Rush Limbaugh: Greed Has Fed More Mouths Than Charity Ever Could

Does Government Want People to Be Poor?

(By John Stossel, Fox News) - Street vending has been a path out of poverty for Americans. And like other such paths (say, driving a taxi), this one is increasingly difficult to navigate. Why? Because entrenched interests don’t like competition. So they lobby their powerful friends to erect high hurdles to upstarts. It’s an old story.

Now, growing local governments are crushing street vendors. The city of Atlanta, for example, has turned all street vending over to a monopoly contractor. In feudalist fashion, all existing vendors were told they must work for the monopoly or not vend at all.

Blooper: TV News Anchor Hits Co-Host in Head with Laptop After Delivering Segment on How WIFI Damages Sperm

(By Tiffany Gabbay, The Blaze) - Watch ABC World News Now anchor Rob Nelson accidentally hit his co-anchor Sunny Hostin in the head with a laptop in this off-the cuff blooper. Strangely, Nelson had just concluded a segment on why WIFI might damage sperm in men when he closed his laptop, picked it up, and accidentally clipped the back of Hostin’s head. The two started laughing hysterically.

Fire Alarm Interrupts 'NBC Nightly News', Brian Williams Handles Like A Pro

(By Frances Martel, Mediaite) - Tonight’s broadcast of 'NBC Nightly News' began on a high note– literally, the high-pitched sound of a fire alarm. The studio from which Brian Williams was broadcasting appeared to have scheduled a test of the fire alarm system to start just as the news report began, interrupting Williams as he tried to report on the news of American Airlines’ dire economic situation.

The alarm went off about five words into the NBC broadcast, when Williams noted to the audience that it was a fire alarm going off, before finishing up the story and tossing to reporter Tom Costello. The alarm continued through the report, and Williams clarified that “there is no danger to us,” that the alarm was merely an inconveniently scheduled “announcement.”

Another Gaffe? Obama Calls British Embassy ‘English’ Embassy

(By Jonathon M. Seidl, The Blaze) - A couple weeks ago, the president referred to Hawaii as being in Asia. And yesterday, he didn‘t help make the case that he’s not gaffe-prone when he referred to the British embassy in Tehran as the “English embassy.”

Bev Perdue's Really Bad Week

RALEIGH (By John Hood, Carolina Journal Online) – Although fans, foes, and disinterested observers may differ about the causes, I suspect they would all agree that Beverly Perdue has had a rough first term as governor of North Carolina.

Unfortunately for her, the events of the past few days have only made things worse.

DNC may have to respect N.C. right to work for convention

(By Jazz Shaw, Hot Air) - When the DNC announced that it would be bringing it’s convention to North Carolina, the locals were understandably enthusiastic. While it’s really only a temporary sugar rush for the economy, any event of that size represents a valuable injection of cash and jobs into the local economy. But as the plans moved forward, the conversation began to turn to the question of what sort of jobs would be created? Who would get the lucrative contracts associated with the convention?

As the Charlotte Observer reports, local legislators became concerned over whether Tar Heel State workers would have the first crack at these opportunities and – more to the point – if the state’s right to work status would be respected.

North Carolina lawmakers approved a nonbinding resolution Tuesday asking the Democratic National Convention to change its rules and “respect North Carolina’s right-to-work laws.”

It comes after Republicans raised concerns about North Carolina firms not getting contracts for the September convention because they are not unionized shops.

The resolution asks the DNC to refrain from hiring workers and companies from outside North Carolina when qualified businesses or workers are available within the state…

“It may astonish you – it’s not about politics, it’s about jobs,” said state Rep. David Lewis, the Republican sponsor.

Lewis said he supported the convention in Charlotte, but he wanted to make sure local workers are hired.

“I think it’s only fitting that Tar Heel workers at least have the opportunity to benefit from (the convention),” he said.

Bret Baier to Romney: Didn’t you used to have basically the same immigration position as Gingrich?

(By Allahpundit, Hot Air) - Skip to 5:05 for the immigration bit — although, if you have time, I recommend watching the whole vid for the odd yet entertaining occasional flare-ups of irritation from the likely nominee. In fact, Romney has the same basic idea about immigration now as he had in 2006. We’ve been over his dispute with Gingrich over immigration before: Essentially, Mitt thinks Newt’s plan to let some longtime residents attain legal non-citizen status is “amnesty” even though his own plan imagines letting some longtime residents become 'citizens' provided they go to the back of line. Why one of those ideas should be deemed significantly more lenient than the other is beyond me. Romney’s has the advantage of not creating any “second class” status for longtime illegals, but he’s willing to grant full citizenship benefits to those who stick it out whereas Gingrich is not. If he wants to attack Newt, he should be hitting him on the strange idea of using local community boards to decide legalization issues instead of a national standard to ensure that more liberal jurisdictions don’t become magnets for longtime illegals. Or maybe that’s the whole point of Newt’s plan, to get illegals to flee to blue areas for more forgiving treatment? Bottom line: There’s really no reason to strongly prefer one of them to the other on this issue.

Chris Matthews: Gingrich Nomination Would Cause ‘Embarrassment and Sadness for Our Republic’

"He would go into debates with whatever broken beer bottle his mind can already grasp..."

Busted: Bill Ayers Admits To Obama Fundraiser That Obama Campaign Called ‘Myth’

(Breitbart.tv) - In 2008 the Barack Obama for President campaign went into full denial mode accusing the McCain/Palin campaign of lying about a fundraiser held in domestic terrorist Bill Ayers's home for Barack Obama's Illinois State Senate campaign.

Watch this clip from October 15, 2008 where spokesman Robert Gibbs flat-out denies the fundraiser story to an inquiring Chris Matthews. Then watch Bill Ayers, in his own words, admit to the event himself.

Either Mr. Gibbs lied to Mr. Matthews, or Mr. Obama lied to Mr. Gibbs.

Barney Frank on mortgage crisis: ‘Could I have done more? No’

(By Nicholas Ballasy, The Daily Caller) - Outgoing Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Barney Frank said there was nothing more he could have done to prevent Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from making loans that could not be paid back.



Related Material...

(MRC TV) - Charles Krauthammer on the legacy Barney Frank leaves

Rick Perry confuses voting age in New Hampshire

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — You might say Rick Perry courted the youth, but not the whole youth, in a campaign appearance at a New Hampshire college.

Speaking at Saint Anselm on Tuesday, he appealed to students who will be at least 21 before Election Day to vote for him, saying: "Those of you that will be 21 by November the 12th, I ask for your support and your vote."

As for those younger than 21, he merely asked them to work hard on his behalf. Doesn't he want their votes too?

It turns out Perry didn't know or had forgotten that the voting age in America is 18.

Perry made another slip too, referring to "November the 12th" as Election Day. New Hampshire will become the first state in the nation to host a Republican presidential primary on Jan. 10; the general election is scheduled for Nov. 6, 2012.

The flubs caused some whispers in the crowd. He did not address them or take questions from reporters after the event, which was the third of four campaign stops in the state Tuesday.

Campaign spokesman Paul Young says Perry "clearly misspoke."

The Texas governor has become a favorite of late night comedians in recent weeks. During a presidential debate earlier in the month, he couldn't recall a key element of his plan to reform government.



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Friend claims Conn. trio not real $254M Powerball winners

(NYPOST.com) - Could Connecticut's newest Powerball winners not be the real winners?

A friend of one of the well-heeled Greenwich money managers claims the trio are not the real winners -- fronting for the guy who really won the $254 million Powerball drawing, according to a bombshell new report.

Tom Gladstone, a friend of winner Brandon Lacoff, said this morning that Lacoff told him that the trio never purchased the winning ticket. He said Lacoff confessed to him that Tim Davidson and Greg Skidmore, the other two winners, are doing a friend a favor so that he remains anonymous.

