If you’ve ever wondered what it might take for a high-profile political pundit to get indefinitely suspended, this would be it.
Mark Halperin, who co-authored the book “Game Change,” has been suspended indefinitely by MSNBC — for calling President Obama a “d#ck.”
Speaking of the incident, Halperin said, “I want to offer a heartfelt and profound apology to the president, to my MSNBC colleagues, and to the viewers. My remark was unacceptable, and I deeply regret it.”
President Barack Obama and his First Lady Michelle Obama are currently on an overseas tour in Europe at the moment and today they stopped off for a state visit in the U.K. where they were introduced to Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton.
People reports that William and Kate had a quick chat with the Obamas before they were treated to a special lunch that Queen Elizabeth hosted for the visitors in Buckingham Palace.
Apparently during the 15 minute meeting both couples discussed the upcoming tour of the U.S. that William and Kate will be taking in July, they apparently also talked about the recent Royal wedding.
Yesterday the Obamas were in Ireland, where they both had a glass of guinness before Obama gave a speech in Dublin,. Later on today the Royal family will be having a special dinner to celebrate the Obamas visit.
One the most entertaining nights of the year in Washington D.C., the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, took place Saturday. ‘SNL’ star Seth Meyers hosted, but our nation’s chief executive stole the show.
This year, President Obama took the mic for some comedy aimed squarely at one of the dinner guests in the room: Donald Trump.
The president didn’t waste time suggesting that Trump go waste some time, investigating famous conspiracies — neatly equating those who doubt his birthplace to those who research Roswell aliens and gripping national mysteries like ‘Where are Biggie and Tupac?’
The crowd howled when the president then explained, with a straight face, the ludicrously overwrought decisions Trump made during a steak-themed ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ episode, and how such issues kept Obama up at night. His message was clear: The notion that hosting ‘Apprentice’ is comparable to running the country is pretty hilarious.
President Barack Obama made a historic appearance on ‘The Daily Show With Jon Stewart,’ and although you may think that Stewart’s politics would make the interview easy — the host was plenty tough on the commander in chief.
When Obama ran for the presidency, his slogan was “YES WE CAN!” Criticizing Obama’s term in office, Stewart offered a replacement slogan: “Yes we can, given certain conditions, blah blah blah … blah blah.”
Jon even attacked Obama’s attempts to reform the national health care system, calling the president’s efforts “timid.”
This led to a stern answer from the Obama: “I have a profound disagreement with you.” Stewart said he hadn’t suggested the reform was “inconsequential.” Obama shot back with a sarcastic response: “The suggestion was that it was ‘timid.’
Watching the president duke it out with a supposed “fake news” host was odd, but Stewart was named “the most influential man of 2010″ in a recent AskMen.com poll, with Obama ranking a full 20 spots lower than ‘The Daily Show’ host. So maybe the president had something to prove.
Obama was proud of his achievements, saying he had brought health care to millions who didn’t have it before. He argued that Jon was impatient — as there were many things that needed to be fixed. The president ended by suggesting another alternate slogan: “‘Yes We Can’ — But It Is Not Gonna Happen Overnight.”
Remember Juan James Rodriguez, the man who decided to take Alki David up on his offer and streak in front of President Barack Obama? Well it seems that he may have wasted his time and dignity because he might not get the $1 million that he was expecting.
Alki, heir to a shipping and bottle-plant empire, says that the video of the streak is inconclusive and even though traffic to his website has more than doubled he will not pay out any money until Obama himself confirms he saw what happened. He says…
“We’re waiting to hear from the president to see if he, in fact, saw Juan Rodriguez during the streaking challenge. As soon as we get confirmation, we will make the payment.”
But that is unlikely to happen because the White House have said they will not be commenting on anything that happened during the rally in Philadelphia.
Juan James says that he has been trying to get in touch with the billionaire and he already planned to put money aside for his three kids education and to help his sister out with her medical bills.
That sucks, not only did Juan James Rodriguez embarrass himself but he was also arrested and then released on $10,000 bail. I hope that he gets the money.
source: Obama streakers $1m payout may be gone in a flash [Herald Sun]
A 24-year-old man is set to become a million dollars richer for streaking in front ofPresident Barack Obama during a rally in Philadelphia.
Billionaire shipping tycoon Alki David offered to pay the sum to the first person who ran nude in front of President Obama with the word “BATTLECAM” – the name of his website – across his chest.
This is the man met that challenge:
Juan James Rodriguez will receive the money in cash once all conditions for the stunt are confirmed.
