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Tag: Barack Obama

  • FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Will Resign in January

    FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Will Resign in January

    Ajit Pai, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has announced he will step down on January 20.

    Chairman Pai has presided over the FCC for the last four years, enacting a number of controversial changes. Most notably, Pai oversaw the repeal of the Obama-era net neutrality rules, as well as pursued efforts to block states from implementing their own. At the same time, under Pai’s oversight, the FCC focused on closing the digital divide and paving the way for faster 5G adoption.

    Given the incoming Biden/Harris administration’s stand on net neutrality, and tech in general, it is not surprising that Chairman Pai is planning to resign. In is statement announcing his departure Pai highlighted his accomplishments, both personal and professional:

    It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve at the Federal Communications Commission, including as Chairman of the FCC over the past four years. I am grateful to President Trump for giving me the opportunity to lead the agency in 2017, to President Obama for appointing me as a Commissioner in 2012, and to Senate Majority Leader McConnell and the Senate for twice confirming me. To be the first Asian-American to chair the FCC has been a particular privilege. As I often say: only in America.

    I also deeply appreciate the chance to have worked alongside the FCC’s talented staff. They are the agency’s best assets, and they have performed heroically, especially during the pandemic. It’s also been an honor to work with my fellow Commissioners to execute a strong and broad agenda. Together, we’ve delivered for the American people over the past four years: closing the digital divide; promoting innovation and competition, from 5G on the ground to broadband from space; protecting consumers; and advancing public safety. And this FCC has not shied away from making tough choices. As a result, our nation’s communications networks are now faster, stronger, and more widely deployed than ever before.

    Although it seems likely the incoming administration will reinstate net neutrality rules, it remains to be seen what other changes or rollbacks may be in store for current FCC policies.

  • Net Neutrality and a Biden Presidency

    Net Neutrality and a Biden Presidency

    A Biden presidency could have an enormous impact on net neutrality, one of the most contested rules in recent years.

    Net neutrality laws were implemented under President Obama. The purpose of the regulation was to ensure platforms had equal footing, regardless of size or reach. Proponents of net neutrality say it is vital to ensure internet service providers can’t choke out a competitor by charging it or its customers more for access. A perfect example is AT&T recently favoring its own HBO Max service over Netflix, by now counting HBO Max access against customers’ mobile data usage.

    Opponents of the regulation say it unnecessarily regulates the internet and stifles investment. These companies, including at one point AT&T, Comcast and Verizon, point to the long and successful history of the internet without any such regulation existing.

    Shortly after Ajit Pai was appointed FCC Chairman, the FCC rolled back the net neutrality rules, despite its broad support from Microsoft, Google, Mozilla, Netflix and others. Supporters of net neutrality unsuccessfully sued to prevent the rollback. While the courts said the FCC was within its rights, it did not allow the FCC to block individual states from implementing their own net neutrality rules, as some have done.

    Throughout the campaign, Joe Biden said very little about net neutrality, although its restoration is part of the Democratic platform. As a result, it’s a safe bet we haven’t heard the last of net neutrality on a national scale.

  • Rita Moreno, Carole King, George Lucas and Cicely Tyson Celebrated At Kennedy Center Honors Awards

    Rita Moreno, singer-songwriter Carole King, Star Wars creator George Lucas and actress Cicely Tyson were celebrated Sunday in Washington for their contributions to the arts as the latest recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors awards.

    President Barack Obama lauded the accomplishments of all five honorees, which also included conductor Seiji Ozawa.

    “Tonight, we honor five artists who helped tell the story of the first American century through music, theater, and film, and by doing so, helped to shape it,” he said to a room filled with other celebrities, including actress Julie Andrews, singer Usher and film director Steven Spielberg.

    Interjecting humor into his remarks, Obama noted that Ozawa’ career as a pianist was ruined when he broke his fingers playing rugby. As a result, however, he became a renowned conductor.

    He praised Lucas for having raised America’s children thanks to the Star Wars films.

    “Without him, movies would not look as good or sound as good as they do today. Spaceships might still fly around the screen with little strings attached to them,” he said to laughter.

    The honorees began the celebration on Saturday night at the State Department with a dinner and toasts from their friends and contemporaries.

    “I am still in shock,” said Tyson about receiving the award. “I consider this tantamount to being honored by the queen.”

    King, a Grammy award winner known for 70s standards like Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow and Natural Woman, said she was thrilled to be included with other members of the Kennedy Center Honors club.

    “The company that I’m in — not only this evening but the historic company that I’m in, it’s extraordinary,” she said.

    George Lucas joked that it was a departure to be a recipient rather than presenting one as he once did for Steven Spielberg.

    “(For) this one I don’t have to say anything,” he said.

    Rita Moreno, who earned an Oscar in 1962 for her role in the film adaptation of West Side Story, noted her Latino heritage.

    “It feels terrific,” Moreno said. “All my family and friends brought the Puerto Rican flag.”

    The Kennedy Center Honors will be broadcast on CBS on December 29.

  • Malia Obama: Did the President’s Daughter Play Beer Pong?

