TresSugar

If You Had To. . .

GiggleSugar — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 04:00:00 -0700

Who would you knock Republican boots with? Samuel Wurzelbacher aka "Joe the Plumber" (shown here in a Snuggie!) or Rush "I hope this nation goes down in flames" Limbaugh? (Stay tuned for the Democratic version of "If You Had To...")

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Joe the Plumber Headed to Israel to Find Other "Average Joes"

CitizenSugar — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:30:32 -0800

Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, known during the 2008 Presidential Campaign as "Joe The Plumber," is leaving his home fix-it-man days behind him and says he's going to Israel as a war correspondent for Pajamas TV. He told the media he plans to spend 10 days covering the fighting and that he wants to let Israel's "'Average Joes' share their story."

Joe became a symbol of the campaign and public figure after he asked Barack Obama about his tax plan and later joined John McCain on the trail. Are you interested to see Wurzelbacher's footage and his quest to share the experience of average citizens, or do you think the plan is too contrived?

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Front Page: Joe the Plumber Speaks, Social Security Benefits to Rise, EU Firm on Climate Goals

CitizenSugar — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 07:00:42 -0700

Joe the Plumber Speaks:
After being the star of last night's debate, mentioned conservatively a dozen times, "Joe the Plumber" has come forward. His name is Joe Wurzelbacher, an Ohio man who wants to buy a plumbing business. He had spoken with Obama in Toledo this week, and told him his tax plan would prevent him from buying the business. He said of being the example of the night, "It's pretty surreal, man, my name being mentioned in a presidential campaign." He won't say who he's voting for - if he's registered - "That's for me and a button to know."

Social Security Benefits to Rise:
Social Security benefits will go up 5.8 percent for 50 million people next year. It's the largest pay rise in more than a quarter of a century. The increase will begin in January and will mean $63 extra per month for the average retiree. The raise is double increase from January this year.

EU Firm on Climate Goals:
European Union leaders are resolved to meet their targets and timetable for addressing climate change, despite objections from some countries. Worries that given the global economic situation cutting greenhouse gas emissions will be too costly has caused some countries to threaten to block the plan. French President Sarkozy says, "The climate package is so important that we cannot simply drop it, under the pretext of a financial crisis."

Briefing Book! What's In Your Tap Water?

LibertySugar — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:30:28 -0800

Water: Someon drugged your drink. Find out what drugs you are taking each time you turn on the tap. - Good
Joe the Plumber: Winning strategy? Joe the Plumber now advising conservatives. - Huffington Post
Wall Street: Is "I-banker" a smear? One Wall Street executive would rather say he's a pornographer than I-banker. - Gawker
Sex: Sex education doesn't match youth's exposure to sex in the media. One church community is teaching real sex ed. - Feministing

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McCain/Letterman, Biden/Leno, SNL/Crazy Lady? All Here!

CitizenSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:00:22 -0700

Just when we thought it was going to get all grim and serious for the last 18 days of the election, the funnies come marching in! After LOL performances by both candidates at the Al Smith dinner - and despite jokes falling 7-1 against Republicans, which I'm sure were helped in part by Letterman's recent . . . . disgruntlement with McCain - the Mac showed up and told Dave last night the line more men might take advantage of: "I screwed up."

After taking a helicopter to the show to make darn sure he didn't miss it this time, Dave asked, "can you stay?" Laughs, but not all fun and games - he also hit McCain with serious questions about his association with Watergate player G. Gordon Liddy.

It was a tough and funny night - but McCain and Dave weren't the only ones yukking it up. SNL was on last night, and Joe Biden stopped by Leno - to see the clips, read more.

Remember the "he's an Arab," woman from that McCain rally? SNL does, too. Here's her appearance on last night's update.

The Thursday night update also tackled the last debate with all the Joe the Plumber goodness you can handle.

And where was Joe Biden? Hanging out with Jay Leno and giving poor JTP (that's Joe the Plumber, I feel like we know him that well) a hard time.

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by luvnews

Which clip made you chuckle?

Obama and McCain Roast and Make Up at Al Smith Dinner

LibertySugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 06:00:33 -0700

Last night's Alfred Smith Dinner put on by Catholic Charities was exactly what we all needed to get through the last 18 days of this grueling election. After months/years of pretending to live in an alternate universe where their talking points define reality, Barack Obama and John McCain not only acknowledged the headlines we've all been reading, but did so with a dose of self-deprecating, and opponent-deprecating, humor. While it was swell to see the candidates having fun, I was most excited that I got to laugh at this campaign, rather than sigh in disbelief, frustration, or suspense.

Some of Obama highlights:

"Can somebody tell me what happened to the Greek columns I requested? I do love the Waldorf-Astoria. I hear from the doorstep you can see all the way to the Russian Tea Room.”
“Barack is actually Swahili for ‘that one.’ And I got my middle name from someone who obviously didn’t think I’d ever run for president."
“My greatest strength is my humility. My greatest weakness is that I am a little too awesome.”

Some of McCain's highlights:

"It's going to be a long, long night at MSNBC if I manage to pull this thing off. I understand that Keith Olbermann has ordered up his very own Mission Accomplished banner. And they can hang that in whatever padded room has been reserved for him."
Bill Clinton "has been hammering away with me with epithets like, "hero."
Says that Joe Biden falsely claims that Joe The Plumber isn't rich enough to trigger the Obama tax hike; "What they don't know is that Joe The Plumber recently signed a lucrative contract to handle all the work on all seven of their houses."

