Strollerderby : huffpo

Colbert to Food Movement Guy: Yes, But Were YOU Breastfed?

Madeline Holler — Fri, 22 May 2009 17:34:00 GMT

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Last night, over a can of high fructose corn syrup laden Sierra Mist, Stephen Colbert went after Michael Pollan, the whole food/slow food/no processed food movement guy and author of the books, In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto and The Omnivore's Dilemma.

In addition to being a downer (and, perhaps, unpatriotic) about American cheese, Pollan also goes after millions of babies' first taste of fake: forrrrrrrrrmula!

Pollan, having not read the impetus for this argument, then claims that breastfed babies are better than formula fed ones. So the always quick Colbert asks Pollan whether he was breastfed.

Interestingly, he doesn't know. But!

Luckily, Pollan's mom was in the audience.

Disappointingly (underminingly, and, considering his age, could-have-guessed-ingly), she said he wasn't!

No wonder he also buys Fruity Pebbles.

They Say: Moms, It's Still Your Fault. Well, Yours and Daycare

10-Year-Old Battles Breast Cancer

How Fertile Couples Outsmarted Wall Street

Top 10 Pregnancy and Birth World Records

Should Healthcare Reform Start in the Maternity Ward?

City's 5th Co-Sleeping Death in 10 Weeks Reported

550-Pound Woman Gives Birth

Video: via HuffPo

White House Sends Chanukah Card With Christmas Tree On It

Brett Singer — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:00:00 GMT

The Bush family really can't win these days.

Not only is the sitting President receiving blame for Republican losses on Election Day, but first lady Laura is getting flak for a farkakteh (pronounced "fuh-kahk-tuh") Chanukah card that had a picture of a Christmas tree on it.

While its fun to make fun of this kind of thing, I have to admit that I don't really care. It certainly is a mistake and shows certain cluelessness on the part of the First Lady's staff, or at least a lack of organizing skills (shouldn't someone have looked at the card first?). But this isn't exactly Hunter Gibson (Mel's dad) denying that the Holocaust actually happened. Also, the card didn't have a picture of the Baby Jesus on it. It was just a tree. (For the record, apologies were quickly offered. Faces, already covered with egg, were red. Feet were in mouths.)

So was it a bit dense for the White House to send a Chanukah card that didn't have a Chanukah image on it? Sure. But is it really that offensive? I don't think so. I'm Jewish, and I happen to like Christmas trees. That's a topic for another post, but for now, I'm not ready to add CardGate to the list of Bush Administration screw-ups.

Source: NY Post via HuffPo

Make Your Own Religious Doll

Daughter's Homework Assignment Leads to Presidential Pardon for Dad

First Black President Triggers Rise in Hate Crimes

Alex Rodriguez Writing Love Poems To Madonna

Will The First Granny Move To The White House?

World Famous Atheist To Write Children's Book

Some Obama Thanksgiving Awwwwww

Madeline Holler — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 20:03:00 GMT

If you missed the Obamas' interview with Barbara Walters last night, the clips are worth it. The president-elect and his wife talk about their Thanksgiving plans (Michelle's taking a pass on cooking this year and, yes, Michelle, that's quite OK!). In this clip, the president-elect once again channels what so many of us Americans are thinking and feeling: Barbara Walters is totally ridiculous.

In this instance, she's putting the hard sell on for the Obamas to get a dog just like her pup Cha Cha. Barack wisely asks/asserts that Cha Cha is a girly dog (and yappy). Walters is putting the hard sell on for the Obamas to get a dog just like her pup Cha Cha. Barack wisely asks/asserts that Cha Cha is a girly dog (and yappy).

We also get to hear how Michelle has reconciled leaving her job to support her husband.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Video: HuffPo, YouTube

Morning News: Palin Turkey Slaughter Not a Hallmark Moment

Madeline Holler — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Sarah Palin pardoned a local turkey at a Wasilla farm yesterday, apparently her first-ever such act as a governor. So maybe it was an unfamiliarity with, what, slaughter scenes?, that kept her unaware of what was going on right behind her. It's like a three-minute Coen brothers movie -- she talks about what she's thankful for, a turkey's getting its neck broken.

I case you're wondering, distracted -- or can't make it through the video -- Palin's in charge of cooking the turkey at her family's Thanksgiving (her sister and mom bring everything else).

Also in the news, U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey collapsed while giving a speech last night at the Federalist Society dinner in New York.

By George, George W. is already (or is it finally?) saying good-bye! The president is setting aside an hour a day in these final weeks of his presidency to tell staffers and their families thanks and all that.

Also, don't believe what you read on Huffington Post, Bush administration officials are saying. The lame duck president definitely did NOT get dogged by other world leaders who appear in a video to not want to shake Bush's hand (the guy does look a little mopey though, no?)

Curiosity about the new president has gotten a bunch of Verizon employees in hot water. Barack Obama's transition team says there's been a security breach as some bored techies have snooped into the president-elect's cell phone bill records.

Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae will suspend home foreclosures between Nov. 26 and Jan. 9. The mortgage giants will use that time to decide which borrowers qualify for help. So, happy holidays to all those underwater with their mortgages!

The NY Times is reporting that a part of the deal between Brangelina and People magazine -- who won the bid for exclusive pics of the twins -- included writing only positive articles about the couple now and forevermore. And the magazine agreed! Hence, you'll never see Brangelina called "Brangelina" in People. Because the very exposed couple hate being called Brangelina! Incidentally, the NY Times piece very much flatters Jolie -- She's brilliant! She's marvelous! -- leading us to wonder whether they signed a contract with Brangelina too.

Finally, a dad tore a pit bull off his daughter in Oregon and saved her life. She was riding in a tire swing when he heard her screaming. Gruesome. The father managed to turn the dog's attack onto him, pried his jaws open, had a neighbor beat the crap out of it and eventually someone shot the dog.

