This dude just keeps gettin’ crazier every day ! Via The Huffington Post : Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh criticized President Barack Obama Thursday for going on vacation, calling his return to Hawaii after the fiscal cliff showdown a “slap in the face.” “[Democrats] are secretly throwing parties over this [fiscal cliff deal,]” Limbaugh said on his radio show. “Obama is! He’s doing pep rallies. Obama went back to Hawaii to finish the vacation. That’s another slap in the face, by the way. He gets back on Air Force One as soon as the Republicans caved.” The Obama family arrived in Hawaii December 22 for their annual Christmas vacation. The president returned to Washington — with First Dog Bo in tow — on December 27 to resume efforts to pass a fiscal cliff deal. After a deal was passed on New Year’s Day, Obama returned to Hawaii to resume his vacation. Obama signed the American Taxpayer Relief Act into law using an autopen, a mechanical device that copies his signature. While the whole ‘Fiscal Cliff’ deal is a bit shady, you can’t knock the guy for going on vacation twice a year. Sh*t…we’d take one if we could! Images via tumblr
While some of y’all were celebrating the fiscal cliff deal… NY Times columnist Paul Krugman is keepin’ it all the way gully by pointing out that Obama didn’t hold his ground to keep his campaign promise and has let an estimated $200 billion slip through the treasury’s hands: Via Huff Po reports : “Obama has to be aware just how much is now riding on his willingness to finally stand up for his side,” Krugman wrote. “If he doesn’t, nobody will ever trust him again, and he will go down in history as the wimp who threw it all away.” Many, including Krugman, argued earlier that Obama had plenty of leverage during talks to avert the fiscal cliff — a set of tax hikes and spending cuts that were scheduled to take place on Jan. 1 — given that he won the election in part on his promise to raise taxes on the wealthy. Congress passed a fiscal cliff deal negotiated by Vice President Joe Biden and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday, which extends the Bush tax cuts for couples’ incomes below $450,000 and individuals’ incomes below $400,000. This broke with Obama’s promise not to extend the Bush tax cuts on annual incomes above $250,000. Does he have a point? He does make a mighty strong argument. WENN
Good news for President Barack Obama: His Hawaiian vacation home is straight baller. Bad news: He’s already peacing out to go work on fiscal cliff negotiations back in D.C. So it goes for the Prez. At least the First Family enjoyed a few days in his home state of Hawaii (as proven by Obama’s birth certificate , Donald Trump), for some holiday R&R. The Obamas have vacationed in Hawaii for several years in a row now. This year they returned to the same home they rented at Christmas 2011, a place located on the windward side of the island of Oahu on Kailua Beach. It’s pretty sweet, to put it mildly. The property is 6,000 square feet with 5 bedrooms, 6 baths and an contemporary Asian theme, with a market value of approximately $7.9 million. They only rent the home, of course. Obama’s presidential salary and book royalties don’t put him anywhere near that league … at least until 2017 when he can start charging speaking fees. Check out more photos below:
From Gangnam Style to the Sloppy Swish, Angelina Jolie leg thrusts to Chris Brown neck tattoos, and grumpy cats to photogenic peeps, 2012 was a great year for memes. On this Christmas Day, THG looks back at 12 of the best photos, videos, trends and topics that captured the Internet’s fascination (and creativity) over the past 12 months. Here’s what was imitated, parodied and shared with a vengeance in 2012: 12. Stingray Photo Bomb . Best. Photo. Bomb. Ever. The expression on the face of the aquatic resident of the waters off the Cayman Islands – and the terrified tourists he surprised – really says it all. 11. Chris Brown Neck Tattoos . After Chris Brown got a ridiculous neck tattoo (which many thought was a battered Rihanna), the Internet exploded with parodies. Lindsay Lohan with a tattoo of herself smashed? Classic. 10. Ridiculously Photogenic Guy (and Girl) . Whether they’re running a marathon or recovering from major surgery, some people are just too photogenic for words. If you can pry yourself away from staring at them, let’s move on! 9. Grumpy Cat . This sourpuss cat, whose real name is Tardar Sauce, first scratched the Internet with delight in September, inspiring a whole series of images like this. Felines aren’t known for being jovial, but wow. Cheer up, Grumpy Cat! 8. Ermahgerd . This absurd photograph of a vest-sporting girl holding Goosebumps books debuted in March and birthed a deluge of Ermahgerd talk (or “Berks” speak). We don’t really get it either. 7. Eastwooding . Perhaps the most memorable moments of the Republican National Convention came not from Mitt Romney or Paul Ryan, but from Clint Eastwood. Not a good sign for the party’s prospects, but a terrific source of material for the web, which watched Clint berating an Invisible Obama in an empty chair and went nuts. Overly Attached Girlfriend 6. Overly Attached Girlfriend . This wild-eyed chick and her parody of Justin Bieber’s “Boyfriend” just made everybody else’s clingy girlfriend seem really laid back. Seriously. Stalker much? 5. Angelina Jolie Leg Thrust . The actress’ forced, exposed-leg pose was probably the most talked-about, and spoofed, moment of the Academy Awards. We’re not sure if that says more about Ange or the Oscars. 