with the Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton campaigns.
The RNC counsel has sent letters to the heads of NBC, CNN, and MSNBC demanding the ad be pulled.
By: Jim Meyers
The Democratic National Committee has sparked outrage among veterans and others across the internet by running an anti-John McCain ad that shows U.S. soldiers being blown up.
After the new ad’s voice-over castigated McCain for suggesting that the United States may stay in Iraq for “maybe 100” years, the footage becomes shocking.
The DNC ad then shows an explosive device detonating near two soldiers standing beside a palm tree. The two soldiers disappear in an explosive fireball. The video also shows images of burning vehicles.
The footage appears similar to film taken by jihadists who videotape IED explosions that kill American combat troops. The jihadists place the video on the internet to tout their "kill Americans" campaign success. The Army estimates that more than 6,500 jihadist Web sites promote violence against America and American troops.
Many U.S. media outlets have refused to air excerpts from such videos for several reasons - including out of respect of the servicemen and women depicted in the videos.
The DNC apparently does not agree. Calls to the DNC for comment and for information about the footage went unreturned.
The Republican National Committee harshly criticized the ad, stating: “It is becoming clear that [DNC Chairman] Howard Dean and the Democratic National Committee will say and do anything to defeat John McCain.” The RNC demanded that the ad be stopped.
The McCain campaign and the RNC contend that the Democrats have been distorting McCain’s comment that the United States may remain in Iraq for "maybe 100” years. Such critics say McCain’s comments have been taken out of context.
The Associated Press reported that he actually went on to say:
“As long as Americans are not being injured or harmed or wounded or killed, it's fine with me, and I hope it would be fine with you, if we maintain a presence in a very volatile part of the world where al-Qaida is training, recruiting, equipping and motivating people every single day."
Republicans also allege that the DNC violates federal election law by coordinating its ad campaign with the Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton campaigns.
The RNC counsel has sent letters to the heads of NBC, CNN, and MSNBC demanding the ad be pulled.
Late Nite Jokes
Jay Leno
Oil prices are at an all-time high. This is hurting a lot of Americans. Everyone except Dick Cheney. Since oil prices went up , he hasn’t had one heart attack.
A man has staged a sit-in for prayer at a gas station asking God for lower gas prices. Doesn’t that seem a like a question for Allah?
It was hot this weekend. Triple-digit temperatures. Here’s what makes it uncomfortable. It’s not the heat; it’s not the humidity. It’s Al Gore going, “I told you so. I told you so.”
It was so hot, Hillary Clinton challenged Barack Obama to another debate just so she could get the cold shoulder.
Late Show Top Ten
Top Ten Things Saddam Hussein Would Say If He Were Alive Today
10. "Let me guess — Bush still hasn't caught Osama"
9. "Have I missed any big developments in beret technology?"
8. "I'm not sure I want to live in a world where Star Jones is getting divorced"
7. "It's nice to see a stable Iraq"
6. "Free Wesley Snipes!"
5. "Please tell me Meredith and McDreamy finally got together"
4. "No number 4 — writer hiding in spiderhole
3. "Damn these rope burns — anyone got a turtleneck?"
2. "I may have been a brutal dictator, but I kept gas prices under two dollars"
1. "Compared to Fallujah, Hell ain't too bad"
David Letterman
Is it too soon to hit on Star Jones?
Star Jones is getting a divorce. Bad news for her, good news for me. She’s the only thing left on my “bucket list.”
She was married to a guy named Al Reynolds . . . How can I describe his departure? Are you familiar with the phrase “Bat out of hell?”
Bad news for OJ Simpson: He wanted to be on “Celebrity Apprentice.” It turns out OJ will not be on “Celebrity Apprentice.” But the audition went great — only two people killed.
Conan O'Brien
Hillary Clinton says she’s willing to debate Barack Obama “anytime, anywhere” and would even meet him in the back of a truck. Which is surprising, because the “anytime, anywhere, even in the back of a truck” offer is usually made by Bill Clinton.
Today John McCain campaigned across the state of Florida. McCain likes campaigning in Florida because everyone there calls him “the kid.”
This weekend at an event in Washington D.C., President Bush picked up a baton and conducted the U.S. Marine band. Unfortunately, the president got upset because the band didn’t know the song “The Wheels on the Bus.”
“American Idol’s” ratings have been slipping this year, so producers are thinking about making some changes to the show to make if more exciting. For example, from now on contestants will be eliminated by a sniper.
Craig Ferguson
I was at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner over the weekend. I was next to the most important man in the world! Dick Cheney. All the rest were there . . . Bush, Condoleezza Rice . . .
As I was walking up the red carpet, there were these teenage girls screaming. I thought, “Well heeelllloooo.” Then I realized the Jonas Brothers were behind me.
When I saw the Jonas Brothers I began screaming too.
Actually, when I saw them (dressed like characters out of a Dickens novel), I thought they were there to do “A Christmas Carol.”
Jay Leno
Oil prices are at an all-time high. This is hurting a lot of Americans. Everyone except Dick Cheney. Since oil prices went up , he hasn’t had one heart attack.
A man has staged a sit-in for prayer at a gas station asking God for lower gas prices. Doesn’t that seem a like a question for Allah?
It was hot this weekend. Triple-digit temperatures. Here’s what makes it uncomfortable. It’s not the heat; it’s not the humidity. It’s Al Gore going, “I told you so. I told you so.”
It was so hot, Hillary Clinton challenged Barack Obama to another debate just so she could get the cold shoulder.
Late Show Top Ten
Top Ten Things Saddam Hussein Would Say If He Were Alive Today
10. "Let me guess — Bush still hasn't caught Osama"
9. "Have I missed any big developments in beret technology?"
8. "I'm not sure I want to live in a world where Star Jones is getting divorced"
7. "It's nice to see a stable Iraq"
6. "Free Wesley Snipes!"
5. "Please tell me Meredith and McDreamy finally got together"
4. "No number 4 — writer hiding in spiderhole
3. "Damn these rope burns — anyone got a turtleneck?"
2. "I may have been a brutal dictator, but I kept gas prices under two dollars"
1. "Compared to Fallujah, Hell ain't too bad"
David Letterman
Is it too soon to hit on Star Jones?
Star Jones is getting a divorce. Bad news for her, good news for me. She’s the only thing left on my “bucket list.”
She was married to a guy named Al Reynolds . . . How can I describe his departure? Are you familiar with the phrase “Bat out of hell?”
Bad news for OJ Simpson: He wanted to be on “Celebrity Apprentice.” It turns out OJ will not be on “Celebrity Apprentice.” But the audition went great — only two people killed.
Conan O'Brien
Hillary Clinton says she’s willing to debate Barack Obama “anytime, anywhere” and would even meet him in the back of a truck. Which is surprising, because the “anytime, anywhere, even in the back of a truck” offer is usually made by Bill Clinton.
Today John McCain campaigned across the state of Florida. McCain likes campaigning in Florida because everyone there calls him “the kid.”
This weekend at an event in Washington D.C., President Bush picked up a baton and conducted the U.S. Marine band. Unfortunately, the president got upset because the band didn’t know the song “The Wheels on the Bus.”
“American Idol’s” ratings have been slipping this year, so producers are thinking about making some changes to the show to make if more exciting. For example, from now on contestants will be eliminated by a sniper.
Craig Ferguson
I was at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner over the weekend. I was next to the most important man in the world! Dick Cheney. All the rest were there . . . Bush, Condoleezza Rice . . .
As I was walking up the red carpet, there were these teenage girls screaming. I thought, “Well heeelllloooo.” Then I realized the Jonas Brothers were behind me.
When I saw the Jonas Brothers I began screaming too.
Actually, when I saw them (dressed like characters out of a Dickens novel), I thought they were there to do “A Christmas Carol.”
Monday, April 28, 2008
Wright Says Criticism Is Attack on Black Church
WASHINGTON -- The Rev. Jeremiah Wright says criticism surrounding his fiery sermons is an attack on the black church.
Barack Obama's longtime pastor says he hopes the controversy will have a positive outcome and spark an honest dialogue about race in America. Wright says black church traditions are still "invisible" to many Americans, as they have been throughout the country's history.
Wright spoke at the National Press Club Monday morning before the Washington press corps and a supportive audience of black church leaders beginning a two-day symposium.
He said the black church tradition is not bombastic or controversial, but different and misunderstood by the "dominant culture" in the United States.
WASHINGTON -- The Rev. Jeremiah Wright says criticism surrounding his fiery sermons is an attack on the black church.
Barack Obama's longtime pastor says he hopes the controversy will have a positive outcome and spark an honest dialogue about race in America. Wright says black church traditions are still "invisible" to many Americans, as they have been throughout the country's history.
Wright spoke at the National Press Club Monday morning before the Washington press corps and a supportive audience of black church leaders beginning a two-day symposium.
He said the black church tradition is not bombastic or controversial, but different and misunderstood by the "dominant culture" in the United States.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Sharpton Vows to Close This City After Officer Acquittals
NEW YORK -- Hundreds of angry people marched through Harlem on Saturday after the Rev. Al Sharpton promised to "close this city down" to protest the acquittals of three police detectives in the 50-shot barrage that killed a groom on his wedding day and wounded two friends.
"We strategically know how to stop the city so people stand still and realize that you do not have the right to shoot down unarmed, innocent civilians," Sharpton told an overflow crowd of several hundred people at his National Action Network office in the historically black Manhattan neighborhood. "This city is going to deal with the blood of Sean Bell."
Sharpton was joined by the family of 23-year-old Sean Bell _ a black man _ and a friend of Bell who was wounded in the 2006 shooting outside a Queens strip club. Two of the three officers charged were also black.
The rally at Sharpton's office was followed by a 20-block march down Malcolm X Boulevard and then across 125th Street, Harlem's main business thoroughfare, where some bystanders yelled out "Kill the police!"
Fifty of the marchers carried white placards bearing big black numbers for each of the police bullets fired at Bell and his friends.
Sharpton urged people to return for a meeting this coming week "to plan the day that we will close this city down" with the kind of "massive civil disobedience" once led by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
"They never accused Sean Bell of doing anything. Then why is he dead?" Sharpton asked, his voice roaring with anger. Authorities "have shown now that they will not hold police accountable. Well, guess what? If you won't, we will!"
"Shut it down! Shut it down!" the crowd chanted, standing up and applauding wildly.
Sharpton didn't say exactly how they would protest the acquittals of the officers who fired the 50 shots. He said Bell's supporters could demonstrate all over the city, from Wall Street to the home of Justice Arthur Cooperman, who on Friday acquitted the three detectives after a nonjury trial.
Sitting behind Sharpton as he spoke were Bell's parents, his sister and Nicole Paultre Bell, who took her fiance's name after his death.
"The justice system let me down," Paultre Bell told the crowd in a soft voice. "April 25, 2008: They killed Sean all over again. That's what it felt like to us."
It was her first public comment since she stormed out of a courtroom Friday after the NYPD detectives were cleared in Bell's killing as he left his bachelor party.
One of Bell's companions, Joseph Guzman, also spoke briefly on Saturday, saying: "We've got a long fight."
NEW YORK -- Hundreds of angry people marched through Harlem on Saturday after the Rev. Al Sharpton promised to "close this city down" to protest the acquittals of three police detectives in the 50-shot barrage that killed a groom on his wedding day and wounded two friends.
"We strategically know how to stop the city so people stand still and realize that you do not have the right to shoot down unarmed, innocent civilians," Sharpton told an overflow crowd of several hundred people at his National Action Network office in the historically black Manhattan neighborhood. "This city is going to deal with the blood of Sean Bell."
Sharpton was joined by the family of 23-year-old Sean Bell _ a black man _ and a friend of Bell who was wounded in the 2006 shooting outside a Queens strip club. Two of the three officers charged were also black.
The rally at Sharpton's office was followed by a 20-block march down Malcolm X Boulevard and then across 125th Street, Harlem's main business thoroughfare, where some bystanders yelled out "Kill the police!"
Fifty of the marchers carried white placards bearing big black numbers for each of the police bullets fired at Bell and his friends.
Sharpton urged people to return for a meeting this coming week "to plan the day that we will close this city down" with the kind of "massive civil disobedience" once led by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
"They never accused Sean Bell of doing anything. Then why is he dead?" Sharpton asked, his voice roaring with anger. Authorities "have shown now that they will not hold police accountable. Well, guess what? If you won't, we will!"
"Shut it down! Shut it down!" the crowd chanted, standing up and applauding wildly.
Sharpton didn't say exactly how they would protest the acquittals of the officers who fired the 50 shots. He said Bell's supporters could demonstrate all over the city, from Wall Street to the home of Justice Arthur Cooperman, who on Friday acquitted the three detectives after a nonjury trial.
Sitting behind Sharpton as he spoke were Bell's parents, his sister and Nicole Paultre Bell, who took her fiance's name after his death.
"The justice system let me down," Paultre Bell told the crowd in a soft voice. "April 25, 2008: They killed Sean all over again. That's what it felt like to us."
It was her first public comment since she stormed out of a courtroom Friday after the NYPD detectives were cleared in Bell's killing as he left his bachelor party.
One of Bell's companions, Joseph Guzman, also spoke briefly on Saturday, saying: "We've got a long fight."
Saturday, April 26, 2008
N.C. GOP Vows to Continue Obama-Wright Ad
RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina Republican leaders are standing by a TV ad critical of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama despite dissension in their own ranks and one station's refusal to air it.
Republican National Committee member Linda Shaw said Thursday she was shocked that her colleagues decided to produce and air the ad, which shows Obama with his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, and a clip of Wright's anti-U.S. comments.
"I do not support it," Shaw said. "I had nothing to do with it ... and I'm very disappointed."
Shaw, a longtime party leader, said she repeatedly urged state party chairwoman Linda Daves to withdraw the spot.
John McCain, the likely Republican presidential nominee, asked party officials to not run the ad on Wednesday and again Thursday.
"I cannot dictate to the North Carolina Republican Party what their message is, but I condemn it and I can appeal to the overwhelming majority of Republicans in the state of North Carolina," McCain said while campaigning in New Orleans.
State GOP spokesman Brent Woodcox said officials still planned to air the ad Monday, beginning with the evening newscasts. He said the party had not completed the details on the size of the ad buy.
Despite the ad's focus on Obama, Woodcox has said it is targeted at Democratic gubernatorial candidates Richard Moore and Bev Perdue; both have endorsed Obama, an Illinois senator. The ad was posted online Wednesday.
WRAL-TV in Raleigh and WSOC-TV in Charlotte have declined to run the spot, Woodcox and station officials said.
Jim Hefner, vice president and general manager at WRAL, said the station had determined the ad was "inflammatory" and decided not to run without knowing that McCain and national Republicans had objected to it.
Democratic party officials have criticized the ad. On Thursday, state Democratic Party Chairman Jerry Meek urged Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole to use her power to keep it off the air.
"As the highest-ranking Republican in the state, you have both the ability and responsibility to erase this stain on our state," Meek said in a letter to Dole. "Your silence tells North Carolinians that you will also sanction similar gutter tactics in your own campaign."
Dole said in an interview that she didn't want to get involved.
"I am concentrating on getting my work done here in the Senate, and I'm just not going to get into refereeing a third-party political ad that has nothing to do with my race," she said.
Obama's campaign questioned McCain's efforts to get the ad off the air.
"The fact that Senator McCain can't get his own party to take down this misleading, personal attack ad raises serious questions about his promise to the American people that he will run a civil, respectful campaign," said Obama campaign spokesman Hari Sevugan.
North Carolina holds its presidential primary May 6, with 115 delegates at stake. Polls give Obama the edge over Hillary Rodham Clinton.
RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina Republican leaders are standing by a TV ad critical of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama despite dissension in their own ranks and one station's refusal to air it.
Republican National Committee member Linda Shaw said Thursday she was shocked that her colleagues decided to produce and air the ad, which shows Obama with his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, and a clip of Wright's anti-U.S. comments.
"I do not support it," Shaw said. "I had nothing to do with it ... and I'm very disappointed."
Shaw, a longtime party leader, said she repeatedly urged state party chairwoman Linda Daves to withdraw the spot.
John McCain, the likely Republican presidential nominee, asked party officials to not run the ad on Wednesday and again Thursday.
"I cannot dictate to the North Carolina Republican Party what their message is, but I condemn it and I can appeal to the overwhelming majority of Republicans in the state of North Carolina," McCain said while campaigning in New Orleans.
State GOP spokesman Brent Woodcox said officials still planned to air the ad Monday, beginning with the evening newscasts. He said the party had not completed the details on the size of the ad buy.
Despite the ad's focus on Obama, Woodcox has said it is targeted at Democratic gubernatorial candidates Richard Moore and Bev Perdue; both have endorsed Obama, an Illinois senator. The ad was posted online Wednesday.
WRAL-TV in Raleigh and WSOC-TV in Charlotte have declined to run the spot, Woodcox and station officials said.
Jim Hefner, vice president and general manager at WRAL, said the station had determined the ad was "inflammatory" and decided not to run without knowing that McCain and national Republicans had objected to it.
Democratic party officials have criticized the ad. On Thursday, state Democratic Party Chairman Jerry Meek urged Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole to use her power to keep it off the air.
