Oh, the wonders of the internet! Over 3,500 people have joined the ever-growing Facebook group "Draft John Mellencamp for Senate," hoping that the musician will replace Indiana Democratic Senator Evan Bayh (who is not seeking re-election). Mellencamp, who is from Indiana, has showed interest in politics over the years, including writing numerous politically-charged songs, founding Farm Aid, and making many statements in open distaste for the Republican Party. He even refused to allow John McCain to use his music during the 2008 election. Of course, Mellencamp is lacking in experience, but in this "the year of the amateur" (according to the L.A Times's Patrick Goldstein) combined with growing internet support, this might not be that much of an issue. Plus, people like Brent Budowski of "The Hill" claim that Mellencamp is "one of the great advocates of small-town America," which some might believe is enough for the rock star to make it all the way to the Senate.
Porn Star Stormy Daniels, (real name: Stephanie Clifford age 30) was arrested July 25 2009 for alleged domestic abuse towards her husband validating the claim by millions of men in America that in fact women do abuse their husbands. Miss Clifford was handcuffed, transported to Hillsborough County jail (Florida) and released on $1000 bond after the incident.
It appears Stephanie Clifford's bid for a U.S. Senate seat in the State of Louisiana as a Republican has hit stormy waters.
The question now is will this arrest run her campaign aground? If being a porn actress was not enough for people to question her credentials and ability to be a State Senator, one has to question if alleged abuse towards her husband of two years will have any impact at all with the voters of Florida.
Her husband reported that Stephanie Clifford hit him several times after an argument. She admitted to throwing a number of broken objects which the arresting officer noted upon arrival at her residence in Tampa.
Allegedly the argument was one sided in that her husband Michael’s father came by the marital home earlier in the day and as
a favor, did some laundry and folded it. Clifford became upset about the way the clothes were folded and became more upset when she found some bills that not been paid. After throwing objects she then struck her husband about the head with her hands and fists. According to Clifford her husband held keys to the car over his head and she doesn't remember striking him in an effort to obtain them. The police report indicated Clifford was both angry and crying.
Clifford seemed keen on how to handle her arrest by denying she hit her husband and after refusing to write her own statement during the arrest stating to the arresting officer, “my lawyer told me never sign any papers and since I am paying him a lot of money I will not sign it”. It as at this time the arrest was made as there were no apparent marks on Clifford's husband.
Clifford is currently in the early stages of challenging incumbent Senator David Vitter as she feels she is on more righteous ground. Vitter recently admitted to patronizing a prostitution ring resulting in Clifford's campaign slogan:
Stormy Daniels: Screwing People Honestly.
It’s not the first time an adult porn star actress has thrown their hat in the political ring. In fact, Ilona Staller (a.k.a. Cicciolina) was elected to Italy’s parliament in 1987. Other notable but losing efforts were waged by: Porn stars Mary Carey ran for California Governor in 2003. Mimi Miyagi ran for Nevada Governor in 2006. Milly D-Abbraccio ran for Rome’s City Hall as recently as 2008.
The President-elect Barack Obama visited George W.Bush in the Oval office at White House in a private meeting.What could it be for?Why Bush invited Obama just within the first week after he won the historical election?What chats really took place between these two icons?
US President-elect Barack Obama and his wife have paid their first visit to the White House in Washington since last week's historic vote.White House Press Secretary Dana Perino described the sessions as "good, constructive, relaxed and friendly," while Obama spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said the two men engaged in "a broad discussion about the importance of working together throughout the transition of government in light of the nation's many critical economic and security challenges."
Later President Bush conducted his own tour of the living quarters for Obama, including the office he uses, the Lincoln bedroom and the bedrooms for the Obama daughters.Obama has said that he won't get involved in policymaking before Jan. 20, analysts said that Bush needed to hear the president-elect's thoughts, particularly if international leaders asked about differences between the two.
"This shows that there isn't a lot of tension between President Bush and President-elect Obama," said John Fortier, a political analyst at Washington's American Enterprise Institute, a conservative research center.
Well everyone knows that Barack Obama holds a very strong position in his presidential election run than the Republican John McCain.There are 8 strong reasons Barack Obama will however win handily.
