Chris Cillizza at The Washington Post wrote today that President Obama’s State of the Union had all of the hallmarks of a ” bipartisan, let’s-do-the-right-thing-for-America tone that characterized his 2008 presidential campaign” –albeit with a sharper edge. Long Island Congressman Peter King doesn’t think however that any exhortations from the president are necessary to cure the gridlock–indeed,… Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : The Politicker Discovery Date : 25/01/2012 21:33 Number of articles : 2
Aside from the optimistic platitudes, soaring rhetoric and feel-good proposals, President Barack Obama’s 2012 State of the Union address was overtly populist and unquestionably combative as he maps a path to a second term in 2013. Obama’s speech included no shortage of appeals to unity, bipartisanship and overriding American purpose, and he articulated plenty of vague, popular-sounding policy goals, similarly to how Bill Clinton kicked off his 1996 campaign. His central message, though, stressed a sharp and basic philosophical contrast with his ideological opponents, clearly forming the centerpiece of his reelection effort. While Obama prevailed in 2008 as a change agent – a more progressive implementer of American ideals than his GOP opponents, certainly, but still a post-partisan uniter – he appears to be taking a dramatically different tack in 2012. Can this new, 2012 version of Obama recapture the same campaign magic, however? Will independent voters return to him over the Republican alternative? With approval ratings in the mid-40s, he’s clearly banking on it, since this seemed in many respects a speech designed to align him with the “99 percent.” You tell us: President Obama in 2012?
Okay so we’ve heard it all. A white male lecturer who teaches women’s studies has a college course on BeyBey: Beyoncé is known as a performer, fashion designer, Jay-Z’s missus, and arguably the most famous new mom in the world. But should she also be considered a social change agent? Kevin Allred, a doctoral student and lecturer in Rutgers’ Department of Women’s and Gender Studies, where he teaches “Politicizing Beyoncé,” thinks so – though, he says, the artist may not be “political” in the traditional sense of the word. “This isn’t a course about Beyoncé’s political engagement or how many times she performed during President Obama’s inauguration weekend,” he says. Rather, the performer’s music and career are used as lenses to explore American race, gender, and sexual politics. Allred pairs Beyoncé’s music videos and lyrics with readings from the Black feminist canon, including the writings of bell hooks, Alice Walker, and even abolitionist Sojourner Truth. “Politicizing Beyoncé” emerged from Allred’s four semesters teaching Women’s Studies 101 at Rutgers, during which he and his students, both male and female, often discussed the thin line Beyoncé walks as a sex kitten-cum-girl power role model. “She certainly pushes boundaries,” Allred says. “While other artists are simply releasing music, she’s creating a grand narrative around her life, her career, and her persona.” Course topics include the extent of Beyoncé’s control over her own aesthetic, whether her often half-naked body is empowered or stereotypical, and her more racy performances as her alter ego, “Sasha Fierce.” In-class discussions often lead to other vocalists, including Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Lady Gaga, and contemporary musicians who embrace the soul singing tradition like Adele and the late Amy Winehouse. More academics are beginning to explore race, gender, and sexual politics through popular culture and bring such discourse into their classrooms. Georgetown University professor Michael Eric Dyson offers a similar course, “The Sociology of Hip-Hop: The Theodicy of Jay-Z,” on Beyoncé’s rapper husband. Allred welcomes conversation about the course, particularly from those who question the relevance of intellectual study of pop stars. “It’s important to shift students away from simply being consumers of media toward thinking more critically about what they’re engaging on a regular basis,” he says. “When students don’t respond to theory or dense readings, it’s often easier to see things play out in the world around them.” Thoughts??? More On Bossip! Put On Blast: Amber Rose’s Former Publicist Goes H.A.M. On Twitter! Says She And Yeezy Broke Up Cuz She’s A Lyin’ Thievin’ A$$ Beyotch!!! X-Rated Bangers: The Hottest Black Adult Movie Stars In The Biz…Would You Wife Any Of Them? Part 4 “The Money Shot” Woosah, Woosah: Do You Live In One Of The 10 Most Stressful Cities In America? More To Love: A Gallery Of Plus-Sized Women Making It Rain…Who Would You Wife?
