An In-Law Is Finding Washington to Her Liking
But after three months in the Executive Mansion, Mrs. Robinson is unexpectedly and decidedly savoring her new life.
Jesus Missing From Obama's Georgetown Speech | NBC Washington
Amidst all of the American flags and presidential seals, there was something missing when President Barack Obama gave an economic speech at Georgetown University this week -- Jesus.
The White House asked Georgetown to cover a monogram symbolizing Jesus' name in Gaston Hall, which Obama used for his speech, according to CNSNews.com.
The gold "IHS" monogram inscribed on a pediment in the hall was covered over by a piece of black-painted plywood, and remained covered over the next day, CNSNews.com reported.
EXCLUSIVE: Obama's $500,000 book bonanza
Deal reached 5 days before he took office
As he empathized with recession-weary Americans, President Obama arranged in the days just before he took office to secure a $500,000 advance for a children's book project, a disclosure report shows.
Analysts say there don't appear to be any rules that would bar such transactions after a president takes office, but it's unclear whether an incoming or sitting president has ever signed a book deal upon entering the White House.
The book deal came on top of nearly $2.5 million in book royalties paid to Mr. Obama last year for "Dreams From My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope," according to the Senate report, which was filed by Robert F. Bauer, who served general counsel to Mr. Obama's presidential campaign.
From a House Ethics investigation report, spurred on by Democrat anger over Newt Gingrich's book deal....from the congressional record. The speaker is Joe Moakley, liberal democrat from South Boston on Dec 22 1995.
Mr Moakley: The Ethics Committee made a very strong statement in their report. I want to take this time to read a section of the ethics committee report, and I quote:
"Existing rules permit a member to reap significant and immediate financial benefits appearing to be based primarily on his or her position."
Mr Moakley: At a minimum, this creates the impression of exploiting one’s office for personal gain. Such a perception is especially troubling when it pertains to the office of the Speaker of the House, a constitutional office requiring the highest standards of ethical behavior.
MADRID (AP) — An Iranian woman living in Spain said Wednesday she welcomed a Tehran court ruling that awards her eye-for-an-eye justice against a suitor who blinded her with acid.
Ameneh Bahrami, 30, told Cadena SER radio, "I am not doing this out of revenge, but rather so that the suffering I went through is not repeated."
Late last year an Iranian court ruled that the man — identified only as Majid — who blinded Bahrami in 2004 after she spurned him, should also be blinded with acid based on the Islamic law system of "qisas," or eye-for-an-eye retribution, according to Iranian newspaper reports from November.
But Bahrami, who moved to Spain after the attack to get medical treatment, said Wednesday that under Iranian law, she is entitled to blind him in only one eye, unless she pays euro20,000 ($25,110), because in Iran women are not considered equal to men.
"They have told us that my two eyes are equal to one of his because in my country each man is worth two women. They are not the same," she told Cadena SER.
Bahrami explained that she was now waiting for a letter from the court to go back to Iran for the punishment to be carried out.
Cadenda SER said that after undergoing treatment in Barcelona, Bahrami recovered 40 percent vision in one eye but since then doctors have not been able to prevent her from going totally blind. She also suffered horrific burns to her face, scalp and body.
She says she now survives on euro400 ($500) a month in aid from the Spanish government.
The woman said Majid would be blinded by having several drops of acid put into one eye, whereas she had acid splashed all over her face and other parts of her body.
It was not immediately possible to make contact with Bahrami on Wednesday. No one at the Iranian Embassy was available for comment either.
Two days after the talk, Mr. Gore was sharply criticized for using the data
to make a point about global warming by Roger A. Pielke, Jr., a
political scientist focused on disaster trends and climate policy at
the University of Colorado. Mr. Pielke noted that the Center for
Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters stressed in reports that a
host of factors unrelated to climate caused the enormous rise in
reported disasters (details below).
