Palin's GOP rivals side with first lady on obesity

A happy, rational new year
Happy New Year to all. I won't bore you with my personal New Year's resolutions, but I do hope we might collectively agree (and please don't charge me with "collectivism") that not everything a politician does or says should be politicized and attacked. Sometimes, there really are matters we agree on across partisan and ideological lines. Take Michelle Obama's campaign against Obesity. For goodness sake: Many of us (notably yours truly) need to lose weight, eat better and exercise more. We shoul...

Palin, Others in GOP Split on Anti-Obesity Issue
Like this Story? Share it: Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has mocked and criticized First Lady Michelle Obama's nutrition and anti-obesity campaign, calling it government overreach. (TLC/AP) Some Republicans watching the cluttered 2012 presidential field may have found an unlikely point of disagreement: the first lady and flab. Sarah Palin has taken to assailing Michelle Obama's anti-obesity initiative on her reality show and elsewhere, while former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, the Republi...

Obama delays return from Hawaii (Politico)
HONOLULU — President Barack Obama must really be enjoying his Hawaiian Vacation because he’s again postponing his return to Washington. Obama will now leave Hawaii the evening of Jan. 3, arriving in Washington the afternoon of Jan. 4, the White House announced Wednesday. "After the extended Lame Duck and five-day delay of his trip here, he's just trying to squeeze in more time with his family before returning to Washington," deputy White House Press Secretary Bill Burton ...

A Bit More Vacation for the Obamas
President Obama apparently hasn’t had his fill of golfing, shave ice and swimming and snorkeling with his girls. He’s staying in Hawaii an extra day, the White House reports. Mr. Obama and his family - Michelle Obama, the First Lady, and daughters Malia and Sasha - who are vacationing in the quiet town of Kailua on the windward side of the island of Oahu, initially planned to return to Washington on New Year’s Day. Then, when Mr. Obama arrived, the White House announced he...

Marine Base Serves as Obama's Hideout
(Fox News Channel) - President Barack Obama seems to discovered his favorite Hawaiian hideaway on his Christmas Vacation, making 12 stops to the Marine Corps Base Hawaii thus far, Fox News Channel reported Wednesday. He has taken the quick Motorcade ride to the base -- located 12 miles from Honolulu -- for golfing, daily Workouts, a Christmas visit with Troops, bowling, and even church. Military bases offer convenience for a relaxing commander-in-chief because they are safe, secure and he does n...

Michelle Obama's Top 10 for 2010: 'Let's Move!,' Dancing in India, and That Spain Vacation
First Lady Michelle Obama's 2010 included a clearly defined high (the launch of her "Let's Move" anti-childhood Obesity campaign) and a notable low (her Controversial Vacation at an expensive resort in Spain). The year also marked her first solo international travel, to Haiti and Mexico, and having the very cool experience of Paul McCartney singing "Michelle" to her at a White House concert. Here are Mrs. Obama's top 10 for 2010: On Feb. 2, Mrs. Obama formalized her healthy eating and exercise a...

Rap Artists Master P, Lil' Romeo to Promote Michelle Obama Anti-Obesity Initiative
Rap music mogul Master P and his son Lil' Romeo are teaming up to host an event to honor the late singer Tina Marie, and to draw attention to Health Issues including "Let's Move!," Michelle Obama's childhood anti-obesity campaign. Coinciding with the 2011 Grammy Awards, the event will take place in Los Angeles on February 11th. Organizers hope to recruit other musicians and singers to join the father and son pair in promoting the First Lady's child health initiative. In a statement to the music ...

Trashin' the First Lady's Fashion
If she wore a slip under that skirt, she wouldn't get Sticky Butt Syndrome--the result of sitting (usually on vinyl) for prolonged periods, during which time seat warmth will generate enough perspiration to make the fabric to mold and stick to one's backside. You'd think out all those 26 ladies-in-waiting she has, at least one would be tasked with discreetly applying thumb and forefinger to the fabric when Mrs. O stands up, so as to carefully peel it away from the royal backside, allowing the sk...

