BREAKING: Fox Reports Edwards Affair

BREAKING...

To my knowledge, Fox News has become the first mainstream media outlet to report on the National Enquirer/John Edwards affair I have disussed the last few days. Will be interesting to see who follows suit and how much traction this gains.

Stand by for more updates...

National Enquirer reporters file criminal complaint against Beverly Hills Hilton security. Here's the ironic part, Edwards could be forced to testify as a witness.

The LA Times is banning it's bloggers from discussing the Edwards story. How's that for 1st Amendment rights coming from one of America's most liberal newspapers...where's the ACLU on this one?

Edwards Bombshell?

It's on Drudge, as reported by the National Enquirer. (I know, not exactly the best example of journalism.) However, if true, would certainly end all discussions of VP for Obama, and given the health of wife, could very well end his political career.

Here's the headline, you be the judge.

John Edwards caught with mistress and love child in LA hotel.

UPDATED....here.

I know, this is still the National Enquirer, but these are some awfully specific details that could very easily be proven untrue. Can't imagine that this would be your typical "Elvis is living in Oregon" story.

Intrestingly enough, the mainstream media isn't touching this thing with a ten foot pole.

MORE...

Five more reasons the mainstream media isn't reporting this.

"The most trust name in news"? Maybe not!

You wonder why the Internet and Blogs have become so popular with people, on both sides fo the political spectrum?

Rasmussen has a poll out that shows the growing distrust among the mainstream media.

Interesting read.

Add another log to this fire....

New York Times Rejects McCain Article

They said it should "mirror" Obama.

Growing distrust with the media??? I wonder why?

Katie Stays

Drudge is reporting that Katie Couric is staying put at CBS.

This is certainly good news for Katie's family and the four other people that tune into the CBS Evening News everynight.

Takes one to know one

The leader of the most unpopular Congress in history, Nancy Pelosi, took to the airwaves yesterday and calls President George W. Bush a,"total failure."

Now, there are certainly some things I take issues with the President, mainly his failure to veto pork filled spending bills, but to have, of all people, Nancy Pelosi, calling Bush a failure?

Let's look at her record as Speaker of the House.

Campaigned in 2006 that Democrats had a plan to end the war in Iraq -- two years later, no such plan has surfaced.

Campaigned in 2006 that Democrats had a plan to lower gas prices -- two years later, gas prices at record highs

Democrats won't open offshore drilling to increase domestic oil production.

Democrats plan is to tax energy companines -- which will be passed on to consumers with even higher prices at the pump.

Campaigned in 2006 to end Congressional earmarks -- two years later, no change

Campaigned in 2006 that there was a plan for immigration reform -- two year later, nothing.

Campaigned in 2006 to lower health care cost -- two years later, nothing

Campaigned in 2006 to have a bill to allow collective bargining on drug prices -- two years later, nothing.

So while President Bush is no angel and has certainly had his missteps, Speaker Pelosi isn't necessarily speaking from a position of power. She might want to be careful about throwing stones when she live in an awfully big glass house.

Under her "leadership," Congress has accomplished NOTHING. Please post a comment if you can name one meaningful peace of legislation, that was promised in 2006, that this Democratic Congress has passed since they won the majority in 2006.

Do as I say, not as I do

It surfaced last week that Jesse Jackson wanted to cut Barack Obama's nuts out, when he was caught on an embarassing open mic discussion before appearing on Fox and Friends.

WELL, the rest of that tape has come to light, and apparently, the REVEREND Jackson had a little more to say.

"Barack...he's talking down to black people...telling n*****s how to behave."

Don't you think that Martin Luther King Jr. would be a little upset with how REVEREND Jackson has attempted to carry on his legacy?

Of course, with REVEREND Jackson getting so much publicity of late, Al Sharpton had to chime in. You know, REVEREND Al can't let REVEREND Jackson get to far ahead in face time on CNN.

MORE HYPOCRISY...

Jackson father's child out of wedlock.

Jackson urges boycott of Seinfeld DVD Box Set After Michael Richard's use of the "N" word

Jackson calls for ban of racial slur.

