OBAMAMANIA: bringing politics to hollywood's vips

In hoping to influence the entertainment industry' s (politically minded and) influential, Obama took his campaign message to the posh Hollywood club, Boulevard3 last Satuday night.

And what an appropriate place that was, a night club frequented by most of those (of the likes of those) in attendance.

Variety reported, "It was not the Paris Hilton crowd, but this was a decidedly younger, looser group of entertainment industry professionals -- actors, producers and managers in their late 20s and 30s -- who came to hear Obama's inspirational message. [...] "

Additionally, guests paid an entrance fee of $500 (suppsosedly a bargain for those types of events) which raised Obama a hefty $300,000. What a way to hit two birds with one stone. Obama raised some bucks and brought his message to the entertainment's influential (with a martini in hand, jusst kidding?)


Obama Campaign Takes Message To Hollywood's VIP Booths [defamer.com]

A woman of many tongues

Critic and comedian eyeballs have been on presidential hopeful Hilary Clinton for something quite odd. Apparently Hillary has been using a Southern accent like an on and off switch. When confronted with her tendency she responded with something even more ridiculous.

"I think America is ready for a multilingual president," Clinton said during a campaign stop at a charter school in Greenville.

...*cricket cricket*...

For starters, multilingual refers to the ability to speak more than one language. Secondly, accent is NOT a language. When it comes down to it, she's been fronting a fake accent to fit in with her audience. It's pretty amusing actually. And I'm sure she used that whole "multilingual" excuse to save face. What she needs to do is be real.

It's a little annoying how CNN has referred to her as a "linguistic polyglot", whatever that is. She's not a master of multi languages just because she can fake an accent!

A video for your musing:





Clinton: Speaking Southern a virture, not a vice [CNN.com]

Barack Obama aka Barry O'Bomber is cool

Found an article about Barack Obama's wonder years and thought it was pretty interesting. Friends and teachers of Barack (or Barry O'bomber as his friends would call him for his jump shot) reminisce about the boy they knew as being very charismatic and personable.

Apparently Obama was really into basketball and even played for his school team. Though he later admits that he wasn't very good, his former coach said that he was the most dedicated often times spending his spare time shooting hoops (even with books in one hand!) Basketball may have been something closer to him than just a hobby, as he is said to have always had a basketball with him (one particular which was given to him by his absent father). Two of Obama's former teammates later recall the name of their little group, the"Rat-ballers". While the name is somewhat odd, to me it shows how they were just a fun group of three buddies who loved to play ball.

Aside from basketball, Obama was obviously a star student. He often impressed his peers with his debating skills, and his teachers with his talent in communicating. After high school, he attened Columbia University, and later Harvard Law School. From there Obama made his way up to Senate, and next on his journey...presidency of the United States??

Years later, Obama's old basketball coach remembers seeing him last. Not wanting to bother him, he stayed in the crowd. Obama approached him and started friendly conversation. His other teacher has also said he and Obama still exchange emails (and he's pretty prompt at responding according to him). What a cool guy.

The 'Rat-Ballers': Obama's High School Crew [abcnews]

There are no words...

...for the pictures that are to follow. Proceed with caution!

This morning, President Bush participated in Malaria Awareness Day in a Rose Garden Ceremony. Apparently this also included dancing with with African Sengalese performers.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

Is this LEGAL?!

More at Shakesville

Man awards Bush with Purple Heart

Vietnam veteran and Purple Heart recipient Bill Thomas and his wife Georgia have decided to award President Bush with a Purple Heart in D.C. Why? Because the pair feels that the verbal attacks and emotional wounds that Bush has had to endure during his time in office are comparable to those suffered physically.

According to the Kileen Daily Herald, "[t]he medal was awarded to Thomas on Dec. 18, 1965, following injuries he sustained while serving in heavy combat with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam."

Originally intending to have the Purple Heart forwarded to Bush, upon hearing of the news Bush was moved and wanted Thomas to present it in person.

"I feel the President deserved one," he said. "The bottom line is, I paid for these Purple Hearts with my blood."

I guess he earned the medal and is thus free to choose what he wants to do with it. But to award it to the President, who has sent so many fallen soldiers out to war just seems a little uncanny. It's a nice deed, but still a little weird to me.

More at Wonkette.com

Giuliani goes FRIENDS ONLY

MySpace nowadays seems to be the biggest "it" thing that everyone MUST have. Heck I even have one. Presidential candidate hopefulls are no exception.

Apparently Mr. Rudy also has a myspace, but unlike his other running mates' pages, his is set to PRIVATE. This means that you must request him to add you as a friend before you are able to view the entire contents of his page. Why the heck would he do that?