Morning News is taking the week of Thanksgiving off, but we'll return with more headlines Dec. 1, including one most likely announcing Hillary Clinton as the next U.S. secretary of state (Bill ponied up all his financial records and made unprecedented disclosures and concessions so his wife could have the job. Payback's a bitch, ain't it, Bill?).

Morning News: Woman to Head Homeland Security

McCain Beats Obama!

Stevens Loses; Senate Dems Now at 58

Anti-Gay Church Lays Off Workers (After Spending Gobs on Prop 8)

The Second Thing Michelle Said After Obama's Historic Win

Is Hillary Back?

Pregnant With Palin

Video: HuffPo

Morning News: The Second Thing Michelle Said After Obama's Historic Win

Madeline Holler — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Lots of good stuff from Barack Obama during his 60 Minutes interview with Steve Kroft last night. But let's start with the first-lady elect's reaction when the couple realized he had won the election.

She turned to him and said: "You are the 44th president of the United States of America. Wow. What a country we live in." Then, according to her husband who may or may not have been exaggerating: "Yeah. And then [Michelle] said, 'Are you going take the girls to school in the morning?'"

Awwww.

He said his mother-in-law squeezed his hand while they watched the election night returns -- a gesture that was slightly out of character for her. And also, he said sleeping in his own bed in Chicago and spending time with the kids has been a treat, after so much time away from Chicago during the campaign.

On more serious matters in the interview [go to HuffPo for gobs of clips], Barack Obama also said he would, by executive order, close Guantanamo and ban torture.

Perhaps even harder than it has been for Barack Obama to give up smoking will be giving up his Blackberry, to which he has admitted he is addicted. However, disclosure and public records laws, as well as for security reasons, he may be forced to give it up. Even more unimagineable is that he will also have to give up email. No email? No Blackberry? What else is there?

Former rival John McCain and Obama will meet today in Chicago to talk about ways they can work together. That should be fun.

Finally, a Daily Palin tidbit: maybe the fact that Palin's two eldest kids and her soon-to-be son-in-law are high school dropouts had little or nothing to do with her. A new report shows that Alaska's dropout rate is double the U.S. average. Nearly 40 percent of this year's ninth-graders in the state won't have high school diplomas in 10 years. And the state ranks 50th -- dead last! -- in the number of this year's ninth-graders who will have a bachelor's degree in 10 years. So, come on. Lay off the Governor!

Video: CBS News [via HuffPo]

UPDATE AGAIN: Palin Prepper Defends The Gov

Brett Singer — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:15:00 GMT

ANOTHER update to the "McCampaign staffers can't seem to stop talking" story. From Gawker:

Republican and former Bush executive secretary of the National Security Council Steve Biegun has gotten in touch with National Review editor/wonderboy Rich Lowry to redeem the former vice presidential candidate by repudiating recent claims she has no idea who's in NAFTA and thinks Africa's a country. He calls the allegations "absurd," while managing to note that she had a "steep learning curve on foreign issues," as Lowry formulates it. It's nice someone is stepping out on Sarah's behalf, but is this half-hearted defense simply part of the larger scheme to discredit her for 2012?

I really am fascinated by this whole thing. The word I keep coming back to is childish. Someone bashes her, someone else defends her, the woman herself uses the words "jerks" and "stinkers." Now the person responsible for preparing the former VP candidate for her interviews says, "there's no way she didn't know Africa was a continent, and whoever is saying she didn't must be distorting 'a fumble of words.'" What does that even mean? Steve Biegun offers a theory about the charge that Palin didn't know beans about NAFTA:

He was briefing Palin before a Univision interview, and talking to her about trade issues. He rolled through NAFTA, CAFTA, and the Colombia FTA. As he talked, people were coming in and out of the room, handing Palin things, etc. She was distracted from what Biegun was saying, and said, roughly, "Ok, who's in NAFTA, what's the deal with CAFTA, what's up the FTA?"—her way, Biegun says, of saying "rack them and stack them," begin again from the start. "Somebody is taking a conversation and twisting it maliciously," he says.

Gawker says that, "this can only be the work of a Republican faction that wants Palin never to speak on behalf of their party again." I guess this could be Karl Rove sneaking his way back into the hearts and minds of the GOP. But after everything we saw this campaign season, I think there is a distinct possibility that the people speaking out about what went on behind the scenes at the McCampaign are NOT the best our country has to offer. At the very least, they're behaving very badly. Is it just me or do they sound like children, and not terribly well-behaved children at that?

Original post and updates are below. This is like "The Neverending Story." (Which, by the way, is only $4.99 on DVD. Not a bad deal.)

*-*-*

UPDATE: Palin Says Critics Are Jerks, Some Media People are Stinkers

Updating the earlier news regarding the comments made by one of Sarah Palin's aides, the New York Times is reporting that Governor Palin has made the bold move of referring to the "unnamed McCain campaign aides who have been maligning her in recent days" as "jerks." Also, some members of the media are "stinkers." No word on whether either group is made of greasy grimy gopher guts and mutilated monkey feet. It is also possible that the unnamed sources are, in fact, poopyheads infected with massive amounts of cooties. We'll stay with this story all night if we have to.

OK, OK, we're being silly, but so is everyone else. And we weren't involved in a Presidential election campaign.

Here's the direct quote from the Times:

Referring to the McCampaign staff members who have criticized her: "that’s cruel and it’s mean-spirited, it’s immature, it’s unprofessional, and those guys are jerks, if they came away with it taking things out of context and then tried to spread something on national news. It is not fair and not right."

As for the media: “For the most part, absolutely, media persons, reporters, have been absolutely right on and there has been fairness and objectivity...There have been some stinkers, though, who have kind of made the whole basket full of apples, once in a while, smell kind of bad.”

And there you have it. The original post continues below:

*-*-*

An aide to Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has fired back at sources in the McCampaign who claim that Palin was, well, something other than a good VP candidate.

