HotAirPundit

Marco Rubio Heckled by Pro-Dream Act Group During Speech in Miami

2012-01-28T03:56:00.004-05:00

3 men heckle Rubio during his speech in Miami, they are then escorted out of the Doral hotel but the cameras keep rolling and they get some questions on immigration outside the event. The lead heckler tells the cameraman he's illegal. Here's the video.

shark-tank vid

How Fake Car Accidents Are Driving Up Insurance Prices (Video)

2012-01-28T01:12:00.003-05:00

In a tough economy, one type of insurance fraud is more popular than ever. It involves scam artists who stage car crashes in order to cash in. CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian shows us how it works. This is something.

cbsnews

Maricopa County Sheriff's Office: Obama Fanatic Threatened to Kill Arpaio

2012-01-27T22:48:00.003-05:00

Video report from Fox Tucson

fox11az

PHOENIX -- A "fanatical supporter" of President Barack Obama is the prime suspect in an investigation into an Internet death threat against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Adam Eugene Cox, 33, was arrested in Tennessee Friday on an unrelated warrant for assault.

Working with MCSO, deputies in Knoxville, Tenn., served a search warrant and seized evidence from Cox's home on Friday after an investigation into the death threat came to light in October.

In that threat, Cox stated Arpaio and his family would be killed, according to MCSO. His postings read, in part: "I plan to kill Arpaio first. He will be filled with a thousand bullet holes before the year is out. I promise you this. He won’t [expletive] with Obama. He will be buried 10 feet under and his whole family will be murdered along with him."

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office said the suspect's postings indicate he is an avid supporter of Obama and that Arpaio's ongoing investigation into the legitimacy of the president's birth certificate may be behind the death threat.

Cox's mother confirmed her son is a fanatical supporter of Obama, according to MCSO officials

Fox11 screen grab

Obama hosts George H.W. and Jeb Bush at White House (Photo)

2012-01-27T22:12:00.002-05:00

President Barack Obama meets with former President George H.W. Bush and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush in the Oval Office, Jan. 27, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

politico

Unbeknownst to the press, President Obama met Friday evening with former president George H.W. Bush and his son, former Florida governor Jeb Bush, in the Oval Office.

White House officials did not list the meeting on the president's schedule but released a photo on Flickr. According to the photo's time stamp, the meeting occurred shortly after 5 p.m., about the time the president returned to the White House from a fundraiser.

When asked what the men discussed and why it wasn't on the schedule, the White House released a statement saying, “The three men enjoyed a personal visit in the Oval Office – as they have done on previous occasions when President Bush is Washington.”

The Bushes are in town to attend the exclusive Alfalfa Club dinner Saturday, an annual get-together for Washington power brokers that Obama also is scheduled to attend, according to the Associated Press.

Krauthammer on Newt's Plan to Have Base on the Moon: 'He May Have Jumped the Shark'

2012-01-27T20:39:00.005-05:00

Krauthammer on Fox News Special Report responding to Newt Gingrich who yesterday said ""By the end of my second term, we will have the first permanent base on the moon and it will be American"

If Giants Win, Vegas Loses: Sports Books in Las Vegas Face "Tremendous Exposure" If The NY Giants Win the Super Bowl (Video)

2012-01-27T18:43:00.006-05:00

A number of sports books in Nevada took significant bets on the Giants to win the Super Bowl at long odds earlier this season — some as high as 80 to 1 — putting some in a very precarious position if the Giants should knock off the Patriots in the Super Bowl again. Take a look at this video

newsy

Park Police Tells Occupy D.C. No More Encampments

2012-01-27T18:16:00.007-05:00

U.S. Park Police give Occupy D.C. a Monday deadline.

myfoxdc

WASHINGTON - U.S. Park Police are warning protesters at two "occupy" encampments that they must stop camping at two Washington parks on Monday or risk arrest.

The National Park Service is distributing fliers to protesters Friday at McPherson Square on K Street and at Freedom Plaza on Pennsylvania Avenue. The notice says protesters must comply with regulations that prohibit camping at those sites by noon on Monday.

The move comes after a House oversight subcommittee hearing Tuesday where Republican lawmakers questioned why camping has been allowed since October. The park service said 24-hour vigils are allowed.

The park service defines camping as using park land for "living accommodation purposes such as sleeping." It says camping materials must be removed and temporary structures must be left open to allow for inspection

David Limbaugh Endorses Rick Santorum

2012-01-27T17:15:00.003-05:00

From the Rush Limbaugh program. Rush talks about his brother David today.

RUSH LIMBAUGH: "A caller a moment ago wanted to know who my brother would vote for next Tuesday here in Florida if he lived here, and he just tweeted. My brother, David, he's tweeting out there that he would vote for Santorum if he could. He's tweeting it so I can tell you"

dailyrushbo

CNN Draws 5.36 Million for Jacksonville Republican Debate

2012-01-27T16:38:00.006-05:00

The GOP debate last night on CNN, moderated by Wolf Blitzer, drew 5.36 million Total Viewers and 1.74 million A25-54 viewers, according to Nielsen final data. The debate in Jacksonville tops CNN’s take at last Thursday’s debate in South Carolina and is CNN’s best performance in A25-54 viewers so far, and second-best after FNC’s debate Dec. 15.

tvnewser
Last night was the 19th debate

Obama: "Let's Go Out There And Change the Country"

2012-01-27T16:17:00.003-05:00

This is how Obama ended his speech at the House Democratic Retreat in Cambridge, Maryland. He said the same thing right before the 2008 election. This is today.

Newt: I'm Gonna Step Out on a Limb, "I Think We Have to Have a Guest-Worker Program"

2012-01-27T15:18:00.002-05:00

Newt Gingrich at the Hispanic Leadership Network Conference in Miami today.

"It's not enough when you get to people who have strong family ties to just say 'self deportation' and let it go...The idea that grandmother is gonna self-deport? This is a fantasy, it is not a solution"

Costa Concordia Cruise Ship Survivors to Get $14,400 Each

2012-01-27T15:01:00.005-05:00

Italian Navy Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012 near the Costa Concordia cruise ship seen grounded off the Tuscan island of Giglio, Italy

GIGLIO, Italy -- Passengers on the wrecked Costa Concordia cruise ship are expected to receive a compensation lump sum of 11,000 euros ($14,400) each, the Italian Association of Tour Operators said in a statement Friday.

The decision was reached during a meeting between Costa Cruises and consumer groups, the association said.

The massive liner struck rocks and rolled over onto its side in shallow waters off an island on Italy's Tuscan coast on January 13, leading to a panicked overnight evacuation and a number of deaths.

A 16th body was found by divers searching the ship Tuesday. Sixteen others are missing from the roughly 4,200 people aboard the cruise liner -- 3,200 passengers and 1,000 crew members -- at the time of the collision.

The compensation will be paid to each passenger regardless of age, the Italian Association of Tour Operators said, and covers damage to and loss of property and any psychological distress suffered.

Bloomberg: Captain of the Costa Concordia being sued for $100 million
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Panetta: Obama's Cuts Create ‘Risks’ in Military’s ‘Capability to Respond’

2012-01-27T14:45:00.003-05:00

This is coming from Obama's own Defense Secretary

cnsnews

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Thursday that the cuts in defense proposed by President Barack Obaama will create "risks" in America's "capability to respond" to threats.

“The risks come with the fact that, you know, we will have a smaller force," Panetta said a t a Pentagon briefing. "As we said, it’s larger than we had prior to 9/11, but obviously it will be a smaller force, and when you have [a] smaller force there are risks associated with that in terms of our capability to respond.”

Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, echoed Panetta’s assessment, while pointing out that when the admnistration's cuts in defense are implemented there will be risk that the U.S. military will not be able to do as much as quickly as it can do now

The force structure shifts I’ve outlined today entail some risk to be sure, but to manage that risk we will ensure that we can mobilize, surge, and adapt our force to meet the requirements of an uncertain future,” Panetta said.

“To that end, the Army will retain more mid-level, mid-grade officers, and NCOs [non-commissioned officers]--these are the guys who have the experience--and they will maintain them even as their overall strength decreases to ensure that we have the structure and experienced leaders necessary to re-grow the force quickly if we have to,” he said

read the rest at cnsnews

Biden: Dems Will Take Back The House, Nancy Pelosi Will Once Again Become Speaker Update Video Added

2012-01-27T13:09:00.006-05:00

Good luck plugs. Democrats would have to pick up 25 seats in the House to gain the majority and there are way more Dems that have announced their retirement than there have been Republicans

thehill

CAMBRIDGE, Md. —House Democrats will win the House in November, swinging the gavel back into the hands of Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Vice President Biden predicted Friday.

"Nancy, I think, is not going to be remembered just for being the first woman Speaker," Biden said, "She's going to remembered for being the second woman Speaker."

Addressing House Democrats gathered on the Maryland's eastern shore for their annual retreat, Biden said the combination of GOP obstructionism and a strengthening economy will propel the Democrats back into control of the lower chamber after just two years in the minority.

"It's becoming absolutely clear the decisions that we made … are actually working," Biden said, speaking softly because he said he's battling a cold.

The vice president said he'd be focusing his campaign energies on six states — Ohio, Michigan, Iowa, New Hampshire, Florida and his native Pennsylvania — while extending an offer to help any Democrats who asked for it.

