Category: News

Death of the Superdelegate?
A group of Democrats convened by Barack Obama has recommended that the Democratic Party eliminate the influence of “superdelegates,” who have had an unrestricted vote in the nomination process because they were not selected based on the primaries or caucuses.   —JCL The Washington Post: Eighteen months removed from a protracted presidential primary fight, a group of Democrats gathered by President Obama has recommended that the party effectively eliminate the influence of so-called superdelegates by redefining their voting power. The Democratic Change Commission, which was convened last August to examine the nominating process, is recommending that superdelegates—also known as unpledged delegates—be required to vote along with the electoral majority of their state. “We need to show deference to what the party members in our state have done,” said Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, one of the co-chairmen of the commission. Read more

A group of Democrats convened by Barack Obama has recommended that the Democratic Party eliminate the influence of “superdelegates,” who have had an unrestricted vote in the nomination process because they were not selected based on the primaries or caucuses.
? —JCL

The Washington Post:

Eighteen months removed from a protracted presidential primary fight, a group of Democrats gathered by President Obama has recommended that the party effectively eliminate the influence of so-called superdelegates by redefining their voting power.

The Democratic Change Commission, which was convened last August to examine the nominating process, is recommending that superdelegates—also known as unpledged delegates—be required to vote along with the electoral majority of their state.

“We need to show deference to what the party members in our state have done,” said Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, one of the co-chairmen of the commission.

Read more

Related Entries

• December 31, 2009 Larry’s List: End-of-the-Oughts Edition
• December 28, 2009 Supporters Hold London Vigil for British Death Row Inmate in China (Updated)

Tom Vander Ark: Naughts Not So Bad for Education
The papers have been full of editorials expounding on why the past decade was disastrous for America. There is much to forget and regret about…

Blackwater Case Thrown Out By Federal Judge, Iraqis Upset
WASHINGTON — A federal judge cited repeated government missteps in dismissing all charges against five Blackwater Worldwide security guards accused of killing unarmed Iraqi civilians…

Chris Weigant: My 2009 “McLaughlin Awards” [Part 2]
Welcome back to my annual outright theft of The McLaughlin Group’s awards categories for the past year in politics. What’s that? We’re sorry, but out…

Paula Abdul could get the last laugh on American Idol bosses when she joins Simon Cowell as a judge on the buzzed-about US version of the entertainment titan’s UK talent show, The X Factor.

According to the Jan. 11 issue of GLOBE, the word from TV industry insiders claims Cowell will leave Idol in May and launch his wildly-popular Brtish singing competition with ousted A.I. favorite Paula Adbul appearing as a judge on the new program.

As you’ll likely recall, comedienne Ellen DeGeneres replaced Paula Abdul as a judge on America’s highest-rated show after contract negotiations broke down between the former pop star and series producers in September.

Unlike American Idol, four X Factor judges choose their favorite singers and coach them throughout the season, hoping their guy or girl will become the final crooner standing at the end of the season. The show shot former Pizza Hut waitress Leona Lewis to the top of the charts in 2006.

Good Riddance to the Blunder Years

Mega Giant Corporations Are Very Bad for America
Wal-Mart delivers at least 30% and sometimes more than 50% of the entire U.S. consumption of products. Why the monopolization of our economy should scare you.

Wal-Mart delivers at least 30% and sometimes more than 50% of the entire U.S. consumption of products. Why the monopolization of our economy should scare you.

Brad Burston in Ha’aretz: Israel’s 10 Worst Blunders Plus Israel Prepares New Gaza War In New Year
Brad Burston of Ha’aretz has it exactly right. Meanwhile TIME’s Tony Karon writes in “The National” that Israel is planning another Gaza war for 2010. Apparently, despite the horrific damage inflicted, Israelis view the war as a draw. And that…


Israel – Middle East – Maps and Views – Warfare and Conflict – Organizations

The Yemen Brief: Expanding Scope of US Military Engagement Exactly What Bin Laden Wants
Below the break follows the official statement from Yemen’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs about would-be bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. Yemen is in a very complicated place when it comes to its efforts against al Qaeda, other rebel tribes, and managing…


Osama bin Laden – Al-Qaeda – Yemen – Middle East – United States armed forces

Minnesota State Senate candidate removes racist comments from his Twitter feed.
Local bloggers are reporting that Minnesota State Senate candidate Mike Parry removed more than 43 racist and homophobic tweets from his Twitter feed after progressives began researching and responding to him. The Minnesota Independent highlights one of Parry’s scrubbed tweets, which was apparently directed at President Barack Obama: The day after the New York Times […]

Local bloggers are reporting that Minnesota State Senate candidate Mike Parry removed more than 43 racist and homophobic tweets from his Twitter feed after progressives began researching and responding to him. The Minnesota Independent highlights one of Parry’s scrubbed tweets, which was apparently directed at President Barack Obama:

The day after the New York Times published an editorial on the Matthew Shepard Act and a week after it was passed in the House, Parry posted a tweet stating “what’s with Dems and Pedophiles?” After winning the GOP’s endorsement this week, Parry aptly described himself as “pro-life, a Christian, a second amendment rights supporter, a hard worker and not politically correct.”

Senate health-care bill would still leave millions uninsured
Even as Democrats seek the biggest expansion of health coverage in decades, as many as 23 million people could still be without insurance by 2018, illustrating the complexity of achieving the long-held Democratic goal of universal health care.

Before vote, some senators knew of testimony error by TSA nominee Southers
Democratic senators rallied around President Obama’s pick to head the Transportation Security Administration on Friday as new details emerged indicating that key lawmakers already knew when they voted in November to advance his nomination that he had mischaracterized a personal incident in his…

Politically charged atmosphere makes it harder for presidents on vacation
KAILUA, HAWAII — Before heading to a luau on Wednesday, President Obama did something much more somber, his aides said: He called CIA Director Leon Panetta to discuss the deaths of seven agency officers in a suicide attack in Afghanistan.