    Malia Obama reportedly engaged in some normal college fun of late. The daughter of President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama has been visiting colleges recently, and it seems she either took part in a game of beer pong during one such visit–or stood awfully close to those who were playing.

    It was while at Brown University that Malia Obama is shown in a recent photo obtained by The Daily Caller. A table filled with Red Solo cups of beer sit on a table adjacent to the president’s daughter.

    Buzzfeed reports that an anonymous Tweeter claims, “Malia obama was taking shots and playing beer pong at a party last night LOL.”

    Of course most everything related to the topic has since been removed from social media.

    Malia Obama is just doing her best to be a normal teenager. And like it or not–teenagers party. When they visit college campuses, where many of the students are of legal age, even those who are too young to drink legally take part.

    Brown University isn’t the only college Malia Obama has visited. She has also been to Columbia, Harvard, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania, Yale, Stanford, the University of California, Berkeley, New York University, Tufts, Barnard, and Wesleyan.

    Do you suppose Malia Obama played beer pong at all these colleges?

    Are there a few Secret Service agents in big trouble because of Malia Obama’s recent fun?

  • Sarah Palin Backs Bristol and Slams Obama Over Ahmed Mohamed Too

    Sarah Palin has thrown her two cents into the discussion about Ahmed Mohamed, the clock-making high school teen in Texas who was arrested when he brought a homemade digital clock to school.

    Ahmed Mohamed made his own digital clock and took it to school in a pencil case to show his Engineering teacher. Another teacher reported Ahmed, police were called, and Ahmed was arrested on suspicion of making a bomb.

    As has been pointed out many times in social media and news programs, it seems unlikely that anyone actually thought that Ahmed Mohamed had actually made a bomb. If they had, they would have followed protocols such as evacuating the school, calling the bomb squad, and so on. Instead, Ahmed is likely believed to have been perpetrating a bomb hoax. But others say this was only suspected because of Islamaphobia.

    Sarah Palin’s daughter Bristol has already jumped into the fray, accusing President Barack Obama of dividing America with “childish games” like inviting Ahmed Mohamed to the White House.

    President Obama tweeted:

    “Cool clock, Ahmed. Want to bring it to the White House? We should inspire more kids like you to like science. It’s what makes America great.”

    Bristol Palin saw this as driving a further wedge in America.

    “This is the kind of stuff Obama needs to STAY out of. This encourages more racial strife that is already going on with the “Black Lives Matter” crowd and encourages victimhood.

    “The police made a mistake, clearly.

    “But why put more people against them? Why egg it on? Childish games like this from our president have divided our country… even more today than when he was elected.”

    Sara Palin, for her part, took to Facebook — her pulpit of choice — to back her daughter’s play and further slam Obama and the “liberal media.”

    “Yep, believing that’s a clock in a school pencil box is like believing Barack Obama is ruling over the most transparent administration in history…; By the way, President Obama’s practice of jumping in cases prematurely to interject himself as the cool savior, wanting so badly to attach himself to the issue-of-the-day, got old years ago.”

    Of course, Sarah Palin’s audience is not really one to be envied. One commenter on her post said, in all seriousness:

    “Funny but all the clocks I have in my house look nothing like that thing. Where’s the face, the numbers, the hands?”

  • Bristol Palin Slammed After Calling President ‘Childish’ Over Ahmed Mohamed

    Bristol Palin may be a bit confused. Maybe she is getting her political news from the same source her mother is: her imagination.

    The daughter of political firebrand and half-term governor of Sarah Palin took issue with President Obama inviting clockmaker Ahmed Mohamed to the White House. Ahmed Mohamed is the high school student from Texas who made his own digital clock and took it to school in a pencil case to show his Engineering teacher. Another teacher reported Ahmed, police were called, and Ahmed was arrested on suspicion of making a bomb.

    As has been pointed out many times in social media and news programs, it seems unlikely that anyone actually thought that Ahmed Mohamed had actually made a bomb. If they had, they would have followed protocols such as evacuating the school, calling the bomb squad, and so on. Instead, Ahmed is likely believed to have been perpetrating a bomb hoax.

    But that is not how the whole issue has been spread about in social media. Instead, people are laughing at the school administration and police in Texas for believing that a clock was a bomb. If it turns out that Ahmed Mohamed even joked that he had a bomb in his locker, the school administration and police will look much better in hindsight. But so far such revelations have not emerged.

    What irked Bristol Palin was that President Obama invited Ahmed Mohamed to the white House via Twitter, saying:

    “Cool clock, Ahmed. Want to bring it to the White House? We should inspire more kids like you to like science. It’s what makes America great.”

    Bristol Palin saw this as driving a further wedge in America. She laid out her argument this way:

    “This is the kind of stuff Obama needs to STAY out of. This encourages more racial strife that is already going on with the “Black Lives Matter” crowd and encourages victimhood.

    “The police made a mistake, clearly.

    “But why put more people against them? Why egg it on? Childish games like this from our president have divided our country… even more today than when he was elected.”

    Now social media users are piling on to Bristol Palin, en masse.