"As the highest-ranking Republican in the state, you have both the ability and responsibility to erase this stain on our state," Meek said in a letter to Dole. "Your silence tells North Carolinians that you will also sanction similar gutter tactics in your own campaign."
Dole said in an interview that she didn't want to get involved.
"I am concentrating on getting my work done here in the Senate, and I'm just not going to get into refereeing a third-party political ad that has nothing to do with my race," she said.
Obama's campaign questioned McCain's efforts to get the ad off the air.
"The fact that Senator McCain can't get his own party to take down this misleading, personal attack ad raises serious questions about his promise to the American people that he will run a civil, respectful campaign," said Obama campaign spokesman Hari Sevugan.
North Carolina holds its presidential primary May 6, with 115 delegates at stake. Polls give Obama the edge over Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Late Nite Jokes
Jay Leno
After that long, drawn-out primary in Pennsylvania, our choices are still the same. You've got McCain, Obama, and Clinton. Or to use their pro-wrestling names: the Geezer, the Pleaser, or the Freezer.
Big announcement today from the Hillary Clinton campaign. She says if you count the votes that don't count, she's winning.
As you know, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are now arguing over who has received the most overall votes during the primaries. Hillary's people have one way of counting, the popular vote, and Barack's people have another way of counting. I'm beginning to understand why the Democrats keep blowing all these elections — they haven't figured out how to count votes.
China is pitching in for green week. From now on, all toys from China will be made with recycled lead.
Late Show Top Ten
Top Ten Signs Hillary Clinton Is Exhausted
10. Spends most of her time campaigning in Sleepy's mattress stores
9. Barely has enough energy to lie about battling Bosnian snipers
8. Last night, spent 2 hours debating a coat rack
7. Agreed not to dispute Florida and Michigan delegates in exchange for a nap
6. Announced a new tax break for kitties
5. Greeted Philadelphia voters with, "It's great to be back in Tacoma!"
4. She's mismatching her pantsuits
3. When asked how she'd fight terrorism, she said, "Two words: Iron Man"
2. 3 a.m. phone call? "Let the machine get it"
1. So tired, she actually crawled in to bed with Bill
David Letterman
What a beautiful day. It’s 75 and sunny . . . like Cathy Lee Gifford.
So beautiful, the Statue of Liberty was holding a bottle of Corona.
So beautiful, Eliot Spitzer was dating a girl named June.
This just in: Barack Obama was cleaning out his campaign headquarters in Pennsylvania, and he found a buried Ralph Nader jersey.
Conan O'Brien
After the Pennsylvania primary, Barack Obama has resigned himself for a long, drawn-out battle with Hillary Clinton. After hearing this, Bill Clinton said, “Yeah . . . join the club.”
Barack Obama said he needs to attract older voters, and he said he’s going to work hard to prove he understands them. Today, he ate dinner at 3 in the afternoon.
It’s been reported that President Bush was so impressed with the Pope’s visit to Washington, that after he leaves office, Bush may convert to Catholicism. Bush said, “I’d convert now, but Dick Cheney gets freaked out if you get any where near him with a cross.”
Paris Hilton in going to star in a new reality show where she looks for a new best friend to replace Nicole Richie. So far the front-runner to replace Nicole is a No. 2 pencil.
Craig Ferguson
Barbra Streisand is 66 years old today. She’s going to have to change her song titles to stay connected to her age group: “Memories. I Don’t Have Any Memories.”
“You Don’t Bring Me Cortisone Anymore.”
Barbra is very powerful in Hollywood. She’s considered a diva. She’s one of the great female singers of our generation: Barbra, Cher, Elton John . . .
Allegedly, Barbra doesn’t allow her employees to make eye contact with her. Here, it’s the other way around. My employees don’t allow me to make eye contact with them.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Today was Take Your Child to Work Day, or as they say in China, Thursday.
It’s a great day to show your child how miserable they will be.
Take Your Child to Work Day should be sponsored by Zoloft.
Jay Leno
After that long, drawn-out primary in Pennsylvania, our choices are still the same. You've got McCain, Obama, and Clinton. Or to use their pro-wrestling names: the Geezer, the Pleaser, or the Freezer.
Big announcement today from the Hillary Clinton campaign. She says if you count the votes that don't count, she's winning.
As you know, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are now arguing over who has received the most overall votes during the primaries. Hillary's people have one way of counting, the popular vote, and Barack's people have another way of counting. I'm beginning to understand why the Democrats keep blowing all these elections — they haven't figured out how to count votes.
China is pitching in for green week. From now on, all toys from China will be made with recycled lead.
Late Show Top Ten
Top Ten Signs Hillary Clinton Is Exhausted
10. Spends most of her time campaigning in Sleepy's mattress stores
9. Barely has enough energy to lie about battling Bosnian snipers
8. Last night, spent 2 hours debating a coat rack
7. Agreed not to dispute Florida and Michigan delegates in exchange for a nap
6. Announced a new tax break for kitties
5. Greeted Philadelphia voters with, "It's great to be back in Tacoma!"
4. She's mismatching her pantsuits
3. When asked how she'd fight terrorism, she said, "Two words: Iron Man"
2. 3 a.m. phone call? "Let the machine get it"
1. So tired, she actually crawled in to bed with Bill
David Letterman
What a beautiful day. It’s 75 and sunny . . . like Cathy Lee Gifford.
So beautiful, the Statue of Liberty was holding a bottle of Corona.
So beautiful, Eliot Spitzer was dating a girl named June.
This just in: Barack Obama was cleaning out his campaign headquarters in Pennsylvania, and he found a buried Ralph Nader jersey.
Conan O'Brien
After the Pennsylvania primary, Barack Obama has resigned himself for a long, drawn-out battle with Hillary Clinton. After hearing this, Bill Clinton said, “Yeah . . . join the club.”
Barack Obama said he needs to attract older voters, and he said he’s going to work hard to prove he understands them. Today, he ate dinner at 3 in the afternoon.
It’s been reported that President Bush was so impressed with the Pope’s visit to Washington, that after he leaves office, Bush may convert to Catholicism. Bush said, “I’d convert now, but Dick Cheney gets freaked out if you get any where near him with a cross.”
Paris Hilton in going to star in a new reality show where she looks for a new best friend to replace Nicole Richie. So far the front-runner to replace Nicole is a No. 2 pencil.
Craig Ferguson
Barbra Streisand is 66 years old today. She’s going to have to change her song titles to stay connected to her age group: “Memories. I Don’t Have Any Memories.”
“You Don’t Bring Me Cortisone Anymore.”
Barbra is very powerful in Hollywood. She’s considered a diva. She’s one of the great female singers of our generation: Barbra, Cher, Elton John . . .
Allegedly, Barbra doesn’t allow her employees to make eye contact with her. Here, it’s the other way around. My employees don’t allow me to make eye contact with them.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Today was Take Your Child to Work Day, or as they say in China, Thursday.
It’s a great day to show your child how miserable they will be.
Take Your Child to Work Day should be sponsored by Zoloft.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Earth Cooling, Not Warming
By: Philip V. Brennan
A San Francisco-based scientist says that current solar activity strongly indicates that the earth is on the verge of a new ice age.
"Sorry to ruin the fun, but an ice age cometh," warns Phil Chapman writing in The Australian. Chapman is a geophysicist and astronautical engineer who was the first Australian to become a NASA astronaut.
"The scariest photo I have seen . . . is at www.spaceweather.com, where you will find a real-time image of the sun from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory [SOHO], located in deep space at the equilibrium point between solar and terrestrial gravity," Chapman wrote, adding ominously that "what is scary about the picture is that there is only one tiny sunspot."
"This is where SOHO comes in," he explained. "The sunspot number follows a cycle of somewhat variable length, averaging 11 years. The most recent minimum was in March last year. The new cycle, No. 24, was supposed to start soon after that, with a gradual build-up in sunspot numbers."
That, he writes did not happen. "The first sunspot appeared in January this year and lasted only two days. A tiny spot appeared last Monday but vanished within 24 hours. Another little spot appeared this Monday. Pray that there will be many more, and soon."
Why? According to Chapman "there is a close correlation between variations in the sunspot cycle and earth's climate. The previous time a cycle was delayed like this was in the Dalton Minimum, an especially cold period that lasted several decades from 1790. Northern winters became ferocious: in particular, the rout of Napoleon's Grand Army during the retreat from Moscow in 1812 was at least partly due to the lack of sunspots."
Although the rapid temperature decline in 2007 coincided with the failure of cycle No. 24 to begin on schedule is not proof of a causal connection, Chapman warns that it is cause for concern.
"Disconcerting as it may be to true believers in global warming," he explains, "the average temperature on earth has remained steady or slowly declined during the past decade, despite the continued increase in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide, and now the global temperature is falling precipitously.
"All four agencies that track earth's temperature [the Hadley Climate Research Unit in Britain, the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, the Christy group at the University of Alabama, and Remote Sensing Systems Inc in California] report that it cooled by about 0.7 C in 2007." This, he says is "the fastest temperature change in the instrumental record and it puts us back where we were in 1930. If the temperature does not soon recover, we will have to conclude that global warming is over."
Moreover, he says, there is also plenty of anecdotal evidence that 2007 was exceptionally cold, noting that it snowed in Baghdad for the first time in centuries, the winter in China was simply terrible and the extent of Antarctic sea ice in the austral winter was the greatest on record since James Cook discovered the place in 1770.
Chapman wrote that the global warming dogma should be put aside, "at least to begin contingency planning about what to do if we are moving into another little ice age, similar to the one that lasted from 1100 to 1850."
How bad could a new little ice age be? "Much worse than the previous one and much more harmful than anything warming may do. There are many more people now, and we have become dependent on a few temperate agricultural areas, especially in the U.S. and Canada." Global warming, he added, "would increase agricultural output, but global cooling will decrease it. Millions will starve if we do nothing to prepare for it [such as planning changes in agriculture to compensate], and millions more will die from cold-related diseases."
And grim as that outlook is, Chapman predicts that there is also another possibility, remote but much more serious — the Greenland and Antarctic ice cores and other evidence show that for the past several million years, severe glaciation has almost always afflicted our planet and under normal conditions, most of North America and Europe are buried under about 1.5 km of ice.
This bitterly frigid climate is interrupted occasionally by brief warm interglacials, typically lasting less than 10,000 years.
The present interglacial period we have enjoyed throughout recorded human history, called the Holocene, began 11,000 years ago, so an ice age is overdue. And glaciation can occur quickly: The required decline in global temperature is about 12 C and it can happen in 20 years.
His conclusions: "The next descent into an ice age is inevitable but may not happen for another 1,000 years. On the other hand, it must be noted that the cooling in 2007 was even faster than in typical glacial transitions. If it continued for 20 years, the temperature would be 14 C cooler in 2027."
By then, he writes, "most of the advanced nations would have ceased to exist, vanishing under the ice, and the rest of the world would be faced with a catastrophe beyond imagining."
"All those urging action to curb global warming need to take off the blinders and give some thought to what we should do if we are facing global cooling instead," he writes. "It will be difficult for people to face the truth when their reputations, careers, government grants or hopes for social change depend on global warming, but the fate of civilisation may be at stake."
By: Philip V. Brennan
A San Francisco-based scientist says that current solar activity strongly indicates that the earth is on the verge of a new ice age.
"Sorry to ruin the fun, but an ice age cometh," warns Phil Chapman writing in The Australian. Chapman is a geophysicist and astronautical engineer who was the first Australian to become a NASA astronaut.
"The scariest photo I have seen . . . is at www.spaceweather.com, where you will find a real-time image of the sun from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory [SOHO], located in deep space at the equilibrium point between solar and terrestrial gravity," Chapman wrote, adding ominously that "what is scary about the picture is that there is only one tiny sunspot."
"This is where SOHO comes in," he explained. "The sunspot number follows a cycle of somewhat variable length, averaging 11 years. The most recent minimum was in March last year. The new cycle, No. 24, was supposed to start soon after that, with a gradual build-up in sunspot numbers."
That, he writes did not happen. "The first sunspot appeared in January this year and lasted only two days. A tiny spot appeared last Monday but vanished within 24 hours. Another little spot appeared this Monday. Pray that there will be many more, and soon."
Why? According to Chapman "there is a close correlation between variations in the sunspot cycle and earth's climate. The previous time a cycle was delayed like this was in the Dalton Minimum, an especially cold period that lasted several decades from 1790. Northern winters became ferocious: in particular, the rout of Napoleon's Grand Army during the retreat from Moscow in 1812 was at least partly due to the lack of sunspots."
Although the rapid temperature decline in 2007 coincided with the failure of cycle No. 24 to begin on schedule is not proof of a causal connection, Chapman warns that it is cause for concern.
"Disconcerting as it may be to true believers in global warming," he explains, "the average temperature on earth has remained steady or slowly declined during the past decade, despite the continued increase in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide, and now the global temperature is falling precipitously.
"All four agencies that track earth's temperature [the Hadley Climate Research Unit in Britain, the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, the Christy group at the University of Alabama, and Remote Sensing Systems Inc in California] report that it cooled by about 0.7 C in 2007." This, he says is "the fastest temperature change in the instrumental record and it puts us back where we were in 1930. If the temperature does not soon recover, we will have to conclude that global warming is over."
Moreover, he says, there is also plenty of anecdotal evidence that 2007 was exceptionally cold, noting that it snowed in Baghdad for the first time in centuries, the winter in China was simply terrible and the extent of Antarctic sea ice in the austral winter was the greatest on record since James Cook discovered the place in 1770.
Chapman wrote that the global warming dogma should be put aside, "at least to begin contingency planning about what to do if we are moving into another little ice age, similar to the one that lasted from 1100 to 1850."
How bad could a new little ice age be? "Much worse than the previous one and much more harmful than anything warming may do. There are many more people now, and we have become dependent on a few temperate agricultural areas, especially in the U.S. and Canada." Global warming, he added, "would increase agricultural output, but global cooling will decrease it. Millions will starve if we do nothing to prepare for it [such as planning changes in agriculture to compensate], and millions more will die from cold-related diseases."
And grim as that outlook is, Chapman predicts that there is also another possibility, remote but much more serious — the Greenland and Antarctic ice cores and other evidence show that for the past several million years, severe glaciation has almost always afflicted our planet and under normal conditions, most of North America and Europe are buried under about 1.5 km of ice.
This bitterly frigid climate is interrupted occasionally by brief warm interglacials, typically lasting less than 10,000 years.
The present interglacial period we have enjoyed throughout recorded human history, called the Holocene, began 11,000 years ago, so an ice age is overdue. And glaciation can occur quickly: The required decline in global temperature is about 12 C and it can happen in 20 years.
His conclusions: "The next descent into an ice age is inevitable but may not happen for another 1,000 years. On the other hand, it must be noted that the cooling in 2007 was even faster than in typical glacial transitions. If it continued for 20 years, the temperature would be 14 C cooler in 2027."
By then, he writes, "most of the advanced nations would have ceased to exist, vanishing under the ice, and the rest of the world would be faced with a catastrophe beyond imagining."
"All those urging action to curb global warming need to take off the blinders and give some thought to what we should do if we are facing global cooling instead," he writes. "It will be difficult for people to face the truth when their reputations, careers, government grants or hopes for social change depend on global warming, but the fate of civilisation may be at stake."
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Carter: Condi 'Not Telling Truth'
ATLANTA -- Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on Wednesday accused Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice of not telling the truth about warnings she said her department gave Carter not to speak to Hamas before a Middle East trip.
The State Department has said U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Welch, the top U.S. diplomat for the Middle East, issued the warning before Carter, a veteran of Middle East diplomacy, went on his trip last week.
Rice said in Kuwait on Tuesday: "We counseled President Carter against going to the region and particularly against having contact with Hamas."
"President Carter has the greatest respect for ... Rice and believes her to be a truthful person. However, perhaps inadvertently, she is continuing to make a statement that is not true," a statement issued by the Carter center in Atlanta said on Wednesday.
"No one in the State Department or any other department of the U.S. government ever asked him (Carter) to refrain from his recent visit to the Middle East or even suggested that he not meet with Syrian President (Bashar) Assad or leaders of Hamas," it said.
It said Carter attempted to call Rice before making the trip and a deputy returned his call since Rice was in Europe.
"They had a very pleasant discussion for about 15 minutes, during which he never made any of the negative or cautionary comments described above. He never talked to anyone else," the statement said.
Carter had already on Monday, in an interview with National Public Radio, described as "absolutely false" any suggestion he had been warned not to meet Hamas.
"PRIVATE CITIZEN"
"The United States is not going to deal with Hamas and we certainly told President Carter that we did not think that meeting with Hamas was going to help the Palestinians," Rice said Tuesday while attending a conference in Kuwait.
The White House backed Rice and said events after Carter's meeting showed Hamas' true character.
Carter "is a private citizen and he made a decision to not comply with what the State Department asked him to do," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters on Wednesday.
Perino made an apparent reference to an attack on Saturday in which a Palestinian suicide bomber and two other gunmen were killed when they attacked a border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Israel, wounding 13 Israeli soldiers.
"Actions speak louder than words," said Perino of Hamas.
Hamas, which controls Gaza, is viewed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and Israel.
Carter, who met Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in Syria over the weekend, is trying to draw the Islamist group into peace talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
But Rice and other senior U.S. officials are concerned that Carter's meeting could confuse U.S.-brokered peace talks already moving at a slow pace between Abbas and Olmert.
