Deficit Projection Hits $1.6 Trillion

Watch for deficit hawks to hit the roof as President Obama proposes a $3.8 trillion budget for fiscal 2011 that shoots up the deficit to $1.6 trillion. According to this plan the red ink goes down to $700 billion by 2013. Deficits will average 4.5% of the economy.

Details of the administration’s budget headed for Congress include an additional $100 billion to attack painfully high unemployment. The proposed $3.8 trillion budget would provide billions more to pull the country out of the Great Recession while increasing taxes on the wealthy and imposing a spending freeze on many government programs.…

Barney Frank: We’re Broke Because Of War

At the World Economic Forum in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank said we’re broke because of war.

“I think the biggest problem in the U.S. is…far too large a percentage of our resources go into the relatively unproductive segment of Defense. If we had not started the war in Iraq, and spent a trillion dollars there…we would have far more freedom now to respond to this short-term crisis.”…

Tony Blair Continues To Defend Bush’s Iraq Policies And His Own Complicity

At an official inquiry into his role in the Iraq war, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair continued to defend failed Iraq policies.

Many in the audience, including the relatives of soldiers and civilians killed in the war, were not impressed. Blair’s claim to have no regrets drew an angry outburst. As he left, one man stood up and shouted “You are a liar!” A second added: “And a murderer.”

The six-hour session Friday capped a wide-ranging inquiry that since November has heard extensive evidence from government lawyers and ministers who raised doubts about the legality and wisdom of …

There She Is…The New Miss America

Caressa Cameron from Virginia says she wants to get a journalism degree and be a news anchor. She’s the first black Miss America since Ericka Dunlap in 2004.

Cameron won the title and a $50,000 scholarship Saturday night after strutting in a skintight yellow dress, belting Beyonce’s “Listen” from “Dreamgirls” and advising parents to limit video games and television when asked about childhood obesity during an onstage interview.

Cameron received her crown from last year’s winner, Katie Stam of Indiana. Interestingly, given the controversy surrounding the Miss USA Pageant, the new Miss America is against gay marriage personally but doesn’t …

Bush Lawyers Cleared In Probe Of Torture Memo By Justice Department Official

The Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility’s David Margolis had downgraded a previously harsh assessment of the Bush lawyers who wrote the memos authorizing torture for detainees.

While the probe is sharply critical of the legal reasoning used to justify waterboarding and other “enhanced” interrogation techniques, NEWSWEEK has learned that a senior Justice official who did the final review of the report softened an earlier OPR finding. Previously, the report concluded that two key authors—Jay Bybee (l), now a federal appellate court judge, and John Yoo(r), now a law professor—violated their professional obligations as lawyers when they crafted a crucial …

GOP To Jam Fingers In Ears, Yell “Lalalalala” Whenever Obama Speaks

Following President Obama’s version of Mohammed going to the mountain (and beating it), Republicans have a new plan to deal with him, as outlined by William K. Wolfrum.

“The President is a gifted speaker and knowledgeable about the issues,” said an anonymous senior Republican. “We believe our new plan will help us bridge that gap.”

According to the GOP source, the GOP’s new plan includes jamming their fingers in their ears, screaming “lalalalalalala” and running around in circles whenever Obama speaks.

“We think our plan will help us combat the policy-related nature of Obama’s retorts or statements,” …

Rush Limbaugh Boogies Down To Lady Gaga

Judges in the Miss America Pageant had their own competition, and Rush Limbaugh won “Judge of the Night”, securing him a “Miss New Jersey” sash.

While competing in the dance-off, Limbaugh stood up and boogied to Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” alongside fellow judge Vivica A. Fox.

“Rush Limbaugh has exceptionally impressive fist pumping skills,” tweeted Miss America Live.

Limbaugh’s moves won him the “Judge of the Night” title. His prize: a “Mr. New Jersey” sash bestowed upon him by the host, Miss New Jersey 1995 Dena Blizzard.

…

Terror Trial To Be Moved From NYC

The Justice Department is developing plans for another location for the 9/11 terror trial after political pressure was brought to bear to move the location from New York City.

Though the officials wouldn’t discuss locations under consideration, others have suggested Governors Island, a former military base in New York Harbor that now welcomes summertime picnickers and bike riders; the U.S. Military Academy at West Point or Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, N.Y.

The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the deliberations.

New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly told reporters Friday …

Gloria Allred Says Tim Tebow’s Mom Tells False Story In Ad

Attorney Gloria Allred tells Radar Online that the anti-abortion ad CBS plans to run during the Super Bowl featuring football star Tim Tebow and his mom, Pam,  is factually incorrect.

In the controversial ad, Pam reportedly shares the story of her difficult 1987 pregnancy which occurred when she was working as a missionary in the Philippines. In her harrowing tale she says she fell ill with amoebic dysentery while pregnant and was treated with robust antibiotics, which she says doctors told her had caused fetal damage, prompting them to urge her to terminate her pregnancy, but she refused their advice …

On Friday’s Radio Show…

• House Republicans tried their darnedest to make the president look bad at today’s GOP retreat, but their petty politics backfired. Alan explains why.

• Now that the Supreme Court has ruled that corporations have the same rights as people, a corporation is running for Congress! Eric Hensal of the “candidate,” Murray Hill, Inc., and campaign manager William Klein discuss their motives with Alan.

• It’s the Friday Night Free-For-All!…

Obama Calls Out Republicans On Their Hypocrisy

President Obama spoke at a Republican House retreat in Baltimore, and did so well that the one GOPer said it was a “mistake” allowing the “cameras to roll like that.”  He told them they can’t tell their constituents the president is doing all kinds of crazy things if they seriously want bipartisanship, saying “You’ve given yourselves very little room to work in a bipartisan fashion. Because, what you’ve been telling your constituents is: this guy’s doing all kinds of crazy stuff that is going to destroy America.” And he remarked how many of them went to ribbon-cutting ceremonies to herald …