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.