Eclectic bunch of donors — near, far, left, even right — gave to Clinton group
Foreign governments, longtime Democratic fundraisers, entertainers and thousands of individuals gave money to former president Bill Clinton’s charitable foundation in 2009, according to a list of donors the foundation released Friday under an agreement with President Obama to prevent the appearan…

In hiring new lobbyists, GM shows that it’s playing the Beltway game
In naming new leaders to General Motors’ lobbying office in Washington on Wednesday, company chairman and chief executive Edward E. Whitacre Jr. tacitly underscored the importance of government policies to the recovery of the nation’s largest automaker, according to those who follow the industry.

America’s Got Talent pundit Piers Morgan and hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs are among the favourites to replace Simon Cowell on American Idol.

Simon’s contract with the FOX ratings juggernaut runs out at the conclusion of the next season of Idol, which kicks off Jan. 12, and entertainment buzz is abound that Cowell will be quitting TV’s most-watched show to star in an American adaptation of his UK smash The X Factor.

Piers Morgan has 2-1 odds of stepping into the shoes filled by Britain’s “Mr. Nasty” since 2002, according to online gambling site Bookmaker.com. Outspoken Bad Boy Records boss Diddy is the second favorite celeb at 3-1 odds, followed by music legend Quincy Jones at 31/2-1.

The list also includes Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds at 4-1, Simon Fuller at 6-1, Rob Stevenson at 6-1, and Russell Simmons at 61/2-1.

Motorola making a device in more that one color? You don’t say… One of our connects sent us the above photo of the Motorola Calgary / DROID Devour / Whatever, and confirmed the specifications we posted a few months back. We also received some more feedback on the device — hit the jump for the goodies!

We’re told the keyboard was “nice” and the phone itself was “easier to use” compared to the Motorola DROID. Obviously that’s personal opinion, and maybe the BLUR OS simplifies things for some people, but the trackpad apparently is killer as a navigational input device. Oh? The device has Wi-Fi, GPS, a 1420mAh battery, but unfortunately no SIM card slot as it is not a global device. Whether the unit will come in multiple colors or not is not confirmed as these are still non-final units, we’re told, but we’d probably bet on it being available in black as well as silver. If only they kept that RAZR-keyboard…

Buy This Item: [Click here to buy this item]

Read Original Article

Courtney Love has filed a countersuit against American Express, claiming the creditor issued a “massive” number of cards in her name without her knowledge or consent.

Last summer, the cash-poor Courtney was slapped with suit for the company for $352,059.67 dollars in unpaid charges. According to legal papers obtained by TMZ.com, the 45-year-old former Hole singer has countered the suit with allegations that the organization is guilty of sloppy business practices.

Courtney’s legal team claims 104 credit cards were issued under her name and that she did not make any of the charges in question.

Courtney is seeking an undisclosed amount in damages along with interest.

British songbird Leona Lewis is on crutches and nursing injuries to her leg after falling from a horse in an accident this week.

The “Bleeding Love” hitmaker, 24, suffered torn leg ligaments after plummenting to the ground while riding her horse in Los Angeles on Wednesday, spies tattle to The Sun.

“Leona was riding the day before New Year Eve and fell off when the horse started galloping too fast. She went to emergency. It was pretty scary. She had quite a tumble…..”

This is the second time Leona’s love for horses has kicked her in the butt — in April, the X Factor star reportedly suffered facial injuries after being headbutted by the same animal.

Stalker Alert: Their relationship may be over, but lovesick actor Jake Gyllenhaal hasn’t given up on the idea of reconciling with the lovely Reese Witherspoon. In fact, he’s working tirelessly to win the actress back. The Oscar-winning stunner — who ended her two year relationship with Jake after she realized she wasn’t ready to take a second trip down the aisle – has been bombarded with pleas from her heartbroken ex in the weeks since the former couple’s split. For Christmas, Jake gifted Reese with $85,000 worth of vintage dinnerware imported from France and has been sending her daily emails, flowers, and love poems.

“Jake’s heartbroken over losing Reese. He’s taking the break-up hard and wants Reese back,” a friend reveals in the Jan. 11 issue of In Touch Weekly. “Jake is a romantic…..He isn’t giving up without a fight.”

Reese was previously married to actor Ryan Phillippe, while Jake enjoyed a six year romance with actress Kirsten Dunst.

It appears Kate Hudson is no fan of the single life — the blonde beauty is rekindling a “friendship” [Hint, Hint….] with troubled former flame Owen Wilson now that her romance with womanizing slugger Alex Rodriguez has gone up in smoke. After being dumped by the Yankees’ handsome third baseman, Kate wasted no time finding a rebound guy – her unstable ex-boyfriend.

Owen, step away from the blonde!

In Touch Weekly insiders say the bubbly blonde has been in constant contact with Owen and has made it clear she is single and lonely. A then-married Kate famously began dating Owen after the two co-starred in the ill-fated 2006 comedy You, Me & Dupre. The actor attempted suicide after a rumored split from Hudson the following year. Kate and Owen enjoyed an on-again/off-again romance for years before splitting for good in April 2008.

Nonetheless, Owen always seems to be available whenever his ex needs him, the insider adds.

“They hadn’t seen each other for some time, but when things took a turn for the worse with Alex, Kate got in touch with Owen,” whispers a snitch. “Kate hates to be without a man in her life and Owen always seems to be available and there when she needs him,” says the friend. “As of now, it’s just a friendship, but it could lead to romance for the third time.”