December 29, 2013

George H.W. Bush: Read My Lips, I Dig Cheerleaders!

George Bush was like a kid in a candy shop at the Houston Texans football game this weekend ... where the 89-year-old found himself drowning in a sea of Texans cheerleaders.

#41 had a big 'ol smile plastered across his face as he met several members of the Texans cheer squad, who happened to be dressed in naughty little Santa outfits.

Bush definitely has a thing for attractive women -- back in 2009, he had a bikini birthday party with some physically fit thespians.



http://www.tmz.com/2013/12/25/george-bush-read-my-lips-i-still-dig-cheerleaders/#ixzz2ouONQTgB

December 29, 2013

Congress desperate to pin Benghazi on al Qaeda

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI), chairman of House Intelligence Committee, on Sunday cast doubt on the New York Times article that claimed that there is no evidence that al Qaeda had a role in the attack on the American consulate in Benghazi.

"I don't think it's complete," Schiff said of the report on "Fox News Sunday."

While Schiff conceded that the report provides some insight into the Benghazi attack, he said it doesn't conclude for sure whether al Qaeda was fully responsible or not involved at all.

"I don't think either paradigm is really accurate here," he said. "Intelligence indicates al Qaeda was involved."

The Times investigation found that the attack was spurred in part by an American anti-Islamic video, a claim with which Rogers disagreed.

"I dispute that, and the intelligence community, to a large volume, disputes that," he said on "Fox News Sunday."

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/benghazi-new-york-times-report-schiff

December 29, 2013

Political Predictions for 2014

1. Republicans will keep the House and fall short in the Senate.

2. Democrats will score big wins in key state governorships but will lose Arkansas.

3. Mitch McConnell will survive the primary but pledge to kill Obamacare will cost him a very narrow defeat in the general.

4. Potential upsets: Arizona Governor, South Senate, Colorado Governorship

5. Continued scrutiny of Chris Christie will cause him to sour in the minds of Republicans and voters at-large.

6. Right wing press will hound NYC mayor Bill de Blasio just like they did with Pres. Obama. As a result, he will enter 2015 with low ratings.

7. Gavin Newson will be handily re-elected Lt. Gov. of California and that, along with his early support for marriage equality will set him up for higher office in the near future.

8. Nancy Pelosi will announce her retirement as Minority Leader and Member of Congress after Election Day.

9. Hillary Clinton will campaign for Dems around the country and her fundraising power will solidify her place as front runner for president.

10. Obamacare will continue to have successes and setbacks, but will fade as an issue more people keep signing up. However, it will still be a problem getting young people to sign up.

11. Pennsylvania Republicans will find a way to get Gov. Corbitt off the ballot.

December 29, 2013

Man huffing propane ignites self, house

A man burned himself and his home Sunday night after he passed out from allegedly huffing propane.

The fire occurred about 9:30 p.m. on Cassville Road, with Bartow County Fire Department stations 1, 2 and 12 responding.

According to the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office incident report, Battalion Chief Sandy Turner said the fire was suspicious based on a witness’ statement. The witness said the victim, known only as James, was huffing propane and passed out, leaving the valve on the propane bottle open.

When the victim woke up, he reportedly wanted a cigarette. Lighting the cigarette caused the fire.

The victim was transported to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital for treatment.


http://www.daily-tribune.com/view/full_story/24280523/article-Man-huffing-propane-ignites-self--house?instance=most_popular

December 28, 2013

Two arrested after "Ten Commandments" argument turns violent.

A discussion about the Bible and the Ten Commandments ended Saturday in a bloody domestic dispute at a Cartersville motel.

Police were called about 1 a.m. to a Crown Inn motel room at 1214 N. Tennessee St. in Cartersville, with the original call a 911 hangup, according to the Cartersville Police Department incident report, above.

When an officer arrived, he noticed fresh blood on the carpet and a bloody towel in the sink. The occupants of the room, Carolyn Murley Unfricht, 56, and Daniel Joseph Camarda, 35, "were highly intoxicated with slurred speech and having some difficulty walking," the officer wrote in the report.

Unfricht told police the two had been talking about the Bible and the Ten Commandments, the discussion "became heated" and she "arose from her seat with the Bible in hand and struck...Camarda across the face," causing a red mark to his face and breaking his glasses, the report says.

She said "Camarda then slung her across the room striking the television and a table" and "at some point during being thrown around she struck her head causing a cut...(and injuring) her right foot."


http://cartersville.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/bible-ten-commandments-talk-turns-bloody-domestic-dispute

December 28, 2013

Watching Breaking Bad marathon and something struck me (SPOILER ALERT)

One thing that struck me in the series was where Walter and Hank were when the series started and how they ended up. Walt, of course, is the meek high school teacher who turns into a ruthless meth kingpin. But how many of us remember the racist asshole that Hank was before he died a hero in the New Mexico desert in the final season?