Here's proof:

If by setting up a MySpace Rudy hoped to advance his campaign, it's failing miserably by being private.

Then again, people make these type of "faker" accounts all the time, and this may not be Giuliani's afterall. But the same still holds true, if this is a site to help the Giuliani campaign, it's still not helping out the effort.

More at Wonkette.com

i love political cartoons

So sad...
...but so true

More at MSNBC.com

Sanjaya is going to D.C.!

This week's American Idol evictee is going to Washington, D.C. for this weekends' White House Correspondents Association Dinner. Apparently People magazine was able to snag him to attend.

Sanjaya Malakar was by far the American Idol hopeful that America loved to hate. Why? Who knows. I mean, who wouldn't love a contestant who couldn't sing half as well as everyone else on the show, who also sported the zaniest hair dos, and whom people vowed to go on hunger strikes to get him off the show?

Why he was asked to attend the White House dinner gala is even more puzzling to me. Pretty random if you ask me.

Sanjaya Coming to D.C. [The Washington Post]

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Abortion Ban 5-4

The Supreme Court upheld the nation wide ban on partial birth abortions today with a 5-4 decision. This marks the first prohibition on a specific type of abortion since the Roe decision in 1973, which legalized abortions as a woman's right to choose nationwide.

The liberal justices dissented, stating that the ban goes against abortion rights, especially since the partial birth abortion occurs in the second trimester (done after the 16th week [abortionrights.com]). Roe states that abortions are permitted until the 28th week, when babies are said to be able to live outside the womb.

The majority ruled that the prohibition does not violate a woman's right to choose.

"The 5-4 decision written by Justice Anthony Kennedy said the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act that Congress passed and President Bush signed into law in 2003 does not violate a woman's constitutional right to an abortion."

Though this may have opened the door to potential controversy, and more attacks on Roe, I'm glad that this particular form of abortion has been banned. After reading up on the procedure, it appears to be a very gruesome and inhumane. The baby, very much formed at 12 weeks, is essentially poisoned with a salt concentration/solution, and a day later the mother delivers a dead baby pulling it feet first and stabbing it in the skull.

If a woman is contemplating abortion, they should do so before the baby is so developed. I personally to not believe in abortion, but if it is to be done, it should occur within a period of time where the baby is not developed enough to experience great pain such as being poisoned. In the end, I agree with the ban...and if I had it my way, abortions would not be allowed. If any changes to the decision of Roe were to be made, the period of time when abortions are permissible should be earlier in the development of the unborn fetus.

click link to watch a msnbc.com video explaining today's ruling:
http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?g=2b28a88d-29a5-4627-a25b-63569ad19fe9&f=00&fg=copy

click for full article from msnbc.com

Gunman identified

Cho Seung-Hui, a 23 year old senior at Virginia Tech, has been identified as the gunman behind the thirty-three person massacre on Monday, April 16th 2007. Seung-Hui immigrated to the United States from South Korea in 1992, and resided with his family in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. The family's neighbors described the gunman as very quiet, and unresponsive when greeted. Such was the case at his university as he had been labeled a loner by fellow peers, and even faculty.

“He was a loner, and we’re having difficulty finding information about him,” said Larry Hincker, the university’s associate vice president for community relations. [msnbc.com article]

Concern had also been described as being troubled by a director of the creative writing department. Cho had also been referred to counselling services, the results of which are unknown.

After taking some time to think about this, I believe there are two possible consequences as an outcome of this event. Firstly, the issue of gun control may go under greater scrutiny. Presidential hopefuls will need to analyze their view points more carefully at this point, because although gun violence occurs everyday, it rarely occurs in such mass proportions to raise national concern. Just as I am writing this, I have already found an article depicting world outcry and condemnation toward the United States "lax gun controls".

As one editorial expressed, “[w]hy, we ask, do Americans continue to tolerate gun laws and a culture that seems to condemn thousands of innocents to death every year, when presumably, tougher restrictions, such as those in force in European countries, could at least reduce the number?”

How much an effect the world condemnation has on our gun control policy, we shall find out.

Secondly, I feel (and cross my fingers that it does not occur) that discrimination toward those of asian descent, especially those who are immigrants to this country, may rise. We've seen it happen as part of the aftermath of 9/11. Those were of similar race or religion to those terrorists were themselves depicted as such. Many innocent people were accussed and discriminated against because of the mass and disturbing actions of few who only look similar. I sincerely hope that the same does not occur as a result of this event. It doesn't look to good based on the fact that the handful of articles I have read about the gunman depicted him as a prototype of a sterotypical Asian (very Asian name, Asian look, quiet, and to himself).