Officials estimated it would mean about $13 a week more in people's
paychecks when withholding tables are adjusted in late spring. Critics
say that's unlikely to do much to boost consumption.
Obama's Perks: Private Jet, Chef Tax-FreeABC News: Obama's Perks: Private Jet, Chef Tax-Free
I am amazed at the overall feeling of hope being displayed in America during the week before tomorrow's inauguration. I was wondering how this week would be going if it were McCain about to take the Oath of the President of the United States. I seriously doubt it would be causing any blips on blogs, in the media, or in people's hearts. Bono? I think, no! HBO? No way! If anything, AARP probably would have hosted a party in his honor, but Rock Star status? Never! Obama is a frickin' Rock Star!! His speeches are heartfelt and seemingly unrehearsed. He doesn't need rehearsal because he believes what he is saying and he probably wrote it himself. I have heard only one better speaker...Howard Schultz, the founder of Starbucks. The master communicator, Howard is able to paint a picture with words that you can see, feel, and get behind. Obama has that same quality...speaking eloquently and truthfully with no crossed fingers behind his back.
President Obama has galvanized a nation before he has even spent one day in office! He will get the entire west coast up at 6 am to watch this magical day unfold. It feels as if the world is changing, and we are all in the front row to watch it. Better yet, we can help drive it. Will he get everything done? Nope, not even close...but his true victory has already happened...he has re-energized a nation with hope about its future. We already believe the world can change...we are ready to serve when asked.
Okay, this would be expected coming from a Millennial, but heck, I am a Boomer! And better (worse?) yet, a dyed-in-the-wool Republican Boomer! I was one of those converts as soon as Obama announced his candidacy. I was worried when he went up against the Hilary political machine, but somehow justice prevailed. Quick shift in subject...what would this inauguration be like if Hilary had won? I don't think there would be that same feeling of hope, but a whole generation of young women would feel empowered to change their world, and a bunch of us old guys would be pissed off. That polarizing effect was her downfall.
So I am going to bed early so I can get up and watch the spectacle live...no Tivo for this Boomer! Like Michelle says, I am proud again to be an American! You white people just don't get it! Ha ha!
Chow!
what most people don't get is that every since JFK's brains were blown out on national TV, people have been trying to relive and return to that imaginary "Camelot" moment. boomers have been taught they were cheated of so very much by an assasin's bullet. they were cheated and nirvana on earth was just around the corner. boomers have managed to forget everything bad about that time, anything unsavory about that administration in particular, and paint the entire era in a golden light that only yearning memories can conjure up.
fast forward to today. after decades of being spoon fed tabloid stories of hollywood rich and famous, bad boy sports stars, and wannabe Gangstas-cum-rappers, the internet is capable of creating overnight cult status...in timeframes that give PR firms wet dreams. find a pretty face, prop it up with pretty (not necessarily true) PR, and let viral internet marketing do the heavy lifting.
marry this ability to create empty heroes overnight with the gullibility of those who deem themselves cheated of those Camelot years, mix it in with the economic and political difficulties of today, add a dash of hatred that only Bill Maher and Jon Stewart followers can generate, and you have created a void that only a full fledged internet Superstar can fill.
the fact that BHO is considered worthy of Rock Star Status before he has even "cut his first record" is evidence of the successful PR campaign sucked in by the throngs. He is a politician first and foremost; one who has not done anything worthy of accolades. a politician by definition disappoints b/c there is no way to satisfy all constituents. he had no successes in any of his previous political jobs; his sole success was to spend time and energy in one political rung in order to successfully move to the next political rung.