"This is so unfortunate and, quite honestly, sickening," Palin aide Meghan Stapleton said Thursday in a written statement. "The accusations we are hearing and reading are not true, and since we deny all these anonymous allegations, there is nothing specific to which we will respond.
"We have the highest regards for Sen. John McCain. Gov. Palin was honored to be chosen as McCain's running mate. And as governor of Alaska, Gov. Palin looks forward to working with President-elect Obama on securing energy independence for America."

Palin herself says she will not respond to "individual accusations."

"I won't comment on anyone's gossip or allegations that are based on anonymous sources," she said. "That's kind of a small, evidently bitter type of person, who would anonymously charge something foolish like that -- that I perhaps didn't know an answer to a question. So until I know who was talking about it, I won't have a comment on false allegations."

Others in the McCampaign are bummed out that things fell apart so fast. "Despite the acrimony, many McCain aides say they are sad the campaign team dissolved so quickly." No kidding.

I'm a little surprised as well. Regardless of what anyone thinks of Sarah Palin, she was chosen by the McCampaign. So if they had problems with her, wouldn't before the election have been a good time to figure that out?

Not to get too silly about this, but don't we tell our children to be good sports when they lose? And isn't this type of behavior the exact opposite of that? Frankly, the Presidential election is a hell of a lot more important than a soccer game. Sometimes talking about it doesn't help.

Source: CNN

Image: HuffPo

Sarah Palin Gets Pranked By Canadian Radio Hosts – Video

Palin Speaks Out On Special Needs Trusts

Morning News: McCain's Camp Starts Dishing On Palin

Morning News: Students Kicked Out for Saying Obama's Name

With Hand Raised, Palin Swears 'I am Trig's Mom'

Eliot Spitzer Cleared of Prostitution Charges

Barack Obama Asked If Bill Clinton Was The First Black President

The Obamas Are a Great First Family

They say: Obama Wins

They Say: Sarah Palin Knows Nothing

Brett Singer — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:15:00 GMT

Let the backbiting begin!

As Madeline reported over in Morning News, some members of the McCampaign is seemingly saying that Sarah Palin is to blame for John McCain not being elected President of the United States. Even you think that's going too far – I haven't heard anyone say that directly – McCampaign staffers are certainly telling tales out of school. And none of the tales are particularly flattering to Governor Palin.

As Fox News reports it, members of the McCampaign are now saying that there were, "gaps in [Palin's] knowledge." Gaps like not knowing that Africa is a continent. Not knowing which countries were part of NAFTA. Little things like that. As Howard Stern said on his Sirius XM radio show the other day, maybe it's OK for an average citizen not to know these things (he did say that everyone should know that Africa is a continent). But a Vice-President candidate?

The video (at HuffPo) of Bill O'Reilly discussing these revelations with a Fox News is particularly hilarious. Responding to the notion that Palin didn't know a lot of important stuff, he says, "You can tutor people," says Bill O'Reilly. "It's gotta be more than that." It does? Why?

Regarding Palin's refusing to be prepped for her now-infamous Katie Couric interview, Bill says, "She didn't want to be bogged down with a lesson before Ms. Couric talked to her." BUT then "Palin began to attack staff… she hadn't been warned." WHAT????

When the McCampaign wouldn't allow Palin to do an appearance on The O'Reilly Factor alone, Bill said they couldn't make it work "logistically." It makes O'Reilly sound like a guy who just wanted some alone time with Sarah.

Palin was throwing "tantrums… there was the throwing of paperwork and things of this nature." Then she met McCampaign staff wrapped only in a bathrobe. "She's a bit of a shopaholic." That's what the Fox News reporter says he was told.

Do you think McCain's loss was her fault? Or is this just a lot of blame shifting?

Source: HuffPo (also image), Morning News

Sarah Palin Gets Pranked By Canadian Radio Hosts – Video

Palin Speaks Out On Special Needs Trusts

Eliot Spitzer Cleared of Prostitution Charges

Barack Obama Asked If Bill Clinton Was The First Black President

The Obamas Are a Great First Family

They say: Obama Wins

Morning News: McCain's Camp Starts Dishing On Palin

Madeline Holler — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Reason No. 136 to celebrate Obama's win: the inner-workings of McCain's campaign are now free to be exposed. And they're starting with Sarah Palin.

An intrepid Fox News reporter told Bill O'Reilly last night (reason No. 137 to celebrate: Obama's win has taken the edge off O'Reilly for now) about what really went on after Sarah Palin joined the Maverick back in August.

Some highlights [plus video clip on HuffPo]: Daily Palin

Aides had to explain that South Africa was a country on the continent of Africa (as opposed to a region of the country of Africa ... major cringe!).

She didn't know the countries of North America (nor which countries were part of NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement).

She refused help in preparing for her interview with Katie Couric ... and then blamed her staff when it became a laughingstock.

She read press clippings and threw huge tantrums that made her staff cry.

Of course, Palin does not want to be blamed for McCain's loss.

Some more dishy highlights on Palin [from Newsweek]

The $150K shopping spree, that we defended here, carried an even higher price tag -- tens of thousands of dollars more. And to think, we defended her right here! As a part of the spree, she bought $20K to $40 K in clothes for Todd. She made her staff put some of the purchases on their personal credit cards.

Palin wanted to speak on election night. But McCain's campaign strategist wouldn't let her.

Palin started in with the Ayers stuff before McCain had signed off on it.

Palin greeted campaign aides in her hotel room while she was wearing only a towel.

One McCain aide, who had gotten close to Palin during debate prep, got fired a week before the election for trashing the McCain campaign.

Other dishy stuff in either campaign [again, Newsweek]:

As long ago as the Sunday night before the last debate, McCain campaign insiders were deciding whether to tell McCain he didn't have a chance in hell of winning. They decided not to.

