Palin Cites Friend 'Who Happens To Be Gay' In Duck Dynasty Debate

Less than a week after defending suspended "Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson's anti-gay comments as free speech, former vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin went after A&E's "hypocrisy," citing a gay friend in the process.

In an interview last week with Fox News, Palin pointed a finger at the network for suspending Robertson, pointing to an email conversation she had with a friend of hers "who happens to be gay."

"She emailed me to say she is outraged at A&E for the hypocrisy here, for the things that they air on their program that she finds offensive, yet A&E doesn't fire a star or somebody involved in their programming based on what they said but they would when it comes to Phil on Duck Dynasty and this friend, she said that she would boycott A&E and that network, and uh, um, she's not the only one," Palin said.

Robertson ran into hot water after GQ published an interview earlier this month containing some eyebrow-raising comments on homosexuality, as well as the black community. The star was subsequently suspended by A&E, but is expected to return in episodes slated for January.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/27/sarah-palin-gay-friend-duck-dynasty_n_4501113.html?utm_hp_ref=politics&ir=Politics

Detroit: Why is there over a half billion dollar stadium deal being approved in a bankrupt city?

Though they are important, let's be honest: Municipal budget figures can be mind-numbingly boring. Even in high-profile, high-stakes dramas like Detroit's bankruptcy, the sheer flood of numbers can encourage people to simply tune it all out for fear of being further confused.

Thus, in the interest of not putting you to sleep or further perplexing you, here are three painfully simple questions about Detroit's bankruptcy. Though these questions have mostly been ignored, continuing to ask them can at least highlight the fact that something nefarious is happening right now in the Motor City.

1. Why are Detroit officials simultaneously moving to cut municipal workers' pensions while spending hundreds of millions of dollars on a new professional hockey stadium?

Gov. Rick Snyder, R-Mich., and his appointed emergency manager Kevyn Orr are pleading poverty to justify cuts to the average Detroit municipal worker's $19,000-a-year pension. Yet, they are also saying they have plenty of money available to continue a planned $285 million taxpayer subsidy for the construction of a new hockey stadium for the Red Wings. Economic data over the years suggest that that paying pension benefits is often a far more powerful tool for economic stimulus than financing stadium subsidies. That's because pensions reliably pump resources into a local economy while stadium subsidies often end up a net loss for taxpayers. So why is Detroit prioritizing stadiums over pensions?



http://www.nationofchange.org/three-questions-about-motor-city-1386949240

Alabama Lawmaker To Introduce Resolution Honoring Gay-Bashing 'Duck Dynasty' Star

Alabama State Sen. Jerry Fielding (R) announced Monday that he will introduce a resolution honoring "Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson, who was suspended from the A&E reality television show after making controversial anti-gay comments in an interview with GQ magazine, the Daily Home reported.

"Phil Robertson's family values are shared by the vast majority of Alabamians, who are rightfully concerned by the vitriol aimed at his Christian stance," Fielding said in a statement. "There's a clear double standard in the media favoring a liberal worldview. When it's used to silence and punish Christians for stating their beliefs, that's when we must defend the rights of individuals to exercise their free speech without fear of politically-motivated repercussion. I join thousands across Alabama and our country by standing with Phil Robertson, and urge A&E to reverse their action against him."

The senator will introduce the resolution on Jan. 14 when the state Senate convenes for the next session.

In the resolution, Fielding lauds Robertson and his family as "ambassadors of the love and grace of the Heavenly Father through their exemplary lives on and off the camera."

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/duck-dynasty-phil-robertson-alabama-resolution

I guess the current Governor of Oklahoma isn't batshit crazy enough.

Former Oklahoma state Sen. Randy Brogdon (R) announced his plans to run for governor of the Sooner State, posing the first GOP challenge to current Gov. Mary Fallin.

On Wednesday, Brogdon said on his website he will file the necessary paperwork to run for governor in 2014, saying he believes "Constitutional Conservative leadership is needed in the Governor’s office."

"Government is too big and too powerful and we all know it. It spends too much, borrows too much, taxes too much, regulates too much and snoops too much," Brogdon wrote. "We are in the fight of our lives for liberty, and I feel morally obligated to lead that fight on behalf of Oklahoma families."