Mitt Romney is a baller: Mitt Romney offered a partial snapshot of his vast personal fortune late Monday, disclosing income of $21.7 million in 2010 and $20.9 million last year — virtually all of it profits, dividends or interest from investments. None came from wages, the primary source of income for most Americans. Instead, Romney and his wife, Ann, collected millions in capital gains from a profusion of investments, as well as stock dividends and interest payments. The couple gave away $7 million in charitable contributions over the past two years, including at least $4.1 million to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Romney’s family has for generations been among the Mormon Church’s most prominent members. The Romneys sent somewhat less to Washington over that period, paying an estimated $6.2 million in federal income taxes. According to his 2010 return, Romney paid about $3 million to the IRS, for an effective tax rate of 13.9 percent. For 2011, Romney estimates that he will pay about $3.2 million, for an effective rate of 15.4 percent. That’s in line with his earlier estimates, but sharply lower than the rates paid by President Obama and Romney’s closest Republican rival, Newt Gingrich. “You’ll see my income, how much taxes I’ve paid, how much I’ve paid to charity,” Romney said at a debate Monday night in Tampa. “I pay all the taxes that are legally required and not a dollar more. I don’t think you want someone as the candidate for president who pays more taxes than he owes.” He said his tax bill is “entirely legal and fair,” adding: “I’m proud of the fact that I pay a lot of taxes.” Romney released his tax returns — nearly 550 pages, including the 2010 returns for three family trust funds and a foundation — in a bid to regain his footing in the Republican presidential campaign after stumbling badly in last weekend’s South Carolina primary. The returns confirm, however, that Romney continues to benefit from his association with Bain Capital, the private-equity firm he founded in 1984 and left in 1999. His earnings through Bain have drawn controversy because they are treated as capital gains rather than wages and thus benefit from being taxed at the lower rate of 15 percent. Critics say such income, known as “carried interest,” should not be counted as investment earnings because private-equity partners are mostly relying on the money of others rather than their own. The returns show that Romney earned more than $13 million in “carried interest” over the past two years. Complicated as they are, the tax returns provide only a partial picture of Romney’s wealth. They don’t show the full extent of his net assets, which are estimated to be worth between $190 million and $250 million. Romney has an individual retirement account worth between $20.7 million and $101.6 million, according to his 2011 financial disclosure. He also has a blind trust for his wife, Ann, containing $10 million. Source
Acoustic singer Matt Nathanson is hitting the road with Kelly on her Stronger Tour. By Vaughn Trudeau Schoonmaker Matt Nathanson Photo: MTV News As Kelly Clarkson kicks off 2012 with her highly anticipated Stronger tour , MTV News caught up with her opening act, singer/songwriter Matt Nathanson . Clarkson fans may recognize Nathanson from his single “Come On Get Higher,” which received heavy radio play in 2008 and then again with 2011’s “Faster.” For someone who hasn’t heard his music yet, it can best be described as acoustic rock with a squeeze of country and a pop garnish. He cited a wide range of musical influences including U2, Poison, White Snake, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi and Van Halen. Nathanson will also be playing several headlining shows while he tours with Clarkson. He opened up about different being an opening act is compared to having your own show. “Opening shows are more like you’ve got to go out and win them over,” he said. “It’s like clubbing people over the head and dragging them back to your cave. It’s like a prize fight. You go out and just grab them and drag them back and make them yours.” “When I have a headline show, I think of it as a party and I’m sort of like the host,” he explained. The tour is already underway in the U.S., and Nathanson says he’s having a great time. “There’s always a moment where you walk out to someone else’s audience and you don’t know what you’re going to get,” he described. “Kelly’s audience is different than my audience, and it takes them a while to get used to me and me a little while to get used to them. And then once you make that connection, you’re in. It’s fun!” Nathanson is currently touring to promote his latest album, Modern Love, and will stick with Kelly for the remainder of her North American leg of the tour. Will you be seeing Kelly Clarkson and Matt Nathanson live? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Opening Act: Artists To Look Out For
