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Miley Cyrus Gets SWATTED For SECOND Time!

Aron Prins — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:55:54 +0000

Seriously?! Wasn’t once enough!

By now, we’re sure you’re familiar with the supremely stoopid SWATTING pranks that have plagued the Los Angeles Police Department and celebrities alike for the past year or so, which involves someone calling 9-1-1 to claim that the famous face in question is being attacked in their home, only for authorities to arrive and find nothing but a false alarm!

Unfortunately, this has happened to Miley Cyrus back in August…and now, she’s been victimized once again!

According to sources, police received a new call around 8:55PM last night from a woman who said she was calling from her closet, and that shots were being fired in her home!

Of course, when the fuzz made it to the scene, they realized that they were back at the MileyBird’s residence, and as gurlfriend was not even there, they were once again wasting their time on a false alarm!

Ugh! ENOUGH with this nonsense already!

This has just gone on waaay too long – which those responsible should probably realize now, seeing as they’re just repeating the same prank on the same people!

Here’s hoping this is an indication that this foolishness will be done with FOR GOOD…and soon!

[Image via WENN.]

Tags: 911, again, false alarm, los angeles police department, miley cyrus, prank, second time, swatting, victim

PerezHilton

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Powerball frenzy locks down most possible number combos

Aron Prins — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:50:17 +0000

DES MOINES, Iowa It’s all about the odds.

With the majority of possible combinations of Powerball numbers in play, someone is almost sure to win the game’s highest jackpot on Saturday night, a windfall of hundreds of millions of dollars and that’s after taxes.

The problem, of course, is those same odds just about guarantee the lucky person won’t be you. The chances of winning the $ 600 million prize remain astronomically high: 1 in 175.2 million. And lottery officials said Saturday that 80 percent of the possible combinations have been purchased.

“This would be the roll to get in on,” said Iowa Lottery CEO Terry Rich. “Of course there’s no guarantee, and that’s the randomness of it, and the fun of it.”

Play Video

Powerball hits $ 600 million record

Play Video

Jackpot fever: The big business of lotteries

Play Video

Man makes a career out of winning the lottery

That hasn’t deterred people across the Powerball-playing states from lining up at gas stations and convenience stores Saturday for their chance at striking it filthy rich.

At Jimmy’s Mart, a small convenience store in suburban Columbia, S.C., Armous Peterson was reluctant to share his system for playing the Powerball. The 56-year-old was well aware of the long odds, but he also knows the mantra of just about every person buying tickets.

“Somebody is going to win,” he said. “Lots of people are going to lose, too. But if you buy a ticket, that winner might be you.”

The latest jackpot is the world’s second largest overall, just behind a $ 656 million Mega Millions jackpot in March 2012. The $ 600 million jackpot includes a $ 376.9 million cash option.

Charles Hill of Dallas says he buys lottery tickets every day. And he knows exactly what he’d do if he wins.

“What would I do with my money? I’d run and hide,” he said. “I wouldn’t want none of my kinfolks to find me.”

Patrons at a convenience store in Lubbock, Texas, carried out more tacos and burritos than Powerball tickets.

Raul Nava, an oilfield worker, rarely plays, even when the jackpot climbs above $ 300 million. But he said the jackpot turned his head this week. He knows the odds, but he couldn’t resist having a shot at holding the winning ticket.

“What if I’m that one?” he said with a big grin. “That’s what I’m hoping for.”

Benjamin Richardson, 56, also in suburban Columbia, S.C., plays every Powerball drawing, figuring spending a few bucks a week is no great loss and it keeps him in the running for the big jackpot.

“If it happens, it happens. It’s all luck anyway,” he said. “What do they all say? If it is your time, it’s your time.”

Justin Bieber And Selena Gomez OFFICIALLY Back Together – At Least According To The Billboard Music Awards Seating Chart!

Aron Prins — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:46:09 +0000

Well, we think we finally put all those “are they?” or “aren’t they?” rumors to rest, folks!

Because it appears that despite her recent denial, Selena Gomez is TOTALLY back together with Justin Bieber!

If you want to go by their upcoming seating arrangements at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards, of course!

That’s right! These two are sitting SIDE-BY-SIDE, folks!

Ch-ch-check out the photo from Twitter (above), which was captioned:

All right!

Guess this also means that when the Biebs hits the stage to perform Take You, he’ll only have one lady in his mind to apply those lyrics toward!

We cannot WAIT to see this all go down live, before our very eyes, tomorrow night!

What do U think?? Does this confirm that Justin and Selenita are an item once AGAIN?!

