During an appearance on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff told Bill Maher that impeaching Donald Trump may not happen but there is an eventual solution, “vote his ass out of office.”
“I’m not there yet on impeachment. I may get there, he may get me there. But here’s the awful dilemma that we face: if we don’t impeach him, that sends a message that this kind of conduct, this obstruction of justice, this kind of willing use of the help of a foreign adversary, all the lies and cover up, that this is non-impeachable.
“At the same time, if we do impeach him and he is acquitted as he would likely be acquitted, then the message is ‘those are not impeachable offenses.’
“At the end of the day Bill, there is only one way to deal with this problem, whether we impeach him or not, and that is to vote his ass out of office.”
Schiff also shared the opinion of his 90-something father, about Trump, that “if it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, he’s probably a crook.”
Some news items you might have missed: • Anti-gay President Jair Bolsonaro told reporters this week regarding his country’s travel economy: “If you want to come here and have sex with a woman, go for your life. But we can’t let this place become known as a gay tourism paradise. Brazil can’t be a country of the gay world, of gay tourism. We have families.” Continue reading “News Round-Up: April 26, 2019”
Taylor Swift, country queen turned pop goddess, dropped the first track and video, “ME!” from her upcoming album, and it’s the most pro-LGBTQ vid from the artist yet.
Directed by Dave Meyers, the video features the Brendon Urie from Panic! At The Disco.
Brendon Urie and Taylor Swift
Opening with a slithering albino snake that explodes into colorful butterflies, the focus shifts to Taylor and Brandon arguing en Francais before the beat kicks in and we are off as Taylor dances with a rainbow of power-suited backups.
Already #1 on iTunes, “ME!” is also trending at #1 on YouTube.
Mother’s Day is coming up on May 12, and KFC is stepping up their game so you can send Mom a special video just for her.
The fried chicken giant has a new website, Chickendales.com, where you can create a Mother’s Day video greeting she’ll never forget.
Colonel Sanders (who’s clearly been hitting the gym) and his Chippendales back-up dancers are serving up a tasty semi-personalized performance.
“Oh howdy, mom,” says the newly-beefed up Colonel. “I hear you’re the best mom in the world.”
“What do you think, boys?,” as the men remove their shirts, collar up and the beat kicks in.
At the special website, you enter mom’s name and the state where she lives, and KFC generates a greeting complete with Chippendales Chickendales ripping off their shirts, busting a move and tear-away pants.
One thing’s for sure, this is not your grandmother’s ‘original recipe,’ but it’s sure finger-licking good.
From KFC’s Facebook page: “The Chickendales are cooking up two very special things this Mother’s Day: hot meals and even hotter dance moves.”
Here’s the generic video, but click here to make your personalized version for Mother’s Day.
For more than five decades, Olivia Newton-John has been one of the most successful and adored entertainers in the world A four-time Grammy Award winner, she is one of the world’s bestselling recording artists of all time, with more than 100 million albums sold. Her starring roles in the iconic movies Grease and Xanadu catapulted her into super-stardom. Her appeal as a performer is timeless. In addition to her music and screen successes, Olivia is perhaps best known for her strength, courage, and grace. After her own personal journeys with cancer, she has thrived and become an inspiration for millions around the world. A tireless advocate for countless charities, her true passion is as the founding champion of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre in her hometown of Melbourne, Australia.
She’s also been an amazing ally to the LGBTQ community for decades. From performing around the world at gay pride events in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, and Sydney, to the largest ever concert at sea in 2018 when more than 5,000 LGBTQ fans sang along with her. She was one of the very first major Australian stars to publicly come out for marriage equality in 2012 telling the world, “With respect to marriage equality, I believe that no-one has the right to judge and deny couples who love each other the ability to make a marriage commitment. Love is love.” And her Grammy Award winning music video for “Physical,” the first music video to win a Grammy, incorporated a gay storyline without blinking. In her brand new memoir – Don’t Stop Believin’– for the first time, she shares her journey, from Melbourne schoolgirl to international superstar, in this deeply personal book. Hit play below as I chat with Olivia about her New York Times best-selling memoir, as well as her Cancer Center, Gaia Retreat & Spa, her new skincare line Retreatment Botanics and more. Olivia’s memoir, Don’t Stop Believin’ is available now.
Some #FBF action here as I recently came across this 1983 performance by Irene Cara of her award-winning “Flashdance – What a Feeling” on the 1980s music countdown, Solid Gold.
Cara co-wrote “Flashdance”with Giorgio Moroder and Keith Forsey, and the collaboration led to her winning the 1983 Academy Award for Best Song (Oscar).
It was only the second Oscar to be won by an African American woman, following Hattie McDaniels’ win for Supporting Actress in 1940 for Gone With The Wind (which she had to accept from a segregated hotel).
Cara also took home the 1984 Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, 1984 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, and American Music Awards for Best R&B Female Artist and Best Pop Single of the Year for “Flashdance.”
Madonna dropped her new music video, “Medellín,” Wednesday featuring Colombian reggaeton star Maluma, who is waaaay sexy. The video, from her upcoming album Madame X, begins with a long shot of the pop queen praying in the distance: “Dear God, how could I trust anyone after years of disappointment and betrayal?” she whispers. “How could I not want to run away again and again? Escape. I will never be what society expects me to be.” #ClassicMadonna “Now, I’m Madame X, and Madame X loves to dance,” she concludes her prayer. “Because you can’t hit a moving target.” Cut to Madge leading a dance class in her eye-patch wearing persona of Madame X, where she meets Maluma. At this point, it’s important to repeat that Maluma is uber-charming and smoking hot.