There are many, many, more good jokes. To see the video, read more.

Obama

McCain

Who do you think won the Al Smith dinner?

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Briefing Book! Michelle Obama Is America's First Gardener

CitizenSugar — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:00:05 -0700

Michelle Obama plants a vegetable garden on the White House lawn. - YumSugar
The CIA has a sex tape problem. - Wonkette
Joe the Plumber is horny. - Huffington Post
Colbert vs. Steele: The conservative rap-off. – Indecision Forever
Reported rapes in the military on the rise, but prosecution still low. - Feminsting
Eliminating payroll taxes can get support from both liberals and conservatives. - Good
Applicant tweets herself out of a job. - SavvySugar

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Debate Rebate: Our Reactions to the Last Presidential Debate

CitizenSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:37:58 -0700

They may have very well saved the best for last. This was the most direct, most on task, most like an actual conversation debate we've had thus far. And not a moment too soon. The candidates were juxtaposed beautifully and answered questions not only on specific policies, but on the conduct of their campaigns. It was nail-biting, uncomfortable at times, but deftly handled by moderator Bob Schieffer. Here's what we thought:

Citizen: Wearing each other's "team" ties in what I hoped was a nod toward cooperation, the economy was ripped open right at the start. Both candidates spoke straight at the camera, directly it seemed, to me. It was eerie and wildly effective, with Joe the Plumber becoming an instantaneous celebrity, the cornerstone of their duel over small business taxes. Earmarks and pork barrel and budget overruns, oh my. I do like Obama's line of needing a "scalpel, not a hatchet," if only because it comforts me that he intends to cut spending as well.

When Schieffer pinned the candidates down on the negative aspects of the campaign I was breathless. It was baldly frank (seeming, I mean it is politics) talk, and when McCain whipped out the stat that Obama had spent the most money on negative campaign ads, it hit home - but was parried well by Obama's stat that six in 10 perceive McCain as negative. Then, the politest knock down-drag out on Ayers and ACORN. We knew it was coming all day, but when it did it was all the more potent. When Roe v. Wade popped up, I was actually heartened to hear civilized talk of the difference between choosing judges for their ideologies, and choosing judges for their adherence to the Constitution - it could be the most cogent debate on the issue we've had thus far.

To see the rest of my thoughts, and what Liberty has to say, read more.

As for the "Gore sighs" the nonverbals that will kill a performance: both were guilty of the smirk, if only perhaps to relieve the tension. I know I could barely handle it, it stands to reason it had to express itself somewhere, so to speak. In all, the debate was like a floaty butterfly fairy tale meets a brick wall. The second you got caught up in the story Obama was spinning, then came McCain with his smack down of reality. Even 20 months in, it was confusing and captivating and perfectly encapsulated these diametrically opposed yet unflinching campaigns - and illuminated the very choice we all have to make in 20 short days. Now as Bob Schieffer's mother says, "Go vote now. It will make you feel big and strong."

Liberty: In the most high tension, and perhaps most conversational, debate John McCain came out looking for a game changer. McCain seemed rested and eager (did you hear the Al Gore sighs?) while Obama seemed reluctant and a little low on energy. Still, Obama's calm demeanor allowed him to rise above a potential catty debate, and focus on his issue advantages.

Coming out strong, McCain's crisp statement: "Senator Obama, I'm not President Bush" had no matching punch line from Obama, perhaps giving McCain an edge in the sound-bite battle.

In the middle, the candidates spent much time talking about attack ads, leaving me lamenting that this is what the American people get to listen to from their presidential candidates. By noting that William Ayers has become the center of McCain's campaign, Obama made McCain's campaign look deaf to the real issues facing the American people. After setting the record straight about his strained connection to Ayers, Obama then took the opportunity to make a positive and reassuring argument about the capable people who will advise him, such as Warren Buffet and former NATO head Jim Jones.

After a discussion on healthcare, which left me thinking Obama knows more about McCain's plan than McCain does, the two got talking about abortion. Obama called out the McCain/Palin refrain that he supported infanticide, pointing out that there was already a law on the books requiring care to babies of botched abortions when he voted against an Illinois bill for other reasons.

Obama then took the dialogue to another level saying that he wants everyone to work together to reduce the number of abortions and promote adoption. McCain went on to slam the pro-choice movement with the pejorative "pro-abortion." I'm still wondering if considering the country's at war and in an economic crisis, and after eight-years of a pro-life President and more Roe v. Wade, whether the abortion discussion was worth the time.

While this was McCain's best performance by far, I think Obama maintained a presidential and informed presence. Maybe I can find Joe the Plumber and ask him what he thinks.

What did you think?

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Who Is Your Favorite Newsmaker of 2008?

CitizenSugar — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:30:52 -0800

Barack Obama, Joe Biden, John McCain, Sarah Palin, and Hillary Clinton may have monopolized the front-page news this year because of the campaign, but there's a pack of breakout newsmakers outside the White House hopeful lineup like Joe the Plumber, Eliot Spitzer, and Michael Phelps. Generating end-of-the-year heat is Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich, who is accused of trying to sell Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.

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The Daily Show Checks in With Joe the Community Organizer

LibertySugar — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:30:00 -0700

While Joe the Plumber works on his country music record deal, The Daily Show's John Oliver hit the streets to find out what "Joe the Community Organizer" really does. He chatted with ACORN's chief organizer and a community organizer watchdog, who points out that Osama Bin Laden is in fact a community organizer as well. Check it out!