[Image via Twitter.]

Tags: 2013 billboard music awards, back together, justin bieber, seating arrangements, selena gomez, twitter

PerezHilton

The post Justin Bieber And Selena Gomez OFFICIALLY Back Together – At Least According To The Billboard Music Awards Seating Chart! appeared first on TotallyWP.

Sectarian violence erupts anew in Iraq

Aron Prins — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:46:05 +0000

At least 15 deaths Saturday
The killings come a day after a spate of violent incidents
Sectarian tensions have grown in recent months

Baghdad (CNN) — At least 15 people were killed Saturday in Baghdad and Anbar provinces, police said, in what appeared to be a continuation of sectarian violence.

Another 14 people, six of them police officers, most of whom are Shia, were kidnapped Saturday in Anbar province, police said.

The incidents occurred a day after dozens of people were killed when bombs struck as worshipers were leaving a Sunni mosque and attending a funeral.

At least 40 people were killed and 46 others wounded Friday in the two roadside explosions outside a Sunni mosque in the city of Baquba, police and health officials told CNN.

Baquba, the largest city in Diyala province, is about 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of Baghdad.

That bombing, one of several attacks Friday, came on the heels of a spate of sectarian violence in the Middle Eastern nation.

Tensions have grown in recent months between Iraq’s Sunnis and Shiites, especially after an incident last month in Hawija, in Kirkuk province, where Iraqi security forces raided a site used by Sunni protesters to demonstrate against the Shiite-led government. At least 50 people were killed and more than 85 others wounded in a clash between security forces and gunmen.

Sunnis, who represent a minority of Iraqis, have been politically marginalized since the overthrow in 2003 of Saddam Hussein. Shiites, who make up a majority of Iraqis, now dominate the government.

Since December, tens of thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets of predominantly Sunni provinces — including Anbar, Nineveh, Salaheddin and Diyala — demanding that the Shiite-led government stop what they call second-class treatment of Iraq’s Sunni community.

The incidence of such attacks has dropped significantly since the peak of sectarian violence, between 2005 and 2007. But tensions, stirred in part by enmity between Shiites and Sunnis, have persisted since the U.S.-led invasion.

Martin Kobler, the U.N. special representative for Iraq, called this week on leaders to protect civilians as another wave of bombings erupted this week, warning that the country “will slide backwards into a dangerous unknown if they do not take action.”

“It is the responsibility of all leaders to stop the bloodshed in this country and to protect their citizens,” he said.

CNN’s Mohammed Tawfeeq contributed to this story from Baghdad, CNN’s Tom Watkins wrote it from Atlanta

CNN.com Recently Published/Updated

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Incurable bacteria citrus greening destroying Florida’s citrus industry

Aron Prins — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:45:01 +0000

Play CBS News Video

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(CBS News) For millions of Americans, part of the morning ritual is a glass of orange juice, but that sweet start to the day is now threatened. There’s a disease spreading through Florida’s multi-billion-dollar citrus crop.

The malady is called citrus greening, and it is making it harder for area businesses to stock Florida’s best known fruit.

“My concern is we won’t have Florida oranges in a few years,” said Bob Roth. Roth opened an area fruit stand in 1964, and Florida oranges have always been a staple.

Florida’s oranges under attack

“Even this year, we brought in Honeybells and half the fruit came in green and premature. They weren’t ripe and had a terrible flavor,” he said.

Greening is a bacterial disease spread by the Asian citrus psyllid. There is no cure and no way of knowing a tree is infected until it’s too late.

Nick Story has been growing oranges for 50 years and has never seen a threat like this.

“Best knowledge now is that a tree can be infected with this disease and not show symptoms for three years,” he said. “We’re spending three times what we did before greening on an acre basis, and if we can’t produce more, we can’t stay in business.”

The concern is shared by the entire industry, and since being discovered in 2005 this disease has spread to all 32 of the state’s citrus growing counties. It’s also been found in Georgia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Texas and California.

“This is an international citrus crisis,” said Andrew Meadows, spokesman for Florida Citrus Mutual. “I would say take a look at your eight-ounce glass of orange juice in the morning and just imagine that not being there because that’s how serious it is.”

Florida’s citrus industry has already lost $ 4.5 billion and 85,000 jobs with no end in sight.

Florida gets $ 9 million to study citrus disease

Eighty percent of America’s orange juice comes from a Florida processing plant, which typically processes 600,000 gallons of the beverage a day. However, if there are not enough oranges, they cannot keep those numbers up.

