Ellen DeGeneres announces plans to get married after yesterday’s court ruling.
Ellen DeGeneres announces plans to get married after yesterday’s court ruling.
Today, on her talk show, host Ellen DeGeneres applauded the California Supreme Court’s ruling striking down the state’s ban on gay marriage and announced that she would be wedding her longtime girlfriend, actress Portia de Rossi:
This is very exciting, I have to say. Yesterday, the California Supreme Court overturned the ban on gay marriage. So I would like to say right now, for the first time, I am announcing that I am getting married. […]
I’m so excited. It’s something that we’ve, of course, wanted to do, and we’ve wanted to be legal, and we’re very very excited.
The audience gave her and de Rossi, who was also present, a long, standing ovation. Watch it:
The Advocate (via Perez Hilton) has more reactions on yesterday’s ruling from prominent members of the LGBT community.
Conyers: ‘Someone’s got to kick Rove’s ass.’
The Politico reports that today on the House floor, House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) was overheard revealing his aggressive strategy for investigating Karl Rove:
Just off the House floor today, the Crypt overheard House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers tell two other people: “We’re closing in on Rove. Someone’s got to kick his ass.”
Asked a few minutes later for a more official explanation, Conyers told us that Rove has a week to appear before his committee. If he doesn’t, said Conyers, “We’ll do what any self-respecting committee would do. We’d hold him in contempt. Either that or go and have him arrested.”
Conyers said the committee wants Rove to testify about his role in the imprisonment of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, among other things.
“We want him for so many things, it’s hard to keep track,” Conyers said.
Perino: Bush’s Comments Were Not ‘Aimed’ At Obama, But Do ‘Include’ Him
Perino: Bush’s Comments Were Not ‘Aimed’ At Obama, But Do ‘Include’ Him
During today’s press gaggle, reporters pressed White House Spokeswoman Dana Perino about President Bush’s comments implying that Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) and Democrats favor a policy of appeasement toward terrorists. Perino denied that Bush was taking aim directly at Obama, stating that presidential candidates often believe “the world revolves around you.”
However, she wouldn’t refute that his comments were meant to include the senator:
Q: But, so, not aimed at him — do they include him?
PERINO: He’ll have to speak for himself as to what his policy is and you guys can know it well. This was a speech that the President gave to the Knesset. And this is not a new statement by President Bush. This is long-established United States policy, so it should come as no surprise that President Bush suggests that we should not be talking with these people.
Perino’s comments contradict what Bush administration aides are admitting privately. As CNN’s Ed Henry reported earlier today:
White House aides are acknowledging that this was a reference to the fact that Sen. Obama and other Democrats have publicly said that it would be ok for the U.S. President to meet with leaders like the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad.
NBC’s John Yang also said that a White House official told him that Bush’s comments were aimed not only at Obama, but at former President Jimmy Carter and his suggestion that the United States talk with Hamas.
Washington University refuses to back down on Schlafly award.
Washington University refuses to back down on Schlafly award.
Today, Washington University chancellor Mark Wrighton finally responded to the intense criticism the school has been receiving over its decision to award anti-feminist Phyllis Schlafly an honorary degree. In a letter to the “Washington University Community,” Wrighton wrote:
Following the public announcement of the honorary degrees, many in the University community have called for the University to rescind that offer, stating that Mrs. Schlafly is associated with some views, opinions and statements that are inconsistent with the tolerant and inclusive values of the Washington University community. Personally, I do not endorse her views or opinions, and in many instances, I strongly disagree with them.
However, after further consultation with members of the University’s Board of Trustees, the University has concluded that it will fulfill its commitment to award the degree to Mrs. Schlafly. I apologize for the anguish this decision has caused to many members of our community.
Read the full letter below: Read the rest of this entry »
Bush gives up golfing because of Iraq war.
Bush gives up golfing because of Iraq war.
In a new interview with the Politico today, President Bush says that he has given up golf because of the Iraq war, to show “solidarity” with U.S. troops and their families. He added that “playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal”:
Q Mr. President, you haven’t been golfing in recent years. Is that related to Iraq?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, it really is. I don’t want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the Commander-in-Chief playing golf. I feel I owe it to the families to be as — to be in solidarity as best as I can with them. And I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal.
Evidently, Bush learned his lesson since this incident after 9/11. Watch it:
Moore making ‘Fahrenheit 9/11′ sequel.