In order to win the money, Mr Rodriguez had to be naked, be within eyeshot and earshot of Mr Obama, and yell the words “Battlecam.com” six times.
But that was not the only attention-getting stunt at the rally. Shortly after Mr Obama’s speech ended, a man threw a paperback book toward the president and was immediately detained by Secret Service agents, AFP reported.
He was later released without charge after an investigation found that he had meant no threat to Obama, Secret Service spokesman Edwin Donovan said.
What about public nudity and the threat of that to everyone else at the rally?
Jon Voight wrote an open letter to President Barack Obama and he isn’t happy with how he is running the country at all. He writes…
“You will be the first American president that lied to the Jewish people, and the American people as well, when you said that you would defend Israel, the only Democratic state in the Middle East, against all their enemies. You have done just the opposite. You have propagandized Israel, until they look like they are everyone’s enemy — and it has resonated throughout the world. You are putting Israel in harm’s way, and you have promoted anti-Semitism throughout the world.
You have brought this to a people who have given the world the Ten Commandments and most laws we live by today. The Jewish people have given the world our greatest scientists and philosophers, and the cures for many diseases, and now you play a very dangerous game so you can look like a true martyr to what you see and say are the underdogs. But the underdogs you defend are murderers and criminals who want Israel eradicated.
You have brought to Arizona a civil war, once again defending the criminals and illegals, creating a meltdown for good, loyal, law-abiding citizens. Your destruction of this country may never be remedied, and we may never recover. I pray to God you stop, and I hope the people in this great country realize your agenda is not for the betterment of mankind, but for the betterment of your politics.
With heartfelt and deep concern for America and Israel.”
Last year Jon Voight spoke out against Barack Obama and called him a false prophet, I would love for them to sit down together and talk their issues out but it would have to be recorded of course.
source: An open letter to President Obama from Jon Voight [Washington Times]
Kal Penn has decided that working as President Obama‘s associate director of public engagement is not nearly as fun as getting high on screen and making dick jokes.
I would have to agree.
Penn requested that his character be killed off last season in “House” so that he could join the Obama administration. I guess that job wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be, as Kumar’s reps are now confirming that he is leaving his post to make a new Christmas themed “Harold and Kumar” flick. Just to be extra ridiculous, this one might be in 3-D.
This is why actors should stick with what they know. Shut up and act, people. Nobody cares about your political ideals or how many poor needy children you adopt from other countries while you piss on the poor needy children in your own. Nobody cares if you go to whatever country America is currently bombing the shit out of and claim that you don’t agree with it. Who the hell are you?
Make movies. That’s your job.
Source: Penn leaves White House for more ‘Kumar’ [MSNBC]
We all know that celebrities like to drink and do their drugs, some of them are open up about liking to smoke a bit of weed here and there. So let’s take a look at some who may surprise you, others you will say “no shit.”
Kristen Stewart
Barack Obama
“I inhaled frequently, that was the point.” (In contrast with Bill Clinton who said he smoked Marijuana, but ‘didn’t inhale’)
Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore
These two best buddies were seen sharing a joint while on the beach in Hawaii a few years ago. Why not relax ocean side with your best friend under giant beach hats while puffing and passing, right? Maybe because you are famous and are bound to end up on the cover of Us Weekly, with the joint in hand. Both girls have been enjoying marijuana for a while- Drew started smoking at age 10 and Cameron said she spent most of her teenage years “smoking and surfing”.
Brad Pitt
In an interview for Inglourious Basterds, Quentin Tarantino told the press, “Brad doesn’t smoke marijuana while he’s acting, and I don’t smoke while I’m directing”. Hmmm, makes us think, why even say anything at all? Not only is Brad an artist on screen, but he also once admitted to being an artist at rolling joints. And although he confessed he gave up the reefer when he became a father, we’re sure he still dabbles in it with Angelina after the troops go to bed. They probably smoke, talk about how hot they are and stare in amazement at how perfect their first creation, Shiloh, is.
Justin Timberlake
Justin admitted that he has smoked weed with his mother and that his album, Justified, was created during his “marijuana phase”. He also admitted that he was high when he was Punk’d by Ashton Kutcher, which made that episode hysterical now that we know he was stoned. When asked by Entertainment Weekly if he smoked marijuana prior to the prank he answered, “Yeah that was a trippy experience. That was why I was completely glassy-eyed. As a matter of fact, I was like, okay, I got to stop doing this. I don’t do that anymore!”