Hamas won a 2006 election and briefly formed a unity government with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. It seized control of Gaza from Abbas' secular Fatah faction in fighting in June.
ATLANTA -- Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter on Wednesday accused Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice of not telling the truth about warnings she said her department gave Carter not to speak to Hamas before a Middle East trip.
The State Department has said U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Welch, the top U.S. diplomat for the Middle East, issued the warning before Carter, a veteran of Middle East diplomacy, went on his trip last week.
Rice said in Kuwait on Tuesday: "We counseled President Carter against going to the region and particularly against having contact with Hamas."
"President Carter has the greatest respect for ... Rice and believes her to be a truthful person. However, perhaps inadvertently, she is continuing to make a statement that is not true," a statement issued by the Carter center in Atlanta said on Wednesday.
"No one in the State Department or any other department of the U.S. government ever asked him (Carter) to refrain from his recent visit to the Middle East or even suggested that he not meet with Syrian President (Bashar) Assad or leaders of Hamas," it said.
It said Carter attempted to call Rice before making the trip and a deputy returned his call since Rice was in Europe.
"They had a very pleasant discussion for about 15 minutes, during which he never made any of the negative or cautionary comments described above. He never talked to anyone else," the statement said.
Carter had already on Monday, in an interview with National Public Radio, described as "absolutely false" any suggestion he had been warned not to meet Hamas.
"PRIVATE CITIZEN"
"The United States is not going to deal with Hamas and we certainly told President Carter that we did not think that meeting with Hamas was going to help the Palestinians," Rice said Tuesday while attending a conference in Kuwait.
The White House backed Rice and said events after Carter's meeting showed Hamas' true character.
Carter "is a private citizen and he made a decision to not comply with what the State Department asked him to do," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters on Wednesday.
Perino made an apparent reference to an attack on Saturday in which a Palestinian suicide bomber and two other gunmen were killed when they attacked a border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Israel, wounding 13 Israeli soldiers.
"Actions speak louder than words," said Perino of Hamas.
Hamas, which controls Gaza, is viewed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and Israel.
Carter, who met Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in Syria over the weekend, is trying to draw the Islamist group into peace talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
But Rice and other senior U.S. officials are concerned that Carter's meeting could confuse U.S.-brokered peace talks already moving at a slow pace between Abbas and Olmert.
Hamas won a 2006 election and briefly formed a unity government with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. It seized control of Gaza from Abbas' secular Fatah faction in fighting in June.
Late Nite Jokes
Jay Leno
Hillary Clinton won the Pennsylvania primary by 10 points. Barack got beaten so badly that today he offered her the spot of vice president.
Hillary was thrilled she got the double-digit victory. Bill said he hasn’t seen her this happy since before he married her.
Even though she won, Hillary’s campaign is $10 million in debt. Ironically, her big issue? “I can handle the economy.”
All three candidates made an appearance on the WWE Monday Night Raw. I wonder how many people think the candidates appearing on a wrestling show cheapens the political process . . . I wonder how many people think having the candidates appear on a wrestling show cheapens the wrestling show . . .
Late Show Top Ten
Top Ten Ways George W. Bush Can Improve His Approval Rating
10. Fewer embarrassing gaffes, more humiliating blunders
9. Replace "Hail To The Chief" with Black Sabbath's "Iron Man"
8. Send FEMA to rebuild Knicks
7. Change name to Barack W. Obusha
6. Show America you're not some stiff workaholic by blowing off work sometimes
5. Jump Snake River in rocket-powered "Sky-Cycle"
4. Become trapped in an elevator until January 20, 2009
4. Become trapped in an elevator until January 20
3. Less of this (VT: Bush dancing in New Orleans)
2. Ask father for tips on how he achieved his 31% approval rating
1. Hide Cheney's medication
David Letterman
It was so nice out today that the Pope is coming back.
It was so nice, Donald Trump opened the sunroof to his hair.
It was so nice, Hillary Clinton wore her pantsuit without the pants.
It was so nice that Amy Winehouse gave that thing on her head a flea dip.
Conan O'Brien
Big won for Hillary Clinton last night. In her victory speech last night, she repeatedly used the words, "fight," "fighter," "fighting." Then she said, “Enough about my marriage.”
No one says anything about John McCain anymore. I guess he won his side of the thing, and now he’s just wandering around.
He’s trying to get press, so this week, he went on a tour of areas that he called “forgotten places.” Which at his age, is just about everywhere.
Yesterday was Earth Day. Politicians all across America did something to mark Earth Day. For instance, President Bush was photographed with a shovel, and former President Clinton was photographed with a hoe.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
I am still hung over from Earth Day. I ate way too much earth.
I learned a lot from the primary yesterday. For instance, Pa. Stands for Pennsylvania.
The Clinton camp still faces some serious money problems. If only Hillary knew a wealthy former president who made $30 million on his autobiography.
Jay Leno
Hillary Clinton won the Pennsylvania primary by 10 points. Barack got beaten so badly that today he offered her the spot of vice president.
Hillary was thrilled she got the double-digit victory. Bill said he hasn’t seen her this happy since before he married her.
Even though she won, Hillary’s campaign is $10 million in debt. Ironically, her big issue? “I can handle the economy.”
All three candidates made an appearance on the WWE Monday Night Raw. I wonder how many people think the candidates appearing on a wrestling show cheapens the political process . . . I wonder how many people think having the candidates appear on a wrestling show cheapens the wrestling show . . .
Late Show Top Ten
Top Ten Ways George W. Bush Can Improve His Approval Rating
10. Fewer embarrassing gaffes, more humiliating blunders
9. Replace "Hail To The Chief" with Black Sabbath's "Iron Man"
8. Send FEMA to rebuild Knicks
7. Change name to Barack W. Obusha
6. Show America you're not some stiff workaholic by blowing off work sometimes
5. Jump Snake River in rocket-powered "Sky-Cycle"
4. Become trapped in an elevator until January 20, 2009
4. Become trapped in an elevator until January 20
3. Less of this (VT: Bush dancing in New Orleans)
2. Ask father for tips on how he achieved his 31% approval rating
1. Hide Cheney's medication
David Letterman
It was so nice out today that the Pope is coming back.
It was so nice, Donald Trump opened the sunroof to his hair.
It was so nice, Hillary Clinton wore her pantsuit without the pants.
It was so nice that Amy Winehouse gave that thing on her head a flea dip.
Conan O'Brien
Big won for Hillary Clinton last night. In her victory speech last night, she repeatedly used the words, "fight," "fighter," "fighting." Then she said, “Enough about my marriage.”
No one says anything about John McCain anymore. I guess he won his side of the thing, and now he’s just wandering around.
He’s trying to get press, so this week, he went on a tour of areas that he called “forgotten places.” Which at his age, is just about everywhere.
Yesterday was Earth Day. Politicians all across America did something to mark Earth Day. For instance, President Bush was photographed with a shovel, and former President Clinton was photographed with a hoe.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
I am still hung over from Earth Day. I ate way too much earth.
I learned a lot from the primary yesterday. For instance, Pa. Stands for Pennsylvania.
The Clinton camp still faces some serious money problems. If only Hillary knew a wealthy former president who made $30 million on his autobiography.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Bill Clinton Denies Race Card Comment
Former president Bill Clinton was embroiled Tuesday in a new campaign flap after accusing his wife's White House rival Barack Obama of playing "the race card on me."
A day after making the race card remark in a radio interview, in a discussion about January's bruising South Carolina primary, Clinton told reporters in Pittsburgh: "No, no, no. That's not what I said.
"You always follow me around and play these little games, and I'm not going to play your games today. This is a day about election day," he said, as Pennsylvania Democrats decided between Obama and Hillary Clinton.
"You have mischaracterized it to get another cheap story to divert the American people from the real urgent issues before us, and I choose not to play your game today. Have a nice day," the former president added.
Interviewed Monday by a Philadelphia radio station, Clinton was asked whether it was a mistake by him in January to liken Obama's candidacy to the African-American Jesse Jackson's in 1988.
"No. I think that they (the Obama campaign) played the race card on me. And we now know, from memos from the campaign and everything, that they planned to do it all along," Clinton had told the WHYY station.
After the interview was over but with the microphone still on, Clinton was heard to growl: "I don't think I should take any s(expletive) from anybody on that, do you?"
Clinton's South Carolina remark alienated several top black Democrats, who saw an attempt by the former president to belittle the mixed-race Obama and portray his White House bid as fueled only by African-American support.
Asked about Clinton's latest intervention Tuesday while campaigning in Pittsburgh, Obama said he had "no idea" what the former president was talking about.
"Was there a plan to get him to say that my campaign was like Jesse Jackson's? I don't know what he was referring to, unfortunately," the Illinois senator told reporters.
"So former president Clinton dismissed my victory in South Carolina as being similar to Jesse Jackson and he is suggesting that somehow I had something to do with it? OK, well you better ask him what he meant by that," he said.
Clinton adopted a much lower profile on his wife's campaign trail after the South Carolina primary, which Obama won in a landslide.
But the former president has periodically waded into controversy, most recently being admonished by Hillary Clinton for reviving her exaggerated claim that she endured sniper fire during a 1996 trip to Bosnia.
Former president Bill Clinton was embroiled Tuesday in a new campaign flap after accusing his wife's White House rival Barack Obama of playing "the race card on me."
A day after making the race card remark in a radio interview, in a discussion about January's bruising South Carolina primary, Clinton told reporters in Pittsburgh: "No, no, no. That's not what I said.
"You always follow me around and play these little games, and I'm not going to play your games today. This is a day about election day," he said, as Pennsylvania Democrats decided between Obama and Hillary Clinton.
"You have mischaracterized it to get another cheap story to divert the American people from the real urgent issues before us, and I choose not to play your game today. Have a nice day," the former president added.
Interviewed Monday by a Philadelphia radio station, Clinton was asked whether it was a mistake by him in January to liken Obama's candidacy to the African-American Jesse Jackson's in 1988.
"No. I think that they (the Obama campaign) played the race card on me. And we now know, from memos from the campaign and everything, that they planned to do it all along," Clinton had told the WHYY station.
After the interview was over but with the microphone still on, Clinton was heard to growl: "I don't think I should take any s(expletive) from anybody on that, do you?"
Clinton's South Carolina remark alienated several top black Democrats, who saw an attempt by the former president to belittle the mixed-race Obama and portray his White House bid as fueled only by African-American support.
Asked about Clinton's latest intervention Tuesday while campaigning in Pittsburgh, Obama said he had "no idea" what the former president was talking about.
"Was there a plan to get him to say that my campaign was like Jesse Jackson's? I don't know what he was referring to, unfortunately," the Illinois senator told reporters.
"So former president Clinton dismissed my victory in South Carolina as being similar to Jesse Jackson and he is suggesting that somehow I had something to do with it? OK, well you better ask him what he meant by that," he said.
Clinton adopted a much lower profile on his wife's campaign trail after the South Carolina primary, which Obama won in a landslide.
But the former president has periodically waded into controversy, most recently being admonished by Hillary Clinton for reviving her exaggerated claim that she endured sniper fire during a 1996 trip to Bosnia.
Late Nite Jokes
Jay Leno
What is going on in the world? Oil hit an all-time high of $117 a barrel, global warming is at its worst in history, smog is choking the people in china. Happy Earth Day everybody!
In Pennsylvania, Hillary and Obama celebrated Earth Day by throwing dirt at each other.
Everyone is doing their part. In New York City Eliot Spitzer asked two hookers if they’d carpool to his hotel.
This week, President Bush named a new HUD chief. Bush says he wants to reverse the direction of HUD. Now if you reverse HUD, doesn't that give you "duh?"
David Letterman
Nice day here in New York City. So nice, I let all of my wives out of the compound.
Pennsylvania primary today. Here’s the problem with the primaries: The Democrats are spending too much time attacking one another, and not enough time trying to rig the election.
Hillary is trying to convince people she is a hunter. So she showed up wearing a beaver-pelt pantsuit.
She trying to convince voters in Pennsylvania that she is pro-gun. C’mon, if she were really pro-gun, Bill would be dead.
Conan O'Brien
This morning, Hillary Clinton said that she will stay in the presidential race even if she loses the Pennsylvania primary. She also said she will stay in the race even if she loses the nomination and November’s election.
The other day, Chelsea Clinton tried to help her mother attract the gay vote in Pennsylvania by visiting several lesbian bars. Bill Clinton visited several lesbian bars too, but he wasn’t campaigning.
Political experts say that Barack Obama is attracting mostly younger voters while Hillary Clinton is attracting much older voters. They may be right because today John McCain said he's voting for Hillary.
Diane Sawyer is being criticized because a prostitute that she was interviewing for her program in disguise was recognized by her mother. The prostitute was also recognized by Charlie Sheen.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The Pennsylvania Democratic primary is over. It all came down to the Amish vote.
Hillary won. They say that in order for her to stay in the race, she had to win and win big. And she did. The numbers are still coming in, but at last count she led Barack Obama 54 percent to 46 percent. Which, I guess, is big. But she still has almost no chance of winning the nomination. I don’t know anything. This is just what I hear on television.
The candidates have been on pretty much every TV show. Even Tyra Banks became an important stop. Last night it got as weird as it could get short of all three candidates showing up on Maury for DNA tests.
All three candidates showed up on Raw. WWE. That’s the wrestling show. I’m not kidding. Each made a ridiculous wrestling-themed statement. McCain said, “Whatcha gonna do when McCainiacs run wild on you?” I don’t know . . . organize a bingo game?
Jay Leno
What is going on in the world? Oil hit an all-time high of $117 a barrel, global warming is at its worst in history, smog is choking the people in china. Happy Earth Day everybody!
In Pennsylvania, Hillary and Obama celebrated Earth Day by throwing dirt at each other.
Everyone is doing their part. In New York City Eliot Spitzer asked two hookers if they’d carpool to his hotel.
This week, President Bush named a new HUD chief. Bush says he wants to reverse the direction of HUD. Now if you reverse HUD, doesn't that give you "duh?"
David Letterman
Nice day here in New York City. So nice, I let all of my wives out of the compound.
Pennsylvania primary today. Here’s the problem with the primaries: The Democrats are spending too much time attacking one another, and not enough time trying to rig the election.
Hillary is trying to convince people she is a hunter. So she showed up wearing a beaver-pelt pantsuit.
She trying to convince voters in Pennsylvania that she is pro-gun. C’mon, if she were really pro-gun, Bill would be dead.
Conan O'Brien
This morning, Hillary Clinton said that she will stay in the presidential race even if she loses the Pennsylvania primary. She also said she will stay in the race even if she loses the nomination and November’s election.
The other day, Chelsea Clinton tried to help her mother attract the gay vote in Pennsylvania by visiting several lesbian bars. Bill Clinton visited several lesbian bars too, but he wasn’t campaigning.
Political experts say that Barack Obama is attracting mostly younger voters while Hillary Clinton is attracting much older voters. They may be right because today John McCain said he's voting for Hillary.
Diane Sawyer is being criticized because a prostitute that she was interviewing for her program in disguise was recognized by her mother. The prostitute was also recognized by Charlie Sheen.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The Pennsylvania Democratic primary is over. It all came down to the Amish vote.
Hillary won. They say that in order for her to stay in the race, she had to win and win big. And she did. The numbers are still coming in, but at last count she led Barack Obama 54 percent to 46 percent. Which, I guess, is big. But she still has almost no chance of winning the nomination. I don’t know anything. This is just what I hear on television.
The candidates have been on pretty much every TV show. Even Tyra Banks became an important stop. Last night it got as weird as it could get short of all three candidates showing up on Maury for DNA tests.
All three candidates showed up on Raw. WWE. That’s the wrestling show. I’m not kidding. Each made a ridiculous wrestling-themed statement. McCain said, “Whatcha gonna do when McCainiacs run wild on you?” I don’t know . . . organize a bingo game?
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Delegate Results Could Be Delayed in Pennsylvania
WASHINGTON -- The wait is almost over for Pennsylvania's Democratic presidential primary Tuesday, but voters may have to wait a little longer to find out who won the most delegates to the party's national convention.
As in other Democratic contests, Pennsylvania awards delegates based on the statewide vote and the vote in individual congressional districts.
Unlike most states, Pennsylvania has a large number of counties split into multiple congressional districts. That could delay results by a day or more as election officials work to assign votes to the appropriate districts.
Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton are vying for 158 delegates.
Fifty-five will be awarded based on the statewide vote, which should be available Tuesday night. Another 103 delegates will be awarded based on the vote in individual congressional districts. All delegates will be awarded proportionally, as they are in every Democratic contest.
The distribution of delegates among congressional districts raises the possibility that one candidate could win the statewide vote and the other could win more delegates, but the statewide vote would have to be very close.
The delegates are weighted heavily toward urban and suburban areas because Pennsylvania, like other states, apportions congressional district delegates based on Democratic voting strength in the most recent presidential and gubernatorial elections.
Under the formula, the 2nd Congressional District, which includes part of Philadelphia, has nine delegates at stake, more than any other district. The 9th Congressional District in the south central part of the state has the fewest, with three delegates at stake.
Other urban and suburban districts near Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have seven delegates at stake, while more rural districts have four or five delegates.
