Headlines (Scroll down for complete stories):
1. Arnold Schwarzenegger's ‘Girlie-Man’ Gift
2. PETA Takes Swat at Obama
3. William Shatner's Spacey ‘Tonight Show’ Visit
4. Lohan-Seacrest Rumors
5. An Obama Media Takeover
1. Arnold Schwarzenegger's ‘Girlie-Man’ Gift
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently presented Darrell Steinberg, California’s Senate president pro tem, with an unusual gift.
The gesture was intended to remind Golden State legislators of the courage they needed to muster in order to deal with the state’s enormous budget problems.
Schwarzenegger, who once called Democrats “girlie men,” gave Steinberg a metal sculpture that was in the shape of . . . bull testicles.
Evidently, the Sacramento Democrat didn’t appreciate the humor. He returned the football-sized sculpture along with a nasty note about how serious budget negotiations really are.
California faces a $24.3 billion budget shortfall.
Schwarzenegger had sent the gift as a response to an earlier prank item he’d received from Steinberg: a package of mushrooms. The Governator had referred to the Democrats' budget proposals as “hallucinatory.”
Maybe the next gift can be one given to the folks of California — a clock, meaning time for the people’s best interests to come first.
2. PETA Takes Swat at Obama
In a recent CNBC appearance, President Obama played judge, jury, and executioner for a fly.
The fly was doing what flies do, buzzing around the room completely unaware that a presidential interview was scheduled to take place.
The fly’s flitting ways and sound effects didn’t sit well with Obama, and when he’d had enough, he let the little sucker have it.
The president was hailed by mainstream media fans, who were so impressed by his swatting skills that images of Michael Jordan, “The Karate Kid” and “Dirty Harry” filled their giddy little heads.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals was not amused.
The group condemned Obama for what it viewed as the senseless murder of an innocent insect.
“He isn't the Buddha; he's a human being, and human beings have a long way to go before they think before they act,” PETA announced.
Maybe the group hadn’t heard that Newsweek Editor Evan Thomas had already proclaimed that Obama was “a sort of God.”
After a ton of media coverage ensued, PETA released a statement, stating, “It’s the media who are making a big deal about the fly swat—not PETA. However, we took the opportunity, when asked, to point out that we do offer lots of ways in which to control insects of all kinds without harming them.”
PETA spokesperson Bruce Friedrich referred to the incident as an “execution.” He told Reuters that the members of the animal rights group "believe that people, where they can be compassionate, should be, for all animals.”
Jeff Goldblum, the actor who portrayed “The Fly,” called on the president to apologize for “this brutal act of violence.” He also sarcastically suggested that Obama might also think about apologizing to Sarah Palin on David Letterman's behalf.
Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central’s “Colbert Report” featured a segment called “Murder in the White House” in which he pledged not to let go of the “shocking abuse of executive power.”
Too bad some real reporters can’t bring themselves to make similar promises.
3. William Shatner's Spacey ‘Tonight Show’ Visit
Jaws are flapping about William Shatner’s strange appearance on late night TV.
When he recently took to the “Tonight Show” stage with Conan O'Brien, Shatner was sweating, and his face was bright red.
The “Star Trek” legend was there to promote a new TV talk show.
He began by narrating a long story about camping at the beach with a friend and needing to use the restroom in the morning.
He then engaged in an obscene gesture that simulated a solo activity.
O'Brien, somewhat jokingly, turned his back on the actor in disgust.
But the host was apparently unaware that the channel that airs Shatner's new show had changed its name.
“Your talk show, ‘Shatner's Raw Nerve,’ airs on the Biography Channel,” O'Brien said.
Shatner corrected Conan telling him that the name of the network is “Bio.”
After an exchange, the actor raised up his middle finger at O'Brien, which was blurred out by the staff at NBC.
The host then walked off the stage, came back, jumped on his desk, threw his arms in the air and said, “What is that all about — what is wrong with you?”