Obama was never going to choose Hillary Clinton as a running mate because of one main reason: Bill.

McCain was relieved Obama didn't pick Hillary Clinton.

On the night she lost the Democratic nomination, Hillary had a long, long phone conversation with ... John McCain. The two thought Obama was flashy and callow.

Neither of the two presidential candidates looked forward to the debates. Obama was recorded as saying this about them:

"I don't consider this to be a good format for me, which makes me more cautious. I often find myself trapped by the questions and thinking to myself, 'You know, this is a stupid question, but let me … answer it.' So when Brian Williams is asking me about what's a personal thing that you've done [that's green], and I say, you know, 'Well, I planted a bunch of trees.' And he says, 'I'm talking about personal.' What I'm thinking in my head is, 'Well, the truth is, Brian, we can't solve global warming because I f---ing changed light bulbs in my house. It's because of something collective'."

We hope Obama knows that that is EXACTLY what viewers are thinking when those questions get asked. Exactly.

Here's a nice little round-up of the McCain loss blame-game. Turns out, it's not all Sarah Palin's fault. But we knew that already.

Morning News: Yes, He Did!

McCain's Mom's Morale Super Low

Girl Power in the White House

The Obama Kids Get a New Puppy

Morning News: Election Day

Photo: HuffPo

They say: Obama Wins

Brett Singer — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 04:11:00 GMT

CNN, The New York Times, and even Fox News have called the Presidential race for Barack Obama. (UPDATE: so has everyone else.)

Amazing to think that it's almost all over after so much campaigning.

Not much to say. I'm still going to watch the news for awhile; I'm like Yogi Berra – it ain't over 'til it's over, y'know? Then again, McCain just conceded. Wow. (Classy speech too, for what it's worth.)

UPDATE: I'm watching Barack's speech now. I can't imagine what must be going through his mind. Think about where he was in 2004. Wow. I know I should have something more articulate to say but "wow" is going to have to do. (It's late.)

My kids don't seem to care that much, which was actually sort of nice in a way. No matter who wins, they get up, go to school, eat lunch, run around, jump on my ribs – a typical day. Eventually I'll talk to them about this election, but not right now.

What about you – how do you feel?

image: me waiting to vote today

McCain's Mom's Morale Super Low

Other Stuff to Vote On Today – Same Sex Marriage, Chicken Cages

McCain Campaign Verbally Abuses an Innocent Child

Obama doesn't say I love you anymore

They say: John McCain is not a maverick

Babble Podcast for November 3, 2008

Republican Candidate Uses Porn-esque Robocall

Jon Stewart says: Ted Stevens is a Cheap Date

N-Word Flies at Palin Rally

Babble Podcast for October 27th, 2008

Babble Talk: The Candidates Health Plans

Joe the racist plumber?

They Say: Obese During Pregnancy? Hatch a Republican!

Sarah Palin Gets Pranked By Canadian Radio Hosts – Video

Which Candidate Has The Best Name?

They say: no one with a uterus should vote for McCain

They say: McCain not thrilled with Palin and she wants to run in 2012

Best political shirt ever - Everyone Poops

109 Year Old Daughter Of Slave Votes For Obama

Other Stuff to Vote On Today – Same Sex Marriage, Chicken Cages

Brett Singer — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 20:15:00 GMT

So the United States is picking a President today. But there are other candidates, and also many ballot measures in play today.

A quick round-up:

ARIZONA:
- Ban same-sex marriage.
- Require that any initiative involving spending or tax hikes be approved by majority of all registered voters, not just those casting ballots.

ARKANSAS:
- Create state lottery.
- Ban unmarried couples from adopting or being foster parents.

CALIFORNIA:
- Ban same-sex marriage.
- Authorize high-speed rail project.
- Require parental notification for a minor's abortion.
- Create 14-member commission to draw state legislative districts.
- Require all utilities to generate 20 percent of their power from renewable energy by 2010.
- Ban cramped metal cages for egg-laying hens.

I think I'm noticing a trend here.

Several states are voting on ballot measures to "ban same-sex marriage." Personally, I find this bizarre. Isn't it already banned? Are people that freaked out at the possibility of two men or two women marrying each other that they need to put it on double secret probation? (For the record, I think if gay people are crazy enough to want to be married, it's fine. Go for it.)

Looking at the article on MiamiHerald.com, it looks like the to-do of an insane person. Authorize slot machine gambling, check. Allow state's first casino, check. Ban abortion and dog racing, check. Ban cramped metal cages for egg-laying hens, check. (Those are all from different states, not the same one.) That's not to say that all of the measures are insane, it's just funny to think about them out of context. "Let's see, today...Prohibit mandatory union membership and mandatory union dues, authorize slot-machine gambling, and make English the official language of government proceedings. Got it." Busy day.

Sources: Miami Herald, MTV

Read more:

Obama doesn't say I love you anymore

They say: John McCain is not a maverick

Babble Podcast for November 3, 2008

Republican Candidate Uses Porn-esque Robocall

Jon Stewart says: Ted Stevens is a Cheap Date

N-Word Flies at Palin Rally

Babble Podcast for October 27th, 2008

Babble Talk: The Candidates Health Plans

Joe the racist plumber?

Sarah Palin Gets Pranked By Canadian Radio Hosts – Video

Which Candidate Has The Best Name?

They say: no one with a uterus should vote for McCain

They say: McCain not thrilled with Palin and she wants to run in 2012

Best political shirt ever - Everyone Poops

109 Year Old Daughter Of Slave Votes For Obama

Brett Singer — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:45:00 GMT

The line to vote for President and other stuff today might be kind of long. If you get cranky, here's an inspiring story to keep you a little bit sane.