Cheri Jacobus Slams MSNBC's Bashir: 'You Should Be Writing Ads' for the DNC

(By Ken Shepherd, NewsBusters) - There was little doubt when Martin Bashir started his mid-afternoon gig at MSNBC in February that he'd be another left-of-center anchor in the show's afternoon lineup, although to what extent the British-born reporter would be a fierce partisan bulldog was uncertain. The past few months, as we've noted, the former rugby player has displayed pugnacious partisanship, at one point ridiculously calling on John Boehner and Eric Cantor to resign if they refuse to give ground on raising taxes.

It's now reached the point where Bashir's mean-spirited, unbridled raw partisanship is not going unnoticed or unchallenged by his guests. Today Republican strategist Cheri Jacobus quipped that Bashir "should be writing ads for the Democratic National Committee" after the MSNBC anchor kicked off a panel discussion with her and Democratic strategist Julian Epstein thusly:

Cheri, Newt Gingrich: Serial adulterer, a man forced to resign from the Congress, a man who attacks others for supporting Freddie Mac but then fails to mention he's banked almost $2 million for his "historical insights to the same company. Your response to his rise?

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

2005 FLASHBACK VIDEO: Newt Backs Individual Mandate

NEWT GINGRICH: If I see somebody who's earning over $50,000 a year, who has made the calculated decision not to buy health insurance, I'm looking at somebody who is absolutely as irresponsible as anyone who was ever on welfare. Because what they've said is, A, I'm gambling that I won't get sick, and B, I'm gambling that if I do get sick, I can cheat all my neighbors. Now, when you talk to hospitals, a very significant part of their non-collectibles are people who have money, but have calculated it's not worth the cost to pay. And so I'm actually in favor of finding a way to say, whatever the appropriate level of income is, you ought to have either health insurance, or you ought to post a bond. But we have no right in this society to have a free rider approach, if we're well off economically, to cheat our neighbors.

Ann Coulter Heavily Censored On MSNBC

(Breitbart.tv) - Remember when Time magazine's Mark Halperin called President Obama a "dick" on MSNBC's "Morning Joe." There was much discussion and outcry over the network's negligence in using their 7-second delay feature in censoring Halperin's words. It seems they have faulted on the side of caution given today's appearance by Ann Coulter. MSNBC used the delay button so often in this segment you can barely make out anything that Coulter is saying about Sen. John McCain. If you listen carefully, you can make out that Coulter refers to the Arizona senator as a "douche bag."

Adviser: Cain reassessing his campaign

ATLANTA (AP) - Embattled presidential candidate Herman Cain told staffers Tuesday that he's reassessing his campaign a day after an Atlanta businesswoman alleged a 13-year extramarital affair with the Republican.

Cain has fiercely denied the affair as well as several other accusations of inappropriate sexual behavior that have surfaced over the past month and he has repeatedly vowed to stay in the race. He told senior staff in a mid-morning conference call lasting roughly 10 minutes that all public events will go forward this week but he will review the campaign's strategy over the next several days.

One participant on the call, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the conversation, said that as part of that assessment, Cain's campaign is examining the impact of the newest allegations. This person described the tone as positive but also said there was some uncertainty coming from Cain.

What Would Reagan Do?

Chris Christie Tears Into Obama: ‘What the Hell Are We Paying You For?’

(By Jonathon M. Seidl, The Blaze) - Chris Christie is well-known for his viral, tell-it-like-it-is clips. It’s part of the reason so many conservatives love him. And if they loved him before, they will likely fawn all over him again when they see his latest gem. During a press conference yesterday the New Jersey Gov. lashed out at Obama over the failure of the debt supercommittee: “What the hell are we paying you for?”

Grumpy Barney Frank Lashes Out At ‘Negative’ Media During Live Interview

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

(Breitbart.tv) - Unencumbered by the need to be nice to the media, soon-to-be-retired Barney Frank (D-MA) let Savannah Guthrie hear an earful this morning on the Today Show.

Georgia Woman Claims 13-Year Affair with Herman Cain

ATLANTA, Ga. (By DALE RUSSELL, FOX 5 I-Team) - An Atlanta businesswoman is breaking her silence, claiming she has been involved in a 13-year-long affair with Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain.

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, FOX 5 senior I-Team reporter Dale Russell sat down with Ginger White, who had a story to tell.

“I'm not proud,” White told Russell. “I didn't want to come out with this. I did not.”

Bob Beckel Defends Pot-Smoking Union Workers

Bob Beckel: "You can go to any factory in America and people are going to be outside, smoking dope, having beer...The guy that did that story is a right-wing, the guy has gone out of his way to be a right-winger, he's a wing-nut, interestingly enough did you notice there's no white people in that?"

New Ad: Help Us Sarah Palin, You’re Our Only Hope

(Breitbart.tv) - A new ad by a pro-Palin organization has come out begging Sarah Palin to reconsider her decision not to run for President. The ad quotes: "The challenge is not simply to replace Obama in 2012. The real challenge is who and what we will replace him with."

Exclusive: Obama in 2006: I ‘stole’ book title ‘Audacity of Hope’ from Rev. Wright, ‘my pastor’ [VIDEO]

(By Nicholas Ballasy, The Daily Caller) - Video obtained exclusively by The Daily Caller shows Illinois Senator Barack Obama, then campaigning for Democrats before the 2006 midterm elections, praising Reverend Jeremiah Wright and telling an audience that he “stole” the title of his book “The Audacity of Hope” from Wright’s sermon of the same name, which he “loved.” Obama also referred to Wright as “my pastor.”

New York Times: Obama Campaign Plans to Abandon White Working Class

The Future of the Obama Coalition

(By THOMAS B. EDSALL, New York Times) - For decades, Democrats have suffered continuous and increasingly severe losses among white voters. But preparations by Democratic operatives for the 2012 election make it clear for the first time that the party will explicitly abandon the white working class.

All pretense of trying to win a majority of the white working class has been effectively jettisoned in favor of cementing a center-left coalition made up, on the one hand, of voters who have gotten ahead on the basis of educational attainment — professors, artists, designers, editors, human resources managers, lawyers, librarians, social workers, teachers and therapists — and a second, substantial constituency of lower-income voters who are disproportionately African-American and Hispanic.

It is instructive to trace the evolution of a political strategy based on securing this coalition in the writings and comments, over time, of such Democratic analysts as Stanley Greenberg and Ruy Teixeira. Both men were initially determined to win back the white working-class majority, but both currently advocate a revised Democratic alliance in which whites without college degrees are effectively replaced by well-educated socially liberal whites in alliance with the growing ranks of less affluent minority voters, especially Hispanics.

Old Fogey Fracas! Check Out the Cane-Swinging Brawl Between Two Gray-Haired, Ex-Football Stars

(By Dave Urbanski, The Blaze) - They may be gray-haired, a bit rickety, and long-since retired, but ex-football stars Joe Kapp, 73, and Angelo Mosca, 74, still have some fight left in ‘em.

Check out the recent onstage meeting between the grumpy old rivals that erupted into a brawl, complete with swinging cane and haymaker to the kisser:

Motorist Captures Drag-Racing Corvettes Crashing on Thanksgiving: ‘Knew That Was Coming’

(By Jonathon M. Seidl, The Blaze) - On Thursday, we paused to give thanks. Many of us probably offered up a prayer for our family, friends, and good food to eat. The guys in this video might have offered one up that had something to do with being alive. That’s because an observant Texas motorist noticed that, while stopped at a red light, there were two nearly identical Corvettes waiting to race. He turned on his camera in anticipation of something bad happening. As you’re about to see, he was right

Here’s what the motorist pulled up to:

Video: “9-9-9 The Movie”

(By Tina Korbe, Hot Air) - The Herman Cain campaign today released “9-9-9 The Movie,” an attempt to reassure conservative critics and convert independent skeptics to Cain’s much-mentioned economic plan. Among others, Politico and ABC reporters are already busy deriding it, wryly comparing and contrasting it with earlier admittedly weird and arguably insubstantial Cain campaign spots.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio to Endorse Rick Perry Next Week

(ABC News) - Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the sheriff of Maricopa County, Ariz., who calls himself “America’s Toughest Sheriff,” will endorse Texas Gov. Rick Perry next week, a source with knowledge of the endorsement told ABC News.