“The industry has less production today than it did six or seven years ago. At one point we were over 240 million boxes. Today we’re at 140 to 150 million boxes,” said Rick Kress, president of Southern Gardens Citrus. “Just drive through the state of Florida and watch the degradation of trees, and you can see the challenge that is ahead of us.”

Growers and the government have funneled more than $ 70 million into finding a cure. But that could take years, which is time many farmers do not have.

For Manuel Bojoroquez’s full report, watch the video in the player above.

Previously, on ‘Arrested Development’: NPR’s epic guide to the show’s running gags

Aron Prins — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:35:22 +0000

Good grief! A wealth of “Arrested Development” references, including all references to Peanuts.

(Credit:
Screenshot by Eric Mack/CNET)

Watch out for that stair car… and any of the other numerous running jokes from resurrected cult hit “Arrested Development.”

In honor of the show’s triumphant return to Netflix, with 15 new episodes set to start streaming May 26, NPR has compiled, logged, and cross-referenced all the recurring gags from the show’s original three seasons to make sure you don’t miss a beat.

The app on the NPR Web site is meticulous in its level of detail, chronicling just about every chuckle-worthy line or sight gag from the first three seasons and connecting the dots between combined jokes.

The question of why NPR, of all outlets, has taken this project on is perhaps the only thing more perplexing than Lindsay’s many charities. There’s some sort of a joke in there about public radio using pledge dollars to gush over a cancelled network show. I’m envisioning some sort of scene in which Buster gets his head stuck inside a Nina Totin’bag.

That’s comic gold right there. (“Arrested Development” writer) Mr. Mitchell Hurwitz, feel free to have your people call my people.

CNET

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N. Korea ‘launches short-range missiles’

Aron Prins — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:35:08 +0000

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

NEW: Report: The missiles were fired away from South Korean waters
North Korea fired three short-range missiles, South Korean Defense Ministry is quoted as saying
They were fired into the sea off the Korean Peninsula’s east coast, Yonhap reports
Tensions in the region have eased since a peak last month

Are you from South or North Korea? Send us your experiences.

(CNN) — North Korea launched three short-range guided missiles into the sea off the Korean Peninsula’s east coast Saturday, South Korea’s semi-official news agency Yonhap cited the South Korean Defense Ministry as saying.

The ministry said it had detected two launches in the morning, followed by another in the afternoon, Yonhap reported.

The missiles were fired in a northeasterly direction, away from South Korean waters, the ministry said.

South Korea has beefed up monitoring on North Korea and is maintaining a high-level of readiness to deal with any risky developments, the ministry added, according to Yonhap.

According to the Arms Control Association, a U.S.-based organization, short-range guided missiles are generally classified as those traveling less than 1,000 kilometers (about 620 miles.)

Tensions in the region have eased in recent days since a fraught period last month that included near daily North Korean threats of war.

U.S. and South Korean officials feared at that time that Kim Jong Un’s regime was planning to carry out a test launch of longer-range ballistic missiles, believed to be Musudans. The South Korean government says they have a maximum range of 3,500 kilometers (2,175 miles).

Andrew Salmon, a journalist and author based in the South Korean capital, Seoul, said North Korea’s reported launch of short-range missiles Saturday should not cause the same degree of concern as the launch of a satellite or medium-range Musudan rocket.

“It’s a short-range tactical weapon. If any other country launched this kind of weapon, it’s a routine test, nobody would be too worried. It’s really simply because it’s North Korea doing this that it raises concerns,” he said.

The situation is much less tense in the region than it was last month, Salmon said.

“The North Koreans have significantly de-escalated their bellicosity and their rhetoric since the end of April,” he said. “The South Korean government, I suspect, will not be strongly condemnatory of this test because right now they are very, very keen to get the North Koreans to the negotiating table.”

The recent tensions flared after the North’s long-range rocket launch in December and underground nuclear test in February, both of which were widely condemned.

Pyongyang’s fiery rhetoric intensified in March as the U.N. Security Council voted to tighten sanctions on the regime following the nuclear test.

Annual U.S.-South Korean military drills in South Korea also fueled the North’s anger, especially when the United States carried out displays of strength that included nuclear-capable B2 stealth bombers.

North Korea is demanding recognition as a nuclear power, something the United States refuses to countenance.

Last month’s crisis resulted in the closure of the Kaesong Industrial Complex, the last major symbol of inter-Korean cooperation.

CNN’s Jethro Mullen contributed to this report.

