Starbucks Raises Prices

So it's a hot summer day in the middle of July and your eye catches the shimmering green letters on the facade of a small, chic coffee shop. Just simply reading what these magical letters spell out sends a refreshing and fulfilling feeling to your body and soul. You gaze into the oh-so-familiar circular logo, with a woman in the middle surrounded by the words, "STARBUCKS COFFEE," and your car immediately changes directions to the adjacent parking lot.

You walk in smelling the sensational essence of a variety of coffee brews, while taking in the calm and collective ambiance. A feeling of sophistication and relaxation floods your mind as you watch people type away at their laptops or engage in a vibrant conversation, only getting you closer to order your favorite drink.

How about a java chip frappuccino? Maybe a light, chai tea? Tall? Grande? So many choices - all very delicious.

Yet today is different.

The register rings up not your familiar price for your delicious drink, but a price much higher than what you expected. Can this be true? Well in fact it is.

As of July 31st 2007, the company, Starbucks, has increased their prices on their well known coffee beverages and everyone is asking why.

According to The Seattle Times:

...caffeine addicts will pay an average 9 cents more for a cup of coffee at Starbucks, partly because of the rising price of the milk and whipped cream.

The increase was unexpected, given how infrequently the Seattle chain has raised prices. The last increase, which averaged a nickel, came less than 10 months ago.

Before that, Starbucks hadn't raised prices since an 11-cent increase in 2004.

The company cited rising prices "inside the supply chain," including higher dairy, fuel and energy expenses.

Dairy costs, in particular, have hurt several of the nation's largest food companies in recent months.

Indeed, it is the rising dairy costs that have contributed to such a rise in Starbucks coffee prices. Many "regular" customers may not enjoy the recent increase (perhaps remembering the good ol' days when buying your favorite coffee-infused beverage seemed like such a good deal), but will most likely continue to purchase their reliable source to stay awake at the office. However, there are many who believe such an action to be outrageous.

Having enjoyed a beverage or two from Starbucks myself, I have to admit that such a price increase did raise my attention. However, I don't feel that Starbucks will lose many of its followers and will continue to thrive as one of the most recognized coffee shops in the world.

US Deaths Down

According the Associated Press and MSNBC, the month of July saw the lowest American death toll (73) in the Iraq war in 8 months. However, that toll is nearly twice as high as in the same month last year.

A link to the full article can be found here.

While this is most definitely good news, 73 deaths is still far too many. End the war. Bring our troops home. That's all I have to say.

Nicole Richie: Eating For Two

Nicole Richie has FINALLY confirmed to Diane Sawyer that she is FOUR months pregnant. The father is Joel Madden of Good Charlotte, who last dated Hilary Duff. This comes days after Nicole was sentenced to spend FOUR days in jail. Is FOUR her lucky number?

Because it's just too damn funny...

Watch as this reporter makes broadcast journalists cringe in the WORST interview ever. Watch the first minute and then fast forward to the last minute where homegirl even messes up which network she works for.

Pollspot: Obama Moves Up

Rich will be pleased with these polls. I, of course, think these new polls are abysmal. I guess all the drama following the Democratic debate was good for Obama who, in my opinion, performed sub-par.

Courtesy of Political Wire:

South Carolina:

Among Democrats, Obama 33%, Clinton 29%, Edwards 18%
Among Republicans, Giuliani 28%, Thompson 27%, McCain 10%, Romney 7%

This poll is interesting because a poll last week showed Obama trailing in 3rd place now it likes like he has narrowly passed Hillary Clinton. Obama still trails the Black vote in South Carolina. Meanwhile, Romney's campain issued a release calling him the front runner. I guess they didn't take a look at South Carolina before that memo.

New Hampshire:

Among Democrats, Obama 31%, Clinton 31%, Edwards 14%, Richardson 7%
Among Republicans, Giuliani 27%, Romney 26%, Thompson 13%, McCain 10%

In critical New Hampshire, Clinton and Obama are in a virtual tie as Obama picks up the vote with male Democrats. Expect a Clinton/Obama showdown here in coming months. Also tied are Giuliani and Romney.

Finally...

Iowa:

Among Democrats, Clinton 30%, Edwards 21%, Obama 15%, Richardson 13%
Among Republicans, Giuliani 22%, Romney 21%, McCain 17%, Thompson 13%

This key state has Clinton in the lead though polls last week showed Edwards narrowly edging her out. Obama is losing ground to Bill Richardson who is better known in the region than he is out here in the East. Again, Romney and Giuliani are tied here so I don't know where his campaign got the idea to call him the GOP frontrunner.

It's anyone's game in both parties! Quite the exciting race. Knock em out Hill!

A Prayer For Robin Roberts

Good Morning America's co-anchor Robin Roberts announced today that she has breast cancer. She will undergo surgery to treat the cancer this Friday. The ABC News reporter discovered the lump during a self-examination. We are praying and thinking of you.

Chief Justice Suffers Seizure

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John Roberts, was hospitalized today after falling at his home in Maine. The fall was the result of a seizure. Hope Justice Roberts makes a full recovery.

A link to the story can be found here.

Rumorville: Jimmy Fallon May Take Late Night Spot

Jimmy Fallon may be making the jump to late night television. Rumors are circulating that the SNL alum may take Conan O'Brien's spot as host of Late Night when Conan takes over The Tonight Show for Jay Leno in 2009. This is all speculation for now and NBC will not release any news until 2008. Rumors are also circulating that NBC does not want Jay Leno to retire in 2009 and that they may extend his contract and buy out Conan's contract for $40 million. If Conan does take over for Leno, the show may move from LA to New York where it would face booking competition with David Letterman's Late Show. Either way, Conan's get paid. I, for one, would like to see Jay Leno stay on as host for a little longer. While I like Jimmy Fallon, I would like to see NBC do something new and give a woman the Late Night spot. Kathy Griffin anyone?

Britney and Kevin: Before Death Do We Part

It's Official: Britney Spears and Kevin Federline are officially and finally divorced today! The couple will share 50/50 custody of their two children, Sean Preston and Jaden James. Too bad Britney is the bigger mess-up than Kevin these days.

Hillary Takes On The Hater

Click here to see a video from CNN where a protester with a sign comes up to Senator Hillary Clinton while she is delivering a speech to the College Democrats. However, Hillary acts like a pro and disregards the hater for a bit and then the crowd boos the hater and signs in SUPPORT of Hillary go up everywhere!

Weekend Box Office 7/29

The weekend box office estimates according to Coming Soon: 1. The Simpsons Movie $71,850,000 2 I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry - $19,063,000 3. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - $17,065,000 4. Hairspray - $15,550,000 5. No Reservations - $11,755,0006 6. Transformers $11,524,000 7. Ratatouille - $7,234,000 8. Live Free or Die Hard - $5,350,000 9. I Know Who Killed Me - $3,400,000 10. Who’s Your Caddy? - $2,900,000 The Simpsons Movie has dominated and the good reviews definitely helped. I'm still upset with America for allowing Chuck and Larry to make so much money. I'm extremely pleased that Hairspray continues to rack in the dough bringing it's domestic total to almost $60 million. Lindsay Lohan really has nothing to be happy about this week...she's been arrested, sent back to rehab, and now her latest movie has bombed and has had disgustingly terrible reviews. She did this to herself. What was her last hit movie? Mean Girls. Oh the glory days are over for her. But everyone loves a good comeback. Right, Mariah?

Gingrich Predicts Clinton/Obama

From CNN: WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats will nominate Hillary Rodham Clinton for president in 2008 and Barack Obama will be her running mate, former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich predicts. The GOP will have three “formidable” choices in Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson, said Gingrich, who is considering whether to get into the race.

I also predict that it may just end up Hillary Clinton for Pres and Barack Obama for VP on the same ticket. It wouldn't surprise me very much anymore. I think it would solidify the Democratic party's chances of winning the White House. Other places are mentioning possible VP choices for Clinton, should she get the nomination, as Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack or Sen. Evan Bayh. Who knows? I'd be pleased with a Clinton/Obama ticket. I would be more pleased with a Clinton/Biden ticket. I would not be pleased with a Obama/Clinton ticket (but I don't think that will happen).

