Tag Archives: politics

John Edwards Thanks Jury, Takes Responsibility For "Sins," Professes Love For Daughter

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

After a jury found John Edwards not guilty on one count and declared itself deadlocked on another five charges on Thursday, the two-time Presidential candidate accepted full responsibility for his “sins” even as he maintained he did nothing illegal. The politician, who is unlikely to be retried for alleged campaign finance fraud, spoke emotionally about his 4-year-old daughter with mistress Rielle Hunter . Despite his sensational and stunning fall from grace, Edwards professed his love for “my precious Quinn, who I love more than any of you could ever imagine.” John Edwards Found Not Guilty “I am so close to and so, so grateful for [her] … I’m so grateful for Quinn.” It was Edwards’ alleged efforts to use illegal campaign contributions to cover up his affair with Hunter that stood at the center of his federal corruption trial. After praising the jury as “an exemplar of what jurors are supposed to do,” he said, “I want to make sure that everyone hears from me and from my voice.” “While I do not believe that I did anything illegal, or even thought I was doing anything illegal, I did an awful, awful lot that was wrong,” he said. “There is no one else responsible for my sins. I am responsible. And if I want to find the person who should be held accountable, it is me and me alone.” Edwards then praised his parents and children, including grown daughter Cate Edwards , who sat next to him throughout the trial, and spoke of his future. He said he wants to be a good father and to work with poor children. “I don’t think God’s through with me,” the 58-year-old former U.S. Senator said. “I really believe he thinks there are still some good things I can do.”

See original here:
John Edwards Thanks Jury, Takes Responsibility For "Sins," Professes Love For Daughter

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

John Edwards Thanks Jury, Takes Responsibility For "Sins," Professes Love For Daughter

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

After a jury found John Edwards not guilty on one count and declared itself deadlocked on another five charges on Thursday, the two-time Presidential candidate accepted full responsibility for his “sins” even as he maintained he did nothing illegal. The politician, who is unlikely to be retried for alleged campaign finance fraud, spoke emotionally about his 4-year-old daughter with mistress Rielle Hunter . Despite his sensational and stunning fall from grace, Edwards professed his love for “my precious Quinn, who I love more than any of you could ever imagine.” John Edwards Found Not Guilty “I am so close to and so, so grateful for [her] … I’m so grateful for Quinn.” It was Edwards’ alleged efforts to use illegal campaign contributions to cover up his affair with Hunter that stood at the center of his federal corruption trial. After praising the jury as “an exemplar of what jurors are supposed to do,” he said, “I want to make sure that everyone hears from me and from my voice.” “While I do not believe that I did anything illegal, or even thought I was doing anything illegal, I did an awful, awful lot that was wrong,” he said. “There is no one else responsible for my sins. I am responsible. And if I want to find the person who should be held accountable, it is me and me alone.” Edwards then praised his parents and children, including grown daughter Cate Edwards , who sat next to him throughout the trial, and spoke of his future. He said he wants to be a good father and to work with poor children. “I don’t think God’s through with me,” the 58-year-old former U.S. Senator said. “I really believe he thinks there are still some good things I can do.”

Read the original here:
John Edwards Thanks Jury, Takes Responsibility For "Sins," Professes Love For Daughter

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Seattle Shooting: Ian Lee Stawicki Kills Five People, Takes Own Life in Rampage

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Police say a single gunman, Ian Lee Stawicki, shot and killed five people before taking his own life Wednesday. Family members say he suffered a mentally illness. As Michelle Millman of CBS Seattle affiliate KIRO reports, the tragedy left shocked city residents are on edge, worried about their own safety in light of the events. The shooting spree began in a cafe late Wednesday morning. Seattle Shooting Report A bearded Ian Lee Stawicki entered a popular cafe, the Cafe Racer. Minutes later, four people were fatally shot, another wounded, as the gunman stood alone. Police scoured north Seattle, going door-to-door, searching for the killer. The gunman headed downtown, fatally shooting a woman as he carjacked her SUV. As patrol officers started coming in, the suspect saw that he was about to be captured, raised a firearm to his head and then shot himself in the head. Considered one of the safest big cities, Wednesday’s shootings raise the number of Seattle homicides this year to 21, surpassing the number for all of last year.

Go here to see the original:
Seattle Shooting: Ian Lee Stawicki Kills Five People, Takes Own Life in Rampage