Madonna finds Maluma way sexy, too
The dance lesson leads to some mattress dancing (which may or may not involve toe licking), and eventually a wild, raucous carnival wedding party. In between, Madge dances opposite a horse in a darkened arena, which may or may not have a clearer meaning at another time…? Did I mention that Maluma is way hot? But despite rumors that he might be gay, the Latin pop-star has laughed at those allegations. The duo will perform “Medellín” live at the 2019 Billboard Awards on May 1. And this isn’t the only collaboration with Maluma. He’s also featured on another Madame X track, “Bitch I’m Loca.” Squeeee!!!Madame X, Madonna’s 14th studio album, drops June 14.
In an announcement video, Biden focused primarily on the hideous white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia where a woman lost her life, and Donald Trump declared that there were “fine people” on both sides.
“With those words, the President of the United States assigned a moral equivalence between those spreading hate and those with the courage to stand against it,” said Biden. “And in that moment, I knew the threat to this nation was unlike any I had ever seen in my lifetime.”
The video was accompanied with this message: “It’s time for respected leadership on the world stage—and dignified leadership at home. It’s time for equal opportunity, equal rights, and equal justice. It’s time for an economy that rewards those who actually do the work. It’s time for a president who will stand up for all of us.”
Even though he’s just now officially entered the race, his entry has been anticipated and he’s instantly the frontrunner.
By comparison, an average of hypotheticals pitting Sen. Bernie Sanders against Trump shows Sanders coming out on top by only 2.7 points.
I’m totally good with Joe Biden as our next president. Experience, dignity and respect for others. Eight years as Vice President and 36 years in the U.S. Senate.
Oh, and sanity. Let’s not forget that.
He came out for marriage equality before Barack Obama did. And he’s been an outspoken advocate for transgender soldiers serving in the U.S. military.
Folks will point to earlier positions in the 80s or 90s, but people do evolve as society evolves.
Donald Trump used to speak in coherent sentences, and look at what he’s ‘evolved’ into.
People will say Joe is an “old white guy.” Age doesn’t bother me as long as folks are healthy.
I would enthusiastically vote for Biden. That said, I’ll also be happy to vote for Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Kamala Harris, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Sen. Bernie Sanders or former Rep. Beto O’Rourke if they clinch the Democratic nomination.
Biden quickly racked up three endorsements from Sens. Chris Coons (D-Delaware), Bob Casey (D-Penn) and Doug Jones (D-Alabama).
The quality that makes Joe stand out is his ability to bring people together to find common ground while standing up for what he believes is right. We need to listen to each other & get things done for working people. Joe can, and will, do that. That’s why I support Joe Biden. https://t.co/vxnLQu0XDZ
Biden will attend a fundraiser in Philadelphia later today, and he’s scheduled for an appearance on ABC’s The View for his first post-announcement television interview on Friday.
On Monday, he will hold his first official event in Pittsburgh, followed by a swing through early voting states Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina.
Predictably, Donald Trump mocked the announcement via Twitter:
Welcome to the race Sleepy Joe. I only hope you have the intelligence, long in doubt, to wage a successful primary campaign. It will be nasty – you will be dealing with people who truly have some very sick & demented ideas. But if you make it, I will see you at the Starting Gate!
• Out singer/songwriter and American Idol alum David Hernandez found my favorite place in Puerto Vallarta – Mantamar Beach Club. If you look behind him in the lower right hand corner, you can see the cabanas hot hubby Michael and I always spend our days in 🙂
• Five states – California, New Mexico, Oregon, Nevada, and Washington – have announced they will refuse to impose Donald Trump’s trans military ban and therefore not remove trans people from their National Guards.
• Donald Trump says his administration is “fighting all the subpoenas” claiming the Democrats are hoping to “luck out” by going after him. If you’re innocent, why hide anything?
“We’re fighting all the subpoenas,” Pres. Trump says, saying Democrats are trying to “luck out” in 2020 by “constantly going after me on nonsense.” https://t.co/WFGygHVmLApic.twitter.com/IbOTtySbaz
• Former Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was told not to bring up any concerns about Russian forms of interference in the 2020 election in front of Donald Trump because he “equated any public discussion of malign Russian election activity with questions about the legitimacy of his victory.”
• Today is True Colors Day – launched by Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors United organization in an effort to raise public awareness about LGBTQ youth homelessness, and to provide supporters with simple ways to make a difference.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people are 120% more likely to experience homelessness than non-LGBTQ youth. While many factors contribute to LGBTQ youth homelessness, identity-based family rejection is the most commonly cited reason.
The cast of FX’s Pose sat down to make this video for True Colors Day about how we can change our culture to one of love and acceptance.
Just when I think I’m totally impressed by Mayor Pete Buttigieg, he does something like this.
Mayor Pete Buttigieg posted a video in sign language on Wednesday thanking a deaf supporter for the American Sign Language (ASL) sign he created for the 2020 Democratic presidential candidate’s name.
“Hi Andy — thank you for your support, thanks,” Buttigieg signed in a video posted on Twitter.
