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Pop + Politics--15 articles

By: BiodunIginla

Los Angeles : CA : USA | 12 months ago

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by Biodun Iginla, BBC News, Minneapolis and London

Here are the latest updates for biginla@yahoo.com

"Pop + Politics" - 15 new articles

Right Wing Response: Dems Go Crooked

Michael Ramirez cartoon from Investor's Business Daily, Dec. 4

Democrats value politics more than the success of the U.S. auto industry, argue the editors at National Review. Thedeal is more about preserving union jobs and subsidizing hybrid vehicles, and stipulations such as the one that prevents automakers from seeking injunctions against states like California, which has stricter emissions standards than the national average, will make it difficult for the industry to survive. Automakers argue that, after all, they can’t afford to make different cars for different states.

The Blagojevich corruption scandal marks just one of many for Democrats this year, writes Michelle MalkinMichelle Malkin atNational Review. Now it’s Illinois Governor Rod BlagojevichRod Blagojevich, who was arrested on suspicion of numerous counts of pay-to-play deals, including one that would have sold President-elect Barack ObamaBarack Obama’s vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder. But this year other Dems were caught in the act: Democratic Representatives William JeffersonWilliam Jefferson and Charlie Rangel, Detroit Mayor Kwame KilpatrickKwame Kilpatrick, and Massachusetts State Senator Diane Wilkerson, to name a few. The important question for right wing radio personality Hugh Hewitt: how far Obama will be willing to let U.S. Attorney Patrick FitzgeraldPatrick Fitzgerald pursue the Illinois corruption case.

Newsweek’s political agenda is showing, and it’s all rainbow-y. Married writers Mark and Mollie Hemingway tag team the weekly publication, where the cover story makes the “religious case for gay marriage.” Both Hemingways bash theLisa Miller article for getting the Scripture wrong, and Mr. Hemingway points out that the editor’s response to the backlash further demonstrates the magazine’s decision to take a solid political stance.

Obama’s speechwriter would have lost his career if he were Republican, argues Andrew Breitbart at The Washington Times. The image above, which was posted briefly on Facebook, shows 27-year-old Jon FavreauJon Favreau and a buddy groping a cardboard cutout of Senator Hillary Rodham ClintonHillary Rodham Clinton. Dee Dee Myers, who worked for the sex-scandal-stained Clinton administration, expressed outrage at the denigration and humiliation of women, though Ed Morrissey at Hot Airdownplayed the whole incident as a joke.

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Amuse Bouche: The Daily Show’s Take on President Gallant and President Goofus

On Monday’s The Daily Show, Jon StewartJon Stewart asks the question: “Can’t we just have the guy on the left already?” in the “Clusterf#@k to the Poor House—Goofus and Gallant” skit. The guy who he is referring to is President Gallant (a.k.a. Obama) instead of who is currently in charge, President Goofus (a.k.a. Bush). With the economy in shambles, Obama is working on creating stimulus packages while Bush is literally “hanging himself.” After examining the efforts of both presidents, Stewart pleads..”Do we really have to wait until January 20th?”

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c Clusterf#@k to the Poor House - President Goofus and President Gallant

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video
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Daily News Roundup: Cars, Cows & Corruption

Automaker Bailout? Although Congressional Democrats and the White House reached an agreement on the $15 billion government bailout for the automakers industry, the bill faces challenges from House Republicans. The GOP has created their own plan that would help the car companies without the American taxpayers financing it. “Republicans will not allow taxpayers to subsidize failure,” Senator Mitch McConnellMitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican minority leader, said on Wednesday to the New York Times. Other GOP senators said they would use procedural methods to delay the bailout vote.

Will the bailout = no more Saturns? With the automaker deal pending, Saturn fans are concerned that GM will discontinue their line after the company performs a bailout reorganization. Although General Motors hasn’t officially announced the end of Saturn, GM said it would focus its resources on four core brands—Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick and GMC in the plan submitted to Congress. This leaves Saab, Pontiac, Hummer and Saturn hanging on a limb. Saturnfans.com features owners who are speaking out to save their cars. Who knew Saturn had so many loyal fans?

Feeling a little fat during the holiday season? Well, you are not alone. Even the Queen of Daytime Television, Oprah Winfrey, feels like a “fat cow.” Oprah reveals her weight struggles after the scales topped 200 pounds reports CNN. Check out the video.

What does the President-elect say about Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich arrest? According to Barack Obama’s spokesperson, Obama thinks the Governor should resign from office. “The President-elect agrees with Lt. Governor Quinn and many others that under the current circumstances it is difficult for the Governor to effectively do his job and serve the people of Illinois,” spokesman Robert Gibbs said. Will Blagojevich please step down?