Video: Biden at Dem retreat: Nancy, you're gonna go down as one of the most significant Speakers in the history of the United States of America

Michael Reagan: Newt Gingrich is a Reagan Conservative

2012-01-27T13:07:00.002-05:00

Michael Reagan on Fox News with Megyn Kelly says Newt is a conservative like his dad

Video: Brit Hume: 'I Don't Think the Speaker Had The Night He Needed'

2012-01-27T11:16:00.004-05:00

This was a night when Newt Gingrich needed to change the trajectory of things and have the kind of night he had in South Carolina,I don’t think he did"

dailycaller

While many supporters of Newt Gingrich hoped he could rekindle some of his earlier magic during Thursday night’s Florida GOP primary debate, Fox News senior political analyst Brit Hume was unequivocal: He failed to put himself back in the driver’s seat he occupied after the South Carolina primary.

on Fox News, Hume explained to host Greta Van Sustren that Gingrich’s failure to capitalize on a few key moments has rendered him unable to shift momentum back from former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney

Why US Foreclosure Crisis Will Linger Longer Than Expected

2012-01-27T10:57:00.004-05:00

cnbc

The number of new foreclosures in 2011 dropped nearly 40 percent, according to year-end numbers just released by Lender Processing Services; there is, however, little cause for celebration.

The fall is largely due to moratoria and process reviews stemming from the so-called “robo-signing” foreclosure paperwork scandal.

Mortgage delinquency rates were largely unchanged from last year, which means all that distress will be pushed forward to 2012 and beyond.

To give you an idea of just how much the “robo” scandal is toying with the numbers, LPS compared states that require foreclosures to go through the courts versus states that don’t (judicial versus non-judicial) and found the following

read the rest at cnbc
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Poll: Obama One of the Most Polarizing Presidents Ever

2012-01-27T10:48:00.004-05:00

Gallup: 80% of Democrats approve of Obama, only 12% of Republicans

politico

President Obama’s third year in office elicited some of the most polarized job approval ratings ever, as the differences between Republican and Democratic views of the president stood at near-record highs, a new survey shows.

In 2011, 80 percent of Democrats approved of Obama’s job performance, compared to only 12 percent of Republicans, according to Gallup.

The gap of 68 percent is the fourth-highest on record, going all the way back to the Eisenhower administration, the pollster said.

Only President George W. Bush’s fourth, fifth and sixth years in office showed higher degrees of polarization.

It appears that the last decade has seen some of the most polarized views on the presidency ever. Put together, the Bush and Obama administrations account for the 7 most polarized years on record, and 8 of the top 10.

Despite all this, the polarization looks to get even worse in 2012.

“Americans likely view a president seeking re-election in more sharply partisan terms as they decide whether he is deserving of a second term in office. Thus, it would be expected that Obama’s already highly polarized ratings may become more so over the next 12 months,” according to Gallup

Flashback Obama: 'I don't want to pit red America against blue America'

Debbie Wasserman Schultz Goes After Romney in Post-Debate Interview (Video)

2012-01-27T01:29:00.006-05:00

Debbie Wasserman Schultz joined the young Democrats at a downtown Jacksonville restaurant to watch the debate. With his new surge in the polls in Florida, she must have been told to only attack Romney in this post-debate interview. She goes after him pretty hard and doesn't mention any of the other candidates. This from local Fox

fox30jax
.

Libtalker: Gov. Jan Brewer's Finger Deserves To Be Broken Off, Shoved Up Her...

2012-01-27T01:23:00.002-05:00

She's playing the 'fragile white woman scared of black man' card
From the Stephanie Miller Show

radioequalizer

Obama: 'I Second Guess Myself Constantly" (Video)

2012-01-27T00:42:00.003-05:00

abcnews

In an exclusive interview with ABC News, President Obama today acknowledged that he has made mistakes during his presidency but defended the steps his administration has taken to create jobs and improve the economy.

“I second-guess constantly… I make a mistake, you know, every hour, every day,” he told ABC News’ Diane Sawyer, laughing. “There’re always things that you’re learning in the job. And I have no doubt that I’m a better president now than the day I took office just because you get more experience.

But when you look at the broad outlines of what we did, had it not been for the steps we took our economy would be profoundly weaker than we are right now.”

The president was responding to a question by a Yahoo user asking him if there’s something he learned about himself and wished he had done in the first three years.

Republican Senator Mark Kirk Undergoes More Surgery To Relieve Brain Swelling

2012-01-26T21:52:00.005-05:00

Two small pieces of brain tissue removed

suntimes

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk has undergone more surgery to relieve swelling in his brain following the stroke he suffered over the weekend, his neurosurgeon said Thursday.

Dr. Richard Fessler said doctors at Northwestern Memorial Hospital removed two small pieces of brain tissue that were destroyed by the stroke.

“The procedure — which removed two small pieces of tissue previously destroyed and rendered non-functional by the senator’s stroke — was completed successfully and without complication. The procedure is unlikely to have any impact on his physical or neurological prognosis.”

Fessler said that, on Thursday morning, the Republican from Highland Park “was alert, responsive and gave us the thumbs-up on request,”

He has said that the outlook is good for Kirk, 53, though it’s possible he’ll be left with problems moving his left arm and leg and may have some facial paralysis.

NBC Chicago: Obama, Clinton Send Letters to Sen. Kirk

Newt Hints At Marco Rubio As V.P.

2012-01-26T21:33:00.001-05:00

Republican debate in Florida

Santorum Scolds Romney and Gingrich at Republican Debate: "Focus on the Issues" (Video)

2012-01-26T20:51:00.003-05:00

Rick Santorum came out swinging tonight at the Republican debate in Jacksonville, Florida. He hammers Mitt and Newt for not sticking to the issues

Santorum cracks one out of the park on Obama and Dems siding with leftists and dictators. This is at the beginning of Republican debate tonight. Video

Jan Brewer's Book 'Scorpions For Breakfast' Goes From 343K To #14 on Amazon in Exactly 24-Hours

2012-01-26T19:17:00.007-05:00

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer’s book, “Scorpions for Breakfast" talks about her conservative approach to dealing with the state’s illegal immigration challenges.

Video from yesterday on the airport tarmac in Phoenix, Arizona showed a contentious exchange with President Obama and Gov. Brewer. He confronted her about how he was portrayed in Brewer's book

Once the title of the book got out following the incident, there was no stopping people for wanting to read exactly what she said about president Obama

Here's a 24-hour look at how Brewer's book rocketed up the charts. This is 7:30 p.m. yesterday versus 7:30 p.m. today. Here are the numbers

'Scorpions for Breakfast' (Hardcover) by Jan Brewer on Amazon yesterday (7:30p.m.)

Scorpions for Breakfast today (7:30 p.m.)

Kindle:
Brewer's book goes from 170K to #99
Yesterday

Today

Jeb Bush: GOP Can't Be 'The Old White-Guy Party' (Video)

2012-01-26T18:35:00.003-05:00

Jeb Bush on John King USA this evening says Republicans must court Hispanics. "The growing populations in all of the swing states are Hispanic voters." Here is video from a short time ago

Former Senator Bob Dole Warns Republicans About Picking Gingrich

2012-01-26T18:02:00.003-05:00

Dole, who has already endorsed Mitt Romney calls Gingrich a 'one-man band who rarely took advice.' Interesting, because it was the Republican revolution led by Newt Gingrich in 1994 that took Bob Dole from being Minority leader to Majority leader. Up until then, Dem Senator George Mitchell was Majority Leader in the Senate.

myfox

- Former presidential candidate Bob Dole warned Thursday that if Republicans select Newt Gingrich as their nominee, they should be prepared for a "sweeping victory by Obama in November."

"I have not been critical of Newt Gingrich but it is now time to take a stand before it is too late," Dole wrote in a statement given to the National Review by the Mitt Romney campaign. Dole endorsed Romney prior to the Iowa caucuses.

Dole, 88, the GOP nominee who unsuccessfully challenged President Bill Clinton in 1996, said that if Gingrich were to be the nominee, it would have an "adverse impact" on down-ballot candidates in November.

"Hardly anyone who served with Newt in Congress has endorsed him and that fact speaks for itself," Dole wrote. "He was a one-man-band who rarely took advice. It was his way or the highway."

He also slammed the former House speaker for having had "a new idea every minute" while in Congress, saying most of them were "off the wall."

It was unclear what effect Dole's statement would have, if any, on the race. Dole is seen by many as the embodiment of the Republican establishment that Gingrich frequently rails against on the campaign trail.

At an afternoon rally in Jacksonville, Gingrich did not mention the former nominee's comments

Santorum Denies Reports That He Is Getting Out of the Race

2012-01-26T17:30:00.003-05:00

'We are very much in this race' Santorum tells Megyn Kelly today on Fox News. He is asked about the latest polling showing him behind in Florida. He says he is gonna do very well as time goes on. Kelly also asks him about being glitter bombed on the campaign trail

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum said on Thursday he plans to compete full force in Florida's primary Tuesday, but may soon turn his attention to less expensive primary states.

"We have committed pretty much every campaign day, with the exception of one to get my tax returns, to the state of Florida," Santorum said following a Tallahassee town hall Thursday morning. "Look, we're going to run every race. We are going to run in every state that we possibly can and get out there and we've got a strong message."

Does Biden Use Fake Indian Accent During Speech About Outsourcing? (Video)

2012-01-26T16:22:00.003-05:00

While at a jobs event in Rochester, New Hampshire: VP Joe Biden uses an Indian accent to imitate call service employees. I can just imagine the firestorm if a Republican had done this. Here's the video of Biden in NH today

foxnation

BIDEN: Even call centers, even call centers rushed over seas, hundreds of thousands. How many times you get the call, ‘I like to talk to you about your credit card’? Or that ad on TV, what is it? ‘Nancy, this is Nancy, can I talk to a supervisor?’ Right? Ok? Well, it’s a little overdone but the truth of the matter is these jobs now are paying about $19.50 an hour if memory serves me.