    Perhaps what Bristol Palin is forgetting is that it was her own mother who raised the notion of some people in America being “the real America,” so long as they were supporting her in politics.

    Sarah Palin said these areas were “pro-America,” implying that other areas were “anti-America.”

    Where Bristol Palin gets the idea that Barack Obama, simply by virtue of his being elected, divided America, is curious. Did he do this on purpose? Or was there some sort of sentiment against him that caused this rift simply because a majority of what must be “un-real, anti-America” voted him into office twice?

  • Bristol Palin Says President Obama Dividing the Country by Inviting Ahmed Mohamed to White House

    Bristol Palin is speaking out about Ahmed Mohamed, the former MacArthur High School student from Irving, Texas, who has become famous after being arrested on suspicion of bringing a bomb to school. Of course, the rest of the world now knows that Ahmed Mohamed did not bring a bomb, but rather a clock he had built to show an engineering teacher. Bristol Palin knows this, too. She doesn’t have a problem with Ahmed Mohamed. She has a problem with Barack Obama.

    Try to follow along. Bristol Palin heard the news that President Barack Obama had tweeted out to Ahmed Mohamed. It is this tweet that Bristol Palin takes issue with.

    President Obama’s tweet read:

    “Cool clock, Ahmed. Want to bring it to the White House? We should inspire more kids like you to like science. It’s what makes America great.”

    In response to President Obama’s tweet, Bristol Palin wrote on her own blog:

    “This is the kind of stuff Obama needs to STAY out of. This encourages more racial strife that is already going on with the “Black Lives Matter” crowd and encourages victimhood.

    “The police made a mistake, clearly.

    “But why put more people against them? Why egg it on? Childish games like this from our president have divided our country… even more today than when he was elected.”

    Bristol Palin does not here elaborate on how President Obama managed to divide the country when he was elected. She does not say that his presidency divides the country. Rather, she marks a specific point in time, comparing “today” with “when he was elected.”

    Is Bristol Palin saying that the very act of being Barack Obama being elected divided the country? Is she aware that he did not elect himself, but a majority of voting Americans did? Twice?

    Is Britstol Palin aware that it was her own mother, in the Presidential race of 2008 against Barack Obama, who raised the topic of “the real America,” dividing people into groups?

    Yet somehow, Bristol Palin thinks that the President speaking out in a small way to combat Islamaphobia and show unity with all races is divisive.

  • Charlize Theron, President Obama, and A Strip Club?

    Charlize Theron, President Obama, and A Strip Club?

    Charlize Theron, President Obama, and a strip club aren’t three topics one might expect to find all strung together in the same sentence–or even the same paragraph, for that matter. But they are all vert directly related to one another, per a funny story The Mad Max: Fury Road star recently shared during a visit to Jimmy Kimmel Live.

    Jimmy Kimmel mentioned, while chatting with Charlize Theron, that the last time she appeared on his show, she spent some time chatting backstage with President Barack Obama.

    What ensued–based upon that casual mention–is hilarious.

    “Oh my god, this was terrible, Jimmy, this was terrible,” Charlize Theron behan. “I have this thing that happens when I get nervous where I get so nervous that I will say something really inappropriate. I can’t… it’s like Tourette’s in a weird way. I don’t know how to stop it, it just like verbal diarrhea.”

    “I was really nervous because I was kind of hiding in the back and then somebody from his team like came to get me and ushered me over to him,” the actress continued. “He waited to meet with me and everything had stopped around his world to meet me and it was just a lot of pressure and I was really nervous.”

    Theron dished about how President Obama was excited about the group of Americans he might potentially connect with as a result of his appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The president was happy to reach a potentially new demographic.

    “Then there was this pause and I didn’t know what to say,” Charlize Theron added. “All I could come up with was, ‘Well, if you’re looking for a different demographic, I can take you to a strip club!’ It was terrible, terrible, terrible.”

    Not only was the look on Jimmy Kimmel’s face priceless, but imagining the look on President Obama’s face at that time was amusing as well.

    It would be positively perfect now if Jimmy Kimmel could arrange a joint visit on his show with both President Obama and Charlize Theron. Fans or foes of both would no doubt love to know what went through President Obama’s mind when Charlize Theron made him that most unusual offer.

  • Charlize Theron Describes Her Verbal Diarrhea to Jimmy Kimmel

    Charlize Theron has played many types of women in acting roles over the years. She can be frightening, elegant, fierce, and afraid. One gets the impression of her from interviews and red carpet appearances, that the real Charlize Theron is always composed and in charge.

    Charlize Theron begs to differ.

    “I have this thing that happens when I get nervous where I get so nervous that I will say something really inappropriate. I can’t… it’s like Tourette’s in a weird way. I don’t know how to stop it, it just like verbal diarrhea.”

    That statement came as part of her recounting to Jimmy Kimmel about her meeting President Barack Obama. It happened backstage at Kimmel’s show the last time Theron was a guest. President Obama had been a guest that night, too.

    “Oh my god, this was terrible, Jimmy, this was terrible,” Theron said. “I was really nervous because I was kind of hiding in the back and then somebody from his team like came to get me and ushered me over to him. He waited to meet with me and everything had stopped around his world to meet me and it was just a lot of pressure and I was really nervous.”