BHO's sole achievement thus far? being the first non-white to be elected president. the fact that he was raised by white grandparents didn't hurt, nor the fact that he went to harvard (mostly white elitist) university. but frankly, with a $600 million war campaign and that an old un-hip hero from a unpopular war was his major competition, even a plain old rock could have been elected. does that fact alone deserve rock star status? maybe. hopefully this will signal to the jesse jacksons and al sharptons of the world that making a living off of racial tensions is an outdated business model. hopefully it will also spell the end for affirmative action quotas everywhere. so i do applaud him for achieving that goal. was the election of a non-white inevitable? of course it was. as is the election of the first non-male president in the near future. i'm glad this particular race barrier has been breached and look forward to the consequences that event will bring to racial equality in this country.
but becoming president of the US hardly justifies embarassing comments like "BHO is a great step forward for humanity", "BHO will unite the world"....what US-centric arrogance. why limit the absurdity? why not "BHO is a bold step forward for all terrestial and non-terrestial life alike"? i think it is safe to assume that a majority of the world doesn't know who BHO is, and a much larger percentage of the world will neither benefit nor suffer from any decision BHO makes during his entire US presidency.
so just like so many self absorbed Rock Stars who think they are more important than they really are, BHO risks falling from grace b/c "Every move he makes...Every bond he breaks...Every step he takes. They'll be watching him". hopefully he doesn't think as much of himself as all the bleating sheep who get their daily doses of his "greatness" by the tabloid press we used to call the nightly news.
galvanized a nation? that might not be such lofty praise. our nation is equally galvanized by britney spears' next haircut and p diddy's next weapons related arrest. BHO has simply successfully exploited the chatterbox that is the internet and created an amazing PR image in the minds of people who have been trained that every major problem is solved by a hero in 60 minutes or less, not counting commercials.
if BHO is only 1/10th as successful as he has already been labeled, then the country is in for some good times. but honestly it is time to put away BHO t-shirts, the BHO dinner plates, the BHO cookies, the BHO coffee blends, the BHO coin sets, and all the ridiculous and embarrassing superlatives uttered by the ditzy Katie Courics and Chris Matthews' of the US non-news and just measure the man by his actions.
end soapbox
Funny thing, I don't feel like I'm in japan. After passing thru
immigration I made my way to the domestic departure area for the Tokyo
to Okinawa leg. After being in real japan for 30 minutes I now feel
like I'm in any ordinary US airport. This waiting area is full of
Americans on their way to Kadena. Tshirts, tennis shoes, baseball
caps over military haircuts, even a cowboy hat or two, and the dead
giveaway...every other word is "f*ck".
China has blocked access to the New York Times Web site, the newspaper said Saturday, days after the central government defended its right to censor online content it deems illegal.
Computer users who logged on in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou received a message that the site was not available when they tried to connect on Friday morning, the paper said. Some users were cut of as early as Thursday evening, it said.
The Web site remained inaccessible from Beijing Saturday.
'Nanny' TV star Drescher seeks Senate seat - USATODAY.comSo the Nanny is competing with Princess Kennedy over Hildawg's warm spot in the senate? Seems ok with me, she's probably more qualified of the three to hold office. With the exception of her recent Hollywood years, she's the only real person in the bunch.
'Nanny' TV star Drescher seeks Senate seat.
I think we need to appoint a Czar of Dead Leaves to handle this urgent
situation, before the US economy collapses from the flood of now
unemployed leaves.
MSNBC Anchor Frets: Why Hasn't Obama's Election Ended Terrorism? --12/2/2008-- Media Research Center
File this one under "Deluded Expectations." During MSNBC's coverage of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, on Thursday, daytime anchor Alex Witt seemed frustrated that the election of Barack Obama 23 days earlier -- and the accompanying "global outpouring of affection, respect, hope" -- had not caused an end to terrorist violence.
Talking with correspondent John Yang, who was covering the Obama side of the story, Witt conceded that while "you certainly can't expect things to change on a dime overnight....There had been such a global outpouring of affection, respect, hope, with the new administration coming in, that precisely these kinds of attacks, it was thought -- at least hoped -- would be dampered down. But in this case it looks like Barack Obama is getting a preview of things to come."