WASHINGTON -- The wait is almost over for Pennsylvania's Democratic presidential primary Tuesday, but voters may have to wait a little longer to find out who won the most delegates to the party's national convention.
As in other Democratic contests, Pennsylvania awards delegates based on the statewide vote and the vote in individual congressional districts.
Unlike most states, Pennsylvania has a large number of counties split into multiple congressional districts. That could delay results by a day or more as election officials work to assign votes to the appropriate districts.
Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton are vying for 158 delegates.
Fifty-five will be awarded based on the statewide vote, which should be available Tuesday night. Another 103 delegates will be awarded based on the vote in individual congressional districts. All delegates will be awarded proportionally, as they are in every Democratic contest.
The distribution of delegates among congressional districts raises the possibility that one candidate could win the statewide vote and the other could win more delegates, but the statewide vote would have to be very close.
The delegates are weighted heavily toward urban and suburban areas because Pennsylvania, like other states, apportions congressional district delegates based on Democratic voting strength in the most recent presidential and gubernatorial elections.
Under the formula, the 2nd Congressional District, which includes part of Philadelphia, has nine delegates at stake, more than any other district. The 9th Congressional District in the south central part of the state has the fewest, with three delegates at stake.
Other urban and suburban districts near Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have seven delegates at stake, while more rural districts have four or five delegates.
Late Nite Jokes
Jay Leno
Today Barack Obama accused the Pope of clinging to religion. He said the guys just clings to religion.
Hillary Clinton still attacking Barack Obama. She said that Barack seemed to be complaining about being asked so many questions. She said, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” Don’t confuse that with what she said about Bill Clinton: “When he’s in heat, stay out of the Oval Office.”
According to some of the political blogs, Democratic operatives have been looking for dirt on John McCain since February. You know what you call someone who digs up dirt on John McCain? An archaeologist.
Earlier this evening, President Bush made an appearance on the TV show “Deal or No Deal.” I guess he got turned down for “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader.”
Late Show Top Ten
Top Ten Signs President Bush Has Too Much Time On His Hands
10. Spends most of the day looking for friends on Facebook
9. Stops by Cheney's office every five minutes to see if he's still alive
8. Calls leaders of foreign countries yelling, "Baba Booey Baba Booey"
7. Sits on the White House lawn and waves at cars
6. The man is a walking encyclopedia on "The Hills"
5. Gives the 3pm White House tour
4. Earlier today, he washed and waxed Air Force One
3. Doing a three-episode stint as a sexy assistant on "How I Met Your Mother"
2. "President is on the Trampoline" isn't Secret Service code, he's actually on the trampoline
1. Finally catching up on unread intelligence memos
David Letterman
Is everyone excited about the presidential race? And the election is still three years away.
Today, Hillary Clinton got the support of the wives of the polygamy sect.
Tomorrow is the primary, and Hillary is trying to appeal to the working class. Today, she was campaigning in her blue-collar pantsuit.
Everyone’s still talking about the Pope’s visit to Yankee Stadium. After the mass, the Yankees retired Roman numeral XVI.
Conan O'Brien
This weekend, Chelsea Clinton tried to help her mother attract the gay vote in Pennsylvania by visiting several lesbian bars. When asked to comment afterwards, Chelsea said, “I’ve never seen so many women with my mom’s haircut.”
Earlier tonight, President Bush made a special taped appearance on the game show “Deal or No Deal.” Afterwards Bush said, “I like this show because randomly pointing at boxes is how I make decisions, too.”
Pope Benedict finished off his visit to America yesterday with a mass at Yankee Stadium. After the mass ended, the Pope was traded to Cleveland for two outfielders and a designated hitter.
Paris Hilton has signed up to star in a new TV show about taking care of your pets. In the first episode, Paris shows her dog the proper way to hump someone’s leg.
Craig Ferguson
It’s not a great day for New Jersey. What’s their motto? “What’s That Smell”?
Their ex-governor and his wife were having three-way sex with their male driver. This news comes right after New York’s governor resigned from the hooker scandal! I think New Jersey said, “You think that’s dirty? Look at this!”
“Dancing With the Stars” is back. Women love men who dance well. They think that men who are passionate and thrilling dancers will be passionate and thrilling in bed. And it’s true! Men who are passionate and thrilling dancers will be passionate and thrilling in bed . . . with other men!
Jay Leno
Today Barack Obama accused the Pope of clinging to religion. He said the guys just clings to religion.
Hillary Clinton still attacking Barack Obama. She said that Barack seemed to be complaining about being asked so many questions. She said, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” Don’t confuse that with what she said about Bill Clinton: “When he’s in heat, stay out of the Oval Office.”
According to some of the political blogs, Democratic operatives have been looking for dirt on John McCain since February. You know what you call someone who digs up dirt on John McCain? An archaeologist.
Earlier this evening, President Bush made an appearance on the TV show “Deal or No Deal.” I guess he got turned down for “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader.”
Late Show Top Ten
Top Ten Signs President Bush Has Too Much Time On His Hands
10. Spends most of the day looking for friends on Facebook
9. Stops by Cheney's office every five minutes to see if he's still alive
8. Calls leaders of foreign countries yelling, "Baba Booey Baba Booey"
7. Sits on the White House lawn and waves at cars
6. The man is a walking encyclopedia on "The Hills"
5. Gives the 3pm White House tour
4. Earlier today, he washed and waxed Air Force One
3. Doing a three-episode stint as a sexy assistant on "How I Met Your Mother"
2. "President is on the Trampoline" isn't Secret Service code, he's actually on the trampoline
1. Finally catching up on unread intelligence memos
David Letterman
Is everyone excited about the presidential race? And the election is still three years away.
Today, Hillary Clinton got the support of the wives of the polygamy sect.
Tomorrow is the primary, and Hillary is trying to appeal to the working class. Today, she was campaigning in her blue-collar pantsuit.
Everyone’s still talking about the Pope’s visit to Yankee Stadium. After the mass, the Yankees retired Roman numeral XVI.
Conan O'Brien
This weekend, Chelsea Clinton tried to help her mother attract the gay vote in Pennsylvania by visiting several lesbian bars. When asked to comment afterwards, Chelsea said, “I’ve never seen so many women with my mom’s haircut.”
Earlier tonight, President Bush made a special taped appearance on the game show “Deal or No Deal.” Afterwards Bush said, “I like this show because randomly pointing at boxes is how I make decisions, too.”
Pope Benedict finished off his visit to America yesterday with a mass at Yankee Stadium. After the mass ended, the Pope was traded to Cleveland for two outfielders and a designated hitter.
Paris Hilton has signed up to star in a new TV show about taking care of your pets. In the first episode, Paris shows her dog the proper way to hump someone’s leg.
Craig Ferguson
It’s not a great day for New Jersey. What’s their motto? “What’s That Smell”?
Their ex-governor and his wife were having three-way sex with their male driver. This news comes right after New York’s governor resigned from the hooker scandal! I think New Jersey said, “You think that’s dirty? Look at this!”
“Dancing With the Stars” is back. Women love men who dance well. They think that men who are passionate and thrilling dancers will be passionate and thrilling in bed. And it’s true! Men who are passionate and thrilling dancers will be passionate and thrilling in bed . . . with other men!
Monday, April 21, 2008
Cutting Taxes More Important Than Balanced Budget
WASHINGTON -- Republican John McCain said Sunday that cutting taxes and stimulating the economy are more important than balancing the budget, and accused both Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama of supporting tax hikes that would worsen the impact of a recession.
"The goal right now is to get the economy going again," the GOP presidential nominee-in-waiting said on ABC's "This Week."
McCain conceded it was probably a mistake to seek and accept the endorsement of televangelist John Hagee, who has referred to the Roman Catholic Church as "the great whore" and called it a "false cult system."
The Arizona senator said he had condemned Hagee's remarks about Catholics, and said it was different than the way Obama has responded to questions about his own relationship with William Ayers, a 1960s-era radical who in an interview published on Sept. 11, 2001, said he didn't regret bombing government buildings.
"How can you countenance someone who was engaged in bombings which could have or did kill innocent people?" McCain asked, calling Ayers an "unrepentant terrorist."
Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton, in response, said McCain had "stooped to the same smear politics and low road that he denounced in 2000" by commenting on Ayers.
McCain appeared on the talk show as the Democratic National Committee announced it would begin running an ad Tuesday on national cable networks tweaking McCain on the economy. The ad, released to reporters Sunday, shows McCain saying the country overall is "better off" than it was eight years ago, and ends by asking viewers, "Do you feel better off?"
The Republican National Committee said the ad is misleading.
Responding Sunday, McCain brushed off Democratic assertions that he is out of touch on the economy and reiterated a pledge to cut taxes even if it means running up deficits. Turning the tables on Clinton and Obama, he said they are the misguided ones for proposing tax increases during a recession.
Both Clinton and Obama support higher taxes for people earning more than $200,000 a year. Obama also has said he wants a capital gains tax higher than the current 15 percent.
"They are out of touch when they want to raise taxes at the worst possible time when we're in a recession," said McCain, who has been under constant criticism from Democrats for saying the economy isn't his best subject.
McCain said he has a solid economic plan, centered on extending Bush administration tax cuts he once opposed. Clinton and Obama would reverse those tax cuts.
Blaming federal spending for the economic troubles, McCain pledged to "scrub every agency of government" of wasteful expenditures and close loopholes.
"Is there any American who doesn't believe hundreds of billions of dollars can be saved?" he said. "Americans know that. That's why they're fed up."
McCain also said he would not hold off on tax cuts if Congress didn't approve his spending cuts and declined to make a pledge to balance the budget by the end of his first term in office. "When economies are rough, then you've got to reduce the tax burden on people," McCain said.
WASHINGTON -- Republican John McCain said Sunday that cutting taxes and stimulating the economy are more important than balancing the budget, and accused both Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama of supporting tax hikes that would worsen the impact of a recession.
"The goal right now is to get the economy going again," the GOP presidential nominee-in-waiting said on ABC's "This Week."
McCain conceded it was probably a mistake to seek and accept the endorsement of televangelist John Hagee, who has referred to the Roman Catholic Church as "the great whore" and called it a "false cult system."
The Arizona senator said he had condemned Hagee's remarks about Catholics, and said it was different than the way Obama has responded to questions about his own relationship with William Ayers, a 1960s-era radical who in an interview published on Sept. 11, 2001, said he didn't regret bombing government buildings.
"How can you countenance someone who was engaged in bombings which could have or did kill innocent people?" McCain asked, calling Ayers an "unrepentant terrorist."
Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton, in response, said McCain had "stooped to the same smear politics and low road that he denounced in 2000" by commenting on Ayers.
McCain appeared on the talk show as the Democratic National Committee announced it would begin running an ad Tuesday on national cable networks tweaking McCain on the economy. The ad, released to reporters Sunday, shows McCain saying the country overall is "better off" than it was eight years ago, and ends by asking viewers, "Do you feel better off?"
The Republican National Committee said the ad is misleading.
Responding Sunday, McCain brushed off Democratic assertions that he is out of touch on the economy and reiterated a pledge to cut taxes even if it means running up deficits. Turning the tables on Clinton and Obama, he said they are the misguided ones for proposing tax increases during a recession.
Both Clinton and Obama support higher taxes for people earning more than $200,000 a year. Obama also has said he wants a capital gains tax higher than the current 15 percent.
"They are out of touch when they want to raise taxes at the worst possible time when we're in a recession," said McCain, who has been under constant criticism from Democrats for saying the economy isn't his best subject.
McCain said he has a solid economic plan, centered on extending Bush administration tax cuts he once opposed. Clinton and Obama would reverse those tax cuts.
Blaming federal spending for the economic troubles, McCain pledged to "scrub every agency of government" of wasteful expenditures and close loopholes.
"Is there any American who doesn't believe hundreds of billions of dollars can be saved?" he said. "Americans know that. That's why they're fed up."
McCain also said he would not hold off on tax cuts if Congress didn't approve his spending cuts and declined to make a pledge to balance the budget by the end of his first term in office. "When economies are rough, then you've got to reduce the tax burden on people," McCain said.
Labels: M
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Obama’s Swift Boat
Barack Obama’s association with the Woods Charitable Fund of Chicago could turn out to be the “swift boat” of his presidential campaign, according to a new report in the Wall Street Journal.
One of the Woods Fund’s directors is William Ayers, and Obama’s tenure as a director there overlapped with Ayers’ for three years ending in 2001.
In the 1970s, Ayers was a member of the Weather Underground, a group that called for acts of anarchy as a way to end the Vietnam War.
He was accused of taking part in a bomb-making effort that went awry and blew up a Manhattan townhouse, killing three group members.
Ayers and his wife, Weather Underground member Bernardine Dohrn, went underground, and Ayers lived in Chicago under an assumed name for about a decade before turning himself in to authorities in 1981.
Hillary Clinton made Ayers a topic of discussion at Wednesday’s Democratic debate, saying: “Sen. Obama served on a board with Mr. Ayers for a period of time,” and Ayers “set bombs. And in some instances, people died. So it is … an issue that people will be talking about.
Clinton “is almost certainly right,” the Journal observed, noting that there are already numerous references to Obama and Ayres on the Internet, and Fox Channel host Sean Hannity has devoted several shows recently to the subject.
The Woods Fund was set up in the 1950s and had an endowment valued at $72 million in 2006. Most of its outlays are for neighborhood development or education initiatives in the Chicago area, according to the Journal.
After turning himself in, Ayers was let off on a legal technicality, returned to college to earn a doctorate, and is now a professor at the University of Illinois.
But he said in a New York Times interview in 2001: “I don’t regret setting bombs. I feel we didn’t do enough.”
Obama tried to deflect the looming “swift boat” attacks by calling Ayers’ actions “detestable” and pointing out that they occurred 40 years ago “when I was 8 years old.”
The Swift Boat Veterans for Truth was a group of Vietnam War veterans formed during the 2004 presidential campaign to oppose John Kerry’s presidential candidacy, claiming he had distorted facts about his conduct as a swift boat officer during the war.
“Swiftboating" has become a common expression for a campaign attacking opponents by questioning their credibility and patriotism.
Barack Obama’s association with the Woods Charitable Fund of Chicago could turn out to be the “swift boat” of his presidential campaign, according to a new report in the Wall Street Journal.
One of the Woods Fund’s directors is William Ayers, and Obama’s tenure as a director there overlapped with Ayers’ for three years ending in 2001.
In the 1970s, Ayers was a member of the Weather Underground, a group that called for acts of anarchy as a way to end the Vietnam War.
He was accused of taking part in a bomb-making effort that went awry and blew up a Manhattan townhouse, killing three group members.
Ayers and his wife, Weather Underground member Bernardine Dohrn, went underground, and Ayers lived in Chicago under an assumed name for about a decade before turning himself in to authorities in 1981.
Hillary Clinton made Ayers a topic of discussion at Wednesday’s Democratic debate, saying: “Sen. Obama served on a board with Mr. Ayers for a period of time,” and Ayers “set bombs. And in some instances, people died. So it is … an issue that people will be talking about.
Clinton “is almost certainly right,” the Journal observed, noting that there are already numerous references to Obama and Ayres on the Internet, and Fox Channel host Sean Hannity has devoted several shows recently to the subject.
The Woods Fund was set up in the 1950s and had an endowment valued at $72 million in 2006. Most of its outlays are for neighborhood development or education initiatives in the Chicago area, according to the Journal.
After turning himself in, Ayers was let off on a legal technicality, returned to college to earn a doctorate, and is now a professor at the University of Illinois.
But he said in a New York Times interview in 2001: “I don’t regret setting bombs. I feel we didn’t do enough.”
Obama tried to deflect the looming “swift boat” attacks by calling Ayers’ actions “detestable” and pointing out that they occurred 40 years ago “when I was 8 years old.”
The Swift Boat Veterans for Truth was a group of Vietnam War veterans formed during the 2004 presidential campaign to oppose John Kerry’s presidential candidacy, claiming he had distorted facts about his conduct as a swift boat officer during the war.
“Swiftboating" has become a common expression for a campaign attacking opponents by questioning their credibility and patriotism.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Obama Caught in Lapel Flag Lie
Hillary Clinton got caught in a lie when she said she had dodged sniper fire during a 1996 visit to Bosnia. Now her Democratic presidential rival Barack Obama has been caught in a “sniper fire” lie of his own.
During Thursday’s debate in Pennsylvania, Obama was asked why he doesn’t wear an American flag lapel pin, as do many other politicians as well as servicemen and law enforcement officials.
“I have never said that I don’t wear flag pins or refuse to wear flag pins,” he responded.
“That is the kind of manufactured issue that our politics has become obsessed with.”
But Obama did indeed declare that he does not wear flag pins, Andrew Malcolm of the Los Angeles Times noted.
During a campaign stop in Iowa last October, a reporter asked Obama why he wasn’t wearing a flag pin to express solidarity with 9/11 victims.
This is what Obama said back then: “You know, the truth is that right after 9/11, I had a pin. Shortly after 9/11, particularly because as we’re talking about the Iraq war, that became a substitute for, I think, true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of important to our national security. I decided I won’t wear that pin on my chest.”
Hillary Clinton got caught in a lie when she said she had dodged sniper fire during a 1996 visit to Bosnia. Now her Democratic presidential rival Barack Obama has been caught in a “sniper fire” lie of his own.