    Charlize Theron continued, giving some detail of the conversation between her and the President.

    “He was so complimentary about you,” Theron told Kimmel, “and how grateful he was to be on the show. He felt like being on the show, he was reaching a [younger] demographic.”

    Wait for it.

    “Then there was this pause and I didn’t know what to say,” Theron admits. “All I could come up with was, ‘Well, if you’re looking for a different demographic, I can take you to a strip club!’”

    “It was terrible, terrible, terrible.”

    Theron was genuinely embarrassed and horrified that she had said this to the President.

    “Michelle Obama’s gonna kill me,” Theron joked. “He was so gracious, and funny, and he could tell that I was really nervous. He was nothing but lovely. But I couldn’t sleep for, like, four weeks, because I would close my eyes and think, ‘Oh, my God, I said that! Why did say that?’”

  • Mila Kunis Talks Daughter Wyatt and Gun Control

    Mila Kunis wants her daughter Wyatt to grow up strong and confident and she believes if a female were elected president that would further her cause.

    “I would love her to have a woman [in the White House], to think, ‘If there’s a woman president, what is there that I can’t do?’” she said during a recent interview.

    Does that mean Kunis–and husband Ashton Kutcher–will vote for Hillary Clinton?

    She didn’t come right out and say that.

    “I’m a Demo­crat. My husband is a Democrat. I’m not one of those who voted for Obama and then said, ‘He didn’t do me right so now I’m off the Obama ship’. I stand by him to this day. He’s implemented health care. It’s not perfect, but it’s beginning the process,” Mila Kunis shared.

    The talk turned to guns and Kunis made a rather unexpected admission.

    “I will say this: we have a gun at the house. But would I give it to my daughter as a gift at 15? No. I can take a gun apart and put it back together blindfolded,” she said.

    Mila Kunis underwent weapons training for both roles in both Max Payne and Jupiter Ascending.

    “My child shouldn’t be as well trained as us, nor should she know there is a weapon in the house–ever. But I respect the gun. My husband grew up in Iowa, and is from a hunting family. He’s worked with rifles his whole life,” she added.

    Mila Kunis was the victim of a stalker. Stuart Lynn Dunn was convicted of stalking her in 2011 just a short time ago.

    “I probably wouldn’t have the gun if I didn’t have stalkers or people constantly trying to break into my house,” she said.

    Are you surprised to learn that Mila Kunis is a Democrat who believes in the right to own a gun?

    Many celebrities don’t share that kind of information for fear of alienating not just their fans, but often producers and people in high places as well.

    Mila Kunis doesn’t seem to care what people think these days, however. Her focus in life is on her daughter and her husband. Work is secondary–or maybe even further down the scale–to her family.

    Kudos to Mila Kunis for getting it. She is one celebrity who quite clearly understands what’s most important in life.

  • Malia Obama on ‘Girls’ Set in Daisy Dukes Gets Conservative Panties Bunched [Pics]

    Malia Obama turns 17 soon. If the responses to her latest activities from Conservatives are any indication, she will stir up vitriol on that side of the political aisle just as easily as her father did.

    Reports have hit that Malia Obama is interning for the HBO series Girls, starring conservative punching bag Lena Dunham. Photos of Malia on the set of the show wearing cutoff denim shorts hit TMZ.

    Malia previously interned on Halle Berry’s show Extant.

    Back in 2012, Michelle Obama spoke to People of Malia’s interest in filmmaking.

    “Malia has expressed some interest in filmmaking. Just like her father, she is an avid reader, and she enjoys movies. But she’s a freshman, so she also knows she has years in college to explore her interest.”

    In quick response, Young Conservatives derided the show and chided the President for what it presumed was personal influence in getting Malia an internship.

    “If Obama truly wants to see his daughter succeed in Hollywood, he should take a page out of Clint Eastwood’s book. Eastwood refused to use his power and influence to get his son, Scott Eastwood, jobs in movies and TV shows.”

    Breitbart’s readers took to the news with unmitigated fervor and glee:

    “A lying little no talent, just like her old man!”

    “If it were a Republican letting their kids hang out with Lena you could bet your backside CPS would be called.”

    “Soros is doing quite a lot behind the scenes.”

    “Isn’t Malia’s dad considered an oreo?”

    “Almost as stupid Michelle who looks like a linebacker with boobs giving 90 lb gymnast Gabi Douglas diet tips”

    “I hope he winds up like Mussolini!”

    President Obama himself spoke just last year of Malia’s specific fascination with Girls and her parents’ thoughts on it.

    “I’m at the very young end of the Baby Boom generation, which meant that I did not come of age in the sixties—took for granted certain freedoms, certain attitudes about gender, sexuality, equality for women, but didn’t feel as if I was having to rebel against something,” Obama said. “Precisely because I didn’t have a father in the home and moved around a lot as a kid and had a wonderfully loving mom and grandparents, but not a lot of structure growing up, I emerged on the other side of that with an appreciation for family and marriage and structure for the kids. I’m sure that’s part of why Michelle and her family held such appeal to me in the first place, because she did grow up with that kind of structure. And now, as parents, I don’t think we’re being particularly conservative—we’re actually not prudes. . . . But, as parents, what we have seen, both in our own family and among our friends, is that kids with structure have an easier time of it.”