Dramatic Video: Hockey Rink Roof Collapses Under Heavy Weight of Snow

2012-01-26T15:44:00.002-05:00

All caught on video. No one was hurt

Here is raw video showing Hockey players on the ice moments before the collapse

Obama Spends Overnight In Las Vegas at Eco-Friendly Hotel Before Speech on Energy

2012-01-26T14:24:00.006-05:00

No Presidential Suite at Caesar's Palace like last time, Obama stayed at The Element hotel outside Vegas last night

cbs8 las vegas

LAS VEGAS - Metro Police and United States Secret Service converged for hours on the Element by Westin Hotel in Summerlin Wednesday evening to prepare for a distinguished guest: President Barack Obama.

After security sweeps and road closures, the presidential motorcade made its way to its final destination of the night.

Onlookers were curious as to why President Obama chose to stay farther away from the bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip.

"This Element is earth friendly, and I think he's trying to promote that on his visit," Carol Bieganowski said.

Energy will be a major theme on this presidential trip. President Obama is on a three-day tour of five battleground states. Nevada, a toss-up state, could determine whether he gets a second term in the White House.

Aside from tight security, his arrival in Summerlin had little fanfare. Only a few families who wanted to see a presidential motorcade in person chose to greet the president

----------

OK, now here's the part you have to ignore if you live in Obamaville. A few facts about our eco-friendly president's trip to Vegas:

Fight distance: Washington D.C. to Las Vegas McCarran Airport= 2086 miles

Boeing says their 747s use 5 gallon of jet fuel per mile of flight

= 10K gallons of jet fuel used by Air Force One flying from D.C. to Las Vegas plus another 10K on the way back, plus 2 dozen cars in his presidential motorcade just to give a campaign speech in an attempt to win a battleground state in 2012.

But he stayed in an eco-friendly hotel last night.

What a president
.

Nashville Airport Releases Security Footage of Senator Rand Paul

2012-01-26T12:53:00.005-05:00

TSA releases footage of the incident with Rand Paul at the Nashville Airport. The video doesn't show much more than Paul inside a glass cubicle with some TSA officials. My guess is that they probably have much more video but this is all they released. Everything is recorded from the moment a person walks into an airport. They should release multiple videos showing the entire incident but that is not likely to happen

courier-journal

videos released by the Metro Airport Authority late Wednesday show Paul entering the security line at 7:57 a.m. and then alternately sitting and standing in a glass cubicle while being watched by airport officials. Paul appears to make a few phone calls as well.

Paul is shown being escorted by an airport official at 9:04 a.m. Paul rebooked his flight and later went through security without incident.

For about half of the video, Paul is obscured by a column blocking part of the cubicle. When asked why the camera would be set up only to be obscured by a column, airport spokeswoman Emily Richard said that cameras are “placed for the widest view possible, not a specific area

New-Home Purchases Fall, 2011 Worst Ever For Sales

2012-01-26T12:40:00.004-05:00

Terrible numbers for new home sales

Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Fewer people bought new homes in December. The decline made 2011 the worst year for new -homes sales on records dating back nearly half a century.

The Commerce Department said Thursday new-home sales fell 2.2 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 307,000. The pace is less than half the 700,000 that economists say must be sold in a healthy economy.

About 302,000 new homes were sold last year. That's less than the 323,000 sold in 2010, making last year's sales the worst on records dating back to 1963. And it coincides with a report last week that said 2011 was the weakest year for single-family home construction on record.

The median sales prices for new homes dropped in December to $210,300. Builders continued to slash price to stay competitive in the depressed market.

Still, sales of new homes rose in the final quarter of 2011, supporting other signs of a slow turnaround that began at the end of the year

Newt Gets Heckled in Coral Springs, Florida (Video)

2012-01-26T11:29:00.006-05:00

This is a close-up video of the hecklers in the crowd at the Newt campaign stop in Coral Gables, Florida yesterday. Newt does a great job at handling protesters and always has a great comeback. This is the view from just a few feet away

bizpacreview

A heckler was kicked out after disrupting Newt Gingrich’s jam-packed rally in Coral Springs on Wednesday and making it difficult for the GOP presidential candidate to continue his long-anticipated speech.

Standing among a crowd of 1,200, the protester made sure she got the attention she was seeking, positioning herself right in front of a stage where dozens of photographers and reporters were set up, making her an irresistible part of the story. The woman soon identified herself to the swarm of media as Cara Jennings, a former Lake Worth city commissioner known as a publicity-seeking anarchist

North Carolina Dem Governor Bev Perdue Will Not Seek Reelection

2012-01-26T11:15:00.004-05:00

Perdue widely viewed as the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent governor this election cycle

newsobserver
Gov. Bev Perdue is expected to announce today that she will not seek a second term as governor, two sources close to the Democrat's campaign tell The News & Observer.

Perdue is expected to make an announcement this afternoon, a N.C.

Democratic Party spokesman said. Her campaign aides began telling top Democrats in the past 24 hours. Perdue campaign spokesman Marc Farinella could not be reached for comment.

Her departure sets up a scramble at the top of the Democratic ticket, about 15 weeks before the May primary election.

A number of Democrats instantly rise to the short list of potential replacements but all face an uphill battle against likely Republican nominee Pat McCrory, the former longtime Charlotte mayor who matched Perdue's fundraising in this election cycle and sits with $2 million in the bank.

Perdue's political fortunes did not look good for her re-election campaign. A recent poll shows McCrory with a 11-point advantage and three of her former campaign associates face criminal prosecution tied to her 2008 bid.

Rick Perry’s Job Approval Plunges After Failed Presidential Run, News Poll Shows

2012-01-26T10:51:00.004-05:00

45 percent saying the nation’s image of Texas is worse after his presidential run. Only 17 percent said it improved

dallasnews

AUSTIN — Rick Perry’s dismal showing in the presidential contest has plunged his approval among Texans to its lowest level in a decade, and more than half say in a new poll that he should not seek re-election as governor.

The poll by The Dallas Morning News shows that Perry now has a lower job approval rating in his home state than President Barack Obama, despite the GOP’s domination in Texas. Many also say that Perry damaged Texas’ image with his stumbles as a presidential candidate.

“It’s clear it’s hurt him,” said Mark Jones, political science department chairman at Rice University. “He’s been seen as a really savvy politician with an aura of invincibility, and all that’s been diminished.”

Now home in Texas, Perry has some fences to mend, the poll shows. His image has slipped, with 37 percent saying they have a less favorable view of him following the campaign, and 45 percent saying that his run has hurt the state’s image.

The poll shows 40 percent of Texans approve of the job Perry’s doing as governor — down 10 points from a year ago. He has lost ground among Republicans — from 73 to 60 percent over the past year — and also independents, from almost half to 27 percent.

Comparably, 43 percent of Texans currently approve of the job Obama is doing as president.

Perry ran for president as a quintessential Texan, bragging about the state’s job-creation record and conservative values. With his stumbles, many of those polled believe that Perry tarnished the Lone Star brand, with 45 percent saying the nation’s image of Texas is worse after his presidential run. Only 17 percent said it improved

Australian PM Julia Gillard Dragged Away By Security From Angry Protesters (Video)

2012-01-26T04:23:00.005-05:00

PM Gillard trapped in a restaurant by a crowd of 200

CANBERRA --

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard was dragged away by security guards Thursday after she was trapped in a restaurant by rowdy protesters demonstrating for indigenous rights following a ceremony to mark Australia's national day.

Some 200 supporters of Aboriginal rights surrounded a Canberra restaurant and banged on its windows while Gillard and opposition leader Tony Abbott were inside officiating at an award ceremony
The protesters were marching at the nearby Aboriginal Tent Embassy to mark 40 years since its establishment and rushed the restaurant in response to comments by Abbott earlier in the day, The Australian newspaper reported.

Video: Security calls for 40 man backup to get the PM out of the situation

Gingrich 1988: "If George Bush Runs as a Continuation of Reaganism, I Think He'll Lose"

2012-01-26T03:26:00.003-05:00

1980 and 1984 are the past. The country has changed

Rep. Tim Scott: Democrats Should Look Inward on ‘Racist’ Charges (Video)

2012-01-25T23:41:00.003-05:00

Nicholas Ballasy talks to Tim Scott and J.C. Watts

dailycaller

South Carolina Republican Rep. Tim Scott said Democrats who have suggested that Newt Gingrich appealed to a racist “element” of the GOP to win the South Carolina presidential primary should look within their own party and “talk about Senator Byrd who was a member of the Klan.”

“I mean the bottom line is, when you try to create a racist faction in either party, you have to start with the Democratic Party and talk about Senator Byrd who was a member of the Klan.

So to have a conversation about a racist faction of anything sounds like only race-baiting from the other side,” Scott told the Daily Caller after appearing at the Conservative Black Forum on Capitol Hill.

South Carolina Democratic Rep. James Clyburn told CNN that Gingrich appealed to a racist “element”of the Republican Party in his state’s GOP presidential primary by calling Obama the “food stamp president.”

Timothy Geithner: There Will Be a Different Treasury Secretary if Obama Wins a Second Term

2012-01-25T22:26:00.004-05:00

bloomberg

Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner, the last remaining member of the Obama administration’s original economic team, said he doesn’t expect the president to ask him to stay in office if re-elected.

“He’s not going to ask me to stay on, I’m pretty confident,” Geithner said in an interview with Bloomberg Television today. “I’m confident he’ll be president. But I’m also confident he’s going to have the privilege of having another secretary of the Treasury.”