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Daily News Roundup: We Luv Corrupt Politicians

Thanks for the wiretaps! Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday on charges that he attempted to sell the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama and illegally withheld assistance for the Tribune Co. until editorial board members from the Chicago Tribune critical of him were fired. The 76-page FBI affidavit is a thing of beauty. It includes Blagojevich and his wife dropping the F-bomb 18 times. For example, Blagojevich says the Senate seat “is a fucking valuable thing, you just don’t give it away for nothing.” The FBI began investigating Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John HarrisJohn Harris, in 2003.

Riots continue in Greece … after Tuesday’s funeral for a teenager who was killed by police on Saturday. Protesters marched in Athens, railing against the government, which holds a one-seat majority in parliament. During the worst riots on Monday night, youths tossed concrete slabs and police officers and destroyed storefronts. Gasoline bombs have been the weapons of choice. Tensions are expected to ease on Wednesday, when a general strike is planned.

Rescuers search for fourth victim in plane crash … The pilot of an F/A-18 fighter jet evacuated safely, but at least three people on the ground were killed when the plane crashed into a densely populated neighborhood in San Diego Monday. The three known victims were a son, mother and grandmother from one family. Rescuers are looking for another infant son. The crash destroyed two houses and damaged three others.

Last place calls for desperation … or is it genius? Jay LenoJay Leno is taking his show to the 10 p.m. time slot for NBC. This means the struggling network, which has been stuck in fourth place in the ratings, will have to produce five fewer hours of original programming each week. Conan O’Brien is taking over Tonight Show duties in June. But Nikki Finke highlights some of the potential problems with the move: 4.8 million viewers isn’t that great for a prime time audience, and will Leno cannibalize O’Brien’s show at 11:30 p.m.?

Don’t have anything nice to say about Bush? Then read this cheat-sheet. The Los Angeles Times reports the White House sent out a two-page memo to Cabinet and other high-ranking officials that highlighted the Bush administration’s accomplishments. It conveniently doesn’t mention the bungling of the Iraq War or the thousands stranded after Hurricane Katrina.

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Tribune Co. Bankrupt in the Bank—and in the Soul

The Tribune Company filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday, in a move to begin restructuring its debt. The Tribune Co., owner of the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, and various television stations, has $7.6 billion in assets and owes $12.79 billion.

The publisher of the Tribune, Tony Hunter, wrote a letter to the paper’s readers, pledging continued service in the face of adversity. In the letter, he worked to convince readers that the debt restructuring would serve them best.

This restructuring is in Tribune’s best long-term interest. It will reduce pressure on our operating businesses, enabling us to pursue our vision of creating a sustainable, cutting-edge media company valued by our readers, viewers, and advertisers, and that plays a vital role in the communities we serve. In turn, this will help ensure our newspaper and online products continue to deliver the news, information and entertainment you can’t get anywhere else. It’s what you expect and what we’ll continue to deliver.

At the Times, publisher Eddy H. Hartenstein also wrote to assure readers everything would be OK at the Tribune Co.

This restructuring is in Tribune’s best long-term interest. It will reduce pressure on our operating businesses, enabling us to pursue our vision of creating a sustainable, cutting-edge media company that is valued by our readers, viewers and advertisers, and that plays a vital role in the communities we serve. That, in turn, will help keep this website showing up on your computer every day, offering you news, information and entertainment you can’t get anywhere else. It’s what you expect and what we’ll continue to deliver.

That’s right, Hunter and Hartenstein’s letters are essentially the same. I wonder what poor schlub in the Tribune Co.’s legal department had to write it?

Let’s take a moment to remember that the publishers of these papers certainly do not have the interests of their readers at heart. Hunter became publisher of the Tribune in late September; Hartenstein, a month before. The Timespublisher’s prior job was with DirecTV.

Sam Zell, the CEO of Tribune, in a letter to staff members, said he was proud of the work everyone at the company had done. “We’ve reduced costs, gained market share, and laid the groundwork for creating a new business model out of traditional media,” he wrote.

There’s no question newspaper companies have to figure out what the “new business model out of tradition media” is. But as Zell writes about Tribune’s “great brands,” he must remember that a brand that is only a shadow of its former self, and is primarily surviving on its name, is hardly a great brand anymore.

Will the Times and Tribune have to cut staff even more in the coming months? Maybe the papers’ publishers need new assistants. After all, those letters to subscribers don’t write themselves. Actually, just one assistant will do.

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Is Obama Bulletproof?

As the first black man elected President of the United States, Barack Obama’s win is unprecedented. But there’s another first associated with him, too.

“I think that’s the first time bulletproof glass was used around a candidate during an acceptance speech,” says Tony DiPonio, the vice-president of operations at Pacific Bulletproof Co., a manufacturer of bullet resistance products.