  • Michele Bachmann Gets Zinged by Obama at WHCD

    Michele Bachmann has made no secret of the fact that she let her beliefs about prophecies in Revelation and other apocalyptic notions lead her while she was doing the nation’s business in Congress.

    Recently, Michele Bachmann spoke to End Times broadcaster Jan Markell about her belief that the National Security issues she fielded on the Intelligence Committee in Congress were a result of Biblical prophecy.

    “I worked very hard on the Intelligence Committee to try and keep up with what was happening in the world. It got to such a crescendo that I could hardly keep up with it anymore. The events had picked up such a pace, and are going to continue.”

    Michele Bachmann also said that the United States has lost God’s favor because America’s citizens are becoming pagan. She says America’s founders intended it to be a Christian country.

    “Now the United States has taken a very different tact [sic] and turn than what we have known in our history. This new turn began somewhere along in the 40s and advanced especially in the early 60s, and now we are seeing, not only a post-Christian view that is prevailing int he United States, I think we are now embracing a pagan view.”

    Michele Bachmann lays much of this at the feet of President Obama.

    “Barack Obama is intent, it is his number one goal, to ensure that Iran has a nuclear weapon… It is interesting to me if you look at the President’s rhetoric and if you look at his actions, everything he has done is to cut the legs from under Israel and to lift up radical Islam… That’s why so many Christians I think are sad and despairing because we know what the word of God says… Why would you put the nuclear weapon in the hands of madmen who are Islamic radicals, who believe it’s their religious duty to bomb Israel and to bomb the United States? That is where we’re headed right now. And that’s why the best thing we can do is have churches and pastors explain our times, believers need to get our lives right with God. Jesus Christ is coming back. We, in our lifetimes potentially, could see Jesus.”

    President Obama got his chance to get a dig in at Michele Bachmann at the White House Correspondents Dinner this week when he said:

    “Michele Bachmann actually predicted I would bring about the Biblical ‘end of days.’ Now, that’s a legacy. I mean Lincoln, Washington – they didn’t do that!”

    In return, Michele Bachmann thanked him.

  • Michele Bachmann: Did She Leave Congress Because of The Last Days?

    Michele Bachmann was a member of the United States Congress for eight years. She ran for the Republican party’s nomination for President in the 2012 election, but dropped out. She has been called the “Queen of the Tea Party.”

    But Michele Bachmann left Congress after a career far shorter than many of her colleagues. In remarks to End Times broadcaster Jan Markell recently, Michele Bachmann may have dropped some clues about why she did that.

    Michele Bachmann has long touted her fundamentalist christian beliefs as the basis for her own rhetoric and stances while in Congress. Now she reveals how that mindset affected her job.

    “We need to realize how close this clock is to getting towards the midnight hour. And I think that’s why for our sake, for the sake of our family, our nation, for the next generations, we need to cry out to a holy God. This is coming faster than anyone can see. I worked very hard on the Intelligence Committee to try and keep up with what was happening in the world. It got to such a crescendo that I could hardly keep up with it anymore. The events had picked up such a pace, and are going to continue.”

    Michele Bachmann said that she truly believes that President Barack Obama wants Iran to become a nuclear power. She believes that this is one of the signs of the Last Days.

    “Barack Obama is intent, it is his number one goal, to ensure that Iran has a nuclear weapon. Why? Why would you put the nuclear weapon in the hands of madmen who are Islamic radicals, who believe it’s their religious duty to bomb Israel and to bomb the United States? That is where we’re headed right now. And that’s why the best thing we can do is have churches and pastors explain our times, believers need to get our lives right with God. Jesus Christ is coming back. We, in our lifetimes potentially, could see Jesus.”

  • How Old is Hillary Clinton? Is She Practically Guaranteed the Democratic Nomination?

    How old is Hillary Clinton? The question is trending in light of the former first lady throwing her hat into that proverbial presidential contender’s ring on Sunday. In doing so, she has confirmed what is being called the ‘worst-kept secret in politics.’ Everyone has long assumed that Hillary Clinton would run for the Democratic party.

    “I’m getting ready to do something too,” Hillary Clinton said more than 90 seconds into the video she shared with her constituents on Sunday. “I’m running for president.”

    “Every day Americans need a champion, and I want to be that champion,” she continues, urging Americans by saying, “It’s your time.”

    Is she pretty much guaranteed the Democratic nomination? The Atlantic says yes. They report that “journalists are gearing up for Clinton’s likely primary victory and preparing for a long working relationship.”

    So back to that question. Just how old is Hillary Clinton? She is 67. Born Hillary Diane Rodham on October 26, 1947, she is 21 years younger than her husband, former President Bill Clinton, was when he took office.

    Is Hillary Clinton too old to run? No. Mitt Romney was in his sixties when he ran for president in 2012. John McCain was 70 when he ran in 2008.