Arpaio espouses a hard-line stance on illegal immigration, leading raids to round up and jail illegal immigrants, and was a major proponent of the controversial Arizona immigration law. Perry has spoken with Arpaio several times over the phone since entering the presidential race.

Arpaio, a much sought after endorsement in the GOP field, plans to campaign with Perry in New Hampshire next week, the source said. The Texas governor will be in the Granite State Tuesday and Wednesday, holding three town halls and a breakfast at the Nashua Chamber of Commerce along with speaking at the New Hampshire State House.

Um…Did CBS Show Chargers Kicker Nick Novak Peeing On The Sideline?

(By Glenn Davis, SportsGrid) - The San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos went to overtime today after the Chargers failed to drive down the field for a potential game-winning field goal. Had they succeeded in driving, that field goal attempt would have come off the foot of Nick Novak.

Because he was of such potential importance in the game, the CBS announcers got to talking about him, and the TV cameras focused in on Novak on the sideline. Only he wasn’t warming up, as kickers so often are when they’re shown on the sideline before potentially important kicks. No, Novak appeared to be performing a much more basic human function:

CNN Prank Caller Poses As Student Arrested In Cairo, Thanks ‘Baba Booey’s Monkey Nuts’ For Freedom

(By Frances Martel, Mediaite) - CNN anchor Fredricka Whitfield got a bit of an unwelcome surprise this evening as an interview with who she thought was Gregory Porter, an American student recently arrested and released in Cairo, went awry. Porter described the fear of being arrested in a crowd in Tahrir Square, the happiness of hearing his mother’s voice after his first phone call… and then thanked “the North Shore Animal League and Baba Booey’s monkey nuts.”

Barney Frank won’t seek reelection in 2012

(Boston.com) - US Representative Barney Frank, the state’s highest-profile congressman and one of the nation’s leading liberal voices after being among its first openly gay elected officials, planned to announce today that he will not seek reelection next year.

A top adviser told the Globe that the new district in which Frank would have had to run next year was a major factor in his decision. While it retained his Newton stronghold, it was revised to encompass more conservative towns like Walpole while losing New Bedford, a blue-collar city where the Democrat had invested a lot of time and become a leading figure in the region’s fisheries debate.

Frank’s campaign manager last year said his withering 2010 re-election effort spurred the congressman to think seriously about retirement, even saying a few days after the election that it would be his last one.

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• (Hot Air) - Barney Frank – Exit stage left

Newt Gingrich on Fire Skewers Obama Repeatedly: “I Actually Do Study History, and Unlike the President, I Study American History” – Video 11/25/11

(Freedom's Lighthouse) - Here is video of Newt Gingrich yesterday in Naples, Florida, where he mocked President Obama by saying that he would allow him to “use a teleprompter” in the “seven Lincoln-Douglas style debates” Gingrich will challenge Obama to in the 2012 Election Campaign. Gingrich said he would do so because he “wants to be fair,” and then quipped, “If you had to defend ObamaCare, wouldn’t you want to use a teleprompter?”

Gingrich then explained why he thinks Obama will take the debate challenge. He said one reason is Obama’s “ego.” Gingrich cited Obama’s Ivy League credentials, and then said, “How is he going to say he’s afraid to be on the same podium with a West Georgia college teacher.”

Colin Powell Blames Media and Tea Party for Divisive Tone in Washington

(By Noel Sheppard, NewsBusters) - Colin Powell on Sunday blamed the media as well as the Tea Party for the divisive political tone in Washington.

Not surprisingly, neither the class warfare stoked by President Obama and his Party nor the resulting Occupy Wall Street movement was mentioned during this seven minute interview with Christiane Amanpour on ABC's 'This Week':



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• (Hot Air) - Powell: Tea Party POTUS candidate “can’t win”

The hilarious moment a 265lb NFL player tackled stunning brunette Cowboys cheerleader

(UK Mail Online) - Next time a 6’6” NFL player weighing 265lbs runs in her direction in full football gear, it would be probably be advisable to get out of the way.

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten, 29, ran out of bounds in a game and ended up taking down a cheerleader rooting for his own team.

Last night's incident seemed to stun rather than injure Melissa Kellerman, 22, who was helped up and found the whole thing very amusing.

Charles Krauthammer Shuts Up Nina Totenberg: 'I'm in the Middle of a Sentence'

(By Noel Sheppard, NewsBusters) - Syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer and NPR's Nina Totenberg had a humorous exchange on PBS's Inside Washington Friday.

After mocking Totenberg for the "surprise" of her giving Democrats on the Super Committee credit, Krauthammer scolded her for constantly interrupting him saying, "I'm in the middle of a sentence, and I am going to get to the end, and I will let you know with punctuation, alright?":

Defense Factory Workers Allegedly Caught Drinking, Smoking Pot on Lunch Break

(By Madeleine Morgenstern, The Blaze) - Workers at a Detroit defense factory have been caught on video allegedly drinking and smoking marijuana during their lunch breaks — then presumably returning to their jobs where they make parts for armored military vehicles.

Tower Defense and Aerospace produces parts for military vehicles used by American troops in combat, including Humvees and Strykers. It’s a Department of Defense subcontractor, ultimately paid for on the taxpayer’s dime.

But a series of shocking footage from Detroit Fox affiliate WJBK shows workers appearing to drink alcohol and smoke marijuana during their breaks, all within sight of the factory.

In the footage, workers are shown sipping liquids out of paper bags and smoking joints. Some do so sitting in their cars while others remain outside, out in the open, making no attempt to hide their actions.

Not A Parody: Al Sharpton’s Official ‘Lean Forward’ Ad From MSNBC

(Breitbart.tv) - This is how NBC News has chosen to showcase their newest star.

Resist we much.

Home Depot Co-Founder Rebukes Obama: 'If We Change the Faces in the White House, We Are on the Road to Recovery'

CNN Debate Gaffes...by CNN

(Fox Nation) - CNN Labels Wesley Clark as an Republican.

Romney Flashback: Illegal Aliens "Should Be Able" To Get Citizenship

(Real Clear Politics) - At Tuesday's GOP debate hosted by CNN/Heritage Foundation/AEI, Mitt Romney accused Newt Gingrich of supporting "amnesty" when he said illegal immigrants who have been in the U.S. for many years should have a path to legalization.

"Let's be humane in enforcing the law without giving them citizenship but by finding a way to create legality so that they are not separated from their families," Gingrich said about illegal immigrants that have been in the U.S. for man years and have ties to the community.

"Look, amnesty is a magnet. If people who come here illegally are going to get to stay" that will encourage more people to come illegally," Romney said about Gingrich's view on how to deal with illegal immigrants.

However, in a 2007 interview with "Meet the Press," Mitt Romney said the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. should be able to obtain citizenship at some point.

"My own view is consistent with what you saw in the Lowell Sun, that those people who had come here illegally and are in this country -- the 12 million or so that are here illegally -- should be able to sign up for permanent residency or citizenship," Romney said in the interview with Tim Russert.

Legalization, which is not amnesty, is not as generous as the outright citizenship Romney advocated in 2007.

Charles Krauthammer: Obama gave up ‘governance,’ now running ‘an Occupy Wall Street campaign’

(By Jeff Poor, The Daily Caller) - Almost immediately after the congressional deficit reduction super committee called it quits on trying to reach a deal on federal budget cuts, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta urged Congress to stop the automatic across-the-board cuts, warning they would “tear a seam in the nation’s defense.”

That’s a near-complete contradiction to what his boss, President Barack Obama, said following the news. Obama promised to veto any efforts by Congress to stop the cuts.