1.Obama's supporters are more energized.
Obama draws massive crowds wherever he goes and has energized young and first-time voters in a way that will astonish pollsters relying on traditional turnout models. Obama supporters see their votes as an exciting chance to create a brighter future.
2.Obama has a superior ground game.
Obama is better controlled at the neighborhood level than any Democratic presidential candidate in history.His campaign is also making milestone use of technology�using e-mail, text messages and social-networking sites to keep in touch with supporters and recommend them to the polls.
3. Obama has a superior air game.
Obama is so flush with cash that he's able to saturate TV and radio in key markets at the end of the campaign with ads that counter McCain's criticisms of him and initiate attacks on McCain.It's not just the money but the strength of mind to respond rapidly and passionately inside the space of a single news cycle.
4. McCain has lost his brand.
Yes, he's a unstable man running in sensitive times under the banner of troubled party. But he started off with the image of a bipartisan straight-shooter with a obvious, selfless sense of proportion.Now that McCain's finally settled on conservative tax policy as his theme down the stretch, his campaign is so desperate for traction that it's going schoolyard.
5. Palin is turning out to be the disasta' from Alaska
I'm confident historians will rank McCain's decision to choose a rookie governor from a low-population state to be his running mate as his major miscalculation. Palin's youth, spunkiness and old-fashioned bona fides fired up the Republican base, sure. But her unawareness, on display in early TV interviews, embarrassed the rest of us, and polls now show her as a distinct drag on the ticket.
6. Obama hasn't lost his cool.
Historians will also note the textbook discipline of the Obama campaign, which stuck to a set of fairly simple "change" messages while the McCain campaign kept trying out new themes. This control has been mirrored by Obama's own equanimity, particularly during the debates in which he looked and sounded far more presidential than the nervous, simpering McCain.
7. McCain hasn't been able to fight the Bush head winds.
No matter how many times McCain said "maverick," he still couldn't create adequate distance from the deeply disliked president to make the sale to voters hungering for new leadership.
8.Obama has been lucky.
Things have been fairly quiet all year on the terror and national security fronts�McCain's strengths. And the chief crisis of the campaign season�the economic meltdown�not only played into one of Obama's perceived strong suits, it also caused McCain to appear impulsive and indecisive in the face of a sudden challenge.
This is not a mock or an assurance, but is expected that luck to hold at least through Tuesday night.
Who would have thought that Barack Obama would get some hearts from the Rednecks too? But this is no more just a thought as he is getting some supports from the Redneckers as well.
This is a bit unexpected.
We're sure most people figured that John McCain and especially Sarah Palin would have the "redneck" votes locked!
But, Barack Obama is getting some hold up from the Redneckers too!
Well, at least he has the vote of two rednecks.
Les Spencer and Tony Viessman are two self-proclaimed rednecks. They explain the term as "hardworking guys who like to hunt, fish, and maybe pop a beer or two."
Spencer adds, "I hunt squirrels, too. And I like eating turtles."
Eating turtles? Unfortunate little guys!
The two retirees from Rolla, MO, make up the whole, unaffiliated "Rednecks for Obama."
The two men have even traveled, using their own money, to all the debates and even the Democratic National Convention in the hopes of convincing others that "Obama is redneck-friendly."
Viessman adds, "This election is too significant."
A retired highway patrol officer, Viessman, was even so impressed that Obama was the first presidential candidate to visit Rolla since Harry Truman, that he went out and bought a 7 by 3 foot sign to welcome him to town. Adding, "Cost me 25 bucks."
And when asked why some rednecks might not be voting for Obama, he said, "Guns. And that he's black. Sometimes change is hard for people. But I don't care if you're black or Oriental or green, if you can do the job. And he can do the job. He's pretty near the smartest guy who's ever run for president."
Spencer added, "We are just trying to tell people that you don't have to be scared of Obama. He's not going to try to take away your guns, no matter what the NRA says."
And Viessman added, "My dad used to say, 'A poor man who votes for a Republican is a fool.' "
Let's hope everyone goes out and votes for the best candidate. Your vote will make a difference!