Maybe Shatner’s fingers failed to cooperate in a Vulcan salute.
4. Lohan-Seacrest Rumors
The tabloid reporters and paparazzi were going nuts at the sight of Ryan Seacrest and Lindsay Lohan out together in Hollywood.
But thanks to the two celeb’s use of Twitter, we now know that they came together for a business meeting.
The "American Idol" host has been busy producing reality television including E!'s “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” and MTV's Brody Jenner show, “Bromance.”
Ryan partially revealed his reality plans for Lindsay via the Internet.
“Met with Lindsay last night about a show idea I have for her . . . it helps people and gives others a second shot!” he posted on his Twitter page. “Still putting it all together.”
Lindsay also used her Twitter page to talk up the new project.
“Working on a really great project for television -— I am excited!” she posted, describing the program as “something meaningful like ‘Extreme Home Makeover’ . . .”
Seacrest apparently views Lohan as a symbol of those in need of a do-over. The new show will award a million dollars to the contestant who makes the best pitch for a second chance in life.
Lohan would be a key member of a panel of judges who will determine which of the contestants' stories is the winner and which deserves a million dollars to make the dream of a second chance happen.
It's difficult to imagine how Lohan, who has had trouble meeting her movie-set obligations, will be able to stick with a season-long television schedule.
Maybe Ryan can bring in Kara DioGuardi for insurance.
5. An Obama Media Takeover
[For the purposes of disclosure, readers should be aware that the following article is written by a constitutional law professor and unabashed freedom lover.]
NBC pawns off a White House tour as news.
Former journalists, including Linda Douglas, Jay Carney, and Tom Brokow, are officially on the White House payroll.
ABC provides a valuable prime-time slot so that the Obama administration can air a healthcare informercial.
What’s going on here?
An Obama takeover of the media, that’s what.
Just another industry notch in the president’s belt? Not exactly. This one promises to have a domino effect on civil liberties the likes of which we have never seen.
Why? Because the right of the people to be informed by a free press, i.e., media, is a primary one among our God-given, constitutional rights, along with free religious expression, speech, etc.
And to think that some would relinquish this right so willingly.
Obama wants it all, and he wants it now — the media, that is.
Television networks are his priority because TV is where most folks get their information.
The Fox News Channel has been the lone holdout for the president with its balanced approach, but it pays a price. He avoids granting interview access to Fox, like appearing on CNBC to discuss his new financial regulations but slighting Fox’s Neil Cavuto.
While on CNBC, he’s questioned about his favorable press coverage.
“It's very hard for me to swallow that one,” Obama says. “First of all, I've got one television station entirely devoted to attacking my administration. I mean, you know, that's a pretty . . .”
“I assume you're talking about Fox,” the interviewer says.
“Well, that's a pretty big megaphone,” the president answers. “And you'd be hard-pressed, if you watched the entire day, to find a positive story about me on that front.”
Totally untrue. And totally unchallenged.
The complete lying down on the job of mainstream networks and most cable news channels isn’t good enough for Obama. He wants bootlicking from every single big media player.
This week as ABC News airs the prime-time special, “Questions for the President: Prescription for America,” in out-and-out brainwashing fashion the American people are denied the whole story.
While every news related show on ABC, from “Good Morning America” to “World News Tonight,” pushes the Obama administration's trillion-dollar socialized medicine plan, to add to the outrage an advocacy group, Conservatives for Patients Rights, is denied the opportunity to run a 60-second ad.
If there were any question as to whether ABC was avoiding the airing of differing points of view, the network’s refusal to accept the paid advertisement removes all doubt.
In addition, a request from the Republican National Committee was turned down flat by the Disney owned network.
What we as Americans should be screaming at the top of our lungs is we want a free, unbiased, truth-telling media, and we want it now.
If ABC no longer wishes to accept its ethical obligations, some folks think it’s time to boycott the network’s advertisers.
Otherwise the federal government won’t just be selling cars. It’ll be peddling the evening news.
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