Madonna Sets Fall Release

According to Drowned Madonna, her royal Madgesty is set to release a new album on October 29th, 2007. This is not 100% confirmed yet and release dates are always subject to change. Madonna has stated that she wants her new album released this fall. She has been working with Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, and Pharrell to re-invent her sound again.

Pollspot: Florida

From Political Wire:

Florida:

A new Mason-Dixon survey of likely voters in Florida finds Sen. Hillary Clinton leading the Democratic presidential race with 31% support, followed by Sen. Barack Obama at 17% and John Edwards at 12%.

Among Republicans, Rudy Giuliani leads with 21%, followed by Fred Thompson at 18%, Sen. John McCain at 11% and Mitt Romney at 7%.

Florida is a crucial state for the Democrats and the state has quite a bit of electoral votes. Let's not forget Election 2000. GO HILLARY!

Sweeney Todd

With Hairspray released, the next movie musical is Tim Burton's adaptation of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street hitting theaters this December with Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. Should be a real creepfest. Click the picture for a bigger look at the movie poster!

Because it's just too damn funny...

No substance here...just some fun and clever editing! Enjoy!

Kelly Clarkson Says Sorry, Tries Again

Kelly Clarkson is releasing new material! After months of drama and reported feuding with label head Clive Davis, Clarkson is finally apologizing. The singer's second album, Breakaway, sold over 6 million copies in the US while her new album, My December, has yet to go platinum (1 million units) or produce a hit single. Now...Clive and Kelly are back! The singer says she will release a new album next year that Clive Davis will completely be in charge of.

I'm quite pleased. I love Kelly's second album. It produced great radio hits for her (Since You've Been Gone, Behind These Hazel Eyes, and Because of You). I have been extremely disappointed with her latest album. I look forward to new material headed by Clive.

Nicole Richie Sentenced!

Nicole Richie has been sentenced to only FOUR days in jail for her SECOND DUI offense. The real question is whether or not she's pregnant. I think that she definitely deserves more time in the slammer...at least equal to the time Paris Hilton spent in jail last month. Of course, this information is not half as buzzworthy as the crazy items that are coming out about Lindsay Lohan since her arrest on Tuesday morning. Now apparently she stole a car as well. Take everything with a grain of salt remember...it's all rumors (and you know Lindsay's tired of em as her first single proclaimed) for now. Besides...Lindsay says she's innocent! HA!

Pollspot

Political Wire has some interesting polls I'd like to bring to your attention:

President Bush and Iowa:

As a back drop to the presidential campaign, SurveyUSA has tracked President Bush’s approval rating in Iowa for more than two years. This month’s 28% approval rating is his lowest ever and coincides with his highest-ever disapproval number, which is 69% today.

Arizona:

A new American Research Group survey in Arizona finds Sen. Hillary Clinton continues to lead the Democratic presidential race with 39%, followed by Sen. Barack Obama at 25% , Bill Richardson at 9% and John Edwards at 8%.

In the Republican race, Sen. John McCain leads Rudy Giuliani 32% to 23% in his home state, with 15% for Fred Thompson. However, McCain was at 45% in the February poll.

No surprise that McCain is leading in his home state. However, it is a surprise that he has dropped almost 15 percentage points. Still, he has a comfortable lead over Rudy Giuliani. Meanwhile, while no surprises at the Hillary and Obama dominance, it is more important to point out that Bill Richardson slightly wins over John Edwards in Arizona. This shows how the New Mexico governor is definitely more well known in the West and how he definitely will have an impact in the primaries.

National:

A new Diagio/Hotline national survey finds Sen. Hillary Clinton leading the Democratic presidential race with 39%, followed by Sen. Barack Obama at 30%, and John Edwards at 11%. All other candidates receive less than 5%.

On the Republican side, Rudy Giuliani edges out former Sen. Fred Thompson 20% to 19%, with Sen. John McCain third with 17% and Mitt Romney fourth at 8%. All other candidates receive less than 5% each.

Meanwhile, a new George Washington University Battleground Poll shows Giuliani edging Clinton in a general election matchup:
Clinton 44%, Giuliani 50%
Clinton 47%, Thompson 45%
Obama 52%, Giuliani 43%
Obama 56%, Thompson 36%

It's definitely interesting to point out how in this poll Clinton would lose to Giuliani but Obama would win over Giuliani. I definitely think Hillary Clinton would shut down the former NYC mayor just like she started to when they were both planning a 2000 senate run but Giuliani had to step down for health reasons.

Rumorville: The View

This is almost completely confirmed but I'll wait until we get an official announcement before I consider it not a rumor...sources close to ABC are announcing that Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd have been offered the two vacant spots on The View panel replacing Rosie O'Donnell and Star Jones Reynolds. A full announcement is expected next week.

Mitt Romney vs YouTube

This article from the Chicago Tribune was brought to my attention discussing Mitt Romney's big mistake!

Here's a quote from the article:

"YouTube is a website that allows kids to network with one another and make friends and contact each other," Romney explained. "YouTube looked to see if they had any convicted sex offenders on their web site. They had 29,000."

WHOOPS! Come on Mitt Romney! Get with the times! YouTube allows users to share videos...MySpace allows the kids to networks with one another! As Ashlee pointed out, this just shows how disconnected he is with today's youth. It's also a bit of a slap in YouTube's face because the website has taken big steps to get out the word of the 2008 Presidential Election by allowing each candidate to have a page and post videos. Romney should have also known better because come September...he will be participating in the CNN/YouTube debate. Maybe someone should ask him about this little blunder?

UPDATE: Mitt Romney may NOT participate in the September CNN/YouTube debate. An even bigger slap in the face to YouTube.

According to Political Wire:

Two Republican presidential frontrunners, former Gov. Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani, are both considering not participating in the CNN/YouTube Republican debate in September.

According to Marc Ambinder, Giuliani “will most likely opt out” because of “unspecified scheduling conflicts.” The New Hampshire Union Leader reports that Romney “isn’t sure yet whether he’ll participate…but he’s no fan of the format.”

The Simpsons Movie

The Simpsons Movie hits theaters today (July 27th). The long running show film adaptation is currently getting good reviews at Rotten Tomatoes with 66 Fresh and 11 Rotten with more reviews expected to pour in. I myself have never been a fan of the show and have never even seen a full episode in my 20 years. However, I do looove that Spider Pig.

Edwards Leads in Iowa

Here's one state where Hillary Clinton is not leading. John Edwards is doing quite well in Iowa. Typically, John Edwards has been 3rd in most polls. I'm a little disappointed but I know that Senator Clinton will take the lead and I'm confident she can pull off a win in Iowa.

Iowa:

A new Research 2000 poll in Iowa shows John Edwards still leading the Democratic presidential race with 27% support, followed by Sen. Hillary Clinton at 22%, Sen. Barack Obama at 16% and Gov. Bill Richardson at 11%.

On the GOP side, Mitt Romney leads with 25%, followed by Fred Thompson at 14%, Rudy Giuliani at 13% and Sen. John McCain at 10%.

Courtesy of Political Wire

Mini-cast

Kevin Coughlin moderates a short special 10-minute episode of The Green Room dedicated to sports. Check it out below and check out our full episode and short video package a few posts below!

Mini-cast Episode 1

Beyonce Gets Busted!

Watch this before it gets taken down!

UPDATE: I told you to watch it before it got taken down!



Beyonce Knowles took quite the dive at a concert in Orlando recently while performing Ring The Alarm. Unfortunately for her, it's hilarious! Enjoy!

South Carolina is Clinton Country!

Clinton is doing the damn thing in South Carolina. This is important since South Carolina is one of the early primary state. I really hope she continues to do well here. I think this poll may have been taken before Monday night's YouTube debate so expect that debate to impact the next South Carolina poll. Whether that is good or bad for Mrs. Clinton...only time will tell? I'll keep my fingers crossed and pray for her success.