Geithner, 50, has led President Barack Obama’s efforts to pull the U.S. economy out of the worst recession since World War II, including overseeing bailouts of automakers General Motors Co. and Chrysler, which have since emerged from bankruptcy.

Before joining the administration in 2009, Geithner was president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, playing a key role in the government’s rescue packages for banks including Citigroup and Bank of America Corp

In the Bloomberg TV interview, Geithner said he would do “something else” after leaving the Treasury Department, without specifying what that would be

Dick Morris: "If Romney Wins in Florida, He's Probably Gonna Win the Nomination" (Video)

2012-01-25T21:40:00.004-05:00

Why? Because "the calender is stacked for Romney" Morris says on O'Reilly

Morris: why the calender favors Romney:
After Florida
-Nevada, one third of the state is Mormon
-Caucuses in Colorado and Minnesota, and because they're caucuses you have to give Romney the edge because of organization
-Michigan primary follows which favors Romney
-Gingrich thrives off of debates but there is only 1 debate scheduled for the entire month of February

Gov. Jan Brewer and President Obama Have Heated Exchange on Airport Tarmac

2012-01-25T20:40:00.004-05:00

Cameras capture a tense exchange between Governor Jan Brewer and President Barack Obama during his visit to Arizona to speak at Intel in Chandler.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and President Barack Obama engaged in an apparently tense exchange on an airport tarmac shortly after Air Force One touched down outside Phoenix on Wednesday.

The two leaders could be seen talking intently at the base of Air Force One's steps. Both could be seen smiling, but speaking at the same time.

Obama appeared to walk away from the Republican governor while they were still talking, according to a White House pool reporter. Brewer confirmed that by saying she didn't finish her sentence.

Asked moments later what the conversation was about, Brewer said: "He was a little disturbed about my book

State of the Union Cable News Ratings: FNC #1, MSNBC #2, CNN #3

2012-01-25T19:48:00.005-05:00

tvnewser

Fox News Channel was the most-watched cable news channel during Pres. Obama’s third State of the Union address last night, in both Total Viewers and A25-54 viewers. FNC average 3.8 million viewers during the speech. That’s one million more than watched on MSNBC and 1.2 million more than CNN’s take.

Interesting notes: Fox News got significant tune-in after the president finished which continued into the GOP response. And for the first time ever for a State of the Union, MSNBC topped CNN in Total Viewers, but trailed in the younger demo

SOTU ratings

Republican response

Obama's Chrysler 300 on Sale for $1M

2012-01-25T18:20:00.011-05:00

Yeah right. Who would buy this car even for a fair price? If I was the one buying this thing, I would wait until the morning of November 7th, right after Obama loses reelection. The price will probably be down to a little over trade-in value.

foxnews

Chrysler sales may be up in recent years, but there’s one used car from the company that can’t seem to find a new owner.

A 2005 Chrysler 300C once owned by President Obama, has resurfaced on Ebay three years after it was first offered on the auction website. In December, 2007 the then-senator reportedly traded in the HEMI V8-powered luxury sedan for a Ford Fusion Hybrid. Only 1,800 miles have been put on the car since it was purchased with 19,000 miles on the odometer.

The previous auction, which listed the car for a starting bid of $100,000, fell apart when phony bidders pushed the price up to $1 billion dollars and the car hasn’t sold in the years since. Nevertheless, it was posted again last week and this time around the anonymous owner is asking $1,000,000.

A representative for the Illinois-based owner tells FoxNews.com that now that Obama has spent three years in office they think the car has even more historical value than it originally did. She cites the reported sale of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s 1977 Peugeot for $2.5 million as an example of the potential value of the vehicle.

The current auction runs until 10:30 PM Wednesday, but if there are no takers the car will likely be listed again at a lower price.

**UPDATE**
I checked to see what his car had under the hood. Of course, another example of Obama hypocrisy....This from autoevolution:

"The vehicle(Obama's), which is powered by a 5.7-liter V8 engine, only has 20,800 miles on its odometer, with Obama being claimed to be responsible for 19,000 of those miles (between 2004 and 2007)"

While he tries to get everybody to go green and buy a Chevy Volt, while he raises fuel efficiency standards for everybody else, his choice in cars is a 5.7 liter V8 Hemi that gets 13 city/15 hwy
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Congressman Dan Burton Says "Newt Did Not Resign In Disgrace"..."They're Dead Wrong"

2012-01-25T18:02:00.003-05:00

Dan Burton at a Newt rally in Miami-Dade tells the audience, "whoever is making those commercials saying Newt resigned in disgrace, they're just dead wrong," he adds that Gingrich had over 200 members of the House wanting him to be reelected as Speaker at the time. "I was one of those who had to count the votes" Burton says. He makes a pretty strong case at this Gingrich rally in Florida. This is today

Indiana Rep. Dan Burton said former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is the only GOP presidential candidate who can go toe-to-toe with President Barack Obama and turn the country away from the president’s socialist path.

Burton, who made the comments while endorsing Gingrich at the speaker’s Latin American foreign policy speech at Florida International University in Miami-Dade County, told the audience that “we cannot stand four more years of president Obama.”

“He is a socialist,” Burton said. “He is taking this country down the socialist path and we have to change it or America will be changed forever, in the wrong way

Burton made it clear that Gingrich is what the country and the Republican Party need.

“We need a fighter, someone who will go toe-to- toe with Obama and take him down, and Newt Gingrich is the best debater I know and in a face-to- face with [Gingrich], Obama will have no chance,” he said.(newsmax)

Romney: If I'm Fortunate Enough to Become President, "It Is My Expectation That Fidel Castro Will Finally Be Taken Off This Planet" (Video)

2012-01-25T15:58:00.007-05:00

GOP Presidential candidate Mitt Romney speaks at the U.S.-Cuba Democracy PAC event in Miami. He says "it's time to strike for freedom in Cuba." This was a short time ago

Federal Reserve Says Interest Rate Hikes Unlikely Until at Least Late 2014

2012-01-25T15:22:00.003-05:00

msnbc

The U.S. Federal Reserve said Wednesday it will not raise interest rates until at least late 2014, even later than investors expected, in an effort to support a sluggish economic recovery.

Without making major shifts to its outlook for the economy, the central bank described the unemployment rate as still elevated and said it expects inflation to remain at levels consistent with stable prices.

During a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said the 2014 forecast is simply the Fed’s “best guess.”

Bernanke said the central bank’s ability to forecast that far out is limited, and that the Fed could adjust the time frame if economic conditions change. Still, he added, all signs suggest the Fed won’t change its record-low rate for nearly three years.

“Unless there is a substantial strengthening of the economy in the near term, it's a pretty good guess we will be keeping rates low for some time,” Bernanke said.

The central bank has kept its key rate at a record low near zero for about three years.

Video: Reporter asks Bernanke if Republicans take back the White House and ask you to resign, would you?
No answer from Bernanke. This is at his presser today

'I'm The Chairman!' Congressman Waxman Gets Chewed Out During Keystone Hearing (Video)

2012-01-25T14:56:00.002-05:00

"Your time was up Mr. Waxman"

foxnation

Are you calling the Koch brothers during the recess?”

Angered by Waxman’s political posturing, Whitfield took a shot at the Obama Administration and Solyndra.

“If you want to talk about that, let’s talk about the millions of dollars the Obama administration gave companies like Solyndra and people like George Kaiser and other campaign bundlers,” Whitfield fumed.

“Why are you interrupting members and then you take unlimited time for yourself?” Waxman responded.

“I’m the chairman! And I’m telling you right now we’re going to recess for ten minutes!” Whitfield boomed, before storming out of the hearing

Gingrich, Romney in Dead Heat in New Florida Poll

2012-01-25T14:21:00.004-05:00

Romney leads Gingrich 36-34 but 37 percent of Gingrich supporters and 34 percent of Romney supporters say they could change their mind

Republican presidential contender Newt Gingrich has erased the double-digit lead his GOP rival Mitt Romney once held in Florida, leaving the two candidates in a dead heat in the latest poll out of the Sunshine state.

Romney leads with 36 percent among likely Republican primary voters in the new Quinnipiac poll, while Gingrich earns 34 percent. The poll, conducted January 19-23, has a margin of error of four points. Former Sen. Rick Santorum garnered 13 percent support while Rep. Ron Paul won 10 percent.

This poll suggests that Gingrich's momentum picked up after his victory in the South Carolina GOP primary on January 21. While he and Romney are statistically tied, Gingrich beat the former governor 40 percent to 34 percent among those polled after the South Carolina contest.

There's still room for movement ahead of Florida's January 31 primary -- only 7 percent of likely voters are undecided, but 37 percent of Gingrich supporters and 34 percent of Romney supporters say they could change their mind.