During Thursday’s debate in Pennsylvania, Obama was asked why he doesn’t wear an American flag lapel pin, as do many other politicians as well as servicemen and law enforcement officials.
“I have never said that I don’t wear flag pins or refuse to wear flag pins,” he responded.
“That is the kind of manufactured issue that our politics has become obsessed with.”
But Obama did indeed declare that he does not wear flag pins, Andrew Malcolm of the Los Angeles Times noted.
During a campaign stop in Iowa last October, a reporter asked Obama why he wasn’t wearing a flag pin to express solidarity with 9/11 victims.
This is what Obama said back then: “You know, the truth is that right after 9/11, I had a pin. Shortly after 9/11, particularly because as we’re talking about the Iraq war, that became a substitute for, I think, true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of important to our national security. I decided I won’t wear that pin on my chest.”
Friday, April 18, 2008
Hillary Short On Time and Delegates
Time is running out on Hillary Rodham Clinton, the long-ago front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination who now trails Barack Obama in delegates, states won and popular votes.
Compounding Clinton's woes, Obama appears on track to finish the primary campaign fewer than 100 delegates shy of the 2,025 needed to win.
Clinton argues to Democratic officialdom that other factors should count, an unprovable assertion that she's more electable chief among them. But she undercut her own claim in Wednesday night's debate, answering "yes, yes, yes" when asked whether her rival could win the White House.
There's little if any public evidence the party's elite, the superdelegates who will attend the convention, are buying her argument anyway.
In the days since the surfacing of Obama's worst gaffe of the campaign — an observation that small town Americans are bitter folk who cling to religion and guns out of frustration — he has gained six convention superdelegates, to four for Clinton.
"I investigated and studied the context of the whole speech," said one of the six, Reggie Whitten of Oklahoma, who told Obama on Tuesday he would support him. "I think the comment was to some extent taken out of context and blown up, but I can tell you I think people in small towns have a lot of reason to be bitter," added Whitten, who grew up in Seminole, a town of 6,700.
Clinton leads in Pennsylvania polls in advance of Tuesday's primary there, with 158 convention delegates at stake. A victory is essential to her chances of winning the nomination, but far from sufficient. Instead, a triumph of any magnitude would instantly establish Indiana on May 6 as her next must-win state, particularly since her aides have privately signaled that defeat is likely in North Carolina on the same day.
Overall, Obama's delegate lead is 1,645-1,507. That masks an even larger advantage among those won in primaries and caucuses. There, his advantage is 1,414-1,250.
An additional 566 are at stake in the remaining contests in eight states, Guam and Puerto Rico before the primary season ends on June 3.
If Obama captures 53 percent of them, which is the share he has gained in contests to date, he would close out the primary season with at least 1,945 delegates, only 80 less than the total needed to clinch the nomination. If he and Clinton split the 566 evenly, he would still be within 100 of the number needed.
Clinton needs to win a forbidding 65 percent of the delegates in the remaining primaries to draw even with Obama in pledged delegates. It's a share she has achieved only once so far, in Arkansas, where her husband was governor for more than a decade.
Given the unyielding delegate math, Clinton has relied for weeks on forbearance from party leaders to sustain her challenge. And they are growing restless, eager for the epic nomination battle to end so Democrats can unify for the fall campaign against John McCain and the Republicans.
In fact, it's unlikely any other candidate could have survived as long without coming under overwhelming pressure to withdraw.
"There aren't many figures in American politics who could sustain 11 straight losses and hang into a race and raise $35 million," Obama said at The Associated Press annual meeting recently. "So in that sense she's unique, and the fact that former President Clinton is there, too, and the structure that he has of loyalty all across the country and the brand name that they have makes it very tough."
If he was bitter about it, he didn't show it.
Still, there are limits to how long party leaders will wait, given polls that show McCain has pulled even in the race for the White House.
New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, a Clinton supporter, said Friday she needs a big win in Pennsylvania, and a loss would be a "door closer."
Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank, also a Clinton supporter, said recently that the candidate who trails in delegates after June 3 should quit the race. "Probably before that, once it becomes clear that one or the other is clearly — there's no realistic chance," he told the AP in an interview.
Frank's remarks were merely more pointed than when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said a few weeks ago that he hoped the race would be over by the end of June. Or when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she thought it would be a disservice to the party for the superdelegates to overturn the verdict of the primary voters.
Congressional leaders have their own reasons for wanting an end to the nominating campaign.
They are playing a different numbers game.
Obama and Clinton are focused on 2,025, the magic number of delegates.
But 218 is the number that matters most to Pelosi, the number of seats needed to assure a continued Democratic majority in the Congress that convenes in January. Reid has visions of 60, the probably unattainable number of seats that would allow a unified Democratic majority to break any Republican-led filibuster.
For now, they and other party officials have granted Clinton a little more time to make her case, and she takes every opportunity.
Eager to capitalize on Obama's comments about small town Americans, she announced the support last Tuesday of Bill Kennedy, a commissioner in Montana's sparsely populated Yellowstone County.
Unflustered, Obama countered 24 hours later with an announcement that 25 of the 35 Democratic members of the Legislature in predominantly rural South Dakota were for him.
"I know he's a Christian. I'm a Christian," said one of them, Dale Hargens, the state House leader. He resides in Miller, S.D., population 1,650.
Time is running out on Hillary Rodham Clinton, the long-ago front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination who now trails Barack Obama in delegates, states won and popular votes.
Compounding Clinton's woes, Obama appears on track to finish the primary campaign fewer than 100 delegates shy of the 2,025 needed to win.
Clinton argues to Democratic officialdom that other factors should count, an unprovable assertion that she's more electable chief among them. But she undercut her own claim in Wednesday night's debate, answering "yes, yes, yes" when asked whether her rival could win the White House.
There's little if any public evidence the party's elite, the superdelegates who will attend the convention, are buying her argument anyway.
In the days since the surfacing of Obama's worst gaffe of the campaign — an observation that small town Americans are bitter folk who cling to religion and guns out of frustration — he has gained six convention superdelegates, to four for Clinton.
"I investigated and studied the context of the whole speech," said one of the six, Reggie Whitten of Oklahoma, who told Obama on Tuesday he would support him. "I think the comment was to some extent taken out of context and blown up, but I can tell you I think people in small towns have a lot of reason to be bitter," added Whitten, who grew up in Seminole, a town of 6,700.
Clinton leads in Pennsylvania polls in advance of Tuesday's primary there, with 158 convention delegates at stake. A victory is essential to her chances of winning the nomination, but far from sufficient. Instead, a triumph of any magnitude would instantly establish Indiana on May 6 as her next must-win state, particularly since her aides have privately signaled that defeat is likely in North Carolina on the same day.
Overall, Obama's delegate lead is 1,645-1,507. That masks an even larger advantage among those won in primaries and caucuses. There, his advantage is 1,414-1,250.
An additional 566 are at stake in the remaining contests in eight states, Guam and Puerto Rico before the primary season ends on June 3.
If Obama captures 53 percent of them, which is the share he has gained in contests to date, he would close out the primary season with at least 1,945 delegates, only 80 less than the total needed to clinch the nomination. If he and Clinton split the 566 evenly, he would still be within 100 of the number needed.
Clinton needs to win a forbidding 65 percent of the delegates in the remaining primaries to draw even with Obama in pledged delegates. It's a share she has achieved only once so far, in Arkansas, where her husband was governor for more than a decade.
Given the unyielding delegate math, Clinton has relied for weeks on forbearance from party leaders to sustain her challenge. And they are growing restless, eager for the epic nomination battle to end so Democrats can unify for the fall campaign against John McCain and the Republicans.
In fact, it's unlikely any other candidate could have survived as long without coming under overwhelming pressure to withdraw.
"There aren't many figures in American politics who could sustain 11 straight losses and hang into a race and raise $35 million," Obama said at The Associated Press annual meeting recently. "So in that sense she's unique, and the fact that former President Clinton is there, too, and the structure that he has of loyalty all across the country and the brand name that they have makes it very tough."
If he was bitter about it, he didn't show it.
Still, there are limits to how long party leaders will wait, given polls that show McCain has pulled even in the race for the White House.
New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, a Clinton supporter, said Friday she needs a big win in Pennsylvania, and a loss would be a "door closer."
Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank, also a Clinton supporter, said recently that the candidate who trails in delegates after June 3 should quit the race. "Probably before that, once it becomes clear that one or the other is clearly — there's no realistic chance," he told the AP in an interview.
Frank's remarks were merely more pointed than when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said a few weeks ago that he hoped the race would be over by the end of June. Or when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she thought it would be a disservice to the party for the superdelegates to overturn the verdict of the primary voters.
Congressional leaders have their own reasons for wanting an end to the nominating campaign.
They are playing a different numbers game.
Obama and Clinton are focused on 2,025, the magic number of delegates.
But 218 is the number that matters most to Pelosi, the number of seats needed to assure a continued Democratic majority in the Congress that convenes in January. Reid has visions of 60, the probably unattainable number of seats that would allow a unified Democratic majority to break any Republican-led filibuster.
For now, they and other party officials have granted Clinton a little more time to make her case, and she takes every opportunity.
Eager to capitalize on Obama's comments about small town Americans, she announced the support last Tuesday of Bill Kennedy, a commissioner in Montana's sparsely populated Yellowstone County.
Unflustered, Obama countered 24 hours later with an announcement that 25 of the 35 Democratic members of the Legislature in predominantly rural South Dakota were for him.
"I know he's a Christian. I'm a Christian," said one of them, Dale Hargens, the state House leader. He resides in Miller, S.D., population 1,650.
Labels: C
Late Nite Jokes
Jay Leno
I watched the debate between Hillary and Barack last night. As you know Hillary is trying to appeal to the blue-collar voters. She's drinking; she's talking about hunting and fishing. And it's working. In the latest poll she's up eight points in the "mullet vote."
President Bush announced his plan this week to limit greenhouse gases — he said he will ban all greenhouses.
Yesterday of course was Pope Benedict's birthday. Happy birthday to him. They had a little party for him at the White House. As you know the Pope does not drink; he does not do drugs; and he has taken a vow of celibacy. So, it's pretty safe to say no congressmen showed up for that party.
At the party, Pope Benedict spoke out against evil. And then Dick Cheney gave the rebuttal.
David Letterman
Beautiful sunny day. Down in Washington, it was so sunny, the Pope was wearing his stained glass sunglasses.
These trips can be kind of tricky; often there can be some confusion and embarrassment. The Pope, after the mass, accidentally gave the last rites to John McCain.
The Pope said the mass and then took off in the Popemobile, and President Bush followed him in the dopemobile.
The Pope and President Bush met privately at the White House, and they prayed together. And I believe it was the first time anyone had been on their knees in the Oval Office since . . . well . . .
Craig Ferguson
Edward Laurens, the father of the chaos theory, died today. His services will be held someplace completely random.
There’s a woman on YouTube talking about her divorce. She signed a prenup, married a Broadway producer, got divorced and now she’s unhappy with the settlement. When I heard this I was shocked. A Broadway producer marrying a woman?!?
I don’t know much about prenups . . unfortunately . . .
You don’t want to fight with a Broadway producer. He might send some of his powerful Broadway friends to mess you up — like the cast of “Cats” or something.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Sens. Clinton and Obama debated in Philadelphia. Their 21st debate. Which to me, is about 16 too many.
On the Republican side, John McCain has been feeling a little left out. Last night he organized a debate against himself.
The good news is the opinion polls show he leads himself 52 to 48 percent.
Jay Leno
I watched the debate between Hillary and Barack last night. As you know Hillary is trying to appeal to the blue-collar voters. She's drinking; she's talking about hunting and fishing. And it's working. In the latest poll she's up eight points in the "mullet vote."
President Bush announced his plan this week to limit greenhouse gases — he said he will ban all greenhouses.
Yesterday of course was Pope Benedict's birthday. Happy birthday to him. They had a little party for him at the White House. As you know the Pope does not drink; he does not do drugs; and he has taken a vow of celibacy. So, it's pretty safe to say no congressmen showed up for that party.
At the party, Pope Benedict spoke out against evil. And then Dick Cheney gave the rebuttal.
David Letterman
Beautiful sunny day. Down in Washington, it was so sunny, the Pope was wearing his stained glass sunglasses.
These trips can be kind of tricky; often there can be some confusion and embarrassment. The Pope, after the mass, accidentally gave the last rites to John McCain.
The Pope said the mass and then took off in the Popemobile, and President Bush followed him in the dopemobile.
The Pope and President Bush met privately at the White House, and they prayed together. And I believe it was the first time anyone had been on their knees in the Oval Office since . . . well . . .
Craig Ferguson
Edward Laurens, the father of the chaos theory, died today. His services will be held someplace completely random.
There’s a woman on YouTube talking about her divorce. She signed a prenup, married a Broadway producer, got divorced and now she’s unhappy with the settlement. When I heard this I was shocked. A Broadway producer marrying a woman?!?
I don’t know much about prenups . . unfortunately . . .
You don’t want to fight with a Broadway producer. He might send some of his powerful Broadway friends to mess you up — like the cast of “Cats” or something.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Sens. Clinton and Obama debated in Philadelphia. Their 21st debate. Which to me, is about 16 too many.
On the Republican side, John McCain has been feeling a little left out. Last night he organized a debate against himself.
The good news is the opinion polls show he leads himself 52 to 48 percent.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Carter in Syria to See Hamas Political Leader
DAMASCUS, Syria -- Jimmy Carter has arrived in Syria where he is due to meet the political leader of the militant Palestinian Hamas group.
The former U.S. president's visit comes a day after he met several Hamas leaders in Egypt and said he had asked them to stop rocket attacks into Israel.
Carter also is scheduled to meet Friday with Syrian President Bashar Assad before holding talks with Hamas' exiled political chief Khaled Mashaal. He also plans to meet with Syrian businessmen.
Carter's meetings with Hamas have drawn sharp criticism from Israelis, U.S. officials. Washington lists Hamas as a terrorist group.
DAMASCUS, Syria -- Jimmy Carter has arrived in Syria where he is due to meet the political leader of the militant Palestinian Hamas group.
The former U.S. president's visit comes a day after he met several Hamas leaders in Egypt and said he had asked them to stop rocket attacks into Israel.
Carter also is scheduled to meet Friday with Syrian President Bashar Assad before holding talks with Hamas' exiled political chief Khaled Mashaal. He also plans to meet with Syrian businessmen.
Carter's meetings with Hamas have drawn sharp criticism from Israelis, U.S. officials. Washington lists Hamas as a terrorist group.
Labels: C
Late Nite Jokes
Jay Leno
When the Pope arrived at the White House he was given a 21 gun salute. That’s got to make Barack Obama a little uncomfortable, huh? Guns and religion . . .
Actually, one really embarrassing moment. When the Pope blessed the crowd with holy water, some of it splashed on Dick Cheney and burned his skin.
Today John McCain said he disagrees with President Bush on the issue of climate change. And believe me, McCain knows what he's talking about on this subject. Of all the presidential candidates he's the only one who has actually lived through an ice age.
Some news from Iran. The chief of police in Tehran, who was in charge of fighting bad morals, was found naked with six hookers. His name? Amhmed Spitzer. I believe he is the governor of Tehran.
Late Show Top Ten
Top Ten Questions President Bush Asked The Pope
10. "Where is the little lady?"
9. "How long have you been Poping?"
8. "Jessica Alba or Jessica Biel?"
7. "Have you ever tried eggs benedict?"
6. "Could you perform an exorcism on Dick Cheney?"
5. "You on spring break?"
4. "What are you doing for Passover?"
3. "Could you record a wacky greeting for my voicemail?"
2. "Can I come up to visit you and Rudolph at the North Pole?"
1. "Could you do something about my approval rating?"
David Letterman
Beautiful spring day here today in New York City. It was so nice, Barack Obama couldn’t find anybody who was bitter.
It was so nice that Delta merged with Ben & Jerry.
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton debated again tonight. Hillary is getting a little desperate. Before the debate, she went over to his podium and buried a Michael Dukakis jersey.
The Pope is in the United States. Hillary Clinton declined to meet him at the airport . . . you know, she was worried about sniper fire.
Craig Ferguson
Barack Obama today got the endorsement of Bruce Springsteen. Not to be outdone, John McCain got the endorsement from one of his musical contemporaries, Beethoven.
Snoop Dogg announced he is writing a series of children’s books today. Is that really a good idea? “Horton Hears a Hootchie Mama.” “Green Eggs & Blunts.”
The legendary Ferris Wheel from Santa Monica Pier has just been put on e-Bay. On sale to the highest bidder. If you’re not from the L.A. area, the Santa Monica Ferris Wheel is an L.A. institution. Like the Hollywood sign, the Chinese Theater, or rehab.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Bruce Springsteen, on his Web site today, announced he is endorsing Barack Obama. Which means Obama now has Oprah and Bruce. All he needs to complete the triumvirate is Judge Judy.
Hopefully this will be the final debate between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton tonight. They’ve had 21 debates. It seems they almost don’t have anything left to say to each other. It’s probably just as well they didn’t say anything to each other. It was elimination night on “American Idol.” Nobody watched the debate anyway.
They sent Khristie Lee Cook home. They say the real reason they sent her home is because she really can’t sing.
Jay Leno
When the Pope arrived at the White House he was given a 21 gun salute. That’s got to make Barack Obama a little uncomfortable, huh? Guns and religion . . .