South Carolina:

A new Insider Advantage poll in South Carolina finds Sen. Hillary Clinton with a commanding 43% support, followed by Sen. Barack Obama at 28% and John Edwards at 13%.Key findings: "Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama are splitting the African-American vote in South Carolina with both attracting support at the low 40% level. Only 8% of African-Americans now say they are undecided. And Clinton leads among white voters by an overwhelming 51%. The next closest candidate among whites is John Edwards at 18%."

Courtesy of Political Wire

ALSO...Please check out our first short video package below and our 3rd episode!

Cinemascope: Harry Potter Release Party

Check out our FIRST video package! This SHORT one minute piece showcases our coverage of the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. There are no spoilers. Also, check out our BEST podcast episode yet directly BELOW this post!

Harry Potter Release Party

Episode 3

Here is the latest episode of The Green Room. This is most definitely our best episode featuring discussion on last night's Democratic debate, Lindsay Lohan, and Michael Vick. Hit the link and keep it on in the background!

Episode 3

The Price is Drew Carey

Drew Carey has been tapped to replace Bob Barker as the new host of The Price Is Right.

New Format, Old Questions

The internet showcased how much it has changed politics and elections last night when Anderson Cooper moderated the first ever CNN/YouTube debates. The format was new...for the first time average citizens were able to ask the questions via video submissions through YouTube. But were they really? Not entirely...CNN still acted as gatekeeper and picked which questions would address the candidates. However, the change in format did make for a new and fresh approach to presidential debates. While the format was new, the questions were old. The candidates, for the most part, still addressed the questions that they were used to dealing with Iraq, health care, and gay marriage. However, there were some questions that were new and interesting...such as asking Senator Barack Obama whether he was "black" enough and whether Senator Clinton was feminine enough. There were also some questions that were new and not so interesting...such as who was your favorite teacher? Sorry, but I felt like that was a bit of a waste of time.

Now for the winner of the debate...the format! The new format giving viewers the opportunity to ask the questions was the real winner. None of the candidates really won the debate because they all performed well and even though the format was new...a lot of the answers we received still felt extremely scripted. Of course, that won't stop any of the campaigns from declaring victory (Senator Obama's campaign crowned him king as did Senator Bidens) For once I noticed that Rep. Dennis Kucinich and Senator Chris Dodd were given equal, if not more, time than the top tier candidates. With that said, the candidate who I felt performed the worst was Governor Bill Richardson and that's only because he started off shaky. He recovered soon enough and performed well. I almost must say that Mike Gravel is insane. He's very passionate and angry about the issues but he is too much of a loose cannon and combative. I do love his presence at these debates because you can always count on him for entertainment and to put the candidates in their place. My personal favorite, other than Mrs. Clinton of course, was Senator Joe Biden. I really feel that, if Hillary Clinton were not running, this man would be the best choice for president. He really knows his foreign policy and I think he would set a good domestic agenda.

While many media and pundits predicted that the candidates would attempt to bring down Hillary Clinton last night, I found that most of the attacks were towards Barack Obama. Former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel called Obama out for saying he does not accept money from lobbyists and Dennis Kucinich attacked Obama for saying that he never voted for the Iraq War. He made it very clear that Barack Obama never had the chance to vote for the Iraq war since he was not in office at the time and that Kucinich was actually the only candidate who had not voted for the war. I was pleased to hear Kucinich make this point because I'm tired of Senator Obama using this point when it is not entirely valid.

The big issue being discussed about last night's debate is the difference in answers between Senators Clinton and Obama regarding whether or not they would promise to meet with the leaders of Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, North Korea, etc. in their first term. Senator Obama answered first and said he would make that promise to meet with the leaders and Senator Clinton answered next saying she would not promise to meet with them because she would need to make sure that it wouldn't be used for propaganda. While it may sound like they answered completely differently, they did not. Hillary, like Obama, said she would seek diplomacy but she just didn't say she would go into it without thinking about it first. While I have no doubt that Obama would also not jump into talks with the leaders without investigation and thought, Hillary's answer came across far more experienced and thought out. It made Obama's answer seem very naive and, amateur. My friend and Washington D.C. intern Ashlee Tran says "Her response to the Iran/N Korea/Venez/Syria/etc. ques was measured, poised and exemplified her experience." This, to me, just showed how excellent Hillary Clinton is in the debate format and how Barack Obama is not quite there yet. Today, in regards to those responses, the Clinton camp is attacking the Obama camp for being naive and the Obama camp is attacking the Clinton camp for being a flip flopper and supporting the Iraq War. Yes, they are still using that argument. When all else fails...Obama's camp tries to hide behind Iraq.

One question I have to personally comment on is whether African-Americans should receive reparations for slavery. Only Dennis Kucinich said yes. I could not agree more. I mean no disrespect when I say that unless you were out there in the fields picking that cotton or doing other slave labor, then there is no way you should get any reparation for slavery because, guess what, you were not enslaved.

In closing, while all the candidates shone last night, Hillary Clinton looked and sounded the most presidential. This woman knows her stuff and she has the experience (and I'll dive further into this later because you know I can't let Kevin's post go unanswered). Anderson Cooper did a great job moderating. Ashlee Tran says Cooper "pushed the candidates and continued to probe for answers. One of the best moderators thus far. Plus, he knows when to cut Kucinich off and when to bring Gravel back to...earth." I very much agree. There is a lot more I could say but, perhaps, one of my other Green Room members will choose to analyze the debate further. All in all, a pretty entertaining and informative debate.

Lindsay Lohan Arrested for Drunk Driving... Again!

Surprise, surprise! Lindsay Lohan has been arrested for her second DUI in two months, following a 45-day stay in a California rehabilitation center.

Lindsay was pulled over early this morning in Santa Monica after police received a call about a car chase. Lindsay and two friends were reportedly in the pursuing car, a Denali SUV. The passengers in the second car, a Cadillac Escalade, called police to report the chase. A police spokesman said he believed the people in the two cars knew each other, put were unaware of who was in the pursuing car at the time of the call.

Lindsay failed a field sobriety test (after reportedly refusing to submit to a preliminary alcohol screening device) and was then arrested. At the station she registed a blood-alcohol level of about .12 or .13 percent, well above the .08 percent California limit, despite the fact that Lindsay has been wearing an alcohol-detecting anklet since she left rehab.

Sources have also claimed that police found cocaine in Lindsay's pocket. She was booked on suspicion of drunken driving, possession of cocaine, bringing a controlled substance into custody and driving on a suspended license. She was released after posting a $25,000 bail. Lindsay was due to appear in court on August 24 for her first DUI on May 26. It is now unclear how the second DUI will affect her appearance in court.

Sources: Yahoo News, Dlisted
-------

I actually had hope for Lindsay after she finished rehab! She really seemed to be very conscious of her sobriety, even wearing that anklet although she wasn't required to do so. I am a little surprised she was drinking and driving again so soon after rehab. Clearly the girl needs some help, and Promises was not the place to give it to her. At the same time, I am sick of hearing the sob story about little rich white girls in Hollywood who can't handle their fame. Look at Anne Hathaway, Mandy Moore, Amanda Bynes, Hayden Panettiere... These girls are rich, famous and grounded. If Lindsay absolutely has to go out and get drunk, despite being an admitted alcoholic, hire a damn driver! After a second arrest, her actions can only be considered stupid and careless. Up until now she has been lucky, as neither of her drunk driving incidents has killed someone, but she might not be so lucky again. It's time young Hollywood learns that their money does not make them above the law or above human decency.

Hillary and The Polls

Due to John's love fest with the new poll regarding Hillary Clinton, I feel obligated to point out the most recent New York Times/CBS News poll. While this one agrees with the positive findings of the Washington Post-ABC News Poll which John pointed out, the NYT/CBS poll found that "Forty percent of voters view her unfavorably, more than for any of the other major candidates for president (although they are not as well known)." The NY Times article went on to say that the poll showed "Neither men nor women fully trust that she is saying what she really believes."

The campaign has a long way to go and such a high unfavorable rating is a troubling sight. Whether she deserves it or not, Hillary is a polarizing figure and this problem might only worsen as the candidates further define their platforms. I wouldn't put up the "Mission Accomplished" banner just yet.

What Did You Think?