Mischa Barton
Even though she was charged with a DUI in 2007, Mischa was recently spotted cruising around Los Angeles puffin’ on something that didn’t quite look like a cigarette. And it’s not the first time the paparazzi have snapped her mid-puff. You’d think she’d learn to at least do it in private.
Megan Fox
Megan Fox and Shia LaBeouf must bond over a few joints after work since Megan thinks the green light should be given to legalize weed. The Transformers actress admits to GQ that she would be the “first person in line to buy a pack of joints” and that she has no idea why it still has a stigma attached to it. “I can’t tell you how much bullshit I’ve been through because I will openly say that I smoke weed…People look at it like it’s this crazy, hippy, fucked up thing to do. And it’s not. I hope they legalize it.”
Snoop Dogg
Considering he has a song titled, “Smoke Weed Everyday” and there seems to be a cloud of thick smoke following him around like the Peanuts character, Pig-pen, we’d say he loves marijuana. In 2001, Snoop smoked a blunt in four of the four movies he appeared in- Training Day, The Wash, Bones, and Baby Boy and was named “Stoner of the Year” at the High Times Magazine Stony awards. That’s quite an accomplishment in the weed community.
Charlize Theron
After Charlize’s Oscar win, she decided to celebrate by smoking marijuana. But she didn’t just indulge in a joint or a regular pipe; she got crafty and smoked out of an apple. That’s right, you can eat your fruit and smoke it too.
Jennifer Aniston
“I enjoy smoking cannabis and see no harm in it”. (Supposedly she and Brad Pitt smoked up together prior to meeting with Bill Clinton.)
Shia LaBeouf
“My parents always thought weed was healthier than alcohol,” he says. “If you look at the science of it, it’s the truth. Nobody has ever died smoking weed.”
Stephen King
Stephen King is the most popular horror novelist of this generation. Unlike some celebrities who recoil when asked about cannabis, King confidently states “I think that marijuana should not only be legal, I think it should be a cottage industry. It would be wonderful for the state of Maine. There’s some pretty good homegrown dope. I’m sure it would be even better if you could grow it with fertilizers and have greenhouses. . . .â€
Matthew Mcconoaughey
In 1999, Matthew was arrested in Austin, Texas and charged with possession of marijuana. The best part? He was ratted out by a neighbor complaining of loud music coming from his house. When the cops arrived to check out the situation, they found Matthew dancing around naked, high as a kite, playing the bongo drums. Classic McConaughey!
Kirsten Dunst
Just last year, Kirsten Dunst admitted she likes smoking marijuana. In fact, she said “America’s view on weed is ridiculous†and the world would be a better place if “everyone smoked weed.†No wonder she likes playing the role of Mary Jane in Spiderman. Okay, that’s a lame joke, but I couldn’t resist.
What makes c-list Khloe Kardashian Odom more entitled to meeting President Barack Obama than me? Oh just the fact that she is married to an L.A. Lakers player.
Khloe got to meet Obama because she escorted her husband, Lamar Odom, to the White House yesterday to celebrate the Lakers winning the 2009 NBA championship.
Obama was then given a Lakers jersey with “Obama #1″ on the back of it, before he met Khloe, Kobe Bryant and his wife Vaness Bryant.
Khloe took to her twitter account to post about the day she said “Yay! Heading to DC to meet my baby!!!” and then wrote “Such an amazing day! I just meet Obama with my husband! :)” After that she tweeted a photo of herself sitting in the white house (notice the Bill Clinton painting behind her!)
Aside from hoping Reggie Bush wins the Superbowl so she can get a marriage proposal, I’m sure Kim Kardashian is now hoping he wins so that she can meet the president too. She must be seething with jealousy over her sister Khloe.
source: Khloe Kardashian Meets President Obama! [Us Magazine]
PETA have gone and upset Michelle Obama and The White House by using her image in an ad without any consent.
The White House didn’t take too kindly to the ad, which was released today shows Carrie Underwood, Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Tyra Banks along with the slogan “Fur-Free and Fabulous!”
Semonti Stephens, a spokeswoman for the First Lady said “we did not consent.” She then went on to say that “Mrs. Obama does not wear fur.”
PETA are now using this to their advantage and saying “the fact is that Michelle Obama has issued a statement indicating that she doesn’t wear fur, and the world should know that in PETA’s eyes, that makes her pretty fabulous.â€
PETA are tacky in everything they do, regardless of whether they got consent or not, this image is just way to tacky.
It has been rumored that Angelina Jolie “hates” President Barack Obama, well doing nothing to kill those rumors the actress questioned Obama in a new OpEd piece for Newsweek.