Comments »

Opinion: If democracy dies, we will have killed it

Aron Prins — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:31:11 +0000

Former acting IRS Commissioner Steve Miller, right, and Treasury’s J. Russell George testify before a House committee Friday.

Donna Brazile: Knee-jerk partisanship is worse than ever in politics and public discourse
Brazile: Democracy endangered without civil discussion among people who disagree
IRS and Justice Department “scandals” have become lynch parties, she says
Brazile: Both parties and the public must stay focused on facts, causes and solutions

Editor’s note: Donna Brazile, a CNN contributor and a Democratic strategist, is vice chairwoman for voter registration and participation at the Democratic National Committee. She is a nationally syndicated columnist, an adjunct professor at Georgetown University and author of “Cooking with Grease: Stirring the Pot in America.” She was manager for the Gore-Lieberman presidential campaign in 2000.

(CNN) — Our democracy is endangered. Not by the Russians, North Korea, the Iran regime, or even terrorists. To quote Pogo: “We have met the enemy and he is us.”

Inside the beltway, the fingers point and the media tuts and struts in glee, and we, the American public, respond by becoming more rigid and divided ourselves. No more “truth springing from argument amongst friends,” as David Hume said. A recent nonpartisan Pew Research Poll finds our knee-jerk partisanship has increased dramatically.

This road we’re on will lead us step-by-step to an extreme: either an autocratic government that functions, or a dysfunctional anarchy. The petty squabbles, bilge in the name of party or principle, will dissolve our self-government.

Abraham Lincoln felt no foreign power could ever defeat the United States. He said, “From whence shall we expect the approach of danger? Shall some trans-Atlantic military giant step the earth and crush us at a blow? Never…No, if destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of free men we will live forever or die by suicide.”

We’re pointing a pistol at our heads. A government of, by, and for the people requires that people talk to people, that we can agree to disagree but do so in civility. If we let the politicians and those who report dictate our discourse, then our course will be dictated.

Why am I alarmed? Because two “scandals” — the IRS tax-exempt inquiries and the Department of Justice’s tapping of reporters’ phones — have become lynch parties. And the congressional investigation of Benghazi may become a scandal in itself.

The IRS scandal has sparked bipartisan outrage that should require a bipartisan solution. The director who oversaw this was a Bush appointee who was confirmed by a Democratic Congress. Even Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein says he doubts very much that Obama was involved

We, the people, need to stay focused on facts, causes and solutions. Let’s begin with the findings of the Treasury’s inspector general who uncovered it: That it was bureaucratic mismanagement, but that there was no evidence of any political motivation or influence from outside the IRS.

Lawmakers grill ousted IRS boss

Holder: Most serious leaks I’ve ever seen

Abrams: That’s not America at its best

And that, according to acting Commissioner Steven Miller, who just resigned, the problem started because the Supreme Court’s Citizens’ United decision created a surge of requests by political groups for tax-exempt status.

Democrats and Republicans agree there’s a problem. Maybe they should focus on solutions.

Let’s demand an end to partisan sideshows or media witch hunts: It turns out that the leaked White House Benghazi e-mails which allegedly show a coverup of a terrorist attack were themselves altered. Those e-mails are, in a word, bogus

Next up on the playbill: The Department of Justice secretly obtained dozens of reporters’ phone records because of a serious security leak. The double contradictory shell game we’re supposed to believe: Obama is not in charge and he has his finger in every pot.

This bamboozling of the American people obscures the main point: How do we safeguard American lives and respect our freedoms at the same time? Maybe working together — Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals — the Media Shield Law, a solution to the problem, can be passed.

Both the Democrats and Republicans have run roughshod over our separation of powers. Both parties have misused and abused their constitutional powers. Democrats blocked, again and again, President Bush’s nominees for federal judges. Today, Republicans aren’t just blocking Obama’s judicial nominees, they’re blocking the Senate from considering laws and blocking Cabinet appointees necessary for the federal government to run.

Why should we allow any political party or personality to render our government unable to govern?

On 9/11 terrorists attacked the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and tried to attack the U.S. Capitol building in order to destroy our institutions, our economic strength, our military and our democratic Congress where “the people rule.”

But in our partisan self-righteousness, we’re destroying our foundations of government more effectively than al Qaeda ever could. Whether it’s the media or the politicians, the churning of partisan passion into anger, indeed hate, has an ulterior purpose: If Obama’s administration is constantly engaged in fighting for its existence, the governing comes to a halt, and his agenda will go nowhere.