On Tuesday’s “Special Report” on the Fox News Channel, Washington Post columnist Charles Krauthammer said this was a sign that Obama’s re-election is taking precedence over governance.



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• (Real Clear Politics) - Krauthammer: Obama Is Running An "Occupy Wall Street Campaign"

• (Real Clear Politics) - Charen: Super Committee "Incredible Abdication Of Leadership" For Obama

Rush Limbaugh Says The GOP Contender That Fights and Says Obama’s the Problem Will Get the Nomination in the End

(Fox News Insider) - Earlier in the week, Talk Radio host Rush Limbaugh talked about the fight to win the GOP presidential nomination, saying the first step in the process is getting rid of Barack Obama and the Democrat Party and moving them out of the way. “Whichever of these people seeking the nomination makes that case the most consistently and the most believably and the most sincerely, not as phony sales type presentation but genuinely means it, that’s who’s gonna get this nomination in the end,” he said.

Michele Bachmann Demands Apology From NBC for Vulgar Song Played During Her Appearance on ‘Late Night With Jimmy Fallon’

(Fox News Insider) - GOP candidate Michele Bachmann joined America’s Newsroom Wednesday morning and addressed the controversy surrounding her appearance on ‘Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.’ When Bachmann was introduced on the show earlier this week, Fallon’s house band, the Roots, played Fishbone’s song ‘Lyin’ A** B****.’ Fallon has since apologized. While Bachmann said she accepts the comedian’s apology, she believes that NBC should apologize as well.

Bachmann said, “If that had been Michelle Obama, who’d come out on the stage, and if that song had been played for Michelle Obama, I have no doubt that NBC would have apologized to her and likely they would have fired the drummer, or at least suspended him.”

She believes this show a bias on the part of the media, saying, “This is clearly a form of bias on the part of the Hollywood entertainment elite.”

Debate Recap: Gingrich Takes Heat for Saying Some Illegals Should Be Allowed to Stay

WASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — Republican presidential hopefuls warned in near unanimity against deep cuts in the nation’s defense budget Tuesday night, assailing President Barack Obama in campaign debate but disagreeing over the extent of reductions the Pentagon should absorb to reduce deficits and repair the frail U.S. economy.

The debate ranged widely, from Iran’s threat to develop a nuclear weapon to the anti-terror Patriot Act, the war in Afghanistan, U.S-Pakistan relations and illegal immigrants who have entered the U.S. across the Mexican border. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said some should be allowed to stay, drawing fire from rivals Mitt Romney and Michele Bachman.

Incredible Video: NZ Chopper Crashes While Setting Up Christmas Tree

(By Jonathon M. Seidl, The Blaze) - A New Zealand helicopter pilot is lucky to be alive today, after he survived an horrific crash while trying to set up a large Christmas tree. The Daily Mail describes what happened:

Television viewers in New Zealand watched in horror as the blades of Greg Gribble‘s helicopter became tangled in cables attached to scaffolding on Auckland’s waterfront.

Dramatic footage shows the rear of the helicopter snapping, flinging Mr Gribble out of the front door of the helicopter, then slamming him back through its side door.

The aircraft then dropped 25ft to the ground.

Did Bachmann Really Leak Classified Info. During Last Night’s Debate? Maybe Not

(By Jonathon M. Seidl, The Blaze) - It was a moment that Mediaite originally called a “high point” for Michele Bachmann during last night’s debate. During a discussion on whether Pakistan should no longer receive foreign aid (Bachmann supports continued aid), the Minnesota Congresswoman who sits on the House Intelligence Committee revealed that Pakistan has 15 nuclear sites and that six of the sites had already been attacked by Islamists. But that’s information some are saying has never been made public before, causing some to wonder if Bachmann accidentally leaked classified information.

But did she? What we found suggests no.

‘This is SCARY’: Would You Soar Through Pine Trees on a Roller Coaster With No Brakes?

(By Liz Klimas, The Blaze) - Sometimes the simpler something is the scarier it can be, like old time horror flicks that didn’t have all the gore. This roller coaster plays off that concept.

It’s pretty simple: single pipe, single person, single giant sloping, winding hill. But throw hundreds of pine trees whizzing past you on tight bank curves and it gets a bit scarier. Oh, and try not to clutch the brake — that’s right no brake. Then you’re bound to let out a few “whoas” like this guy did:

Despite attacks, Dems standing by Occupy Wall Street

(By Greg Sargent, The Washington Post) - For weeks now, Republicans have attacked Democrats for voicing support for the Occupy Wall Street protesters, in particular faulting the DCCC for standing up for them. And the incidents of violence and excess have led some neutral commentators to predict that Dems will pay a political price if they align themselves with the movement.

So it’s interesting to see that the DCCC is sticking by Occupy Wall Street. Indeed, the DCCC is now raising money off that recent report of a GOP-connected corporate lobbying firm’s proposed smear campaign against the movement. Nancy Pelosi has authored a DCCC fundraising email that presents this as proof that Republicans are on the side of Wall Street and against Dems and the protesters...

Democrat says Democratic Party bosses use voter fraud

(By Neil Munro, The Daily Caller) - Top Democrats are aggressively pushing the claim that Republicans’ worries about voter fraud are an insincere excuse to suppress voting by African-Americans and Hispanics.

But former Alabama Democratic Rep. Artur Davis told The Daily Caller that anti-fraud measures are needed to protect African-Americans from corrupt political bosses — many of them African-Americans themselves — who run Democratic Party machines in the South.

On Nov. 14, progressive Democratic Reps. John Conyers, Steny Hoyer, Jerrold Nadler, Keith Ellison, Steve Cohen, Marcia Fudge and Emanuel Clearer, the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus — along with representatives from several advocacy groups — held a meeting to complain about what they say is the danger posed by laws that require voters to identify themselves.

Artur Davis is unimpressed.

Kurt Busch lets ESPN's Dr. Jerry Punch know how much he dislikes him

(By Reid Cherner, USA TODAY) - During Sunday's Ford 400 at Homestead, analyst Jerry Punch tried to interview Kurt Busch after the driver was forced out of the race with transmission problems.

What resulted was a profanity-laced tirade by Busch who didn't want to wait until the ESPN control booth threw it to Punch.

The language makes it NSFW but you can listen to it here. (Earphones definitely suggested)

In the end, Punch decided he had enough and walked away from Busch telling his producers, "never mind, never mind."

Russian News Anchor Gives the Finger During Report About President Barack Obama

(myFOXdc.com) - A Russian news anchor flipped the bird on-camera while reading a report about the APEC summit that took place earlier this month in Hawaii.

Tatiana Limanova made the hand gesture right after she read the name of President Barack Obama.

It is unsure if the gesture was directed toward the U.S. president, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, or someone off camera.

Obama To Al Sharpton: 'My Religious Faith' Makes Me Believe Republicans Will Agree To Raise Taxes

(By Mark Finkelstein, NewsBusters) - On his MSNBC show [yesterday] evening, Al Sharpton played the audio of his radio-show interview of President Obama in which the president, commenting on the failure of the Super Committee, said "my religious faith" makes him believe at some point Republicans will agree to raise taxes.

Even the Reverend Al couldn't take PBO's reference to his religious faith seriously, as he can be heard chuckling in the background.

Jon Meacham: Obama 'In The Wrong Business, Doesn't Particularly Like People'

(By Mark Finkelstein, NewsBusters) - When it comes to the MSM, it's hard to get more mainstream than Jon Meacham. Former Newsweek editor. Current Random House editor. Picked for a Pulitzer Prize.

So when someone of Meacham's genteelly liberal ilk unloads on Barack Obama in such stark terms, it's newsworthy. On today's Morning Joe, Meacham flatly stated his belief that President Obama "doesn't particularly like people and politicians who don't like people are kind of in the wrong business."