Ann Miller: New Year's Revolutions
No, I didn't mistype and I'm not talking about overthrowing the government (though I probably shouldn't dwell on that particular thought too long.) I'm simply saying that instead of making resolutions this year, let's revolve a bit, and make a couple of turns that aren't simply personal resolutions. We can all lose that excess ten pounds, quit that nasty habit and exercise more too, but maybe there are changes that would have a bit more impact on our world than those six-pack abs or that 20 in...

As 2011 arrives, so does a new presidential race
WASHINGTON — Consider the holidays a short breather between political seasons, because in January a new one kicks off with even higher stakes: the race for the White House in 2012. While that may still seem a long way off — the election will be Nov. 6, 2012 — nearly every political decision in the next 22 months will include some calculation of how it will affect who sits in the White House on Jan. 21, 2013. White House senior adviser David Axelrod will be leaving soon to gea...

Sebelius marks 'banner' year for healthcare
Marking the end of a busy year in healthcare, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius touted her department's accomplishments over the past 12 months in a video message released Thursday afternoon. For Sebelius, identifying the top accomplishment was a no-brainer: implementation of the sweeping Healthcare Reform law. "Through the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, more Americans have access to health coverage as well as new rights and benefits in their hea...

Michele Bachmann revealed: Gore Vidal made her a Republican
Every good conservative icon needs an origin story. The best ones -- the vast majority of them, if you believe them -- are former liberals, "lifelong Democrats," or even former Marxists. They become virulent right-wingers, usually, because of something horrible the Democrats did. Reagan was a Democrat -- and a union leader! -- until, in his formulation, "the party left me." (Around the time the party began supporting Civil Rights Legislation, but that's neither here nor there.) But big events, o...

Sister's promise to donate kidney leads to release of armed robbers
For 16 years, sisters Jamie and Gladys Scott have shared a life behind bars for their part in an $11 armed Robbery. To share freedom, they must also share a kidney. Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour suspended the sisters' life sentences on Wednesday, but 36-year-old Gladys Scott's release is contingent on her giving a kidney to Jamie, her 38-year-old sister, who requires daily Dialysis. The sisters were conv ADVERTISEMENT icted in 1994 of leading two men into an ambush in Mississippi the year...

2011 Predictions
First, we must start with Baseball…as that is more important than anything else. There is not consensus amongst the Bearing Drift brethren. Kirwin, habitually, picks the Phillies. Big shocker from Krystle: The New York Yankees will come back stronger than ever with Jeter. Look for them to win the 2011 World Series (fingers crossed). [Not!] Then, of course, Leslie has to chime in: The healthy Red Sox will dominate the AL East, with a line-up that looks like this: Jacoby Ellsbury CF, Dustin...

Obama steps out in Hawaii for shave ice treat
KAILUA, Hawaii — After four days away from the usual scrutiny, President Barack Obama looks relaxed. He ventured briefly into the public eye Monday to indulge in one of his favorite local treats, a Hawaiian snow cone known as shave ice. Dressed casually in a black polo shirt, khaki shorts and flip-flops, Obama ordered a melon, lemon-lime and cherry shave ice at Island Snow, a store he has frequented during past trips to Hawaii. He offered a ringing Endorsement for his flavor combination, ...

Class vs. Class: Elizabeth Monroe vs. Michelle Obama caring about others in need
Class vs. Class: Elizabeth Monroe vs. Michelle Obama — caring about others in need Posted by kevindujan01 under Class vs. Crass, HillBuzz, Kevin DuJan, Michelle Antoinette Obama First Lady Elizabeth Monroe risked her own personal safety to rescue the Marquise Marie Adrienne, wife of General LaFayatte, during the height of the French Revolution.  She did her part to care about and help a friend of America in need. First Spouse Michelle Antoinette Obama had the resources and free time ...