Campus Shootings At Virginia Tech

As I'm sure most of you are aware, there was a shooting rampage on the campus of Virginia Tech which occurred earlier this Monday morning. A tremendous thirty-three people have been reported killed, including the gunman (whom shot himself in the face shortly after the massacre) himself. Fifteen other victims are being treated for various injurious.

According to msnbc.com, "The rampage began about 7:15 a.m. ET at West Ambler Johnston, a coeducational residence hall that houses 895 people. The gunman, armed with a 9-mm pistol and a .22-caliber handgun, killed a man and a woman there before making his way to Norris Hall, an engineering classroom building about a half-mile away on the opposite end of the 2,600-acre campus."

At Norris Hall, thirty-two victims were killed. Upon arriving at the scene, Police were met by a chained front entrace; the gunman chained the doors shut to prevent anyone from coming in or out of the building. After forcing their way in, the wounded and killed victims were found.

"The first e-mail warning to students and employees did not go out to students, faculty and staff until 9:26 a.m., more than two hours after the shooting at the dormitory, according to the time stamps on copies obtained by NBC News. By then, the classroom shooting was under way. The message warned students to be cautious but did not warn them not to go to class."

Today's events struck a personal cord with me. When I first heard of the news, I myself was in class in a large lecture hall like those who were slain. To think that something like this could happen, and at such massive proportions, is almost unbelieveable and has instilled a sense of vulnerability within myself and I'm sure several other college campus students across the nation. I can't help but feel that the deaths of those thirty-one students at Norris Hall could have been prevented had the students and staff been made aware of the earlier shooting at the dormitory. Crisises such as gun shootings, especially if a gunman is still at large, should be taken very seriously at (as should have been the case at this University). If I had it my way, classes would have been dismissed for the day, and people evacuated at the slight chance of more danger for the students, faculty and staff. Unfortunately, such was not the case and students were instructed to only be "cautious".

____

Side note:

The same article mentions that at a planned, "convocation for Tuesday at the Cassell Coliseum basketball arena, (which) White House officials said President Bush was considering attending."

Instead of considering, I think that Bush should just go. This event has been exposed from every corner of the nation by the media, and has made everyone feel a little less safe about their own safety or the safety of their children on their school campuses. His prescence may give those affected by the shootings a sense of care, to only consider going does not say much.

When he's not hunting birds...

...he hits them with his plane! Tough luck for the poor bird who flew into the engine of Vice President Dick Cheney's aircraft on this Friday the 13th.

On his way to Chicago to address conservatives at Heritage Foundation's annual leadership conference, Cheney's aircraft hit a bird upon landing. Cheney was not aware of the accident until after he spoke at the event.

All the while at the conference, Cheney attacked democrats especially hard for their micromanagement approach to the war in Iraq.

"In Iraq, above all, the Democrats' attempt to micromanage our commanders is an unwise and perilous endeavor," Cheney said. "It is impossible to argue that an unconditional timetable for retreat could serve the security interests of the United States or our friends in the region. Instead, it sends a message to our enemies that the calendar is their friend, that all they have to do is wait us out - wait for the date certain, and then claim victory the day after."

Sounds better to me than to continue a war that more than half the nation has no idea why we're in anymore. I think it's about time to begin that retreat.


Read more at CBS2Chicago.com

Read more at MSNBC.com

Horse Rescue > Terror Alert Elevated

This was too funny to not share. Browsing over at Wonkette.com, I came across this screen shot of none other than FOX News. Apparently the breaking news of the day involved a horse...stuck in mud.

What's extra amusing is whats pictured scrolling at the bottom of the shot. Apparently getting that darn horse out of the mud was way more important than the fact the country's terror alert had been elevated (once again).

Oh the irony.

Blair joining the racist bandwagon with Imus?

We began the week with Imus' comment on nappy headed ho's, and now we end it with Prime Minister Blair claiming the Black community a source of murderers. Blair has pointed the finger to the Black community (and culture) for the recent upsurge of knife and gun related murders in London. Choosing to ditch being politically correct, Blair has stated that the violence could only be stopped if people stopped denying that the black kids are up to no good.

To back himself up (so as not to look entirely like a prick) Blair claimed that he had been moved to make such comments after speaking to a Black pastor regarding the current situation at hand (Emphasis on "Black").