From the Austin American Statesman:

Amanda Jones, 109, the daughter of a man born into slavery, has lived a life long enough to touch three centuries. And after voting consistently as a Democrat for 70 years, she has voted early for the country's first black presidential nominee.
…
Jones' father herded sheep as a slave until he was 12, according to the family, and once he was freed, he was a farmer who raised cows, hogs and turkeys on land he owned. Her mother was born right after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, Joyce Jones said. The family owned more than 100 acres of land in Cedar Creek at one point, she said.
Amanda Jones' father urged her to exercise her right to vote, despite discriminatory practices at the polls and poll taxes meant to keep black and poor people from voting. Those practices were outlawed for federal elections with the 24th Amendment in 1964, but not for state and local races in Texas until 1966.

First of all, the fact that anyone lived to be 109 is cool. More importantly, though, is her story. I can't imagine what it must have felt like for Amanda to cast her vote in this Presidential election.

Source/Image: Statesman.com

Read more:

Other Stuff to Vote On Today – Same Sex Marriage, Chicken Cages

Obama doesn't say I love you anymore

They say: John McCain is not a maverick

Babble Podcast for November 3, 2008

Republican Candidate Uses Porn-esque Robocall

Jon Stewart says: Ted Stevens is a Cheap Date

N-Word Flies at Palin Rally

Babble Podcast for October 27th, 2008

Babble Talk: The Candidates Health Plans

Joe the racist plumber?

Sarah Palin Gets Pranked By Canadian Radio Hosts – Video

Which Candidate Has The Best Name?

They say: no one with a uterus should vote for McCain

They say: McCain not thrilled with Palin and she wants to run in 2012

Best political shirt ever - Everyone Poops

Fey and McCain Raise Campaign Funds on QVC

Madeline Holler — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 14:42:00 GMT

John McCain and Sarah Palin went Live on QVC Saturday Night to sell pork cutting knives and a series of town hall commemorative plates in an effort to raise last-minute funds for McCain's campaign.

Check out the model showing the Fein-Gold Jewelry. Who knew she had a sense of humor?

Here's McCain talking campaign "strategy" and rebranding himself on Weekend Update.

Video: NBC [via HuffPo]

Sarah Palin Gets Pranked By Canadian Radio Hosts – Video

Brett Singer — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 02:07:00 GMT

When you were a kid, did you ever make prank calls? Call a bar and ask to speak to Dick Hertz? Dial 867 5309 and ask for Jenny? Or "is your refrigerator running? Well, you'd better go and catch it!" (That last one is way old school, dude.)

Some lucky grown-ups actually make a living doing that sort of thing. And Sarah Palin is their latest victim.

Marc-Antoine Audette and Sebastien Trudel, two Canadian radio performers who go by the name The Masked Avengers, have made calls to numerous celebrities and government officials, including Britney Spears (she's a celebrity, not a government official – just wanted to clarify that.) Now Alaska's governor can add her name to the ranks of the pranked. The Canuck comedians got through to Sarah Palin herself on Saturday and convinced her – for five minutes – that she was speaking to French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The remarkable thing is how easily they get through. Sure, one would think that Palin would have figured out this wasn't actually the French Prez when he says that he loved the "documentary" that Hustler made about her, "Nailin' Palin." But the really sad part is the staffer who puts her right on the phone. No, "Are we expecting a call from the President of France?" Nothing.

Another good line: "We have the equivalent of Joe the Plumber in France. It's called Marcel, the guy with bread under his armpit."

The campaign released the following statement: "Governor Palin was mildly amused to learn that she had joined the ranks of heads of state, including President Sarkozy and other celebrities, in being targeted by these pranksters. C'est la vie."

So I guess if you catch your children on the phone asking some stranger if they have Prince Albert in a Can (let him out! Ha ha!), maybe you should encourage them? OK, not really.

Here's the entire Sarah Palin prank call for your listening pleasure.

Source: miamiherald.com, huffingtonpost.com

Republican Candidate Uses Porn-esque Robocall

Will Ferrell Returns to SNL

Why the Sarah Palin Shopping Spree Included a Ramones T-Shirt

Sarah Palin on SNL for real

They say: no one with a uterus should vote for McCain

N-Word Flies at Palin Rally

Alec Baldwin Discusses Palin with Letterman

Palin Busted! New Ethics Complaint Filed

Babble Talk: The Babies Tell Us Who Will Be Their Next President

Palin Mocks Autism Research

Joe the racist plumber?

They say: McCain not thrilled with Palin and she wants to run in 2012

Best political shirt ever - Everyone Poops

N-Word Flies at Palin Rally

Brett Singer — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:00:00 GMT

This is really ugly.

I hope that whomever you happen to be voting for, this isn't something you can condone.

As the blog We Are Respectable Negroes (the name comes from the Forty Acres and a Mule document) puts it: "It seems that Barack Obama was finally called a 'nigger' at a recent Republican presidential rally."

Palin will get a lot of flack for not responding, and while I can't argue otherwise, I don't know what she should have said. (In a Palin voice: "Oh, come on now! That's a bad thing to say!") Then again, how do you stand in front of a crowd that screams out something like that?

Michelle Malkin is claiming that the person was actually shouting, "Redistributor!"

Yes, of course. I make that mistake all the time.

(Aside: in case anyone is planning to leave a comment along the lines of, "What about that Sarah Palin hanging effigy? Why aren't you railing against that?" It's terrible and should be taken down immediately.)

I'll ask you -- what do you think you heard? I actually closed my eyes so I couldn't see the captioning on the video. Send the kids out of the room and tell us what you think was said.

Source: We Are Respectable Negroes, MichelleMalkin.com

Babble Talk: The Candidates Health Plans

Palin's Ohio Rallies Reveal Frightening Misconceptions about Barack Obama are Alive and Thriving

Morning News: Malia Obama Tells Dad 'Don't Mess With My TV'

Breaking News -- Obama Assassination Plot Thwarted

Babble Podcast for October 27th, 2008

Which Candidate Has The Best Name?