    Hillary Clinton wasn’t too old to be the Secretary of State under President Barack Obama. That’s a job she held from 2009 to 2013.

    Hillary Clinton is old enough to be mom to Chelsea and a grandmother to Charlotte Clinton Mezvinsky.

    So how old is Hillary Clinton? Age is just a number, after all. She seems full of energy and determination. She clearly isn’t too old to pursue her dream–becoming the first female president of the United States.

  • Malia Obama: Who Taught Her How to Drive?

    Malia Obama: Who Taught Her How to Drive?

    Malia Obama didn’t go to a nearby Washington, D.C. driving school when she became old enough to drive. Instead, people from the Secret Service taught President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama’s older daughter to drive.

    Michelle Obama shared that little tidbit of information when she taped an interview with Rachael Ray for The Rachael Ray Show. The episode aired on Thursday.

    “The Secret Service [taught her], actually, because they wouldn’t let me in the car with her,” Michelle Obama said.

    On Monday, the first lady visited with Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan on Live! With Kelly and Michael and shared that Malia recently asked her a question about parking in a public lot.

    “I barely know now too so I have to check with other sources,” she said.

    Surprisingly, Malia Obama goes out driving on her own.

    “She always has security around. But in order for her to learn how to drive, she had to drive on her own. So once she was legally permitted to drive on her own, she gets in her car,” Michelle Obama said.

    The president and first lady allow Malia Obama to go out driving as part of their effort to allow their daughters as much normalcy in their growing up years as possible. It must be frightening, however.

    “Driving for Malia, I think, gives her a sense of normalcy, like the rest of her friends are doing. And my kids have got to learn how to live in the world like normal kids,” the first lady said.

    Surely Malia Obama is never far from the eyes of the Secret Service. If they taught her how to drive, they’re probably following along fairly close behind while she heads out on her own.

    Do you think it’s nearly as frightening for Malia Obama to go out driving solo as it is for her parents to allow her to do so?

  • Michelle Obama, Jimmy Fallon: ‘Evolution of Mom Dancing, Part 2’ Hits the ‘Tonight Show’

    Michelle Obama, Jimmy Fallon: ‘Evolution of Mom Dancing, Part 2’ Hits the ‘Tonight Show’

    Michelle Obama returned this week as a guest on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, and she and Fallon reprised their hilarious roles as mom dancers in ‘The Evolution of Mom Dancing–Part 2.’

    It was two years ago when the first lady took the stage for her maiden voyage into mom dancing. She and Jimmy Fallon had people around the country talking and laughing about the sketch for weeks.

    Jimmy Fallon no doubt knew that having Michelle Obama back on his show meant a reprisal of their mom dancing roles.

    Fallon wore the same wig, stuffed bra, white t-shirt, pink cardigan sweater, and khaki pants that he donned for their 2013 dance off. Michelle Obama showed him up just a bit, wearing black slacks, a gingham top, and a pink sweater.

    Michelle Obama and Jimmy Fallon performed the following dance moves:

    • The “Shimmy Twist”
    • The “Shush and Tush”
    • The “Knock Knock”
    • The “Getting a Bag From Your Collection of Plastic Bags Under the Sink”
    • The “You Go, Girl!”
    • The “This Ol’ Thing? I Got It at Talbots”
    • The “I Can Still Do This Dance Because My Arms Are in Shape”
    • The “Can We Turn the AC Up?”
    • The “One Move Behind in Zumba Class”
    • The “No One’s Looking (Just Makin’ Sure)”
    • The “Trying to Start a Conga Line”
    • The “Oh My God, I Didn’t Know You Were Coming Here!”
    • The “Barack Obama”
    • The “Jimmy Fallon”

    The “Barack Obama” drew a hilarious look on behalf of Michelle Obama in Jimmy Fallon’s direction.

    Fallon and the first lady have pulled this off with such finesse that there will no doubt be an ‘Evolution of Mom Dancing–Part 3.’ Do you expect they can fit this in before President Obama leaves office?

    Here’s the original ‘Mom Dancing’ clip from 2013.

    Do you think Michelle Obama and Jimmy Fallon have improved as ‘Mom Dancers’ in the past couple of years?

  • Michele Bachmann Channels Sarah Palin as Absentee Muckraker

    Michelle Bachmann did not seek reelection to the position in Congress that she rode to fame. She no longer has a seat at the table. But that doesn’t stop her from shouting at the table from a safe distance.

    In a recent Facebook post, Michele Bachmann channeled another political armchair quarterback with a free Facebook account, Sarah Palin. Both seem to love piling on to President Obama, without having to put any more skin in the game than some ignored commenters.

    Michele Bachmann was particularly chagrined with the activities of President Obama in bringing Iran to heel on the nuclear development front.

    In her swipe at the president, Michele Bachmann referenced the recent tragedy of the cashed German airliner whose pilot had deliberately killed himself and every passenger.

    “With his Iran deal, Barack Obama is for the 300 million souls of the United States what Andreas Lubitz was for the 150 souls on the German Wings flight – a deranged pilot flying his entire nation into the rocks. After the fact, among the smoldering remains of American cities, the shocked survivors will ask, why did he do it?”