Variety reports that Michael Moore is making a sequel to “Fahrenheit 9/11,” which was a “scathing indictment of George W. Bush’s war on terrorism and a hit at the worldwide box office.” The new film will reportedly pick up where “Fahrenheit” left off: “In the time since, President Bush’s popularity has plummeted, while the Iraq war continues and the economy falters.”
The inside scoop on Sunday show guests.
TVWeek recently interviewed producers, bookers, and moderators of the Sunday morning news talk shows and found out what they really think of their political guests. Some highlights:
THE HARDEST TO GET
Leading vote-getter: Vice President Dick Cheney. “He doesn’t give a s***. He’s checked out,” said one respondent. “I don’t know what he does all day,” said another.
DOESN’T MAKE THE NEWS THEY PROBABLY SHOULD
Leading vote-getter: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice “never says anything.” “Everybody got really tired of the spin.”
A veteran newsmaker also commented that Rice is lying so low, “She’s under the rug in the living room.” Among the presidential candidates, Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Barack Obama (D-IL) are considered the “biggest gets,” and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is reportedly “great in a green room.” (HT: Jossip)
Washington University Law Professors: Rescind Honorary Degree For Anti-Feminist Phyllis Schlafly
Washington University Law Professors: Rescind Honorary Degree For Anti-Feminist Phyllis Schlafly
Washington University recently announced that it would be awarding right-wing activist Phyllis Schlafly an honorary degree at its graduation ceremony on May 16. Schlafly is notorious for her outspoken belief that women should be homemakers and her opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment. In a statement, the university lauded Schlafly as a “national leader of the conservative movement.”
Opposition was swift. Two Facebook groups opposing the award immediately popped up and now have more than 4,000 members combined. Today, 14 faculty members of the Washington University School of Law also wrote a sharp letter asking school’s chancellor to rescind the award:
We are extremely disappointed that the University has chosen to honor Phyllis Schlafly with an honorary degree at this spring’s commencement ceremony.
We are fully committed to the principle of free speech, and we believe the University should encourage a discussion of diverse viewpoints. Commencement, however, is first and foremost a time of celebration of the intellectual accomplishments of our students. It is, we believe, a disservice to those whom we honor to inject into the proceedings a person who has devoted her life to staking out and promoting polarizing, anti-intellectual positions. […]
An even more important reason to rescind the degree offer to Ms. Schlafly is that her repeatedly expressed views are antithetical to some of the most fundamental principles for which this University stands.
As the professors note, Schlafly’s accomplishments include going after “the gay and lesbian agenda,” calling for the “impeachment” of Supreme Court justices, calling anyone who believes in evolution an “atheist,” and opposing the Violence Against Women Act. She has also claimed that women “are too emotional to handle intellectual or scientific debate” and described sex education as “in-home sales parties for abortions.”
E-mail Washington University Chancellor Mark Wrighton here to object to the Schlafly award. (Be polite.)
Poll: Bush harmful to McCain’s presidential aspirations.
Poll: Bush harmful to McCain’s presidential aspirations.
A new Gallup poll shows that President Bush is so unpopular that he will do more damage to Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) chances of being elected president than will Rev. Jeremiah Wright to Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL):
Fox News: ‘Blame Al Gore For Your Rising Food Prices’
Fox News: ‘Blame Al Gore For Your Rising Food Prices’
Yesterday on Fox News’s Hannity’s America, host Sean Hannity attempted to blame Al Gore for skyrocketing global food prices:
But how did the food shortage become so acute so fast? The growing consensus is that the crop deficit is directly related to the increased demand for production of, quote, “earth friendly” bio fuels, an effort pushed by none other than the vanquished vice president Al Gore and all in the name of quote, “saving the planet.”
Fox News also promoted the segment on its website with the headline, “Gore’s Grocery: Blame Al Gore for your rising food prices.” Watch it:
Hannity pins ethanol production — and hence, the entire food crisis — on Gore by pointing to a 1998 statement in which the then-vice president said he was “proud to stand up for the ethanol tax exemption when it was under attack in Congress.” But as Ellen at News Hounds points out, Hannity failed to mention that more recently, Gore has endorsed cellulosic ethanol over corn-based ethanol.
Additionally, there is no one cause for the food shortage. Biofuel production has been a factor but is not solely responsible. The real culprits are: changing diets, global warming and drought, high energy costs, and investors fleeing the dollar and going into commodities.
Later in the segment, Hannity once again attempted to smear Gore by falsely stating that he said Tropical Cyclone Nargis was a consequence of “global warming.” As The Wonk Room’s Brad Johnson pointed out, this allegation is based on a doctored clip of an NPR interview with Gore.
Transcript: Read the rest of this entry »