An Imperfect Hero

For those of you who watched the Major League Baseball Homerun Derby last night, count yourself as lucky. It had the makings, unlike in previous years, to be a let down. No big name stars. No Alex Rodriguez, no Albert Pujols and thankfully, no Barry Bonds. The line up included the likes of Grady Seizemore, Dan Uggla and Ryan Braun. Young, upcoming stars, but not the mega superstars that usually light up the annual, made-for-TV homerun fest that we see year in and year out.

Then, a second year player, named Josh Hamilton stepped into the batters box. Hamilton, who currently is leading the American League in home runs, would not leave the batters box the same person, nor would the fans in attendance and those watching around the world be the same.

Josh Hamilton starred for Athens Drive High School in Raleigh, North Carolina. He was an outstanding high school player, twice being named North Carolina's Gatorade High School Player of the Year. Following his senior season, he was named High School Player of the Year by Baseball America and Amateur Player of the Year by USA Baseball. Hamilton played outfield and also pitched during his high school career.

Hamilton signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1999 receiving a $3.96 million signing bonus, and joined their minor league system. Prior to the 2001 season, Hamilton was involved in a car accident. His mother was also injured in the accident, and she went home with her husband to recuperate from her injuries. The 2001 season was also when he began experimenting with drugs, and made his first attempt at rehab.

At the start of the 2003 season, Hamilton showed up late several times during spring training and was reassigned to the team's minor league camp. He left the team and resurfaced several times, but eventually took the rest of the season off for personal reasons. Hamilton was hoping to return to spring training with the Devil Rays in 2004, but he was suspended 30 days and fined for violating the drug policy put in place by MLB. Because of the length of his suspension, and the terms of the drug policy, Hamilton must have failed two or more drug tests after being put into the program. A 'failed' test is a positive result for a drug more severe than marijuana. This suspension was increased several times after repeated violations of the terms of the program.

From 2002 until 2006, Hamilton did not play baseball at all.

Hamilton resurfaced in Cincinnati last year, posting impressive numbers. Late in 2007, Cincinnati traded Hamilton to the Texas Rangers.

That leads us to last night, on a warm summer evening, when Josh Hamilton dug into to the left side of the batters box in Yankee Stadium, the biggest stage in baseball in arguably baseball’s most famous venue. The House the Ruth Built, where Gehrig ran, where Mantle swung and where Reggie strutted. Where Larson was perfect, where Maris hit 61 and where Jeter still runs the show.

But this wasn’t just any night; it was the beginning of baseball’s farewell to Yankee Stadium. This was the first, and last, home run derby to be held in the venue where many of baseball’s most famous home runs have been hit. New Yankee Stadium will be ready next year and the current Yankee Stadium will become part of baseball lore.

As Hamilton dug in, he looked out on the mound at 71 year old Claybon Counsil, Hamilton’s American Legion Baseball Coach. You see, years ago Hamilton promised Counsil that if he ever made an All-Star Game that he would make sure Counsil was there. Hamilton, fulfilling his promise, did him one better by asking Counsil to be his personal pitcher during the home run derby. It was Hamilton’s way of saying thank you for the time Counsil had invested in him.

As Counsil began to pitch, Hamilton began to hit and when Hamilton hit, baseball starting flying over the fence at a record pace. At one point Hamilton hit a home run on 13 swings in a row. To put that into perspective, before Hamilton hit, the leader at the time had hit 8 TOTAL home runs. Before it was all said and done, Hamilton hit a record 28 home runs in the first round.

You can’t make this stuff up.

Hamilton's struggles with drugs and alcohol are well documented. He finally got clean after being confronted by his grandmother, Mary Holt. Hamilton says he hasn't used drugs or alcohol since October 6, 2005. When giving a brief summary of his recovery Hamilton says simply "It's a God thing." He does not shy away from telling his story, speaking to community groups and fans at many different functions. He frequently and publicly tells stories of how Christianity has brought him back from the brink and that faith is what keeps him going.

Terms like hero, role model and inspiration are used all too frequently in today’s society. We place people up on pedestals only to be let down. Our hero’s, after all, are human.