What did you think about tonight's CNN/YouTube Democratic Debate? Post a comment and we'll discuss it in this week's posts!

Clinton Widens Margin!

From PoliticalWire.com

By a wide margin, Democrats view Sen. Hillary Clinton "as the party's candidate best positioned to win the general election," a new Washington Post-ABC News Poll found, with 54% saying the former First Lady is the most electable candidate.

In the nomination race, Clinton leads with 45%, followed by Sen. Barack Obama at 30% and John Edwards at 12%.

Key finding: "Clinton's initial support for the Iraq war is not proving a significant impediment to her bid."

Hillary Clinton's lead continues to grow. As a supporter of Hillary, people have told me to worry because the frontrunner always falls. I'm not worried. I have full confidence in my candidate and know she can pull through and keep the momentum. Last week, Hillary squared off against the Pentagon on Iraq and she also put in progress new legislation with Senator John Kerry (D-MA) to push for an Iraq withdrawal. She's still doing her job as Senator and running for President and I'm proud. Tonight is the CNN/YouTube debates and I fully expect the other 7 candidates to gang up and try to bring Hillary down. She can pull through!

The CNN/YouTube debates will air on CNN at 7 PM EST. The Green Room will bring you a full analysis in a possible special episode after the debate.

I Need Some More Hairspray!

From BoxOfficeMojo.com:

I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix led the weekend box office, but Hairspray was the word, delivering the biggest opening on record for a musical, even when ticket price inflation is taken into account.

New Line Cinema's early Sixties-themed musical based on the Broadway show that was based on John Waters' picture of the same name spritzed a lustrous estimated $27.8 million on approximately 3,900 screens at 3,121 theaters, the widest release ever for the genre. The 1988 original, also released by New Line, grossed $6.7 million in its entire run, the equivalent of roughly $11 million today.

I am proud and extremely surprised that Hairspray managed to gross this much money. Musicals just have not done well at the Box Office. Dreamgirls and Chicago only passed the $100 million mark when they were showered with award nominations. Hopefully, Hairspray will outgross those films. I guess star power and a family fun theme go a looong way....all the way to the bank.

Entertainment Reviews

For my review of Hairspray and a bit about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (no spoilers, I promise!) check out my personal blog here!

Hairspray

I strongly recommend the movie Hairspray. It was a great time at the theater!

Full review coming soon. But for now...back to Harry Potter!

President Cheney

According to CNN "President Bush will undergo a routine colonoscopy Saturday, and will transfer power to Vice President Dick Cheney during the procedure, expected to take about two and a half hours."

Is there anything more frightening? I don't think so. Granted, this doesn't mean much since it's only for show and only for a couple of hours but can you imagine what would happen if Dick Cheney were actually to assume the Presidency? I'm not going to hold back...I think the current Vice President is an abomination to the United States and his neo-conservative politics have misled the nation and landed us in the current disastrous situation known as the Iraq War. Is there anything wrong with admitting defeat? The United States still refuses to acknowledge the fact that we lost the Vietnam War. Guess what? Iraq is another loss. Also, the Vice President is a disgrace to the executive branch. Mr. Vice President...you are NOT above the law and you would do well to resign and give the majority of Americans what they want.

Quickie

Here's a quickie:

Big Brother 8: Vanilla Wafer Nipples Joe was evicted 9-1 against Evel Dick who became Head of Houseguest. My prediction for nominees are Jen and Kail.

World Series of Pop Culture: The youngest team in the competition, Twisted Misters, won the VH1 game show and with it comes a $250,000 prize. I'm pleased. It was nice to see the youngest people win over adults who have been around longer and are expected to know a lot more since they were actually around for the 70s and 80s.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Less than 24 hours until it's release! Is there anyone more excited than us! I don't think so. The Green Room promises no spoilers or reviews within the first week.

Hairspray: The movie musical hits theaters today (July 20th) and is getting amazing reviews. Currently (as of 12:56 AM July 20th), it has a 95% rating on rottentomatoes.com with 62 fresh reviews and only 3 negatives. You can't stop that beat!

and finally, to end this first of many quickies we shall have together...polling data courtesy of politicalwire.com!

National:

A new CBS News/New York Times poll shows 63% of voters believe it's likely that Sen. Hillary Clinton "will be elected the first woman president in U.S. history if she wins her party's nomination."

The poll shows Clinton with a solid lead over the rest of the Democratic field. Among likely Democratic primary voters, she leads with 43%, followed by Sen. Barack Obama at 24% and John Edwards at 16%.

New Jersey:

Sen. Hillary Clinton is running strong in New Jersey’s primary, according to a new Strategic Vision (R) poll. Clinton is ahead with 46%, followed by Sen. Barack Obama with 20% and John Edwards with 10%.

On the Republican side, Rudy Giuliani far outpaces the field with 48%, followed by former Sen. Fred Thompson with 15%, Sen. John McCain with 10%, and Mitt Romney 5%.

Colorado:

A new American Research Group poll in Colorado shows Sen. Hillary Clinton is maintaining her lead in the Democratic presidential race with 39%, followed by Sen. Barack Obama at 22%, John Edwards at 10% and Bill Richardson at 8%. Edwards slipped 7 points while Richardson gained 6 points since the March poll.

In the Republican race, Rudy Giuliani has expanded his lead to 35%, followed by Fred Thompson at 20% and Sen. John McCain at 11%.

GO HILLARY!!! As always, for the latest political polling data visit Taegan Goddard's Political Wire at www.politicalwire.com

A Link Between Abortion and Immigration? WHAT?

Most of us are familiar with former Republican Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Tom DeLay, for his radically, conservative views (and numerous indictments). Yet, this one might just take the cake. A friend of ours at The Green Room, Scott, brought to my attention this recent statement by DeLay, in which the former Majority Leader believes there is a link between abortion and immigration:

I contend [abortion] affects you in immigration," Tom DeLay told the
Washington-area gathering of College Republicans. "If we had those 40
million children that were killed over the last 30 years, we wouldn't need
the illegal immigrants to fill the jobs that they are doing today. Think
about it.

His remarks above were posted on The Huffington Post, a politically progressive-online website and blog.

First and foremost, I would just like to respond in saying...ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Is he insane? On the one hand, I am in utter shock that someone who is more commonly recognized by the public and is a pretty established politician (despite his numerous indictments), would even try to think that somehow the use of abortion (a completely distinct issue) could cause an illegal immigration "problem." Yet, on the other hand, I'm not surprised. With controversy surrounding DeLay for a variety of things, including his indictments for money laundering and conspiracy charges in Texas, and his highly unpopular views, his statement still proves to be, in my opinion, utterly ridiculous.

DeLay's idea of trying to "kill two birds with one stone" on the Republican's idealistic agenda, in my opinion, does not show any kind of intelligence on his part. Obviously this tie of abortion and illegal immigration has zero proof or any legitimate backing whatsoever. In fact, it only further divides both parties and misrepresents what the issues are truly about.

As far as "killing children" is concerned....it just goes to show how such language by the Republican party sets up such a misrepresentation of a Democrat's view on being pro-choice. I've had this discussion plenty of times with many of my college friends who have a pro-life view and the first thing they always ask me is: Are you pro-abortion? Pro-abortion? What? No, I'm pro-choice. Being pro-choice does not mean I am advocating any kind of "killing of children"- it's ridiculous that anyone would even try to accuse someone of something like that. News flash! No one likes abortions - Democrats and Republicans alike. Having an abortion is a very difficult decision to make for a woman, there is no doubt about that. All the Democrats are saying is that a pro-choice view will give women the opportunity or the choice to have one if they wish. Being pro-choice does not mean Democrats want every pregnant woman to line up at an abortion clinic to terminate their pregnancy. Obviously that would be INSANE.

Illegal immigration? Have we forgot that there's something called fulfilling "The American Dream?" Immigrants come to the United States to fulfill such a dream by working hard for less pay than the average American to help support their families. And yes - citizenship can be granted to those entering if only the Bush Administration would help expedite that process instead of deciding how much higher, farther, and stronger a wall/fence should be built to keep them out.

