GeekSugar

US Congress Launches Their Own YouTube Channels

GeekSugar — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:00:33 PST

Taking their cue from Barack Obama's high-tech campaign that won him the presidency, the US Senate and the House of Representatives have launched their own YouTube channels in order to connect with the American public. Although past restrictions have prevented government officials from posing on outside websites, the rules have quickly changed to catch up with the online population.

Not only will the Senate's Official YouTube page bring you messages straight from your senator's office, but you'll also catch some behind the scenes tidbits, like which senators entered into a friendly wager on the Florida Gator/Ohio Buckeye game, and which one had to pay up in push-ups. As for the House of Representatives, they like to stay a little more low key - you can get your burning questions answered from the Reps themselves, and find out how many friends Ohio Representative Tim Ryan has on his Facebook page. That's right, he's on Facebook.

A Picture For Every Year of Hillary Clinton's National Service

Annie Scudder — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:05:53 PST

"I think after 20 years, and it will be 20 years, of being on the high wire of American politics and all of the challenges that come with that, it would be probably a good idea to just find out how tired I am," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told State Department employees yesterday. Hillary has been on the national stage for two decades, as a presidential candidate's wife, first lady, senator from New York, presidential candidate herself, and now as secretary of state.

Although she didn't attain her goal of becoming the first woman elected president in the US, Hillary Clinton has blazed trails for women. Hillary was active in policy making during her time as first lady, and now as secretary of state she champions the rights of women around the world. When she does eventually step down, which she says she'll do once President Obama nominates a replacement, many Americans will likely miss her presence, as nearly two-thirds of Americans have a favorable opinion of Hillary today. Until she does retreat back into private life, let's look back at a picture for each year of Hillary Clinton's national service.

Sexy Movie Politicians Win Our Vote!

Tara Sharp — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:11:41 PDT

Tomorrow The Ides of March hits theaters, starring a super sexy Ryan Gosling as a political strategist for George Clooney's US Presidential hopeful Governor Mike Morris. While we wouldn't mind having George as our country's leader, he's not the first fine actor to play the part of an elected official. From Robert Redford to Harrison Ford, we've rounded up the sexiest presidents, governors, and senators to hit the big screen. See the political eye candy now!

Texas Wants to Ban Groping as a Prerequisite For Air Travel

Annie Scudder — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 11:03:01 PDT

Ever since full-body scans became the norm at most US airports last Fall, I've opted for the extensive pat down instead. The thought of someone seeing under my clothes doesn't bother me as much as the potential radiation risks amplified by regular exposure to the scanners. And while the pat down is intrusive and slightly embarrassing, especially when they go inside the top of your pants, I guess I feel relieved that I have an option to avoid the scanner.

The Texas House of Representatives doesn't think we should have to pick between two intrusive evils. Last month it approved a bill that would ban any pat down that "touches the anus, sexual organ, buttocks, or breast of another person including through the clothing, or touches the other person in a manner that would be offensive to a reasonable person." There's also a parallel bill that would ban scanners that allow people to be seen naked. The bill has stalled in the state senate after federal officials threatened to shut down any flights out of Texas due to security concerns.

Today the Republican sponsor of the bill David Simpson defended it in the New York Times. Find out what he said when you keep reading.

Family Planning Debate Could Shut Down the Government

Annie Scudder — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 10:00:33 PDT

How do you know the abortion debate in the country has gotten out of control? When it threatens to shut down the US government. Senate Democrats say they've almost reached a deal with Republicans over the budget but won't move forward unless the GOP drops efforts to defund family planning services with the bill. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said, "It's an ideological battle that has nothing to do with fiscal integrity of this country, everything to do with the ideology on that other side of the Capitol."

Republicans are hoping they can successfully stop all government funding to Planned Parenthood, even though it's already against the law to use federal funds for abortion. Last month, a similar bill failed to pass the Senate, so the GOP-controlled House added an amendment to the budget bill. Also written into the bill is a provision that would eliminate all funding for family planning clinics nationally, and there's another amendment that would forbid Washington DC from using even nonfederal funds to pay for abortions. As Joan Walsh pointed out this week on Salon, cutting Planned Parenthood funding, which helps provide contraception to poor women, could ironically cause the abortion rate to spike.

Do you hope Democrats will risk a government shutdown, which would put 800,000 out of work temporarily, keep national museums closed, and disrupt business and home loans, in order to protect family planning funding against Republican attacks?

