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11 Dec 2011 11:39

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Politics: The composer mimiced in Rick Perry’s anti-gay ad? “An outspoken gay Jew.”

  • If the ad itself isn’t a big enough gaffe… The background music in the ad has ties to noted composer Aaron Copland, an important 20th-century composer whose “Appalachian Spring” inspired the music that gives Perry’s much-disliked campaign ad its swelling style. (To be clear: That is different from being by Copland; the composer of Perry’s music was lifting the style, not copying Copland verbatim.) Copland represents a number of things Perry speaks against in the ad — particularly, he was gay, Jewish and long-suspected of having Communist leanings, to the point where he once had to testify in front of Congress that he wasn’t a Communist. Not the best idea, Rick. But neither was the ad. (thanks marcushere; photo via Library of Congress) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

10 Dec 2011 10:11

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Politics: Could Herman Cain’s next stop be Fox News commentator?

  • What might be next for Herman Cain? Because I have no doubt that there is a TV-radio future if you wanted one.
  • Sean Hannity • Discussing what Herman Cain should do next, now that he’s suspended his presidential campaign. Hannity had Cain on his show Thursday night, his first TV appearance since he suspended his campaign amidst allegations of a long-term sexual affair about a week ago. He has since endorsed Newt Gingrich. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

08 Dec 2011 19:29

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Politics: Donald Trump-moderated debate will be a lonely affair

  • 2 GOP candidates will attend the Donald Trump debate source
  • » It only takes two to tango: The Newsmax-hosted, Donald Trump-moderated Republican debate later this month will feature only Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum, as Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann have all declined to attend. This is somewhat embarrassing for Trump and Gingrich, although Santorum could stand to benefit from going toe-to-toe with this month’s frontrunner. Question: Was Gary Johnson, who always complains about not being invited to these things, invited?
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

08 Dec 2011 15:10

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Politics: Senate GOP blocks vote on Cordray CFPB nomination

  • It’s not about Richard Cordray. That has become abundantly clear in the recent political jockeying over President Obama’s efforts to appoint a head to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which came into existence via the Dodd-Frank financial reform law from 2010. Republicans have made it clear their reason for this blockage isn’t so much Cordray himself, who was a quite popular Attorney General in Ohio, but rather the structure of the bureau itself; they want a board to be in charge, as opposed to a single director, which many Democrats have dismissed as a means of muddying or weakening the bureau’s regulatory ability. In any event, the final vote tally was 53 yeas, 45 nays, which due to the Republican vow to filibuster the nomination is insufficient (a 60 vote super-majority is required to override the filibuster process). source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

07 Dec 2011 19:00

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Politics: Guess we’ve gotta remark on this new Rick Perry ad

  • Rick Perry, jockeying for the anti-gay vote: This ad, called “Strong,” has the Texas governor promising to end the Obama administration’s “war on religion” and touting his commitment to Christianity. “Something’s wrong in this country when gays can serve openly in the military,” Perry says, “but our kids can’t openly celebrate Christmas, or pray in school.” It’s unclear what policies President Obama has put in place to deny kids the right to openly celebrate Christmas. As of this writing, the video has 675 likes and 26,650 dislikes. source
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

07 Dec 2011 17:51

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Politics: Gingrich and Pelosi, reachin’ across the aisle

  • 418 bills co-sponsored by Nancy Pelosi and Newt Gingrich source
  • » Bipartisan support: For twelve years, Pelosi and Gingrich served together in the House of Representatives, and supported a total of 418 bills together. That’s an average of 34.83 pieces of legislation per year that enjoyed Pelosi/Gingrich support (at least, that’s what our team of math experts tells us; we didn’t have time to check their work). One such bill was the Global Warming Prevention act of 1989, the memory of which probably won’t do Gingrich any favors in the Republican primary (relatedly, neither will this). It should be noted, however, that much of this was non-contentious legislation, such as one honoring the 50th anniversary of the National Heart, Lung and Blood instituted.
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

07 Dec 2011 15:10

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Politics: Corruption in the Illinois governor’s office is not uncommon

  • nine different governors of Illinois have served since 1961
  • four have been convicted and sent to prison — that’s 44% source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

07 Dec 2011 14:48

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Politics: Rep. Peter King not sold on Gingrich candidacy

  • You know there is enough crises in the world, without inflicting crisis on ourselves. Or again, I keep saying ‘putting himself at the center’. The reason the Republicans lost the government shut down debate with President Clinton in 1995, is because Newt gave the impression it was all about being made to get off of Air Force One. I meant, that’s how he puts himself at the center of everything.
  • Rep. Peter King • Expressing his doubts about the prospect of a Newt Gingrich nomination or presidency. King is an extremely conservative member of congress, and served under the Gingrich speakership in the 1990s. It’s comments like these that give voters and analysts reason to pause when considering the Newt 2012 effort, as various figures within the GOP establishment do seem to have serious doubts about Gingrich’s suitability to the Presidency, and his legacy in Republican politics. Gingrich is well aware of this, too; when the House in 1998 voted to reprimand him over ethics charges, 196 Republican congressman voted against him. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Dec 2011 21:25

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Politics: Jon Huntsman turns tail on climate change rhetoric

  • There is — there are questions about the validity of the science, evidenced by one university over in Scotland recently. I think the onus is on the scientific community to provide more in the way of information, to help clarify the situation.
  • Jon Huntsman • Betraying his earlier stance on climate change, which had won him some respect in environmentally-minded quarters. To be clear, this is in stark contradiction to the Jon Huntsman of months past. For instance, in August: “To be clear, I believe in evolution and trust scientists on global warming. Call me crazy.” Honestly, we’re surprised by this. Huntsman’s prior stance impressed us, despite a very skeptical GOP base. We thought his conviction on this issue was pretty strong, especially as he voiced it during a televised debate, but now it seems he’s flip-flopped to add juice to a recent polling uptick. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Dec 2011 15:41

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Politics: Rick Perry attacks Obama over support for LGBT human rights

  • Just when you thought Barack Obama couldn’t get any more out of touch with America’s values, AP reports his administration wants to make foreign aid decisions based on gay rights. …This administration’s war on traditional American values must stop.
  • A statement by Rick Perry • Criticizing President Obama over a memorandum he issued today, which stated broad support for advancing LGBT rights and protecting them from violence. It explicitly mentions the efforts of foreign governments to criminalize LGBT persons (the state of affairs in Uganda the last few years being one such galling example), and states that foreign aid will be directed to promote LGBT human rights. Rick Perry (clearly attempting to spark some momentum for his flat-lined bid for the GOP presidential nomination), decided to pounce, saying further: “Investing tax dollars promoting a lifestyle many Americas of faith find so deeply objectionable is wrong. President Obama has again mistaken America’s tolerance for different lifestyles with an endorsement of those lifestyles. I will not make that mistake.” source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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