Flip Flopping on Palin's Kids

Palin Speaks Out On Special Needs Trusts

Joe the racist plumber?

Babble Talk: The Candidates Health Plans

Brett Singer — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Kim Mance breaks down some of the key points in the Obama and McCain health care plans. I have a few thoughts to add.

I didn't realize this, but the debate about a national health care system goes back much further than when Bill Clinton attempted to implement one when he was first elected way back in 1992. "Both Roosevelt and Truman called for health care to be an 'economic right.' Truman then proposed a single-payer health program to cover all Americans. But it was called a 'Communist plot' by a House subcommittee after the American Medical Association denounced it." Funny (not ha-ha funny) how one of the current digs at Obama is that he's a "socialist". I guess socialist is the new communist.

A key difference between their proposals is, "how to ensure that all Americans have access to health insurance. Both want there to be no 'state lines' as there are now, so families can shop around for the best plan. However, Obama will regulate and require insurance companies to cover patients regardless of pre-existing conditions, and McCain will not. McCain will instead work with Governors on (fifty separate) plans to optimize access to health care within each individual state."

One thing that I find very interesting, and encouraging, is that at least both sides are talking about getting more people covered. Back in the 1990's, it was much more of an "us against them" situation, with the Democrats wanting a national health care system and the Republicans wanting everything to stay the same.

To me, a sign that the McCampaign is out of touch on this particular issue is the notion that a family can purchase health coverage for $5,000, or even that they can purchase it at all. First, as Mance points out in her Babble article, $5,000 covers less than half of the typical family's yearly health insurance bill. Obama says that the cost is $12,000, Mance cites a study that puts the number at $12,680. Second, as someone who has run a small business and offered health insurance to employees, I can tell you that it is not that simple to just go buy a plan the way McCain says it is. For an individual, it is significantly more difficult. Health insurers simply don't want to talk to individuals about coverage, they prefer to deal with "groups", meaning employers. So while it sounds nice to say, "hey, here's five grand, you can buy whatever health plan works best for you", it's just not that simple.

There are more details discussed in Mance's article, which is very much worth a read. The bottom line? It's hard to tell what will happen no matter who gets elected, but they agree that the current system isn't good enough. "Neither presidential candidate's health care plan brings us anywhere near a true socialized medicine or single-payer system. But they do both point out the many ways our own health care structure can be improved." That's at least something.

Flip Flopping on Palin's Kids

They Say: More Children Have Allergies

New York Times Anthrax Update

Dr. Greene's Vitamins one way to get extra D

Woman leaves toddler in car while she goes to a bar

Santa Claus says: Smoke More

They say: no one with a uterus should vote for McCain

Mom and son barbecue grandma's remains

Palin Speaks Out On Special Needs Trusts

Brett Singer — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 14:00:00 GMT

Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin gave a speech in Pittsburgh on Friday where she discussed the challenges facing children with special needs.

Here is a video clip with a few choice digs at the Obama-Biden tax plan:

If the clip does not appear, try clicking here to see it.

And a couple of pertinent lines from the speech:

As families across America know, the care of special-needs children requires long-term planning, and especially financial planning. A common practice among these families is to establish financial trusts. These are known as special needs trusts, covering years of medical and other costs, and for parents they bring invaluable comfort.
Understandably, then, many families with special-needs children or dependent adults are concerned that our opponent in this election plans to raise taxes on precisely those kinds of financial arrangements. They fear that Senator Obama's tax increase will have serious and harmful consequences -- and they are right. The burden that his plan would impose upon these families is just one more example of how many plans can be disrupted, how many futures can be placed at risk, and how many people can suffer when the power to tax is misused.

I’m unfamiliar with special needs trusts, but it sounds to me like something only someone with money can do. That is, if a family lives paycheck to paycheck, how much financial planning can they really do? Like most political rhetoric, what Palin says is short on specifics and long on fear mongering. (That's true of both sides; lack of details is non-partisan.) Also, "the power to tax"? Oy vey. You would think no Republican administration had ever raised taxes, or that the tax cuts in recent years actually worked. (That's another conversation, but really. Oy vey.)

She also makes this claim:

In a McCain-Palin administration, we will put the educational choices for special needs children in the right hands their parents'. Under reforms that I will lead as vice president, the parents and caretakers of children with physical or mental disabilities will be able to send that boy or girl to the school of their choice -- public or private.

Just like that? Come on. We're not electing a Supreme Ruler; we're electing a President. And anyone who thinks that a school voucher law like the one that Sarah Palin describes (I know that may be an oversimplification, but hey, I can do it too!) will get passed quickly and easily is at best naïve.

A commenter on the nationaljournal.com article says it pretty well:

I find all these promises far too vague and general to mean much of anything. … What about health insurance? … Sorry, I don't need a 'friend' -- I need someone with a plan that does more than 'hope' that 'market forces' will allow me to afford insurance for my child.

I will say that I think it's interesting to hear this much talk about autism/special needs children during an election year. It's possible that this issue was front and center in the past, but if so, I didn't notice.

Text of the full speech is here if you want to read it.

If anyone has more direct experience with special needs trusts, or any of the other issues Palin raised in her speech, I'd be curious to hear your take on what she had to say.

sources: MSNBC, National Journal

Palin Plays the Race Card, Badly

Piper Palin Carries a Louis Vuitton Bag - Is it Hers? Does it Matter?

Morning News: Pregnant With Palin

Sarah Palin on SNL for real

Breaking News: Maya Rudolph to Play Michelle Obama on SNL

Is Sarah Palin the next Oprah?

They Say: More Children Have Allergies

Dr. Greene's Vitamins one way to get extra D

Woman leaves toddler in car while she goes to a bar

They say: no one with a uterus should vote for McCain

Flip Flopping on Palin's Kids

Brett Singer — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 21:00:00 GMT

I was all set to write something about how I didn't really care if Sarah Palin put her children in the public eye. It's part of running for office, especially national office, and hey, this is her job. People rarely complain about men doing it with their kids. Why should it be different for a woman?