New ARG POLL has Romney leading Gingrich by 7 in Florida
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Video: Speaker Boehner Sheds Tears After Embracing Gabby Giffords

2012-01-25T13:34:00.001-05:00

As DNC chairwoman helped her down the aisle towards Boehner, Giffords appeared to stumble slightly. Speaker Boehner reached out to steady the Arizona congresswoman and help her up, greeting her with a kiss on the check. He accepted her formal letter of resignation, then, tearfully, leaned in to offer a second kiss

mediaite

Bill Kristol: "I Think Mitch Daniels Might Get It...I Think Daniels Would Be a Stronger Candidate Than Either of Them" (Audio)

2012-01-25T11:42:00.004-05:00

Bill Kristol tells Laura Ingraham why Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels might have an advantage over Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. Kristol believes Daniels might be stronger candidate. I just don't see it. Here's the audio of Kristol on the Laura Ingraham show today

KRISTOL: "I just have the feeling voters would react better to someone who could stand up and say look, I've been governing just when president Obama has been governing at the national level...It's a clear contrast, one of them has worked, one of them hasn't. It's a kind of clarity to the message that Daniels could deliver, it's tougher I think for Romney and Gingrich"

"I think Daniels would provide an interesting alternative to Gingrich and those who do think Gingrich has problems that may be tough to overcome"

"I think Daniels would be a stronger candidate than either of them"

Pelosi: Gingrich Will Never Be President, "There's Something I Know." Newt Responds: If She Knows Something, Spit It Out (Video)

2012-01-25T10:57:00.006-05:00

Pelosi on John King USA

townhall/tipsheet

Pelosi: "He's not going to be President of the United States. That's not going to happen. Let me just make my prediction and stand by it, it isn't going to happen."

King: "Why are you so sure?"

Pelosi: "There is something I know"

Newt responds on the Today Show this morning: "I have no idea what's going on inside Nancy Pelosi's head"

Warren Buffett Would Profit From Keystone Pipeline Cancellation

2012-01-25T10:46:00.003-05:00

If Keystone XL "doesn’t happen, we’re here to haul"

washingtontimes

Warren Buffett whom President Obama likes to cite as a fair-minded billionaire while arguing for higher taxes on the wealthy, stands to benefit from the president’s decision to reject the Keystone XL oil pipeline permit.

Mr. Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. owns Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC, which is among the railroads that would transport oil produced in western Canada if the pipeline isn’t built.

“Whatever people bring to us, we’re ready to haul,” Krista York-Wooley, a spokeswoman for Burlington Northern, a unit of Buffett’s Omaha, Neb.-based Berkshire Hathaway Inc., told Bloomberg News. If Keystone XL “doesn’t happen, we’re here to haul,” she said.

The Obama administration rejected TransCanada’s request for a permit on Jan. 18, saying there was not enough time to review the proposal by Feb. 21, the deadline imposed by congressional Republicans eager to see the pipeline built. The decision came from the State Department, although Mr. Obama said he agreed with it.

TransCanada said it plans to submit another proposal that would avoid an environmentally sensitive route through Nebraska. The State Department had been reviewing the pipeline project tor three years when it rejected the permit.

If completed, the $7 billion Keystone XL would deliver 700,000 barrels a day of crude from oil sands in Canada to Texas refineries on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. It would traverse about 1,600 miles

RNC: If You Thought the 2012 State of the Union Sounded Similar to Obama's Past SOTU Speeches, You Were Right

2012-01-25T01:19:00.006-05:00

Devastating web ad from the RNC. 2012 SOTU uses material from 2011.

"Familiar Rhetoric, Failed Record" This is brilliant.

h/t GWP

Obama Plays Osama bin Laden Card Twice in SOTU

2012-01-25T00:48:00.003-05:00

Spiking the football

waexaminer

President Obama opened and closed his State of the Union speech with references to the killing of Osama bin Laden by Seal Team Six, using the success of the operation as a means of arguing for greater bipartisanship in Congress.

"For the first time in two decades, Osama bin Laden is not a threat to this country," Obama reminded Congress. "These achievements are a testament to the courage, selflessness, and teamwork of America’s Armed Forces . . . They’re not consumed with personal ambition. They don’t obsess over their differences."

The president returned to his greatest foreign policy success, and the example of the military, at the conclusion of his remarks. "One of my proudest possessions is the flag that the SEAL Team took with them on the mission to get bin Laden," he said. "On it are each of their names. Some may be Democrats. Some may be Republicans. But that doesn’t matter . . . All that mattered that day was the mission

Video: Herman Cain Tea Party Response To State of the Union: "We the People Are Coming"

2012-01-24T23:15:00.006-05:00

Video of Herman Cain giving the tea party response at the National Press Club following the State of the Union Address by president Obama. A speech well delivered by Herman Cain

"We need another revolution, this time it will not be about bombs and bullets, it's gonna be about brains and ballots at the ballot box"

"The tea party movement will become not a single David trying to slay Goliath, we will be an army of Davids" Herman Cain says at the tea party response to the SOTU.

Obama's 'Cry Over Spilled Milk' Joke Falls Flat (Video)

2012-01-24T21:59:00.002-05:00

Obama State of the Union speech tonight. BTW, this speech is a bigger yawner than the Republican debate last night on NBC. Anyway, Obama tries a lame joke and it goes nowhere. Look at Biden in the back

Mitt Romney: The Real State of the Union (Video)

2012-01-24T19:35:00.002-05:00

New from the Romney campaign tonight. Good video, good timing.

"The unemployed don't get tickets to sit next to the First Lady"

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Gallup: More Americans Lacked Health Insurance in 2011

2012-01-24T19:16:00.005-05:00

gallup

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- More American adults lacked health insurance coverage last year than in any year since Gallup and Healthways started tracking it in 2008. The uninsured rate has been increasing since 2008, climbing to 17.1% in 2011

The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index asks 1,000 American adults each day about their healthcare coverage and reports monthly, quarterly, and annual averages. The monthly percentage of uninsured adults increased to 17.7% in December 2011, tying July for the highest on record. The uninsured rate was 17% or higher in most months in 2011.

Gallup first documented an increase in the monthly percentage of uninsured adults in November 2008, rising above 16% for the first time in February 2009 and above 17% for the first time December 2010

Those who lack health insurance rose from 14.8% in 2008 to 17.1% in 2011.

Apple Q1 Earnings Soar on Monster iPhone Sales

2012-01-24T18:20:00.003-05:00

These numbers are mind-boggling. 37 million iPhones and 15 million iPads sold during the quarter that ended Dec. 31.

cbsnews

Any doubts that Apple's iPhone 4S was a lame duck were erased with Apple's latest quarterly earnings.

Apple reported revenue of $46.33 billion and profits of $13.06 billion, or $13.87 per share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2011. That was up from the $26.74 billion, or $6.43 per share, the company saw at the same time last year.

Analysts polled by FactSet Research Systems, on average, forecasted that the company would bring in $10.06 per share on revenue of $39 billion.

The performance obliterated Apple's own estimates, which called for earnings of $9.30 a share on sales of $37 billion. Apple made a rare miss in its previous quarterly earnings, posting results that were strong but lower than analysts expected, due in no small part to customers holding off on buying new iPhones in anticipation of a newer model.

By the numbers
As expected, the iPhone was the star of Apple's quarter, with the company having sold 37.04 million units. That's well above the 30 million analysts were expecting. This is the first quarter to include sales of the iPhone 4S, which hit shelves in mid-October and had stronger launch sales numbers than any previous iPhone model.

Apple also said it sold 15.43 million iPads during the quarter, up 128 percent from the 7.33 million it sold during the same time a year ago. That exceeded the 13 million to 14 million units analysts were expecting

Arizona Proposes Elective Bible Course For Public High Schools

2012-01-24T18:10:00.004-05:00

"There is this false perception that separation of church means absolutely no religion in school, that the Bible is not allowed, that is absolutely not true" -Rep. Terri Proud of Arizona

usatoday

PHOENIX – Arizona's public and charter high-school students soon could earn credit for learning about the influence of the Old Testament on art or how biblical references are found throughout literature.

A state lawmaker has proposed legislation that would make Arizona the sixth state in the nation to allow school systems to offer a high-school elective course on the Bible. Georgia, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas already have laws allowing such classes.

Arizona law doesn't ban the use of the Bible, or any other religious document, as part of a public-school class curriculum as long as it is for academic purposes and does not involve sectarian ideas or religious devotion. But state Rep. Terri Proud, a Republican from Tucson, Ariz., said teachers and school districts still are often afraid to even discuss religion in their classrooms.

"There is this false perception that separation of church means absolutely no religion in school, that the Bible is not allowed," Proud said. "That is absolutely not true."

Her legislation, she said, makes it clear that teachers can teach the Bible "in a very restricted way."

The bill would allow public and charter high schools to offer an elective course on the "critical evaluation and examination of the Bible as a literary work" starting June 30, 2013

Rick Santorum: I'm Not Predicting a Win In Florida, "I Don't Have the Money"

2012-01-24T16:19:00.003-05:00

Rick Santorum telling “Morning Joe” today that he is “not predicting” a win in the Florida GOP Primary because, “I don’t have the money for it.” But Santorum said you never know what may happen, especially with the “carnage” that could happen between Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

freedomslighthouse

The interview was today on MSNBC's Morning Joe. This was following a pretty good debate performance by Rick Santorum last night
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Obama Ignores Call From Americans to Build Keystone Pipeline

2012-01-24T15:47:00.004-05:00

56% say build it, only 27% opposed

washintontimes

Rasmussen is reporting that the majority of voters want to see the building of the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to Texas happen:

Most voters still favor building the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to Texas and think it will be good for the economy despite President Obama’s decision last week to delay the project for environmental reasons.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 56% of Likely U.S. Voters at least somewhat favor the pipeline, with 36% who Strongly Favor it. Just 27% are opposed, including 12% who Strongly Oppose the project. Sixteen percent (16%) are undecided.

President Barack Obama has been on the other side of labor union members, a key constituency of the Democratic Party, on this issue. More importantly, the president is dismissing the opportunity to create thousands of jobs.

Furthermore, Canada is threatening to take it's oil pipeline project to China and President Obama appears to be okay with that. In the meantime, Americans have seen the price of gas and food rocket since President Obama took office.