December 28, 2013

Unemployment benefits expire for almost 44,000 in Michigan.

Washington — Emergency unemployment benefits expired on Saturday for 1.3 million people — including almost 44,000 people in Michigan — as President Barack Obama vowed to win an extension next month when Congress returns from the holiday recess.

The move means unemployed people in Michigan are now only eligible for 20 weeks of unemployment, down from the 57 weeks of total unemployment — including 37 weeks under the federal program — that were most recently available.

Gene Sperling, head of the National Economic Council said in a statement that “it defies economic sense, precedent and our values to allow 1.3 million Americans fighting to find jobs to see their unemployment insurance abruptly cut off —especially in the middle of the holiday season. These are our neighbors, our community members and often fellow parents who depend on this as a temporary lifeline while they are actively looking for new jobs to support their families and make ends meet. Never before have we abruptly cut off emergency unemployment insurance when we faced this level of long-term unemployment and it would be a blow to these families and our economy.”

Obama called on the cosponsors of legislation to extend benefits, Sens. Jack Reed, D-R.I., and Dean Heller, R-Nev., on Friday, that would extend emergency unemployment insurance for three months "while giving more time for consideration of further extension through 2014, and (Senate Majority) Leader (Harry) Reid will bring it to a vote as soon as they return. The President strongly encourages both the Democratic and Republican Congressional leadership and their members to support this bipartisan solution and to pass the Reed-Heller bill.



http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131228/POLITICS03/312280038#ixzz2ooX6lthv

December 28, 2013

In Texas, unreturned library books can mean jail time

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Call it throwing the book at the bookworms.

A Texas man who was arrested for failing to return an overdue library book ignited an online flurry of snarky comments and headlines about the Lone Star State extending its tough-on-crime bravado to books. But such cases aren't unheard of, and many communities faced with shrinking budgets and rising costs have ordinances calling for fines or even arrest warrants when library property isn't returned.

In Texas alone, the issue has cost libraries an estimated $18 million.

Jory Enck learned that the hard way. He was arrested for not returning a GED study guide that he checked out three years ago in the Central Texas community of Copperas Cove. Enck declined comment to The Associated Press, but he told the Killeen Daily Herald that he wouldn't set foot in a library again: "I think I will probably just purchase a book from Amazon."

A Texas state law took effect in September that defines the failure to return library books as theft. The law, which doesn't trump stricter community ordinances, mandates up to a $100 fine per offense.



http://www.politico.com/story/2013/12/library-books-jail-time-101571.html#ixzz2oo04N7nS

December 27, 2013

Gun activist sent 30-round magazine to Conn. Governor for Christmas

For one gun activist, high-capacity magazines were the perfect Christmas gift to send a message to pro-gun control governors.

Mike Vanderboegh, the blogger at Sipsey Street Irregulars who is credited with turning Operation Fast and Furious into a subject of national news, said he sent forbidden ammunition to the governors of Connecticut, Colorado and Maryland, the New Haven Register reported Thursday.

Vanderboegh wrote in letters posted on his blog and dated Dec. 18 that he sent a 30-round magazine to both Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) and Connecticut Gov. Daniel Malloy (D). After the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Connecticut passed a package of gun control legislation that outlawed new magazines holding over 10 rounds, while Colorado's new gun control laws restrict magazine capacity to 15 rounds.

Vanderboegh told the Register Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley's (D) office signed for a 20-round magazine he sent along with a letter also dated Dec. 18. Maryland's new gun legislation, also enacted in the wake of the Newtown, Conn. shooting, limited magazine capacity to 10 rounds.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/gun-activist-says-he-sent-high-capacity-magazines-magazines-to-guvs-for-christmas

December 27, 2013

Palin Cites Friend 'Who Happens To Be Gay' In Duck Dynasty Debate

Less than a week after defending suspended "Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson's anti-gay comments as free speech, former vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin went after A&E's "hypocrisy," citing a gay friend in the process.

In an interview last week with Fox News, Palin pointed a finger at the network for suspending Robertson, pointing to an email conversation she had with a friend of hers "who happens to be gay."

"She emailed me to say she is outraged at A&E for the hypocrisy here, for the things that they air on their program that she finds offensive, yet A&E doesn't fire a star or somebody involved in their programming based on what they said but they would when it comes to Phil on Duck Dynasty and this friend, she said that she would boycott A&E and that network, and uh, um, she's not the only one," Palin said.

Robertson ran into hot water after GQ published an interview earlier this month containing some eyebrow-raising comments on homosexuality, as well as the black community. The star was subsequently suspended by A&E, but is expected to return in episodes slated for January.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/27/sarah-palin-gay-friend-duck-dynasty_n_4501113.html?utm_hp_ref=politics&ir=Politics