All in all, 31 of the 47 transition or staff posts that Mr Obama has filled so far have gone to people with ties to the Clinton administration, Politico has reported.
Eleven of the 12 members of his Transition Advisory Board are Clinton veterans.
I guess it is what anyone does when they are surprised to find themselves dealing with something they can't handle...you surround yourself with people who claim to have the experience you lack.
So much for all those campaign slogans promising change. Why bring back the old Clinton advisory team? To paraphrase a recent democrat slogan...eight is enough...more than enough of the failed Clinton policies.
In Awed and Hushed Tone, Diane Sawyer Reads Aloud From Obama Essay | NewsBusters.org
In Awed and Hushed Tone, Diane Sawyer Reads Aloud From Obama
In an odd, non-sequitur of a segment, co-host Diane Sawyer kicked off the 8:30 hour of Friday's "Good Morning America" by reading aloud from an essay that President-elect Barack Obama wrote about Abraham Lincoln for a 2005 issue of Time magazine. Stopping the show cold for a minute and 22 seconds, she solemnly began, "...There was something that made us all stop and think. And you know, it's 60 days now. 60 days until the inauguration of a new president."
Then, Sawyer gravely announced that Obama had, in fact, written an essay: "And we saw that President-elect Obama has a favorite photograph, which he looks at. And here are the words that he wrote in Time magazine. An essay." To music that seemed reminiscent of the Ken Burns "Civil War" documentary, with images of Lincoln appearing on screen, the GMA host recited the words of the President-elect's Time article.
National Black Republican Association - DYK-Why MLK was a Republican
It should come as no surprise that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Republican. In that era, almost all black Americans were Republicans. Why? From its founding in 1854 as the anti-slavery party until today, the Republican Party has championed freedom and civil rights for blacks. And as one pundit so succinctly stated, the Democrat Party is as it always has been, the party of the four S's: Slavery, Secession, Segregation and now Socialism.
It was the Democrats who fought to keep blacks in slavery and passed the discriminatory Black Codes and Jim Crow laws. The Democrats started the Ku Klux Klan to lynch and terrorize blacks. The Democrats fought to prevent the passage of every civil rights law beginning with the civil rights laws of the 1860's, and continuing with the civil rights laws of the 1950's and 1960's.
CHICAGO—In a devastating blow to millions of unsuspecting Americans, newly elected president and international con man Barack Obama fled the country Wednesday with nearly $85 million in campaign funds.International Con Man Barack Obama Leaves U.S. With $85 Million In Campaign Fundraising | The Onion - America's Finest News Source
According to FBI investigators, Obama's sudden disappearance was discovered at 6:15 p.m. when the former Illinois senator failed to arrive at a gala event in Lincoln Square, prompting several aides to rush back to his campaign headquarters. At 6:23 p.m., flight logs at O'Hare International Airport confirmed that two passengers, a male carrying two silver briefcases and dressed in a perfectly tailored Brioni tuxedo, and an African-American female wearing a fur coat and speaking in a thick Russian accent, were seen boarding a private plane.
Obama apologizes to Nancy Reagan for 'careless' jokeBen Smith's Blog: Obama apologizes to Nancy Reagan for 'careless' joke - Politico.com
YouTube - Obama Is Going To Pay For My Gas And Mortgage!!!
Senator Barrack Obama’s relatives have congregated at Nyangoma Kogelo village and will remain together until after Tuesday’s US presidential elections.DAILY NATION - Bull awaits Obama win in Kogelo village
They have set aside a bull to slaughter in celebration should the Illinois senator whose father was Kenyan win, according to family spokesperson Mr Malik Abongo.