Following Newt Gingrich’s win in the South Carolina primary, young voters have advice for the president’s bid for re-election. By Uptin Saiidi President Barack Obama Photo: Shahar Azran/WireImage If there’s one thing that’s certain, it’s that primary voters aren’t yet ready to decide on a Republican candidate for the 2012 presidential election. Despite Mitt Romney’s considerable lead at the beginning of last week, Newt Gingrich pulled off an upset over the weekend in the South Carolina primary, with Gingrich taking 40 percent of the vote to Romney’s 27 percent. While Republicans wrestle with choosing a nominee as they head into next week’s Florida primary, President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign is gaining momentum. On Thursday, in addition to raising $1.6 million for his campaign, Obama captured widespread attention when he busted out his singing chops with Rev. Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” at a fundraiser event at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. When MTV News spoke to people in Times Square about the president’s musical interlude, the consensus was that his vocals scored a passing grade. “It sounded really good, it’s one of my favorite songs,” Felicia Bullinger, 20, told us. Even an “American Idol” producer weighed in , telling MTV News that the commander in chief could pass an “Idol” audition and make it through to Hollywood Week. Obama’s voice wasn’t the only thing that won people over. His softer side resonated with 18-year-old student Tonya Deodath. “I think he’s always serious so I think it’s kind of good that he’s being a little personal with everybody. It doesn’t hurt to be silly sometimes.” Jamie Dahlquist, 24, agreed. “I think it’s fun to show the real human side of himself. It’s a good way to get the young people on his side.” A human side could ultimately help translate into more votes. “Seeing how it’s time for re-election, if he’s going to get more votes, you have to get personal with the people you’re trying to win over,” Deodath said. With 45 million Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 eligible to vote in this year’s election, the power of young voters is hard to ignore, especially after the support he received from 2008’s record youth turnout . Of course, gaining popularity will take more than singing at $200-per-ticket fundraisers as voters have mixed reactions to the president’s time in office and weighed in with their advice for his campaign. “He shouldn’t make so many promises because as much as someone wants to change the world, they’re not going to be able to promise everything,” Victoria Lavista, 18, said. “I think he did that last time and there’s a lot of promises he didn’t follow up on.” One issue that seems to top the list of issues for young Americans is student loan debt and jobs. “To President Obama, I speak for students when I say this, help us out, especially parents and [those] students who want to go back to school or who are in school right now,” Deodath said. “It’s kind of hard for students to get a job and nobody’s really doing anything about that. “And if kids are the future, we have to go to school in order to be the future.”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q02f9k-0UQw President Obama’s pathetic and cowardly “evolution” on the issue of equality continues. One reporter sarcastically asked the press secretary if the president needs a book on evolution to help him along with the process. When asked if the president plans to … Continue reading → Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : The WOW Report Discovery Date : 20/01/2012 19:22 Number of articles : 2
Anonymous Attacks FBI Website Over Megaupload Raids — The Telegraph American government and entertainment industry websites have been crippled after the “hacktivist” group Anonymous launched a series of cyber attacks in retaliation for the closure of Megaupload.com. The filesharing website, which allowed users to freely exchange large video and audio files, was closed overnight and its operators were… Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : War News Updates Discovery Date : 20/01/2012 09:56 Number of articles : 2
The President brings down the house. (Photo: YouTube) President Barack Obama traveled to four fundraisers in New York City last night, but one of them stands out in particular. Giving his remarks at the historic Apollo Theater, President Obama briefly broke out into song. “And to know that Reverend Al Green was here,” he began, before switching into musical cadence: “I-I-I’m, so in love with you.”… Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : The Politicker Discovery Date : 20/01/2012 12:27 Number of articles : 3
President Barack Obama can really bust out a tune! Who knew? The POTUS was attending and speaking at a fundraiser last night at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York last night. The fact that the legendary Rev. Al Green was at the same event seemed to put Obama in quite a jovial mood. After Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : VH1’s Today In Music Discovery Date : 20/01/2012 04:17 Number of articles : 3
