Santa Clarita Councilman: “I’m A Proud Racist”

Bob Kellar, who’s been a Santa Clarita, CA councilman for 10 years, told an anti-immigration rally that he’s “a proud racist.” (h/t Think Progress)

We have got to wake up America. I know you guys are engaged and you understand. But I’m telling you this is serious. And if I sound like a radical, thank you. I consider that a compliment…The only thing I heard back from a couple people was “Bob you sound like a racist.” I said, “That’s good. If that’s what you think I am because I happen to believe in America. I’m a …

GOP Operative On Census-Like Mailing: “Duping People Is The Point”

The Republican National Committee put out a mailing that is intended to dupe recipients into believing it’s the US Census, but is actually a fund-raising letter.

Calling itself the “Congressional District Census,” the letter comes in an envelope starkly printed with the words, “DO NOT DESTROY OFFICIAL DOCUMENT” and describes itself, on the outside of the envelope, as a “census document.”

“Strengthening our party for the 2010 elections is going to take a massive grass-roots effort all across America,” Steele writes in a letter that blends official-sounding language, partisan calls to arms, and requests for between $25 and $500. “That …

Tea Party Lists “Enemies Of Liberty”

Dick Armey’s FreedomWorks, the well-financed PAC behind the tea party movement, has put out a list of its targets in 2010 senate and congressional races. Apparently, FreedomWorks doesn’t want the riffraff knowing its business, for on its website it says:

“Information about the specific races we plan to target and opportunities to support and take part in various PAC activities is reserved for FreedomWorks members only.”

But its agenda isn’t all that secret.

In the Florida Senatorial race, the group supports conservative Marco Rubio over current Republican Governor Charlie Crist, conservative Pat Toomey over Senator Arlen Specter (D) in Pennsylvania, …

So We Brought Peace To Iraq? Three Coordinated Bomb Attacks At Baghdad Hotels

Nuri Kamal al-Maliki’s government was rocked by three coordinate bomb attacks that devastated landmark Baghdad hotels.

The bombings, cutting through snarled traffic at the afternoon rush hour, seemed to be the latest chapter in a strategy that began in August and that has hewn to a relentlessly political logic. With similar attacks in August, October and December, insurgents have sought to wreck pillars of Baghdad’s government and civic life, proving that Mr. Maliki’s government and the security forces that he often hails are unable to preserve the state’s authority.

…

The Ministry of Interior said that 36 people had been …

Ed Rendell: “Make Them Filibuster”

Democrats don’t have the votes to avoid a Republican filibuster? “Make them filibuster!” That’s the view of Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell.

“My message to those Democrats is don’t be afraid,” Rendell told ABC News. “Listen, you got elected because you wanted to do something to change the quality of people’s lives — here we have a chance to do something historic and if it means some of us are going to lose because of that so be it. At least you will have lost your office fighting for something and accomplishing something.”

He tells his fellow Democrats in Washington, …

Gawker: John Edwards And Rielle Hunter Made A Sex Tape

How much worse could it get for John Edwards? Gawker claims sources that reveal a sex tape exists of John Edwards and Rielle Hunter.

Sources have told us that, in the throes of their affair, John Edwards and Rielle Hunter made a sex tape that contains “several sex acts.” And that his aide, Andrew Young found it on an unmarked DVD.

The tape, say both our sources, is explicit and reveals that Edwards “is physically very striking, in a certain area. Everyone who sees it says ‘whoa’. She’s behind the camera at first.”

When rumors of the affair first broke …

Bill Gates: Recovery Will Take Years; Taxes Need To Rise

On “Good Morning America” Bill Gates, the richest man in the world, said taxes will have to rise to bring the budget into balance, and it will take years to recover from the recession.

Gates also warned against too much government intervention and urged President Barack Obama to focus policy on long-term issues such as education to combat the effects of the worst recession since the Great Depression.

…

“We’re having a slow recovery and everybody’s frustrated by the pace of the recovery. But I don’t think the government could change and magically make it speed up a lot,” he …

“Chemical Ali” Executed For “Crimes Against Humanity”

Is it humane to execute, even if the person being executed committed heinous acts? Ali Hassan al-Majid, a cousin of Saddam Hussein known as “Chemical Ali,” was executed in Iraq. He was sentenced to death last week for the gassing of 5,000 Kurds in 1988.

News of the hanging came shortly after three suicide car bombs struck downtown Baghdad. It was not immediately clear whether the attacks were linked to the execution of Ali Hassan al-Majid.

Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh confirmed the execution took place.

Ali had four sentences against him for crimes against humanity.…

Obama Can’t Make Jury Duty

Many of us have looked for various ways to avoid jury duty, but perhaps President Obama has the best excuse: running a country.

Obama was summoned for jury duty at the Bridgeview courthouse in suburban Chicago starting Monday. The summons had arrived at the Obama home on Chicago’s South Side.

With his first State of the Union speech set for Wednesday, Obama has a busy week ahead.

Maybe next time.…

John McCain: Campaign Finance Reform Is Dead

On “Face the Nation” John McCain, co-author of the McCain-Feingold bill that became the “Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002,” pronounced campaign finance reform dead.

[Bob] Schieffer asked McCain if he thought the issue of campaign finance reform was “dead.”

“Oh, I think so.” He predicted a backlash would occur when people see the amounts of unfettered money, from corporations and unions, that will go into political campaigns.

“But in the short term, the Supreme Court has spoken. I respect their decision,” he conceded.

McCain explained what he believes is wrong with the Supreme Court.

“I think that it was …

Osama: If We Could Get You Our Message With Words, We Wouldn’t Use Planes

Osama bin Laden is claiming responsibility for the Christmas day bombing attempt by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. An audio tape, purportedly of bin Laden, was aired on Al Jazeera Television, where he vowed to continue attacks on the United States.

A purported audio tape of Osama bin Laden aired on Al Jazeera television claimed responsibility for a December 25 attempted bombing of a US-bound plane, and the al Qaeda leader vowed to continue attacks on the United States.

“The message sent to you with the attempt by the hero Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab is a confirmation of our previous message conveyed …