Actually, one really embarrassing moment. When the Pope blessed the crowd with holy water, some of it splashed on Dick Cheney and burned his skin.
Today John McCain said he disagrees with President Bush on the issue of climate change. And believe me, McCain knows what he's talking about on this subject. Of all the presidential candidates he's the only one who has actually lived through an ice age.
Some news from Iran. The chief of police in Tehran, who was in charge of fighting bad morals, was found naked with six hookers. His name? Amhmed Spitzer. I believe he is the governor of Tehran.
Late Show Top Ten
Top Ten Questions President Bush Asked The Pope
10. "Where is the little lady?"
9. "How long have you been Poping?"
8. "Jessica Alba or Jessica Biel?"
7. "Have you ever tried eggs benedict?"
6. "Could you perform an exorcism on Dick Cheney?"
5. "You on spring break?"
4. "What are you doing for Passover?"
3. "Could you record a wacky greeting for my voicemail?"
2. "Can I come up to visit you and Rudolph at the North Pole?"
1. "Could you do something about my approval rating?"
David Letterman
Beautiful spring day here today in New York City. It was so nice, Barack Obama couldn’t find anybody who was bitter.
It was so nice that Delta merged with Ben & Jerry.
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton debated again tonight. Hillary is getting a little desperate. Before the debate, she went over to his podium and buried a Michael Dukakis jersey.
The Pope is in the United States. Hillary Clinton declined to meet him at the airport . . . you know, she was worried about sniper fire.
Craig Ferguson
Barack Obama today got the endorsement of Bruce Springsteen. Not to be outdone, John McCain got the endorsement from one of his musical contemporaries, Beethoven.
Snoop Dogg announced he is writing a series of children’s books today. Is that really a good idea? “Horton Hears a Hootchie Mama.” “Green Eggs & Blunts.”
The legendary Ferris Wheel from Santa Monica Pier has just been put on e-Bay. On sale to the highest bidder. If you’re not from the L.A. area, the Santa Monica Ferris Wheel is an L.A. institution. Like the Hollywood sign, the Chinese Theater, or rehab.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Bruce Springsteen, on his Web site today, announced he is endorsing Barack Obama. Which means Obama now has Oprah and Bruce. All he needs to complete the triumvirate is Judge Judy.
Hopefully this will be the final debate between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton tonight. They’ve had 21 debates. It seems they almost don’t have anything left to say to each other. It’s probably just as well they didn’t say anything to each other. It was elimination night on “American Idol.” Nobody watched the debate anyway.
They sent Khristie Lee Cook home. They say the real reason they sent her home is because she really can’t sing.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Clinton Says Obama Can Win White House
Hillary Rodham Clinton said emphatically Wednesday night that Barack Obama can win the White House this fall, undercutting her efforts to deny him the Democratic presidential nomination by suggesting he would lead the party to defeat.
"Yes, yes, yes," she said when pressed about Obama's electability during a campaign debate six days before the Pennsylvania primary.
Asked a similar question about Clinton, Obama said "Absolutely and I've said so before" — a not-so-subtle dig at his rival who had previously declined to make a similar statement about him.
In a 90-minute debate, both rivals pledged not to raise taxes on individuals making less than $200,000, and said they would respond forcefully if Iran obtains nuclear weapons and uses them against Israel.
"An attack on Israel would incur massive retaliation by the United States," said Clinton.
Obama said, "The U.S. would take appropriate action."
They differed over Social Security when Obama said he favored raising payroll taxes on higher-income individuals. Clinton said she was opposed, her rival quickly cut in and countered that she had said earlier in the campaign she was open to the idea.
Under current law, workers must pay the payroll tax on their first $102,000 in wages. Obama generally has expressed support for a plan to reimpose the tax beginning at a level of $200,000 or more.
The debate was the 21st of the campaign for the nomination, an epic struggle that could last weeks or even months longer.
Pennsylvania, with 158 delegates at stake, is a must-win contest for Clinton, who leads in the polls and hopes for a strong victory to propel her through the other states that vote before the primary season ends on June 3.
Obama leads in the delegate chase, 1,643-1,504, with 2,025 needed for the nomination. And despite a recent gaffe, he picked up endorsements during the day from three superdelegates from a pair of states with primaries on May 6 — Reps. Andre Carson of Indiana and Mel Watt and David Price of North Carolina.
After primaries and caucuses in 42 of the 50 states, Obama leads his rival in convention delegates, popular votes and states won. She is struggling to stop his drive on the nomination by appealing to party leaders who will attend the convention as superdelegates that he will preside over an electoral defeat at a moment of great opportunity after eight years of Republican rule.
The former first lady has never denied published reports that she once told New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson that Obama couldn't win when he called to tell her he would be endorsing the Illinois senator.
And at a news conference earlier this month in California, Clinton sidestepped when asked directly whether Obama would win if he were the Democratic nominee. "I am sure we will have a united Democratic Party. I will do everything possible to make sure we can win and I am confident we will have a Democrat in the White House next year," she said at the time.
Asked a similar question at the debate, she provided a similar answer at first. "I think we have to beat John McCain and I have every reason to believe we're going to have a Democratic president and it's going to be Barack or me."
Pressed by George Stephanopoulos of ABC News to answer the question directly, she said, "Yes, yes, yes ... Now I think I can do a better job."
In a debate that moved swiftly between politics and policy, Clinton issued a first-ever public apology for having claimed erroneously that she landed in Bosnia under sniper fire in 1996 as first lady.
"I may be a lot of things but I am not dumb," she said, adding that she had written in her book that there had been no gunfire during the episode. She said she was embarrassed by her error. "I'm sorry I said it," she added.
She previously had explained her incorrect comments by saying she had misspoken.
Obama later erred by saying he had never favored a ban on handguns even though as a state Senate candidate in 1996 he filled out a questionnaire from an Illinois voter group saying he would support such a ban.
"My writing wasn't on that particular questionnaire ... as I said, I have never favored an all-out ban on handguns," Obama said, even though his handwritten notes did appear on its front page. The reponse to the question about guns was typed.
Obama had more explaining to do moments later, when he was asked about his controversial comment that small town Americans become bitter because of economic adversity, and "cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them" as a result.
He said he was attempting to say that because voters feel ignored by government, "they end up being much more concerned about votes around things like guns where traditions have been passed on from generation to generation. And those are incredibly important to them."
"People don't cling to their traditions on hunting and guns" out of frustration with their government, Clinton said. She added that Obama had a fundamental misunderstanding on the role of religion and faith.
Both Obama and Clinton sidestepped when asked if they would place their rival on the ticket as vice presidential running mate in the fall.
"I think very highly of Senator Clinton's record, but I think it is premature at this point to talk about who the vice presidential candidates will be because we're still trying to determine who the nominee will be," Obama said.
Clinton was similarly noncommittal. "I'm going to do everything I possibly can to make sure that one of us takes the oath of office next January. I think that has to be the overriding goal," she said.
Neither rival was willing to say they would ask President Bush to serve in any capacity after he leaves office. Obama volunteered he would be "more likely to ask the advice of the current president's father. He said, that as president, George H. W. Bush had presided over a "wise foreign policy" at the time the Cold War was ending.
ABC News sponsored and televised the debate, with Charles Gibson and Stephanopoulos moderating.
Hillary Rodham Clinton said emphatically Wednesday night that Barack Obama can win the White House this fall, undercutting her efforts to deny him the Democratic presidential nomination by suggesting he would lead the party to defeat.
"Yes, yes, yes," she said when pressed about Obama's electability during a campaign debate six days before the Pennsylvania primary.
Asked a similar question about Clinton, Obama said "Absolutely and I've said so before" — a not-so-subtle dig at his rival who had previously declined to make a similar statement about him.
In a 90-minute debate, both rivals pledged not to raise taxes on individuals making less than $200,000, and said they would respond forcefully if Iran obtains nuclear weapons and uses them against Israel.
"An attack on Israel would incur massive retaliation by the United States," said Clinton.
Obama said, "The U.S. would take appropriate action."
They differed over Social Security when Obama said he favored raising payroll taxes on higher-income individuals. Clinton said she was opposed, her rival quickly cut in and countered that she had said earlier in the campaign she was open to the idea.
Under current law, workers must pay the payroll tax on their first $102,000 in wages. Obama generally has expressed support for a plan to reimpose the tax beginning at a level of $200,000 or more.
The debate was the 21st of the campaign for the nomination, an epic struggle that could last weeks or even months longer.
Pennsylvania, with 158 delegates at stake, is a must-win contest for Clinton, who leads in the polls and hopes for a strong victory to propel her through the other states that vote before the primary season ends on June 3.
Obama leads in the delegate chase, 1,643-1,504, with 2,025 needed for the nomination. And despite a recent gaffe, he picked up endorsements during the day from three superdelegates from a pair of states with primaries on May 6 — Reps. Andre Carson of Indiana and Mel Watt and David Price of North Carolina.
After primaries and caucuses in 42 of the 50 states, Obama leads his rival in convention delegates, popular votes and states won. She is struggling to stop his drive on the nomination by appealing to party leaders who will attend the convention as superdelegates that he will preside over an electoral defeat at a moment of great opportunity after eight years of Republican rule.
The former first lady has never denied published reports that she once told New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson that Obama couldn't win when he called to tell her he would be endorsing the Illinois senator.
And at a news conference earlier this month in California, Clinton sidestepped when asked directly whether Obama would win if he were the Democratic nominee. "I am sure we will have a united Democratic Party. I will do everything possible to make sure we can win and I am confident we will have a Democrat in the White House next year," she said at the time.
Asked a similar question at the debate, she provided a similar answer at first. "I think we have to beat John McCain and I have every reason to believe we're going to have a Democratic president and it's going to be Barack or me."
Pressed by George Stephanopoulos of ABC News to answer the question directly, she said, "Yes, yes, yes ... Now I think I can do a better job."
In a debate that moved swiftly between politics and policy, Clinton issued a first-ever public apology for having claimed erroneously that she landed in Bosnia under sniper fire in 1996 as first lady.
"I may be a lot of things but I am not dumb," she said, adding that she had written in her book that there had been no gunfire during the episode. She said she was embarrassed by her error. "I'm sorry I said it," she added.
She previously had explained her incorrect comments by saying she had misspoken.
Obama later erred by saying he had never favored a ban on handguns even though as a state Senate candidate in 1996 he filled out a questionnaire from an Illinois voter group saying he would support such a ban.
"My writing wasn't on that particular questionnaire ... as I said, I have never favored an all-out ban on handguns," Obama said, even though his handwritten notes did appear on its front page. The reponse to the question about guns was typed.
Obama had more explaining to do moments later, when he was asked about his controversial comment that small town Americans become bitter because of economic adversity, and "cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them" as a result.
He said he was attempting to say that because voters feel ignored by government, "they end up being much more concerned about votes around things like guns where traditions have been passed on from generation to generation. And those are incredibly important to them."
"People don't cling to their traditions on hunting and guns" out of frustration with their government, Clinton said. She added that Obama had a fundamental misunderstanding on the role of religion and faith.
Both Obama and Clinton sidestepped when asked if they would place their rival on the ticket as vice presidential running mate in the fall.
"I think very highly of Senator Clinton's record, but I think it is premature at this point to talk about who the vice presidential candidates will be because we're still trying to determine who the nominee will be," Obama said.
Clinton was similarly noncommittal. "I'm going to do everything I possibly can to make sure that one of us takes the oath of office next January. I think that has to be the overriding goal," she said.
Neither rival was willing to say they would ask President Bush to serve in any capacity after he leaves office. Obama volunteered he would be "more likely to ask the advice of the current president's father. He said, that as president, George H. W. Bush had presided over a "wise foreign policy" at the time the Cold War was ending.
ABC News sponsored and televised the debate, with Charles Gibson and Stephanopoulos moderating.
Labels: C
Late Nite Jokes
Jay Leno
Pope Benedict the 16th made his first trip to America today. President Bush told the Pope that he’s prayed every single day since he became president. Hey, since Bush has become president, we have all prayed every single day.
I was at Starbucks today and had the new Barack Obama Roast. Have you had this? Tasted kind of bitter.
Today, they asked President Bush what he thought about Hillary calling Barack Obama an elitist. He said, “elitist, Methodist, Lutheran. As long as you’re a Christian . . .”
John McCain said today one of the reasons we're in a recession is because of the "very greedy people on Wall Street." Then he thanked those people for their campaign contributions.
Late Show Top Ten
Top Ten Reasons I Like Being An Accountant
10. "My exciting lifestyle is the envy of all my claims adjuster colleagues"
9. "I made ten grand doing taxes for Leona Helmsley's dog"
8. "Numbers are my only friends"
7. "What other job allows you to show up for work in just a suit and tie?"
6. "Mild-mannered day job protects my true identity: Batman"
5. "I'm always the first to hear about all the latest calculator innovations"
4. "When some idiot asks me about a form 8038-G information return for a tax-exempt governmental obligation, when they really mean a form 1038-R recovery of overpayment under arbitrage rebate provisions — that s***'s hilarious!"
3. "I was a finalist on last season's "Accounting With The Stars""
2. "If I screw up something, you go to jail, not me!"
1. "I get more tail than George Clooney"
David Letterman
Northwest Airlines and Delta Airlines are planning to merge. Their goal is to be able to cancel more flights than American Airlines.
If the deal goes through, they will be the world’s biggest carrier. If you don’t count Pamela Anderson.
The Pope arrived in Washington D.C. today. Of course, he flew Virgin Atlantic.
He almost wasn’t allowed on the aircraft because he tried to bring on more than 3 ounces of holy water.
Craig Ferguson
It’s tax day! Or as Wesley Snipes calls it, Tuesday.
John McCain apologized today after admitting some of the McCain family recipes posted on his Web site were actually plagiarized from the Food Network. How many different recipes can there be for prunes and creamed corn!
Rob Lowe is in the news today. He’s been accused of inappropriate behavior by his nanny. This means it’s only a matter of time before Rob Lowe announces that he’s going to run for governor of California.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
They’ve just released a study that says in the next 30 years, there’s a 97 percent chance that Southern California will have an earthquake of magnitude 6.7 or greater. And there’s a 40 percent chance of either being run over or attacked by Britney Spears. Things are pretty bleak.
Taxes were due today. I don’t like writing the check. I thought we were supposed to be passing the irresponsible spending onto our grandchildren. What happened to that?
Pope Benedict arrived in the United States. I was up all night cleaning.
This is the first Pope in history to be named after the way I like to eat eggs.
Jay Leno
Pope Benedict the 16th made his first trip to America today. President Bush told the Pope that he’s prayed every single day since he became president. Hey, since Bush has become president, we have all prayed every single day.
I was at Starbucks today and had the new Barack Obama Roast. Have you had this? Tasted kind of bitter.
Today, they asked President Bush what he thought about Hillary calling Barack Obama an elitist. He said, “elitist, Methodist, Lutheran. As long as you’re a Christian . . .”
John McCain said today one of the reasons we're in a recession is because of the "very greedy people on Wall Street." Then he thanked those people for their campaign contributions.
Late Show Top Ten
Top Ten Reasons I Like Being An Accountant
10. "My exciting lifestyle is the envy of all my claims adjuster colleagues"
9. "I made ten grand doing taxes for Leona Helmsley's dog"
8. "Numbers are my only friends"
7. "What other job allows you to show up for work in just a suit and tie?"
6. "Mild-mannered day job protects my true identity: Batman"
5. "I'm always the first to hear about all the latest calculator innovations"
4. "When some idiot asks me about a form 8038-G information return for a tax-exempt governmental obligation, when they really mean a form 1038-R recovery of overpayment under arbitrage rebate provisions — that s***'s hilarious!"
3. "I was a finalist on last season's "Accounting With The Stars""
2. "If I screw up something, you go to jail, not me!"
1. "I get more tail than George Clooney"
David Letterman
Northwest Airlines and Delta Airlines are planning to merge. Their goal is to be able to cancel more flights than American Airlines.
If the deal goes through, they will be the world’s biggest carrier. If you don’t count Pamela Anderson.
The Pope arrived in Washington D.C. today. Of course, he flew Virgin Atlantic.
He almost wasn’t allowed on the aircraft because he tried to bring on more than 3 ounces of holy water.
Craig Ferguson
It’s tax day! Or as Wesley Snipes calls it, Tuesday.
John McCain apologized today after admitting some of the McCain family recipes posted on his Web site were actually plagiarized from the Food Network. How many different recipes can there be for prunes and creamed corn!
Rob Lowe is in the news today. He’s been accused of inappropriate behavior by his nanny. This means it’s only a matter of time before Rob Lowe announces that he’s going to run for governor of California.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
They’ve just released a study that says in the next 30 years, there’s a 97 percent chance that Southern California will have an earthquake of magnitude 6.7 or greater. And there’s a 40 percent chance of either being run over or attacked by Britney Spears. Things are pretty bleak.
Taxes were due today. I don’t like writing the check. I thought we were supposed to be passing the irresponsible spending onto our grandchildren. What happened to that?
Pope Benedict arrived in the United States. I was up all night cleaning.
This is the first Pope in history to be named after the way I like to eat eggs.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
McCain Proposes Break in Gas Taxes
PITTSBURGH -- John McCain wants the federal government to free people from paying gasoline taxes this summer and ensure that college students can secure loans this fall, a pair of proposals aimed at stemming pain from the country's troubled economy.