    Commenters on her post ranged widely. As can be expected there were rabid supporters:

    “Thanks for telling it like it is.”

    “Very apt analogy, Rep. Bachmann. You may not want to say this, but I will: Barack Hussein Obama does not like this country and is actively seeking to harm it.”

    “he was voted in because he was a black man, only reason, im not sure if they knew his history, its pretty sketchy and the people don’t know or have a clue of the consequences, of islam, its definitely not a peace religion , its a fighting trynnay religion, I still have people telling me its a peace religion, when there countrys cant get there _____ together , its the 21st century.”

    And ardent opponents:

    “Bachmann, you are as crazy as a rat in a coffee can.”

    “This is truly disgusting, even for you.”

    You truly are the epitome of moronic partisan politics that would sooner divide this great country than do anything positive to fix it!”

    “I had the opportunity to speak to you on the Jim Bohannon Radio Show, back when you were running for President. You stated you were willing to start Nuclear War, basically World War III, by initiating Nuclear attacks on Iran. Even Mr. Bohanon was shocked. As we all know, we start Nuclear War and every single country that already has them, Russia, China, etc, will launch THEIRS as well. In other words, Mutually Assured Destruction. Also known as MAD. And contrary to the idiots who support this, such as yourself, NO ONE will survive a Nuclear Holocaust.”

    “I just think its a crime the amount of abuse that President Obama has had to endure during his terms of office. If Michele Bachmann said this about someone in her community, she would be charged with slander. Or if a child in school claimed the same about one of his classmates, he would receive severe discipline for bullying. Why don’t certain politicians have to observe the same rules of decency and respect that we all learned as children? Our President and the office of the Presidency deserve respect.”

    With his Iran deal, Barack Obama is for the 300 million souls of the United States what Andreas Lubitz was for the 150…

    Posted by Michele Bachmann on Tuesday, March 31, 2015

  • Azealia Banks ‘Just Kidding’ About Doing Obama, Fat White People, Everything but Iggy

    Azealia Banks is an outspoken firebrand of a female who is not afraid to lay it all out there. Her opinions on white people, other rappers, witches, you name it — they’re all ammunition in her war on the rest of the world beneath her.

    Until, that is, Azealia Banks wakes up and realizes she has put her foot in it. Then she just negates is all by claiming “I was just kidding.”

    In a recent interview with Playboy, Azealia Banks inflamed many Americans when she said:

    “I hate everything about this country. Like, I hate fat white Americans. All the people who are crunched into the middle of America, the real fat and meat of America, are these racist conservative white people who live on their farms. Those little teenage girls who work at Kmart and have a racist grandma — that’s really America.”

    Needless to say, some people were a mite pissed. Some Fox News folks said she should be deported. She fired back, via Twitter.

    But when Billboard Magazine came calling and asked her about the “fat, white Americans” comment, she was ready to walk that one back a bit.

    “I was making a joke because American culture is very gluttonous. We’re very, like, Big Gulp. You want Cup O’ Noodles? Here’s 24 in a box. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that, but who cares? When you fail, you’ve got to fail fast.”

    But she then followed that comment with another.

    “Oh my god, I want to fuck the president… He’s so fine. Those big-ass white teeth and ears hanging off his head?”

    Would she stand by this comment?

    Apparently not.

    “Omg I was totally just joking and being silly in billboard about the prez,” Azealia B anks tweeted today. “I wasn’t actually being forreal.”

    Of course, there were plenty of other offensive comments between the Playboy and Billboard interviews. Sometimes Banks’mouth just runs away with her. Perhaps someone could advise her about the consequences of the things she says, if for no other reason than album sales.

    “I don’t turn to anyone for advice. I do what I want,” she explains about her approach to her online persona.

    Maybe a peek into her personal time might give a clue as to Azealia Banks’ brand of thinking.

    “I drink, I smoke weed, I don’t really bathe. I might go off and masturbate and talk to myself in the mirror for hours. It’s a sort of psychosis.”

    Well, at least she is level and consistent about one thing: Iggy Azalea.

    “She just sucks.”

  • Interactive Advertising Bureau Weighs In On Obama Proposals

    During Tuesday’s State of the Union Address, President Obama briefly touched on some proposals that may have an impact on the digital advertising industry. These include laws to combat cyber attacks and to protect the data of minors.

    Here’s the full speech in case you didn’t watch it:

    From the prepared remarks:

    We are making sure our government integrates intelligence to combat cyber threats, just as we have done to combat terrorism. And tonight, I urge this Congress to finally pass the legislation we need to better meet the evolving threat of cyber-attacks, combat identity theft, and protect our children’s information. If we don’t act, we’ll leave our nation and our economy vulnerable. If we do, we can continue to protect the technologies that have unleashed untold opportunities for people around the globe.

    The follows Obama’s proposal last week to require companies to notify customers of breaches within 30 days as a “single, strong national standard”. This is part of what’s known as the Personal Data Notification and Protection Act. The President says this will not only let consumers know when their info is stolen, but also make it easier for companies to deal with hacks.