Speed Read - Senate Vote Means Planned Parenthood Keeps Funding

TresSugar — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 09:42:54 PST

The Senate rejects bill defunding Planned Parenthood - Politico
Journalistic objectivity goes too far in case of 11-year-old's rape - Double X
Designers speak out about fashion industry pressures - Fashionologie
Is the reign of conventional pop princesses over? - Daily Beast
Spider-Man musical to get a new director - New York Times
New study shows lack of penis bone makes us human - Guardian
Katie Couric is looking for a syndicated talk show - THR
Kelly Preston says former fiancé Charlie Sheen is really a good person - People

Hillary Clinton Suspends Campaign and Endorses Obama

CitizenSugar — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 10:04:27 PDT

Hillary Clinton has just ended her bid for the White House within walking distance of the 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue residence she's fought the past 17 months to call home again.

Previewing the contents of the speech to supporters this week, Clinton said, "I have said throughout the campaign that I would strongly support Senator Obama if he were the Democratic Party's nominee and I intend to deliver on that promise."

The promise was just delivered on in a speech at the National Building Museum in DC. Supported by Bill, Chelsea, legions of fans, and those parents who watched her campaign saying to their kids, "see? You can be anything you want to be." Clinton detailed the fruits of her remarkable campaign, and then extended her support to her former rival, saying:

Today as I suspend my campaign, I congratulate him on the extraordinary race he has run. I endorse him and throw my full support behind him. I ask all of you to work as hard for Barack Obama as you have for me. . . ensuring that Barack Obama walks through the doors of the Oval Office on January, 20, 2009!

Following up that strong endorsement saying:

We cannot let this moment slip away. We have come too far and accomplished too much. . . today I am standing with Senator Obama to say, 'yes, we can!'

It's been a long fight, one that ends today not without emotion. Clinton may not be the only person nursing bruises from ending her quest - supporters will have to decide if they can now endorse Obama as wholeheartedly as Clinton did this morning. To see how hard this might be, and what's next for everyone,

read more. The psychiatry correspondent for FOX News said this individual healing process can't be rushed, and supporters will have to warm up to Obama slowly. "Pretending Clinton support translates in a wholesale way to Obama needlessly inserts falsehood into a movement that all of us, regardless of our politics, would have to admit is fueled by passion." Passion and bucks. Now that the end is here, Hillary and Obama are apparently in deep negotiation as to how to retire the $30 million campaign debt Hillary's dug - with the bonus to Obama that she'll in turn fund raise for his campaign. Advisers think she could bring in $100 million for his general fight. When Hillary and Obama had their secret meeting Thursday evening at Senator Feinstein's home, they spoke for an hour and seemed to salve some of the campaign wounds. How long will it take for supporters and the party to follow? Will the Democrats find a way to unite, Unity Ticket or not? Source

Five Ways the Healthcare Reform Bill Will Help Kids

babysugar — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 04:00:02 PDT

The headlines were glaring – almost nine percent of US children are living without health insurance, fearing every cold, cough, or earache they encountered each year. With the House of Representatives’ passage of the Senate’s bill, those 8.7 million tots can rest a bit easier.

As the healthcare reform debate dies down, the country’s youngest citizens are one of the biggest beneficiaries of the new bill. Here are five ways the new legislation will help children.

Beginning this year, insurance companies will be prohibited from denying coverage to children with pre-existing health conditions.
Also beginning this year, insurance companies will no longer place lifetime caps on policies, or drop a patient if he gets sick.
Insurance companies will be required to pay for preventive services, including medical procedures as vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control.
For parents of older kids, you will now be able to keep them on your insurance until they are 26-years-old.
The Children's Health Insurance Program, which helps lower-income families, will be maintained in its current condition, even by states that are looking to cut costs.

New York Voters Not Crazy About Caroline Kennedy

CitizenSugar — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:30:56 PST

Most voters in New York don't want Caroline Kennedy to represent them in the US Senate. A new poll shows only 24 percent of voters back Caroline's bid, compared to 31 percent who want her rival, State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, to get Hillary's spot. Lucky for Caroline, unlike most wannabe senators, she doesn't have to court the voters. She only has one person to convince - Gov. Paterson.

Just in case you think the unpopularity of JFK's daughter is a backlash against legacies (can't get a more political name than Clinton or Kennedy), rival Cuomo has a political pedigree, too. His father Mario Cuomo served as NY governor from 1983 to 1994. And it gets better: his ex-wife, Kerry Kennedy, is the daughter of Bobby Kennedy. I think this race just got personal.

Considering the volatility of polls, do you think the opinions of 1,664 voters polled should sway the governor's decision?

Source