At the same time, the certain Republican presidential nominee says Democratic rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton would impose the single largest tax increase since World War II by allowing tax cuts pushed to passage by President Bush to expire.
"Both promise big 'change.' And a trillion dollars in new taxes over the next decade would certainly fit that description," McCain said in remarks prepared for delivery Tuesday. "All these tax increases are the fine print under the slogan of 'hope:' They're going to raise your taxes by thousands of dollars per year _ and they have the audacity to hope you don't mind."
That was a play on the title of an Obama book.
McCain twice voted against the very tax cuts he now supports; he says failing to extend them would amount to tax increases for millions of people.
The four-term Arizona senator was presenting his proposals _ and blistering his Democratic rivals _ in a wide-ranging economic speech at Carnegie Mellon University.
It's part of an ongoing effort to counter the notion _ fueled by his own previous comments _ that he's not as strong on the economy as he is on other issues. He's also seeking to fend off criticism from Democrats, including Obama and Clinton, that his small-government, free-market stances don't mesh with people feeling the pinch _ particularly those hurting now.
His speech comes a day after he said he believes the country has already entered a recession, a label the Bush administration has resisted even as a credit crisis, a housing slump, soaring energy costs and rising layoffs combined to soften the economy.
To help people weather the downturn immediately, McCain was calling for Congress to institute a "gas-tax holiday" by suspending the 18.4 cent federal gas tax and 24.4 cent diesel tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day. He also renewed his call for the United States to stop adding to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and thus lessen to some extent the worldwide demand for oil.
Combined, he said, the two proposals would reduce gas prices, which would have a trickle-down effect and "help to spread relief across the American economy."
Addressing the feared fallout of the ongoing credit crunch, McCain also said the Education Department should work with the country's governors to make sure that each state's guarantee agency _ nonprofits that traditionally back student loans issued by banks _ has both the means and the manpower to be the lender-of-last-resort for student loans.
Lawmakers, students and financial experts are worried that the credit crisis might make it more difficult for students and their families to find loans. Nearly two dozen lenders have dropped out of the federally backed student loan program.
Among other proposals, McCain said he would:
_Raise the tax exemption for each dependent child from $3,500 to $7,000.
_Require more affluent people _ couples making more than $160,000 _ enrolled in Medicare to pay a higher premium for their prescription drugs than less-wealthy people.
_Offer people the option of choosing a simpler tax system with two tax rates and a standard deduction instead of sticking with the current system.
_Suspend for one year all increases in discretionary spending for agencies other than those that cover the military and veterans while launching an expansive review of the effectiveness of federal program.
PITTSBURGH -- John McCain wants the federal government to free people from paying gasoline taxes this summer and ensure that college students can secure loans this fall, a pair of proposals aimed at stemming pain from the country's troubled economy.
At the same time, the certain Republican presidential nominee says Democratic rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton would impose the single largest tax increase since World War II by allowing tax cuts pushed to passage by President Bush to expire.
"Both promise big 'change.' And a trillion dollars in new taxes over the next decade would certainly fit that description," McCain said in remarks prepared for delivery Tuesday. "All these tax increases are the fine print under the slogan of 'hope:' They're going to raise your taxes by thousands of dollars per year _ and they have the audacity to hope you don't mind."
That was a play on the title of an Obama book.
McCain twice voted against the very tax cuts he now supports; he says failing to extend them would amount to tax increases for millions of people.
The four-term Arizona senator was presenting his proposals _ and blistering his Democratic rivals _ in a wide-ranging economic speech at Carnegie Mellon University.
It's part of an ongoing effort to counter the notion _ fueled by his own previous comments _ that he's not as strong on the economy as he is on other issues. He's also seeking to fend off criticism from Democrats, including Obama and Clinton, that his small-government, free-market stances don't mesh with people feeling the pinch _ particularly those hurting now.
His speech comes a day after he said he believes the country has already entered a recession, a label the Bush administration has resisted even as a credit crisis, a housing slump, soaring energy costs and rising layoffs combined to soften the economy.
To help people weather the downturn immediately, McCain was calling for Congress to institute a "gas-tax holiday" by suspending the 18.4 cent federal gas tax and 24.4 cent diesel tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day. He also renewed his call for the United States to stop adding to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and thus lessen to some extent the worldwide demand for oil.
Combined, he said, the two proposals would reduce gas prices, which would have a trickle-down effect and "help to spread relief across the American economy."
Addressing the feared fallout of the ongoing credit crunch, McCain also said the Education Department should work with the country's governors to make sure that each state's guarantee agency _ nonprofits that traditionally back student loans issued by banks _ has both the means and the manpower to be the lender-of-last-resort for student loans.
Lawmakers, students and financial experts are worried that the credit crisis might make it more difficult for students and their families to find loans. Nearly two dozen lenders have dropped out of the federally backed student loan program.
Among other proposals, McCain said he would:
_Raise the tax exemption for each dependent child from $3,500 to $7,000.
_Require more affluent people _ couples making more than $160,000 _ enrolled in Medicare to pay a higher premium for their prescription drugs than less-wealthy people.
_Offer people the option of choosing a simpler tax system with two tax rates and a standard deduction instead of sticking with the current system.
_Suspend for one year all increases in discretionary spending for agencies other than those that cover the military and veterans while launching an expansive review of the effectiveness of federal program.
Labels: M
Late Nite Jokes
Jay Leno
Barack Obama got himself in a little hot water over the weekend. He said small town people become bitter and cling to guns and religion when there’s economic problems. Well, sure — when your house gets repossessed, you pull out your guns.
Hillary Clinton said he was elitist and out of touch with poor people. Later, Bill Clinton gave a speech on the subject and charged a million bucks for it.
John Kerry later stepped forward and said, “What’s wrong with being elitist?”
Hillary Clinton was shown in a bar in Indiana drinking a beer and doing a shot of whiskey. It worked — today, Ted Kennedy switched back to Hillary.
Late Show Top Ten
Top Ten Ways Trevor Immelman's Life Has Changed Since Winning The Masters
10. "I've been elevated from 'Unknown' to 'Obscure'"
9. "Thanks to the prize money, I no longer have to buy generic root beer"
8. "Suddenly I don't look so foolish for trademarking 'Immelmania'"
7. "I'm BFF's with Lauren and Heidi from 'The Hills'"
6. "President Bush called to congratulate me on winning Wimbledon"
5. "When my caddy reccomends a club I can say, 'Excuse me, how many Masters have you won?'"
4. "Invited to Masters Winners Week on 'Jeopardy'"
3. "I get a lifetime supply of them little pencils"
2. "Guess who's playing 36 holes with the Pope this weekend?"
1. "Get to put my arm around Tiger Woods and say, 'Maybe next year'"
David Letterman
It’s tax time. I saw this the other day: The United States government takes a third of your money. A third. My God, it’s like being married to Heather Mills.
The Pope is coming to New York City. He’s rich. He’s powerful. Guess what, girls? He’s single.
On Monday, he’ll be performing an exorcism on “The View.”
They had the London Marathon over the weekend. A guy ran it — 101 years old. When I saw that, I said out loud, “Way to go Regis.”
Craig Ferguson
A new survey says that 98 percent of historians consider the Bush presidency a failure. On the upside, this is Bush’s highest poll numbers in years.
I was in Chicago over the weekend. It was hard getting in. Something like 300 flights were canceled. Which sounds like a lot, but CBS canceled that many shows just last week.
Here in L.A. there’s actually a subway. Not many people take it though . . . subway . . . fault lines . . . what could possibly go wrong?
Jay Leno
Barack Obama got himself in a little hot water over the weekend. He said small town people become bitter and cling to guns and religion when there’s economic problems. Well, sure — when your house gets repossessed, you pull out your guns.
Hillary Clinton said he was elitist and out of touch with poor people. Later, Bill Clinton gave a speech on the subject and charged a million bucks for it.
John Kerry later stepped forward and said, “What’s wrong with being elitist?”
Hillary Clinton was shown in a bar in Indiana drinking a beer and doing a shot of whiskey. It worked — today, Ted Kennedy switched back to Hillary.
Late Show Top Ten
Top Ten Ways Trevor Immelman's Life Has Changed Since Winning The Masters
10. "I've been elevated from 'Unknown' to 'Obscure'"
9. "Thanks to the prize money, I no longer have to buy generic root beer"
8. "Suddenly I don't look so foolish for trademarking 'Immelmania'"
7. "I'm BFF's with Lauren and Heidi from 'The Hills'"
6. "President Bush called to congratulate me on winning Wimbledon"
5. "When my caddy reccomends a club I can say, 'Excuse me, how many Masters have you won?'"
4. "Invited to Masters Winners Week on 'Jeopardy'"
3. "I get a lifetime supply of them little pencils"
2. "Guess who's playing 36 holes with the Pope this weekend?"
1. "Get to put my arm around Tiger Woods and say, 'Maybe next year'"
David Letterman
It’s tax time. I saw this the other day: The United States government takes a third of your money. A third. My God, it’s like being married to Heather Mills.
The Pope is coming to New York City. He’s rich. He’s powerful. Guess what, girls? He’s single.
On Monday, he’ll be performing an exorcism on “The View.”
They had the London Marathon over the weekend. A guy ran it — 101 years old. When I saw that, I said out loud, “Way to go Regis.”
Craig Ferguson
A new survey says that 98 percent of historians consider the Bush presidency a failure. On the upside, this is Bush’s highest poll numbers in years.
I was in Chicago over the weekend. It was hard getting in. Something like 300 flights were canceled. Which sounds like a lot, but CBS canceled that many shows just last week.
Here in L.A. there’s actually a subway. Not many people take it though . . . subway . . . fault lines . . . what could possibly go wrong?
Monday, April 14, 2008
Obama Turns Table on Clinton
STEELTON, Penn. -- Democrat Barack Obama lashed out Sunday at rival Hillary Rodham Clinton, mocking her vocal support for gun rights and saying her record in the Senate and as first lady belied her stated commitment to working class voters and their concerns.
"She knows better. Shame on her. Shame on her," Obama told an audience at a union hall here.
The Illinois senator has spent three days on the defensive after comments he made at a San Francisco fundraiser were disclosed that suggested working class people are bitter about their economic circumstances and "cling to guns and religion" as a result.
Obama reiterated his regret for his choice of words at the fundraiser but suggested they had been twisted and mischaracterized. He said he'd expected blowback from GOP nominee-in-waiting John McCain, but had been "a little disappointed" to be criticized by Clinton.
Then, laughing along with the union audience, Obama noted that Clinton seemed much more interested in guns since he made his comments than she had in the past.
"She is running around talking about how this is an insult to sportsmen, how she values the Second Amendment. She's talking like she's Annie Oakley," Obama said, invoking the famed female sharpshooter immortalized in the musical "Anne Get Your Gun."
He continued: "Hillary Clinton is out there like she's on the duck blind every Sunday. She's packing a six-shooter. Come on, she knows better. That's some politics being played by Hillary Clinton."
Clinton has told campaign audiences that she supports the rights of hunters. Saturday, she reminisced about learning to shoot on family vacations in Scranton, where her father grew up. She's also said she once shot a duck in Arkansas, where she served as first lady.
Clinton, who is trailing Obama in the popular vote and pledged delegates, has pounded Obama since Friday, when audio from his San Francisco appearance was posted on The Huffington Post Web site. She hoped the comments might give her a new opening to court working-class Democrats less than 10 days before the Pennsylvania primary on April 22, which she needs win to keep her campaign going.
At the San Francisco fundraiser, Obama tried to explain his troubles in winning over some working-class voters, saying they have become frustrated with economic conditions: "It's not surprising, then, they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
Campaigning in Scranton on Sunday, Clinton denounced those remarks yet again as "elitist and divisive" and suggested they would alienate voters in Pennsylvania and other states holding primaries in the coming weeks.
"Senator Obama has not owned up to what he said and taken accountability for it," she told reporters during an informal news conference outside a home. "What people are looking for is an explanation. What does he really believe? How does he see people here in this neighborhood, throughout Pennsylvania, Indiana, North Carolina, other places in our country? And I think that's what people are looking for, some explanation, and he has simply not provided one."
Indiana and North Carolina vote on May 6.
"You don't have to think back too far to remember that good men running for president were viewed as being elitist and out of touch with the values and the lives of millions of Americans," Clinton added, referring to John Kerry, the defeated 2004 Democratic nominee.
"I think it's very critical that the Democrats really focus in on this and make it clear that we are not (elitist). We are going to stand up and fight for all Americans," Clinton said.
Fighting back, Obama said Clinton's history proved she was not as sensitive to the concerns of blue collar voters as she tried to project.
"I just have to remind people of the track record," Obama said, noting Clinton accepted campaign contributions from PACs and drug and insurance industry lobbyists, which he does not.
"This is the same person who took money from financial folks on Wall Street and then voted for bankruptcy bill that makes it harder for folks right here in Pennsylvania to get a fair shake. Who do you think is out of touch?" Obama said.
"This is the same person who spent a decade with her husband campaigning for NAFTA, and now goes around saying she's opposed to NAFTA," Obama said, referring to the North American Free Trade Agreement that is widely unpopular in blue collar communities.
The Clinton campaign issued a quick retort to Obama's comments.
"For months, Barack Obama and his campaign have relentlessly attacked Hillary Clinton's character and integrity by using Republican talking points from the 1990s," said spokesman Phil Singer. "The shame is his. Senator Clinton does know better _ she knows better than to condescend and talk down to voters like Senator Obama did."
STEELTON, Penn. -- Democrat Barack Obama lashed out Sunday at rival Hillary Rodham Clinton, mocking her vocal support for gun rights and saying her record in the Senate and as first lady belied her stated commitment to working class voters and their concerns.
"She knows better. Shame on her. Shame on her," Obama told an audience at a union hall here.
The Illinois senator has spent three days on the defensive after comments he made at a San Francisco fundraiser were disclosed that suggested working class people are bitter about their economic circumstances and "cling to guns and religion" as a result.
Obama reiterated his regret for his choice of words at the fundraiser but suggested they had been twisted and mischaracterized. He said he'd expected blowback from GOP nominee-in-waiting John McCain, but had been "a little disappointed" to be criticized by Clinton.
Then, laughing along with the union audience, Obama noted that Clinton seemed much more interested in guns since he made his comments than she had in the past.
"She is running around talking about how this is an insult to sportsmen, how she values the Second Amendment. She's talking like she's Annie Oakley," Obama said, invoking the famed female sharpshooter immortalized in the musical "Anne Get Your Gun."
He continued: "Hillary Clinton is out there like she's on the duck blind every Sunday. She's packing a six-shooter. Come on, she knows better. That's some politics being played by Hillary Clinton."
Clinton has told campaign audiences that she supports the rights of hunters. Saturday, she reminisced about learning to shoot on family vacations in Scranton, where her father grew up. She's also said she once shot a duck in Arkansas, where she served as first lady.
Clinton, who is trailing Obama in the popular vote and pledged delegates, has pounded Obama since Friday, when audio from his San Francisco appearance was posted on The Huffington Post Web site. She hoped the comments might give her a new opening to court working-class Democrats less than 10 days before the Pennsylvania primary on April 22, which she needs win to keep her campaign going.
At the San Francisco fundraiser, Obama tried to explain his troubles in winning over some working-class voters, saying they have become frustrated with economic conditions: "It's not surprising, then, they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
Campaigning in Scranton on Sunday, Clinton denounced those remarks yet again as "elitist and divisive" and suggested they would alienate voters in Pennsylvania and other states holding primaries in the coming weeks.
"Senator Obama has not owned up to what he said and taken accountability for it," she told reporters during an informal news conference outside a home. "What people are looking for is an explanation. What does he really believe? How does he see people here in this neighborhood, throughout Pennsylvania, Indiana, North Carolina, other places in our country? And I think that's what people are looking for, some explanation, and he has simply not provided one."
Indiana and North Carolina vote on May 6.
"You don't have to think back too far to remember that good men running for president were viewed as being elitist and out of touch with the values and the lives of millions of Americans," Clinton added, referring to John Kerry, the defeated 2004 Democratic nominee.
"I think it's very critical that the Democrats really focus in on this and make it clear that we are not (elitist). We are going to stand up and fight for all Americans," Clinton said.
Fighting back, Obama said Clinton's history proved she was not as sensitive to the concerns of blue collar voters as she tried to project.
"I just have to remind people of the track record," Obama said, noting Clinton accepted campaign contributions from PACs and drug and insurance industry lobbyists, which he does not.
"This is the same person who took money from financial folks on Wall Street and then voted for bankruptcy bill that makes it harder for folks right here in Pennsylvania to get a fair shake. Who do you think is out of touch?" Obama said.
"This is the same person who spent a decade with her husband campaigning for NAFTA, and now goes around saying she's opposed to NAFTA," Obama said, referring to the North American Free Trade Agreement that is widely unpopular in blue collar communities.
The Clinton campaign issued a quick retort to Obama's comments.
"For months, Barack Obama and his campaign have relentlessly attacked Hillary Clinton's character and integrity by using Republican talking points from the 1990s," said spokesman Phil Singer. "The shame is his. Senator Clinton does know better _ she knows better than to condescend and talk down to voters like Senator Obama did."