So Mr. DeLay, I hate to inform you of this, but I don't think many immigrants coming to the U.S. have acquired jobs because such an employment vacancy is due to abortion rates. Think about it.

Kathy Griffin...not so D-List

Alright, so maybe Big Brother 8, isn't the only thing to watch this summer. I was reminded of the brilliance that is Kathy Griffin's Bravo show My Life On The D-List. The show, now in it's second season, is a reality show following the red-headed comedienne and her staff of three. In addition to the show showing a lot of Kathy's hilarious stand-up performance, the real humor occurs when Kathy is prepping for a show, making fun of her staff, trying desperately to have the papparazzi take her picture so she can land a spot in the tabloids, and, of course, making fun of Hollywood's top celebrities. She's known for her potty mouth and her no holds barred attitude. Kathy Griffin is most definitely a breath of fresh air.

Kathy Griffin may have been a D-list celebrity back in the day...but she's definitely not D-list anymore. Her show has been a huge success for Bravo and, in addition to more episodes being ordered, has even been picked up on the United Kingdom's E! network. Also, Kathy's one hour stand-up performance shows (one was called Everybody Can Suck It) have also proved a ratings hit for the Bravo network.

Also, it has been rumored that Kathy Griffin is among the front-runners to replace Rosie O'Donnell or Star Jones Reynolds on The View. I would absolutely love if Kathy were given a permanent spot on the panel. In addition to the comedy that her and Joy Behar would produce together, it would be awesome to see Kathy Griffin square off against Elizabeth Hasselbeck as Rosie O'Donnell, now infamously, did. However, ultimately, I don't think Kathy will be given that spot on the show and join the rest of the ladies. She's guest hosted a couple of times and she's been great but I can't help but see how much she annoys big mama Barbara Walters. Also, after the highly controversial year, maybe Walters would like to choose someone less controversial than Ms. Griffin. I'm not going to lie, Kathy's voice and personality may be a bit too much for daytime television. We shall have to see. My prediction is that the two vacant spots will be filled by Sherri Shepherd and Whoopi Goldberg. That's fine by me. I love Whoopi and Sherri and think they will add plenty to the show. However, if Barbara and producers want to have another year with high ratings, such as the one they enjoyed with the always loud and feuding but lovable Rosie, then Barbara should definitely select the always loud and feuding but lovable Kathy Griffin.

By the way, John Raphael Oliveira is bumping Ms. Griffin up to the B-list.

Check out the season finale of My Life on the D-List next Tuesday at 10 PM est time on Bravo.

Nothing to watch? Watch Big Brother 8!

Big Brother is an extremely ridiculous show where people are locked in a house together all summer backstabbing their way to $500,000. Each week a houseguest finds him or herself evicted from the game until we have a winner. While, as mentioned, extremely ridiculous it is also EXTREMELY ENTERTAINING! Also, unlike other shows, Big Brother is on THREE TIMES A WEEK! As if that's not enough you can also watch the Big Brother live talk show on CBS.com Mondays-Fridays at 1 PM est, watch the houseguests live and uncensored on Showtime 2 every night from midnight to 3 AM, and, finally, subscribe to the live feeds and watch the houseguests 24/7 as if they were hamsters in a cage!

This season, the eighth, the twist is some houseguests are playing the game with their "worst enemy." We have Carol (now evicted) and Jessica, who were former best friends and had a falling out over FIVE DOLLARS, Dustin and Joe, bitter ex-boyfriends, and Dick and Daniele, estranged father and daughter. Can you imagine being 20 years old and locked in a house with your parent for a summer? It would be absolutely dreadful! No thanks, I'll pass.

Anyways, tonight's episode was hilarious as usual. We had the head of household, the person who holds power for the week and chooses which two houseguests will be up for possible eviction, Jen try to threaten other houseguests before the Veto competition, a game where houseguests can win the opportunity to save themselves from eviction. It sounds confusing...but it's all pretty simple. Now Jen, the HoH, is quite the space cadet. I'll be surprised the day I see her complete a full sentence with words that actually make sense. During the Veto competition, Jen lost and now has to wear a red unitard (think Britney Spears in the Oops video) for a whole week. Aside from looking absolutely ridiculous wearing an outfit that doesn't leave much to the imagination...Jen, of course, loves that she has to look like an idiot for the week. Now you tell me what other show on TV lets viewers watch a person wear a red unitard for a week? There isn't one. Also, on past seasons the houseguests who lost the food competition for the week would be forced to eat nothing else but peanut butter and jelly. However, these past two seasons, producers have scrapped the peanut butter and jelly and losers are instead forced to eat Big Brother Slop, which is a disgusting flavorless oatmeal type of dish. Big Brother is brilliant!

Who else do we have in our cast of characters? Amber...the girl who cries at the drop of a dime. I really can't take her anymore. If I have to see her cry one more time in the confessionals then I will....do absolutely nothing because I refuse to stop watching Big Brother. Who else? Joe...the stereotypical queen with ginormous (yes, ginormous has officially been added to the dictionary) nipples and Kail...typical Bible-belt mother. Love em or hate em, everyone adds to the show and makes it entertaining as hell.

My point is....there isn't much to watch in the Summer months. Heroes and Ugly Betty are on hiatus and America's Next Top Model hasn't started it's next cycle yet so...watch Big Brother!

On this episode, Daniele managed to win the veto and take herself off of evil Jen's nomination. Now, evil space cadet Jen has nominated vanilla wafer nipples Joe in her place. The houseguests will now vote who to evict...vanilla wafer nipples Joe or Daniele's dad Dick. I think Joe is out of here! I hope so at least. However, both he and Dick provide some good laughs so it may be sad to see either go. I don't think Daniele will vote her dad off and neither will her showmance (a phrase coined in past seasons to signify a romance taking place on the show) Nick. We'll just have to see.

Tune in Thursday to Big Brother 8 at 8 PM est time on CBS for a live episode with our favorite host, Julie Chen (aka the Chen-bot in Big Brother online circles), to see who will be evicted.

Big Brother airs Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays!

Episode 1 (Again)

Here's the first official episode of The Green Room.

Just hit play to here us dish out about President Bush, Barack Obama, Sex and the City, Nicole Richie, and more.

Episode 1

Who cares? We should care!

Leah recently posted a short paragraph on whether good public-speaking skills for the current candidates running for President matters or not. In my opinion, it most definitely matters. The person elected president will represent the United States and, for me, it's very important that they are able to speak eloquently and intelligently. Now, does a person need adequate public-speaking skills to be elected president? Probably not. As Leah pointed out, President Bush has spent the last seven years delivering poor speeches and mispronouncing words. His lack of public-speaking skills has turned him into a big joke around the world. I, for one, don't want the next elected president (whomever ever it may be) to become a big joke. Bush's lack of public-speaking ability has translated to stupidity and led to the creation of Bushisms and he's even received a Comedy Central show, titled Lil' Bush, revolving around his stupidity. I agree with Leah when she says we need to care and focus on the candidates' opinions and ideas. That, of course, will be the major thing for me when analyzing the candidates. However, the importance of public-speaking skills cannot be underestimated. It is extremely important for this current field of candidates to be able to speak well in public (especially in the debate setting) and it is definitely a big deal.

A Clinton-Obama Ticket May Not Be Out of the Question

John and I recently came across an online article from MSNBC, written by Anna Quindlen as part of her column for Newsweek, promoting a Clinton-Obama Democratic ticket for President of the United States. The article is very interesting since there has always been some talk about the two candidates possibly teaming up and making history in the 2008 Presidential Election.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19762038/site/newsweek/

Also make sure to check out the very first episode of The Green Room in the post below!

Episode 1

Here's the first official episode of The Green Room!

On this episode we deal with Scooter Libby, Sex and the City, and Barack Obama.

Who Cares?

Now that I've read all the hoopla surrounding Barack's allegedly luminous performance at the NAACP forum I have to ask... who cares? We all know Barack is a great speaker, even if he is a little slower on his feet than with a script. Who isn't? But does his public speaking-ability really matter? Bush has spent the last 7 years saying "nucular." What we should care about are the candidates' opinions and plans to fix the disaster that is the Bush administration. I'm still not fully clear on what Barack or Hillary or any of the candidates plan to do, and the more I hear about them the less clear I get.

