On Friday’s Radio Show…

It’s the Friday Night Free-For-All with…

• Republican Presidential Candidate Fred Karger
• Sally Kohn of Movement Vision Lab
• Comedian Jim Mendrinos
…

Senator Grassley Worried About GOP Contenders

by Stuart Shapiro

It’s one thing for me to cast aspersions on the Republican field of contenders for the presidential nomination, but it is quite another for Republican Senator Chuck Grassley to do so.  But aspersions were cast:

Speaking to reporters, Grassley was critical of the field, saying “only two or three of them are qualified to be president.” He also indicated that some candidates would likely fail to succeed outside Iowa, adding, “it wouldn’t do me much good to back somebody that won in Iowa if they can’t carry on the campaign elsewhere.”

So who do you think …

Charlie Sheen, Performance Artist?

by Dennis Trainor, Jr.

What are the people so distracted by, I found myself thinking last night as I lay awake in bed, that they fail to muster anything short of the kind of outrage that would drive them to the streets when confronted with the fact that we are bombing Libya to save them from a their lunatic despot who is armed to the teeth with weapons we gave him? They are distracted by whatever the idiot box promotes, and the flavor of the month is Charlie Sheen. And that is what had me awake last night – …

Sarah Palin Vows To Stop Whining About Her Attackers, Then Lashes Out At Bill Maher

Sarah Palin said she was no longer going to “whine” about those who direct “personal, vulgar, sexist venom” her way. First, she said she was “through whining” about a liberal press.  Then, in a Tweet, she narrowed that down by saying she’d defend others who are attacked, but not respond to “personal coverage.”  But that vow didn’t prevent her from lashing out at Bill Maher as “an annoying little mosquito.”  Jon Bershad has the tale of how she responds by saying she’s not going to respond:

“Upon my return from an outstanding and productive trip to India and Israel, I’ve …

Questions About Accuracy Of Michele Bachmann’s Bio

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann claims in her official bio that she received an LL.M in tax law, at William and Mary. However, it appears that Willam and Mary doesn’t offer an LL.M degree in tax law.

William and Mary does NOT now and never has offered an LL.M Degree in Tax Law.

The ONLY LL.M Program that William and Mary offer is for “Foreign Students” … Non U.S. Lawyers … William & Mary’s ONLY LL.M program is titled: “LL.M in American Law.” not Tax Law.

Her bio there doesn’t state that her law degree is from Oral Roberts University, even though …

Rising Hispanic Population Could Change Face Of GOP

It’s not the tea party that will change the Republican Party if wants to be viable. It will be how the party reacts to that growing Hispanic population, which has doubled since the last census to 16%. First Read notes:

Obama won Latinos 67%-31% in 2008, and they made up just 9% of the electorate. In the 2010 exit polls, when Republicans swept Democrats out of the U.S. House, Hispanics still preferred Democrats by a similar 64%-34% margin. And they made up just 8% of the electorate. In fact, look at the states out West with large Hispanic populations and …

Amid More Radiation Detection In Japan, Calls For Wider Evacuation

Japan’s nuclear safety agency says there is more radiation leaking because of damage at Reactor No. 3. (h/t NPR)

The agency was speaking to reporters about Thursday’s accident in which 3 workers were exposed to radiation from water on the floor inside the turbine building of the No.3 reactor. The level of radioactivity was about 10,000 times higher than the water inside a normally operating nuclear reactor.

The agency said while the reactor appears to have partially retained its function to contain radiation leaks, there’s a strong possibility that some part of the reactor is now damaged and the …

Explaining Flip-Flop On No-Fly Zone, Newt Flip-Flops On Air Power

Newt Gingrich was on Greta Van Susteren’s Fox News show attempting to explain why he was for a no-fly zone before he as against it. In the process, he changed his position on use of air power, now saying it isn’t sufficient. But that is the opposite of what he said two weeks ago. Think Progress has the compilation.

March 24:

GINGRICH: If they’re serious about protecting civilians, you can’t do that from the air. Gadaffi is going to use light infantry, he’s going to use his secret police. He’s going to be in the cities, he’s …

Bachmann Advisor Says She’s Likely To Enter White House Race

Ed Brookover, an advisor to Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, says the calendar and the debate schedule is likely to push the tea partier to declare for president.

“I’m not sure the debate is what’s going to make our final decision,” he said. “Is it a factor? Yes.”

Other Republicans familiar with Bachmann’s thinking said all signs point to a White House run. They insisted on anonymity to discuss private conversations with Bachmann and her advisers.

Bachmann has already announced she is forming an exploratory committee and is “in it for the conversation.”…

More Flip-Floppers On Libya No-Fly Zone; It’s Not Just Newt

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, in spite of an attempt to explain it away, flip-flopped on U.S. involvement in Libya once we actually got involved. But he is not alone.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., endorsed a no-fly zone in a Feb. 26th press release when she said “stronger penalties must be imposed in order to hold the regime accountable for its heinous crimes, and to prevent further violence against the Libyan people. Additional U.S. and international measures should include the establishment and enforcement of a no-fly zone…”

But after the President imposed the no-fly …

Hillary Clinton Announces Turning Over Libya Command To NATO

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, emphasizing the participation of the Arab League, announced that command of the mission over Libya will be ceded to NATO. The UAE has agreed to participate as well. Clinton said that as long as Libya defies the UN, “we must remain vigilant and focused.”…