Meanwhile, I watched with disbelief as the nation’s leading newspapers, many of whom I’d written for in the past, slowly let opinion pieces creep into the news section, and from there onto the front page. Personal opinions and comments that, had they appeared in my stories in 1979, would have gotten my butt kicked by the nearest copy editor, were now standard operating procedure at the New York Times, the Washington Post, and soon after in almost every small town paper in the U.S.Edgelings.com » Editing Their Way to Oblivion: Journalism Sacrificed For Power and Pensions
But what really shattered my faith - and I know the day and place where it happened - was the War in Lebanon three summers ago. The hotel I was staying at in Windhoek, Namibia only carried CNN, a network I’d already learned to approach with skepticism. But this was CNN International, which is even worse. I sat there, first with my jaw hanging down, then actually shouting at the TV, as one field reporter after another reported the carnage of the Israeli attacks on Beirut, with almost no corresponding coverage of the Hezbollah missiles raining down on northern Israel. The reporting was so utterly and shamelessly biased that I sat there for hours watching, assuming that eventually CNNi would get around to telling the rest of the story . . .but it never happened.
But nothing, nothing I’ve seen has matched the media bias on display in the current Presidential campaign. Republicans are justifiably foaming at the mouth over the sheer one-sidedness of the press coverage of the two candidates and their running mates. But in the last few days, even Democrats, who have been gloating over the pass - no, make that shameless support - they’ve gotten from the press, are starting to get uncomfortable as they realize that no one wins in the long run when we don’t have a free and fair press. I was one of the first people in the traditional media to call for the firing of Dan Rather - not because of his phony story, but because he refused to admit his mistake - but, bless him, even Gunga Dan thinks the media is one-sided in this election.
Thirteen campaign workers for Barack Obama yesterday yanked their voter registrations and ballots in Ohio after being warned by a prosecutor that temporary residents can't vote in the battleground state.BAM STAFFERS PULL THEIR BOGUS OHIO BALLOTS - New York Post
A dozen staffers - including Obama Ohio spokeswoman Olivia Alair and James Cadogan, who recently joined Team Obama - signed a form letter asking the Franklin County elections board to pull their names from the rolls.
The letter - a copy of which was obtained by palestra.net, a Fox News affiliate - came a day after prosecutor Ron O'Brien publicly urged out-of-state campaign workers for both Obama and John McCain to "examine your conscience" before the elections board beings begins opening absentee ballots today.
Earlier in the week, O'Brien spoke with lawyers for both camps and urged them to make sure their staffs met permanent-residency rules, or face possible felony charges.
Also pulling his ballot yesterday was Hofstra University grad Jake Smith, an Obama volunteer who had voted in Knox County, Ohio.
On Thursday, O'Brien cut a deal with 13 out-of-staters, including four from New York, who tossed out their already-cast ballots and admitted they didn't meet residency requirements.
At this rate, obvious Hollywood and other media elite might be relegated to the back of the line when "donations" are repaid by an Obama administration. That's after Gadhafi, random Palestinians, and the hosts of "mysterious" $200 patrons get their special favors first.Unlike the McCain campaign, which has made its complete donor
database available online, the Obama campaign has not identified donors
for nearly half the amount he has raised, according to the Center for
Responsive Politics (CRP).
Federal law does not require the campaigns to identify donors
who give less than $200 during the election cycle. However, it does
require that campaigns calculate running totals for each donor and
report them once they go beyond the $200 mark.
Surprisingly, the great majority of Obama donors never break the $200 threshold.
(snip)
“We and seven other watchdog groups asked both campaigns for more
information on small donors,” he said. “The Obama campaign never
responded,” whereas the McCain campaign “makes all its donor
information, including the small donors, available online.”(snip)
A Newsmax analysis of the 1.4 million individual contributions in
the latest master file for the Obama campaign discovered 1,000 separate
entries for Mr. Good Will, most of them for $25.
In total, Mr. Good Will gave $17,375.
(snip)
In June, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi gave a public speech praising Obama, claiming foreign nationals were donating to his campaign.
(snip)
A pair of Palestinian brothers named Hosam and Monir Edwan contributed
more than $31,300 to the Obama campaign in October and November 2007,
FEC records show.
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