Just to Clarify A Few Things

Well, well, well. Quite an interesting response from Kevin and John about Obama's success at the NAACP forum. I would just like to respond and clarify a few things:

1. OBVIOUSLY, Barack Obama has "home field advantage" by being second in the polls and who quite possibly may become the first African American Presidential candidate to win the Democratic nomination. I am not disputing this fact, for there was a bias in the crowd due to the high attendance of African Americans, but that is not my point. A few weeks ago, the Democratic candidates attended another Black forum at Howard University, and Barack did not come away with the greatest positive response. In fact, Hillary was the candidate who stole the show that night. There will continue to be a struggle between the African American community in how they are going to cast their vote in the upcoming Democratic primaries. As of now, the Black vote is split between both Obama and Clinton. When I said Obama "shined" (which he did according to many news sources), I mean to say is that he made a great comeback from the last Black forum and received a more positive response than Hillary did.

Overall, my point was that there was the same amount of bias at Howard University as there was at the NAACP Convention, and yet two different outcomes occurred. Therefore, I say, yes, Barack did in fact shine at this event.

2. Kevin was absolutely correct - this was not an official debate, but a forum. However, this forum had a very similar format to debate style, in which case all the candidates were placed on stage next to one another and each spoke. I would also agree and can admit that Obama has not come off the best when thinking on his feet at the recent debates. Yet, at the NAACP convention, Barack definitely rose above that critique and showed the people "he has what it takes" to stand strong against the other candidates. In fact, according to the Chicago Sun-Times:

DETROIT -- Sen. Barack Obama is indeed a quick study. After looking surprisingly unpolished in a nationally televised forum targeting black audiences nearly two weeks ago, Obama held his own against his closest rival, Sen. Hillary Clinton, at the 98th NAACP National Convention at Cobo Hall in Detroit on Thursday morning.

Obama, who is pitting change against experience in the 2008 Democratic primary, got off more than a few crisp one-liners while crafting a message that at times elicited thunderous applause that drowned out some of his words, but obviously bolstered his confidence in the debate arena...On Thursday, Obama seemed to have found his stride.

3. Obama has consistently stayed in second place in the polls (trailing Hillary, the front runner) and although he dropped a few percentage points in the last month or two, he definitely regained his loss in the last week. People have a strong affinity for Barack Obama and he has become much more than just a "rock star" in the last few months by defining his policies and taking on issues. Even at this convention at the NAACP, Barack showed he was willing to take on challenging issues in the African American community, as the Chicago Sun-Times writes:

Accused by critics of being too "skittish" to address black issues head on, Obama's spirited responses seemed crafted to put those critics to rest.

So after making my clarifications, I hope you can see that there is in fact, more to Barack's "shining" at the NAACP Convention than just what critics may believe to be just expected applause from a biased crowd.

Don't Be Fooled

The crowd at the NAACP gave Obama a great reception? Oh, please do tell. Hillary received a warm welcome from Emily’s List? No way. Edwards got a standing ovation from the Hairstylists of America? Wow, I’m shocked.

Senator Obama is the first black presidential candidate with a chance to win the nomination (sorry Senator Biden only college kids with no political career are allowed to state this blatant truth.) Am I really supposed to be impressed that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People cheered his “mere presence”? Now if Rich had read past the first paragraph of the New York Times article, he would have read the second sentenced that said, “it was as if Mr. Obama, the only black candidate, enjoyed the home field advantage.” Obama “shined” (according to Rich) not because of his groundbreaking ideas but rather because the crowd had a bit of a bias.

Yet, Obama was not the only attendee to be showered in applause. The article noted that Clinton “struck chords with the crowd” and Tom Tancredo “got an enthusiastic standing ovation just for showing up.” We are getting a bit ahead of ourselves in saying that this was a “clear sign that [Obama] has what it takes” when Tom “I don’t believe in evolution” Tancredo is getting vibrant applause from the same group. Seriously, no one even knows who this guy is. Here’s a picture to hopefully jog your memory.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Tom_Tancredo%2C_official_Congressional_photo.jpg

Furthermore, one must remember that this was NOT a debate. Therefore, this event provided no evidence that Obama can “think on his feet.” Obama has proven from his debates that he is no Cicero and Thursday continues to demonstrate that his only strength is scripted speeches. Let’s not make this out to be more than it is.

Dispatch: Zimbabwe - One of the Best Experiences

Every summer there are plenty of opportunities to catch some of the greatest concerts by a variety of performers and musicians as they embark on their summer tours. Promoting new albums, playing new hits (and familiar old favorites), and introducing fresh, creative performances are just a few of the many factors that are involved in the typical summer concert tour. And of course, you show up with maybe hundreds or even thousands of others willing to sing, listen, dance, and, overall, enjoy the musical experience. Yes - the concert atmosphere is by far one of the most thrilling things to be a part of.

Last night, Leah, Sarah (Leah's sister), Emma (a friend of ours), and I attended Dispatch: Zimbabwe. The band Dispatch has come together this weekend to perform many of their astounding hits at Madison Square Garden in New York City. I have always been a long time fan of the band and their music so when I heard they were coming it was too late to get tickets since both nights - Saturday and Sunday were completely SOLD OUT. The demand for tickets was so high, that they ended up adding another night on Friday and, again, the entire stadium was close to full. I was able to score four tickets on Friday that were TOTALLY worth it.

Dispatch's theme of their entire concert would be devoted toward helping those suffering from starvation and disease in Zimbabwe. All proceeds of the concert (that's right...100% of the proceeds as denoted on my ticket) would be donated to help out the people of Zimbabwe. And what a success it was! The Garden was filled last night and the same is expected for Saturday and Sunday night as well.

I can definitely say that this concert was absolutely spectacular. Dispatch performed for three straight hours, with short breaks in which the large screens in the stadium captured the sights and sounds of the people of Zimbabwe and their land - never letting you forget how much you helped their cause. Facts and statistics about the people, their suffering, and their country flashed across the screen throughout the performance while Dispatch played all of their best songs. The band even incorporated a Zimbabwean children's choir into their performance along with the amazing sounds of African bongos.

I will not give away too much more since I do not want to spoil the experience, but I highly recommend that if you are able to find tickets to this event - YOU MUST GO, regardless of how high up the seats may be. For those of you who already have tickets for Saturday and Sunday, you will not be disappointed. You become completely immersed in the music and excitement. To sum up, the spectacular music of Dispatch infused with the cultural wonders of Zimbabwe for a great humanitarian cause calls for one of the best concert experiences that should not be missed!

So far, I would have to say this is my #1 summer concert pick of 2007.

For more info click here:
http://www.dispatchmusic.com/zimbabwe

Why Obama Isn't Ready

Rich posted below how Senator Barack Obama shone at the NAACP forum. That's great for Barack...but now I will share my thoughts on why I think the freshmen Senator from Illinois is not the best choice for the Democratic nomination. I'm sure Kevin will come on at some point soon and attack both my pro-Hillary points and Rich's pro-Obama stance. Bring it on.

First, is anyone really surprised that Senator Barack Obama...the first Black American with a serious shot at the White House...did well at the NAACP forum? I'm not. This is where he should excell and shine. Barack really needed to shine here to save himself from continuing to fall in the polls while Edwards, Richardson, Clinton, and even Al Gore (who is NOT running) increase. Senator Obama did not do so well at the last Black forum at Howard University. He dropped the ball and let Hillary Clinton steal the spotlight. He really needed to pick this up...and he did...sort of. I won't doubt that Barack Obama is an EXCEPTIONAL public speaker...but he's not that great at debating (especially against Hillary Clinton and especially when he keeps complimenting John Edwards during debates). I need more than just an image of strength, I need actual strength and I don't beleive that Barack Obama has it.

