Author: Randy Slovacek

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Kim Kardashian sues Old Navy over lookalike in ads

The reality show starlet and model on Wednesday sued the clothing store in a Los Angeles federal court alleging their ads violated her publicity rights with ads that feature a woman who looks like her.

A video of a broadcast ad featuring a smiling, dark-haired woman has been viewed more than two million times on Old Navy’s YouTube channel.

Kardashian’s lawsuit claims consumers may be confused by the ads and the model’s actual endorsements, which include her own clothing store and shoe line.

Kardashian, 31, has rocketed to fame in recent years after gaining prominence as a friend of Paris Hilton and for having a sex tape.

The actress in the ad, Melissa Molinaro, I suppose must be denied a career because she has long, dark hair and bears a passing resemblance to Kim K. Aside from the fact that she apparently has some actual talent.

Kim K must be very bored to have to attack a six month old TV commercial.

Lord…

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Congress continues to ‘fiddle’ around

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Chris Matthews is smart. And right. Yesterday’s vote was political theater. And a waste of the people’s time.

Instead of working to find common ground, the Republicans in Congress are grandstanding to play to their base AND hoping for calamity to occur so they can blame President Obama.

Time to stop playing games and do the job Americans want – get the job done.

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Michele Bachmann gets fashion help from her husband

Bachmann, 50, describes her style as “classic with a snap.”

“I dress fairly simply,” she said. “I like clean lines. But I like an outfit to have a little kick.”

Shopping help comes from another quarter, as well. Before Vice President Dick Cheney’s visit (in 2006), Bachmann’s husband, Marcus, hit the stores — “he’s got a good sense of style” — and came home with “a sleek, simple hourglass dress with a yoke collar in winter white.” He even bought a matching coat and shoes. “I just slipped it on.”

From the Chicago Tribune

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Sen. Franken calls out the truth for Focus On The Family

Franken for the win!

Ah yes, those pesky things called facts…

Sen. Franken: “Isn’t it true, Mr. Minnery, that a married same-sex couple that has had or adopted kids would fall under the definition of a ‘nuclear family’ in the study that you sight?”

FOTF Tom Minnery: “I would think that the study, when it cites ‘nuclear families’ would mean a family headed by a husband and wife.”

Sen. Franken: “It doesn’t.”

Franken then goes on the read the definition of a ‘nuclear family’ in the study being cited…

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White House endorses ‘Respect for Marriage Act’ bill, which would repeal DOMA

From LGBTQnation.com: On the eve of the first ever congressional hearing on proposals to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the White House on Tuesday announced President Barack Obama’s endorsement of the Respect For Marriage Act — the bill that would repeal DOMA.

White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters at Tuesday’s briefing that the president “is proud” to support the Respect For Marriage Act, “which would take the Defense of Marriage Act off the books for once and for all.”

The Respect for Marriage Act, introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) would repeal DOMA and restore the rights of all lawfully married couples, including same-sex couples, to receive the benefits of marriage under federal law.

Advocates of the repeal hailed the White House announcement.

“It is rare that a White House endorses a bill that has yet to pass first in either the Senate or the House,” said Rick Jacobs, chairman of the gay rights advocacy group Courage Campaign, in a statement. “His support makes clear to all Americans that the Defense of Marriage Act has no place in our society.”

“By supporting this legislation, the President continues to demonstrate his commitment to ending federal discrimination against tens of thousands of lawfully married same-sex couples,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese, in a statement.

On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hear testimony about the marriage legislation.

The hearing, entitled “S.598, The Respect for Marriage Act: Assessing the Impact of DOMA on American Families,” marks the first ever hearing on the issue of repealing DOMA since its enactment nearly 15 years ago.

DOMA, enacted in 1996, prevents any of the over 1,100 federal rights, benefits and responsibilities of marriage from being afforded to legally married same-sex couples.