Angelina wrote the article, which is called Justice Delayed Is Not Justice Denied, in honor of Human Rights Day yesterday. Writing about Obama’s “intention to improve the lives of the people of Darfur,” she writes….
I believe President Obama and his special envoy Scott Gration will do their best to bring peace to the region. Their policy, though, raises a number of questions. How is the Obama administration’s approach to Sudan an evolution of justice? In addition, when the administration says it intends to work to “improve the lives of the people of Darfur,” I would like to know what that means, besides the obvious point that their lives could hardly get worse.
And what will be the precedent set for future leaders? Will they end up receiving high-level international attention, and remain free to pocket financial assistance and aid relief pouring into their country? Is there incentive for them to act with impunity or will they fear they’ll be held accountable?
In Sudan, the administration should explore ways to bring al-Bashir to justice, even as it encourages stability in Darfur. This means bringing all permanent members of the U.N. Security Council on board to send the message that the international community will not tolerate mass atrocities.
I also hope we will act sooner and more powerfully to prevent future atrocities. A Council on Foreign Relations report released today (funded by the Jolie-Pitt Foundation) offers recommendations to improve the U.N. Security Council’s responsiveness by discouraging vetoes in cases of mass atrocities, while urging the United States to make clear its willingness to act on its own if necessary.
On this Human Rights Day–the same day President Obama receives his Nobel Peace Prize–we must also remember those who have been deprived of their rights. Holding perpetrators of mass atrocities accountable is the best way to ensure justice today and peace in the future. Sudan is the place to start.
Angelina Jolie’s questions seem pretty fair and reasonable to me and not critical or hating on President Obama. Thoughts? If you care to read the whole article then head to the source.
source: Justice Delayed Is Not Justice Denied [Newsweek]
President Obama, who has pledged to place diplomacy ahead of confrontation and reached out to a skeptical world with offers of mutual understanding, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize today for what the committee called “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.”
Obama is only the third sitting U.S. president to win the Nobel Prize for Peace — President Theodore Roosevelt won the award in 1906, President Woodrow Wilson in 1919.
Obama was nominated for the prize after just weeks in office, with the award today after less than nine months into the president’s term a sign that the Nobel committee is recognizing aspirations for peace over achievements.
The Nobel committee hailed the president’s creation of “a new climate in international politics.”
Ironically, the award arrives at a time when Obama is weighing the recommendation of the U.S. military commander in Afghanistan to deploy tens of thousands of additional troops in a war now 8 years old. At the same time, the president, who campaigned with a promise to withdraw American forces from Iraq, is drawing down forces there, planning to pull out combat forces by next year and all troops by 2011.
Yet it recognizes the voiced objectives of a president who campaigned with promises to reengage the U.S. in world affairs and has personally reached out to erstwhile adversaries.
“Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world’s attention and given its people hope for a better future,” Thorbjorn Jagland, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said. “In the past year, Obama has been a key person for important initiatives in the U.N. for nuclear disarmament and to set a completely new agenda for the Muslim world and East-West relations.”
The committee was endorsing the American president’s “appeal that ‘Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges,’ ” he said.
Yet Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele was quick to criticize the president’s prize.
“The real question Americans are asking is, ‘What has President Obama actually accomplished?’ ” Steele said in a statement. “It is unfortunate that the president’s star power has outshined tireless advocates who have made real achievements working towards peace and human rights.”
Accolades flowed from the president’s allies.
“I’m delighted at this recognition of President Obama’s work to strengthen international cooperation,” sad Rep. Howard Berman (D-Valley Village), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “It validates the president’s approach to tough transnational challenges such as global warming and the spread of nuclear arms. And it celebrates his steady efforts to improve America’s standing around the world.”
The Nobel committee had criticized Obama’s predecessor, former President George W. Bush, for engaging in largely unilateral military action in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. With the backing of Congress, Bush quickly invaded Afghanistan and ousted the Taliban, and in spring of 2003 launched a U.S.-led invasion of Iraq intent on removing Saddam Hussein from power.
After awarding the 2002 prize to former President Carter, the committee’s chairman said it should be considered a “kick in the leg” to the Bush administration’s war policies.
More recently, former Vice President Al Gore — who had challenged Bush for election in 2000 — won the prize for his work on climate change in 2007.
Ironically, the award arrives at a time when Obama is weighing the recommendation of the U.S. military commander in Afghanistan to deploy tens of thousands of additional troops in a war now 8 years old. At the same time, the president, who campaigned with a promise to withdraw American forces from Iraq, is drawing down forces there, planning to pull out combat forces by next year and all troops by 2011.