Next, how big is this so-called "shine" for Obama at the NAACP forum? I say it's not very big at all. This forum is not a major televised debate so he won't get that much coverage. Also, his "shine" was not covered particularly well on the network and cable news stations. Now...what DID earn a lot of coverage for the NAACP forum? Not Barack Obama...but instead the controversial conversation between Senator Hillary Clinton and John Edwards. While this overheard conversation is most definitely not a positive thing for either Clinton or Edwards...it did manage to COMPLETELY steal the spotlight and is really all that people are talking about regarding the NAACP forum. Hillary Clinton and John Edwards were highlighted on NBC's Nightly News and on Hardball with Chris Matthews...Barack Obama was not even mentioned (unless you count the ticker at the bottom of the screen displaying a quote from the New York Times saying that Barack Obama had shone at the NAACP forum).

Finally, while I definitely believe in Barack Obama's message of hope and change. I don't really think he is that much of a change. Also, again, I don't think he is ready or nearly experienced enough. He's said how he practices a politics of change but he's been recently making attacks at Hillary Clinton, which to me shows how he is just like the rest of politicians and will go back on what he said to try and regain strength in the polls. Also, Barack Obama has NOT even served half of his FIRST term in the United States senate. While he has said that he has been against the Iraq war since the beginning I wonder if he would have voted against it had he been senator and had the same intelligence that Senators Clinton and Edwards received when they voted for the war. Senator Obama has since always voted to fund the war until the last recent vote where he and Senator Clinton finally voted to stop funding the war (the bill passed anyways). Also, fun fact and important to note, Barack Obama has the SAME EXACT voting record as Hillary Clinton. I'm sick of hearing him shout on about he has always been against the Iraq war. Bottom line Senator Obama...you weren't a senator when the war started, you didn't have the same intelligence that everyone else had. The reason this war began is because of the misconceptions and lies put forth by the Bush administration and a lot of people in power were misled. Also, I don't care if you voted for the war or voted against it...I just care that my candidate is AGAINST the war right now...which ALL of the Democratic presidential candidates are. I think Barack Obama needs a lot more time finding his footing before he attempts the highest office in the nation. He's using his momentum and popularity to try and become president...and I just don't think he's ready nor do I think he would have even tried running if he hadn't achieved such a rock star status in the Democratic party.

To echo my views on why I don't think Senator Obama is the best choice for President, here is selections from a blogger at Hillaryis44.com:

The desperate Obama campaign, falling apart even in his home state of Illinois, shows its hypocrisy once again. Obama’s flowery words say we should put “politics aside” even as his actions (For instance, following Hillary to Iowa and purposefully scheduling a speech a few blocks away from hers, days after Hillary announced her speech. We are sure he will say this is another “staff mistake”) once again demonstrate his true intent to divide Democrats in their attempts to stop the Iraq War. As Admin stated in the comments, Obama’s record in the Senate is clear. Obama has voted identically to Hillary in the Senate and has not attempted to block war funding until he decided to run for President.

Obama has so far failed to support Hillary’s intelligent proposal co-authored by Senator Robert Byrd. Today we hear echoes of the Hillary/Byrd proposal from Republican Senators.

Two leading Republican senators said today that President Bush should seek a new war authorization and present a plan to Congress by Oct. 16 outlining contingency plans in Iraq. Those plans, which would include reducing American forces, should begin by the end of the year.

Senators John W. Warner of Virginia and Richard G. Lugar of Indiana, both of whom have criticized the administration’s troop buildup plan, introduced a measure expected to be considered next week when the Iraq war debate resumes. The senators said it was critical to move beyond the current clash between Congress and the White House and begin making plans to be implemented after the military releases its progress report in September.

Instead of supporting, with vigor, the sensible Democratic deauthorization proposal from two experienced Senators, Obama tried to undermine Hillary when she spoke to the American people from Iowa.

What is Obama instead suggesting we do? Here is his latest O-Lame-O e-mail orders to his supporters: “Write a letter to the editor of your local paper right now — if you act quickly, your letter could be printed alongside tomorrow’s coverage.” The email continues, “Now is the time to act. Millions of Americans are hungry for a president who will end the war in Iraq and confront the threats we face with honesty and sound judgment. They’re waiting to hear from you. Signed, Barack Obama”

So, with “millions of Americans” “hungry for a president who will end the war in Iraq” Obama throws up his hands and suggests his supporters do what he does best: write letters. Along with providing “talking points” to be included in these letters Obama it seems has one other great activity for his supporters besides writing: ‘Read My Books’.

That’s right, read his books.

“Stealing a page from Oprah Winfrey,” Obama has launched book clubs in a dozen NH towns and online (see 7/9 Hotline). Christine Davidson, who led a discussin of “Dreams from My Father” in Portsmouth: “We’re doing this becuase [sic] people don’t really know him very well.” Obama NH comm dir Leslie Miller said about 85 people participated in the book clubs statewide on 7/10. The Portsmouth gathering “attracted only women” as the MLB All-Star Game was being played (McCormick, Chicago Tribune, 7/12). Supporters loaned books to the camp, who then distributed them to undecided voters (Pindell, Boston Globe blog, 7/11).

www.hillaryis44.com

And to end, some new polling data:

A new American Research Group survey finds Sen. Hillary Clinton continues to lead the Democratic presidential race nationally with 38% support, followed by Sen. Barack Obama at 25%, and John Edwards at 16%.

Among Republicans, Rudy Giuliani leads with 30%, followed by Fred Thompson at 17%, John McCain at 14%, Newt Gingrich at 10% and Mitt Romney at 10%.

That's enough on that (for now). Stay tuned for a full blown debate on air and most likely a response from Kevin Coughlin.

Barack Obama Shines at NAACP Forum

The NAACP held their 98th National Convention on Thursday morning, where eight Democratic Presidential candidates, including Sen. Barack Obama, Sen. Hillary Clinton, and John Edwards, were present. Along with the Democrats, one Republican Presidential candidate, Representative Tom Tancredo of Colorado (the only Republican candidate to accept the invitation) took the stage to partake in the forum.

Here are two articles from The Politico and The New York Times that undoubtedly believe Barack Obama stole the show and shined greater than the other candidates:

An excerpt from The Politico:

All the Democrats were in Detroit for the NAACP annual conference. So was one Republican.

Edwards got cheers for linking his poverty tour to race, but Obama, perhaps predictably, was the star.

Now you can read Obama for Obama.

For the full article click here: http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0707/Remainders_Our_guys_should_talk.html

An excerpt from the New York Times:

DETROIT, July 12 — Although the welcome was warm for all the presidential candidates who spoke here Thursday at an N.A.A.C.P. forum, no one else was greeted with as much enthusiasm as Senator Barack Obama, whose mere presence on the stage shot adrenalin through the mostly African-American audience of thousands.

For the full article click here: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/13/us/politics/13dems.html?ref=politics

And...score one for Barack! There are many who feel Obama is unable to think on his feet and produce a positive response. This is a clear sign that he has what it takes.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

John recommends Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

A good adaptation mixing elements from the book and action. Most of the cuts and changes from the novel were necessary. Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson's acting seems to be taking steps backwards.

3 out 5 stars!

New polling via Political Wire:

In Ohio...things are looking great for Mrs. Clinton:

In Ohio, a new Quinnipiac poll finds Rudy Giuliani leading the Republican presidential race with 24%, followed by Fred Thompson at 18%, Sen. John McCain at 14% and Mitt Romney at 8%.

In the Democratic race, Sen. Hillary Clinton is way ahead with 35%, followed by Sen. Barack Obama at 17%, John Edwards at 13% and Al Gore at 12%.

Key finding: In a general election matchup, Clinton squeaks past Giuliani, 44% to 42%. However, she commands a ten point lead when New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg runs as an independent in the race, since Bloomberg takes significant support away from Giuliani.

Rich, Leah, and I have all been employees of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. No, it was not a good experience but it was interesting.

However, things aren't looking so good for Hillary and Rudy when faith goes into play:

According to a new Time poll on religion, "only 15% of registered voters believe that Hillary Clinton is "strongly religious," compared to 22% for John Edwards and 24% for Barack Obama."

"When it comes to the Republican field, Mitt Romney ranks far above the rest of the pack. Fully 26% of all voters think Romney is a person of strong religious faith."

www.politicalwire.com

On the Entertainment side:

Ian Zering is Bob Barker?