Protesters want to set up camp at Civic Plaza

(By LAURA GRAFF, Winston-Salem Journal) - Members of Occupy Winston-Salem are arguing that they want to set up a camp at Civic Plaza near BB&T and Wells Fargo bank offices instead of protesting at the parking lot farther away that city officials have offered.

The protesters say the lot at Seventh and Marshall streets is too far from the banks and too close to a day-care center. They want to camp in the open, grass-filled park at Fourth and Trade streets.

City officials, though, say Civic Plaza is not an option.

Pelosi whines about Catholics having “this conscience thing”

(By Tina Korbe, Hot Air) - Maybe she’s just jealous they have something she doesn’t …

According to LifeNews.com, Nancy Pelosi is upset that the U.S. Catholic bishops wouldn’t approve if the Obama administration did, in fact, decide to force insurance companies to cover birth control, contraception and drugs that could cause abortions. The bishops say that, under such a decision, some religious groups might have to provide the insurance against their moral and religious views.

Given the Catholic Church’s ban on contraception, the bishops’ position shouldn’t come as a surprise to Ms. Pelosi — but she still manages to be baffled by their concern for conscience protections for health insurers who might not want to have to cover birth control just to be able to provide other types of health insurance.

Similarly, she was skeptical earlier this year that Republicans would fight for conscience protections for health care providers out of any noble motive. Republicans must want women to “die on the floor,” she said, just because they don’t want to compel health care providers to assist with abortions.

She still thinks that — only more so, if that could possibly be.

Home Depot Co-Founder: If 2012 goes the way of big government, I pity all of us

(By The Right Scoop) - Bernie Marcus, Home Depot Co-Founder says that he doesn’t “know a businessman in his right mind…that would expand their business in this market or do anything to get rid of the cash flow that they have.” He says that it’s come to the point where we are going to go the way of big government or the way of creating jobs, and that “2012 is now setting up to be the ultimate decision for this country on where we’re going to end up and if it doesn’t go the right way, I pity all of us.”

This is exactly the tone that we need to hear from businessmen and entrepreneurs. Most of America is disconnected from what they see on a daily basis and they really need to speak out like this to motivate the American public to not only vote for a Republican as president, but also and more importantly a majority of Republicans in the Senate and the House. It is that critical.

Virginia Woman Faces 50 Years Behind Bars For Decapitating Piglet

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (CBS Washington) – A Portsmouth woman faces up to 50 years in prison after pleading guilty to beheading her boyfriend’s piglet.

According to court documents, Ashley Fowler, 22, was breaking up with the piglet’s owner Zach Sawyer and wanted to play a prank first.

Sawyer’s mother told the Virginian-Pilot last year that the piglet’s head freaked her out when she let her puppy outside early one morning last February and saw it staring back at her.

“For somebody to come and do something like this was unbelievably sick,” Janie Sawyer told the paper.

The Sawyers had to euthanize another pig who Fowler admitted to stabbing in the same incident. She said her son started raising them on the family farm as therapy after he suffered a head injury.

Fowler also plead guilty to charges of possessing Adderall and breaking and entering.

Rush Limbaugh Defends NASCAR Fans Booing First Lady

(By Buck Sexton, The Blaze) - While some in the media appeared shocked when Michelle Obama was booed at a NASCAR race over the weekend in Florida, Rush Limbaugh wasn’t surprised in the least.

Limbaugh has also stated his belief that booing the First Lady makes perfect sense for the crowd at the Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Since the incident, ABC News has run its own coverage calling Limbaugh’s comments “racially insensitive.” ABC cut a 10 minute radio segment down to a few sentences to focus on Limbaugh’s usage of the word “uppity” regarding the First Lady to infer racial undertones to his speech.

ABC’s Jake Tapper leaves no question about his feelings, referring to Limbaugh’s comments as “making things worse.”

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• (By Brent Baker, NewsBusters) - ABC Elevates Left-Wing Hit, Charges ‘Limbaugh Hurls Racially-Charged Words at the First Lady’

Rick Perry Tells Fox Panel He Supports A Unilateral No-Fly Zone Against Syria

(By James Crugnale, Mediaite) - Rick Perry made a bold policy proclamation Monday night on 'Special Report with Bret Baier', declaring he supports a no-fly zone in Syria without approval from the United Nations.

Fox News contributor Charles Krauthammer had asked the Texas Governor if he would support armed resistance in Syria.

“Let me back up and say we missed some great opportunities,” Perry opined. “Iran is the real issue in the Middle East from my perspective and we had the opportunity in 2009 with the Green Revolution to use economic sanctions, to use diplomatic sanctions over covert. We had the opportunity to help the citizens overthrow that very oppressive regime and to stop them in their quest to get a nuclear weapon in 2009 and we failed. Naively, the president and the administration was talking to Syria and the Iranians and we wasted a great opportunity. The point should always be when there is this type of oppressive regime obviously working with Iran in that area to be very hostile to our oldest friend and longest serving democracy Israel, we need to put everything on the table there. There should not be anything set aside that keeps the pressure off those individuals.”



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• (By Allahpundit, Hot Air) - Perry: How about a unilateral U.S. no-fly zone over Syria?

John Edwards case to start in January

GREENSBORO, N.C., Nov. 17 (UPI) - Former U.S. presidential hopeful John Edwards will go on trial at the end of January on charges he violated campaign finance laws.

U.S. District Court Judge Catherine Eagles, sitting in Greensboro, N.C., scheduled jury selection to begin Jan. 30 and first evidence in the case to be presented Feb. 13, Politico reported Wednesday.

Edwards, a former one-term U.S. senator representing North Carolina, has pleaded not guilty to charges he violated campaign finance law during his 2008 bid for the Democratic presidential nomination by conspiring to use about $900,000 in contributions from two supporters for living expenses of his mistress, Rielle Hunter, and a child he fathered with her.

He is accused of causing false reports to be filed with the Federal Election Commission, among other things.

FL D.O.T Releases Shocking ‘Blindspots’ Vid Showing People Getting Run Over

(By Liz Klimas, The Blaze) - Each month, about nine people are killed by cars while they are crossing the road in Florida, making it the worst state in the nation for pedestrian fatalities. Just this past Wednesday, Nov. 16, one of these fatalities occurred when a pregnant woman was hit and killed leaving doctors scrambling to try and save her unborn child.

Tampa Bay News 9 reports the driver of the car did not see the pedestrians, which consisted of two women pushing two strollers with toddlers. The report does note the mothers were pushing the children in a poorly lit area with no sidewalk on part of the road.

This is just one of many cases exemplifying why the Florida Department of Transportation District 7 launched a campaign — See the Blindspots — as a pedestrian and bicyclist safety awareness program.

Mitt Romney: Individual Mandate ‘Was a Conservative Concept’

(By Katrina Trinko, The Corner) - In a testy debate exchange last month, Mitt Romney reminded Newt Gingrich that he had backed the individual mandate previously. Now, with Gingrich surging in the polls to frontrunner status, Romney is reminding the electorate about Gingrich’s record on health-care.

“Don’t forget, this health care plan was something we learned about from the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank,” Romney said on Fox News Channel’s 'Hannity' in an interview to be aired tonight. “Even Newt Gingrich supported the idea of an individual mandate, insisting on personal responsibility.”

“Now, what we did isn’t perfect,” Romney added. “Some parts of it worked, some didn’t, some things I would change. But it’s not like it’s a liberal idea. It was a conservative concept.”

Meghan McCain Bashes Newt Gingrich, Jay Leno Calls Him A ‘Hot Air Balloon’

(By James Crugnale, Mediaite) - MSNBC contributor Meghan McCain sat down with Jay Leno on Friday’s 'Tonight Show' and spoke candidly on the Republican candidates, comparing the process of picking a nominee to speed dating. McCain slammed Newt Gingrich‘s campaign as a “vanity project” and slighted him as “this week’s fling” for Republicans, lamenting how the process has turned into an “anybody but Romney” affair. “He seems to be rising — hot air balloons do that,” Leno snarked.

