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Michele Bachmann in trouble with suggestion of Everglades oil drilling

Michele Bachmann has found herself in the middle of a public disagreement with other Tea Party members in a case of NIMBY – ‘Not In My Back Yard.’

Last week, Michele Bachmann during a campaign appearance suggested a possible solution to energy independence might be to drill for oil in the Florida Everglades:

“The United States needs to be less dependent on foreign sources of energy and more dependent upon American resourcefulness. Whether that is in the Everglades, or whether that is in the eastern Gulf region, or whether that’s in North Dakota, we need to go where the energy is,” Bachmann said.

Both of the Florida Republicans running to defeat Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012 adamantly oppose energy exploration in the national park. So does Florida Rep. Allen West, a member of the Congressional Tea Party Caucus, which Bachmann founded.

“There is no current plan to drill in the Everglades and nor should there be,” former Florida Rep. Adam Hasner said when asked about Bachmann’s proposal. Hasner is currently running against former Sen. George LeMieux for the Republican nomination to unseat Nelson. LeMieux also opposes drilling in the park, his campaign spokesman said. Both Hasner and LeMieux support energy exploration off-shore.

At a town hall meeting in Palm Beach Gardens this week, West said that Bachmann had made “an incredible faux pas,” when she voiced support for energy exploration in the park.

“When I see her next week, I’ll straighten her out about that,” West said, according to a report in the Palm Beach Post.
(source: Yahoo News)

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Man viciously attacked outside gay club in Salt Lake City

A 20-year-old Salt Lake City resident was attacked and hospitalized last Friday night as he left a downtown club. Dane Hall, an openly gay man, was in the hospital for four days, lost 6 teeth and his jawbone was broken in three places as a result of the attack.

Hall said he left Club Sound, which is gay-themed on Friday nights, and crossed the street to the corner of 600 W. and 200 S. in Salt Lake City, when four men approached him and began yelling gay slurs. He was then punched in the back of the head and knocked to the ground. One of the assailants grabbed his shirt and began punching him in the face, he said.

After Hall fell to the ground again, the attacker grabbed him, placed his open mouth over the street curb and stomped on the back of head, knocking out six teeth in a move commonly referred to as ‘curb checking,’ which can result in death in many cases. Two other assailants kicked him repeatedly in the stomach, Hall said. The attackers called him a ‘fag’ and took his identification and $40, he said.

“I could have died. And a piece of bone from my jaw was jammed in my brain, to make things worse,” Hall said in email correspondence because his jaw is still wired shut after the attack. “If anyone has any information leading to the arrest I am offering a $10,000 reward.”

The hospital bills will total more than $30,000 and unless the assailants are found, Hall could be stuck with the bill, he said. Although he filed a police report, there have been no leads on the case and no suspects have been named, he said.

More at Q Salt Lake

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Kris Humphries didn’t know Kim Kardashian was married before???

I agree with the panel on HLN.

First, you’re dating and then marrying Kim Kardashian and you’ve never looked up anything on her on the internet?

Second, does Kris know she became famous because of a sex tape?

Third – and I have to ask – do you have to have a name that starts with “K” to be involved with Kardashians?

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Kelly Clarkson’s new track “Mr. Know It All” hits internet

Kelly Clarkson dropped her new single, “Mr. Know It All,” on her website this week. It’s the first track off her ‘Stronger’ album, due in October.

The song is an obvious Clarkson song: straightforward, with a strong melody and a sing-along chorus. The midtempo breakup tune is about a girl letting her guy know that despite thinking he’s got it all figured out, he doesn’t.

The track was written by Brett James (who has a country pedigree, having written for Carrie Underwood), Ester Dean (Beyoncé, Usher) and Dante Jones. Brian Kennedy (Chris Brown, Rihanna, Backstreet Boys) also co-wrote and produced the track.

‘Stronger’ is Clarkson’s fifth album release. It’s the follow-up to 2009’s All I Ever Wanted. You can pre-order the CD on amazon.com.

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Sarah Palin cancels another appearance

The Wall Street Journal reports that Sarah Palin canceled her Saturday appearance at a tea party rally in Indianola, Iowa.

The person cited “continual lying” from event organizers at Tea Party of America, including a recent mixup over whether former U.S. Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell of Delaware would also speak.

Tea Party of America President Ken Crow told NBC News, “I had to cancel Ms. O’Donnell” after a conversation with Sarah Palin aides — and is now hopeful Palin will attend the Saturday rally in Indianola. The group has spent about $100,000 on the event for Palin and are thus waiting “with baited breath” for an answer.

The former half-term governor of Alaska is known for last-minute schedule changes that whipsaw supporters and media across the country. But the latest decision is puzzling. Ms. Palin’s speech at the rally was viewed as her most high-profile appearance of the summer, fueling speculation she was indeed plotting to run for the Republican presidential nomination.