The former 90210 star and Dancing With The Stars contestestant has gotten a call back to take over The Price is Right now that Bob Barker has retired. I say NO! I'm still pulling for Rosie O'Donnell to have a change of heart and accept CBS's offer.

and...

Britney Spears is dating her bodyguard Damon. I'm still pulling for a good Britney comeback.

Here are some national stories I think you should take a look at:

Bush Administration admits to Valerie Plame leak. This is coming from the President who said he would fire anyone involved with the leak of the CIA operative. He lied even on this. Scooter Libby's sentence has been commuted, Karl Rove is still there, and Dick Cheney is still there. The President never had any intention to fire anyone involved with this leak.

Iraq benchmarks report 'cause for optimism'. President Bush held a news conference today to discuss how Iraq is going better than we believe. Guess what? I don't believe it.

Lady Bird Johnson

Lady Bird Johnson has passed away. The former first lady was married to Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson who became President after JFK was assassinated. She was 94.

DVD Recommendations!

It's summer and the country is being hit by heatwaves from all sides. Of course, the best way to beat the heat (besides your own private pool, natch) is to rent some movies and crank the AC up. Here are my recommendations for great new summer DVDs (feel free to add your own suggestions!)

Half Nelson- Fantastic acting by Ryan Gosling and newcomer Shareka Epps, a heavy storyline but light on plot.

The Last King of Scotland- I rented this one a few days ago and I'm still trying to get over it... this didn't receive nearly enough attention at the Oscars.

Heroes Season 1- You could watch them at NBC.com but why wait for your computer to load? Outstanding first season of a show that will hopefully continue with the same brilliance for a long time.

Letters From Iwo Jima- Beautifully written, acted, and scored... absolutely essential for WWII-era movie buffs.

The History Boys- The movie version of a quirky, award-winning play with most of the original thespians reprising their roles... sort of like a Dead Poet's Society for a more complicated audience.

Notes On A Scandal- Following with the British, school-related trend above, but much darker and more twisted. I saw this one with my grandparents; I don't suggest you do the same.

Harry Potter- Prepare for the new movie based on the 5th book, and the final installment in the 7-book series by watching Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and the Chamber of Secrets, and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and the Goblet of Fire.

And don't forget these instant classics on DVD... The Office, Arrested Development, Weeds, and Scrubs!

A Call for Fair Trade in the World

A very close friend of ours here at The Green Room, Scott, has been interning in Washington, DC this summer for a highly renowned organization called Public Citizen. The organization is currently spreading the word to help put an end to the Bush administration's push for expansion of the NAFTA trade agreement.

Here's some info and how you can help Public Citizen:

Last November, Americans loudly rejected the Bush administrations more-of-the-same NAFTA expansion trade policy. The majority-making Democratic freshman class won by committing to end Bush's trade war on the middle class and force new rules for a fairer global economy.

But, recently a "deal" to add labor and environmental standards to pending NAFTA-CAFTA style Bush trade agreements was negotiated in secret by a handful of Democrats with the Bush administration. The deal would facilitate the passage of at least Bush's NAFTA expansions for Peru and Panama, and maybe more.

These NAFTA expansions can be introduced for a vote at any time, but most of Congress does not want to have to vote on another bad trade deal, so we can stop Bush in his tracks if we flood Congress with calls right now.

If you want to help out you can take action right now:

Sign the petition on NAFTA Expansion and Immigration. Click here:
http://action.citizen.org/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=3322

Write a Letter to the Editor about NAFTA Expansion to your local newspaper. For tips, click here:
http://www.citizen.org/trade/media

"Bird-Dog" your member of congress about NAFTA expansion. Find out more by clicking here:
http://action.citizen.org/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=3307

If you need help finding your member of Congress click here:
http://action.citizen.org/getLocal.jsp

Also if you want further information, refer to the details below.

For more information about Peru and Panama FTAs, click here:
http://www.citizen.org/trade/afta/

For more talking points on the "deal" that some Democrats cut with the Bush administration, click here:
http://www.citizen.org/hot_issues/issue.cfm?ID=1610

To read the original Public Citizen alert about "the deal," click here:
http://action.citizen.org/content.jsp?content_KEY=2659&t=BlankTemplate.dwt

From Illinois to Hairspray With Love

Check out our pilot episode on the player 2 posts down!

From Political Wire:

Illinois Poll:

In Illinois, a new American Research Group poll shows Sen. Barack Obama leading the Democratic presidential race in his home state with 37% support, followed closely by Sen. Hillary Clinton at 33% and John Edwards way back at just 10%.

On the Republican side, Rudy Giuliani leads with 30%, followed by Fred Thompson who jumped into second place with 21%, Sen. John McCain at 12% and Mitt Romney at 11%.

No surprises there given Senator Obama is the senator from Illinois.

National Poll:

The latest USA Today/Gallup Poll shows Sen. Hillary Clinton leading the Democratic presidential race with 42% support, followed by Sen. Barack Obama at 26% and John Edwards at 16%.

On the Republican side, Rudy Giuliani leads with 30%, trailed by Fred Thompson at 20%, Sen. John McCain at 16%, and Mitt Romney at 9%.

GO HILLARY! While I (John) support Hillary Clinton for the Presidency, I do want to note that Rich supports Senator Barack Obama, Kevin supports Governor Bill Richardson, and Leah is still candidate shopping. Also...

"Opposition to the Iraq war has reached a record high," a new USA Today/Gallup Poll finds. As a result, President Bush's approval rating has reached a new low of 29%.

www.politicalwire.com

BIG BROTHER 8

I love this show. Have watched it since 2001. This season is no different. Hillarious and stupid houseguests make for an interesting summer. Take a look at this clip from Sunday night's episode when a houseguest has a breakdown over a bad picture.



and finally from me...


Image courtesy of Amazon.com

The soundtrack to the motion picture Hairspray is in stores today and I'm quite impressed. Go pick up or download a copy and check out the movie on July 20th.

Colin Powell Warned Against Iraq War

From Political Wire:

"I tried to avoid this war. I took him through the consequences of going into an Arab country and becoming the occupiers."

-- Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, quoted by the Sunday Times of London, saying he spent 2 1/2 hours urging President Bush to not invade Iraq.

West Virginia Poll:

Though 37% of West Virginians consider themselves conservatives -- just 22% that say they are liberals -- a new poll suggests West Virginia might vote for a Democrat for president next year.

If the general election were held today, Sen. Hillary Clinton would carry West Virginia in a head to head match-up with either Sen. John McCain or Rudy Giuliani. Clinton beats McCain 41% to 34% and beats Giuliani 42% to 36%.

www.politicalwire.com

The New 7 Wonders of the World
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TRAVEL/07/06/seven.wonders/index.html

Pilot Episode

Here's the pilot episode of "The Green Room." It's only a pilot episode so please go easy on us...we're still trying to find our footing and work out the show's format. This show is now outdated but expect a fresh new podcast from us real soon. Feedback would be appreciated.

Pilot

Welcome!

Welcome to "The Green Room"

Your spot for news, entertainment, politics, and more!

Here at "The Green Room" we aim to not only inform and engage...but to entertain as well. We are college students looking to have our voices heard and we're ready to take a stand and debate the issues that are important to us. We also love to have fun...and we will have fun...whether it's discussing a presidential pardon from President Bush or another one of Lindsay Lohan's wild night.

While I will attempt to keep our news stories and information completely objective....you better be damn sure that our following discussion will be full of opinions and passion.

"The Green Room" consists of 1. this blog where we'll post anything and write anything...entertainment, politics, news, movie reviews, you name it. and 2. a podcast which takes everything a step further and you can actually feel and hear our passionate views coming through and also entertain yourself...because we sure do.

"The Green Room" Panel

John Raphael Oliveira - 20, Broadcast Journalism, Emerson College

Richard Alongi - 20, Political Science, Boston College

Leah King - 19, Art History, McGill University

Kevin Coughlin - 19, Political Science, Boston College

with recurring special guests

Your support is important to us so please comment, email, participate. We'd love to hear your voice and have you on our show.