Brogdon lost to Fallin in the 2010 GOP gubernatorial primary. He went on to endorse his former rival despite earlier criticisms of her "liberal compromises."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/26/randy-brogdon-oklahoma-governor_n_4504264.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

Chris Christie Officials Messed With Bridge Traffic Despite Being Warned About Congestion Problems

WASHINGTON -- New documents reveal that a high-ranking official in the administration of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) knew that Fort Lee, N.J., had issues with traffic congestion around the George Washington Bridge, long before he authorized a seemingly unnecessary study that closed down lanes to the bridge and made traffic even worse.

Fort Lee is an essential access point to New York City, serving as the gateway to the George Washington Bridge, which is the busiest bridge in the United States. In November 2010, Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich (D) wrote to Bill Baroni, deputy director of the Port Authority of New York and Jersey, and complained of traffic problems in the borough. The letter was obtained by The Record in a public records request.

"On approximately 20 occasions in the last forty days, our Borough has been completely gridlocked," wrote Sokolich to Baroni, who was Christie's top official at the Port Authority. "Traveling from the south to the north end of our Borough takes upwards of one hour. Our safety vehicles are unable to traverse our own thoroughfares to attend to emergencies which place our residents in harms way."

Despite these concerns, on Sept. 9, 2013, Sokolich woke up to find that two of the three local access lanes to the George Washington Bridge had been closed, causing dangerous traffic jams in the borough on the first day of school. Neither he nor Port Authority Executive Director Patrick Foye -- who was appointed by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) -- were given any advance warning.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/26/chris-christie-bridge_n_4504079.html

Netflix Streaming sucks!

"Santa" brought a new game system to my son for Christmas, so I decided to give Netflix streaming a shot during the free trial period, and I have to say it really sucks. I cannot find one movie I'm looking for. So, I will just watch the full House of Cards season and bid Netflix goodbye.

WWE Pits 'Good' Black Santa vs. 'Bad' White Santa

You may have thought the battle over Santa’s race was over, but that was before WWE Raw got involved.

On Monday night’s show, WWE presented a black “good Santa” who vanquished the white “bad Santa” in a Christmas brawl for the ages. “Bad Santa’s trying to ruin Christmas for the entire world,” on the announcers said as the villain pulled the star off the top of the tree to use as a weapon. They warned that “Christmas could be canceled” if the bad Santa prevailed.

But in the end it was a massive body slam from good Santa that helped “save Christmas” once and for all:

This isn’t the first time the WWE has capitalized on the controversial world of conservative politics. Before proving Megyn Kelly wrong, the organization got Glenn Beck riled up over its “Real American” tea party villain character.



http://www.mediaite.com/tv/watch-wwe-settles-white-santa-vs-black-santa-debate-with-epic-death-match/

Enya - Oíche Chiúin (Silent Night)

Any recommendation for an afternoon at the movies?

Mrs. RandySF and the kid are going to visit a friend of hers and give be a Boxing Day afternoon all to myself. I already saw the Hobbit, so I am debating between 47 Ronin and Wolf of Wall Street. Any suggestions?

Americablog in 2011:Numerous Chris Christie corruption scandals would re-emerge if he ran for POTUS

One of the most persistent stories that dogged Christie in his 2009 campaign was his unusual financial relationship with a top aide at his federal prosecutor office, Michele Brown. Christie lent Brown some $46,000, which he says was to help a family friend through a rough patch.
But critics argued that the move was an improper conflict of interest heading into a gubernatorial campaign since Brown was in a position to help Christie in a variety of ways. Her job included handling FOIA requests, including those from Governor Corzine’s campaign, for example.

And in one instance, she argued to colleagues in favor of wrapping up a major corruption probe before July 1, when Christie’s successor took over the US Attorney position, a move that ensured credit for the case would clearly flow to Christie. Brown resigned shortly after news of the loan broke and, according to the New York Times, she paid off Christie’s loan in October 2010.

It wasn’t the only allegation of conflict of interest that Christie fought off. The then-US Attorney testified before Congress on a series of no-bid monitoring contracts worth millions that he awarded to various law firms. One contract, worth up to $52 million, went to former Attorney General John Ashcroft, Christie’s old mentor. Another former US Attorney chosen for a monitoring contract, David Kelley, had previously investigated Christie’s brother in a stock fraud case in 2005 — he was not indicted while fifteen others were.


http://americablog.com/2011/10/numerous-chris-christie-corruption-scandals-would-re-emerge-if-he-ran-for-president-in-2012.html