Millions of people are addicted to drugs and alcohol in this country. Hamilton, beat, and probably continues to fight those demons on a daily basis. But for those people who happened to be watching Josh Hamilton make history during baseball’s mid summer classic, he is a hero. Not because he swings a bat or hits a ball, but because he’s honest. He shares his struggles, he tells his story. He owns up to his mistakes and fights every day to try and make right what he made wrong.

A star was born in New York on Tuesday night. His arms are tattooed and his stories are gut wrenching. In so many ways he’s an imperfect hero, so many struggles, so much pain. However, Josh Hamilton belongs to a God that is so big that he gave him the strength to fight the struggles, the comfort to deal with the pain, the power to overcome and the talent to impress.

This imperfect hero was baseball’s perfect hero, on the perfect night in baseball’s perfect venue.

Sources for background information: Wikipedia and ESPN

Obama's Run to the Center

As the most liberal Senator in the United States Senate, Barack Obama is making his streak for the center of the political spectrum. Proving that his exactly what he's telling voters he's not...a typical political.

See what I mean, these are not liberal positions he's taken since wrapping up the Democratic primary against Hillary.

Obama to expand Bush's faith based programs
Obama's Second-Amendment Dance
Obama Opposes Supreme Court Rape Decision
Obama's Patriotism Speech

I'll keep this post fresh because I'm sure there will be many more additions to this list before November. I guess that "change we can believe in" is his views on certain issues that would make him appear more conservative than he really his. Don't let him fool you.

MORE:

To keep this post updated, here is a blog by Dick Morris showing the issues that Obama has flip flopped on since securing the Democratic Nomination...here's a list, part of which I've listed above.

• He says he believes in a Second Amendment right to bear arms.
• He now opposes late-term abortion.
• He suddenly is a devotee of using faith-based institutions to deliver public services.
• He now says that he won’t raise Social Security taxes on anyone making less than $250,000 a year. In the primary, he said he’d eliminate the threshold entirely, including on people making as little as $100,000.
• He recently opposed the Fairness Doctrine for talk radio.
• Now he says he’s going to consult with the military before pulling out of Iraq.

UPDATE:

Looks like some of Obama's supporters on the far left are crying foul. Guess they feel a little abandonded by his little two step towards the center.

Wonder if this is why the polls are showing a dead heat.

UPDATE:

Obama Scrubs Iraq Webpage. Guess he's making room for his new position once he visits Iraq.

HT: Gateway Pundit

More on the Obama website scrub here.

Your move Madam Speaker

Last week, the fearless leader of the most unpopular Congress in history, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, said that she believed that drilling for oil in our own back yard was a "hoax."

Probably so, Speaker Pelosi and her Democratic friends have banned offshore drilling for over 30 years. Obviously, they are more concerned about polar bears and beachfront property than they are about the economic security of the people they represent.

President Bush, today, announced that he was going to lift the
executive ban on offshore oil drilling.

This is purely a political move, Congress must act to allow the drilling to actually begin. But good for President Bush, now it's up to Speaker Pelosi and Harry Reid to explain to Americans why they are opposed to American Energy production.

Democratic Discourse

Last month, after he had secured the Democratic nomination for President, Obama called on his supporters to give money to formal rival, Hillary Clinton, to help her pay off her massive campaign debt. Debt that she brought on by ruthlessly attacking Obama. Anyhow, Obama himself wrote a check to Hillary to "show the way."

Apparently, Obama's supporters aren't following his lead.

So far they have come up with less than $100,000.

Check out some of these quotes from Obama supporters.

“Why would I help pay off debts that Hillary amassed simply to keep damaging Senator Obama?”

and this...

“Gas prices are up, the markets are in turmoil, my kid’s fall tuition bill is coming soon. Writing checks to politicians I don’t like is not at the top of my list.”

and this...

“Not a penny for that woman. Or her husband. Or — god forbid — Mark Penn.”

Can't you just feel the love?

And then this video featuring a major fundraiser for Hillary calling Obama an elitist.



Look, this is still Obama's race to lose. This race is being handed to him on a silver platter by Republicans. But unless this whole Obama/Hillary spat is privately settled it is going to be a pain in his backside and keep the door open for a McCain presidency.

MORE...

Obama forgets to ask donors to help Clinton retire debt.

MORE...

From Michael Kinsley at Time Magazine: Divided They Fall