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

John Edwards Jury Deadlocked, Sent Back to Continue Deliberation

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

A federal judge told jurors in the John Edwards trial that they must continue deliberating, just moments after the jury announced a verdict – on one of six counts. The courtroom was briefly thrown into confusion this afternoon in Greensboro, N.C. All sides were told a verdict had been reached, but once in court, the jury announced it had only reached a unanimous verdict on Count 3 of the indictment. On the other five counts, the jury was deadlocked. The Count 3 verdict was not read. Edwards’ defense team asked the judge to accept the verdict on Count 3 and declare a mistrial on other charges. The judge considered, but denied that motion . Judge Catherine Eagles told the jury, who has been deliberating in the case since May 18, must continue to work towards a verdict on the other charges. The trial centers around whether Edwards illegally received over $700,000 in donations to conceal his illicit affair and illegitimate child with Rielle Hunter . The nearly month-long trial at times sounded more like a steamy soap opera about his life than a trial on the intricacies of campaign finance rules. Charged with six counts of violating federal campaign laws, Edwards was accused of soliciting money to cover up his affair and advance his election bid. If convicted, Edwards faces up to 30 years in prison and be fined more than $1 million, although it is unlikely he will face the most severe penalties. Any lies John told, his lawyers, were to keep the affair a secret from his wife, Elizabeth, who was dying of cancer, not to advance his political career. In short, being an ass is not illegal.

Excerpt from:
John Edwards Jury Deadlocked, Sent Back to Continue Deliberation

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Zombie Apocalypse Averted? Bath Salts Ban Passes U.S. Senate

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

In the wake of reports that bath salts may have played a role in Saturday’s Miami zombie apocalypse attack, the U.S. Senate passed a bill to ban the substances. Federal legislation criminalizing synthetic marijuana and some bath salts passed the Senate today and is now on its way to the House of Representatives. The law was not passed as a result of the zombie apocalypse , but as part of the FDA Safety and Innovation Act, championed by Sen. Charles Schumer. “Let this be a warning to those who make a profit manufacturing and selling killer chemical components to our teens and children,” Schumer (D-NY) said. “This bill closes loopholes that have allowed manufacturers to circumvent local and state bans,” he said of the effort to ban “these deadly synthetic drugs.” Last Saturday, Rudy Eugene , 31, was shot dead by local police on the off-ramp of the MacArthur Causeway in Miami. He was eating another man’s face. As a police officer told Eugene to get off Ronald Poppo, he “just stood … with pieces of flesh in his mouth and he growled,” eyewitness Larry Vega said. Rudy Eugene Attack on Ronald Poppo An ER doctor at the local Jackson Memorial Hospital told the Herald that Eugene’s attack may have been brought on by psychosis caused by bath salts. The extreme violence, super-human strength and an urge to shed clothes all correspond with reports of bath salt usage around the United States.

More here:
Zombie Apocalypse Averted? Bath Salts Ban Passes U.S. Senate

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Mitt Romney Clinches Republican Presidential Nomination; Can He Beat President Obama?

Posted on May 30, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Having effectively won through attrition weeks ago, Mitt Romney officially wrapped up the Republican nomination for president last night with a win in the Texas primary. Romney’s win put an end to the GOP primary as the former Massachusetts Governor began to ramp up his general election message against President Obama. Just after 9 p.m., he Tweeted: “#1144. Thank You. Whatever challenges lie ahead, we will settle for nothing less than getting America back on the path to prosperity.” Despite surpassing the 1,144 delegate threshold, it was just a token evening for the presumptive nominee, whose rivals exited one by one over a month ago. Only Ron Paul is still fighting for delegates. With the White House out of reach, he seeks a prominent role at the party’s convention and in shaping its future. Romney didn’t make a speech last night, but the win was nonetheless symbolic, making him the first Mormon to be a major-party candidate for the presidency. The timing couldn’t have been better, as he is now being treated as an equal to Obama by the national media in what is sure to be a very close 2012 election. He’s pulled almost even with the president in voter surveys, currently trailing by just two percentage points in aggregated national polls, 45.6 to 43.6 percent. Romney probably has a 50-50 chance of being the 45th President of the United States. He’ll distance himself from Donald Trump if he’s smart. Just saying. If the election were held today, for whom would you vote?

Link:
Mitt Romney Clinches Republican Presidential Nomination; Can He Beat President Obama?

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Chris Hayes Apologizes For Criticism of Calling Fallen Soldiers "Heroes"

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

MSNBC’s Chris Hayes sparked major controversy and debate when he said that he felt uncomfortable using the word “hero ” for members of the U.S. military. Hayes’ point was that the word is inadvertently used to start more potentially unjust wars – not unreasonable – but now says his own word choice was poor. After speaking with a former Marine whose job it was to notify families of the death of soldiers, he said that while he means no disrespect to those who serve us all, the word “seems to be rhetorically proximate to justifications for more war.” Chris Hayes Asks: Are Military Men Heroes? Hayes also said that, on the flip side, it is “noble” to join the military. While a “liberal caricature” like himself would not truly understand “submitting so totally to what the electorate or people in power are going to decide about using your body,” Hayes conceded, he saw valor in it. Nevertheless, Hayes’ words, on Memorial Day of all days, caused a predictable furor with some. He issued a statement Monday apologizing for his comments: In discussing the uses of the word “hero” to describe those members of the armed forces who have given their lives, I don’t think I lived up to the standards of rigor, respect and empathy for those affected by the issues we discuss that I’ve set for myself. I am deeply sorry for that . As many have rightly pointed out, it’s very easy for me, a TV host, to opine about the people who fight our wars, having never dodged a bullet or guarded a post or walked a mile in their boots. Of course, that is true of the overwhelming majority of our nation’s citizens as a whole. One of the points made during Sunday’s show was just how removed most Americans are from the wars we fight, how small a percentage of our population is asked to shoulder the entire burden and how easy it becomes to never read the names of those who are wounded and fight and die, to not ask questions about the direction of our strategy in Afghanistan, and to assuage our own collective guilt about this disconnect with a pro-forma ritual that we observe briefly before returning to our barbecues. But in seeking to discuss the civilian-military divide and the social distance between those who fight and those who don’t, I ended up reinforcing it, conforming to a stereotype of a removed pundit whose views are not anchored in the very real and very wrenching experience of this long decade of war. And for that I am truly sorry .