4. Binders Full of Women . Mitt Romney made a strong run for the White House down the stretch, but his campaign was not without its verbal gaffes and head-scratchers. There was the 47 percent video , sure, but the web really had fun with his debate quips, such as threatening to fire Big Bird or references to binders full of women in Mass. PSY – GANGNAM STYLE Sloppy Swish 3. Gangnam Style / Sloppy Swish (tie) . PSY’s hit song is the most-watched video in the history of YouTube, making it a lock for a top three spot on this countdown. SNL’s “Mokiki and the Sloppy Swish” is an equally awesome, yet unheralded gem, however. Even if it is just a really stupid dance created by a crazy person. 2. Texts From Hillary Clinton . A photo of a badass-looking Hillary Clinton checking her phone inspired an entire Tumblr blog devoted to facetious texts from the Secretary of State. Takes a lot to impress Hill. Not unlike another notable, albeit younger gal: 1. McKayla Is Not Impressed . By like anything. After winning a silver medal in the vault at the London Olympics, the American gymnast was a but underwhelmed. Her momentary disappointment at losing out on gold gave way to one of 2012’s funniest memes, with McKayla’s “not impressed” smirk photoshopped across the web. Ryan Gosling shirtless. The royal wedding. The Grand Canyon. Marines raising the flag over Iwo Jima. Blah, blah, blah. Even the POTUS got in on the act! How many of these do you remember? Did we leave any out? Share your comments below and tell us which is your favorite, and which (if any) we snubbed!
President Obama visited Newtown, Connecticut last night and spoke at a memorial service for the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting. Saying he…
LeAnn Rimes capped off an interesting week by giving some fans more than they expected while appearing at Wednesday’s NOH8 anniversary event. Hey, at least that’ll shift the conversation away from Brandi Glanville . LeAnn Rimes Nip Slip Eddie Cibrian’s better half unwittingly suffered a nip slip while attending the Hollywood soiree on behalf of the pro-equality and anti-bullying organization. Talk about showing her support … and yet needing more support. On the bright side, it did nothing to overshadow LeAnn’s attendance at the worthwhile event, and the Anne Hathaway crotch shot was totally way worse.
The first photos of Adam Lanza have been released, along with more information on the 20-year-old responsible for the Connecticut school shooting massacre yesterday. The Newtown, Conn., native was a child of the suburbs and of divorce who still lived with his mother, Nancy, in the quiet town about an hour from N.Y. City. Friday, he began his day by shooting Nancy in the face. As if that weren’t disturbing and tragic enough, he then drove her car to nearby Sandy Hook Elementary School, armed with two handguns and a semi-automatic rifle. There, before turning his gun on himself, he shot and killed 20 children. Six adults were also killed at the school. Nancy Lanza was found dead in her home. A relative told ABC News that Adam was ” obviously not well .” Family friends in Newtown described the young man as troubled and described Nancy as rigid. “[Adam] was not connected with the other kids,” said one. “A little bit different … Kind of repressed.” Federal authorities believe his mother may have once worked where the Connecticut school shooting occurred, although she was not a teacher, as originally reported. Nancy and her husband Peter, Adam’s father, divorced in 2009. Peter Lanza, who drove to northern New Jersey to talk to police and the FBI, is a vice president at GE Capital and had been a partner at accounting giant Ernst & Young. Adam’s older brother Ryan Lanza , 24, has worked at Ernst & Young for four years, following in his father’s footsteps and carving out a solid niche in the tax practice. He too was interviewed by the FBI, but neither he nor his father is under any suspicion, despite erroneous reports originally naming Ryan Lanza as the killer. “[Ryan] is a tax guy and he is clean as a whistle,” a source familiar with him said. Ryan Lanza (above, right) sent out a series of Facebook posts saying it wasn’t him and that he was at work all day. Video records and card swipes at Ernst & Young confirm that. Two federal sources say that an ID belonging to Ryan Lanza was found at the scene of the mass shooting, perhaps leading to the initial conclusion. Neither Adam Lanza (above, left) nor Ryan has any known criminal history. Sig Sauer and Glock handguns were used in the slaying, and .223 shell casings – a round used in a semi-automatic military-style rifle – were also found at the scene. Nancy Lanza had numerous weapons registered to her, including a Glock and a Sig Sauer, plus a semi-automatic Bushmaster rifle, which holds .223 caliber rounds. Friends and relatives of the Lanzas in New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts are being interviewed by the FBI in an effort to put together a better picture of the gunman. “I think the most important thing to point out with this kind of individual is that he did not snap this morning and decide to act out violently,” said FBI profiler Mary Ellen O’Toole “These acts involve planning and thoughtfulness and strategizing in order to put the plan together so what may appear to be snap behavior is not that at all. President Obama cried during a press conference when describing the “beautiful little kids” between five and 10 years of age who had been slain.