Her decision apparently stems from the on-again, off-again inviting of Christine O’Donnell at the rally, which there is some finger-pointing about over how that happened.

But for people looking for a sign of “seriousness” about a campaign, this is not it.

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“The Amazing Race” – Survivors – and me

From EW.com: The Amazing Race has not been shy about having former CBS reality stars on the show. Boston Rob Mariano and Amber Brkich of Survivor fame played twice, while Big Brother‘s Jeff Schroeder and Jordan Lloyd, as well as Alison Irwin (and her non-Big Brother boyfriend Donny) all have appeared on the program.

But now, for the first time, two winners will team up to compete as Survivor: Africa champ Ethan Zohn and Survivor: The Amazon victor Jenna Morasca head up the cast for the show’s 19th installment (premiering Sept. 25 on CBS), which will also feature some new twists to the game.

For Zohn, racing across the world with his longtime girlfriend is especially sweet considering his recent medical battles after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. “Last year I was attached to a pump in complete isolation in a f—ing hospital room, and now I’m out traveling the world with the woman I love. Whatever happens, it’s gonna be okay,” Ethan told EW.com just before embarking on the race. “But if she screws up, I’m gonna kill her.”

Michael, Ethan and I at dinner.  I was 6 weeks out of chemo (still bloated), and Ethan was fighting tough.
This corner of the table was where we talked ‘cancer journeys.’

I met Ethan during the time both he and I were facing cancer. I had the opportunity to have dinner with him in NYC with Olivia Newton-John, and he was really in the middle of it.  He and I huddled at the corner of the dinner table and “talked cancer” and the journey ahead. He was clearly in a tough fight but he was always upbeat and knew he would win. And he did. He’s a quiet, tough fighter.

For a full list of teams click here.

The duos will experience a few new twists this time around, including the show’s first ever double elimination, and something called the Hazard, which is a penalty that one team will incur right at the starting line. And for the first time ever, The Amazing Race will be visiting the countries of Belgium, Denmark, Malawi, and Indonesia.

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Vanessa Williams sings George Green’s “Higher Ground”

George Green, who wrote this song – “Higher Ground” – with Steve Dorff and Kent Agee, recently passed away.

Vanessa recorded the song for her CD “The Sweetest Days.” It was later covered by other artists like Barbra Streisand.

I always loved the song. I think the lyric and melody speak of a life that’s been lived.

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Rick Perry’s travel/security costs to be sealed until after 2012

During a special session that ended July 1, the Texas Legislature, at Governor Rick Perry’s urging, added language to a school finance bill that will seal the governor’s travel records for 18 months — until after the 2012 presidential election.

One Republican legislator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the governor as “extremely concerned” about keeping his records sealed, and said Perry was actively lobbying key legislators to get it passed in the waning days of the special session. The legislator said Perry’s wife, Anita, also was pressing legislators on the issue.

Texas newspapers have tried for years to see Perry’s travel records, which would include the costs of the governor’s security detail. But the state Department of Public Safety, run by Steve McCraw, a former FBI official and a longtime Perry friend, has said that the safety of Perry and his family could be jeopardized if the public knew how many officers accompany them, where they stay and Perry’s traveling patterns.

Records reported in 2005 by the Austin American-Statesman showed that Perry and staff members had traveled the previous year to the Bahamas for a meeting with top campaign donor James Leininger and Grover Norquist, a national anti-tax advocate. The records showed $4,200 in taxpayer money was spent for the six state troopers who went along, including costs for renting scuba gear, golf cars and cellphones, according to the newspaper.

Perry said later that the trip was to discuss education policy and finance with his political and technical advisers “in a setting removed from daily distractions.”

In 2009, Perry traveled to Israel where he was given the “Defender of Jerusalem” award. According to a local television report, he and his wife flew first class at more than $5,000 per ticket, paid for by an energy company financier. Four security detail officers also went on the five-day trip at a cost of more than $70,000 to taxpayers. The expenses included $17,000 for rooms at the King David Hotel, nearly $13,000 for food and more than 350 hours in overtime pay.

Read more at the Washington Post.

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Watch GOP congressman answer the question “After Bush Tax Cuts – where are the job?”

Or rather – he DOESN’T answer the question.

I’ve been asking this question for a long time. IF the Bush Tax cuts create jobs, and we’ve had the Bush Tax cuts for over 9 years… where are the jobs?

History actually shows that job creation does not track with lower taxes.

As a matter of fact, while Rick Perry is traveling around touting Texas’ low taxes (no state tax) his state actually has 8.4% unemployment (July 2011), ranking 27th. If Perry is such a genius and creating so many jobs, why is unemployment that high?

Ironically, the state with the LOWEST unemployment in the country is North Dakota with 3.3% unemployment. And North Dakota has a state income tax.

As a matter of fact, of the 10 states with the lowest unemployment rates for July 2011 – 8 have state income taxes. (South Dakota and Wyoming do not).

Do the math kids…