McCain dished on how she got into a feud with the former Speaker of the House. “I said that he was running for president purely for vanity purposes — to sell books, to sell DVDs, which I still believe. Someone told him that, and he was like ‘What would she know?’ and his implication was, like, ‘dumb blond chick, get off TV, what do you know?’ And he just was so — I’m so sick of being talked to like that.”

Paul Krugman: Newt Gingrich Is ‘A Stupid Man’s Idea Of What A Smart Person Sounds Like’

(By James Crugnale, Mediaite) - On 'This Week with Christiane Amanpour', 'New York Times' columnist Paul Krugman gave his two cents about why Republican support is beginning to coalesce around Newt Gingrich, with a snarky barb thrown in for good measure. “It was his time, the Republican base doesn’t want Romney and they keep looking for an alternative, and Newt — although somebody said ‘he’s a stupid man’s idea of what a smart person sounds like,’ but he is more plausible than the other guys they’ve been pushing up.”

Mika Brzezinski Is Disgusted By Gingrich’s Call For Occupy Protesters To ‘Take A Bath’

(By James Crugnale, Mediaite) - On Monday’s 'Morning Joe', Mika Brzezinski and economist Jeffrey Sachs were both visibly repulsed by Republican frontrunner Newt Gingrich‘s comments that Occupy Wall Street protesters should “get a job and take a bath.”

“That was about one of the most arrogant and un-self aware –and those are the only words I can use — things for any politician in this Republican field to say,” Brezinski fumed.

“Absolutely disgusting,” Sachs exclaimed, “No sense of any meaning in all of this. Absolutely revolting, actually, and especially when what they’re protesting against is the incredible abuse of power, the criminality on Wall Street and so forth that he, yes, taking his millions of dollars, it’s shocking.”

Police: Fake Doctor Injected Cement, Super Glue Into Woman’s Buttocks for Enhancement Procedure

(By Madeleine Morgenstern, The Blaze) - A fake doctor accused of injecting a woman’s buttocks with cement, super glue and other chemicals was arrested Friday in Florida.

Police said Oneal Ron Morris, a 30-year-old transgendered man who is not a doctor, administered the potentially lethal shots to at least one woman as part of a buttock-enhancing procedure. He had also tried the procedure on himself.

“They agreed on a price of $700 for him to enhance her buttocks,” Miami Gardens Police Sgt. Bill Bamford told Miami’s WPLG-TV.

Morris allegedly injected the victim with a combination of cement, mineral oil, Fix-a-Flat tire sealant and super glue, then sealed the incision with more super glue, police said.

The passing of a hero: Former sheriff and WWII vet Clyde Duggins is laid to rest

William “Clyde” Duggins was honored at a special celebration in King for his service to his country in the U.S. Army during WWII. He was awarded a Purple Heart after he survived D-Day in Normandy.

(By Leslie Bray, The Stokes News) - Many writers have penned their thoughts on how fitting it was that American founding fathers Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on Independence Day, July 4. And many in Stokes County are saying that it is also appropriate that one of their own heroes — D-Day survivor and former Stokes County Sheriff Clyde Duggins — was laid to rest on Veterans Day.

Duggins, one of the county’s few remaining World War II veterans, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 8, after a rapid decline in health. He had recently celebrated his 90th birthday at a special celebration on Oct. 8 at the King American Legion. At that ceremony, he was honored for his service to his country in WWII, as well as his service to the county as sheriff.

“Clyde served as sheriff of Stokes County from 1970 through 1974,” noted current Sheriff Mike Marshall. “He has touched and influenced the life of so many people throughout the years. There are many of our citizens who still remember Clyde and who also remember the many wonderful contributions he made as sheriff and as a citizen of Stokes County.”

George Will Dismisses Newt Gingrich, Scoffs At Idea That He Is A ‘Historian’

(By Frances Martel, Mediaite) - George Will really doesn’t like Newt Gingrich. On the 'This Week' round table [yesterday] morning, Will began his comments on Gingrich, now a frontrunner, by stating that his candidate “embodies everything disagreeable about modern Washington,” going on to laugh at the idea that Gingrich was hired by Freddie Mac as a “historian,” and, as a final blow, speaking more glowingly of even Rep. Ron Paul than of Gingrich.

NASCAR Crowd Boos Michelle Obama

(Fox Nation) - First Lady Michelle Obama was booed in Florida [yesterday] as she made the traditional "Gentlemen, start your engines!" call at the final NASCAR race of the season.

Charles Krauthammer Scolds Mark Shields and Nina Totenberg: 'What Planet Are You Guys Living On...I’ve Rarely Encountered Such Thickness'

(By Noel Sheppard, NewsBusters) - Charles Krauthammer justifiably lost his patience with his fellow panelists on PBS's 'Inside Washington' Friday evening.

No matter how many times he explained that Republicans last week proposed a revenue increase that Democrats refused, PBS's Mark Shields and NPR's Nina Totenberg couldn't seem to grasp this simple concept leading Krauthammer to ask, "What planet are you guys living on...I’ve rarely encountered such thickness":

Charles Krauthammer: Obama's Decisions are Election-Driven, Aren't in Best Interest of U.S.

Part One:



Part Two:



(Fox Nation) - Charles Krauthammer says he thinks President Obama is putting his re-election campaign ahead of his job as commander-in-chief. Krauthammer says the President continues to restrict oil drilling even though it is an 'obvious source of recovery.'

Rubio-Coons AGREE Act: Obama’s nightmare?

(By Ed Morrissey, Hot Air) - On its face, the bill crafted by Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Chris Coons (D-DE) looks modest enough. The aptly-named AGREE (American Growth, Recovery, Empowerment, and Entrepreneurship) Act takes parts of job-growth proposals from both sides of the aisle with wide bipartisan support and rolls them into one proposal. The two eliminated those components that create controversy, so that this Congress can act at least incrementally to improve the economic climate for job creators while larger reform efforts collide on Capitol Hill.

The incremental approach on policy actually 'is' modest, if also effective and impactful. But the effect of the AGREE Act on larger political strategies is anything 'but' modest. Rubio and Coons have basically challenged Harry Reid to get something accomplished — and that runs headlong into Barack Obama’s election strategy. In my column for The Fiscal Times, I write that the entire notion of a do-nothing Congress is Obama’s best re-election argument. Will Reid accept bipartisan progress, or defend Obama’s re-election strategy?

‘Patriotic millionaires’ demand higher taxes, but unwilling to pay up

(By Michelle Fields, The Daily Caller) - Two dozen “patriotic millionaires” traveled to the national’s capital on Wednesday to demand that Congress raise taxes on wealthy Americans.

The Daily Caller attended their press conference with an iPad, which displayed the Treasury Department’s donation page, to find out if any of the “patriotic millionaires” were willing to put their money where their mouth is.

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Obama fundraising PAC pretty much off to the start you’d expect

(By Ed Morrissey, Hot Air) - After the 'Citizens United' ruling in 2009, Barack Obama decided that two can play at that game. For his 2012 re-election effort, Obama sent spokesman Bill Burton out of the White House to start two 501(c)4 groups, Priorities USA and Priorities USA Action, to raise funds for outside-group support of his re-election bid, which aimed at raising $100 million for the effort. So how’s that going?

Apparently, two 'can’t' play at that game:

Many of the Democratic Party’s biggest donors aren’t planning to support his organization, either because they’re unhappy with Mr. Obama or disillusioned with politics in general. There’s also this fund-raising fact of life: Wealthy donors are more likely to open up their wallets to defeat a sitting president than to protect one.

Mr. Burton’s group has spent less than $1 million on advertisements this year, while the leading pro-Republican organization has spent more than $20 million. …

Arthur Lipson, owner of hedge-fund management firm Western Investment, has donated more than $500,000 to Democratic causes in the past decade, according to public records. He hasn’t heard from Mr. Burton, but an outreach probably wouldn’t be worth the effort. “I will definitely not donate to Obama in any way, shape or form,” said Mr. Lipson, who objects to deals the president has made with Republicans.