Governor Scott Walker Raises $12 Million for Recall Battle

2012-01-24T14:58:00.004-05:00

Pretty good chunk of change.

politico

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has raised more than $12 million since the beginning of last year and has $2.6 million cash on hand for his likely 2012 recall election.

Between Jan. 1, 2011 and Jan. 17, 2012, Walker reported he had amassed $12.1 million, according to the latest campaign finance reports. And the campaign announced Monday that it raised more than $4.5 million in just the last five weeks.

“Gov. Walker’s message of moving Wisconsin forward continues to resonate with voters,” Walker campaign spokeswoman Ciara Matthews said in a statement. “It is this message, and the success of the governor’s reforms, that have inspired people to contribute to his campaign in overwhelming numbers.”

“These donations will allow us to fight back against this baseless recall and ensure Governor Walker can continue to lay the foundation for a more successful Wisconsin and keep government working on the side of taxpayers,” Matthews added.

State law permits anyone targeted for a recall to bring in unlimited cash until an election is officially called.

The Wisconsin Democratic party said it raised $1.5 million since July, and the Republican party said it collected about $1 million, The Associated Press reported. And in the last five weeks, the Democratic party reported raising $394,000. The group behind the recall efforts, United Wisconsin, brought in $86,000 in the same period

Fred Thompson Web Video On Why He's Endorsing Newt

2012-01-24T14:38:00.003-05:00

This was posted today by the Gingrich campaign. Fred Thompson says "we're at a tipping point, one from which we may not return...We need someone with the courage and the ability to communicate the truth with the American people"

New national poll from Rasmussen out this afternoon
Gingrich 35%
Romney 28%
Santorum 16%
Paul 10%

After his game-changing win in South Carolina, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich continues to ride his surge to the front of the pack among likely Republican primary voters nationwide. He now leads Mitt Romney by seven points.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely GOP Primary Voters shows Gingrich with 35% of the vote, representing an eight-point increase in support from last week. Former Massachusetts Governor Romney now draws 28%. Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum’s support is little changed at 16%, while Texas Congressman Ron Paul picks up 10%.

Just two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate in the race, while nine percent (9%) are undecided

President Obama's Economy By The Numbers (Video)

2012-01-24T14:24:00.002-05:00

Obama vs. Reality. Great video from Fox News

Poll: Public Thinks Iran Greatest Danger to the United States

2012-01-24T13:45:00.004-05:00

The percentage of people who think Iran now is the greatest threat to the US more than doubled in the past year

thehill

Iran is the country that poses the greatest danger to the United States, according to a new poll from the Pew Research Center.

The poll also found that 56 percent of people surveyed believe the United States should bring troops home from Afghanistan as soon as possible, the same number that held that view in a Pew 2011 poll.

The percentage of people who think Iran now is the greatest threat to the United States more than doubled in the past year, jumping to 28 percent from just 12 percent in January 2011, the poll's section on military and foreign policy found.

China comes in second: 22 percent thought China posed the greatest danger to the United States, followed by North Korea at 8 percent.

Iraq and Afghanistan were named the greatest danger by 7 percent and 5 percent of poll respondents, respectively.

When it comes to dealing with Iran, there’s a wide divide between Democrats and Republicans about what might be the best path forward.

Nearly three-quarters of Republican respondents who had heard something about the recent tensions in Iran said that it was more important to take a firm stand than avoid military conflict. Democrats, meanwhile, were almost evenly divided, as 45 percent thought it was more important to take a stand and 47 percent thought avoiding military conflict should take precedence.

Obama flashback: Iran is a tiny country that doesn't pose a serious threat like the Soviet Union did

Newt Gingrich Says He Will Skip Debates if Audiences Can’t Participate

2012-01-24T11:44:00.004-05:00

"We're gonna serve notice on future debates...We're not gonna allow that to happen" -Newt on Fox and Friends this morning

thecaucus

Mr. Gingrich, a former House speaker, on Tuesday morning threatened not participate in any future debates with audiences that have been instructed to be silent. That was the case on Monday, when Brian Williams of NBC News asked the audience of about 500 people who assembled for a debate in Tampa to hold their applause until the commercial breaks.

In an interview with the morning show “Fox and Friends,” Mr. Gingrich said NBC’s rules amounted to stifling free speech. In what has become a standard line of attack for his anti-establishment campaign, Mr. Gingrich blamed the media for trying to silence a dissenting point of view.

“I wish in retrospect I’d protested when Brian Williams took them out of it because I think it’s wrong,” Mr. Gingrich said. “And I think he took them out of it because the media is terrified that the audience is going to side with the candidates against the media, which is what they’ve done in every debate

McConnell on Obama SOTU: "His Strategy is To Hope We All Have Amnesia and Think That He Was Sworn-In a Couple Days Ago"

2012-01-24T11:04:00.005-05:00

McConnell interview with Larry Kudlow on CNBC says Obama's party controlled congress for he first two years and the president got everything he wanted.

"We're not interested in doing more of what doesn't work"..."He mainly engaged in the blame game, it's everybody's fault but his"

Super PAC’ for Newt Gingrich to Get $5 Million Infusion

2012-01-24T10:39:00.005-05:00

Another $5 million from the wife of Sheldon Adelson. That brings the total contributions to Gingrich Super PAC to a whopping $10 million from just this one couple

nytimes

A wealthy backer of Newt Gingrich will inject $5 million into a “super PAC” supporting his presidential bid, two people with knowledge of the contribution said on Monday, providing a major boost to Mr. Gingrich as he seeks to fend off aggressive attacks from Mitt Romney, his main Republican rival.

The supporter, Dr. Miriam Adelson, is the wife of Sheldon Adelson, a longtime Gingrich friend and a patron who this month contributed $5 million to the super PAC, Winning Our Future.

Dr. Adelson’s check will bring the couple’s total contributions to Winning Our Future to $10 million, a figure that could substantially neutralize the millions of dollars already being spent in Florida by Mr. Romney and Restore Our Future, a super PAC supporting him.

In making the couple’s second $5 million contribution, Dr. Adelson expressed a wish to Winning Our Future officials that the money be used “to continue the pro-Newt message,” one of the people familiar with the contribution said, rather than attack Mr. Romney

Republican Senator Mark Kirk Faces Long Recovery From Stroke

2012-01-24T10:30:00.003-05:00

Senator Kirk had a tear in the carotid artery on the right side of his neck. Carotid arteries carry blood to the brain

CHICAGO (AP) — Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois could lose full use of his left arm and experience facial paralysis after a weekend stroke that required emergency surgery, but his physician said Monday the prospects for a complete mental recovery are strong.

Dr. Richard Fessler said it likely would be "very difficult" for the first-term Republican senator to regain movement in his left arm, and that his left leg and face also may be affected. Kirk was in intensive care at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he appeared to recognize those around him and was responding to verbal commands, Fessler said.

Though Fessler could not say when Kirk would be able to return to work, he described the senator as "young, very healthy and in good shape."

"Sen. Kirk's job is cerebral, and I believe the functions required to do his job are going to be fine," said Fessler, a neurosurgeon who removed a 4-by-8-inch piece of Kirk's skull Sunday night to relieve swelling on his brain.

Kirk, 52, had reported feeling dizzy and checked himself into Lake Forest Hospital over the weekend before being transferred to Northwestern. Tests showed he had a tear in the carotid artery on the right side of his neck. Carotid arteries carry blood to the brain and carotid tears are a common cause of strokes in people in their 50s or younger

Mitt Romney to Pay $6.2M in Taxes For 2010-2011

2012-01-24T09:58:00.006-05:00

Romney's effective tax rate 13.9

usatoday

Mitt Romney released his 2010 tax returns and an estimate for 2011 showing he is likely to pay $6.2 million on income of $42.5 million over the two-year period.

The tax records show Romney paid an effective tax rate of 13.9% on his adjusted gross income in 2010 and 15.4% for last year.

How does Romney's effective tax rate compare to other Americans? The average effective tax rate of American taxpayers is 11%, according to an analysis by the non-partisan Tax Foundation. Millionaires pay about about 25%, the foundation says.

The tax documents show Romney contributed more than $7 million to charity in the two-year period, much of it to the Mormon church. That translates to about 16.5% of his income, the Romney campaign says

more at usatoday.

Allen West Speech at the March For Life Rally in Washington

2012-01-24T09:22:00.003-05:00

"God gives life to all things" West begins with a bible verse from 1st Timothy followed by quotes from Ronald Reagan and Thomas Jefferson. This is at the March for Life, the one completely ignored by the mainstream media

therightscoop

Fred Thompson Endorses Newt Gingrich

2012-01-23T23:06:00.004-05:00

Former Sen. Fred Thompson, the real life lawyer perhaps best known for playing one on television, announced his endorsement of Newt Gingrich Monday evening.

"I have come to the growing realization that Newt Gingrich is the guy who can articulate what America is all about," Thompson said of the former House speaker on Fox News.

"I don't think it's any more an advantage to be able to say I know nothing about the operation of the federal government," he said. "I know something about it. Newt knows something about it. It's a colossal mess."

But fans seeking a glimpse of Thompson – besides on TV reruns – may be out of luck.