But then this story about Piper and her (fake) Louis Vuitton bag popped up, and I had a change of heart.

Is it really fair to put your kids through that sort of scrutiny? Let's review: We had Piper Palin, on video, spitting on Trig's hair.

Then Palin the Candidate brought Piper and Willow (Piper seems to be getting the most screen time, no?) out to a Philadelphia Flyers game. She thought that Philly fans would NEVER stoop so low as to boo her little girl. (Um, Philly fans would probably boo the second coming of Elvis if he was there to give them each a million dollars, but that's another story.)

These are two of many examples where Palin uses the kids as a bit of a shield. Or if "shield" is too strong a word, I think we can all agree that she's "putting them out there," which means what they do will be scrutinized. Unlike her youngest children (Trig for example), the older kids know enough to realize what's going on and hear the insults being hurled their way. Would I want to subject my child to that sort of thing?

The Presidential couple that did the best job of keeping their kids – actually, kid – out of the news was Bill and Hillary Clinton. For all of his obvious failings, Bill (with Hillary's help, of course) told the press every chance he had that Chelsea was off limits. For the most part the media respected that. Now, that was a different time. Clinton left the White House in 2000, which was before the rise of TMZ, Gawker and the constant barrage of celebrity news programs and web sites that track every move the famous make. Still, I doubt that most mainstream media outlets would have "gone after" Palin's children if they were home in Alaska going to school rather than out dropping pucks on the campaign trail.

Of course, if they were in Alaska, Palin would be separated from her kids for quite a long period of time. But how many hours could she possibly be spending with them anyway? Wouldn't they be better off away from all of this nonsense?

Then again (Live! Flip-flopping in action!) what business is it of ours? Since we don't want Sarah Palin to tell us what to do with our kids, how can we tell her what to do with hers? BUT (flip) doesn't it say something about her judgment that she has no problem pulling her kids out of school whenever it suits the campaign, taking them away from their friends? HOWEVER (flop) don't they benefit from her high profile? Am I judging her differently because she's woman?

And so on. You know what the bottom line is, I think? It's not important. What happens to Sarah Palin and her family is important to Sarah Palin and her family. I disagree with her on virtually every issue she has an opinion on, and I think her behavior at campaign rallies has been reprehensible. (Colin Powell said it much better than I ever could.) That's what matters. Her kids? While I can't say I agree with the decisions she appears to be making, they're her decisions. She'll have to live with them. Right?

What do you think?

Photo: MSNBC.com, via Morning News

Campaign Dream Team: Sarah and Liz!

The Obamas wear cheap clothes

Piper Palin Carries a Louis Vuitton Bag - Is it Hers? Does it Matter?

Morning News: Pregnant With Palin

$150,000 Spent on Sarah Palin's Clothing

Breaking News: Powell Endorses Obama

Do Sarah Palin and Family Listen to the Ramones?

Why Won't Sarah Palin Release Her Medical Records?

Sarah Palin on SNL for real

UPDATE: Jon Stewart says "F*** All Y'All"

Is Sarah Palin the next Oprah?

Brett Singer — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:45:00 GMT

This story from the Hollywood Reporter is making the rounds. It's very odd.

According to HR, "as more and more polls cast doubt on the McCain-Palin ticket, producers and agents across the entertainment world are discussing possibilities for capitalizing on her fame, ranging from an Oprah-style syndicated talk show to a Sean Hannity-like perch in cable news or on radio."

I suppose I could see a Fox News-style show. But Oprah? Come on.

I'm not a big Oprah fan. I think she promotes some questionable stuff, is highly materialistic, and never gets criticized even when her actions might warrant it (she really made some big mistakes with that school she started, for instance). But there's no denying that she is the most successful television host in history, and someone whom millions of people adore. She is also somebody who can say, "I like this book" or "I like this movie" and suddenly that book or movie is number one. (Howard Stern Show producer Gary Dell'Abate told a story on the air about how he tried to get his wife to watch the movie 'Crash' with him. She wouldn't even consider it. Then Oprah said it was great. They watched it that night.) Again, it's not my thing, but Oprah clearly connects with a broad range of people. Sarah Palin is an extremely divisive figure. While that sort of thing plays really well on Fox News and right-wing radio, it doesn't usually work on network or syndicated television. (Anyone remember Rush Limbaugh's late night TV show? I thought so.)

Also, I think Palin has more political aspirations. That's pure speculation on my part, since Sarah and I haven't talked lately. (Actually, we haven't talked ever.) But I'm not the only one who thinks she might want to move into the White House on her own.

Would you watch a show called "Sarah!" starring Palin?

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Flip Flopping on Palin's Kids

Will Ferrell Returns to SNL

Sarah Palin on SNL for real

They say: no one with a uterus should vote for McCain

Joe the racist plumber?

They say: McCain not thrilled with Palin and she wants to run in 2012

Best political shirt ever - Everyone Poops

The Obamas wear cheap clothes

Brett Singer — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:44:00 GMT

This video is from July, but Anya Strzemien at Huffington Post dug it up in the wake of the Sarah Palin's clothesgate.

The video is from Access Hollywood, so don't expect hard-hitting journalism. That said, both Barack and Michelle come across as very normal. Plus you get a really cute moment about 1 minute in when one of the Obama kids says, "But mommy IS important!"

As for the photo, according to Strzemien, that dress costs $34.95. As for Barack, he "hates to shop" and his shoes have holes in them. As someone who goes shopping once a year, and even that is under protest, I can relate.

Here's the video:

Source: HuffPo

Read more:

Obama doesn't say I love you anymore

Piper Palin Carries a Louis Vuitton Bag - Is it Hers? Does it Matter?