The Burton group’s struggles have caught the attention of Obama re-election campaign officials, who privately say they aren’t counting on its support.

More stolen goods found on Jeremy Mayfield's property

CATAWBA (Hickory Daily Record) - Investigators returned to Jeremy Mayfield’s home with another search warrant Wednesday morning, this time seizing furniture from his home on Hudson Chapel Road in Catawba.

The Catawba County Sheriff’s Office first served a search warrant on Mayfield’s home on Nov. 1, with officers from Lincoln and Iredell counties. While at his home, they took photos of items at Mayfield’s house, said Catawba County Sheriff Coy Reid.

Wednesday’s search warrant was issued by the Hudson Police Department.

“When we served our search warrant, the victims IDed it as theirs,” he said of the furniture. “Hudson police had probable cause from a case in February.”

Reid called the items “high dollar furniture,” that were primarily chairs and couches.

Herman Cain asks for help speaking 'Cuban'

(By Catalina Camia, USA TODAY) - GOP presidential hopeful Herman Cain reportedly made another gaffe today while campaigning in Miami, asking people at the famous Versailles Restaurant what the Cuban word is for "delicious."

Fox News, among others, has a videotape of Cain's visit to the cafe, which is a perennial campaign stop for politicians. Cain can be seen on the tape sampling strong Cuban coffee and a croqueta, a deep-fried delicacy filled with ham.

Asked how he liked his snack, Cain can be heard asking, "How do you say 'delicious' in Cuban?"

Cubans speak Spanish.

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Perry funds dry up after gaffes and dip in polls

WASHINGTON (By Richard S. Dunham, Houston Chronicle/Hearst Washington Bureau Chief) — Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s campaign fundraising has gone into a tailspin as a result of poor debate performances and plunging poll numbers, jeopardizing his position as the best-funded Republican presidential candidate of 2012.

Perry’s associates and supporters say his campaign has redoubled its money-­raising efforts in the past week to ensure that his campaign will have enough money to survive the first three contests of the 2012 election calendar: Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

But Perry’s loyal backers are running into resistance from Republican donors. One Perry fundraiser, who asked not to be named, said he received 15 RSVPs for a recent event from potential donors saying they might attend. But after a gaffe-marred Perry debate performance, none showed up.

“The debates have taken a toll,” the fundraiser said. “The national numbers have taken a toll. People see the campaign on a negative trajectory.”

Romney staffers wiped out records in ’06

Ex-governor’s aides say they did nothing wrong

(By Michael Levenson & Matt Viser, The Boston Globe) - Just before Mitt Romney left the Massachusetts governor’s office and first ran for president, 11 of his top aides purchased their state-issued computer hard drives, and the Romney administration’s e-mails were all wiped from a server, according to interviews and records obtained by the Globe.

Romney administration officials had the remaining computers in the governor’s office replaced just before Governor Deval Patrick’s staff showed up to take power in January 2007, according to Mark Reilly, Patrick’s chief legal counsel.

As a result, Patrick’s office, which has been bombarded with inquiries for records from the Romney era, has no electronic record of any Romney administration e-mails, Reilly said.

Charges Dropped Against Randolph Co. Man for Holding Deer in Captivity

District attorney has dismissed charges against Kindley, case now "effectively moot"

RANDOLPH COUNTY, NC (WGHP) — The state announced Thursday District Attorney Garland Yates has dismissed the misdemeanor charge against Clifton Wayne Kindley for holding deer in captivity without a permit.

Nine deer shot were shot and killed at Wayne Kindley's rehabilitation farm in Asheboro last month. Officers said the deer were killed to be tested for Chronic Wasting Disease. The disease, essentially mad cow disease for deer, is highly contagious and has been devastating to deer populations in the northern Rockies.

Kindley was charged with holding deer in captivity without a permit. However, those charges were dismissed by the District Attorney's Office on Wednesday.

Chris Matthews on Newt Gingrich: ‘He’s Not a Human Being, He’s a Gaseous State’

(By Tiffany Gabbay, The Blaze) - Former speaker of the house and GOP presidential contender Newt Gingrich has been called many things by MSNBC host Chris Matthews during his time in the political spotlight, but a “gaseous state” is indeed a new one.

To kick-off his latest tirade, Matthews played a clip of Gingrich in which he stated:

What you have today is that the rich in Wall Street and the powerful at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had so many politicians beholding to them that in fact nobody was going to check them. And so they got away with things that were absolute baloney. It’s a tragedy.

To which Matthews blasted, “He’s [Gingrich] not a human being, he’s a gaseous state. Isn’t he? I mean Joan, this is like a gaseous state around the world. I mean, this is Newtism.”

‘Forced Unionization’: SEIU Collects Union Dues From Disabled Kids’ Medicaid Checks

(By Madeleine Morgenstern, The Blaze) - Robert and Patricia Haynes take care of their two children, who at the ages of 30 and 34 are more like children in adult bodies. That’s because they both have cerebral palsy, and rely on their parents to feed and change them — and likely will for the rest of their lives.

The Haynes family receives monthly checks from the state of Michigan through Medicaid, allowing the parents to care for their son and daughter themselves instead of institutionalizing them. But because a Michigan law classifies Robert and Patricia as “home health care workers,” they are considered public workers and therefore automatic union members — meaning the SEIU gets a $30 cut of the family’s Medicaid subsidy as union dues.

“We’re not home health care providers — we’re parents taking care of our children,” Melissa Haynes told Detroit Fox affiliate WJBK-TV:

Forced To Join a Union: SEIU Getting Money From Michigan Medicaid Checks: MyFoxDETROIT.com

New ‘Unhate’ Ads Feature Obama Engaged in Same-Sex Kisses

(By Billy Hallowell, The Blaze) - Advertisement campaigns are all about nabbing peoples’ attention. This is precisely the reason why many companies utilize sex appeal, among other stimulating imagery, to try and attract prospective clients and consumers. It may also be the reason that Benetton, an Italian clothing and retail company, has launched “Unhate,” a new ad campaign that includes billboards showing unlikely political and religious leaders engaging in bizarre (and fake) lip-locks.

Apparently the controversial images are nothing new for Benetton, a company that Ad Age claims has always been known for its polarizing advertisements. In the past, the company has focused upon race relations, war and AIDS, among other subjects.

Still, regardless of previous campaigns, these new pictures may draw the ire of religious people, as a number of controversial themes are combined. First and foremost, the individuals depicted are all men, thus they are showcasing homosexual smooches. Even if critics are willing to look past this detail, the fact that religious leaders were used is certainly ruffling some feathers.

Rick Perry: Obama "Never Had To Go Through What Americans Are Going Through"

(Real Clear Politics) - "It reveals to me that he grew up in a privileged way. He never had to really work for anything. He never had to go through what Americans are going through. There's 14-plus million Americans sitting out there, some of them watching this program tonight, that don't have a job. This president has never felt that angst that they have in their heart. And I think he's always when he has had problems he's pointed somebody else and said it's their fault, not mine. It's like, his thinking that that he can go and negotiate because of his great debating skills anyplace in the world. We've seen a number of examples of that where it's been an abject failure.

"And as a matter of fact, his thinking that he's the smartest guy in the the room has hurt America around the world, particularly when it comes to foreign policy. And I think that mentality of 'I'm the smartest guy in the room and therefore it couldn't be my fault' is really hurting America. And we need a president who has been through their ups and downs in life and understand what it's like to have to deal with the issues of our economy that we have today in America. And that's what this election is going to be about, Sean. It's going to be about who has a plan to get America working again. And frankly, who has the ability to make Washington as inconsequential in people's lives as we can make it," Rick Perry told FOX News on Wednesday night.

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Rick Perry Ad: Obama "Pathetic" For Calling Americans Lazy

(Real Clear Politics) - Rick Perry calls for a balanced budget amendment and Congressional paycuts in a new ad.