Those benefits include Social Security survivor benefits, federal employee health benefits for spouses, protections against spouses losing their homes in cases of severe medical emergencies, the right to sponsor a foreign born partner for immigration, the guarantee of family and medical leave and the ability to file joint tax returns, among many others.

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Rick Perry – Potential GOP Presidential run?

Currently flirting with the idea of jumping into the GOP Presidential race, Rick Perry, the longtime Texas governor would be among the GOP field’s most conservative candidates.

I’m of the opinion that Perry, who combines TV anchorman looks, a Southern preacher’s oratory and a cowboy’s swagger, could be a very real contender for not only the GOP nomination, but given the current economic outlook, a problem for President Obama’s reelection plans.

In nearly three decades as a politician, the Texas governor has never lost an election.

“Texans, God love them, have that bigger-than-life persona about politics and that doesn’t necessarily play everywhere,” said Christopher Nicholas, a Republican political consultant who has worked extensively in the Northeast and Midwest. “I haven’t heard a lot of Republicans call Social Security a disease.”

Perry has. He branded Social Security and other New Deal programs “the second big step in the march of socialism,” according to a book published last year. The “first step” was a national income tax, which he has said stands alongside the direct election of U.S. senators as a major mistake among the amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

Perry rejects the idea of global warming and the theory of evolution, arguing for natural climate variations and intelligent design of the universe.

Working with the fundamentalist American Family Association, Perry urged people to participate in a day of prayer and fasting on Aug. 6, following the example of the Bible’s book of Joel. Courting evangelical Christians always has been one of his core campaign strategies.

In the few polls that have included Perry, he ranks high among Republican primary voters in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Should he run, Perry would seek the support of a wing of the party already courted by conservatives in important states such as Iowa. Those would-be rivals include U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, a tea party favorite; former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, a favorite of anti-abortion activists; and former businessman Herman Cain.

In 2009, at one of the first rallies of a movement that would evolve into the tea party, he famously suggested the idea that Texas might be better off seceding from the Union if what he called “federal overreach” continued.

He’s since said that lawmakers in state capitals should decide whether to legalize gay marriage or marijuana. In 2010, he toyed with the idea of pulling Texas out of Medicaid, the state-federal program that provides health care for low-income people. He gave up on the idea when the state’s comptroller said it would bankrupt the state.

I’m not sure exactly how Americans would react to another cocky Texas governor so soon after the debacle of the George W. Bush years. However, I do believe Americans vote their pocketbooks. And should the economy not begin to turn around and/or show clear signs of improvement, Governor Goodhair could have a serious shot.

Read more on Perry’s background at the Huffington Post

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Michele Bachmann suffers from “incapacitating” stress induced migraine headaches

The Minnesota Republican frequently suffers from stress-induced medical episodes that she has characterized as severe headaches. These episodes, say witnesses, occur once a week on average and can “incapacitate” her for days at time. On at least three occasions, Bachmann has landed in the hospital as a result.

“She has terrible migraine headaches. And they put her out of commission for a day or more at a time. They come out of nowhere, and they’re unpredictable,” says an adviser to Bachmann who was involved in her 2010 congressional campaign. “They level her. They put her down. It’s actually sad. It’s very painful.”

Bachmann’s medical condition wouldn’t merit public attention, but for the fact she is running for president. Some close to Bachmann fear she won’t be equal to the stress of the campaign, much less the presidency itself.

“When she gets ‘em, frankly, she can’t function at all. It’s not like a little thing with a couple Advils. It’s bad,” the adviser says. “The migraines are so bad and so intense, she carries and takes all sorts of pills. Prevention pills. Pills during the migraine. Pills after the migraine, to keep them under control. She has to take these pills wherever she goes.”

To staff, Bachmann has implausibly blamed the headaches on uncomfortable high-heel shoes, but those who have worked closely with her cite stress, a busy schedule and anything going badly for Bachmann as causes.