As stated in the Guardian Unlimited, "Mr Blair said he had been moved to make his controversial remarks after speaking to a black pastor of a London church at a Downing Street knife crime summit, who said: 'When are we going to start saying this is a problem amongst a section of the black community and not, for reasons of political correctness, pretend that this is nothing to do with it?' Mr Blair said there needed to be an 'intense police focus' on the minority of young black Britons behind the gun and knife attacks. The laws on knife and gun gangs needed to be toughened and the ringleaders 'taken out of circulation'."

Oh okay Tony, it's okay to sound ignorant because you're stating the facts, AND you got the "OK" by a black pastor. Okay, I get it now, you're excused.

Read more.

Hit & Miss: Giuliani Right on Gas Prices, Wrong on Bread & Milk

Article & picture from: The Huffington Post

Click for MSNBC.com video

Looks like someone hasn't been to the grocery store lately! When asked about the prices of bread and milk (basic necessities in many American households) during his Tueday campaigning in Alabama, Giuliani delievered blind, and more so clueless answers.

"A gallon of milk is probably about a $1.50, a loaf of bread about a $1.25, $1.30," he said.

These prices may have been the case ages ago. American shoppers nowadays are faced with higher prices for such items as bread and milk, thus showing that Rudy may be a little out of tune with average Americans he hopes to serve one day as president.

As reported by MSNBC.com, "a check of the Web site for D'Agostino supermarket on Manhattan's Upper East Side showed a gallon of milk priced at $4.19 and a loaf of white bread at $2.99 to $3.39."

On the other hand, Giuliani hit the nail on the head when asked about the price of gas.

"Gas, I think, is $2.89," he said.

Ouch.

---

On another note, I think it's pretty amusing how such little mistakes made by presidential candidate hopefuls are magnified so much by the media. In this case, I guess Giuliani's mistake may have shown how he is out of synch with the average American. But over answering the wrong prices of grocery food items? Really?

Gore's Live Earth: Raising Awareness of our "Planetary Emergency"

Former Vice President turned Environmental Campaigner Al Gore hopes to raise universal awareness on the the dire issue of global warming through a live concert event dubbed "Live Earth".

The 24 hour Live Earth event is set for July 7, 2007, with a series of concerts held in 7 different locations including Johannesburg, London, New Jersey, Rio de Janeiro, Shanghai, Sydney and Tokyo. Both Madonna and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are already scheduled to play in London.

"It will be profitable for us. People who make the change to less pollution are going to find that their lives are better, the jobs are better."

"But we have to really make a commitment to this change, and that's what the Live Earth concert is really designed to symbolize and kick off."

While the tremendous size and roster headliner acts at Live Earth is sure to raise global awareness to purpose, I also believe that conducting such an event is a great way to expose the youger generations to the issue at hand as well. This upcoming generation, afterall, will inherit the world in which we live today. Previous knowledge and awareness of the global warming problem will only help them to prepare for future actions on their behalf.

Some bloggers have already attacked the event, however. According to CNN.com, "A handful of complaints about Live Earth have already surfaced on the Internet, with bloggers questioning whether pop stars and their taste for conspicuous consumption are the best advocates for cutting fossil fuel emissions".

In response, I still believe that utilizing famous musical artists as advocates is an overall good idea in objective of bringing wider attention to the global warming issue. To narrow down on consumption of these celebrities would be ignorant and missing the point of their participation. We live in a country of excess (for example, larger portions and rates of obesity, and easily dying trends and technology causing everyone to seek and consume more and more) in which most everyone is involved.

What's more important is that the word is out there, that our planet and the lives of our future generations are endangered, and that something must be done to alleviate this planertary crisis.

CNN.com article.

Giuliani on Abortions: Leave It Up to the Judges

In a recent article from CNN.com, Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani's support for abortion rights has raised concerns for social conservatives (in the GOP base) whom have large influence in the nomination process for presidential hopefuls.

As reported in a widely distributed speech in 1998, Giuliani pushed for public funding of abortions for poor women. When "asked by Bash if he would maintain that position as president, Giuliani said 'probably.'"

To save face on such a stance, Giuliani has left the responsibility of determining abortion's constitutionality to a constructionist federal bench."

In a bid to assuage them, he has vowed to nominate 'strict constructionist' judges to the federal bench who, he says, would interpret the constitutionality of laws, rather than legislate their own views from the bench."

If decided a constitutional right, Giuliani will continue to support legalized abortion for the sake of protecting that right. Sounds like Giuliani, while sticking to his support of abortion, is using a defense mechanism against his contesting fellow conservatives by leaving it up to the bench to call the shots on whether or not abortion should be a protected constituitional right...or rather, to clean up this mess for him.

---

In other news, welcome to my blog! Today marks the commencement of Melissa's Political Ramblings. Cheers.