"Obama's socialist policies are bankrupting America. We must stop him now," Perry says in the ad.

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Robert Kennedy, Jr.’s ‘Green’ Company Scored $1.4 Billion Taxpayer Bailout

(By Wynton Hall, Big Government) - President John F. Kennedy’s nephew, Robert Kennedy, Jr., netted a $1.4 billion bailout for his company, BrightSource, through a loan guarantee issued by a former employee-turned Department of Energy official.

It’s just one more in a string of eye-opening revelations by investigative journalist and Breitbart editor Peter Schweizer in his explosive new book, Throw Them All Out.

Diane Sawyer Ruins Marvelous Special on Gabby Giffords By Attacking Sarah Palin

(By Noel Sheppard, Newsbusters) - ABC presented an absolutely marvelous special Tuesday evening about Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' (D-Ariz.) remarkable recovery from a gunshot to the head last January.

After 36 minutes of uplifting scenes involving the Congresswoman's therapy and road back to being able to walk and speak, host Diane Sawyer for some reason felt the need to bring politics into the program at its conclusion while taking a truly pathetic swipe at former Alaska governor Sarah Palin:

What’s a Solyndra scandal on MSNBC when there are Republicans to ridicule?

(By Ed Morrissey, Hot Air) - Newsbusters catches this moment of clarity on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, which took thirteen minutes of a segment to ridicule the Republican candidates for President on everything from their policies to their attire. Mark Finkelstein compresses most of the thirteen minutes of the 6 am ET segment of the show, which is a blessing, as it’s repetitive ridicule gets more than a little tiresome in real time. What happens when host Mika Brzezinski brings up actual news, rather than Herman Cain’s hat, like … Solyndra and the Department of Energy’s pressure to delay a layoff announcement until after the midterm election? Oddly, the laughter stops, along with the commentary:

Ever been watching Morning Joe, and wished you could stop the steady stream of liberal blather? Simple. Say the magic word—Solyndra—and watch the gabby guests fall suddenly silent.

Today’s show offered a prime example of the phenomenon. For the first ten minutes, the panel had a great old time cackling and crowing on the theme that the Republican presidential field is a mass of morons. They laughed at the mere mention of Herman Cain, likened the GOP field to a vaudeville show, dragged out the shopworn “bar in Star Wars” simile, and called the Republican candidates “jokes,” “clowns” and “stupid.” But then, 13 minutes in, Mika Brzezinski mentioned a story reporting that the Obama admin had suppressed the announcement of layoffs at Solyndra until after the 2010 elections. Despite Mika looking around the table at her guests as she wondered out loud “why this story hasn’t picked up more,” there wasn’t a peep out of the quickly clammed-up crew and Brezinski breezed on to another topic.

Rick Perry: Uproot And Overhaul Washington

(Breitbart.tv) - Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry is laying out how he would "uproot and overhaul" Washington. If elected, he would end lifetime appointments for federal judges, slash the pay for Congress members and dismantle three federal agencies.

Ann Coulter "Tired Of Johnny-Come-Lately Conservative Purists"

(Real Clear Politics) - Ann Coulter says it is "suicidal" for the Republican party to pick the most conservative candidate no matter what. "I'm a little tired of these Johnny-come-lately conservative purists," Coulter said on FOX News.

"I think the candidate -- it is going to be and is the strongest candidate to beat Obama is Mitt Romney. And you know, I'm a little tired of these Johnny-come-lately conservative purists. Where were they when we were running John McCain? For Pete's sake, Romney is a million times better than McCain. Romney speaks absolutely beautifully, he's been magnificent in the debates. I think he's a little bit of a country club Republican, too, but let's just get a Republican in there and get Obama out."

Hillary Clinton 'Really' Enjoys Dancer In Loin Cloth

(Breitbart.tv) - Over the weekend while attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in Hawaii, a formal photo-op between Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang was upstaged by a loincloth-wearing dancer.

But Sec. Clinton did not seem to mind.

Peter Schweizer: Pelosi Made ‘A Couple Hundred Thousand Dollars’ Days After Purchasing VISA Stock

(Breitbart.tv) - Peter Schweizer appeared on Fox & Friends to discuss how Congressman make large amounts of money in a very short amount of time.

Obama Makes Another Gaffe — References Hawaii as Being in ‘Asia’

(By Jonathon M. Seidl, The Blaze) - Add this to the president’s gaffe list — you know, the one that includes the 57 states and the time he said he gave a medal to living soldier that actually turned out to have sacrificed his life. What was it this time? While speaking in Hawaii this week, President Obama referenced Hawaii as being in Asia:

Charles Krauthammer Says Cain Is in ‘Over His Head’ on Foreign Policy After Libya Flub

(By Tiffany Gabbay, The Blaze) - Addressing Herman Cain’s recent hiccup answering a question about his position on Libya, Fox News contributor and syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer said he thinks Cain is in over his head where foreign policy is concerned.

During a campaign speech, Cain explained the flub away, saying he only paused “to gather his thoughts.” He added, “Remember if you’ve been asked 7 or 8 different questions on 7 or 8 different topics and then all of the sudden somebody switches to Libya, and they are not clear with the question, before I shoot from the lip, I gather my thoughts.”

Krauthammer, however, did not think having to juggle multiple questions was a sufficient enough reason, saying, “To say ‘I was thrown 8 questions on different topics’ is not a great defense if you are running for the presidency.” He went on to say, “I think he’s over his head, he’s winging it, particularly on foreign affairs.”

Gingrich made $1.6-1.8 million in consulting for Freddie Mac

(By Ed Morrissey, Hot Air) - Is a big consulting payday, or several of them, a big deal in a Republican presidential race? It depends on the client, and it depends on the work. Bloomberg reported overnight that Newt Gingrich scored big over the course of eight years in a series of consulting contracts for Freddie Mac, earning perhaps as much as $1.8 million:

Newt Gingrich made between $1.6 million and $1.8 million in consulting fees from two contracts with mortgage company Freddie Mac, according to two people familiar with the arrangement.

The total amount is significantly larger than the $300,000 payment from Freddie Mac that Gingrich was asked about during a Republican presidential debate on Nov. 9 sponsored by CNBC, and more than was disclosed in the middle of congressional investigations into the housing industry collapse.

Gingrich’s business relationship with Freddie Mac spanned a period of eight years. When asked at the debate what he did to earn a $300,000 payment in 2006, the former speaker said he “offered them advice on precisely what they didn’t do,” and warned the company that its lending practices were “insane.” Former Freddie Mac executives who worked with Gingrich dispute that account.

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Another ObamaCare Glitch

Congress made a legal mistake while rushing through the health law. Now it's come back to haunt the administration.

(By JONATHAN H. ADLER AND MICHAEL F. CANNON, The Wall Street Journal) - Even if ObamaCare survives Supreme Court scrutiny next spring, its trials will be far from over. That's because the law has a major glitch that threatens its basic functioning. It's so problematic, in fact, that the Obama administration is now brazenly trying to rewrite the law without involving Congress.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act offers "premium assistance"—tax credits and subsidies—to households purchasing coverage through new health-insurance exchanges. This assistance was designed to hide a portion of the law's cost to individuals by reducing the premium hikes that individuals will face after ObamaCare goes into effect in 2014. (If consumers face the law's full cost, support for repeal will grow.)

The law encourages states to create health-insurance exchanges, but it permits Washington to create them if states decline. So far, only 17 states have passed legislation to create an exchange.

This is where the glitch comes in: ObamaCare authorizes premium assistance in state-run exchanges (Section 1311) but not federal ones (Section 1321). In other words, states that refuse to create an exchange can block much of ObamaCare's spending and practically force Congress to reopen the law for revisions.

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• (By Ed Morrissey, Hot Air) - Obama admin attempting another Congressional end-around on ObamaCare defect