Viewers at home couldn’t see it, but Obama gave his Nov. 4 victory speech in Chicago’s Grant Park while sandwiched between two-inch thick, 10-feet high, and 15-feet long bullet-resistant glass panels. News crews formed a layer of protection in front of him. Nearly all of the city’s police force worked the crowd around him. Undercover agents were posted in the skyscrapers surrounding the venue. And the air above the President-elect was a designated no-fly zone, minus the numerous police helicopters that dotted the night sky.

Ever since Hillary Clinton alluded to the A-word way back in the primaries and got blasted for it, the possibility of Barack Obama’s assassination has been nestled uncomfortably in people’s minds.

People don’t want to hear or talk about the A-word, which is understandable, given the excitement and optimism Obama has brought to a country on the brink of implosion. But the man will be, after all, the first black president. This consideration was beside the point during his race to the White House—and rightly so—but now that Obama’s crossed the finish line, perhaps it’s time to own up to the real danger that looms over his historic presidency.

The public may prefer to keep hush-hush about any impending threat, but thankfully, the Secret Service seems more than ready to face reality for us. The bulletproof glass is just one step toward protecting Obama.

Is it all overkill? Hardly.

There are nine levels of bulletproof protection, based on the dimensions of the glass used. The highest level used for civilian situations—in banks, fast food restaurants, check cashing stores—is a level three.

“For Obama, they used a level five, which could withstand a 7.62 mm round armor piercing, which you’d see out of a rifle,” says DiPonio. “Thinking a guy’s not going to run up to the podium with a handgun, that’s a smart choice.”

Glass with a level five protection rating also sufficiently shields against the impact of any debris that could fly from an explosion about 10-15 feet away.

DiPonio anticipates that we’ll be seeing more and more of this glass used in these situations.

“From the research I’ve read, a few days after Obama was elected, gun sales went up almost 300 percent,” he says.

In addition, white supremacy groups are claiming that they’ve seen a membership surge since the election. Their website traffic is up. Former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke acknowledged that Obama has emerged as “a visual aid for hate groups.” This has prompted the Secret Service to amp up its protection by arming the President-elect with 30 body guards—24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Obama had already been the target of countless threats and a couple assassination attempts prior to election day, so the public’s insistence on skirting any discussion of the man’s safety is a little negligent, but at least we can rest assured that the Secret Service has stepped up its efforts to have our boy’s back. We may not want to see our next president “on display” in a glass box, but if we want to see him make history on Jan. 20—then so be it.

Photo Source and Source

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Were the Mumbai Terrorists Muslim?

The Mumbai terrorist acts in India’s financial capital left more than 180 people dead and 280 wounded. The Indian and European press is reporting that the violence has sparked widespread debate as to whether the terrorists should be considered and referred to as followers of Islam, but most of the American coverage of the attack is oblivious to what could potentially be a remarkable transformation in the Muslim world.

Immediately after the attacks, several Bollywood stars began to blog about the problem of associating Islam with terrorism. OneIndia’s web site reported that actor Aamir Khan wrote that terrorists are neither people of religion nor people of God.

“When will these politicians realise and admit that terrorists have no religion,” wrote Khan. “Terrorists are not Hindu or Muslim or Christian.”

Further, Khan attributes their actions to mental illness, not Islam.

“They are people who have gone totally sick in their head and have to be dealt with in that manner,” Khan wrote in his blog.

Another Indian news outlet, Rediff India, interviewed Idris Ali, the president of All-India Minority Forum, shortly after the attacks. Ali is well known in India’s Muslim community as an advocate for minority and Islamic issues as well as a harsh opponent of anti-terrorism laws. When asked about the relationship between the events in Mumbai and Islam, Ali said:

“What we must realize is Islam never propagates violence. The word Islam is derived from aslama, which means submission to the supreme power. And submission can never be achieved through bloodshed. Those 10 bloodthirsty men who slaughtered innocent Mumbaikars cannot be the followers of Islam. Had they read the Quran, they would have waved olive branches and not automatic guns.”

Echoing the thoughts of actor Khan, Ali also said, “Fanatics have no religion, terrorists have no creed. The only religion that radicals follow is carnage.”

Many Indians and Islamic believers not only refuse to call the terrorists Muslim but have also denied the dead gunman burial in their cemeteries because in their eyes the men who committed these acts are not Muslims.

In a recent article on India’s NDTV web site, Abdul Razzak, the president of Dawat-e-Islami, an international movement for the propagation of the Quran and Sunnah, is quoted as saying: “The killing of innocents is against Islam. They are bringing shame to 25 crore (or 250 million) Muslims of India. These men are not Muslims. Why should we give th