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03 Feb 2011 22:11

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Politics: Redskins owner Dan Snyder learns about Streisand Effect

  • After another losing season in which your recently acquired $78 million over-the-hill quarterback got benched and your corpulent $100 million defensive lineman simply refused to play, it is heartening to see you focusing your resources on trying to punish a newspaper. Yes, it may be a dreadfully arrogant and stupid thing to do. But the point is, you seem to want to do it. And believe me, what makes you happy makes me happy.
  • Washington Post columnist (and supergenius) Gene Weingarten • Writing about Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder’s decision to sue the Washington City Paper for publishing this article about him. The piece, a mostly-hilarious thing that suggests severe mismanagement of a beloved franchise, angered Snyder so much that he fought for the firing of the person who wrote the article about him. So… just to be clear, guys, Snyder just sued an alt-weekly for writing an article about him nobody outside of DC would’ve seen, or anyone inside of DC would have remembered, had he just taken it for what it was – an attempt to poke fun at an unpopular sports personality. Streisand effect, 1, Dan Snyder, 0.  source

03 Feb 2011 13:14

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Politics: Rep. Frank puts 2012 retirement rumors to rest

  • YES Barney Frank wants two more years source

02 Feb 2011 14:16

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Politics: Why Barack Obama may not be so happy just now

  • By disclosing information about corruption, human rights abuses and war crimes, WikiLeaks is a natural contender for the Nobel Peace Prize.
  • Norwegian MP Snorre Valen • As all members of national parliaments can make nominations for the Peace Prize winner, Valen bestowed this honor upon the WikiLeaks organization. The Nobel committee has declined to offer further comment. The news is likely to the intense chagrin of former winner Barack Obama. source

02 Feb 2011 13:07

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Politics: Taco Bell responds to ground beef lawsuit, insists it’s mostly beef

  • 88% ground beef in our tacos, says Taco Bell source
  • » So now we have a number on record: You may remember when we commented on Taco Bell’s impending lawsuit over the “proprietary blend” that they sell in their beef tacos. The company has since begun mounting their defense, claiming their meatish mixture is in fact 88% ground beef, 12% secret recipe. This is a big distance from the lawsuit’s allegation, which places the real beef figure at 35%. We’re waiting with baited breath on this one.

01 Feb 2011 21:42

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Politics: Obama on Mubarak: Barack is still speaking in code about Egypt

  • An orderly transition must be meaningful, it must be peaceful, and it must begin now.
  • President Obama • Speaking tonight about Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s plan to not run for re-election this year, a decision that his administration pushed – to the point where a diplomat reportedly came to visit Mubarak in Egypt. Obama also had this to say about the country’s forthcoming election process: “Furthermore, the process must include a broad spectrum of Egyptian voices and opposition parties. It should lead to elections that are free and fair. And it should result in a government that’s not only grounded in democratic principles but is also responsive to the aspirations of the Egyptian people.” A little clearer than he has been recently regarding Egypt, but our boy’s still speaking in code a little. Criticize the guy if you mean to criticize him! source

01 Feb 2011 13:17

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Politics: Barbara Bush (Dubya’s daughter) joins campaign for gay marriage

  • It seems like only yesterday: It was 2004, and George W. Bush proposed a constitutional gay marriage ban in all fifty states as a reelection issue, under the supervision of his campaign manager Ken Mehlman. Now Mehlman is openly gay, Bush has said he has no interest in politics, and his daughter is cutting commercials for New Yorkers for Marriage Equality. Maybe things do have a way of working out in the end? source

01 Feb 2011 11:03

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Politics: Top military dude Adm. Mike Mullen: Great work, Egyptian military

  • So far, the Egyptian military have handled themselves exceptionally well. You can see that just from the pictures that have been displayed, in terms of how they have been accepted by their people.
  • Adm. Mike Mullen • Giving the kind of unguarded praise towards something in Egypt that we haven’t really seen lately from the Obama administration. But here’s some praise for the Egyptian military from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, via a podcast. Don’t hide it in code, Obama administration. Say what you mean. source
 

31 Jan 2011 21:46

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Politics: The RNC’s big bills: Michael Steele, what hast thou wrought?!

  • $23 million owed by the RNC to lenders and vendors source

31 Jan 2011 21:33

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Politics: Mitch Daniels close to decision on presidential run

  • I don’t think that I’ve waited too long, but I believe I should come to some decision. There are a lot of people waiting and I owe them an answer.
  • Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels • On running for President in 2012. Daniels is a favorite amongst both fiscal conservatives and the Republican establishment, having served at the head of George W. Bush’s Office of Management and Budget. His low-key (read: bland) personality and moderate views on social issues could cause him trouble in a GOP primary, but he’s arguable stronger against Obama than almost any other GOP prospect. He recently won a Washington straw poll, which would be encouraging for him if Washington had any sway in Republican Presidential primaries. source

31 Jan 2011 14:24

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Politics: ElBaradei critical of U.S. calls for Mubarak to start democratic reforms

  • The American government cannot ask the Egyptian people to believe that a dictator who has been in power for 30 years would be the one to implement democracy. This is a farce.
  • Mohamed ElBaradei • The would-be transitional leader of Egypt’s uprising against Hosni Mubarak came out forcefully against U.S. tact on the matter, speaking on CBS’ “Face The Nation.” President Obama and his government have absorbed much criticism over their failure to lend practical and philosophical support to Egypt’s opposition movement, and ElBaradei has given a prominent Egyptian face to these complaints. source