Aiming for that and little if nothing else weakens and harms our democratic institutions, both Congress and the presidency. Remember, Obama was elected by a bigger margin than George W. Bush. He deserves to have his appointees, and he deserves to have votes on the issues, to have the government function, and to fight for the policies on which he was elected. By allowing problems to become scandals and scandals to become demagoguery, we’re shooting ourselves in the foot.

If it keeps up, we will all be complicit in weakening our democracy.

Follow us on Twitter @CNNOpinion.

Join us on Facebook/CNNOpinion.

The opinions in this commentary are solely those of Donna Brazile.

CNN.com Recently Published/Updated

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Listen To This: Sucking Peen While High On Molly!

Aron Prins — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:17:35 +0000

Okay, NOW we’re just completely befuddled over what to believe!

After some serious, nagging speculation over the past few weeks, reports surfaced allegedly CONFIRMING that Beyoncé is, in fact, pregnant with her second child!

Understandably, Twitter collectively exploded with joy and well-wishes from fans and fellow celebs alike, but apparently, the diva herself used the opportunity to take to her OWN social media platforms, Tumblr and Instagram, to leave some pretty severe – and CONFUSING – comments on the whole hooplah!

On Instagram, Bey posted the following message (below):

[Image via Tumblr.]

PerezHilton

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For GOP, scandals could be an electoral plus – or minus

Aron Prins — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:16:48 +0000

As the Obama administration grapples with a series of recent controversies within its ranks, political observers in Washington have begun to calculate their potential political impacts. But while many Republicans believe the scandals could prove a boon to the party’s prospects in the 2014 midterm elections, they it’s equally important not to “overreach” on the issue — and risk having their efforts blow up in their face.

Within the last week, President Obama has been dogged by ongoing questions about last year’s terrorist attack in Benghazi; the revelation that the IRS was targeting conservative groups applying for tax-exempt status; and the news that the Justice Department seized two months of phone records from the Associated Press. Unless this confluence of controversies fades away quickly, strategists say, their impact may be felt in elections across the country in 2014.

“The more these scandals hurt the president, the more they historically hurt the party,” said Trey Hardin, a Republican strategist, in an interview with CBSNews.com. “It’s a natural drag on the party.”

Republicans will be doing their best to make sure that’s the case. With a shot at taking back the Senate, and a decent chance of keeping the House in Republican control, the GOP would benefit by associating statewide candidates with a president who’s perceived as unpopular or untrustworthy.

Will anyone go to jail over IRS targeting?
Ousted IRS chief: “I did not mislead” the American people
Officials on Benghazi: “We made mistakes, but without malice”

“The main victim of this White House’s mistakes will be the people in his political party that are up for election the next time,” said Terry Holt, a Republican strategist and former campaign strategist for former President George W. Bush. “The Senate is more in play in 2014, and the Republicans sort of fumbled the ball with regard to the Senate races last time. This may make it marginally easier for them.”

Republicans face a risk, however, when it comes to treading the thin line between taking advantage of an opportunity and acting with crass political calculation, as evidenced by the 1998 midterm elections, when Democrats made gains despite a scandal-ridden Clinton administration.

“Republicans have to be very careful about overreaching and overplaying this,” Hardin said. “I lived through impeachment and it was a dicey time… I think there are many in this country who identify the Republican Party as the party that went after impeachment which, at the end of the day, is not the most popular thing to do.”

Particularly coming off the last election, during which the GOP was branded as “the party that’s against people,” Hardin says, it’s important to step carefully.

“They’ve got to be careful about going too far,” he said. “I don’t think it is effective to be asking people to resign, because I think that when you do that you’re preempting the strategy of exposing more wrongs. The old saying is, if your opponent’s shooting himself in the foot, don’t take the gun away.”

Instead, he said, the party needs to push a specific agenda while keeping up the investigations.

“The Republican Party has to still be very actively promoting their initiatives and messaging… There can’t be a vacuum on their normal responsibilities for succeeding as a political party. But if they can effectively do that, then I think both pushing their agenda as well as investigating these very real scandals can coexist.”

“Fix it and let the politics take care of itself,” Holt added. “Because the president and its people have already demonstrated where they’re coming from; they’re already committing the sin.”

The longer the scandals are in the news, the greater the possibility they’ll make an impression on voters, potentially casting a pall over the Obama administration that might lead to political ramifications down the road. According to Democratic strategist Chris Lehane, a former Clinton administration official and crisis management expert, that’s why the administration should lay all its cards on the table immediately, promise tough consequences for wrongdoing, and let the public move on.