Read more at the Daily Caller

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NYC to Hold Lottery for Gay Marriage Sunday

From the Wall Street Journal: Fearing demand for same-sex weddings will be too great for the City Clerk’s Office to handle this Sunday, city officials have announced a lottery for weddings on the first day that gay couples can legally wed in the state.

Officials said couples could be stuck waiting in long lines all day and, though the city has added extra clerks for Sunday, ultimately would not be able to get married because of the high volume.

The lottery will guarantee 764 couples — either opposite- or same-sex — access to marry at one of the City Clerk’s five offices Sunday.

The 764 couples to marry would be the largest number of marriages on any single day in city history.

As of Tuesday morning, the City Clerk’s Office had received 2,661 online applications since July 5th; the Clerk has estimated that 1,728 are from same-sex couples. Officials said the data collected by the city showed 54% of the online applicants planned to visit the clerk’s offices on Sunday in pursuit of a marriage license, and that 50% planned to marry that day.

According to the city, couples wishing to marry on Sunday may register for the lottery by going to the City Clerk’s website or by calling 311. The lottery will open for entries at noon on Tuesday and will close to entries at noon on Thursday.

The city will hold a separate lottery for each of the City Clerk’s five borough offices and lottery applicants must specify only one office where they wish to marry.

Winners of the lottery will be notified via e-mail or phone on Friday by noon. Officials urged couples who win a place in the lottery to arrive in the morning; couples must arrive no later than 3:45 p.m. Sunday.

“We’ve done our homework, and it’s clear that the number of couples who want to marry on Sunday is more than the City Clerk’s offices could possibly handle,” Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement. “And the last thing we want is for couples to wait on line for hours and hours, only to walk away upset on what was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives.”

“The fairest way to determine who gets the chance to wed on Sunday and ensure everyone can properly plan for their own big day is through an even-handed lottery system,” he added. “Nobody puts on big events like New York and we will be ready on Sunday for what will no doubt be an historic and unforgettable moment.”

Couples who have not been selected in the lottery can get married later in the week.

Christine Quinn, the city’s first female and openly gay council speaker, said, “This efficient and effective process for managing the first day of marriage equality in the five boroughs will maximize the excitement and dignity for all.”

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Matthews on soccer, equality and the US

From Chris Matthews on “Hardball”: Let me finish tonight with a grand American sight.

It’s what I saw yesterday at a San Francisco airport, what everyone saw who went past a restaurant, bar or any other place where there were people and a television.

It’s the huge bunch of men cheering the American women’s soccer team in the World Cup.

The whoops went up every time they scored, the howls everytime Japan scored a goal. As I said, the groups I saw were overwhelmingly men, and not all young men by any means.

This is the great American development. One, we’re getting really involved in international competition, and not just in the Olympics. Two, it’s the women’s teams that are getting us really gung-ho.

Soccer, we call it. The world calls it football. And everyone in this country lucky enough to have kids knows how much girls love the game. Our Caroline has rowed crew, gotten good at lacrosse amazingly fast but retains her loyalty to midfield, her position in soccer.

That’s the story here, the fact that ever since 1972, when Title Nine was added to our civil rights, girls and women have had an equal shot at sports in school. It’s why there’s nine times the participation rates in school that there was before the title was passed in 1972.

Look, we all got excited in 1999 when Mia Hamm and Brandi Chastain and the rest won the world cup, and we were even more thrilled this time just by the fact that our women made it to the final. You’ve heard the statistics, more tweeting per second than at any time in history. People not just wanted to watch and see us compete and hopefully pull it off; they wanted to share the excitement with friends and family.

This is great stuff for the country, great stuff. It’s enormously important, much more important than politics, because it’s about an equal playing field, starting when you’re young. Learning equality at a young age is a very good thing to learn, especially for an American. We all need teams. We all need to hear the cheers of America behind us.

So good for Japan. And great for us!
(via MSNBC.com)