    The Interactive Advertising Bureau has some thoughts about the President’s proposals, and sent us a statement from Mike Zaneis, EVP, Public Policy & General Counsel.

    “Among these ideas, were some extremely positive legislative vehicles that IAB wholeheartedly endorses,” he said. “The mission of securing the internet through stronger cybersecurity laws is vitally important. This is why the IAB created an Anti-Malware Working Group and formed an information partnership with the FBI in September of 2014. We also laud the President’s call for a single, national data breach notification standard. Having a patchwork of 46 disparate state laws does not adequately protect consumers’ identities. The President rightly called for new free trade agreements that would allow the internet to flourish. We also applaud the President in his effort to craft a new Federal law to secure students’ data when they are using innovative digital tools.”

    “The President laid out many areas where there can be bipartisan cooperation to enact new consumer protections that also allow industry to continue to innovate and create new jobs. These are ideals shared by the IAB, so much so that the digital marketing industry has taken a lead role in ensuring that consumers have the ability to control their privacy online, creating the first ever comprehensive digital self regulatory program called the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA). The DAA was developed in coordination with the FTC and endorsed by this Administration in 2012.”

    “We want to build upon these successes, but some of the President’s proposals could derail our collective efforts,” he added. “A push for controversial, European-style privacy restrictions, such as enactment of a ‘Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights,’ would make the U.S. less competitive in the global economy. This nebulous concept is ill-advised and could undermine the opportunities to deliver real results to the American public. ”

    “We look forward to working with the Administration and the 114th Congress on their pro-growth agenda and to having the $50 billion U.S. digital advertising industry continue to lead our economy in the right direction.”

    Not all of this was explicitly discussed in the State of the Union Address, but here’s the President’s speech about protecting consumers and families in the digital age from January 12:

    And his speech on Cybersecurity the following day:

    The White House Blog runs down the key takeaways from the privacy speech here.

    Images via YouTube, IAB

  • Malia Obama’s Unauthorized Photo Creating a Buzz on the Internet

    An unauthorized photo of 16-year-old Malia Obama is creating a buzz on the internet.

    Pro Era, a hip-hop music collective based in Brooklyn, New York, posted a photo of President Barack Obama’s daughter on their Instagram account. The photo shows the teen wearing a T-shirt with the company’s red and green logo on the front, with her hands raised above her head.

    The White House has been very protective of Malia and her 13-year-old sister, Sasha, so the publication of the photo is surprising. In fact, the White House declined comment Tuesday, which some attribute as a sign of White House disapproval of the photo’s distribution.

    The only time the girls are authorized to appear in the media is when they are with Obama and-or first lady Michelle Obama. Otherwise, no mention of their name or use of their image is authorized.

    Bradley Bledsoe, a spokesman for Pro Era, told the Associated Press in an email that “the group received the photo from a mutual friend of Pro Era and Malia, and the photo is real.”

    There is no independent confirmation that the photo is real.

    Bledsoe also confirmed that Pro Era was never contacted by the White House.

    According to the AP, Michelle Obama contacted Ty Inc. to voice her disapproval of the company naming a pair of the popular Beanie Babies toys after the girls. The company renamed them following the First Lady’s complaints.

  • Tika Sumpter To Play Michelle Obama on First Date With Barack

    Tika Sumpter is going to be Michelle Obama, but not as First Lady. She will be a young Michelle being pursued by a young Barry Obama.

    The actress is known for her roles on One Life to Live, Gossip Girl, The Game, and The Haves and the Have Nots will get to play the most powerful woman in the world. Except for Oprah.

    The film will be called Southside With You, a romance that chronicles the day of the first date between a young Barack Obama and the woman who was destined to be his wife and First Lady, Michelle Robinson.

    Sumpter herself most recently starred in the James Brown biopic Get On Up. She’s already in great shape, but she’ll have to work those arms extra hard to keep up with a young Michelle Robinson Obama, who would have only been 24 at the time of the film’s events. Sumpter is 34 years old now, but sure looks like she can pull that off.

    Sending you guys massive amounts of love and happiness. Chins up and crowns on. Keep walking. #love #peace #happy

    A photo posted by Tika Sumpter (@tikasumpter) on

    The date the film is set around was the Summer of 1989 when Michelle agreed to a day out with Barack. It was not just a typical dinner-and-a-movie event, either. The man who would be President had a plan.

    “It was a cool date, actually,” Michelle Obama recalls. “We spent the whole day together. He was showing me all facets of his character, so we went to the Art Institute. He showed his cultural side. Then we took a nice long walk on Michigan Avenue.”

    “Kinda romantic,” her husband interjects.

    “And did we go to the movie first?” she asked him.

    “We didn’t have dinner,” he explained. “We actually had lunch… at the Art Institute. There was a little courtyard, with a little fountain.”

    “Yeah. That was nice,” Michelle remembered.

    “Yeah, very nice,” Barack Obama said.

    “And then we went to see Do the Right Thing,” Michelle revealed. “It showed all the sides. He was hip, cutting-edge, cultural, sensitive … patient.”

    “Take tips, gentlemen,” the President suggested.