“On two out of three of these issues they did the right thing,” he said. Even if Republicans attempt to keep the scandals in the news by holding congressional hearings, he said, “hearings need oxygen – new oxygen, fresh oxygen – to generate any type of real estate with the free press.”

That’s where the administration went wrong on Benghazi, he said. “The administration should have put out all those emails [abut the CIA talking points] right from the very beginning,” he said. “They would have put them out under their terms, they would have gotten the benefit of the doubt, and dealt with it all in one fell swoop… But now that they’re all out here and presumably most if not all of the information is now public, there’s a predictable waning level of interest unless there’s actually real new news out there.”

According Lehane, the challenge for the Obama administration is proving that Republicans are using the controversies as an excuse to score political points.

“The whole battle here is, are the Republicans able to brand this as a legitimate inquiry? Or is Obama able to brand what the Republicans are up to as overtly partisan?” Lehane said.

Holt argues Republicans have more leeway to sound partisan on something like the IRS controversy, because the agency’s targeting was based on political keywords.

“The IRS is a very tangible bogeyman for most people, and to think that the political opposition to the party in power could be targeted by the government is very scary,” he said. “If there were a war analogy, it’d be that they started shooting first with the weapons they are privileged to have as the administration of the American government. They started it.”

Breaking News: CBS News

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Dems’ Senate campaigns marked by internal battles

Aron Prins — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:05:57 +0000

FILE: Nov. 6, 2012: Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga., waits to do a television interview at an election-night party in Augusta, Ga.AP

Two top-tier Democratic prospects recently bypassed running for Senate seats in Georgia and South Dakota — showing that Republicans aren’t the only ones with internal jostling and recruiting hiccups ahead of next year’s midterm elections.

The prospects’ decisions also show divisions within the Democratic Party and its challenge of finding candidates whose ideologies line up with voters in Republican-leaning states.

Democrats say they’ll be fine even though Rep. John Barrow in Georgia and former Rep. Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin in South Dakota declined to seek seats left open by retirements. Both are moderate-to-conservative Democrats whose views would seemingly play well in their states, giving the party a chance to win on GOP turf as Democrats look to hang onto power in the Senate. But without them running, Democrats probably will be forced to back more liberal, less-tested nominees who would likely have tougher races.

The circumstances underscore a particular challenge for Democrats: They have a five-seat cushion requiring that Republicans nearly sweep the most competitive races to gain enough seats for control. But many contests are in states where President Barack Obama never won and remains unpopular. Another hurdle for Democrats: Midterm electorates are generally older, whiter and more Republican than in presidential years.

Georgia Democrats are hoping to recruit Michelle Nunn, daughter of former Sen. Sam Nunn and a nonprofit executive in Atlanta. She’s expected to announce a decision soon in the race to succeed retiring Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss.

In the contest for retiring Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson’s South Dakota seat, Democrats’ preferred candidate now appears to be Rick Weiland, once a top aide to former Sen. Tom Daschle and twice an unsuccessful candidate for Congress. Weiland launched his bid, with Daschle’s backing, amid clamoring about Herseth-Sandlin and Johnson’s son, Brendan, a U.S. attorney. State Democrats now say the younger Johnson likely won’t run.

“It’s a recipe for a challenging campaign,” said Steve Dick, a former Daschle aide. “It’s a tough race, without a doubt. And it’s getting more difficult. We’re a red state. We just don’t have these opportunities that often.”

South Dakota is one of three states where a Democratic senator is retiring in a state Obama lost last November; the others are Montana and West Virginia. There also are Democratic retirements in the swing-voting states of Iowa and Michigan, which Obama won.

Republicans also are aiming at four Democratic incumbents in states Republican Mitt Romney won: Mark Begich of Alaska, Kay Hagan of North Carolina, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Mark Pryor of Arkansas. Georgia, which went for Romney by 8 percentage points over Obama, has one of two GOP seats opened by retirements; the other is in Nebraska, a virtual lock for Republicans.

Democrats say they can challenge Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in Kentucky, but they haven’t yet recruited a top-tier candidate even though the Republican is unpopular at home.

At the National Republican Senatorial Committee, spokesman Brad Dayspring mocked Democrats for failing at a strategy he says was clear: Get conservative Democrats in Republican-leaning states. But Justin Barasky, spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, dismissed the notion of an internal Democratic struggle or recruiting woes, and pointed to divisive primaries shaping up for Republicans in several states.

Clearly, Democrats are left with a tricky balance as they look for candidates with this criteria: Satisfy core Democratic voters, ensure successful fundraising and reach independents who voted for Romney and, before him, John McCain and George W. Bush.