"I'll do some things, I'm sure. It's not a full-time job," he said of his role with the Gingrich campaign. "I'm not going to be a spokesman for the campaign or anything like that." (CNN)

Flashback: 4 years ago, Fred Thompson endorsed John McCain
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Coulter Slams Newt Gingrich in Interview on O'Reilly: No, I Don't Like Obama But This is Gonna Be a Historic Landslide if Newt is the Nominee

2012-01-23T22:09:00.005-05:00

This is a must-see. The debate gets quite heated between Ann Coulter and Bill O'Reilly on the subject of Newt, Romney and the mainstream media. From tonight's O'Reilly Factor

Carville: If Romney Doesn't Win Florida There's Gonna Be Tremendous Pressure on Him to Get Out, These Guys Are Not Gonna Give This Thing To Gingrich

2012-01-23T20:37:00.004-05:00

Anderson Cooper asks Carville about Steve Schmidt's comment concerning Newt Gingrich winning Florida and there being a meltdown in the Republican establishment. Carville says somebody's got a "plan B" going on behind the scenes.From AC360 tonight.

Senator John Kerry Gets 2 Black Eyes Playing Hockey (Photo)

2012-01-23T19:57:00.006-05:00

Time for another purple heart.

Getty photo

BOSTON (CBS) – Senator John Kerry surprised a few people at the Boston Bruins Stanley Cup ceremony at the White House Monday afternoon.

The 68-year-old senator had two black eyes and a swollen nose. His spokeswoman Whitney Smith told WBZ-TV Kerry broke his nose playing ice hockey recently.

Smith would not elaborate.There has been no comment from Kerry yet.

Last year, Senator Kerry participated in the annual lawmakers versus lobbyists hockey game which raised over $100,000 for the Fort Dupont Ice Hockey Club and the Fort Dupont Ice Hockey Arena

Here's video of John Kerry (who served in Vietnam) at the White House event today. via abc news
video platform video management video solutions video player

Rick Santorum at Town Hall in Florida Gets Question From Woman Who Calls Obama an 'Avowed Muslim' (Video) UPDATE Santorum Responds

2012-01-23T17:14:00.004-05:00

I guessing the left will go after Rick Santorum here for not running up to the woman and grabbing the mic out of her hand like John McCain did in October 2008 at that town hall in Minnesota and say 'no, no, Obama is a good man.' Santorum just responds after the question, “I’m doing my best to get him out” of office. Take a look at this video of Rick Santorum in Lady Lake, Florida earlier

Question from woman: “I never refer to Obama as President Obama because legally he is not,a woman in the crowd said during a question and answer. “He constantly says our constitution is passé and he totally ignores it as you know. He does what he darn well pleases. He is an avowed Muslin and my question is why isn’t something being done to get him out of the government? He has no legal right to be calling himself the president”

**UPDATE** CNN's John King asks him about the questioner. Santorum responds: The president is a big boy and he can defend himself. It's not my obligation to correct someone everytime this happens.

Fox News Ed Henry Asks Press Sec. Jay Carney if There's a Portrait of Saul Alinsky in the WH

2012-01-23T17:05:00.002-05:00

Is there a portrait of him or is this BS?

foxnation

ED HENRY: This will be about his vision... I wonder if you could clear something up.

Newt Gingrich keeps saying on the campaign trail that the President's vision comes from Saul Alinsky, the community organizer. I haven't heard you asked about him but... Is there some kind of portrait of him hanging up in the White House that people look up to or is this BS?

CARNEY: Have I said how much fun I had as a reporter covering Congress from 1996 to 1998? There was a certain bombast to it at the time. Lots of colorful things to cover.

Look, the President's background as a community organizer is well documented in his own books. His experience in that field contributed to who he is today. But his experiences abroad also included alot of other areas in his life. So I'll just leave it at that

Rand Paul on Being Detained by the TSA: "I Was Told That If I Use My Phone, I Would Get the Full-Body Patdown"

2012-01-23T15:45:00.003-05:00

Paul telling his side of the story to WTVF-TV. According to him, once he was pulled aside after setting off a scanner, he was told that if he used his phone he would be given a “full-body patdown"

Paul: "I said I'm happy to walk through the screener again, and they wouldn't let me"

theblaze

Newt Responds to Heckler: "I'm Not a Reagan Conservative? Did You Know Ronald Reagan?" (Video)

2012-01-23T15:00:00.002-05:00

"I'll talk to ya later" Newt says and then later jokes that this heckler is a Romney plant in the crowd. "It's a free country and Mitt's allowed to have 2 people out of this number." The person ends up storming off. This is at a Gingrich welcoming event in Tampa, Florida a short time ago.

White House Release "We Can't Wait" Web Video

2012-01-23T13:40:00.002-05:00

He promises to act with or without congress. "Where they won't act, I will" Obama says in the video posted on the Obama For America YouTube page. The ad then lists Obama's executive orders and where he acted without congress. He says he will continue. This is coming from the same person who told us in 2008 that 'change doesn't come from the top down, it comes from the bottom up.' Here's the video

Police: 10 Unexploded Car Bombs Found in Nigeria City Where Islamist Group Attack Killed 150

2012-01-23T12:58:00.003-05:00

Religion of peace again.

Asscociated Press

KANO, Nigeria - A police spokesman says authorities have found 10 unexploded car bombs in a northern Nigeria city where an attack by a radical Islamist sect killed more than 150 people.

Kano state police spokesman Magaji Musa Majiya said Monday that officers found one near a police station in the state capital of Kano, which was attacked by the sect known as Boko Haram. Majiya said officers have disarmed the explosive.

Majiya also said officers have found other locally made explosives.

The Nigerian Red Cross estimates more than 150 people died in Friday's attack in Kano after at least two Boko Haram suicide bombers detonated explosive-laden cars. The attack hit police stations, immigration offices and the local headquarters of Nigeria's secret police, leaving corpses in the streets across the city

Republican Senator Mark Kirk Undergoes Surgery After Suffering Stroke

2012-01-23T12:27:00.002-05:00

wgntv

CHICAGO— U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk has suffered a stroke and underwent surgery today at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, his office said.

"On Saturday, Senator Kirk checked himself into Lake Forest Hospital, where doctors discovered a carotid artery dissection in the right side of his neck," his office said in a statement.

"He was transferred to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, where further tests revealed that he had suffered an ischemic stroke," it said. "Early this morning, the senator underwent surgery to relieve swelling around his brain stemming from the stroke. The surgery was successful.

"Due to his young age, good health and the nature of the stroke, doctors are very confident in the Senator's recovery over the weeks ahead."

The office released no other details.

Kirk, 52, captured President Barack Obama’s old U.S. Senate seat in a close 2010 election against Democrat Alexi Giannoulias.

His victory capped a tumultuous political fight that began when former Gov. Rod Blagojevich was charged with attempting to sell the Senate seat for personal gain – a charge he was convicted of last year.

During 10 years in the U.S. House before his Senate election, Kirk has forged a reputation as a centrist Republican.

GOP.gov: State of the Union Preview (Video)

2012-01-23T11:45:00.004-05:00

speaker.gov

The trailer begins by reminding Americans of the downgrade to AA+ on President Obama's watch, and of the threat of future downgrades if serious action isn't taken to address our spending-driven debt crisis and protect our entitlement programs from going bankrupt.

Far from strengthening our economy, President Obama's policies - more spending, higher taxes, more regulations - are making our economy worse. Since President Obama took office, 1.7 million fewer people have jobs, gas prices have doubled, and the health care law is making it harder for small businesses to hire and provide health insurance to their employees.

President Obama says "we can't wait" for action on jobs -- even though that's exactly what his rejection of job-creating projects like Keystone XL has out-of-work Americans doing: waiting.

The 'stimulus' spending bill failed to keep the unemployment rate below 8 percent as the administration predicted. Instead, it's been higher than 8 percent for nearly three years.

New Romney Ad In Florida: "If Newt Wins, This Guy Would Be Very Happy" (Obama)

2012-01-23T11:38:00.003-05:00

Here's the new ad from the Romney campaign released today

"While Florida families struggled during the housing crisis, Newt Gingrich cashed in while working for Freddie Mac. After being sanctioned for ethics violations and resigning in disgrace, Newt Gingrich cashed in as a D.C. insider. President Obama and his campaign would be very happy if Newt Gingrich is the nominee"

Federal Workers Owe $1.03B In Unpaid Taxes

2012-01-23T11:30:00.004-05:00

Overall, American taxpayers owed $114.2 billion in unpaid taxes, interest and penalties at the end of fiscal 2010, according to the IRS

washingtonpost

Congressional staffers owed about $10.6 million in unpaid taxes in 2010, a slight increase from the previous year and a growing slice of the roughly $1 billion owed by federal and postal workers nationwide.

The figures come as Republican efforts to pass legislation allowing federal agencies to fire tax delinquent federal employees have slowed and as the White House continues to crack down on improper payments made by agencies to delinquent government contractors and federal beneficiaries.

About 98,000 federal, postal and congressional employees owed $1.03 billion in unpaid taxes at the end of fiscal 2010, according to records provided by the Internal Revenue Service. The total number of delinquent employees dipped slightly from 2009, but the amount owed jumped by $32 million.

The figures are “totally unacceptable and disrespectful to hardworking American taxpayers,” said Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah). “If you’re on the federal payroll, the very least you can do is pay your taxes

read the rest here

Rick Santorum: I'm Only Real Pro-Lifer In This Race

2012-01-23T11:01:00.003-05:00

The others 'whisper that they are pro-life'

politico

Rick Santorum used the 40-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision to make the case that he is the only true pro-life 2012 candidate, calling President Barack Obama’s views on abortion “radical and extreme” and arguing that the other GOP hopefuls merely “check the box” on the issue.

“This anniversary is both a day of sadness for the more than 40 million babies who have been killed since Roe v. Wade and a day of hope as more and more Americans embrace a culture of life and as more and more young people march in Washington and around the country in support of life,” Santorum wrote in an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal.