Dating Sarah Palin
Advanced age has its privileges, one of them to fantasize publicly about asking out a married woman without fear of being beaten up for it. So with apologies to my loved ones (and Todd, of course), my dream date for New Year’s Eve is bubbly Sarah Palin. Imagine being greeted at the door, corsage in hand, with congratulations for dodging Death Panels and some snappy remark like “How’s that hopey changey thing working out for you?” We could start making the rounds of conso...

Don't Call Her a Maniac
See, I don't like to see Christine O'Donnell called a maniac. For me, 'maniac' has a menacing connotation, as if there is at least a small chance that Ms. O'Donnell will lose her temper and snap my neck. I prefer to stick with milder descriptors like 'delusional' or 'fruitcakey.' Another bone I have to pick is the idea that just because the Republicans lost otherwise winnable Senate races in Delaware, Nevada, and Colorado that it means that we didn't just elect a bunch of people who are more cr...

Shirtless Obama? Forget it
NYT‘s Sheryl Gay Stohlberg reports from Hawaii on why we won’t get to see a Shirtless President Obama this year. In 2008, pictures such as this one above of POTUS’s chest surfaced. In August, photogs were prevented from any sort of repeat performance. This time around once again, rules are strict — there’s a no long lens policy and no real ability to take racy pictures. All you folks who wanted Shirtless pictures of the president: Forget it. We are now on the all-pr...

Obama craves familiarity on Hawaiian vacation (AP)
Honolulu – More than a week into his Hawaiian holiday, President Barack Obama is proving to be a creature of habit. While some travelers seek adventure and spontaneity, Obama seeks comfort and consistency. His routine here in Oahu, the island where he was born and mostly raised, is by now patently familiar to the locals trying to catch a glimpse of their hometown president, and the reporters who come here to cover him. Obama is almost certain to spend his mornings working out at Marine C...

Hawaii Vacation Shows Obama as Creature of Habit
Bob Schieffer is joined by Lara Logan, Nancy Cordes, Sharyl Attkisson, and Chip Reid for a CBS News correspondents' round table to discuss the biggest problem President Obama will face in 2011, a possible shakeup within the White House, and who will have the hardest job throughout the next year. (AP) There are those who crave adventure and spontaneity during their Vacations. Then, there's President Barack Obama. More than a week into his Hawaiian holiday, Mr. Obama is proving to be a creature o...

Obama Sticks To The Familiar On Hawaiian Vacation
Honolulu — More than a week into his Hawaiian holiday, President Barack Obama is proving to be a creature of habit. While some travelers seek adventure and spontaneity, Obama seeks comfort and consistency. His routine here in Oahu, the island where he was born and mostly raised, is by now patently familiar to the locals trying to catch a glimpse of their hometown president, and the reporters who come here to cover him. Obama is almost certain to spend his mornings working out at Marine C...

Obama craves familiarity on Hawaiian vacation
FILE - In this Dec. 28, 2010 file photo, President Barack Obama waves from... Honolulu (AP) - More than a week into his Hawaiian holiday, President Barack Obama is proving to be a creature of habit. While some travelers seek adventure and spontaneity, Obama seeks comfort and consistency. His routine here in Oahu, the island where he was born and mostly raised, is by now patently familiar to the locals trying to catch a glimpse of their hometown president, and the reporters who come here to cove...

Clinton Counsels the Con
After a few afternoons with Slick Willy, Barack Obama managed to transform his image. Call it learning from the master, as Obama morphed from Karl Marx-lite into Barry Goldwater/Padre Pio. It appears that Obama's stunning conversion is directly related to political mentor Bill Clinton's advice. Bill is extremely adept in the fine art of manipulative fakery: the ex-president could cry on command and was able to move to the right after the Republican Revolution of 1994, affording himself a second ...

Obama craves familiarity on Hawaiian vacation
More than a week into his Hawaiian holiday, President Barack Obama is proving to be a creature of habit. While some travelers seek adventure and spontaneity, Obama seeks comfort and consistency. His routine here in Oahu, the island where he was born and mostly raised, is by now patently familiar to the locals trying to catch a glimpse of their hometown president, and the reporters who come here to cover him. Obama is almost certain to spend his mornings working out at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. A...