Category: Uncategorized

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GOP blocks repeal of US Oil Subsidies

 

Via JMG:Even though the major oil companies are turning in world record quarterly profits, today the GOP members of the Senate killed a bill to repeal their massive multi-billion dollar tax subsidies.  Apparently, even with all the money the oil companies are making, they need tax dollars to get by:

Senate Republicans, including Scott Brown of Massachusetts, today foiled President Obama’s plan to strip $24 billion in tax subsidies from the country’s largest oil companies, potentially fueling an election-year issue among voters disgruntled by escalating gas prices. The 51-47 vote was mostly along party lines. Most Democrats, including Senator John Kerry, voted in favor of eliminating the subsidies but fell far short of the 60 votes needed to withstand a filibuster. Only Republican Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, both of Maine, joined the Democrats. Four Democrats — Jim Webb of Virginia, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Mark Begich of Alaska — voted against repealing the subsidies. Begich and Landrieu represent states with large oil revenues.

This is the Republican politicians having their cake and eating it too. They pocket millions in Super PAC campaign support via Big Oil donations and they get to complain about the high price of gasoline.

In a recent CNN poll, 55% of those surveyed blamed the oil companies a great deal for the recent increase.

UPDATE: Think Progress points out: “The 47 senators voting against the bill have received $23,582,500 in career contributions from oil and gas.”

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Backstage at Wendy Williams: make-up artist Merrell works the runway in high heels

I love silly, funny stuff like this. Merrell makes his entrance at the 1:50 mark.

I haven’t met Wendy yet, but my husband Michael has booked guests on her show many times and says every time she’s been very warm, fun and personable.

And if her reaction to her makeup artist wearing a pair of her heels is to say “get that on tape” – well, I love her more. I see why so many people like her show. She’s clearly authentic and real.

AND she’s got a sense of humor – which a LOT of people could use these days. I imagine there are SOME TV hosts out there that would freak out if a crew member put on their pumps and “walked the walk.”

Go Wendy! Go Merrell!

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Carson Daly apologizes for ant-gay comments

“We live in a time where gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals find courage every day to overcome adversity, stand up to bullying and find equality. I’m truly saddened that my words today suggested otherwise. I’ve long been a supporter of Gay and Lesbian rights, and I’m saddened that my comments, however unintentional, offended anyone, specifically members of the LGBT community. The fact that I have hurt anyone is devastating. I’m not that guy. I’m proud to be an ally of the LGBT community and will continue to fight with them.” – Carson Daly, in a statement delivered to GLAAD.

In related news, the mother of one of the Flight 93 heroes wants Carson Daly to know gay people ARE brave and tough – and her son was living proof.

TMZ broke the story yesterday that Daly joked on his L.A. radio show that gay people wouldn’t have been able to take down a crazed pilot who freaked out on a recent JetBlue flight. Instead, they would have been more interested in going to a “floral convention.”

Now, Alice Hoagland, the mother of Mark Bingham, has a message for the radio host saying:

“Yes, my gay son was known in our family for bringing me flowers on my birthday and Mother’s Day. He also was known for careening down the rugby pitch, and, on the morning of September 11, 2001, for charging unarmed down the aisle of a doomed Boeing 757 to face knife-wielding Islamist thugs in a hijacked cockpit.”

She adds, “No one among his pick-up team of fellow passengers was asking ‘Are you straight? Are you gay?’ No one doubted that a guy who weighed 220 and stood 6’4” tall — who could run over a charging opponent on the field, and ran with the bulls in Pamplona earlier that summer — would be an asset to a desperate group trying to overcome a threat onboard an airliner.”

“The world has its share of strong, heroic gay men. Gay men in sports uniforms and military uniforms have been winning America’s games and fighting America’s battles for a long time: quietly, humbly, and in the face of vicious bigotry.”

“I hope you and I may have an opportunity to talk sometime. I prefer to believe you didn’t mean to offend. Good luck to you.”

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New Fall concert dates posted for Olivia Newton-John

New Fall Concert dates just posted on the Official Olivia Newton-John website:

Vancouver, BC
Pacific National Exhibition
Sept 3 – 8pm
More info to be posted as made available

Sandy, UT
Sandy City Amphitheater
Sept 7 ~ 8pm
More info to be posted as made available

Layton, UT
Kenley Centennial Amphitheatre
Sept 8 ~ 8pm
More info to be posted as made available

San Diego, CA
Humphrey’s
Sept 10 ~ 7:30pm
Click here for more info

Minot, ND
Norsk Hostfest
Sept 27th ~ 9pm
September 28th ~ 2:30pm
More info to be posted as made available

Omaha, NE
Holland Performing Arts Center
Sept 29th ~ 8pm
Sept 30th ~ 2pm
More info to be posted as made available

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Rick Santorum won’t tolerate pink bowling balls

Today, at an event in a bowling alley, presidential candidate Rick Santorum told a young man bowling with him, who apparently had reached for a pink bowling ball, “You’re not gonna use the pink ball. We’re not gonna let you do that. Not on camera,” according to Reuters reporter Sam Youngman.

The Human Rights Campaign’s vice president for communications, Fred Sainz, struck back.

“This is another example of Rick Santorum intentionally making ignorant statements that have a real impact on LGBT people,” Sainz said in a statement. “Kids have enough to worry about. They don’t need Rick Santorum telling them that using a pink bowling ball is a bad thing. In this case, he’s advancing tired gender norms by implying a boy should be ashamed or embarrassed to use a certain color bowling ball.”
(source)

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New CNN/ORC poll: Obama leads Romney 54%-43%

According to a new CNN/ORC poll:

• President Obama leads Romney 54%-43%
• President Obama leads Santorum 55%-42%
• 56% of the public have a favorable view of President Obama as a person
• 37% have a favorable view of Romney
• President Obama has a solid lead among independents
• Only 35 percent of independents now have a favorable view of Romney
• Santorum’ unfavorables outweigh his favorable rating by a 42%-35% margin
• 56% of Americans continue to blame former President George W. Bush and the Republicans for the country’s current economic problems
• 29% blaming Obama and the Democrats.