View original post here:
Chris Hayes Apologizes For Criticism of Calling Fallen Soldiers "Heroes"

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Woman Barred From American Airlines Flight Because of "Offensive" Pro-Choice T-Shirt

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

An unidentified woman missed her American Airlines flight last week because staff found her choice of clothing offensive, according to news reports. That’s because it bore a statement that first appeared at a pro-choice rally this year: “If I wanted the government in my womb, I’d f–k a senator.” The woman, identified only as “O,” said of the incident, “When I boarded, I was one of the first groups to board (did not pass by many folks).” “I was wearing my shawl loosely around my neck and upon sitting down, the lady next to me, who was already seated, praised me for wearing the shirt.” Yet a flight attendant told her that she needed to speak with the captain before making her connecting flight because the shirt was offensive . The captain informed her that she shouldn’t have been allowed to board in the first place, and would need to change before her connecting flight. According to the woman, this caused her to miss her connection. She says the airline called ahead to the connecting gate to tell agents there that “O” needed to change her shirt, but not to hold the flight. “O” claims that her luggage was checked and “changing shirts without spending money wasn’t an option.” American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith told MSNBC: “The only reason she was asked to cover up her T-shirt was the appearance of the ‘F-word’ on the T-shirt. The [pro-choice] message is irrelevant.” AA says its terms and conditions permit it to remove passengers at its discretion, including anyone it determines is “clothed in an inappropriate manner that would cause discomfort or offense to other passengers.”

View original post here:
Woman Barred From American Airlines Flight Because of "Offensive" Pro-Choice T-Shirt

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Woman Barred From American Airlines Flight Because of "Offensive" Pro-Choice T-Shirt

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

An unidentified woman missed her American Airlines flight last week because staff found her choice of clothing offensive, according to news reports. That’s because it bore a statement that first appeared at a pro-choice rally this year: “If I wanted the government in my womb, I’d f–k a senator.” The woman, identified only as “O,” said of the incident, “When I boarded, I was one of the first groups to board (did not pass by many folks).” “I was wearing my shawl loosely around my neck and upon sitting down, the lady next to me, who was already seated, praised me for wearing the shirt.” Yet a flight attendant told her that she needed to speak with the captain before making her connecting flight because the shirt was offensive . The captain informed her that she shouldn’t have been allowed to board in the first place, and would need to change before her connecting flight. According to the woman, this caused her to miss her connection. She says the airline called ahead to the connecting gate to tell agents there that “O” needed to change her shirt, but not to hold the flight. “O” claims that her luggage was checked and “changing shirts without spending money wasn’t an option.” American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith told MSNBC: “The only reason she was asked to cover up her T-shirt was the appearance of the ‘F-word’ on the T-shirt. The [pro-choice] message is irrelevant.” AA says its terms and conditions permit it to remove passengers at its discretion, including anyone it determines is “clothed in an inappropriate manner that would cause discomfort or offense to other passengers.”

The rest is here:
Woman Barred From American Airlines Flight Because of "Offensive" Pro-Choice T-Shirt

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Jenny McCarthy and Brian Urlacher: Dating!

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Jenny McCarthy and Brian Urlacher, star of the NFL’s Chicago Bears, are totally a couple , according to reports. Reports she confirmed this weekend. The football great joined McCarthy Thursday night at Rockit Bar & Grill for the “Rescue Our Angels” event, benefiting Jenny’s autism charity. Asked about Urlacher at The Generation Rescue Foundation event by WMAQ-Channel 5, Jenny McCarthy said, “Yes, it’s true, we are dating.” Despite attempting to hit out-of-the-way meeting places, the couple hadn’t been able to hide their budding romance, try as they might. “Let’s face it, it was really already out there, everybody knew it,” she said. Also, the relationship apparently has reached a point where McCarthy feels it’s “the real deal and will last,” added a source close to her. McCarthy clearly was not hiding anywhere or anything Friday. She joined about 30 close Urlacher friends to toast his 34th birthday. Jenny, 39, recently announced that she’ll be posing in Playboy again nearly two decades after it put her on the map. [Photos: WENN.com]

Read this article:
Jenny McCarthy and Brian Urlacher: Dating!

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,