Some Democrats thought Barrow and Herseth-Sandlin satisfied those standards.

Barrow is the Deep South’s last white Democrat in the House, and he’s beaten well-financed GOP nominees in a House district drawn to ensure his defeat. He’s a gun owner who voted against the 2010 health care overhaul and voted to hold Obama’s attorney general, Eric Holder, in contempt of Congress. He supported the so-called fiscal cliff deal between Obama and congressional Republicans, and successfully wooed thousands of Romney supporters in his last campaign.

But the way Barrow keeps his job could explain why he abandoned the possibility of a promotion.

“His profile is more appropriate to his congressional district than to a statewide run, particularly for metro Atlanta, where most of the votes are in the progressive base,” said state Sen. Vincent Fort, a Democrat from the city.

Some Democrats had feared that Barrow would have drawn a primary opponent, and both national and state Democrats concede that the party’s best chance for a Georgia upset is to avoid a divisive primary, while leaving a crowded GOP field to spend money and throw punches.

Fort said Nunn would be a compelling candidate. And Democrats, eager to dispute the notion that losing Barrow is a disappointment, point to polling commissioned by Senate Democrats that suggests Nunn would be the better candidate in a general election.

Former Rep. George “Buddy” Darden said Nunn’s lack of experience could be an asset. She doesn’t have a record to parse and can run as an outsider, he said, a particular upside if Republicans nominate one of the three sitting congressmen who are running.

GOP Reps. Paul Broun, Phil Gingrey and Jack Kingston are joined by Karen Handel, a former executive with the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the breast cancer organization, in a race that could draw additional, well-financed candidates. Georgia is just one of several states where Republicans face the prospect of divisive primaries.

In South Dakota, Herseth-Sandlin had been seen by national Democrats as a top-tier prospect because her profile fit the state, and they were aggressively courting her behind the scenes. The 42-year-old Sioux Falls lawyer was taking steps toward running, hoping to avoid a divisive primary in which her opposition to the health care bill in 2010 and support for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in 2004 would be used against her.

Weiland, meanwhile, quickly entered the race, in part to keep Herseth-Sandlin out, a sign of tension between the moderate and liberal wings. Weiland, who lost to Herseth-Sandlin in the 2004 House primary, is a close Daschle ally.

Brendan Johnson, also a Daschle ally, would not challenge Weiland, especially in a state where successful Democrats are rare and clubby. However, Weiland, while a seasoned party operative, would likely bow out, should the younger Johnson assess the race over the summer and decide to enter in the fall.

That scenario becomes more probable should the race for the Republican nomination become contested, South Dakota Democrats said.

Former Gov. Mike Rounds is running and his fellow Republicans view him as a solid candidate. Yet popular GOP newcomer Kristi Noem, elected to the House in 2010, hasn’t ruled out a candidacy. She’s popular with the tea party and is seen as a better fundraiser than Rounds.

FOXNews.com

The post Dems’ Senate campaigns marked by internal battles appeared first on TotallyWP.

Root shines before NZ fight back

Aron Prins — Sat, 18 May 2013 17:59:17 +0000

By Sam Sheringham
BBC Sport at Lord’s

First Test, Lord’s (day three, close):
England 232 & 180-6 v New Zealand 207
Match scorecard

The first Test between England and New Zealand hangs in the balance after a riveting third day at Lord’s.

England looked to be batting New Zealand out of the game when the in-form Joe Root (71) and Jonathan Trott (56) put on 123 for the third wicket.

But a late collapse which saw the hosts lost four wickets for 12 runs left a low-scoring match delicately poised with the hosts on 180-6, 205 ahead.

Earlier, New Zealand lost their last six wickets for 52 runs as they crumbled to 207 all out, a first-innings deficit of 25.

Full report to follow

Match scorecard

Listen to match highlights and Jonathan Agnew and Geoffrey Boycott’s analysis of each day’s play on the

Test Match Special podcast.

BBC News – Home

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Kanye West Premieres New Single With PERFORMANCE ART! Projects New Slaves On 66 Buildings WORLDWIDE!

Aron Prins — Sat, 18 May 2013 17:45:09 +0000

Kanye West may not have been having the best week – between the gay rumors, his latest temper tantrum, and a bruised up Lamborghini – but we have a feeling that with this weekend, all of that’s about to change!

The sometimes-volatile yet supremely talented rapper has been hard at work recording his new album in Paris, and apparently, has few very creative, larger than life tricks up his sleeve for how he’s going to begin its promotional campaign!