Jon Stewart to Sarah Palin: F*** You

$150,000 Spent on Sarah Palin's Clothing

Sarah Palin on SNL for real

Morning News: Pregnant With Palin

They say: John McCain is not a maverick

How much is Sarah Palin worth?

Related on Babble:

The Babble Interview: Michelle Obama

Obama not sure how long he's been married

Brett Singer — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:35:00 GMT

Politicians sometimes want to make people believe that they are just like us, that they can relate to our problems. Barack Obama definitely did that for me by telling reporters that he and wife Michelle would soon be celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary next week. Michelle's spokesperson quickly released a statement pointing out that, in fact, it was their 16th anniversary. Um, oops. This husbandly gaffe prompted MSNBC talking head Keith Olbermann to include Barack in the "Worst Person of the Week" list, although Barack lost out to Karl Rove. Here's the video; the Obama part is at the beginning if you don't want to hear the rest of Olbermann's spiel (although the part where he talks about Rove is pretty good):

Olbermann, as far as I know, has never been married, so he may not realize that forgetting the exact year you were married is something that men do on a daily basis (myself included – sorry, dear). The date I have no trouble with, but I have to check every year to see which anniversary it is. The fact that I do traditional anniversary gifts – fifth is wood, twelfth is silk, that sort of thing – only serves to complicate matters. I could go with the "every anniversary is a diamond anniversary" theory, but not in this economy.

Source: HuffPo and MSNBC

Bailout bill defeated because it sucks

Giant Palin Poster

They say: Sarah Palin should step down

Sarah Silverman says: make granny vote for Obama

Shawn Johnson, Democrat? (UPDATE: Now with video)

Political Nanny: Oops! Conservative Pundits Call Palin Pick 'Gimmicky,' 'Bull**it'

Madeline Holler — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:15:00 GMT

Advice to, well, anybody wearing a microphone: assume it's on.

Today on MSNBC, Peggy Noonan, WSJ columnist, and Mike Murphy, former McCain adviser, were caught with their mics on and their opinions on tape.

[Via HuffPo]

When Chuck Todd asked her if this was the most qualified woman the Republicans could nominate, Noonan responded, "The most qualified? No. I think they went for this, excuse me, political bullshit about narratives. Every time the Republicans do that, because that's not where they live and that's not what they're good at, they blow it."

Murphy characterized the choices as "cynical" and "gimmicky."

Video: YouTube.com

Old Mom, Poor Mom, Young Mom, Rich Mom

Adrienne Martini — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:30:00 GMT

For those whose first child was a matter of planning rather than a matter of surprise, what most influenced that plan? How much did your career -- or lack thereof -- push the decision? Or was it a choice pushed by your biological clock?

Nataly Kogan at the Huffington Post would like to know. Kogan had her first at 28, shortly after doing some risk v. reward math in her head. But sometimes she wonders what it would have been like to wait longer.

Just as a data point, I had my first at 31. The biggest influence was the World Trade Center attacks, when I realized that I had no good idea what I was waiting for when it came to having kids and when I simultaneously realized that life is short. And given that I do make some money off of writing about all of the kooky things my children do, I can say that they've helped my career.

You?

The Importance of an Exit Strategy

Adrienne Martini — Wed, 21 May 2008 15:30:00 GMT

One of the most frustrating dilemmas I've faced as a parent isn't the age-old snag of getting your kids to pick up their crap. While I do get all worked up over kid stuff tossed all over the place, the parenting challenge that really churns my butter is less specific. What gets me are those moments when I feel truly helpless in the face of certain behaviors, like my kids not picking up their crap.. Usually, I resort to yelling.

Screaming (with or without obscenities) doesn't do a lick of good, mind you. The Huffington Post's Gretchen Rubin feels my pain and writes about her own strategy, which she borrowed from a self-help writer. I use the 3-2-1 strategy myself, without ever knowing that it had a name and isn't simply what my used to do with me.

Fancy-pants label or no, Rubin's column hits on one of those fundamental truisms of kids: what works for one probably won't work for all.

Words Have Many Meanings, Part 2

Adrienne Martini — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:00:00 GMT

A couple of days ago, I groused about the use of the word "mompreneurs." My issue with this smooshing together of two other perfectly good words is that it makes businesswomen who happen to be mothers sound like they are somehow different than entrepreneurs who are child-free and/or male. Fortunately, someone has explained how a mompreneur is different from anyone else who starts a business.

The difference is that mompreneurs work every minute of every day, squeezing their chosen vocation into the corners around soccer games, taxi duty and sleeping. It also means that you squeeze phone calls around videos and tv shows. Or, if you can't find a convenient time to talk to another person in real time, taking care of most of your business via electronic channels when everyone else in the house is asleep.

So the difference is that "entrepreneurs" don't have to juggle schedules, watch kids and obsess about face time with everyone while "mompreneurs" spend 24/7 wearing a different hat every second of every day? How is this different from what other working mothers face? Or am I missing something?

Your Daughter Will Have Sex Someday

Adrienne Martini — Thu, 01 May 2008 18:30:00 GMT

If the whole Miley Cyrus donnybrook has done nothing else, it should have made us at least look at the idea that our little girls, no matter how apple-cheeked they are now, will have sex. Once a parent manages to absorb that fact, then what?

Joyce McFadden offers some advice for moms who are trying to come to grips with what it means to be feminine and sexual in a real way, as opposed to the media-saturated way that has become unavoidable. While dads play their own role, women seem to have more wrapped up in the topic, given that their attitudes tend to be more directly modeled by their girls. McFadden's take a sensible approach for moms who want their daughters to know that sex is both more important and less important than magazines, movies and TV make it out to be.

The same lessons are true for boys, of course, but I haven't seen a similar picture of one of the Jonas brothers, which might be its own lesson.

Photo credit: www.balancedlivingmag.com