President Barack Obama commented today on new state laws that legalized marijuana in Colorado and Washington saying the U.S. won’t pursue pot users there. Following the November votes in those states, the Justice Department reiterated that marijuana remains illegal under federal law, worrying legalization advocates. Obama had been vague on what the federal government’s specific response would be. In an interview with Barbara Walters Friday, however, he said: “It does not make sense from a prioritization point of view” to focus on drug use where it is now legal. “We’ve got bigger fish to fry ,” the newly-reelected president added. Marijuana activists were relieved at Obama’s comments, but still had many questions. They said even if individual users aren’t charged, marijuana producers and sellers could be subject to prosecution, civil forfeiture and other legal roadblocks. Obama also didn’t specifically address how the U.S. government would respond to state officials in Washington and Colorado and their efforts to implement this. Those officials are now tasked with coming up with regulations for legal pot sales. Obama simply told Walters that “recreational users” are not a “top priority.” “There’s some signal of hope,” Alison Holcomb, who led Washington’s legalization drive, said. “I think it’s correct that we ultimately we need a legislative resolution.” But Tom Angell of Marijuana Majority said Obama’s comment isn’t anything new, and he could use executive power to reclassify marijuana as a legal drug. In recent years, federal prosecutors haven’t targeted users in the 18 states and Washington, D.C. that allow people to use marijuana for medical reasons. However, agents have cracked down on many dispensaries in some of those states. In any event, thanks to statewide ballot measures, possession of up to an ounce of marijuana is now legal for adults over 21 in both Washington and Colorado. Washington’s Liquor Control Board, which has been regulating alcohol for 78 years, now has a year to adopt rules for the fledgling pot industry. Should marijuana be legalized? Yes No Maybe View Poll »
President Barack Obama commented today on new state laws that legalized marijuana in Colorado and Washington saying the U.S. won’t pursue pot users there. Following the November votes in those states, the Justice Department reiterated that marijuana remains illegal under federal law, worrying legalization advocates. Obama had been vague on what the federal government’s specific response would be. In an interview with Barbara Walters Friday, however, he said: “It does not make sense from a prioritization point of view” to focus on drug use where it is now legal. “We’ve got bigger fish to fry ,” the newly-reelected president added. Marijuana activists were relieved at Obama’s comments, but still had many questions. They said even if individual users aren’t charged, marijuana producers and sellers could be subject to prosecution, civil forfeiture and other legal roadblocks. Obama also didn’t specifically address how the U.S. government would respond to state officials in Washington and Colorado and their efforts to implement this. Those officials are now tasked with coming up with regulations for legal pot sales. Obama simply told Walters that “recreational users” are not a “top priority.” “There’s some signal of hope,” Alison Holcomb, who led Washington’s legalization drive, said. “I think it’s correct that we ultimately we need a legislative resolution.” But Tom Angell of Marijuana Majority said Obama’s comment isn’t anything new, and he could use executive power to reclassify marijuana as a legal drug. In recent years, federal prosecutors haven’t targeted users in the 18 states and Washington, D.C. that allow people to use marijuana for medical reasons. However, agents have cracked down on many dispensaries in some of those states. In any event, thanks to statewide ballot measures, possession of up to an ounce of marijuana is now legal for adults over 21 in both Washington and Colorado. Washington’s Liquor Control Board, which has been regulating alcohol for 78 years, now has a year to adopt rules for the fledgling pot industry. Should marijuana be legalized? Yes No Maybe View Poll »