As for his Republican rivals in the presidential race, Santorum said they merely “whisper that they are pro-life, but I fight the battle in the trenches and will continue to do so until every innocent human life in this country is protected.”

“I am disappointed that the other three Republican candidates in this race for president simply check the box,” he said of Ron Paul, Mitt Romney and New Gingrich. “The unborn need leaders who will stand for life; so does the soul of America

Sen. Rand Paul Detained For Refusing TSA Patdown in Nashville

2012-01-23T10:48:00.003-05:00

nationaljournal

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., was detained by airport security officials on Monday, according to his communications director Moira Bagley, who posted about the incident on Twitter.

“Just got a call from @senrandpaul. He's currently being detained by TSA in Nashville,” Bagley wrote. She did not immediately respond to an email for further information.

Paul’s father, GOP presidential candidate and Texas Rep. Ron Paul, also confirmed the report on his Twitter and Facebook accounts. The elder Paul’s Facebook post had racked up 2,000 comments in the first 30 minutes.

The senior Paul wrote that his son was “being detained by TSA for refusing full body pat-down after anomaly in body scanner in Nashville.”

The Transportation Security Administration, which is responsible for airport security, has been the target of public outrage in recent years for its screening practices, which include full-body scans and what critics have described as invasive pat-downs.

The TSA did not immediately respond to a request for comment

YouTube Hits 4 Billion Daily Video Views

2012-01-23T10:42:00.004-05:00

60 hours of video is now uploaded every minute.

reuters

YouTube, Google Inc's video website, is streaming 4 billion online videos every day, a 25 percent increase in the past eight months, according to the company.

The jump in video views comes as Google pushes YouTube beyond the personal computer, with versions of the site that work on smartphones and televisions, and as the company steps up efforts to offer more professional-grade content on the site.

According to the company, roughly 60 hours of video is now uploaded to YouTube every minute, compared with the 48 hours of video uploaded per minute in May.

YouTube, which Google acquired for $1.65 billion in 2006, represents one of Google's key opportunities to generate new sources of revenue outside its traditional Internet search advertising business.

Last week, Google said that its business running graphical "display" ads — many of which are integrated alongside YouTube videos — was generating $5 billion in revenue on an annualized run rate basis.

Still, most of the 4 billion videos that YouTube now streams worldwide every day do not make money. Three billion YouTube videos a week are monetized, according to the company

Romney To Occupy Protesters in Florida: "We Believe in the Constitution, You Believe in Interrupting, Take a Hike!" (Video)

2012-01-23T02:18:00.006-05:00

Mitt Romney at a rally in Ormund Beach, Florida Sunday is disrupted by Occupy protesters who attempt a mic check. They scream, Mr. One Percent, corporations are not people." It doesn't take long before Romney tells them "these are the people" followed by "take a hike" and the crowd chants 'USA, USA.' Here's the video.

Westboro Baptist Freaks To Protest Funeral of Joe Paterno

2012-01-23T00:49:00.004-05:00

tmz

Margie Phelps, daughter of Pastor Fred Phelps, announced on Twitter today the Westboro Baptist Church would be picketing the funeral of former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno.

Paterno passed away earlier today from lung cancer. He was 85.

Last October, announced they would picket the funeral of Apple founder Steve Jobs. They also picketed the funeral of Michael Jackson.

The church is known for their extreme views against homosexuality. Based on other tweets (see below), Paterno's involvement in the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal is what drew their attention.

Sick.

Boehner Calls Obama's State of the Union Proposals 'Pathetic' (Video)

2012-01-23T00:07:00.004-05:00

"It's time for a new direction"

foxnews

House Speaker John Boehner on Sunday insisted that the next year will be spent on policy, not politics, but said it's "pathetic" if President Obama tries to offer the "same old" ideas at Tuesday's State of the Union that he's been offering in the past three years.

The speaker, appearing on "Fox News Sunday," said those policies haven't helped the economy.

"They made it worse," he said. "And if that's what the president is going to talk about Tuesday night, I think it's pathetic. I think it's time for the president to listen to his own jobs council. It's time to go in a new direction."

The "regulatory nightmare that's coming out of Washington" is "serving as a wet blanket over our economy," Boehner added. "We need to work to fundamentally change our tax code."

Although the State of the Union address is not a campaign event, the preview of the president's speech was released this weekend by his reelection campaign, not the White House -- and it came out on the same day that voting was under way in the South Carolina Republican presidential primary

Speaker Boehner on Fox News Sunday. He calls Obama's proposals 'pathetic' at the 4:30 mark

Insider Advantage: Gingrich Leads Romney by 8 in Florida

2012-01-22T23:47:00.002-05:00

Gingrich 34, Romney 26, Santorum 11, Paul 13

newsmax

Newt Gingrich has now surged to a significant lead over Mitt Romney in Florida, leading the former front-runner now by 8 points, according to a new poll by InsiderAdvantage completed Sunday night of likely Republican primary voters.

The InsiderAdvantage poll of of 557 registered Republican voters is one of the first polls taken in Florida in the aftermath of Gingrich's double-digit win in the South Carolina primary Saturday.

The poll results follow: Gingrich: 34%, Romney: 26%, Paul: 13%, Santorum: 11% Other: 2% No opinion: 14%

The InsiderAdvantage poll was the first major poll last week to show the significant surge for Gingrich in South Carolina.

"The poll shows a huge bounce for Newt Gingrich, coming out of South Carolina," Matt Towery, chief pollster for InsiderAdvantage
told Newsmax. "It reflects the fact that Florida is a bellwether
for the rest of the nation."

He added: "Gingrich is up by some 5 to 6 points nationally according to the Gallup tracking poll, Florida is a reflection of the nation and Republicans nationally are moving toward to Gingrich."

He warned that the race is still “a very volatile situation…Romney s going to be loaded for bear and if Newt stumbles in a debate…it could be real trouble for him

PPP: Race in Florida 'Neck and Neck'

2012-01-22T22:16:00.004-05:00

publicpolicypolling twitter

publicpolicypolling to release their poll shortly after the debate tomorrow night.
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James Clyburn: Newt Gingrich Appealing to Racism

2012-01-22T19:45:00.002-05:00

From CNN State of the Union. James Clyburn says Gingrich is using a long standing strategy to appeal to racist elements in the south, basically saying the same as Sheila Jackson Lee that Newt is using 'code words' to appeal to some. Video from today's interview with Candy Crowley

Oprah: Obama Will Win Re-election, Next 4 Years Will Be Even More Successful

2012-01-22T17:43:00.005-05:00

Yeah, that first term has been a real success. Unemployment could be 15% and it wouldn't matter one bit to Oprah. The facts mean nothing. If Obama wins reelection, she'll be in Grant Park again with tears streaming down her face.

accesshollywood

JAIPUR, India — Oprah Winfrey says she is confident that President Barack Obama will win another four-year term in this year's U.S. election.

The talk show host was addressing a literary festival Sunday in the northwestern Indian town of Jaipur.

Winfrey praised Obama's handling of the presidency. She said his next four years would be even more successful, with people able to get back to work.

Winfrey backed Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign in her first-ever political endorsement.

She was among the biggest crowd pullers at the annual Jaipur Literary Festival, which brings together top writers, poets and critics and around 50,000 literary fans from around the world.

Winfrey has been in India for a week filming programs for her new TV network

Flashback: November 5th, 2008. "I'm unleashed"

Coulter: "South Carolinians Would Rather Have the Emotional Satisfaction of a Snotty Remark Towards The President Than Beat Obama in the Fall"

2012-01-22T16:32:00.006-05:00

Coulter responds to the Newt win and the Romney loss in South Carolina. She really hammers Gingrich here in this clip from Fox and Friends this morning

weaselzippers vid

"Newt Gingrich is the least conservative of these candidates and the least electable. Fantastic. But the South Carolina audience loves when he yells at John King for making a perfectly legitimate opening question"

"If people are snowed by Newt Gingrich calling himself the most conservative despite the fact that is demonstrably false...At least go for Santorum"

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords to Resign From Congress This Week

2012-01-22T14:55:00.004-05:00

Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona announced Sunday she intends to resign from Congress this week to concentrate on recovering from wounds suffered in an assassination attempt a little more than a year ago.

According to officials in Washington, her resignation, first disclosed on the congresswoman's Facebook page, is expected to take effect on Monday.

The Democratic congresswoman was shot in the head last January as she was meeting with constituents outside a supermarket in Tucson, Ariz. While her progress has seemed remarkable, she said she has more work to do to recover, and it is best from her state if she resigns her seat in the House.

Her shooting prompted an agonizing national debate about super-charged rhetoric in political campaigns.

In a two-minute video posted to her Facebook page, Giffords says: "I don't remember much from that horrible day, but I will never forget the trust you placed in me to be your voice."

She says, "I'm getting better. Every day my spirit is high. I will return and we will work together for Arizona and this great country."

Under state law, a special election will be called to fill out the remainder of Giffords' term.

In a statement, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California said that "since the tragic events one year ago, Gabby has been an inspiring symbol of determination and courage to millions of Americans

A message from Giffords posted on her facebook. "I will step down this week"

Debbie Wasserman Schultz: Long Primary Fight Doesn't Help The GOP Because 'They Are So Extreme and Because They've Embraced Tea Party Extremism'

2012-01-22T11:22:00.007-05:00

Bill Hemmer to DWS: "The question is whether or not Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton became better candidates, reflecting on the possibility, if this current race is extended, does it make Romney, Gingrich, Paul or Santorum better candidates themselves? Pretty simple question"

Disgrace.