Which, of course, started last night, when he projected a video of himself performing his brand new single, New Slaves, onto the sides of 66 BUILDINGS LOCATED ALL OVER THE WORLD!

Ch-ch-check out to what the folks of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, were treated on the corner of Bedford and N. 7 (above)!

Apparently, the track features Frank Ocean, and also samples the song Gyöngyhajú lány by Omega!

We’re really feeling it! And not just because it brings a whole new meaning to the term “world premiere!”

Wonder how he’ll top THIS on Saturday Night Live tonight!

What do U think?? Are U excited with the direction Yeezy is taking his sound?

Tags: brooklyn, frank ocean, gyöngyhajú lány, kanye west, music video, new album, new single, new slaves, omega, performance art, projection, sample, williamsburg, worldwide

PerezHilton

The post Kanye West Premieres New Single With PERFORMANCE ART! Projects New Slaves On 66 Buildings WORLDWIDE! appeared first on TotallyWP.

Video: Unraveling the lies of Jodi Arias

Aron Prins — Sat, 18 May 2013 17:45:02 +0000

CBS has blood on its hands for engaging in journalistic malpractice. Maureen Maher and her producers should be FIRED for having promoted a lie to the American public because they did NOT seriously question the motives of Travis Alexander’s lying friends when they peddled a false narrative that was debunked in court.

This case was a classic domestic violence case and not premeditated murder (hence the overkill involved). It strains credulity that Jodi Arias was some crazy stalker who traveled a thousand miles to kill Travis because she was jealous over taking his girlfriend to Cancun–the lie peddled by the county attorney’s office thanks to the lies peddled by the likes of Chris and Sky Hughes. We know, if we are honest, that not only did that not happen, but that Travis was actually addicted to Jodi and wanted her to visit him, had sex with her, and then something happened in a life-or-death struggle where he ended up dead. If it hadn’t been him, Jodi would have been dead. There is no point in rehashing the entire trial, but the prosecution knew it had a dog of a case that will be pitched out on appeal. That jury was tainted and scared of the mob mentality that was ignited by a handful of Travis’s Mormon friends who felt that had to save face no matter what the cost. It is a disgrace that CBS started this whole debacle when Maher and her producers did NOTHING to critically look at the motives behind Travis’s alleged friends.

And WHY did CBS EVER interview Jodi Arias while she was incarcerated? THAT should be against the law, and I don’t care if Sheriff Arpaio allowed it, given the fact her statements, which showed she was suffering from obvious trauma, would be used against her in court. Maher and company should be FIRED for that.

Incurable bacteria destroying Fla. citrus industry

Aron Prins — Sat, 18 May 2013 17:44:20 +0000

Play CBS News Video

Scroll Left Scroll Right

play Watch: Military Dad’s emotional homecoming at home plate
play Mark Harmon: Humor and characters make “NCIS” a hit
play Watch: Deer crashes through windshield of bus
play It’s OK to be “pissed at God,” reverend says
play Pres. asks Marines to break military umbrella rule
play Identity of mystery man in Bill Gates photo revealed
play Emmy-winner Jim Parsons on his “Big Bang” success
play Immigration reform: Lawmakers say tentative deal reached
play “48 Hours” unravels the lies of Jodi Arias
play Vegan firefighter on his “Beef With Meat”
play Jennifer Lopez talks fashion versus music
play East Coast preps for cicada invasion

The malady is called citrus greening, and it is making it harder for area businesses to stock Florida’s best known fruit.

“My concern is we won’t have Florida oranges in a few years,” said Bob Roth. Roth opened an area fruit stand in 1964, and Florida oranges have always been a staple.

Florida’s oranges under attack

“Even this year, we brought in Honeybells and half the fruit came in green and premature. They weren’t ripe and had a terrible flavor,” he said.

Greening is a bacterial disease spread by the Asian citrus psyllid. There is no cure and no way of knowing a tree is infected until it’s too late.

Nick Story has been growing oranges for 50 years and has never seen a threat like this.

Florida’s citrus industry has already lost $ 4.5 billion and 85,000 jobs with no end in sight.

Florida gets $ 9 million to study citrus disease

Growers and the government have funneled more than $ 70 million into finding a cure. But that could take years, which is time many farmers do not have.

For Manuel Bojoroquez’s full report, watch the video in the player above.

Breaking News: CBS News

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Kanye West Premieres New Single With PERFORMANCE ART! Projects New Slaves On 66 Buildings WORLDWIDE!

Video: Unraveling the lies of Jodi Arias

Incurable bacteria destroying Fla. citrus industry