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Obama Mocks Hillary Gun Support
Democrat Barack Obama lashed out Sunday at rival Hillary Rodham Clinton, mocking her sudden vocal support for gun rights and saying he understands the concerns of working class people.
"She knows better. Shame on her. Shame on her," Obama told an audience at a union hall here.
The Illinois senator has spent two days on the defensive after comments he made at a San Francisco fundraiser suggesting working class people are bitter about their economic circumstances and "cling to guns and religion" as a result. Clinton has pounded him for the remarks, calling him "elitist and divisive."
After reiterating his regret for his choice of words, Obama turned the tables on Clinton _ mocking, among other things, her sudden fealty to the rights of gun owners.
"She is running around talking about how this is an insult to sportsman, how she values the second amendment. She's talking like she's Annie Oakley," Obama said, invoking the famed female sharpshooter immortalized in the musical "Anne Get Your Gun."
Obama continued, saying "Hillary Clinton is out there like she's on the duck blind every Sunday. She's packing a six-shooter. Come on, she knows better. That's some politics being played by Hillary Clinton."
Democrat Barack Obama lashed out Sunday at rival Hillary Rodham Clinton, mocking her sudden vocal support for gun rights and saying he understands the concerns of working class people.
"She knows better. Shame on her. Shame on her," Obama told an audience at a union hall here.
The Illinois senator has spent two days on the defensive after comments he made at a San Francisco fundraiser suggesting working class people are bitter about their economic circumstances and "cling to guns and religion" as a result. Clinton has pounded him for the remarks, calling him "elitist and divisive."
After reiterating his regret for his choice of words, Obama turned the tables on Clinton _ mocking, among other things, her sudden fealty to the rights of gun owners.
"She is running around talking about how this is an insult to sportsman, how she values the second amendment. She's talking like she's Annie Oakley," Obama said, invoking the famed female sharpshooter immortalized in the musical "Anne Get Your Gun."
Obama continued, saying "Hillary Clinton is out there like she's on the duck blind every Sunday. She's packing a six-shooter. Come on, she knows better. That's some politics being played by Hillary Clinton."
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Rev. Wright Slams Fox News, O'Reilly
This weekend, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright made his first comments since his public sermons made national headlines.
He came out swinging, once again attacking the United States for racism. He also singled out Fox News for criticism.
Speaking Saturday at a eulogy for former appellate Judge R. Eugene Pincham, a member of Wright's Trinity United Church of Christ, Wright blamed the Founding Fathers for the woes of blacks today, claiming they “planted slavery and white supremacy in the DNA of this republic.”
Wright cited Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who recently said the country has a “congenital birth defect” owing to its constitutional acceptance of slavery.
Wright also described Thomas Jefferson as having engaged in “pedophilia.”
But his most heated comments were targeted at Fox News, which he called "Fix News."
“Fox News can’t understand that,” Wright exclaimed. “[Bill] O’Reilly will never get that. Sean Hannity’s stupid fantasy will keep him forever stuck on stupid when it comes to comprehending how you can love a brother who does not believe what you believe. [Pincham’s] faith was a faith in a God who loved the whole world not just one country or one creed.”
Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, a member of Wright's church, has distanced himself from some of Wright's comments but refuses to condemn his former pastor or resign from the church.
This weekend, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright made his first comments since his public sermons made national headlines.
He came out swinging, once again attacking the United States for racism. He also singled out Fox News for criticism.
Speaking Saturday at a eulogy for former appellate Judge R. Eugene Pincham, a member of Wright's Trinity United Church of Christ, Wright blamed the Founding Fathers for the woes of blacks today, claiming they “planted slavery and white supremacy in the DNA of this republic.”
Wright cited Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who recently said the country has a “congenital birth defect” owing to its constitutional acceptance of slavery.
Wright also described Thomas Jefferson as having engaged in “pedophilia.”
But his most heated comments were targeted at Fox News, which he called "Fix News."
“Fox News can’t understand that,” Wright exclaimed. “[Bill] O’Reilly will never get that. Sean Hannity’s stupid fantasy will keep him forever stuck on stupid when it comes to comprehending how you can love a brother who does not believe what you believe. [Pincham’s] faith was a faith in a God who loved the whole world not just one country or one creed.”
Presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, a member of Wright's church, has distanced himself from some of Wright's comments but refuses to condemn his former pastor or resign from the church.
Late Nite Jokes
Jay Leno
More bad news for the Detroit Tigers; they lost again last night. After winning the night before. They are now one in eight. They won one and lost eight. Or as Hillary Clinton calls that, first place.
A fire burned Hillary Clinton’s campaign office in Terre Haute, Ind. I knew Hillary’s campaign was facing financial trouble but when you’re burning the building down for the insurance money, that’s not a good sign.
Hillary was very upset by the fire. Luckily she says she was glad she was able to run into the burning building, save six children, and then run back in to rescue three puppies.
Experts are suggesting that if Hillary loses Pennsylvania, she could be finished. I don’t want to say Hillary’s days might be numbered, but her new Secret Service codename is Katie Couric.
Conan O'Brien
This week California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is going to be speaking at a convention of gay Republicans. Arnold could get in trouble because he plans to start his speech by saying, “Hello girly-men.”
According to his tax return, last year Vice President Cheney donated over $166,000 to charity. Most of the money went to Cheney’s favorite holiday charity: “Coal for Tots.”
In Florida, two 55-year-old women were arrested for robbing banks while dressed as ninjas. If they’re convicted the women could be given 10 years in prison and a Lifetime movie of the week.
China is recalling thousands of pairs of novelty “Hillbilly Teeth” because the teeth may contain lead paint. When he heard that China was recalling the Hillbilly Teeth, President Bush said, “OK, now I’m boycotting the Olympics.”
Craig Ferguson
The Olympic torch was in San Francisco. It was a huge event. They had to call in the Coast Guard. Actually, that’s just San Francisco. Any excuse to get the sailors in.
I heard John Cleese from “Monty Python” has offered to help Barack Obama write his speeches. That’s just what you need, Obama.
Actually there’s a lot of comedians that write for presidents. Larry the Cable Guy has been writing for George Bush for years.
There are rumors that Condoleezza Rice may be John McCain’s vice presidential nominee. It’s a good move. A lot of people think she’s the female Hillary Clinton.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Taxes are due Tuesday. I recommend this: At 11 o’clock Tuesday night, take 20 minutes to make up a bunch of numbers. Put them in an envelope; drive around until you find one of those post offices that are open until midnight. No problem.
Are Hot Pockets deductible?
The state legislature of Florida is supposed to pass a law that would allow citizens to bring concealed weapons to work. Why? I don’t know. Maybe to keep bosses on their toes.
Jay Leno
More bad news for the Detroit Tigers; they lost again last night. After winning the night before. They are now one in eight. They won one and lost eight. Or as Hillary Clinton calls that, first place.
A fire burned Hillary Clinton’s campaign office in Terre Haute, Ind. I knew Hillary’s campaign was facing financial trouble but when you’re burning the building down for the insurance money, that’s not a good sign.
Hillary was very upset by the fire. Luckily she says she was glad she was able to run into the burning building, save six children, and then run back in to rescue three puppies.
Experts are suggesting that if Hillary loses Pennsylvania, she could be finished. I don’t want to say Hillary’s days might be numbered, but her new Secret Service codename is Katie Couric.
Conan O'Brien
This week California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is going to be speaking at a convention of gay Republicans. Arnold could get in trouble because he plans to start his speech by saying, “Hello girly-men.”
According to his tax return, last year Vice President Cheney donated over $166,000 to charity. Most of the money went to Cheney’s favorite holiday charity: “Coal for Tots.”
In Florida, two 55-year-old women were arrested for robbing banks while dressed as ninjas. If they’re convicted the women could be given 10 years in prison and a Lifetime movie of the week.
China is recalling thousands of pairs of novelty “Hillbilly Teeth” because the teeth may contain lead paint. When he heard that China was recalling the Hillbilly Teeth, President Bush said, “OK, now I’m boycotting the Olympics.”
Craig Ferguson
The Olympic torch was in San Francisco. It was a huge event. They had to call in the Coast Guard. Actually, that’s just San Francisco. Any excuse to get the sailors in.
I heard John Cleese from “Monty Python” has offered to help Barack Obama write his speeches. That’s just what you need, Obama.
Actually there’s a lot of comedians that write for presidents. Larry the Cable Guy has been writing for George Bush for years.
There are rumors that Condoleezza Rice may be John McCain’s vice presidential nominee. It’s a good move. A lot of people think she’s the female Hillary Clinton.
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Taxes are due Tuesday. I recommend this: At 11 o’clock Tuesday night, take 20 minutes to make up a bunch of numbers. Put them in an envelope; drive around until you find one of those post offices that are open until midnight. No problem.
Are Hot Pockets deductible?
The state legislature of Florida is supposed to pass a law that would allow citizens to bring concealed weapons to work. Why? I don’t know. Maybe to keep bosses on their toes.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Michelle Obama Like Kim Jong-Il
Senator Barack Obama's wife Michelle is "Kim Jong-Il dressed up with a bit of Oprah Winfrey dressing," according to Mark Steyn, probably the most widely read columnist in North America.
Appearing on CNN Headline News Glenn Beck show on April 10 Steyn also described the Illinois senator's wife as "a conventional university socialist," according to a shocked Media Matters - the ultra-leftist self-proclaimed media watchdog.
Added host Glenn Beck "Her language is riddled with socialism," while opining that with both Obamas "here's a socialist agenda there for America."
On the April 10 edition of CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck show, author and columnist Mark Steyn said of Michelle Obama: "[T]his is [North Korean Communist dictator] Kim Jong-Il dressed up with a bit of Oprah Winfrey dressing." Steyn also called Obama "a conventional university socialist." During the segment, host Glenn Beck said of Mrs. Obama, "Her language is riddled with socialism," and said of the Obamas, "[T]here's a socialist agenda there for America."
According to a transcript of the show, Beck said "Now, I got to move from racism to Marxism, and Obama is still in the center of it. For months I've been telling you, Barack Obama, and more his wife than Barack -- I mean, at least looking at her language -- I believe there's a socialist agenda there for America. And Michelle ain't helping him any. She's adding fuel to the fire. Remember, Michelle is a campaign surrogate for her husband. So he can't be everywhere, so he sends her out to speak for him."
He quoted Michelle as telling some North Carolina voters as saying "The truth is, most Americans don't want much. Folks don't want the whole pie.Most Americans feel blessed to thrive just a little bit. But that's out of reach for them." The truth is, in order to get things like universal health care and revamped education system, then someone is going to have to give up a piece of their pie so someone else can have more."
Said Beck "Well, hello and welcome back, Karl Marx. A redistribution of pie doesn't make me feel any better. Thanks, but no thanks, Michelle. When it comes to pie, or money, I'll take all I can get. I want all my pie. I should be able to keep my pie. And you know what? I want you to have a huge piece of pie, as well. Have the whole thing. It's not because I'm -- I'm selfish, I'm not. Unlike the Obamas, I happen to give away more than 1 percent of my income to charity.
"The bottom line is this: success and money -- it's not finite. This is America. That's not a zero-sum game. There's as much as you feel like working for it. You know, you've got to -- you got to look at money and success as the ocean. It doesn't hurt the ocean to back a dump truck up to it and take a bunch of water out of it. There's more. Stand in line, go get it. Let's stop thinking about pieces of pie, and remember that if you wanted to look at it as pie, this is America. We're a freaking bakery. Bake more. Make as many pies as you want."
Beck noted that Michelle's language is "riddled with socialism."
Steyn agreed, saying "Yeah, I think she's a conventional university socialist. And you're right, I give enough of my pie to the federal government, and they waste most of that pie. So, when she's talking about universal health care and revamping and reforming education, by any reasonable measure, American education is overfunded.
Said Beck "Let me give you this. I'm going to -- you just tell me what we're missing here in Michelle Obama's language. Listen to this. Quote, this is from the UCLA speech she gave, 'And Barack Obama will require you to work. He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism. Put down your division, that you come out of your isolation, that you move out of your comfort zones, that you push yourselves to be better and that you engage. Barack will never allow you to go back to your lives as usual, uninvolved and uninformed.'
Said Steyn "Yes, exactly -- soft, fluffy totalitarianism. The right to be uninvolved, the right to be left alone is one of the most precious rights in a constitutional republic. And if she wants me to shed my cynicism, she's going to have to prize it from my cold, dead, cynical fingers. This is not -- this is Kim Jong-Il dressed up with a bit of Oprah Winfrey dressing. It's unbecoming of an American presidential candidate."
Beck said he wished "these candidates would go back and read the words of the founding fathers. You have a right to fail. You have a right to starve to death -- the government is not the person to come in and tell you how to live your life. If you want to fail -- there are a lot of people that, you know, hold themselves up in the woods in a cabin, like, 'I'm gonna sit here and eat my tin can.' That's exactly what you have a right to do in America."
Steyn answered "Yeah, and that is the most precious right -- and I wouldn't mind if she was saying, we need 300 million self-reliant, engaged citizens out there. But she just wants 300 million cheerleaders, for a messianic president. Sorry, count me out."
Senator Barack Obama's wife Michelle is "Kim Jong-Il dressed up with a bit of Oprah Winfrey dressing," according to Mark Steyn, probably the most widely read columnist in North America.
Appearing on CNN Headline News Glenn Beck show on April 10 Steyn also described the Illinois senator's wife as "a conventional university socialist," according to a shocked Media Matters - the ultra-leftist self-proclaimed media watchdog.
Added host Glenn Beck "Her language is riddled with socialism," while opining that with both Obamas "here's a socialist agenda there for America."
On the April 10 edition of CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck show, author and columnist Mark Steyn said of Michelle Obama: "[T]his is [North Korean Communist dictator] Kim Jong-Il dressed up with a bit of Oprah Winfrey dressing." Steyn also called Obama "a conventional university socialist." During the segment, host Glenn Beck said of Mrs. Obama, "Her language is riddled with socialism," and said of the Obamas, "[T]here's a socialist agenda there for America."
According to a transcript of the show, Beck said "Now, I got to move from racism to Marxism, and Obama is still in the center of it. For months I've been telling you, Barack Obama, and more his wife than Barack -- I mean, at least looking at her language -- I believe there's a socialist agenda there for America. And Michelle ain't helping him any. She's adding fuel to the fire. Remember, Michelle is a campaign surrogate for her husband. So he can't be everywhere, so he sends her out to speak for him."
He quoted Michelle as telling some North Carolina voters as saying "The truth is, most Americans don't want much. Folks don't want the whole pie.Most Americans feel blessed to thrive just a little bit. But that's out of reach for them." The truth is, in order to get things like universal health care and revamped education system, then someone is going to have to give up a piece of their pie so someone else can have more."
Said Beck "Well, hello and welcome back, Karl Marx. A redistribution of pie doesn't make me feel any better. Thanks, but no thanks, Michelle. When it comes to pie, or money, I'll take all I can get. I want all my pie. I should be able to keep my pie. And you know what? I want you to have a huge piece of pie, as well. Have the whole thing. It's not because I'm -- I'm selfish, I'm not. Unlike the Obamas, I happen to give away more than 1 percent of my income to charity.
"The bottom line is this: success and money -- it's not finite. This is America. That's not a zero-sum game. There's as much as you feel like working for it. You know, you've got to -- you got to look at money and success as the ocean. It doesn't hurt the ocean to back a dump truck up to it and take a bunch of water out of it. There's more. Stand in line, go get it. Let's stop thinking about pieces of pie, and remember that if you wanted to look at it as pie, this is America. We're a freaking bakery. Bake more. Make as many pies as you want."
Beck noted that Michelle's language is "riddled with socialism."
Steyn agreed, saying "Yeah, I think she's a conventional university socialist. And you're right, I give enough of my pie to the federal government, and they waste most of that pie. So, when she's talking about universal health care and revamping and reforming education, by any reasonable measure, American education is overfunded.
Said Beck "Let me give you this. I'm going to -- you just tell me what we're missing here in Michelle Obama's language. Listen to this. Quote, this is from the UCLA speech she gave, 'And Barack Obama will require you to work. He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism. Put down your division, that you come out of your isolation, that you move out of your comfort zones, that you push yourselves to be better and that you engage. Barack will never allow you to go back to your lives as usual, uninvolved and uninformed.'
Said Steyn "Yes, exactly -- soft, fluffy totalitarianism. The right to be uninvolved, the right to be left alone is one of the most precious rights in a constitutional republic. And if she wants me to shed my cynicism, she's going to have to prize it from my cold, dead, cynical fingers. This is not -- this is Kim Jong-Il dressed up with a bit of Oprah Winfrey dressing. It's unbecoming of an American presidential candidate."
Beck said he wished "these candidates would go back and read the words of the founding fathers. You have a right to fail. You have a right to starve to death -- the government is not the person to come in and tell you how to live your life. If you want to fail -- there are a lot of people that, you know, hold themselves up in the woods in a cabin, like, 'I'm gonna sit here and eat my tin can.' That's exactly what you have a right to do in America."
Steyn answered "Yeah, and that is the most precious right -- and I wouldn't mind if she was saying, we need 300 million self-reliant, engaged citizens out there. But she just wants 300 million cheerleaders, for a messianic president. Sorry, count me out."
